Florida Hol's - ideas required please

[r1flyguy1]

Hi all

Off to Florida soon, will be staying in davenport and visiting the disney land resorts etc,

would like to know if anyone can advice me of the following;

Can you buy a sim card for Internet access for iPad or iPhone, if so, what's the best one

And

We would really like to go to a shooting range and have a go at a few targets etc, anyone done this and have contacts, website, etc,

Thanks in anticipation

[Matt Harper]

http://www.oakridgegunrange.com/

[chopper602]

I've heard T-mobile is the best for data in Florida

http://firearmsadventures.com/ for the BIGGER guns

[Matt Harper]

You can shoot all of those (except the AK) and a whole lot more, in terms of hand-gun caliber and long guns, in air conditioned environment, without booking, for about half the price at Oak Ridge.

[r1flyguy1]

Thanks for the replies guys, most appreciated

Any other suggestions are always welcome too

[Matt Harper]

I live in Orlando, so if you have any specific questions fire away...

[Odhran]

RE: Shooting range, I set out from international drive on Friday to go shooting with my father, intending to go to oakridge (via Florida mall for my mother and sister) we took the Lynx 8 > 42 to Florida mall and finally the 7, the bus driver actually dropped us off at Rieg's. It's in a really seedy area (car garages, gentleman's clubs etc) - unseen Orlando really. Anyway, we went inside and chatted with the owner who was very friendly - all staff were VERY friendly actually, he showed us how to operate a handgun safely and left us to it. It was $50 inc. tax each for handgun rental and 25 rounds. You could buy more rounds (~$10/15 per box) but we didn't find it necessary. We found riegs to be a great spot, only downside is it's a handgun only range, oakridge allow you to shoot rifles , shotguns etc I understand as well, if that's your thing (I would have preferred to try them tbh) but couldn't fault service from Reigs guys, unsure what their prices are like compared to oakridge though, perhaps someone will come along and tell us.

[r1flyguy1]

Matt Harper said:

I live in Orlando, so if you have any specific questions fire away...

Hi Matt,

I need to stay I touch with work via Internet and have use of either iPhone or iPad, what's the recommended sim for tourists for Internet access or a couple of weeks.

Also, there four of us for a lads day out, 3 adults and a 12 year old who would like a lads day out and do something we really can't in the UK & I thought a gun range shooting at targets with a variety of guns (thanks to your US tv shows about sharpshooters and gun traders)

So any help on where to go and hat would be best for us also costs involved, would be most appreciated.

We will have a hire car so getting around wont be a problem

Thanks for the posts so far everyone

[VinceFox]

If you could go up and down international drive and shoot a few of the fat fks in football shirts i'd appreciate it.

[Matt Harper]

Odhran said:

RE: Shooting range, I set out from international drive on Friday to go shooting with my father, intending to go to oakridge (via Florida mall for my mother and sister) we took the Lynx 8 > 42 to Florida mall and finally the 7, the bus driver actually dropped us off at Rieg's. It's in a really seedy area (car garages, gentleman's clubs etc) - unseen Orlando really. Anyway, we went inside and chatted with the owner who was very friendly - all staff were VERY friendly actually, he showed us how to operate a handgun safely and left us to it. It was $50 inc. tax each for handgun rental and 25 rounds. You could buy more rounds (~$10/15 per box) but we didn't find it necessary. We found riegs to be a great spot, only downside is it's a handgun only range, oakridge allow you to shoot rifles , shotguns etc I understand as well, if that's your thing (I would have preferred to try them tbh) but couldn't fault service from Reigs guys, unsure what their prices are like compared to oakridge though, perhaps someone will come along and tell us.

Great post - I agree, Riegs is staffed by a nice bunch of people - but is pretty much in the DMZ. Last time I was there, some skank tried to break into my car. What these dirtbags are hoping for is people using the range and leaving firearms in their vehicles.
Oakridge has a better range of rental handguns and they are a bit cheaper (G17 9mm is $20) - but ammo is a little more expensive. Advantage of Oakridge is tactical/assault weapon rental, that is very reasonable - and you can shoot pump/shot, if that's your thing. Oakridge can get quite busy though - sometimes have to wait an hour to get a stall.

