Plan Your Florida Vacation
The aim of this blog is to provide as much information about things to see and do whilst you are on the holiday of a lifetime in the vacation capital of the world - The Sunshine State of Florida.
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Seaworld Orlando
Posted on November 5th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Julie Hart
Authors WebsiteWe have visted all the big theme parks in Orlando, more than once but I think Sea World is our favourite. I have lost count of the number of times we have been over the years and every time we take anyone new to Florida with us, it’s always on the itinerary!
I first visited Sea World in California in 1984 so things have changed a bit since then. One of the highlights for me and probably lots of other people is the Clyde & Seymour show, I know every single corny joke but it’s always good fun and the mime showing people in is hilarious. If you’ve ever been caught you know to get in early next time!
Of course the main attraction is the Shamu show which is just fantastic, I love the fact that there is a conservation programme going on as well and it’s wonderful to see these intelligent, lovable animals and the obvious understanding with them and their trainers.
The dolphin show has changed quite a bit recently, now including tropical birds and performers as well as the dolphins. It’s great entertainment for everyone. There are areas where you can just observe the animals aswell, in a habitat which has been created to be as close the their native home as possible. You can watch the seals and feed them at certain times, they are very noisy and fun to watch, at the dolphin pool you might be lucky and have them come close enough for you to touch, more often they duck away at the last minute.
You can see penguins, polar bears, manattees, sting rays, sharks and a host of creatures you might never otherwise get to see, let alone interact with. The shark experience is very good, walking through a glass tunnel with sharks swimming overhead and all around. In every area there is a conservation and educational theme so you can learn more about the animals you see.
I also like the fact that they have a ‘Help the Heroes’ programme and show their support for servicemen and women everywhere, they show a tribute during the Shamu show which is quite moving.
The park is owned by a brewery and the Shire horses are beautIful, the tack and all the other equipment is beautifully maintained and at times you can see them tacking up the horses and taking out the drey.
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Seaworld Gets Our Vote Every Time
Posted on April 17th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Joanne Humphrey
Authors WebsiteAs regular visitors to Orlando, we have tried and tested many of the theme parks, but the one we never fail to return to every single trip is Seaworld. In fact, our three year old thinks Seaworld is Florida and everything else we do there just washes over him.
I think the thing that sets Seaworld apart from the other parks is the personalities of each of the attractions. No one can fail to be impressed by the exploits of Shamu, Clyde and Seamore, or the dolphins and birds in the Blue Horizons show.
The Shamu show has been redesigned this year to the Believe performance. Personally I preferred the previous show, but you still can’t go to Seaworld and not see Shamu strutting his stuff. The Shamu Rocks evening show is another excellent example of the wonder of these orcas.
Another personal favourite of ours is Blue Horizons in the dolphin theatre. Live actors, trapeze artists, dolphins and exotic birds work together beautifully to create this jaw-dropping display.
Clyde and Seamore is a classic double act which has been going for years and years. Although the human actors have a bigger role than the animals in this show, they are hilarious for the adults in the audience. This one is not quite so much of a hit with the younger children as the humour goes over their heads and the animals do not play as active a role.
Taking out all the wonderful shows at Seaworld, there are still plenty of entertaining ways to spend your day, not least of which is hanging over the side of the dolphin cove waiting for that much coveted kiss from the friendly creatures.
If I had one small criticism of Seaworld, there could be more shaded, cool areas to take the pressure of the heat off. Although in all of the shows most of the seating areas are shaded, just the fact that the park is so open and there is so much water around seems to make the heat very intense. The eating places are not bad – better than those in the Disney parks – but most of them are quite busy café style and can have long queues while the casual, ice cream type stalls are mainly outside with little or no seating. One tip to overcome this is to save the Nautilus show for the hottest part of the day when you really desperately need to be cool and rested. This show, although not featuring real life animals, is just as entertaining as the other shows and not to be missed.
I don’t care what anyone says about dogs – in our house, it’s the dolphins who are man, woman and child’s best friend!
