Florida 2013 - Car Rental, Theme Parks and Nightlife
Discussion
Afternoon Everyone
My Brother and I are planning to go to Florida next year for a holiday. Our Aunt and Uncle live out there so we have an initial place to stay when we first arrive to get over the jet lag, but after that we want to be out doing stuff.
So far we have decided that we want to rent a muscle car of some sort (Camaro, Challenger or Mustang) to get us around and we want to get round all the theme parks. We were thinking Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Universal but we werent sure about Disney. Is it a bit childish or will we still enjoy it? I'm 26 and my Brother is 22. Any other suggestions for parks to visit would be a great help
If we are able to get out there at the right time and have enough time we also wanted to go watch the Nascar at Daytona
While visiting the theme parks we intend on staying in hotels in Orlando but we want to go out clubbing in the evenings. Is this something that Orlando offers or will we need to travel out to find what were looking for? Having Googled nightclubs in Orlando all I seem to find is pictures of places that look a lot like sports bars.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated as we are just starting to plan this and were not entirely sure where to start!
Cheers
Sammo
My Brother and I are planning to go to Florida next year for a holiday. Our Aunt and Uncle live out there so we have an initial place to stay when we first arrive to get over the jet lag, but after that we want to be out doing stuff.
So far we have decided that we want to rent a muscle car of some sort (Camaro, Challenger or Mustang) to get us around and we want to get round all the theme parks. We were thinking Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Universal but we werent sure about Disney. Is it a bit childish or will we still enjoy it? I'm 26 and my Brother is 22. Any other suggestions for parks to visit would be a great help
If we are able to get out there at the right time and have enough time we also wanted to go watch the Nascar at Daytona While visiting the theme parks we intend on staying in hotels in Orlando but we want to go out clubbing in the evenings. Is this something that Orlando offers or will we need to travel out to find what were looking for? Having Googled nightclubs in Orlando all I seem to find is pictures of places that look a lot like sports bars.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated as we are just starting to plan this and were not entirely sure where to start!
Cheers
Sammo
Your younger brother won't be covered to drive anything in Hertz Adrenalin Collection - and you will also have to pay a surcharge in Orlando (being under 30yrs).
To be honest and for holiday duties, a boggo V6 (305hp) Mustang will work well and be half the cost.
If you want adult-oriented nightlife, book hotels close to, or in the downtown area, rather than out by the attractions. That way you won't need a car or expensive cab-rides when you are out on the piss. Church Street and Orange Avenue, downtown are where you should be looking for nightclubs and totty-filled bars. Make sure you take photo ID as everyone gets carded.
Also consider Ybor City in Tampa for nightlife - combine it with your trip to Busch Gardens. Ybor is awesome, but take care, as it backs onto a rather nasty (dangerous) ghetto neighborhood.
As for park attractions, Aquatica (Seaworld's waterpark) is good - better than Wet'n'Wild, which is a bit long in the tooth now. You may be a little mature for Disney Magic/Animal Kingdom, but EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are OK.
Also consider Kissimmee Old Town Cruise on Saturday night - and airboat experience at Boggy Creek Airboats on S. Lake Toho.
Re track action at Daytona - you have to get lucky or be motivated to time it right;
Rolex 24 is end Jan/early Feb
AMA Superbikes Daytona 200 is in Feb usually coincides with Bike Week.
Daytona 500 is early Feb
Coke Zero 400 (night race) is 1st week in July (this coming Saturday, in fact)
There is also a very active drag strip (Orlando Speedworld) at Bithlo FL and we have the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring in mid March, with the Gatornats NHRA drags at Gainsville FL around the same time.
I live in the area, so feel free to ask about specifics...
To be honest and for holiday duties, a boggo V6 (305hp) Mustang will work well and be half the cost.
If you want adult-oriented nightlife, book hotels close to, or in the downtown area, rather than out by the attractions. That way you won't need a car or expensive cab-rides when you are out on the piss. Church Street and Orange Avenue, downtown are where you should be looking for nightclubs and totty-filled bars. Make sure you take photo ID as everyone gets carded.
Also consider Ybor City in Tampa for nightlife - combine it with your trip to Busch Gardens. Ybor is awesome, but take care, as it backs onto a rather nasty (dangerous) ghetto neighborhood.
As for park attractions, Aquatica (Seaworld's waterpark) is good - better than Wet'n'Wild, which is a bit long in the tooth now. You may be a little mature for Disney Magic/Animal Kingdom, but EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are OK.
Also consider Kissimmee Old Town Cruise on Saturday night - and airboat experience at Boggy Creek Airboats on S. Lake Toho.
Re track action at Daytona - you have to get lucky or be motivated to time it right;
Rolex 24 is end Jan/early Feb
AMA Superbikes Daytona 200 is in Feb usually coincides with Bike Week.
Daytona 500 is early Feb
Coke Zero 400 (night race) is 1st week in July (this coming Saturday, in fact)
There is also a very active drag strip (Orlando Speedworld) at Bithlo FL and we have the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring in mid March, with the Gatornats NHRA drags at Gainsville FL around the same time.
I live in the area, so feel free to ask about specifics...
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