Disney Newbie Advice

Hello, my daughter and I are going to Disney the first week of June and will have a 3 day pass for any of the 4 Disney Parks. My daughter is 10 but is 5%26#39;5 so there shouldn%26#39;t be any height restrictions!

We%26#39;re staying about 10 miles from Disney at Oak Plantation Resort.

1. Will I need a rental car and if so is it easier to park at the Disney parks or take a shuttle?

2. What is a fast pass? Any tips on making the most of our time at the parks?

3. Which of the parks are the best?

Any advice I could get would be great!

Disney Newbie Advice

1) Hire a car - much better than relying on Disney transportation.

2) Fast Pass allow you to go on a ride in a separate queue. You use your entrance tickets to get the fastpass at the front of the ride and it gives you a time to return - you don%26#39;t need to queue for ages this way.

3) My favs are Magic Kingdom - just for Disney atmosphere and Epcot. I also love Tower of Terror and Rockin%26#39; Roller Coaster at MGM.

Have a great holiday! I%26#39;ll be there then too :)

Disney Newbie Advice

There will be heavy crowds during the first week of June, but with that said, here%26#39;s a plan for tackling the parks:

You want to avoid the EMH days, since you are not a Disney resort guest, so avoid these parks on these days:

Magic Kingdom--do not go on Sun, Tues, Thur, or Fri (try Wed)

Epcot--do not go on Sun, Tues, Thur (try Mon)

Animal Kingdom--do not go on Mon, Wed, Fri (try Tues)

MGM Studios--do not go on Mon, Wed, Fri (try Thur)

I%26#39;m a big believer in having a good touring plan - it really will save a lot of time wasted in long lines. I%26#39;ve used the Unofficial Guide to WDW, www.tourguidemike.com, and www.buildabettermousetrip.com

Does Oak Plantation Resort offer a shuttle? If so - what is the daily rate? You might do just as well to rent a car.

Lake Buena Vista V International Drive

Can you advise which area is the best to stay in. I am trying to decide between them. Is International Drive long in terms of distance? Which end is best to stay at? We have three teenage sons and would like to stay where the action is and close to all visitor attractions

Many thanks

Ann-Marie

Lake Buena Vista V International Drive

If you are wanting to see Disney and Downtown disney then Lake Buena Vista is closer. If you are visiting Seaworld, Universal, IOA and Wet N Wild then International drive is closer. If you want to see all the attractions I would say , International drive is better so your teens can take the I ride trolley to visit things on their own. You could do a split visit and stay part of your trip on Disney or in Lake Buena Vista and the other part on International Drive near Seaworld, Universal etc.

Lake Buena Vista V International Drive

There isn%26#39;t really an easy answer on where to stay. If your driving then it doesn%26#39;t really matter too much in terms of theme parks (DIsney, Universal, Sea World, Busch gardens etc are spread out enough that theres no obviously easy place to stay with them in mind.

I-Drive is a long road though (Universal is at the northern end, Sea World at the southern) but they do have a trolley servie now running the length of it (haven%26#39;t used it though so can%26#39;t comment).

Personally I like to stay in the Wet n Wild area (north of Sand Lake Road) as theres a good selection of places to eat within walking distance of the hotels (and Universal Citywalk is a short cab ride away) so nightlife is easy (and after a day slogging around a park you won%26#39;t want to go far most likely!).

South of Sand Lake (from what I remember) it gets a bit more spread out and developed (more big hotels and chain stores).

If you decide to stay near Seaworld DON';T look for a place near the Southern end of I-Drive, Seaworld is nowhere near the Southern end of I-Drive.

The southern end of Idrive and LBV are much nicer in my opinion. and a place withing walking distance to DTD like the Double tree suites would be great.

But if you are going to spend more time at Universal parks(and at their gesyou might), you might be happier at the northern end of Idrive. Choose your hotle carefully there, some are nice and some are a bit past it. Check reviews and come back here for more unbiased opinions on particular properties before you book.

Whichever way you go, they will ove water parks and even if you stay near W%26amp;W and go there, try to fit in Typhoon lagoon. My 3 boys are 12-16 and it%26#39;s still their fav.

We have just returned from 2 weeks staying in LBV which was wonderful but would perhaps stay on I drive next time. The only down side to LBV area was that on an evening there was nowhere you could take a stroll or catch any form of public transport to enable my husband to have a few beers and relax watching the world go by after driving all day. When we drove up I drive it did seem to offer better possibility鈥檚 in getting around by foot and seemed more pedestrian friendly and it has the I trolley bus running the full length very frequently ( handy for teenage sons LOL). Everything in Florida is so big and so far apart you have to drive everywhere anyway so in terms of closeness to parks / attractions I don鈥檛 think areas matter. Have a lovely holiday Florida is wonderful. Amanda.

I think I%26#39;Drive might be the best place to stay or maybe combine the two

We stayed with 3 teens and a younger one on I%26#39;Drive, right over Pointe Orlando and used the trolley service a lot, it%26#39;s easy for the teens to get around on their own and there%26#39;s a lot to see or do in the area as well.

Hope you have fun!

Tatty,

or if you go back to LBV stay somewhere like Cypress pointe that has 5 bars/restaurants on your doorstep for that evening drink!

we have three kids 5 12 and 13 we go to orlando sometimes 2 or 3 times a month we have stayed at alot of hotels in orlando our favorite places to stay are on 192 also known as irlo bronson highway the tropical palms resort is alot of fun and very economical also the quality suites at old towm is very good the radisson resort pkwy is great too all the resorts have transportation to and from the park and all these hotels are located within walkjing distance to shopping and restaurants

LBV is turning into a fairly large catchment. If staying there I%26#39;d recommend one of the hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. It is walking distance to Down Town Disney and the West Side, Pleasure Island etc, as well as having the Crossroads Shopping Complex at the other end.

Scenically (if that is a real word), it is a lot nicer than Northern I Drive.

Our last visit we stayed in the Staybridge Suites on I Drive. Free brekkie sorted out the teenagers for the long day ahead. Smack in middle between Seaworld and Universal which is more teenage oriented. And on I Ride trolley stop.

Help with choice of hotels vs. condo:::

Never been to Destin and find it very exhausting just trying to figure out where to stay. Please help me....

Help with choice of hotels vs. condo:::

blori

Your request is a little too vague. How about giving us a price max. you%26#39;d be willing to spend for 7 nights? And do you want to be directly on the beach or would across a 2 lane road be okay? That should help everybody make a few suggestions.

You%26#39;re going to find everyone on here suggesting you stay in a condo, by the way.

Help with choice of hotels vs. condo:::

Definitely a condo. I suggest you search on posts in this forum for what people are recommending.

also how many bedrooms do you need, and how much foo foo(extras) are you looking for?

You have to give an idea of what you want to spend.

Don%26#39;t worry, we don%26#39;t know you.

For a 7 day stay I agree that a condo is the way to go. However, for a short stay, the hotels at SanDestin work quite well.

Romantic dinner

While we expect to spend most of our time sliding up to the bar for a bite and a couple of cold ones, what are the suggestion for one quiet romantic dinner for me and my better half?

Romantic dinner

Square One would be my #1 suggestion. Great atmosphere and great food. I%26#39;ve never had bad food or service there. You can have a look at their website:

http://www.squareonerestaurant.com/

Check out the restaurants TA pages for reviews of other places. Other places I can recommend are Alice%26#39;s, La Trattoria, Opera, Martin%26#39;s (when he decides to open), Michael%26#39;s

Romantic dinner

I%26#39;ve only been to key west for a day once. My 2nd trip is coming in June. On a previous post someone mentioned Little palm island. It looked very $$$ but incredibly romantic with tables and candle light on the beach.

Ken, we don%26#39;t know your tastes or budget. Here%26#39;s a thought----

since we have SO many restaurants packed into a tiny space, it%26#39;s quite easy to menu-shop while you%26#39;re doing other things, just pull your bicycles or whatever over and look at the outside menu, make a mental note of your favorite, and surprise your bride with your choice, making her think you knew what you were doing the whole time. You look like a champ, she%26#39;s impressed, and you go home happy!

keywesttaxi, I do all the planning. It%26#39;s always nice to be pleasantly surprised. nice

The Grand. Make sure you ask to be seated inside. You will be tempted to sit outside , but trust me. Inside The Grand is ( IMHO ) the most romantic dinner in Key West.

Depends how much you want to spend. Little Palm Island is great and is the place we like to go for that ';special'; dinner but it%26#39;s expensive.

I don%26#39;t think I%26#39;ve seen a post about The Grand up until now...is this a new place, something not quite discovered yet, or what?

Are you referring to the dining room at the Doubletree Grand Resort?

This place is on Duval across from The Hard Rock. I think it use to be a Kellys spin off. Its good but not what I would consider for a romantic dinner, IMHO. If you can swing it I would suggest Little Palm Island. There is nothing like it.

