When people hear Orlando, the first thing they think of is Disneyland and all the children related stuff that it offers. But Orlando is much more than that and it offers many restaurants with excellent cuisines. Once you get a taste of the food in Orlando, you will come back for more. So go ahead and treat yourself while there. Here are some of the places you can dine in while in Orlando.

Boma – located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, it is definitely a place to try. It offers the best buffet selection in the Disney park area. This could be a good option if you are traveling with children as it will give you an array of different foods that will satisfy just about everyone. Here you will find American dishes and they also cater to exotic dishes like the ones from Africa and other countries. (photo courtesy: mouseplanet.com)

Citricos – if you want a dining place that is away from the hustle and bustle of all the theme parks, then Citricos is for you. Located at the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, they specialty is Floridian-Mediterranean cuisine and the food is made with market fresh ingredients. It is important to mention here that Citricos is a semi-formal dining establishment and they have a dress code. Business casual attire is fine!

Shula’s Steakhouse – a very popular steakhouse that is home to the famous New York strip steaks, Shula caters to tourists as well as local people from the surrounding areas. They also carry a wide selection of poultry, lamb and seafood just in case you are not in the mood for steaks.

Arthur’s 27 – this is a very romantic and beautiful dining restaurant within the Disney World area. It is perched on top of the Windham Palace Resort which gives you a great view of Disney World. Shula’s is known for its delectable seafood dishes so if you like seafood this is the place for you. (photo courtesy: hotelplanner.com)

There are many more excellent restaurants at Disneyland but these are just a few of the ones I know about. It is a good idea to make reservations in advance to dine at any of these restaurants. As a matter of fact, make your reservations at least a month in advance because, as you know, Disney World is a very busy place.

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Post tags: animal kingdom, Arthur's 27 restaurant, Boma restaurant, Citricos restaurant, Disney World, Disneyland., florida, Magic Kingdom, Orlando restaurants, Shula restaurant

First of all, booking a hotel is easy to do and you do have lots of them to choose from. But you also want to discover the sights around Orlando and the fun places you and your family can enjoy. You really should become acquainted with the city of Orlando and its people. Of course, a visit to Disneyland should be included in your vacation plans to Orlando Florida. After all, Disneyland is a place where most people do plan to visit on their Florida travel vacation.

So what are your options for your family vacation to Orlando? For starters, you can check local ticket agencies and see what they are offering as a package. Some packages include your hotel accommodations, tours and meal arrangements. One benefit about these vacation packages is that you don’t have to worry about where to go in Orlando because they will have your vacation itinerary planned for you. It is also a great way for you to meet other families who are on vacation. Sightseeing around the city of Orlando you can make lots of new friends who also purchased the same package you have.

There are also lots of time-share packages to choose from. Most resorts do offer time-share packages for value conscious families. The best part of this is that some of these time-share packages allow you to stay at very nice resorts that are close to all major tourist attractions. Normally, these resorts are located within a few miles from major attractions like Disneyland. The time-share vacation condo units or resort packages as they are sometimes called can often be much cheaper than going out on your own. You can save lots of money as time-share plans will let you enjoy your stay at economical cost. (photo courtesy: timeshare101.com)

Another option you have is to rent a vacation home. Believe me, there are lots of vacation homes available for rental in Florida and especially in the Orlando area. If you are planning your dream vacation to Orlando for more than a two week stay, renting a vacation home may be ideal for you. Extended stays in hotels can be expensive and more so if you have children. Time-share vacation packages normally offer just a two week stay for use of the resort or condo so renting a home for a longer stay may be just what you need. (photo courtesy: discount vacationrentalsonline.com)

Here is another option for you. If you made your vacation plans with the idea of visiting Disneyland, then consider staying at a Walt Disney resort. These resorts offer packages that are built around the plan of touring Disney. You do have numerous resorts to choose from that cater to different tastes so choosing the right one will not be a problem. Find one that includes lots of fun things to do at a price that you can afford. And remember that Florida travel is still very affordable for most people.

