The rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had an enormous impact on the vacation plans and travel activities of Americans and people all over the globe. With concerns about future outbreaks, the effectiveness of vaccines, and the reality that some virus strains can find ways to mutate, it is unlikely that people will quickly revert to their old habits.
I live in Florida, the only state that gets over 100 million visitors per year and is the home of the world’s greatest family entertainment complex of amusement parks and attractions. Walt Disney World and Universal may be opening slowly but with so many restrictions and limitations one may wonder if a visit is essential. And besides, visitors coming and going face the possibility of 14-day isolations.
As a person who writes about travel and history, I question what I recommend in selecting vacation and trip activities. What skills and options should I include? As a college history professor for fifty years, I tend to look at what might be long term trends and changes in our society and culture.
Let me state then the approach I will take in more and more of what I write and why I will orient my present and future writing. These may reflect some of the trends which I think may be more part of “the New Normal” in vacations and trips:
DRIVING TOURS and EXPERIENCES: I have always been impressed how European cities provide maps, guidance, and options for all types of people. My mother-in-law had health issues and little money while raising five kids so on the weekends she would pack a picnic lunch, take a full-day trip in the old automobile, sight-see and only stop if something met her criteria, and dine in a park.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Provide Independent Social Distancing
I think many people will be leery about going to a restaurant or any attraction without observing the present options. Indoor activities such as museums, galleries, and even sporting events will be looked at in a different way than in 2019. Safety will join cost and value when I write about any spot in Florida.
The OUTDOORS and ECO-TOURISM, I believe, will become more popular and more important as an option to visitors and residents. A kayak or snorkel trip is a pretty safe choice for exercise and learning about your destination. Soft adventures like boardwalk tours and zip lines allow for social distance control in a safer setting.
Adventure Travel and Outdoor Activities Are 12-Month Deals in Florida
Florida has one of the most diverse and best State Park Systems and it has been underused by a large segment of our tourist population. For every famous park destination, there are two or three park options that will be practically deserted on the weekdays.
INSIDER ADVICE in articles usually emphasizes the best food or the most popular attraction, but it should now include options and ideas that relate to health concerns. Long before the virus I told people that instead of standing in a luncheon crowd to get into a Walt Disney Magic Kingdom restaurant, take the monorail to one of the hotels or the boat to Wilderness Lodge for the lakeside patio restaurant by the Villas. Better meal, same price, and less crowded and rushed environment.
This summer I will inform you of several new e-books and PODs about Florida travel options, including the dates when these publications will be part of free downloads or reduced prices.
This is the time of the year when individuals around the nation make New Year’s Resolutions and also the time Florida Chamber of Commerces start promoting what new things are coming up in the New Year.
For Florida’s all-important tourist industry that means new attractions, new resorts, and even new cruise ships. Actually the largest cruise ship, the Symphony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, sailed into the Port of Miami in November. The ship is (gads) five times larger than the Titanic.
In the theme park industry which heavily impacts the 100 million annual Florida visitors, here are some of the 2019 highlights to come:
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (Disney Hollywood Studios) appears to open minus its ultra-fantastic resort hotel around November of 2019. The Millennium Falcon ride will probably open sooner at Disneyland, but the Orlando site will include the entire Black Spire village on Batin complete with shops, a restaurant, bars, and performers.
The first floor of new Star Wars hotel won’t open until 2020
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Disney Hollywood Studios) will open in late summer in the huge Chinese Theater complex. This is the first interactive ride where riders will enter a wild film short featuring Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy.
Harry Potter Themed Roller Coaster (Universal Islands of Adventure) may be solidly located away from the other Potter attractions, but will feature the flying creatures of Wizarding World and be a “family” coaster. A summer opening is hoped.
Tigris Roller Coaster (Busch Gardens) will fly this Spring next to Jungala, the tiger compound, and display a very scary l,800 foot layout with speeds of 60 mph. Most terrifying will be the fact riders will fall backwards at one point.
Lego Movie World (Legoland) is a new section with a giant play area relating to the Lego film. There will also be two new rides: an interactive boat ride, the Quest for Chi, an a new adventure in Emmett’s Bricksburg.
Next to theme parks, most Florida towns advertise new resorts and large hotels:
Last year Miami had a hotel boom with some twelve new resorts and complete makeovers, but more are on the way. Most interesting to be is the arrival in South Florida of Paligroup from Los Angeles.
The Palihouse Miami Beach
They are opening this Spring Palihouse Miami Beach, a 70-room boutique hotel on Indian Creek Drive, Miami Beach. The Intracoastal resort is certainly going to be shabby chic eclectic.
A bedroom at Isla Bella is like staying on a ship
Perhaps more exciting will be the debut of the 24 acre Isla Bella Beach Resort on Knight Key in Marathon, almost next to the famous Seven Mile Bridge. This is the first big resort in the Keys since the destruction of Hurricane Irma and this 199 room, 4 restaurant, 5 pool place will become an instant landmark in the Middle Keys.
In Orlando, Universal is opening two new resorts. I thought since the theme park filled up its property, they couldn’t continue its hotel boom, but I was wrong.
The Endless Resort
Universal’s Endless Resort is being built on the location of the old Wet and Wild park at International Drive and Universal Boulevard. The first stage will have 750 guest rooms with 390 two-bedroom suites. Additional sections are in the works.
It will be interesting to see how Universal will operate a transportation system on major highways outside their property.
At a time when people are questioning the affordability of vacation at Walt Disney World in Florida, admissions are rising and long-time employees are getting fired. There may be discounts being announced but the critics have lots to denounce.
Here is our assessment of the best WDW resorts mixing VALUE with FACILITIES and STAFF.
THE “VALUE” RESORTS (rating C-)
ALL-STAR MUSIC – usually the cheapest of the budget resorts and the most family-friendly, this place may have updated its rooms, but they wear down quickly. The food courts are well-run, but they are still overcrowded food courts. BIGGEST WEAKNESS: long bus rides to and from all the parks. Unless you came by car you will cuss the location of these resorts.
