Disney World Water Parks (Guest Post)
The Disney World resort is famous across the globe as a great holiday location for young and old, whether we’ve been there or not we’ve all heard about the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood studios and all the thrill rides that they offer. Something people may not be aware of however, even when travelling to Orlando, are the great water-parks. In a sense these are even more impressive that the theme parks simply because there is nothing like them in the UK, mainly due to our drab climate which isn’t particularly conducive to outdoor bathing. Of course the UK does have its share of open air pools but Tooting lido isn’t exactly a match for Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon!
These are Disney’s two main water-parks which were at one point accompanied by the slightly more tame River Country, although this closed in 2001. Blizzard Beach and Typhoon lagoon provide more than enough water-based excitement for the aquatic thrill seeker. If waves are your bag then Typhoon Lagoon will be right up your street, the main pool houses a wave machine producing crests up to six-foot high, although they feel a lot taller when in their midst! Like most water parks, Typhoon has a lazy river type ride running around the perimeter, here you can relax in an inflatable donut as the current gently ushers you along the meandering stream complete with elevation and speed variations!
For me, Blizzard beach is the main event, the parks’ signature ride is a steep, wide half pipe with sharp corners designed to be ridden in a multi-person donut. The main appeal of this particular slide is that as you descend the donut will rotate randomly with the water current meaning each member of your group takes a turn at being on the outside of a corner, teetering over the edge of a 50ft drop! The only disadvantage of the water-parks in Florida is that when it rains, it really rains and the parks often need to be closed for safety reasons, sitting atop a towering slide is not ideal in a tropical lightning storm! Aside from this these water-parks make a great addition to your Florida holidays and really need to be seen to be believed!
No CommentsWhat Am I Most Looking Forward To This Year?
Whilst I am a big fan of Florida and all things theme parks and you will never see or hear about me talking bad about the parks I will confess to liking things more than others and this year i am looking forward to a fair number of things.
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
This was the biggest thing for me this year as I am major fan of the franchise and cannot wait to see what they have done with the new land in Islands of Adventure. Whilst I think that I am certainly going to be a bit disappointed with some of the things on offer in this section I know there are going to be more wow’s than oh, that kinda sucked!
Star Tours For The Last Time (Kind Of)
Will Star Tours Still Look Like This?
If you are a big Disney fan or Star Wars fan (or like me a lot of both) you will know that Star Tours is going to be closing in September to make way for the newer version and it will be a bit sad going on this version of the ride for the very last time, I will be one of the last on it I believe. This is because although the ride isn’t as great as other motion simulators like Mission Space and The Simpsons ride, it is something I grew up riding and this is the reason I may just have a tear in my eye.
Captain EO
I have mentioned this in a previous post and I am really looking forward to going on this and seeing Jackson at his best as both my parents and everyone I have spoken to who has seen this have all said this was and still is one of Walt Disney World’s best attractions!
The Classics
Everyone Love's Classic's Like Splash Mountain
Florida wouldn’t be Florida without a ride on Splash, Thunder and Space mountain as well as seeing shows such as Wishes, Fantasmic and smelling those amazing smells you get when walking around all of the parks.
Everything Else
The above three are just a few of the things I am looking forward to seeing and I cannot wait to set foot in Main Street USA, walk around Marvel Land like an utter comic nerd and of course be reminded just why all of the theme parks in Florida put you in such a good mood until the next time you manage to get out there!
No CommentsDetails Have Arrived!
I am glad to finally say that all of my details for this year’s trip to Florida have arrived so all is well and I can oficially start the countdown now as everything is in order and ready to go!
I have to say that although I am really looking forward to Disney this year it is the Wizarding World Of Harry Potter that I am most looking forward to this year thanks to the fact that it is pretty much brand new and I have never seen it before. This is on top of the fact that I am a big fan of the books and the films so it all works out great!
Although just a short post this morning it is very much Florida related so I thought I would quickly throw it together!
No CommentsIs Surprising Someone With A Trip To Florida A Good Idea?
A trip to Florida is something that will put a smile on pretty much everyone’s face that is for sure but is surprising someone just a few days before really a good idea or is it something that is perhaps too much for them?