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Post tags: Disney World, Disney World resorts, florida, Magic Kingdom, resort packages, Theme Parks, Timeshare Condos, tourist attractions, vacation homes, vacation rentals

Be sure to get to Fantasyland early in the morning to avoid long lines. As the day progresses, the place will fill up quickly and you will see very long lines later in the afternoon hours. An important thing to remember is that none of the attractions in Fantasyland have FastPass which basically allows you to make an appointment to go on certain rides but this option is not available at Fantasyland. What you can do is cover the areas you want at Fantasyland and then go and get FastPasses for other attractions.

Believe me, the crowds will start growing rapidly within a few hours of Disneyland opening every day. But if you arrive before the park opens you can be amongst the first ones through the gate and you can head straight to Fantasyland before going anywhere else. This will allow you to go on all the rides you want while people are waiting on long lines to get in. While at Fantasyland, start collecting FastPass tickets for other attractions that you want to visit throughout the park. You can start doing this early in the morning because the longer you wait, the longer it will be for your appointed time. One thing to keep in mind is that your appointed time is dependant on how many FastPasses have been issued for each ride. (photo courtesy: concierge.com)

Don’t waste any time though. While waiting for your first FastPass appointment, go ahead and enjoy some of the other attractions. You can also visit some of the shops or maybe get a snack. This is also a good time to visit the restrooms and just sitting down to get a little rest will be nice. But do remember that in order to enjoy everything that Disney has to offer you should start your day at Fantasyland. You can then proceed to gather FastPass tickets and enjoy other attractions in between. By all means, don’t put yourself on a very tight schedule that you forget to have fun.

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Post tags: Disney, Disney FastPass, Magic Kingdom, Orlando. Orlando Florida

Somehow, the first thing you think of when someone mentions Orlando is Walt Disney World resort. It is the largest resort in the world with hotels, theme parks and water parks that you can visit and have lots of fun with the whole family. Located a short distance from the Orlando city limits, the Disney resort is by far the best place for families and kids to stay and you will have an unforgettable vacation.

Imagine this, within Disney there are four theme parks and each one has a towering structure that represents a unique theme that is distinct from the other theme parks. Every theme park is different and caters to different tastes but while there, you might as well visit all of them. There is no time to waste while at Disney so do take advantage of everything Disney has to offer for the whole family and make your dreams come true. If you are traveling in the summer months when it’s real hot in Orlando, there are water parks for you to cool down and at the same time have some wet and wild fun as well. (photo courtesy: weblo.com)

Another great place to visit in Orlando is the Universal Studio’s resort. Much like Disney, there you will find subsets to the area which serves different wants and needs to the visitors. During the day, you may want to spend some time at the Universal Studio Florida theme park. This is a theme park like Disney with rides that are inspired by the movies made by Universal. If you’ve never been here, this is a place you don’t want to miss. All the themes are segregated by sections in the park and there is also a Kid Zone for active fun for children. And, Universal Studios owns six islands all with their own feel to them like Jurassic Park Island theme take from the book and movie of the same name. So be sure to explore those islands while there. (photo courtesy: igougo.com)

SeaWorld also has a theme park in Orlando but unlike Disney and Universal Studios, there are no distinct themes separating it into different sections. What they have are zoned areas separating their various displays onsite. An example of this is Shamu’s happy harbor which is basically a place for children to have fun. SeaWorld is best know for its famous whale called Shamu but there are also rides, attractions and exhibits dedicated to the display of marine life. The thing to remember about SeaWorld is that it is not only a place to have fun but it is also very educational in nature. A visit to SeaWorld will allow you to gain new respect for the earth’s sea creatures. No wonder SeaWorld is ranked the 7th most visited park in the U.S. (photo courtesy: flickr)

Are you starting to see why Orlando, Florida is one of the top vacation places in the world? There are so many places to visit and things to do in Orlando that it is almost impossible to list them all here. All I can tell you is that a family vacation to Orlando will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Visit Orlando once and you will be back for more!