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SeaWorld - Brewery Tour
Posted on April 15th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Keith Kirkland
Authors WebsiteAnheuser-Busch are the company that own SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. They are the brewery company that produce Budweiser Beers.
Unless you have been to SeaWorld before and made your way to the rear of the park you can easily miss this great opportunity.
You can queue up to get your free samples of beer from the on-site brewery. There are all types of beer to taste as well as a food court for you to grab a bite while you sit in the sun sipping your cool draft beers.
Do not miss booking a brewery tour. You will need to get there fairly early on the day to make sure you can fit it in on your visit. You will be shown into a large room and be invited to taste some of the unusual beers that they produce - Budlight with lime, Michelop Amber , etc. As well as some seasonal beers depending when you visit. You also get to try the right fruit or cheese with the appropriate beer.
For the kids you can visit the stables where the Drey horses are kept.
Its good fun! So don’t miss out.
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Seaworld Revisited
Posted on April 9th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Patty Bensur
Authors WebsiteWe have made many visits to Sea World, but it had been awhile. I hadn’t realized how long until my youngest (he’s 12) made the comment recently that he didn’t remember ever going to Sea World! Wow – I hadn’t realized it had been that long. So, we returned to what we thought would be another day of the usual Shamu, Clyde and Seymour marathon. We were more than pleasantly surprised!
Back in the day when the kids were little, a full day at the parks was exhausting for them. Well, these days, they’re like energizer bunnies and never quit and full days at the parks are now exhausting not for them, but for us aging parents!! So, seeing that Sea World was running their “2 nd day free” offer, we took advantage of it to split up the park over two days. We arrived around 5:00 p.m. and immediately had our tickets validated for the next day. Our first stop was “Blue Horizons.” This was certainly not the dolphin show that I remembered! This show had birds, trapeze artists, divers and special effects –wow! Next it was on to “Shamu Rocks” where I had a great time moving to the beat of tunes from my era. Shamu had quite a few friends now and was a lot bigger than I remembered!
We went to “Wild Arctic” next which had been transformed into the “Polar Express” for the Christmas season. I didn’t expect to be going on a virtual reality ride at Sea World but hey, I’m not complaining! It was great fun and the effects coupled with scenes from the movie (which was brilliant) made for a very unique experience. We came out just in time to gather at the Waterfront for “Mystify” which is the night-time finale featuring fountains and fireworks – another pleasant surprise.
We were anxious to return the next day! We immediately lined up for the popular roller coaster, the Kraken followed by The Journey to Atlantis. Thrill rides at Sea World was also a very new experience for us all – and thrilling they were! We went on to enjoy all of our old favorites including the Penguin Encounter, the Clyde and Seamore show, the Manatee Rescue, and the Shark Encounter
We thoroughly enjoyed seeing Shamu once again in “Believe” and our favorite show of the day was “Odyssea” at the Nautilus Theater. This was a beautiful performance in the tradition of Cirque Du Soleil.
So, if you haven’t been to Sea World in awhile, it’s definitely time for you to return!
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A day at Seaworld Orlando
Posted on March 30th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Malcolm Pendlebury
Authors WebsiteSeaworld, Orlando is one of three parks, the others being in San Diego and San Antonio, you can visit their web site at http://www.seaworld.com/. Seaworld is situated on International Drive and is easy reach of most hotels/motels in Orlando. The question is where do you start, there is so much to see and do. This is definitely more than an amusement park, it is a learning experience and a chance to interact with species from the sea that you would never have dreamed of.
Seaworld is of course famous for its show that feature Shamu, the killer whale, Shamu is a not a whale that have been taken from it natural environment and placed in a water zoo. Shamu like all its predecessors have been bred in captivity and trained to perform amazing feats of skill and dexterity. No matter how many times you see this show you will never tire of the ability of the trainers to educate Shamu to work with and actually learn the routine. He interacts with the audiences and performs amazing tricks that demonstrate just how precise and gentle this mammal can be. A word of caution, do not sit in the front 10 – 12 rows in the audience, you will get wet, its surprising just how much water a whale can displace.