ALL-STAR MOVIES – the upgrading of rooms was the nicest of the All-Stars, but this resort had the most to update. BAD NEWS: this is the last stop of the bus route, which is terrible when leaving the park late with tired, sleepy small kids. The best spots to stay with small kids are unfortunately the rooms furthest from the food court and larger facilities.
ALL-STAR SPORTS – is always considered the best managed of the budget spots, but that is in part because it is here all the high school sports and music groups are booked. This resort can sometimes get very loud and noisy compared to the other budgets. The BEST NEWS is this is the first stop on the bus routes both in the morning and evening due to location. The only time my wife and I stayed here was when we coached the Florida team in the World OM Championships.
ONLY GOOD IF THIS IS YOUR NICHE RESORTS (rated C)
SARATOGA SPRINGS – if this sprawling maze of condos near Disney Springs, golf course suites, and neat riverside wilderness treehouses looks like a college campus – you are correct for it started as a place to take courses at Disney. Although it is easy to take a boat over to Disney Springs in the closest units, you will need an automobile to offset the long bus rides to the parks. The spa here is great, but dining is limited and the recreational facilities are spread out too far if you have small kids. In case you are wondering there are no horse stables here.
FORT WILDERNESS CAMPGROUND – this is a wonderful, although costly campground with new cabins, lots of outdoor activities, a great dinner show, and a skilled staff. Many people stay here every year and never enter the parks on the boat to Magic Kingdom, the only non-bus transportation. Fort Wilderness has its own internal transportation because it is quite extensive and requires a lot of travel to leave for the parks. If this isn’t your idea of a family vacation spot – do not book it for it will be an added strain.
OLD KEY WEST – This is the oldest condo complex at WDW, and while everything has been refreshed and updated, the place resembles a huge Florida gated community with assorted local pools and one giant recreation center and restaurant. Taking the bus to either the parks or Old Key West center is like becoming a suburban commuter. That said – it is probably the friendliest community at WDW, and you can go to Disney Springs by boat for nightlife. I have stayed here because I have an automobile and like the laid-back location.
VERY BIG MODERATE RESORT but (rated C+)
CORONADO SPRINGS – started as WDW’s largest Moderate Resort: a mass of different style units surrounding a large lake. Although placing restaurants in the middle of the lake has cut the walking distances for families to get to the main restaurants and large pool area, Coronado is also a convention hotel with a monstrous GRANT DESTINO ($$$$), a beautiful resort designed to improve the convention trade. I find the place isolated from other resorts with a long bus route to the parks. Convention-goers and adult couples will like this resort best.
GREAT THEMING BUT ISSUES (Rated B)
PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE and its weaker PORT ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER (rated C)
Has delightful landscaping, for it is easy in Florida to duplicate Southern architecture and vegetation. The big downside is the long bus ride to the parks. A bonus is the nice boat ride to Disney Springs. The food courts outshine the restaurants. Besides a pool on an island, you can go fishing from a pier here. Since I drive a car from Tampa, I have better memories of staying here than others. It is very pet-friendly, with its trails along the river and recreation areas. The evening horse carriage rides make this resort a possible Honeymoon stop.
THE OLD MASTER (Rated B)
CONTEMPORARY RESORT – WDW’s first resort caused a sensation when it opened with the monorail going through the massive A-frame lobby, but age has tempered the emotions. Huge and crowded and quite expensive, people pile into the monorail like it was the New York subway. You must be high up and on the right side of the building to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks. The top floor restaurant is still a must-visit, but there is too much of an airport feel with all the little bars to have a family atmosphere. Recreation facilities are great despite a lack of trees. Money-wise, people might consider staying in the cheaper backside buildings facing the real lake. The condo complex is gorgeous but super-costly.
TRANSPORTATION BOOST (Rated B)
CARIBBEAN BEACH – this gigantic multi-island style resort around a big lake may not be the family choice unless you are located near the lobby and the delightful restaurant. Still, it is a moderately priced resort with something no other moderate place has – access with two gondola stops on the Skyliner route to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The recreation water facilities are also good. Bus to the other parks is less fun.
RIVIERA – opening as Disney Vacation Club’s star attraction, this large resort was a great resort with fireworks views, choices from studios to three-bedroom villas, and stylish service. However, people found the pool and recreational facilities less amazing and being connected to the moderate-cost monster Caribbean less exciting. The Skyliner to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is important.
THE EPCOT CROWD (Rated B+)
BROADWALK – an unusual resort with the hotel mainly on the floors above an entertainment district with restaurants, stores, and marina facilities. The area never duplicated Universal’s CityWalk or Disney Springs, and ESPN closed, as did some nightlife. The pool is too small for the resort. The boat transportation to Epcot and Hollywood Studios is the big bonus for this group of resorts.
YACHT CLUB – attached to the Beach Club, the Yacht Club logically has the marina and lakeside facilities. With its steakhouse and slower tone, this resort has a country-club atmosphere and is probably less exciting to children.
BEACH CLUB – with its lazy river and the largest poolside area at WDW, the Beach Club attracts families. It has a decent seafood buffet and good ice cream shop and is the closest of the Epcot resorts to the Epcot entrance and the nearest Skyliner station for Hollywood Studios.
The independent SWAN, DOLPHIN, and SWAN RESERVE are also on the boat trip to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Their massive lineup of restaurants and large pool area gives them a B+ rating.
THE BEST VALUE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD (Rated B+)
POP CENTURY – while its rooms are slightly higher than the budget spots, its easy access to the Skyliner transport to Epcot and Hollywood Studios immediately changes its status. It has a monstrous pool with water jets, outdoor movies and campfires, and a decent food court. It should be noted many families sleep here and eat at the next-door Art of Animation. We suggest you evaluate this resort when considering less expensive hotels at Disney Springs.
RELIABLE BIG LUXURY RESORTS (rated A-)
POLYNESIAN RESORT – Disney second lakeside resort facing Magic Kingdom has been surrounded to my dislike with high-rise condos, and the beach view has been sliced by some expensive over-the-water cabins that belong in Bora-Bora at that price tag. What keeps Polynesian in high spirits is the good landscaping, attractive pools and recreational facilities, and its fast monorail service to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. This is a resort complex that requires a good look at an online map to select the best locations. Staff is efficient with children.
