Back to Nature - Swimming with the Manatees

Having previously swum with dolphins and enjoyed the thrill of the airboat ride to see the wild life of the Everglades up close and personal, we decided to do something different on this last visit and go swimming with some of the most relaxed and peaceful mammals on this planet...the Manatee...or as they are sometimes called...the Sea Cow.  The photo below is one that I took using a waterproof camera which you can hire for $20 from the organisors (just take your own SD card to save the images on, it also shoots video) and gives you an idea of how close you get to the wonderful creatures.

We booked this as a day trip with Snorkel with Manatees: located in Crystal River, around a 70-90 minute drive from 'Magic Dreams' depending on the traffic.  The organisors provide you with a wet suit, snorkel and mask so all you need to bring is a towel and change of clothes for after.  The trip itself lasts for approx 3 hours and each boat is made up of small parties (6 on ours) so you get plenty of space onboard and personal attention from the Captain (ours was Captain Tom).

In addition to the manatees we were also lucky enough to get followed by a dolphin, leaping in and out of the wake from the boats propellor.  We visited several locations and had plenty of time in the water (no one makes you hurry), in our 2nd location we found 3 that were sleeping, including 1 huge one that must have been close to 4-metres long.

Our playful Dolphin

The manatee is very gentle and naturally curious and the way in which they come up close to you is for you to simply float, very still and with no sudden movements or swimming motions.  They will then just swim right up to you and take a look...they are completely unfazed by your presence.

This is a natural experience within an outdoor tropical environment so be prepared with sunscreen, comfortable clothing and a supply of bug spray (you will get mosquito bites when on and around the river).  The organisors did have plenty of insect repellent on the boat but we'd recommend taking your own and being protected as you arrive.  All in all a totally different experience and great day out...one that we would highly recommend.

Theme Parks - Orlando simply has the best in the world...

This is where the Magic Begins!

Magic Kingdom - No visit to Walt Disney World is complete without a trip to Magic Kingdom, walk up Main Street USA to see the famous Walt Disney and Mickey statue, with Cinderella's Castle in the background (great place for your photo to be taken). 


Go to Frontierland and board the runaway train in the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride, then chill out (i.e. get wet) on Splash Mountain!

A must see is Mickey's PhilharMagic 3-D show, our verdict..'simply excellent'.. 




Magic Kingdom has all of the Disney magic and atmosphere, and it appeals to all age groups. Try and see one of the parades ( both day and night time parades are held), although you'll have to find a good viewing spot early, as it does fills up quickly. This is also the place to go for buying all of your Disney gifts and memorabilia, as it has a widest choice of Disney shops and stores.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice!

Disney-MGM Studios - Offering a faster pace than Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios is the place to go for an action packed day. Get aboard a starspeeder on the Star Tours ride, or enjoy the thrills of the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

Fancy being in the hot seat? Then participate in 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' for your chance to win a prize on this realistic TV set of the famous show.

Don't miss the Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade in this cavalcade of fun..

 

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is without doubt one of the best rides in Orlando at the moment. Every ride is random, as you zoom down corridors and drop 13 floors in a matter of seconds...it just doesn't get any better (or scarier) than this!

How fast can you drop!

Follow this with a ride on the Rock 'n' Roller coaster, featuring Aerosmith's music, and speed around nearly 3,500 feet of track.

Then there is the Lights, Motor, Action live stunt show. Featuring a Parisian film set, this show has fast cars, motorbikes and jet ski's in a fast moving stunt show. After the action, you then get to see the 'tricks of the trade' used by film-makers.

Stay on into the evening for the awe-inspiring 'Fantasmic' show. Set within a stadium arena surrounding a lake, this show has fire, water, music and light, and is a spectacle not to be missed.

Animal Kingdom - with over 100-acres of realistic African savannah, this is the place to see animals roaming in the wild. At the center of the park is the spectacular Tree of Life, which is hand-carved with hundreds of intricate symbols.

Right underneath the Tree of Life is the excellent 'It's Tough to be a Bug' 3-D show, based on the film, It's a Bug' Life.

Don't miss the live show 'Festival of the Lion King' and make sure you catch 'Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade.Cool off on the Kali River Rapids and then enjoy a ride on the Kilimanjaro Safari.

Animal Kingdom is made up of seven distinct areas: oasis; camp minnie-mickey;discovery island;africa;rafiki's planet watch;asia and dinoland USA. Not scared of heights!...then get on the train for the 'Mount Everest' ride.

Epcot during the Flower Show

EPCOT - Visit the World Showcase at Epcot, and you will find yourself transported to different countries, from Norway to Morocco, Mexico or China. Make sure that you don't miss the Illuminations symphony of music, lasers and fireworks, which is held every evening.

The famous ' Honey, I Shrunk the Audience' 3-D show is highly recommended...

Mission SPACE - the best VR ride!

Mission SPACE is definitely not for the faint-hearted. This has to be one of the most realistic simulators in the world, as you do genuinely feel the G-Force of a blast-off. If you still feel the need for speed after this, then try out Test Track and find out what it feels like to be a crash test dummy!

