Disney and Universal Vacation

We spent three days between Universal and Islands of Adventure. These parks are best for families with children over 44 inches, although Dr. Seuessland and the Barney show are wonderful for little ones. The Spiderman ride is a must-see.

Cirque du Soleil 'La Nouba' at Downtown Disney is also a must-see. It's expensive but worth every dime. All three of my boys (even the 15-month-old who NEVER sits still) were mesmerized and the adults were as well. The Hoop-Dee-Doo Review at Disney's Fort Wilderness is a family favorite. The food, show, and waitstaff were all wonderful. For food the entire family will enjoy, try O'Hana's at the Polynesian. They have activities for kids during your meal and the fabulous food (skewers of pork, turkey, steak, and shrimp as well as great side dishes) comes quickly as soon as you sit down.

The Wine and Food Festival at Epcot was wonderful also. You can sample recipes from at least 20 different countries. MGM has a great evening show on the water called Fantasmic, which is based on Mickey's dream where he battles all the villians from the movies. Get there at least 45 minutes early or you won't get a seat.

Blizzard Beach is our favorite water park. It has something for all ages. There's a toddler area with small slides, and pre-teen area, gentle wave pool, and water slides that are great fun for most kids over 44". It's very clean with a fun atmosphere.

Orange Lake Country Club was an amazing resort. The kids loved the free form pool and rock slide. We didn't even have time to enjoy the main pool, beach, or day and evening activities. I'd like to go back just to enjoy the resort and forget going to the parks!

Quick Tips:

If you get AT ALL susceptible to motion sickness, avoid the new Mission Space ride at Epcot. It's cool, but not worth having your head between your knees for the next hour.

If you're flying to Orlando, rent a car. We found the best rate with L&M.

Orange Lake is peaceful and a great place for golfers, families, walkers and joggers. We had a fabulous two-bedroom in the Legends area. It was new and immaculate with large screened in balcony, full w/d, large kitchen with all the cooking pans and utensils you could possibly need, large dining area, living room with sectional sofa, and two bathrooms.

HGVC was noisier but had a better location for all the parks. We stayed in a one-bedroom that we would have been very pleased with if we hadn't just been at a two-bedroom in Orange Lake. However it had a very large two person Jacuzzi which had my boys wanting to take baths in daily. The grounds at both properties were immaculately cared for.

Best Way To Get Around:

For both timeshare properties I recommend a car to get around. For the parks, get a stroller for those five and under if you want your children to last more than a couple hours.

Best Things Nearby:
Golf, golf, golf. 15-20 minutes from amusement parks. Other resorts are closer, but I really enjoyed the space, quiet, activities, and amenities offered here.

Best Things About the Resort:
I can't say enough fabulous things about this resort. It was our first time using a timeshare exchange and it really impressed my husband who has been very upset with me the last few months for talking him into buying a timeshare! :)

Resort Experience:
We stayed in a two-bedroom in the Legends. I highly recommend the Legends and North Village (both the new sections). North Village has great free-form pool with rock slide, toddler pool, and water fountain sprays. The room was incredibly spacious, clean, and new. Large master bedroom and bath including Jacuzzi tub. Second bedroom had two double beds and a bath. There was a full size washer/dryer. Large kitchen with lots of pots, pans, and utensils. Large living room with sectional sofa. There was a bar to the kitchen with two barstools and a separate dining table with one side being bench seating. The screened in porch was large and the kids loved it.

My husband and I are joggers and loved having all that space to run safely along perfectly manicured grounds and not a lot of traffic.

We didn't have an opportunity to try out the beach, enormous lap pool or day and night activities, but everything looked great and like a lot of fun. We'd like to go back and never leave the resort.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Best Things Nearby:
Sea World is right next door! Located in between Universal and Disney.

Best Things About the Resort:
Location is great, but our room location was near the street and noisy. Grounds are immaculate. The pools are very nice. The kids enjoyed the waterfall.

Resort Experience:
We had a one bedroom with pullout sofa. The kitchen was adequate but not a lot of pots and pans, etc. There was a stackable w/d. The bathroom was large and connected to the bedroom was an enormous two-person Jacuzzi tub. The screened-in porch was nice, but faced the street and parking lot -- not much of a view.

We had requested additional towels which they brought us, but the housekeeping took them all the next day when they came to clean. We also had a broken garbage disposal which we requested to be fixed the first day and never was. Our TV in the living room wasn't working properly and we couldn't rent Finding Nemo. By the time engineering got there to fix it, the kids had to go to bed. I would have thought this was a great resort if I hadn't just come from a brand-new, two-bedroom at Orange Lake. There was also a good-sized exercise room with quality treadmills, bikes, etc.

• Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Fair
• Unit Satisfaction: Fair
• Family Friendliness: Good
• Service: Poor

We went there for lunch. My husband couldn't wait to order the Stone Crab, which was excellent. He also had the clam chowder, which was chunky and good. I had the Crab and Lobster Bisque and the special of the day, Flounder--both were good but not to die for. This is someplace I had always wanted to eat at, but I doubt I will go back. It's fun to do once, but I'm not sure it's worth the expense.

You start with bread and then they bring you a turnstile of different side dishes and dipping sauces. The salad is wonderful and has a sweet dressing. There are also chicken wings. Then you are brought out skewers of pork, steak, turkey and shrimp. It's an all-you-care-to-eat, family-style. It's great for kids especially if they are picky eaters like mine, yet special for the adults as well. There are also activities for the kids during the meal like a hula hoop contest and a coconut roll contest. The waiters also sing for birthdays. It's great to do a day at the Magic Kingdom, take the monorail to the Polynesian to eat at O’Hana and then take it back to the Magic Kingdom to catch the parade and fireworks, or you can go out on the beach to see the lighted water parade.

The food is good and fun and the show is amusing. The best part is the way the characters involve the audience.

The food includes bread with great honey butter, bbq ribs, fried chicken, corn, sweet baked beans, and strawberry shortcake for dessert (which leaves something to be desired). It's all-you-care-to-eat on the food and drinks including wine, sangria, and beer, all served on a red and white checkered tablecloth. The show is sort of 'hee-haw' with cute songs and alot of audience participation. It creates involvment for all ages. The jokes are corny but it's always a fun, foot-stompin' good time.