WILDERNESS LODGE – has always been a favorite for its immersive theming in the forest overlooking WDW’s only natural lake. The big lobby, fun restaurant, and the outdoor grill are good food choices. The rooms are smaller here than at other luxury resorts, and the only non-bus transportation is a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom. The very expensive units along the river route to Magic Kingdom are my pick for a second Honeymoon location.
ART OF ANIMATION – This resembles a budget resort until you notice the 1,1120 family suites, the Skyliner access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, the largest pool at WDW, and the five food shops joined together. The 864 standard rooms are overpriced, but the location and upscaled facilities make this resort an interesting choice. And it allows pets!
THE TOP RESORTS (rated A)
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE – this would be my TOP CHOICE IF I HAD AN AUTOMOBILE for bus transport is the only way to reach the parks. This is a true theme park experience – with all the animals, “real” African guides, the best buffet at WDW, two good main restaurants, and a cool recreational area in the condo section of the complex. It is essential to get rooms facing the animal savannas (first floor has poor visibility). Aimal Kingdom Lodge may be considered a vacation within a vacation.
GRAND FLORIDIAN – may seem too upscale for a family with small children, although this resort has various pools and lots of activities. This Victorian-style resort has monorail transport to Magic Kingdom and Epcot and the best lineup of restaurants and shops at WDW. My wife and I often split a Magic Kingdom visit by taking the monorail for a quiet lunch in a half-empty restaurant (kids could take a nap).
Last week we covered Florida cruise ports that are usually on one-week or shorter cruises from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Cape Canaveral, and Tampa. These ports included Key West, Mexico, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
This selection features ports usually included in one-week or longer cruises.
Philipsburg, St. Maarten A-
The Caribbean island of St. Maarten/St. Martin offers two distinct cultural and geographic experiences. The Dutch side has the active beach life, the famous airport landing spot, and water sports, while Frech side has great shops and restaurants.
The only Caribbean island where you get two cultures in one port stop.
The biggest problem is that while passengers have plenty of time in bustling Philipsburg with its massive tourist facilities, many cruises do not have enough port time to spend time on the French side of the island. The roads can get jammed with slow-moving traffic, and passengers can even miss their ship departure.
Amber Cove / Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic B-
Taino Bay/Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic B
Located on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, these two ports are very modern, filled with free pools, amusement facilities, and tourist shops. The older Amber Cove docks are where Carnival cruise lines dock and are at the Bay of Malmon, a good 20-minute ride to reach downtown.
The Taino Bay docks, where Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, and MSC dock is near downtown Puerto Plata, which allows for a walk into the historic Malecon and Fortaleza San Felipe. It has a free lazy river for us older folk.
Neither port is adjacent to good swimming and snorkeling facilities. This is a crowded urbanized area, and transportation to sights can be costly and slow. People will not find restaurants and stores with good deals.
La Romana, Dominican Republic B
La Romana is located on the southeast coast beside the Rio Dulco River, and while there is a ChuChu train service to downtown, the city is an ugly industrial town with some high-crime areas, making choosing quality tours important. The Sugar Breeze Cruise Terminal is very mundane.
Nearby are the turquoise, gentle beaches that attract tourists to this area. The resort tours are expensive but have high-quality facilities. The best tour for seniors and romantics is the bus excursion to the 16th century mountain village of Altos de Chavin.
Bridgetown, Barbados A-
People selecting Barbados as a destination want a small island where tours reach destinations quickly. The Port Terminal is just a short walk to downtown, but Bridgetown is a laid-back small town not designed for party-goers or social activities.
Barbados is a small island with great beaches.
If you like calm waters in a scenic setting, Brownes Beach and Pebbles Beach will meet all your expectations. Barbados is a high-cost island that attracts people who enjoy natural sights and relaxing water activities.
Kralendjik, Bonaire C+
Bonaire is a wonderful place if you want to snorkel or dive right off the shore. Only one ship at a time can dock right at the downtown pier so there are no taxi rides, no crowds. The people speak English and like U.S. currency, not that you will be excited at the nice family shops.
There is a good reason Bonaire is not a major cruise stop: most of the nearby coastlines are coral and rock. Finding a good beach is a major tour. There is not much to see except the wild donkeys and salt flats. Snorkelers will not want to return to the cruise ship, but others will find little to interest them.
Oranjestad, Aruba A-
Aruba is a busy, urban-style island which will turn off people looking for calm, slow-moving Caribbean activities. The modern downtown terminal with its free electric streetcar trolley makes the port popular with seniors and shoppers. Aruba has some cool stores. Despite a very publicized murder case involving an Alabama coed, Oranjestad has a low crime rate and friendly, helpful people.
Aruba is for people who like beautiful beaches and active nightlife.
You must take a taxi to Aruba’s beautiful beaches of Eagle Beach and Palm Beach. Some people might find the tall hotels and high-paced entertainment or water facilities too much like Miami Beach to suit their travel tastes. How long your port stay is will determine how much of Aruba’s casinos and nightclub action you will experience.
Otrobanda, Curacao A
Curaçao looks like no other Caribbean island. It is very urban, filled with shops and Dutch architecture, but much of the interior resembles a cactus-filled Arizona desert. The Mega Pier puts you minutes from the famous Queen Emma Swinging Bridge to Punda.
Otrobanda has its big waterfront resorts as well as Dutch charm.
There are several large, multi-use full-service resorts on the waterfront, although the nearest beaches resemble small coves. The big beaches require a taxi ride. Curaçao has an image of being quite expensive, but visitors who walk away from the crowded main streets will discover prices drop quickly. U.S. Dollars are welcomed here.
Curaçao is very hot due to its location close to the equator compared to other Caribbean islands, but it is also far south of the main route of Caribbean hurricanes.
Florida is the cruise ship center of the world. Port Miami and Port Canaveral are the two top cruise ports in the world. The #1 cruise ship line is Carnival with 90 ships and it is headquartered in Miami, as is #2 Royal Caribbean and #4 Norwegian Cruise Line. #5 is the Disney Cruise Line in Orlando.
