Disney Vacations Blog

Taking a trip to Disney World in Florida is a great family holiday! However, it can be draining - no, not just the heat and humidity or being in the parks all day but somehow cash can seem to just flow from your pockets too! This short article shows you how anyone can save a small fortune on their vacation…

Consider a family of 2 adults and 3 kids going to see the mouse and have a lot of fun. Here are a few money-saving tips!

1. Shop Around for Flights!

This has got to be the number one tip! Shopping around for the best flights has got to be one of the best ways of saving money. Go on-line, ask travel agents and friends - but shop around! Register direct with airlines and respond immediately a deal comes in. I like the way the Virgin Atlantic Plane flys in on my computer screen to tell me of the latest deals! I cna’t tell you how much you’ll save but we have seen many get flights for 1/2 price - even at the busiest times of year. How much you save is out of our control, so: Running Total Savings: $0

2. Book Flights either early or Late.

It speaks for itself really. Be quick or be bold! Again, how much you save is out of our control, so: Running Total Savings: $0

3. Book Disney and Attractions Tickets before you go!

Search and book on-line with a reputable dealer. To be honest, there are few savings to be had but a few $ here and there and we’ll soon be there! Here is a list of on-line Attractions Tickets dealers we know. Savings $65. Running Total Savings: $65

4. Take your own drinks

Sounds silly reallybut drinks in the parks are over $2.00 each and you need a lot of them!Compare that with 48 Sodas for $6 at a pharmacy and you’ll see how savings can be made. My top tip here is to freeze some bottles of water to mix in with them to keep them cool and you’ll not be carrying any ‘dead’ weight. Saving over 10 park days - $400. Running total savings $465.

5. Rent a Villa

Compare these 2 ways of staying:

Orlando Hotel vs Florida Villa

Orlando Hotel: One bedroom suite with two double beds in the bedroom and double size sleeper sofa in the living room. Suite features a wet bar, refrig, microwave, coffee maker and small sink, two televisions, two telephones with internet access, iron and ironing board, and hair dryer.) Cost $2030 or £1128

Florida Villa - A 5 bedrooom luxury Florida vacation rental villa featuring a 30 foot private pool in screened pool deck to the rear.
View the nightly Disney fireworks show from the pool deck of your private vacation villa!
Decorated to a very high standard by the owner, it is truly a home away from home.
Ensuite master bedroom with king size bed!
4 further bedrooms, 3 doubles and 2 twins for a total of 10 people.
All bedrooms are equipped with some 50+ channels of cable TV.
The lounge has a large TV, video and DVD player.
There is also selection of books, games, videos and DVDs.
A cot, child car seat, booster seat, high chair and potty are also available!
The dining area in the kitchen seats 4.
In the dining room - formal dinner for eight is a breeze
If you fancy eating ‘al fresco’, the dining area on the pool deck seats 4 under a lit and fan-cooled area
The pool area itself has loungers, chairs and occasional tables.
Pool toys available as well as a gas barbeque available
Towels and bed linen are provided for all rooms
Beach/pool towels are also provided for your convenience
The villa also has a washing machine, dryer, iron and ironing board and dishwasher

Cost $1440 or £798

So - a villa is private, much better equipped and much cheaper! Not to mention much cheaper - Saving $590. Running total Savings $1155.

Whoops! I had intended to write about ‘10 steps to save you $1000 during a Disney Vacation’ - Sorry. We got there in 5. Well not really, we actually showed that its quite possible to save over $1000 by doing only two of the steps I mentioned.

To summarize: If you want to save over $1000 on your Disney Vacation Reserve a 4 or 5 bed Florida Villa and take your own drinks! What could be simpler!

Check back here soon for another installment - and we’ll see how much more we can save for you!

Florida Villas
Luxury Florida Villas and Vacation Rentals

By john macrae
Published: 9/5/2006

Biography of one of the most influential personality of 20th Century Walter Elias Disney also known as Walt Disney.

