watching rangers games on i drive

does anyone know anywhere that will be showing the cis cup final ? on or around i drive , also the uefa cup game against werder breman?

watching rangers games on i drive

i watched some scottish games in the lucky leprachune pub on i drive when iwas there in november but they were mainley celtic games

watching rangers games on i drive

thanks yeah i think most of the pubs seem to favour celtic ... unfortunately theres no accounting for taste lol

If you don%26#39;t mind going to Kissimee you could watch it in the Fox and Hounds...the pub where the wee branch of the Orlando Rangers supporters club meet....my boys did watch an old firm game once on Idrive in a bar full of Celtic supporters.....lol we won 5-1....I can%26#39;t remember the name of it....

5-1 i remember it well lol how far is the fox and the hound from i drive ? how much will it cost by taxi?

Using Mears calculator....from Wet n Wild it comes in at around $30....

thanks i%26#39;ll be doing trhat then lol

The Orlando Rangers Supporters Club - that%26#39;ll be the Mickey Mouse Loyal!!

I%26#39;ll be at the game - but I%26#39;ll be wearing Tangerine!

you%26#39;ll also be the one crying in your beer then?

Yeah - you%26#39;re probably right!

Have a great time in Orlando and hope you get to see the game.

Rod

You need to go to the pub in Kissimmee mate, its $40 for the taxi.

the cricketers and the likes only show english games, but there is a boozer just along from Tony Romas on I drive that has 3 different screens so you may be able to ask him if he will play it.

Best o luck, enjoy yer holiday and MON the BEARS ;-)

Cheers ;-) Wullie

How much do Disney Vacation Club weeks cost /worth it?

I am toying with the idea of bankrupting myself with a DVC purchase. I know the prices must vary according to time of year and size of condo but am unsure exactly what a basic week would cost. The web site is a bit confusing and non-committal.

Does anyone have one of these? Are they good value? Are there ongoing maintenance costs like timeshares? Ups and downs? Are they Chav free? Any comments gratefully received, thanks.

How much do Disney Vacation Club weeks cost /worth it?

Chinners:

I own DVC and am glad I do. As you note, the number of required points vary depending upon accomdations and season. For example, a two bedroom unit at one of the Disney World resorts is about 30-40 points per night for Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday nights are significantly more costly at 60-75 points per night. The costs for a studio are 12-14 per night for Sunday through Thursday nights and 22-32 points each for Friday and Saturday nights.

There are yearly dues that are in the range of $3-$4 per point. My dues for 200 points at Wilderness lodge run $75 or so a month.

DVC works out great for us. We, like many others only stay Sunday to Thursday to maximize our points.

There is too much information for me to give you here. I would suggest you go to the DVC discussion groups at www.disboards.com where you can learn everything you want to know.

Steve

How much do Disney Vacation Club weeks cost /worth it?

Many thanks, so it seems it is more down to how many points you wish to spend, rather than a set size of condo then? Is there a recommended number of points required for an annual 2 week vacation in a one bedroomed condo at all. Will take a look at the link you provided, thanks.

A one bedroom unit at Wilderness Lodge ranges from 200 to 350 points per week. Other resorts might vary a little but are in the same ranges.

Steve

Thanks again - a rough guide would therefore be 600 points in mid to low season (Sept). But I cannot find out how much 600 points would cost from the DVC website - it is very frustrating!

Points can be purchased directly from Disney or through a resale. Through Disney they are roughly $104 each, although there is a current incentive going on. Through resale they would be less, but there is a floor as Disney can exercise a right of first refusal on any sale and buy the points itself. This keeps the resale price up.

Resales can be found at the Timeshare store, http://www.dvc-resales.com/

Steve

I am so glad people who actually own time shares are happy with them.

And I%26#39;d be happier with one at disney than anywhere else.

But, the costs are just too silly. Even the owner above has said he pays $75 a month, $900 a year plus the purchase cost per week.

$900 can get you a villa for a week with no capital outlay/running/maintenance/user costs. Not to mention what your cash would be earning in the bank or a CD.

To me it wouldn%26#39;t be worth it. But i%26#39;d rent one from an owner, and have in the past.

Steve are you sure they are $104 per point? That seems high. We paid $57 pp in 1993 but we also received 4 length of stay park hopper tickets for seven years. So it was a good deal for us. You need to crunch the numbers and count on the dues going up. In 1993 ours were $300 and now 11 or 12 hundred.

Amanx:

You are right. It is questionable whether it makes financial sense for everyone. It does for us though.

When I bought the points they were only $62.50 per point so my total outlay for 200 points was $12,500. I am not sure I would buy them at $100 per point.

On the other hand, although one does not purchase a timeshare to make a profit, I could sell my points now and receive more than I paid for them. This is not likely to continue, however, since the points I purchased expire in 2042. There are programs now though where the points expire later.

It made sense for us because we stay every year on Disney property and there are rarely deals on deluxe accomodations, especially during the summer when we usually travel. If one needs or wants a villa and is willing to stay off property there are rental units, including entire homes, that can be obtained quite inexpensively.

Chinners- if you go to the disboards link I gave before there are numerous discussions as to whether it makes financial sense and you can decide if it does based upon your anticipated usage.

Rono:

Current prices can be seen at:

dvcnews.com/index.php鈥?/a>

The current price at Animal Kindgom Lodge Villas is

$104 base price less $8 promotional discount OR matching set of Developer%26#39;s Points; 160-point minimum purchase.

Steve

Windjammer,

like i said, the only good reason to buy a timeshare anywhere/anytime might be Disney. Only if you go every year and stay onsite. Like in your situation.

and you got a much better deal at 62.50 pp. but I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;d pay that, even i i could get it today.

Only because I never stay onsite (having a fam of 5) and I would never want to stay/go to in the same place every year. Unless i owned the whole shebang.

ittwit

Help with accommodation, please . . .!

I very much want a quiet, no hassle beach vacation. We%26#39;ve been through a tough time personally and it is unfortunately the case that when this is so, one%26#39;s ability to focus, concentrate, and make good decisions is impaired. Can someone make a suggestion or two??

We%26#39;d like to rent a condo (or beach house) somewhere relatively quiet and one the beach. There are 4 of us -- mid 50s and mid 70s. Our dates are somewhat flexible, but we%26#39;re thinking around mid-late April. We honestly don%26#39;t care about the cost at this point, but it needs to be nice -- no hassles. In our ideal world, we%26#39;d be somewhere not too far to walk from at least a couple of decent places to eat.

If we go to Siesta key, should we fly into Tampa or Ft. Myers? Which is easier? Easier driving?

I know I%26#39;m asking a lot, but I%26#39;ve read a ton of reviews here and I%26#39;m just as confused as when I started. Any help very much appreciated.

Help with accommodation, please . . .!

I would strongly suggest the Crescent Beach area of Siesta Key.

How long will you be staying? Some of the condos I will recommend have a minimum rental period. Would you like a high rise or something with only a few stories? Budget?

To give you an idea of some options,

go to www.siestakeychamber.com and look under accomodations/Crescent Beach.

I find the drive from Ft. Myers easier than from Tampa, but it will take maybe 5-10 minutes longer.

The airfare to Ft. Myers might be higher and I%26#39;m not sure about car rental rates.

When you give me some details, I will give you some ideas.

I also like Fisherman%26#39;s Cove on Turtle Beach, but there aren%26#39;t many restaurants in walking distance.

~SRQgirl

Help with accommodation, please . . .!

SRQgirl, Thanks so much for the reply!

I can stay up to 2 weeks -- I think I%26#39;d prefer low-rise (which just sounds quieter to me, but maybe this isn%26#39;t so).

I don%26#39;t mind flying into Ft. Myers at all -- and the flights are pretty easy either way. Thanks -- I%26#39;ll go for a Ft. Myers flight.

Crescent Beach sounds good because it would be nice to be near a couple of decent restaurants.

Any thoughts?

Here are some places I would recommend:

Midnight Cove- Gulfside

Jamaica Royale

Sea Club V

Crystal Sands

Crescent Siesta Key (very nice and relatively new)

If you go to that website (Siesta Key Chamber)

you can get websites.

I would also recommend you see what is available for these places on the following rental websites:

www.vrbo.com (rentals by owner, great site)

www.vacationrentals.com

www.siesta4rent.com

If you need more help, let me know. You%26#39;ll find something just right!

~SRQgirl

Siesta Key Beach is where all the action (and all the crowds) are! On a typical day, thousands of people enjoy the activities. There is a wonderful public beach with a massive parking lot, refreshments, and activities like volleyball. Airplanes pulling banners roar by while visitors may be paragliding behind speedboats, wading, walking, sunning, or just partying. If you want to be “Where the Action is”, you want Siesta Key Beach!

Turtle Beach is our secluded, quieter, less known and (therefore much less crowded) ';local'; beach at the very southern end of Siesta Key. Turtle Beach is much less commercial and quieter. It is situated on a small Park that has Charcoal Grills, Picnic Tables, Swings %26amp; Slides, and a Lagoon that is perfect for Kayaking. Green Parrots chatter in the tropical trees, and a pub and 2 restaurants are steps away.

You may want to watch the Video of Turtle Beach at this website: www.sav.cc and judge for yourself if this is what you%26#39;re looking for!

