We love that the area attractions of South Florida stretch from Miami to Palm Beach -- it's like having a huge backyard. But for times when you want something a little more exotic, let's not forget that Orlando is a terrific getaway and a great chance to experience it from an "insiders" point of view. Here are some quick tips to take advantage of this backyard destination.
Getting There: The Turnpike cuts straight up the center of the state. This road is in perfect shape, and there are a lot less drivers, probably due to the fact that you pay a toll. A very small toll.
If you're in Fort Lauderdale, just take Atlantic Westbound, and hop on the Turnpike and head North. If you don't have one already, buy a Sunpass for as little as $4.99 so you can zip through the toll booth without stopping to pay. You can pre-load funds, or attach a credit card to the pass which is charged only when you go through the toll booth. (This pass is also the only way to use the Express Lane on the 95 to Miami now.)
In about 3 hours you're in Orlando -- before you can say bippity-boppity-boo.
Staying There: Orlando has motels, time-shares, and resorts for every budget. We prefer to stay at a Disney resort as they offer park perks that make it much smoother. Disneyworld is huge, but has a myriad of buses, ferries and a monorail to transport you from park to park, from your resort and to others.
We love the Dolphin Hotel Resort -- it's modern, has a ferry to Epcot, and buses everywhere else. It's a Starwood property, and we love their loyalty program as their brands include so many levels of hotel choices. The Dolphin has a spa, and several really good restaurants.
Benefits for staying at a Disney Resort property include discounts, a special line to enter, and one park stays open late each day, and only resort hotel guests have that later access -- once the crowds shrink down, you can enjoy the park even more.
Playing There: If you have a Florida ID, you qualify for Disney resident specials which they often feature. This weekend, we paid $120 for a 3-day pass, good for one visit to any 3 parks for 6 months. Regular 1-day price is $85.
We agree with the Disney guidebook's advice to do three of the parks in the following order: Epcot, Animal Kingdom and then Magic Kingdom. Do not miss Animal Kingdom. We loved the safari experience -- and then the walk-a-bout tour gave us the closest access to Silverback Gorillas we'd only dreamed about.
Magic Kingdom is the classic. Rides, attractions, and the new Be Our Guest restaurant all await you. If waiting in lines is not your thing, either pay for the Fast Pass feature where you ride at appointed times, or if you are older or have an injury, they offer front of the line handicapped passes.
Stay for Disney at Night -- the Main Street Electrical Parade kicks it off, and the park is truly magical once the sun goes down and Disney lights up.
For dinner or other evening activities, we love hopping a bus to Downtown Disney -- entertainment and dining line the festive, lively boulevard.
Do not miss the chance to soar 400 feet above the lagoon in their Characters in Flight hot air balloon!
Perfect cap-off to a perfect Disney experience.
Once your stay is over, like Cinderella, turn yourself back into a pumpkin, get on the Turnpike and you will be back home before you know it.
Overall, check the Disneyworld website often for specials, and have a wonderful little getaway -- the world is closer than you think!
Getting There: The Turnpike cuts straight up the center of the state. This road is in perfect shape, and there are a lot less drivers, probably due to the fact that you pay a toll. A very small toll.
If you're in Fort Lauderdale, just take Atlantic Westbound, and hop on the Turnpike and head North. If you don't have one already, buy a Sunpass for as little as $4.99 so you can zip through the toll booth without stopping to pay. You can pre-load funds, or attach a credit card to the pass which is charged only when you go through the toll booth. (This pass is also the only way to use the Express Lane on the 95 to Miami now.)
In about 3 hours you're in Orlando -- before you can say bippity-boppity-boo.
Staying There: Orlando has motels, time-shares, and resorts for every budget. We prefer to stay at a Disney resort as they offer park perks that make it much smoother. Disneyworld is huge, but has a myriad of buses, ferries and a monorail to transport you from park to park, from your resort and to others.
We love the Dolphin Hotel Resort -- it's modern, has a ferry to Epcot, and buses everywhere else. It's a Starwood property, and we love their loyalty program as their brands include so many levels of hotel choices. The Dolphin has a spa, and several really good restaurants.
Benefits for staying at a Disney Resort property include discounts, a special line to enter, and one park stays open late each day, and only resort hotel guests have that later access -- once the crowds shrink down, you can enjoy the park even more.
Playing There: If you have a Florida ID, you qualify for Disney resident specials which they often feature. This weekend, we paid $120 for a 3-day pass, good for one visit to any 3 parks for 6 months. Regular 1-day price is $85.
We agree with the Disney guidebook's advice to do three of the parks in the following order: Epcot, Animal Kingdom and then Magic Kingdom. Do not miss Animal Kingdom. We loved the safari experience -- and then the walk-a-bout tour gave us the closest access to Silverback Gorillas we'd only dreamed about.
Magic Kingdom is the classic. Rides, attractions, and the new Be Our Guest restaurant all await you. If waiting in lines is not your thing, either pay for the Fast Pass feature where you ride at appointed times, or if you are older or have an injury, they offer front of the line handicapped passes.
Stay for Disney at Night -- the Main Street Electrical Parade kicks it off, and the park is truly magical once the sun goes down and Disney lights up.
For dinner or other evening activities, we love hopping a bus to Downtown Disney -- entertainment and dining line the festive, lively boulevard.
Do not miss the chance to soar 400 feet above the lagoon in their Characters in Flight hot air balloon!
Perfect cap-off to a perfect Disney experience.
Once your stay is over, like Cinderella, turn yourself back into a pumpkin, get on the Turnpike and you will be back home before you know it.
Overall, check the Disneyworld website often for specials, and have a wonderful little getaway -- the world is closer than you think!
No comments:
Post a Comment