Driving

Children under 4 have to use a child seat.

By law, you have to have to use your headlights when its raining.

Automatic cars will not let you remove the ignition keys unless the shift selector (gear stick) is in the "park" position.

You can turn right on a red light so long as traffic is not coming from the left and no pedestrians are crossing. This is true as long as there are no indications to the contrary (such as a right filter arrow that is on red or a sign saying "No Right Turn on Red").

When turning left you have right of way on a green arrow, but you have to give way to oncoming traffic on a normal green light.

DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.The blood-alcohol limit in Florida is lower than in the UK, and even 1st offenders can receive penalties of up to 6 months in jail or deportation.

The right hand lane on some highways peels off at some junctions without much notice. You can find yourself on another highway before you know it.

Theme Parks

When visiting a theme park, you will probably spend most of the day there - after all, you want to get your money's worth and you won't get to see everything in less than one day. A little preparation will help you to make the most of the experience.

It may be very hot and sunny - you should seriously consider taking: We found bum bags (known as "fanny bags" in the USA) ideal for carrying this stuff around - it's especially useful if you can get one with holders for the water bottles. You can easily reach the point where you would pay a small fortune for a cool drink - and you may have to - chilled water is available in the parks, but it's pretty expensive. If you do take water, try keeping some of it in the freezer over-night. Water chilled in the fridge will not stay cool for long.

You will spend a long time on your feet, both walking and (worse) standing in queues. Comfortable footwear is essential. Sandles are good for keeping cool feet, but if you wear them without socks, you are more vulnerable to blisters. Do not take new shoes that haven't been broken-in.

It can rain in Florida, sometimes quite heavily. When this happens, rain ponchoes will appear in the parks but they are expensive and pretty flimsy. If you have a good lightweight waterproof, take it with you. You can always leave it in the car if the weather looks good.

It is possible to get a pass-out and gain re-entry (on the day) into the theme parks. This allows you to leave some things in the car and get them later. In most of the parks, you will be able to reach your car within 10 to 15 minutes, but this does vary.

Be sure to make a note (preferably written) of your postion in the car park. Some of them are huge and you may struggle to find the car at the end of a long day.

In the Disney parks, look out for the fast pass system on the most popular rides. The system works really well and can save you literally hours of queueing at busy times. First check what the current waiting time is - no point wasting your fast pass if you only have to wait 10 minutes anyway. If it's 20 minutes or more, you may want to get a fast pass - you get one per person using your entry tickets, though one member of the group can collect them all. When you collect the passes, make a note of the "return time" - this is the time period during which you can return and go on the ride (normally a one-hour window). You may still have to queue, but generally not for long. Note - you can only have one fast pass at a time, so plan your day carefully before commiting. Universal also has fast passes, but you have to pay over $30 per person for them!

Shopping

Florida's 2nd most popular tourist pastime. If you are from the UK, the current exchange rate means the great shopping in Florida looks even better, so leave plenty of space in your suitcase on the way out.

If you want value for money, you can visit the factory outlets at Belz (north end of International Drive) or one of the flea markets on Route 192. Cracker Barrel is quite good for souvenirs, but if you want some serious shopping, try visiting one of the many malls. We especially liked Mall at the Millenium - not the cheapest place, but there are some very nice shops there.

Supermarkets

There are lots of supermarkets to choose from - Publix is very good (big and modern with plenty of choice) - there are 2 within easy reach of Tuscan Ridge. Anything you buy at Wal-Mart can be exchanged (with good reason and a receipt) back in the UK at Asda.

Supermarkets are a good place to buy wine, with some really good buys from popular Californian vineyards such as Fetzer or Kendal-Jackson. The choice in beers is mostly restricted to american brands. If you want something stronger, you have to go to a liquor store for spirits. These also sell wine, but tend to be more expensive than the supermarkets.