It is so simple - just like using any vending machine.

DVD rental is just $1 + Tax per night (from 9pm – 9pm the following evening).

Each additional night’s rental is charged at $1 + Tax, so there is never a late fee.

If for any reason the DVD is not returned after 25 days, it is yours to keep!  Also, the DVD can be returned to any Redbox location.

All you need to rent a DVD is a credit or debit card issued in the name of the person renting the DVD, and the zip code of your property.  The zip code might be an issue, but we had no problem, perhaps because we also provided an e-mail address.  Enter an e-mail address and Redbox will send you three confirmations:

                        1.  DVD rental confirmation

                        2.  DVD return confirmation

                        3.  A receipt for total rental charges once the DVD is returned

On-line rental

You can check a movie is available at your nearest Redbox locations by logging on to Redbox.com.

By clicking on the movie’s box art, and entering your zip code, a list of nearby locations with that title available will appear.  Locate the nearest store and click on ‘RENT ONLINE NOW’.

If you already have an account with Redbox, you will be taken straight to the billing page, if not you will need to ‘Create Account’.

After confirmation, just head on down to the Redbox location and swipe your credit/debit card (needs to be the same one used to open the account) and collect your DVD.

If for any reason you do not collect the DVD before 9pm the following evening, your card will be charged $1 + Tax and the DVD released for another customer to rent.

Additional Information

New releases are added every Tuesday.

Renters under the age of 18 must have permission of a parent or legal guardian.

Locations

In the Orlando area, Redbox can be found at the following locations:

·        Wal-Mart, 4444 W Vine Street, Kissimmee, Fl, 34746

·        Wal-Mart, 1471 E Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, Fl, 34744

·        Wal-Mart, 3250 Vineland Road, Kissimee, Fl, 34746

·        Wal-Mart, 4400 13th Street, St Cloud, Fl, 34769

·        Wal-Mart, 904 Cypress Pkwy, Poinciana, Kissimmee, Fl, 34759

·        Wal-Mart, 2500 S Kirkman Rd, Orlando, Fl, 32811

·        Wal-Mart, 8990 Turkey Lake Road. Orlando, Fl, 32819

·        Wal-Mart, 8101 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, Fl, 32819

·        Wal-Mart, 5991 New Goldenrod Road, Orlando, Fl, 32822

·        Smiths, 10700 Boggy Creek Road, Orlando, Fl, 32824

·        Smiths, 9026 S Orange Avenue, Orlando, Fl, 32824

·        7-Eleven, 11008 S Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, Fl, 32837

·        7-Eleven, 13902 Egret Tower Drive, Orlando, Fl, 32837

·        7-Eleven, 2609 Delaney Ave, Orlando, Fl, 32806

·        7-Eleven, 1500 Edgewater Dv, Orlando, Fl, 32804

·        7-Eleven, 2605 Silver Star Rd, Orlando, Fl, 32804

·        7-Eleven, 2500 S Kirkman Rd, Orlando, Fl, 32811

·        7-Eleven, 4305 N Pine Hills Rd, Orlando, Fl, 32808

·        7-Eleven, 801 E Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, Fl, 32809

·        7-Eleven, 1100 McCoy Road, Orlando, Fl, 32809

·        7-Eleven, 3911 McCoy Road, Orlando, Fl, 32812

From the parking lot, the first entertainment is the fun-fair with several carousels, a roller-coaster and one of those vertical drop towers to compact your spine should you be too tall!!  You can try the reverse trip at the other end of the street and we tell you about that later.

For a while, the vintage and customized cars are on static display in the main narrow street that becomes a pedestrian area. Taking a slow walk from one end to the other can be an ideal solution for the average couple. The chaps envy and stare at the hardware with fins and chrome and hoods open with 5 litre plus engines and talk to the proud owners who are polishing and preening in the hope to be awarded the prize of the evening. The girls are walking in and out of the street side curiosity shops and side shows including haunted houses with street side ghosts ready to welcome you in if you are that brave.

There are numerous bars and diners on the sidewalk and usually a jazz band to entertain half way along the walk.

Having reached the end of the street, it’s time to consider a real adrenalin rush if you dare and volunteer to be”the one” to be launched into space on the biggest rubber bands you have ever seen in your life!!!! You sit on the seat and the bands are tensioned vertically between the twin lit towers which are visible for miles around. I suppose there must be a good view from up there!!!!!!!!.

There is karting and other rides going on under the catapult and to the side of the complex, another frightening gravity swing arrangement where you are hanging in a sling and winched up to a great height and then dropped!!!  Sounds like fun – Try it!!!

What a lovely way to spend an evening in Orlando.

Many visitors seek to try some fishing whilst on their vacation, as a very relaxing way to soak up the sun’s rays whilst letting the world go by, without a single thought about work!

Regulation

But a little preparation is needed - fishing is very heavily regulated in Florida, and these thoughts are presented as a summary to avoid breaching the regulations.  But regulations do change - so it is essential to check that your day’s fishing remains legal.  Freshwater Fishing regulations are updated annually, and can be collected (free of charge) at outlets selling fishing equipment, such as Wal-Mart.

Firstly, a licence is required - this can be obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  The licence is not expensive, and can be purchased for a 7 day period from the Commission’s website (the licence can be mailed, but payment allows you to start fishing immediately, without waiting for the licence to arrive through the post).

There are exemptions from the licence fee - but many anglers choose to support the commission by purchasing a licence, even though they may be exempt (eg senior, juniors).