Too many of us do NOT do our homework. We assume all Caribbean and tropical ports have lovely beaches and exciting tours. To be honest, there are places where you might not want to leave the ship! The cruise industry is quite competitive and there is a need for good destinations. It is OK to turn a Bahama island into a beach stop although it is very commercialized. I am not sure this works when you make an artificial port that resembles a movie set and stock it with job seekers.
In this article, we selected those destinations that are on regular weekly cruise schedules rather than the less frequent long cruises into the Eastern Caribbean. We will cover them later.
KEY WEST B
For people who have never been to Key West, the town is a cool looking place. But the streets get crowded when ships arrive, the mostly man-made beaches are average (the one hidden behind the fort is best), and the prices and products are American resort levels. Good restaurants but limited time for snorkeling and boat tours. If you like shopping for resort goods, Key West is fun. And everyone speaks English maybe with a Conch accent.
Key West is compact making for quick shopping and local tours
FREEPORT,Bahamas C-
They need the tourist money after the terrible hurricane hit Grand Bahama Island, but Freeport is an ugly container port, and you need a REAL taxi to flee fast to Lucaya Beach with its shops and water activities. Go online and look at some of the interesting tours on the underdeveloped East End of the island. ALSO check to see if you have enough time in port to do anything more than hit the beach at Lucaya.
NASSAU,Bahamas B
Overcrowded with cruise ships and a giant junk festival at the huge Straw Market, people need to get REAL transport to get over to Paradise Island or Cable Beach with its great beaches and upscale glamour. Don’t go anywhere “over the hill” in Nassau. Royal Caribbean has the advantage of running the Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island. The local resort people will steer you away from many bad places but not expensive places.
Escape the Straw Market and head for Paradise Island or Cable Beach for recreation
PRIVATE ISLANDS B+
Most of the major Florida cruise lines own and operate private islands in the Bahamas that have been turned into multi-beach spots (adult and family), extensive water parks, restaurants and bars, and facilities. They are great for families and couples who enjoy outdoor activities but are less of an attraction for seniors or people who fear getting barbecued in the sun.
The top ones for facilities and activities are Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean), Celebration Key (Carnival) Castaway Cay (Disney), and Great Stirrup Cay (Norwegian, Regent). More subdued are Ocean Cay (MSC) and Princess Cays (Princess).
Harvest Caye (Norwegian) is an island off Belize, a land where visiting other islands require boating from the ugly Belize City Pier. Local people operate the facilities and restaurants.
GEORGETOWN, Cayman Islands B
A great huge beach, friendly people, devoid of scams, and the English language. So why not achieve a higher mark? The Caymans have no cruise port dock and when two or three cruise ships line up it takes over an hour to get passengers ashore. In rough weather a boat may have to cancel this port! It is also an expensive island so choose your activities with care. The STINGRAY SANDBAR tour is a great trip for snorkeling and swimming.
COZUMEL Mexico B-
Unlike the Caymans, Cozumel has giant docking facilities – too great for it is a long walk to get to a taxi. The town has good restaurants and shops, but they are downtown and the best beaches are not nearby and require some overpriced transportation. You don’t visit Cozumel to tour Mayan temples, so people have to choose the available tours. The Mayan ruins on this island are small.
The dock location requires transport to the town shops and restaurants or the top beaches.
SAN JUAN B+
The cruise dock is in Old San Juan with its magnificent fortification, shops, and historic restaurants. This is good for people who don’t want a trip to the beaches. Planning is a key. What do I do? I rented a jeep, took a swim at Luquillo Beach and drove up the rainforest trails of El Yunque. WARNING: If you do this, be sure the windshield wipers work for the rainforest will rain!
A very urban port makes shopping and fort tours quite easy.
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas American Virgin Islands B+
I admit that the cruise port is overcrowded. I know that the shoppers were too frenzied. The town is too packed (40% of the residents are from other islands). It is a great place if you like to shop and dine. Otherwise, flee the town for the beaches on the other side of the hill like Magens Bay or take the gondola up Paradise Point..
BELIZE CITY Belize D
There is no dock – it is a tender port and the time to get ashore to the rundown waterfront could have put you on a fast boat to the wonderful islands and water sport sites of Belize. Geography and transportation time separate tourists on cruise ships from appreciating this English-speaking nation’s inland tours. Belize City has an enclosed Fort Street Tourism Village guarded by tourist police. There is a reason most of the Belize travel photos are of Ambergris Caye and scenic jungle resorts and not urban Belize City.
ROATON Honduras D
This island is beautiful and the locals are very nice but there are few attractions. The “third world feel” to the town scares many tourists from wanting to get off the boat. This island is perhaps the safest area in Honduras. Tours are not well organized. Carnival owns the Mahogany Bay terminal, and it has a self-contained shopping area and private beach. The Port of Roatan terminal is more urban and rustic. This port is best for adventurers.
Roaton is a good stop for adventurers but is no place for shopping and historic sites.
PROGRESSO Mexico C
Mostly cruise ships from Texas visit this rustic Northern Yucatan port with a gigantic four-mile pier and 15-minute bus ride. The city beach is fair in summer but too turbulent in windy winter days. The shops and restaurants are authentic Mexico, but many will find this place a too small town with few sights. This port is the closest to Merida, which would be a good tour destination if you have enough time in port.
COSTA MAYO Mexico C-
This is a movie set and not a real town. Due to docking issues this port is often canceled by cruise ships when there are rough weather conditions. . Although everything a tourist might want is packed into the village, veteran travelers are going on tours to Mayan ruins (a rugged trip). The nearest real town is a small fishing village still recovering from some hurricanes.
FALMOUTH & OCHO RIOS Jamaica C
Crime is not an issue if you stay within the secure tourist complexes on the docks or take official tours to Dunn’s Falls or river rafting or the Ian Fleming complex. Jamaica has fun restaurants and bars but taking a taxi may be the best transportation even for short trips. If you stay in the port area, however, you will feel you have been surrounded by a large commercial tourist trap.
GRAND TURK Turks & Caicos B+
Virgin is offering five-day cruises to Grand Turk with a stop in the Bahamas. This is a great port if you like swimming and water sports. Shopping and historic sights are not part of a vacation on these English-speaking islands east of the Bahamas.
