Kissimmee softly (Kissimmee)

Member Name: angusreid

Product:	Kissimmee
Date:	01/11/03 (186 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: FUN, CHEAP, HOT

Disadvantages: PLASTICY, LONG FLIGHT

Question.

Where would you find Disney World?

If you answered Orlando, then try again.

Disney World belongs to Kissimmee (kizzemmmee)

In fact, Kissimmee provides more fun, entertainment and family value than Orlando and International Drive in my honest opinion.

Having travelled to Florida some 9 times now, I feel that I can tell you about the places to visit and how to get the most for your money.
No fancy descriptions, no plugs, no advertising. Just plain, down to earth honesty.

Kissimmee is located south, East and West of Disneyworld, and has a main thorough fare, called W Irlo Bronson memorial Highway, or H192 for short.

My stop of point is Orange Lake, a time share resort situated in the shadow of Animal Kingdom. I posted an op on Orange Lake a while back under the guise of angusreid, so go look it up if you wish to know more. Let’s just say this visit made me feel like Gerald Durrell as we had a Racoon greet us on the veranda, a snake in the kitchen, a Possum snooping around at night, and an armadillo greeting us as we did our 7.a.m. run along the borders of the resort.

ACCOMMODATION

There are many hotel chains across the H192, ranging from the cheap and cheerful (less than £20 for a family room) to some extravagant Disney hotels commanding over £100 per night. My favourite is the Travel Lodge at Maingate East which comes in at £22 per night plus taxes and safe deposit. (Watch out for the tax and extra charges on all purchases)
The Travel Lodge is some 7 stories or so high and two buildings long, so chances are you will get a room even if you have not booked. Walk in prices are as much as £5 a night cheaper than booking online through their own web site. This hotel has three pools and a whirlpool, restaurant and bar, but then again, most have.

Days Inn is another cheap hotel, with adequate rooms, as is the Ramada. Now almost all these Hotels/Motels have the
same basic standard rooms, air conditioned, Cable T.V., a small refrigerator or ice making facilities located near by, and en-suite facilities. A family room comprises of two double beds, so if other arrangements are required, check with the reception before booking your room.

H192 is littered with as many as 100+ hotels/motels, so if you like to fly-drive, this is the easiest place to drive along (10 miles long) and look for the best location that suits your needs. Most of these places provide a shuttle to Disney and have advertising boards showing discounts and amenities.

If you have children and are unsure about chancing vacancies, then book via the internet, but be advised, you will pay more.

LIKES: ease of finding suitable accommodation and cheapness of hotel rooms but not the standard.

DISLIKES: taxes not being shown and charges for room safe regardless if you use it or not.

TOP TIPS: Arriving at your airport, take time out to find some vacation guides and voucher magazines, there are dozens of different ones, but hey, its holiday time so grab them all and get you navigator to read them whilst you are driving. The vouchers can get you a free night if you book two, money off per night and even free meals for kiddies etc.

ENTERTAINMENT

I wont mention the obvious Disneyworld, damn, just did! Let’s get away from Disney for a few moments.

Old Town is a mock old colonial style American street with over 100 speciality shops to please not only the eager shopaholic (Moose) but also the die hard male sulky type vacationer. Sports shops, Coca Cola shop. Cigar shop, Collectors card shops, three bars, (YES 3!) and various curiosity shops that can keep the attention of us guys for at least half an hour. Also located at Old Town are the sky diver and other rides and attractions, so if being hurled at god knows what speed towards the earth on a little bit of elastic is your thing, watch for me wav
ing at you from the Blue Max bar.

There is kid’s rides and entertainment at weekends, including a classic car parade on Fridays and Saturday’s and a bike rally on Thursdays.

Gator land is located east, about 8 miles from Disney and is a third of the price, yet has as much entertainment as you can fit into one day. Train rides, Gator breeding, (Not personally!) live shows, animal exhibitions etc, make this as much a day out as any theme park.

Watermania is another water park kinda like wet and wild, but again, a fraction cheaper. Slides and more slides and erm, more slides here.

Splendid China hosts a mock Great Wall of China, Chinese acrobats and a buffet of splendour, Chinese style. Another place to visit for the more oriental visitors and the likes.

WalMart, sorry, I need to put that one in shopping, but judging by my wife’s insistence to spend so much time there, I thought it was a theme park!

Medieval Knights, Arabian Nights, Capone’s, and various other night time rendezvous remind me of those Majorcan theme nights where you drink too much sangria and chuck u for the next two days, and I was not disappointed. They are shows that resemble their name, with free drink and food on an unlimited basis. Great cheap and tack fun. For about £25 a head. Cheap when you think it’s a meal, drinks and entertainment.

LIKES: So many different things to do that you are never bored. There is always a place to sit and reflect while the other half flirts with your credit card, or even partakes in a mid afternoon Bud with you. Children are easily pleased with the distractions laid on by the organisers so that parents can spend their money while little ones scream their heads of and laugh.

DISLIKES: Not much to say here. Bit tacky, bit plasticy, no real authenticity, but then, that’s me through and through. Good clean honest fun.

TOP TIPS:

Go during the day
to avoid the crowds of people who throng here when Disney closes.
Again, hit you voucher books for cheap Crazy Golf, or Putt Putt as they like to call it. You can get free drinks and food for kids at most places but please, please, please read those pamphlets/voucher books as you will kick yourself afterwards if you don’t.

