When staying in an Orlando Disney villa, the following tips may be helpful to you.

Remember to complete your ESTA form for all members traveling.  Florida requires this to be completed before you check in at the airport.  If you do not complete an ESTA, you will not be allowed to travel.  Go to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov to complete the form ($14 per person as of 14.02.2011).  Be wary of some web-sites offering to complete the form for you at a higher cost.  The form is really easy to complete and will only take around 5 minutes per person.

If possible, pre-book you seats on the plane well in advance of flying (you can do this with most major airlines such as Virgin, BAA, Delta, completely free of charge).  Some charter airlines may charge extra.  Once the seats are booked you know your family will be traveling together and this just takes a little pressure off you wondering where you will be seated.  Ask your travel agent for the “locator number” and log into the airline web-site and manage your booking from there.

What clothes to take.  Packing for Florida is really easy, most people wear casual clothing such as t-shirts, shorts, trainers etc.  You may need a pair of trousers or a light jumper for the evenings in late Autumn / Winter but most of the time shorts and t-shirt are just fine.  If you are staying in an Orlando Disney villa, you will almost certainly have a washer and tumble dryer and so there is no need to pack enormous amounts of clothing.  In the Florida climate, clothes also dry very quickly.

Without doubt, you will need a swimming costume but nearly all Disney villa owners supply towels and so there is no need to pack these (just check with the owner before you travel).  If for some strange reason, your Florida villa owner does not include towels, then I would suggest you do not pack any but buy a couple in the cheap tourist shops for a couple of dollars and then throw them away before you go home.  By doing this, you will leave plenty of room in your suitcases for everything you buy to bring back. Most items in the US of A are cheaper than in the UK.  This is particularly true for trainers, trousers, t-shirts.  Some DVD’s can be cheaper, but check that they will play on your player in the UK.  Also, remember that you are only allowed to bring home around £140 of goods per person, unlike the EEC where you can bring back much more.

No doubt, you will be visiting Disney, Universal or some other parks and you will be doing a lot of walking and be on your feet for a good few hours during the day.  For this reason you will need some good footwear.  Most people wear trainers as they are practical and also comfortable.

Please remember that there are very strict rule regarding taking food into Florida.  You are allowed to take jars of food (such as Marmite – love it or hate it !!!), but items such as bananas, apples, meat etc are definitely forbidden.  Do not even try it as there a really cute dogs at immigration, sniffing all around your bags, and they will find you out.  Most items you will need will be found in Wal-Mart, Publix etc.  They even have their own brands of corn Flakes etc., and are cheaper than buying known UK brands.

Even people with who have special dietary requirements should be able to find most things at Wal-Mart or Publix.  These two large stores stock gluten free products and soya milk for those who are lactose intolerant.

Sun screen and sun barrier are an absolute must in Florida.  The sun gets very, very hot.  Be extra careful while in the pool as the cool water will seem to negate the heat of the sun.  It is only when you get out of the pool that you realize how much you may have been burnt.  Be especially careful with small children.

If you are taking a good quality camera with you, then we would suggest you purchase a good quality camera bag that will protect the camera from the afternoon storms that can occur in Florida and also from the potential splashing while you are on the water rides.   If you buy a bag that also has a loop that slips on to your belt, this will help to ensure you do not lose the camera.  Any god camera shop will sell these for around £10.

Do not forget to pack things like Aspirin or other medication you might need in your hand luggage.  If you need it, it is readily available.

And last but certainly not least (in fact probably most important), take a small document wallet with you to keep all you important documents together.  These should be your passports (remember you need at least 6 months from your date of return left on your passport before your passport expires to enter the US of A).  you should also keep you car hire voucher, Disney tickets etc, drivers licence, insurance policy, travelers cheques, directions to your Disney villa in the wallet.  If you keep these all in one place they are easier to find and in my opinion much safer than being in various other places.

It is also a very good idea to take some photocopies of these documents and give them to another member of your party to keep just in case the originals are lost.  It is so much easier obtaining a replacement passport if you have a copy of the original.  Also keep the travelers cheques separate from their numbers so if they are lost, you will still have the numbers that you can report as being lost and replacements will be easier to obtain.

We hope the above tips will help you holiday to be a little less worrying.  Remember, if you prepare properly everything will run smoothly.

Miami installed the first bank automated teller machine especially for rollerbladers.

Ybor city was once known as the Cigar Capital of the World with nearly 12,000 tabaqueros (cigar makers) employed in 200 factories.  Ybor city produced and estimated 700 million cigars a year at the industry’s peak.

Plant City, the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World, holds the Guinness record for the worlds largest strawberry shortcake.  The 827 square foot, 6000 pound cake was made on February 19, 1999 in McCall Park.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a cable-stayed concrete bridge.  Opened in 1987, the bridge coasts through the clouds at 190 feet above water.  Its bright yellow support cables spread from the two centre pillars.  The structure gives drivers an unobstructed view of the water during the 4.1 mile trip over Tampa Bay.

Nearly 80 percent of Floridas intake of Atlantic white shrimp is harvested in Amelia Island waters.  Two million pounds of shrimp are delivered to Fernandina docks every year.