As I have aged, I have realized that Walt Disney World not only does a poor job servicing elderly guests compared to many other Florida vacation spots I have visited. They are often silent about things that would save elderly people time and money. Not all elderly guests are wealthy and many come as hosts to expensive family vacations.
I realize that as a longtime Passholder, a resident just an hour away from WDW, a former owner of a condo in Celebration, the town Disney built, I avoided many of these headaches by learning things that an infrequent traveler to Orlando does not know when visiting Disney.
Here are some areas that might relate to your future Disney plans:
IN PARK MOBILITY is expensive at WDW and has some strict rules. You can rent an ECV at any park for $60 and a $20 refundable deposit. You can get credit if you are going to a second park, but Disney ECVs do NOT go to park to park, But here also is the UGLY TRUTH: you cannot reserve an ECV so you better arrive at the park early with this first come, first serve policy. We have always used a rental ECV because we live in Central Florida. If it is small and portable, we can take it all over Disney World. You can rent ECVs for delivery to your hotel.
FREE PARKING LOT WHEELCHAIRS to help people just get into the parks from the parking lots is an unadvertised service. While the parking lot transport will take you to a drop-off, there is still a distance to get near the wheelchairs or EV rentals. The Magic Kingdom parking lot is the largest ground level parking area in the United States.
EVs go from dozens to zero by 10 am
DISNEY VACATION CLUB villas are often the best option if you are having a large family or three generation vacation at WDW. Unless you know the condo business you might assume the best deal would be renting via the Disney Vacation Club. All my friends who rent other people’s condos prefer independent firms such as the DVC RENTAL STORE or David’s Vacation Club Rental where they get better deals on renting DVC points and vacation units. It can be a complicated and costly mistake not to compare prices and deals. The two firms I mention are good at explaining the comparisons and guarantees in doing business with them.
DISCOUNTED TICKETS FOR SENIORS do NOT exist at WDW UNLESS you purchase online senior discounted tickets from the AARP Ticket Service or the AAA ticket Service. These are mainly for multi-day tickets but can save a lot of money for a group of seniors,
SENIOR HOTEL RATES do NOT exist at Walt Disney hotels, BUT they exist at the DOLPHIN and SWAN resorts which have the same WDW transportation and early entry perks. Although I stayed at 80% of the WDW hotels, we stayed more times at the Dolphin. They do nickel and dime you but still cost c$150 less than the next-door Beach and Yacht Clubs.
The PARK HOPPER TICKET is a very expensive additional expense which is rarely used by seniors vacationing with grandkids or family. You can add the service at the parks if necessary. Buy the base ticket. Remember: if you have a park ticket, you can use Disney transportation to then go to a resort with a dinner reservation that day.
THE GUEST SERVICES GUIDE (online access) is rarely noticed by Disney guests for most groups assume that if a problem arises at any of the parks, you just go to the Disney Guest office. This works for most things although there might be a huge line. But the Guide is loaded with information for elderly people like the act that all table service and buffet spots have a Special Diet Member and early reservations help can not only handle allergies, but they can also puree meals for guests. The guide also describes the operation of RIDER SWITCH.
RIDER SWITCHis not just for people with disabilities. Disney realizes a 80-year-old person cannot stand in a queue for sixty minutes in ninety degree weather to get on a ride. Up to two people in your party can have their “ticket verified” and come back at a set time to join those who stood in line. WDW’s rules are designed, however, to halt groups misusing the Lightning Lanes.
SEATING AT SHOWS: WDW wants to get visitors in and out of shows quickly so there are spaces at the end of rows designed to help guests in wheelchairs and elderly exit the ride. Tell the ride staff immediately about any mobility issues.
MEMORY PHOTO DAY plans at WDW often seem like great ideas since professional photographers will take photographs of your family or reunion at over 140 spots. The deal costs $185. What you might not realize is most of these camera people will take your photograph WITH YOUR CAMERA for nothing. Just be friendly and don’t mention you are a penny pincher.
RESTAURANT CANCELLATION FEES. Seniors often make dining reservations when they are having a family gathering. Most have heard that Disney is liberal on last minute cancellations. That is TRUE. You can cancel in a two-hour window for no charge, and the penalty of no shows is just $10 per person.
HOWEVER, that is not the rule at every restaurant. Victoria and Albert charge $100 per person if you don’t cancel within FIVE days. Monsieur Paul has a $100 per person penalty under three days. You have just two hours to cancel Cinderella’s Royal Table or lose the full pre-paid cost of the reservation! Fireworks parties (see next item) also charge the full amount without a one-day cancellation. Any event where Disney has preprinted personal menus will have strict rules.
What irritates me about this is the fact that Disney World has a great real time reservation system that updates in real time. Cancellations start appearing 24-48 hours before the date and overnight for recent cancellations – We look up at midnight and 6 am. Once my wife booked Victoria and Albert on one hour’s notice. We often visit the restaurant we wanted to book but could not when we arrive at a park and get seated 70% of the time. Popular restaurants will not have empty seats despite the high rate of no shows.
MAJOR KINGDOM and EPCOT FIREWORKS PARTIES are often pushed on elderly people during family reunions. They are very expensive and you won’t get a refund for rainy conditions. There are many free areas reserved for guests to get a decent view of the fireworks at both parks. The food at the parties is not gourmet. If you don’t have small kids with you, booking a late meal at the British Rose and Crown gets you a front row seat for the Epcot fireworks.
DISNEY DINING PLANS have only one great feature – you prepay one of the big cost features of your WDW trip. If you do this for a huge family, it will be very expensive. Unless you select the most expensive menu items you will lose money on the plans. If you are a group of elderly people that are not big eaters, the plan may be a bigger waste of money. Look at the menus of restaurants where you plan to eat. Is it a good deal?
LIGHTNING LANE is often advertised to older visitors as a way to ensure entrance into popular rides. They are probably essential in the summer and the holidays but during slow times like early Fall, this might be an unwanted extra expense. It should be noted that a group of elderly people might avoid very fast modern rides like TRON.
