[Travel] Florida / keys

[Bozza]

My mistake then.........what do they do at Epcot in their ‘Dolphins in Depth’ experience ?

I'd not heard of that before looking it up just now.

The dolphins in Epcot are one of the things we were already uncomfortable with, and I didn't know about that additional experience.

Most people in and around Orlando go to Discovery Cove to get close to dolphins - I wonder if Disney started that as competition of sorts.

Regardless, it's all wrong as far as we are concerned. My son has been fascinated by marine life from a very early age and despite having visited Orlando, at a guess, 6 or 7 times he didn't know Sea World existed until this year as it's not somewhere we will visit - a decision we took long before the Blackfish film and publicity.

The only time I've been in the water with dolphins, I had to throw myself off a boat off the coast of Zanzibar. The completely wild dolphins had a quick look at me and then took off, which is as it should be.

 

[dazzer6666]

I'd not heard of that before looking it up just now.

The dolphins in Epcot are one of the things we were already uncomfortable with, and I didn't know about that additional experience.

Most people in and around Orlando go to Discovery Cove to get close to dolphins - I wonder if Disney started that as competition of sorts.

Regardless, it's all wrong as far as we are concerned. My son has been fascinated by marine life from a very early age and despite having visited Orlando, at a guess, 6 or 7 times he didn't know Sea World existed until this year as it's not somewhere we will visit - a decision we took long before the Blackfish film and publicity.

The only time I've been in the water with dolphins, I had to throw myself off a boat off the coast of Zanzibar. The completely wild dolphins had a quick look at me and then took off, which is as it should be.

I’d probably agree with you now....we did the Dolphins Plus thing several years ago.......I thought Seaworld was worse at the time though, the Orcas in particular have very little space given their size. I’d rather go to California or Mexico and whale/dolphin watch from a boat these days.

Disney will do anything to make money so not really a surprise.

 

[Sirnormangall]

Maybe looking at staying in a villa in Orlando? Really want to visit the Kennedy Space centre, is that far from Orlando?

Yes, go to the Space Centre. My kids thought it was the best day of our holiday - surprising as there’s quite a lot of things competing for their attention in Orlando!

 

[Arthritic Toe]

Absolutely the best day we ever had in Florida was swimming alongside manatees in the Crystal river. They are completely wild and in their natural environment and its very unintrusive. Its completely uncommercial unlike the other Florida attractions and a fraction of the price too. I seem to remember its a couple of hours from Orlando but well worth the drive. There is also a 'best' time of year for it - cant remember when that is.

 

[portlock seagull]

Absolutely the best day we ever had in Florida was swimming alongside manatees in the Crystal river. They are completely wild and in their natural environment and its very unintrusive. Its completely uncommercial unlike the other Florida attractions and a fraction of the price too. I seem to remember its a couple of hours from Orlando but well worth the drive. There is also a 'best' time of year for it - cant remember when that is.

January, did it on my 40th bday! Magical day, loved every second. Then bomb down to the Keys and go diving with some of the big Pelagic's inc. great white or tiger sharks if you’re fortunate enough to see them.

 

[portlock seagull]

Looking for a any recommendations for a two week holiday in Orlando then on to the Keys in November and know a few on here have been. Never been to the Keys so not sure what’s good or what to avoid?
Any help would be welcome, thanks

Key West is great, and is still the only place I’ve seen a darth Vader trannie playing a neon luminous banjo at night which is really the place in a nutshell, but so are many of the other keys so take your time travelling down. Space centre is a must, check for a rocket launch in advance and try to time with. Also recommend the Crystal River and Manatees. Highly likely you’ll be one of the last humans to see one alive. Critically endangered. Obviously these days...

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Spent 2 days in South Beach Miami in one of those Art Deco hotels after the long flight.
South Beach was probably the coolest place I have been to, really liked it.
Then went down through the keys stopping of at hotel's until we got to Key West which is a very nice place.
Done plenty of fishing and relaxing, eating and drinking, great sunsets and stuff.
Back to Miami to go home.
I would recommend it, but I wouldn't go nowhere near Orlando and all that Disney queuing stuff, not my idea of a holiday at all.

 

[portlock seagull]

Spent 2 days in South Beach Miami in one of those Art Deco hotels after the long flight.
South Beach was probably the coolest place I have been to, really liked it.
Then went down through the keys stopping of at hotel's until we got to Key West which is a very nice place.
Done plenty of fishing and relaxing, eating and drinking, great sunsets and stuff.
Back to Miami to go home.
I would recommend it, but I wouldn't go nowhere near Orlando and all that Disney queuing stuff, not my idea of a holiday at all.

Depends when you go and what you want. I enjoyed Universal Studios and hardly queued for anything in Disney either. Wouldn’t bother with either again mind, more at home on a fishing boat too these days just enjoying the natural world. I’d definitely re visit Space Centre again though. That was an astonishing place that I wasn't fussed about before going. Awesome as the locals would say!

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Depends when you go and what you want. I enjoyed Universal Studios and hardly queued for anything in Disney either. Wouldn’t bother with either again mind, more at home on a fishing boat too these days just enjoying the natural world. I’d definitely re visit Space Centre again though. That was an astonishing place that I wasn't fussed about before going. Awesome as the locals would say!

Space centre may probably send me in that direction if I am ever in Florida again I must admit, but certainly not anything else in or around Orlando.
The thought of swinging in a hammock at sunset on the verandah of a beach lodge on the keys, watching the sun go down whilst drinking a cold beer is far more my idea of a holiday.

 

[portlock seagull]

Space centre may probably send me in that direction if I am ever in Florida again I must admit, but certainly not anything else in or around Orlando.
The thought of swinging in a hammock at sunset on the verandah of a beach lodge on the keys, watching the sun go down whilst drinking a cold beer is far more my idea of a holiday.

Yep, I’d skip Orlando now. The Keys I’d return to again and again. I also quite enjoyed the cross state drive through the Everglades to Clearwater and Tampa, which of course we all know is home of the legend that is...

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Yep, I’d skip Orlando now. The Keys I’d return to again and again. I also quite enjoyed the cross state drive through the Everglades to Clearwater and Tampa, which of course we all know is home of the legend that is...

I was surprised and disappointed that Wardy didn't pop down to see me as I was in the same state.
I thought he loved Brighton fans, maybe he was busy.

 

[portlock seagull]

I was surprised and disappointed that Wardy didn't pop down to see me as I was in the same state.
I thought he loved Brighton fans, maybe he was busy.

When I was in Tampa, I did wonder about going to his college or a bar he part owned but then my wife said they shoot stalkers in the good auld US of A so I was persuaded otherwise.

 

[Sirnormangall]

I’ve been to Key West a few times. Great drive down there. A nice slower paced life compared to much of the US and great entertainment on the quay side at sunset. Must book accommodation in advance because there’s not much down there and it’s a long way back if you’ve not got a room. That said, it might have changed since my last visit which must have been quite a few years ago because before Key West we took in a Tampa Bay Rowdies match featuring Ward, Lawrenson and I think the player manager, Rodney Marsh, even come on for a few minutes!

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I went to the Keyes for Hurricane Katrina. Prior to sitting in a hotel room with water pissing through a light fitting, worrying about catching my flight home, I thoroughly enjoyed the drive down, sunsets and trying to see Cuba in the distance.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Eden House is a beautiful place to stay in Key West, stopped there a few years ago and would definitely go back. Nightlife is good in Key West too, Hog’s Breath and Sloppy Joe’s bar are worth a visit. Make sure you have some Key Lime Pie.

https://edenhouse.com/