Walt Disney’, father and a creator of children’s one of the most favorite cartoon character “Mickey Mouse” and founder of the most fascinating amusement park (world) for children “Disney Land”, was truly the greatest entertainer ever born. Walter Elias Disney well-known as “Walt Disney” was born on 5 December 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, USA to Elias Disney who had Irish roots and Flora Call Disney who had German roots.

At 5, Walter got attracted towards drawing and sketching. He possessed vivid imagination and his drawings were very beautiful, he even sold some of them to his neighbors when he was about seven years old. He decided to go ahead with the art he was gifted with and when he was in a high school in Chicago (McKinley High School), he joined an art academy to learn some more skills in drawing and fine-tune his art. He even participated in drawing sketches and started photography for school paper.

As drawing and sketching became Walter’s most favorite activities for lifetime, he was interested in adventures and in social work too. He applied for military services when he was just sixteen year old but as he was under-age, his application was rejected. He still did not leave his dream to serve those who needed him and joined Red Cross Society. Through Red Cross, Walter was sent to places where voluntary help was needed. While working from Red Cross, he drove ambulance, which he had decorated in a very different style; he drew drawings, sketches and cartoons all over the ambulance. Wherever Walter went, he never gave up drawing, in fact he kept practicing drawing and sketching and had developed various ways to represent his ideas.

At the age of 18, Walter moved to Kansas and started working as an advertising cartoonist. While working, Walter developed his own style and method in 1920 to represent the cartoons in such a way that they seemed to be alive (which is also called animation). With his new method, he developed few animated series. His dream was to use his talent to get some business and make animated series/movies, so he worked hard for three years and made a complete animated movie. In August 1923, Walter made a move to his dream destination Hollywood with the animated movie that he had created and about forty dollars in his pocket. Walter met his brother Roy Disney in California, who was also very interested in working with Walter. Together Walter and his brother used their uncle’s garage as their work place, borrowed some money and constructed a camera and started working. They created some animated series and used them to get work. They received their first contract for ‘Alice Comedy’ from a company in New York, which paved the base for their production company.

Orders from everywhere started pouring in. Very soon they established an office on the backside of the Hollywood Real Estate and recruited some people to help them in their work. Just in two years, Disney brothers earned enough and had their plans ready for execution. Walter married Lillian Bounds (one of the first employees of his company) on 13 July 1925 in Lewiston, Idaho.

Walter came up with a cartoon character ‘Mickey Mouse’ in 1928, which he decided to keep as a central character in his animated series and movies. He created cartoons with Mickey Mouse and his first ever cartoon movie with Mickey was ‘Plane Crazy’ but was never released as it had no sound used in it (and sound was just introduced in the motion pictures), so he created another cartoon movie ‘Steamboat Willie’ (which became Mickey’s debut cartoon movie). On 18 November 1928, ‘Steamboat Willie’ (with sound) was premiered at the Colony Theater in New York.

Walter further brought many revolutionary changes in his cartoons; he introduced Technicolor in animation, added various effects and used multiple camera techniques etc. He produced ‘Silly Symphonies’ as his first Technicolor cartoon movie. Walter won an award from Academy Awards (which was first of 32 Academy Awards he won in his life) for the movie ‘Flowers and Trees’ which he produced in 1932. Walter further produced big budget animated movies such as ‘Snow White and teh Seven Dwarfs’, ‘Fantasia’, ‘Pinocchio’, ‘Dumbo’ etc. which are considered as the greatest work ever done in the history of animation.

Near 1940, Disney brother’s company had grown to such an extent that the number of employees in the company reached to four-digits, they also constructed their own studio (Burbank Studio) in 1940. Their company played an important role in developing special films for US Armed Forces, short films with social messages and health related films etc. sponsored by the US Government during World War II.
Walter Disney continued with the production of animated movies, some of which were meant for education purpose, some for entertainment purpose and some of them were produced to blend new and innovative technologies in the animation movies. By the year 1950, Disney became one of the most successful and trusted movie producers. In 1955, Disney took initiative and constructed fun centre/park ‘Magic Kingdom’; about 17 million dollars were poured in the project. The concept of amusement part has been one of the most successful projects in history.

