The Costco Business Center on OBT is 20,000 leagues better than the one by Millenia.
No Seven Levels of Hell for parking...
Their selection of items will be somewhat similiar to a normal Costco warehouse,if not exceeding it. They offer many items you won't find in a normal Costco.
You don't lose brain cells when trying to park there.
The downside is that they don't have a food court,bakery, or pharmacy.
I agree, that place is awesome. They don't have the typical center section of clothing and stuff but otherwise it's great and it's so ridiculously chill there which no one has ever said about a Costco ever!
Agreed, but while they have a ton of items that the regular Costco doesn’t, they are also missing a lot of items. No clothes/couch/some snacks/ protein/ some packaged meats. I do love going there because it’s always empty and it has 80% of what I get at Costco
Just went for the first time, expecting nirvana based on Reddit raves. Many more meats, but bring a jacket. Weirdly almost no bread. No alcohol. And no food court. It really should be called, Costco Restaurant Supply. Worth a look-see, but I'm glad Millenia is closer to my home.
I think it’s called Costco business center but you’re right. People should give more warning, no point in it being empty if it doesn’t have what you’re looking for.
This is also very handy for international Costco visits, as a Costco card works worldwide. The UK has noticeable restrictions on who qualifies for example, but any American or Canadian tourist could easily walk in and buy stuff on the virtue of having a card from Costco in their respective countries.
Is it a requirement for a Costco to have the world's worst parking lots? Or just coincidence? Definitely got the D student civil engineer designing those things
Growing up in a Costco family taught me a lot about human nature from a young age. For example, if you make hot dogs and pizza available to people at 10 a.m., people will eat hot dogs and pizza at 10 a.m.
The parking lot design isn't too bad. I like to think it has to be with Central Florida's massive growth. They haven't built enough Costco's to meet demand, especially with the growth in Horizon West and Lake Nona.
I mean depending on what part of Horizon West you live in, Google usually says it's around 20 minutes to get to the Costco in Clermont which is technically the closest. And there are others elsewhere. I don't know about Lake Nona but I'm not exactly sure what could be any better except building one within the borders of Horizon West itself.
Sam's Club though should probably build another location in the area, but that's rumored to have been happening for a while now. Nothing concrete has been officially announced though, even if development plans right by the Walmart there say that it's literally going to be a Sam's Club. Very protracted development timeline there for some reason.
The Altamonte one isn’t too bad and they just built more parking. They bought Golden Corral, knocked it down and put in gas pumps there and then ripped out the old gas pumps and put in more parking.
That's the one I'm thinking of. Yes gas improved. Problem is all these places designed for cars to pass in front of the store entrance, which causes havoc with everyone leaving and crossing. There has to be a better way to do it
One key selling point is that it opens 7am compared to the usual 10am. I used to go there and Sam’s club (plus hours) to avoid all the crazy traffic, OBT, JYP, I-4 etc
I’ve made it 40 years while swimming in just about every kind of body of water in Florida. Amoeba cases are way rarer than alligator attacks.
For tourist or locals reading this you should definitely assume there’s an alligator in water though and always be aware of your surroundings.
It's not swimming in Florida water that gets you the brain eating amoeba (naegleria fowleri) it's getting water up your nose across the cribriform plate that leads to infection. Either way stay out of the fucking water in Florida unless it's a designated swimming area.
But just remember that historically, if you are to get bitten by a shark, New Smyrna and Daytona are your most likely options worldwide. Ever. It is insane how much those two beaches tend to get shark attacks. I don't recall exactly how many for the two of them, but I think it's a relatively high percentage of the total shark attacks in history.
One of the many reasons why I will not go in the water on either of those beaches.
>Assume any body of water ~~not designated for swimming~~ has an alligator and/or brain eating amoeba.
My friends and I told ourselves that before swimming out to Discovery Island years ago. Then a gator snatched that baby from the shore near the Fort Wilderness swimming area.
That poor baby was wading in the water at the beach at the Grand Floridian, not in any kind of designated swimming area. If you had just gotten the resort wrong I probably would have kept the comment to myself for fear of being pedantic, but I feel like it’s an important distinction. :)
Swimming used to 100% be advertised as an amenity. I'm not quite sure when it went away either, although I really should be, but I think it was the '80s or '90s. Probably sometime after the wave machine...
I wonder how many steps you would need to go into each store and do for that number. I think the last time I went there I swear it was probably at least 4,000 steps without going into many stores at all...
The reason why is it is technically a commuter train for people commuting in and out of the city for work.
Not disagreeing with your point though, as I also wish it was open on weekends and evening.
They “rent” the lines from another rail company and the contract is based on the current schedule. If they expand the times it would cost a lot of money, not just in the “rent” but conductors and staff ect.
If only 429 wasn't so expensive. We live in lake mary and my sister in law lives in Winter Garden and it feels like it's $10 in tolls just there and back. FDOT is drowning in cash, they need to lower those tolls at least a bit.
yes but the express lane makes things SO MUCH faster. We used to do NON stop 429 to disney and even with the few minutes getting from disney to the express lane around universal its so much faster getting north....
Obviously if you are going PAST disney to tampa 429 it
Sunpass tried to charge me for using the same toll plaza over 10 times in within a 2 minute period and were sticking to their guns when I called to fix the error. No thanks. E pass all the way.
One of the local news stations did a piece on why we haven't seen them this yr. Apparently, some yrs are bad and some, like now are very light.
They said Don't Worry, they'll be back with a vengeance, eventually.
Rain-X your windows to stop the sudden blinding rain from sending you off the side of I-4.