A swamp such as Fakahatchee Strand in the Everglades functions in three major ways as follows.  First, its vegetation serves as a filter to clean the water as it makes its slow journey southward.  Secondly, it is a major habitat for wildlife and plant life.  Finally, it actually prevents flooding by slowing down the flow of river water after heavy rains.

DeFuniak Springs is home to one of the two naturally round lakes in the world.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens at Delray Beach is the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to the living culture of Japan.

Fort Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America because the city has 185 miles of local waterways.

Fort Meade is the oldest settlement in Polk County.  It dates back to 1849 when a settlement grew up around the United States Cavalry for during the Seminole Indian Wars.

The Fred Bear Museum in Gainesville is a tribute to the accomplishments of Fred Bear, a promoter of proper wildlife management and the founder of Bear Archery Company.

The Hawthorne Trail, is a part of Floridas Rails to Trails programme and attracts many outdoor enthusiasts to walk, cycle or ride horseback through its 17 mile length.

Just North of Haines City is the Baseball City Stadium which is the Spring training home of the Kansas City Royals.  Haines City is known as the Heart of Florida.

The city of Hypoluxos name comes from the Seminole expression “water all around” – no get out.

Islamorada is billed as the Sports Fishing Capital of the World.

Key Largo is known as the Dive Capital of the World.

Marathon is home to Crane Point Hammock, a 63.5 acre land tract that is one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the Keys.  The area contains evidence of pre-Columbian and prehistoric Bahamian artefacts, and was once the site of an entire Indian village.

Fort Zachary Taylor in Key West was built between 1845 and 1866.  Controlled by the Union during the Civil War, the fort was the home base for a successful blockade of Confederate ships that some historians say shortened the conflict by a full year.  The fort was also active during the Spanish-American War, World War 1 and World War 2.

The first graded road was built in Florida was Old Kings Road in 1763.  It was named for King George of England.

During the 1991 Gulf War, the busiest military port in the United States was Jacksonville.  From here, the military moved more supplies and people than any other port in the country.

When first completed, in 1989, the Dame Point Bridge became the longest cable-stayed span in the United States, the longest concrete span of its type in the Western Hemisphere and the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

The longest river sailboat race in the world is the Annual Mug Race.  The event runs 42 miles from Palatka to Jacksonville along the St. Johns River.

While you are taking your vacation in one of the many Disney villas, Florida villas, Orlando villas, Florida vacation rentals and villas near Disney that are available to rent, why not visit the theme parks and have a great time on the following wildest rides around.  We can guarantee some spectacular fun !!!

Universal Islands of Adventure - The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.  On this 3D simulation ride you are taken into the world of the comic book hero Spider Man.  The ride has quite a few twists and turns and a fantastic virtual 400 foot freefall experience. As Spider Man swings high above the city, riders will see, hear, and feel the action unfolding around them.

Universal Islands of Adventure – The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster – on this ride you loop the loop several times.  You need to be at least 54 inches tall to take this hair raising and thrilling ride.  After you have been on it you will see why you need to be able to fit into the seat and harness comfortably.  At take off, you are launched from 0 to 40 mph in two seconds flat. The Incredible Hulk ride has a total of seven inversions and two subterranean trenches during the 2 minute, 15-second ride.   This is one that our children just adore.

Universal Islands of Adventure - Dueling Dragons – this is another ride (in fact there are two rides), where you have to be 54 inches tall to ride.  Dueling Dragons are the world’s first inverted, dueling roller-coasters. Locked in mortal combat (and coming as close as 18″ of each other) each dragon’s 2 minute and 25 second ride includes several inversions, including a zero-g roll, a Cobra roll, two corkscrews, and two vertical loops.  My wife went on Fire and then Ice immediately after and came off feeling rather sick.  The boys loved it and wanted to do it again.

Walt Disney world Epcot - Mission Space – is definitely not for the faint hearted.  The ride was designed with help from NASA to simulate what astronauts experience during a launch and spaceflight. Riders can choose between the heavy-duty g-forces of the original Mission: Space or a slightly milder version of this ride.  You are very close to the screen and it can become quite claustrophobic.  To be truthful, I came off feeling quite ill.  However, once again our boys loved it.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest – is a roller coaster that takes riders speeding towards the top of Mount Everest.  If the forward motion of the ride is not enough for you, it also goes backwards as well.  There are also a few surprises, including the fearsome Yeti, which lurks in the Himalayan mountain range.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – is for both roller coaster lovers and fans of Aerosmith.  This fantastic ride takes you from 0 to 60 mph with the force of a supersonic F-14.  There are high speed loops and turns as you travel along the Los Angeles freeway.  The entire ride is all synchronized to a specially recorded Aerosmith soundtrack.  Another ride we all love.

Sea World – Kraken – is always ranked as one of the top ten rides by coaster enthusiasts.  You can see Kraken from all over Sea world as it is so large and high.  It is the tallest, fastest, and only floorless steel roller coaster in the whole of Orlando.

Walt Disney world Epcot - Test Track.  In this ride you can see what it takes to be a crash test dummy.  You enter the car and then go through a series of exercises on the track where you test the brakes, swerve around hair pin bends, test the ABS (Antilock Braking System), and also experience extreme weather conditions from freezing cold to very, very hot, just like the desert.  Toward the end of the ride you career on to a 50 degree banked curves at around 60 miles an hour.