Disney’s thinking was not confined only to cartoons, movies and entertainment world; he was a great social worker too. He worked towards improving the situation in urban life in America and mitigation of the problems related to it. He had designed (and directed) an ‘Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow’ (which was developed to address and mitigate the problems in that time city-structure). He also directed the purchase of more than 43 square miles of the virgin land in state of Florida where he planned for ‘Disney World’ (the biggest amusement theme part in the world and which was opened in 1971), structured town planning for hotels and resorts etc. and his dream project ‘Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow’ (which was opened in 1982). Disney also helped in establishment of California Institute of Arts in 1961 for budding and creative artists to learn the necessary skills in area of their interest.

Disney who is considered one of the Most Influential People of 20th Century, biggest entertainer and a public hero died on December 15, 1966. In his lifetime he won more than 30 Academy Awards, about 7 Emmy Awards, honorary degrees from various Universities such as Harvard University, University of Southern California, Yale and UCLA etc., he was also honored with France’s Legion of Honor and Officer D’Adademie, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Best Showman of the World from the National Academy of Theater Association and many more.

By Nilesh Parekh
Published: 2/2/2005

Most people want a great deal when they vacation - and its no different when going to Disney World in Orlando! A trip to Orlando can be a real drain on resources so its important to take advantage of any deals going! Read on and save…

“Vacation rental villas are often priced at 20% less than the cheapest Disney Resort hotel room”. Yes, that’s an interesting factoid I picked up cruising the internet recently. So I checked it out and its true! It seems that some vacation rental home owners make a point of checking the prices of the cheapest Disney Resort hotels regularly and they adjust their tariffs in line with Disney’s seasonal pricing. The owner then takes 20% off the Disney price and rents their vacation home for that price! So why is that such a good deal??

Well - the average vacation rental home is has 3, 4 or 5 bedrooms and some have even more. They range from 1500 to over 3500 sq ft of accommodation. The Disney Hotel rooms that are being compared have only one room and about 400 sq ft of living area.

It strange then that so few people have even heard of the benefits of renting a vacation home. Not only can you have the same accommodation as you would at home but a vacation rental has even more hidden benefits. For example, almost without exception, vacation rental homes near Disney have private pools and private pool decks. These are generally combined with a generous outdoor eating area equipped with sun loungers tables and chairs.

And it doesn’t stop inside. The master suite is always en suite and there are sometimes two master suites - probably with 6 foot beds. All these homes have either cable or satellite TV and many have a TV in each bedroom so everyone can have their choice! Oh yes - everyone can have their own room - after all you don’t all live in one bedroom at home so why would you want to do that on your vacation??

The benefits don’t stop there either. Fancy a midnight snack - try that in a budget hotel. Get dressed, try to get out of the room without waking the whole family…. you know the story. In your vacation rental, just sneak down to the kitchen and help yourself to whatever you fancy! You’re happy and so is everyone else because they’re still asleep!!

Did I mention the laundry facilities?? How many of us have needed to get some clean clothes during a vacation?? Its easy in a vacation rental - there’s a washer and drier available and you won’t have to pay a penny extra for it.

The list of benefits goes on and on. And all for 20% less than a basic hotel room? You’d be mad not to try one!

Florida Villas
Vacation Rental Villas close to Disney

By john macrae
Published: 1/29/2007

Of Magical kingdoms and dancing dolphins, Orlando is a city of joy, pleasure and indulgence…

Of orange groves and lush farmland that is what Orlando was before a mouse changed the way the world saw this sleepy town of Orlando. A mouse you ask? Yes, Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney put this laid-back town on the map of the world in 1971. Orlando has never been the same since the opening of Disney World. Did you know that more than 44 million people visit Orlando every single year? This is how popular Orlando is.