HEALTH ASSESSIBILITY is well-organized at WDW BUT it is NOT advertised. The Customer Relations people will point out the location of the First Aid station with its nurse, the companion bathrooms, parade and fireworks sites reserved for wheelchairs, and other policies’ that help seniors. They will even ambulance you to Advent Health hospital at no charge.
DAS ATTRACTION QUEUE Re-ENTRY POLICIES are NOT printed at the rides but in the accessibility guides which few visitors ever read. You can inform people at the ENTRANCE of each ride the need to NOT have a person with autism standing in a queue for 40 minutes. WARNING: I discovered that WDW wants you to register sixty days before park arrival and I find this NOT CUSTOMER FRIENDLY!
FOOD ACCIDENTS with senior citizens do happen and WDW has a policy for free food replacement. This is one service I have not seen in person and I realize small kids are more likely to drop the turkey drumstick on the pavement. I was told they will help elderly accidents with food.
WDW IS NOT VERY PROACTIVE in giving people much time about operational changes and new policies, Elderly people need to know that they have to check My Disney Experience on the day they choose a park for potential ride closures, new Lightning Lane pricing, and other cast member instructions. People raised to use long range planning and communication are often shocked at how things change at WDW.
TRANSPORTATION ISSUES may be more significant with elderly people. In the crowded summer when rain and lightning arrive (Central Florida is the lightning capital of the USA), the monorail, the Skyway, and even the boats stop moving. You are left with the slow-loading bus transport system. You can rent an Uber, but hundreds of people will be doing that to get to their next activity. It is safer to DOUBLE the time it takes from going from one WDW place to another!TOO MUCH PARK TOO LITTLE TIME. Parties with elderly people and small kids often book too few days to properly visit the parks. By three o’clock in the afternoon, kids are crying all over WDW and seniors look like they were hit by an automobile. . People seem to forget that the beauty of staying at a Disney resort that I hooked up by monorail or Skyline gondola allows you to re-enter that park with your Magic Band, Magic Mobile Pass, and physical admission card after taking a mid-day nap or meal. Disney restaurants at most resorts are nearly em
Florida is the top tourist state in the nation with 110 million annual visitors and snowbirds. Most come for good weather, beaches, amusement parks, outdoor activities. But sometimes you might like an unusual and exciting change of pace – here are my favorite weirdest Florida tourist attractions:
KORESHAN STATE PARK
Located off US41 18 miles south of Fort Myers, Koreshan State Park is a forested campground for RVs and tents along the Estero River. It is a place to hike, launch your canoe or kayak, fish, and picnic. Koreshan has something, however, no other Florida park has: a utopian ghost town, a National Register of Historic Places site.
The giant Planetary Building houses group records
In the 1890s Dr Cyrus R. Teed, a New York doctor, was told in a vision he would be the Messiah of a “New Jerusalem.” Calling himself Koresh (Hebrew for Cyrus), Reed attracted huge groups to his cause. The most strange of their beliefs was that the universe was a rotating sphere inside the Earth.
In 1894 his dream town became a reality with the purchase of land in Florida. Cabins, a three-story dining room, a bakery, post office, cabins and dorms that separated men and women, machine shops, the 1904 Planetary Court, and the 1905 Art Hall, where Thomas Edison and Henry Ford watched concerts by the Koreshans. The colony planted monkey puzzle trees, sausage trees, and bamboo trees making the gardens and park trails very exotic.
Evidence we live inside the world in the Art Hall which oce entertained Thomas Edison and others.
The death of Teed and mounting opposition by neighbors who disliked the group’s political and social beliefs led to the decline of the group. The final members gave the land to the State of Florida. Park Rangers give tours of the eleven restored Koreshan buildings as well as the nature trail tours.
The home of Dr Cyrus Teed, the great leader.
From the Bamboo Dock you can explore the Estero River in kayaks.
The State Park (239-992-0311) has some 60 RV and tent sites including glamping safari tents. Kayak and canoe rentals are available from Estero River Outfitters (239-992-4050). Travel upstream for dense tropical landscapes; go downstream to Estero Bay and Mound Key, home of the Calusa Indian center. The Estero River has both saltwater and freshwater fishing.
THE TOWN OF CASSADEGA
Located 20 miles southwest of Daytona Beach off I-4 (exit 116 Lake Helen) the village of Cassadega is unlike any other town in Florida. It is the winter home of the National Spiritualist Society. It is a community of Victorian houses where mediums help people reach their deceased loved ones.
While winter is the busy season, Cassadaga’s mediums operate year-round.
There is a hotel, an information center and book shop, a church, some restaurants, a creepy cemetery, and Spirit Lake, where I once saw a rocking chair blow around the lake on a windless day (maybe the hills blocked wind around me).
The Cassadaga Hotel is a friendly old-fashioned spot for visitors.
The Cassadaga Information Center helps visitors find mediums.
The Victorian houses of the mediums add to the uniqueness of your visit.
Cassadega is not a place for a Halloween jaunt. This is a serious, religious community practicing a faith that began with the teenage Fox Sisters, Maggie and Kate, back in 1848. While staying at the hotel or attending a church service might not be your desire, visiting the information center, talking with people about the movement, and deciding whether to visit a medium is one experience that few vacationers to Florida can check off.
CORAL CASTLE – FLORIDA’S STONEHEDGE
South of Miami near Homestead on US 1is the mysterious complex known as Coral Castle (https://coralcastle.com). It is a case where we know who, where, and when, but the how has fascinated scientists. The first time I visited the place there were a group of engineers who came all the way to Florida to examine Coral Castle.
The story of the place is weird. In 1912 a 135-pound Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskalnin came to the USA after being jilted at the alter by his finance. In 1923, he came to Florida and bought an acre for $12.00 at 18900 SW 252 Street. Living isolated from his nearest neighbors, Leedskalnin decided to build a monument to his lost love out of the nearby Oolite sedentary rock.
The size of the Coral Castle complex is amazing since it was a one man show.
