|
If
you don’t fancy Theme Parks and white-knuckle rides but like the
sound of the weather and way of life in Florida why not complete
your holiday away from the crowds and head for one of Florida’s
coastal resorts? Otherwise join the many families who wallow in
the excitement of what must be have the greatest choice of theme
parks and adventures in one area in the world
The
gulf coast is a popular destination boasting beaches with acres
of white sand and clear, warm blue water. Sunbathing, fresh air
and life at a slower pace – what could be better after days of walking
and queuing in the heat? St Petersburg and Clearwater are popular
choices - both resorts are within a 2-hour drive of Orlando and
the Dali museum in St Petersburg is definitely worth a visit, especially
if you don’t have children
Miami
Beach is a narrow stretch of land 7 miles long and connected to
mainland Miami by 7 causeways, The ‘sand’ is made of millions of
sea-shells hoovered up from the sea bed and pulverised. It looks
natural and has the consistency of fine white sand.
The
Art Deco district of South Beach is worth a visit to see the many
buildings from the 30s that have been restored to their former glory.
The area is rich in restaurants and shops. One of the highlights
visiting Miami, besides the sunbathing is the sight of leaping dolphins
and a trained killer whale performing antics in the marine spectaculars
of Miami Seaquarium.
Fort
Lauderdale is a sophisticated town with its large marina is an ideal
base for sailing and diving.
A
300-mile labyrinth of canals, lagoons and waterways, together with
smart designer shops and superb restaurants makes this an intriguing
place to spend some time.
The
Everglades is the country’s 3rd largest national park and Florida’s
most famous swamp spanning some 1.5m acres. From here you can explore
the wildlife of the famous ‘river of grass’ by airboat, undoubtedly
catching glimpses of the alligators that inhabit this mangrove swamp.
Florida
Keys - A hundred-mile chain of small islands south of mainland Florida
connected by a causeway, this area is a paradise for fishing, snorkelling
and diving. The underwater State Park at Key Largo provides fantastic
snorkelling and diving opportunities over the coral reefs.
WEATHER
IN FLORIDA
Florida
enjoys two climates: subtropical in the south, warm and tropical
in the north.
Both
Orlando and southern Florida have very mild winters (October – April)
with warm temperatures and low humidity.
Summer
in Orlando—with high temperatures above 30°C—usually lasts from
late May through the end of September. July and August are particularly
hot and humid, with occasional thunderstorms.
THINGS TO DO IN FLORIDA – The Sunshine State
Once
a sunny retreat for many people from colder climates, Florida has
grown over the years into a popular holiday destination. With an
abundance of superb beaches, a warm climate and a myriad of high-class
theme parks, there are enough ingredients here to make a perfect
holiday possible.
WALT
DISNEY WORLD - One of the top tourist attractions and theme
park capitals of the world, Disney World sees over 20 million tourists
walk through its gates each year. Built on an area covering twice
the size of Manhattan it has four main theme parks offering thrills
and excitement for everyone. Whatever your age there is something
here for you!
THE
MAGIC KINGDOM - Enter a world of fantasy…… In this magical kingdom
you can visit 7 different lands including:
Fantasyland
– You can’t miss the famous Cinderella Castle that stands some 55m
tall and represents all the magic of Disney. There are lots of traditional
rides here based on many of the Disney characters and this area
is suitable for even the every young.
Adventureland
– takes you to a world of pirates and shipwrecks.
Frontierland
– captures the mood of the Wild West and there are many fun rides
such as Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad that provide
more than enough thrills.
Tomorrowland
- you can’t leave here without having a go on Space Mountain -although
preferably on a full stomach! Timekeeper is another ride not to
be missed.
When
you have exhausted all the rides, take a walk down Main Street and
capture the mood of an American town in the 1900s. Here there are
regular parades featuring all your favourite Disney characters.
EPCOT
- Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. This park is divided
into two main parts:
Futureworld
–Housed in the famous 180 ft silver geosphere which dominates the
park, Futureworld combines education with entertainment and explores
all that is new in the world of science and technology, thus giving
a vision of what tomorrow’s world will look like. Have a go on Test-Track
- an exhilirating ride in a high speed car of the future and the
zany 4D cinematic production of Honey I Shrunk the Audience should
not be missed.