This is how it all started: in 1964, a man named Walt Disney had a plan. He started acquiring pieces of land and slowly had property that was twice as big as Manhattan. In 1965, he announced to the world his grand plan of Walt Disney World, but quite unfortunately in 1966 he passed away. But even though he couldn’t live to see his dream, it did come true when in 1971 Walt Disney World opened its gates. Though tourists come to Orlando to have a gay old time, they are often plagued with questions like Where to go? What to do? Where to stay? And what to eat? This is because Orlando has so much to offer, the choices can often be mind-boggling.

Orlando is a timeless yet vigorous city. It seems to be always growing and changing, but still manages to hold on to some of its old world charm. The theme parks and tourist attractions are in a league of their own but that doesn’t mean that Orlando is just a destination for kids, there is all kinds of fun in Orlando. Disney has four parks, Magic Kingdom, Disney MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. And Universal has also made its mark on Orlando with Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. And how can we forget Sea World, a park that is every kids dream come true with dolphins and penguins all around.

And if you are looking for a cultural and learning experience, you need not even venture out of Orlando, because you can find world-class museums and parks here. The Winter Park with its works by Tiffany at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum and the Loch Park with its American art at the Orlando Museum of Art can appease any culture-lovers appetite.

This beautiful city is quite aptly called “The City Beautiful”, and it’s a name well earned, what with its verdant views, lakes, river and wildlife preserves and parks. You can also enjoy a relaxing day with a picnic at any of the public spaces and gardens. And for a lesson on flora and fauna the Harry P. Leu Gardens are the place to be with more than 50 acres of sprawling lands.

Dinning options and restaurants are a plenty in Orlando. There are a number of economical to upscale restaurants in Orlando. There is everything from fine dinning to fast food chains and gourmet restaurants to eateries and cafes. You will find plenty of these at International Drive and sand lake road and Downtown Disney is a great place to catch some grub. And the nightlife is as vibrant as the bustling Theme parks. The main places to enjoy some great nightlife are at Downtown Disney Westside, Downtown Disney, Pleasure Island, Universal Studios Citywalk and of course the ever-popular Orange Grove. You can choose to salsa the night away at Universal’s Latin quarter or enjoy the club scene at Tabu Night club or enjoy some foot tapping music at Disney’s La Nouba of Cirque du Soleil fame.

And Orlando isn’t just fun and games, it is considered to be one of fastest growing cities. It has a population of almost 2 million and is a great place for business. Tourism is the main industry in Orlando and do you wonder why? With more than 95 attractions, 110,000 hotel rooms and easy access…the answer is quite obvious!

A comprehensive guide full of money-saving tips to Disney World, including Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Believe it or not, you can live it up at Walt Disney World Resort - whether you plan on visiting Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios or Disney’s Animal Kingdom - without making a huge dent in your wallet. By planning ahead, seeking out the best online deals and following the money-saving tips listed below, you can enjoy significant savings on your Disney World vacation getaway - without sacrificing any of your family’s comfort or enjoyment.

