They suggested that we arrive an hour before the scheduled time for our seating which we did, however, it would have been better to arrive even sooner.   We waited in line for about 20 minutes to check-in.  Even though we ordered our tickets in advance, you still have to acquire your seating assignment.  They offer you the opportunity to upgrade your meal or seating, but we didn’t feel it was worth it so didn’t bother.   After we checked-in, they took us into a large room for a pre-show and appetizers.  The pre-show was very entertaining and you wouldn’t want to miss it, so make sure you arrive no less than an hour before the show.  The appetizers are included in your admission, but drinks were quite pricey ($4.50 for a soft drink!) – better to hold your thirst until you enter the theater!

We were then taken into the theater and seated in long rows quite like sitting at a bar.  I noticed that if you were not seated on the end, it would be close to impossible to get out to use the restroom.  So, if you are not young and spry enough to climb over the back of the seat, then you may want to let people ahead of you so you can be on an end! 

The performance began shortly after we were seated and we were served our meal while we watched.   They first served beer and soft drinks.  There are 2 rounds of beer included, but even though they say the same for the soft drinks, these were unlimited.  Next, they offered us a choice of salad or a creamy vegetable soup.  After that came the main course.  We thought we had to choose one main entrée (chicken, pork, or seafood), but they actually gave us more than one.  I had the pork and the seafood – it was served with Caribbean rice and red potatoes.  It was actually very good and very generous on the helpings.  For dessert, we were served apple cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream drizzled with chocolate syrup.

The show was fun!  They have an extremely talented cast.  We especially enjoyed the circus type acts and acrobats.  After the show, we exited back through the pre-show area where the performers were waiting so we were able to get some great photos.   I would recommend this experience for people of all ages – it was a very enjoyable evening.

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.

Bottles of Corona for $2

Beach Volleyball

Sunset on St Petes Beach

All of these can be found with a visit to the Undertow Beach Bar, which is right on St Petersberg beach just along from the large hotel Don Cesar.

You sit in the bar or directly on the beach and watch Beach Volleyball. They serve some wonderful food as well. What could be better?

They also have an upstairs veranda that gives you an opportunity to sit there and while away some time waiting for the glorious sunset.

If you visit the website the staff will explain all the wonderful cocktails that can be had as well.

Give it a go!!!

There’s almost always something good going on in Kissimmee.  The Silver Spurs Rodeo host to a variety of concerts,  festivals and events all year long, offering fun, excitement, and entertainment for every member of the family. We have seen Hulk Hogan in person at one of the promotions, he is a Fishing fanatic and an expert angler. He signed our autograph book and we had pictures taken along side him, he is MASSIVE.

The Rodeo Show and Funfair weekends are great family entertainment with live music, lots of free give aways and live demonstrations. It’s a real crowd pleaser, offering a taste of the Wild West and you can watch bronco bucking, barrel racing, steer wrestling, team roping, and even those funny little rodeo clowns. It is worth getting the Events Calendar, where you’ll find what’s happening all year round.. 

Also, the three downtown areas, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, and Celebration, host numerous uniquely-themed special events throughout the year. You can also head over to Lake Toho in St. Cloud for a day of free family fun revolving around a beach, a playground, and several lakefront fishing spots including a tranquil fishing pier with a gazebo. Take one day of your holiday to slow down the pace and just see what you can do for free.

It will certainly make a change!!!!!

Happy Holidays

Mary & Larry

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).

Kissimmee Lakefront Park is a great place for families to visit for recreation and to enjoy the many popular events, festivals and concerts that are held there throughout the year.

Kissimmee Lakefront Park is situated on Lake Toho which is the second largest lake in Florida.  The park has basketball courts, a playground, a volleyball court and picnic areas with BBQ grills.  There is boating and fishing on the lake for water enthusiasts.   If you are a nature buff, you can take an excursion boat out to Cypress Island which offers visitors some gorgeous nature trails for hiking and exploring.  The beautiful ancient oak and cypress trees are part of the habitat of a number of birds including herons, osprey and owls as well as a good variety of other animals.  You’ll also see sheep, goats, llamas and emus grazing throughout the area.  Your family can enjoy airboat rides, swamp buggy rides, horseback riding, tubing, and water skiing during your visit.

