Orlando - any hidden gems?

Orlando - any hidden gems?

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Voldemort

6,086 posts

277 months

Wednesday 19th October 2016
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Brave Fart said:
How about a balloon flight? We used Thomson Aire who were really good.........£300 for a party of eight.
We did this with the same company when we there two years ago, paid slightly less and took a chance on other flyers. There weren't any and it was us and the pilot. An utterly fabulous experience, even with the 5.30am start, to drift over lakes at an altitude of 2 - 3 feet and then rise up over the trees. That he can fly the balloon and was able to point out from a couple of miles away where the support van was and put the balloon down next to it was amazing. I thought he'd follow the wind for an hour or so, land and then call the truck.

Another thing we did that was way more fun than I thought was go on a segway tour. We went to Mount Dora (the highest place in Florida!) and found a town we loved. They have gone to some lengths to keep the big stores out of the historic centre of town and it's full of quirky independents and great choice of eateries.

SickAsAParrot

304 posts

111 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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There's a nice old-timey train trip around the lake from Mount Dora, and someone who runs a sammich shop there knows Birmingham, but it's a nice quiet place to go for a wander around.

Clearwater, white sandy beach on the gulf of Mexico whoo!, join a cult and enjoy one of the rare roundabouts.

Some of the malls have sports shops with baseball stuff, wish I had bought more baseball stuff.

RammyMP

6,729 posts

152 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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I liked Gatorland. Couldn't drag it out for a full day though.

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Puggit said:
Flying out on Tuesday to do all the normal stuff - but it's the hidden gems I want to know about... Anyone?

Family of 4, kids of 8 and 10...
Do some American things over there, not just disney... in fact I'd personally avoid Disney if it were me... oh wait that's exactly what I did.

Not sure for the ages, but if it's your hols too, then take a visit to a gun range and have a go with some pistols.

How about a drive-in movie?

http://www.silvermoondrivein.com/

It's a little drive, but not far really.

Clearwater is nice, but can be busy.
http://seascreamer.com/



And you don't have to stay were you have booked for the entire trip. Maybe take a trip down to the Everglades and just book a night in a motel. It'll be cheap and you haven't got to book out of your main place to stay.

chopper602

2,172 posts

222 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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SickAsAParrot said:
enjoy one of the rare roundabouts.
I used to think they were rare too (I have stood and watched the drivers get it all wrong on the Clearwater one!), but on our trip to California this year they're spreading! 1400 mile trip, I think we encountered about 6 !!

Zoon

6,654 posts

120 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Celebration isn't that great.
It was recommended to us but to be honest it's nothing special.
Just a few houses, shops and a lake.

In fact save the travelling and have a look here, and see if it's somewhere you'd like to go.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Celebration,+F...

RammyMP

6,729 posts

152 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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chopper602 said:
SickAsAParrot said:
enjoy one of the rare roundabouts.
I used to think they were rare too (I have stood and watched the drivers get it all wrong on the Clearwater one!), but on our trip to California this year they're spreading! 1400 mile trip, I think we encountered about 6 !!
There's a few in Naples (Florida) now. Quite funny as the yanks don't know what to do when they get to one!

300bhp/ton

41,030 posts

189 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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chopper602 said:
SickAsAParrot said:
enjoy one of the rare roundabouts.
I used to think they were rare too (I have stood and watched the drivers get it all wrong on the Clearwater one!), but on our trip to California this year they're spreading! 1400 mile trip, I think we encountered about 6 !!
There are quite a few around Sarasota and Tampa. Locals seemed fine with them tbh.

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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RammyMP said:
chopper602 said:
SickAsAParrot said:
enjoy one of the rare roundabouts.
I used to think they were rare too (I have stood and watched the drivers get it all wrong on the Clearwater one!), but on our trip to California this year they're spreading! 1400 mile trip, I think we encountered about 6 !!
There's a few in Naples (Florida) now. Quite funny as the yanks don't know what to do when they get to one!
Contrary to the general belief on here, there are lots of roundabouts - my wife's commute from our home to downtown Orlando (around 5 miles) requires her to negotiate 4 or 5.

The main difference is that you are mostly required to stop, rather than yield, which arguably defeats the purpose. However, they do prevent lunatics from blazing through what is essentially an intersection with an island in the middle, so that is a plus.

This one is in my neighborhood and is one of several within a mile of my home..



Edited by Matt Harper on Thursday 20th October 16:10

Terzo123

4,309 posts

207 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Zoon said:
Celebration isn't that great.
It was recommended to us but to be honest it's nothing special.
Just a few houses, shops and a lake.

In fact save the travelling and have a look here, and see if it's somewhere you'd like to go.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Celebration,+F...
Just back this second and about to head to the pool. Loved celebration. A welcome break from the parks. The kids enjoyed their ice creams from Kilwins and then got soaked running through the fountains.

It's only 5 minutes from where we are staying, so was a nice way to spend an hour or so.

98elise

26,366 posts

160 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Terzo123 said:
I was hoping to do the Kennedy space center but the others aren't keen. Next time!