SRQgirl, Thanks for the suggestions and help -- I%26#39;ve booked flights to RSW, confirmed a condo for 2 wks at Crystal Sands.

Since you suggested the RSW route (which saved me about $400.00 since there was a seat sale!), can you recommend the best driving route to where I%26#39;m going? Also, is there a Publix or other major groc store on the way that I can stop at??

Many Thanks, SRQgirl!

It%26#39;s pretty easy to get to Siesta Key from the Ft. Myers Airport. You follow the signs for I-75 north and stay on I-75 until you reach the Clark Rd. Exit.

number 205. You go west and go over the Stickney Pt. Bridge to Siesta Key. Go to Midnight Pass Rd., make a right turn, drive a few blocks and Crystal Sands is on the left. You will pass a Sweetbay grocery store, a Publix grocery store on the left on Clark Rd/Honore Ave. There is also a Walgreens.

you can ';mapquest'; the route from the airport, too.

Sounds like you have a good plan.

Lots of nice places to eat, too.

~SRQgirl

Thanks so much for the directions and info -- I%26#39;ve actually never had much luck with Mapquest -- they don%26#39;t always give the best route and there%26#39;s nothing like local knowledge!

I%26#39;ve been checking out the posts on restaurants and writing info down and I%26#39;m looking forward to getting down there and relaxing for 2 weeks. Many thanks for everything.

Shelley

Advice for Typhoon Lagoon

Can someone give me a basic rundown on the slides/water activities at Typhoon Lagoon. My DS-8 who is 49'; likes moderate water slides, but not the real big/fast/steep ones. My DD-5 is 45';. Neither are too adventuresome.

Can my son go in the kiddiee area, or is he too tall?

Are there more moderate type slides that he%26#39;d enjoy?

What should we stay away from?

What about Gangplank Falls---the lazy river---is it truly lazy, or are there rapids and drops?

And tell me about Gangplank Falls--should we do this as a family? I hate drops and won%26#39;t go on any slides, but by husband loves it all!

Advice for Typhoon Lagoon

ok..

attractions at Typhoon Lagoon are:

Surf Pool - their wave pool. it has a 6-foot wave, but it doesn%26#39;t stay that high the whole way through the pool. as long as you are in the shallow end you should be fine.

Ketchakiddee Creek - the children%26#39;s play area. yes i believe your son will be able to go in the kidde area. i don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s a height restriction.

Castaway Creek - the lazy river. yes it really is just a lazy river, no rapids and the current%26#39;s very slow, and-well- lazy.

Keelhaul Falls - a tube slide. it%26#39;s pretty mild. you basically just drift down the mountain, nothing steep and no big drops.

Mayday Falls - another tube slide, but rougher. it%26#39;s still not steep, but it%26#39;s faster and a little wild.

Gangplank Falls - the family raft. sure you should do it as a family..that%26#39;s the whole point! this one is mild too.

Humunga Kowabunga - speed slides. they have a steep drop. your son isn%26#39;t tall enough for it.

Storm Slides - body slides. they are not too bad, although i don%26#39;t think your son is tall enough to ride this one either. but you and your husband could since it%26#39;s not steep or anything.

Shark Reef - you can snorkel through a pool filled with sharks - harmless, small sharks.

Crush %26#39;n Gusher - water coaster. i can%26#39;t see any of you guys wanting to go on this one, nor would your son be able to.

Advice for Typhoon Lagoon

sorry i got your kids mixed up!

Thanks for the run down---it%26#39;s helpful so we don%26#39;t spend the whole morning figuring out if we should try it or not. My husband will definately try out the crush N gush----he loves the thrill!

Is the height minimum for most of the slides 48';?

For all the ';ins and outs'; of TL

allears.net/btp/faq_tl.htm

It%26#39;s quite a fun day :)

Which Disney resort has the best pool?

Which Disney resort has the best pool and slides? Best beach? We will be traveling in June %26amp; would like to spend alot of time relaxing by the pool or beach and letting the kids play during the heat of the day.

Which Disney resort has the best pool?

If you want a great Pool and a nice Beach Area ( there is no swimming at any Beach area on Disney Property ) I recomend the Polynesian. It quite Tropical and relaxing :)

www.allears.net/acc/faq_poly.htm

The Stormalong Bay Pool at the Yacht and Beach Club is Lovely also but it seems very Busy and not as relaxing, IMO.

Which Disney resort has the best pool?

My vote is for the Y%26amp;B Club. We found the pool at the Poly while nice, to be somewhat congested. In addition Disney has realized that the popularity of the pool at the Y%26amp;B attracted some folks sneaking in from neighboring resorts. They now check your hotel card which helps with overcrowding. Y%26amp;B also has a beach area as well.

I agree, Stormalong Bay is in a seperate league from all of the other Disney resort pools. It is by far the biggest pool with a huge water slide and several area for families, adults, etc. It even has a real sand bottom to help you feel like you are on a beach in New England. If a pool is crucial for you, stay at the Yacht or Beach Club.

school holidays

Hiya

When are the American kids off from school, we%26#39;re travelling out on the 5th July, will they be off school then for two weeks?

school holidays

Most kids are out for the summer around the 1st or 2nd week of June.

school holidays

okay thanks for that much appreciated

Can I ask when they go back to school? We are travelling on th 13th aug for two weeks, usually travel in oct but the %26#39;school police%26#39;banned us from taking the kids out of school.

Thanks

Usually end of August or right after Labor Day, which would mean they would start tuesday, September 2nd.

The times when American kids are out of school vary from school to school, but it%26#39;s a general rule that most of them are out from Memorial Day (last weekend of May) to Labor Day (first weekend of September).

The exact dates vary within this time frame, but this is consider the ';summer break'; time for U.S. schools.

Unfortunately, July 4th is going to be a very busy time since it%26#39;s the U.S. Independence Holiday. Expect lots of crowds for the two weeks beginning during that time.

From my experience in Florida,school is back in session at least a week before Labor Day.

Orange County FL. public schools start August 18th.

Good to know for some folks DSC. It at least takes the local day trippers out of the mix!

There%26#39;s a great deal of variation in timing for the start and end of summer vacation. I grew up in the South, and pretty good rule of thumb there is that school will end in the second half of May and start back up during around the middle of August. Our kids have a very different schedule up here: school doesn%26#39;t start until the beginning of September, and (at best) the last day of school is in the middle of June.

Typically, you%26#39;ll find that the end of the busy summer season will be sometime in the first or second week of August, when many families are heading back to get ready for the new school year. We used to plan our vacations for the second half of August to take advantage of this, but preseason band and sports practices for our high schoolers have eliminated this window.

Schedules really do vary quite a bit here in the U.S.

Our schools are ';year round';. We start the first part of August and end the last week of May. We get 2 weeks off for every season- fall break (first 2 weeks in Oct.)Christmas (Usually a little more than 2 weeks) and Spring (Good Friday and the weeks following Easter)

Have a great trip!

makeup

oh no maybe march???

So thought we had May 2009 all planned now hubby thinks low 90%26#39;s will be too hot.( I guess with all the miles you guys talk about walking it might be) So how early in March would we need to go to avoid spring break. Easter is April 12th in %26#39;09.And would it be warm enough? I just don%26#39;t want to be wearing blue jeans and sweatshirts. A light jacket in the am with shorts would be ok. Thanks!!!

oh no maybe march???

This year%26#39;s early March Easter is bad for the tourist industry. They figure rooms will go begging in April.

March is usually a peak month, especially for Miami. Certainly for us in Vero Beach. I would suggest trying for immediately after Easter next year, or alternatively the first week in April when there might be a tiny lull between the March hordes and the Easter people.

We had two nights near 40 degrees last week, but that was a quick cold snap within a long period of high temperatures around 80.

oh no maybe march???

I don%26#39;t know what you had planned, but I did Disney a few years ago in May, it reached the low 90%26#39;s but with all of the indoor air conditioned rides, stores and restaurants it was not bad at all. Not to mention I was with my three year old son who tends to overheat easily, but he was also fine walking the whole park.

Okay so it is pretty clear most prefer May. I will try to compromise(with the hubby). Would April 26th week be far away enough away from Easter to avoid the big crowds. Or would March the 8th be early enough to avoid the Spring Breakers. If none of this will work it will be May then.

I think you%26#39;d see lower prices and less crowding in early May.

If you want to see the spectacular camellia collection at Leu Gardens, early March.

You would have to come the first week of March to totally miss the spring break crowds, and even then you%26#39;ll have a few thanks to Bike week and baseball spring training.

What about April 26th week to miss Easter or at least most of it?

Yes, April 26 THIS YEAR will miss most of the Easter and spring break crowds, since Easter is so early in 2008.

What about 2009? Easter is April 12th next year.

For 2009, you can expect Easter weekend to be very busy, then the next weekend will be quiet. Assuming anyone can still afford the gas, convoys of recreational vehicles will be migrating north.

Im confused .

Im going on 28th March till 11th April. (Easter School Hols in Essex)(Not sure bout rest of uk).

Will that be the same vacation dates as USA ?

If it is i think i mite cancel.

Caz Essex

database

vrbo.com - has anyone rented this villa before

http://www.vrbo.com/51193

We really like it - they only take payments by cheque should that be a problem you think?

vrbo.com - has anyone rented this villa before

It looks a nice home.

I own a villa and prefer to take personal cheques over credit card payment only because of the charge levied for handling the payment approx 5%.

vrbo.com - has anyone rented this villa before

Each time we have had a villa we have arranged it direct with the owners and paid by cheque. Never had a problem.

The villa you%26#39;ve chosen looks first class.

Thank you both - good to hear that this a common way to pay directly to villa owners

We are doing the same renting and sending a check - and sending it to another country - so it is good to hear that other people do it this way - with checks instead of creditcards or banks.

A nice surprise?

Hi,

Both my wife and I are visiting Orlando from England in Sept 08. We both work extremely hard in the public sector, she%26#39;s a nurse and i%26#39;m a police officer (don%26#39;t hate me, i%26#39;m nice).

This is our first %26#39;big%26#39; holiday. Because of this, and because I want to do something special, I was wondering if you people had any ideas of what I could do for her as a romantic surprise for when we are in Orlando. Something I could organise from here in %26#39;sunny%26#39; Manchester would be ideal as then she%26#39;d know nothing about it.

Cheers, and any suggestions welcome.

A nice surprise?

Day at discovery cove? i personally think that would be a great one if she likes dolphins

A nice surprise?

Not sure how long you are here, but if I could surprise my wife while in Orlando, I would arrange to take her on a 3 or 4 day cruise.

You can get a cruise out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas that would be just enough romantic time away and still have time for the theme parks if you choose.

Good Luck

Assuming you might be staying on Disney property here. Forgive me if your not. Disney has a great floral department that will deliver flowers to your room @ any scheduled time. You can request a disney motif vase that will be a great souvenir to take home and remind you of this trip. My wife has 2 different vases from previous trips and they always bring back a smile when she uses them. Be sure to ask for the best style vase that will pack well if you are flying. Best I can remember, cost was about $50-$60 and the flowers were comperable to $125 arrangements we buy @ home in plain vases. Floral dept. provides some of the best value for the dollar spent that you will find @ Disney.

First let me say that you both are in admirable professions and in this day and age both are very needed professions.

Chocolate covered strawberries and flowers in the room or delivered just after you arrive would be nice.

Good luck and have fun!

Here%26#39;s a site with a few good romantic ideas if going to Disney

http://www/allears.net/btp/authors_perl.htm

I%26#39;d get away from Disney and ride about 15 minutes to the beautiful restful little town of Winter Park, where you can take a relaxing boat ride

http://www.scenicboattours.com/home.htm

followed by a meal at one of their lovely restaurants like the little Paris Bistro. It%26#39;s very upscale and full of galleries and museums ( including one of Tiffany glass) and lots of chances to stroll hand in hand and stop for a glass of wine etc.

It%26#39;s whole different world than Disney and so very relaxing.

I agree with the flowers %26amp; strawberries. How about dinner at Victoria %26amp; Alberts in the Grand Floridian? It%26#39;s an upscale Black tie kind of place.

The short cruise would be nice, as would Discovery Cove.

Hi Pikey

If you let us know what kind of things your wife likes, big shows, nice meal etc and what your budget is then I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll get loads more ideas.

Tickets to Cirque de soleil

Night in one of the big Disney hotels

Nice restaurant etc...

Thank you all very much for your replies. Its nice to talk to people that seem to genuinely want to offer help and ideas.

We%26#39;ll be staying on International Drive.

Thanks so much once again.

The Mrs is just a typically girly girl. She likes pampering, meals, just anything thats a nice surprise really.

Take her to the Mall at Millenia to shop and dine. They have some quite upmarket shops and restaurants there. And I believe there is a day spa nearby. These are things she will love if she is of the girly pesuasion.

Also romantic, book a fireworks cruise at Disney on the lake, or book a table at one of the nice resort restaurants where you can see the fireworks from such as the California Grill or Narcoosee%26#39;s. The menus for both can be read at allears/net where you were directed to in a post above. You can get a taxi to/from form int drive if you aren%26#39;t driving, but I%26#39;d get a car if I were you. I%26#39;d love to hear your opinion of the driving there lol. Pretty easy though.

Another option is a balloon ride.

Biking the Loop

Hi.. I saw a brief mention of ';biking the loop'; in Ormond, but I havent%26#39; been able to get any information on where you can access it or how long or difficult it is. Also does anyone know anywhere you can rent bikes around there? Thanks..k

Biking the Loop

The loop is a scenic route that ';loops'; around northern Ormond Beach. It goes from the beachside, across the river, to the mainland, and back. It is a beautiful ride, and I consider it the REAL Florida. I always take people from out of town on this ride, but in a car. You are traveling on fairly busy streets. Locals take heed for bike riders, but I would think it best to do only if you are a serious biker. Those are the people I see most. I am not sure where you can rent bikes............sorry...........

Ormond Beach Activities

We are traveling to Ormond Beach in mid-April with 4 and 7 yr. olds. Does anyone know of any canoe or boat rides on calm waters where maybe we could see some fish, dolphins, or gators close to Ormond Beach area? And how is the weather in mid-April? Warm enough to go in the ocean? Do we need sweatshirts or jackets for evenings? Thanks for any help!

Ormond Beach Activities

Tomoka State Park is a great place to rent a canoe. Very calm waters. You will see dolphins and gators.

The weather in mid April should be fairly warm. It would not hurt to have a jacket for evening, as it can get windy and cooler. I am a Florida girl, so mid April is still too cold for me to go in the ocean, but many people do! Pirates Cove mini golf is a lot of fun. A quick trip to the Kennedy Space Center is a good day trip. Your kids may also like a trip up to St. Austine to see the fort. There is also a ';Duck'; tour that kids like in Daytona. Also the Marine Science Center and light house in Ponce Inlet! Daytona USA is a little pricy, but my son had fun there.

Which part of FMB would you recommend?

I believe the south is quiet and the middle is busy. Is %26#39;Times Suqare%26#39; near the middle or more towards the north.

Is the north nice?

Thanks,

Tanner

Which part of FMB would you recommend?

I just returned from a week in FMB. Stayed in a condo 2 very short blocks from ';times square';. Times Square is about 1 mile from the north end of the Island, right where the bridge is. The further south you go the quieter it is. I would return in a heartbeat.

Which part of FMB would you recommend?

We stay near Times Sq,on the northern end and enjoy all the activities that are within walking distance near the Sq.

Scuba and Backbay,

Where did you stay?

I stay at a place called Edgewater.

Thanks all for the great information.

I stayed at Marina Village at Snug Harbor. Used my time share for this great Condo. Maybe not for everyone because it is on the bay very near to the bridge, so you do hear the traffic. But for me and my party it was the perfect location.

I don%26#39;t live in FMB, but I was just there on Saturday and I am going to be staying there for a few days in October for a wedding. My impression was that the north end was the quiet end, the middle (by the pier) is where the chaos started, and the south side is all businesses and traffic.

I was surprised by how small FMB really is. The resorts and hotels are literally thisclosetoeachother so I don%26#39;t think anyone has better ';views'; than anyone else - maybe just better accommodations.

I will be staying at the Pink Shell Resort, but there were a ton of other pretty nice looking places in the area. *Nice looking from the outside!*

Good luck!

Tanner -

We stay at the south end of the island and love it. It is quiet, but there are still the amenities you need close by: restaurants, bars, liquor store, marina, movie theatre...just not as much or as varied as in the north end (Times Square). We go to Times Square when we need it...it all depends on what you are looking for. If you want to be able to go for a short walk to plenty of action, stay at the north end. If you want to be able to walk on the beach, enjoy the quiet of the Gulf, do some shelling, go to Lovers Key State Park (terrific place, BTW) etc., stay at the south end.

Frankly, both are good choices, and either way, you wil love FMB...

makeup

wavy hair

Fantasmic! Dining Package

Hi All

We are going to Disney for 1st time in Nov and I was wondering if it is worth doing this package as I have a 4 year old who I no will not wait in a queue for hours.

Which resturant is the best for a 4 and 8 yr old.

What times are the shows in mid Nov.

Thanks

Fantasmic! Dining Package

Well, the schedule on the Disney calendar is not yet out for November, so we can confirm the times of Fantasmic just yet. Typically, around 8:00 PM for a one-show-a-night date.

For a mid-November visit, you may not need to do the dinner package just to get a seat, since it%26#39;s a slower visitation time.

If you are willing to arrive 30 minutes before the show, you should be fine without the package that time of year.

Fantasmic! Dining Package

Keep in mind that the Fantasmic Package gets you Priority Seating on a designated area ( far right) and they want you to be there 1h+ before the show - strollers are not allowed in, but your kids might not need it,then

As for the restaurant: all of them are geared towards kids :-) depends on the taste and budget - personally I like the Brown Derby and Mama Melrose%26#39;s but I was disappointed in Hollywood and Vine...

Having been in November several times I would say the crowds are low and therefore not necessary to do a dinner package in order to get a seat at the show (unless you are going over hanksgiving which is busy).

Good time of year to go by the way as weather is good but not too hot and humid and generally no queuing.

