Although Florida is a year round destination due to its warm weather the temperature can still fluctuate and knowledge of the annual variations in temperatures can help you decide when may be the best time for you to travel.

January is my favourite month to be in Florida. The resort tends to be quiet and the temperatures are the coolest of the year reaching a low of 10 oC and a high of 22 oC. Spring temperatures in Florida are mainly high 80’s, possibly low 50’s. Although the sun shines brightly spring showers are common so pack that rainmac before you head to the parks.

The summer months of June through till September are the rainiest months although temperatures can be in the 90’s. In addition in July and August British guests or small children who are not used to the heat may struggle a bit getting used to the very hot  and humid weather. The good news is all shops, houses and cars are air conditioned (a welcome relief) and most villas come with their own pools to chill out in and cool down. Thunderstorms are possible in the late afternoons but usually last no more than an hour.

October to December still offers fantastic weather (high 80’s to low 60’s). This is the ideal weather for those who don’t want the extreme heat of the summer months.

Tropical storms and hurricanes are known in Florida and it is worth knowing the hurricane  season officially runs from the 1st June to the 30th November. Forewarnings are given for your peace pf mind well in advance of any hurricane.

Whilst a Florida holiday is great value, and your dollar will go a long way (don’t forget the shopping bargains!), you will need a few dollars.  There are several different ways to take your cash, here are our recommendations:

Credit Card

Credit cards (particularly MasterCard and Visa) are widely accepted, and will meet most of your requirements.  There are several advantages - the prime one being that you will not have surplus dollars, you will only spend what you need!  We recommend taking a couple of different cards (in case one is lost) - it is worth while advising your credit card issuer before your holiday that you will be using your card in Florida.  Card companies use sophisticated fraud detection systems, and the sudden change in use may trigger an alarm bell.

We suggest you check out how much your credit card loads the exchange rate by - most add nearly 3% to the cost, some don’t.  By choosing the right card, you can make your holiday money go further!

One additional consideration - your car rental company may require a deposit payable by credit card.  This will reduce the amount of credit you have available.

Travellers Cheques

Or checks as they are known as in the US.  These are very widely accepted - occasionally shops require additional identification (which is also occasionally the case with credit cards).  In many stores travellers cheques are as good as cash - buy them before you go, just sign and hand them over for your purchase.  The change is given in cash.  Much better to take travellers cheques in local currency - that takes away the difficulty of converting from sterling for the local traders.  If the travellers cheques are lost, most issuers can issue replacements very quickly.  On the downside, any which are not spent whilst on holiday will need to be changed back to sterling (or perhaps keep them for your next Florida holiday!)

Cash

As well as credit cards and travellers cheques, we also recommend taking some cash.  This will be useful on arrival - for tipping porters at the airport (or renting a trolley to carry your cases to your hire car).  And it is customary to tip waiters when dining out - a few dollars in cash will be ideal, although the option of adding the tip to the credit card is usually offered.  You can top up your cash at ATMs, but remember there will almost certainly be a fee.

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!

Playhouse Disney Live on Stage is closed January 3 - 27, 2008. An updated show featuring Mickey Mouse and Clubhouse friends will debut on January 28, 2008.

Journey into Narnia is closed January 2 - May 23, 2008.

Fantasmic! will be closed January 28 - February 1, 2008.

Epcot

The American Adventure is closed January 7 - February 3, 2008. (Earlier reports set the reopening as February 18.) The American Heritage Gallery, shops, and food and beverage areas will remain open.

Spaceship Earth, presented by Siemens, has been undergoing a number of changes over the last several months. The changes combine the attraction’s time-travel adventure into the past with a new finale that provides guests the opportunity to imagine their futures. Each of the ride scenes is being enhanced, and new show scenes will be added to the attraction’s story, along with new lighting effects, costumes, set decoration, narration and musical score. Spaceship Earth’s makeover is scheduled to be fully completed in early 2008. The official reopening of Spaceship Earth has been changed to February 18. Some folks have ridden as part of the soft opening testing.

