The annual Star Wars Weekends begin next month, and Walt Disney World obviously expects huge crowds at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Many Star Wars fans will be there for the opening of the rebuilt Star Tours simulator ride.

Officials also plan to to nearly double – from 8 to 15 – the number of daily performances of the Jedi Training Academy -  the interactive children’s show staged next to Star Tours.

Hollywood Studios hours have also been extended on the planned opening – May 29th - the day that the new simulator tide is scheduled to debut.    The park will open at 8.00 a.m. instead of 9.00 a.m. and the park’s closing hours will go back from 9.00 p.m. to midnight.

One of the  reasons the park’s management were reluctant to change the Star Tours ride was that Hollywood Studios has fewer rides than most,  ( it has more shows) .  The main reason they finally decided to go ahead with the re-design of the Star Tours was due to the success of the highly popular ride Toy Story Mania! which proved to be so popular that they needed another big ride elsewhere in the park to even out the flow of the crowds.

Polk County’s Marketing group are getting excited about the soon- to- be- opening of the brand new Legoland Florida park at Cypress Gardens. Specifically designed to provide   interactive experiences for children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old, the park will be appealing to families, from toddlers to grandparents .

A new member of the Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau is Julie Casey of My Kid’s Plate fame, who will assisting businesses near the Legoland park how to prepare for the onslaught of the pint sized visitors.

Busch Gardens has had two new additions to its collection of animals this spring – a baby cheetah was born and having been abandoned by its mother, had to be hand reared, so to keep the baby company, a labrador puppy was brought in to be its playmate.  The public was asked to choose names for the pair, and photos of the little ones can be found on the Busch Gardens website.  The brand new Cheetah ride will open on May 29th and this will make the seventh Coaster ride at Busch.

Disney is moving right along with its building of the new FantasyLand at the Magic Kingdom.  Scheduled to open in 2012, the Beast’s  Castle ( from Beauty and the Beast) will tower over the rest of Fantasy land.

An artist rendition of the entrance to FantasyLand.

Polk Outpost27 recently hosted a group of local artists giving demonstrations of their painting prowess.  Visitors to Outpost 27 were invited to try it for themselves, and children were particularly involved with some of the works of art on display.

The local Kiwanis Club of Davenport Four Corners will be holding their Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday 14th May;  come along and support the event.  It’s being held at Hunters Creek Golf Club in Orlando, and starts at 1.30  that afternoon.  At 6.00 p.m. there will be a Helicopter Ball drop and the ball closest to the pin will win first prize.   All proceeds from the event will go to help the children of the area.

Mothers’ Day will soon be here, so take the opportunity, if you can, to celebrate Mothers all over the world.

We shall be watching with the rest of the world the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on the 29th of this month. Let’s wish them a wonderful day and a happy life together.

We had the great good fortune to be able to go to the Arnold Palmer Invitational Golf at Bayhill last week, and it was a great experience.  I can fully recommend it.   Being relatively local meant that we were able to drive and thanks to some very helpful friends, we could actually park in Bayhill itself.

Walking from their home to the main concourse, and seeing the crowds gathering around the practice putting green to watch some putting and then we wandered over to the practice range to watch Ian Poulter and a couple of other golfers ( names escape me), setting up their tee shots.   Two things occurred to me at that moment – one, what a poor golfer I am, and two, these guys are a lot more slender than they look on TV.

The concentration is intense, and it needs to be , with the throng of people moving around behind and alongside the course, and even with the marshals requesting stillness and silence, the hum and buzz of ongoing conversations  is palpable.

Cameras and cell phones are not allowed except on the first day of the tournament, but I did manage to sneak a couple of photos when the stewards weren’t looking.   This view was of the scoreboard as Phil Mickelson was teeing off.

Following the major players , of course, were large crowds of supporters who alternately groaned when their heroes missed a shot -  or cheered , whistled and clapped when they sank a putt, or made a particularly long drive.

Coming from the UK as we do, I found the whole event very reminiscent of the Badminton Horse Trials; beautiful weather, being out in the country( even in Orlando), shopping ( lots of golf equipment and clothing to shop for) and happy crowds walking the course and enjoying themselves.