Universal Studios - Men in Black Alien Attack – is based on the smash hit movies “Men in Black”.  The ride provides you with laser guns with which you hunt down deadly aliens through the streets of New York City. If you score enough points you can earn the title of “MIB agent”.  Even if you don’t, its great fun playing against friends and family.

Universal Studios - Revenge of the Mummy – is an indoor rollercoaster that goes both backwards and forwards (mainly forwards).  This frightening ride is set and goes inside a very dark Mummy’s tomb.  There are fireballs, scarab beetles, and even an army of warrior mummies.  A really great ride and very, very fast so hold on to your hats – I lost mine once !!

Cocoa Beach – the local billboards say it all – this is Orlando’s Closest Beach. It is just 45 minutes drive away from Orlando International Airport.  Take the aptly named Beach line Expressway (528) straight east, keep driving and arrive.  Buy a souvenir at Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, and then head to the beach – fantastic and not crowded at all.

Kennedy Space Center - is just north of Cocoa Beach.  It has an amazing museum of space exploration (known as the KSC Visitors Complex) and is well worth a full day visit. If you plan to catch a shuttle launch, be prepared to sit in traffic for several hours driving back to Orlando, but the spectacle of an actual launch will be well worth it.  Our whole family loved the day.

Daytona Beach - if all you are looking for is sun, sand and surf, then a quick trip Cocoa Beach will get you there a bit quicker and give you all you want.  However, Daytona Beach is less than two hours away, and it has a special appeal to Spring Breakers, bikers, and NASCAR fans. If you stay until sunset, the brightly colored Ocean Walk Shoppes and Movies offers a fantastic ocean view.  The beach is really hard and many cars and pick ups drive along it (slowly of course)

Tampa area – is less than two hours drive away from Florida on the West coast.  Check out Florida’s Gulf Coast in the historically rich city of Tampa. Nearby at St. Petersburg there are upscale shopping areas and museums while Clearwater Beach offers warm waters and powdery white sand.

Silver Springs – is another “Old Florida” icon.  It is famous for its glass bottomed boat rides, animal exhibits, and jeep safaris through the Florida forest. Silver Springs was opened in 1878, and is Florida’s oldest commercial tourist attraction.  It is where Johnny Weismuller filmed some of the earliest Tarzan movies.  A little drive away from Orlando but well worth visiting for the crystal clear springs.

Ocala National Forest – is not far from Silver Springs. It is the world’s largest sand pine forest and covers around 366,000 acres. Hiking, fishing, and canoeing are popular activities in this natural attraction.

Mount Dora - with its Victorian architecture, boutique shopping, and lovely lakefront, Mount Dora is one of the most genuine small towns in Central Florida. You can even see some of the few remaining citrus groves on the outskirts of this well preserved village.  My wife just loved Mount Dora with its fantastic quaint shops.  You can also go on a boat ride on the lake.  Well worth a visit.

Sebring – is a sleepy town less than two hours due south of Orlando, Sebring has a charming downtown district, and is home to the Sebring International Raceway, which is the oldest permanent road racing track in North America. Nearby Highlands Hammock State Park offers campsites and hiking trails.

Blue Spring State Park - with the water temperature at a constant 68º F, Blue Spring State Park in nearby Volusia County (where Daytona Beach is located) is a winter refuge for manatees between November and March. In the warmer months, human visitors enjoy snorkeling and canoeing.

When planning for your vacation in an Orlando Disney villa, please, please remember to buy adequate travel insurance, especially for medical cover.  We recommend a minimum of $10 million coverage.

The USA is not a place to travel to without proper cover.  They do not have a National Health Service like we do in the UK and costs can be extremely high.

If you visit a hospital or medical centre, the first thing they will ask is if you are insured.  Then they will ask what is wrong with you.

If you go onto the web, you will find a multitude of companies offering discount travel insurance to the USA.  This is often much cheaper than taking out insurance through a travel agent.  We have a multi trip annual policy covering 2 adults and 2 children and we pay just £70 per year.  Always take out your insurance as soon as you have booked the flight / villa / accommodation.  This will insure you are covered immediately.  Do not wait until just before your holiday.

Make sure you take the policy with you on holiday.  In the event that you do need medical help at a hospital or medical centre, they will ask if you are insured and able to pay for treatment.  You should phone your insurer immediately to advise them that you are ill and request authorization from them for the treatment.  Costs can be very expensive.  I had pneumonia a few years back, and the treatment including x-rays, blood test and a few hours in hospital came to over £2,000.  Fortunately, I was fully covered and only had to pay a £35 excess.  Nowadays, our policy does not even have an excess.

Minor treatments by doctors can also be expensive compared to the UK.  By the time you have had a consultation and some medication, the bill can be up to £200.  Check you policy to see if you can obtain treatment up to a certain limit before you need your insurers ok to proceed.  If this is the case, be sure to keep all receipts as these will be required by your insurer (without them you may not be reimbursed).  If possible, obtain the name of the doctor you see as this may help in the event of any queries.

The other form of cover you should obtain is for lost or damaged luggage (either by accident or theft).  If you do need to make a claim for lost luggage, you need to report it to the airport authorities if the loss is at the airport or to the police if it is in Florida while you are on holiday.  You will need an incident number to give to your insurer.