After these two rides, you can 'relax' a little while exploring the depths of the ocean floor in the 'Living Seas'.

SeaWorld - In our humble opinion, simply one of the best parks in Orlando, you never tire of it. Thrills are to be had on Kraken, a floor less roller coaster that twists, turns and loops. It's high and fast..so be warned!

Another great ride is Journey to Atlantis. This is a clever combination of roller coaster and water ride..you'll get very wet when just when you think it is all over!

Journey to Atlantis

Cool off after these thrills by enjoying the frozen wastes of the Wild Arctic. A simulated helicopter ride takes you to your arctic venue, which features amazing and realistic panoramas complete with wildlife (beluga whales, polar bears and walruses.

Visit Dolphin Cove to get close to these amazing animals (don't forget your camera). If sharks are for you, walk through the worlds longest underwater acrylic tunnel in Shark Encounter.

Make certain that you don't miss the fantastic Shamu show, simply stunning and well worth getting wet for (and the water is very, very cold)! 

Prepare to get WET!!

The latest attraction from Seaworld is an exciting Waterpark experience that is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Aquatica is well worth a visit, it is a complete day out in its own right and numbers allowed in are limited so make sure that you get there early.

Universal Studios - Offering an amazing mixture of film sets, shows, attractions and thrill rides, Universal has something for everyone.

This is the best known movie and television based Theme Park, made up of six distinctive areas: Hollywood; Production Central; New York; San Francisco/Amity;World Expo and Kids Zone.

Plunge yourself into total darkness on the Revenge of the Mummy ride in New York or face up to Jaws in Hollywood/Amity.

Make time to enjoy Shrek 4-D in Production Central, and the fantastic Terminator 2 :3-D show in Hollywood.

Finish your day with an interactive ride with the Men in Black: Alien Attack at World Expo.

Universal City Walk offers entertainment late into the evenings, with a mixture of shops, restaurants, cinemas, performers and nightclubs.

If you want to enjoy a great meal after a hard day in the park, then take the opportunity to visit the largest Hard Rock cafe in the world, right next to the Universal Studios entrance...

Islands of Adventure - The newer of these two parks, Islands of Adventure is made up of five islands, each with a distinct flavor based on your favorite comic-book heroes. The park is very quirky in its nature, and is totally different from Universal, almost like stepping into an alien world.

Dare you ride the Incredible Hulk roller coaster, or thrill at the drop of Doctor Doom's Fearfall. Fancy a really fast thrill ride, then go on Duelling Dragons (although you have to do it twice if you want to do it properly)!

Fancy getting very wet?.. then ride the Jurassic Park River Adventure or try out the excellent flume ride Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls.

You can't leave Islands of Adventure without a visit to see Spiderman, a 3-D thrill ride that features a stunning 'drop' from the top of a skyscraper.

Take the very oung ones to meet with the Cat in the Hat at Suess Landing..

Latest addition to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter...our first visit there will be in November 2011, so watch this space for news and images of this exciting new attraction.

Shopping in Orlando - Retail Heaven!

Apart from visiting the theme parks and enjoying the other many and varied attractions which makes Orlando one of the top holiday destinations, it also offers an incredible choice of shopping experiences, from the flea markets to the huge shopping malls.

'Magic Dreams' is close to the 192 and 27 and only a short drive to the I4 and International Drive, so all the well known shopping destinations are within easy reach. By the entrance to Glenbrook we have both a Walgreens and a CVS and these are within easy walking distance of our villa. Last year saw the opening of the new Sweetbay supermarket, which offers an excellent choice of fresh produce, bakery and deli items, right on our doorstep:

Around 1-mile south of the Glenbrook resort is the new community of Cagan Crossing, which has a variety of shops and restaurants together with a 250,000 sq ft Walmart supercenter, which sells just about everything!

Cagan Crossings Town Centre

Just 5-miles from 'Magic Dreams'
is Downtown Disney, the ideal venue to do some 'Disney' shopping for clothes, gifts and souvenirs or just to spend an evening to stroll around? Close by to Downtown Disney is Lake Buena Vista, which has a great choice of restaurants and bars.

Downtown Disney itself is made up of 3 sections, these are West Side, Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney Marketplace (which offers many unusual shops) and is also where you will find the largest Disney store in the world! West Side is home to the amazing Cirque du Soleil show and also offers a 24-screen multiplex cinema and the DisneyQuest interactive indoor park (great fun for kids and parents)...

Pleasure Island is where the nightlife can be found, with a mix of clubs, bars, restaurants and shops. Our favorite there is Fulton's Crab House, built into a replica riverboat it not only looks stunning but also serves some great seafood.

Orlando has an incredible choice of shopping malls to choose from, the most poular of these are:

Orlando Premium Outlets - located on the northern end of International Drive this mall was originally known as the Belz factory outlet center. It had a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2007 and now offers an amazing 180 stores. This is a large sprawling complex made up of 4 different sections so be prepared to do some walking...

Wander along to the South Orange Blossom Trail and you can't fail to notice the Florida Mall, with its almost 2-million square feet of retail therapy...heaven to some! With over 250 stores and all of the famous fashion brands to choose from this mall is a day out on its own.

Venture further north up the I4 to Conroy Road and you have The Mall at Millenia. The 150+ stores here are for the fashion conscious amongst us and offers some of the best upscale brands. The Mall is built on 2 levels and houses 3 very famous department stores, Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales.

If you like fashion but are also shopping on a budget one of our favorite destinations is a bit closer to home, the Orlando Premier Outlets on Vineland Avenue (close to Lake Buena Vista so a good place to visit after you've been to Downtown Disney). With 150+ factory outlet stores covering all of the well known fashion brands, good prices and a wide choice we've never been disappointed...

Orlando Premium Outlets

Enjoy your shopping...Lucien

New Look Websites

We have fully updated both our websites, adding in elements such as Google Map and Social Networking links, check them out now:

www.magic-villas.com

www.luxuryfloridavilla.biz

For the Golfers amongst you!

Are you a golf enthusiast? If so, then you have picked the right place to visit. Orlando boasts over 150 challenging courses within a 1-hour drive from downtown Orlando. Many of the courses were designed by world famous architecta with the objective of creating a masterpiece - championship golf courses with pristine greens and challenging holes...right here in the middle of paradise.

There are courses to suit all players, from the novice to the scratch player, and many of them offer lessons as well. As a novice myslef I am looking forward to trying some of these courses during our next visit onwards and will post my own reviews once I have tried them out.

Meanwhile, come and play where some of the best known pro’s spend their days by following these links, all courses are within 10-miles of 'Magic Deams...

Falcons Fire

Highlands Reserve Golf Cub

Mystic Dunes Golf Club

Orange County National Golf Center

Championsgate

A useful resource for getting the best discount deals on golf tee times try this site, you can reserve and pay online:

GolfNow

If you have played any good courses in and around Orlando please feel free to post your review here.

Now on Flickr!

We have started uploading all of our Florida photographs onto Flickr. This is a piece of work in progress at the moment but we will continue uploading and adding to these. Visit our Flickr page now...

Why Rent a Vacation Home?

There are many good reasons to consider renting a vacation home versus a hotel or prepackaged holiday. Consider the following:
You choose your location - Many tour operators use an 'allocate on arrival' system. Orlando is a large metropolitan area and has many short term rental communities (of varying ages and quality) that range from 'close to Disney' (10-30 minutes drive) to easy access to Disney (could take you 1-hour or more). By renting your own vacation home you get to choose an exact location and can find out something about the community and the home before you arrive.
Space to call your own - A vacation home offers you the same level of freedom that you expect in your own home. Florida homes are generously proportioned. No sharing facilities or trying to get 4 kids and 4 adults into one hotel suite! You can eat when you want and come and go when you want.
Choose a Pool home - There is nothing to beat having a private pool (and preferably a spa as well) after a long day at the parks or out shopping and this simply cannot be compared to sharing a hotel pool/changing facilities/finding the best spot to sunbathe etc...
Value for money - At todays rental rates most decent sized 4 or 5 bedroom villas rent for around $120 to $180 per night and can easily accommodate groups of 8 to 10-people. That's equal to $12 to $18 per person per night including all utilities and taxes to stay in a large luxury home!
Safety and Security - Vacation homes are always on 'short term rental' communities and they are either gated or accessed only by guests and visitors. Under Florida Statute they have to be licensed as an hotel and this means that smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, pool safety fences, carbon monoxide detectors, emergency lighting etc have to be provided and regularly maintained by law. In common with a lot of owners who are proud of their homes we have also added an electronic security safe and a fully monitored ADT alarm system. In addition to this these homes can easily house 2 or 3 cars on their driveways and/or garages so you are never concerned about where your car is parked for the night.
Fun and Games - Virtually all Orlando rental homes will provide a TV in every bedroom plus at least one large screen TV in the main living space and a good cable or satellite TV package. Many also include a Playstation or Nintendo Wii. Many homes also have a Games Room (pool table, air hockey, fooseball, table tennis, darts, music etc) and again these facilities are for the exclusive use of the guests in that home....no sharing or waiting around to use the next free pool table. If you have teenage children you will soon appreciate the absence of the 'I'm bored' comment.
Free Perks - It is quite common for Orlando vacation homeowners to package in FREE perks for guests, such as free telephone calls, free internet access, free wi-fi, free use of a computer. Imagine checking out of your hotel and asking the receptionist not to bill you for those phone calls to home or for the wi-fi acess because you had to check your work emails ...it isn't going to happen!
Resort facilities - Many of the newer short term rental communities include resort facilities such as a clubhouse, tennis courts, community swimming pools, staff on hand to help out with some local advice...facilities which are as good as, if not better, than you get at some hotels.
So for that perfect family or group vacation in Florida put the villa rental option to the top of your list!