Disney's Magic Kingdom Orlando Florida

By Steve Sewell

No matter how old you are, this place will enchant you from the moment you enter Disney World property. As you drive toward the transportation and ticketing center, along Disney's highways, you see Mickey Mouse on the road signs. At first just his gloves over the top of the sign and as you get closer more and more of him is revealed.

You have to go to the Transportation and Ticketing center to get to the Magic Kingdom, either by ferry across the Seven Seas Lagoon or by Monorail. I always find it quicker to go to MK by Monorail and return by ferry as it carries more passengers. This would only really apply if you left the park when either the park closes or a Firework Display has finished. You can also get the monorail to EPCOT from here if you wished.

This is the first time you will get a glimpse of Cinderellas Castle. It sends a tingle down your spine and I have had grown men say "It brought a lump to my throat". It never does it again, just that first time. Once you arrive at MK you then need to queue (Get in Line) for security and the turnstiles for admission.

On entering MK the first place you come across is Main Street USA. Main Street is designed, through forced perspective, to look as if it's much longer than it is when you're walking towards the castle. In the mornings, you are all excited and have the energy to walk. When you're walking away from the castle towards the exit, it looks shorter. Also, it is believed that most people walk on the right side of the street, so, all the food shops are on the right as you enter for those wanting breakfast, while the shops are on your right on the way out! When you are coming out, all the shops on your right have gifts and souvenirs. Towering in the distance is Cinderella's Castle in all it's glory. This is where everyone gets to grab that first photo opportunity. There are also Disney photographers on hand to take your picture.

If you have arrived early, just as the park has opened it may be a good idea to go right through to the back and go on those rides first as most people will work there way to the furthest point visiting rides and attractions as they go. Some of the attractions for older guests are there too, such as, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. A tip if there is a bit of a wait for both these rides, take a fast pass for one and queue for the other. Normally by the time you have done one ride it will be about time to ride the next one. A thing to note about fast passes, you can only use one fast pass at a time. So if you get a fast pass for a ride that says you should return between 10:00 and 12:00 you can't get another fast pass till after 10:00.

Try and avoid EMH (Extra Magic Hours) unless of course you are staying on a Disney property, this is when the park opens earlier and closes later for Disney Guests. The parks tend to be more full on these days.

The day time parade starts around 3pm and the sidewalks tend to get busy 1 to 2 hours prior to that. It does get very congested and it is difficult to cross the parade routes around that time too.
One other tip, if it is your birthday, anniversary or your first time visiting call at guest relations and tell them they will give you a badge and listen to the cast members say "Happy birthday Steve" or "How are you enjoying your first Visit Steve?"

MK can be one of the busier parks in Orlando but is well worth the visit. I wont go into all the rides that they have there you can find information about those sort of things quite easily. Try http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/orlando-guide.aspx

Steve Sewell is a Orlando Villa owner and is part owner of http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com and also owns the informational guide website http://www.perfectfloridaguide.com he has been traveling to Florida for the past 16 years and has built up a wealth of knowledge.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Sewell

Wild Encounters - Florida Attractions for Animal Lovers

By Fraser Hannah

Have you ever wanted to get face to face with a giraffe? Or observe a rhino in its natural setting? While Florida attractions like amusement parks with rollercoasters or water rides are fun, attractions that let you to get up close and personal with exotic animals from all over the world will provide a unique experience that you and your children will talk about for years to come. There are a number of Florida tours that will put you in the middle of all of the action!

Get Wild with these Florida Tours
One of the best Florida attractions for animal lovers to visit is Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens provides various adventure tours that remove the glass from between you and the animals and allow you to stare into the eyes of an antelope or touch the skin of a black rhino. Be sure your camera is loaded and ready because these Florida tours provide endless photo opportunities!

The Serengeti Safari is a 30-minute, open-truck tour that will transport you to another land! Get lost in the Serengeti experience as your Florida safari tour guide tells stories and shares captivating facts about the incredible wildlife. Observe the animals in a setting that mirrors the natural beauty of the Serengeti Plain, learn about the mysterious behavior of antelope and giraffes and experience the magic of feeding them with your own hands. Interested in Florida tours that teach about endangered species while helping to protect them? Busch Gardens and the World Wildlife Fund have combined conservation efforts to bring you one of the most unique Florida attractions, the Saving a Species Tour.

