Here is an article from one of our owners about Logan’s Roadhouse

We actually stumbled across Logan's Roadhouse the last time we were visiting our villa in Orlando.  I was over with my children and we wanted to find somewhere to eat lunch, before going shopping. We drove to one of our favourite restaurants, Bennigans, on the 192 near to marker 8, but unfortunately it looked very run down, as it had only recently re-opened after financial difficulties.  So we looked around and there, just a few yards down the road was Logan's Roadhouse. Being pretty ravenous by that time we decided to give it a try.

There was a sign outside offering two entrees for $13.99, which seemed an amazing offer - but we thought we had better look inside before making a decision to stay, as it seemed too good to be true. So I parked the car and made our way inside.
Well, what a shock we got! It was nothing like we expected. We walked inside and it was quite dark, and a bit like a barn - and there, in front of us, was a huge barrel of guess what - PEANUTS! We were approached by a very pleasant server who escorted us to a table round the corner, but we had to crunch our way over empty peanut shells which littered the floor. We couldn't believe it!

Anyway, we sat down and noticed a large silver bucket of peanuts on the table - what we used to call 'monkey nuts' - in their shells. Of course we couldn't resist. We were a bit circumspect at first, politely taking a peanut shell and delicately cracking it open before eating the contents. Then, of course, we courteously put the shells on our napkins. But it didn't last long. Looking around we could see that that was NOT the way to behave. Our neighbours were happily shelling nuts and hurling them onto the floor and no-one was batting an eyelid. So, feeling a little like a naughty child I cracked open my next monkey nut and threw it onto the floor. Well, did I get a ticking off from my children! But undeterred I got into my stride and soon I was cracking, hurling and eating peanuts with the best of them. Well, you have to join in don't you?  Isn't it funny that, as you get older, your children start treating YOU as a child.

Anyway, our server came to take our order and there was plenty to choose from. We couldn't believe that it could be so reasonable - we thought there must be a catch in it. On the special menu they were offering a wide range of dishes, including chicken, pork, meatloaf, 6 oz sirloin, tilapia and mesquite grilled salmon, which my daughter ordered. I decided to order the chicken as did my son, and while we were waiting we were brought a large basket of piping hot rolls, coated with a sort of sweet shiny syrup. Absolutely delicious with a nice big blob of butter on them. Well, its no use worrying about the diet when you are on holiday, is it?

The food came quite quickly and we were amazed at how good it was. It was very hot, freshly cooked and quite delicious. My daughter's salmon was particularly good, and a huge portion. We were given a refill of the rolls and our server was most attentive.
Sadly, we didn't have enough room left to try the lovely little desserts that were also on the menu. They actually do three mini desserts for just $5 and they come in a dinky little metal peanut bucket which you can take home. You can choose from Strawberry Cheesecake, Nutter Butter Fudgeslide or Chocolate Brownie. Yummy!

We can certainly recommend Logans Roadhouse. The service was excellent, the food well cooked and piping hot, and the peanuts - well, they are a most unusual addition. Only problem we found is that you get so engrossed in shelling, tossing and eating peanuts that you may well fill yourself up before your meal comes - its just so tempting and such fun, in a naughty kind of way! 

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:
 http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Winter Park
Winter Park is a city of about 28,486 residents located just north of Orlando in Orange County, Florida. One of Florida's finest cities, it is famous for its stately trees, abundant parks, brick-lined streets, spectacular homes, museums, vibrant lakes and fine shops along Park Avenue.
Chartered in 1887, the city was originally developed as a winter resort for wealthy Northerners seeking refuge from the harsh winters and a tranquil place to rest and relax. Fortunately, the city has maintained its natural beauty throughout the years.
The city was originally named Lakeview in 1858 and re-named Osceola in 1870. Eleven years later, the name Winter Park was chosen by its founders. Loring Chase and Oliver Chapman, who during an informal discussion, decided they wanted the name to be something about a park in winter - thus the name Winter Park
Tourists came to the city originally to enjoy Winter Park's beautiful lakes, warm temperatures and natural surroundings. Today they can enjoy these same amenities in addition to great restaurants, museums, entertainment, theater, outdoor activities, festivals and much more.