Colin and I had a couple of jokey photos taken………….      oh, the wonders of Photoshop – take a look …….

me with friends!

We did meet with Mr Arnold Palmer as we were walking out of the event, and we bumped into Bubba Watson ; however, security was very strict around them, and I didn’t have a chance to pull my camera out, so these pictures are the best we can do!

If you are in this area next year, this is definitely an experience not to be missed. Take a sun hat, sunglasses, sun cream, money and wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  There’s a lot of walking if you like following your favourites, and when the sun shines, there’s not a lot of shade.  The players are to be congratulated for keeping their cool in what was close to record heat throughout the tournament.

LEGOLAND Florida opened its gates yesterday to certain media people and showed off what has been happening so far.  Certainly everything is progressing exactly as planned and the opening will take place in October, as predicted.

Although the  150 acre park is still a construction area, it is easier to see where some of the various displays will  be, and we are told that the infrastructure has almost been finished and that the rides were being put in, buildings were being redesigned and they were beginning to really get a feel for the resort.

The 150-acre resort will feature attractions designed primarily for children aged 2 to 12, with mild roller coasters, car and boat attractions, Lego-building areas, a ski stunt show and small-scale versions of cities made of Lego blocks. Even though much of what we saw was mostly dirt and concrete, much of the Miniland USA will be in place ,as will many of the rides, by July of this year.

Miniland USA will be complete with the state of Florida in miniature as well as mini cities of Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Miniland USA will also feature Florida landmarks, including the Daytona International Speedway and Kennedy Space Center.

The park is located in Winter Haven and is approximately a 30 minute drive from most of Premier Home Management’s vacation homes.    Legoland will be a very child friendly park, aiming at children between the ages of 2 and 12, and will have gentler rides for the little ones to enjoy. Currently they are offering a discounted annual pass for $99 and that ticket will be good from when the park opens and through the end of 2012 but purchases have to be made by April 30 at Legoland.com.

Adrian Jones, General Manager, with the map of Legoland

Sales have been going so well that the the annual-pass price will go up to $159 for adults and $129 for children ages 3-12 after that date so you need to act quickly.

Many many times, my blogs are about holidays/vacations in this exciting and diverse area of Central Florida.

There are several very good reasons for that;  one , I live here, so I know how many things there are to do and see.  Two , our weather ,which  is really not that bad.  Sure, we have cold weather during the winter months, but is is definitely not as bad as many of the other states or countries.  Yes, it can get hot and humid throughout the summer season, but we have air conditioned homes and air conditioned vehicles.  We also have golf courses, fishing, bird watching, bike trails, horseback riding, zip lines, eco tours, air musems, all sorts of sports – the list goes on and on.   We have wonderful vacation homes, and knowledgeable staff to help our guests enjoy their vacations.

This blog has come about because of my recent experience on our own vacation.  We paid for a suite ( 360 sq.ft instead of 290 sq.ft)  on a well known cruise ship so that we would have a good size cabin, and some extra special treats like fresh fruit in the cabin.

The service that we received could not be faulted, our waiters, bar staff and cabin staff were excellent – friendly, efficient and professional.  However, it was obvious that the cruise line were doing what so many businesses are doing nowadays – that is, cutting some of the costs by reducing the size or value of the goods that are provided.  In this case, the food was not so good, and the entertainment was somewhat lower standard than we had been accustomed to.  Prices were high, and excursions were more expensive for a shorter tour, or for a less labour / product intensive trip.

And that brings me to the point of this particular story;  which I was reminded of when I tried to buy a bottle of household washing up liquid.  Without many of us being aware of it, the sizes of many of our regular purchases have been reduced, and it would seem that manufacturers, like our cruise line, are reducing the sizes of product because they don’t want to put the prices up.  Check this for yourself; when you next go to your local grocery store;  look at the size of the product , then look at the price.  The product size will have shrunk, but the price will remain the same or slightly higher.  Now, I know that everyone is in business to make a profit, and if that is the way that manufacturers see as being their way forward, so be it.

My bank seems to have embraced this lower standard – they change staff so frequently that they are mostly only half-trained.  And those staff do not seem too happy in their jobs;  are they there only because they have to be, and are they also affected by this sense of loss of pride in work well done.