Is Louie%26#39;s Backyard not what it used to be or even there? It%26#39;s been nearly 10 years, but %26#39;back in the day%26#39;, that was a spot we really enjoyed. It had top notch food and romantic atmosphere.

things I left out about my Sanibel Vaca

While I did post many things about my trip over the two weeks that I was there, there are a few that may be worth mentioning. Here goes:

We rented a 21ft bow rider out of Port Sanibel Marina to the tune of $295 for 1/2 day plus gas. (which was another $80.00. We usually rent a boat while on Sanibel. The boat was very nice and well kept and a good time was had by all. We did not fish, but instead, wanted to go to the northern islands to explore, beach and shell. But because of the distance that it takes to get there, time did not allow for much exploring.

note for anyone wanting to do this: do not wait to reserve your boat and if going to Cayo Costa, North Captiva or Cabbage Key is your goal....rent out of Jensens or Tween Waters marina and save yourself ALOT of time getting to these outer islands! Otherwise, ;you will spend too much time in the boat!

Doc Fords was one of our best meals and everyone with us agreed

Also a first time here for me.

Matzalunas was another fav and went there twice

Traders-we went there our last night and as always had a great meal

The Bean has the best coffee and is a great liffle spot to pick up a quick breakfast sandwich or just bagel.

For those of you that must have Starbucks, The Island Cow serves Starbucks and has a great breakfast, they also do lunch and dinner.

Amys Over, This was my first try at this one and was not disappointed. It was delicious

Lighthouse Cafe always a fav and must order Mimosas. What a treat and presentation (not to mention the right way to start your day and vaca) They do call ahead seating

I highly recommend the tram tour though Ding Darling and hope for a good guide. We have done this several times and it is very informative.

We drove down to Everglade City and did an Airboat ride through 10,000 islands. Saw some wild life, gators, Angel fish, dolphin, birds. Held an gator and can not believe how soft they are! The name of the tour escapes me, but is the one that will take you to Totch Browns island. I would not bother stopping at this island unless you have read the book and are familier with him and his life.

I highly recommend reading Totch to anyone who likes this part of Florida

Did stop at the Everglade City Rod and Gun Club for lunch, but a biker group had just showed up and seem impossible to get service. This is another must if you are stopping in Everglade City. The interior of this famed club is beautiful and full of history. Spend time checking it out-it%26#39;s worth it.

Picked up 7lbs of stone crab claws and some mustard sauce. The cost of the crabs were $10.00 per lb compared to Timbers where they were $13.95 per lb. Everglade City is the Stone Crab Capital. The market was kind enough to put everthing on ice for the trip back to Sanibel

We ended up going into Marco island for lunch and up 41 back to Sanibel. Never will do this again. It took MUCH TOO LONG

75 is that way to go. But the crabs made it and were a treat!

We would have liked to spend more time in the everglades, but it was very dry there and some airboats were not running thru the sawgrass. I must say that we saw more gators on the trip down and back (maybe that was rt 29) along the road and we stopped to view them.

Saw a few manatee at Jensens which was another treat

I think I said it all. Till next year.....Sanibel Dreaming!!!!

things I left out about my Sanibel Vaca

You are right about renting boats up on Captiva for trips up to the north islands. Most guides will meet you up there as well. [As I%26#39;m usually staying up there it%26#39;s not an issue for me.] It takes a surprisingly long time by boat ,even with experienced captains who know the waters well, to reach Cayo Costa.

At least you can look at your photos and enjoy!

things I left out about my Sanibel Vaca

WDS, thanks for the post, sounds like a great trip!!

Is Amy%26#39;s mostly a breakfast place or are there other good foods? Haven%26#39;t been there before.

What is Totch? Who wrote it, what is it about?

WeluvSanibel

Amy%26#39;s I think started as only a breakfast but I believe they are serving other meals. But breakfast is what is is known for. I%26#39;ve a some good ones there but the reviews recently have been iffy, especially in season..

treat acne

Sanibel beach conditions - 5-14-07

I have requested TripAdvisor place a %26#39;sticky%26#39; at the top of the forum page with a link to the website where Beach Conditions are posted on the City of Sanibel%26#39;s press release page. Once it%26#39;s there, I will no longer post daily updates as received unless something unusual is happening.

Please note: Algier%26#39;s beach by Ocean%26#39;s Reach and Golden Beach condos remains the most seriously impacted area at this time.

As always, live reports on beach conditions are very welcome.

SANIBEL BEACH CONDITIONS

AS OF 9:00 A. M., May 14, 2007

As of this morning, May 14th, 2007, Sanibel public beach park conditions are as follows:

Blind Pass Beach - No algae present. Beach is in good condition.

Bowman%26#39;s Beach - No algae present. Beach is in good condition.

Lighthouse Beach:

From the Fishing Pier to Lighthouse Point - No algae present. Beach is in good condition.

From Lighthouse Point to the Gulf side - No algae present. Beach is in good condition.

Turner Beach - No algae present in the immediate offshore surf zone. Algae present at the high tide line, approximately 3%26#39; wide, and up to 3'; deep.

Tarpon Bay Beach - Algae present at the water line, approximately 1%26#39; wide, and up to 1'; deep. Algae present in the immediate offshore surf zone.

Algiers Beach (Gulfside City Park) - Algae present at the water line, approximately 8%26#39; wide, and up to 10'; deep. Algae present in the immediate offshore surf zone.

Sanibel beach conditions - 5-14-07

I%26#39;m getting depressed reading these beach reports. I%26#39;ll be staying at Casa Ybel which I believe is on Algiers Beach. This area seems to frequently be among the worst affected. Shelling is a high priority on my vacation. Can I walk along the beach off the Casa Ybel property and access a cleaner stretch, or do I need to herd the family in the minivan and drive to it?

Sanibel beach conditions - 5-14-07

Joe, I hear ya, I am staying right next door to you at Ocean%26#39;s Reach. I have been watching the beach report and I was relieved that Algiers had been pretty clean the past week or two. Then it changed these past couple of days. It will continue to have some good days and some not so good. As will the whole island. The algae affects different beaches different days. We were there in December and there was algae for a couple of days. It didn%26#39;t spoil our good time, we wished it wasnt there, but it is what it is and we made the best of it.

The days that it is bad, just walk down the beach until it clears up, or drive to Captiva or another beach and play, or drink Mojitos at Doc Fords and forget about it!

If this is any consolation, it was really bad this time last year, and there was a guy posting about how bad the conditions were around the island (anyone remember unixkid?). Which of course was true. But all of a sudden the whole red algae phenomenon basically came to screetching halt! Very little to speak of for the next few weeks if I remember correctly.

So keep your fingers crossed.

Joe,

The coverage is so spotty that even if the beach report for Algiers isn%26#39;t great, Casa Ybel can be clean.

I know it%26#39;s hard to do but the best thing is to no watch the daily reports, it will drive you crazy. Like watching a stock portfolio. You%26#39;re in it for the long term or you will go nuts!

(Which is why I don%26#39;t do stocks since I look at the beach report daily....)

Bars on the beach...

Are there any bars or restaurants that are actually on the beach??? I know Pompano Joe%26#39;s is.

Bars on the beach...

The Back Porch: theback-porch.com

Captain Dave%26#39;s on the Gulf: beachdirectory.com/captdaves

Bars on the beach...

Whale%26#39;s Tail at Miramar Beach - you can walk up to the bar from the beach - it is at sand level. Crab Trap has a gazebo that is on the beach w/ a decent bar for drinks/appetizers. Local%26#39;s will know of many more options

The Crab Trap has an outside bar.

Silver Shells has a tiki hut just off the beach. Holiday Inn has a bar too.

I know it is a cruise - but if you are driving in from Texas or from points west down 98 - stop in Navarre take the bridge over to Navarre Beach and stop at Juana%26#39;s - it is truly a beach bar in every sense of the work. - Big Pagoda - sand under the feet - I feel like I am in the Caribbean whenever we go there. Sailors%26#39;grill is right next door.

Thanks for the tip. I%26#39;ll be there in two weeks.

Tex Cowgirl - have one for me, please.

Baked, I will have several for you! I need this break badly and no wildfires or beep beep of any beach renourishment truck is going to stop me from coming down.

Key West May 18-21

Hi everyone,

Just checking to see if there is going to be anyone down in key West next weekend? If anyone is interested in meeting up and having a drink or two let us know....we met a group of people New Year%26#39;s down there and had a blast....so if there%26#39;s anyone out there, Hi Midge, Joe, Sharon, John, Cathy and MaryAnn!!

Key West May 18-21

Funny you should ask. There is a meet-up scheduled for the top of the Rum Barrel on Front Street, starting about 8:00 P.M. on the 19th. It%26#39;s the first night there for several of us.

Pjk

Key West May 18-21

KW ~~ I%26#39;ll just miss ya ~~ Have fun %26amp; enjoy the Rum Barrel Meettin on the 19th ~~ (:%26lt;)

Maybe Paris will show up!

Won%26#39;t she be in jail by then? ;)

that%26#39;s hot!

Sounds great, looking forward to meeting everyone!! How will we all know who%26#39;s who??

According to the Citizen yesterday, the Paris Hilton jail sentence begins June 2, and she is expected to be in Key West this weekend.

To see Pjk.

Staying at CBR - Can you drive from room to food court

I keep hearing how far away some of the rooms are from the food court and main pool. I haver requested a room at Jamaica but I%26#39;ve also heard you don%26#39;t always get what you ask for. If we end up being a long distance from the court, can we drive there?

Staying at CBR - Can you drive from room to food court

Yes, if you wind up down in Trinidad South or somewhere that far off, simply drive up to the main building and park in visitor parking there.

I think all the other sections would be close enough to walk to.

