News Updates and Local Information

Local Amenities

How do I get to Disneyworld?

How do I get to Sea World and Universal Studios?

Posner Commons Retail Park

RECOMMENDED places to eat

NOT RECOMMENDED places to eat

What other activity is recommended?

2009 Villa Upgrades

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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There are 2 banks and plenty of food outlets:

Take Out - Quinzos Subs and Mia Pizza
Eat in - Kokopelli's Bistro, Spice of Life Indian Restaurant, an English Bar and Restaurant and
Applebees Neighborhood Grill and Bar,


Linksters Tap Room is a great bar where the local crowd hang out - indoor and terrace seating and plenty of TV screens.

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 Oct '07)

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 – always OK). Directions: US27 in Berry Town Center (5 minutes walk from the villa)

Brunos (Good Italian food in a small family restaurant). Directions: US192 - 1 miles 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

Kokopelli's (Upscale, quality food, in a small restaurant owned by the Chef). Directions: US27 in Berry Town Center (5 minutes walk from the villa)

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?

2009 Villa Upgrades