[chopper602]

Matt Harper said:

You can shoot all of those (except the AK) and a whole lot more, in terms of hand-gun caliber and long guns, in air conditioned environment, without booking, for about half the price at Oak Ridge.

I know, I've been there aswell! Will probably pop back when we're there in August.

[Matt Harper]

r1flyguy1 said:

Hi Matt,

I need to stay I touch with work via Internet and have use of either iPhone or iPad, what's the recommended sim for tourists for Internet access or a couple of weeks.

Also, there four of us for a lads day out, 3 adults and a 12 year old who would like a lads day out and do something we really can't in the UK & I thought a gun range shooting at targets with a variety of guns (thanks to your US tv shows about sharpshooters and gun traders)

So any help on where to go and hat would be best for us also costs involved, would be most appreciated.

We will have a hire car so getting around wont be a problem

Thanks for the posts so far everyone

Chopper602 is right on the money, regarding temp data plan - T-Mobile is cheaper than AT&T for a similar (good) product. Verizon are also up there, but a little more expensive than T-Mobile and not as wide a plan range as AT&T.

As for a lads day out, range shooting is fun, but I'm not sure what Oakridge's policy is regarding minors handling firearms. I shoot my own guns there quite regularly and don't recall seeing any children in the 'hot' side of the facility. You might want to call them and ask - I'll certainly do that next time I'm in.
Realistically, you are not going to spend a whole day at a gun range - you can easily dispense with $300 worth of ammunition in an hour or so, if there are 3 or 4 of you. Range rental and rental guns are the cheap part of this activity.
May I suggest you consider a tour of Lake Toho, or the St Johns River by Airboat. www.bcairboats.com
I was always a bit meh about the prospect of this - but I took some visiting relatives last year and really enjoyed it. It is a lot of fun.
There is an enormous range of potential activities you could have a go at, ranging from sinkhole scuba diving to deep sea game fishing, from sky diving (in the air or on the ground) to "NASCAR" laps at the Mickyard.
What are your interests - when are you coming?

[V8LM]

Where in Davenport? We have a villa there. Most places have free WiFi.

[r1flyguy1]

Matt Harper said:

What are your interests - when are you coming?

The are a large family group but us 4 lads want to leave the ladies for the day and go do something different,

Money is the issue, we need a 'relatively' cheapish day out so touring by float plane sounds expensive. None of us are scuba divers and other than us 3 adults there's a 12 year old lad going to be with us.

How much would the NASCAR experience cost?????

Thanks for the replies so far,

We are open to suggestions

[chopper602]

Matt Harper said:

I'm not sure what Oakridge's policy is regarding minors handling firearms.

My lad was 11 when we went to Oak Ridge in 2010, he was allowed in and shot in the same lane as me (not at the same time obviously!).

Once my anti-gun wife had a go I couldn't get the gun off her again!

[Matt Harper]

r1flyguy1 said:

The are a large family group but us 4 lads want to leave the ladies for the day and go do something different,

Money is the issue, we need a 'relatively' cheapish day out so touring by float plane sounds expensive. None of us are scuba divers and other than us 3 adults there's a 12 year old lad going to be with us.

How much would the NASCAR experience cost?????

Thanks for the replies so far,

We are open to suggestions

No, not an aircraft - an airboat...



The Richard Petty NASCAR deal at Disney Speedway is bloody expensive (around $300 each) and your kid is too young to participate. Without having some idea of your interests and budget, I'm struggling to help here.

[ChrisBMW]

Kennedy space centre is a good day out and probably the least expensive option metioned so far.

[chopper602]

Check the NASA website and see if there are any launches scheduled for the time you are there - although not as impressive as a shuttle, an Atlas rocket would be good to see launched (from 5-6 miles away though).

Hoping to see a launch in August . . .

[r1flyguy1]

Spoke to OakRidge, seems like a decent plac to go and within easy reach so will go along and a look and hopefully try out the range.

Next NASA launch is 23rd August won't be there for this one! Shame

[smack]

Matt Harper said:

I live in Orlando, so if you have any specific questions fire away...

Matt, I have sent you a PM!

Edited by smack on Wednesday 18th July 12:55