Congratulations to the winner of the $590m powerball jackpot! What's even better is that they come from Zephyrhills, Florida. Imagine the amount of vacations they can now take to my villa when visiting Disneyworld?!
I don't even know what I'd do with all of that money. Maybe I would buy a whole street of villas in Florida and expand my rental business, that would be so much fun! What would you do with all that money??
Many congratulations once again, what an amazing feeling that must be!
Monday, 20 May 2013
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Latest Last Minute Deal
Why not come and stay at Andy's Florida Villa for a short weeks break between May 24th - May 31st for just $60 (£40) a night?!
That's right, for just $420 (£280) you could find yourself lapping up the Florida sunshine around the pool at Andy's Florida Villa for a whole week.
Interested? Send over an e-mail now to andy@andysfloridavilla.com before it's too late! First come, first served basis.
I hope to hear from you soon
That's right, for just $420 (£280) you could find yourself lapping up the Florida sunshine around the pool at Andy's Florida Villa for a whole week.
Interested? Send over an e-mail now to andy@andysfloridavilla.com before it's too late! First come, first served basis.
I hope to hear from you soon
Monday, 6 May 2013
More Downtown Disney Stuff
As you are aware I go to Downtown Disney every time I visit Florida. I particulary enjoy things when the lights go down and the clear Florida sky shows off its surroundings. The following picture is one that I particulary love as the colours are deep and rich. The shot was taken without a tripod and was balanced on a railing. I was pleased with the result.
The structure originally known as the The Empress Lilly is a static full-size replica of a paddle steamer riverboat on Village Lake. It is 220 feet long and 62 feet wide. Though it resembles a boat, it is actually a boat-shaped building on a submerged concrete foundation.
The Empress Lilly was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to look as authentic as possible. The gingerbread scrollwork and stained-glass detailing hearkened back to the days of Mark Twain's Mississippi River. The paddlewheel at the aft end constantly churned, though the ship never moved. It greeted guests for the first time on May 1, 1976, when it was christened by Walt Disney's widow, Lillian Disney, for whom it was named. It originally housed four separate entertainment and dining areas:
In the mid-1990s, as a cost-cutting move, Disney began to engage outside partners to take over operations of many of its restaurants. It was decided the Empress Lilly would come under new management, and Levy Restauants signed a contract to operate the "ship" for 20 years. On April 22, 1995, the Empress Lilly served her last meals. All interiors were subsequently ripped out and a new décor for a single restaurant put in place. The old smokestacks and paddlewheel were removed due to rust and rot and were not replaced. The restaurant opened as Fulton's Crab House on March 10, 1996.
Above is reproduced from Wikipedia
You will find a Lego store in Downtown Disney with a larhe Dinosaur waiting to greet you as you arrive.
Within the Downtown Disney area you will find a number of restaurants of which Planet Hollywood is one of the popular ones.
Inside the Disney store you will find various items for sale. My favourites include the statues of the Charactors from the various cartoons including...............
The Empress Lilly was designed by Walt Disney Imagineering to look as authentic as possible. The gingerbread scrollwork and stained-glass detailing hearkened back to the days of Mark Twain's Mississippi River. The paddlewheel at the aft end constantly churned, though the ship never moved. It greeted guests for the first time on May 1, 1976, when it was christened by Walt Disney's widow, Lillian Disney, for whom it was named. It originally housed four separate entertainment and dining areas:
- The Baton Rouge Lounge, located forward on the main deck. Here patrons could relax at the bar and enjoy the music and comedy of the Riverboat Rascals. Many of these musicians played in the Baton Rouge for years and became local legends. Some of them included "Fast Eddie" Erickson, Dave Tobiasen, Tom Bucci, Denny Zavett, Ralf Reynolds, Mike Gentry, Randy Morris, Dan Riley, John Charles, Andy Fielding and Bill Dendle.
- Steerman's Quarters, in the main deck's aft section, specialized in certified Angus beef. Its décor featured nostalgic imagery of America's western cattle. In the aft end of the room, giant windows overlooked the churning paddlewheel.
- The Fisherman's Deck, a seafood restaurant, was located forward on the promenade deck.
- The Empress Room, aft on the promenade deck, was a formal dining room that required reservations. It was extravagantly decorated with gold-trimmed walls and Rococo (Louis XIV) style appointments. Hungarian chef Gerry Reich developed the original menu to cater to upscale tastes.
In the mid-1990s, as a cost-cutting move, Disney began to engage outside partners to take over operations of many of its restaurants. It was decided the Empress Lilly would come under new management, and Levy Restauants signed a contract to operate the "ship" for 20 years. On April 22, 1995, the Empress Lilly served her last meals. All interiors were subsequently ripped out and a new décor for a single restaurant put in place. The old smokestacks and paddlewheel were removed due to rust and rot and were not replaced. The restaurant opened as Fulton's Crab House on March 10, 1996.
Above is reproduced from Wikipedia
You will find a Lego store in Downtown Disney with a larhe Dinosaur waiting to greet you as you arrive.
Within the Downtown Disney area you will find a number of restaurants of which Planet Hollywood is one of the popular ones.
Friday, 3 May 2013
What is your perfect Florida holiday?
Everybody is different, with different needs and hobbies, but what are yours?
The beauty of Florida is that it really does cater for everybody's needs! Florida caters for all age groups, as there is so much to see and do. Pick out which type of holiday maker you are from our list below to see a wide range of activities that you would enjoy whilst in Florida..
Relaxing Holiday - Where better to relax than around the pool? What's better is that our pool is private, with fences either side of the garden. There are also many places to visit such as the many beaches in Florida, where there are many places to walk and relax in the sun!
Active/Adventure Holiday - With 11 theme parks and 6 water parks to choose from, where better to visit than Florida for an active/adventure holiday?! There are also so many other activities to do including the boggy creek airboat tours, which enable you to come up and close with wild animals including alligators! Most people say even 14 days isn't enough to get the most out of Florida, that is how action packed Florida really is. All of these activities are located so close to Andy's Florida Villa, so why not choose us as your base?
Shopping Holiday - Florida has many shopping malls which offer many discounted branded goods such as Ralph Lauren. My personal favourite malls are the Premium Outlets at both International Drive and Vineland Avenue and the Florida Mall. With hundreds of brands and stores such as Disney, where better to shop than in Florida?
Beach Holiday - The five closest beaches to Andy's Florida Villa are Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Canaveral National Seashore and Melbourne Beach. The weather in Florida is very warm, so where better to spend a day than at one of Florida's beautiful beaches?
Wildlife Holiday - The everglades at the southern tip of Florida is a wonderful place to visit. It really is a wonder of the world, with all of the marshes and wildlife on view. Closer to our villa however are many local attractions, such as Gatorland! It is a wonderful day out, watching shows similar to the work of Steve Irwin, the late grate crocodile hunter!
Golfing Holiday - Orlando alone has over 170 golf courses, as well as 20 golf academies. Whether you see yourself as a professional or real amateur, there are golf courses in Orlando which cater for everybody's needs. Why not pack up those clubs and head over for a few rounds of golf? It really is a stunning location to visit.
Family Holiday - Do I even need to explain this? Florida is renowned worldwide as being one of, if not the best location for a family holiday. There is something to do for all the family, young or old! There is also such a wide variety of restaurants in Florida, which will please those fussy eaters out there. Treat your family now, why not visit Andy's Florida Villa?
What will you choose to do whilst in Florida? Get in contact with us now, I'm sure we can help to shape the perfect getaway for you and your guests!
The beauty of Florida is that it really does cater for everybody's needs! Florida caters for all age groups, as there is so much to see and do. Pick out which type of holiday maker you are from our list below to see a wide range of activities that you would enjoy whilst in Florida..