Here%26#39;s a map:

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/cbrmap2.jpg

Staying at CBR - Can you drive from room to food court

While you can, you%26#39;d be quicker walking. The emphasis on largeness in the moderates is exaggerated (presumably by lazy people who don%26#39;t like walking).

I don%26#39;t mind doing a little walking. It will do me some good after all the food I plan on eating! Disney probably isn%26#39;t the place to go if you don%26#39;t want to walk at all. People just made it sound like it was miles away. I looked at the map from Kat and it doesn%26#39;t look to bad. It might be nice to drive if we%26#39;ve had a really long day. Thanks for the info.

We have stayed at CBR several times in different buildings. The walk from any where isn%26#39;t THAT far. In the morning it%26#39;s a nice walk, very quiet and a good way to get a warm-up for your legs for what is about to be miles and miles of walking at the Parks that day. You CAN drive but I don%26#39;t see any point. Even when we have had my two cousins, who both have handicaps, with us we walk. It really isn%26#39;t that far. Check out the maps, as Kat has suggested. Enjoy CBR, it%26#39;s very nice.

I wore a pedometer last year at Disney and one day it registered that we%26#39;d walked between 12 and 13 miles that day.

Exhausting!!!

That%26#39;s antwhere any hotel all it is, is a request they don%26#39;t guar. anything cause what if someting happens on a certain side of the building they have to move the people so that%26#39;s why they don%26#39;t guar. anything

You can easily walk from any building at CBR to the food court, unless you%26#39;re going to need a wheel chair or do the scooter thing at the parks! It%26#39;s totally silly for anyone to say that you couldn%26#39;t or shouldn%26#39;t.

i liked the map for CBR.... we%26#39;re staying at saratoga springs do you have the link for that map - i cant find it on allears

Try this link, hope this helps.

www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/Saratoga.htm

Yes, you can drive to Old Port Royale. However, most buildings are in walking distance from Old Port Royale. If you gget a room in Jamaica, walking should be no problem.

Air Force Museum

We%26#39;ve never been to the area and coming in a couple weeks and thought there was an air force museum close to Destin.? If so, how far away, good to visit, how long to get through it, etc.

Air Force Museum

The Air Force Armament museum is at Eglin AFB. It%26#39;s pretty closeby - 15 miles from Destin.

Here%26#39;s a link to the museums website:

www.destin-ation.com/airforcearmamentmuseum/

Also, there is a Naval Air museum @ Pensacola NAB. It%26#39;s excellent and free.

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

Air Force Museum

We visited there a couple of years ago with my dad,who is a retired AF veteran and we all enjoyed it.It took us maybe an hour and was pretty crowded.

The air force museum near Destin is interesting. However, it is nowhere near as elaborate and entertaining as the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola. Check out the Blue Angels website at blueangels.navy.mil. You can often catch the Blue Angels practicing on base in Pensacola next to the museum. Just be aware that they draw crowds even for practice and give yourself extra time to get onto the base and get parked. My children and I thought it was well worth the drive. If you choose, you could make a full day of it and check out the fort in Pensacola Beach or the zoo in Gulf Breeze.

Deep Sea Party Boat advice needed

Can someone recommend a deep sea fishing party boat (not a charter, but one of those 40-50 person boats that costs ~ $50 for a half-day trip)? I%26#39;ve done a bit of research and have seen the Sweet Jody and Swoop I and II. Are there others I should consider? Are they all pretty much the same?

Also, I%26#39;m thinking of bringing my two nephews (ages 6 and 9 I think). From any of your experiences, would children that age enjoy a 6 hour trip? Would they be able to handle the fishing gear / realing in the fish?

Thanks for any advice; I can%26#39;t wait for the trip!

Deep Sea Party Boat advice needed

We did the Swoop (not sure if it%26#39;s 1 or 2) and it was fine. All the party boats are about the same. It%26#39;s not a private charter but it%26#39;ll do. The 6 year old might find it tedious. Not sure a 6 year old (or even a 9 year old) can handle 6 hours on a boat. Does the 9 year old fish now? If not, he could get bored pretty quickly.

As far as the fishing gear goes, it%26#39;s all baitcasting stuff and I seriously doubt he could handle it. My advice for you is to bring your own equipment since their stuff is very heavy duty and well worn.

An alternative would be the fishing pier on Okaloosa island. It%26#39;s much cheaper and if the kids get fidgety, you can always bail out.

Deep Sea Party Boat advice needed

I have always used Moody%26#39;s and think they are great for party boat fishing.

oily skin

Anyone flown BA London to Tampa?

Coming over in 4 weeks and flying BA for the first time. Just wondered if anyone had any experiences to share?

Thanks

Neil

Anyone flown BA London to Tampa?

I flew British Air, Tampa to London and back a few years ago. Loved that they flew direct. Enjoyed the flight as I recall each seat having its own TV and was able to watch several movies.

Anyone flown BA London to Tampa?

flew gatwick to tampa last year good flights and tampa is prob the nicest airport i have been in

I have flown BA to Tampa several times, BA are in my opinion much better than Virgin. Luggage claim and car hire are much easier than Orlando Inter. If you are heading to Orlando it is quite a drive, poss. 90 + mins.

Have fun

I am a Brit living in the Tampa area. I have travelled with BA many times over the the past 12 years. What can be said about long haul flights really? -they are long and fairly uncomfortable unless you are able to travel in any seat above coach! The BA cabin crew are usually very pleasant and quite helpful with young children(although I feel that Virgin is outstanding with kids) You%26#39;ll be able to watch your own TV set w/headphones whenever you like and there is enough food and drink to keep you occupied.

Tampa is a great location to get to beaches/Busch Gardens and Orlando .

Have fun!

Italian restaurant on Siesta?

I know I am supposedly a local expert, but I have never eaten at the little Italian restaurant that people have mentioned here, and raved about, and now I can%26#39;t find the name of it...

SRQ girl? anyone?

Italian restaurant on Siesta?

Hi, Lem,

Well, there are a few. Cafe Gabbiano%26#39;s is one and Bella Roma is another. They%26#39;re both on Ocean Blvd.

A real jewel is in Venice (on the island). It is called Luna Ristorante.

It is family owned and wonderful food. (cash no credit cards)

phone 412-9898.

Broccolini%26#39;s in Gulf Gate is supposed to be good too.

~SRQgirl

Italian restaurant on Siesta?

Ca Vol has had some posts recently raving about Bella Roma. Maybe that%26#39;s the one you%26#39;re thinking about.

yup---bella roma was the one. but we are going to try petrella%26#39;s instead for mother%26#39;s day--the new tapas place on 41 near gulfgate....

I%26#39;ll be curious to learn what you think about it! Where on 41 is it, south or north of Gulf Gate? Near the Brazilian place that Ca Vol found?

Petrella%26#39;s is north of Stickney Pt. Rd on the east side of US 41.

(It is in the old Fish Tales Restaurant site). (The Brazilian place is further down on the opposite side of 41)

They spent a fortune on remodeling both the interior and the exterior of Petrella%26#39;s.

The food was good, with a nice Italian wine list and martinis.

Service was excellent.

~SRQgirl

BELLA ROMA, yes. Make reservations.

I highly recommend their ';Antipasti Plate';. My husband ordered it and I asked him, ';What comes on it?'; He had no idea. I%26#39;m usually not into that kind of food (olives and such), but the antipasti plate had great stuff on it, including two different kinds of quiche! It was our appetizer but could easily be a meal. My husband even agreed that it was a lot of food, and you know how much men can eat! :)

Order their specials as your main course. They are great. The bread, however, is the best part. I don%26#39;t usually eat out of bread baskets because I hate butter and it%26#39;s just dry and bland, but their three kinds of bread are AWESOME! The foccacia was my favorite.

Their homemade desserts are also fantastic. Cannolis and Tiramisu...yumm!!!

I highly recommend Bella Roma, and my husband and I are VERY picky.

By the way, Petrella%26#39;s Wine Bar is Spanish Tapas food, not Italian food, so you really can%26#39;t compare the two places.

ca vol--

petrella%26#39;s website calls it italian tapas, but i know what you mean--tapas is a bit different, although their menu did look mighty italian....

going tomorrow with my mommy (and husband and son).

Lem,

Have a wonderful Mothers Day.

Have a carafe of wine!

~SRQ

Let us know how ';fancy'; it is. Their website looked like it was an upscale place. We would like to go but in our blue jeans or shorts...:)

Petrellas is very elegant inside. As I said, they spent a lot of money on remodeling. The bar area is also a great place for martinis and the Petrellas pizza.

~SRQgirl

petrella's--eh

well. we went. the ambience is nice, the servers were pleasant, the food was, well, good enough. It took over an hour to get our entrees, and 2 of 5 entrees came wrong. The manager offered to compensate us for the one dinner that was just not right, and credited our check $6 on a $18 entree. Foolish. we will not go back. it was expensive, very slow, and just ok.

petrella's--eh

Lem,

That was my take awhile ago. As I had posted, the salmon tapas was pricey and just OK. Service however was very good when we were there. (I think it was in February).

If we ever went back, I would eat in the bar, order a pizza and have some nice wine. (But, I can have pizza and wine at home!

For the money, there are a lot of better price/value options in town.

~SRQgirl

petrella's--eh

Thanks, guys, you saved me a trip! Now who%26#39;s going to check out the Brazilian place that Ca Vol discovered? Also, have any locals been to the new Russian restaurant (Astoria) in Lakewood Ranch?

