Ginn Reunion Resort

A Taste of Brazil, Without Leaving Orlando

admin — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:47:58 +0000

On International Drive, approaching the new Prime Outlets (more on those at a later date), you’ll find a truly unique dining experience. The pinkish, somewhat rustic exterior seems rather humble compared to the over the top styling of many Orlando restaurants, and belies the elegant, dramatic decor of Texas de Brazil, a churrascaria or Brazilian steakhouse, a restaurant concept that has seen rapid expansion in the last five years or so. My wife and I decided to check it out not too long ago, and I can truly say this place should fall under the heading of “Great Places to Eat in Orlando.”

Texas de Brazil, like many restaurants in its genre offers staggering quantities of food in a rather luxurious setting. Huge flower arrangements and heavy light fixtures complement rich woods and deep colors. A phone book sized wine list and deep bar are further evidence of the scale of the dining experience, which is made quite obvious by the tremendous side and salad bar in the center of the restaurant.

While you assess your surroundings, I highly recommend a caipirinha, the signature Brazilian cocktail similar to a mojito without mint. Of course a wide variety of cachaca (a Brazilian cane spirit, similar to rum) based cocktails are available, but the caipirinha is perfect for a hot Central Florida day.

Perusing the central buffet (which is unlike any buffet you’ve ever seen) you’ll find beautiful displays of cheeses, smoked and cured meats, carefully prepared vegetables, artisan breads, hearty soups, sushi, and so much more. You could make a meal (and many do) just from the items here. But you won’t want to fill up, because the true star of the show is the meat, or should I say meats.

On your table you’ll find a card, green on one side, red on the other, that is used to signal the “gauchos.” Turn your card to green, and each passing server will present the particular cut of meat that he or she is carrying. I’ve forgotten how many different options there were, but meats of all varieties (beef, pork, chicken, lamb) were offered, and nearly all were prepared perfectly. The house specialty (a beef cut called picanha) was my personal favorite, but all were quite good.

Now, it can be pricey. As I recall, dinner is around $50 per person, and brunch is around $40 per person (that’s just the food), but when you consider the amount and variety of food available, it isn’t overpriced. I would recommend going for brunch (an even less expensive lunch is also available on Fridays) and making it your primary meal of the day. Believe me, you’ll want to try everything (it’s hard to resist), and you will not leave hungry. If you do decide to go for dinner (perhaps to recharge after the parks), plan ahead and eat light during the day. This is an event meal (not unlike a Thanksgiving dinner), and the last thing you want to do is arrive without an appetite.

I should also mention that reservations are recommended, but if you go early in the evening (like I did) you should be able to make a same day reservation without any trouble. You can visit their website at texasdebrazil.com, or call 407-355-0355. They’re open for dinner seven nights a week, and also serve lunch on Fridays and brunch on the weekends.

Orlando Attractions, things to do in Orlando

Aquatica, Where a Waterpark and SeaWorld Collide

Paul — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:24:34 +0000

The following is a guest contribution from our good friend Lauren who works at SeaWorld and the SeaWorld family of parks (like Aquatica). Lauren will check in with us from to time to time to keep us abreast of some of the cool stuff going on at SeaWorld and its sister parks.

Summer may be technically over — luckily, those of us in Florida get to enjoy the warm weather and sun regardless of the season. Now is the perfect time to visit Aquatica! As you slide through a lagoon of black and white Commerson�??s dolphins, stride along white sand beaches, take in the flourishing scenery inspired by the South Seas and float down a winding river seeing thousands of colorful fish, it is easy to understand why only SeaWorld could create this waterpark. As an Aquatica employee, I have a few �??insider tips�?? to make the most of your fun-filled day.

Everyone has the chance to find their favorite place in the sun or shade because Aquatica truly is a waterpark built with the entire family in mind.

