Have you ever thought of taking a cruise. Then look no further than Disney Cruise line in Florida. Their Disney wonder Ship leaves from Port Canaveral to head for the Bahamas and their own private island - Castaway Cay.

Over the last couple of years we have been lucky enough to travel on this ship on their 3 day 4 night cruise to the Bahamas.

As we boarded the ship we were announced by the staff and made really welcome. All food is included but not your alcoholic drinks.

Each night you will be seated in a different restaurant and sometimes with other guests. This is nice as you can get to know people from all over the world. You also have the opportunity to book a table at Palo’s a fantastic a la carte restaurant on the top deck. The chocolate souffles are to die for.

There are lots of different bars for the adults that provide different entertainment into the early hours.

During the day there are three seaparate pools - one for the little ones, one for families and an adults only pool. Sit by the pool and order your bucket of Buds.

There is entertainment during the day as well.

You will be astounded by the amount of food that is available. They even lay on a late night buffet following their pirates party.

During the cruise you will visit Nassau in the Bahamas and have the opportunity to go on tours of the island to see the different sights. Then you will move on to Castaway Cay Island - this is just out of this world. White sandy beaches, gloriously blue clear seas and barbecues. Get some bikes and explore the island or participate in beach games of sea activities.

It is just fantastic try it!

Believe it or not, the manatee, or “Sea Cow” is a distant cousin of the elephant, and scientists have traced them both back some 60 million years to a common ancestor. Their forelimbs contain three to four fingernails, very similar to an elephant’s.

Manatees are herbivores, eating only aquatic plants, and typically grow to about 2,000 pounds and almost 12 feet. Unhappily, their backs often bear the marks of boat propeller scars, as they tend to graze near the surface of shallow water. They have no natural predator, but contact with humans (and their boats!) along with loss of feeding grounds (also down to the humans) has made them an endangered species

So Where Can I see Manatees in the Orlando area?

The easy answer, of course, is at Sea World, but it might be more fun to see them in the wild. We have seen manatees on the Gulf Coast where they congregate around docks in the summer months, and around the Merritt Island area by The Kennedy Space Center.

In the cooler months, however, the ocean gets too cold for manatees, so they look for warmer waters. They typically come to inland Florida waters via rivers and canals.

The best place to see manatees inland is at Blue Spring State Park, just off the St. Johns River  (you can get there on the I4), between November and March. There they have a boardwalk which gives perfect viewing.

If you want to get up close and personal, go to the Crystal River area, and go snorkelling or rent a small boat. As many as 300 manatees winter in the Crystal River area on the West coast, 80 miles north of Tampa, and less than 2 hours from Orlando. Again, the best time is from late November until the end of February and it is recommended to avoid weekends if you want to avoid the crowds.

Strangely enough, the Tampa Electric Company is a great place to see manatees during the colder weather. The company’s Big Bend Station on Tampa Bay attracts manatees in winter to its warm-water discharge and they have built a special manatee viewing centre with a viewing platform, open from early December to March (closed Monday and Tuesday). From the I-75 in Tampa take the ApolloBeach exit onto Big Bend road. The viewing centre is at a turn after the road’s intersection with U.S. 41.

Happy mermaid hunting!

Andy Brownlie

We exited the elevator and entered “The Zone”! (Actually there are four “Zones”, the Explore Zone, the Score Zone, the Replay Zone and the Create Zone)!   Our first encounter was with Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters.  This was pretty cool, though it took me awhile to figure it out.  Of course, my 10-year old son, on the other hand, was a pro in seconds!  You ride in these bumper car spaceship type vehicles and battle with the other vehicles by scooping up cannon balls and firing them at each other. 

Next, we tried Invasion which is a virtual reality ride where you have to try to rescue people who were captured by aliens.  I wasn’t much use to those poor people, but fortunately for the captives, I had my 13-year old daughter as co-pilot. She was the hero!

The Comix was interesting to watch – my husband and kids did this one without me.  You put on a virtual reality helmet and enter into a cyber battle with your laser sword.  They looked pretty goofy swinging their swords through the air at nothing!  Well, it looked that way to me, of course, but they were thoroughly engaged in their encounters with comic book villains!

I never thought I could draw! Well, in the Animation Academy, I found out that I had some hidden talent!  This was great – an instructor took us through the process of drawing a Disney character!

