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Chatham Park is an up-market development of private villas just half a mile from the attraction-packed 'Highway 192' and just five miles away from Disney Village. Kissimmee is the nearest town to Disney and Old Town Kissimmee and Downtown Kissimmee are just 1 mile and 3 miles away respectively. In fact the location of Chatham Park is absolutely perfect: very quietly situated just off the main road, yet close to so many of the attractions, shops, restaurants and entertainments that make this area (south west of Orlando) very popular. Chatham Park is near championship golf courses, horseback riding, boating and the year-round entertainment that Orlando has to offer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Climate: The following are average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for Orlando
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| WHAT TO PACK Winters are mild in Orlando and summers are hot and humid. Daytime temperatures in the winter months average in the 70s and low 80s, but evening temperatures can dip to the 60s so take a sweater or jacket just in case. Year round, be prepared for air-conditioning bordering on the glacial (in malls etc.). Orlando and Disney World are extremely casual, day and night. Men will need a jacket and tie for only a handful of the most exclusive restaurants and casual resort wear is the norm elsewhere. For sightseeing and visits to Disney, pack shorts, T-shirts, sundresses and cotton slacks. Comfortable walking shoes or trainers are essential. Pack an umbrella for sudden thunderstorms during the summer, but leave the plastic raincoats behind, they're extremely uncomfortable in the high humidity. Plastic ponchos can also be purchased around most main attractions, in case you forget the brolly! In the summer you'll want a sun hat and plenty of sunscreen lotion, even for strolls in the city because the sun can be very fierce. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
SHOPPING MALLS The Florida Mall is definitely worth a visit and you'll need a good half-day to look around. The complex includes many departmental stores such as Sears, J.C. Penney's, Belz, Maison Blanche, plus 167 (at the last count) speciality shops. It also houses an enormous food court which offers everything from an American burger to Indian and Chinese food ...something for all the family to enjoy. Altamonte Mall is the largest mall in central Florida and has everything that Florida Mall has and more. North of the city, it is a fair distance from Chatham Park. Belz is closer, off International Drive and classed as a Factory Outlet and is a great place to go for bargains! We bought clothes, Timberland Boots and trainers here all for far less than you can shop for at home. Local Shops close to Chatham Park for groceries you'll find Publix, a large supermarket that contains most of the items you will need during your stay. Prices are good and they even have a small section devoted to British products such as Marmite, Ribena and other strange oddities! Also nearby is a petrol filling station which is conveniently situated on the junction with the '192', approximately 1/2 mile away. Restaurants are many and varied. Of course there are McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut (for the kids). The Olive Garden (an Italian Restaurant and a favourite of ours) and The Red Lobster are just minutes away on the '192'. A little further away on International Drive is The Mercado. This is a Mediterranean style village with countless little shops and speciality restaurants. Wherever you go in Florida, children are welcome, food is plentiful and the people are friendly. However long you're there for, you'll wish you'd stayed longer! Still, there's always next year! By the way, the best time to visit The Mercado is in the evening. This is when it "comes alive" ...with its brightly lit narrow streets and open air music, you could almost be in Spain! THE ATTRACTIONS Busch Gardens only a 75-minute drive from Kissimmee and definitely a must-see. It's an imaginatively and convincingly designed turn of the century African theme park for more than 3000 animals. We understand that it is the fourth largest zoo in the world. There are also several teeth clenching, corkscrew roller coasters which the children will love. It belongs to the same company that owns Sea World in Orlando, home to Shamu the killer whale. We particularly liked the submarine ride and the 'Clyde and Seamore' show here. Both these theme parks are well worth a visit. Universal Studios can have long queues, particularly for the more popular rides such as Jaws and Back to the Future. You may find that a day's visit does not give you enough time to see everything ...particularly if you want to include the Backstage Tour. Adjacent to Universal Studios is the world famous Hard Rock Cafe and you can impress your friends by buying one of their T-shirts instead. Other Attractions include the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral, which is extremely fascinating for the whole family, not just the men and boys! We believe that the journey of approximately 1 1/4 hours is well worth it. If you do decide to go don't miss the IMAX film, it's loud but truly awe inspiring. Of course the beaches on either the Atlantic or Gulf coasts which are 1 hour and 1 1/2 hours away respectively, might be to your taste. There's something for everyone in Florida! OTHER POINTS TO NOTE Money Inoculations |
+44 1707 372744
| http://www.floridadreamvilla.com | | Tel: +44 1707 372744 |