We went to Fantasmic last year on Nov. 11. People were still coming in just before the show started, both reserved and not reserved. I agree, as long as it%26#39;s not over Thanksgiving you should have no problems. I would still go about 1/2 hour early no matter what.

I did NOT like Mama Melrose. The service was poor and the food was HORRIBLE. The sauce tasted like Ragu in a jar! I was very disappointed. I will NOT eat there again.

Anyone thought of this before......?

Having a thought...need opinions!

Flying into Orlando in Sept. Staying on grounds. Found out the only flight on the date we leave is arriving in Orlando at 4:30 pm...

My thought is rather than ';waste'; a whole day, why not stay that first night off grounds, then wake up early and check in to our hotel. Then the vacation starts off with a full day!

Don%26#39;t plan on renting a car, and not sure about hotels that are close to the main gate, and shuttle services etc. Maybe my husband is right and it is too much trouble..I just don%26#39;t want to waste a disney minute :) Sorry so chatty...anyone done this before???

Anyone thought of this before......?

You will miss out on your '; FREE'; Magical Express Transportation to your hotel on Disney property !!

Just for starters...

Disney CHicks

Anyone thought of this before......?

magical express or WHOLE day at the parks????

These are the things I am trying to weigh. But you do have a valid point! Thanks

I was just browsing the Florida forum, I know nothing about Disney, but it seems like your plan would have the opposite of the intended effect.

First, you%26#39;d have to spend time packing up your stuff and checking out of the hotel in the morning, as opposed to being right there already.

And do Disney hotels let you check in early in the morning? Most hotels everywhere else don%26#39;t let you check in until about 2-3pm. I think the 4:30 arrival time would be perfect.

Are you staying at one of the expensive hotels at Disney? Are you thinking about saving a few bucks?

If this is the case then stay at one of the value resorts the first evening. Check out and go about your business in the parks. Your bags will be brought to the next hotel at no charge.

We are staying at the polynesian, it does happen to be a deluxe. I do know you can check in at anytime

in Disney. They will hold your luggage for you until the room is ready.

eileen...you may have the right idea...:)

I wish I had known Disney would bring your bags to the next hotel,I had thought of doing the same as you are suggesting but husband thought it would be too much bother on our first morning there.

One year when staying at the Beach Club, I flew down a day early to avoid a snow storm. We came in late the evening before and stayed at one of the value resorts. Got up and went to MGM, walked over to The beach and our luggage as there and nothing missing.

We have decided to do exactly this, we are arriving the evening of Apr 27 and checking in to Doubletree in DTD, then heading to Port Orleans French Quarter the next morning. Of course our situation is a little different because we are driving down, so that gives us a little more flexibility. But we are looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying Downtown Disney that first night and getting an early start for the parks our first REAL Disney day!!

52 Days and counting. I%26#39;m not sure I was this excited about my wedding!! Certainly been planning this trip for longer than I planned the wedding! Hee, hee!

one concern is the hotel to hotel transportation...our last visit (2006) Disney didn%26#39;t have a way to get from say...the All STAR SPORTS to the Polynesian directly...

Restaurants in Destin for Families?

Are there some great restaurants -

that would be fine for kids -

but NOT LOUD -- also ok for the elderly parents with us!

ie- no funneling, doing shooters, screaming, wet tshirt contests going on -

Restaurants in Destin for Families?

cat

That would be most restaurants in Destin.

You probably won%26#39;t find the atmosphere you describe anywhere in Destin. Maybe a couple places after normal dinner hours.

Restaurants in Destin for Families?

no funneling, doing shooters, screaming, wet tshirt contests going on -

That is pretty much every rest. in destin. You just don%26#39;t see alot of that. If you use the search bar you get lots of suggestions.

Anglers is one of my favs. for kids they have a clown that does face painting and balloon animals and balloon hats.

oops sorry oakae I had gone to do something before hitting submit. Did not intend to copy.

Most restaurants in Destin are very family friendly. We love The Back Porch because it%26#39;s on the beach and has a playground for the kids. We also love Harry%26#39;s T%26#39;s for lunch (when it%26#39;s cheaper). The kids meals are 99 cents and are served in a frisbee that the kids get to keep.

Extra Magic Hours

If there are extra Magic Hours at night, does it effect how crowded a park would be in the morning?

Along the same lines, how might a Pirate and Princess party affect the morning/early afternoon at MK? We had planned to spend a day at MK (early AM till mid-afternoon) and now a P %26amp; P party is scheduled at night on that day. Wondering if we should still have a go at it or change days?

Extra Magic Hours

If there are evening extra magic hours, it will effect the crowds in the park for most of the day. It is best to avoid the parks with Extra Magic Hours, especially those in the evening. The Pirates and Princess Party also affect crowds, as do any after - hours event at any of the parks. Unless you are planning on going, try a different theme park.

Po Folks

While doing some surfing, I found a Po Folks. I thought the chain was gone. How is this restuarant in PC? Used to be reasonable good food (at least the ones I ate at years ago). Thanks for ya%26#39;lls help! :)

Po Folks

Po Folks hasn%26#39;t changed since you last ate there -- good comfort food, reasonably priced. :-)

Po Folks

there is actually 2 on us 98 we missed the one near the bridge (going east) by the way the traffic was crazy is it always like that? Then there is another on 98 closer to Calloway, missed that one so we went to Applebees

We saw it going into PCB, but it just seemed too far out to drive back. Next time we%26#39;ll try to hit it on our way down to the beach.

I saw ';wispering'; Bill Anderson just the other day in Publix and we talked about Po-Folks.Funny you should bring it up.

Yummy! Don%26#39;t miss this one! It is just as you remember.

Someone bought them and they changed the name to ';Folks.';

I worked there in high school. You are bringing back bad memories. haha, but I love their food and the sweet tea is better than anywhere.

For the sake of clarity, I should add that I have never eaten at the Folks in PCB, but I did eat at one in Atlanta about six years ago and it was delicious.

networking

May Travel

I have read on a site that May is off season and some places are closed or have limited hours. Could someone please clear this up. Thank you.

May Travel

We%26#39;ve gone in June and August, which is really off season and hurricane season. We didn%26#39;t find anything we wanted to do or anywhere we wanted to go closed. We had the same great time we always have, it just wasn%26#39;t as crowded. It was great! Maybe some of the locals can be more specific, but I wouldn%26#39;t be concerned. Have a great time!

May Travel

We were there last July and every place we wanted to go to was open. We were also there in September. Some places were not open then or were remodeling.

We like to go in May as it is not quite so humid and is before the UK school summer holidays. We have always found every thing open. All the theme parks seem to have a rolling programme of updating rides and no matter what time of year we have been have normally found the odd ride out of action.

We were there last May and will be going this May again and we found nothing we wanted to do to be closed. Also the weather was perfect not to humid just right for doing the parks.

makeup

Cocoa Beach or Crescent beach in Siesta Key?

Hi,

We%26#39;d like to go to a beach after spending some time in Disney. Which would you recommend? Cocoa Beach on the east or Crescent Beach on the West? What are the main differences? Thanks!

Cocoa Beach or Crescent beach in Siesta Key?

Cocoa is closest-toll roads to get there

Gulf beaches are a little farther but much prettier. White sand, blue water. The Atlantic side? Nope.

Family vacation in florida

Hi,

We are planning our first trip to florida in July. We are a family with 3 kids (8,6,4). We are looking for a resort/place either in house or hotel. prefarably within a complex with kids pools, play grounds etc. and other children.

The resort should be within resonably driving distance to funparks and beaches.

Any suggestions?

Family vacation in florida

Kiddy pools are few on the island. Casa Ybel has one and a children%26#39;s program. No true kiddy pool, but with a kids program is Sundial - rent from owner or agency. Kids are generally well accommodated, but for some odd reason, Sanibel and Captiva do not play host to any resorts with big fantasy pools or kids pools.

I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll get good recommendations for those with kids.

Family vacation in florida

HI mrrick

We have two kids almost 3, and 5. We stayed at a resort like you are talking about several years ago on Duck Key, in the Florida keys. Hawk%26#39;s Cay the resort is called.

We love sanibel - we have never required a playground or kids pool. The ocean and beach provide hours of fun - flying kites, digging, wading in the ocean, walking, shelling, etc, etc. They are so exhausted from all the exercise and fresh air, they just go straight to sleep at night. Sanibel also is full of bike trails - we rent bike and ride everywhere.

We choose to stay in a comfortable, moderate priced condo at Waterside Inn - just easy, close to beach and in a great location. There are more expensive and less expensive places - Point Santo, Casa Ybel and Sundial - all seem to be kid friendly.

Sanibel is about 3-4 hours away from Orlando and the Disney type parks.

There is a small playground at Periwinkle Place and the City of Sanibel has a beautiful new recreation center, but nothing for skateboarding or stuff like that. 24 miles of bike paths.

Busch Gardens is 2.5 to 3 hours away. Disney 4 hours away.

mrrick, We have been going to Sanibel for years, and a couple of summers ago we took a trip to Disney World in Orlando. Maybe it is just our family, although I have heard from others who feel the same, but we didn%26#39;t care for it at all. We felt like it was very stressful. Too much planning involved. My kids said over and again how they would rather be in Sanibel. Maybe we just are not Disney type people, but we would much rather play on the beach, fish, ride bikes and everything else you do in Sanibel than see Mickey Mouse any old day.