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Post tags: Disney, Disneyland., florida, Florida Travel, Orlando, SeaWorld, Universal Studio, Vacation in Orlando

“We are so grateful to Ronnie McDowell and his team for agreeing to support the Florida Chautauqua Center and our upcoming 2011 Assembly,” says Dennis Ray, Chairman of the Board, who approached McDowell about supporting the official Florida Chautauqua Assembly several months ago. “Mr. McDowell’s national travel schedule is extremely tight, and to bring such a high-profile singer to our DeFuniak Springs community is extremely rare. We can’t express our gratitude to him enough for helping support our historic Assembly.”

Ronnie McDowell charted a string of hit singles and albums for the Epic label between 1979 and 1986. Every single release with the exception of just one became a Top 10 Hit including the chart toppers “Older Women” and “You’re Gonna Ruin My Bad Reputation.” Other hits during his Epic years included “Watchin Girls Go By,” “Personally,” “You Made A Wanted Man Of Me,” “All Tied Up,” and “In A New York Minute.”

Moving to Curb Records in 1986, his current label to date, McDowell scored a Top 10 hit with “It’s Only Make Believe,” a duet with Conway Twitty on what was Twitty’s breakthrough hit from 1958. Two years later Ronnie teamed up with Jerry Lee Lewis for a rocking duet that McDowell wrote titled,”You’re Never Too Old To Rock N’ Roll.” He also recorded yet another Top 10 hit with his version of the pop standard “Unchained Melody,” which also became a #1 country music video. His entertaining abilities soared and he began to draw larger crowds. He started appearing in larger venues and touring with artists such as Conway Twitty, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn before headlining his own shows. (photo courtesy: Florida Chautauqua)

Ronnie McDowell is still constantly in demand on the road and he tours relentlessly with his band the Rhythm Kings. Additionally, he often tours with Elvis Presley’s original sidemen Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana along with Millie Kirkham and The Jordanaires staging a tribute to Elvis Presley’s music.

So pack your bags and come on down to attend this one of a kind event. For more information about the August 26th performance in DeFuniak Springs by Ronnie McDowell, call the Florida Chautauqua Center office at ( 850 )  892-7613 or log on to their website at www.FloridaChautauquaAssembly.org

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Post tags: Conway Twitty, D.J. Fontana, DeFuniak Springs, Elvis Presley, florida, Florida Travel, Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Scotty Moore, Tammy Wynette, The Jordanaires, Travel

Orlando is home of the famous Walt Disney World and many other theme parks and it is packed with kids of all ages. For health and safety precautions, if you are traveling with children or other family members that have health issues or limitations, make sure you bring that information about those issues with you. In the event there is an emergency with a child or family member, having the health records handy will help you get medical assistance faster.

What is the best month of the year to visit Orlando? May! It is during the month of May that we have lower humidity and sometimes less rainfall which makes it an ideal time to visit Orlando. If you do decide on a summer vacation, be aware that the sun can be brutal during the summer months. My advice is to bring a strong sunscreen preferably a factor of 35 or more to avoid sunburns. Also, do bring lots of drinking water to prevent from getting dehydrated.

While in Orlando if you enjoy something different, take the family on a bus ride. There is public transportation in Orlando known as the LYNX that serves all of Central Florida. You can easily spot the bus stops as these are marked with a pink paw or some have just a bus symbol. The bus fare is less than two dollars for each person. LYNX offers another bus system and this one is called the LYMMO. This one system offers free rides within the downtown area of Orlando.

