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For every theme park and attraction that can be visited during the day, the Kissimmee and Orlando area offers shopping outlets, a zillion gift shops and at least a 100 different restaurants, diners, shows and bars for the evening. That said, the majority are located around either the Kissimmee (US192) area or International Drive (around 6 miles/10 minutes north of Indian Wells).
We (and our Management Company) are always visiting new places to eat, which allows us to give an unbiased view on the majority in the area. As such, if you are looking to visit a restaurant for that 'special occasion' or simply want to know the average price per head, feel free to
contact us for more information.
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International Drive is around 10 minutes north of Indian Wells and caters mainly for (hotel) tourists. Here is where you will find a vast array of restaurants from English to Italian, Curry houses through to themed American diners. On a plus, the vast number of eateries dictate good prices and variety, but be prepared for more people and busier restaurants - especially early evening.
There are a couple of things you need to know about American restaurants:
The first is 'Can I have a box please?', which tends to imply that the meal has beaten all at the table and boxing the left-overs to take away is readily accepted. (Most things will warm up in the microwave the next day!)
The second, is tipping. If you have never visited the area (or the US) before, refer to the section below:
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Tips on Tipping |
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Unlike the UK, it is customary to tip when in America. This 'informal' rule applies to all walks of life, no matter what the person does - be it carrying bags, serving food or hailing a cab (taxi). Although obligatory; for 'normal' service, 15% is expected, up to 20% for exceptional service. For restaurant parties of 8 persons or more, it is likely for the gratuity to be added in automatically. Any additional tip is at the discretion of the person signing for the bill. For smaller parties, the gratuity should not be added in automatically.
Approximate amounts expected are: 15% waiter or cab service (i.e. $1.50 for every $10), $1-2 per round of drinks and 15% green fees for caddying. This can be left as cash (on the table) or entered on the check (bill) as a separate amount. Our personal preference is to round the total amount up to the nearest Dollar. |
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Using the ATM Cash Machines |
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We find the easiest (and safest) way to hold US Dollars is in the bank! In other words, we tend to use the vast number of ATM cash withdrawal machines located at the malls, supermarkets, service stations and banks along US192. Something we much prefer, rather than having to carry travellers cheques and a form of identification e.g. passport.
The
nearest ATMs to the villas are located in WalMart and the
Publix supermarket (junction with US192). When visiting the theme parks, you will find ATM machines near to the 'vending' areas (shops!) and entrance gates.
As with the growing number of ATMs in the UK,
most charge a fee of $2-$3 for withdrawing cash. Compared to the airport Bureau de Change, you will find a better exchange rate from UK Sterling to US Dollars - often around 4-5% better. |
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Just one thing to confirm before you travel abroad: is your card compatible with the US MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus networks? If it shows any of the above logos - then the answer is probably 'Yes'.
A tip on withdrawing cash: use the same PIN as you would back home and (for UK guests) when presented with 'Which Account?' to withdraw funds from, the 'Checking Account' is your current account.
Also, it may be best to confirm with your bank beforehand, as
there may be a limit of US$400 per day which can be
withdrawn. |
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| Shopping, Eating & the World Cup 2010 |
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Where are the nearest supermarkets, shops and outlets? |
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Bordering SR535 and located just north of US192 (the main road through Kissimmee) with its 13 miles of shops, bars and restaurants, you are never more than a 5 minute drive away from everything!
Bordering Indian Wells, is the WalMart (selling all your essentials), with numerous independent shops - including a liquor store, barbers, nail shop and walk-in medical centre alongside. There is also a
Publix supermarket around 1 mile south on SR535 (at Poinciana Place), with a
Super-Target and another WalMart further down US192. Local eateries include a Subway, coffee shop, cafe, pizza delivery, Indian and Chinese restaurants (these also do take-aways).
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If you are looking for cut-price designer goods, jewellery or the latest Nike trainers, visit the
Lake Buena Vista outlets, which are directly opposite the SRS535 entrance to Indian Wells. Here you will find the local
Internet Cafe - next to the 'VF Outlet' (offering bargain priced clothing). Driving for around 6 minutes on SR535 towards Interstate 4, there is the bigger and ever popular
Premium Outlets, which are a firm favourite - selling designer goods at excellent prices. A
list of popular outlets and local shopping malls (with links through to their own websites are listed below):
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What about restaurants, bars and watching the
World Cup 2010? |
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America has a reputation for it's food - and the restaurants in Kissimmee do nothing to disprove this. The portions are not big...they're usually huge! Whether it is a rack of ribs (half a cow) or Caesar Salad that makes your mouth water, the vast range of well known and specialist restaurants cater for all tastes and budgets. Many restaurants in the Kissimmee/Orlando area cater well for tourists and "Eat-All-You-Can" buffets are common place (but go hungry!).