Tour - I keep forgetting about the playground - My kids never want to go there.

mrrick - there is also kayaking on Tarpon Bay, fishing on the beach, dolphin watching cruises, ';Nascrab races'; at Tween Waters, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Center with a nature center, butterfly house, walking trails and a touch tank.

The greatest thing to do, imho, is to walk on the beach before dawn to collect shells and watch the sunrise. Have the best time!

orlando to cocoa beach or clearwater

I thought Cocoa Beach was a lot closer to Orlando, but according to mapquest from Orange Lake it will take 1 hr 22 min. I thought it was less than an hour to Cocoa. We have never been to the gulf and was wondering what if Clearwater would be the best/closest on the gulf?? Would it take that much longer considering more traffic??

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

orlando to cocoa beach or clearwater

I%26#39;m interested too. We leave Sunday early a.m. and we are looking for a beach experience. My wife HAS to go to Sanibel, but one other beach would be great. I can%26#39;t wait.....

Layne

orlando to cocoa beach or clearwater

I%26#39;m pretty sure Cocoa is a little closer but there are tons of toll roads to get there and it is not nearly as pretty as Clearwater. Guld side has white sand and warm, blue water. Atlantic side? Not so much...:)

anyone else have any thoughts???

Orange Lake is quite a bit West of Disney so I would say that the MapQuest estimate is pretty good.

Clearwater Beach will be further and if it is a weekday and you hit Tampa traffic it could take you as much as 3 hours. On the weekend it would be a full 2 hours.

Pointe Santo? Is it nice?

We are looking at possible staying at Pointe Santo in June. Is it nice? Is it in a good location?%26gt;

Do you have any other suggestions of where to stay? We want to spend under 1200 for the week.

Pointe Santo? Is it nice?

Maggie, I copied a post that I had put in yesterday on Pointe Santo for another question, so here it goes.... BTW MSC will be by shortly to answer as well, he owns there and can help you find a unit in your price range. There are some for 1200.00.

Pointe Santo is my favorite condo complex. The units are individually owned, so the decor will vary from each unit. The grounds are the prettiest on the island. Last summer there was a drought, so things were not as lush as usual, and the lagoon was quite low. Even with the drought, I still felt like the grounds were well maintained and pretty.

Like I said the condos will vary in their decor, so you just have to search for what suits you best. Look on VRBO.com and the various agencies to see what you like, Royalshell.com, vip-vacationrentals.com, are a couple I recommend.

The children%26#39;s program is a nice little extra that can be fun for the kids. It%26#39;s not like a children%26#39;s program at a big resort. There are various activities each day for kids. The activites consists of making various crafts, ice cream sundaes, shell hunting, games etc... Each thing last for maybe 30 min or so.

Pointe Santo is my favorite complex. Not necessarily for the units, but for the grounds and it%26#39;s proximity to the beach, which is very close. I miss it when I stay at other places

Pointe Santo? Is it nice?

Pointe Santo%26#39;s strengthes are its landscaping, open layout that allows all the units to have at least a partial gulf view, high level of upkeep and property maintenance and its unique (for Sanibel) open lawn that goes right up to the beach%26#39;s edge that is lined with loungers for a completely unobstructed view of the gulf.

The only significant weakness is the pool which is pretty small for the size of the complex (a common problem at a number of condo complexes in Sanibel for some reason) however in June this should not be a problem.

going to release

Fly in to VPS, out at PNS...worth it to save $200?

We%26#39;re looking at two flights around 5pm on a Saturday in May, and we can save about $200 if we fly out at PNS instead of VPS. I%26#39;ve read up %26amp; it looks like its only an hour drive, but I%26#39;m not sure if mapquest considers all the variables (traffic, construction, etc). Plus, we%26#39;ll have a rental car that we%26#39;d have to drop off at a different location.

Is there any reason to not make the drive up to Pensacola? Would you fly out of PNS to save $200? I was thinking we could drive up %26amp; have lunch there, maybe hang around for a bit before going to the airport to break up the day. What would you do?

Fly in to VPS, out at PNS...worth it to save $200?

Call the rental car company and see what, if any, penalty you pay for the different dropoff.

Fly in to VPS, out at PNS...worth it to save $200?

PNS saves us the same due to our location -we have made the roundtrip drive to Destin numerous times and it is a very easy roll, depending on the timing of your flights. 5pm inbound could be heavy traffic. Why would you not rent from the airport so you can pick up/drop at that location?

If it is just 200.00 or 200.00 per person for a lot of people? For one or two, I would say it isn%26#39;t worth it. It%26#39;ll cost you 200.00 and an hour and twenty minutes (at best) to get to PNS.

anywhere else like the islander

w/ pool and bar and restaurant right on site?

anywhere else like the islander

Cheeca Lodge %26amp; The Chesapeake, but both will be a lot more expensive than the Islander.

anywhere else like the islander

thanks for your reply

i kind of figured..but, you never know, some of you experts know lots of stuff the rest of us dont.

thanks again

we enjoyed the islander very much in late sept

makeup

hotel suggestion

My family is planning a trip to Orlando next month and we are looking for a less expensive hotel around $50-$70/night. We need to be centrally located since we are not renting a car, but will be depending on shuttles or public buses. We are planning to go to the Magic Kingdom for 2 days and The Holy Land Experience for 1 day and then, we%26#39;ll see after that. I%26#39;d like a nice pool for my 3year old and 5 year old to enjoy. It would also be nice to be in a convenient location for bus service from the airport. What area should we stay?? Buena Vista, Sea World, I-Drive?? Any suggestions would be great!

hotel suggestion

We have always stayed at The Sheraton Safari. We got rooms on Priceline for $60.00/night. It has mixed reviews on TA, but we were happy with it since it saved us some money and we weren%26#39;t in the room that often. It was less than 15 minutes to all parks and is within walking distance to many restaurants. The hotel has transportation but negotiate the rate. The kids loved the pool, which has a water slide that your 5 year old would love.

hotel suggestion

Just to let you know that The Holy Land Experience is not near Disney..it is in the same area as the Mall of Millenia on Conroy Road. You%26#39;ll probably need to take public transportation to it...either a taxi or bus.

suggestions for a fab getaway

Florida experts,

We are looking for a 5-6 day trip from New York to Florida for some sun and ocean. We need something w/in a direct flight, 4-5 star hotel/spa on the beach in a beautiful place and someplace warm enough for a beach/swimming, away from very busy traffic, but not somewhere too far from the airport like the Keys. Any suggestions??

suggestions for a fab getaway

When?

Age?

suggestions for a fab getaway

Early 30s, end of march. Thanks!!!!

I was going to suggest Longboat Key but not for your age (too young, in my opinion). Plus, I think it wouldn%26#39;t be warm enough for swimming by then.

How about Ft. Lauderdale? You could post for a resort recommendation on there. It will be warm, beaches are pretty and it%26#39;s not a really young crowd like South Beach is, but it%26#39;s not a really old one either. We like Ft. Lauderdale...a lot. I am early %26#39;30%26#39;s and husband is 41, but he was 39 when we visited FLL.

Acqualina, in Sunny Isles Beach, direct ocean front and only 20 minutes south of Fort lauderdale airport. It has Espa spa, rated no. 8 on the Conte Naste Travel magazine.

The Los Olas area of Ft. Lauderdale is a fun area for your age group.

Disney Tickets - Buy online / At the Parks

Since this will be my first time visiting Disney, I would like to find out-:

Is the price for the Park tickets the same if bought online at Disney in advance AS OPPOSED to buying them at the Park when I get there?

Disney Tickets - Buy online / At the Parks

There are discounts if you buy on-line before you go

Compare prices at these trusted sites

mapleleaftickets.com

undercovertourist.com

Disney would like it if you visit all 4 of the Parks, the 4 day ticket and up, is when you will start to see the savings :)

Disney Tickets - Buy online / At the Parks

Just make sure you buy from legitimate ticket brokers if you buy early for the discounts. Those listed above are legit.

You will save some money buying ahead of time, unless you are purchasing less than 4 days.

Also.....make sure the internet pricing is clear. Some sites include taxes in the prices (www.ticketmania.com), while others will add it on at the end during checkout. Also....is shipping included, how much, etc.

We%26#39;ve dealt with ticketmania...no problems. They will even deliver the tix to your hotel when you arrive (for a fee, of couse!).

Good luck. Although there are slight price ';dicounts'; available....you won%26#39;t legit tickets that blow the price of others away. Shopping around will only save you a few dollars here and there....that%26#39;t it.

You%26#39;ll save time in line at Disney...and a few bucks, too.

www.undercovertourist.com is the BEST place to purchase those. Trust me.

I meant from Disney%26#39;s website, and then pick them up when I get there.

If this is done, is the waiting time(lines) long for this option.

Is the price the same from Disney (website vs Gate)?

You save a lot if you subscribe to the free newsletter at mousesavers.com. They send a secret link on the 15th of each month. This secret link gives you further discounts to undercovertourist. As far as I can remember, the 4 day magic your way ticket at the disney website is equivalent to 6 or 7 days at undercover tourist. They send you actual tickets not vouchers.

