This is the most remote of the hotels but if you are a golfer it should be paradise as it is located between courses (both PGA championship 18 hole). Also has tennis, two pools and fitness centre. Plenty of free transportation to the park.
|
Suitably located on Seven Seas Drive this hotel has a South Pacific feel to it. There is even a 'tropical beach' here located on the lake. There are even volcanoes! 855 rooms.
|
The Caribbean Beach Resort
|
Located as different 'islands' such as Barbados etc. each having its own pool. There is a beach and marina here as well as a market selling Caribbean food. 768 rooms.
|
For those on a fly-drive you will no doubt want to be visiting at least 4 locations. In the UK you can buy tokens for various hotel chains to be used in Florida at various locations. For example Days Inn (Tel. 0483 40470) sell four different tokens for accommodation starting at Red (UK33 per room, per night) to Gold (UK63). The current directory had 100 places to stay in Florida. Guest International (081 7702123) offer a similar scheme with rooms from Best Westerns, Choice Hotels, Days Inn, Hampton Inns, Holiday Inns, Howard Johnsons, La Quinta Inns, Ramadas and Travelodges. They have three different tokens, budget pass (UK31), good night pass (UK41) and select pass (UK75).
|
You should never be at a loss for something to eat or drink be it a fast food burger with a coke or fine Italian cooking over a bottle of wine. To start the day you cant do better than have a breakfast which is normally so large in portions that it should certainly keep you going until the afternoon (unless you are walking around EPCOT in which case you will be peckish again at 10AM!). All the fast food joints do breakfasts but the Denny's chain seems to have mastered it. Expect to pay for food in the US in $ what you would normally pay in pound's. For dinner and tea you have a choice of a world of fast food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys etc. However just looking at International Drive the quality eating establishments are just as varied with Chinese, Indian, Italian, Seafood, American and steak houses standing side by side. Drinking is also a pleasure with some decent US beers about but make sure you are 21 or over or you will find it hard to be served especially in bars. Supermarkets (such as 7-11) are your best chance of booze if you are under this age.
Heres a quick selection of the possibilities open to you in Orlando.... (and this is only part of it!)
'American'
Butcher Shop SteakHouse
Damons - The Place for Ribs
Western Steer SteakHouse
Ponderosa SteakHouse
Brazilian
Donna Donni
Chinese
Ming Court
Bill Wongs
Asian Adventure (includes unlimied Beer etc. and entertainment)
Italian
Bergamos
Pasta Lovers
Japanese
Shogun
Kobe
Mexican
Jose O'Gradys
Outlaws
Fajita Grill
Seafood
Charlies Lobster House
Atlantic Bay
The Crab House
Review of any restaurants or eateries are required for this guide ASAP be they good or bad!
|
There is no doubt that WDW is the major pulling power in the Orlando area. Some people may describe WDW as tacky Americanism but if they do don't listen - they haven't been. Theres a lot more to WDW than the Magic Kingdom - The E.P.C.O.T. center, M.G.M. studios, Typhoon Lagoon and the Disney marketplace to name a few. First of all though we will look at the Magic Kingdom the first part in the WDW jigsaw.
