titanic exibition is it still there

is the titanic exibition is it still their and if so is it worth a visit .It was their last year we went 2006 but didnt go sort of wished we did now.

titanic exibition is it still there

It is no longer in what was the Mecado as that itself has gone. I believe that Kat mentioned in one of her posts that a smaller version of it had a teporary home somewhere and that a permanent site was being sought. Perhaps one of the local experts may have more news.

titanic exibition is it still there

Arriving for extended stay

Beginning December 15

Orlando Science Center

Click Here for Hours and Pricing

This world-famous exhibition is coming to Orlando Science Center, with a public opening tentatively planned for Saturday, December 15, 2007. Featuring full-scale recreations of the ship’s most famous locales along with historians in period costume portraying the ship’s designers, officers, crew and passengers; Titanic – The Experience will offer a rich interactive examination of the history and science behind the “ship of dreams.” The exhibition will be on display at Orlando Science Center through 2008.

The Science Center is working closely with G. Michael Harris, the President of Titanic – The Experience, and his team to adapt the attraction for its audience. In addition to presenting the historical elements of the exhibition, plans are being developed to further emphasize sections on ocean exploration.

Glaedelig Jul!

Thanks for posting that update, Nemmis. This is the information I posted previously.

Note of interest: we drove by the Mercado two weeks ago, and there is still nothing being done with the site. A huge chain-link fence has been erected around the entire complex, but ';destruction%26#39; has not yet begun on the buildings.

Except for the fence, the old Titanic building still looks like it did when the attraction was open there.

Need Limo for 5 from FL port to airport, any suggestions?

We need transportation from the port to the airport for 3 adults and 2 children. Does anyone have any suggestions for a reliable limo/shuttle service? Thanks!

Need Limo for 5 from FL port to airport, any suggestions?

When the ship dock at its berth, there is always a line of taxis and vans waiting by the starter to bring you to wherever.

If you are talking about Fort Laud airport, it is right next to Port Everglades. (It seems less than 4 miles, up to what pier)

I think you might do just as well getting a taxi van. I believe they charge per trip and not per person.

(But someone else may need to verify this). Will there be tons of luggage??

Need Limo for 5 from FL port to airport, any suggestions?

look up Lets Go limos I always use this dervice when I;m in Pompano Sal and his team are great

Hi, If you are coming off a cruise ship at Port Everglades, MOST, cruise%26#39;s offer a bus trip to the airport. Wheather it be FLL, or Miami. Check at the tour desk on the Ship or call the cruise lines. (approx. $15.- pp, and they take care of the luggage) We always book the bus during the week on the ship.

Have a wonderful %26amp; safe trip!

When a new poster has only 7 posts all recommending a limo service , once can only speculate that he may be the owner of it

On another website someone wrote a critical review of this limo service and the owner responded to it refuting it , using the screenname Gian ( hmm- andt this poster uses a similar name)

I have to agree with the first post. I Have been over there and the vehicles are fine. They are in good shape and will be right there itching for your business.

I agree as well with the earlier posters - assuming you mean to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport, not Miami. You should just hop in a taxi ( the van sized one). They charge per ride while a shuttle would charge per person making it a bad move. The airport is a five- ten minute ride away- such a short trip that hiring a limo seems like overkill to me- and would cost a great deal more. If you have so much luggage that one taxi would be too cramped , splitting into two would still be the cheaper and better option than a shuttle or limo. Even with fuel surcharges etc- I would expect the ride to cost $15 , maybe $20 at maximum per taxi. The Port and Airport are so close that they share an exit on the expressway ( you won%26#39;t even go on the expressway). Port to Miami Airport is a whole different story. Repost if that is the Airport you mean

A week off

Hi all

I%26#39;ll be out of town for the next week. Yup. Even people living in Key West have to go on vacation sometime. In this case, it%26#39;s the opposite of what many of you want to do. I%26#39;m heading north into the snow and cold. I%26#39;ll see you all whan I get back. If I%26#39;m able to grab internet access, I may be able to pop in. In the mean time - Merry Christmas!!

A week off

Have a great time Tim! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

A week off

Merry Christmas to you and once again thank you for all your help. 10 days to go and will be in Key West for a week.

Merry Christmas, happy New Year, and travel safely! And ditto on beachlover%26#39;s ';thank you.'; KW is fabulous on its own, but having so many recommendations and then meeting some of the people who make those recommendations is just the icing on the cake!

cream tones

Manatees!

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Tampa Electric Company Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach is not only open, it%26#39;s already crowded with manatees basking in the warm water from the power plant.

I stopped by today to see the status, and the employees there told me that they%26#39;ve had counts as high as 50 manatees in the channel already this year -- it%26#39;s pretty early for the counts to be that high. (for comparison, she said early February of 07 was their record --- 354 manatees jammed shoulder-to-shoulder in the output canal -- that%26#39;s almost 10% of the reported population in the whole state!)

There are plenty of volunteers on hand to talk about manatees, including a hands-on display of manatee bones, and a small museum featuring a short film and loads of information about manatees, the West Coast manatee environment, and TECO%26#39;s efforts to make the sanctuary a safe place for manatees, shore birds, and game fish alike. (The game fish come into the canal for the warm water, too -- today I saw enormous schools of huge tarpon lolling about in the canal)

There%26#39;s lots of discussions about conservation, and keeping the manatees safe and thriving.

There%26#39;s a 900-foot boardwalk out through the mangrove estuary, with plenty of signage explaining what you%26#39;re looking at, as well as a snack bar and a small picnic area.

Best of all? It%26#39;s all absolutely free, except for the snack bar and gift shop, of course. Makes a fantastic trip for the whole family, and it%26#39;s only 15 miles south of downtown Tampa -- an easy drive from nearly anywhere in the Bay area.

Manatees!

Hey Sunshine. I believe I recognize you from the London forum! :)

The TECO manatee center is pretty neat! I used to live down there in Apollo Beach and drive by it all the time, finally deciding to swing by and check it out and had a blast. Way better than seeing manatees at Sea World(s)!

Manatees!

Isn%26#39;t there also a place just like this in the Punta Gorda/Cape Coral area where they congregate due to the warmer water?

A

We%26#39;ve been living ';in the area%26#39; for over 20 years and never went to see them. I%26#39;m going to make it a point to go before they start charging. LOL. Thanks for the heads-up.

How long do the Mantees stay in the area?? We will be in the area in March and it sounds really interesting!

Thanks

The viewing center is open through April so maybe the manatees stay until then. There%26#39;s a webcam on the website, but I couldn%26#39;t get it to come up a few minutes ago.

To find the website, Google for: manatees tampa electric.

mom3boyz, if the weather is still cool in March you will see manatees. We went today, but the weather was awful - for the manatees to want to come into the waterway. It was hot and sunny, with temps. around 84F. The guide said it was too warm for the manatees to want to come in out of the bay, but we did see three in the distance and they broke the surface quite a few times giving us a better view.

What we did see, which was totally unexpected, were some huge tarpon swimming close by the viewing platform. The largest must have been at least 5 feet if not close to 6 feet. So it wasn%26#39;t a total disappointment not seeing a lot of manatees.

The center is open through Easter Weekend -- after that, the water%26#39;s warm enough that the manatees go back out to their usual hangouts.

We%26#39;re supposed to get a cold front this weekend that should drop the temperatures quite a bit -- which will bring the manatees back.

Heehee -- remember, that awful weather for seeing manatees is pretty nice weather!

Here%26#39;s the %26#39;official%26#39; link, if anyone%26#39;s looking for it:

http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/

As of this morning (12/19), the water temperature in Tampa Bay has plummeted to 64F -- the manatees will be hightailing it to the power plant refuges!

As a rule of thumb, 70F is usually the tipping point -- when the water is warmer than 70, they head back out into the bay -- below 70 and they%26#39;re looking for a warm place to hang out.

Years and years ago, long before the viewing center was opened, it was legal to fish in the outflow canal (it%26#39;s now been roped off, as it%26#39;s not really sporting!)

We didn%26#39;t fish, but would slowly putter up and down the canal looking over the side -- it was simply amazing...every species of fish you could imagine is packed into the canal to stay warm. Watching the ';fish finder'; was really cool -- it was often just a field of black spots showing the shoals of fish.

Best Ticket Prices?? LOST?

Hello everyone! 61 days to go!

Anyway, I have went to a few of the suggested sites from this board to see the prices of WDW 7 Day park hopper tickets, and I am finding them to be more expensive then the WDW site itself? Is this normal?

Best Ticket Prices?? LOST?

No, this would not be normal. WDW usually has the highest prices, while mapleleaf, undercovertourist, and the other sites are usually somewhat cheaper (but not by leaps and bounds).

Are you sure you are comparing the same tickets with the same features? Remember, each component of the Disney ticket costs extra.

Best Ticket Prices?? LOST?

Here%26#39;s a ';for instance'; comparison:

7-day adult MYW park hopper (expires in 14 days):

Disney price: $281.16 (including tax)

Mapleleaf price: $271.00 (including tax)

hair salons charge taxes

New Years lunch

OK I am a true Carolina born southern person.On New Years day I always have pork, some type of cabbage (slaw or steam cabbage), black eye peas, fried potatoes, and corn bread. Very important meal to me. Which restaurants do you think I will find this meal at on new years day. Also going to be there a week, will need to have some fried chicken or barbeque one of those nights. Just that southern blood in me.

