Wal-Mart Supermarket

Locations –

1.        Corner of 192 and Bass Road Close to the villa.

2.        Corner of North Poinciana Boulevard and 535 (near The Official Ticket Center)

Target Supermarket.

 Please note Super Targets sell fresh food

Locations –

1.      Super Target between 192 Market 13 and 12 past Sam’s club

2.      Target - East on Highway 192 on left near K Mart and Home Depot.

Publix Super Market

Locations –

Corner of 192 and 535 (marker 12) in the Shopping Plaza

Between Marker 8 and Marker 9 near and on the same side as Bennigan’s

Restaurants & Fast Food Outlets

These are just a small selection of Restaurants along the Highway 192

Before Marker 15

Outbacker Steak House -Casual dining steak restaurants with an atmosphere suggestive of the rustic Australian outback

Between Markers 13 and 12

Applebee’s - Applebee’s® was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, by Bill and T.J. Palmer. The Palmers envisioned a restaurant that would provide full service, consistently good food, reasonable prices and quality service in a neighbourhood setting.

Between Markers 12 and 11

Smokey Bones - Smokey Bones has a wide variety on their menu. There is the “traditional” (usually slow-smoked) barbeque menu, including burgers, chicken and BBQ Baby Back and St. Louis Ribs, as well as a line of salads, other non-barbeque entrees, and desserts.

Cattleman’s Steak House

Taco Bell

Pizza Hut

Between Markers 11 and 10

Perkins - Family restaurants that feature in-store bakeries and serve a variety of distinctive entreés

Ramono’s Macaroni Grill - serves a wide variety of Italian food and offers a children’s menu.

Cracker Barrel Store & Restaurant

Uno Pizzeria, Restaurant – Famous for Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza but also offer a varied menu

Chili’s Grill & Bar, Restaurant - Offers both Mexican style food and typical American food. Includes fajitas, quesadillas, salads, baby back ribs, buffalo wings, grilled shrimp

Longhorn Steak House – Capture the flavour and fun of the wild west. Great steaks, burgers and fresh salads. We really enjoy the fresh bread delivered to your table.

Between Markers 9 and 8

Bennigans - Neighbourhood American tavern with an Irish twist, includes appetizers, sandwiches, steaks and lots more.

Logan’s Roadhouse – Well known for mesquite-grilled steaks, chicken, fresh burgers, baby-back ribs, seafood, and specialty salads. Enjoy the bottomless buckets of in-shell peanuts.

There’s usually no need to book, we’ve never had to wait very long for a table. There’s a huge atrium inside the hotel and at the restaurant you feel as if you are sitting outside, it’s styled on the old town of St Augustine. The waiters serve drinks and you help yourself to the buffet, it’s difficult to choose and you want to try everything; our particular favourite is the lobster bisque, then there are salads, chicken, fish, steaks, vegetables, pizzas - you need to be hungry when you get there and you really have to leave room for dessert!

It’s all reasonably priced too so it doesn’t break the bank to take the whole family. It’s a little bit more expensive in the evenings and Sunday lunchtimes. After dinner you can take a walk round the Atrium, there are waterfalls and tropical plants, streams with live alligators and turtles in them and a part of it is called the Everglades which the kids loved.

There’s another restaurant here called the Old Hickory Steakhouse which we have yet to try. On the other side is ‘Old Key West’ with a restaurant on a sailing ship set in a lagoon. There are some nice shops for gifts, clothes and jewellery and several bars to relax with a drink before dinner. On occasions there has been a live show in the entertainment area in the centre and we have also seen a wedding taking place there which is a lovely setting. In the winter there is an ice skating arena which always seems a little incongrous in Florida but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

After lunch it’s best to plan to do nothing more than lie around the pool. We like to visit Gaylord for lunch early in our holiday when we are up and about early. Our next visit hopefully will be Christmas Day!

