Syd Bridge
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| posted on 13/8/05 at 09:49 AM |
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Last time I was at Busch Gardens, there was free beer on the hour, for 10 mins.!! Worth a look for sure.
And if you're in Tampa, duck across to Clearwater Beach, lots of poms and english type shops and Nigel Mansels US house , then a short drive up
to Tarpon Springs, with the sponge dive boats and stuff.
Don't be put off by eating clams either. Good tucker when dipped into the hot garlic butter!!
Syd.
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 13/8/05 at 09:57 AM |
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We had a go on a self drive fan boat, a bit like the one in the pic below.
Great fun but a bit strange to control, in the end my Dad gave up and I had to drive it, turned out I was much better than him anyway 
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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andyd
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| posted on 13/8/05 at 10:20 AM |
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The Kraken rollercoaster at SeaWorld is a must! You are an adreneline junky are you not?!
Universal Islands of Adventure is also a must to get the ticker ticking faster but unless you're with kids just don't bother with the Cat
in the Hat area. The Spider-Man ride is very cool too.
It'll be very busy and you will queue for one hell of a long time. Make sure you have plenty of bottled water with you and wear a decent hat
that affords shade but doesn't make you sweat your hair off! Try not to laden yourself down with too much stuff either. Hire a locker (at most
parks) and bung anything you don't want to leave in the car in there.
Has anyone mentioned FastPass? Pick what you expect to be the busiest attractions and go straight there on opening and get a FastPass for it.
It'll give you a time when you can go back and join a faster moving (and usually shorter in the first place) queue. Also get to the parks 30-45
mins before they open and go the opposite way around the attractions i.e. if it looks like everyone turns left you turn right. That way you should
avoid the general "let's queue at the first thing we see" people.
KSC is very good. Take the bus tour (extended one if you can afford it). And let us know what you think of the Saturn 5 in the visitors centre!
Walking out to see that thing had me gobsmacked for a good 10 mins! 
Above all drive carefully. Although a previous poster said driving is a piece of p***, be aware that most traffic moves faster than it appears due to
the way the roads are. Oh yeah and a really good tip here, if you're coming to traffic lights (and there are quite a few due to no
roundabouts), if they turn red and you're doing 40-60mph, DON'T wham on the anchors and try to stop. The locals will not be expecting you
to do that and maybe rear end you. I've seen a fair few aftermath accidents most looked like holiday makers involved.
Above all take lots of piccys but don't spend too much time behind a camera and enjoy yourself. You'll probably come back more knackered
than you went but you'll probably also be hooked and want to go back many more times in the future.
Take it easy.
[Edited on 13/8/2005 by andyd]
Andy
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Lightning
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| posted on 13/8/05 at 11:36 AM |
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A Big thanks to you all!
All this is very useful. Looks like loads to do. And yes I will go on ALL the rides.
The only bit I am not looking foward to is the 9 hr flight. Having not done much flying before.
With Thomas Cook. I cherry picked villas etc on the web got the best prices and they matched it. Still costs a bloody fortune as I am paying for my 2
eldest kids that are adults plus my youngest and of course SWMBO.
Steve
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the JoKeR
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| posted on 13/8/05 at 01:39 PM |
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Almost every store in and around Orlando is a tourist trap, with higher prices ready to take your money. Often, the t-shirt shops which are all over
the place have poor quality shirts for a nice high price. The attractions (Disney, MGM, etc) also have shirts for high prices, but the quality is
much better. If the place you are staying at has a kitchen, you can save a LOT of money on the trip by going to the grocery store and buying what you
need to cook for yourself for a meal or two per day. Most grocery stores you'll find here have everything you'll need to make it a
one-stop-shop.
For the day-to-day needs (sun screen, shoes, snacks, etc) look for a WalMart or Walgreens. In most cities, you can't swing a dead cat without
hitting one or both of them! Their prices should be more in-line with reality, as they aren't in business only to rape the tourists.
Tipping: if the service at a resturant is good, 15% is customary and is NOT automatically added to the bill. For great or poor service, adjust the
tip from there. There is no law which says you have to tip somebody. When paying with credit card, the reciept will have a spot to add a tip.
Counter service places like McDonalds obviously don't have anybody to tip.
Store & restaurant hours: If you're awake, some place is open for food, regardless of the hour. Most stores will open around 8am and close
around 9 pm, depending on what kind of store it is. None of this "closed for lunch siesta" type of stuff I saw in Spain. Restaurant
hours will depend on what kind of place it is. Places like "Denny's" are open 24 hours, are a bit lower cost on average, and are
pretty generic for food. The places which are more theme oriented will often open at 11 am for lunch, and don't serve breakfast. Either way,
you shouldn't have any problem finding a place to eat.
