Shopping near Orlando

I really liked the shopping mall on International Drive near the I4 Junction 64 exit. It was full of the latest trendy shops and boutique stores. Ideal for international and local people. Admittedly the pound is a little weaker than a few years ago so it meant that things were a little more expensive than hoped. That said Levi's were good value and GAP had a lot on offer. In terms of sports wear, shoes and other incidental items. I'd probably suggest buying a pair.

Now we did try to find 'Florida Mall' on South Orange Blossom Trail but missed it. Probably the best route to take to find it, is to join the 528 Expressway (toll road) then pull off onto South Orange Blossom Trail.

Downtown Disney

Now i am a fan of Downtown Disney. If you haven't been try to imagine a place where there are bars, restaurants and shops all within the Disney theme. Parking is free which is nice and it is very close to the main centre. The views of the Lake as you arrive is impressive and you can hire a speed boat to go out onto the Lake, nice if you feel like catching a bit of sun!

The shops are also good fun, they have everything you need from Disney, especially the costumes for small children. There were loads of kids having face paint put on or trying on their 'Tinkerbell' outfits - cute.

What i also liked was one of the sports retailers that you can have custom made base ball bats made right there. Good if you play!

As for restaurants, there was a nice italian right by the huge paddle steamer moored by the quay. The food was good, probably a bit more expensive that other fast food outlets, but to be honest ideal if you feel like a relaxing meal.

There are plenty of hotels nearby so again it is ideal for visitors who are staying nearby. One of the shops/ restaurants has huge fish tanks, with loads of tropic and exotic fish.

Overall, would recommend a visit to Downtown Disney any day!

Disney is great, how about Universal?

Well, i have to admit, we went to Universal Studios too! Ok, it wasn't as good as Disney world, but there again, it did have quite a lot of new rides and what looked like new Harry Potter rides too. So i guess Disney has a bit of work to do in terms of upgrading or building new rides? Apparently the Universal Harry Potter ride opens the same day that Disney launches Toy Story 3. So fan's of both are going to have an action packed week!

Anyway, i really enjoyed Revenge of the Mummy ride, it was scary yet, entertaining. I found the whole experience good fun. In that particular park, some of the other rides like Twister or even the Simpson's were good, but to be honest relied quite heavily on the virtual reality side of things which was a little boring after a while and felt kind of cheap.

I know not everyone likes a whirly ride, twisting and turning, but i guess for those of us who love a good stomach churning sitting and watching tv is a tad boring.

Jaws was good, although a bit predictable - (i hope i don't side like a killjoy) ok the model shark was huge.

Universal was relatively easy to find off Interstate 4 (I4) i think it was Junction 75? Make sure you don't take a wrong turn when you leave though (like we did) otherwise you may end up driving up and down the Interstate. Best to make sure you plan your journey if going by car.

Day trip

If you feel like having a break from Disney World then you might like to consider the Titanic museum over on International Drive. Personally, i thought it was really interesting. You turn up on to what looks like a giant warehouse and upon entry go through the shop. It costs around $20 per person, usually tours last around just under an hour and your guide is typically an Irishman to add to the effect - it worked!

Tomorrowland is best

I really enjoyed space mountain. It was worth the wait and to be honest quite surreal at times, it was pitch black inside so you never know when the roller-coaster is about to drop, twist or turn. Cool if you like rides. I found the buzz light year ride also quite fun, a bit like the Men In Black MIB ride in Universal Studios, you have to shoot all the 'baddies' with your fixed laser gun on your moving buggy. It is quite fun and difficult because the laser doesn't always aim where you want it.

That said, i didn't go on the Tomorrowland speedway, apparently there was an accident there the week after we got back. I couldn't really understand how that happened because those cars are fixed on the track and they hardly move fast at all?

Anyhow, the Toy Story ride was fun, and i'm delighted to see Toy Story 3 is coming out on the 18th June. Hopefully the Disney executives will keep to the original style and not try to be too clever..

Swiss Family Treehouse

Didn't manage to get on that walk, it did look fun though and if anything like the movie would have been great. Instead we went on the Jungle Cruise, which was actually quite funny. Lots of animals and head hunters, albeit dummies in costumes, still entertaining enough though.

