Tag Archives: orlando

Orlando is not just for children

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Orlando tourist board to target adults without children

orlando-skyline-lake-lucerne

The Orlando skyline

Visit Orlando (Orlando’s tourist board) is to launch a campaign in October to promote Orlando as a place for adults without children to choose as their next holiday destination.

For many years, Orlando has been seen as a haven for children to enjoy Disney, Universal, Legoland and its numerous other attractions, with Mum, Dad and Grandparents going along for the ride.

However this is not the case.  Orlando offers an exciting nightlife, has many places to visit, to wine and dine, and further afield there are national parks to enjoy and stunning beaches to relax on.  Not to mention the huge amounts of theme parks that aren’t just for kids!

For outdoor activities and spot, Orlando offers world class Golf courses, fishing, hot air balloon rides, watersports, swimming with Manatees, scuba diving and snorkelling, and loads of other outdoor activities.

We’ve visited Orlando without children before, and had a great time in Disney, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove.  The restaurants and generous American portions go a long way to help, too.  We’ve gone further afield to visit the Florida Keys and Everglades, and the Gulf coast is supposed to be stunning.

So don’t wait for little people to turn up on the scene, visit our villa now before it’s too late and you’re worrying about whether the pool child safety screen is up!

Orlando villa prices up 22 percent this year

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Mini bubble or true growth for villa prices?

The Florida market looks more promising than it has done in a long time if you were planning on waiting for true stable growth before purchasing a vacation rental in the Orlando or Davenport area.

However, 41 percent of house owners still owe more on their mortgage than the house is worth.  There are some initiatives like the Hardest Hit Fund that help out with childcare, utilities, legal costs, employment and healthcare – but when will this money run out?  It’s still a risky time in the market when all of the facts and figures are considered.  Is the so-called stability just government funded out of a resource pool that will dry up?

On the flip-side, the annual increase in the average house price is up 22 percent from last year.  Unfortunately I don’t have figures for villa prices to hand.  That sort of growth isn’t sustainable but it shows a sign of trust in the market for potential buyers.  Most houses have multiple offers for the buyer’s consideration.  Talking of the flip-side – house flipping is back in vogue, which will probably do nothing to help the market stability.

So I’ll still sit on the fence with regards to advice on villa prices – but if you can buy now and commit long term with dedication to vacation rental marketing, you are sure to at least cover the interest on the mortgage.

Walt Disney World Speedway NASCAR driving experience

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I learnt that there is a Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando today. As a car fan and petrolhead this is hard to ignore, especially since our private villa accommodation is so close to Disney itself. What a great addition to the list of things to do during your Orlando vacation or Florida escape to the sun.

So what does the Walt Disney World Speedway offer the Disney fan or Cars Petrolhead?

First of all, an adult can either drive or ride shotgun in a NASCAR race car around the mile long race track. 600hp to play with, and up to 140mph of fun. Slightly more than the Interstate-4 speed limit I believe. Even faster than the theme park rides at Universal Studios (think HULK) and Magic Kingdom. More exclusive too – how many people have driven a NASCAR?

For the younger person on holiday, they can join in the fun with a ride along in the NASCAR, so no one feels left out. These are available for children between the ages of 6 and 13 years old and at least 48 inches tall.

Walt Disney World Speedway is located in Orlando Florida and is a 1 mile “tri-oval” circuit. Built in 1995 for IndyCar but now the home to the Richard Petty Driving Experience. Link is below.

Walt Disney World Speedway

Make this part of your vacation when you next visit our Orlando Disney Villa! Or how about a day away from the Orlando Golf courses instead? You only live once!

Will I need pool heating in my Florida Villa?

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Will we need pool heating when we book your Orlando villa?

Clearly there are variations of the temperature in Orlando Florida from year to year, so this is only a guide. We will do our best to give you an idea as to whether you should opt for pool heating for your golf or disney villa experience.

In summary, to guarantee a nice pool you would want to have pool heating from November through to March. October and April are a conservative “yes” if you want to be safe rather than sorry.

Even our south facing pool will be too cold to enjoy during the winter months, so pool heating is a must.

In the summer months most people don’t want or need any pool heat. The pool will always feel cool at first but it is normally fine after a minute or two.

heated pool

heated pool

You must be aware that even though the pool heaters are effective they will only heat to a certain amount above the air temperature. So in unusually cold weather the pool may still be cooler than normal. We are sorry that in these circumstances a refund of the pool heating fee is not possible because the heater is still working and using electricity.

You can assist the pool heating by using a pool blanket, and should always use it at night because the pool will be warmer much quicker on the following morning.

Our spa uses the same heat as the pool, so do not expect a dramatic difference between the pool and spa.

In short, this isn’t an exact science but we hope it gives you a good idea of what to expect in Orlando. A pool is a fantastic asset to any holiday home and you will love our particular one – with large deck and lanai.

Will Florida Hurricanes spoil my holiday in Orlando? Unlikely!

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June to November is officially Florida Hurricanes Season, but would this impact your holiday at all?

In short, the vast majority of people are not affected. Good news. Chances are very slim that your holiday will be spoilt.

Disney Land is over 1 hour from any coast – hurricanes tend to lose power when they hit land. Most Florida hurricanes hit coastal areas the hardest.

Walt Disney World theme parks have only ever closed for short periods in 1999 and 2004. They also have a policy for when their parks close, same as Busch Gardens.

If you are worried, buy insurance for peace of mind, specifically for Florida hurricanes cancellation. You can visit the national hurricane center website too, for predictions.

Hurricane Insurance link

We’ve been to Florida several times, and had no disruption at all. Indeed most holidays could be affected by bad weather.

Florida Hurricanes on wiki