New Years lunch

Best fried chicken is at Dions Gas Station.

New Years lunch

Bobalu%26#39;s Southern Cafe, but it%26#39;s a little outside of KW. Call them to see if they%26#39;ll be open....

305-296-1664

cream tones

BAA strike... It's a YES vote...

The London Evening Standard have reported a yes vote to strike action.

A union official has said that action is likely to commence in the New Year as they are mindful of the publics reaction.

Dates should be made official.

A very merry christmas to them too!

BAA strike... It's a YES vote...

that%26#39;s bad news. feel sorry for anyone booked in new year, i would be fuming if i had to upset my son and tell him we weren%26#39;t actually going, or granny or whoever wasn%26#39;t coming to stay after all.

BAA strike... It's a YES vote...

well it looks like I should be able to get away on holiday but ight have problems getting back

Hi due to fly from Glasgow on 01/01/08 have we any possiable dates yet or is it mid January they are going on strike?

Lets hope they are done before I fly on the 10th-15th.

Rumour has it that the strike will start on 1 January and last for 72 hours. But the knock on effect will probably leave the airports pretty chaotic for around a week after!

Hi suerly a strike on the 1 Jan o8 would be more damaging if they say they are being mindful of the publics reaction then going on the 27 Dec 07 as you know most of Britan returns to work on the 2nd January 08 (except Scotland) this would do untold damaged to their support from the public i am all for poeple having rights but in areas were it can effect so much of other peoples lifes this is when people will find it heard to get support even as the strike dose not effect them it more to do with new people starting work let them decide if they wish to take the job belive me their are plently out their who would people move from job to job these days.

Vero Beach Boat Tour

Our family just returned from vacationing in Vero Beach. While there we scheduled a trip with Capt. Chris of Vero Beach Adventure Cruises for a private tour of the Indian River. Our children loved it and it was a very informative cruise of the Indian River Lagoon. Capt. Chris has many years of experience in boat tours both in Vero Beach and Bermuda and will give you a great cruise for your money. Don%26#39;t forget to ask about his famous Bermuda Rum Swizzle that is complimentary on all his trips.

Vero Beach Boat Tour

We%26#39;re going to Vero Beach for a birthday in March. Any chance you can suggest a hotel, motel, or other? I just learned we%26#39;re getting there during spring break. Also looking for fun things to do and place to stay as far south as Miami.

Any help will be appreciated.

Vero Beach Boat Tour

I%26#39;m wondering how old your children are and do you have to make reservations? How long did the trip last? We%26#39;re going down Dec.31-Jan 5. Thanks for the info

Snorkeling?

We have a short (4 day) trip planned to southern Florida and trying to decide between AMI and the Keys. A factor for me is snorkeling - I only snorkel from the shore (shallow) but I do love it and it will be an important part of the vacation for me.

Knowing that, I%26#39;d love feedback on whether there is good shore snorkeling on AMI, or if I should just plan on the Keys instead, with maybe a day trip to AMI. TIA!

Snorkeling?

If snorkeling is important, I%26#39;m not sure AMI is the best choice. From what I%26#39;ve heard I think Key West has much better snorkeling. However, Key West does not have great beaches. I know AMI has great beaches.

I don%26#39;t know of any snorkeling in or around AMI and would be interested in hearing from others on this. Whenever we have snorkeled from shore, we haven%26#39;t seen anything. But that could just be us.

AMI and Key West are not really day trip apart. It is more of an either or decision.

Snorkeling?

not much to see when snorkelling around AMI - a few fish, nothing particularly colourful like you would see on a reef. However beaches are great and plenty of Pelicans etc to observe.

Often see Dolphins and the occassional Manatee on the bay side.

I%26#39;ve heard there was a bit of decent snorkeling just off shore at Coquina Beach. I believe there is some type of artificial reef there. Anyone know anything more?

Kris, there was the wreck of an old sugar barge *eons* ago -- but I%26#39;m fairly certain that the hurricanes in recent years have either buried or obliterated it.

This feedback helps me so much...I don%26#39;t know how I would plan a vacation without these forums and all the helpful people I have found here.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

cream tones

Are prices going up soon?

We will be in Orlando in March, I haven%26#39;t bought my tickets to the parks yet. Are the prices going up as of Jan. or can I wait to buy my tickets?

Are prices going up soon?

There have been no rumours this year of a ';January 1st'; price increase for tickets, but that doesn%26#39;t mean it won%26#39;t happen.

Disney had a price increase in August, so maybe those won%26#39;t go up, but as for the other theme parks...who knows.

The good news is if your budget can handle the extra expense this time of year, it won%26#39;t hurt to go ahead and buy. The tickets don%26#39;t ';become active'; until the first time you use them, so purchasing ahead of time could save you some money.

Are prices going up soon?

Typically the attractions (Disney or Universal) will announce a price increase 30 days before it goes into affect, and then all the other attractions will also increase their price too.

They don%26#39;t increase rates on a regular time schedule. My bet would be that the prices will remain static because of less people traveling and the gas prices down here have flattened and dropped a little.

com and interop

Broken Egg Open?

Is the Broken Egg open at it%26#39;s new location yet?

Broken Egg Open?

Here is the latest on the Broken Egg:

We are held up by county permitting. We hope to open this winter.

Feel free to share your inquiries with Sarasota County commisioners at SC.GOV

Thank%26#39;s,

Bob Kirscher

Broken Egg

~SRQgirl

Is ';Ice'; at Gaylord worth it?

We are heading down to O town, from Jax, for a couple days...have tickets to Universal need to use by end of year. I saw on the Sentinel web site about Ice at the Gaylord Hotel. the price.. admission + parking.. seemed high. Is it worth the price, are there any discounts available.

Thanks All

Is ';Ice'; at Gaylord worth it?

We enjoyed the ICE exhibition at Gaylord but we had never seen anything like it before so it was a new experience.

Cant remember how much we paid but at the time didnt feel we were ripped off.

Look in Orlando Sentinel for a coupon or in shopping malls although you will not get a huge discount.

Its nice to browse around the hotel too. Lots to see and you can watch the gators being fed if you go at the scheduled time. You would need to check when that is.

Is ';Ice'; at Gaylord worth it?

What is Gaylord - just a hotel or an area of orlando.

Sorry to appear thick, but never heard of it.

Gaylord Palms is a resort and convention center.

ICE at Gaylord Palms is incredible. I took my entire family (80 year old father and 2 year old daughter) last year, and everyone enjoyed it. Plus, the older kids went ice skating afterwards. We stayed for dinner at the Key West restaurant which was awesome. Then we enjoyed a show in the atrium. The hotel iteself is worth the trip. Definitely go, but don%26#39;t just go for ICE...plan on spending a few hours enjoying the hotel.

Dress very warmly if going to the ';ICE'; exhibit too.

Remember your wool socks and your thermal underwear!!!

It is very cold in the exhibit and it takes a while to go through the entire place. The temperature in the exhibit is only 9 degrees F.

I%26#39;ve heard nothing but rave reviews -- quite a few people who live in Florida take the kids, as the kids have often never seen ice or snow.

I%26#39;ve also heard that they will loan you a parka, but they do advise wearing long pants and closed shoes.

I found this doing a search for promo codes - I used it to get our tickets for this coming weekend and it worked! The prices are for weekend visits (we got tickets for Saturday, 12/22)

You can save money on the Gaylord Palms Ice show if you buy the tickets at www.etix.com 24 hours in advance.$21.99 instead of $24.99. Use the promotional discount code of WAL and you will save an additional $3, bringing it down to $18.99 for adults. Children, it appears, do not receive discounts as their cost is $9.99.

cream tones

really sad, just thought i'd post it read it on fox news

A Florida man died Tuesday after riding a roller coaster at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Jeffery Reed, 44, of Navarre, Fla., was found unconscious at the conclusion of the Expedition Everest ride at the resort%26#39;s Animal Kingdom.

Disney personnel provided medical assistance to Reed, and he was transported to Celebration Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Orange County Sheriff%26#39;s officials said.

Inspectors found no problems with the ride, Animal Kingdom%26#39;s Expedition Everest, but Disney was keeping it closed pending further review.

Reed appeared to be conscious approximately 50 seconds before the conclusion of the ride, when a camera snapped his photograph, officials said.

The roller coaster is billed as a ';high-altitude, high-speed train adventure'; where ';nail-biting hairpin turns hurl you forward toward the peak and then, just when you think it couldn%26#39;t get more thrilling 鈥?backward!';

Officials said there was no trauma or injury to Reed.

';We offer the family our deepest sympathies and will provide assistance to them during this difficult time,'; Disney spokesperson Andrea Finger said.

really sad, just thought i'd post it read it on fox news

i know its really sad, theres no real worse time but christmas time is a real traumatic time for any family to go through this,

transportation

we will be staying at the el patio 800 washington st in late april. is there public transportation for a couple who go to the sunset celebration then proceed to get waisted..would hate to walk all the way back with a drunk wife haha

transportation

The public transportation is limited in time and scope. Take a cab. Easily called, fairly inexspensive. It%26#39;s the way to go.... Walking is another option!

transportation

Bicycle is also a good way to get around the island. There are several good outfits that rent bikes, including Moped Hospital, at the corner of Truman and Simonton. They charge around $10 a day. Their bikes are very well maintained. If you rent a bike, make sure you lock it when unattended, there are bicycle thieves on the island.

okay, I hate this. For some reason, I haven%26#39;t seen the ';new, updated'; version of TA...but I see it now. I hate it

Is there any way to access the entire forums without selecting one at a time?