Of course my personal opinion is that as long as someone has also managed to book the time off work for me I would jump at the chance of someone telling me that I am off to Florida in just a few days but also would be a bit stressed as well because there are a number of things that need to be sorted before I could even get on the plane. This seems to be the biggest reason why a surprise like this one is not a good idea.
There are forms which have to be filled in, visas that you have to apply for online and get checked and then you have to tell the airline almost everything about where you are staying in the state and what you are going to be up to. You then have to think about packing your bag and buying all of the things you are going to need for the trip which will not come cheap. On top of this you are going to have to change your money up into spending money which of course results in even higher costs.
So by the looks of things so far a surprise trip to the theme parks in Orlando is completely out of question right? Well that is where you are wrong.
The Kids Love Surprises
When it comes to booking a surprise trip it may be a bad idea for adults but what do the kids actually need to worry about? You are filling out all of their forms, providing them with spending money and packing their suitcases for them. You could tell them you are going away on holiday but leave the Disney surprise until you get there. If it is the kids first time to Disney they are not going to know what to expect and the smile put on their faces when you arrive in the Magic Kingdom (always choose this one first when you have kids) is going to be one of the best sights you are going to ever experience as a parent.
So although not all surprises are a good one if you are giving the surprise of Florida to a nut like me or a child you are certainly going to be getting praises for a good number of months!
No CommentsWhy You Shouldn’t Pick Up A Map At The Magic Kingdom
I know I seem to write about the Magic Kingdom a fair bit on this blog, but the thing is, the place holds so many memories for me that it is really hard not to. I could really speak about any of the parks when it comes to this but like any blogger I am looking to churn out content as often as possible so perhaps I can carry this theme on like I did with many of the Harry Potter posts.
The Magic Kingdom is usually the park in which people will go to first and with this I am talking about newcomers to the parks. This is because it is the flagship park for Disney and also the first to be built in Florida and people always assume that it is the best of the parks on offer.
So Do You Need A Map?
When you are entering the park the very first thing you will see is everyone dashing to get one of the maps or in my case dashing to see what they have put on the front of it for that year. If you are a first timer to the park then I urge you not to do this and to walk into the park without a map, an app activated on anything like this because you would be making a mistake. Although it can be great to actually walk around the park with a map and directions in what you are doing the Magic Kingdom is one of those places that you can be self guided and because there is so much going on all of the time it is very hard to set a time to do something. Go around the park whichever way you fancy, there are many ways people do it to speed up time and beat the crowds but the best way to have fun is to do it your way!
You will easily spot the biggest rides and the way to do the parks is to experience it your own way, going the way in which a guide or map tells you too is really going to ruin the first time experience.
In the end the decision in what you do when it comes to going around the Magic Kingdom is up to you, do it in the way that feels best for you and you are guaranteed to have one of the most magical days you have ever had in your life!
No CommentsWhy The Worst Days To Visit One Of The Parks Are Always The Best
I know this title doesn’t make too much sense and I also know that I haven’t been able to put a post on here in a while (very busy unfortunately) I am going to make an effort to try and put at least five a week on here and in the process hopefully improve the way the visits are going because at the moment it seems to be just a few odd people coming into the site and staying to have a read.
The busiest times of year to visit one of the theme parks in Orlando, Florida are of course the peak times like the school holidays, summer an Christmas and New Year and whilst many people would speak out saying that these are among the worst times to go to the park thanks to the fact that they are packed and you are not likely to get on hardly any of the rides I think personally that these people are very wrong and here is why.
Celebrations In The Parks
Nine times out of ten you will find that there are extra things going on around the parks and this is all makes sense because there are people around to enjoy them. For example you will find that on Halloween there are costumed parties and events and the same can be said for Christmas too! When it comes to events like 4th of July you will find that the park is at its busiest but the Magic Kingdom will show not only the best fireworks in all of the theme parks in Florida but one of the best show of fireworks in the world.
So although the parks are a lot busier when it comes to these peak times, if a large crowd is something you can handle then go for it because you are going to have a great time and the whole family will enjoy it!