The New Character Balloon Flight, next to Planet Hollywood was a big hit for our last guests. Being able to rise 400 feet above the crowds and see for miles around with the chance to get Photographs of the family in a very special and unique location.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for their little girl proved to be her highlight of the visit. She was “Made Up” just like a Princess, having the full Princess Treatment in the Salon. A hairpiece, shimmering make over, finger nails done and a choice of her favourite Princess’s Dress (Cinderella). It was a little pricey but for a “one off” day they were delighted with the result and seeing their Little Princess’s face as she posed for her photographs, even strangers were taking pictures. They recommend booking early in your holiday to avoid any disappointment as there are only 10 Chairs in th Boutique.

They enjoyed the Irish Fish & Chip Shop on one visit but thought the T Rex Cafe was fabulous for all of them. The Table & Chairs have Dinosaur Legs, the massive Dinosaurs move and roar  to make it special place to have a meal. They said to make sure to take your camera as the special effects and the Coral Reef Bar are spectacular.

They intend to return during their next visit to fit in the things they couldn’t this time around. 

It is good to get a “Feed Back” from our guests and hopefully it will give 1st. Time visitors a reason to take time away from the Parks.

Mary —ps   Would love to hear some comments on Aquatica???

But, let’s start at the beginning!  First I should clue you in to avoid 3-D movies (my kids were always terrified of these!) and also the flight simulators are too intense though your toddlers will be too small to be allowed on anyway!  If the adults choose to do the intense rides in the park, you can take advantage of the baby-swap that Disney offers for families with small children.  You will avoid having to split up and wait in line twice.  When one of you disembarks, you swap the children and the other can get right on! 

Upon entering the park, you will come to “Hollywood Boulevard” where you will encounter “The Great Movie Ride”.   There are scenes that could be disturbing to young children, so it is my recommendation to avoid this one.  

Next you will come to “Echo Lake”.  Avoid “Sounds Dangerous” as parts of this show are in complete darkness with special effects that will surely upset young children.  The only attraction in this area that you may want to consider is the “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular” which is full of live action and adventure.  Sit as far back as possible since  there are fires and explosions causing some of the scenes to be a bit frightening for  youngsters.  If you sit far back enough, this will decrease the intensity. Use your judgment here as well as consider their attention span as this show is 30 minutes in duration.   “Hollywood and Vine” is in this area and this is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner as they serve a very family-friendly buffet.  For an extra special meal with the Playhouse Disney characters, I would recommend calling ahead to book “Play ‘N Dine at Hollywood and Vine”.

In “Streets of America”, if you have a little guy who loves fast cars, then make sure you see “Lights, Motors, Action!”  It may be a lot of stimulation for some children, but this one should hold their attention!  Afterwards, let them expend some energy at the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure”.   It’s a larger than life playground that the kids are sure to enjoy!

Don’t miss “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” and “Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage” in “Animation Courtyard”.   These performances are geared to the younger set.

“Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage” on “Sunset Boulevard” is a 30-minute live musical performance that the whole family should really enjoy.  Again, take into consideration your child’s attention span.  

The grand finale at MGM is “Fantasmic” which is one of my all time favorite Walt Disney performances.   Most of this program is delightful for all age groups.  Unfortunately, though, there are some larger than life encounters with the Disney villains that will probably terrify youngsters, so I’m sorry to say that this is best left to when the children are a bit older!

 BIG TOHO AIRBOAT RIDES

Big Toho Airboat Rides

100 Lakeshore Blvd

Kissimmee, Florida, 34741

Tel 321-624-2398

Big Toho Airboat Rides is very easy to find, and there is plenty of parking available. The rides depart from the public marina located on the northern tip of Lake Tohopekaliga (known locally as Lake Toho), which are the headwaters for the Florida everglades – the closest swamp and everglades area to Walt Disney World.  The little creek where the everglades actually start is seen on the tour.

The airboat pilots are experienced guides and US coast guard master captains, and operate 2 x 15-passenger boats, and 1 x 6-passenger boat, to accommodate either large groups or a family group wanting a boat to themselves.  The pilots are very knowledgeable about the area, its history and the environment.

