What WIll Impact WDW More: Avatar or a Talking Mickey?

Posted on October 22, 2013 by floridatraveler

What WIll Impact WDW More: Avatar or a Talking Mickey?

The impact of Harry Potter on Universal Studios is very clear. With the construction of another section of Potter at the other Universal Park, complete with the infamous train ride, Universal is hoping for another attendance boost.

The people at Disney have been hard at work planning to convert their Animal Kingdom into a night attraction. The big news is the development of a $500 million dollar Avatar ride and theme world. While Avatar might not have the appeal as Harry Potter, it will certainly be a thrill for sci-fi fans and be an incredible experience for visitors.

If you follow the people at WDW, one of the most amazing videos I have seen was the work with a “Talking Mickey Mouse” at Disneyland. Mickey was not on a screen like the popular talking turtle at Epcot, but a real “I can touch you” talking Mickey. Can you imagine your kids meeting Mickey and Goofy and Donald and talking to them? That would be as big as Avatar for Disney.

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Downtown Disney Transformation to Disney Springs

Posted on September 29, 2013 by floridatraveler

Downtown Disney Transformation to Disney Springs

The transformation of Downtown Disney into Disney Springs, a complex with double the capacity of shops and restaurants, is underway.

Visitors this fall to WDW will discover that the middle section of the overcrowded Downtown Disney parking lots are closed as parking garages go up. For several years the area once housing most of Pleasure Island has been fenced off for this huge project.

Popular spots like Raglan Road and Planet Hollywood will remain as The Landing, a waterfront restaurant center resembling Florida in the early 1900’s, and Town Center, an area mostly of shops, rise up. A new entranceway complete with water tower has started construction.

The West Side with the movies and Cirque du Soleil and the original Disney Marketplace will remain the bookends for the new area, but alternative routes will improve visitor connections to the four parts. In all, Disney Springs will increase to more than 150 shops and restaurants and employ nearly 4,000 new people.

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Forget Sebring – Avon Park Has The Race Drivers

Posted on September 22, 2013 by floridatraveler

Forget Sebring - Avon Park Has The Race Drivers

Sebring may have the famous annual race car Grand Prix but up the road in Avon Park they have their own racing competition.

The Florida Lawnracing Association makes Avon Park its home with the Avon Park Mower-Plex the home turf (pun intended). It is a competition where the entire family can compete with regular power mowers and up to the powerful 50 mph sit-down mowers.

Lawnracing has even gone to the Florida State Fair so it may be only time when it gets serious sponsorship. Mowers at Daytona? Maybe not right now.

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Fancy Steakhouse To Open Epicurean Hotel

Posted on September 22, 2013 by floridatraveler

Fancy Steakhouse To Open Epicurean Hotel

People from all over the globe come to Tampa to have a steak dinner at Bern’s Steak House on South Howard in Hyde Park’s booming food and fun district.

Now they can walk across the street and enjoy Bern’s food all day at an Epicurean Hotel opening in a few months.

A joint effort of Bern’s, Mainsail Lodging and Development, and Marriott, the 140-room hotel will have a food orientation that will be quite unique for Tampa Bay. The hotel’s restaurant will feature 40 forms of comfort food served in an upscale setting.

From the rooftop Edge Social Drinkery to the ground floor theater kitchen where guests will learn more about the menu, the hotel is a food lover’s resort. Bern’s has one of the world’s largest wine cellars so it is appropriate there is also a Bern’s Fine Wines & Spirits store.

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White Oak Plantation Is Not Your Typical Florida Plantation

Posted on September 10, 2013 by floridatraveler

White Oak Plantation Is Not Your Typical Florida Plantation

The 100 buildings along the banks of the St. Marys River north of Yulee belong to the huge White Oak Plantation. The plantation goes back to a land grant to Andrew Way in April of 1768, but since 1982 the land has been the home to African rhinos, grazing giraffes, and fast-moving cheetahs.