Okay, now I see there is a way to access all forum posts at the same time.

The walk to the sunset celebration is not too bad from El Patio. (I pass it on a morning jog). It%26#39;s either 1/2 or 1 and 1/2 blocks from South Street, then over two blocks to Simonton or three to Duval. Then the 16 blocks to the other end of Duval.

You can walk up Duval or Simonton or even Whitehead easily in about 20 minutes in the afternoon and end up at the Key West Bight for happy hour. Then head over to the Mallory Docks or the La Concha for the sunset. If you had dinner at LaTeDa you%26#39;d be half-way home. Otherwise there are usually cabs hanging out in front of the glass bottom boat between the Pier House and the Ocean Key, 1 and 0 Duval Street, respectively.

Pjk

Can%26#39;t you get in trouble if you get caught riding a bike drunk? I remember hearing that one time...

You can get into trouble doing anything drunk.....best take a cab and let him/her take you home.

We walked everywhere last time (except to the airport and back). We would have loved to rent a scooter or something for fun - but did not want to risk it with drinks!

I think bikes or scooters are like the fly / drive, B%26amp;B / hotel discussions. Some people don%26#39;t need them at all (me), others rent them for the entire stay and use them as needed. Never having rented either it still seems to me that you could rent a bike or a scooter for one day and pretty much explore the island in one afternoon or morning, doing a circuit and some of the smaller streets you might otherwise not find. More than this seems to me to be a bother, but YMMV.

Pjk

Condo - 2 King Bedrooms, on beach, w/ pool, good for toddler

2 of us couples with 1 1/2 yr olds are going to Destin at the end of April/ beg of May.

We want something where we can walk out to the beach, preferably availability on a first floor. We would like a place with a nice pool and even a kiddie pool (but kiddie pool not a requirement)

We also want a place with a balcony we can hang out on once we put our 1 year olds to bed.

Is there anything that has 2 rooms with king beds? That way, both couples will have nice size rooms?

Anything else that the place has that is nice for families with toddlers is great!

thanks so much, we appreciate it! I have read about the Destin Beach Club, Crystal Sands, JEtty East, Siver Shells, Silver Dunes, Sandestin...all look great but an overwhelming decision! Also, think we might prefer something that isnt%26#39; a ';high rise'; building maybe???

Condo - 2 King Bedrooms, on beach, w/ pool, good for toddler

I would steer clear of Jetty East. It%26#39;s practically IN the water. Bad erosion problem.

You may want to consider a cottage or house. You would have a lot more room to spread out. However, being right on the beach in a house is costly. In Crystal Beach there are a lot of cottages within walking distance to the beach. Many have their own pools or neighborhood pools.

Most places are furnished for each owners individual taste. I don%26#39;t think anyone can tell you what size beds are in any unit without reading every description and you can do that.

pores

crystal sands condominums

I am thinking of renting a condo at the Crystal Sands Condominums. Has anyone stayed there? Are they nice and is it a good location?

crystal sands condominums

GREAT location - right on the beach on Scenic 98. They are nice too. They are older and each unit is owned by a different person so some units are more updated than others - and each is decorated differently. We%26#39;ve never had a problem with any unit there other than one unit not having any rugs so sand stuck to our feet! :-)

crystal sands condominums

Great location in Crystal Beach. Close to everything.

We stayed there Summer 2006 and loved it! We had a 1BR ground floor, corner unit. We stepped out of our condo onto the patio and were adjacent to a nice area that had a picnic table that my kids loved to sit and play cards or eat. In addition, we love to grill when we go to the beach and the grill was right there also! Last year we stayed in Seagrove b/c my in-laws took us, but if we go back alone as a family, we will probably stay at Crystal Sands again.

Are all the condos at Crystal Sands, 1 br units?

No! I think there are 2BR and possibly 2BR with a loft. You can look on the Resort Quest website and view some of the various units they offer. Even if you do not book with them, it will give you an idea of the layout of the units. I think that all of the bottom floor units are 1BR with a bunk in the hallway, but I am not absolutely sure of that.

We stayed there June, 2007. It wasn%26#39;t the greatest time to be there since they were doing the beach renovation right behind Crystal Sands BUT that is finished and the beach is beautiful.

It is a great location. We always stayed at the Coral Reef and it reminded me of that a lot. It%26#39;s bigger but the condos themselves are very similar. The layout of the buildings is very similar also.

I wish they had more grills more conveniently located and that they had an air hose for blowing up air mattresses, etc. Also, the pool is outdoors and very, very small (so the kids can%26#39;t swim if it is raining like they could at the Coral Reef). Other than those 2 small things, I highly recommend it. Great location, good management, good setup.

Sorry...forgot to mention the larger condos at Crystal Sands. They are on the 3rd floor. There is an elevator and at least you don%26#39;t have noise from overhead. There were 7 of us 4 adults and 3 kids) and we had plenty of room. There was one master bedroom on the first floor and 2 smaller ones in the loft area. The bed configurations differ from condo to condo. They seemed to have something that would fit everyone%26#39;s needs, so when you call for reservations, just tell them what type of sleeping accommodations you need and they%26#39;ll try to fix you up.

We stayed at Crystal Sands two summers ago and I would not stay there again. The location is good, but we had a condo on the second floor that was very drab and depressing. Everything in it seemed to be brown. We also had some trouble with the bathtub/shower not working correctly. It was a one bedroom unit and when you used the toilet you were facing this large mirror! For what we had to pay, I thought it was too much and we stayed in Miramar Beach this year. Also, the pool is small and faces the road. Just my opinion.

Crystal Sands is a great condo. Great location, right on the beach and close to activities. A great restaurant right down the street too, named Camille%26#39;s. We rented from Sea Oats Management Co. which has several units in the Crystal Sands units. The only downside to me is the pool. It is small, but nice and clean. This will be the third year for us to stay there.

Destin or Fort Walton?

Recommendations for a more quite and relaxed vacation at the end of July with accomendations on the beach. Four adults and do not want the party scene. Would enjoy walking to restaurants, shopping etc. Would appreicate any and all suggestions for dining and hotels.

Destin or Fort Walton?

You will get a lot of different opinions on this, %26amp; since you are asking on the Destin forum, I think it is pretty obvious what most will be... LOL!

And July IS a very popular month for vacationing families. Both of these areas market towards families rather than the party scene. And they are only 5 miles apart, so not an issue to stay in one %26amp; visit the other.

In my opinion, I think FWB will suite you the best.

Destin seems much more hectic %26amp; if you are looking for action, this is the place. The traffic seems heavy here, even in the off seasons. Partially because everything is conveniently located on the one stretch of road, which would naturally cause more traffic. Lots of good restaurants, activities, %26amp; shopping to choose from in Destin.

FWB has a 2 mile stretch of road on Okaloosa Island, which dead ends, so you don%26#39;t get the thru traffic. Not a lot of commercialization, which would also help with less traffic. And there is a height restriction, so they can%26#39;t build over 6-7 stories tall, which makes for fewer people in the beach, too. At the east end of the area, (towards Destin) there are several good restaurants, etc, so the further you go west, the less commercialization.

Take a look on vrbo.com %26amp; throw out some places that interest you. I%26#39;m sure you will get some opinions.

Destin or Fort Walton?

My suggestion would be neither one. I would look in the 30-A South Walton Area.

Blue Mountain Beach, Seagrove Beach, Seacrest Beach, Rosemary Beach, Dune Allen Beach, etc.

Take a look at this web site. www.sowal.com

Regardless of where you choose, you will need a car.

spot fake timberlands

Hilton Singer Island

Hi -

My husband, daughter and I will be staying at the Hilton Singer Island resort in April. I thought we would be at the Marriott Ocean Pointe - its some type of timeshare deal, but now my reservation says the Hilton. What is the place like? My daughter is 17 so hopefully she won%26#39;t be too bored. Is the place clean, what about the restaurant? Is it true they charge $$$ for a bed chair at the beach? Also, how far is Fort Lauderdale? We want to visit some friends down there. Thanks for any help!

Hilton Singer Island

Tbe Hilton is nice. The Marriott Ocean Pointe is much nicer and newer. The Hilton is clean and has a beachfront restaurant which has good food. ';They'; don%26#39;t charge for the beach chairs, it is a private concession who rents them out. The Hilton has lounges at the pool for no charge. If your daughter gets bored she could always go shopping on nearby PGA Blvd. Ft Lauderdale is about an hours drive.

Accommodations/walking distance to Palm Beach Shores Resort

Hi!

Family of four with accommmodations att PBR. Need a comfortable and safe place for my dad (81) and mom (74) within steps of PBR. Suggestions?

Also need things for the teenagers to do, both for sunny and rainy days. Visit in beginning of January.