The Virtual Jungle Cruise was great fun.  We climbed aboard a raft and plunged down a raging river back in the age of the dinosaurs!  It was quite an adventure as we dodged some scary obstacles along the way.

The Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam was where I shined!  You stand on a moving platform that you maneuver with your feet and you control a pinball up on the screen trying to get the most points possible to beat out the other players.  I totally impressed my kids when I won by a landslide!  What – no prize?

It was about now that I discovered the Replay Zone and well, I was hooked!  I thoroughly enjoyed playing all my favorite arcade games from my university days.  Only this was way better because no tokens needed and I could keep playing to my heart’s content.  I enjoyed revisiting many classics including Pacman, Frogger, Space Invaders, and Centipede.  I never made it to the remaining virtual reality rides, but maybe next time!

Here’s what’s left for me to try when we go back:

Cyber Space Mountain allows you to design your own roller coaster on a computer.  When you’re finished with your creation, you get to take a ride.

Pirates of the Carribean – Battle for Buccaneer Gold must be very good as there was a VERY long line for this one.  You put on a head piece and enter the world of pirates in a race for gold.

Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride is another virtual reality ride where you put on your helmet and enter Agrabah and go for a ride with the characters from the beloved film Aladdin.

Our entire family really enjoyed our day at Disney Quest.  There’s definitely something for all ages!  Give it a try on your next trip!

I am lucky that I can spend 5 weeks out in Florida with my sister and my 2 boys, my husband will come over for almost 3 weeks but unfortunately due to work he can not come out for longer which is a shame.

We will do the normal Florida home-owners visit, work at the villa touching up the paintwork, replacing bedding and any other items that are warn out or tired.

Then the fun begins.

We will spend a few days at Universal Studio’s and Island of Adventure a favourite for all the family. Although I don’t like roller coasters I come in very handy when the rest of the family go on a ride and leave me with the bag, sunglasses and hats The Florida Pack mule I call myself, I don’t mind as I love to see them enjoy themselves and I do have fun and go on rides that I like.

Well last year whilst at Universal Studio’s my husband said that he wanted to see “The Blue Man Group” but unfortunately we ran out of time so we said perhaps next year.

Well earlier this year I looked for tickets and there were only on sale until May so I initially thought that they were finishing in May, but yes you’ve guessed they have of course added more dates during the year. However, I told my husband a little white lie and told him that they finished in May he was devastated. This enabled me to surprise him as I have since booked seats for us all the weekend before he leaves, which is just a week before our wedding anniversary and only my sister and I know. Only last week my husband said, “I can’t believe The Blue Man Group has stopped.” Hope he enjoys the surprise.

Then not to be out done a couple of weeks ago my sister decided to book us all a day at Discovery Cove as this year maybe the last time we are all out together as my eldest son starts work in September and will only get 2 weeks holiday during  August and this looks like it will be after his father returns back to work. Yet again we have kept this quiet.

My sister and I have made cards inviting them to Discovery Cove just 2 days after my Husband arrives and we can’t wait to see the boys faces when they open them, they won’t believe it as we said we would not return until the dollar got back to 2 to the pound.

There are lots of these band type lights here in the UK at our Pound Stores so it may suit some visitors to stock up before they leave, making sure they are in their suitcases and not their hand luggage.

Our American guests also recommended booking the Disney Character Dining seats at The Parks,  before their vacation as the availability is so hard to get on the days just before you go to The Parks. They are really Special experiences, When we visited, even at our age, Larry & I joined in the Dancing Chains & Napkin waving with Mickey & Minnie and all of their Friends. Great fun, just to see the little one’s faces and to get as many close up photo’s as you want.

Happy Holidays

Mary & Larry

We found flights on the Internet from Manchester airport direct to Sanford airport return for £130 each so we bought the tickets.

We contacted Bob to let him know we would be going over for Joanne’s birthday where upon he informed us that the plans had now changed.

The new idea was to book a 3-day cruise – to the Bahamas.

Bob explained we could use an agent that he new and book the cruise ourselves. To say we were shell-shocked would be an understatement after we had finished talking to Bob all that we could think of was what would it cost us; it was close to Christmas and an unplanned visit to the Bahamas was not on our agenda it was the furthest thought from our minds but we had booked the flights so we were committed to the visit.

We contacted Bob’s agent and to our surprise the cost turned out to be much less than we had anticipated. 