World
Showcase –11 ‘countries’ located around a large lagoon share
their different cultures with you. Take a boat-trip through Norway
in a Viking longboat or wander through Venice.
At
the end of each day there is a spectacular laser and firework display
called IllumiNations. This Park is vast and requires a lot of footwork.
DISNEY
MGM STUDIOS
Something
to suit everyone here. Here you can see how motion pictures are
made with behind the scenes tours of the most popular film and TV
studios and watch the Disney animators actually working on storyboards
for new films,
There
are more tours and stage shows than rides - Twilight Zone Tower
of Terror must be one of the most scary rides as you free fall 13
storeys in an elevator of a haunted hotel!
Don’t
miss the tour - Magic of Disney Animation - you will feel that you
can actually reach out and touch the puppets in Jim Henson’s Muppet
Vision 4D show
ANIMAL
KINGDOM
The
newest theme park in the Disney World and set in 500 acres of lush
landscapes. Here you can learn about prehistoric animals, see exotic
animals at close quarters and go on a safari through Africa. Don’t
forget the exhilarating rides too like the Kali River Rapids. The
centrepiece of Disney’s latest theme park on animal life is The
Tree of Life; an artificial tree made up of some 300 ingeniously
carved animals.
DISNEY
WATER THEME PARKS
Tired
of walking? Then why not cool down and spend some time at one of
Disney’s 3 water theme parks
Blizzard
Beach
This
is the largest of the water parks set in 66 acres with 19 thrilling
water slides. Summit Plummet - one of the worlds tallest, fastest
freefall speed slides is definitely not for the faint-hearted! This
park combines water with ‘snow’ and all the rides have an icy theme.
Typhoon
Lagoon
A
water wonderland set in a tropical paradise with white sandy beaches,
water flumes and one of the world’s largest inland surfing wave
pools.
River
Country
The
theme here is the good old days` of Huckleberry Finn and how children
used to enjoy water - swing from a rope and negotiate the rapids
on inner tubes or simply relax on the sandy beach.
Pleasure
Island
This
is the nightlife zone, designed to keep tourists from straying off
campus after dark. An extensive variety of restaurants and bars,
together with night-clubs featuring jazz, rock’n roll and disco
music and live shows ensure that all tastes are catered for.
PASSES
Disney’s
One-Day One- Park tickets buy unlimited access to all shows and
rides for that day only.
Prices
are approx. £27 per adult and £22 per child (3-9)
Disney’s
5 – Day Park Hopper Pass - buys 5 days unlimited admission to all
4 main Disney theme parks (not necessarily on consecutive days)
PLUS 2 visits to any other attraction e.g. Typhoon Beach and Pleasure
Beach
Prices
are approx. £175 per adult and £140 per child
Disney’s
7-Day Park Hopper Plus – valid for 7 days gives unlimited admission
to the 4 main parks and entry to 2 others (e.g. a water park and
Downtown Disney). Prices are approx. £219 per adult and £179 per
child
Disney
does NOT have exclusivity when it comes to theme parks in Orlando.
Other players have come onto the scene over the years:
SEA
WORLD ADVENTURE PARK – 10 miles southwest of Orlando. This marine
life adventure park gives people the opportunity to get close to
sea creatures. See penguins, sea lions but don’t sit too close to
the whale or you might get wet! Sea world recently opened the first
reservations only theme park Discovery Cove, where visitors can
swim with dolphins, or snorkel with stingrays and never have to
queue. There are many exciting rides too including the new highest,
fastest, longest, widest coaster ride in Orlando - Kraken
BUSCH
GARDENS - An hour and a half’s drive West of Orlando in Tampa
Bay is Busch Gardens. Set in 335 acres, this park has African theme
and combines animal habitats with thrilling rides. The newest ride
(April 2000) is Rhino Rally, which blends close-up animal encounters
with an off-road safari and a raging river thrill ride. Not to be
missed!
UNIVERSAL
STUDIOS
A
combination-working studio and theme park with over 40 unforgettable
shows and rides - many based on Hollywood blockbusters or comic-book
heroes. Men In Black : Alien Attack is the first interactive ride
where you can zap aliens and try to save the world
WET’N
WILD
25
acres of chutes, slides, flumes and plunges with mini versions of
the park’s biggest attractions in a special children’s water playground.