Thanks

Ameriswede

Accommodations/walking distance to Palm Beach Shores Resort

No motels within steps of the resort. SeaSpray is a couple of blocks South also on the beach. The teenagers should enjoy the beach right at the hotel. What sort of things do they like to do? There is a movie theatre a few miles away at a shopping/dining complex ';Downtown at the Gardens'; on PGA Blvd Plenty of malls. North Palm Beach Country Club has a public golf course, sportfishing is available close to your resort. They could snorkel, take a scuba course...

Beach Pictures

I love photographing my kids on the beach. I have pictures of them on diffrent beaches all over my home. This is our first trip to Destin we have been to Penacola Beach many times so I know for beautiful the white sand is.

I was wondering if anyone can offer any tips of times and places to get great pictures. We are staying at Destin West but will drive were ever we need to go.

Thanks

Beach Pictures

If you%26#39;re taking the pictures near the middle of the day, when the sun is overhead, use your flash to fill in the shadows on their faces, preferably within ten feet of them (not knowing what type of camera you%26#39;re using).

Beach Pictures

I was always told that the light in early morning and before dusk will be beautiful for pictures. I have to say that I did not follow this advice, and in all my pics at the beach it is usually too sunny and the faces are not sharp, like too much glare.

You would be much better using a digital SLR with a UV filter for mid day shots - dawn/dusk will get you the best lighting.

I have a good camera its a cannon A720 8.0MP...but its not a digital SLR I would love one of those but I would be to afraid I would break/ loose ect... So I have a Point and shoot with some manual abilities. It does have a beach setting actually.

Not far from Destin West, (just east of it) on Eglin property, the beach is unspoiled. Great place for photos, but please stay off the dunes.

Another spot worth looking in to is Henderson State Park in Destin.

A lot of people shoot at dusk. Many wear white shirts and jeans .

Destin House rental for under 25's

My daughter is a freshman in college and wants to rent a beach house in Destin with a very large group of girls from school. Their problem is that most homes have the policy of no rentals to under 25%26#39;s. Does anyone know of an agency or even a 5+ bedroom home that will allow this?

Destin House rental for under 25's

Nope.

Try the Panama City Beach Forum. That is where the college crowd goes.

pores

What are my best lodging options?

I have scoured many of the rental sites trying to find something that would work for me but it is frustrating.

Basics ... Looking for 5 nights April 6th-11th (Sun-Fri). Mom and two kids, 7 %26amp; 8, on our first trip ever to that area. Plan to do a lot of shelling, hopefuly some fishing and some bike riding. Very nature and activity oriented family. I expect most time will be spent on the beach, in the water or fishing somewhere. A kitchen might be nice (especially if we catch something edible) but a mini kitchen would probably be ok. I%26#39;ll be too tired to cook full meals after chasing around after both of them without dad there to help.

From what I can tell, the week we are looking at is the last week of high season for most places even though there is a ton of stuff available since this is a very late week for spring break around the country. I am probably not going to make the trip that week if I have to pay high season rates and especially if I have to do a week rental for 5 days. I%26#39;ll just put it off until summer when dad can join us and rates are cheaper. The upcoming fmaily ski trip to Keystone, CO is blowing my vacation budget but I have been promising my son this trip for a few years so I%26#39;m trying to keep cost down.

I%26#39;ve read a lot about the option of stopping at the chamber of commerce/visitor center (whatever that place is) right after you get on the island to see if you can get a last minute deal. What sort of discount do owners usually give at that point? I%26#39;ve not had good luck with last minute discounts when I%26#39;ve tried getting them on the NC outbanks so I%26#39;m wondering what is typical in Sanibel.

Bottomline, looking for some ideas that I may not have explored yet.

Thanks for any help!

Lori

What are my best lodging options?

hummmm .................... Tough question. I%26#39;d start with Tropical Winds Resort - They have efficiencies. They are on the less densely built up west end. Also around there is West End Paradise.

Caribe Beach Resort is a possibility. The Blue Dolphin is another possibility.

But in all honesty, I might take a chance and arrive without reservation and see what kind of walk-up rates are available. In season the efficiencies are around $200/nite plus tax [11%] and up. Walk-up rates have 20% discounts in season, sometimes a lot more.

Owners will offer discounts sooner. 30% at 4 weeks in advance is typical. Some might offer more.

On Captiva there are a couple of modest places that rent for less than one week. Blue Moon duplex, and Starfish - which is closer to the beach are both pretty good buys. Very modest and available for less than 1 week and with dock access for fishing are the cottages at Tropical. Just 1 bedroom cottages. Very small, but an awesome location.

The best buy is Baywatch Cottage which has access to a dock for bay fishing. Not in the village and look closely as the location might not suit - but lots of lawn area.

What are my best lodging options?

oh yes, all those places are on www.captiva-island.com

And one other option is Twin Palms run by the Jensen%26#39;s. They have efficiencies. On the bay. www.gocaptiva.com Spotless and the Jensen%26#39;s are wonderful and they run the fishing supply place and marina. Guests are usually given rods to use. Hugely popular with fishermen.

All - including the ones I named above are walk to beach, but no bike paths on Captiva. I would suggest biking on Sanibel.

dynamic editing

Beaches/Parks close to Doubletree

We will be staying at the Naples Doubletree for a week in Feb

What beaches or parks are close by that are kid friendly?

I was also wondering if it is possible to go to Key West for the day? I understand that there is a fast ferry but are there flights that leave in the am and come back in the pm on the same day?

Thanks,

Chris in Michigan

Beaches/Parks close to Doubletree

I am not sure where the Doubletree is (it can be mapquested) but if you head west you will hit the Gulf of Mexico, all beaches are kid friendly, (whatever that means) You can go to Key West for the day in 3 ways, car which takes forever, boat one leaves out of Ft. Myers and takes about 3 hours, after the first hour you are completly board if not seasick, and plane about 30 min out of Naples airport is the Yellow Taxi air service and out of Marco little airport is Marco aviation (both can be googled to find more info) Expense is the inverse proportion to the time it takes to get there. In my opinion going to key west for less than a day only, is like getting a fingerfull of icing off the wedding cake, (you will want more) the boat will give you about 5-6 hrs but they will let you spend the night to take the next day%26#39;s boat, but if the seas are rough they will not sail.

Beaches/Parks close to Doubletree

We went to key west last yr. from naples. We left at 6am arrived in kw at 12pm that was with stopping to eat and shop on the way down. We spent the night at the southernmost hotel and left the next day around 1pm. I would not do it all in one day it would be exhausting. You also don%26#39;t want to be on those roads at night. Good Luck

Thanks for the advice occhie, I think we will either take the fast ferry or drive down and stay at a hotel for the night.

Chris in Michigan

The Doubletree is on the north end of Naples and the closest beaches are Vanderbilt at the end of Vanderbuilt Rd and it has a multilevel parking garage. Also Delnor Wiggins State Park for a more undeveloped beach. Further south are lots of choices: Clam Pass and Lowdermilk Park. Naples is very beach friendly with easy parking (meters or beach stickers) on most streets in the city of Naples.

advise

Hi, I know it%26#39;s a little late in the game, but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of what to do, where to eat. We are leaving for Orlando in the morning and will be there until Sunday. I had thought about Kennedy Space Center tomorrow afternoon, but it says you need at least 6 hours... so then we were thinking Epcot on Saturday but after reading MANY less than raving reviews I%26#39;m re-thinking that plan.... any ideas???

advise

Hi Jea,

It%26#39;s never too late...

I%26#39;m not sure what you%26#39;ve heard regarding Epcot but We Love it and you could easily spend a whole day exploring and having great fun. have a look at

allears.net/tp/ep/ep.htm

As far as KSC, I would recomend giving that adventure an entire day, it%26#39;s not just around the corner from Disney.

Epcot has the Best Dining Options and a nice runner up would be Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk. Check all the Disney Restaurants at

allears.net/din/dining.htm

advise

Jea,

If you are driving, you might hit KSC on one direction or the other.

Charlotte to Kissimmee is 10 hours driving time. KSC is on I-95 and the detour will add an hour to your drive time. If it were me and I had two drivers, I would leave early in the morning the day I needed to head back and hit KSC then. Once finished at KSC I would jump on 95 and drive through.

Downtown disney has an excellent selection of restaurants. We are partial to Rainforest.

Across 535 from Downtown Disney, Cross Roads and Palm Parkway also have several mid priced restaurants. We are partial to Kobe which is a little bit further down Palm Parkway.

There are small clusters of restaurants all over town. You should not have too much trouble finding a nice one in your price range.

CTR

We aren%26#39;t driving--but our flight gets in at 11--so we were going to drive over to KSC.

As for Epcot--any suggestions regarding restaurants there??

Thanks for all of your help?

Rose %26amp; Crown, Le Cellier, Chefs de France, Teppanyaki, Nine Dragons, Coral Reef

Epcot is my favorite Disney park. There is lots to do with kids too. They have the Character Connection now where you can get your picture taken with all kinds of characters! They have the non-spinning version of the Mission Space attraction also, so it is even more kid friendly!