1. Seek out discount Disney World tickets, budget accommodations convenient to Disney attractions and individually tailored Disney vacation packages before you arrive in Orlando.
2. If possible, plan your Disney World trip during the off-season and you will usually discover significantly lower airfares and hotel/resort rates.
3. If you are staying at a Disney resort, take advantage of complimentary transportation to all Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and Downtown Disney.
4. Some of the area factory outlet stores such as Orlando Premium Outlets sell Disney merchandise at significantly lower prices than you will find at stores within the Disney World theme parks.
5. Check out some of the free things to do at Disney World such as strolling around Disney’s Boardwalk and Downtown Disney, or hiking through the Disney Wilderness Preserve.
6. Take the family to one of the all-you-can-eat buffets that lie just outside Disney World property such as Bill Wong’s Famous Buffet, Sweet Tomatoes, Boston Lobster Feast, Golden Corral, Ponderosa, Sizzler, Captain Nemo’s Seafood Feast or Angel’s Lobster, Crab & Prime Rib Buffet.
7. If you don’t mind staying off Disney property, you will discover numerous budget motels and hotels (many of which provide complimentary transportation to Disney World theme parks) along Highway 192 in Kissimmee just East of the main entrance to Walt Disney World Resort.
8. Look for free publications such as I Love Orlando magazine, which contain a multitude of discount coupons to Disney area attractions, restaurants and specialty shops.
9. Before you book a hotel or motel, check if they offer guests a complimentary continental or full breakfast each morning.
10. Check out comprehensive online guides to Disney World such as Orlando, Florida Guide for in-depth information on Disney World discount tickets, accommodations and vacation packages.
11. For larger families, reunions or any other get-together at Disney World, it may make better financial sense to look into renting a vacation home, many of which offer enclosed garages, private backyard pools and washer/dryers.
12. If you are visiting one of the Disney World theme parks with young children, don’t forget to bring along a backpack with some snacks or juice boxes.
13. You don’t have to shell out big bucks to stay on Disney World property at one of Disney’s budget all-star resorts - Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All Star Music Resort and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort (all of which offer complimentary transportation to Disney theme parks and feature onsite food courts).
14. Instead of spending a fortune at a Disney character breakfast, take your kids to Town Square at Main Street, U.S.A. for autograph and photo opportunities with Disney characters.
15. Choose the appropriate Disney World ticket deal based on your family’s length of stay in Orlando and remember not to overdo things - you will want to schedule time for rest and relaxation during your trip.
16. If you choose to eat at the Disney World theme parks, try to make lunch your big meal of the day when prices are considerably lower than for dinner (especially at Epcot’s World Showcase).
17. Whenever you leave one of Disney World’s theme parks, make sure to get your hand stamped. Then after you rest awhile and enjoy a cheaper dinner off site, you can head back to the park after the crowds have thinned out.
18. You may want to schedule your Walt Disney World vacation around one of Disney’s highly acclaimed annual events and festivals, many of which are included with the price of admission such as the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Star Wars Weekends, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Festival of the Seasons, ABC Super Soap Weekend, Festival of the Masters and Holidays Around the World.
19. Carry your own water bottle into the Disney theme park and you can fill it up at any of the abundant water fountains throughout the day.
20. Establish a budget for Disney World souvenirs and stick to your budget (no matter how many cool gifts you see as you stroll through Epcot’s World Showcase!).
21. If you are an AAA or AARP member, take advantage of any special rates or discounts that are available during your Disney World vacation.
22. Many off-site hotels and motels with onsite restaurants offer “Kids Eat Free” deals (one child eats free per paying adult).
23. Purchase such necessities as film and sunscreen before you arrive at Disney World, since prices at the theme parks are more expensive for such items.
24. If you are staying at one of the Disney resorts, take advantage of Disney’s Magical Express, which provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the Orlando International Airport (reservations are required for Disney’s Magical Express).
25. If possible, try to avoid Disney World during holiday weekends and Spring Break when prices are higher and the theme parks are most crowded.

By Ralph Wiseman
Published: 2/8/2007

A comprehensive guide to offbeat attractions throughout Florida such as World’s Smallest Police Station, Spook Hill, Solomon’s Castle, Salvador Dali Museum, African Queen and others.

An ancient Spanish monastery, spiritualist camp, castle made entirely of coral, undersea lodge, bat tower, seven mile bridge, Navy SEAL museum and other unique curiosities can all be found in the Sunshine State for those travelers who like to stray off the beaten path. Below are 50 of the most offbeat attractions in Florida:

African Queen - Key Largo, Florida
The marina at the Holiday Inn Key Largo (Mile Marker 100) is home to the original boat used in the classic 1951 movie, The African Queen, which was directed by legendary director John Huston and starred Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Huston and Robert Morley.

Ancient Spanish Monastery - North Miami Beach, Florida
Built in Segovia, Spain, in 1141, the Spanish Monastery is the oldest building in the Western Hemisphere. Newspaper tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, had the entire monastery dismantled and sent to the United States in the 1920s where it serves today as St. Bernard de Clairvaux Episcopal Church.