Well I%26#39;m not too familiar with these sites that you buy tickets from.

So I was just thinking of either buying them from Disney%26#39;s website in advance OR purchasing them from the gate.

That%26#39;s why I wanted to know if the price would be the same in each instance!!

I will however check out the site.

Mousesavers.com is a must. They have a code posted currently that provides for free park hopper and water park options on your tix if you book a room through WDW.

i found good prices on dwtickets.com

Thanks

I%26#39;ll check them out.

a japanese name

Le Mistral

Don%26#39;t miss this dining opportunity. It is truly outstanding French quisine in an unassuming strip mall. DiRoNa award winner. I am not the owner, just an avid fan.

Le Mistral

I%26#39;ve been meaning to check it out. How pricey is it? Do you have to make reservations or only on weekends?

Le Mistral

This has very little to do with French cuisine. The bread is not to be eaten, the lobster bisque was tasteless (and not hot), the coq au vin was so loaded with thyme only a small portion was eaten. The veal francaise was simply mediocre, and the mashed potatoes were either powdered, flakes, or a good mitation thereof. The wine list is very weak, the service is frenetic, and the waitstaff uninformed. The desserts were good.

troll? Very odd report on this fantastic restaurant! It has been a favorite for years. A bit expensive but well worth it. They recently began serving lunch which is great and very reasonable, it has been very well received with many repeat visitors. So many people requested the excellent crepes that they are being added to the lunch menu. I have not in seven years of visiting Le Mistral had a single complaint....except the bill when we ordered one too many bottles of crisp white wine!

Looks like a troll to me...

Lake Buena Vista / Int'l Drive Stay

Hello,

This is my first time going to Disney, and I am undecided as to where to stay.

Is it better to stay in LBV or on INT%26#39;L DRIVE?

(I would like to go to the Disney parks for about 4 days and then Seaworld %26amp; Universal Studios the other 2 days)

I will be travelling the 1st week of April with kids (6 %26amp; 13).

What do you recommend?

Lake Buena Vista / Int'l Drive Stay

LBV is better for visiting Disney, but I-Drive is better for SeaWorld and Universal.

Do you want one place only or are you willing to move hotels?

Lake Buena Vista / Int'l Drive Stay

Rental car or bus?

International Drive is better located for non-drivers than all but a small area of LBV (Hotel Plaza Boulevard). If you need more details on this - ask.

One place preferably, since I%26#39;m only going to be there for about 6 days.

Since you said LBV is better for the Disney parks aspect, can you recommend any places?

My husband and i will be staying at the Fairfield Inn Marriott Village in lake Buena Vista next week. Its highly rated and reasonably priced. It includes continental breakfast too.

In addition, some booking websites throw in free shuttle to the disney parks.

we%26#39;ve stayed in lbv 5 times now... first time at comfort inn..ok butt.. wouldnt stay again then other trips at the sheraton safri.... lots of restaurants around it.

SCAN60,

I%26#39;m not sure if renting car, so for now I would say bus/shuttle.

Don%26#39;t forget, I will be at Disney most of the time. So if I stay on I-Drive, how would I get around to the Disney Parks?

If you stay around LBV check if yor hotel does shuttles to the other parks. You can walk to Downtown Disney from many hotels and then hop on to a resort bus nearest the park of your choice.Most hotels in LBV do transport to Disney Parks.

If you need to get to Seaworld get the number 50 lynx bus at the top of Hotel Plaza Boulevard.

If you need to get to Universal, at Seaworld/or Primeium Outlets get on the I-Ride trolley going north and get off at stop 5 which is across a busy road and around the corner and you are in Universal.(always ask the driver what the nearest stop is-they may think you are mad walking a little way cos they don%26#39;t walk much in Orlando)

Try the golynx website and the I-Ride trolley bus website for the nearest stops. They have maps to help you.

We love LBV and stay there quite regularly,find I-Drive a bit seedy.

UnsureNow,

Other than the Comfort Inn %26amp; Sheraton Safari, where else have you stayed in LBV?

MinnieWigan,

Where did you stay in LBV?

QUOTE------------------

I%26#39;m not sure if renting car.....how would I get around to the Disney Parks?-------------END

First option: many hotels offer ';free'; shuttle services. I would only use shuttles if they are free. Paid ones work out too costly.

Otherwise:

The local public bus service LYNX operates along International Drive frequently and also serves Universal, Disney every 30 minutes, and various shopping choices and so on - all over Central Florida. Bus stops are every few hundred yards, as they are

Costs of using LYNX are (per person)

$1.75 for a one-way trip (which includes transferring buses to complete a journey where necessary)

$4 for a day ticket

----------buy these from the driver, no change given

$14 for a week%26#39;s unlimited use - buy this from one of a couple of sales locations on I-Drive.

It%26#39;s expected and part of the ';system'; that you will transfer buses some of the time to finish a journey. Drivers are helpful and, so long as you tell them your intentions, will assist in telling you where to transfer and will even sound horn/flash lights to attract the attention of another driver.

EXAMPLE:

The journey from any International Drive hotel to a Disney attraction is like this:

LYNX 8 from I-Drive going south. Lynx 8 runs every 10-15 minutes during the daytime Mon-Fri, every 30 minutes Sat and Sun, and in the evenings. Alight at any one of three or four stops near Sea World. Wait at the same stop (some have seating and shelters). Journey time will be 10-20 minutes depending on where you are staying.

From the same stop, transfer to LYNX 50. This runs every 30 minutes and alight at the terminus, which is Disney%26#39;s Transportation %26amp; Ticket Center. (Journey time about 30 minutes).

From the Transportation Center, Disney runs its own free transport to all their attractions - Monorail to Epcot and Magic Kingdom; buses to the others. You can also go by boat to Magic Kingdom.

This is an easy trip to make; I%26#39;ve done it many times. It WILL take you longer than driving, but will save a LOT of money over to cost of renting and insuring a rental car.

You can see details of all LYNX services at

www.golynx.com

Look especially at the schedules for buses 8 and 50 (for Disney); 37 and 21 for Universal; 8 and 42 for local trips along I-Drive, 42 for the Florida Mall (shopping) and so on.

Given the ease and frequency of these services, and given your intention to visit Universal as well as Disney, then I would recommend using an I-Drive hotel, especially if you choose NOT to drive. It will be the best compromise in terms of location and transport. There are hotels of all standards on this strip, along with probably the most diverse choice of places to eat and/or drink.

Easter weekend

Staying 4 nights over Easter. Want to stay in Marathon or KCB. We are looking for 2br on ocean or bay. Have stayed at continental Inn and KCB motel. Liked Continental Inn but 2br not available. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

Easter weekend

Well, I did not reply yesterday, because there are some folks here that know Key Colony better than I. Here is a link for the Marathon Chamber of Commerce, you will find some good information there.

http://www.floridakeysmarathon.com/

Tranquility Bay has 2 bedrooms on the bay, but man are they pricey. Key Colony is wonderful because you can actually swim off the beach. Have you tried Cabana Breezes?

http://www.thecabanaclub.info/

They have a beach, a pool, and a nice dock that you can fish off of if you are staying there.

Good luck.

Easter weekend

With the exception of the places you have already mentioned, I don%26#39;t know of any 2 bedroom rentals that rent for less than 1 week in KCB.

If you could stretch it from Sat - Sat, you could get a great 2 bedroom, 2 bath 1/2 duplex with Cabana Club privileges for around $1000.

You could try emailing owners directly through vrbo.com, rentalo.com, etc. there%26#39;s a possibility they would make an exception since its kinda the end of the season. Or try the folks at Florida Keys Vacation Rentals: 888-440-0235, http://www.flakeysrentals.com/ they might make an exception? Couldn%26#39;t hurt to try.

Thanks both of you for your info. Found some availability at Bonefish Resort. Any thoughts or experiences there?

Bonefish is on Grassy Key, which is in the City of Marathon, but a little farther from the action. When I say little, I mean just a little. You should enjoy your stay there.

I have visited the Keys 5 times the week between Christmas and New Years. It is one of the busiest weeks of the year here (I am in Marathon as I write this). This year is the first time I saw vacancy signs. Business here is down. You should be able to negotiate a better price than you are first quoted. I talked with one couple at Sombrero Beach in Marathon that showed up a few days after Christmas, were quoted $200 a night for a room, they offered $150 a night and the offer was accepted. In years past you could never do that.

It will be difficult to find a 4 day rental on KCB, especially a 2 br. You would have more luck to rent for the week. If you still want to do 4 days, you might have to rent at the KCB Hotel, and rent two rooms...but for that price, you can rent a home for a week and just stay the 4 days.

I live on KCB and have rentals. No one will rent for less that a week and lose 3 days, especially Easter week. Good Luck!

What I recommend to everyone is while you are down in the keys for your vacation, drive around and pick out places for the following year. Write down the addresses, or take photos. You will want to return.

You will know the the different personalities of the keys.

Then when you book for the following year, you will get the place of your choice.

Thanks all. We had a reservation at the hampton oceanfront up north @$300+ per night. We got a much lower rate at Hammocks in Marathon. Two bedrooms was a tough order for less than a week. I plan to take some picks and review and address the forum.