Terra Nossa is the Brazilian place, and I haven%26#39;t given it my official stamp of approval yet. We liked our appetizers and the wine but want to try another main dish.

And Bella Roma...YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

By the way, ignore my other post asking how your dinner was. I found this thread afterwards. Sorry!

Advice

We are trying to plan a ';girls'; weekend to Ft. Lauderdale. Any suggestions of places to stay that are centrally located to entertainment, beach etc.. We want to walk as much as possible and only use taxi%26#39;s when absolutely necessary. Any shopping ideas are welcomed too.

Thanks for your help.

Advice

That kind of weekend sounds like being across the street

to an upscale shopping mall in a very nice suite hotel

would imply the Doubletree Gallareia on the intercoastal.

But, hey, what would an ordinary guy know about these things?

Advice

Yes, I had thought of the Doubletree as well, now known as the Gallery One/Doubletree- right next door to Galleria Mall ( Neiman , Marcus, Saks, Dillards) about a block and a half to the beach, right on the Intracoastal and a Water Taxi Stop to take you further south to the BeachPlace bars and the dining and clubs of Las Olas Blvd.

Galleria has an Arden Red Door Spa as well and there is also day spa across the Street.

The mega- mall Sawgrass Outlet ( 300 plus shops including designers and Coach etc) is all the way across town, but if there are four of you, I think you could share a taxi about $70 total each way ( i%26#39;m estimating) With the split fare , it might be worth a shopping marathon. You could consult the concierge in case they know a private service that would be a better deal ( but I%26#39;m thinking not).

Water Taxi fare is $11 pp for all day on and off- a little Sun Trolley runs up and down the beach too and is very cheap.

I just got back from Savannah on Wed.- had a great time and shopped the sales at Belks- I think you%26#39;ll enjoy Lauderdale in return!

Transport: Orlando to Miami

Hi, I%26#39;m looking for a reasonable way to get from Orlando to Miami and back again 1 week later.

I%26#39;m not really interested in driving (you all drive on the wrong side of the road :-) ) and flights for this short trip are really expensive.

It%26#39;s my wife and I and two children. Does anyone know of any limo or town car services that would drive that distance?

Any other options would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jay

Transport: Orlando to Miami

This is a shuttle , but it does charge $45 pp( not sure about children)

www.transfloridian.com/orlando/鈥?/a>

You might be aable to find a limo that charges a set fee and would be a better deal- but this is the only one I know about.

You might also check on the Miami Forum and see what the Local Experts there may know of.

Mai-Kai Reataurant

Has anyone been to this restaurant? If you have, what do you think of it? Thanks

Mai-Kai Reataurant

From what I have heard from locals it imay be worth a trip for a pre-dinner special occasion cocktail.

Dinner is a different story, not worth the cost. I suppose it is cheaper than a trip to Hawaii.

Mai-Kai Reataurant

I agree with Pat- good ( but expensive) drinks in the Molakai Bar there- they do have a 2/1 Happy Hour in the bar. I find the food very overpriced for what you get- and they do like to cram in bus tours for their dinner show.- which is even pricier. We celebrate special occasions with drinks there- food elsewhere. It used to be a ';must do'; more years ago than I can estimate - but I would say not at all the case lately.

Great place! But there are alot of other restaurants to choose from with better food. With that said, the bar is nice and they have rum barrels which are good but if you are a vodka drinker like me get the rainbow barrel. Great show and decent food... I have been there 30 times and when I havent gone in a year or so these days I find someone to go with because I like it.

I am afraid to think of how many special occasions my Family has celebrated at the Mai Kai. When we were kids the Gardens seemed like Polynesia! Nowdays we go for drinks and appetizers once every yr or two, definitely nostalgia! It feels like stepping back into the 60s in South Florida. The food is o.k. not memorable! The experience is a fun one which I hope sticks around for a while longer! Kind of a Ft Lauderdale institution!

oily skin

June 5-12 trip...Pouring all day everyday?

With all of my so called planning I neglected to check the weather....will we get any beach time at all!!??

June 5-12 trip...Pouring all day everyday?

Sure you will- while it%26#39;s a bit early for weather forecasts, most June showers are usually in the heat of late afternoon- it would be rare to have all day rain.

June 5-12 trip...Pouring all day everyday?

Amber..when you do ck the weather you will find out Florida is in the middle of the worst drought in 18 yrs! As much as we would all like to see it end, it is very doubtful you need to worry about rainy days! Maybe a tropical rain shower here and there but you%26#39;ll definitely need the sunscreen for that beach time! Enjoy!

Romantic Sanibel Getaway

Can anyone please recommend places to stay on the beach in Sanibel for a romantic long weekend getaway?

Romantic Sanibel Getaway

You may want to begin your search by checking out ';Song of the Sea'; at the website below.

www.sanibelcollection.com/song_of_the_sea/

Romantic Sanibel Getaway

I second that motion.

I agree that SOTS is one of the romantic gems on Sanibel.

You ought also to check out Captiva properties.

Just 10 minutes up the San-Cap Road and a different (somewhat0 ambiance.

Short-term, i.e. ';get away'; rentals are more available on Captiva, whereas stays at most beachfronts on Sanibel require a week.

Sanibel hotels (such as ';Song';) and resorts (such as Sundial) excluded, of course, since they are not in condo associations.

Clarification: Captiva is more like a 20+ minute drive from the Sanibel end of the causeway and can be longer depending on time of day, week or year.

Lovely island as well. See:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g34616-c49694/Sanibel鈥?/a>

Clarification:

I wrote 10 minutes up the San-Cap Road, not from the Sanibel landfall of the causeway. There is a significant difference since San-Cap Road starts at the end of Periwinkle Way where it meets Tarpon Bay Road.

Indeed, many of the Sanibel options (not SOTS, BTW) are well up-island and would require driving to near where San-Cap Raod starts anyway.

While I am a huge Captiva fan, I have to say there are only 3 places to get nightly rentals that have beachfront accommodations:

South Seas Resort - a huge sprawling resort and beachfront condos called Beach Villas. Quality varies. A full service resort - but not all normal hotel/resort services are available, like room service.

Jensen%26#39;s - cottages and condos, just a few, on a prime beachfront location. Not a resort, no services and no pool or tennis. Just self-service cottages nicely decorated and maintained. Possibly the most romantic spot around. The Jensen family is very well known for their hospitality to their guests - who like to manage for themselves.

Tween Waters Inn - a very compact resort that sits on the bayside on Captiva and the beach is directly across Captiva Drive. Some rooms are Gulf view, but they will be on the road. Cottages as well. Get a renovated room. Good restaurant - Old Captiva House. Historic inn - or as historic as it gets.

Reiterated Updated Clarification:

Some Sanibel attractions Lighthouse Beach, Grandma Dots, Lighthouse Cafe et al) are five minutes further from Captiva than the causeway entrance and the majority of restaurants, shops and bike paths are mostly concentrated 5-10 minutes east and south of SanCap%26#39;s origen.

So we can say that Captiva is a 10 - 30 minute drive from Sanibel%26#39;s attractions.

It%26#39;s no biggie, but if someone really wants to stay on Sanibel, they should know the lay of the land...

MSC is right about the times. Given that the speed limit on Captiva is VERY LOW, and it%26#39;s about 7 miles from Blind Pass to Tarpon Bay Rd, I%26#39;d say 15-20 minutes is about average, longer of you%26#39;re on South Seas property, shorter if you%26#39;re only going to Ding Darling or Doc Ford%26#39;s. I allow about 30-45 minutes to get from Captiva Village to the Causeway.

It%26#39;s not the distance, it%26#39;s the low speed limits and stopping for pedestrians and such.

Clarification of the clarification:

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the slow speeds and stopping for people are what make Sanibel/Captiva the humane islands that attract people. Miami Beach, they ain%26#39;t.

And to say that most of Sanibel%26#39;s attractions are south of Causeway Road is to ignore the biggest of all, Ding Darling NWR, then there%26#39;s CROW, and the Shell Museum, the Santiva Lazy Flamingo, Mad Hatter, Bubble Room, Mucky Duck, etc. Even Redfish Blufish moved to Tarpon Bay Road, about 200 hundred yards from where San-Cap Road starts.

And some of the best beaches on the islands start at Tarpon Bay and go out-island to Bowman%26#39;s, Turner and South Seas.

As for traffic, if you are there at high season, you will be bumper-to-bu,ber at some day periods on Periwinkle anywhere southeast of Tarpon Bay Road.

I%26#39;m no TA expert, but I am on Sanibel frequently, year around. I%26#39;m not just blowing smoke. Although we had some of that on the island today, said he in sick humor.

Revised %26amp; Corrected Update on the Reiterated Clarification:

Mucky Duck and Bubble Room are on Captiva- as was Red Fish/ Blue Fish until it moved Off Captiva onto Sanibel.

And now for something completely different............

Shrinkerman: Check out Song of the Sea!

Gym or good Health club with spinning classes????? Day pass?

I am going to Key West next week- May 23, and I%26#39;m staying at the Key West Harbor Inn. I am looking for a suggestion for a good fitness club to buy a day pass to. Hopefully something pretty close to the Key West Harbor Inn, with some good classes. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I haven%26#39;t seen this on the message boards before, or maybe I just missed it. Thanks. All the suggestions I%26#39;ve gotten so far have been so helpful.