KENNEDY
SPACE CENTRE
About
50 miles east of Orlando the space centre attracts 2 million people
a year to see real spacecraft. Allow a whole day to explore this
fascinating place. The Astronaut Hall of Fame shows every detail
of how astronauts live in space and visitors can experience the
thrill of a shuttle-landing simulator ride and G - force trainer.
It’s worth checking out if
There
are any launches scheduled during your trip.
OPENING
TIMES
All
parks are open daily from 9.00am and close anytime between 7.00
p.m. and midnight depending on the time of year. It is advisable
to head straight for the big rides first in order to avoid queuing
for long periods of time when they are very busy.
Collect
the day's schedule of events as you enter each Park and plan your
day around the special shows. Don't forget to get a map of the Park.
Waiting times at worst can be well over an hour but there is usually
some entertainment going on to help pass the time. Weekends tend
to be less crowded than at the beginning of the week.
TICKET
PRICES
Theme
park prices are scary – a family of four visiting each of the big
parks can easily cost you £1000 over a two-week period. It is advisable
to buy your tickets before you arrive either from a Disney store,
Tour Operator or by phone, as queues can be very long. There are
many ticket options available to suit individual requirements
MULTIPARK
PASSES
These
tickets give you the flexibility to visit 4-5 of Orlando’s other
theme parks. There are various ones on offer and these can all be
pre-booked on–site or through tour operators. Prices of passes and
what they actually include can vary so it is worth comparing a few
deals before you actually decide. E.g. - Orlando 4-Park Flexticket
– buys 7 consecutive days unlimited admission to Universal Studios,
SeaWorld, Wet’n Wild and Universals Islands of Adventure.
Prices
are approx - £112 per adult and £86 per child
RECOMMENDED READING:
Brits
Guide to Orlando and Walt Disney World 2001 ~ Simon Veness (Paperback
- 31 October, 2000)
The
Rough Guide to Florida ~ Loretta Chilcoat, et al (Paperback - 28
January, 1999)
Lonely
Planet: Florida ~ Nick Selby, Corinna Arnold (Paperback - January
2000)
52
Florida Weekends : Great Getaways and Adventures for Every Season
(52 . . . Weekends) ~ Janet Groene, Gordon Groene (August 2000)
US Edition
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Each
there year there are many special events, shows and attractions
at the top theme parks in Florida, the best known of course being
MGM Studio, Disneyland, The Epcot Centre and Cape Canaveral. Check
wit each individual website to see whether they have their own special
events happening throughout the year.
Mid
Feb – Coconuts Grove Arts Festival in Miami – the emphasis is on
1 to 1 chats between art lovers and artists.
The
9-day Miami Carnival is a Latin carnival and parade, finishing with
a huge party in the Orange Bowl
Mid
March, in the established resort of Winter Park there is a huge
sidewalk art festival lasting a couple of days., whilst in Miami
they are partying on South Beach.
End
of March/ April The Tampa Bay Blues Festival in St. Petersburg lasts
for 3 days.
Hustle
and Salsa is the name of the game in Miami early April when the
Radisson Deauville Hotel is transformed for various levels of competition
Mid-end
April Palm Beach hosts an International Film Festival each year,
the aim to promote Palm Beach whilst raising money for film school
grants and scholarships.
For
2 days at the start of June the Miami/ Bahamas Goombay Festival
is one of the largest black festivals in the US
The
Florida Film Festival takes place in Orlando mid June
Start
of October – Cape Canaveral, Space Week in Florida
October
– Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival – the 5th
largest gay and lesbian film event in the USA
End
Nov – start on Dec, Key West ‘Pirates in Paradise Festival’ transforms
the area into a pirates paradise.
New
Years Eve, The Miami Orange Bowl is the place to be, and the game
that takes place on 1st Jan is one of the biggest in
the American sporting calendar.
WHAT
DOES IT COST?
Meals:
from approx. £6 per person
Drink: Beer £1.20
Soft Drinks £0.80p
Remember
food portions are huge and look out for deals where children are
welcome to eat free.
There
is something to suit every taste here - Chinese, French, Italian,
American…. Steaks are enormous and very tasty and many restaurants
have elaborate do-it-yourself salad bars.
