If you’re a pilot or you want to learn how to fly, there’s really no better airport or place to learn than Kissimmee Gateway Airport. If you are looking for a short weekend break or for a few days away from it all, then flying into the closest airport to the Central Florida theme parks is something to consider.
If you’re learning to fly, what could be better than having some great landmarks like Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Blizzard Beach etc all around you to make sure you know where you are?
Kissimmee Gateway Airport formerly known as Kissimmee Municipal Airport is a public airport located near Orlando. The airport is just eight miles from Walt Disney World and ten miles from Sea World and Orlando-Orange County Convention Center. Universal Orlando is just a touch further away but wherever you are going to in the Orlando area, this is simply the most convenient place to fly into.
The airport accommodates general aviation air service 24 hours a day and has two paved airport runways at 5,000 and 6,000 feet. The actual dimensions of the runways are 5,000 x 150 ft and 6,000 x 100 ft. Kissimmee airport has an operational control tower and a Category I instrument landing system (ILS) on its main runway and is generally considered to be a general aviation reliever airport to Orlando International Airport.
The airport has a number of flight training schools, new T-hangars and box hangars and a variety of recreational activities including the historic Warbird Museum with T-6 Warbird adventure flights, P-51 Mustang pilot training and it even has an 18 hole golf course located nearby. The Orlando area airport is owned and operated by the City of Kissimmee and it’s air traffic control tower operates from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
It’s a great place to fly into and what makes it even better is that Florida Leisure has many vacation homes just five minutes drive away which makes it the natural choice for a great stay.
Just heard news that Arnold Stang, the voice of “Top Cat” has died. Stang was 91 and died of pneumonia in hospital in Massachusetts.
Top Cat was the Hanna Berbera prime time animated television series that ran from September 1961 through April 1962 and ran for 30 episodes on the ABC Network on Wednesday evenings. Reruns can regularly be seen on Boomerang which is a sub-division of the Cartoon Network.
“T.C.” was the leader of a gang of New York City alley cats, Fancy Fancy, Spook, Benny the Ball, The Brian and Choo Choo and the gang was inspired by characters from the Phil Silvers show and it was said that Stang’s voice greatly resembled Phil Silver’s voice.
Perhaps the most frequent plot line for the cartoon series revolved around a local NYPD police officer… Officer Dibble. Dibble constantly tried to evict the alley cats from the alley and always failed. It was a great show and the fact it is still remembered some 50 years later lays testament to that fact.
Stang also starred in The Man with the Golden Arm alongside Frank Sinatra and also in the 1963 comedy “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World”.
One of the “must do” things that was on my “Bucket” list for 2009 was to take a flight over the Disney area on a small plane. I’d done this trip by helicopter a few years ago so that whetted my appetite for repeating the experience this year and I was lucky enough to do that this week…just a week before the year ends. Close call!
Flying over the Walt Disney World area certainly gives you a different appreciation for the Central Florida area and you really get to see how things are laid out. It’s a great thing to do as not only do you see a wonderful landscape but you also enjoy a fun and exciting experience.
Epcot
A flight like this can make for a great gift or present for that someone special so I thought you may like to find out a little more on today’s blog.
The trip begins with a short drive to Kissimmee Gateway Airport… just minutes from your vacation home. We can arrange to pick you up or you can choose to drive there yourself. Once you’re at the airport you’ll meet your pilot and then get strapped in for a dream flight that will last about an hour. (Longer flights can be arranged)
Magic Kingdom and Contemporary
You will fly around the Disney area where you will get a great view of the local area and the theme parks. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee that you will fly right over the theme parks because this is controlled by Orlando air traffic control but sometimes they do allow this and if so, you’ll really never get a better chance to take some fabulous pictures of places like Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Blizzard Beach. If you’re not so lucky and they don’t allow it, then don’t worry as you’ll still get close enough to take some good photos and of course, see the parks as you’ve never seen them before. It’s really a win – win, no matter what air traffic control decides that day!
Sunset Lakes Cumbrian Lakes
After your flight, the rest of the day is yours to do as you wish. The concierge at Florida Leisure would be pleased to arrange this trip for you and your family and also they can plan a meal around the flight to make it even more memorable. The only thing you need to remember is that it does take some advanced planning in order to book the airplane and the pilot.
One of the best additions to the Florida landscape in recent years has been Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. This park was opened in May 1999 and has proved to be an instant hit with visitors and locals alike.
The park is split into five areas; Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, Lost Continent and Seuss Landing. The park feels like a journey of exploration as you depart from the mainland (Port of Entry) to visit the five islands that each have their own distinct theme. The exciting news that a sixth island is set to open in 2010 and I’ve blogged about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter here if you’d like to read more about it. In total there are 21 rides, 5 roller coasters and 3 water rides giving a nice balance and something for everyone.
Again, my tip for this park is to do most of your waiting in line for rides while you are feeling fresh and that means another early morning start to get to Universal when the gates open. If you can be one of the first to get to Marvel Super Island then get the Incredible Hulk roller coaster done straight away. From there it’s just a short stroll to Doctor Doom’s Fearfall and the fantastic Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride… one of my favorites.
From there take a leisurely stroll to Toon Lagoon where the whole family can have fun on Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, Me Ship, The Olive and Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges. It’s a wonderful area to spend some time and young and old will have a great time.
After you’ve played enough at Toon Lagoon time to head over to Jurassic Park and a chance to test out Jurassic Park River Adventure, Camp Jurassic, Pteranodon Flyers or the Jurassic Park Discovery Center to meet a dinosaur.
The Lost Continent comes up next and the Dueling Dragons roller coaster is a firm favorite while those who enjoy a more relaxed pace can tour Poseidon’s Fury… a tour of an ancient temple. This area also has the Mystic Fountain where you can make a wish and of course, The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad Stunt Show.
Suess Landing is the fifth and final island and this is a great place to finish the day. Ride on your couch and meet the Cat in the Hat or steer your fish through the water fountains on One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. The Caro-Seuss-el is a fun merry go round while the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride gives you a great view of the whole theme park. Finally, if you have young ones, let them loose in the If I Ran the Zoo interactive play area.
Islands of Adventure also has several opportunities to meet and greet Spider-Man and the Marvel Super Heroes as well as character appearances in both the Toon and Seuss character zone. Do make sure you pick up a park map as you go through the entrance as this will have the times they appear.
During the day you’re bound to feel hungry and you will need plenty to drink. The Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous (great name!) has chicken, pizza, cheeseburgers and salads while over at Mythos or Confiscos you can get full service dining. The Comic Strip Cafe has American and Italian cuisine and the Captain America diner, Cafe 4, Blondies, Thunder Falls terrace all have quick snacks to fill your hunger.
One tip I do have is to get yourself a Universal Express Plus pass which gives you priority status when boarding rides but it does cost a little extra. If you don’t want to splash out anymore then the best advice I can give is to make sure you check the waiting times at rides board as you go through the Port of Entry towards the islands. A bit of careful planning here can save you a lot of time although delays are inevitable.
Overall Islands of Adventure is a great theme park. It has something for everyone but what makes it stand out more than anything for me, is the great attention to detail Universal employed when building the park. In this regard it really is as good as anything Walt Disney World has to offer. Enjoy your day out … and don’t forget to share your story of your day out with us. Here’s a quick video I did…enjoy…
If you are visiting Orlando then one of the “must do” and “must see” theme parks is Universal Studios. The park is split into six main areas; Production Central, New York, San Francisco/Amity, World Expo, Hollywood and Woody Woodpecker Kidzone.
Arriving early in the morning is the best thing to do in my opinion and if you arrive just as the gates open then you’ll want to make a quick dash to the rides where the lines will be longest later in the day. I’ve tested and experimented a little and I have always found that upon entering the park and walking past the shops that it is best to turn right and head down through “Hollywood”.
The Simpson’s ride in World Expo is the first ride to head for as the lines can be very long for this superb experience as you swoop, soar and smash your way through Krustyland. After that do Men in Black… it’s right next door at the furthest point to go in the park.
By now the park will be starting to fill and you’ll expect to see lines building at almost every ride so now you have to be selective. My tactic is to choose the rides where singles or doubles sit in carriages rather than the larger shows that take a large amount of people…I save them for later in the day. So, with armed with that info…where to go next?
Three of the most popular rides are Jaws, Disaster and Revenge of the Mummy. Personally I’d head for Revenge of the Mummy next as most people will still be in the Production Central area. After that I’d ride Disaster and then Jaws. From there, I’d then start working my way back towards the entrance and do Twister but make sure you keep an eye on show times as you don’t want to miss the Blues Brothers Show which runs at 11.00am, 12.00pm, 1.30pm, 2.45pm and 4.00pm. Also you’ll not want to miss the Universal Horror Make Up Show to discover the secret techniques from Universal’s legacy of horror and how they do some of the scenes in their movies.
By now, you may be thinking my route to take rides is a bit all over the place…and honestly it is! But… if you want to experience a great day out then my experience is to get the most popular rides done quickly and when your energy is at it’s highest so you can then enjoy a leisurely stroll around the park and maybe take in your favorite rides again.
if you have young children, then it’s great to relax a bit after all the hectic rides in the Woody Woodpecker Kidzone which features things like “A Day in the Park with Barney”, “Curious George Goes to Town”, Woody’s Nuthouse Coaster, ET Adventure and Fievel’s Playland.
So by now you must be feeling hungry? Where to go?
Personally I’ve always enjoyed the seafood and asian food at Lombard’s Seafood Grille in the San Francisco area but Mel’s Drive In is also a cool place to go to enjoy burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and fries. The Beverly Hills Boulagerie is good for breakfast but if you take my tip, you’ll have already had breakfast before you got to the park so that when it opens you’re heading for the rides. If you are looking for pizza and pasta then either the International Food and Film Festival or Louie’s Italian Restaurant fits the bill while if you like the Irish feeling then head to Finnegan’s Bar and Grille.
There’s a lot to do at Universal Studio’s and another popular thing to do is meet some character’s. Make sure you pick up a park guide when you come in and look for the part that says “Character Zones” as that displays the times that you can get up close and personal with Spiderman, the Marvel Super Heroes, Shrek and the Donkey, SpongeBob SquarePants and various other character meets in Toon and Seuss zones.
So that’s the most popular rides and character meets done and we’re now full from food and drink, what can we do now… well, if you’re in the Hollywood area how about Terminator 2 or in Production Central Shrek 4?
After that you’ve pretty much seen everything and you’ll be feeling tired. If you’ve taken my advice you’ll have dashed around a bit but by now you’ll be close to the exit. So there’s no need to rush…just take your time and enjoy a leisurely stroll through the shops or if you’ve decided you’ve done everything you wanted to do, why not wander around City Walk?
Or…if you’re really feeling lazy…take a look at this short video instead… and visit Universal Studios with me!
I’ve just been reading all the news reports about the snow storm that has taken grip of the north eastern states of the US. Blizzard warnings were in effect for parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts over the weekend while 16 inches of snow were recorded at Reagan National Airport outside Washington on Saturday – the most ever recorded there for a single December day.
Meanwhile, southern New Jersey had its highest single-storm snowfall in nearly four years, reaching 24 inches in some places.
Nearly 11 inches of snow had fallen on New York City by yesterday morning but meteorologists predicted that it could top the 26 inches seen in February 2006.,
The snow caused the cancellation of flights in and out of Dulles airport in the Washington area, Philadelphia International, New York’s three major airports and Logan Airport in Boston. More than 150 flights were cancelled in and out of Chicago’s airports.
One person in Virginia was killed in a traffic accident caused by icy roads, and authorities said the weather may have contributed to another traffic death there. A third death in Virginia is believed to have been caused by exposure.
In Ohio, two people were killed in accidents on snow-covered roads hit by the same storm system.
Meanwhile here in Florida things have chilled down a little but it’s still pleasant enough to take a well earned vacation and enjoy some family time. If you can’t get here in the next few days then take a look at a video I made earlier today…yes… that bright thing shining on me and the house is THE SUN!
I took in the Macy’s parade at Universal Orlando this week and it’s quite a sight to see. The parade features some of the most popular balloons and floats from the beloved Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Additionally there are also festive street performers and talented marching bands from around Florida to enjoy as they make their way around Universal Studios, Orlando.
The parade starts at 5.00pm from the Beetlejuice Theater and winds it’s way through the park before arriving at the Christmas tree and the tree-lighting ceremony.
While I was at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure I took some video footage of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s hard to believe the Universal marketing machine hasn’t really started to promote this project or the scheduled opening date in Spring next year so hopefully this video will show you what’s currently going on.
I managed to get over to Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando yesterday afternoon. Here’s the latest exciting pictures of the new theme park The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
It’s with sadness that we have to report that another member of the Disney family has left us today.
Roy Edward Disney, (January 10, 1930 – December 16, 2009)was a longtime senior executive for The Walt Disney Company, which his father Roy Oliver Disney and his uncle Walt Disney founded. At the time of death he was a shareholder (over 16 million shares or about 1%), and served as a consultant for the company and Director Emeritus for the Board of Directors. He is perhaps best known for organizing the ousting of two top Disney executives: first, Ron Miller in 1984, and then Michael Eisner in 2005.
His death occurred 43 years and one day after Walt Disney died, also from cancer. Roy Disney was 79 years old.