But I personally would rather pay a little more for good value than pay a lesser amount for a lower standard of product -  care -  call it what you will.  And Why?  because I want to have a good experience, not a mediocre one, and it seems to me that we are expected to put up with mediocrity, poor service, lower standards.  Why has mediocrity became the new way of life?   Yes, many people are struggling to juggle their lives and their money to ensure that they have food on the table, and there are stores and places for them, but what of the others.  The people like myself who have worked hard all year, who have saved hard for a once a year experience, who want to go away and relax – are we expected to put up with lower standards.

Irrespective of your earning power, surely we all work for a sense of pride and satisfaction in doing our jobs well; in making sure that the people we deal with in our day- to- day lives are treated with respect, and that we show our job satisfaction by providing excellent service to those with whom we work.

Can we go forward to better days when service does not come with a frown or  a scowl, and is instead proffered with a  smiling face and happy attitude

After the indulgences of the Festive Season it’s sometimes a good thing to go out and enjoy the fresh air with a brisk walk.  That’s exactly what we did on the Sunday after Christmas Day.  Having eaten and drunk far more than we should, it was time to retrain our bodies into a stricter regime of exercise and healthy diet.

Our normal festive tradition is to visit Pinewood House at Bo9k Tower Gardens before Christmas, but this year, we had missed that, so we made a plan to go there afterwards, and on Sunday 26th we did exactly that.  It was a chilly day, with a strong breeze coming from the Artic, so we bundled up into warm clothes and set off for the 20 minute drive through the orange groves to Lake Wales.

The groves are full of fruit at this time of year, and set against the dull brown of the dying grass, they look green and colourful and full of bright orange globes of tangerines, oranges and clementines.  Later on in the year the groves will show the grapefruit and the lemons and limes that  grow so readily here in Central Florida.

From the road that we took, the Bok Tower stands against the skyline for almost the whole of the journey, and is well signposted from the highway.

Once we turned into the main entrance and paid our entrance fee for both the Gardens  and the tour of Pinewood House, we drove through more citrus groves along the ridge.  Bok Tower stands on one of the highest  points in this area, and you can look out over the groves to the towns and cities in the distance.

Arriving at the car park – not many people about today! – we walked towards the main entrance.

The main entrance to Bok Tower Gardens

Entering the building our eyes were drawn to the sight of the magnificent decorated tree in the center of the room.  Being greeted by members of staff, shown  the historical story of the gardens,  and having received our maps and directions, we left and walked out towards the gardens themselves.  The sun was shining fitfully, and the brisk walk did much to lift our spirits and energise the body.  There are still many things to see, even during the winter months;  the gardens themselves are through the woods and have secretive grottoes, hidden corners, statues, both modern and old, and even  flowering shrubs, in particular the camellias which were blooming.  There is also a light perfume in the air, and we assume it is the scent from the citrus fruits and the camellias.   Squirrels scamper among the leaves or drop down to the feeders that are strategically placed for guests to see them.

Suirrel feeding center

Pinewood House itself is a 1930 Mediterranean style home commissioned by Edward Buck for his winter retreat.  Built before the days of air conditioning here in Florida, this house is a prime example of how the air flow was managed dur9ing the summer to keep the house as cool as possible.  With large double doors and window on opposite sides of the long ground floor, that can be opened for a cross flow of cooling breezes, surrounded by old oaks trees for shade, and with deeply set back windows on the second floor,  one can imagine just how naturally air conditioned this home would have been.

Once inside we were amazed at the decorations this year.  Each year, this home is decorated for Christmas by various volunteer groups who each take a room and decorate to a theme.  The theme this year was Victorian Christmas, and according to the docent, the Victorians used whatever was in their homes as decor.  They also tended to go over the top, so as one walked into the entrance hall, the view from the drapes lace and ribbons, along with assorted nosegays and fans intertwined through light fittings, and around mirrors can be somewhat overwhelming.    From there we were invited to take a look at the pantry, which was beautifully showcased with decorations, but where there was a good deal of old fashioned cooking equipment and products that would have been in use when the house was built.  Moving on , we entered the dining room, again, elaborately decorated for a Victorian Christmas meal.  In almost every room there were decorations that really spoke to the season, and one of those was in the loggia which was themed with Father Christmas .

the Father Christmas room

My other favourite was the Music Room, which was set up with white trees and various instruments. with music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra playing in the background; this room was part of the main living room with its fireplace and sofas facing the other tree in the corner.