No CommentsPhoto Of The Week 28-7-2010
I missed out on the photo of the week last week thanks to the fact I had something a bit more important to blog about and I have been pretty busy for the last 8 days which is why there has not been a blog post on here recently but to try and keep some kind of pattern going on the blog I am actually going to include one this week!
Many people miss things like this and it is important to realise just how much work Disney put into their parks! I believe this is on the way out when you are walking out of the Magic Kingdom. It’s always a bit sad for me because it is one of the last things I see of the park!
Planning A Trip To Florida: A Few Tips
I think it is pretty safe to say that planning to go on that big trip to Florida, or Orlando more specifically is actually something that takes a lot of time, thought and effort. It can also take a lot of stress up too so here are some tips to help you out.
Do Things Together
Make sure that you plan the trip together and that you do not let one person do things because when it comes to arriving there people are going to be complaining that they have not got the things they wanted booked. Lets face it, booking things together is much more fun and it gets everyone in the family more excited for the trip. I know the girlfriend and I have spent countless evenings together looking into some of the restaurants we are going to be eating at as part of the Disney Dining Plan.
Been Before?
If you have been before then you will know most of the rides out there and how long it takes to get around each theme park. Plan ahead and discuss the days in which you are going to go to each park. You do not need to go into which ride you will be going into at what time because then it just gets a bit silly. Make sure you leave a couple of days free so you can do what you want in this time.
Exchange Rate/ Clothes
Make sure you always keep your eye on the exchange rate. Keep a bit money on the side in case the dollar rate start looks good and you can rush in to grab some, well change the money don’t go in there and demand dollars or you will be sitting in a cell rather than on the plane!
Look out for bargains when it comes to summer clothes all year round so that when it comes to a few weeks before you do not have to get ripped off on all of your clothes and holiday items.
Just Have Fun
One of the key things about planning a trip like this one is to have fun with it, getting the whole family together is going to help and the thing we used to do (okay, I still do it) is to have a big countdown on the wall and cross off each day as it passes.
These are just a few tips, stick with us as we will be publishing more and more as the blog gains age and power!
Whatever the planning procedure, make sure you have a fantastic time and say hello to Mickey from us here at Top Florida Guide!
No CommentsNewcomer To Disney World Loved It!
You may remember me mentioning a few weeks back that I was going through a few bits with my mate who was heading off to Disney World for a week before he headed onto the Amazon rainforest for a few more weeks. Well he his back and I have to be honest, I didn’t think for one second that he would be the type of person to really enjoy Disney, well he loved it!
The Rides
He said that the rides were a lot better than the ones that you can find in places such as Thorpe Park and Alton Towers here in the UK, and that even the smaller rides that he thought were just for kids were very enjoyable indeed. Rides such as It’s A Small World and Mickey’s Philarmagic he said he actually really enjoyed stating further that I knew what I was talking about when it came to the parks.
Overall Experience
When it came to the overall experience of the place he said he was like nothing he had ever seen before and contrary to his belief the staff were not wearing fake smiles but actually enjoying the experience of working for Disney.
The only groan he had was the fact that a lot of the food was the same, burgers and hot dogs everywhere for which I replied he must not have been looking in the right places because Disney has one of the widest selections of restaurants in the world!
All in all you can see that he loved it and already he is planning on going again, this time including Universal and other parks like Busch Gardens. We are thinking of taking a joint trip with our girlfriends in a couple of years time, something that would be pretty awesome.
No CommentsCaptain EO Proves To Be A Hit!
You may remember me mentioning that the Michael Jackson show, Captain EO had made its’ return to EPCOT well the verdict from the fans are in and I have to say it is looking very good indeed.
Here are what some of the fans had to say:
” I saw it when I was little, I don’t remember around what age and I all I remember best is Hooter and obviously captain EO, its better now because now I appreciate it”
” So we came out of there and he was crying, admit it, you were crying! I was, I was crying, we really can change the world. The Disney/Jackson partnership again is great, it means Disney really have faith in him again”
Disney Insider
“When we really wanted to keep it exactly the same as it was in the 80s so we brought back the same person that put it together way back in 86″
This is really what Disney World is all about, making people happy and bringing passion into the parks. Although captain EO is not going to be around long it is good to see many of the fans very happy indeed.
No Comments