Gym or good Health club with spinning classes????? Day pass?

Body Zone South on the Blvd I think is the only place that offers spinning but its a bit away from you. This place is a little closer but they do not have spinning classes. http://www.paradisehealthandfitness.com/

Gym or good Health club with spinning classes????? Day pass?

Thanks, I checked out their website and they have a pretty good sounding class schedule.

can%26#39;t you just turn around really fast over and over? lol

Taxi, that comes from those extra margaritta%26#39;s at happy hour!

Boar's Head Restaurant

We have vacationed in PC for several years, and had never tried Boar%26#39;s Head. Our experience was not the one everyone else%26#39;s . Oh the service was great, but the food was not up to snuff that night. I got the Cajun Prime Rib, and my husband got a steak. It was overpriced and tasteless. We went there because of the great reviews on here, and were sadly disappointed. I guess everyone can have an ';off'; night but if we ever go back to PC, we won%26#39;t be going to Boar%26#39;s Head for a meal.

Boar's Head Restaurant

i%26#39;m sorry to hear that! we%26#39;ve only eaten there once, but thought it was fantastic.

Boar's Head Restaurant

I have to agree. Boars Head was good, but not that good. I had the Captain%26#39;s filet which is topped with bearnaise and crabmeat and for $26 I got a few strings of crab meat and a drizzle of sauce. Waitress was almost boring (obviously didnt want to be there). My salad before the meal was great thought and so was BF blackened prime rib. No alcohol and the tab was $70. I honestly enjoyed Angelos more.

Went to boar%26#39;s head 3 times,, each time has been different..good, ok, and not so good,,, seems to be overpriced for the service and quality of food,, i agree would rather go to angelos

What time of day do FASTPASS normally sell out?

For the main rides?????

What time of day do FASTPASS normally sell out?

It really depends on the time of year and how busy the parks are but by lunchtime is not unusual for the favorites

What time of day do FASTPASS normally sell out?

early. get them as soon as you get into the park.

As above really it depends on how busy the crowds are but I would aim to get the following fastpass immediately on arrival at each park:

Epcot - Soarin%26#39;

Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest (then head to the safari ride)

MK - Space Mountain or Splash Mountain

MGM - Either Tower of Terror or Aerosmith

In my experience, here%26#39;s the order they seem to ';run out'; the quickest:

Epcot--by far, Soarin is the quickest to run out (very early in the day).

Magic Kingdom--Splash Mountain runs out before the other two mountains.

MGM Studios--Tower of Terror runs out before Rock %26amp; Roller Coaster

Animal Kingdom--Everest is the quickest to go.

Even at quiet times of the year, it%26#39;s best to get your last FastPass before 2 p.m-ish.

Early morning FP%26#39;s should give you a return time within the hour, whereas a 2 p.m FP could give you a return of 7 p.m or so (and that%26#39;s if there%26#39;s any left!).

Also, remember that the return time on the Fast Pass is simply the ';earliest'; time you can come back

You don%26#39;t have to come back within the ';hour'; stated on the pass; you could wait until much later in the day if you have an early return time.

How many FastPasses can you get at once?

You can get one Fastpass per ticket. You will generally have to wait 1-2 hours before you can get another one. It will tell you on the Fastpass. The earlier you get them in the morning the shorter the wait time.

traveling with 8 y/o to Tampa area

I%26#39;ll be traveling with my 8 y/o son in early June to the Tampa area. We%26#39;d like to go to the beach and also visit Busch Gardens. We%26#39;ll have a car. Do you%26#39;ve any suggestions of an area we can stay for 2-3 nights. I%26#39;d like a small refrigerator and microwave in possible and would prefer to pay less than $120 nt. Thanks

traveling with 8 y/o to Tampa area

If you want to stay on the beach, better to post your message in the Clearwater or St. Petersburg forums instead of this general Florida forum. It will be a little more than a 30 min drive from the Clearwater beach area to Busch Gardens.

oily skin

3 day Park Hopper Itinerary. Thoughts?

This is our 2nd trip to Disney as a family. Pumped up! I learned a lot last time to actually go with a \better plan! Last time, we spent too much time in line (not maximizing the use of FastPass). If I recall correctly, we spent 3 hours in line for Soarin%26#39; after going late in the day when FP was sold out. Nevertheless, here is the plan this time. Some may think Monday is too crowded, but I think we can pull it off. I am actually only going for 2 1/2 days. We have 2 adults %26amp; 2 kids 9 %26amp; 10. Going on a Sunday night, Monday, %26amp; Wednesday. Any suggestions/comments are GREATLY APPRECIATED! Our goal is mainly to ride all of the big rides. Not so much the food or shopping.

Sunday evening

MAGIC KINGDOM

Arrive 6pm

FastPass for Splash Mountain if available

Ride 1 鈥?SPACE MOUNTAIN

Ride 2 鈥?SPLASH MOUNTAIN (FastPass if available)

Ride 3 鈥?BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD (if time)

9:00pm - Spectromagic Parade/Wishes Nighttime Spectacular

Park closes 11:00pm. Leave park @ cosing time. This would be 5 hours in park.

Monday

EPCOT

9:00am 鈥?GATE

FastPass for Mission Space - In meantime, go to Soarin%26#39;

Ride 1 - SOARIN鈥?/p>

Ride 2 鈥?MISSION SPACE

Ride 3 鈥?TEST TRACK (which is next to Soarin%26#39;) 3 rides in 4 hours.

1:00pm 鈥?Ferry from behind British Pavilion to MGM Studios

MGM Studios

Arrive 1:40 pm -

Fast pass to Rock n鈥?Roller Coaster (if still available)

Ride 1 鈥?TOWER OF TERROR

Ride 2 鈥?ROCK N鈥?ROLLER COASTER

5pm Dinner @ Hollywood %26amp; Vine (Got the Fantasmic Dinner Package for this time)

Ride 3 鈥?STAR WARS

If time do either INDIANA JONES STUNT SPECTACULAR or

LIGHTS, MOTORS, ACTION! EXTREME STUNT SHOW

Ride 6 鈥?MGM STUDIOS BACKLOT TOUR (if time)

8:30pm鈥?In line for show

9:00pm 鈥?FANTASMIC!

10:00pm 鈥?Ferry back to Epcot to get car

Wednesday

Animal Kingdom

9:00am 鈥?GATE

FastPass for Expedition Everest

Ride 1鈥?KILIMANJARO SAFARIS

Ride 2鈥?EXPEDITION EVEREST

FastPass for Kali River Rapids

Ride 3- DINOSAUR

Ride 4 鈥?KALI RIVER RAPIDS

Tree of Life - Browse Animal Encounters

3:00pm 鈥?Back to Epcot to World Showcase for food and hanging out until Illuminations. Go home after show.

THOUGHTS? SUGGESTIONS? COMMENTS?

3 day Park Hopper Itinerary. Thoughts?

Soarin%26#39; and Test Track are not next to each other!

Other than that looks like you%26#39;re going to have a great time! Kids might like the ride in Norway at Epcot when you go back on Wednesday.

3 day Park Hopper Itinerary. Thoughts?

You have not mentioned if you are staying at a Disney resort. You also didn%26#39;t mention when your trip is scheduled for, which can be a big difference maker

If you are, you can take advantage of the Extra MAgic Hours, which for Disney guests is a perk. However, if you are NOT staying at a Disney resort, you need to avoid the parks that are having Extra Magic Hours on their designated days.

One such is Magic Kingdom having EMH on Sunday nights. Your Sunday night plan may not work if you cannot take advantage of the EMH that night. The park will have more crowds for those who can participate in the EMH, so if you cannot, it would not be advisable to go to M.K. on Sunday night.

On Monday, when you get to Epcot, DO NOT go for the Fast Pass for Mission Space first. Instead, follow 90% of the crowds and head for Soarin first. Then, head for Mission Space after you do Soarin, else you may have a long wait, even with Fast Pass. Remember, most folks will get a Fast Pass for Soarin when they first go to ride it, so if you DON%26#39;T go there first, you may find you won%26#39;t be able to get to it later in the day. Many more folks ride Soarin than ride Mission Space.

By the way, Test Track and Mission Space are next door to each other. Soarin is in the Land pavilion on the other side of Future World (it is next door to the Living Seas pavilion and the Imagination Institute). Also, the ';boat to MGM'; is actually between the U.K. section and the France section in World Showcase.

At MGM, they only do the car stunt show twice a day, so timing that one may be very difficult. If you manage it, great, but don%26#39;t count on it. This is a Fast Pass show and the folks with the Fast Pass are let in first.

One problem I see: you might not be able to get back to your car at EPCOT by riding the boat back there from MGM after the Fantasmic show. Epcot closes at 9:00 PM, and by the time you get back (even if the boat goes there, which it may not), you won%26#39;t be able to get back in the park to cross over to the parking lot. You need to make sure you can get back in, else you won%26#39;t be able to get to your car (you must cross back through World Showcase and back to the Front of Future World).

Your Animal Kingdom plans look o.k. as I%26#39;d either choose to do the safari first or Everest first. Crowds will go both ways when the gates open.

Great suggestions, Kat. This is why I came to this forum! I never thought about not being able to get back to my car at Epcot. I guess I could take a bus from MGM back to Epcot instead of doing the ferry and walking through the park.