After the music room, one is directed up a small winding staircase to the bedroom area, and again, many beautiful decorations transform the landing and the children’s bedrooms into a wonderland.  Other bedrooms are decorated to various themes, and in one bedroom called  Lucy’s bedroom,themed A Child’s  Dream, it is absolutely chock-a-block with toys from the Disney films and parks.

the main staircase

the urn and poinsettias

Having made our way back down the main staircase, we exited through the front door into the gardens again, past the poinsettia displays along the path and back out into the chilly wind.

Offered a shuttle ride back to the main entrance, we declined and walked up to the top of the ridge to view Bok Tower itself.  Silhouetted against the pastel sun, and surrounded by the towering oaks and palms, and framed by the pool where the swans were chasing food thrown by the other visitors, it was extremely difficult to photograph.     There was one photo , however, that did show some of the detail around the top of the tower.   The carillon concerns take place on a regular basis, and according to each daily programme, there will be carillons during your visit.

From the top of the ridge and the stunning views we made pour way back to the car park and the welcome warmth of the car.    A mug of hot chocolate completed our trip today.

Bok Tower

You can find more details on www.boktowergardens.org;  tel 863 676 1408

Do make the opportunity to visit these gardens whenever you are in Central Florida;  they are an oasis of peace and tranquillity.

Some of Polk County’s best kept secrets can be found if you leave the concrete jungle behind and follow the perfume of the orange blossom.        Here’s  a wonderful secret I would like to share with you, though.

Drive out of Haines City towards Lake Alfred – why would anyone take the road for Lake Alfred, I hear you ask.    Well it’s the easy way to Auburndale, where there’s a huge weekend Flea Market for one thing;  it’s also the back road to Lakeland if you don’t fancy the road trip along the Interstate.   What I like about this route are  the views across the lakes  on the way , and the fact that I can drive  on peaceful and quiet roads  enjoying the views, and relaxing in knowing  that there’s no-one behind me pushing me to faster and faster speeds.   The Interstates are great for getting somewhere fast, but you’re on vacation; who needs it??

Just two miles or so outside Haines City on the Lake Alfred Road you’ll come across a small white building with a sign outside saying Lang Sun Country Groves. Just pull in there – plenty of car parking spaces, and if the road spaces are full, pull up into the grassy area at the side of the building.  You might see a few folks sitting on the shady veranda sipping coffee or iced tea.

This could  give you a clue that Lang’s is not just a Citrus grower.  

Take a walk inside the gift shop and you’ll be amazed; everything from soft toys to citrus wines!   There’s citrus honey from the bee hives used in the groves; there’s fresh orange juice; there are cuddly toys, souvenir teaspoons, candies, and all sorts of goodies to take your fancy.  What’s more, there’s a cafe; and this is well worth the visit.

On my way to the order counter I passed two ladies who were eating  an orange and vanilla soft scoop icecream each;  the look of pure pleasure on their faces made me stop and ask if they were enjoying it  “Oh, Yes” , came the answer, “you should try it.”    Not for me this time;  I was after the Ruby Grapefruit Pie that Lang’s Taste of Florida is famous for.   However, I could have had all sorts of delicious dishes; from freshly made salads to  Croissants filled with a variety of fish or meats, to Soups and Wraps , and of course, Desserts!

So the Red Grapefruit Pie for me this time……………. and since I was on my way elsewhere, I took it away with me.  The tables are covered in blue gingham cloths, with handpainted chairs ready for the seated diners, or guests can have their lunch or snack out on the veranda, either to take a shady seat or to enjoy the autumn sun.

The Grapefruit Pie has been mentioned on TV and in several Food Critic’s writings, and is well worth a visit just for that.  However, there’s a fascinating history to this pie and to the Taste  of Florida anyway.