Big Cat Rescue - Tampa, Florida
The world’s largest big cat rescue and sanctuary, Big Cat Rescue is home to lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bobcats, ocelots, servals, lynx, caracals and other exotic cats. Guided educational tours of Big Cat Rescue are available.

Blue Hole - Big Pine Key, Florida
The largest body of fresh water in the Florida Keys, the Blue Hole is an old rock quarry created during the construction of the Florida East Coast Railway, according to legend. Today, the Blue Hole is home to alligators, turtles, fish, ducks and a variety of wading birds. The Blue Hole is located at Mile Marker 30.5 (bayside).

Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum - Jupiter, Florida
A monument to actor Burt Reynolds’ massive ego, the Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum contains a collection of awards and memorabilia from his movie and TV career.

Butterfly World - Coconut Creek, Florida
One of South Florida’s top tourist destinations, Butterfly World is the world’s largest butterfly aviary - home to more than 80 butterfly species and 5,000 butterflies.

Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp - Cassadaga, Florida
A Historic Spiritualist Camp founded in 1894, Cassadaga is the oldest active religious community in the Southeastern United States and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Christ of the Deep - Key Largo, Florida
The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, “America’s First Undersea Park,” is home to the famous nine-foot-tall bronze “Christ of the Deep” statue, which lies 25 feet beneath the ocean in the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary.

Citrus Tower - Clermont, Florida
Although these days you will definitely view more subdivisions than citrus trees, you can still ride the elevator to an observation deck 226 feet above the rolling hills of Clermont for a spectacular glimpse of the surrounding area.

Coral Castle - Homestead, Florida
How did one individual endeavor to procure and sculpt more than 1,100 tons of coral rock into a “fantasy world carved out of stone” using only homemade tools? The secrets still lie within Coral Castle, “America’s Stonehenge,” the bizarre masterpiece of obsessive genius Ed Leedskalnin, which was built over a 28-year period.

Creations Pop Culture Museum - Delray Beach, Florida
A variety of incredible exhibits await you at Creations Pop Culture Museum, which features tons of Hollywood movie and TV memorabilia.

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park - Gainesville, Florida
A National Natural Landmark, Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park boasts a 120-foot-deep sinkhole that is accessible from a stairway leading to a lush, “miniature rain forest.” The premises include a visitors center and hiking trails.

Dinosaur World - Plant City, Florida
A unique outdoor museum, Dinosaur World is billed as the “world’s largest dinosaur attraction.” Highlights include life-size dinosaur replicas, caves, hands-on activities, fossil dig area, educational exhibits, gift shop and more.

Dry Tortugas National Park - Key West, Florida
About 70 miles West of Key West lies Dry Tortugas National Park, which is home to historic Fort Jefferson. Dry Tortugas National Park is accessible only by boat, ferry or seaplane.

Flipper’s Grave - Grassy Key, Florida
Grassy Key in the Florida Keys is home to the Dolphin Research Center, which also serves as the final resting place for the original “Flipper” (real name: Mitzi), the most famous dolphin in film and TV history. Mitzi is buried in the Center’s courtyard.

Gatorland - Orlando, Florida
Billed as the “Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland features such lively shows as the world-famous Gator Jumparoo, Jungle Crocs of the World, Gator Wrestlin’ Show and Up Close Animal Encounters, as well as the Gator Gully Splash Park, petting zoo, aviary, train ride and more.

Holy Land Experience - Orlando, Florida
A “living, biblical history museum,” Holy Land Experience allows visitors to meet interesting biblical characters in authentic costumes, view a fascinating collection of antiquities and explore the ancient architecture of biblical Jerusalem.

Jackie Gleason’s Mausoleum - Miami, Florida
An immense outdoor mauseoleum at the Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Cemetery in Miami serves as the final resting place for Jackie Gleason, who will always be remembered for his role as Ralph Kramden in “The Honeymooners.” The only inscription on the mausoleum is Gleason’s signature parting lines: “And Away We Go.”