Without the help of machinery or co-workers and with only the help of a mule, he quarried over 100 tons of rock into some 260 stones, with one reaching 23-foot tons and 23 tons. He began charging a dime for people to visit his massive creation. He refused to show how he built his wonders although he said he studied the Egyptian pyramid builders and had made levers.
Inside his stone house were some levers but no machines or fancy tools.
Giant symbols and ten-ton swinging doors makes this castle unique.
In 1936 when a subdivision was planned next door, Leedskalnin moved his entire complex in a few days. The engineering of Coral Castle is amazing. The meaning of all the symbolic shapes is confusing. I moved a one-ton swivel door of stone with one finger!
If you haven’t visited Walt Disney World in the last few years due to the CO-VID pandemic or the concerns about the Disney-Florida woke clash, there have been a number of major completions of rides and attractions. Did they live up to all the 50th anniversary promotion? Are they worth the additional cost as added ticket prices?
Here is our evaluation:
MAGIC KINGDOM: The big story is Tron has arrived and most of the character meetings so crucial to small children are back.
TRON LIGHTCYCLE/ RUN Rating 93%
TRON is faster than you imagine just by watching the cycles fly past.
After many delays to complete other projects Tron, the rocket-moving motorcycle that debuted in 2016 at Shanghai Disney, opened in 2023 with good reviews. The ride may look fast but tame when seen by bystanders, but the scarier sections are inside the dark area with its computer connection. There is a 48” height minimum and despite a more traditional seated car at the back of each train, this is NOT a ride for people with health issues. The theme of the ride is a race between the Blue Team and the Tred Team and this adds to the excitement even if you have little control in the race.
CONS: The ride is just under two minutes long and despite relatively fast loading and a maximum of seven trains, each with seven rows of two cycles each, the lines are long. It is an extra-pay Lightning ride. The ride is not comfortable if you are overweight.
MICKEY’S PHILHARMAGIC Rating: 88%
In case you haven’t visited the 3-D 12-minute film since 2021, the show was closed in October of 2021 for refurbishment and the addition of a singing of Un Poco Loco from the film Coco. The 2002 picture was getting a little “dullish”, but the latest edition has the feel of a new presentation: brighter colors, sharp images, and great soundtrack. And on hot Florida days, it is a cool theater.
TIANA’S BAYOU ADVENTURE Not Open – Later in 2024
This ride is being built within the structure of Splash Mountain and much like how Frozen was created out of the Norway ride, we firmly believe people will sense the same river movements and the same drop at the end of the ride. It may seem weird that a movie about life in 1927 is part of Frontierland which ended by 1900, but Disney correctly assumes that the ride will be about the music, the atmosphere, and on hot Florida days, the cooling water.
COUNTRY BEAR JAMBOREE Not Open – Bears Learning New Music
The classic animated bears will open late in 2024 with a more diverse music program, although Disney is using the same building. The Grand Old Opry may be removed for a more modern atmosphere.
DISNEY FESTIVAL of FANTASY PARADE Rating: 90%
One thing Disney fans missed besides the contact character meetings during the pandemic years was the full-scale Disney parades. If you haven’t been to WDW for a while, you will realize how improved technology and animation have made the floats bigger and better. This parade leaves out few popular Disney characters. The few I didn’t recognize were from the Disney Channel kid shows.
EPCOT: No park underwent as many changes as Epcot with the total redesign and reconstruction of the middle area of what was World Showcase with a new Epcot Store, restaurant, café, and even the old Coca-Cola Club Cool, which I could never resist. Also in its place are some extensive gardens and more places for people to sit down (GADS!). This is also the area of Disney’s most expensive ride.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: COSMIC REWIND Rating: 96% but
The largest dark ride in the history of Disney takes people to the planet Xander where your tour is suddenly interrupted as a weird; giant force” is trying to steal the crucial power supply. All visitors must be quickly evacuated to Earth. What do the wonderful Guardians of the Galaxy have to do with this? They are going to get the power thing back. This is one of those rides where you are spread out into various rooms to help the continuous loading process and to relate the story. You must be 42” tall and definitely think people with health reasons should avoid Xander. These fantastic cars almost seem to defy gravity on some turns.
CONS: After watching three years of detailed videos of the construction and promotion of this ride, I was very disappointed, not in the ride, but the ride presentation. I expected to see maybe an animated raccoon with a weapon or a piece of wood that can say only a few words. The stars of the Guardian movies appear with short lines on large screens (like they can be replaced with stars from another hit sci-fi in the future). Much like the Dinosaur ride where you are helping capture a dinosaur in the past and in the end are congratulated for participating in something you never saw happen, you feel like a distant bystander. Human interaction is not very big on Xander. It is a Lightning Lane must.
JOURNEY OF WATER, INSPIRED BY MOANA Rating 90%
Unlike Guardians, this walk through the park is totally interactive with exhibits allowing even small children to get sprays of water to jump up and even from bush to bush. Whether people read all the educational messages of not, the self-tour is refreshingly nice. Yes, the water that jumped around at the Imagination exhibit has moved to this presentation.
CONS: When the pathways get crowded with people the interactivity of Moana’s world loses much of its magic.
Speaking of Imagination, an exhibit that has seriously declined since Kodak, its original sponsor, collapsed, I am happy to say that fans of Figment the tiny dragon can meet and greet a larger version of Figment.
REMY’S RATATOUILLE ADVENTURERating: 90%
The star of Disney Land Paris (2014) opened at Epcot in 2021, this ride is a four-minute thrill ride that reduces you to mouse-size so you can join Remy in a wild race across the kitchen of a famous Paris restaurant. This is a delightful family ride was the first all-new ride at Epcot since 1988 because Frozen used the Norway ride waters.
In the new Epcot Gardens Walt Looks Out on the Lake and its Lands.
LUMINOUS THE SYMPHONY OF US Rating: 85%
The new night-time fireworks, music, and laser light show is a big improvement over the confusing 50th anniversary show, Disney Harmonious. And a notch above the substitute Epcot Forever fireworks. If you have seen Epcot shows for years (like me), I am not thrilled. Disney is the biggest user of fireworks in the world.
DISNEY HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: The opening of Star Wars and Toy Story drastically changed the operation of visitors at Hollywood Studios in the late 1990s. Since then, the changes have been mainly cosmetic.