For the same reason as our cheap flights (low demand due to the time of year) we were able to book an all-inclusive, outside birth, 3-day holiday on board a cruise ship including a day stop over in Nassau for £150 each. We couldn’t believe it. We decide to consider the whole visit as an early Christmas present to ourselves.

The ship departed from port Canaveral and being first time travellers on a large ship we were unsure of what to expect, we need not have concerned ourselves, as soon as we boarded we were given our first drink, our luggage was taken to our cabin and were given the key to the door. Apart from having to attend a safety brief the only decisions we had to make for 3 days were what shall we have for our next meal, which show, bar, club, casino or pool should we go to. If we had wanted we could have had all our meals and drinks brought to use were ever we were on the ship, being pampered didn’t come close. The day visit to Nassau was excellent the temperature was around 82f (about 26c) with clear blue skies, better than a summer’s day in the UK and it was December.

Anyone visiting Florida considering a similar venture please remember we booked our cruise in December 2005 but if you have flexibility with your plans I would suggest waiting until the last minute to book. A couple that decided to come along at the last minute booked tickets 2 days before departure and paid $150 each.

Brian Pearson

You will also find on one of the Disney Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques here - this is where my little daughter loves to go and enjoys having her hair and make up down, as well as dressing up in one of her favourite disney costumes.  The last time we went we went for the full package where you get a photo shoot included.  My daughter looked amazing when they had finished and the photos are an ever lasting memory.  It was well worth the money!  Everyone was commenting on her as we walked through Downtown Disney.  She also remembers that moment and she is only 6.  A must for every little girl. 

You will also find great shops with all the Disney Merchandise;  if you forgot to buy a particular item in one of the parks, you will hopefully be able to purchase it here.  There are also various other retailers, as well as some great themed restaurants.  

There are also some great entertainment venues, like Cirque de Soleil which is located in Downtown Disney. 

I have listed a few of  shops/restaurants, etc, which you can find at Downtown Disney below:-

World of Disney - if you are looking for loads of fun whilst shopping, this is the place to go.  It is one of the largest stores and has so much to choose from.  This is where you will also find the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique mentioned above. 

Once Upon a Toy - Play happily ever after at this amazing toy store that offers the largest assortment of toys and games in all of Disney.  From princesses to pirates you will find some great toys in here.

Lego Imagination Centre - this shop is great, especially if you kids are into lego.  Not only can they buy some great lego sets (which my son has plenty) they get to play and make models with the lego stands outside.  This has kept my kids occupied for hours (for free) whilst we sat and watched enjoyed a cup of coffee. 

Disney Days of Christmas - this is my favourite shop at Downtown Disney - its Christmas all year round.  You also get to personalise a lot of the ornaments so they make them very personal to your visit. 

Rainforest Cafe and the new T-Rex restaurants can also be found at Downtown Disney.  We have visit the Rainforest cafe a few times now, and the kids love it.  We have never eaten in the T-Rex one, but have had a sneek look inside.  If you kids love dinosaurs this is the resturant to visit.  It has large interactive models of dinosaurs dotted around the restaurant that move at certain times.  You will also DinoBear (part of the build a bear workshop) in her.  My son loved this as he was able to choose his own dinosaur and dress it.  Quite appropriate for a boy!

This is just a taster of what can be found at Downtown Disney. 

Don’t forget to make a visit on your next trip.  We hope you enjoy it.

The VIP treatment starts on your arrival when you can enjoy complimentary valet parking. Much nicer than hunting for a parking space, as this place does get busy and so does the car park. You may have to wait for a table at peak times, but it’s worth the wait! It also gives you a chance to enjoy their huge outside terrace which has two bars, lots of seating and a stage where steel drums play reggae music all night long.

What’s better than a little island music while you sip one of their fabulous speciality cocktails? My favourite is their Bahamarita, which consists of colourful layers of assorted fruit Margaritas. Others worth trying are their Ultimate Pina Colada or their Mojito Cubano which has a perfect blend of white rum, lime, mint and sugar cane. They even have their own house beer called Aruba Red which is brewed by Anheuser Busch and produced only for Bahama Breeze.

Inside the restaurant the lush tropical plants and decor, thatched roofs and colourful wicker style furnishings all add to the feeling that you’re actually dining in the Bahamas. The service is always friendly, and the staff are happy to help you with food and drink choices.