Jesus Film Project - Orlando, Florida
The two-hour docudrama, Jesus, has been viewed by approximately 5 billion people around the world since making its debut in 1979. Learn all about the “most widely viewed film in history” at the Jesus Film Project’s master studio, which is located at the World Headquarters of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge - Key Largo, Florida
The only underwater hotel in the United States, Jules’ Undersea Lodge lies approximately 30 feet beneath the sea and guests have to scuba dive to reach the two-bedroom habitat.

Jungle Adventures - Christmas, Florida
A 20-acre wildlife sanctuary, Jungle Adventures is home to alligators, bears, deer, bobcats, panthers, crocodiles, monkeys, snakes and turtles. View alligator feedings and wildlife shows, take a jungle cruise and visit a Native American Village.

Key West Cemetery - Key West, Florida
Opened in 1847, the historic Key West Cemetery is home to a monument for sailors who died during the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in 1898, as well as a number of quirky inscriptions such as “I Told You I Was Sick” and “Devoted Fan of Julio Iglesias.”

Monkey Jungle - Miami, Florida
Visit Monkey Jungle - “Where Humans are Caged and Monkeys Run Wild!” One of the few protected habitats for endangered primates in the country, Monkey Jungle is home to more than 400 primates that run free on a 30-acre reserve. A total of 30 primate species are represented here such as spider monkeys, colobus, gibbons and guenons.

Monument to the States - Kissimmee, Florida
Begun in 1942, the 50-foot-tall Monument to the States lies in downtown Kissimmee and consists of more than 1,500 fossils and rocks from every state, as well as more than 20 countries.

Mulberry Phosphate Museum - Mulberry, Florida
Mulberry is known as the “Phosphate Capital of the World” and the Mulberry Phosphate Museum features an incredible collection of fossils and exhibits that document the town’s role in the phosphate industry.

National Key Deer Refuge - Big Pine Key, Florida
A 8,542-acre National Wildlife Refuge that lies on Big Pine Key and No Name Key in the Florida Keys, the National Key Deer Refuge serves as the home of the endangered Key Deer, as well as nearly two dozen other threatened and endangered plant and animal species.

Navy SEAL Museum - Fort Pierce, Florida
The Navy SEAL Museum is the world’s only museum dedicated exclusively to “the elite warriors of Naval Special Warfare.”

Old Jail - St. Augustine, Florida
The entire family will enjoy a guided tour through this 1891 jail, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse - St. Augustine, Florida
Built in the early 1700s and located near the famous St. Augustine City Gates, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse contains a variety of unique artifacts and displays.

Perky’s Bat Tower - Sugarloaf Key, Florida
Built in 1929 by Florida Keys entrepreneur, Richter Perky, as a way to attract mosquito-eating bats, Perky’s Bat Tower never attracted any bats but today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Potter’s Wax Museum - St. Augustine, Florida
Billed as “America’s first and finest wax museum,” Potter’s wax museum is nestled in historic St. Augustine and features more than 160 wax figures of such celebrities and historical figures as Albert Einstein, Julius Caesar, Tiger Woods, Princess Diana, Michael Jordan, Johnny Depp and even a bald Britney Spears!

Reptile World Serpentarium - St. Cloud, Florida
The Reptile World Serpentarium houses more than 50 species of snakes from all over the world such as the Australian taipan, king cobra and East African green mamba. Venom shows take place twice daily.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! - Orlando, Florida
View such oddities as a Rolls Royce made from a million matchsticks, two-headed calf, shrunken head, four-eyed man, cannibal dinosaur, Mona Lisa made out of toast, Egyptian mummy, Van Gogh portrait made from 3,000 postcards and a piece of the Berlin Wall at the Orlando Odditorium, which appears like it is being slowly devoured by an immense sinkhole!

Ron Jon Surf Shop - Cocoa Beach, Florida
Open 24 hours a day, Ron Jon Surf Shop is a massive 52,000-square-foot, multilevel specialty store that features surfboards, clothing and surf-related souvenirs, as well as live music, demonstrations and autograph sessions.