Also, good call on Soarin%26#39;. I did not realize that almost everyone flocks to Soarin%26#39; as soon as the gate opens. I will do that. Then go get a FP for Mission Space and ride Test Track in the meantime.

Also, I will avoid the EMH @ MK on Sunday Night. Thanks for the info. I am thinking about just doing a 2 day. 2 parks, two days, and do MK last after AK on Wednesday. All we really want to do at MK is ride Mission Space and walk around after that. What do you think?

I would try to do Animal Kingdom on one of the days where they open the park 1 hour early for WDW resort guests. Then, I would do the safari first since that tends to be when the animals come out and are most active. I believe we arrived at 7:45 a.m. and headed straight to the safari when the doors opened at 8:00.

=^..^=

Well, I am staying off property though. So I can%26#39;t get the EMH. Going at the first of next month (June).

You know what...

The year we did that, we rented a house, so we weren%26#39;t staying on property. I can%26#39;t exactly remember how we were able to access the park 1 hour early. But we did it -- and it was cool!

Also, the days we do Animal Kingdom -- we usually go in the morning and can finish the whole park by early afternoon. Then after resting, eating, etc...we go visit one of the other parks to hit our favorite rides.

=^..^=

First named storm of the season

Tropical Storm Andrea, headed for north Florida.

Stay safe everyone, hopefully this goes back into the ocean before hitting hurricane status.

First named storm of the season

Don%26#39;t scare people! It%26#39;s weaker than it was yesterday, nobody%26#39;s saying hurricane, the area%26#39;s on fire, we need the rain and never mind the sever draught we%26#39;re going through.......Andrea, come on in!

First named storm of the season

Its actually a subtropical storm. The difference is that the factors that fuel a tropical storm and can cause one to intensify to a possible hurricane aren%26#39;t present with this storm. Andrea is showing winds of 45 MPH and hopefully a lot of rain, because the whole state needs it.

We call 45 MPH winds ';a little breezy'; here.

Didn%26#39;t mean to scare people! I know Fla needs the rain (I have family near Tampa)! I was just suprised at how early it was.

Hopefully this storm will bring some much needed rain to Florida and southern Georgia.

Listening to the local weather forecasts last night, it doesn%26#39;t sound like we%26#39;re going to get enough rain from it. It%26#39;s lingering and weaking off the coast, I imagine the only damage it will do will be erosion to the east coast beaches. The smoke was bad again parts of yesterday and last night -- we really could use a good rain!

Yep, there saying its not going to bring us much rain on the west coast. Boy, we really could use it.

I%26#39;ve been riding my motorcycles to my office in Jacksonville Beach. Trust me, it%26#39;s pretty mild. So far ;)

--PirateJohn--

www.PirateJohn.com

Pirate John - was that you taking all that heat on rec.motorcycles? Who was that guy?

Pjk

There%26#39;s a storm?

In other ';news,'; the sun will be rising tomorrow.

NBD. Look for the ones that develop over the Equitorial Atlantic off the coast of Africa or in the southern Carribean off the coast of S. America. Those are the ones that we pay close attention to.

Islands of Adventure this weekend!!!

Is this a busy time of year to go? Should I purchase the express pass? Its only 20 dollars for my dates, and there is only 2 of us, so its not that much more...Is it worth the forty bucks, or will it be slow enough to just be on the regular line...I%26#39;ll be there on Saturday, yay!

Islands of Adventure this weekend!!!

Saturday is always a very busy day at Universal. Just for safety sake, I%26#39;d go ahead and purchase the Express Pass for that day.

There%26#39;s been some school field trips and conventions in town, so weekend visitation has been up at the parks on weekends. Teens really like to go to Universal too, so there may be lots of local teens celebrating the end of school.

Islands of Adventure this weekend!!!

I agree that Saturdays are busy. If you are unsure, you could always roll the dice and buy the express passes at the park. They sell them at numerous stands.

Keep in mind, they only sell a limited number of passes, so if they might be sold out.

We went mid-May last year. Crowds were not too bad. But, if you HAVE to go on Saturday, you may want to get an Express Pass. This is coolest park - have fun!!

romantic disney

Any suggestions on good ';grown up'; Disney evening activities for newlyweds? My hubbie and I are going at the end of May (for a 3 night trip), and I am trying to plan us a great time. He%26#39;s never been to Disney World. I%26#39;ve been many times, but have not STAYED there many times. I grew up close to Orlando, so I made lots of day trips, but I want some ideas for nighttime activities mostly. Also, we don%26#39;t know where we%26#39;re staying yet. Trying to find a place that is reasonable (approx $100/nt) but also has a good ambiance. It doesn%26#39;t have to be in the park perimeter... I%26#39;m thinking of booking on hotwire, and just chancing what we get.

Any and all suggestions would be great! Particularly from people who may have honeymooned there......

romantic disney

Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney. It rocks.

romantic disney

I would have to agree with previous post, Pleasure Island and Downtown Disney.

For dinner....try California Grill in the Contemporary Hotel !

Gorgeous view, great food....they dim the lights, add music and you can view the fireworks over Cinderella%26#39;s Castle while you eat.

Can%26#39;t get much more romantic !

Be sure to ask for a window seat...although most are good.

I rec the above ideas, plus add watching the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian hotel (even if you%26#39;re not staying there). I usually do the DTD and pleasure Island thing.

Thanks y%26#39;all. I%26#39;m familiar with Downtown Disney, but never been to Pleasure Island. I%26#39;ve only eaten at Wolfgang Puck in DTD. We may go there to eat, but I was looking for other must sees in that area. I heard that Pleasure Island is now 18+, so we might not go there. I love the Polynesian Resort idea. We used to stay there when I was a little girl. It would be nice to go back.... :-)

Any other good ideas?

Make a reservation at Victoria %26amp; Albert%26#39;s at The Grand Floridian. Pricey but an absolutely wonderful experience. After the meal you can then walk along the beach and watch Wishes.

Yay Woz! Love this idea! Sounds right up our alley. :-) We%26#39;re definitely going to do this. Thanks!

I second the California Grill. We had a window table. It was delightful %26amp; delicious. Hurry...make your reservations!

Countdown!

We leave Wednesday morning at 6:00 am pacific time. We are staying at a Villa in Davenport. Flying on Frontier Arilines. Alamo rental car through priceline. We will visit Seaworld, Busch Gardens (got the 2 park 7 consecutive day tickets), Epcot and Kennedy Space Center (there was going to be a rocket launch the day we are going - but it%26#39;s been moved to June). We are also planning on 1 day to Fort De Soto State Park.

Will put up a trip report when we get back. Thanks for all the information on these boards!!!

Countdown!

have a fantastic trip ,%26#39;ill look forward to your report

Dinner befroe Cirque??

Hi Guys,

Booking the 9pm Cirque show for my wife%26#39;s birthday - can anyone recommend a good nearby restaurant for a preCircus birthday meal?

Thanks,

Fritz.....

Dinner befroe Cirque??

Consider House of Blues. It%26#39;s decent enough fodder and next to Cirque. Be sure to book in advance to synch the timings though. It%26#39;s 50 yds from Cirque.

Dinner befroe Cirque??

There are a few dining options at Downtown Disney which would fit in with your plans to watch Cirque. Have a look at the dining options for Downtown Disney on the official Walt Disney World site - there are sample menus here too.

Thanks very much for your suggestions. I%26#39;ve had a look at the Disney site and see I can prebook by phoning but is it possible to book on-line? The time difference makes phone calls difficult!!

Thanks again,

Fritz.....

Sorry, Disney doesn%26#39;t book dining on-line...only by phone. (407) WDW-DINE.

we always dine at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney before seeing la nouba

wendy27a

Many thanks, once again to all the great people who take the time to respond to posts on this board. For those of you who are interested (especially those in the UK) I have managed to track down an on-line booking form for House fo Blues:

hob.com/venues/鈥?/a>

Frtz.....

oily skin

the bentley beach hotel

hi! does anyone know anything about the bentley beach hotel. i%26#39;ve read such mixed reviews...

the bentley beach hotel

I%26#39;ve been in the rooms at the Bentley Beach hotel and they are very nice. Large bathrooms and balconies, flatscreen plasma tvs, mini-kitchens, very comfortable and in a great location within close proximity to great shopping, dining, and clubs. I think a lot of people get discouraged by the fact that it does not have that resort feel, the pool is just a regular pool, and the lobby is small. The rooms more than make up for its shortcomings, i would certainly recommend it.

the bentley beach hotel

thanks very much for the info! i feel better about it now. i believe it is where my b%26#39;friend and i are staying.

Also...not that this is unique on South Beach, but they have lounge chairs for hotel guests on the beach behind the hotel, and that particular strip of beach is very popular and ';happening'; on the weekends. Also Also (ha)...the hotel is adjacent to Nikki Beach, which is a big party on Sunday afternoons: club music, drinks flowing, young hotties.

typhoon lagoon gutted

sorry to give bad news on this forum but been on the disney website and went on operational update and typhoon lagoon is closed from 28 oct and by the looks of it all of november

does this happen every year and is it to much to ask but do they ever change these dates around

typhoon lagoon gutted

I think they alternate the years that they close Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. It%26#39;s unlikely to change I%26#39;m afraid!

typhoon lagoon gutted

We have gone many times during the Fall and Winter months and one of them is always closed. I know most people like TL but BB is just as fun, we enjoy the Tropical feeling you get there and it doesn%26#39;t feel as crowded as TL for some reason.