As for eating in epcot, it is hard to say...there is so much to chose from! Take your pick! They have the best fish and chips, there is sushi, if you like Moroccan food the restaurant Marrakesh is fab! They have live musicians and belly dancers! There are so many great places to eat in Epcot I just can%26#39;t give you any advice. The living seas has a restaurant where you can eat looking at the fish. There is a revolving restaurant in The Land pavillion. I could go on. It is all good, relative to your idividual tastes. The Chinese place is good and the Japanese teppanyaki is good too!

we love epcot (kids and adults)...dont miss soarin in future world and the world showcase has some really great street performers so make sure you grab a schedule when you enter....the best part about epcot is the food....some of our favorites are san angel inn , nine dragons , and le cellier

Need info on a awsome seafood restaurant

I want to eat a nice big lobster for Valentines. Need as much advice as possible.

Need info on a awsome seafood restaurant

baphlwd,

I grew up near Boston MA. Compared to Legal Seafood in Boston there are no awesome seafood restaurants in Orlando. I have had lobster in Glaucester right off the boat. It%26#39;s just not the same after being shipped 2,000 miles.

I find the fish at most of the chain restaurants over done and dry. I like Ahi Tuna or Yellowfin rare. It is almost impossible to find around here. Many places only offer fish fried because when you ordered it, it was still frozen.

Check out the Orlando Sentinel%26#39;s food section for reviews.

For something a little different in shell fish, check out Dixie Crossroads.

CTR

Need info on a awsome seafood restaurant

Fulton%26#39;s Crab House has a pretty good

Ultimate Crab and Lobster Experience

allears.net/menu/menu_fch.htm

Might need a reservation ASAP

The Flying Fish Cafe on the Boardwalk and Tood English%26#39;s Bluezoo has great seafood also.

Flying Fish is your best bet. I%26#39;ve eaten seafood in Hawaii, Alaska to Cancun, Seattle to Maine, the Mediterranean, the orient, and yes Legal Seafood, probably a third of their 30+ locations. You won%26#39;t find a better seafood in Orlando than Flying Fish.

Love Flying Fish but I don%26#39;t believe they have Lobster as an Entree. There is a Chilled Maine Lobster Starter tho.

Perfect vacation spot on the SW Florida Gulf Coast

Hello,

To anyone who is interested in a vacation on the Gulf Coast of Florida, I would highly recommend staying at the Castaways Condos on Manasota Key, Englewood, Florida.

We stayed in a darling 1 bedroom beachfront unit. The views were awesome. The rental rates are far less on Manasota Key than Ft Myers or Sarasota. We plan to go back again this summer.

FYI: www.castawayscondos.com

You%26#39;ll have a great vacation here!

Perfect vacation spot on the SW Florida Gulf Coast

You might want to put this under the general Florida forum instead of the Orlando.

Good hunting!

Perfect vacation spot on the SW Florida Gulf Coast

Alot of folks on the Orlando Forum are always asking about taking a side trip to the Gulf Coast.

Thanks for the Info and glad you had a good %26#39;Gulf Holiday%26#39; :)

Hmmm. First post and a bit of self promotion. Let%26#39;s see how long this lasts.

The Disney Magic Connection

Disney is testing a GPS System in the Parks called The Disney Magic Connection

I liked my name better

';Techno Mickey';

For the whole story

wdwinfo.com/newsarticle_002159.htm

The Disney Magic Connection

I think this would take the fun out of it all. The best part of tramping round a park is getting lost, holding the map upside down (or spilling soda on it), losing your temper because you can%26#39;t find the magical toilets (which have been disguised to not look like toilets), trying to work out whether to go round in a clockwise direction or not, attempting to find a good position for the parade (which is a series of dotted lines on the map), and getting hot and hungry.

I think GPS would take this fun away and the experience would not be the same.

pores

vc

Disney Sat Nav

Can you tell me if Disney sell the voices for Sat Nav at Orlando International Airport (MCO).

If they do I would be interested in purchasing Elmer Phudd or perhaps more apposite Mr Magoo to help with my driving.

Disney Sat Nav

I don%26#39;t think Disney has the right%26#39;s to Elmer or Magoo, that would be that other Park :)

But speaking of Sat Nav%26#39;s and Disney

Disney is testing a Hand Held Sat Nav for use at the Parks

It will allow you to navigate the Parks and it will tell you the Wait Times for all the Rides

Disney Sat Nav

Now that would be cool, partypa.

A few lucky people are testing them at Magic Kingdom as we speak

Well, Pal Mickey might not be a Sat Nav, but he%26#39;s been known to tell you where short lines can be found!!!

The New Toy will be for the Grown-Ups who feel silly walking around the Parks with Pal Mickey, it will be a Techno Mickey :) ( I just made up the name )

Love the name (Tech Mickey)... lol

My husband and I took along our friends%26#39; Pal Mickey with us on our last visit. We kinda played up the whole concept of two 37 year olds walking around with a Pal M. We took unusual pics of him in all these strange ';hidden mickey'; types of places. We actually had a lot of guests comment on our creativity and then we sent these pics of Mick back to his rightful owners with ';having a great time, wish you were here'; comments.

This May? Mickey will be coming along again!!!!

That is a not yet then ...OK.

Thanks.

Do you think the imagineers will give me credit when they bring it out.

If they do I would like one with Dick Dastardley doing the Sat Nav voice ... with Muttley sniggering as you make the wrong turn.

From the Cape to Key West -- any must see's?

we will be driving from the cape to key west -- what is there in between that we should not miss??? On my list are Sebastion Inlet (boyfriend is a surfer) and Jupiter, what else???

Any suggestions are welcome!!

thanks

From the Cape to Key West -- any must see's?

Being a sufer while at the Cape area you will want to stop at Ron Jons in Cocoa Beach. Huge surf shop, interesting to visit. Lots of surfing in the Cocoa Beach area. You can take A1A all the way to Sebastian Inlet. From there you will want to make your way over to I-95 to get to Jupiter. Other wise it will take forever with all the traffic lights. If you like shopping there is a huge outlet mall in Ft. Lauderdale called Sawgrass Mills. Miami Beach is also worth a stop if you have the time.

one day -- universal or island of adventure

We have one day on a friday in March to go to either Universal or Island of Adventure, with 2 kids, ages 9 and 6 1/2. My oldest, she%26#39;ll go on most everything, the little one, it depends on the ride but he LOVES Curious George (which I saw at Universal). I plan on getting fast passes but don%26#39;t know which rides would be better.

Thanks.

one day -- universal or island of adventure

Also, the Universal site has Express passes for one day for various prices but they all seem to offer the same thing but different days available (some are $45, $35, $25, and $19. Can anyone explain the differences? THANKS

one day -- universal or island of adventure

My vote would be for IOA though my boys are 12 %26amp; 14. We found that there were more ';rides'; at IOA where as Universal was more movie set inspired buildings with shops and fewer rides. The Suess Landing area of IOA is great for younger kids, my teens even enjoyed it. Enjoy your trip.

DeeDee

Yes, I also vote for Islands of Adventure. I think it%26#39;s just the better park of the two.

As for the prices of the Express Passes, they vary the price depending on the date and what they feel is ';supply and demand'; pricing. The more crowded the date may be, the more demand for the Express Pass and the higher the price will be.

For instance, on a weekday in January, the price may be $20 for the Express Pass, but for a day during Easter week, it will be $50 or more. This is based on the demand they expect for the passes.

i would go to BOTH especially since you are getting express passes. to add another themepark to your ticket is only about $10 more. also with express passes you should have plenty of time to see everything in both parks.

both are great and i wouldn%26#39;t skip either. go to universal first in the day otherwise your kids will be bored there after they have been to IOA (which has more rides and is more exciting)

if you are dead set on only going to ONE, i would also say IOA over universal, but its really a much better deal to buy the 2park/1day pass for about $85

hope that helps!

Aside from the fact that Spiderman is the best attraction in Florida,if your kiddos are not rollercoaster types,I would suggest Un Studios. IOA is very compact with lousy theatre and stage presentations The studios gives you much more ';breathing space'; less intense rides and better food options.

If you get to universal when they open dont follow the crowd past shrek, turn right and head towards jaws.we did this last april didnt have more than a ten minute queue until we got to twister.this gives you more time at IOA which is ace,get on spiderman best non-rollercoaster ride in orlando. hope you have a great trip. Apogee 68

Fury vs Floridays Sunset Sail

My husband and I want to do a sunset sail while in KW. I%26#39;ve read from other threads that Floridays is really good, but we are thinking of going with Fury ($12 per person cheaper). Is the Floridays worth the extra money? Also we were thinking of doing a snorkel also with Fury- do you think they would give some type of discount if we were to book both a snorkel and sunset sail with them? I know there are companies that do a combo afternoon snorkle/sunset sail, but we want to do them separate.

Fury vs Floridays Sunset Sail

I%26#39;ve never been on Fury, but I%26#39;ve done several sunset sails and one snorkel on Floridays. I%26#39;m very partial to Floridays because they limit the number of passengers...perhaps 20 or so. Lots of the other snorkel and sails pack folks like a cattle cars...that doesn%26#39;t look like much fun to me.

Fury vs Floridays Sunset Sail

Ahh ok- makes sense now. We%26#39;ve done a Sebago snorkle and didn%26#39;t really mind the amount of people- might make more of a difference on the sunset sail. Thanks for your input.