Farmers Market
The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is held at the old train depot, located at 200 West New England Avenue that has been restored into an historical landmark that hosts this NUMBER ONE produce and plant market in Central Florida. The market takes place every Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is a popular community gathering place that provides fine produce, plants, baked goods and so much more.

Note: The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is closed each year on the third Saturday in March due to the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
We go every year on the first Saturday after we arrive in Florida, it’s such a lovely morning out. They sell freshly baked goods, lots of fruit and veg and unique stalls with quirky bits & pieces. Also there are lots of stalls selling plants, we purchased some for the pool deck and they are a bargain compared to the big stores. There’s an outside area where you can sit with a coffee and piece of cake and enjoy the ambience.

Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour

Adventuresome for the first time visitors seeking flora and fauna or savvy Orlando travellers
seeking an off-the-beaten-path vacation experience  won´t be disappointed when they discover the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour.
Located on Lake Osceola in the quiet suburb less than 10 minutes from downtown Orlando, the boat tour offers hour-long, guided cruises through three of the seven lakes and two, narrow manmade canals on the tranquil Winter Park chain.
On any given tour, participants may observe large cranes swooping waterside to snag a large fish or a lazy alligator languishing on a nearby bank. An occasional water skier or racing shell full of crew members from the areas private liberal arts college, Rollins, are also enjoyable sideshows for tour goers
For over 50 years, Winter Park´s world famous Scenic Boat Tour has given enjoyment to thousands. The relaxing, narrated, one hour cruise through the beautiful lakes and canals of historic Winter Park makes it a must on every person´s list. It´s really the only way to see the true beauty of Winter Park which includes Rollins College, Kraft Azalea Gardens, Isle of Sicily, tropical birds, plants, flowers and magnificent mansions.
Climb aboard an excursion boat and let your "Skipper" fascinate you for one hour as you cruise through beautiful lakes and canals for 12 miles. Scenic Boat Tour is not to be missed!.
Every tour, however, guarantees plenty of swaying palms, towering cypress trees, lush ferns and a variety of flourishing sub-tropical flowers. Breathtaking views of opulent private homes and exquisite estates sprawling along the shores are also a key feature of the scenic cruise.
The dock, less than 5 minutes from Park Avenue, Central Florida´s popular, upscale shopping district, is conveniently located on the East end of Morse Boulevard on Lake Osceola
The Scenic Boat Tour offers a fleet of six 18 passenger pontoon boats. Admission is $12.00 for adults and $6.00 for children (ages 2 through 11) under 2 are free. Operating hours are 10am to 4pm daily except Christmas.
In the height of summer it gets very hot on the boats and there is no shade at all, this is because during the tour you are taken under a very low bridge – so low in fact that everyone has to duck their heads!!
The guide tells you all about the history of Rollins College and the benefactors who made it what it is today. I believe, from memory, it’s $58,000 a year to be a student at the college although they do offer scholarships ….
The houses that back onto the lake are superb - one of them was built by the family who own Walgreens and as the name suggests they wintered in the warm climates to escape the harsh weather.

Submitted by Sandra, you can view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=349

There is so much to see and do at Animal Kingdom, that it is hard to fit it all in, but one thing I would not want to miss is the wonderful and very spectacular ‘Festival of the Lion King,’ in Camp Minnie Mickey. We normally try to catch a performance later in the day, after we have visited most of the attractions. It is quite a long walk to the huge auditorium, but its well worth it, even if your feet are killing you by then. Try to arrive reasonably early as it gets pretty full and you can then choose where you sit.

The 1000 seat auditorium is now fully enclosed, and benefits from the addition of air conditioning. When we first visited Animal Kingdom it was open at the sides, and sometimes, during heavy showers or thunderstorms it was difficult to remain focused, because of the deafening noise of the rain and thunder. It could also be rather hot and humid, but now it is great.