Here are some of the annual events and festivals held at Kissimmee Lakefront Park that are fun for the whole family:

In January, you can attend the annual Sunshine Regional Chili Cookoff.  This event features competitors from all over the U.S. creating their signature chili recipes.  In addition to plenty of food, there is stage entertainment, arts and crafts, and family activities.

Caribbean Fusion is an annual event in March that offers Latin, Caribbean, and Hispanic music, food, arts and crafts.  There are plenty of stage performances and activities for the kids.

Music lovers will find many free concerts to attend at the park including the Concert in the Park series that features a performance by the Orlando Philharmonic and Jazzfest Kissimmee which showcases many jazz artists from the area as well as local high school jazz bands.

The 4th of July celebration offers families a fun day of live music, festival food, rides and of course a spectacular fireworks display to finish off the day!

In December, the Holiday Extravaganza is held.  This very festive event includes live bands, street performers, arts, crafts and food  vendors as well as  ice carving demonstrations. Winter comes to Florida with the 30 ton pile of snow known as “Frosty’s Playground.”  The climax of the Extravaganza is the “Festival of Lights” parade down Broadway followed by fireworks over the lake.

Admission and parking is free at all of these events.

Cirque du Soleil are in Down town Disney resort and the show is called LA NOUBA which means “To party or to live it up” Audience participation is a must.

 If you are a big kid at heart like me, then this appeals to all ages. The magic of seeing performers do the impossible on high wire, German wheels, skating, and flying trapeze is certainly breathtaking. The shows lighting and costumes grabs your imagination, emotions and your senses. The music has 2 distinct sounds, smooth and dynamique and certainly has a French/Canadian style.

The atmosphere and make up are amazing and you will be enthralled for every minute you are there.

This company started with 20 humble street entertainers in 1984 in Quebec, employed 73 people and celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2009. It has won numerous awards. It now has over 4000 people employed which include over 1000 artists. It has visited over 200 cities world wide and 90 million people have seen a show since 1984. There were 15 million visitors alone in 2009.

If you have a celebration coming up and want a special night out, you must go see this show. Prices are not cheap with front row seats $117 for an adult and $94 for a child. Tickets can be booked by phone 407-939-7600 or can be booked 6 months in advance.

My daughter and her family are going to Florida this year and staying in my villa and will be out there for their  10th wedding anniversary. So as a surprise, I went to the theatre in July, this year, and managed to get front row seats on the actual day of their anniversary, 5 months in advance.

I don’t know who was more excited, my daughter, her husband or my 8 year old grandson. As long as when the 8 year old returns to London, he doesn’t try to copy all the tricks he saw at the show on his BMX bike.

Spoil yourself, you will remember it forever.

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.

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

We all get dressed up in our check shirts and cowboy hats. Havent got the boots as yet, always been too hot to wear.Wouldnt dream of doing this in England though! The car park is full of custom cars and some even have steer horns on the bonnets.

The arena is huge and every seat has a good view. We always try to get down to the front to watch the “cowboys” trying to mount the cattle.in the holding part as that is very nerve racking to watch. The cattle always seem very calm while they are being mounted but that soon changes.

The arena goes very quiet and then the bell goes and the gate is opened and thats when the fun begins. The cowboy only has a rope to hold onto and must only use one hand. Of course he also has no saddle so trying to stay on is doubly difficult.He has to stay on for so many seconds with out being bucked off.Many of the cowboys are thrown in the air but seem to bounce back. They then have to run as fast as they can away as the “Bull” cattle seem intent on trying to go after them.

In the arena are two huge oil cans and in each of these are two clowns in bright clothing and painted faces,  just waiting for the right time to distract the bull . They then jump out and try to distract the bulls while the cowboy escapes over the fence.The arena is now in uproar in case the bull attcks the clowns or the cowboy.

Injuries have been known to happen to these clowns and cowboys.

If you love to see a show that is authentic “American” put this on your to do list.

Don’t forget to wear your cowboy hat either. You will love it.