It is an unforgettable chance to see the real Florida, and marvel at the breathtaking scenery and territory that can only be seen from an airboat.  As well as the thrill of skimming over the marshes, there is a slow trek through Shingle Creek, a very serene and beautiful expanse of water. Go early if you want to see lots of alligators, as come noon, they are often caught sleeping. There is also a wide variety of birds to be seen, such as eagles, osprey, sandhill cranes, and egrets, and wildlife such as wild deer and pigs.

Prices (@ Jan 09):

Adults: 1 hour tour                               $41.00

                         ½ hour tour                             $25.00

Children:           1 hour tour                               $31.00

 (3-10)            ½ hour tour                              $20.00

Under 3’s are free.

Night Tours:                                                     $60.00 (all ages)

Directions

About 3 miles past marker #15 on US192 going east, turn right at Space Coast Pkwy onto N Main Street for 0.6m, continue on Broadway for 0.3m, turning left at Ruby Ave for 0.2m, and finally turn right at Lakeshore Blvd.

Gator Hunting

For something a little different, they also offer gator hunting trips (when in season), for which you must have a gator hunting permit from the state of Florida – see website for further details, rates and trophy fees, and rates for observers only.

Some of the magnificent features of this 24 hour guard-gated community include a luxurious olympic sized water park pool with dancing fountains, waterslide, toddler pool and hot tub lagoon spa. All of this is set amidst lush tropical landscaping, and is surrounded by beautiful natural wetlands and pond areas. The amazing clubhouse overlooking the pool has a billiards room, state of the art fitness centre, video games area, sundry shop, information desk and high definition surround sound movie theatre. Outside the clubhouse you can enjoy the fresh Florida air with a game of poolside ping pong, or just while away the hours with a book on one of the comfy poolside loungers.

The resorts recreation area offers floodlit tennis courts, sand volleyball, floodlit basketball courts and a golf practice putting/chipping green area. Throughout the resort you will find picnic areas and children’s playgrounds. The one of a kind castle themed playground is sure to delight kids of all ages. A large green dragon guards the drawbridge over the moat and once inside, children and imaginations can run wild! Whether it’s a game of jumbo chess or rescuing a damsel in distress from the castle dungeon, your kids are sure to enjoy this unique play experience.

You also have the luxury of being right next door to Mystic Dunes Golf Club (#2 rated course in Orlando area), where Windsor Hills guests are offered preferential rates! Champions Gate Golf Resort is also only five minutes away and offers two fabulous championship courses as well as the David Leadbetter School of Golf.

Highway 192 with its great choice of restaurants, shops and attractions is only a few minutes drive away. The delights of International Drive and many of the areas shopping malls can reached in around fifteen minutes.

You can even take a day off from driving when you visit the various surrounding theme parks, and enjoy the Windsor Hills shuttle bus service for a nominal charge.

Windsor Hills really has everything that you could wish for in a five star vacation experience. Our beautiful new designer home is available for rental from August 2009 and details are available on Silver Creek Villas at this link

Please contact us for further photos and information. Hope to hear from you soon!

Shopaholics will, for some reason known to themselves, want to spend days wandering around the retail Hell that is Festival Bay Mall or The Florida Mall.

Yes, with The Florida Mall’s 1.9 million square feet of shopping including, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears, and over 260 specialty stores you are sure to find more than what you are looking for – probably a divorce, if you (like many of us) do not consider this to be a great way to spend a holiday!

These large shopping malls are also a bit of a drive away from where we Brits tend to stay in villas in the Davenport/Kissimmee/US27 areas.

Let me suggest two smaller malls which I find I can cope with, and which are closer:

My second choice would be Orlando Premium Outlets.8200 Vineland AvenueOrlando, FL32821 407.238.7787. It has 150 shops which has to be enough for anyone, and hosts the Levi’s shop where I always buy my jeans (in leg lengths seemingly impossible to buy in the UK)

My favourite mall, however, is Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores 15657 S Apopka Vineland Rd (SR 535) Orlando, FL 32821 407.238.9301.

The stores at Lake Buena Vista offer factory direct items at savings up to 75%.  There are less than 50 stores, but these are generally the ones you need for holiday shopping – great for trainers!  It is really accessible, with the car park in the middle and store front parking. As advertised, it is a quiet and relaxed village setting and in addition to the usual forgettable food court there is an Internet Café, The World of Coffee, for specialty coffees, desserts and a selection of food items from Greece and the Middle East. 