You would be incorrect to think that Seaworld is only about Shamu, the complete Seaworl d experience is about learning. As you enter the park you are faced with multiple choices, the option to go to visit the Wild Artic which features the polar bears and see the Beluga Whales, a wonderful white whale. It is an endangered species and this rare chance to see and by a paying a little extra get to Interact with them. This is a magical experience for adults and children alike and one you will never forget. Or go to see the sharks as they swim in the vast tanks that makeup Seaworld, see the nursing sharks and many other predators that can found in the Ocean. During the day you must take time to see Clyde and Seamore, this a show to amuse you and at the same time once again demonstrate the sill of the Seaworld Staff. One of the must not miss shows is Blue Horizons, a show set to music featuring Dolphins and Birds there is acrobatics and drams to recreate a theatre in Seaworld.
Interact with the Dolphins, feed the Stingrays, see how people react to these wonderful creatures. There are thrill rides as well as the learning experience, journey to Atlantic is guaranteed to set the blood racing and guaranteed to get you going back for more (Not for the faint hearted). Follow this by a ride on Kraken, a floorless roller coaster ride and then try a ride through the Wild Artic. Although you could say that the Anheuser-Busch stables are not a thrill ride it is a unique experience to Clydesdale Horses at their best and sample some of Americas best beers in the Brewmasters Club.
There is so much to see and do at Seaworld, you can spend days there but don’t forget you can also go to the sister parks which are Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Discovery cove is where you can swim with the Dolphins whilst Aquatica is a newly completed water park that compares favourably with Watermania and Blizzard Beach.
Take advantage of the tickets where you can go for a day and then go back the next day free, or go to Busch Gardens (near Tampa) for the same price offer. Whatever you do have a great time and don’t forget to take your time and enjoy this fantastic experience.
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Shamu Rocks at Sea World Orland
Posted on March 3rd, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Duncan Watson
Authors WebsiteThe Theme Park I have visited most on my many trips to Florida is Sea World Orlando. I have visited this park on my own. On one occasion, but I always like visiting this park with my two young children. I think it offers the best of both worlds. It is very educational for all concerned, and the children love the various sea creatures they see.
The big favourite at Sea world Orlando is “Shamu” the giant killer whale. I have seen the killer whale show “Believe” now five times in three years, and I must say I have enjoyed everyone. My children are love this show and always want to go back.
But last year in August 2006 I found a show that even beat the daytime Believe Shamu show. I must say the “Shamu Rocks” show is was the highlight of our Florida holiday. Once you have bought your tickets for two weeks, you can go as many times as you like. I would advise getting there early; it will be completely full at the Shamu Stadium. It starts at about 8p.m. and it is very dark. This only adds to the spectacular show that you are about to see.
There is a new state of the art lighting system in conjunction with high energy quality music and many L.E.D giant screens brings this to you in a unique way. The quality is exceptional and the results are just stunning. The screens video images take Shamu past the white cliffs of Dover, trek through the jungles of Africa and dive into the coral reefs off the coast of Australia.
The music makes this really sing a long rock n roll show, and audience participation is fantastic. Simple the best show I have seen!
here is a mass exit from the Shamu stadium at the end of the show, and a lot of people at night can be a little nervy, especially with young children. We stayed and watched the firework display on the lake. This was no great shakes but a lot of people stayed to watch it. I was glad when we followed the large crowds out of the park and found our car.
Another excellent day in Florida
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The Kraken at Sea World
Posted on February 26th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Duncan Watson
Authors WebsiteBe afraid! Be very afraid! Named after the fierce sea monster of Greek mythology, this monster roller coaster will quite simply take your breath away. Kraken is the highest, fastest, longest and only floorless roller coaster in the whole of Orlando. It climbs up to the height of a 15 storey building and then plunges back down at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour, whilst turning you upside down time after time.
Your feet just dangle in mid-air as you sit on pedestal-like seats, with only shoulder restraints holding you in. You have been warned!
