Archive for the ‘Disney cruise’ Category
Going on vacation can be very costly if you don’t do your research before you go. There’s the transportation, the lodging, where to eat, and what to do. Today we’ll discuss free things to do when visiting Orlando.
If you are staying close to Disney World but not in a Disney hotel, you can still enjoy the Disney amenities for yourself for free. You can park at any of the Disney hotels and use the free transportation to travel to and from the individual resorts. The themed resorts like the Royal Pacific, The Wilderness Lodge, and the Grand Floridian are enjoyable to walk through. You can take the monorail to and from the Grand Floridian and Wilderness Lodge. The hotels also have different decorations depending on the time of year.
Down Town Disney is free and offers a lot to enjoy. There are the Disney stores, other fun shops and the river area. You can take a boat ride through the river and see the beautifully landscaped Disney hotels as you pass. The boat from Down Town Disney to Port Orleans takes an average of 30 minutes and is free top ride. Port Orleans is also very beautiful and looks like houses from the late 1800’s in Gone With The Wind.
Old Town in Kissimmee is only 10 minutes from Disney and is a lot of fun. They have lots of stores, rides like bumper cars, go carts, and thrill rides. It is free to park and walk around. There is Crusin on Saturday nights. They average 400 entries of classic hot rod and crusin cars. Grab a spot on Main Street and watch the cars cruise by.
Celebration is right next to old town and is not just a town but an experience. Enter the most perfect place on Earth. The houses are well manicured and all sit perfectly inline going down the street. Walk around the down town area and enjoy the stores, music, and the movies if you have time. It’s free to park and walk around.
If you are staying close to Universal Studios and Orlando, there are lots of free things to do here as well. Universal City Walk is always free to walk around and parking is free after 6pm. There are plenty of shops to keep you busy for a couple of hours. Visit the Hard Rock Hotel, The Pacific Island Resort, and The Portofino Hotel while you are there. They are all well designed and are a great way to have casual conversation with your friends. Universal also has a free boat service that will take you from City Walk to the different hotels.
The Gaylord Hotel is a great place to visit. Parking is not always free but if you have a group of people it definitely pays for it self. Designed after the famous Gaylord Hotel in Nashville but with a Floridian flare. It’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors inside year round. The entire center area of the hotel is covered by a giant glass ceiling. There are lots of tress, waterfalls, and a ship that sits on the water and doubles as a restaurant. You can easily walk around for 2 to 3 hours with out getting bored.
If you like to shop, there’s the Mall at Millennia, The Florida Mall, and The Fashion Square Mall all close by. It’s only free if you don’t buy anything.
Park Avenue in Winter Park is just north of down town Orlando and is a beautiful place to slow down and enjoy the atmosphere. Visit the unique shopping and high end stores as you take in beauty of the tree lined streets. It’s free to look.
Harry P.Leu Gardens isn’t free but I thought I would let you know about it. It is only around $4 a person and is worth the small investment. Located just north of down town Orlando off of Virginia Drive, it takes you right out of the city while still being in the city. Walk the path of beautiful native Florida landscape and stop to smell the roses in one of Central Florida’s largest Rose gardens. Take the tour of Leu Gardens house that is included in admission.
There are lots of state parks in Florida and many are free, the ones that aren’t don’t cost very much though. Visit Big Tree Park in Longwood which is 15 minutes north of downtown Orlando if you want to see the oldest Cypress Tree on record at over 2,000 years old.
Lake Eola in down town Orlando is a great place to walk as you can walk around the entire lake in less than an hour. Take in the natural beauty of the historic trees along with the skyscrapers that circle the lake.
Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs Uptown Park is a free enjoyable experience. It is located about 20 minutes north of down town Orlando but is worth the visit. It is a well decorated park that circles Cranes Roost Lake. Walk across the long boardwalk that crosses the lake while you listen to contemporary music playing in the back ground.
There are many other free things to do in Orlando just get creative. You might have the experience of a life time.
Shawn Hickman
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/free-things-to-do-when-visiting-orlando-florida-106736.html
We are planning a 7 night Caribbean Disney Cruise. I understand that meals are included in the price and that you eat when you want to. What I can’t find an answer to is when you are at port, do you still eat on the ship or do you have to buy your own lunch/dinner somewhere on the island? For example, we will arrive at St. Maarten at 7:45am and don’t leave until 6:30pm. So where do we eat lunch and dinner on that day?
Thank you all!
You will have the best time! Disney cruises are one of the best 
That is the same cruise I went on. They still provide the meals for you on the ship, however if you would like to get food on the island you have to pay for that. At Castaway Cay they had a buffett outside and tables set up so you can eat. While at the islands, you can either stick with your regular eating schedual and go at what time it says on your ticket, or there are also other restaurants/ buffets that you can eat at any time that you would like.
I hope I helped and have fun!
Are they fun? What was your favorite thing to do?
Thanks!
OMG Disney Cruises are the best, I mean cruises are great but nothing beats disney quality and customer service!!! I have been on a bunch of cruises and the disney one was my fave!! I wish i could have been recently, they now have the pirates of the caribbean ship off the shore at castaway cay. Castaway Cay is really nice and fun because its not crowded with every other cruise ship in the world, its just you!
They have a teen club for teens, kids clubs for kids and adult only sections for adults. so there is something for everyone! My favorite thing was that you eat at different restaurants each day. On other cruises you are assigned to one dining room, but on Disney you get to experience them all and eating times are fun and entertaining and they even do a character breakfast!