Because
of Florida’s close proximity to the sea; fish and seafood are widely
available. Red snapper and yellowtail are regularly served and the
shellfish menu will usually include scallops, oysters, shrimp and
crawfish. If you want to try some local food Cuban rice and beans,
Key lime pie, catfish and gator tail are some of the things to look
out for.
Drinks, Try famous Florida orange juice or iced tea. Beer is always
served ice cold. Wines are available by the bottle, carafe or glass.
AND FINALLY REMEMBER The legal drinking age in Florida is 21. You
must have a picture ID if you want to be served in a bar or supermarket
HOTELS
IN FLORIDA
Most
hotels in America sleep a family of 4 comfortably in one hotel room.
All-suite
hotels are a popular choice as they offer all the facilities of
a hotel but with the added bonus of a kitchen area.
Hotels
in the Kissimmee and International Drive area offer good value accommodation.
E.g.
1 week for a family of 4 in an all-suite hotel on International
Drive would cost approx. £2500 in August.
The
Bueno Vista area of Orlando, right outside Disney is a quieter and
smarter part of town. Prices here for both hotels and villas tend
to be higher than in the busier Kissimmee /International Drive area
of town.
Villas
- Some people prefer to rent a villa during their stay. The cost
of living is very low and the standard of accommodation is high.
Many have well-equipped kitchens and a pool.
A
three bedroom house with a pool in the Kissimmee area would cost
approx. £600 per week and a two bedroom condominium within a 10
minute drive of Disney could cost as little as £375 per week. These
can be booked with or without flights or car hire.
VISAS
AND INNOCULATIONS
Visitors
to Florida and the USA in general need a valid passport. Visas are
not generally required for UK passport holders for stays of up to
90 days, but please do check first.
There
are no recommended vaccinations for travelling to Florida, please
check before you travel, especially if you are planning on travelling
or staying in/ near the Everglades
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Airports: Orlando
International Airport (15 miles from the major attractions)
Sanford Airport
Miami
Airport
Tampa
airport
Charter
flights - Most British visitors travel to Florida on charter flights
to Orlando International Airport or Sanford. These flights are cheaper
and there is a wider choice of flights from UK regional airports.
Flight
times are approximately 9 -10 hours.
Scheduled
Flights - British Airways flies to Orlando and Tampa from Gatwick
and to Miami from Heathrow. Virgin flies to Miami and Orlando form
Gatwick and to Orlando from Manchester
American
airline flies to Miami form Heathrow. The cheapest fares during
school holidays are about £650 per adult and £450 for under 12s.
The
advantage of going on a scheduled flight is that you can determine
the length of time you want to stay and you can also fly to one
airport (e.g. Orlando) and leave from another one. (E.g. Miami)
Banks
- Normal banking hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Very few branch
banks change foreign currency.
Clothing - Take mainly lightweight clothing (cotton is most comfortable
in summer), with an extra layer for cool evenings and icy air-conditioning.
Dress is casual, although a few formal restaurants ask men to wear
a jacket and tie. A raincoat, or at least an umbrella, may be useful
at any time of year.
Electricity - The electrical supply is 110V. Most European equipment
needs a transformer as well as an adapter.
Safety - Visitors should take the same precautions they would anywhere
else. Lock hotel doors and never open room doors unless the visitor
is known or has provided identification. Don’t carry large amounts
of cash and place valuables in a room safe or hotel safety deposit
box. When driving, place valuables out of sight or in the boot.
Avoid walking in poorly lit areas at night.
Shopping - Shops generally open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to
Saturday; suburban shopping malls may keep longer hours and many
open on Sunday.
Florida
Sales Tax is not included in prices in the shops and will be added
on at the checkout – currently 6%
Time
GMT – 4 hours (between April and October)
Tipping
- It is acceptable to give waiters a tip of 15%
GETTING
AROUND….
By
car - Hiring a car is the most convenient way to get about and is
very economical – compared to England as the price of fuel is very
low. A credit card is a must when hiring a car or else you will
have to pay a cash deposit of around £350. Approximate prices for
car hire per day would be £26 for a full size car. Parking at the
theme parks cost about £3.50
If
you stay at the Walt Disney resort you can have access to the free
monorails, trains, ferries, or buses that connect the various parks.
By
Bus - The "I-Ride" trolleybus, runs along International Drive daily,
between 7AM–midnight) from Wet 'n' Wild at one end to SeaWorld at
the other.
|