Philanthropist Howard Gilman developed the 7,400 acre plantation into not just a site for the conservation and propagation of endangered species, but also as a conference and seminar center for the study of the environment, the arts, and public policy. Mikhail Baryshnikov even held a dance studio on the estate.

Since earlier this year, new owners Mark and Kimbra Walter have placed the emphasis on research and the training of a new generation of students concerned with preserving endangered animals. Tours can be arranged by telephoning (904) 226-3285.

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Florida Sues Georgia Over Apalachicola Bay

Posted on September 2, 2013 by floridatraveler

Florida Sues Georgia Over Apalachicola Bay

Apalachicola Bay is the source for 90% of Florida’s oyster harvest and is one of the nation’s great oyster grounds. It is also undergoing serious decline due to the increased salinity of the waters of the Bay.

The State of Florida is sueing Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court in a desperate fight to limit Georgia’s consumption of water from the Chattanoochee and Flint Rivers. Alabama has joined the Florida effort since towns downstream are effected by this change in water flow..

The urban growth of Atlanta and North Georgia has doubled the usage of water from rivers which eventually flow into Apalachicola Bay. It is predicted that Georgia water usage will double again by 2035, which would turn Apalachicola Bay into a dead muck flat.

Both of Florida’s Senators are encouraging Floridians and those who love Panhandle oysters to support Florida’s efforts to save this vital crop from the sea.
(Photo: Florida Archives, Florida Memory)

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Best Pools At Walt Disney World

Posted on August 21, 2013 by floridatraveler

Best Pools At Walt Disney World

All resorts at Walt Disney World have a pool – the large spread-out resorts have a bunch of small pools clustered by rooms. Who has the best pool at WDW?

(1) YACHT and BEACH CLUB – these two resorts share Stormalong Bay, a three acre complex with 795,000 gallons of water, a 230-foot long waterslide, a sand-bottom area. A mini-lazy river, and three leisure pools.

(2) PORT ORLEANS – there are five lsisure pools and a Mardi-Gras theme pool, but the star attraction is five acre Ol’ Man Island, a real island with a pool designed like part of a rustic sawmill, with three bridges, a 95-foot slide, and a fishing pier on a river.

(3) SARATOGA SPRINGS – This huge villa complex has Paddock Pool, three leisure pools, and the impressive High Rock Spring Pool, with two gushing waterfalls, a zero depth entryway, and a 128-foot slide built into the rocks.

(4) DOLPHIN and SWAN – these two big resorts share three acres of pools, with a waterfall Grotto pool, two Olympic lap pools, kiddie pool, spring pool, real dining restaurant poolside, and a lake with a white sand beach and rental swan paddle boats.

(5) WILDERNESS LODGE – the heated Silver Creek Springs Pool gets high marks for its location surrounded by pine trees and huge boulders and a stream which includes a 67-foot waterslide built into the terrain. There are kiddle pools and a Hidden Springs Pool.

(6) ANIMAL LODGE – the main pool Uzima Pool is perhaps the most relaxing quiet WDW pool with uits setting of huge canopy trees, gentle slope, and waterslide, but nearby is Uwanja Camp, a children’s waterpark with African theme and Samawai Springs Pool.

(7) CORONADO SPRINGS – there are three quiet pools but the star attraction is the huge Lost City of Cibola with a fifty foot Mayan pyramid (no climbing) and a 123 foot waterslide with a spitting jaguar statue. The Dig Site has WDW’s largest hot tub. Not much shade means real New Mexican tans at this tropical pool.

(8) POLYNESIAN – Beautifully landscaped the Naneu Volcano Pool with its 142-foot waterslide and waterfalls is popular with families while adults snealk off to the tranquil East Pool.

(9) GRAND FLORIDIAN – the large 11,261 Beach Pool has a 181-foot waterslide and cascading waterfalls and a walking bridge. Nearby is the Courtyard Pool. This pool has limited shade.

(10) CONTEMPORARY – The Main Pool overlooks the marina while the round Bay Lake Pool is practically located lakeside. Both pools are out in the open behind the hotel.