International Dinner and Illuminations Dessert Reception, offered as part of the Grand Gathering Experience, will not be offered from January 28 - February 10. The Odyssey complex will be refurbished during this time.

Magic Kingdom

Minnie’s Country House is closed for refurbishment January 1 - February 1, 2008.

Tony’s Town Square Restaurant is closed for refurbishment January 5 - 27, 2008.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures will be closed for refurbishment January 28 - February 15, 2008.

Splash Mountain will be closed from January 1 to February 15, 2008.

Tinker Bell’s Treasures is closed for refurbishment from January 6 - March 16, 2008.

Animal Kingdom Lodge

There is ongoing construction in the Lodge for conversion of deluxe rooms to Disney Vacation Club Villas. Also there is outside construction of a new animal barn and Disney Vacation Club buildings. Construction is scheduled to last through April 2009.

Boardwalk Resort

Boardwalk Resort Luna Park (themed pool area) rehab began January 7, 2008. The pool area will be resurfaced and will reopen February 16. While it is closed, guests of the Boardwalk may use the Yacht and Beach Club’s Stormalong Bay pool. In addition, both non-themed pools at the Boardwalk will remain open.

Caribbean Beach Resort

The themed pool, Old Port Royale, will be closed for refurbishment between January 7, 2008, and mid-September 2008. Small, child-sized pool slides will be temporarily added to the pools in the villages of Jamaica and Barbados.

Fort Wilderness

There will be no 9:30 p.m. show of the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue on January 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30.

Grand Floridian

The Courtyard Pool will be closed from January 14 - mid-February, 2008. The Beach Pool will remain open. Grand Floridian guests may also use the Nanea Volcano Pool at the Polynesian during this time.

Old Key West

Turtle Pond Pool and the Turtle Shack Poolside Snacks will be closed for refurbishment January 14 - February 10, 2008

Port Orleans French Quarter

The Doubloon Lagoon pool will be closed January 28 - mid-March, 2008. Riverside’s Ol’ Man Island Pool will be open. Guests may also use Riverside’s Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend Pools.

Blizzard Beach

Is closed for annual refurbishment January 6 - March 8, 2008.

Downtown Disney

Wolfgang Puck Express at Downtown Disney Marketplace is closed for refurbishment now through Thursday, March 6, 2008. When it reopens, it will offer a new menu, a faster service and an expanded indoor dining area. The West Side Puck location will remain open during this time.

Regards,

Mary

On the pre arranged day we were picked up by our pilot Bob at the crack of dawn (in fact a long way before dawn).  Bob was in contact with several other pilots and eventually a launch site was agreed upon and the race was on to get there first to secure the best take off spot.

Seven trucks with their balloons in trailers  arrived and everyone was encouraged to help unpack and prepare for the gas to be lit.  Daybreak was a wonderful site with all the balloons gradually lifting skywards.  The different colours and sizes all with one aim, take of just as the sun rose.

Eventually all was ready and we were invited to climb aboard, just two of us and our pilot, and suddenly we were airbourne, very gently we ascended for the start our journey.  We watched all the other balloons take off, what a  spectacle.  The air was very still and we seemed to hover but still managed to travel several miles. 

There is an odd sensation of floating in silence, broken only by people on the ground who you can hear clearly discussing the balloon that you are in.  (Just remember if you are on the ground every word you say can be heard clearly).

The views are stunning and make you realise just how much of Florida is still natural vegetation and swamp.  Birds seem to take no notice of you and fly close by, just to give you a great view of them from above.

Eventually the landing site was in view and slowly we descended, we were amazed at how easily the pilot manoeuvred the balloon to get within feet of our preferred landing spot.  A feather could not have landed more gently,  the basket did not tip or turn, just rested on the grass for us to step onto terra firma again. 

A relaxing glass of champagne and discussions between all the other passengers about what we had seen and heard.  The overwhelming opinion was that it was an experience not to miss.

The trucks arrived and help was on hand with the loading of the balloons.  We were delivered back to our pick up point and still it was only 8am, a wonderful way to start a day.  Time to say goodbye to Bob our pilot, but hopefully in the future we will repeat the adventure.