I sailed on Floridays last December for a perfect sunset sail. It was great, and about 12 of us in total, and that included the crew. We had a great time and even saw some porpoises!

We enjoyed Fury%26#39;s Commotion on the Ocean sunset cruise. Plenty of food and drinks along with good music and even some dancing.

I too am a Floridays fan. I like the smaller numbers of people, the boat is nice and the crew has always been good. I think its worth the extra money.

College Spring Breakers In March

Wondering if alot of college kids go to Key West, and Islamarada for Spring Break? I would think it would be kind of expensive not really any all-inclusive deals. Hoping not as I booked Key West in March to avoid the Spring Break Kids.?? Anyone know?

College Spring Breakers In March

There%26#39;s not so many that would cause anyone to avoid that time here. It%26#39;s a tad above thier budget unless they%26#39;re here on Daddy%26#39;s dime. (Some are)

Of those I%26#39;ve met here, they have all seemed really nice and a lot of fun. They%26#39;re only an issue when they travel in packs. :-)

College Spring Breakers In March

The college kids really do not go to Islamorada but they do go to KW. The weeks that are the worse are when the big Florida Schools are out.

parameter order

Duval Quarters or Olivia by Duval

Need to know, only a $30 difference, have Balcony Mini Suite upstairs iverloooking the pool at Olivia or a room on the 2nd floor in Duval Quarters. Both have a Queen bed and also Twin bed. Both in similar locations..pool we could take or leave, just want the nicer room and accomodation/location.

THANKS!!

Duval Quarters or Olivia by Duval

Olivia by Duval is in my neighborhood, and before the dog died last November, I walked past the property every day. They have rooms that run from the bare minimum, to really nice.

Duval Quarters, (the old Abaco Inn?) is one of the properties I never had the pleasure of touring, as every time we made it over, George had all the rooms booked.

I know a lot of people who return to Olivia by Duval year after year.

But remember what they say about champagne tastes on a beer budget. ;-)

Safe Travels

Al

pores

cruise deals

We are going to be in cape canaveral in February and were wondering if there are any last minute deals on cruises that are sailing from the port. we thought we might try a small 3 or4 day one but are unable to commit to it yet.THANKS Maritimer

cruise deals

At one time you could go to the port and just hop on. Because of 9-11 that is no longer possible. The best deals I see are usually still 3-4 weeks out. try vacationstogo.com or cruisecompete.com.

Also for more information go to cruisecritic.com for all your cruise questions.

Hotel suggestion the Holiday Inn or the Raddison????

We will be flying in the morning before our cruise. We plan to rent a car and do some sightseeing. I%26#39;m trying to decide what hotel to stay at. I%26#39;ve read that a lot of people have recommended the Raddison, but our friends are staying at the Holiday Inn Cocoa Beach. The Holiday Inn is more money but on the beach, but the Raddison is closer and you can see the ships. Does anyone have any suggestions???? I appreciate your help!

Hotel suggestion the Holiday Inn or the Raddison????

If you are choosing purely on the view, the Holiday Inn Oceanfront would win hands-down. It is right on the ocean. Although also nice, the Radisson does not have a view. As for the distance, The Holiday Inn is only about five or six minutes farther away from the port than the Radisson so that shouldn%26#39;t really affect your choice.

Hotel suggestion the Holiday Inn or the Raddison????

Both are nice properties but like Island said HI is oceanfront. Keep in mind this area is small and nothing is too far away. The view from the Radisson is limited. If you really want to see the ships, go to the port and sit outside at Grills or Rustys around 4:30 most afternoons and they will sail right by you.

wekiwa or silver springs for a day trip?

cant decide which state park to visit for a day with our 7 yr old. has anyone been to both and which would you recommend? thanks

wekiwa or silver springs for a day trip?

check out davesyaktales.blogspot.com, he goes to Wekiwa Springs often. Not sure, but prob. has Silver Springs too....

wekiwa or silver springs for a day trip?

thanks does anyone know if there is an age limit for renting canoes? would my dd be too young?

Hard rock Cafe

My husband and i are real fans of the Hard Rock Cafe and always try to go to them when we are on holiday. i know they are always busy!! Can i book before i go and am i right saying it is on universal drive. How much would a taxi be to there from kissimee?

Thank you

Hard rock Cafe

I%26#39;ve booked a reservation on the morning of our universal arrival....im not sure if you can make reservations before you go - perhaps if you give them a ring...i know thats what us brits have to do to make disney reservations.

I reckon it will cost around $25 dollars around trip but dont quote me - check out mears website.

Hard rock Cafe

the hardrock is really inside the universal studios area, you don%26#39;t have to pay for a pass or anything but i think you would have t o get a taxi to the universal enrtance.

Its located at the Universal City Walk that runs between both island of adventure and universal studios

My family and I are intending to go to the Hard Rock Cafe in April when we visit Orlando. I have been on the website for Hard Rock Cafe www.hardrock.com. You can select the restaurant you are interested in and can book priority seating for a specific date and time up to one month in advance. As the Hard Rock Cafe is part of Citiwalk you can access it without paying entry into Universal Studios. Hope this helps and enjoy your holiday. Sorry can%26#39;t help with the taxi.

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Help with some info

Hi all,

need a bit of info dont seem to be able to find it anywhere, magic your way tickets run out after 14 days of your first visit to a park , you get 6 bonus visits to the water parks as well , If i go to a water park first will this activate my ticket or have i still got 14 days left

Help with some info

I believe you will activate the ticket no matter if you go to a Park or a Waterpark

Have a look at

allears.net/pl/tickets.htm

( scroll down a bit )

See if I%26#39;m reading that right :0

Help with some info

I think you will have to activate the 14 days by visiting one of the major parks first.

I%26#39;m not sure but I dont think you can activate it by using a free bonus water park first.

For both kinds of admissions when you have the MYW ticket and WP%26amp;M option added:

You have 14 days from first use of the ticket at ANY turnstile to use all of the admissions on both portions unless you have purchased the No Expiration option.

Sea World

Does Sea World in Orlando have the same as San Antonio, in the Happy Harbor area. Like as in the, river rafts, the beach, water rides, wave pool, floating river? Also do most people do sea world as well as bush gardens and universal studios, and WDW all in one trip? I am thinking this may be to much amusment rides, I could be wrong that is why I am here, to get all of the experts advise. Can you guys please help me.

Thanks

Mindy

Sea World

I have not seen any beach wave pool there,there is atlantis a water ride and kraken a rollercoaster..yes you can get a multi ticket, and aquatica opens in 2 months..if you are doing all parks then you need time minimum 2 weeks.

Sea World

The Orlando area Happy Harbor, doesn%26#39;t have the water park ammenities you%26#39;re mentioning. I think many people cram in tons of theme parks into their Orlando vacations, as they don%26#39;t know if or when they%26#39;ll come back and want to do as much as possible. We only do a big park every other day and in between might just relax at our condo -- swim / play tennis, check out the Disney hotels, spend a few hours at a water park, spend a few hours at Gatorland. Usually, though, I plan two days at Sea World for two of my big parks days, just because the second day is free, I love the place and so does everyone else in my family, and I love a bargain. Although, Busch Gardens is nice, if I were staying in Orlando, I wouldn%26#39;t go all the way into Tampa when there are so many great attractions to do right in the Orlando area. A Universal Park or a Disney Park and Sea World World wouldn%26#39;t in my opinion be too much of the same thing. At Sea World we always do the water ride and big roller coaster, but that%26#39;s about it for rides we go on. Now they%26#39;ve added a bunch of midway rides that we skip, as we spend most of our time at the great shows and animal attactions. You can go on midway rides anywhere.

SeaWorld%26#39;s waterpark-type attractions will soon be opening....at Aquatica across the road as a new waterpark.

Shamu%26#39;s Happy Harbor in Orlando is quite small and has only a few ';kiddie'; type rides; nothing like what you are describing.

pores

disney channel

We stayed in French Quarter last year and my girls loved watching Disney Channel as we dont get it at home.Do any off site hotels offer Disney Channel or do you have to stay in a disney hotel to get it?.

disney channel

Most off-site hotels should have the disney channel. It is a basic cable channel that is available all over the country, not just on disney property.

disney channel

It depends on the cable system or satellite dish system the hotel subscribes to. Some have Disney Channel as a basic channel (not premium) and some don%26#39;t.

Universal Orlando at Christmas

We go at least once a year, but never at Christmas. Staying on Property...Are the pools warm, decorations good?? Or is Disney better?

Universal Orlando at Christmas

Hello suburban,

We%26#39;ve had many Christmas visits and the resorts pools are always nice a warm, however the air can be quite cold during this time of year. The decorations are Beautiful! Check out the Grand Floridian and the Boardwalk area where the Yacht and Beach Club and Boardwalk Inn are located. We always book the Candlelight Processional dinner package at Epcot. Also, don%26#39;t miss the Osborne Spectacle of Lights at MGM! Be sure and make all your table dining reservations as soon as they open up as they will book up early!!!! You can do this 180 days in advance, be sure and call on that day for your preferences. 407-WDW-DINE. For more information on the wonderful Candlelight Processional check out www.allearsnet.com We never miss it! Brace yourself for massive crowds during Christmas week and whatever you do, don%26#39;t attempt the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Universal Orlando at Christmas

Oh, I am so sorry suburban, I read your topic incorrectly. Yes, in my opinion Disney is much nicer during the holidays. We stayed at the Hard Rock one Christmas and the pool water was very warm. The decorations didn%26#39;t compare to the Disney resorts and parks.