Relaxing Holiday - Where better to relax than around the pool? What's better is that our pool is private, with fences either side of the garden. There are also many places to visit such as the many beaches in Florida, where there are many places to walk and relax in the sun!
Active/Adventure Holiday - With 11 theme parks and 6 water parks to choose from, where better to visit than Florida for an active/adventure holiday?! There are also so many other activities to do including the boggy creek airboat tours, which enable you to come up and close with wild animals including alligators! Most people say even 14 days isn't enough to get the most out of Florida, that is how action packed Florida really is. All of these activities are located so close to Andy's Florida Villa, so why not choose us as your base?
Shopping Holiday - Florida has many shopping malls which offer many discounted branded goods such as Ralph Lauren. My personal favourite malls are the Premium Outlets at both International Drive and Vineland Avenue and the Florida Mall. With hundreds of brands and stores such as Disney, where better to shop than in Florida?
Beach Holiday - The five closest beaches to Andy's Florida Villa are Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Canaveral National Seashore and Melbourne Beach. The weather in Florida is very warm, so where better to spend a day than at one of Florida's beautiful beaches?
Wildlife Holiday - The everglades at the southern tip of Florida is a wonderful place to visit. It really is a wonder of the world, with all of the marshes and wildlife on view. Closer to our villa however are many local attractions, such as Gatorland! It is a wonderful day out, watching shows similar to the work of Steve Irwin, the late grate crocodile hunter!
Golfing Holiday - Orlando alone has over 170 golf courses, as well as 20 golf academies. Whether you see yourself as a professional or real amateur, there are golf courses in Orlando which cater for everybody's needs. Why not pack up those clubs and head over for a few rounds of golf? It really is a stunning location to visit.
Family Holiday - Do I even need to explain this? Florida is renowned worldwide as being one of, if not the best location for a family holiday. There is something to do for all the family, young or old! There is also such a wide variety of restaurants in Florida, which will please those fussy eaters out there. Treat your family now, why not visit Andy's Florida Villa?
What will you choose to do whilst in Florida? Get in contact with us now, I'm sure we can help to shape the perfect getaway for you and your guests!
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Boggy Creek Boat Trip
When visiting Orlando why not visit the Boggy Creek Airboats attraction. It is only a short drive from the 192 along Poincianna Drive which becomes Southport Road. At the end of Southport Road turn into the main parking area and you will see the main reception office in front of you. I always park under the large tree that is next to the main entrance as it otherwise the car becomes hot under the beating sun!
We always like to visit Boggy Creek Airboats for a trip around the large Lake and always find that the staff are great and friendly. We always go for the 30 minute excursion with a group of other people, although there are other excursions available with smaller parties for longer rides and even night boat trips if you are feeling really brave. On arriving at Boggy Creek just pop into the reception with your pre-paid ticket or buy yourself a ticket there. You will always find coupons in the tourist booklets that are freely available in Orlando and Kissimmee, giving you a small discount.
The boats have Captains on them who take care of you and ensure that they point out the different wildlife that is in abundance across the lake, including bald Eagles that regularly nest in the high trees at the side of the Lake. As and when the Alligators are nesting the Captain will always try and show you Mothers with babies or baby Alligators on the banks of the Lake.
Don't forget to wear the supplied ear defenders as the boat engines can be quite loud. Also don't go on the ride if your hairstyle is important to you, as you will find that when you get off the boat you will have a windswept hairstyle. On a final note we came across this vehicle near to St Cloud after the air boat ride. I most certainly would not like to have to purchase a new tyre for this vehicle if it got a puncture.
We always like to visit Boggy Creek Airboats for a trip around the large Lake and always find that the staff are great and friendly. We always go for the 30 minute excursion with a group of other people, although there are other excursions available with smaller parties for longer rides and even night boat trips if you are feeling really brave. On arriving at Boggy Creek just pop into the reception with your pre-paid ticket or buy yourself a ticket there. You will always find coupons in the tourist booklets that are freely available in Orlando and Kissimmee, giving you a small discount.