The atmosphere is electric as the show starts, and the huge animatronic animals emerge from behind the curtains, accompanied by colourfully dressed cast members who sing and dance. Their tribal costumes are extravagant and stunning, with bold colours and vivid use of a variety of materials, and their typical African headdresses are very spectacular. There are 4 animatronic animals, Simba, who sits atop Pride Rock, a swaying giraffe, an elephant, and, in the jungle, Pumba and Timon. The theatre, which has 4 banks of seats, is then divided up so that each bank represents an animal – elephant, wart hog, lion and giraffe. The audience is encouraged to make appropriate noises for their allotted animal, and a member of the audience is coaxed down onto the floor to demonstrate their prowess at making animal noises. It is no problem for elephant or lion, but giraffe and warthog have a bit of a struggle. After a quick practice, this fast moving show is on the road.

There are acrobatic monkeys, in their startling orange striped costumes, who cavort and tumble on the trampoline that rolls out of the central area. They swing on the trapeze and provide a fast moving and intricate display of acrobatics. They tumble and twist and turn, whilst the song ‘Hakuna Matata’ plays.  There is a high speed finale, and then, almost in the bat of an eyelid the trampoline is folded away and disappears.

The mood changes dramatically and the auditorium is filled with pounding drums. The lights are lowered and in come the tribal warriors on stilts, their spectacular costumes, red and yellow striped, grass skirts, topped off with feathered tribal headdresses. There is a fire show, with plumes of flame rising out of the central stage area. The whole floor looks to be alight, and there are spinning torches, surrounded by colorful dancers – but there is an air of foreboding. Fire eaters make us gasp as they swallow flames.

The mood changes yet again, and all is calm and lightness. A turquoise and red bird dances in front of us, the female lifted high into the air, spinning and swooping. They perform to the sounds of that beautiful duet, and one of my favourite songs, ‘Can you feel the love tonight?’ which is sung with such feeling that it brings a lump to your throat. It is enchanting and romantic, and a spine tingling moment as you listen to the glorious harmonies. The female bird spins high in the sky, and as she circles above the audience there is orchestral music – a world in perfect harmony, connected in the circle of life. This wonderfully emotive song is sung with great power and emotion – the whole auditorium is simply transfixed by the beauty and emotion of it all.

Then it’s straight into the powerful, exciting and joyous ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ with its rhythmic chorus of ‘Whimoweh!’ and everyone joins in the singing and clapping, with a parade of eager children drawn into the centre of the auditorium.  More songs follow – Hakuna Matata – ‘no worries for the rest of your days’ – indeed your worries simply disappear in the magic of it all.  The birds return for another beautiful song, followed by the powerfully song ‘Be Prepared’ when an atmosphere of menace and evil emanates.

Simba reappears and sings ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King’ a happy, rhythmic song in which the whole audience participates.  ‘The Circle of Life’ brings the ‘tingle’ factor once more, and delicate birds are brought out on tall sticks, swooping and gliding high above the audience. The finale, itself, is truly spectacular, engulfing you in song and music and dancing, drawing us all together in the circle of life. All too soon it is over, and the huge animatronic animals glide silently backstage. If you are quick, you might just get a photograph before they disappear.

I always leave with a feeling of great calm, awe and wonder, after this truly memorable show, which although offering just a brief taste of the magical musical, The Lion King, brings a visit to Animal Kingdom to a remarkably beautiful end. It is one of Disney’s best shows, combining wonderful sound systems, superb singers and dancers, remarkable animatronics, fast action, suspense, romance, and beautiful songs, in a way that only Disney can do. Don’t miss it, whatever you do.

Submitted by "ellie" a vacation home owner, view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Epcot is a great day out, but for me, one of my favourite parts is in the Land pavilion, mainly because it houses one of my favourite rides – ‘Soarin.’ This pavilion explores how we can use the land for our benefit, but it also highlights the ways we can destroy it too. Future technologies are explored here and the land itself is celebrated.

One of the most interesting and educational places to visit, this huge pavilion covers six acres, and has a fast food court, a unique sit-down restaurant that moves, and three great attractions, including Soarin’. Don’t visit Epcot without taking the relaxing and highly informative boat ride which takes you on a 14 minute journey through Disney’s unique indoor growing area. There are four greenhouses and each one is different, plus the amazing ‘Aquacell.’