|
| Opened in 1971 the Magic Kingdom covers some 100 acres and is made up of seven 'lands'. The first of these lands that you will discover is Main Street USA. To get to this area however you must take either the monorail or a ferry from the main gates. Main street is unmistakable with Cinderella's castle overlooking the street. The first place you should visit is the City Hall where you can a get of the handy guide book and what's on booklet free. Next stop could be the Disney World Railroad that stops off at Frontierland which could be a good place to start your voyage before the crowds get there. If you decide to take a full loop of the park its a good way of getting your bearing of where everything is. Almost next to the station is The Walt Disney Story where you can follow the upbringing of Walt from his younger days to the creation of this resort. Further down the street is the Main Street Cinema where classic films of the silent screen era are shown. The final attraction here is the Penny Arcade which pretty much speaks for itself and also includes Main Street Vehicles where you can board a horse drawn 'trolley' or cart. The attractions are pretty tame and the Main Street is designed more for eating and shopping. For eating you can feed on anything from hot dogs from the Main Street Wagons to a succulent steak at Tony's Town Square Restaurant decorated in the style of Disney's Lady and the Tramp. You certainly shouldn't be lost for souvenirs either but don't leave it until the end of the day when it seems like everyone in the park is shopping. Shops in Main Street are many and varied. If you have forgotten your camera then head for the Kodak Camera Centre where you can buy and hire cameras and camcorders as well as have film developed. For just about everything there is Disneyana Collectibles and if you need a quick trim the Harmony Barbour Shop. At the end of the Main Street at the foot of Cinderella's Castle is a roundabout that leads to all the lands. Following the lands in a clockwise direction the next stop is Adventureland. One of the attractions you possibly cant fail seeing entering Adventureland is the Swiss Family Tree house that you may be suprised to learn is made fully out of concrete. You climb stairways to see the ship wrecked family's home. If you are a budding tarzan then you will probably enjoy the Jungle Cruise as you visit some of the tropical rivers of the world. On your way you will encounter elephants, lions, hippos and headhunters ! The only attraction I have ever seen anyone walk out of is the Enchanted Tiki Birds tropical Serenade in this musical revue. The final attraction is the brilliant Pirates Of The Caribbean where your boat takes you through a town being pillaged by pirates as well as a confrontation with a pirate ship. If you are hungry Adventureland has an abundance of snack stalls selling the likes of burgers, hot dogs and ice cream. As with the Main Street there are plenty of shopping opportunities such as the Traders Of Timbuktu for African Imports. The next lands are Frontierland and Liberty Square. First off in Frontierland is the station for the railroad if you want to make the trip to the Main Street. The first ride you will want to head for and possibly one of the best known in the park is the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Here you can catch a runaway mine train through mining tunnels. Although not exactly an awesome roller coaster ride it certainly is fun. It is worth taking this ride at night as well as day as some effects cannot be seen through the day. If you want to relax from the queuing for the rides now is a good time to take a slow raft journey to Tom Sawyer Island (which closes at dusk) which includes Fort Sam Clemens. Showing throughout the day is the Country Bear Jamboree where a cast of wilderness bears perform in a hoe-down. If you want you can test your shooting skills at the Frontierland Shootin' Arcade which is different in the fact that you have to pay to use it (basically to get people off it so everyone can have a go). One show that you must make a reservation for (and early at that) is The Diamond Horseshoe Jamboree where you can sandwiches, snacks and drinks. There are plenty of other eateries though such as the Mile Long Bar for Tex-Mex food and Pecos Bill Cafe for burgers. Your spoilt for choice for shopping here too, that is if you want Mexican gifts, Western hats, woodcarvings, bears or Davy Crockett coonskin caps. Moving onto Liberty Square you may want to visit The Hall Of Presidents where ex US presidents come to life on stage. For a relaxing trip you cant beat a trip on the Liberty Square Riverboat or Mike Fink Keelboats. The highlight of Liberty Square though has to be The Haunted Mansion which although you could never call it scary the special effects are brilliant especially the ghost that joins you in your car! Like Frontierland there are plenty of eating and shopping opportunities. Our next land is Fantasyland which has the tamest rides in the park. If you've just had your dinner and want to make yourself feel sick then try the Mad Tea Party where you twirl away in giant tea cups. Next you can join Captain Nemo on a trip 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea and explore lost undersea worlds. For a ride through Old London you must join Mr Toads Wild Ride or for a confrontation with a wicked witch try Snow Whites Adventures. A film in the EPCOT Captain EO mould called Magic Journeys can be watched here too as well as flying on Dumbo The Flying Elephant or jump on one of 90 horses on Cinderella's Golden Carrousel. One of the most famous Disney rides is Its A Small World where you join singing and dancing dolls from around the world. By the way you may end up humming the tune from this ride for the rest of your holiday. Another trip involving London this time over it is Peter Pan's Flight as you make a visit to Never-Land and a pirate ship. If your fed up with walking at this point you can take the Skyway to Tomorrowland which gives a good view over the park. |
|