Always remember to lock the villa, keep your wallet hidden, and just be cautious as you would in England and the chance of losing valuables is very small.

Have a great holiday in your Orlando Disney villa.

Every Christmas for the last few years there has been a spectacular event held at Gaylord Palms, called Ice. This features spectacular ice sculptures and lasts around 7 weeks – from November to just after Christmas.  My family and I went there recently and had a really memorable visit.

To create the displays, Gaylord Palms selects around 40 Chinese artisans, who are chosen from the participants in the International Ice and Snow Festival which takes place in China every year. It takes around one month for them to complete the wonderful display.

The walkways are carpeted and both wheelchairs and strollers can be accommodated. There are a limited number of wheelchairs available for rent if you prefer not to bring one of your own.

They do have a pre show before you actually get into the exhibit with entertainment.  You can also meet Santa.  They have a computer outside the exhibit where you can send an email to him if you don’t want to see him. 

Some interesting trivia they provided us:

48,000 pounds is the weight of the ice used to create the giant Santa Claus.

They have special programs where you can propose to your girlfriend or actually have a wedding at ICE!

5000 blocks of ice that are hand carved to create the exhibit. They come in a dozen different colors.

1500 specially designed LED tube lights that are frozen in the ice.

More than 18,000 square feet of space is used for the ICE! Exhibit.

The unique structure housing “Ice”, is also known as the “Florida Fridge.”  It is believed to be the first of its kind in North America.

In all they use a staggering two million pounds of ice to create the displays which are kept at a chilly nine degrees Fahrenheit.

Three kinds of ice are needed to make the sculptures. White ice has the appearance of compacted snow and this effect is created by freezing the water very quickly which lends an opaque appearance to the ice.

Crystal Ice is made from de-ionized water that has been multi filtered. Each 400 pound ice block uses 45 gallons of water and takes around 72 hours to freeze.

Colored Ice is made by simply adding a bright colorant that makes a nice contrast to the brilliant white of the un-dyed ice.

Threaded among the displays are thousands of twinkling lights that add sparkle to the snow.

There is a wall where you can touch the ice to see how cold it is, but you are politely requested not to touch the exhibits as all those warm hands will obviously eventually melt away parts of them away. 

There are incredible photo opportunities throughout the entire exhibition.  There is a 13 foot Santa carved out of ice.  You can pose for a picture with Santa.  There is a larger than life Gingerbread house which is another picture taking spot. Just be aware that the lens on your camera can fog up because of the cold temperatures. Be sure your camera batteries are charged because they drain quicker in colder temperatures.

Outside there is a skating rink and you will be pleased to learn that they supply you with skates for this.

You may be wondering if you can take all the cold when you are dressed in shorts and t-shirts? Well they have thought of that too and supply you with very warm clothing. The oversized parkas they give you kept my family and I very warm.  It is still a good idea to wear trainers or similar to keep the feet warm, and perhaps gloves as well.  There are no pockets in the parkas, and so ensure you have somewhere to put your car keys, wallet etc.

After the attraction, the hot chocolate is very welcoming as well.

There is the usual gift shop to visit and we feel it is always nice to take home a Christmas decoration that will remind you of your visit to ‘ Ice at Gaylord Palms’.

Prices are approximately $20 for an adult and $10 for a child.

As always, the key to a successful trip is proper planning.  If you have a clear view of every stage of the journey it will flow more smoothly than if you are having to react to a series of minor disasters which are being flung at you.

The issue we all have with air travel is that it is always rush, then wait, rush then wait.  You rush to the airport to ensure you can check in on time and get the seats you want.  However, you may have a long wait in the queue to get rid of your luggage and obtain your boarding passes.  Then we rush to passport control and again we may have to wait a long time in a line.  Once through passport control, we have perhaps 3 to 4 hours to wait for boarding.  We have a cup of coffee, perhaps a bite to eat.  It seems to go on and on.  With all the added security measures in place at airports, you must be prepared to wait for some hours at the airport.  If you have older children, they can often amuse them selves on a PSP, Game Boy or even the old fashioned reading of a book.  If you have younger children it can be more challenging to keep them amused.  Some airports do have play areas for them and this can help a lot.  Always try and take along a small, cheap favourite toy they can play with.  Being cheap, if it gets lost, then it does not matter too much.

Once on board, always remember to exercise when possible and at least once an hour.  Walk up and down the plane, or flex your feet.  This may well help to prevent DVT (Deep vein thrombosis).  Also remember to drink plenty of fluids (water – not beer !!!).

Take an Aspirin just before you fly.  Aspirin helps to thin the blood and so helps prevent DVT.  Make sure you only take the one as Aspirin does have side effects.

If you smoke, please remember that all flights are non smoking.  Many areas of the airport are also non smoking.  Please do not be tempted to nip into the toilet for a quick drag.  The toilets have smoke detectors and smoking will set them off.  It is a Federal Offence to smoke in the toilets and if caught, you will be prosecuted.