I spoke to the current owner, Debbie Lang Brozio , who told me that her Grandmother had developed the recipe for the Grapefruit Pie, and it was Mary Lang, her grandmother ( 1913 – 2008) who had originally shipped the first box of fresh citrus 57 years ago to a customer who had received a hand written postcard from Mary.

Mary Lang’s speciality was cooking with citrus, and I have been fortunate enough to have copies of some of her recipes.  Before I get into the recipes though, I want to remind you that not only is the Taste of Florida somewhere to have a delicious lunch, it is also a great place to choose boxes of citrus fruit to send to your friends.

Incidentally, no, I didn’t share my Pie   it was absolutely yummy and definitely all mine!!

One important point, though,  about this well kept secret;  you’ll only find it open during the fruit season; so from 1st October to May will be the only months when you can sample some of Mary Lang’s own recipes, and find a special gift that shows you have visited the Real Florida.

Here’s one of the recipes from Mary Lang’s own recipe book, along with the story from Debbie.

“Growing up in the Lang house, we spent many happy hours in the kitchen.  The family would meet every Sunday and this was an event you didn’t dare miss, nor did you want to.  Grandma Mary was an amazing cook and working from her recipes written on scraps of paper usually scattered about she would spend half the day cooking.  Spending time together with her in that kitchen are my fondest memories of her.  Today at my house we all gather in the kitchen , everybody gets involved and we have fun.”

Fuzzy Navel Pie

1   6oz graham cracker pie crust

1.5 tablespoons melted butter

1.5 cups Lang’s Navel orange sections ( approx 4 or 5 medium oranges

4 oz Cream cheese, softened

half cup sugar, plus 1.5 tablespoons sugar, spearate

2.5 tablespoons corn starch

half cup plus 2 tablespoons water

half cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice

1 (3 oz) package peach flavoured gelatin

whipped cream

If using a purchased pie crust , pre heat oven to 300 degrees.  Brush purchased crust with melted butter and bake for 10 minutes.  leave to cool.

Beat cream cheese  and 1.5 tablespoons sugar together until creamy.  Set aside.

In a saucepan, combine remaining half cup of sugar and cornstarch.  Add water and cook over medium heat till thick and clear. Remove from heat and add orange juice and gelatin.  Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Set aside.

Add half cup gelatin mixture to cream cheese mixture, beating until completely incorporated. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or unitl mixture starts to thicken.  Spoon cream cheese mixutre into prepared pie crust.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until it sets.

Arrange orange segments in patter on top of the cream cheese layer. Gently pour remaining gelatin mix over the oranges, and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or until  set.  Top with whipped cream

Enjoy; and make yours a  favourite for family Sunday .

Not really…………what we do have is some of the best weather of the year at the moment.   Clear blue skies, cool mornings, low humidity, high temperatures  – this is the weather to make you want to get outside and enjoy all that Central Florida and the beaches can offer.   It’s Oktoberfest at Daytona, so if you’re a biker fan, head across to the Atlantic coastline.

Outdoor sports are pleasurable, whether you’re a golfer, fisherman, hiker, horse rider, cyclist or motorbike enthusiast.   And, it’s still warm enough for sunbathing and swimming.   Local farmers’ markets are full of fresh autumnal produce;  craft shows abound in local towns and city parks.

It’s also Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, and Polk County’s Culinary Celebration;   this is the opportunity to find out which of the better restaurants you enjoy eating at.  All the featured restaurants offer special pricing for this month and you can enjoy unique dining experiences at affordable prices.

As the cool weather increases and the daylight fades, here are a few ways to warm up your home.

Use the change in the seasons to move photos and artwork around in your rooms.

Brighten up a room with colourful throws and cushions;  change a lampshade or two into warmer colours.  Match or contrast your existing colour range with items that make the room “pop’ visually.

Make use of white;  fresh white paint on woodwork;  a vase of white flowers; a white bowl filled with red or green fruit; white bedding – white makes everything look crisp and clean.

Chnge your lightbulbs; regular lightbulbs have a yellowish tinge to them which can make your  rooms look dull and dreary; change them for halogen bulbs that are designed to emit a pure, white light.

Hang mirrors on walls opposite windows;  they will reflect light back into a room, making it look larger and brighter.  The larger the mirror the more light will bounce back.