I am deliriously happy to wait there (on an outside table when it’s not too hot) with a cup of coffee and a baklava, while my wife exhausts every inch of retail space throughout the mall.

Try Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores for your shopping. It could be a marriage saver!

Andy Brownlie

We have vacationed as a family in Central Florida for the last eight years spending a total of over 25 weeks in the sunshine state.  When planning our next trips the first question asked by my children is “can we get a pontoon boat on Crystal River?”.  We have also invited friends to spend time with us on vacation and always include this day out as part of the trip.  Needless to say they usually mark this down as the highlight of their vacation. So with this kind of recommendation I feel sure you will appreciate some tips as to how to maximise the enjoyment of your day on Crystal River.

The journey up to Homosassa from Orlando, (I Drive) or the Davenport / 192 area via Highway 27 and Clermont, takes about one and a half hours.  It is a pleasant enough trip combining two lane state roads and the Turnpike with plenty of things to see on the way.

Aim to arrive in Homosassa at around 11.30am and call in at the Publix on the SR19 it is very close to W.Yulee Drive the main road leading down to the riverbank.  They have a well stocked hot food counter which is ideal to stock up the picnic items which you can enjoy when you get to the boat. 

A half day rental of a pontoon for 10 people will cost around $120 including fuel.  You can chose any of the boat rental houses around monkey island and you will pay the same and be very well looked after in all of them.  You will get a boating briefing before setting out, and you are given maps to help you navigate.  You don’t need any previous experience and even first timers will be happy at the controls within a matter of minutes. Once away from the boathouse you are free to enjoy cruising and absorbing all the wonderful wildlife that the tropical river has to offer.  Birds and manatees are plentiful and you will cruise past shoals of fish.  There is a lovely lagoon where you can drop anchor and enjoy a swim or head in the other direction out towards the ocean.

The boat will need to be returned around 5 pm and once back on dry land you can relax and enjoy the drive back to Orlando.  Passing the frequent billboards advertising all the attractions that Orlando has to offer, whilst reflecting on you day in wilderness, is a great way to recharge your batteries and whet your appetite to restart your vacation in the entertainment capital of the world.

We did not stop for the two weeks we were there and the first job that we did, was to paint the lounge with the very high cathedral ceiling from a pail green in colour to a bright white. That particular night we did not stop till 8 o’clock in the morning just as the sun was rising, it was an amazing sight to see, and the lounge looked really bright and worth every effort.

The next job was a trip to the Furniture store for new furniture on Orange Blossom trail, Called “Furniture USA” We were spoilt for choice but after long discussions with the Manager, We decided on two beautiful mushroom suede sofas with red/brown toning scatter cushions. Very luxurious and a total change from my blue corner sofa.

Then it was on to a bedroom suite for the Master bedroom and as soon as I saw this very light oak one, I was hooked, Very much “The princess and the pea” as it was very high with ornate head and footboard, matching dresser and two nightstands and new mattress. In America, they come with a pillow top for added comfort, it very was luxury indeed, naturally it was at a discount price than “Ashley” Price.

I couldn’t wait for delivery day and was so excited the night before that I had trouble sleeping!!!

The delivery day arrived and all the new furniture was put into place and my first reaction was “WOW”. My villa had had a complete makeover and looked incredibly different. Out went all the imitation greenery and in came the scented candles in mosaic glass holders, delicately placed pot pourette, and new luxury bedding. I was so in love with it that I immediately rang the store and ordered a matching chest of drawers, again this was at a special discounted price.

I couldn’t find new dining chairs to equal this furniture so my friend said” Why not re-cover them” So another trip to get deep red Jacquard material and stapler gun and she was away. Hours later we stood back and were amazed at the difference, they looked amazing. She had never done anything like this before but she did it brilliantly. Although I have to say that she couldn’t use her hands the next day so I had to make the coffee for her all day!!!!!!!!!!

Our villa is now ready for our next lot of special guest!