We often do this boat tour late in the afternoon when there are fewer queues. You will sit in a boat with bench seats, and the seats at the front will give you the best view. The tour starts with a slow boat ride in the dark, and at one time there was a Cast member to give you a live narration. They have now been replaced by a recording. You sail slowly through a deciduous forest in the middle of a rainstorm, and then on through a tropical rainforest, a desert and the American prairie. Look out for the audio-animatronic figures which were originally created for an attraction which never came to fruition – ‘Western River Expedition.’ Of course there are special effects, including wind, heat and mist. The question is, how do we feed a growing world population whilst not destroying the very earth we live on, and what environmental issues should we take into consideration?

The part I enjoy the most is the tour through the greenhouses and laboratories where we learn about the latest farming techniques, including aquaculture, hydroponics, aeroponics, nutrient film techniques and desert farming. We always find this fascinating, as you see how it is possible to grow crops in the most unlikely of conditions. Plants are grown in a variety of mediums including rockwool, sand, coconut coir and perlite.

The Tropics Greenhouse has a 60ft dome where crops from the tropics are grown, including bananas, peanuts, rice, sugar cane, jackfruit, peach palm, dragon fruit, java apple, vanilla, pineapple papaya and cacao.

The Temperate Greenhouse features such technologies as integrated pest management, sustainable agriculture and specialized irrigation systems, which are designed to increase crop production and decrease waste. Here you can see huge crops such as Atlantic Giant pumpkins, winter melons and Nine Pound Lemon. As well as these giant crops you will see cotton, turnip, sunflowers, millet and beets.

The Production Greenhouse, now known as the String Greenhouse, is where tons of vegetables are grown for the Land’s Garden Grill Restaurant. Innovative high density techniques are used including vertical growing techniques, in which plants are grown on special trellises. These encourage plants to grow in the shape of trees. One of the most amazing plants grown by this method is the tomato tree which produced over 32,000 tomatoes over a 16 month period. Here you will see peppers, lettuce, eggplant, snake gourd, tomatoes and other vegetables. You will even see some amusing cucumbers and pumpkins grown in the shape of Mickey Mouse. They use growing systems which are kind to the environment, and over a year this greenhouse yields over 30 tons of produce.

But the most fascinating green house has to be the ‘Creative Greenhouse’ where plants are grown without soil – some just hang from the ceiling, most are gown via aeroponics, in which a fine mist of nutrients and water is sprayed onto the roots of the plants which dangle in the air. You can also see the hydroponic growing units which were developed by NASA for growing food on long space journeys. Look out for Swiss chard, super-dwarf wheat, rosemary, squash, lettuce, basil, cabbage, marigolds and snapdragons.

Fish are also farmed, and the boat also takes you past through the ‘Aquacell ‘where you will see many high-density tanks as well as low density display tanks and tubes. Some of the fish which are farmed here are used in the Coral Reef Restaurant in the ‘Seas With Nemo and Friends’ pavilion. You will see shrimp, catfish, eels, sturgeon, tilapia, bass and even American alligators.

The plants themselves are labelled to help you recognise them, and it is fascinating to see the innovative ways in which plants can be grown. If you want a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes then you can take a ‘Behind the Seeds’ greenhouse tour. For just $16 for adults and $12 for children, aged 3-9 you can see the latest innovations, taste some of the produce which has been grown, and feed the fish. Although you can make reservations at the tour desk to the left of Soarin’ you can also book up to 90 days in advance by calling 407 939 8687.

This is not something I would recommend if you have young children, but older children would probably find it fascinating. Its also great if you are feeling a little hot and weary!

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:  http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

When we visited our beautiful villa in Orlando in June we made a trip to Hollywood Studios to see the new interactive ride, 'Toy Story Mania'. However, we were not there early enough, having 'hopped' from Epcot first, and found that the queues were horrendously long - over two hours - and there were no fast passes left. We left disappointed, vowing to make sure that next time we would go there first. So when we visited our home again, in December, we made sure that Hollywood Studios was first on our list of parks, and that 'Toy Story Mania' was the first attraction we headed for when we reached the park.

So it was that we set off bright and early for Hollywood Studios, and luckily our villa is only a few short minutes away so we arrived at the gates just as they opened. We made a beeline for the Pixar area, which can be found behind Mickey's Sorcerer's Hat, which dominates the central area of Hollywood Studios. Located in the area which once housed 'Who Wants To Be a Millionaire,' this new attraction has been a huge success. The first view of this attraction is when you walk under the huge 'Pixar' sign which is suspended above the walkway. Even outside there are some great features - look up and see the giant Scrabble board which hang down the front of the building.