During your journey, you will need to complete a green Visa Waiver from and also a blue and white customs form.  The green form must be completed for all members of your party.  The customs form only needs to be completed for a family.  Most UK citizens can enter the USA on the waiver form for up to 6 months.  Once you have completed the forms, keep them handy with your passport to hand to customs and Immigration at your destination airport.  Be aware that if you have any kind of criminal record, have been a member of any organisation likely to be of interest to the security services or even if you have ever been detained in connection with certain offences, you are not eligible for the visa waiver scheme. If this applies to you, you should contact the American Embassy to ask their advice before you book your holiday. The UK and America share various form of information and you may well be refused entry to the country if you do not have the necessary visa.

When you land, just follow the crowds to immigration. You need to wait in line patiently.  Remember that these employees are keeping an eye out for illegal immigrants and terrorists etc.  They take their jobs very seriously.   We are all tired after a long flight, but please do be patient with them as they are only doing their job.  Answer all questions properly with out any form of joking.  If you do play them up, they can easily just put you back on the next flight.  Treat them with respect and your path through immigration will be uneventful.  At immigration you may well find small dogs sniffing around your hand luggage.  They are looking for food, which you are not allowed to bring into the country.

After immigration, you need to collect your luggage from the carousels and move onto to customs.   Usually this is quite painless and you go through quite quickly.  If you are unfortunate, you may be selected to have your cases opened which will hold you up for a short while.  So long as you have nothing to hide you will soon be on your way.

Once through customs, you need to go to the car rental desks to collect your rental car.  Make sure you have the car rental voucher with you, plus driving license and credit card.  You will probably be asked if you would like to upgrade your car and if you do consider this, always try bargaining.  You may get a really good deal.  Make sure you have some change with you for any tolls you may pass through. 

We hope you found this article interesting and helps you arrive at your Orlando Disney villa fully refreshed.

No matter what time of year it is, people who love Florida do not need an excuse to make their way to The Sunshine State for a little rest and relaxation.  Accommodation in Florida is remarkable with hundreds of Disney villas, Florida villas, Orlando villas, Florida vacation rentals and villas near Disney that are available to rent.

There are many reasons visit Florida for a vacation, but for those who do not know a lot about this lovely southern state here a few of the top reasons that make this Florida the US of A’s fourth most populous state.

Theme Parks – Many individuals would say this is their number one reason for taking a vacation Florida.  Theme park fanatics, most especially Disney fans, often head to The Sunshine State every year to get their dose of magic. Orlando, of course, is at the center of the theme park kingdom, with the four parks of the Walt Disney World complex, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, and SeaWorld Orlando.  However do not forget about Tampa’s Busch Gardens Africa, which is also an excellent amusement park, almost always landing on annual top 10 lists for theme park enthusiasts.

Beaches, beaches and more beaches – according to many people, this is the number one reason for coming to Florida.  The ability to sit on The Sunshine State’s incredible beaches and enjoy the soft sand, warm water, and beautiful sunsets you will find there.  Florida has thousands of miles of coastline and the beaches are many and quite varied in their type.  Choose your favorite, from Tony South Beach in Miami, the place to see and be seen, to the white sanded family oriented beaches of Siesta Key, near Sarasota.  There are also the Panhandle beaches like popular Destin or the beaches of the northeast, including Fernandina and Ponte Vedra, as well as the beaches of the Keys and those in the southwest, like Sanibel and Marco Islands.  Wherever you go, you will find a Florida beach where you can sun, swim, and enjoy the view.

Sports – Major league sports are a very important part of life in Florida.  With teams like the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays calling Florida home, it is no wonder some visitors head to The Sunshine State annually just to enjoy the sports that take place there all year round.  From NFL football to NHL hockey to pre-season and regular season baseball.  Add to that all the wonderful college teams in the state and it’s easy to understand why Florida is a sportsman’s mecca.

Nightlife – Nightlife sizzles in many parts of the Sunshine State.  On the east coast, the most popular nightlife spots are Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale (especially during Spring Break), West Palm Beach, and the other towns in that area.  In central Florida, the Walt Disney World complex has its Pleasure Island area 9currently being refurbished), where adults can party as if it is New Year’s Eve each and every night.  Universal’s City Walk appeals to nighttime revelers as well, with its many restaurants and bars.  On the west coast, Tampa’s lively Ybor City area is a favorite with the under 30 crowd, but the remainder of Gulf Coast beach towns also offer a good collection of nightclubs and other popular party spots geared towards various age groups.

National Parks/Natural Sites – Florida is home to about a dozen national parks, monuments, and seashores, all of which are a joy for the visitor to explore.  A must see is expansive Everglades National Park, which occupies much of the southwest portion of the state.  The largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S., the Everglades is home to many rare species of animals, birds, and plants, and an airboat ride to view them is a must.  State Parks throughout Florida are excellent as well, like Sarasota’s Myakka River Park where guests can experience a diverse natural area of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands; or the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, where visitors can take a prairie buggy ride along one of Florida’s largest stretches of dry prairie.

Watersports – Florida is a state surrounded by water and for this reason you will no doubt want to take advantage of the many watersports available there.  You can take your pick, from calm water related pursuits like fishing or sailing to more exciting adventures, such as jet skiing, SCUBA diving, kite or wind surfing, wake boarding, parasailing, and more.  With 8,500 miles of shoreline, 7,800 lakes, 320 springs and 35 rivers, the possibilities are endless!  Many beach hotels offer free use of non motorized watercraft and outfitters throughout the state peddle charter fishing cruises, dive lessons, and other opportunities which enable you to enjoy Florida’s beautifully warm waters.