The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was a good little ride, queues weren't that long and on a sunny day the views are reasonably good. Mind you, it does move quite fast so you may find the rind over before you start. I'm a fan of water rides, but generally not if you get wet. Ok, that may sound silly, but the reality is you don't want to spend an entire day at a theme park totally wet? So we gave Splash Mountain a miss. Albeit on this occasion only.

The Liberty Square riverboat ride is good fun. Relaxing and just a simple ride around the island on a large old fashioned boat. Seating is limited we found, so if you do need a seat probably best to get there early. But after a hectic day of rides, rides and more rides it is a good way to unwind.

The Haunted Mansion is good fun, on the way in we saw little kids crying, i was surprised because i didn't think it was that scary, but hey i'm an adult what do i know? The moving conveyor belt takes you to a moving car that seats two people. Once in it takes you around the Mansion, in pretty much darkness and there are some quite spooky moments. I enjoyed that one. Queues do get big so probably better to do this ride earlier in the day.

'its a small world' is a weird ride personally, some people like it, i didn't. I found it actually quite boring if i'm honest. We nearly went on Peter Pan's magic flight but the queue was massive so we headed on over to hang out with Buzz Lightyear -now that was fun!

Magic Kingdom day out

We decided to get up early and beat the traffic and the queues for Disney world's Magic Kingdom. So arrived at around 8:30am in the morning, plenty of time to buy tickets and get past security. Parking was a little like that of Universal Studios, relatively straight forward, just follow directions. It costs $14, but that's not too bad for a whole day's parking.

Once we had our tickets, we walked up to the mono rail, there is also a boat you can take if you prefer a more leisurely trip across the lake to the main entrance. The rail takes around 5 to 10 minutes max to reach your destination. Views are pretty impressive with the lakes spanning either side, plenty of lush greenery and in one instance we pass a Disney hotel, to only then literally 'go through' the inside of another Disney Hotel, quite cool.

Once you arrive, everyone is shepherded off the train, to the main entrance, bags checked quickly once more and there you are - at the entrance of Magic Kingdom. It looks really nice, the entrance is smart and kind of magical. When you pick up a copy of the park map, you quickly realise that it is a big place and there's going to be a lot to see.

The main 'high street' when you enter is full of shops, restaurants and people playing music or signing. It is really friendly and it is true to say 'a bit of escapism'. We'll return for a bite later, but right now we're looking to head straight down to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride off to your left as you move through the park. It is still a fun ride, slightly old in comparison to the Disneyland Paris one, but still quite funny and entertaining to pass through as you sit on your boat.

There are plenty of opportunities to take photos and video clips of the Kingdom. And we found people in America always seem happy to help. Something i think is a very strong trait and to be welcomed. Other rides to continue..

Enter tour bus stage right..

So we jumped on the tour bus, (air conditioned mind you, it was a lovely sunny day but a biz breezy so kind of didn't need that air cooling). Anyways, as the driver pulled out, we got to sigh both sides of the main road as we drove out to one of the main observation points for the Shuttle launch.

The wildlife is really pretty, its true that the whole area is now one huge nature reserve which is kind of ideal and good, given the amount of C02 that the shuttle emits. Bald eagles were all over the place, we were told by the guide about how a pair is normally monogamous and the male will leave the female for 6 months of the year and go 'on holiday' returning later that year, whilst mom goes off with the kids. Its a really fascinating story. Some of the nests are huge, like the size of a bed. I mean really crazy.

So we approach the first visitor viewing gallery, its still quite a long way away from the launch pad. Clamber off the bus and walk up the stairs or take the life to the top floor. Once there it is quite windy, although there is an inside part. Binoculars you can pay to look through and that's about it. The view doesn't really show you the whole space shuttle as it is quite far away and on an angle.

When you look around behind the viewing platform you can see the huge building that assembles the Space Shuttles. I mean this thing is massive. The crawlers that carry the Shuttles to their launch pad at 0.5mph yes, 0.5mph. Something like 35 gallons of petrol a second they consume.

We head back towards another indoor exhibit only to come across a cute little family of wild hogs, mum, dad, and baby piglets - really nice to see. Everyone runs across the bus with cameras flashing to grab a picture.

We reach the next main exhibit, a good mile away from one of the viewing areas and its another huge building. We're told built entirely by the generosity of the public who donated. As the guide said 'no tax dollars whats over'. It did take 25 years to collect the money though! Impressive nonetheless. That's what i like about America, the truly innovative and 'can do' attitude they have.

Once entering the building we're shepherded into a large room, darkened and watch a brief video. Then move on into the next room which is the old control room, or rebuild of it with the original equipment to watch another video. Also quite impressive. After which there are various other exhibits within the building and a huge Apollo rocket module, i mean absolutely enormous. I have a cool pic.

We stop to get a bite to eat, quite expensive, but alright. Once watered and fed head on back via the shop to the bus stand, to start our journey back. Noting the little bird that likes to sit on the railings above people queuing up and 'poop' on them. Naughty.

The bus ride back is quick and feels almost safari like at times. Once back at the main centre, we browse the large gift shop. Try out a little tour which was ok, then head back to the car and drive back to Orlando.

The ride back is really pleasant, the road quiet, and the sun blazing. Everything we could have asked for on our Disney World adventure..

All systems go

Once entering the Space Centre, it strikes you immediately the sheer size of some of the space rockets in use. Truly amazing. There are quite a few different attractions, the 3D cinema experience, narrated by either Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks. Both actually quite impressive. Usually there are quite a few people watching it and there's a bit of a queue but things tend to keep moving.

There are a few exhibits as it were, one off to the left as you enter the centre, where the rockets are standing. Those i'll come on to in a second. But the exhibit really talks about the space race between the US and Russia during the Cold War. Its fascinating to read about the first man in space or the first man on the moon. Just looking at the sheer size of the capsules they had to fit into was quite incredible when you consider how many years ago it was.

Then there's an opportunity to take some photos, by the rockets and space modules. I have to say they must use an awful lot of jet fuel to get them off the ground! If you're doing the tour on a sunny day, its really quite calm and relaxing. The air is clean and with the blue sky in the background, fascinating to admire the technological advancements of mankind.

Like Disney, a brilliant innovation for its time spanning all the way up to today. On the topic of Disney, the whole space race reminds me of Duck Rogers, with Donald Duck all those years back. That aside you can follow us on Twitter here.

Soon we'll be heading on down to the bus tour to see the launch pad relatively close up!

Kennedy Space

Its a pleasant drive from Palm Parkway where we were staying to the Kennedy Space Centre, takes around an hour if you travel at say 60mph. The views are really good, you see palm trees, plant life and random animals like Alligators, eagles, armadillos all around the side of the road. Not something you see every day back home!

The roads are fairly straight so its easy driving. The toll road means that you have to pay every time a toll barrier comes up. If you don't the cameras catch you and its a $100 fine. Its easily done, especially if you don't know the road rules.

As we approached the Space centre, there was also an armoury and airfield for air force displays. We didn't get round to stopping off to seeing that, but it looked interesting. The causeway is really eye catching, it is one of the few connecting bridges from the mainland to the island that hosts the space port. The views are pretty stunning and more often than not you see a fisherman in his small boat holding fishing nets by the sides of the beach.

As you approach the space centre, you have to turn right into the main car park. Its all clearly signposted and there's plenty of space, quite literally for every type of vehicle. Once parked, head straight on to the main entrance. It can take a bit of time because the people working at the booths are normally explaining where to go or how much the different tours are. It took us around 15 minutes to get in and wasn't even that busy.

There began our space adventure..

Went to Disney World last week..

It was good, really good..

The one thing i enjoyed after an 8 hour flight from London was the warm, sunny weather as we touched down at Orlando International Airport. I was in a good mood, the flight was early, the weather was good and everything was going well.

After a quick baggage reclaim, we proceeded on down to pick up our hire car and drove, (for my first time) in America. It was fun. Although the Toll road did nearly catch me out a few times, especially as we had to pay a couple of times - not the same as in the UK.

Apart from that as we cruised down the Toll road, what struck me was just how large the USA was. Not just the main roads, but the shops that lined the major routes in and out of Orlando.

As we approached our hotel, which to be fair to the Parc Soleil Hilton was actually very nice, new and clean. It had everything we would possibly need and was relatively close to local shops and restaurants. Ideal, as we had begun to get hungry and decided to venture out to the local Crab House, which unfortunately didn't quite live up to its name. Rather, provided us with basic sustenance and a high fat content.

The night ended relatively early with us heading off to bed for an early start, Kennedy Space Centre here we come the following day..

In other news i created our new twitter feed..