Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I have been in Kissimmee since the beginning of this week, and I am having a great time visiting all these museums and others tourist spots off property. I do enjoy visiting museums while on vacation. But, its unusual or me to spend time off Disney property. So far I have visited Gatorland, the Osceola County pioneer village and their museum at the visitors center, warbird adventures and museum at the Kissimmee airport. Other observations I have noticed, the former Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede is being bulldozed. Having lots of fun. Orlando and Kissimmee are great towns and have lots too offer if you ever care to venture off Disney property. I highly recommend the museums and such off property. This trip we are primarily eating home cooked meals back in our room ( my sister's timeshare ). I'm staying at a so called 3 star hotel off property that I will not mention since the room is in such disrepair I would never take children in the room. I have never stayed here before as I typically stay in one of the Downtown Disney Hotels. But, wanted to be somewhere close to where my sister and her family's timeshare is located in Kissimmee. And I will never stay at this hotel again. I fully understand why many people insist on staying at a Disney resort. Why take the chance on getting a bad room when your on vacation. And I have no idea what this hotel was thinking, single guy staying for five days, lets give him a run down room? Anyway, the room is so bad, I'm now bound and determined to buy a timeshare.... Yes, seriously! I'm convinced you can't get a descent room in Orlando or Kissimmee for under $100 a night. At least no where anyone with children would want to stay. Suddenly time shares are back on the menu.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin Can you tell us more about Gatorland and the Pioneer Village? DH likes days off from Disney.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Gatorland is in Orlando. Basically, it is more or less an animal park, with lots of gators, snakes, birds and turtles. They do shows throughout the day where they feed the gators, wrestle gators and allow visitors to be photographed on the backs of live gators. They also put on a show with live spiders and snakes. Informational, very humorous shows. A big part of what they do is zip lining above the park. They have 5 stations of zip lining, so when your up there your probably zip lining for over an hour. Lots of air time. Much of what they do is take in exotic animals found around Orlando. While we were there one of their staff had just picked up what appeared to be several snakes. It's a pure testosterone zone...Lots of things for guys to do, meanwhile water park, train, petting zoo for kids... and birds/ flamingos for the ladies.
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin I think I'd rather have a gator and DH likes flamingoes much more than I do.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom Pioneer Village is like a collection of old buildings from around Osceola County that have been moved to that site. Great southern architecture on a large parcel of undeveloped land owned by the County. The staff give an informative explanation of inhabitants life and homes from the Civil War era to early 20th century. The buildings were all moved to their current site. These type of things always appeal to me since it really shows you a slice of what life was like in early central Florida. The green space alone is worth the trip. It is hard to believe sometimes that there actually is undeveloped land anywhere in greater Orlando/ Kissimmee. This property is part of Osceola County's ongoing preservation efforts to purchase all the property on either side of some river property with trails, which extends miles in each direction. making it the ultimate dirt biking trails! The museum at the Visitor's Center is free of charge all courtesy of the Osceola County taxpayers, who's funding created this little gem of a museum. They have interactive displays; one of which simulates a forest fire complete with optically created fire and smoke smells a la Spaceship Earth. And another diorama of an orange tree/grove complete with orange smells a la Soarin, or Horizons. Oh, as a side note, you know your originally from New England when my mom correctly identified the species of rooster at Gatorland ( Plymouth rock rooster ) and I correctly identified the species of turkey ( Narragansett ). And, there are online coupons for Gatorland.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Glad you ventured out of WDW property Kennesaw Tom. Fun report. I lived in Kissimmee when I first went to work at WDW Summer of '86. I was intrigued by Xanadu -- House of the Future, although not enough to stop and check it out. <a href="http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/32774" target="_blank">http://www.roadsideamerica.com...ry/32774</a>