Shopping – Every good vacation has a little shopping time built in (and why not).  In Florida, the shopping options are many and varied, ranging from upscale shops in ritzy South Beach, Miami and beautiful St. Armand’s Circle near Sarasota to popular outlets in Ellenton (near Tampa), St. Augustine, Naples, Florida City, and Orlando.  You’ll also find everything in between at the many malls that dot the Florida landscape.  For real bargains also try the Farmers Markets and Flea Markets dotted all around the state.

Key Lime Pie - Okay, you can get this pie in some other parts of the South too but this delightful confection originally had its start in the Florida Keys.  In fact, nearly every restaurant in the Keys, especially in Key West, serves this dessert.  The key lime tree arrived in Florida in the 1500s and recipes for the pie began appearing as early as the late 1800s, though it became really popular in the 1930s.  Some restaurants make it with graham cracker crust, others with pastry crust.  Either way, it’s a Florida must have several times over.

History – While most people tend to visit Florida for the recreation, the state’s interesting history is one of those side perks visitors can experience while exploring the region.  From the Spanish style architecture of St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European established city in the U.S., to Tampa and its ties to the cigar industry, to the rich military history of the Panhandle, Florida excites and educates visitors who enjoy gaining a little knowledge while on vacation.

Arts and Culture – Florida is filled with museums and entertainment venues both up and down both the East and West coasts and everywhere in between.  Visitors can buy tickets for rock concerts, Broadway style shows, dinner theatre, and much more, in major cities like Tampa, Sarasota, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville etc.  Other cultural sites include incredible art museums (check out the Ringling Museum in Sarasota), history museums (found in nearly every county), aviation museums (like the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola), and science museums (including Tampa’s excellent Museum of Science and Industry).

While you are taking your vacation in one of the many Disney villas, Florida villas, Orlando villas, Florida vacation rentals and villas near Disney that are available to rent, and feel you have a great need to cool down, then we strongly recommend you try one of Florida Water Parks.

As we all know, Florida is HOT, VERY HOT especially during the Summer months.

They have some of the wettest and wildest rides around for a fantastic day out !!.

Here are some of the main ones:

Aquatica - SeaWorld Orlando

Aquatica is Florida’s newest water park which opened in April 2008.

This park offers a new twist in water play with animal interactions, as in the Dolphin Plunge which is the most popular ride in the park.  Two side-by-side enclosed tube slides send you racing through an underwater world that is home to a playful pod of beautiful black-and-white Commerson’s Dolphins.

Try the Taumata Racer if you are looking for the biggest thrill in the park.  This is a high speed competitive mat ride where eight racers rip down a staggeringly steep hill, head first.

Loggerhead Lane – take a load off your feet and hop on a lazy river ride down Loggerhead Lane.  This leisurely raft ride takes you through an underwater world colored by exotic tropical fish.

Tassie’s Twisters is one of the wackiest rides ever imagined. In fact, getting there is part of the fun.  From the Loggerhead Lane lazy river, you’ll make your way to the island in the center and climb to the tower.  Once you get to the top, lightning fast tubes shoot you into a giant bowl, where you’ll spin, and spin, and spin, until you’re finally spun back out into the lazy river. You’ve never seen or felt anything quite like it.

Whanau Way is a quadruple slide tower and is one of the most popular rides in the park.

Walhalla Wave & HooRoo is a is a thrilling ride for the whole family, zooming you through a 6-story maze of twists, turns, and tunnels before you surge back out into daylight.

Walkabout Waters is one of the most talked about places in the park for children. This towering, 60-foot-tall rain fortress is bursting with color, excitement, and adventures waiting to begin.

Cutback Cove & Big Surf Shores - one thing or should we say two things that makes Aquatica so unique are the giant, side-by-side wave pools you won’t find anywhere else in the U.S.  At Cutback Cove, the waves are always rolling, and the action’s always high. At Big Surf Shores, the surf can be high or slow and easy. What kind of wave do you feel like catching today? Two separate pools let you decide.

Roa’s Rapids race you along an action river ride through the white waters of Aquatica.  Get ready for an awesome adventure through a roaring sea of high tides, swirling whirlies, and gushing geysers- all at speeds that leave ordinary river rides eating this one’s wake.

Aquatica is located across the street from SeaWorld Orlando on International Drive and is open year round.

Blizzard Beach at Disney World - Kissimmee

Blizzard Beach is one of Walt Disney World Resort water parks and has a Winter theme.

For a really “cool” time, this 66-acre water adventure park has all the atmosphere of a major ski resort – but it is strictly tropical.

Here, visitors can slip and slid down “snow-capped” mountains amid a snowy scene (a visual effect only – temperatures actually remain a controlled tropical level year-round,).  Waterslides look a lot like slush cascading down the mountainside, and a “ski lift” takes guests to the top of Mt. Gushmore. Disney’s Blizzard Beach.  It contains 21 slides, a wave pool, and a separate area for pre-teens and children.

