| News Updates and Local Information |
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| News Updates and Local Information |
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How do I get to Sea World and Universal Studios?
What other activity is recommended?
Where is the best place to buy tickets for Disneyworld?
Legoland® opened just a short drive away
Local Amenities (Updated Feb '07)
The villa is wonderfully situated whether you are driving or walking. Within a 5 minute walk is
the Berry Town Center development. This great local center is accessible via a sidewalk all the way from the villa and has
plenty of parking if you need to drive there for your groceries. There is an excellent Publix Supermarket and several
other stores, e.g. a liquor store, a nail salon, a copy shop.
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How do I get to Disneyworld? (Updated Sep '07)
The villa is to the West of Walt Disney World (WDW) and there is a great new route into WDW that avoids the worst of the traffic:
The new Western Beltway (Toll Rd) - SR 429 gives access to Disney's brand new Western Way entrance. This is a very easy
and hardly used access, just for all you lucky people on Route 27. The rest of the world has to fight its way along US192 and I4.
From the villa, take US27 North, after 2 miles fork right onto US192 East, after another 2 miles turn left onto SR 429 to Apopka
After about 1 mile take exit 8 to WDW Western Way.
Follow this link to a map showing the new WDW entrance and all WDW Theme parks
Or follow this link to the latest area map
If you are heading for Animal Kingdom, you may find the quickest route is to follow US192 to Mile Marker 5 and then turn left onto Sherberth Road. At the first set of traffic lights, turn right and follow the signs
How do I get to Sea World and Universal Studios? (Updated Feb '07)
Both of the other 2 major theme parks are easily accesible off I4. You can reach them easily and avoid the busiest roads around WDW:-
From the villa, take US27 South to the intersection with I4. Take I4 East (towards Orlando)
Seaworld is located at I4 Exit 71
Universal Studios is located at I4 Exit 75
Posner Commons Retail Park well and truly open (Updated Jan '09)
This is the beginning of a great new shopping development just a few miles from the villa. The following stores,
all with large floor areas, opened in early 2008:
Staples, Best Buy, Target, Belk, Books-A-Million. Another 225 thousand square feet of space came on line
late in 2009 when retailers J.C. Penney, Dick's Sporting Goods, Ross Stores, Michael's Arts & Crafts and PetSmart opened.
Posner Commons occupies about 80 acres of the 386-acre Posner Park development. Posner Park is a $500 million, mixed-use
development at Interstate 4 and U.S. 27 in Polk County, just 5 miles from Sunspirit villa. About 11 anchor tenants are
expected to occupy 630,000 square feet of retail space. Posner Park will include brand name retailers and high-end boutiques, upscale offices,
destination restaurants, one or more five-star hotels, luxury multifamily residences and entertainment and cultural venues.
RECOMMENDED places to eat (Updated Feb '10)
Outback Steakhouse (Australian themed steakhouse – great value and friendly staff). Beware of long queues at weekends. Booth seating around the bar is unreserved. Directions: US192 - 3 miles east from US27
Carrabas (Good Italian food in pleasant surroundings). Directions: US192 - 3 miles east from US27
TGI Fridays (Regular American-style themed restaurant – always OK). Directions: US192 - 3 miles east from US27
Applebees (Regular American-style themed restaurant – great value, excellent choice of good food. 2 for 1 drinks all day). Directions: US27 in Berry Town Center (5 minutes walk from the villa)
Brunos (Good Italian food in a small family restaurant). Directions: US192 - 1 mile east from US27
Houlihans (Good food, varied menu, sophisticated dining room. Happy hour at the bar. Inside and outdoor bars and dining). Directions: US192 - 1 miles east from US27
Logans Roadhouse (Regular American-style themed restaurant, with free peanuts while you drink – always OK). Directions: US192 beyond Disney property, at intersection with International Drive
LongHorn (Regular American-style themed steakhouse – always OK). Directions: US192 - 2.5 miles east from US27
Santa Fe (Regular Western themed steakhouse, with free peanuts while you drink and the biggest ceiling fan you ever saw – always OK). Directions: US27 - 2 miles north of intersection with US192
Millers Americal Ale House (Regular American-style themed restaurant – great value, excellent choice of good food. Directions: US192 - 2.5 miles east from US27
Manny's Chop House (Very popular American Road House themed restaurant – great value, excellent choice of good food. 2 for 1 drinks 4-7pm. Early bird menu M to Th, 4-6 pm). Directions: 14 miles south on US27. Full details at their website - mannyschophouse.com/
Bahama Breeze (Attractive and spacious Caribbean themed restaurant – great value, excellent choice of good American and Caribbean food. Directions: US192 - 2.5 miles east from US27
NOT RECOMMENDED places to eat (Updated Feb '07)
Key W Kools (Open Pit BBQ Restaurant). Overpriced compared to Outback and food not as good. US192 - 4 miles east from US27
Boston Lobster Feast (All you can eat Seafood). Cheap cafeteria atmosphere, sticky carpets and plastic tablecloths.
What other activity is recommended?
Take a Balloon ride. The weather conditions in Florida allow flying on most mornings, with bookings accepted at short notice. A reputable and reliable company is Orange Blossom Balloons, operating large 16-person baskets in their fleet of balloons. The flight includes celebratory champagne after landing, a certificate and a buffet breakfast. The chief pilot is Mark - he has over 30 years flying experience and some of his jokes are that old too, but it is so much fun to fly with him. Full details at their website - orangeblossomballoons.com/ We have added the following upgrades just for you in 2009:Buying Disneyworld tickets (Updated Feb '10)
It is worth buying the tickets before arriving at the theme park gates, because you can get some discount, but not much. The guest services desk at the Regal Palms Resort sells tickets and they are likely to offer a reasonable price. Contact via Resort reception +1 863 420 0041. The Orlando City official website www.orlandoinfo.com/tickets/ gives plenty of information about ticket prices and you will see that the Disney tickets are offered with almost no discount.Regal Palms Resort upgraded in 2010 (Updated Oct '10)
The Resort has been upgraded this year with these great features: |
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$5000 Villa mini makeover for 2011 (Updated Feb '11)
We are pleased to announce that the villa has been upgraded this year with these great features:Legoland® Florida Opened Fall 2011 (Updated Nov '11)
We are pleased to announce that Legoland® Florida opened in 2011, this 150-acre family theme park, located in Winter Haven, offers more than 50 rides, shows and attractions geared for families with children ages 2 to 12.