They do a rehab of both Disney waterparks each year, and in recent years they have NOT been alternating them as they once did. Seems as if Typhoon gets the first half of the ';cool weather'; each year, and Blizzard Beach the second half.

The ';switch over'; takes place sometime in January, usually, when Typhoon opens back up and Blizzard closes on the same day, so at least one is open all year.

The rehabs of both water parks do happen every year.

i%26#39;m visiting orlando in May and both parks should be open as well as seaworlds new park aquatica. good news for waterpark lovers.

wet n wild is open all year long and they are awsome! much better than the lame disney parks.

I%26#39;ve been to BB twice!! TL has never been open! It was shut in nov 1998 and nov 2000 and I was hoping to go this nov but it%26#39;s closed again!! I would like to try TL at least once? I wonder which nov it will be open next?

sorry to say but wet n wild was good and i really like it when i visited last year, however i then visited both the disney waterparks and they where far superior in every way...

Typhoon lagoon reopened during spring break, it%26#39;s open.....

Cromo13; Which May are we talking about for the new water park at Sea World???? It wasn%26#39;t anything like finished 10 days ago .

And in fact there was a notice saying when it was going to open. cannot remember what it was but it was not this year.

I am with Semi on ths one Wet %26amp; Wild have all the best and newest attractions. Disney have never put in anything new, well almost never

What Hotel do you think this is?

bookit.com has a mystery hotel 2-1/2* Ft Lauderdale beach

6/1 - 8/31 for $60.00 any idean which one it is?

What Hotel do you think this is?

do you have any clues about the location and whether or not it is

a motel or hotel?

What Hotel do you think this is?

All it says is Mystery hotel in Fort Lauderdale Beach..

I would guess it is the Holiday Inn. If you go to biddingfortravel.com you can get an idea of what hotels people have gotten when making Priceline bids.

Holiday Inn is a good possibility. It might be what was the old Doubletree which is now something else with some bad

reviews .

The Holiday Inn is in the process of being sold and revamped as a boutique hotel. We stayed there last year and I wouldn%26#39;t recommend it. We were in FL last month and I don%26#39;t think the sale had taken place then but I doubt that much in the way of maintenance would have taken place if it is being sold.

I am very suspicious of these cheap find out where you are staying after you have booked deals. We did one once many years ago to Spain and it was a dreadful hotel. $60 is very cheap for FL even in low season. You could end up in somewhere really dreadful like the Avalon - take a look at the reviews of the cheaper end hotels and pick one which gets good reviews. Vacations are too precious to mess up.

Hi Gang- just got back from my Savannah jaunt( lovely) and drove up the beach. SueWitt is correct- the former Holiday Inn Oceanside is a HI no longer - sign is down - temporary sign is plasted over the portico ( I forget the name, but one of those generic things with ';beach'; in it). The driveway was closed of with ropes and there was some large earth moving type machine parked there . Going by so fast , I couldn%26#39;t tell if the hotel itself was open or not.

I do agree with Sue- it could easily be an awful place like Avalon or Sea Club- I personally would absolutely not book a hotel in that price range without knowing the name of it- there are some total dumps that could allegedly qualify as 2 and a half stars as they have pools ( sometimes not kept clean ) etc. It could even be the Ocean Sky , which qualifies as ';beach'; even though it is miles up the beach from everything else and gets terrible reviews. I just wouldn%26#39;t do it.

Thanks so much for your help. We are flying into FLL on a Friday and leaving Saturday out of Miami on a cruise. I would like to stay somewhere in the middle close to the beach. Any ideas?

Sheraton Yankee Trader, Tropi rock, or Best Western Oceanside

are the best to low to moderate places to stay that get good reviews

on this sight.

Dania Beach, Hollywood, Hallandale, Adventura are between Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport and Miami. You may want to look at the Miami or Miami Beach forums to get some hotel ideas for those areas.

Cocobelle Resort is a nice clean motel - good prices. Near to the Tropi Rock which has already been suggested. Not dead central though. Around 10 minute walk to the Beach Place.

Advise needed please help!!

Hi there everyone, my husband kids and I are wanting to return to Orlando next year, we were there in the summer last year and stayed in a villa but we were with a group and had a car, thing is neither me or my husband drive so we are looking for a hotel that does shuttle buses to both the disney parks and also universal and seaworld, if anyone knows of any could you please let me know.

Either that or does anyone know any other way round this problem as we desperately want to go back !!

Thanks to anyone that can help

Lynette xx

Advise needed please help!!

Hi,

last year we went without car rental and are planning the same this year. We stayed on i drive and didnt have any difficulties.

Our hotel didnt have schduled transport and we depended on lynx buses/ i trolley and taxis and found it fine. However this year we are staying at the renaissance seaworld which does have schdueled transport which will probably be better.

Lynx buses and trolleys initially seem confusing but after a day or so becomes fine, the drivers are all really helpful and will even tell you when you reach your stop if you say where your heading when you get on.

Advise needed please help!!

Thanks alot,

So do these buses trolleys run directly to all the parks?

Are they expensive ?

Thanks

Lynette xx

hmmm if u want to spend a lot of time sweating like micheal jackson onna court case use the buses some of the hotels are starting to charge $14 per person per round trip... and the times are either really early or really late and your caught between a rock and a hard place then....

Lynx buses run to the transport and ticket centre at disney, for around $1.50. And I found taxis fairly in expensive for trips to city walk / downtown disney in the evening etc....

Don%26#39;t worry buses or trolleys run every around every 10 minutes so your never left waiting too long. Besides we always grabbed an ice cream sat on one of the benches and chilled out

hi every time we go to Orlando we do not drive and have found it quite good to get around, just remember if you use the free shuttle from the hotel you should book your places the day Before you go at reception, also you will prob be on the bus for a while as they go to alot of hotels for pick ups/ drop offs, you are stuck to there time table and on average they run 3 shuttles in morning and 3 in afternoon/evening, we got around this by doing the following

1) we booked and prepaid for transfers to the parks at www.viator.com with mears (very good reliable taxi firm) you book for how many parks you want to visit for example

mk, ak, epcot,mgm,universal, then pay in uk print of vouchers then the day before you go to park telephone to arrange pickup give voucher number to receptionist on end of phone and thats it you have your transport ready for you in morning to go to parks with out having to share a packed shuttle bus with 5-10 different hotels,

2) no matter what hotel you choose there will always be a i ride trolley stop nearby, you can use this for 75c per person (kids ride free) per ride, to go to universal (short walk from stop) and to seaworld (goes straight into seaworld car park), you can also use this to go to the stop before seaworld and catch the lynx bus to magic kingdom this is a additional $1.50 per person.

3) take your chances and use private taxis (but be warned some of the taxis waiting outside the parks are not all legal so be careful)

hope this helps a little

have a wonderful holiday

We stayed at the renaissance and went through Virgin. The hotel shuttle buses are free with Virgin and a lot of other holiday companies. They do not go to other hotels - they go directly to the Disney park that you want to visit. You need to book it the night before and they run about once an hour. Then you need to give them 2 hours notice to return - so basically we just phoned up when we knew when we wanted to come home. A lot fo the time it was just the two of us so we had a taxi instead - it was brilliant - couldn%26#39;t fault it!

Jo

P.s. Any questions please ask

We have never driven in Orlando and have had no problem. We have always stayed on I-Drive and used the i-ride trolley, local busses and taxis

A good tip if using taxis is to go to downtown disney and use the disney transportation from there. It cost quite a bit less as the drivers don%26#39;t have to pay the toll to get onto disney property.

Check out mearstransportation.com They have a fare calculator so you can work out the cost before you go. They also run vans to the parks and are very reliable.

Neither of us drive and we have managed perfectly for over twenty times.

pedicures

does anyone know of any good places to get a pedicure in south beach... our hotel is close too. Lincoln road. Other places on souh beach other than Lincoln road can also be suggested.

pedicures

Lana%26gt;

http://www.brownesbeauty.com/salon.phtml

The most popular spot on Lincoln is called ';Some Like it Hot'; (you can reserve on the link above) but here is a list of the local choices:

southbeach-usa.com/business-directory/servic…

AG

pedicures

Thanks AG! defo be checking that place out.

from the other site you gave me, there are so many different nail salons, are there specific places from there that you could also recommend.

Thanx!!

lana%26gt;

I think you will be happy at Some Like it Hot, but in fairness, I wanted to give you options to consider.

Lincoln Road is a pedestrian mall (closed to cars) featuring streets and streets of cafes, bars, shops and art galleries. Everyone in town gathers here to start the evening or grab a quick drink after work or before a movie. There is a fun Flea Market /Veggie Market fall-to-late-spring every other Sunday morning as well.

The salon is part of a complex that includes a make up and fragrance shop on the street level, a posh clothing boutique and then treatments and haircuts on the second level. It%26#39;s very popular and opened 7 days.

I am sure they can get your feet sandal-ready in no time...