An average meal with drinks ranges between $10-$20 per head at your typical family restaurants. For that special occasion, restaurants such as the
Texas de Brazil steakhouse are in excess of $60 per head - but well worth it! Having sampled the delights of many of the restaurants over the years, we are always happy to recommend our favourites.
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Do you find that you are always driving and never able to stop for a drink in the evening? No problem, Indian Wells has a number of bars within a 10 minute
walk (yes, walk - no car required).
Cheers Bar - The 'local' on Polynesian Isles Boulevard (opposite WalMart). This sports bar is very much frequented by locals, with tourists in their minority. That said, it is welcoming and can be very lively - especially when a big (American) football game is on. Televisions galore show sport from around the world, which compares with the draft beer ranging from Budweiser to (chilled) Newcastle Brown Ale! All this and some nights only US$1.50 a pint.
Although we have not had confirmation that World Cup
matches will be shown, past visits have seen UEFA
Champions League matches shown live.
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Max - A sports bar come finger-food diner, with an array of US and European bottled beers.
There are 30+ TVs showing American sports and we even have
assurance that some World Cup matches will be shown.
Free Wi-Fi is available and Happy Hour is 5pm to 8pm
every day! Great for lunch or early evening meal.
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'Frankie Farrells' - Irish bar and grill at the entrance of the Lake Buena Vista outlets. With countless UK beers and ciders on draft, along with a selection of both traditional Irish and Tex-Mex favourites, this is a great place to spend the evening. Also, should you want to turn up earlier, there area a number of tables and chairs outside for a drink in the sun.
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'Pafos
Sports & Cocktail Lounge' - Located a little
further down the SR535 towards Publix supermarket, this
newly opened cocktail-sports lounge offers more
televisions and a vast array of cocktails. Again, we
have assurance that some World Cup matches will be
shown. 10% off promotional flyers for beverages are
available in the villas.
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With many an English Pub and Tavern
located around the area - 'The Pub' and 'Fawlty
Towers Tavern' (US192 near Medieval Times) and 'Harry
Ramsbottoms' (opposite Polynesian Isle Blvd),
doubtless anyone wishing to watch the World Cup 2010
matches will have a choice of venues to visit. Just
remember, England play the USA first off, so expect
crowds! For full details of all the
World Cup games, kick-off times, US TV channels showing
them and local
Kissimmee venues check out the Live
Soccer TV website.
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Local restaurants, diners and bars |
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| Without wishing to discount the International Drive area, here are a few eateries that we have tried, enjoyed and are happy to recommend . All are local to the villas and should be easily accessible by car or not too expensive in a taxi. To give an idea of expense, we have rated them:
($) under $15 per head, ($$) $15-$30 per head, ($$$) $30+ per head
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Smokey Bones ($$) - Poinciana Place (at the junction of SR535 and US192) offers a number of restaurants and take-away / delivered food services, but nothing compares to this good value family American dining sensation. The corn bread as a starter is first rate and the baby back rib combos are out of this world. You also have your choice of 8 television channels at your table(!) and a good selection of draft beers. Generally busy early evenings, so after 9pm is best. |
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Abuelos ($$)- Popular mid-priced Mexican restaurant located in the new 'Loop' complex, just off Osceola Parkway. Serving combinations of classic Mexican dishes, this can be very busy during early evening, but well worth the visit if you are looking for a great fajita, burrito or quesadilla! |
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Bennigans ($$) - Irish-American chain that offers world beers on draft (including Guiness) and specialises in good value, big and tasty meals! Located opposite Old Town, their popularity reflects the waiting time - especially on a Saturday night. The 'Monte Cristo Sandwich' is
the sandwich of sandwiches. Best time to go is mid-week or after 9.30pm and a take-away box is a must.
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Chillis ($$) - American bar with restaurant located directly opposite the junction of US192 and Polynesian Isles Boulevard. If you are looking for spicy combo finger-food, then head for the bar area. It is non-pretentious, excellent value and ideal when you want something to share. Hardly ever a queue and draft beer is 2-for-1 all day!
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Lone Star Steakhouse ($$$) - Located at the junction of SR535 and Vineland (road to the Premium Outlets), this restaurant can easily be missed - especially as the excellent Caribbean
Bahama Breeze is the other side of the road. Medium priced steak house (and bar) that is par with anything the Kissimmee area has to offer. Their signature blue cheese lettuce wedge and large 'goldfish bowl' draft beer glasses make it one of our favourites. |
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Ponderosa ($) - A favourite for the British, this Steakhouse chain offers fantastic value buffet style food, whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner. As you would expect, it can get very busy, but guaranteed, you will not be hungry when you leave! Nearest (and generally quietest in the area) is located
opposite Old Town.