The boats have Captains on them who take care of you and ensure that they point out the different wildlife that is in abundance across the lake, including bald Eagles that regularly nest in the high trees at the side of the Lake. As and when the Alligators are nesting the Captain will always try and show you Mothers with babies or baby Alligators on the banks of the Lake.
The Cypress trees always never fail to amaze me and I always enjoy seeing the lone tree in the lake and really wonder how it came to grow all on its own? At the top of the lake there are cattle and you will often see them standing in the water oblivious to the fact that there are a large number of Alligators in the Lake at any given time.
Don't forget to wear the supplied ear defenders as the boat engines can be quite loud. Also don't go on the ride if your hairstyle is important to you, as you will find that when you get off the boat you will have a windswept hairstyle. On a final note we came across this vehicle near to St Cloud after the air boat ride. I most certainly would not like to have to purchase a new tyre for this vehicle if it got a puncture.
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
Downtown Disney
I always like to pay a visit to Downtown Disney when in Florida. The attractions are:
The man in red did not seem to want to speak to me...
Moved a little further into the area and came across these people playing instruments and having a good time.
As the light disappeared the following image came to light, and I grabbed it whilst I could. I love it when the sun disappears and the blue sky still shines through.
- Free parking and plenty of it.
- You can leave your car there and get on free Disney Transportation to the parks and save yourself $14 Parking Fee each time.
- Plenty to see and do
- Various restaurants for your enjoyment with even an Irish Pub
- Disney and Lego stores with loads of souvenirs
- All year round Christmas store
The man in red did not seem to want to speak to me...
Moved a little further into the area and came across these people playing instruments and having a good time.
As the light disappeared the following image came to light, and I grabbed it whilst I could. I love it when the sun disappears and the blue sky still shines through.
Halford Family - Halifax England
Thank you so much for letting us use your villa. It is so comfortable and very clean. It is clearly one of the best we have stayed in. We would certainly consider it next time as it was more than a home from home. We had a slight problem with phone but management company had it sorted within minutes - a great service.
15th September 2012
15th September 2012
The Sidhu Family - Ontario
We had a great time. Your villa felt like a home from home. The kids enkoyed the pool a lot. We would recommend your villa to friends and family. The property management were prompt to answer any queries. Thanks a lot for making our stay comfortable and memorable.
30th December 2012
30th December 2012
John & Christine - April 2013
Hi Andy,
We both want to congratulate you on your beautiful villa which you have designed perfectly! The villa had everything we needed as a base for a wonderful stay in Florida. The weather was fantastic for this time of year, and the fact your pool is south facing was perfect to catch some rays throughout the morning before our adventures out to the parks! We will definitely be returning in the next few years, it was an amazing experience staying at your home! We would both also like to praise your amazing customer service throughout this whole process, as you have always been fast to reply to us! Absolutely loving your blog too, and we cannot wait to contribute towards it's success! Thanks once again Andy!
John & Christine - Welling, London
We both want to congratulate you on your beautiful villa which you have designed perfectly! The villa had everything we needed as a base for a wonderful stay in Florida. The weather was fantastic for this time of year, and the fact your pool is south facing was perfect to catch some rays throughout the morning before our adventures out to the parks! We will definitely be returning in the next few years, it was an amazing experience staying at your home! We would both also like to praise your amazing customer service throughout this whole process, as you have always been fast to reply to us! Absolutely loving your blog too, and we cannot wait to contribute towards it's success! Thanks once again Andy!
John & Christine - Welling, London
YouTube Video!
Take a look around my beautiful holiday home!
Like what you see? Visit www.andysfloridavilla.com now for more information and to check our availability calender up to 2015!
Google Maps
I hope you all like the google maps widget I've placed to the right of this blog posting ---}
It shows just how close we really are to Disneyworld!
Book up your stay now for 2014 to avoid disappointment!
It shows just how close we really are to Disneyworld!