Weather will be great over Easter--as usual!!

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Leaving Tonight- Thanks for all your help!

Thanks to everyone for helping me get ready for my Orlando trip. I leave tonight and am very excited. (Although I am a bit concerned that we are supposed to have heavy rain here in NJ tonight and in Orlando as well, so I hope the plane isn%26#39;t too delayed)

I%26#39;ve learned a lot from all of you about WDW, the hotels, and the area. I%26#39;ll post a full trip report when I get back.

Thanks again! (hehe you may see me post again today if I have last minute questions!)

Leaving Tonight- Thanks for all your help!

Hope you have a wonderful time!!!

Leaving Tonight- Thanks for all your help!

Have a great time :)

you lucky person! We have untill June to wait and are excited too! Have a really fantastic time. Safe journey x

Have a lovely time.

We leave early tomorrow morning.

Bye.

Have a Swell Holiday :)

Will hope for a few Breaks in this awful weather for you

Safe Flight

Let me know about your plant purchases!

leaving this afternoon-last minute driving route Q?

Wondering if someone can advise on Memphis TO Orlando route once we get to Birmingham? I have gotten 2 route suggestions.

#1 Continues from B%26#39;ham to Auburn, Columbus, Valdosta, to Orlando (bypassing Montgomery)

#2 Continues from B%26#39;ham to Montgomery, Dothan, Tallahassee to Orlando.

We are planning to take the Montogmery direction back stopping in Dothan for the night since we are not leaving Orlando til around 11:00am.

Just wanted somefeed back on if one is better to avoid for traffic, construction, etc.

Leaving this afternoon as soon as DH is home from work...trying to avoid the SNOW that is coming!

Thanks so much:)

leaving this afternoon-last minute driving route Q?

You%26#39;re going to hit terrible weather either route. We%26#39;re under a tornado warning in parts of central Florida right now, and we%26#39;re expecting severe weather tonight as well.

I haven%26#39;t driven either of those routes in years, so can%26#39;t comment on construction and such, but will say that I%26#39;d be prepared to need to stop at a hotel for the night at some point, because it%26#39;s going to be dangerous driving on either route.

Be safe!

leaving this afternoon-last minute driving route Q?

I%26#39;d say the Birmingham Tallahassee route. A little more direct and probably less construction. I-75 is a hot mess right now!

And as has been mentioned, the weather is going to be atrocious either way.

thank you, both :) snow really coming down here...had planned on driving straight through...with the bad weather we may overnight in dothan-about 7 hours into the trip...sure hoping our weather is good in orlando the next week!

Sorry this is a little late for this trip, but for future reference...

my son went to Auburn University..(for 7 1/2 years, no less) We always drove the Columbus, Valdosta route. Took 6 1/2 hours and was an easy drive.

pink hair

Largest electronics store

Best and/or largest for ipods, psp, nintendo

Largest electronics store

walmart i would say

Largest electronics store

Best Buy...dedicated to all things electrical

Best Buy or Circuit City. There are branches of both near the Florida Mall (and elsewhere).

Best Buy. If you like Apple, check the Apple stores at Millenia and Florida Malls.

Best Buy and Circuit City are the two that come to my mind as well.

Best Buy. I won%26#39;t shop Cicuit City because their employees are paid on commission and they will try to sell you things you don%26#39;t want or need--they also recently fired all their longterm employees and replaced them with inexperienced cheaper labor, and I won%26#39;t support a company like that.

LauraAshleyAukland,

For strictly Apple stuff go to the Apple store in MIllennia Mall.

For all other electronics Best Buy has the biggest selection now that CompUSA has closed.

The closest Best Buy to WSW is at the Loop at the intersection of Osceola Parkway and John Young Parkway.

CTR

Southernmost on the Beach or Fairfield Inn

1st time to key west. We have a room booked right now at Fairfield Inn because pool and tiki bar looked great. But now I keep reading to book at the Southernmost hotel. They have rooms available at their Beach hotel. Does anyone recommend it over the Fairfield?

Southernmost on the Beach or Fairfield Inn

Its so much nicer and the location is 100 times better. Go for the Southernmost on the Beach.

Southernmost on the Beach or Fairfield Inn

Southernmost, hands down. Location in Old Town and quality of lodging is so much better there.

Southernmost without question. You can walk to everything but it%26#39;s on the quiet end of Duval.

In all honesty mommahop6, I do not think you will find anyone who will tell you to go with the Fairfield over the Southernmost.

Arnie%26#39;s right. There%26#39;s no contest on this one...Southernmost.

Southermost absolutely

Fairfield Inn is way too far from the action.

Many moons ago I stayed at The Fairfield Inn (i know....I know). Trust me, the pool and tiki bar are nothing special. Southernmost hands down!!

Well, I cancelled the Fairfield and we have a room at the Southernmost Hotel. I hope the pool is nice. We will be there in a week. YEA

which hotel

Well, the southernmost at the beach is booked so for now we still have our Fairfield reservations. Would anyone recommend the Inn at Key West over the Fairfield??

which hotel

Yes, it is a very nice place. The Inn is a long way from old town though, and you would have to either have a car or rely on their shuttle or taxi to get in to old town. Have you considered any other places in the old town? If budget is an issue, the Best Western Hibiscus is a very nice place, with big, very clean rooms and a nice pool. There are also some very nice B%26amp;B and guest houses that will give you a real Key West experience. The Fairfield is just a cookie cutter motel.

which hotel

Once again I completely agree with Sim. Both the Inn and the Fairfield are in what is called New Town. Old Town is what draws Key West visitors. The hotel he mentions is in Old Town as well as all of the B%26amp;B%26#39;s.

Try Southernmost Hotel. Its a sister property of Southernmost on the Beach.

http://www.southernmostresorts.com/

I say try the BW Hisbiscus too. Or if you want a B %26amp; B, Angelina Guesthouse, even closer to all the action in Old Town :)

The Inn at KW is a wonderful, tropical %26amp; modern newer hotel with a BEAUTIFUL, large free form pool %26amp; a waterfall and Jacuzzi. It has beautiful lush, landscaping and a nice outdoor cafe that has a good, inexpensive buffet breakfast, and you can also order from the menu. Their Tiki Bar is pretty; they serve some lunch food at the Tiki Bar too.

It%26#39;s nice that the rooms are larger than they tend to be downtown, and some rooms have a balcony. You are close to the major grocery stores, and the shopping centers. You can take the hotel shuttle downtown, drive, or rent bicycles or scooters. I think this hotel is a great and very pretty place to stay. It is away from the hustle bustle of downtown, yet it takes only a few minutes to get downtown!

Find something in Old Town. No matter how good a hotel is in New Town, it%26#39;s still in a horribly inconvenient location, and near nothing but strip malls and fast food joints. You can do better! People don%26#39;t travel to Key West for that...

We did find a room at the Southernmost Hotel not the beach so I took it and cancelled the Fairfield. I hope we like it. We leave in less than a week. YEA

Why Indian Rocks Beach for a family vacation?

Hello!

We have two couples and one baby planning a late May vacation. We found the Gulfside Resorts on Indian Beach and it looks so gorgeous, but we are new to that area of Florida (we are usually visitors to Ft Myers and Sanibel Island bc we have family in those parts).

We love the beauty of Sanibel (and the charm) and having things to walk to (food/shops/bars) of Ft Myers. What is Indian Beach like?

Any imput would be most appreciated! Thanks!

Why Indian Rocks Beach for a family vacation?

Indian Rocks Beach is cute...I lived there for several years, and it is still one of my favorite beach towns in Pinellas County. It is more residential than Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, and one of the few beaches in the area that hasn%26#39;t been covered up in high-rise condos yet. Because it is less commercial, you also don%26#39;t have all of the tacky souvenir shops and fast food places you see on the busier beaches. Still, there are plenty of decent unique restaurants within walking (or very short driving) distance, depending on where the condo is located. Some of them have bars, but don%26#39;t expect too much in the way of real ';nightlife'; on Indian Rocks Beach...it is pretty quiet and laid back.

Why Indian Rocks Beach for a family vacation?

Thanks! It sounds perfect for us!

Have you ever heard of the Gulfside Resorts?? It looks too cute.

Yes...I%26#39;ve passed them many times. They DO look cute.

Some of my restaurants to try on Indian Rocks Beach are Guppy%26#39;s and Keegan%26#39;s for creative, moderately priced seafood; La Cachette for French food in a romantic setting (no alcohol, but you can BYOB with no corkage fee); Salt Rock Grill for a Big Night Out (pricey); and TJ%26#39;s for casual Italian and pizza (nice deck for outdoor dining). Enjoy!

There are several reviews of Gulfside Resorts right here in trip advisor - just search the specialty lodging in Indian Rocks Beach, they have the top rating in the locale and the reviews are revealing

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Are there rental houses in IRB?

I%26#39;m planning a honeymoon for this august and I%26#39;m trying to find a rental house on beachfront property. Are there many of these in IRB, or is mostly condos and other dwellings as parts of complexes? We%26#39;re looking for something private, not a ';condo'; which is just a nice hotel. I saw some cottages that are highly recommended on this site, but I was wondering how close to the beach these are and if the complexes are loaded with people(not very private).