Salvador Dali Museum - St. Petersburg, Florida
Nestled in downtown St. Petersburg (of all places!), the Salvador Dali Museum boasts the most comprehensive collection of permanent works by the famous surrealist painter such as “The Hallucinogenic Toreador” and “The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.”

Seven Mile Bridge - Marathon Key, Florida
A masterpiece of engineering, the Seven Mile Bridge was constructed between 1979 and 1982 on the Overseas Highway and serves to connect the Middle Keys (Marathon Key) to the Lower Keys (Little Duck Key). For the record, the actual length of the Seven Mile Bridge is 6.79 miles.

Solomon’s Castle - Ona, Florida
Internationally known sculptor, Howard Solomon, created this unique medieval-style fortress to house his extensive artwork. Guided tours of Solomon’s Castle are available. The premises also include the Boat in the Moat Restaurant.

Southernmost Point - Key West, Florida
A huge buoy-like structure at the corner of Whitehead and South streets in Key West supposedly marks the “Southernmost Point in the United States,” which is only 90 miles North of Cuba.

Spook Hill - Lake Wales, Florida
Park your car at the bottom of this “gravity-defying hill” in Lake Wales and it will appear to roll up the hill. Is it an optical illusion or some kind of mystical occurrence?

St. Augustine Alligator Farm - St. Augustine, Florida
View Maximo the Giant Crocodile (15 feet and 3 inches long, 1,250 pounds) at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, which also features wildlife shows, nature habitats, albino alligators and much more.

Titanic: The Experience - Orlando, Florida
The world’s first permanent Titanic exhibition features a full-scale re-creation of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase and incredible stories of the passengers and crew who survived the tragedy, as well as more than 250 Titanic artifacts and memorabilia from the 1997 Oscar-winning movie, Titanic.

Venetian Pool - Coral Gables, Florida
Surrounded by Venetian-style architecture and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Venetian Pool is a 820,000-gallon pool that was carved out of a coral rock quarry in 1923. It features a variety of waterfalls, caves, grottos and a diving platform.

Water Ski Hall of Fame & Museum - Polk City, Florida
View the first pair of water skis and other rare artifacts and memorabilia that document the history of waterskiing at the Water Ski Hall of Fame & Museum, which also contains a resource center and audiovisual library.

Weeki Wachee Springs - Weeki Wachee, Florida
Established in 1947, Weeki Wachee Springs still features its ever-popular live mermaid shows, as well as a state-of-the-art waterpark called Buccaneer Bay and sightseeing boat tours.

WonderWorks - Orlando, Florida
Experience an earthquake, lie on a bed of nails, design your own roller coaster and immerse yourself in virtual reality fun at WonderWorks - “Orlando’s only upside-down attraction!”

World Chess Hall of Fame - Miami, Florida
Learn about some of the most famous chess players in history such as Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky at the World Chess Hall of Fame, which also features fascinating chess exhibits and artifacts.

World Erotic Art Museum - Miami Beach, Florida
The World Erotic Art Museum boasts an extensive collection of more than 4,000 artifacts that comprehensively document the history of eroticism from 200 B.C. until today.

World’s Largest Drive-In - Sunrise, Florida
Open since 1963, the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop boasts the largest drive-in movie theater and daily flea market in the world.

World’s Largest McDonald’s - Orlando, Florida
In addition to offering a unique menu that includes gourmet sandwiches and desserts, this two-story McDonald’s offers a 25,000-square-foot play area, as well as more than 60 arcade games. It is located just off world-famous International Drive.

World’s Smallest Police Station - Carrabelle
Basically a phone booth, the World’s Smallest Police Station was built in the early ’60s to accommodate the one police office in Carrabelle, population 1,800. It’s worth the photo opportunity if you ever find yourself driving aimlessly through Florida’s panhandle.

By Ralph Wiseman
Published: 5/22/2007