Battery operated “candles” that give a cozy glow to a room, without the risk of fire from being knocked over by energetic kids or pets

Halloween is almost here with all its thrills and scares for adults and children alike, depending on their likes and dislikes.  For those who really enjoy being scared half to death, Universal’s Halloween Horror nights is the place to go, while for the little ones, Mickey’s Not So Scary Party is more suitable.

Enjoy this season, when  our Florida woodlands show some changes in leaf colour; when the wild turkeys flock onto the golf courses, and when many of our gardens develop swathes of colour from plants that enjoy the slightly cooler and less humid air.

For a really relaxing day, you can’t do much better than Discovery Cove in Orlando. All you have to take with you are swimsuits and flipflops! We had the good fortune recently of being able to take a day off and visit the Cove for the first time in 10 years.  It was absolutely fantastic.  From the confirmation of our ticket arrangements, to the warm welcome from everyone in the park, we were looked after from start to finish.

Remember, this park is very exclusive, so the number of tickets sold is restricted to a thousand guests in any one day.  This restriction means easy parking,  and never feeling crowded.  We walked from the car park through the manicured tropical foliage of the pathway, into the entrance atrium.  Soaring ceilings provide the backdrop for the models of leaping dolphins high above our heads.   A brief wait until a service desk is available and we are ushered across to a welcoming service representative.   Our tickets are checked off, and we are requested to look into the camera.  Photos are taken and we are shown to another desk where we collect our photo ID and lanyard.

The ticket is totally inclusive, so no further money is needed.   Go to http://www.discoverycove.com/ for full details

Once we have our name tags on, we are free to go and do as we please, so our first port of call was the Laguna Grill for coffee.  We could have had  breakfast but felt that would be too “piggy”.   After relaxing over our coffees and watching and listening to the birds hovering around the outdoor eating area, we picked up our  bag containing our swimwear and wandered slowly off to admire the beach , the lagoon and the dolphin lake and to find the lockers.  Having changed into our swim suits in the shower rooms, we placed all our belongings in our locker.  The showers and restrooms are close to the locker area that we used, and provide hot showers with body wash, shampoo and conditioner, as well as a constant supply of clean white towels.

Close to this part of the beach and lagoon, is the area where we were f itted with our Discovery Cove wetsuit jackets.  You also collect your Snorkelling equipment here;  the snorkel itself is yours to keep.  You are given a mask and snorkel in a net bag, along with a packet of suncream.

If you feel that you won’t enjoy the water in say, the Dolphin encounter, then the attendant suggests  a full wetsuit, but in this warm Florida summer, it’s hardly necessary.  Incidentally the waters in the Stingray lagoon and in the Dolphin encounter are  kept at approximately 72 to 75 degrees, so it can feel a little fresh when you first walk in.  Someone said to me, “It’s OK once you go numb”!……. something of an exaggeration but it does feel chilly to start with.  However the Serenity bay snorkelling area is really warm.

Actually our first visit to Discovery cove was made in the month of February, and it was bitterly cold;  we wore full length wetsuits all day long, and still had to get under the hot water showers to warm up, so this time in our hot summer it was real pleasure not to have full wetsuits on.

We found ourselves a couple of loungers and settled in for a bit of a rest! before heading off to snorkel and swim  in Serenity Bay.  The water was warm, and swimming hours are from 8.30 till 5.30 so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the water and the beach.  By being so restrictive with the numbers allowed in each day, Discovery Cove ensures that unlike other water resort parks, there is plenty of space.  You are not constantly dodging other swimmers or having to wait to use any of the facilities.

Serenity Bay and its sandy beach area does not get crowded, and nor does the water; this makes it ideal for children and beginners to learn some of the pleasures of snorkelling without pressure .  We saw lots of little ones getting their first inkling of what they could see when they learnt to breathe through the snorkel tube.   We also saw the ones who had got themselves a mouthful of water, too, but we’ve all done that at some point or another.

There are plenty of lifeguards on duty, so no reason to fear for anyone’s safety.