During a 45-minute tour, learn about the conservation projects that help protect rhinoceroses and the places they call home. Chat with the zookeepers who play a role every day in the effort to protect the future of these unique animals. Then, interact with the black rhinos and go on a Florida safari to observe the white rhinos in their natural setting. At the end of the tour, you'll feel great about the experience because you helped to protect these gentle giants--a portion of the proceeds from your ticket will benefit World Wildlife Fund's conservation work around the world.

More interested in aquatic Florida attractions? SeaWorld offers a variety of heart-pumping Florida tours for the marine animal lovers in your life. The Marine Mammal Keeper Experience gives those interested in a career with animals a behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to work at SeaWorld's famous Florida attractions. On this nine-hour adventure, you will set off in a wetsuit and boots to get a realistic look at what it takes to care for SeaWorld animals.
Work alongside marine mammal experts, and get up close and personal with marine life. Help care for endangered manatees by preparing special food for their dietary needs with the Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Team. During these Florida tours, you will care for and interact with dolphins, beluga whales, sea lions and walruses. Guests must be 13 years of age or older to participate.

Want to get wet and wild while encountering one of the ocean's most feared predators? The Sharks Deep Dive is the perfect choice of Florida tours for you! Most people fear seeing a shark fin in the water, but the shark cage will enable you to safely come face to face with over 30 predators of the deep from more than seven different species in the SeaWorld shark habitat. Located at Shark Encounter, one of the biggest and most popular SeaWorld Florida attractions, you will explore the 125-foot long underwater habitat with one other guest while wearing an underwater helmet that allows you to breathe and communicate without scuba equipment. You'll be one of few people who can brag they were brave enough to enter the underwater realm of sharks!

SeaWorld's newest venture is called Discovery Cove. For 35 years, SeaWorld has provided guests with unique Florida attractions to watch marine mammals perform and play from afar. Discovery Cove was created to take guests out of the audience and into the habitats where they can interact more closely with beloved marine mammals.

The beauty of Discovery Cove is that the park only allows a limited number of people in at one time.

Guests are split into small groups, and there is no need to stand in line for every attraction, creating a more relaxed environment. There are a variety of animals to interact with throughout the park, including bottlenose dolphins, stingrays, sharks, colorful fish and exotic birds. Your admission includes a 30 minute swim with the dolphins, snorkeling in a coral reef, and complimentary admission to two other Florida attractions, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, where you can participate in any of the other adventure-style Florida tours offered. Since you aren't inhibited by a rigid schedule take time to explore the lush greenery and relax on pristine beaches. Discovery Cove provides a unique playground with animal interaction that your family will not soon forget!

Conclusion
Interacting with animals is one of the few experiences that children and adults enjoy equally. There are a variety of Florida attractions that will appeal to the wild or tame at heart. Take advantage of Florida tours that get you up close and personal with the animals of your choice, and you will be sure to take home memories that will last a lifetime.

About the Author
Fraser Hannah spent eight years working as a freelance television production manager and researcher before leaving to join his family's business working with the elderly. He founded Traveling2Florida.com in 2003 after purchasing his own vacation home in Florida and being frustrated by the lack of vision shown by many of the existing vacation rental sites.
Traveling2Florida.com, an online Florida vacation guide, now connects thousands of travelers directly with the owners of high-quality vacation rentals in Florida, from Orlando to the Florida Keys.

Florida Roofing Contractors - Finding The Ones Who Will Do A Good Job

The sunny state of Florida is considered as one of the most or hurricane-prone areas in the Continental United States. Given this, it is imperative for many homeowners and builders to consider major engineering improvements and upgrades in ensuring that a home's roof holds it own during severe storms. Hence, priority should be given to every component of the roof, as well as the rest of the house's structure, to enable it to withstand the extremely violent wind speeds that hurricanes bring.

A House Needs A Good Roof
A roof refers to the uppermost covering component, or structure of a home or building. The main purpose of the roof is to primarily protect both the building itself and its interior material and content from the standard elements of weather, such as rain, snow, sleet and heat. However, depending on the nature of the structure, a roof may also protect against heat, sunlight, cold and wind.