As for their delicious food, we normally start off by sharing some fresh coconut shrimp and a giant stack of their island onion rings and dips. They do some great seafood and steaks for entrees, but I’m a sucker for their West Indies Ribs or their Jamaican Grilled Chicken Breast which comes with cinnamon sweet mashed potatoes.

A dessert is often out of the question by this time, but if you can manage one you won’t be disappointed. I can’t resist their traditional Key Lime Pie, or their Bananas Supreme which has fresh banana served over warm banana nut bread with vanilla ice cream and brandy butterscotch sauce.

If you’re drooling at the mouth by now, why not treat yourself to dinner and cocktails at Bahama Breeze on your next visit to the Orlando area.

Have Fun!

Finding St.Augustine is quite easy.  Just head East from Orlando toward I95 on the Atlantic coast and go North (toward Jacksonville).  Go for about 40 miles and then turn off onto SR1 and keep going North for about 20 miles.  Then just follow the signs to St.Augustine.

St. Augustine is the USA’s oldest city, founded on August 29 1565 which was also the feast day of St. Augustine.  It is also considered to be one of the most charming and quaint cities in Florida.

St. Augustine has a beautiful historic district with cobblestone streets, cafes, bars, unique shops and bed and breakfast hotels.

Shopping in St. Augustine just could not be easier.  If you have a passion for antiques, hand crafted gifts, blown glass, arts and crafts, fine arts, or handmade chocolates, and if you are shopping for clothes, shoes, or household goods, or perhaps finding unique and unusual gifts from around the world, St. Augustine has it all.

Just relax and enjoy strolling along the historic downtown streets.  Stop whenever you like and have a meal at one of the many fine restaurants or bars.

Try the antique Market – a beautifully restored 1930s feed and general store.  The Antique Market, is a premier importer of antiques from England, Europe and Asia. The Market’s proprietors specialize in antiques from England, Scotland and Wales and lead purchasing tours every year throughout England. It is well known for its fine selection of quality antiques.

Aviles Street – is located in the heart of St. Augustine’s historic pedestrian only district.  It offers a splendid mix of shopping by way of interesting stores, boutiques, art galleries and souvenir shops. In addition, Aviles Street is dotted with pleasant cafes and historic homes.

Cobblestone Village Shopping Mall - presents a fresh clean feel, as it is a recent addition to the St. Augustine shopping scene.  The are 8 anchor stores plus 20 additional retailers furnish shoppers with a varied selection including favourites such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Pier 1 and Bealls.

St. George Street – is one of St. Augustine’s most popular shopping districts.  It wends its way through several brick-lined blocks of the city’s center.  Along this car free thoroughfare you’ll discover independent retailers offering home accents, jewelry, books, pottery, clothing and more. St. George Street affords the perfect environment to soak up the old cities ambiance.

Whetstone Chocolates – you just cannot experience St. Augustine without visiting Whetstone Chocolates, the city’s signature chocolate manufacturer for nearly 40 years.  In fact, Whetstone is Florida’s only chocolate producer and is known throughout the state for its high quality.  Indulge your senses by taking a self-guided tour of the chocolate making facility and stopping by the store to purchase some delectable sweets.

There are also many places to visit and explore as follows:

Castillo de San Marcos - took 23 years to build (from 1672 to 1695). Made from coquina which is a virtually indestructible limestone comprised of broken sea shells and coral, the walls of the fortress remained impenetrable through 300 years of enemy shelling and pounding by violent storms.

Fort Matanzas - was built between 1740-1742 and is a very well preserves masonry watchtower.  It provided a high point to help the Spanish view any enemy vessels approaching from the South.  The fort played a strategic role in warning St. Augustine of potential enemy advancements from the south via the Matanzas River.

Lightner Museum - is housed in the former Alcazar Hotel, built by railroad magnate Henry M. Flagler, and features an intriguing array of items from shrunken heads and mummies to stunning collections of stained glass and crystal.  It was opened in 1889.

Old City Helicopters – a tour of St. Augustine from the best seat in the house, from a helicopter!

St. Augustine Haunted Pub Tour - this tour takes you on a storytelling excursion through downtown.

Hearse Ride Ghost Tour - taking a ride in a hearse is a must BEFORE you die!

Red Train Tours and Discount Attraction Tickets - “The way to see St. Augustine!”

Adventure Landing - is the perfect place for family fun!  Birthday parties, celebrations, or even just a day of fun! Mega Arcade.