From the Serenity Bay shallows, the lagoon starts to wind its way into the Lazy River , where  the water gets deeper and there’s more current. For those of  a nervous disposition, there are lifejackets that can be selected and worn for confidence, as well as the original” noodles” to help you float along.

The Lazy River takes you under the waterfall curtain that separates the rest of the park from the Aviary. Wild birds fly low across the river, whilst on the banks you will be able to observe peacocks and other bird varieties.  The  deep  water current will carry you through the Aviary unless you wish to stop, in which case there are shallow and rocky areas where you can conveniently stop and stand to observe.    Obviously the birds are kept in the aviary by netting, hence the waterfall at each end of the aviary;  these are the natural barriers to keep them inside the aviary area.    Once through the second curtain of water, you continue to drift again on the River. Choices can be made as to returning to Serenity Bay or  continuing further along the River when it branches off.

We decided to take the short route and returned to the Bay and the Beach in order to take a look at the Tropical Reef and the Stingray lagoon.   Brightly coloured fish dart among the reefs and rocks of the Tropical reef, while Stingrays glide among the swimmers.   For those who are brave enough, there is even a shark encounter in the centre of the Reef.  Fortunately, the sharks are safely behind aquarium glass!

A smaller separate lagoon holds the Stingray encounter group.   No energetic snorkelling here; certainly you can swim and look through your mask to observe them, but the water is so clean and clear that you can simply stand in the waist deep lagoon to watch them.  The attendants do ask that you move slowly or stand still and the rays will come to you – there’s always one person who seems unable to understand basic instructions, and they did go over to him and ask him to stop kicking up the sand in case he accidentally hurt one of the rays.  All the rays have had their barbs removed, and are very docile.   They are all females, and up to  10 years old;  apparently if there were males in the group, the lagoon would be overrun with rays;  they can breed prolifically, especially in such good conditions.

Having has such an energetic morning we retired to the Laguna Grill for lunch;  we could have something to eat and drink from the Beachside Bar, but wanted to experience the selection of dishes from the Laguna Grill Menu.   From freshly grilled Salmon with veggies to Turkey Club sandwich, we were not disappointed, and we were able to choose  our desserts and drinks from the extensive buffet too.

Finding a table under the umbrellas was easy- again, lots of space for everyone to spread out for enjoyment.   There was even a smokers area well away from the rest of us.

Feeling very comfortably full, we retired to our beach lounger and watched the Dolphin encounter groups as they entered the water for their introduction to these magnificent and fascinating creatures.  One of the nicest sights was that of a disabled person being wheeled in her special chair into the water,  and supported by two helpers and a lifejacket,  she was able to get into the water to stroke and kiss the dolphin. The  huge smile on her face almost obliterated the rest of her features.!

We rested up for the rest of our afternoon, finally bestirring ourselves to come away. Strolling back through the tropical pathway lined with beautiful foliage, and hearing the gurgle of the streams as they bobbled over the pebbled riverbeds just completed our relaxing time.    A lovely day, and one to remember and recommend to family , friends and guests.

With such year round good weather here in Central Florida, it’s not really surprising that outdoor pursuits are so popular.  Anyone can choose from a long list of hobbies from sky-diving to fishing, and never be bored or run out of things to do.

We have walked in some of our State Parks and enjoyed catching glimpses of our  wildlife in local conservation areas.  Even the shy and timid deer, flocks of wild turkey and small groups of wild pigs can be seen if you are careful and quiet.  Listen to the bullfrogs and the alligators;  their deep grunting will resound from the waterways and echo through the woodlands.   Walking through the various landscapes that Central Florida can offer will give you a better idea of what our early settlers and the natives had to cope with when they first moved here.

Fishing  can range from calm,  serene and relaxing freshwater  fishing on the many lakes that dot our landscape to surf casting or even deep sea fishing from the coastal marinas.

You can choose to sky-dive, or parachute jump, or even take a trip in a hot air balloon or a bi-plane and see the landscape unfold beneath you.  View the lakes from the air and realise they are too numerous to count.

view over Lake Hancock

Bird watching  and butterfly counting is an important task in this area;  many migratory birds and butterflies pass through Central Florida on their way to their breeding areas,  either further south or to the northern climate.  Amateur photographers have  a hey-day; from the amazing hues of sunrises and sunsets, thunderstorms and skyscapes to beach photographs, children, vistas and views, there’s so much to record on your camera.     Artist too, come to paint en plein air, or to photograph and take home to their studios for painting later.