Pools are warm at both Universal Hotels and Disney Resorts.

I agree with Healin, Disney does Christmas in a much bigger way, The decorations are Amazing at Disney.

I did a split vacation one year at Christmas time between Disney and Universal. Started out at Universal for three nights - Royal Pacific. Decorations don%26#39;t compare to Disney, however - once we got to Disney (on-site again) we couldn%26#39;t believe the crowds. I had heard about the ';Christmas crowds';, but never really thought it was going to be that bad. It was BAD! All those decorations can%26#39;t make up for the number of people, the waiting, the waiting, and oh..did I mention the waiting.

Forgot to add - the pools are heated. Never know what you will get for weather. In the same week, we went from wearing winter jackets at nights to shorts at nights a few days later. Be prepared for both.

we go every year also but finally did universal and disney at christmas in 2006...disney is definately better as far as decorations go....it is very crowded but if you use fastpass at disney and your express passes at universal, you will be fine

We went to Universal just after xmas and Disney just before xmas (never actually stayed over xmas) but I would say Disney is better but also FAR FAR busier.

Mike

We usually go to both parks in the beginning of December, but this year, we went to both in the middle of December. We found that Disney has more decorations up in November than Universal does in December. Disney has so many special things going on - Mickey%26#39;s Very Merry Christmas Party, Osborne Spectacle of Lights, and The Candlelight Processional. The resorts are all fabulously decorated for the holidays. Universal does virtually nothing compared to what Disney does.

trnasportation from north south beach to bayside marketplace

Hello we are go to stay at beach place hotel north of south beach, and I don麓t want to rent a car, what do you recomend us to get arround, and we are plannig to go Bayside?

trnasportation from north south beach to bayside marketplace

Is your hotel on Collins Avenue? If so, you can take the S-bus straight down to Bayside. Exact fare of $1.50 required each way, bus drivers do not make change. The bus runs frequently, travel time will depend on where you board. How much north of South Beach. Post the hotel or address and I can give you the scheduled time.

Mimi

trnasportation from north south beach to bayside marketplace

Hello. Mimi,

Thanks for your answer, let me tell you, our hotel is Beach PLace Hotel.

8601 Harding Avenue

Miami Beach, FL 33154.

Thanks you again

fake nails from breaking

Public Boat Launches?

Going to KW very early March...would like to have a friend from Ft. Laud. come down to meet us with a 17%26#39; boat ';in tow';...is there any public launch? Would there be a boat yard where it could be stored for three nights? Thanks

Public Boat Launches?

I believe there is a public ramp here.

http://www.garrisonbightmarina.net/

Public Boat Launches?

Arnie%26#39;s hit it. Garrison Bight is City owned, I believe $10 round trip launch and free parking. They will be able to rent you a slip for three days if you wish. Across the Bight is Garrison Bight Marina, a private place that has forklift launches. There%26#39;s another ramp down at Key West Bight but it%26#39;s school board property and a little risky to use.

1-Day Only - Which Disney park for a young couple w/o kids?

My husband and I are planning a trip to Orlando in early March and would like to spend one day at one of the Disney parks. We don%26#39;t have kids, so any suggestions on which park?

Thanks!

1-Day Only - Which Disney park for a young couple w/o kids?

I would say Epcot. There%26#39;s some great adult type events and shows and the food around the ';world'; is amazing. And there%26#39;s some awesome rides there for the ';kid at heart.';

1-Day Only - Which Disney park for a young couple w/o kids?

Yes, another vote for Epcot here.

Epcot has a great combonation and variety of rides, shows, and cultural attractions.

Don%26#39;t miss Soarin!!!

Don%26#39;t miss Illuminations at 9:00 PM on the lagoon!!

I agree, EPCOT is my fav disney park. My teens still like it too.

Must go with the flow on this one

EPCOT

Dining options are the Best, great shows and 3 of the best rides at Disney are there ( Test Track, Soarin%26#39; and Mission Space ) :)

EPCOT. looks like it unanimous so far!

hello.

may i suggest a hopper pass?

that way you can see epcot and mgm in the same day - and Hop between the 2 parks,

animal kingdom is also great but epcot and MGM are better. I even love the magic kingdom ( i still go on it%26#39;s a small world each time we visit) and a few other things, but most is for kids and i would not spend an emtire day there.

in an 8 hour day ( more if your feet can handle- and if parks are open late) you can do 2 parks!

Magic Kingdom....NO !!!

MGM .....NOT REALLY

Animal Kingdom ......GOOD if you like animals

EPCOT ......VERY GOOD

It depends on your interests. While Epcot does have some nice things to look at, Soarin, and Test Track; but I prefer MGM. I love rockin rollercoaster, tower of terror, etc.

I would look at allearsnet.com and checkout the attractions at both parks.

I also vote for EPCOT.

This link might be helpful. It%26#39;s Disney%26#39;s ';Romance and Relaxation'; page.

鈥o.com/wdw/experience/experienceLanding鈥?/a>

Homewood suites

staying at the homewood near convention centre for 14 nights in march.whats it like and how good is the free transport to the parks

Homewood suites

It%26#39;s the #12 rated hotel in all of Orlando on T.A.

The link is too long for me to post on this message, but if you%26#39;ll go to the hotels tab at the left fo this page, just go down the first page to the #12 hotel by popularity and you%26#39;ll find this property. Click to see the amenities and reviews.

Homewood suites

Apogee68 ;-) We stayed at the homewood suites last september and we are booked to go back this september ;-)

The suites are large with full kitchen %26amp; table n chairs etc huge fridge freezer(for all the beers) the bedroom has an abolutely huge and I mean HUGE bed ensuite, large TV with built in playstation and room ';Safe'; the main sitting room has a double sofa pull out bed again with large Tv with loads of ';Sky'; channels.

Free hot n cold breakfasts every morning tea n coffee all day.

Free evening snack monday - thursday with free beer;-) wine soft drinks, tea, coffee etc, the evening snacks range from pasta dishes to chilli n nacho%26#39;s etc nothing extravagant but a nice touch, on the beer front drink as many as you wish they encourage you to get stuck in lol.

Location - I think its the best location on I drive as its right behind TGI fridays, with loads of good eateries close by and also pointe orlando only 500 yards away(if that), the I Trolly bus stop is right outside(both sides) the Lynx bus stop is again right outside (both ways)

The free transport to Universal is good, gets you there about 9am gets you back i think 7pm ish and the bus only shares with the hotel across the road (the quality inn) so no long journey for drop offs.

The transport to WDW is slightly different as they take you by mini bus and drop you at Epcot where you need to wait for a WDW bus to take you to whichever park you are going to and you need to be at epcot for a certain time to get home(I think its 21:30pm) after the fireworks. but you need to tell reception everytime when you are going.

Over all in my opinion I think this hotel is absolutely great value for money with a great location for all the attractions.

One thing I will warn you about is the Universal booth at the front desk, there are 2 people who work this booth 1. is an older woman named ';Toasie'; the other a younger girl, now they both will try to sell you everything that universal has, the older woman is in all honesty very nice and to be fair she is trying to make a living, BUT the younger girl would rip you off at the blink of an eye, so just watch if you are gona buy anything from the booth.

hope you enjoy ;-)

Cheers ;-) Wullie

The thinker has thunked this good. I agree with everythin said here. It is a good hotel at a good price and in a central location. The breakfast and the snacks are excellent and the manager%26#39;s reception is worth getting back for.

It is right behind Bahama breeze and Friday%26#39;s so you can walk to your food.

Apogee you can relax - you have made a good choice.

i agree we stayed here in july/aug and are going back in may and had no qualms about booking again. its a lovely hotel, staff are great and very helpful. the transport is very good. disney shuttle is direct, the universal shuttle stops at 2 hotels across the road before you get to universal. timewise allow 10mins in morn they may be late, on the way home make sure your at the stop 10mins before. if you miss a shuttle and theres another one just phone the hotel and they%26#39;ll arrange transfer to next 1.

any other questions feel free to ask

fantastic,cheers everyone.5 weeks today cant wait Apogee68

If its anything like the one I stayed in Dallas, its a great hotel. Part of the Hilton Chain so you can get hilton points.

Good value for money as far as hotels goes.

dental cosmetics

Travel IQ

Hey guys, just out of curiousity, does anyone know why the Travel IQ%26#39;s keeps jumping back and forth? I had made it all the way thru level 8, and had a 144 IQ - then, a couple of days later, it was down to 123, and I hadn%26#39;t even played again - then, yesterday, back to 144, and today, back down to 123. It%26#39;s driving me bonkers!! :) I haven%26#39;t played in awhile, but I know some of you are as addicted as me! Has anyone else noticed this?

And, as a side note, only 5 months and counting till I%26#39;m on that beautiful Daytona sand!! (not that I%26#39;m counting - LOL!!)

Travel IQ

Don%26#39;t know about the IQ thing BUT I thought I was the only one counting!!!! Only 115 days to go!!! We will try and leave some sun n sand for ya!