Here are the top five tips for fall:

Keep your personal belongings safely stored in the unlimited access lockers. Single lockers are $10 and family size lockers are $12, which includes a $5 refundable deposit.
For those who are looking to relax at Aquatica, make your way to the side-by-side wave pools and kick back in the sand or float along Loggerhead Lane to find an underwater view of the Commerson�??s dolphins.
For those seeking a thrill, be sure to check out Taumata Racer - an eight lane mat ride where you can race your friends or family head first to the bottom. Then, take your group up six stories and accelerate down HooRoo Run. Before you take off, yell �??hoo roo�?? to the lifeguards which means �??good-bye�?? in the native language of New Zealand.
For the best deal on food and snacks, make your way to Banana Beach Cookout - Aquatica�??s all-you-care-to-eat restaurant - which allows you to eat and drink throughout your entire visit for only $19.95 per person.
Reserve a private cabana to make your trip to Aquatica the ultimate experience. You�??ll enjoy the comfort of a refrigerator stocked with a variety of sodas, juice, and water and complimentary towels as you enjoy your time together in the shade and sun. Fall is one of the best times to save on a cabana. $150 (4 people), $30.00 for additional guests (up to 7).
Ask an educator at the Commerson�??s dolphin lagoon for feeding times to get an amazing look at the whimsical creatures. Also, keep an eye out for the walk-around animal interactions for your chance to have an up-close look at some of Aquatica�??s unique animals.

Experience Orlando, Florida Attractions, Orlando Attractions, Orlando Theme Parks, things to do in Orlando

It’s Football Season!

Paul — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:36:25 +0000

Okay, so the title might be a statement of the obvious, but Orlando isn’t usually thought of as a big football town, but I beg to differ. Whether you’re just looking for things to do in Orlando, or you are a dyed in the wool football fan, there’s great NFL and NCAA action going on right here in Central Florida. Not only is Orlando the training camp home of the Miami Dolphins, but Orlando is also about an hour from Tampa (home of the Super Bowl XXXVII Champion Buccaneers), and is the home of the University of Central Florida.

I’ll start with the NFL action because I had the great pleasure of getting to attend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win over the Green Bay Packers this past weekend. The game was great. Dramatic right up until the end, but this isn’t a sports blog, and I don’t want to get too heavy into the details, because going to an NFL game is more than a game, it’s an experience.

Tampa’s just over an hour from Ginn Reunion Resort, but on game day, you’ll need to allow time for traffic. As you are driving to the stadium you’ll see people out in front of their homes flagging in cars and charging five to ten bucks for parking. Now my wife and I had the good fortune of attending this game with season ticket holders, so parking was covered, but we have made use of these makeshift lots in the past with fairly decent results (just a long walk). And here is where I’ll offer my first tip, be sure to park on the east side of the stadium. If you park on the west side of the stadium, you will be stuck in traffic forever trying to get back to I-275 because the police block roads in such a way as to move people away from the stadium, regardless of where that sends them.

Once you get parked, and get to the stadium, there’s live music at the entrances, and the smells of hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the other ballpark treats will start to make your mouth water. I’d highly recommend arriving early for the tailgating experience, but if that isn’t your thing, you can find everything inside from cheesesteaks to pizza to barbecue nachos. And in the grand tradition of captive audiences, the concessions aren’t cheap, but they are pretty tasty.

Once you get in, and get settled, you’re in for a modern sports spectacle. From computer generated pirate battles on the big screens to ceremonial canon firings whenever the Bucs cross the twenty yard line or score everything is is done a grand scale. Not to mention the staples of any sporting event like a military flyover at the end of the national anthem and interstitial music designed to pump of the crowd (and the cheerleaders).

Now, of course you can get up to explore the stadium, but I like to stay in my seat as much as possible, so as not to miss the game. From this vantage point you’ll also see roving vendors eager to take care of your thirst and hunger, and, like at any big event, there’s plenty of premium people watching. You’ll see everything from the die hard fans in elaborate costumes and body paint to trophy wives dressed to the nines. There’s nothing quite like a major sporting event.

Last weekend they were advertising a limited number of individual game tickets are available on ticketmaster.com, and for the more adventurous, you can pretty much always find tickets for sale as you get close to the stadium. Upcoming home games include the Carolina Panthers (Oct. 12), Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 19), Minnesota Vikings (Nov. 16), New Orleans Saints (Nov. 30), San Diego Chargers (Dec. 21), and Oakland Raiders (Dec. 28).

If the NFL isn’t your thing, you can get a bit more local with college football in Orlando. The University of Central Florida Golden Knights may not be a name that’s known to you just yet, but they are on their way. Coming off a strong 10-4 record last year, capped off by an appearance in the 2007 Liberty Bowl, UCF looks to continue their rise in the NCAA this year, and though they’ve gotten off to a rocky start (1-3 so far in 2008), they show promise, and you can be part of the excitement!

UCF is now in their second season in their all new state of the art Brighthouse Stadium, and has home games left this season against strong opponents like SMU (Oct. 4), East Carolina (Nov. 2), Southern Miss (Nov. 8), and UAB (Nov. 29). Don’t miss the action. Visit UCFathletics.com for ticket information.

Do you have an Orlando area football story? Tell us about it in the comments!

Florida Attractions, Ginn Reunion, Orlando Area Sports, Orlando Attractions, Tampa, things to do in Orlando

Discovery Cove, (Sea) Worlds Apart

Paul — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:13:25 +0000

The following is a guest contribution from our good friend Lauren who works at Discovery Cove, SeaWorld’s park that allows you to swim with dolphins (among other things). Lauren will check in with us from to time to time to keep us abreast of some of the cool stuff going on at SeaWorld and Discovery Cove.

As a Discovery Cove employee, I know that many people know Discovery Cove as a park where guests have the one-of-a-kind opportunity to swim with dolphins. But did you know about all the other incredible adventures you can have there? Imagine snorkeling with rays and tropical fish, hand-feeding exotic birds and relaxing on pristine beaches.

Admission to this park includes everything you could dream of for the perfect vacation day — a freshly prepared meal (the food is absolutely delicious!), unlimited snacks and beverages throughout the day (yes, this includes Anheuser-Busch products), snorkel equipment, locker rental, wetsuits and towels.

I�??ll be blogging here every now and then to share with Ginn Reunion guests some �??insider tips�?? to make the most of their day at Discovery Cove.

Here are the top five tips for fall:

�?� No need to bring anything more than your swimsuit and photo ID for your day of discovery. We provide environmentally-friendly sunscreen and plenty of clean towels. Also leave your valuables at home as you must remove before swimming with the dolphins and don�??t want to lose anything.

�?� Wear your contacts instead of glasses to see better through your dive mask. We offer masks with prescription lenses, if you need them.

�?� Fuel up before your day of fun! A light continental breakfast is available until 10:30 a.m. on the patio of Laguna Grill. And — don�??t forget to save room for dessert at lunch as our carrot cake is the best around.

�?� Ask the aquarists at Ray Lagoon for the stingrays feeding times. It�??s fun to watch and you may be able to help them!

�?� For Reunion�??s guests visiting from other parts of Florida �?? here�??s some great news: Discovery Cove�??s Florida resident offer has returned. From now through December 20, giving residents of the Sunshine State a special rate of $219 plus tax for an all-inclusive dolphin swim and $119 plus tax for non-dolphin swim admission when they book their Discovery Cove vacation at DiscoveryCove.com or by calling 1-877-4-DISCOVERY or (407) 370-1280. Florida residents booking at this special rate will receive an unlimited use pass to their choice of either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for up to 14 days.

Enjoy your day at Discovery Cove! I�??ll be back in a few with more insider tips for you and your family.

Orlando Attractions, Orlando Theme Parks, things to do in Orlando

Budgeting your time at Walt Disney World - Part 3: Expert Timesavers

Paul — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:15:38 +0000

Welcome to Part Three of a three part series. This time I’m focusing on tips that should not be attempted by the casual Walt Disney World Guest. This all about getting in the things you want, while avoiding the attractions you have limited interest in. These are for the expert not because they are difficult but because you will be sacrificing some of the overall Disney experience in order to maximize your ride time (which means these are especially bad suggestions first timers, or those traveling with first timers).

Now before we get into these tips for Disney power visitors, lets do a quick recap of the timesavers from the first two installments. You should be well versed in these before you attempt to implement the tips in part three. If any of these sound unfamiliar, just refer back to the appropriate post.

Basic:

Get there early.
Maximize your FastPass.
Work from most to least popular.
Don�??t go to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday.
Don�??t bring a bag unless you have no choice.
Sunblock and light colors.
Bring or buy a bottled water (and keep it filled with the numerous water fountains).

Intermediate:

Skip the complimentary transportation.
On the subject of transportation, don�??t forget about the ferryboat.
Take a break.
Bring a couple of empty zipper bags.
Ask the PhotoPass photographers to use your camera.
Dining Options (Snack, Counter Service, Reservations, or Off Site)

And now, on to the Expert Time Savers:

Use the stores as a path. Many of the stores lining various streets (especially in the front of the parks) are connected. If you aren’t likely to get distracted by the variety of items for sale, this is an excellent way to get through the crowded entrance areas while everyone is looking around and taking pictures. This is especially useful if you arrive prior to the park’s official opening since they’ll use this are as a holding area until the park opens, and by using the connected stores, you can slip past most of the crowd (but you may have to pretend to shop).

Single rider lines are your friend. Though they aren’t employed in many rides, if you want to get on the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith, Expedition Everest, or the GM Test Track, and aren’t worried about who you sit next to, skip the FastPass (save it for another ride), and use the single rider line. They use this to fill seats that otherwise would go empty, and with the large quantity of odd numbered parties, these tend to move really fast.

Don’t shop in the parks. Yes, they’ve got tons of great shirts, toys, candies, etc. in the stores in the parks, and if you are looking for something specific to a park (like a safari hat or an Aerosmith tee) you may not have a choice, but Downtown Disney has just about everything you could find in the parks, and it’s usually less crowded than the park stores (not to mention it may be still be open after the parks close, depending on the day and time of year). If you are looking for a bargain, you can get park merchandise at Character Premiere, a Disney outlet store, at the Orlando Premium Outlets in Lake Buena Vista or the Prime Outlets St. Augustine (if you are taking I-95 home). I’ve actually bought a shirt at Walt Disney World and seen the same exact one for half the price at the St. Augustine outlet the very next weekend.

Know when to go. If you really want to beat the crowds, think of the most inconvenient times for most people to go, and that’s precisely when you should go. In my experience, the ideal times (for both good weather and small crowds) are late January, all of February, March (avoid the weeks on either side of Easter), late September, early November, early December. You should do your best to avoid the summer, it gets ridiculously hot, much hotter in the parks than the weather forecast for the area (asphalt and concrete soak up the heat, then radiate it out). Also, try to avoid Christmas. yes, it’s pretty, but it’s also their busiest time of year. If you want to see the Christmas decorations, go in the first two weeks of December (or in November, as most of it is up a couple of weeks prior to Thanksgiving).

Don’t buy without a ticket strategy. They’re going to try to get you to load yourself up with all the extras. There are things you need to consider before you buy your tickets. I’ll assume that your time is limited (that’s why you are reading this), but if you are planning four or more days at the parks, don’t spend the money on a park hopper. You have the luxury of being able to spend a full day at each park. If, like me, you’re on something of a time constriction, think carefully about how much time you actually want to spend at each park, or if you even want to go to all four. If your there for three full days, and don’t really want to go to Epcot, there’s no reason to go the park hopper route. If you’re there in the summer, you might want to consider the waterparks option, but be realistic. Chances are if you are in town for two days, and want to hit three parks, the waterpark option is unreasonable. Also there’s the no-expiration option. This is good if you know that the people whose names are on the ticket will return at some point. They now match a fingerprint to each ticket at first use, so little brother can’t use big sister’s ticket on the next visit. Also remember, that if you aren’t a Florida resident, your ticket expires 14 days after the first use if you don’t get the no expiration option (FL residents get six months). Keep in mind, all of this information was accurate at the time it was posted, but you should always read Disney’s ticketing policies carefully, because they could change.

That about covers it. I’m sure after my next trip I’ll remember things that I forgot this time around, so check back in the comments from time to time, and feel free to add in your own suggestions. I’d love to hear some of your ideas.

Orlando Attractions, Orlando Theme Parks, things to do in Orlando

Budgeting your time at Walt Disney World - Part 2: Intermediate Timesavers

Paul — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:11:09 +0000

Welcome to part two in a three part series. I’m putting my years of experience visiting Walt Disney World to work for you, the wonderful readers of Blog.ReunionResort.com! I’ve been visiting WDW almost annually for well over twenty years, and now that I live in Florida I’m there at least once every few months.

As mentioned in my previous post, I’m all about getting the maximum amount of Disney into one trip, and this post will feature tips for those of you who have are planning a return trip to Walt Disney World (or those of you who have already committed my previous post to memory). These suggestions aren’t more difficult than the basic ones, but they are intended for someone with a more ambitious schedule (and some will be hard if you are traveling with small children).

But let’s dispense with the preliminaries and move on to the reason you came here.

Intermediate Timesavers:

Skip the complimentary transportation. Yes, the Disney buses and monorail system are terribly convenient, but the price you pay is in time. I won’t diverge into a discussion of public transportation here other than to say I’m for it, unless your time is tight, and if you’re trying to make it to all of the parks efficiently, then your time is tight. Your parking pass (a “bargain” at $11.00) is good all day at all four parks, so use it. If you arrived early you should be within walking distance of your car, or at the first tram stop. Drive yourself to the next park, and you won’t need to wait for the bus to arrive, fill, and slowly drive to your next stop. If you have a need to ride the monorail, you’re in luck, because you will need to ride it to the Magic Kingdom (which you won’t be visiting on a Saturday, right?).

On the subject of transportation, don’t forget about the ferryboat. This is an if ___ then ___ type of tip. If, upon arrival at the Ticket and Transportation Center (the place where the monorail takes guests to the Magic Kingdom), the line for the monorail extends down the ramp, and the ferry is at the dock, take the ferry (on your left as you enter). The ferry makes the crossing slower than the monorail, but if you have to wait for the next monorail train the ferry is your better option. If the line for the monorail has gone beyond the platform to include the ramp, then you won’t be on the next train.

Take a break. Seriously. The single biggest obstacle to completing an ambitious, park-hopping schedule is fatigue. Whether or not you are staying close to Disney, like at (apologies for the obvious plug) Ginn Reunion, get out of the parks for two to three hours at the peak of the day. The weather is the hottest and the crowds are the largest from around 12:30 until around 5:00, so carve out some time in there for yourself. Go back to your hotel for a nap, or some pool time, or just do some shopping, or have a nice meal. You’ll recharge your batteries a bit, and you’ll be able to return to the parks stronger, and stay until late (which with the fireworks and all rides in the dark is probably the coolest time to be there).

Bring a couple of empty zipper bags. Why? Because you want to ride Splash Mountain, and you have your cell phone and camera with you. Yep, I just saved you like 400 bucks. No need to thank me, just knowing that your electronic devices are safe helps me sleep better at night.

Ask the PhotoPass photographers to use your camera. This one may come as a surprise, but the PhotoPass photographers will usually gladly take a photo of your group with your camera, saving you money that you might spend the very pricey PhotoPass service. (But if it’s your first visit, or you are willing to pay for the convenience, the PhotoPass service can be very handy.)

Dining is kind of a strange animal because everyone has different preferences, so I’m going to offer several strategies for you to use as you see fit. I should point out that Disney offers a dining plan that I’ve heard good things about, but I’ve never used it myself, and therefore don’t feel comfortable recommending it. If you have tried it, please share your experience in the comments.

Snack all day. Neither the healthiest nor the least expensive way to go, but park food is fun and you’re on vacation. All of the parks have concessions stands around with goodies like turkey legs, McDonald’s fries, churros, ice cream bars, hot dogs, etc. It’ll bring out the kid in you, but don’t expect everyone in your party to be on board for this dining option.

Maximum efficiency for full meals; counter service restaurants. If speed is your primary goal (as it usually is for me on day one), eat at counter service restaurants at off times. This may seem obvious, but you’d be amazed at how easy it is to walk into the Columbia Harbor House in the Magic Kingdom (between Peter Pan and the Haunted Mansion) at 2:30 and find a short line and tons of open tables. These restaurants offer a pretty decent value, and if you find one that is either out of the main traffic flow or has easily missed signage, you’ll be in and out quickly. Also, some of these restaurants have second floor seating. The second floor is almost always less crowded, and therefore quieter.

The full-on experience, make reservations. If you’re looking for the full Disney experience, you probably want to eat in one of the more elaborately themed restaurants (like anything in Epcot’s World Showcase). This means you have to create a bit of a schedule for yourself, and make reservations in advance. If you are interested in lunching at one of these spots I highly recommend going for a noon reservation, rather than trying to get an off-time. The restaurants open at noon, and if you have an early reservation, you are less likely to arrive on-time only to have to wait for a table to open. Don’t worry, the kitchen can handle the rush. They do it every day.

Lunch recovery, off-site. Okay, you’ve made the smart move to leave the park for a few hours in the early afternoon. Obviously there are tons of places to eat in the Orlando area, from your hotel to countless fast food joints to theme restaurants, but if you still want a bit of the Disney experience in your lunch break, head over to Downtown Disney. If your goal is to escape the crowd, things are pretty quiet (by comparison) at Downtown Disney in the early afternoon, and there are several great places to eat and shop, and some amazing sundaes at Ghirardelli (they may look pretty basic, but trust me, they are awesome!). This area gets packed at night, so early afternoon is really the ideal time to come anyway.

That’s it for now. Please share your own tips in the comments, and look for part three next week!

Orlando Attractions, Orlando Theme Parks, things to do in Orlando

Budgeting your time at Walt Disney World - Part 1: Basic Timesavers

Paul — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:30:32 +0000

If you’re like me, you love the idea of casually sauntering around Walt Disney World, taking in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the parks, but in reality you don’t have that kind of time. One of these days I’ll take a trip to Disney for a full week (in the off-season) to allow myself time to take the parks at a leisurely pace without missing anything, but for the time being (assuming I can muster the energy) Disney trips will remain action packed weekends. This means effective time management.

As a Florida resident, I have the luxury of being able to visit the parks several times a year, meaning that I’ve gathered together quite a few time savers for my own personal use, and now I feel like I should share them with the world at large (or at least those of you who have found this blog).

This is going to be a three part post. The second and third parts will come over the next week or so. I’m going to break these down into three categories. The “Basic” category is for first timers. It covers things that you’d learn on your first visit, but will be helpful to know prior to your first visit. The “Intermediate” category is for everyone, but these are tips that may not be obvious until after several visits. And finally we’ll have the “Advanced” category. This is for three park a day folks like me.

Basic Timesavers:

Get there early. I can’t stress this one enough. In fact plan to get there a half hour before opening so you have time to park and get into the gates before the rides open (yes, you can, they’ll just keep you in the front park of the park until 9:00). You’d think that there isn’t much difference in arriving at the park at 10:00 vs. 9:00, but you’d be wrong. The difference that one hour makes is easily three rides (at less crowded times, you can squeeze in five rides in that first hour). By 10:00 the major influx is rolling in, and you can have the marquee rides already knocked out.

Maximize your FastPass. Disney’s FastPass system is a virtual line. You go to the ride, pick up a ticket, return to the ride at the time printed on your ticket, and go to what is basically the front of the line. To make the most of this system, you should go directly to the most popular ride/attraction that you want to do and get your first FastPass. At this point you need to make a decision regarding your next ride. There will be a time printed on the FastPass ticket that you can get another one, if you’ve arrived early enough, and expect to still be in the same park for some time after that, you should plan to get a FastPass for the second most popular ride that you want to do. If you are trying to hit multiple parks, you should go to the second most popular ride on your list.

Work from most to least popular. When selecting your ride order, you should try to work backward from most to least popular. The lines for all rides start out short, then get longer. The lines for the more popular rides (e.g. anything with the word “Mountain” in it) will get longer faster, and stay that way until about an hour before the park closes (and by then you’ll be worn out, or in a different park). You’ll spend less time in line if you hit the big rides (that you don’t have a FastPass for) immediately when the park opens.

Don’t go to the Magic Kingdom on Saturday. I make this mistake myself, because it’s so tempting. If you’re there for the weekend (as so many are), you want to go to the Magic Kingdom first, because it’s your favorite, but it’s also everybody else’s favorite. I do recommend going to the Magic Kingdom in the morning, but on any day other than Saturday.

Don’t bring a bag unless you have no choice. There is a bag check, and it’s a huge log-jam every single morning. There’s a spot for those without bags to breeze right on through, and you can save a lot of hassle by just making efficient use of pockets, and risking looking like dork by carrying your camera on your belt (trust me, there will be a thousand people that look dorkier). Obviously, if you’ve got a little one (child, not camera), this may not be doable.

Sunblock and light colors. Obvious to anyone who’s spent time in Central Florida, it gets hot down here, even in winter. I can’t remember the last time I wore long sleeves to Disney. Expect the park to be five degrees warmer than the local forecast, and be sure to put on some sunblock before you leave your hotel.

Bring or buy a bottled water (and keep it filled with the numerous water fountains). I generally am not a fan of bottled water, seems like a waste most of the time, but there are occasions when it’s good to have a disposable bottle of water, like at Disney. The reason I say bottled water, and not a water bottle, is that you may find yourself in a situation where you need to dispose of it. Most of the rides have a place for you to put it (or you can hold it during the ride), but I’ve had to throw mine away once or twice (yes, they do have recycling bins scattered throughout the parks), so having a nice Sigg or Nalgene bottle could be a problem.