Old Jail - built by Henry Flagler in 1891, the jail was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1987.  The Old Jail served as the county jail until 1953.

Colonial Spanish quarter – is a living history museum depicting the life of Spanish Soldiers and their families in 1740 St. Augustine.

Dow Museum of Historic Houses – on one city block, you will discover over 400 years of history. Hidden among beautiful courtyards are 9 historic houses original to the site.

Father O’Reilly House Museum - built prior to 1763, this Spanish colonial house belonged to Father Miguel O’Reilly, who came to the parish when the Spaniards returned to rule in 1784.

Fiesta Falls Mini Golf - is an 18-hole miniature golf course right next to La Fiesta Inn at the beach.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not - The original Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum features fun interactive galleries, mind boggling facts, and unique oddities and curiosities.

Flagler College - Flagler College is a combination of the past and present. The Ponce de Leon hotel, originally built by Henry Morrison Flagler in 1887, now serves as a residence hall for students.

Marineland – swim with the dolphins and let your dreams come true.

Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse - let your first lesson in history begin at the Oldest Wooden School House! Built prior to 1763, the school remains as it was over two centuries ago.

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum - climb 219 steps up the lighthouse to find a breathtaking view of St. Augustine from 165 feet above sea level.

Spanish Military Hospital Museum - see what a hospital looked like 250 years ago. See the tools surgeons used and the medicines people took.

Potters wax museum - America’s first Wax Museum invites you to experience over 160 figures from History to Hollywood! These life-like figures seem to come to life as you study them.

There are many golf courses and tennis resorts located in the area. Ponte Vedra is home of The Players Association (PGA) and Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).  It is a 20 minute drive from the Downtown historic district.

The city also has around 43 miles of beautifully clean beaches. Some allow vehicles, some allow dogs and some just people.  Some of the beaches produce abundant shelling opportunities, while others are covered only in luxurious fine, golden sand.

From the heydays of the 1950’s drive-in movie theatres are nowadays few and far between.

However, within 1 hour’s drive of Kissimmee there are two drive-in movie theatres still operating:

Silvemoon Drive-In Theatre 

Location: 4100 Route 92, W Lakeland, Polk County, Florida 33815. Tel (863) 682-0849

Directions:  From the I-4 take the County Line Road exit (at the Hillsborough/Polk County line), and continue south to US 92 W.  Turn left (east) and about 3.5 miles down the road there is a flashing ‘Silvermoon’ neon sign indicating the entrance..

Admissions:

Adults                         $4.00
Children (Ages 4-9)      $1.00

Capacity: 300 cars

The Silvermoon has two screens, each screening a double feature 7 nights a week

The Theatre also has a Swop Shop/Flea Market which operates from 5.30am until 12 noon every Saturday & Sunday.

Originally opened in 1948, the price of admission then was 35 cents per person.

Joy-Lan Drive-In Theatre

Location: 16414 Hwy. 301, North of Dade City, Pasco County, Florida 33525. Tel (352) 567-5085

The Joy-Lan has one screen and is open 5 days a week (Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)

Admissions:     

Adults                         $3.50
Children (Ages 4-9)      $1.00

Capacity: 300 cars

The Theatre also has a Swop Shop/Flea Market which operates from 5.30am until 1.00pm every Saturday & Sunday.

Refreshments:

Both theatres have snack bars, offering:

Pizza (Pepperoni & Cheese)

Hot Dogs (Grilled or roasted hot dog, served on a soft warm bun, with the option of onions, relish, mustard & ketchup)

Golden Corn Dog (Tender, meaty corn dog on a stick)

Grilled Sausage Dog (Giant sausage sandwich, served on a soft warm bun, with onions & peppers).  Only available Thursday to Sunday inc.

Nachos (Nacho chips served with cheddar cheese sauce)

Popcorn (Large size includes 1 free refill, Medium, Small, Economy)

Candy

Cold Soft Drinks (Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, in Giant (44oz), Medium, Small, Economy)

Budweiser & Bud Lite Beer (12oz cans, purchaser must have a valid ID)

Bottled Water, Coffee, Hot Chocolate

On swap shop days, breakfast sandwiches (egg, sausage & egg, bacon & egg, cheese) and the big breakfast (2 eggs, bacon/sausage, grits/potatoes, toast & jam) are available.

Larger Vehicles

As a courtesy to other customers, large pick-ups and vans are requested to park at the rear