Where to fish

Finding a lake to fish is never a problem - they are plentiful, each with their own specific requirements (eg whether swimming or camping is permitted, types of fish which must be released, limits on catches etc).  The Kissimmee Chain consists of  Lake Toho, East Lake Toho, Lake Cypress, Lake Hatchineha, Lake Kissimmee, and the canals that connect them. Other lakes connected by natural creeks are Lakes Tiger, Marion, Jackson, Rosalie, and Walk-in-the-Water. There are other chains of lakes just a little further afield.

Where to Buy Fishing Equipment

For general supplies, a trip to the local Wal-Mart may be all that is required.  There are several 24 hour superstores in the Kissimmee area.  For more specialist equipment, try one of the dedicated stores, such as Bass Pro (a large store at the Festival Bay Outlets at the top end of International Drive).

Sea Fishing

If freshwater fishing is not your choice, try sea fishing - there are plenty of charter opportunities from the wonderful beaches along the Gulf Coast.  Trips can be for just a couple of hours or all day - to suit your requirements and enthusiasm.

The One That Got Away

If all else fails, stop off at the supermarket for a choice of fabulous freshly caught fish!

Insurance will be included in your standard car rental package.  However, it is best to check that your travel insurance covers you against personal injury whilst using your rental car, otherwise additional personal injury cover is available at the car hire desk.

We have found from personal experience, as well as from what rental guests tell us, that the car hire agents upon your arrival at the rental desk, will encourage you to upgrade to a larger car.  We believe the agents earn commission if the customer upgrades, and we stick to what we have already booked beforehand.  Drivers under 25 will generally find car hire is more expensive.

When collecting your car from the parking lot, it is a good idea to check for any dents or scratches and, if you find any, return to the agent and report it to make sure details are recorded.  You don’t want to find you have been charged extra for any damage, when your credit card statement arrives after you return home.  It is also a good idea to check that there is a full tank of gas. 

Don’t forget to carry your driver’s license and car rental papers with you at all times when using the car.

The car will be an automatic, left hand drive, as driving is on the right hand side of the road.  Sometimes at first glance you may think there is no handbrake – some cars have a foot pedal under the dashboard instead.  It is best to check you are familiar with the controls before taking the car out on the road, and it is advisable to use the air-conditioning and keep windows shut to keep flying insects out.  It is usual that car doors will automatically lock as you start driving – you will hear the ‘click’.

Always concentrate, especially when re-entering the highway again after having parked up at stores, attractions, gas stations or restaurants, that you are driving on the right – it could easily slip your mind!

Road signs (at intersections) will indicate the road you are crossing over.  You can turn right on a red light if it is safe to do so, unless there is a sign stating ‘No Right Turn’.   

Even road numbers travel east/west, and odd numbers north/south.  Keep a few quarters 25 cent coins, in the car for use at tollbooths.  Sometimes they are unmanned and you need to throw the coins into a collection basket. 

Interstate 4 often has heavy traffic in places, and it is best to allow plenty of time for returning to the airport for your flight home.  Stick to the speed limits – a particular ‘Hot Spot’ for on the spot speeding fines, is on the approach roads leading to the airports.

We have found when driving on Interstate 4, there is only one exit that comes up on the left.  This is when travelling east, you will exit at Kirkman, if you want to go to Universal Studios.  You should then keep to the nearside lane.   All other exits we have seen have gone off on the right hand side.

Sometimes driving on Interstate 4 you can get into a right hand lane which you have to turn right on, so if in doubt it is best to keep in the middle lane.

The law states that when a yellow school bus stops on the road, you must also stop, and cannot pass it.  You must wait until it starts moving again.

Also, if emergency services are attending to a breakdown or accident, you must leave one lane between yourself and the vehicles involved.

In the event that you have an accident, it must always be reported to the Police, as an accident report number must be given to the car hire company for their insurance purposes. 

The possession of any ‘open’ containers of alcohol is strictly against the law, both for the driver and passengers of the car.  All drink must be kept in the trunk (boot)

Strict fines will be imposed

There are three collections on permanent exhibit.  There is an American Art Collection which features paintings, drawings, prints, photographs and sculptures from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.  The Art of the Ancient Americas Collection contains ceramic, jade, stone, cloth, gold and silver artifacts from a variety of cultural groups of North America, South America and Central America.   There are pieces that date as far back as 2000 B.C.

The African Art Collection features ceremonial artifacts as well as decorative objects such as jewelry, masks, metal works, carved ivory and ceramics.  The artifacts originate from various regions of the continent of Africa.  In addition, there are normally 2 temporary exhibits on display for a few months at a time showcasing different forms of art from the traditional to contemporary.

Once a month, local artists have the opportunity to showcase their work at a very special event called 1st Thursdays.   The event takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month and is open to the general public.   Guests enjoy live music, cash bars serving beer, wine and soft drinks and café offerings from local restaurants.  Admission to museum exhibits is included.

There are annual events that benefit the museum.  The Festival of the Trees takes place in November when the museum offers visitors of all ages a festive experience with beautiful trees and glittering holiday décor.  For antique lovers, there is an Antique Show and Sale in February.

The museum also offers a variety of lectures, classes, seminars and programs for all ages.  Families with small children may particularly enjoy First Saturdays or Creation Station.   First Saturdays are on the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon.   This is a wonderful opportunity for young children to learn to appreciate art and music together with their parents.  Creation Station is on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 3:30 p.m. where children and adults partake in a different art project each week.  Registration is not required for either of these programs and the charge is minimal.

The Orlando Museum of Art is located at:

2416 North Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803-1483

Hours are:

Tuesday-Friday, 10 am to 4 pm

Saturday and Sunday, Noon to 4 pm

Closed Mondays & major holidays

Free parking is available in front of the museum. Enjoy!