If the roof is the covering for a house, then all of the mentioned protective functions should be considered. Other building types, like garden sheds, conservatories or greenhouses will need to guard against rain and wind and frost, but allow the entry of light.

A house's front porch could be installed with roofing materials that mainly protect against sunlight but also admit other natural elements. The different types of structures and homes that require roofs range from the size of a letterbox to that of a synagogue or cathedral, or sports stadium, with these structures being the most socially significant.

Get Info On Which Roofing Material To Choose
Installing a new roof is one of the most significant and expensive aspects one will run into as a homeowner, since a home's roof is the first line of defense against the different forces and elements weather brings. It is imperative that a homeowner hires the best roofing contractor possible. Depending on where you live, roofing contractors are aplenty, therefore, it is important that one follows the basic rules of roof construction and repair to help you find the most qualified contractor to do the job.

A homeowner should also have adequate information on what roofing materials to consider. The owner should have a keen eye on what type of weather proofing material to utilize; should you use shingles, membrane roofing or metal roofing, for instance.

Shingles, also called shakes in North America, is the generic term for roofing material that comes in many overlapping sections, irrespective of the nature of the material. More specifically, it can be used to mean wooden shingles.

Membrane roofing is in installed large sheets, commonly fused at the joints to form a continuous surface. Metal roofing is considered to be an affordable roof material, and could be either corrugated, mechanically seamed or flat seamed in form and structure.

Picking The Right Contractor
Before commencing on any major home improvement project, such as roofing, it is best that you first consider talking to several roofing contractors to make sure you are getting a fair deal before hiring the services of one. For roofing repair or installation, it is advisable to obtain at least three bid offers from different roofing contractors to enable you to compare prices, methods used and experienced required.

It is also imperative to take note that the least expensive wouldn't necessarily be the best one. It would be wiser to be cautious about any contractor that dives below the other bids by a large amount, since it is likely that they will offer shoddy service or are not being honest with what the total price should be, or if there are any hidden costs. Aside from getting bids from at least three different roofing contractors, it is also important that the owner also does a little fact-finding work on the contractor.

Do Your Own Research
The homeowner should take note that reputable roofing contractors are licensed and are willing to provide at least three to four references vouching for their good work record. Having done good research on your prospective roofing contractor gives you the peace of mind knowing that you're hiring a credible professional for your roofing requirements.

Florida has a wide array of roofing contractors, and among these are Spilker Roofing and Sheet Metal, of Merritt Island in Brevard County. The company's services include new or re-roofing projects, and installation or repair of commercial, industrial and municipal structures, sheet metal fabrication, roof maintenance programs, leak repair, and designing wind vented roofing systems for resistance against hurricanes.

Another Florida roofing firm is Innovative Commercial Construction, Inc of St. Petersburg, Florida. Innovative Commercial Construction has 20 years of experience in roof renovation and restoration services, paint and waterproofing and roof design services.

Whichever of the Florida roofing contractors you choose to commission for your roofing job, take heed of the tips mentioned above to make sure that you get maximum value for your time and your money. Remember, your roof is your first defense against the intermittent Florida weather.

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit Flooring2Roof.com, where he discusses various subjects such as Florida roofing contractors, roofing contractors in the UK and Orange County roofing.

Florida Vacation Rental - The Smart Alternative

By Alison Meacham

So you have decided that you want to visit The Happiest Place on Earth - Disney World in Orlando Florida. Your next big decision is where you would like to stay. An increasing number of people are choosing to stay in an Orlando vacation rental villa. As recently as 5 years ago the choice was limited - but now there is something for everyone. From the 2 bed condo to the 7 bed luxury vacation home on a beautiful Florida vacation rental resort.

When you start your search for an home you will notice that there are a lot of choices. Some would say an overwhelming number of choices! So you need to be a little organized just as you would in your search for an hotel. So here is a list to start your Florida vacation rental search:

How large a vacation home do you want? Decide if you are looking for a condo, or a home. A condo may cost less but if it is a more luxurious stay you are looking for then consider an upgrade to a villa. Most vacation homes in Orlando will have a private pool - is this something that would make your stay that bit more special? Many of my guests tell me that the private swimming pool is the thing which their children enjoy most!

