With work and bookings it's been difficult fitting in a trip to the villa this year so far, but we finally got out there in April. We made a few upgrades and managed a couple of days out but it was a fairly short trip.
NEW FOR SUMMER 2013:
Mickey Mouse Waffle/Pancake Maker
For a while now we've been looking for a Mickey Mouse waffle iron. We thought we'd found one last year, but it was out of stock when we got to Orlando so had to look again. This trip we managed to find one and ordered it in time for our arrival this year.
With some waffle mix and cooking oil from Wal-mart, we set to work and, oh, my, gosh, Mickey tastes great! It works really well, although they are a little thin for waffles and are really more like pancakes. We're not purists!
We're pretty sure you'll enjoy a Mickey Mouse breakfast!
Disney Cars Ceiling Fan Blades
We've always aimed to have a Disney Cars theme to our Games Room and to strengthen the theme, we've switched out our white ceiling fan blades for Disney Cars ones.
Digital Television
We had a request for digital television over the winter so we got that installed on the 42-inch TV in the front lounge.
As well as providing extra television channels, you can find what to watch using the interactive TV guide. You can also pause, or restart a show if you missed the beginning.
Internet
We also took the opportunity to upgrade our internet tenfold so it is now much faster.
Disney Light Switch Plates
We mentioned last newsletter that we'd started installing Disney light switch plates. Well, we finished the job (everywhere but the "posher" lounge!)
We stuck mostly to Disney with 101 Dalmations, Toy Story, Mickey and Donald, but we also snuck a Harry Potter one in there!
Insulate Garage/Games Room Loft
You'll know that the temperatures in Orlando can get a little high, after all, isn't that why you go? In the summer the games room can get pretty warm so to combat that, we sent Ted up to install some insulation.
No, it won't make it hotter, the heat comes mainly through the roof, and the insulation barrier helps keep some of that heat out of the games room, so, if you get heated, that's just because you are competitive!
We did manage a couple of days out during our stay. Here's where we visited this trip.
Although aimed at youngsters, the LEGO Technic Coaster isn't for the faint-hearted! With it's mad mouse style you might want to check it out before taking a nervous youngster (or easily-terrified grown up!)
Great at the start or end of the day is the Island in the Sky ride that rises up over the park - you can see what you did, or what you will do from here!
This trip our furry co-owner, TourGuideTed met up with his pal Duffy (the Disney Bear) to go check out LEGOLAND Florida. They were determined to have a good time!
A new addition this trip was LEGO Star Wars Miniland. There were some awesome layouts in here - the Millenium Falcon takes off and lands on Tattooine, while the band plays a familiar tune in the Mos Eisley Cantina. They have the icy landscape of Hoth and the furry Ewoks on Endor. It truly is amazing what they can do with LEGO!
As well as the rides and shows, some of the old Cypress Gardens greenery is still in place and in places has been restored to it's former glory. It's a peaceful walk away from the crowds, shaded for when you need a break from the sun.
LEGOLAND aims for a younger 2-12 age range audience, with character interactions and smaller coasters and other rides. This works great for our bears too, as they get to ride rather than sit them out on the sidelines!
The bears made the day of the guy running The Grand Carousel who apparently had never seen bears ride before! Go figure!
We were surprised to see a new entrance concourse on this visit. New ticket booths, a President Kennedy Memorial and wider, more open entrance to Security. You enter directly into the Rocket Garden and this is a vast improvement as that is something that used to be a little tucked away.
While here you can meet (or have lunch with) an astronaut, catch an I-MAX film or ride the Space Shuttle Launch Experience. The Angry Birds area is new, more interactivity and a chance to physically play the game - catapulting birds at the target.
Since the end of the Space Shuttle Program, the role of the Kennedy launch pads has changed, with other rockets launching from elsewhere. So, at the moment (for an additional fee), you can take a tour of the launch pad. Not only do you get to go inside the fence (the VIP Tour takes you along the outside) but they even let you out to stand beneath the launch tower on the launch pad itself. Amazing! This was unexpected and a totally awesome experience. The Launch Pad tour is not a permanent part of the programme so if this interests you, you should get yourself over to Florida soon - go check our Availability Calendar!
This can be found a few miles up the road from the Space Center, and is included in admission (within seven days). It's only a small place and takes about an hour to view. There are artifacts from manned space flight, including consoles used during the moon landings. There is also a more interactive section here for younger visitors. It's worth a look if you can spare the time, but doesn't open till noon.
While we were over on the East Coast at Kennedy Space Center, we'd arranged to meet some friends at Port Canaveral, near the cruise terminal. We chose Milliken's Reef as it had a varied menu. Our table was great - indoors but at the window overlooking the waterways. The menus are huge (in size!) and have seafood, steak, chicken and a few veggie options. The food, in particular dessert, was very good.
Thinking of what to ask for for your birthday? Why not try a Villa Southern Dunes Gift Voucher!
We continue to offer Villa Southern Dunes Gift Vouchers. Perhaps you can get your friends and family to pay for your vacation? Ask them for Villa Southern Dunes vouchers! We can send a PDF file for any occasion, by email to the person who contacts us or we can email it directly to the recipient. We offer any amount in US Dollars or GB Pounds, which must be paid for using PayPal (including credit cards) or by bank transfer. Credit card/PayPal payments will incur a 2% administration charge and vouchers will not be sent until payment has cleared but we will endeavour to issue the voucher within 24 hours of receiving cleared payment. While we can accept cheque payments for Christmas vouchers, the cheque must clear prior to us issuing the gift voucher and cheques will not be taken after 1st December for vouchers which must be delivered by Christmas. If you need a voucher for a particular occasion, or to include a photo of your choice, just ask us at villasoutherndunes@gmail.com
The voucher can be used towards an existing booking (the name on the voucher must be a Named Guest), or towards a deposit, if not yet booked. The name on the voucher may be changed, but this instruction must come from the person whose name is on the voucher. If this is impossible, please contact us at villasoutherndunes@gmail.com
For more information, email villasoutherndunes@gmail.com or call 07952 408964 from the UK (011 44 7952 408964 from the US).
If you'd like to submit a short review of an attraction or restaurant you visited while staying at Villa Southern Dunes, please email it to info@villasoutherndunes.com. Please supply your name, email address, dates of stay and age (if under 18). We'll try and include it if we can.
Thinking of what to ask for for your birthday? Why not try a Villa Southern Dunes Gift Voucher!