I know what your thinking, you thought Sea World was all about animals and fishy things from the sea, you couldn’t be more wrong. Go on and give it a try if you dare!
I have to say, just watching it gave me a scare but give it a go just once!
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Central Florida Theme Parks
Posted on April 29th, 2008 No commentsAs well as being the Sunshine State, Florida is also the capital for Theme Parks after Walt Disney opened his first park around 50 years ago. Since the arrival of Disney, Florida has seen a huge increase in the number of theme parks with Disney alone having grown to a total of 4 and an additional 2 water parks.
Universal Studios followed Disney into Florida opening up it’s very own park which is also a working studio and more recently another park called Islands of Adventure which host a number of big thrill rides.
Sea World is a name that many people will recognise and they too have opened an additional park in the last few years which focuses on an “up close and personal” experience with dolphins, sharks and whales.
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World is the collective name for all the theme parks associated with the infamous name Disney. It is common knowledge that the area of Walt Disney World is approximately equivalent to that of the city of Manchester in the UK!
Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is what many people would associate with being Disney World itself. It is the land of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and of course Cinderella’s Castle. The Magic Kingdom is divided into a number of smaller themed kingdoms, each unique and hosting a number of rides and shows. Make sure you catch the Light Parade around 9pm and get yourself a good vantage point early!!! If your visit falls on Christmas Day then you are in for a special treat of a Light Parade - if you are planning on a Christmas Day visit, you will need to get to the park EARLY… gates close and admission is refused once the numbers through the gates have been reached!
Epcot
Epcot is the park that is most commonly known for having the giant golf ball like structure that is visible from miles around. The park exhibits cultures from countries around the globe by allocating streets or sections to that country. Local cuisines can be sampled and entertainment from the countries is put on at the street side and in theatres. Epcot hosts such rides as Honey I Shrunk The Audience and a number of virtual reality games. A must see is the fireworks show across the lake which is spectacular.
Disney MGM Studios
MGM Studios is home to huge number of great rides and shows including the Aerosmith Rock ‘n Rollercoster, The Twighlight Zone’s Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones Stunt Show and much more. A fireworks show is also put on at the end of the night.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The newest of all the Walt Disney World theme parks, Animal Kingdom brings the African safari experience to Florida as well as animals from other parts of the world. It is advisable to get to Animal Kingdom as early in the morning as possible to ensure catching a look at the main attractions.
Walt Disney’s Water Parks
Typhoon Lagoon, the older of the two Disney water parks is themed around a tropical island which has high speed water shoots and a huge lagoon which generates man made waves every 10 minutes or so. A lazy river can be enjoyed if you can do without the big thrills of the water slides and big waves!
Blizzard Beach is the latest of Disney’s water parks and is themed around the sureal surroundings of a snow capped Arctic mountain! Again, big slides and everything that is needed to make your heart beat that little bit faster!
Downtown Disney
It is quite easy to spend an entire day and a night at DownTown Disney! Here you can enjoy dining at a huge selection of restaurants including the largest Planet Hollywood in the world where dining is amongst memorabilia of celebrities from the TV and movie industry.
Why not enjoy a visit to one of the renowned Cirqu du Soleil spectaculars or check out who’s playing at The House of Blues. If you like stay up to date with the most current hits either in the music world or on DVD then perhaps you won’t want to miss out on a visit to one or the largest Virgin Mega Stores in the world or watch a movie at the AMC 24 Screen Movie Theatre and enjoy the very best in surround sound and picture quality.
If you are over 21 and want to dance the night away and enjoy a drink then Pleasure Island is a must. Bars and clubs of various genres are here including one with a revolving dance floor which can get quite confusing towards the end of the night! They say that every night is like New Year’s Eve!
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort comprises of two theme parks - Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. The latest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort is City Walk, where you can enjoy the many bars, restaurants and night clubs.