Edited by Terzo123 on Tuesday 18th October 01:23
Try to convince them.

I'm not easily impressed but the Saturn V is worth the trip to florida alone. They now have the shuttle exibit which is also great (but not as good as the saturn V). Also the at the saturn V exibit you can touch a piece of moon rock.

If you get time go to the hall of fame which is near by. They have the windshield from one of the crashed shuttles. Its very sobering frown

Terzo123

4,309 posts

207 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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98elise said:
Try to convince them.

I'm not easily impressed but the Saturn V is worth the trip to florida alone. They now have the shuttle exibit which is also great (but not as good as the saturn V). Also the at the saturn V exibit you can touch a piece of moon rock.

If you get time go to the hall of fame which is near by. They have the windshield from one of the crashed shuttles. Its very sobering frown
Unfortunately I'm running out of time. We're doing clearwater tomorrow. Still to go shopping. Have epcot Monday evening and think we're doing hard rock cafe Sunday night. Plus there other stuff they all want to do. Going home Tuesday. Boo!

Next time I think, but I'll try to squeeze it in.

I will say this, when I come back, I'll not be doing Disney again.

TwigtheWonderkid

43,246 posts

149 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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RammyMP said:
I liked Gatorland. Couldn't drag it out for a full day though.
That's the thing my kids still talk about when we look back at our trip. We all loved it. Seem to recall it was one of the cheaper things on offer.

Puggit

Original Poster:

48,353 posts

247 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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We are avoiding Disney, except for Micky's not so scary Halloween. so just one evening in the Magic Kingdom.

did Aquatica today. The drop slides are insane!

RammyMP

6,729 posts

152 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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TwigtheWonderkid said:
RammyMP said:
I liked Gatorland. Couldn't drag it out for a full day though.
That's the thing my kids still talk about when we look back at our trip. We all loved it. Seem to recall it was one of the cheaper things on offer.
It was a lot cheaper then the main parks. The Gator shows were quite funny. My youngest enjoyed it:

Challo

10,041 posts

154 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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Puggit said:
We are avoiding Disney, except for Micky's not so scary Halloween. so just one evening in the Magic Kingdom.

did Aquatica today. The drop slides are insane!
Those drop slides are good. Didn't know what to expect but loved it.

AndyD360

1,380 posts

179 months

Saturday 22nd October 2016
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We were over at Clearwater today. Had planned to do Sea Screamer but it's broken so jumped on a different boat. Had a great time, and a good 2-3 hours on the beach afterwards - long day due to the traffic on the way out caused by an accident though.

Done Disney Halloween too - tons of chocolate to work our way through now... Evening itself was ok, but we've been here for Xmas before and thought that parade was far better.

One thing that seems more noticeable this time is the amount of traffic around the 192 / 27 area - seems much heavier than I recall previously. Standard of driving seems to be worse too - seen all manner of close shaves.

Salesy

850 posts

128 months

Saturday 22nd October 2016
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We have done florida 5 times now, 4 at Nov time for thanksgiving and last year we did christmas and new year.

Loved xmas so much we are going back this year. We now only really do universal parks as once you've seen the others its not worth doing them again. If you go to universal, go later in the day and stay until closing.
We've done Kennedy which was great for me and kids but the wife didn't really like it. Coco beach on new years eve was lovely in the sun and clearwater beach a few days later was even better.
We managed to go on the seascreamer, great boat ride and staff excellent. Lots of dolphins jumping in the boats wake.
Each year we try and do something a little different from the normal parks and try to get out an experience a wider area.

Will try the old town cruise this year and also take a look at celebration.


m3jappa

6,391 posts

217 months

Saturday 22nd October 2016
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It's worth a trip to blue spring state park at certain times of year, numerous manatees gather in the spring. It's also a really beautiful setting. When the manatees aren't there you can swim along the spring with a snorkel and see all the fish or take a ring and float down it.
Can also take a boat ride round the river which was nice. Plenty of wildlife to see.

Terzo123

4,309 posts

207 months

Saturday 22nd October 2016
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AndyD360 said:
We were over at Clearwater today. Had planned to do Sea Screamer but it's broken so jumped on a different boat. Had a great time, and a good 2-3 hours on the beach afterwards - long day due to the traffic on the way out caused by an accident though.

Done Disney Halloween too - tons of chocolate to work our way through now... Evening itself was ok, but we've been here for Xmas before and thought that parade was far better.

One thing that seems more noticeable this time is the amount of traffic around the 192 / 27 area - seems much heavier than I recall previously. Standard of driving seems to be worse too - seen all manner of close shaves.
I was at Clearwater yesterday and also wanted to do the Sea screamer. Ended up on another boat called little Toot.

As you mentioned traffic heading back was bad. Think there had been a coast guard incident, we saw at least three choppers in the air and a diving team getting preped on a lay bye along with numerous other emergency service vehicles.

We stopped of at Bahama Breeze in Tampa for food and.managed to get home for around half 8.