FOOD

This is America!

From Burger King that actually tastes of meat to Lobster tails and Snow Crab Claws, you don’t have to be an Egan Rona to enjoy whatever you wish to eat.

Restaurant chains include, Olive vine, red lobster, Ponderosa, Dennys, Sizzler, Western Sizzler, Pizza hut ,McDonalds, Burger King, Domino’s, KFC and so many more that I can not list them all.

My favourite is Key W Cools, where you can have chargrilled steaks, fish, chicken and most of all, RIBS! You can watch the chef cook your food over a giant open flame grill and sip some of the finest wine in Florida. I always throw in a lobster Tail for extra grace when eating here, as I love their food with a passion. This place is not cheap and the smallest steak is 16 ounces, so don’t go unless hungry. Expect to pay about £80 to £100 per couple including wine and tip.

Ponderosa is a cheaper option, with an all you can eat buffet that kicks the crap out of these help yourself salad bars we have here. Chicken Wings, Spicy meatballs, Onion Bahjis, and some 80 other items adorn this fit for a king feast and believe me, you will leave here slowly. Steaks start from £5 including the buffet and all soft drinks are topped up free of charge, but DO NOT BE A BERK and share, as it is frowned upon as rude and ignorant, oh, and British!

Another favourite is JT Primetime, a colonial/hillbilly style eatery and bar with cheap steaks and ribs, but no compromise in their quality.

LIKES: The variation and the affordability to eat out every night. Again, the vouchers come in to play with free drink, or f
ree starter and even free main meal with BOGOF!

DISLIKES: You have to queue up to get into the popular ones, although only twenty minutes or so. But after a hard day at Disney, you just want to sit and chill, not queue.

TOPTIPS: eat early to avoid crowds and slam that voucher down at the checkout. Do not forget to tip 15-20% as this is customary in the U.S. and again, rude if you do not. For places like Ponderosa, try and hold out from breakfast to early evening to really enjoy it and get the smallest meal as you will kick yourself when you see the buffet.


TRANSPORT

A hire car is not essential, but will make life so much easier. Leave your car at the hotel and take a courtesy bus when going to Disney as parking costs about £5 and then you have a fair walk to the entrance. Taxis are cheaper than southern England and can easily be booked by phone. Do not go to the courtesy booking in hotel reception as there will be a surcharge added to your fare.

Driving on the wrong side of the road is easy if you have someone to help you by shouting RIGHT! At you every five minutes until you are deaf, but never stray.

Tolls are frequent on some roads, but make life so much easier as I5, the main road through Orlando to Tampa/Daytona is an absolute mare to someone who is not confident with American driving.

Do not fall for the upgrade ploy that the car hire people try and spring on you. Get the car first and if you feel it is too small, go back and upgrade. Chances are they have placed you in a larger car than they are telling you anyway.

LIKES: Driving is fun and I love to take side roads to find new places of interest. The taxi drivers are bonkers (ahem, mad) and make a taxi journey fun. Courtesy coaches to Disney are a godsend.

DISLIKES: The hard sell at the airport trying to upgrade your car. The manic traffic from both Sandford and Orlando airport.

TOP TIPS: Sit down at the airport
and let the queues die down. Have a cold grape soda or whatever and plan your route first. Always get a taxi if you are going to drink.

SHOPPING

Wall Mart!
Cheap as you like and you may notice some familiar names (ASDA)
We stock up with beer, wine and snacks here before hitting our timeshare and also pick up a few bargains in clothing on the way.
Here you can find the voucher books I am on about and much, much more.

Old Town. Like I said earlier, something for everyone.

Lake Buena Vista shopping mall/centre. Designer gear shops including Gap, Reebok, Nike, Timberland and many more. Also home to the biggest cockroach/bug I have ever seen. Cheap prices for most items, but be warned, shop carefully. You can also find the travel City Direct office here.

Flea markets. These are tacky indoor market style shops and are, well, tacky!

Factory outlets and Disney Shops. These are not as cheap as they make out but you can shop hard and find some bargains. For Disney gear, go to Down Town Disney. Much more selection and 100% genuine.

LIKES: The bars near the shops so I can sit and wait, and wait, and wait.

DISLIKES: some hard sell tactics, some seconds labelled as genuine.

TOP TIPS: Take your time to look over items and if they do not appear to be what you think, they probably aren’t. Ask locals where they shop and you won’t go wrong.

OVERALL

Kissimmee is like Blackpool, but without the hustle and bustle you would expect. Laid back, enjoyable and fun, Kissimmee provides you with 24 hour entertainment at a budget to suit every pocket.

Even the cheapest accommodation betters our average £70 a night hotel and comfort is never a problem. Ask to see the room first, they won’t mind and if they do, move on.

I myself would fly out there and then drive to a hotel, even if I had kids, but I would not chance it when the kid’s holidays a
re on.

A clean friendly place, and if you book a hotel close enough to Old Town, then you can have endless nights of entertainment free.

So, I thoroughly recommend this place over International Drive any day of the week.

Oh yes, by the way, CHECK THOSE VOUCHERS AND COUPONS!

Angus

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