Exchange your money for US dollars before you leave so you don't have to find a bank here to do it (for an extra fee). Your own bank may do the
exchange for free (or a lower fee). Pay by credit card where possible - almost everybody takes MasterCard and Visa now, including fast food
restaurants. Obviously don't carry a ton of cash on you. I personally wouldn't carry a passport either, as long as you have a photo
identification (driver license, etc.). If you run into problems, the local police have dealt with tourists enough that it shouldn't be a
problem. Keep a list of your credit card numbers and their US phone numbers to call in case you lose your wallet. Traveler's checks are also
accepted at most of the larger places. The last thing any business wants to do is miss out on taking your money, so they're usually pretty
flexible.
Don't trust the hotel staff. If your room has a safe, use it. Lock cameras, money, etc in your luggage when you leave the room. It
doesn't happen a lot, but many hotel workers are low-paid, have minimal background checks, and some even speak English. Same goes for the
airlines. Carry-on your cameras and expensive items, and use a lock on your luggage. Just make sure you have a key handy for the trip through
customs!
Drivers in Florida...... well.... a LOT of them are old and drive like it. Orlando isn't that bad because of all the tourists coming in, but
that presents it's own problem!
Obviously, much of this is common sense, but it always bears repeating. Have a great trip.
__________________________
Jeff
http://www.midwestwelding.com
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/
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Fred W B
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| posted on 13/8/05 at 06:34 PM |
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One thing I learnt when I was in America -You are probably used to currency that has the diferent denominations of bank notes in a different
colour.
In USA, all the banknotes are green.
If you buy say a drink in a crowded bar, and have an accent, the barman will give you change from a 5, no matter what note you gave him. Before you
pay, look at the note, and say to the guy - Here's a twenty, or whatever note you use. Save's you bing ripped off
Cheers
Fred WB.
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steve_gus
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| posted on 13/8/05 at 10:20 PM |
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I was in orlando in May.
Do your research with car hire and prepared to get shagged. At sandford with the 'included car' I was told the default car was a daewoo so
i upgraded. I kinda doubt they had any daewoo and that its a ploy to get you to upgrade. The full waivers and insurance worked out over a week to be
about 180 quid! Im going again next year, and ive worked out its cheaper to stuff the free car and rent all inclusive on the net from Holiday
Autos.
We stayed in a 4 bed villa - just the two of us - and it was bloody brilliant. Place was 4 times bigger than my 4 bed detatched house, and had a great
pool too. Just as the pics in the brochure.
We have been to california and paris disney before, and didnt think it worthwhile on a weeks holiday to vist the magic kingdom as its really a bit
kiddie orientated - but would go again if more time.
Best place we went to was Discovery Cove. Its opposite and belongs to seaworld. Not cheap, and you have to book in advance - 150 quid a go, and you
get to swim with dolphins for about 30 mins. If youy pay about 80 quid, you dont get the dolphin swim, but you do get all day in the park, and there
is a large lake with MASSES of tropical fish in it - all the types in 'finding nemo' . expensive, but a fantastic day. Seemed to be more
brits than americans in that one.
I thought universal studios was pretty good - its sister park island of adventure was 'ok' but you MUST MUST MUST buy the fast pass (about
another 20 quid!!) or you will seend all day in queues being held back to let fast passers in front of you, - really bloody annoying.
Epcot was interesting. To me, it was a bit of a throwback, kinda quaint in that it seemed to represent a vision of the world of tomorrow, from 1968
perspective! Still, some really neat stuff - not the least 'the world of energy' where the threatre you are in basically turns into a ride
that goes throug different rooms - even thou you are still in astalls of about 150 seats in a block! The bit with all the countries in it was
interesting - tho not really my bag - and the UK section is a waste of time.
Eat at the Ponderosa chain of restaurants. Good food, lots of it, and cheap.
atb
steve
http://www.locostbuilder.co.uk
Just knock off the 's'!
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the JoKeR
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| posted on 14/8/05 at 03:50 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by steve_gusEat at the Ponderosa chain of restaurants. Good food, lots of it, and cheap.
"Good", compared to eating roadkill! Maybe that's just the one near me though. Haven't been there in years, so maybe
they've improved. They do have a rediculously large selection, and the price is hard to beat.
I'd look for some good Mexican or Cuban restaurants (ask for a recommendation at the hotel). While I'm sure you have them in the UK,
they're probably as authentic as an Australian restaurant would be here in the US. When possible, I'd skip the chain restaurants. There
are usually local places which put the chains to shame.
__________________________
Jeff
http://www.midwestwelding.com
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/
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