More fun at Downtown Disney

Don't forget to save a little time in the evening to stop by the Market Place area in Downtown Disney and checkout the live shows appearing nightly usually between 7 PM and 10 PM at the Stage. If you are into nostalgic music and dance routines, then be sure to catch the show that show cases music and dance routines from the 80's and 90's. You will also see the MC do many of the dance routines that you probably tired in the dance clubs as you were growing up. Some of the dances show cased are "Thriller", "YMCA", "Staying Alive", "Macarena", "Party Rock Anthem" and many more. Participation is allowed and encouraged.

Time for Fun, Food and Wine and not necessarily in that order

The Food and Wine festival starts this weekend at EPCOT in Orlando so get out there and enjoy. I understand there are supposed to be some new countries being featured this year so browse around before you dig in.  I would suggest that you view all of the countries before buying because the selections can be a little expensive so get the most bang for your buck. Some of the selections in some of the countries offer a little more than others so shop around. Also save some time for the “fun”, this is going to be music from various bands. Check out the Disney site to see who is playing.

SeaWorld not just another park

I went to SeaWorld in Orlando a few years ago with my parents and it was great sharing that time with them doing the rides and viewing the shows. Recently, I went on a behind the scenes tour of the rescue area and learned about the extensive efforts of SeaWorld staff to assist animals in recovery. I learned that birds are the most rescued of animals, but every animal gets the best of care from the staff.

If you have the opportunity take a tour of these areas, then please do so because it is worth an hour from the day. I have also come to accept that SeaWorld is not just another park because it is an “experience” that you will take with you and be reminded of the experience every time you see a story about animals being rescued or helped in some way by individuals dedicated to the care of our wildlife.

Shows at Islands of Adventure

     If you are trying to find something to do and do not feel like waiting in another line, then take a break and watch "The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad". It is a great show and unless you are here in the summer and want to get wet then do not sit near the front and middle because you will get wet; otherwise take a seat and enjoy the show. Lots of action, great comedy and a suspenseful ending.
     If you are an action hero fan, then hang around Marvel Super Hero Island and wait to see your favorite comic hero. They appear throughout the day so check your guide map for the posted times of the shows.

Tip for Hollywood Studios Toy Story ride

If you want to ride the Toy Story interactive game several times, then plan to get to the park as soon as it opens and hurry back to the ride. It is usually around a 30 minute wait early in the morning so you should be able to do it at least twice before the wait time starts to increase.

     Once you arrive have everyone get in line and let one person go stand in the "Fast Pass line", and no, you do not pay for fast passes and you should use this service as often as you can. This is very popular ride so the wait in the Fast Past line can be as long as the wait for the ride so get in the line as quick as you can to get tickets for your next round on Toy Story.

     You should be able to do the ride at least three times with this strategy and have time for the other attractions as well. This strategy works well for Park Hopping and you could jump over to another park to catch a ride on another popular attraction like Soarin at EPCOT.

Opening message

     After living in Kissimmee for one year and visiting the theme parks many times in the area, I decided to start a blog to share the experiences, travel tips and fun facts gathered from my family and friends visits to Disney, SeaWorld and Universal parks.

     To start I will say that the best time to visit is in September, if you can tolerate the “Love bugs”, which appear during the first two weeks of September.  You will not wait as long in attraction lines and the weather is very pleasant. I would recommend traveling to Orlando after the Labor Day weekend. You do need to be aware that some of the parks take this time to perform maintenance on some attractions so check the park sites for any announcements about attraction closings.

     I also want to thank my friend Mike V. for encouraging me to start this blog and hope that all will use it to share their experiences and the information will lead to greater enjoyment of your vacations.