Shopping is almost a “must do” pastime here;  there are many excellent malls and major stores with everything a shopaholic could possibly want.   Browsing is encouraged…………..

Golf is also one of the major outdoor hobbies that can be undertaken all year round.  There are almost as many golf courses as there are lakes in this part of Florida and whether your handicap is low or high, you will find a golf course to suit your style, from the country casual and small local public courses to the more ambitious and difficult courses for the seasoned golfer.  This is also an area where several excellent golf teaching institutes can be found , from the David Leadbetter Academy at Champions Gate, the Annika Sorenstam School at Reunion and the Faldo Institute at Grande Pines.   So  if you are a beginner and need extra instruction, you can get to a local professional PGA instructor on smaller courses, or take a class at the various Schools that are available.

If none of these hobbies appeals, there is always the option of staying  in your vacation home and relaxing around your pool while the kids practice their swimming skills!

Many visitors enjoy the Magic of Magic Kingdom during their stay here in our vacation homes.  Children in particular find the characters familiar from the books and films that they watch , so to see these characters and places that they know so well up close and personal is  exciting for them.   One day at the park is usually more than enough for many of the little ones, but the older children and the adults alike watch in wonder at the night parade put on by the Magic Kingdom each evening.  There are two shows; one at nine o’clock and one at eleven o’clock, with fireworks at ten o’clock.

Certainly even on a mid week visit to watch the Disney Electrical Parade, a good many people were still there from the day, and the crowds were quite thick.   Small children were draped  over parent’s  shoulders, or asleep in their pushchairs;  their little faces flushed from the heat.

We wandered through some of the exhibits; one of my favourites is Cinderella’s castle; the interior walls of the archway are festooned with beautiful wall  paintings picked out with gold, azure and crimson, giving it a truly medieval feel.   This is just one of the examples of the artwork on those arched walls, and like myself, many guests were just standing and staring at the stunning artwork.    We all know just how creative the Disney imagineers can be, and this in particular is a prime example of their skills.

he time was getting closer for the Start of the Electrical Display Night Parade of Summer Nightastic, and crowds were already lining the streets of the Magic Kingdom.   One of the less populated spots to watch from is around the area of Frontier Land, so off we headed towards Splash Mountain.  Having found a suitable spot from which to watch , we settled in for a long wait.  It is best to find your place  and stay there, as the crowds make it difficult to see once the Parade starts, and the better viewing areas are already occupied by 7.30!

One of the interesting things that I noticed while waiting patiently, are the numbers of people being guided by the Disney helpers.   With the aid of lighted wants they were indicating the routes that visitors needed to take; and in doing so, were actually directing the foot traffic so that one side of the street was for those heading away from Frontier Land, and the other side was used for guests heading towards our area.

One of the other things I noticed is that to move visitors along, they play a large amount of marching band music; normally  without being in the position of people watching I would not have seen this, but marching music automatically makes people march in step to the cadences of the music; so not only do people have direction, they are also moving faster than an amble.    Very interesting, that!

Eventually the announcement that everyone was waiting for, came over the loudspeakers, and the lights were dimmed.   Excitement rose as the first characters dressed in lighted costumes came dancing along the street, followed by a selection of floats festooned in lights and colour.

Lots of photos were being taken, judging by the flash lights going off, and sometimes it was difficult to see every display in its entirety, due to the numbers of people crowding in front.  From Alice  in Wonderland to Captain Hook, from Cinderella to Pinocchio and Peter and the Dragon, they were all there in glorious techicoloured lights.  The larger floats were large indeed and towered over the audience so that everyone could see Cinderella waving from inside her coach, or Captain Hook on his ship, or Mickey Mouse perched high on his sparkling display. Smaller characters were dancing through the street between the displays, waving to the children in the audience.

The finale to our evening was the view and noise of the magnificent Firework Display that blossoms over the top of the Castle – and which can be seen from almost everywhere inside the Magic Kingdom.