Book up your stay now for 2014 to avoid disappointment!
The Village Inn - International Drive, Orlando, Florida
Whilst vacating to Florida, be sure to visit the village inn, situated just off Westwood Boulevard. This restaurant is hands down my favourite place to dine whilst in Florida, as the food and pies on offer are simply out of this world. The village inn caters for everybody's needs, with a large variety of meals available for the whole families needs. What makes the village inn so special though, is their famous pies! I promise one portion of their pies will have you coming back for more, they are absolutely delicious. The map below shows where to find the village inn.. It is situated not far from SeaWorld, just off International Drive. It is easily accessible by bus and car, as there is a large car park and bus stop literally just outside. So why not visit the village inn, I promise you will not be disappointed!
Monday, 29 April 2013
Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour
Experience the Backlot Tour of Hollywood Studios below. I took this video myself on a recent visit to Disneyworld! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did..
Florida Theme Parks
If you love theme parks, where better to visit than Orlando, Florida? With nine theme parks and five water parks, Florida is the perfect destination for a get away with your family. My favourite park has to be Sea World, as the aquatic shows on offer are purely spectacular. I also love visiting the twin parks Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures, as there are rides here that cater for everybody's needs within my family. And as for Disney, well I don't even have to explain how amazing it is there. It is truely mind blowing, I especially enjoyed the Fantasmic show at Hollywood Studios. I have actually captured some footage of the show which you can view below:
Come and visit the wonders of Florida, and where better to stay than at Andy's Florida Villa? From as little as £50 a night, you can have the holiday of a lifetime. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if you would like any more information, I like to see myself as an expert of the area!
Andy
Come and visit the wonders of Florida, and where better to stay than at Andy's Florida Villa? From as little as £50 a night, you can have the holiday of a lifetime. Please do not hesitate to get in contact if you would like any more information, I like to see myself as an expert of the area!
Andy
Back from Florida
I returned from Florida yesterday after spending two weeks over there. It was not going to be a holiday as I was alone and intended to do some work on the house. I ended up replacing 2 sets of patio doors with new ones that have blinds integrated into the centre of the glass. They are great. They look great and slide really easily on the sliders. I was shocked at how poorly the original doors were fitted when the house was originally built. I was surprised that they had actually remained in the aperture as they were held in by wood nailed to the side of the opening with really short screws. The top was held in with 1 screw and there was a 4 inch gap between the top of the door and the header. It is now secured with a 4 x 2 timber frame that is screwed into the aperture and is not going anywhere! The doors look fantastic and the blinds can be opened by sliding a handle on the inside of the doors.
Andy
Andy
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Disneyworld
Why not come and experience the magic of Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida? This fantastic show 'Fantasmic' can be seen at Disney's Hollywood Studios most evenings throughout the week. I have recently visited and took a video for your enjoyment.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Gerald & Kathy - April/May 2012
Andy
Hi, just wanted you to know how much we enjoyed your
home this April & May. We wanted to thank you for giving up your time at
the house, so that we could take a Vacation after ours fell through at Palm Key.
We had never taken a vacation at that time of year, but it was one of the best
we ever had. We were very glad we received the chance to meet and talk to you
in person; you have to be one of the best land lords we ever had. I think my
wife and I will always look on you as a friend and look at our time visiting
with you as Great. Just wanted to let you know how great it was, and we are
looking forward to next Jan & Feb in your home. Best regards
Bob & Jan - April 2012
We just wanted to thank you so much for your caring
hospitality over the past five years. You have been a wonderful landlord and
Debbie & Kevin have been a great Property Management team. The old house
holds many memories for us and we enjoyed ourselves there, but the new house
provided us with larger living space and what a great kitchen for entertaining.
I didn't mind cooking there as Bob would sit at the peninsula and we'd talk as
I prepared our meals. The pool area is much larger and the pool is bigger too,
giving us more opportunity for exercise. This winter has to be the best of all
with the great weather and the new house...Again many thanks...We always felt
that your villa was our winter home and we hope if you ever come to Canada,
that you'll treat our home as yours... Regards...
