The Real Housewives of Kissimmee

Magic Castle Inn & Suites
(focal point of the film, The Florida Project)

So...last year a movie came out by the name The Florida Project (a play on the development name for Walt Disney World) I had wanted to see it after everyone started raving about it but failed to get the chance. Luckily during a delightful 16 hour flight I was on to Hong Kong, it was being offered as part of the inflight entertainment... So I watched it... and I really, really enjoyed it.
The film follows of the lives of people who live in the hotels off 192 right behind Disney. Knowing the area and living/working in the area.. it almost seemed like the film could have just been a documentary of life in Kissimmee... and up until the very end of the film.. it seems like it could have even been a reality TV show. While obliviously a movie and not real life, it does give a very real feeling of what its like for people who live and work right on the doorsteps of the Disney empire but might never be able to afford the chance to visit and how millions of visitors yearly have no idea whats really going on where they vacation. ....But I guess that could be said for anywhere, really.
 But it was kinda neat to see a whole bunch of places I've been to or been past. Showing things like Orange World, Twistee Treat, different crappy gift shops, the Mickey Pylon!... and even signs for Cici's Pizza and Ichiban Buffet (one of my favorites!)

I almost feel like had I seen this film before moving down to Orlando... it might have even put me off it. ha
But yeah, Magic Castle Inn & Suites.

Yup.

And much like in the movie.... there were even Sandhill Cranes!
((AND A BABY!!))

(((yyeeeessssss)))

Annddd.... here's the Trailer for the movie.

So yeah... if you haven't seen this movie yet... you probably should.

and here's a rather good news story about the hotel and movie - click

Wekiwa Springs State Park

So....Visiting Wekiwa Springs State Park had pretty much been on my "To-Do" list since moving to Orlando. And yet, for something so, so close to where I live... it just took me forever for getting around to going. I guess since it is close, I always picked going to other more 'exotic' locations rather than the one basically in my backyard and that's almost unfair to the Springs since it was surprisingly nice and we hit it on a not busy day. (The park is rather notorious for hitting capacity and nightmarish traffic as the Orlando Locals race off to the springs on any given warm day)

The park is centered around the Springs itself and the start of the Wekiva River as well as a few hiking trails in even camp sites. Most people seem to come here to swim... Us included.

In the main swim area there is a cavern that drops down 20 feet or so into the caves as well as a secondary cave entrance away from the main vent and while there are signs all over saying cave diving is prohibited... we saw more than a few people going down into the cavern and caves.

(A quick search on YouTube brings up countless videos that almost make me almost dizzy: Example)  

The Springs also move some 42 million gallons of water into the Wekiva River, daily, and you could really feel it moving you as you would swim over the main vent area. 

While Wekiwa is not terribly far from where I live, I'm still kinda surprised it took me some seven years to visit here. Hopefully this upcoming summer I'll make time to revisit.

So yeah...

 Wekiwa Springs State Park

 Once parking in the lot, you head down these little boardwalks that lead to stairs and other path ways

 into the woods and stuff...

(And don't worry, even past a gift shop!)

 And suddenly, the Springs come into view.

 The State Park contains the head water of the Wekiva River and the focal point is this swimming area, set aside where the springs vent/come out from underground.

 Since its a natural spring, the water temperature stays at 72*s, year round. In the winter it'll feel warm (based off the air temp) and in the summer, it'll feel cool... But we got used to it quick and had a wonderful time in the water.

After swimming around for a while and getting our fill, we headed over to one of the nature trails within the park.

 Woo, nature!

 !!!

I wanna be Bear Aware

(or just even see a bear!)

 No bears were seen here.. But the trail was nice (we did a shorter loop) and did see some animals

Like.....

 (I think) this... Peregrine Falcon

 And an adorable squirrel

 And... this Little Blue Heron?

 Oh, and there was this little nature center... thing.

 ...Where I ended up seeing a bear, kinda.

:3

Uh, woo?

How to make me interested in a trailer park?

"Wild Florida"... Real Florida?... Kinda.

Or, how to take a trailer park and turn it into a Zoo (kinda)

Well, with some free time for once... and an itch for a half-day trip adventure.. We got in the car and headed south down to Kenansville, Florida to go on a boat ride and see some animals and sutff... woo!

So yeah... Welcome to Wild Florida; Airboats & Wildlife Park.

The classy entry way.. featuring a poor little frog being eaten.....

Park map
Wild Florida is actually pretty good sized for what it is!

A neat photo showing off the trailer park that used to be here before the Wildlife Park opened in 2012.
(The Airboat's began operation 2010) 

The main midway uh, pathway?

The former retention pond... now converted into a massive pool of Alligators!

Medium sized Gator getting some beach action.

Little gators :D

Snackums for Mr. Big Gator!
(rawr?)

Oh.. and its that guy... but this time hes holding a Gator!
(uh, this was like my 4th or 5th time holding a gator? haha)

Deer.. and stuff.

Hi, Mrs. Owl. You're out kind of early.

Hawk Swap boardwalk area entrance.

And... the swamp itself.

Check out this luxurious Zebra bench!

Oh, and this uh... Zebra?
(because when I think "Florida"....)

<3 The 3 little pigs?!

Moo?!?
This lovely Ankole Cow

The painting I was given.. painted by a Coatimundi!

This... this Lizard thing

Annddd this awesome Two-Toed Sloth I got to pet annddd feed some corn on the cob!

<3 Serval <3
(Legal to own as a pet in Florida....)

Ugh, snake....

<3 <3 <3
Yeesss!!!!
RING TAILED LEMUR!!!
:D :D :D

Um... Tortoise re-population.

This... bird

Mmhm.. Mmhm.. ducks.

And um.. a Macaw.

Next to the Wildlife Park is the Airboat ride area. After leaving the animal area you enter the attractions gift shop and get grouped to ride the boats. Once its your turn you walk down the 500 foot boardwalk and get on one of the boats for a ride around the lake and into the tall grass with chances to see more Gators and other real Florida wildlife in the wild. This was to be my second time doing an Airboat ride, having done the Boggy Creek Airboat Rides a few years ago.

The dock out on the lake for the Airboat ride

Nymphaeaceae... er, lilies

Oh. and the Airboat itself!
And Lake Cypress.

VIP BITCHES!
We had the boat to ourselves... ha.

Wild Gator out in the lake!

Bird // Marsh

Another Gator. :D

And a pair of Bald Eagles hanging out in a tree.
(USA! USA! USA!)

And a final set of four photos showcasing the progression of an Airboat's ability....

The open waters of Lake Cypress....

A little canal like waterway in the tall grass

Even less of a waterway.... but at least you can uh, see water?

And.. yeah.. at this point the boat is still flying at speeds that seem way too fast for an area you cant even see water! ha.

Yup, Wild Florida Airboats & Wildlife Park. A pretty neat Eco-Park not that far from the Metro-Orlando area, 40 minutes from my place, maybe. It'd be nice to see them expand a little more and add more animals or other attractions (I could see them adding a zipline or rope walk sort of thing) the map also mentioned Bison and a Seminole Village but I don't recall seeing it... I may have just missed it or it might be coming soon.

Woo, animals... and uh, local-ish adventures?!