As you enter the park, the first thing you see is the 90-foot snow-capped mountain, Mt. Gushmore. It is home to the newest waterslide called Downhill Double Dipper, a side-by-side racing water slide that stands 50 feet high and 200 feet long. Riders travel up to 25 mph as they twist and turn before shooting out through a blast of water.

Other adventures at Mt. Gushmore include slalom courses, toboggan and water sleds and the 120-foot high Summit Plummet, a breathtaking 60-mph plunge straight down to a splash landing at the base of the mountain.

The Teamboat Springs is the world’s longest family white water raft that ride takes six-passenger rafts down a twisting 1,200 foot series of rushing water falls.

The Toboggan Racer is an 8-lane water slide that sends guests racing over exhilarating dips as they descend the “snowy” slope.

Snow Stormers has three flumes descending from the top of the mountain and following a switchback course through ski-type slalom gates.

Runoff Rapids is an inner tube run, where riders can careen down three different twisting, turning flumes.

Chair Lift is where wooden bench chair lifts carry guests over the craggy face of Mt. Gushmore, from its base at the beach, to its summit.

At Cross Country Creek, you can float on a tube along a lazy river that encircles the entire park. On the way, you will float through a cave where you’ll be splashed with “melting ice” from overhead. “Melt-Away Bay” is a 4,000 square foot (one-acre) wave pool that is nestled against the base of Mt. Gushmore and is constantly fed by “melting snow” waterfalls.

Tike’s Peak is a smaller version of Mt. Gushmore, just for children. It includes short water slides, a snow-castle, fountain play area and a squirting ice pond.

The Ski Patrol Training Camp is designed for pre-teens; equipped with inner tube slides and a challenging ice-flow walk along floating icebergs.

Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World - Kissimmee

Typhoon Lagoon is Walt Disney World’s 56-acre water park that includes a man-made watershed mountain and eight twisting, turning water slides and roaring streams. It is also home to a two-and-a-half-acre wave pool, one of the worlds largest (where the waves are as big as six feet and come at you every one and a half minutes)

The park features a water playground for children, a white sand beach and a lazy stream that surrounds the 95-foot Mount May Day.

Mount Mayday, is the 95-foot volcano on top of which is perched a shipwrecked shrimp boat.  At the summit of Mount May Day, guests can choose from several exciting water slides. At the base of the mountain is one of the world’s largest wave pools, complete with a white sandy beach and some of the most powerful artificial waves in Orlando. Also bordering the Lagoon is Castaway Creek, a 2,100-foot river that carries guests leisurely around the perimeter of the park. You can even go snorkelling amid tropical fish and other exotic marine life.

Typhoon Lagoon is the main wave pool that is two-and-a-half- acres, and holds 2.75 million gallons of water. There are two sets of waves that are produced in this pool. The first set are gentle bobbing waves that come on a continuous basis, like a normal wave pool. However, every half hour a loud horn will sound and that means that the waves will be changing.  At this point, get ready for waves as large as four feet that come at you with a lot of speed and force, every 90 seconds.

Castaway Creek is the lazy river that travels around the park. Take an inner tube and float along. The river is only 3-4 feet deep and runs on a slow current. As you float down the river on this 2,000-foot journey, you will see banana trees, palm trees, tropical birds and flowers. You will slowly drift through caves, under waterfalls and cool mists, and through tropical forests, and around all the other attractions at the park. If you choose, you can get off Castaway Creek at one of the many stops along the way.

Disney’s first ever water coaster, the Crush n’ Gusher is a thrilling experience that defies gravity as powerful jets propel passengers on rafts through every surprise filled turn until they splash land in the pool below.

Three water slides await you at Humunga Kowabunga, which sends you zooming through enclosed tubes at 30 mph to a splashing surprise ending.

Storm Slides is another set of three slides where you will twist and swirl through caves and tunnels.

Mayday Falls is the longest waterslide in the Park that takes guests aboard their own personal inner tube down the side of the mountain in the shadow of the famed shrimp boat.

One of the most dramatic attractions at Typhoon Lagoon is Shark Reef, a massive saltwater pool and manmade coral reef, where you can snorkel among swarms of exotic marine life. For those who don’t want to get wet, there is a sunken tanker with portholes that provide stunning views of the underwater activity.

Ketchakiddie Creek is Typhoon Lagoon’s play area, especially for children aged two to five. There is a small pool and water slide, fountain and bubblers, interactive water boats, and even a pint-sized white water rafting adventure. An adult must accompany all children.

Wet-n-Wild

Wet-n-Wild in Orlando, was voted by the Amusement Business Magazine as America’s “number one water park,” and also honoured by Aquatic’s International as the country’s “first true water park.”

Wet ‘n Wild is, indeed, the oldest water park in the area, but it is continually adding new rides and is loaded with slides and other attractions for the entire family. It includes a 7-story water slide, various tubes, wave pools, and a Lazy River tube ride around the park and more, including a rather elaborate children’s area.

Over a dozen thrill rides in all at Wet ‘N Wild (including several multi-person/family rides) will keep even the most discriminating amusement park aficionado entertained. Wet ‘N Wild is also fully staffed with certified lifeguards and all the pools are seasonally heated.

