OK, so we’re not Rick Steves, or even Rick Shaw (yes, bad joke, we know; Simon used to write headlines for Sun Sport), but, like the famed American travel writer, we have our own YouTube channel, and we’re only 2.4million subscribers short of his Follower base.
Maybe not quite so impressive, then. But we do have reason to like our own content, especially when it comes to highlighting aspects of our Year On The Road RV adventure, which we celebrated the second year of completion for just a few months ago. Want to get a flavor of where we went and what we did? Then check out this link.
We’ve also updated it in recent months to cover things like the opening of the fab new Level 99 gaming center at Disney Springs and the thrilling upgrade of SeaWorld’s Expedition Odyssey ride, which gives it a really dynamic new aspect. We also posted multiple videos of last year’s media preview of the truly epic Epic Universe park of Universal Orlando, including this lofty viewpoint.
We will also be risking life and limb (well, waistlines at least) for this year’s annual edition of Magical Dining here in Orlando – which runs from August 14 to September 30 and offers some truly great tastes at more than 180 restaurants, all featuring a special cut-price prix fixe menu – and we’ll be sure to report back in video terms at some of the newest restaurants in the Magical program.
All this is a very long-winded way of saying (blatant plug alert!), if you haven’t yet discovered us on YouTube, then hop on over to our home page and Subscribe to be sure of some entertaining content. We’ll never catch up to the venerable Steves, but we like to think we’ll keep you informed and amused just the same.
OK Brit Guide fans, this one’s expressly for you. Although our long-running guidebook died a slow and painful death in 2024, we have been quietly working to salvage the content and find a new home for it. And find a new home, we have.
The 29-year run of the Brit Guide was something of a phenomenon in guidebook terms, taking on the well-established big-budget travel series and coming out on top year after year as the UK’s best-selling guide to any destination. But now it has a successor. Step forward the Best Orlando Villa Holiday Guide.…!
Yes, we know, it’s a bit wordy, but the new UK-based publisher is well aware of the ever-growing market for villa holidays in Central Florida, hence they wanted to be right up front with this aspect of things. And, if we’re honest it’s something we should have done a while ago. The villa market is a real speciality in the Kissimmee area, and we needed a specialist to cover this area, hence the well-travelled Lizzie Best was recruited to write this section. We have to say, the information, and the way it is presented, far exceeded our expectations (and our ability to replicate it!).
In fact, with new layout and design, we think it looks even better than the days with our previous publisher. The colour is sharper, the design is more imaginative and the content has a bit more zing to it, having been given a complete overhaul and rearranged in a number of sections, including a month-by-month guide to what’s happening in terms of events and sports, as well as the weather (!).
A sample page from the new book
The chance to look at all the various Brit Guide content from a fresh perspective has led to a number of changes in the general flow of the book as well, while we have been able to add a lot more practical content when it comes to preparing for the holiday and getting to grips with matters like ride-share transport, toll roads in Florida (of which there are a lot) and travel insurance. We’ve added a section on Tampa Airport, in addition to Orlando and Melbourne, and boosted the Getting Around chapter with more advice and insight on child car seats, the essential Visitor Toll Pass and other driving practicalities. And the detail on villas, and all aspects of choosing the right villa and villa community, is second to none, with a comprehensive look at the logistics, value and places to stay, as well as things like grocery shopping and using barbecue grills.
Another big change is with the theme parks chapters, perhaps not surprisingly following the opening of Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe park, which is quite stunning. Now, all the main attractions are grouped together in one mega chapter, while a second chapter looks at other attractions, like Wild Florida and Mount Dora, that are all worthwhile Days Out in and around Orlando.
The full Epic Universe panorama
Of course, there are still chapters devoted to the essentials of Shopping, Dining and Sport, while we have re-worked the old Beyond Orlando section to give it a Florida Beaches focus that should have extra appeal to all our UK visitors.
In many ways, we’re grateful for the chance to re-work large parts of the old content and make it seem fresh again, and we thoroughly enjoyed the full write-up on Epic Universe, which is simply gorgeous to look at. There’s more in the pipeline, too, so be sure to follow all our updates on our Instagram account.
So, a final farewell, then, to the Brit Guide; and hello, Best Orlando Villa Holiday Guide (phew!).
The grand entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Truly epic.
If there is a most epic section of Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe, it has to be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. From the moment you step inside this most immersive of worlds, you are transported to an authentic 1920s version of Paris that is breathtaking to behold. And that’s before you take in a single attraction or food or beverage sample. There is a stunning array of design, detail and imagination everywhere you look, and an inherent beauty to the artistry that surrounds you. This seven-minute snapshot video (hopefully) encompasses all that is best about this extraordinary theme park:
And there’s that word again: Beauty. This is an utterly beautiful park, with an astounding level of detail that is all-encompassing. It feels like no expense was spared to create a vivid and lasting impression of imagination and creativity, and it all culminates in this one world from the Potter-verse. Universal absolutely caught lightning in a bottle with their first two Wizarding Worlds, but this one is on a whole different level of immersion, not so much a theme park as a time machine that transports guests to another time and place. Just sit back and enjoy the journey…
The rich, astonishing, beautiful look of Ministry of MagicThe inside detail of Ministry of Magic. Just look at the detail in that floor!21st century Florida or 1920s Paris? You decide…!It just might be Paris, hey…?
We are rarely smitten by relatively simple rides in our theme parks, but we have to admit to being bowled over by the Constellation Carousel at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe park. It’s hard to imagine anyone could come up with anything new or really compelling for such an “old-fashioned” ride, but Universal’s designers have really reinvigorated this formula with their take on a classic carousel. Check out our video of the ride here:
May 22, 2025 is shaping up as THE big date in next year’s calendar here in Orlando as we look ahead to the opening of Universal Orlando’s brand new theme park, Epic Universe. We were tasked with providing a preview for the New Zealand Herald recently, and it is now online, with a full run-down of what this super-exciting new park will offer come next May:
There is a LOT to look forward to, and we will have more news and insights about this astounding new park in the weeks and months ahead. Stay tuned, now…!