Jeffery Family - July/August/September 2011
Thank you so much for letting us stay in your beautiful
villa. The pool was great, good location and nice and clean. Love to stay
again.
Elena, Anatoly & Kids - July 2011
Thank you so much for letting us stay in your beautiful
home! The house was very roomy Jule loved the pool. It was nice to be able to
go into it at any time. We had a wonderful time. :-)
Susan - July 2011
Thanks for the use of your wonderful house. We had everything we needed. The pool was great to have right outside our door. The boys played with the video games (which they loved) and the rooms/beds were comfortable. Thanks again for a great time.
Jon, Clair & Family - April 2011
Andy, had a thoroughly enjoyable few days at the parks and
it has been great to come back to the comforts of this superbly furnished home.
It was nice to have the opportunity to meet and hopefully we will return in the
future.
Andy & Bev - December 2010
Hi Andy, We have enjoyed our stay in your lovely home. It's
so nice to spread out in 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We witnessed the Florida
freeze this Christmas. I'll keep your information to pass onto friends.
Janisha, Allison & Gerald - December 2010
We could not have felt more at home than we did during our
stay in your house. Everything we needed was there and it is so clean....good
job to your cleaners (excellent). The bedroom set in the master room was
amazing, nice furniture. We found everything so close to here which was
perfect.....so close to Disney. Heated the pool for a day (we're from Canada
LOL) and Janisha (our daughter) loved it. We would definitely recommend this to
friends. Thanks so much.
PS Hi Andy, You have a pretty home with all the necessities
are provided, which is great. Super close to everything I wanted (Parks etc).
Thanks so much Andy
Carol, Christine & David - August 2010
This is a beautiful Villa and we have really enjoyed our
stay. The pool is gorgeous and all the extra facilities such as internet, TV,
Playstation and DVD's have made the holiday perfect for the whole family.
PS I love the welcome to the sheriff House photo!
Melanie & Steve - April 2007
Just to say a big Thank You for renting your beautiful
Florida home to us! We had an absolutely fantastic time, the house was
immaculate and the Pool and extended Pool Deck area great! On our previous
Florida holidays we've always stayed in Lindfields, as it’s such as convenient
location and we would definitely contact you about renting again, for any
future holidays
Reg & Pat Jennings - August 2006
My wife and I must congratulate you both on such a lovely
clean and tidy villa you have, with all the modern appliances etc provided to
make our stay a really happy one. It was like home from home for both of us.
Having a pool was a real advantage to us, as the weather being so hot. The pool
was so lovely and clean and a delight it use, which provided us with endless
enjoyment during our stay. We would certainly recommend it to any other family
and friends. We hope to book again in the next couple of years. So thanks once
again for a lovely holiday in your home.
Monday, 22 April 2013
Welcome
Hi there, welcome to my new blog where you will have access to all of the latest news surrounding my villa in Kissimmee, Florida.
This blog will serve as a testimonials page, bringing you my customers' latest views on their stays at my beautiful villa. The blog will also include guest posts from selected local restaurants and attractions, as I want to recommend places to go and see whilst you stay at the villa. Hopefully, this will help you to build your perfect stay in Florida!
Keep coming back to hear more, or follow us on twitter (@FloridaVilla7) to recieve links to my latest blog posts.
Thank-you for reading, I hope to see you again soon!
Andy
This blog will serve as a testimonials page, bringing you my customers' latest views on their stays at my beautiful villa. The blog will also include guest posts from selected local restaurants and attractions, as I want to recommend places to go and see whilst you stay at the villa. Hopefully, this will help you to build your perfect stay in Florida!
Keep coming back to hear more, or follow us on twitter (@FloridaVilla7) to recieve links to my latest blog posts.
Thank-you for reading, I hope to see you again soon!
Andy
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