How close to the attractions would you like to be? Many Orlando vacation home rentals are close to Disney World. Ask yourself how important this is to your family. There are some resorts, including the Windsor Palms resort, which are within 5 to 10 minutes of the Disney Main Gate.

What is your price range? Treat this just as you would with an Orlando Florida hotel. It is best
to set a realistic budget which is right for your family. You will be saving money so why not treat yourself to something very special?

There are many different communities offering different things. Some homes are located on a resort with facilities to rival that of a 4 or 5 star hotel. Do you want a home with community pool, spa, sundry store, games room, gym, movie theater - the possibilities are endless. Or would you prefer to pay a little less and have a villa on a community with no facilities? You must decide what would be best for your family group.

So when you have found your perfect choice of vacation home community, or at least narrowed it down to a choice of 2 or 3 maximum, begin emailing owners, that you have found in your search. Look at their website and check out the pictures. A picture speaks a thousand words.
Unfortunately you also have to look at the words! By this I mean the responses from the owner.
Was their response speedy and helpful? Ask as many questions as you need to. If you want to talk to them on the telephone then ask them to call you. This can often be a much easier way of getting the information that you need to know, and also building trust in your vacation home owner.

Whichever Florida vacation rental home you choose I am sure that you will be happy with your choice and never want to stay in the confined space of an hotel room again.

Alison Meacham is the author of the Disney Vacation Money Savings Guide She owns luxury Florida vacation rental homes within 5 minutes of Disney. You can view her resort villas at www.windsorpalmsusa.com Sign up for her free newsletter which gives tips, ideas and suggestions on how to save on your Disney World Vacation

Cape Coral Vacation Homes - All The Best Of Florida

By Wade Robins

If you’re tired of spending the late months of one year and the early months of the next struggling with bitter cold , mountainous piles of snow, and streets too icy to navigate, you could do worse than to trade your time in a “winter wonderland”, wherever it may be, for the “water wonderland “ that surrounds Cape Coral vacation homes.

In the nearly four decades since Caper Coral was founded in 1970, it has become Florida’s fourteenth –largest city, but even that rapid growth rate has done nothing to spoil its natural beauty. One of the earliest master-planned communities in the US, Cape Coral is located in southwest Florida, along the broad and unspoiled Caloosahatchie River and just to the west of Fort Myers. Cape Coral vacation homes abound along its four hundred miles of canals carrying the water into the Caloosahatchie and the Gulf of Mexico, and along its more than twenty-five miles of shoreline.

Cape Coral Attractions
Those enjoying stays in Coral Cape vacation homes find themselves within one hour of the Everglades National Park, minutes from Captiva and Sanibel Beaches with their abundance of seashells and the nearby Darling Wildlife Refuge. They can leave their Coral Cape vacation homes prepared for a day on one of the many nearby golf courses or hiking and biking trails, or for boating, fishing, snorkeling, and swimming outings. Fort Myers is within minutes for those who just like to relax on the beach.

Coral Cape vacation homes will provide their tenants will all the comforts of their own homes and easy access to all the Coral Cape events which take place throughout the year, from January’s Festival of the Arts, to Oktoberfest, to the Christmas Boat Light Parade. Those who find the beaches, links, and biking trails too crowded can plan days away from their Coral Cape vacation homes kayaking beneath the mangrove tunnels which shade the estuaries of the Matlatcha Aquatic Preserve.

Cape Coral Nightlife

Cape Coral vacation homes can be springboards to a nightlife which ranges from some of the best snook fishing in Florida to an evening out for great food and better jazz at Ellington's on Sanibel Island, where the white grand piano bears the signatures of the many jazz virtuosos who have entertained there. Time spent enjoying the Fort Myers after-hours scene is a great way to finish off a day spent shopping at the Coralwood Mall or Tanger Outlet Mall.

Those who rent or own Cape Coral vacation homes, in short, have all the best of the laid-back Florida lifestyle in a breathtakingly beautiful setting!

You can also find more info on Luxury Vacation Homes and Vacation Homes Near Disney.

Vacationhomeshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Vacation Homes.