Of course a must see place for the entire family is the famous Walt Disney World with its fantastic theme parks and lots of other attractions. You can then visit The International Drive where SeaWorld and Universal Orlando are located. Besides the two theme parks here, you will also find entertainment, dining, and lots of shopping places. Keep looking and you will come across other attractions like Wet n’ Wild water park, Skull Kingdom, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. If you prefer activities other than Disney while in Orlando, just go south to Kissimmee and there you will find lots of places to go fishing, golfing, hiking, horse back riding and airboat rides. (photo courtesy: uptake.com)

It is almost impossible to list all the great places you can visit in Orlando. What I can tell you is that it is truly a family entertainment dreams come true and that is why over forty million people visit Orlando every year. Now it is your turn so pack your bags and come on down!

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Post tags: Disney, Orlando, Orlando rides, SeaWorld, Theme Parks, Universal Orlando, Vacations, Walt Disney World, Water parks

The best thing to do to get pampered on your next Disneyland vacation is to book your room at one of the Disney resorts and upgrading it to a room that includes concierge services. Yes, it will cost you more but the service you get will be a memorable experience. Rooms that include concierge service at Disney are much nicer and included in the price of the room are free bottle water, coffee and tea, and soft drinks at all times. There is a concierge counter so you will be able to check in and out faster.

Once you have access to the concierge lounge, you will be able to enjoy continental breakfast every morning in the lounge or if you prefer you can also choose to take your breakfast back to your room. There are lots of Disney videos for the kids to watch and while they are busy enjoying the videos you can enjoy a wine tasting event in the lounge as well. There are many more concierge perks available but these differ from one resort to another, so be sure to contact the resort you have an interest in to determine if the services provided will benefit you and your family. When you call the resort, ask to be connected with the concierge desk to make sure that you get accurate information. (photo courtesy: babble.com)

As stated before, the cost to upgrade to concierge service is more expensive but it will be worth it for you and your family. Just think of it this way. When you start adding up the cost for breakfast, coffee or tea, bottle water and even renting videos for the children you may find out that your entire Disney vacation may be a little less expensive for you. Once you’ve experienced the concierge service provided at Disney resorts, you may not be satisfied with anything less on future Disneyland vacations. The concierge service is great and can make your trip more enjoyable and relaxing.

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Post tags: Disney, Disney Characters, Disney Concierge Services, florida, travel to florida

If you desire that Orlando Florida vacation and want to cut down on the total of your travel cost, then you better spend some time to find the best airfare deals available. Like everything else, you have to shop around to get the best deals. Here are some suggestions on how to do just that.

Search the Internet for Discounts

Most airline and travel companies on the Internet offer low airfare rates, and is quite convenient for consumers since they can easily book the flights they want in the convenience of their own home or even at the office. It’s quite easy to look for the best airfare deals on the Web since you can utilize search engines to find the information you need. You can look up travel-related companies like Orbitz and this one has a price assurance guarantee. This means that if another customer purchased an airline ticket cheaper than what you paid, Orbitz will refund the difference to you. Another company that I like is ChepOair which also offers very cheap airline tickets. These online companies are affiliated with known airlines and you can have them book your flights for you. You can also check on other possible deals that will help minimize your travel costs with other benefits. These companies offer travel or vacation packages that includes hotel accommodations, transportation costs, and of course, your airfare. (photo courtesy: research.globalthoughtz.com)

Contact a Travel Agent

Travel agents are quite handy to have around if you need to have your flight booked according to your specifications without having to do it on your own. One advantage to getting these experts do your work for you is their contacts in the travel industry to find the best airfare deals for you in the shortest possible time. Provide them with the details of your travel plans, such as the exact date you want to leave and return from your destination, and how much you want to spend.

Book Off-Peak hour Flights

If you want to get the cheapest airfare deals in the industry, then you might want to book your flight during off-peak hours which means traveling late in the evening or early in the morning. In most cases, these airlines offer quite a discount for last minute deals just to get as many passengers as possible for every trip. Do keep in mind that if there are many bookings for these flights, seats may not be readily available so contact several airline companies. It is an option to consider and you will save some money.