That’s it for now. Look for my next post on this topic in a couple of days!

Orlando Attractions, Orlando Theme Parks, things to do in Orlando

At Tesoro, Eagles Take Flight

Paul — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:06:47 +0000

At Tesoro, a residential community built by Ginn Reunion’s parent company Ginn Resorts in Port St. Lucie, there are some celebrities in the neighborhood. Though you may not have heard of them yet, they’ve become worldwide internet sensations, and have even made an appearance on NBC Nightly News. They are a family of American Bald Eagles, two adults and two eaglets.

You see, several years ago, when Ginn started developing Tesoro in Port St. Lucie they came across an eagle’s nest right in the middle of what was supposed to be a construction site. Knowing that this simply would not do, Bobby Ginn took it upon himself to have the entire community redesigned to accommodate what would eventually become Tesoro’s most famous family.

At a cost estimated in the millions, not to mention lost revenue from additional homesites, Ginn set up a special preserve just for the eagles in the hope that they would return year after year, and they did.

Ginn in association with Audubon of Florida had a webcam set up so that interested parties could keep tabs on these two magnificent birds, and a couple years later, those two birds decided it was time to start their own family. In early 2008 they thrilled countless bird enthusiasts and others alike when two baby eaglets hatched from the eggs that the mother had been tending to so carefully. Now the eaglets are reaching maturity as well and have begun to fly. Tune in to the Audubon of Florida Eagle Cam to check in on this famous family, and please feel free to add your own eagle stories and sightings in the comments below.

Click here for the Audubon of Florida Webcam.
Click here to see NBC Nightly News coverage of the Eagles at Tesoro.

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A Place Where Dreams Come True, Walt Disney World

nlindgren — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:17:51 +0000

No Orlando vacation is complete without visiting the place where dreams come true and where magic is a reality. For over 35 years Walt Disney World has continually upheld its bargain to children and adults of all ages by offering an unforgettable experience highlighted by magical rides, incredible shows, and award-winning restaurants.

There is never an end to the fun at Disney. It is very possible to spend two weeks at Disney theme parks and still not have seen everything. The most shocking part is that after two weeks the �??Disney thirst�?? would still be unquenched. With four theme parks for families to choose from, there is something sure to make everyone’s “wish” come true. The little ones just love getting their pictures taken with their favorite Disney characters like Snow White, Cinderella, Aladin, Tinkerbell, Goofy, Donald and of course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse! And for families on a budget, they offer an array of different ticketing options ideal to suit your needs. So, make sure you don’t miss out on the adventures your entire family can take at Walt Disney World and make sure you grab those famous Mickey Mouse ears!

Experience Orlando, Florida Attractions, Orlando Attractions, Orlando Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, things to do in Orlando

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Perfect for Teens

Lisa Blaney — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:07:14 +0000

While there are many theme parks to choose from in the Orlando area, Busch Gardens is well worth the drive. My daughter and her boyfriend recently went to Busch Gardens for the day. It was less than an hour drive from the Champion’s Gate/Ginn Reunion area where we live. Being residents of greater Orlando, we have been to all of the local theme parks numerous times, but we’re always looking for something new and fun to do.

For starters, the price was great, especially compared to the Disney theme parks; $55 for a basic ticket online $65 at the gate (Florida residents get an even better deal), and for $10 more, it becomes a Fun Card, valid for admission for the rest of the year!

The rides were great, 3 big steel coasters (including a floorless dive coaster called SheiKra), 2 smaller steel coasters (one for grownups, one more kid sized), 2 wooden racing coasters (under one name, Gwazi), and 3 water rides (awesome on a hot day). On top of all that they have two really great rides that incorporate the animals of Africa (the theme of the park) called Rhino Rally, a safari race, and a more traditional safari ride that you book in advance (extra charge).

The animals and animal shows are amazing from elephants to great apes, and since the kids’ trip Busch Gardens has added a brand new area called Jungala (opened in April 2008) with more animals and more rides.

They said the food was great, in fact they said “much better” than at the Disney parks. And the souvenir selection is very good, and very reasonably priced. My daughter came home with two adorable stuffed animals of high quality for $12.99 each.

All in all, I would highly recommend Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for a day trip from the Orlando area, especially with bigger kids who like the big rides.

Busch Gardens Tampa, Roller Coasters, Tampa