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Red Lobster
($$) - Located near Old Town (on US192) and also approximately 4 miles from SR535 towards St Cloud on US192, fresh seafood and steak is the order of the day. With good prices, expect a wait during the early evening. Just one thing - the live lobsters in the fish tanks are for more than just looking at!
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Texas de Brazil
($$$) - This Brazilian steakhouse is possibly the most expensive restaurant we visit (at around $60 per head), but the food is phenomenal! Countless waiters walk around with cuts of different flavoured meats on skewers, which by using a green (hungry) and red (not hungry) disk at your seat stops them as they pass. Meat aside, the also-included buffet is one of the best we know, but one word of warning - go hungry - go
very hungry!
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International House Of Pancakes (IHOP) ($) - Okay, so on the face of it, this is more a diner that serves pancakes than restaurant. However, take
our advice, if you want great food at a tiny price, this is the place for you. The 'Big Steak Omelette' is a personnel favourite and the pancakes are equally good. The nearest is located on US192 between Polynesian Isles Blvd and Poinciana Blvd and is virtually empty during dinner hours.
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Applebee's ($) - Restaurant-diner located down on US192 (near Super Target). This friendly Tex-Mex diner offers a great selection of excellent value meals, including Weight Watchers® for those who have just over indulged that little too much!
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Logans Roadhouse ($$) - You are greeted with peanut shells on the floor - but do not be put off. Located opposite Old Town, this all American steak house serves up some of the best food around. The hot bread for starters is enough (honest!), with the Teriyaki steak being just fantastic! This restaurant can get busy during early evening, but as happy hour kicks in at 9pm, why eat with the crowds?
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| Olive Garden ($$) -
Ever popular Italian with fantastic food and true Italian ambience. With the local Olive Garden less
than a 5 minute drive from Indian Wells on US192, we would recommend go hungry and enjoy! |
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| Planet Hollywood ($$) - Themed restaurant in the big blue globe at Downtown Disney. Food is very much Tex-Mex, with burgers a big favourite. Expect anything up to a 60 minute wait during early evening and around $6 for a drink at the bar. |
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Other restaurants worth visiting are:
Hooters (Fun diner in Lake Buena
Vista!!!) and Long Horn Steakhouse (US192).
If you are looking for a 'locals' curry house, forget International Drive, travel a little further towards Orlando (on Turkey Lake Road, which is adjacent to I4) and you will find
Memories of India. It's not the plushest or most traditional of Indian restaurants, but repeatedly comes up tops with the food.
Want more restaurants and
eateries? Okay, for lunch-time snacks, on-the-go
food or a dinner, located within 5 minutes of Indian
Wells, you will also find: Subway, Burger
King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Waffle
House, TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, Kabuki,
Japanese Steakhouse, China Restaurant and
take-away (SR535/US192 junction), Papa Johns pizzas,
Romanos Macaroni Grill, Uno Chicago Pizzeria,
Perkins, Cracker Barrel and of course MacDonalds!
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Dinner Shows |
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To continue that on-vacation feel, visit one of the many themed dinner shows around the area. Many expect you to live-and-feel the theme so expect lots of noise! For the Mum's and Dad's out there, note that some of these are non-alcoholic shows, so lemonade and sarsaparilla are the order the day.
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Where are the nearest specialist food shops? |
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Although a number of supermarkets and shops cater for the British market, with their ever
increasing produce from mushy peas to Cadbury's chocolate, should you require more specialist food, below are
a couple which are nearby. We would always recommend checking with the supplier beforehand for specific requirements.
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Where are the nearest medical facilities? |
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We hope that you would never need to visit any kind of medical centre during your stay in our villas, but for peace of mind, thankfully there are dispensing pharmacies, walk-in medical centres and a hospital not too far away.
Within the Indian Wells local shops, there is a walk-in medical centre and a pharmacy within WalMart. In addition, a CVS Pharmacy is located at the junction of US192/Polynesian Isle Boulevard and at the corner of SR535/SR536 (World Center Drive). This is also where you will find the no-appointment-necessary Buena Vista Walk-In Medical Centre.
The centre is open 7 days a week, 8am-7pm (Mon-Fri) and 8am-3pm (weekends and holidays) - with an emergency 24 hour telephone number 407-465-1110.
The nearest hospital is located in the Walt Disney town of Celebration and would take between 10 and 15 minutes to drive there. Click on the following link for other
medical, dentist and pharmaceutical services in the area.
It is essential for any trip to the US that you have good travel insurance with adequate medical cover, as the country is predominately private healthcare. The European form E111 does
not apply in the US.
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