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Post tags: cheapOair, off-peak travel, Orbitz, Orlando, travel agents, travel to florida, travel to Orlando

No matter what your vacation destination is, you will need to take the climate into consideration. If you are visiting a tropical location like Florida, you will need to bring along the appropriate clothing. Bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops are common apparel found at beaches and aboard cruise ships. While you may be expecting warm and sunny weather, it is still advised that you prepare for the worst. Raincoats and an umbrella may be a great addition to your summer clothing.

Whenever you leave home, no matter where you are traveling to, you are always encouraged to have the proper forms of identification. If you do not have a driver’s license, you can easily obtain an id card from your local county office building. In addition to the proper identification, it is advised that you bring along all health insurance and auto insurance cards. Should you need care or get into an automobile accident; this information will come in handy.

Perhaps, the most popular summer vacation destination is the beach. Each year millions of individuals and families flock to beaches. When vacationing at the beach, it is important that you bring along the appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Many vacationers do not realize the dangers of sunbathing without sunscreen and during the summer, the sun in Florida can be brutal. In addition to sunscreen, you will need to make sure that you have beach towels and plenty of water on hand. (photo courtesy: coastrentals.com)

Cruise ships are a popular vacation choice for many individuals and families. When preparing for your cruise, it is important to keep in mind where your ship will be headed and what stops are planned along the way. When on international waters or traveling to a foreign country, a passport is required. If you do not already have a passport you will need to obtain one. Passports can easily be obtained, but they do require approval and you should apply for a passport as soon as you make your cruise ship reservation. (photo courtesy: easytravelcentral.com)

In addition to the above mentioned preparation tips, you are urged to inform friends and family members of where you are headed to. If you have an itinerary, you are encouraged to give this information to someone that you know. In the event that something happens back home, you can easily be reached. Also remember that if you have any pets, you will need to make the proper arrangements for someone to care for or feed them.

It cannot be emphasized how important the preparation for your summer vacation is. Preparing for your vacation may seem overwhelming, but if you do your preparation in steps the process becomes easier to manage.

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Post tags: beach vacations, cruise vacations., florida, Vacations

When you plan a Florida travel vacation, the first thing that comes to mind is where to stay. Here again you do have many choices of hotels and resorts. Did you know that there are wildlife themed hotels in Orlando? Yes, they do exist! So if you and your family enjoy watching nature shows or enjoy wildlife in general, then stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Here, you will be staying in a hotel styled after Africa’s reputation for wild game, offering its own wildlife reserve so that the guests can check out and gain new respect for animals out in the open.

But maybe you prefer a beach style Disney vacation. If you enjoy going to the beach, and you want to experience this while going out to Disney on vacation, you can opt to stay at the Beach Club Resort. This is Disney’s lakeside resort for those who want wet and wild fun mixed in with their vacations. There are other places for most people who want to have a touch of Disney in their vacations as well. You can check Disney’s site online and see what they have to offer to your taste. You can also check the hotels combined website and see if you can get some discounts. (photo courtesy: flickr)

Now the questions is what places do you want to visit while in Orlando? Almost certainly everybody who visits Disney World has plans to take a tour through its theme parks, and Disney has no shortage of them. If you want to go out on a magical experience, you’ll want to go to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Set in a gorgeous medieval castle style, this theme park takes magic to a whole new level. There you can find attractions inspired by Disney’s fantasy movies, and you can meet the characters themselves. If you grew up watching cartoon movies, then the inner child in you will truly find a home. (photo courtesy: flickr)

While there, don’t forget to visit the water parks. Perfect for the warm temperatures of Orlando, Disney’s water parks are a nice getaway to soak in the sun and have some fun in the water. Water slides serve to provide some fast, wet fun and action, giving adrenaline rushes to everybody. There are also rides that cater to those who want to chill, or race around in water.

Needless to say, almost everybody can find something that he or she will like in a Disney theme park. And with competitive rates being offered, families can take a vacation without having to worry about it being too expensive for them. The best thing is that all facilities are complete, so no worries about having your needs fulfilled while on your Orlando Disney vacation.

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Post tags: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club Resort, Disney Water Parks, Disney's Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks