xmas in florida

[mizzy]

hi there

welcome to the forum, you will have a lovely time planning your holiday and if i were you i would definately consider a villa, you will have all the convenience of home (cooker, washer dryer etc) and your very own heated pool[msnsmile]

the best thing about a villa is all of the above plus not being cramped in one room having to all sleep and wake at the same time and not having to take home suitcases full of dirty clothes

it will be my 3rd time as a guest renting a villa from links via this forum and i would highly recommend you enquire

parks wise i would say take it slow and steady, seaworld is good for a quieter park and cypress gdns has been recommended on here too, i've yet to visit this park but hope to remedy that on our next trip

you're going to have a great time so happy planning

Mizzy

[Nikki D]

Yes Mizzy is right there Cypress Gardens is great for all the family. The gardens are just like mine at home[msnwink] The gardens are lovely there and he park is so layed back which make a lovely change from the normall. You also have the water park to look forward too at the top of the park for a well earned cool down [msnsmile2]

[ellie]

Hi and welcome. I am sure you will all have a wonderful holiday - that is the beauty of Florida and Orlando, there is something for everyone. As others have already said, you cannot go wrong if you choose a lovely villa to stay in.

I won't repeat the very useful advice you have been given, but here are some tips for the cruise.

As far as the cruise is concerned, you will need to drive down the Florida Turnpike to get to Miami, but I would suggest going overnight, as you need to make sure you are there in good time. Miami is nearly 250 miles from Orlando, and although the road is good I would never risk going down on the day, as if you had any delays the ship will not wait for you. There would be nothing worse than seeing your cruise ship sailing out of Miami without you!

We normally go down the day before and check into a hotel overnight. I would choose one near the airport as the Dollar car hire depot is nearby - we have our favourites, but most are within a short drive of the airport. If you choose your hotel carefully you may find one which offers a free shuttle to the port in the morning. We often drop off the car the night before, and take a taxi back to the hotel so that in the morning we have nothing to do but eat a lazy breakfast and get ourselves to the port in good time for embarkation. In fact, doing it this way means that only one of you has to drop the car off, and you don't have to take your luggage with you - the rest of the family can relax at the hotel while you take the car back.

However, if you drop the car off on the morning of your cruise there is a free shuttle from the car hire depot. Try to get there reasonably early as after midday it tends to get quite busy, with people dropping off cars ready to go to the port. The shuttles can get very crowded, and because they drop off people at several different ships it can take a while, especially if your ship is the last one.

We usually get a taxi to the port from the hotel, as we like to be there early, and despite what they say you can normally embark around midday - and beat the crowds. They always have lunch for you on board, and although you are unlikely to be able to access your cabin before about 2.00 pm you can sit in the restaurant and watch the world go by.

I have written several articles on cruising out of Miami, and about the Florida Turnpike, so if you do a search in the Florida Guide you should find some more information which might be useful.

You will not do better than the car hire link above.

Have a great time, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions.

[Nina A]

Welcome to the forum. You are so lucky your 85 year old mum is fit enough and eager to travel. My Mum is 83 and my father in law 86. They both feel unable to travel far and it breaks my heart that they will only ever see our homes in photos and on video, we know they would love them. If only we could beam them up Star Trek style! It's my dream for all the family to be in Florida over Christmas but I know it will never happen [msnsad].

You will all have a brilliant time and I agree with everyone who says a villa would be best. As to where to go, then Cirque du Soleil at Downtown Disney appeals to all ages. If you want something other than a theme park then Mt Dora is an easy drive away now. It's a quaint place and a boat trip on the lake is well worth doing.

A gentle stroll round Celebration is also good especially at Christmas when it 'snows' at night and all the homes are beautifully decorated.

Everyone would probably enjoy 'Ice' at the Gaylord Palms Hotel. The tree and decorations at the hotel are fantastic too.

Enjoy! We know you will[msnsmile2]