Ordering the Map

You can place orders for my map through PayPal (secure site for credit cards) or by UK cheque by visiting my proper web site at

http://www.disneymaps.co.uk

The current price is £5.00 GBP (Sterling) which includes postage within the UK.

I will be distributing the map on Amazon shortly. The initial print run has been for 3,000 copies which should last well in to 2006.

Thanks for your interest,

Best wishes,

Steve

www.thedibb.co.uk

So – it’s your first visit to Orlando in Florida. You have made a wise choice. I can almost guarantee that this will not be your only visit to this wonderful place. Be prepared for an emotional roller-coaster ride that’s going to assault all your senses. Thousands of you are going to be smitten, and will want to return again and again. Don’t just take my word for it, read some of the replies from other “first timers” who have left messages on the DIBB web site, probably the biggest and best UK Disney and Orlando internet site and forum.

If you need information about Orlando then make sure you log-on to the following web site – www.thedibb.co.uk

You will gain so much useful (and up-to-date) information here, you will be amazed. It will probably save you money and almost certainly make your holiday more memorable. Even if you are a seasoned Florida traveller, you will quite probably find out new tips and snippets of information that you didn't know about before.

Be sure to read some of the DIBB members’ Trip Reports, especially from other First Timers – reading these reports will answer a lot of your questions and help you prepare for your “holiday of a lifetime”.

Orlando really is an absolutely fantastic holiday destination, it has the habit of changing people’s outlook on life and it’s certainly an addiction that’s far better for your health than smoking – but of course, I'm well and truly hooked and obviously biased !

Please note: I am totally independent and have no attachments to the above web site. I am a member of the DIBB (and what a wonderful site it is), but do not have any involvement with the running of it - I am, however, proud to be one of its original members.

Check it out for yourself before you go - it's a good idea to do some planning before you go, otherwise you can miss so much.

My Favourite Restaurants

Some are cheap, some are expensive - most are very, very reasonable. These are MY favourites and will obviously not be to everyone's taste. The beauty of Orlando is that there is SO MUCH choice.

1. Citrico's at the Grand Floridian
2. Red Lobster
3. Bahama Breeze
4. Café Tu Tu Tango
5. Tony Roma's
6. Jungle Jim's
7. Rainforest Café
8. Moon Fish
9. Fishbones
10. Anaelle & Hugo
11. Sweet Tomatoes
12. Samba Room
13. Panera Bread
14. Seasons 52
15. Roy's

One day, I would love to dine at Victoria & Albert's - probably the most expensive restaurant in Orlando. Located at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, it's one of the best restaurants in the whole of America.

My Top Ten . .

Mmmmmm - My TOP TEN things to do, not in any order:

1. Tower of Terror at MGM Studios
2. IllumiNations at Epcot
3. Front row on Kraken at SeaWorld
4. Swimming with dolphins at Discovery Cove
5. A day at Clearwater on the Gulf Coast with a trip on the SeaScreamer
6. Visiting the Polynesian Resort, lunch at Kona Café followed by the WaterMice boats
7. People Watching - sit back and soak up the atmosphere
8. Sitting in the rocking chairs by the lake at Celebration having a strong coffee, bliss
9. Wishes followed by SpectroMagic at Magic Kingdom
10. Spiderman at Islands of Adventure

and don't forget the FOOD - there are some truly world class restaurants - mmmm

Technical stuff

I've included a few detailed extracts taken from my maps, just to show you the level of content that is depicted in all its glory . .

The map itself is A1 size (840mm x 594mm) and folds down to 105mm x 198mm. It's printed on both sides in full colour and has an exceptionally detailed inset map showing International Drive (one of the main tourist areas). The small scale map covers the area from Orlando South down to Kissimmee and Celebration, that's the area of most use for the majority of tourists.

I will probably incorporate an inset map showing the Route 27 (where many of the Villa Complexes are), and Winter Park, on the second edition.

Detailed maps showing the Disney Resorts and Theme Parks are available free from Disney when you get there. Likewise at Universal and SeaWorld.

Map extract

A little bit about me . . .

OK, I'm not a travel writer (and it probably shows), so please excuse the grammar and punctuation. I am a cartographer by trade and Orlando Nut.