One of the newest attractions at Wet ‘N Wild is Disco H2O, a multi-million dollar retro slide that showcases the 1970s disco nightlife. Like other bowl rides, this one sends passengers on a four-person cloverleaf “raft” down a slide and into a large funnel where it swishes and spins to the sounds of the hits of the 70s, before splashing out the bottom. Inside the ride are flashing lights and a mirror “disco” ball.

Other rides include the Bubba Tub, a four-person raft that takes passengers on a rollicking ride on a triple dip slide.

The Surge sends five passengers at a time through a never-ending maze of twists and turns, and The Blast sends groups of two through a colourful maze with sound effects and then ends with a final plummet into the water.

Experience the thrill of The Bomb Bay, where the floor actually falls out from underneath you in a bomb-like capsule, 76-foot high vertical slide. (Get ready to feel your stomach drop to your feet in this one!).

Thrill seekers will want to try out The Flyer, which begins its’ descent from a vantage point located 40 feet above the park. This exhilarating ride sends passengers racing through 450 feet of banked curves and speedy straightways.

Another of the park’s most popular rides is the Blue Niagara, where you’ll race, twist and splash through 300 feet of intertwined looping tubes that start at six stores above the park and end with a big splash landing.

Wet N Wild also features a winding Lazy River where you can enjoy a relaxing ride as you drift slowly through bubbles to an enchanting spring with a waterfall spilling over a rocky hillside.

Wet ‘n Wild’s newly upgraded 17,000 square foot Surf Lagoon Wave Pool features some of the most powerful waves found at any water park.

Just for children, Kid’s Park at Wet N Wild, is complete with a giant sandcastle, kiddie pool and specially sized beach chairs. The Bubble Up is a large, multi-collared balloon that is crowned with a mushroom-shaped fountain that sprays water all over the balloon’s surface. Kids can climb to the top (with the aid of a rope) and then bounce down the side of the balloon into a three-foot deep pool below.

Manatees are sometimes known as ‘sea cows’ and they are one of the most delightful creatures to be found anywhere in Florida.  They are very gentle sea creatures and are mainly herbivores.  They graze in the shallow waters off the coast of Florida, or else in the rivers.  They eat many different plant types including mangrove leaves, and even certain types of algae.  If you take a very close look at their faces you will notice that they have a divided upper lip, which enables them to eat the plant easily.  Amazingly, an adult manatee can eat nearly 9% of its body weight each day, which could amount to around 30 pounds in weight.  They only have 6 teeth which continuously fall out and are then replaced.

Manatees can grow up to a length of between 9 feet and 10 feet and can weigh up to 1200 lbs, with the females being the heaviest.  They do not swim very fast, usually around 3 to 5 miles per hour, although they can swim at a speed of up to 15 miles per hour for short periods of time.  The manatee uses its paddle shaped tail to propel itself along, as it glides through the water.

A baby manatee weighs a staggering 15 pounds and an adult can live for anything up to 60 years.  They only breed every other year, as their gestation period lasts around 12 months.  They give birth to just one calf, which feeds from its mother for up to 18 months.  In fact, manatees are quite intelligent, and can demonstrate the sort of task learning and discrimination usually associated with dolphins.  They also show signs of having a long term memory as well as being capable of understanding discrimination tasks.  Unlike dolphins however, the manatee is generally a solitary creature and spends most of its life on its own.

Florida is the ideal location for the manatee to live as they have a low metabolic rate, which means that they cannot endure cold temperatures.  Indeed, they cannot survive at temperatures below 15 degrees Centigrade, so they migrate up warm spring fed rivers during the winter months.

If you want to see manatees in the winter then Crystal River and Blue Springs are the places to go.  Here, the water is maintained at a constant 22 degrees Centigrade all year round, so the manatees congregate around these warm springs.

Sadly, manatees are quite vulnerable.  Although they have few natural enemies apart from sharks, whales, crocodiles and alligators, it is man made dangers that are the main problem.  Manatees are particularly susceptible to injury from boats and their propellers.  Many manatees carry the scars of altercations with motor boats, and wounds are often fatal.  In fact, it is illegal under Florida law to cause manatees injury or harm.  Nevertheless, whilst the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission do not recognise them as being endangered, they have to be protected, and so they have been declared by them to be ‘threatened’ although under federal law they are still endangered.

If you are lucky enough to visit Orlando in the winter months, from mid November, then do take the opportunity to go and visit one of their winter habitats.  They are delightful and non aggressive creatures which are quite curious.  A visit to Crystal River or Blue Springs will be well worthwhile, as manatees congregate in waters warmed by the springs.  You can even swim with them here.

We visited Crystal River a short while ago and took a tour to swim with the manatees and it was a totally wonderful experience and we can highly recommend it.  The trip starts very early (around 6.30 am), as this is the best time to see them in action.  You are provided with a wet suit, fins, snorkel and even an underwater camera to take some memorable photos.  Bouyancy aids are available for people who are not strong swimmers.  We were taken out into the river where the Manatees live and found them around 20 minutes later.  Please be aware that there is no guarantee that you will see them although most days they will be there.  The captain stopped the boat and we descended into the very, very cool waters to take a look around.  The captain of the boat only makes one trip a day and so we were able to spend as much time as we liked in the water.  We had around two hours and were not pushed to return to the boat at all.  We swam around with the Manatees, stroked them and took photos.  We really would recommend this trip to everyone.