Travel IQ

I post mostly on the Las Vegas forum, and we%26#39;ve had several posts concerning the travel IQ game...I have chosen not to participate until they work out the bugs! LOL

I am flying in one week from today and am SO glad to get away from this ice/snow/cold we%26#39;ve had here in KS for over a month :(

Same thing happened to me as Ducky said. I haven%26#39;t played in a quite a while. I am finally getting some sub days in, so I can%26#39;t see straight those little pins on the map!!!!

See you Friday Ducky!

I played the world and scored really low -- like pitifully low.

Then I played the US and scored like an adult.

My score seems to go between the 2 I earned for each game.

Renata

I%26#39;m on the Punta Cana post a lot and have heard complaints about this as well. I personally am a loser at stressful, timed games so I%26#39;ve stayed away. Don%26#39;t want to insult myself...lol.

I haven%26#39;t played in a couple of weeks - too much going on here, too! Yay, teach, glad you%26#39;re finally getting some subbing in! And ducky, I%26#39;m so jealous that you%26#39;re getting to go down in a week - once Christmas is over, all I can think about is Daytona!!

Oh rags....you have NO idea how anxious I am to get on that plane next Wed!!!! One week from today, I will be enjoying lunch with my daughter and teach and enjoying (I hope) the beautiful Daytona area weather!!! I always make Gwennie take me to the beach at least once while I%26#39;m there, and I like to go to Crabby Joe%26#39;s to watch the people surf and fish...well except with the surf is rough! LOL

wedding with kids on a boat in englewood area

Hi

It is my first time posting, but this is my number one place for researching our holidays!

Myself, partner and 3 kids (5,6,7) are staying at a friends home in rotunda west at end of May, beginning June and we want to get married on a boat, or beach!

Have not got a clue where to begin, but if anyone knows of good boat hire/officiates/photograghers/florists or restaurants on the beach we would be eternally grateful!

Here%26#39;s hoping!!

Louisa

wedding with kids on a boat in englewood area

Hi Louisa,

First, may I say Congradulations!

For an excellent source of information of the several of the different services try the Englewood/ Cape Haze Chamber of Commerce.

For photographers, I personally know Heidi Burke and many couples have been very impressed with the results. She may also be able to coordinate your other needs as well.

wedding with kids on a boat in englewood area

Hi there!

Thanks very much for your reply. I shall get in contact with her. That is brilliant.

Hope you have a good weekend!

Louisa

reptiles

boating to cayo costa

We are going to be in the Ft Myers Beach area the first week in February with a 20 ft pontoon boat with a 90 HP engine.

We%26#39;re thinking of boating to Sanibel Captiva area. I%26#39;ve been reading a lot about Cayo Costa State Park and would like to boat up there.

Can anyone give me some information on where that is in relation to Sanibel. About how long of a trip via boat it would be. And the best way to get there.

Are there boat docks or do you just anchor off shore?

I%26#39;d appreciate any information on boating in this area. Or any website that might help me.

Thanks

boating to cayo costa

It%26#39;s up above Cabbage Key, which is above North Captiva. It makes a good day-trip up the InterCoastal Waterway from down around South Ft. Myers or the Causeway. It%26#39;s over behind Pine island if you are at Ft. Myers. Had a friend doing the %26#39;driving%26#39; so I can%26#39;t offer much more. I keep my little runabout back in Dinkin%26#39;s Bay mostly. Look for a place to launch on Captiva. That would be ideal. Might be able to put in at Jensen%26#39;s, on Captiva?? You might be able to put in at The Castaways which is at Blind Pass. I%26#39;m sure these two places have websites you could check. Sorry I can%26#39;t tell you more.

boating to cayo costa

Thanks for the info.

That%26#39;s what I was hoping to do. Make it a day trip from Ft. Myers Beach. So it looks like that%26#39;s a possibility. We are staying at the San Carlos Campground and have our boat at their dock. So I didn%26#39;t really want to have to pull it and relaunch.

Besides it%26#39;s much more fun on the water than fighting the traffic!

So Ralph - where is Dinkin%26#39;s Bay?

You really, really want to get a good nautical map. The bay is tricky. Dinkin%26#39;s Bap is located where Sanibel and Captiva meet, but your best bet for a place to dock and maybe get additional gas and such, is Jensen%26#39;s marina on Captiva. I believe it is against park regulations to pull up on the beach, but do call the park and ask. There is a main dock at the park entrance at the north end of the island. Some of the docks on the south end are a very short walk to the beach and are used by the guides, but I think visitors are allowed to as well. Jensen%26#39;s knows all about this, so chat with the family in their store and they can give you all the latest info. They no longer run water taxies up there, so it would be good to know what%26#39;s happening. They can also give you suggestions on where else to go. Check out Cabbage Key and North Captiva as well.

From Captiva Island, it takes about an hour to Cayo Costa. It will take about 30+ or more minutes from Sanibel%26#39;s east end to reach Captiva. Maybe another 30+ for the Ft Myers Sanibel stretch. So in total, not counting stops - maybe 2-3 hours to reach Cayo Costa. Could be more.

Keep an eye on the operating hours at the marinas. They tend to close early.

here are a couple of good websites:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/cayocosta/

http://www.gocaptiva.com/ [new web address]

Thanks so much for the info. I was trying to get an idea of how much time we would have to allot for a trip like that.

We will get a nautical map before we start the trip. (We have one now, but I%26#39;m not sure if it goes that far north). Any idea where in the Ft Myers area to get a good one?

Sounds like a stop at Jensen%26#39;s Marina is a good idea.

I%26#39;d contact any one of the local marinas and see if they sell charts. The sandbars in the bay are always shifting and many are exposed at low tide. A pontoon style boat as really the best choice for those not familiar with the bay.

Try contacting The Bait Box on Sanibel as well. www.thebaitbox.com They have a link to a NOAA chart, but it isn%26#39;t current. You%26#39;ll need something recent. It%26#39;s Pine Island Sound and San Carlos Bay.

I%26#39;m not a boater myself, but I%26#39;ve been out enough with those that are to have a healthy respect for the problems with getting around the Sound.

Tourm has it pretty good. I started to advise caution but didn%26#39;t want to scare you from going. It just takes common sense %26amp; being careful, because before you know it you%26#39;re in 8 inches of water. I know, I grounded mine %26amp; have also chewed up some mud a few times. It%26#39;s no big deal but you need a good map %26amp; learn what the markers mean. I spend a lot of time in Dinkin%26#39;s Bay every Feb. I%26#39;ve caught some good fish, seen mannattees right next to the boat,watched porpoises chase fish in 8 inches of water, watched an awesome Tarpon slide by the boat %26amp; seen all kinds of stuff scittering across the shallows. Won%26#39;t even mention the birds we%26#39;ve seen. I%26#39;d say that after you take your first excursion up into Pine Island Sound you will be back the next day to continue your wanderings. It%26#39;s addictive. Do try to stay out of the way of the guides that are up on the Flats after tarpon. Give them a wide berth. They will appreciate it.

If you are mooring your boat at a dock on Fort Myers Beach you can go from there. If you have your boat on a trailer then drop it in at Punta Rassa which is off of Summerlin Road right before you go across the causeway to Sanibel Island. (it is literally the last right hand turn before the toll plaza; if you know how to get to Sanibel Harbour Resort %26amp; Spa, it%26#39;s the same turn but right there on your left before you get to the resort entrance)

It should only take an hour from there. My family and I go there all the time from Matlacha and it only takes us 45 minutes.

There is only one official dock and it is on the eastern side of the island, about mid-island. The drawback to this is you have to then take their %26#39;tram%26#39; to the other side of the island to get to the beach. You can moor off the island, they frown upon pulling up on the beach. There are many shallow areas so you don%26#39;t have to swim in deep water. If you see the ranger be prepared to pay the state park daily fee which I believe is $1/person.

Here are a couple links you can use to get a perspective on the location of the island.

fortmyers-sanibel.com/images/content/pine_is…

fortmyers-sanibel.com/cms/d/boca_grande_flor…

Have a great time and do take a map as it is easy to get confused if you%26#39;ve never boated the area and don%26#39;t be surprised by all the dolphin you%26#39;ll see!

So you think it should only take an hour or so from Ft. Myers Beach?

Do you have an opinion on Cabbage Key? I was thinking about trying to boat there also.

We did some boating in the area last year. We went up to Matlache. So I%26#39;m somewhat familiar with the area.

If you%26#39;re dropping in at Punta Rassa then it should take you about an hour, going 30-35mph. If you%26#39;re leaving from somewhere on Fort Myers Beach you could add another 15 minutes.

Cabbage Key is a great stop. Just know that there isn%26#39;t a lot to do there. You can eat at the restaurant and take a walk around the trails but it is typically a spot that people just stop at for lunch. If you look at the link that I sent you with the map, you%26#39;ll see that Cabbage Key is right next door to Cayo.

Useppa is a great island, but they do not allow %26#39;just anyone%26#39; to dock there. You have to take a ferry there which is usually associated with a tour (includes lunch, the grounds and the museum).

Boating our area is awesome, just make sure you stay in the channels because most of our waters are very shallow.

Fair winds to you!