These maps have been thoroughly researched by driving and walking around in Florida. I am confident that my maps offer the most accurate and detailed information available. I have an in-depth knowledge of Orlando and a huge addiction to the Magic of Disney. The vast majority of maps that are currently available have many glaring errors, even some of the larger attractions can be miles away from their correct location. With these new maps of Orlando I have tried to portray information in a way that makes it easier for the UK traveller. Orlando is definitely not your average sort of holiday destination, and therefore, you can quite easily miss all the best bits. I will be regularly updating these maps, because hotels and restaurants have a habit of changing their identities all the time, especially in the fast-changing environment of Orlando.

I've just reached the big 5 0, but luckily still have huge amounts of energy. I've been running my own Cartographic Agency for nearly 20 years and have relocated to the sunny South Devon coast (don't you just love modern technology and communications). Visiting Orlando has become a passion - it's obsessive and is definitely my number one destination in the world - it really does have everything you could wish for.

Producing this new map has fulfilled a little dream - and I've poured my heart in to making it something that I can honestly say that I'm proud of. I have produced maps of this area for other (well known) publishers in the past, but this is all mine, and I know that it knocks spots off the competition - purely because of the amount of research that I've put in to it.

So I hope you enjoy its contents - please send me feedback and tell me what you think - if I can improve it, I will . .

Front Cover

I've been involved with producing Tourist Maps and Street Plans for 30 years, so I think I'm qualified.

The new Orlando map has been researched using the latest aerial photographs supplied direct from the USA, satellite imagery, road information compiled by a Cartographic Editor prior to digitizing the base using the very latest Apple Macintosh computers and mapping software.

The initial research and drafting took over 600 hours. This was followed up by doing further research on the internet, and then I went over there (purely business you understand, but I managed to grab one day off and visited Epcot and MGM) to fully test the map base and confirm locations of hotels, shops, restaurants and places of interest. I now have the most comprehensive photographic library available of every hotel and restaurant along I-Drive. Every piece of information that is shown on the map has been verified personally.

I am hoping to go back early next year for more updating (and more eating in the fabulous restaurants).

The best Orlando map available . .

WHY ORLANDO ?

Mention Florida and you immediately think of Disney World, the Everglades, the Florida Keys, Miami Vice (if you’re old enough) and the Space Rockets. Some people think that Orlando is just about the Disney Theme Parks, and that it would be “great for the kids to see Mickey Mouse”. Others may be wondering what all the fuss is about and rather stick to their beach holiday in Spain because it’s “somewhere different” and it must be good because it’s the UK’s numero uno holiday destination.

Before my first trip, I was a little sceptical myself, but started doing sums with regard to costs of holidays in the Mediterranean and then suddenly realised that Florida was an option (with prices of long-haul packages falling all the time). And anyway . . . it WOULD be fun for the kids – YES ?

I managed to do a little research and then booked a fairly reasonable package at the local travel agent. Then I started doing further research on the internet and became more and more intrigued with what Orlando had to offer. To be fair, the seven major theme parks (eight if you include Busch Gardens at Tampa) could keep you busy for the whole two weeks, but there are so many other things to see and experience – which is why a lot of people end up going back for more trips. One of the other major factors (which you may already be thinking about) is whether it’s just going to be a holiday for the children with nothing much to keep the adults happy. In fact, the reality is probably weighted towards the adults. You may be sceptical now, but I can assure you that adults have the time of their lives and it’s really easy to revert to your childhood – I’ve seen grown men with a tear on their cheek as they give Eeyore a big hug in the Magic Kingdom. It’s not just about the theme parks though, there are some exquisite restaurants over there. Detailing and colour schemes are thought about with absolute precision. Nightlife and evening entertainment is world class. Accommodation is normally of a much higher standard than we’re used to. There are a wealth of other separate attractions and the shopping opportunities are superb. And to top it all, you can more-or-less guarantee the lovely weather.

By the way, there’s absolutely no comparison with theme parks over here to the mighty Orlando. Alton Towers is probably the best themed park in the UK, but it will never come close to the parks over there. Even Disneyland Paris lacks things in comparison.

Now - off you go and see my brand new, wonderfully detailed map !

You won't regret it . . . . I promise.