We were delighted to see that the wait times were only about 20 minutes, so we dashed over to get our fast passes for later in the day, and then stood in line at the entrance. We were not to be disappointed, as this is a really stunning attraction, and the fun starts the minute you walk round the corner into the main waiting area. As we entered we picked up 3-D glasses, and then made our way round and round the queuing area. This was brightly decorated with an amazing array of huge toys - giant crayons, bricks etc.

All of this makes you feel as if you have been shrunk to the size of a toy, when in reality the toys have been made to a large scale.  Despite quite a long queue, the time went quickly as there was so much to look at around the room, and hanging from the ceiling. As we reached the rear of this area we could see Mr Potato Head, interacting with the crowd and cracking jokes. Occasionally a body part would pop loose which is highly amusing.

The time seemed to pass in a flash and we soon found ourselves walking through to the vehicle area.  The vehicles themselves are partitioned, so that each couple face a different way. You sit back to back with the other couple, with a partition between you. In front of you is a toy cannon, which fires when you pull a string, and there are two cannons in each section of the train. The aim is to fire at targets in the game booths on the way.

We sat down quickly and familiarised ourselves with the cannon, before donning our 3-D glasses, ready for the off! The vehicle started on its way and we were soon in front of a practise target. A good tip is to keep firing, as you never run out of ammunition. The practice over, we were off to the real games. The route is themed, with about 12 scenes, each hosted by a character from Toy Story and Toy Story 2. We saw Buzz, Woody, Bo Peep, Hamm, and the Little Green Men who cheer you on. The aim is to hit the targets, and rack up the highest score. The cars do spin, but it is fairly mild. Each of the targets has a different score - the ones at the bottom of the game are often higher, so look out for the highest scoring targets and aim for them. It is surprisingly easy to get the hang of it, much easier than the Buzz Lightyear attraction at Magic Kingdom.

There are six mini-games including Pie Throw Practice Booth, Hamm and Eggs, Bo Peep's Baa-loon Pop, Green Army Men Shoot Camp, Buzz Lightyear's Flying Tossers, and Woody's Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gallery. The detail is brilliant, and your score is recorded on an onboard display screen.

We really enjoyed this attraction, and had great fun zapping away. We couldn't wait to do it again, although our fast passes were not for another couple of hours. Second time round it was even better, and it is definitely on our list of 'must do's' for the next time we visit Orlando. Make sure you go there first if you want to be sure of doing it, and get your fast passes first so that you can try it again later in the day. It's brilliant!

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:  http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Sea World have announced a new tour that gives you admission with preferred seating to the Shamu show, “Believe” the dolphin show, Blue Horizons” and the Clyde and Seamore show and, gives you a photo opportunity immediately following the shows. It’s called Animal Shows and Photo Experience.

You also get to interact with a Penguin and a Clydesdale. The tour will run with groups of around 12 at a time and is a walking tour that lasts around 5 hours. At the conclusion of the tour you receive a photo cd of your days adventures.

The cost is from $125 for adults and from $100 for children. This is on top of the regular admission price.

Diana – The people’s princess the new exhibit is now open. It occupies the old Virgin Mega store in the West Side part of Downtown Disney. There are many artefacts on display along with some of her dresses. The exhibit covers the whole of the downstairs part of the building. It charts her life from child to icon.

Admission is $14.50 (ages 10 and above), $5 for ages 3-9. Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. The exhibit will be at Downtown Disney through Nov. 30, 2009.

During these days of some pretty high temperatures Aquatica provided some relief for some of it’s visitors. Albeit for a few hours, these ice seats were a hit with this family. Each section of seating weighed over a ton.

(Photo by Sea World)

President Obama has now joined the revamped Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom. The show is to reopen on the 4th July.

There have also been some new speeches added A film narrated by Morgan Freeman with video of presidents speaking during turbulent times, including Lyndon Johnson after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing and George W. Bush encouraging citizens at ground zero after 9-11. Midway through the film, a screen lifts to reveal the animatronic Abraham Lincoln, alone on the stage. He now delivers the full Gettysburg Address.