I%26#39;ve read that IRB is a small, unpopulated community but I was looking at the Traveler Photos and all I could see was 3+ story ';condo/hotels'; lining the beach. Ideally we would want a house with a private walk to the beach. If IRB isn%26#39;t really a place with these private houses, could anyone suggest anywhere within an hour or hour and 15 from tampa?

Are there rental houses in IRB?

Look at www.vrbo.com. They have listings of rental property in this area.

Are there rental houses in IRB?

Check your private messages.

If you look at a satellite photo map of Indian Rocks you see the parts of the beach that have more cottage and smaller properties - they will stand out -the best stretches of the beach are 1- the narrows, 2 - the area near 3rd - 4th avenue and 3 -the beach from 7th to 10th ave. Gulfside Resorts is the highest rated specialty lodging in Indian Rocks Beach with private cottages if want a place with a local owner manager and private beach access - you can find their website in a search and see the private properties

help with flat screen tvs

Ideas for male, mid-30's attending conference at Swan?

He won%26#39;t have a car and won%26#39;t have time to visit the parks. His family won%26#39;t be there, so I%26#39;m guessing he%26#39;ll be skipping the character meals at the resorts. :-)

So far I%26#39;ve told him about the Boardwalk and going to Animal Kingdom Lodge for a meal to see the animals. He%26#39;s been to Downtown Disney, so he%26#39;ll probably go back.

From what I understand from the forum, he can also ride boats and monorail if he wants to. (He doesn%26#39;t have to be staying at a Disney resort, right?)

What is the ESPN thing? Is that a restaurant? I would assume he%26#39;d like that.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Lily

Ideas for male, mid-30's attending conference at Swan?

Yes, anyone can ride Disney boats, monorails, and busses at any time. No ';proof of admission'; is ever asked for.

ESPN Club is a restaurant at the Boardwalk, located near the Swan, with tons of televisions to watch while dining. They also have a small commercial shop where ESPN stuff is sold.

Ideas for male, mid-30's attending conference at Swan?

Thank you Kat Cubs fan!

Remind him he can also eat at any of the resort restaurants. But I think that DTD and the Boardwalk will keep him busy enough lol.

I could make a couple more suggestions for him, all of which are available at Disney World:

Disney offers bass fishing excursions on their lakes that are a lot of fun. You can book trips out of a number of resorts.

You can rent watercraft on some of the lakes. There are little water sprites that are fun to zip around on.

Sammy Duval%26#39;s at the Contemporary Resort offers parasailing.

There are two miniature golf courses on Disney property.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience offers some exciting racing fun.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground offers horseback riding.

Disney%26#39;s Wide World of Sports Complex has the Atlanta Braves spring training going on; he could catch a game, depending on when he%26#39;ll be here.

Hope these help, and I%26#39;m sure there%26#39;s plenty more.

Great ideas! Thank you very much!

There was a post on here recently about a Hooters somewhere in the area.

The conference organizers may have some events set up that will utilize the parks. I know the one that I attended at the Contemporary had a buffet from the restaurant at the top of the hotel (the California Grill?) one night for the MK fireworks, and they bussed people over to a reception in Epcot for Illuminations another night. Golf outings were another very popular pastime for the conference attendees.

I%26#39;m also thinking that they had a special deal that offered access to the parks each afternoon after the conference%26#39;s sessions ended. If he%26#39;s staying at the Swan, it would be easy for him to stroll over to Epcot in the evening for Illuminations. He can make a stop at the bar in England for a pint to go, grab another stein when he gets around to Germany, and top it off with a margarita in Mexico before stumbling back to the Boardwalk for a nightcap!

The Swan is considered to be a Disney resort as far as the transportation goes, so he should be able to get anywhere using the system.

I appreciate all of the ideas! I will pass them on to him. It looks like he%26#39;ll have plenty to do!

Don%26#39;t know if he has an afternoon off (doesn%26#39;t sound like it due to the fact that he can%26#39;t go to the parks), but if he in interested in space, the Kennedy Space Center is only about 45 minutes away.

Kennedy Space Center is a great place! He won%26#39;t have a car on this trip, so maybe next time. Thanks for the idea though!

Shalimar 1055 Gulf Blvd Indian Rocks Beach?

Anybody know anything about this place or been there before? Shalimar Condominiums located at 1055 Gulf Blvd in Indian Rocks Beach? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Shalimar 1055 Gulf Blvd Indian Rocks Beach?

Shalimar is a typical multistory concrete structure with balconies facing the beach and a pool in front, elevator, etc. As with condos, each one is maintained and decorated by it%26#39;s owner, so use care when choosing your place. The location is good, you can walk to some close restaurants. There are some more charming properties in IRB, did you consider or search the Superior Small Lodgings? They have some classic beach places that are well preserved and a good alternative to condos in Indian Rocks Beach.

Bike rentals in Pompano

I will be down in Pompano area in March 2008 with ym family and am looking for a place to rent bicycles. Any suggestions? Also, I will need a pull behind trailer for my youngest (2 years).

Bike rentals in Pompano

I posted this a while ago, but never got any responses. Lulutoo - do you know of anywhere to rent bikes for my family? Would it be better to head into Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood? We%26#39;d love to bike along a boardwalk next the ocean - since we%26#39;re coming from the cold, bald prairies in Canada.

Indian Rock Beach Florida

Had stayed at the Sea Resort since 1969, now has been torn down and turned into condos. Was very disappointed. But found and stayed at the Blue Heron, which we fell in love with. Just steps to beach, consists of 8 cottages, four on each side and a pool. The cottage we rent has 2 bedrroms, 2 baths, washer dryer, full kitchen, gas bbq, beach chairs. All you have to bring are you clothes and toothbrush. They have toys for the kids to play with, the bedrooms can be closed off for complete privacy. Right on the gulf, just steps to the beach. Would love to live here some day. Two TV%26#39;s, one in living area and one in master bedroom. Since there%26#39;s only 8 cottages, there is plenty of private beach area directly in front of these units. They have the most beautiful sunsets every night. Quieter and nicer than Madeira beach. We spent the first two nights in Maderia beach. Had to park across the street from the hotel, inadequate parking, got electrocuted twice by their coffe pot. The building is quite old and desperately needs updating. It was the schooner we stayed at in Madeira and will not return. But Indian Rocks is beautiful, less crowded, and close to all sorts of good restaraunts, which are not ridiculously priced and you get good food. Check out JD%26#39;s, PJ%26#39;s and Guppy%26#39;s has been recommended although didn%26#39;t make it there. Since there is a full itchen and bbq, we enjoyed cooking dinners many nights at home, and had a dishwasher to throw the dishes into to. Highly recommend Indian Rocks Beach.

Indian Rock Beach Florida

We are interested in staying at the Blue Heron and wanted to know what number cottage you stayed in. We have the chance to stay in #5 and wondered if you knew anything about this one or had any other comments about the property.

Thank you

Indian Rock Beach Florida

Do you remember what cottage you stayed in?

Has anyone else stayed here?

The 2 bedroom 2 bath cottage described above is larger than the others, I believe it is number 8 and is one of the two larger cottages which are closer to Gulf Blvd , the other 7 cottages are small, about 500 sq ft of living space. There are several other cool cottage properties in Indian Rocks Beach.

Which beach?

I am not a beach person at all, so please excuse my ignorance!! How large of an area does Siesta Key cover? Is Crescent Beach the best beach there? Is that the area I should be looking in? I guess I would want a family beach (if there is such a thing).

Which beach?

Any beach in this area is family friendly. This is not a Spring Break destination.

If you want the most beautiful beach, it is Siesta Key Beach, hands down. It was rewarded the world%26#39;s best sand. You will not regret it.

Siesta Key Beach is part of Siesta Key, which has other beaches. But SKB is the prettiest of them all, even Crescent.

Which beach?

Thanks sa vol! Can you recommend a place to stay there (2 adults, 2kids)? So when I am looking for accomodations, I should just search for ';SIESTA KEY';? It will just be for three nights in December.

Hi again.

I am sorry, but I am not knowledgeable at all about places to stay. I saw you also posted to SRQGirl on another thread though, and she knows EVERYTHING! She checks the forums frequently so I am sure you will hear from her fairly soon.

I will try to help with any other questions you have. I have only lived here about 2.5 years, so my experience of the area is limited.

PS

You might want to post the following on the thread you created asking SRQGirl about places to stay. She will want to know:

1. condo or hotel? how many rooms of either?

2. budget range?

3. any non-negotiables? (i.e. on the beach side, pool, walking distance to restaurants, etc.)

These specifics will help answer her answer your questions. I can%26#39;t remember if you wrote about 2 kids and 2 adults on the other thread, but that is important information to add if you didn%26#39;t.

Just to clarify regarding an earlier response...the sand on Siesta Beach is the wonderful white quartz variety but so is Crescent Beach. They are adjacent to one another. It is the Turtle Beach area where the sand is the more coarse type.

Siesta Beach area can feel a bit ';busier'; during peak season because the largest public access point is there. However, I don%26#39;t know if that would be an issue at the time of year you plan to visit.

Hope you have a great time on Siesta Key!

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thin hair