Another option closest to the mall - Van Michael 1667 Michigan Ave. If you%26#39;re feeling pale and English Rosey, consider Fabiola%26#39;s Airbrush Tanning Salon 101 Washington Ave to give your body a head start on the sun.

http://www.sobetanmiami.com/

AG

The place looks great!, I just thought the prices were a tad high, esp because they know tourists will come to a popular place like that. I%26#39;m looking for more local prices, unless $33 is the standard for a pedicure in south beaah??

Hi there...

I had the same pedicure problem when I moved here 3 years ago... I was used to paying $20 for a pedi (even in NYC and AZ) and NO WAY was I gonna pay $45. I went to Browne%26#39;s Beauty once and it was good, but nothing spectacular or groundbreaking. It%26#39;s upscale and nice, but I don%26#39;t go there for my pedicures.

I recently spoke with a woman whose toes looked great, and she said she%26#39;d been going to the same woman in the same nail salon for 8 years...it%26#39;s not upscale AT ALL, but the pedis are $20 and a mani I think she said was like $14! Regular prices, I was so excited! The salon is called VIP Nail Salon and is on Washington Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets. I can%26#39;t recall the nail technician the woman used for her pedicure, but they looked great!

Hope that helps!

thanx so much, that price sound much more reasonable.

Fun Happy Hour in Key Largo

I know this is a long shot but is there anywhere I can go for happy hour to drink a good frozen Rum Runner, eat some shrimp and listen to a steel drum band outside that will also allow kids? Any restaurants in Largo or Islamorada have that type of atmosphere (on the water)? I wanna hear some carribean music and sit outside but be able to bring my teenage son so he can hear a live steel drum band. Or should I head to Key West %26amp; hit Duval for that?

Fun Happy Hour in Key Largo

I would suggest Holiday Isle in Islamorada. It is a motel/bar right on the ocean with a beach, food, and on the weekends they have live music. And you don%26#39;t have to stay overnight to go there. It does get crazy crowded on weekends though.

Fun Happy Hour in Key Largo

Marriott (Breezers) Key Largo. Breezers bar at the Marriott is family friendly. They have typical chicken wings, as I recall $4 for 10. Beer %26amp; well drinks are reduced prices during happy hour. It%26#39;s right on the bay.

Snooks Bayside Key Largo. Snooks is a family friendly restaurant. Happy hour during the week is 5-7 pm. Weeekend is 4-6pm. Shrimp are 40¢ each, 8 piece minimum. Well drinks %26amp; beers are 2 for 1. Right on the water, so you see a spectacular sunset.

Forgot to add that Snooks has live music every evening, though not a steel band. I have heard a steel band once ever at Breezers.

Duval Street? Teens are not permitted in many of the bars and few are on the water. Schooner Wharf Bar and the others at the marina are on the water. Have NEVER heard a steel band in Key West.

This is Jimmy Buffett territory! This isn%26#39;t Jamaica.

Jimmy Buffet has steel drum%26#39;s in his songs you know....... It%26#39;s not just a Jamaica thang....... Last time I was in Key West I saw a great steel drum band, that%26#39;s why I was asking. Figured maybe some family friendly restaurant in Largo would have the same thing. :)

Not looking for a BAR as I would never try to take my son there - just an outdoor restaurant type atmosphere.

Cheers! Going next month - can%26#39;t wait!!

I%26#39;m pretty much a non-drinker, so we would have the same tastes! We also love to sit outside and have some lite fare as we listen to live music and enjoy a sunset. I almost forgot Conch Republic Seafood Company in KW. It%26#39;s on the marina, has decent food and live music. They have tended to hustle me to free up the table both times I have been there.

In KL, we are at Snooks nearly every evening. It is next door to Bayside Motel (now a Cay Clubs Resort). Snooks has its own dock, plenty of outdoor tables and lite fare as well as music every evening. It%26#39;s a restaurant with a bar.

Sundowners in KL is also right on the water and a great restaurant, but, they don%26#39;t spring for any entertainment. That%26#39;s a sad part of many Keys places - if they have a great location, they feel they don%26#39;t need to spend for the entertainment to draw folks in.

oily skin

5 Park Flex Tickets

Hi, does anyone know which reliable company is doing the best deal on the 5 park flex ticket? I don%26#39;t want a voucher I want real tickets.

Thanks, Deaconblue

5 Park Flex Tickets

Try ticketmania.com but I purchased mine before from Universal site itself which I think was pretty good

5 Park Flex Tickets

We did a few price comparisons and ended up getting ours online from Travel Republic - we bought 6 x 14day disney ultimate pass and 6 x the 5 park flexiticket which includes busch gardens. Total was 拢1640. . think the 5 park ones were 拢129 each.

Deacon, have a look here: http://www.themeparkland.co.uk/pws/Home.ice

5 park Flex are 拢117 for the adult ticket

try Online florida good prices and ABTA bonded tickets arrived within 3 working days

Mercury travel.net are selling the 5 park ticket for 拢115.

hi deaconblue

been three times, bought tickets with travel city direct, no problems whatsoever, you only get a voucher with anyone you buy off and no tickets !!! you then take this voucher to the booth at the first park you go to, they then issue you with a card you sign in front of them, don`t buy so called real tickets anywhere, adults 拢125.00.

good luck

Melvin,

do you work for TCD???

Deaconblue,

lots of people on here have used Theme Park Tickets Direct.

http://www.themeparkticketsdirect.com/

They deliver real tickets, so there is no need to queue up when you get there to hand a voucher over in exchange for a ticket. In the past we have used Attraction Tickets Direct, but this year we are using the above company . The 5 park flexi is 拢116 per adult from here.

I have brought ';Real Tickets'; off several companies over the internet, and never had a problem. I prefer these to vouchers, as i just want to get in the park.

As long as you use a reputable company you will be fine and you can get some good prices, just search all the companies you have been given as prices can vary with each.

Also check out the universal site as sometimes they have special offers on.

Chris

Hi Deacon,

We have just purchased 2 adult and 1 child 5 park flexiticket through onlineflorida.co.uk part of travel republic and as someone mentioned they are abta bonded. we leave on the 17th (2days to go) we orderd our tickets last friday and they arrived on monday REAL tickets no vouchers, the price- adult 拢118 and the child 拢100 they are also giving two free kids meals with the kids tickets.

hope this helps!!

Ladies - Beauty Regime??

Right... When I last went to Orlando I was just 18 with no real beauty regime at all. Sdhowering and rying my hair was just about it!

I%26#39;ll be 23 when we go this year and lets just say my regime has stepped up a good few levels. I%26#39;d say approx 2 hrs a day for showers, hair, and skin pampering (exfoliating %26lt;3, cleansing, toning, moisturising etc etc)

My question is ladies do you hang fire on your usual stuff while on holiday or take your essentials and do as you would at home while away... If you do leave it do you find your skin/hair in a bad condition after the holiday?? I know that if I go a few days without exfoliating I end up spotty and horrid and I%26#39;ve not had 2 weeks as busy and manic as our interiny is planned in like forever.. I%26#39;m concerned about time etc...

any advice etc would be a great help

Thanks

Kitty ';I%26#39;m not a bimbo but I like to take care of my skin'; Ventura xx

Ladies - Beauty Regime??

I would recommend keeping you skin routine, but as far as hair goes.....last year mine went crazy!! The power in our hotel had no way of coping with my GHD and dont even mention the humidity!!

Ladies - Beauty Regime??

I have a completely diff regime on holiday somewhere warm. High fact or suncreme is a complete must, and I don%26#39;t usually exoliate while away. And extra moisterisers. Pure aloe gel for any pinkness that creeps thru.

You hair will need more conditoner, and use a heat protection spray if like me you use hair straighteners to combat the tropical frizzies.

2 weeks with NO GHDs?? Ouch!

See I wouldn%26#39;t normally bother with hair and would just tie it back but my ';POB'; is too short to tie up at the mo... hopefully it%26#39;ll grow in the next 2 months or maybe I%26#39;ll invest in a good hat?? x

Thanks amanx.

Vaseline Aloe moisturiser is my holiday MUST. Love it xx

Kitty,

Find multi purpose products to cut the time down eg shower gel with a scrub in it, I don%26#39;t bother with make up just tinted moisturiser with an SPF, waterproof mascara and lip gloss, maybe eye shadow for evening.

Try using 3-in1 make up remover/cleanser toner wipes to save time.

You can but anything and everything in Walgreens, CVS, etc and a far greater choice than at home so don%26#39;t bother lugging big bottles across the atlantic.

A few deep conditioning treatments left on while you are by the pool and your hair will be better when you come back too.

To combat any hairdryer/straightener power issues I have just purchased US items (At walmart or a walgreens) on the first day of my hols. Now I have them whenever I go (which is often). they can come in handy in cruise ships and in the caribbean as well.

umm... lemme get this right... we can%26#39;t use our GHD straighteners over there?

Sounds that way Annie... I think its has to do with different powers etc in teh mains supplys. I%26#39;m still taki ng mine and just hoping for the best xx

Im just back from orlando three weeks ago, this is the first time my ghd s have worked perfectly, just as quick at heating up and as hot as at home. Think its a hit or a miss really, we stayed at the renaissance seaworld.

Even with a plug addapator/convertor the electricity isn%26#39;t strong enough to heat things up as hot as at home (or blow the HD fan as hard). If you have a prob, just buy a US cheapie to use there. That%26#39;s how I ened up with my US ones- my UK ones didn%26#39;t work properly (although they did work).