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Being Adult At Walt Disney World

Posted on August 14, 2013 by floridatraveler

Being Adult At Walt Disney World

Every year twenty million adults WITHOUT KIDS come to Walt Disney World and make it their vacation destination. My wife and I are two of them.

We are of the age that getting jerked around on Dinosaur ot Mission Space is not our cup of tea, but we love Soarin’ and enjoy the silliness of Toy Story Mania.

What are my picks for favorite adult activities at Walt Disney World:

• Eating at the formal but exclusively 60-seat Victoria and Alberts at Grand Floridian.
• Taking a carriage ride along the canals from Port Orleans New Orleans resort.
• Finding eight other people and renting a Fireworks Cruise to see the Epcot fireworks…
If you can’t do that a balcony at the Dolphin top floor Epcot facing wing helps.

“ Dining windowside at California Grill overlooking Magic Kingdom fireworks (closed for expansion)
“ Going on a small group Wild Africa Trek at Animal Kingdom
” A window-side table at Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge to watch the animals feed and play
• A front row table at Raglan Road in Downtown Disney for a night of Irish music and dance
• (for the healthy) Two hour backwoods Segway tour at Fort Wilderness
• Parasailing from the Contemporary over the Seven Seas Lagoon, as high as Cinderilla’s Castle
• A lagoon-side patio dinner at the Rose and Crown to watch Epcot fireworks

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Best Disney WOrld Food For Vegans and Vegetarians

Posted on August 4, 2013 by floridatraveler

Best Disney WOrld Food For Vegans and Vegetarians

Although Walt Disney World advertises that it is “a vegetarian’s dream”, a quick evaluation of the menus and some interviews show that is quite an exaggeration. A lecto-ovo vegetarian will find a few menu items and has the option of removing items from many dishes. The vegan has a more difficult time. Disney’s recommendation to telephone the chefs of restaurants 72 hours ahead pf arrival is not an option for many people.

Here is our 2013 kudos:

BEST BUFFET: Tusker House (see photograph), African Kingdom – has a huge number of Indian and African menu items from salads to rice dishes. The staff will explain menu items.

BEST MENU ITEM: Liberty Tree Tavern (Magic Kingdom) offers a vegetarian burger of house made potatoe quinos with vegan tufo tzatzski sauce and sweet potato fries.

BEST DINNER ITEMS: Rose and Crown (Epcot) is an English pub serving a Vegetable Pie N Mash and a Vegetable Stone Pie on its dinner offerings. It is also the best patio spot to see the Epcot fireworks.

MOST FRIENDLY STAFF: Tokyo Dining (Japn Epcot) has a huge sushi menu plus vegetable tempura and vegetable croquettes. The manager will come to your table and discuss every menu item and diet issue with visitors.

BEST KID ITEM: Rainforest (Downtown Disney/Animal Kingdom) has a popular Portobello sandwich burger. Just oust the cheese.

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Streamsong May Change Fort Meade Forever

Posted on July 20, 2013 by floridatraveler

Streamsong May Change Fort Meade Forever

Fort Meade is the oldest (1849) town in Polk County. Started as a Seminole War fort once manned by one Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, whose memorial rests in Heritage Park, the town has reinvented itself many times.

It survived a Union raid on its cattle herds in 1864, a terrible downtown fire in the 1880s, and the up and down years of the phosphate boom and the citrus industry.

Today Fort Meade is undergoing a new experience: the development of a world class golf and spa resort Streamsong.

Two Ben Crenshaw/Tom Doak golf courses have been carved out of the rugged terrain. A lakeside guest house and fancy steakhouse have opened. By early 2014, the Lodge with an additional 216 guestrooms, spa, restaurants, and rooftop lounge will be added.

Located on the Upper Peace River, Streamsong will also feature bass fishing, hiking, and other sports. It will hard to imagine that Fort Meade will still have the image as a rustic little town in southeast Polk County.

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