Universal Studios Florida
Experience a behind the scenes look at TV and movie favourites including E.T. Adventure, Back to the Future - The Ride, Men In Black and so much more. As well as being a theme park, Universal Studios Florida is a working studio having been used in movies including Beverly Hills Cop 3 - the park truly is a ‘must visit’ while in Orlando!
Islands of Adventure
The Universal company extended their popular theme park by adding a completely new park called Islands of Adventure which quite simply is an adrenalin junkie’s paradise. In Marvel Super Hero Island, experience The Incredible Hulk Coaster, the 3d Amazing Adventures of Spiderman and more. Get wet helping Popeye save Olive Oil on Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges in Toon Lagoon and even wetter on the Jurassic Park River Adventure. If you are in to big rides you will love the Islands of Adventure.
City Walk
At Universal’s City Walk you can enjoy a number of themed bars and restaurants. Special mention should be made of the world’s largest Hard Rock Cafe where you can dine with views of rock star’s memorabilia from Elvis to U2.
Hard Rock Live hosts many a rock concert in it’s 3000 capacity arena, so keep your eyes open and follow this link to stay up to date with their schedule - during 2004 and 2005, Hard Rock Live has played host to performers including Maroon 5, Nelly, Willie Nelson, Velvet Revolver, Keith Urban, The Killers and more..
Of course City Walk isn’t just about Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live… it has many bars, restaurants and night clubs of different themes and genres of music from hip hop to jazz.
Wet ‘n Wild
Located adjacent to Universal Orlando, Wet ‘n Wild-Orlando features a full day of fun for the entire family. The name Wet ‘n Wild has long been one of the nation’s best attended water parks - the world-class signature thrill rides and quality service offer something for fun-lovers of all ages!
Sea World
The Sea World brand is owned by the Anheuser Busch company which you may recognise is the owner of the famous American beer, Budweiser. In Florida Anheuser Busch has a total of 4 parks and all are within easy reach of our villas. Sea World and Discovery Cove are located in Orlando while Busch Gardens and Adventure Land are about an hour away near Tampa. Of course, due to the relationship between the parks and it’s various beer brands, you will find Anheuser Busch hospitality areas in the aforementioned parks where you are encouraged to sample their best selling and new brands of beer free of charge!
Sea World Orlando
Visit Shamu the killer whale and watch as these giant mamals jump feet into the air with their human trainers. This amazing show is the star attraction at Sea World Orlando. If you can, make time to view the daytime and evening shows as each is different and memorable.
When you visit the coast in Florida you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two. At Sea World Orlando you are guaranteed to see and even touch the dolphins. Also, make sure you take in the dolphin and whale show which is another of the park’s major attractions.
The Clyde and Seymore show is a must see - this team of sea lions will have you in stitches when they get up to their trained (and sometimes untrained!) antics!
In recent years, Sea World Orlando has added a new element in the way of rides and roler coasters. The Kraken is one of the fastest roller coasters ever made - in Orlando there is nothing to beat it as it is the fastest, longest, tallest floorless roller caster… you will reach speeds of 65mph and heights of 15 story buildings… you’ll love it!
The Journey To Atlantis quite simply will soak you - if you like to stay dry, stay away! This ride will take you on a log flume style journey through Atlantis and send you plunging from the mountain into the pool below. Beware of the sadistic on lookers at the end of the ride who have paid good money to soak you with water jets!!!
Discovery Cove
At Discovery Cove you can get a real up close interactive experience with dolphins. You will be provided with snorkel equipment, swim vests and everything needed to make your in the water experience with the dolphins a truly memorable one. Click on the link to visit Discovery Cove official website.
Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay and Adventure Island
Quite simply Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre, African-themed family entertainment park located in Tampa, Florida. It features naturalistic animal attractions such as the renowned 80-acre natural setting of the Serengeti Plain, thrill rides like Montu, a massive inverted roller coaster, and live entertainment. When you visit, make sure you take a ride on the Sheikra roller coaster which drops you 90 degrees… straight down at 70mph!
Adventure Island operates on 36 acres next to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The park features several unique water-play areas, thrilling splash rides and a 17,000-square-foot wave pool.
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