ROCK N ROLLER COASTER is closed for a major refurbishment.
VOYAGE OF THE LITTLE MERMAID is closed, but I heard that it will be refreshed with more animation and songs. Not sure there will be a live singing Arial, the first one won Miss America. So, Ariel is the ONLY Disney Princess to become a real Queen.
There is finally a sit-down table restaurant in Toy Story, an absolute must when Florida is hot of filled with thunderstorms.
ANIMAL KINGDOM: The park seems neglected, but Disney concentrated on the bigger tourist volume parks. The big news is that slowly the DINOLAND area will be changed into a “Tropical World” – I expect it will be heavy on South American animals and foliage, both of which are easy to produce in Florida. Dino Diner and some other Dinoland places are already gone.
The turkey decorations are being taken down and across the land people are taking out the Christmas decorations. Our family actually got our ten-foot tree before Thanksgiving from the same people – North Carolina trees.
Growing up in New England, my family has always preserved some Northern holiday decoration habits. Every window has a nicely timed electric candle, simple design and wooden-like candle holder. And fake hanging light icicles across all the gutters to replace all the real ones we once had.
When I was growing up, we relied on lightning, the possibility of making snowmen in the lawn, and wooden props for manger scenes or sleds or toboggans. Today, the big thing is inflatables. Of example, Bed, Bath, and Beyond may have financial problems, but their website has a dozen pages of inflatables that can be sent to your house. Amazon has almost as many selections.
While some Florida transplants may wish to remember their cold weather roots, we think Floridians and people who wish for a Sunshine State vacation should have inflatables that reflect their location. Here are some of our favorite “warm weather” Christmas characters.
I will make concessions about Christmas decorations. Honor your pets PAST and PRESENT!
Both at Halloween and Christmas we honor Bitte and Danke our rescue dogs who went to Dog Heaven at ages 15 and 16. (I notice the shortage of Christmas cat inflatables.)
You are also allowed to have an inflatable you just love.
It does get cold in Tampa, but we don’t expect snow. Might put some marshmallow bags on lawn.
HERE ARE OUR FAVORITE INFLATABLES FOR FLORIDA.
SANTA in shorts, thongs with beach sand, a palm trees, and guitars. This is the Hawaiian version, I must admit, but maybe only San Diego can show this inflatable.
Overkill is OK if you are sending cellphone pics back up North: Santa, bathing suit, sand beach, surfing inflatable, beach chair, starfish, and happy reindeer.
Flamingos belong on Florida lawns but at Christmas they below with Santa and the beach sand and waves,
For those that like adventure sports, Santa and a shark is appropriate. It shows that we are not afraid on the warm Florida waters (compared to up North). Hey, two of the four JAWS films were done in Florida.
But let’s be blunt. Most people up North resent the fact that in Florida we can spend more time outdoors golfing, hiking, visiting parks, or just relaxing.
And don’t forget Jesus was not born in a Nordic snowy wonderland in Bethlehem.
Most residents and visitors to Florida associate the state with alligators or manatees or pelicans. Horses are not likely to be identified with the Sunshine State, but that would be a serious error.
With over 385,000 horses, Florida has the third largest horse population in the United States. Horses have a $11.7 billion annual impact on the state economy and 244,200 people work in the horse industries.
Florida’s horses are a diverse group. Nearly 30% of all Florida farms are horse farms and visitors will find horses to watch, to ride, and be entertained Of course, horses are also located on Florida’s cattle ranches.
Although the Spanish brought horses to Florida in the 1500s, it was not until that 1930’s that a group in Marion County (Ocala) decided the area was a wonderful all-year round site for thoroughbred racing horses.
A Triple Crown winner named Needles helped give Marion County the sub “Horse Capital of the World.”
The title is deserved for with 75,000 racehorses, Marion had more horses than any other county in the nation. Touring Ocala horse farms became an important tourist attraction. In 1996 the Florida Legislature built a major horse attraction – the Florida Horse Park The huge facility has an RV facility, twelve huge barns, a performance center, four outdoor riding arenas and a cross-country course.
The Ocala Equestrian Center is massive and draws people from around the globe.
Ocala’s Horse Shows in the Sun includes shows with over three million in prize money. From show jumping to dressage, the center is big boost to attracting related horse activities.
Florida has the third largest Quarter Horse population in the nation with dozens of events from cutting to barrel racing to roping. Just fifteen minutes from Walt Disney World is the Silver Spurs Rodeo grounds, the largest east of the Mississippi River. This official state rodeo is just one of several dozen rodeo centers. Arcadia, Homestead, Okeechobee, and Indiantown have genuine hometown rodeos.
Florida has standard bred horses used in harness racing. Pompano Park (1964) is one of the South’s top harness racing tracks. Florida also has over 1000 registered Cracker Horses, descendants of the Spanish mustangs that once roamed Florida. They are used by cowboys and tourists alike.
Florida is known as the winter center for polo in America with the famous International Polo Club of Palm Beach and active polo communities in Sarasota and The Villages. The Palm Beach Winter Equestrian Festival is the largest showcase in horse sport with over 5,000 horses and the top riders from around the world in dressage and other events.
Wellington, west of West Palm Beach, is a town where horses are more than common
Perhaps you might want a horse-oriented Florida vacation. There are rising centers and ranches all over the state, but one must state that the Westgate River Ranch Resort one hour south of Orlando was voted the #1 Glamping Sport by USA Today readers. It is a 1,700-acre wilderness where you can ride horses, fish in the Kissimmee River, or just relax.
The Westgate River Ranch has their own version of “covered wagon living”.
The Westgate even has its own weekly rodeo. “Glamping” means glamourous camping and the resort has several onsite dining spots from steakhouse grills to general store delis.
Florida beaches and horses: a nice combination for a vacation.
With a thousand miles of beach, Florida also has places to ride horses on beaches like Amelia Island, Cape San Blas, and Fort Pierce. Even in urban Tampa Bay where I live there are riding centers with beach tours: Florida Beach Horses in Bradenton, and C Ponies Beach Horses in Saint Petersburg.