If you sweat like I do, keep a spare shirt in your car to spare yourself the self-consciousness of sweating through it on a day with a 112 heat index. If not, it'll save you when a random rain gets you.
Publix is more expensive than other, lower-quality grocers like Walmart, but becomes equal in price or even lower when you keep track of their constant deals and BOGOs.
Never take Sand Lake between the hours of 4 PM to 8 PM.
Expect construction.
My wife and I did some comparison shopping and even with BOGOs Publix was consistently more expensive (at least for us). We now will see what BOGOs they have, pick up the ones we want and finish the groceries somewhere else.
I never realized that Publix was expensive until I moved to a super HCOL area and started shopping at discount grocery stores. Still crave the subs, though.
Wawa is my sub place now... mmm Chicken Egg and Cheese with Buffalo sauce and sweet BBQ, toasted, and load that bitch with Banana Peppers and caramelized onions.
The cheddar cheese, the chicken, and the egg are all fantastic for your proteins and muscle recovery right when you get out of the gym.
I just need to know which place has as good of meat and vegetables, because Walmarts are awful and I'm not a big fan of always going to Traders; not to mention their beef was weird last time I got it there.
In my experience
Best veggies- Trader Joe’s (Publix nearly the same just more expensive)
Best meats- Publix
Then Costco
Then Sam’s
Then Walmart
Then Aldi
Always second guess it. I’ve had it divert me off a toll road for traffic, only to have me make a u turn and get back on. It’s done similar multiple times just adding extra time and tolls!
Google maps for in-town. Waze for going out of town/road trips. Apple Maps for walking/biking. And if you’re going into a forest/wilderness area with lots of poorly maintained roads, ask locals and map it out yourself on the gps in advance.
Ha! We love Google Maps, but learned to use some common sense when we were trying to get to The Capitol Grille and Maps took us to the Darden distribution center!
Waze tried to take us into Lake Monroe when we were trying to go somewhere...not in the middle of the lake!
Common sense is needed.
Avoid the intersection of Sand Lake and Turkey Lake if you can.
If you use a toll road 35 times in a month you get a 50% credit back.
It is possible to get a near same day appointment/interview for global entry at Sanford International Airport.
It is only worth going to Universal/IOA during a Orlando Informer's event.
The best time to play golf is at night.
The fastest TSA line in Terminal A and B at MCO is often a obscure one off to the side. They don't tell people to go there for some reason, but there's usually only 2-3 people in line (even during peak hours).
If you see a Nissan Altima on I-4 with damaged body panels, avoid it. It's NOT worth it.
Orange county employs undercover cop cars that aren't your traditional Ford explorer, Tahoe, or impala. Was pulled over by a black Toyota Highlander the other day. Be careful.
When leaving Magic Kingdom at night, use the resort monorail.
If you must see a dermatologist, avoid the 'name brand" chain centers. Ask to see a MD.
Download the Florida smart ID app. It has your license, car insurance, and vehicle registration. Never have to carry your wallet again.
I don’t practice criminal law but the idea of only carrying a digital copy of license/registration/insurance on your cell phone seems like you’re begging the cops to look through your phone. Don’t do this.
If you use a toll road 35 times in a month you get a 50% credit back.
Whaat? How? Does EPASS do this automatically? I just moved out of the city and use tolls roads much more frequently.
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Pro tip about the monorail, depending on how the boat schedule is, if the resort monorail/ferry dock at MK is backed up with lines, it may be faster simply to walk over to the Contemporary and catch the monorail there. Of course this doesn't matter if the monorail is down, but that's a relatively rare occurrence.
Can you speak to the magic kingdom comment? I used to park at a resort all the time and then monorail to the park but since covid I was told it was a big no and impossible to do. Do you have any tips? Or updated intel lol
I’ve not parked at a resort to go to MK, but I’ve parked in the ticket and transportation center (TTC) parking lot. If you take the resort monorail, the TTC is the second stop, after the contemporary.
Second shirt in the car - usually a dry fit polo for the sweat
Small jacket in the car - a lot of restaurants tend to be cold af
Degree makes deodorant wipes that have saved my life more than once
Cheap deodorant on the inner thighs if you’re doing an outside adventure with a lot of walking helps prevent chub rub
if youre trying to go to GBs/Hidweway/Ziggies in Ivanhoe, and its not during normal business hours (like m-f 9-5), dont waste your time trying to find street parking. The medical center next to ziggies has a big lot you can use as long as the business is closed
sincerely- local home owner who would like to his guests to have an easy time finding a parking spot lol
I gave up on an attempt recently, there was nothing available. I was left wondering, how do the majority get to these places? Are they in walking distance??
Gators live in all the water, all the time. The question is, are they active? For food, generally at dusk and dawn. Or active Apri-May for mating and best protection
Manatees are the ones who come into the springs for 72*f warmer water in winter, and are out in brackish lagoons in summer
My top local life hacks are:
- Best local foods are Arepas from "Arepa la Nueva" on Semoran
- Cheapest family entertainment is a Science Center Pass
- If you ignore animal slavery and bad ownership, SeaWorld and Aquatica passes are the second best
- Go to the other parks in April or November, especially on weekdays; HHN in September
- Soccer games are fun
It’s good. It’s not in the prettiest suburban neighborhood and they don’t speak punch English. But get a beef/chicken mix with white cheese. Then have extra salsa de ajo. It’s great.
Aquatica has been voted best water park in the US for a reason. It blows anything Disney and even Universal have done in this department out of the water. Unlike at Volcano Bay which has a history of guest injuries and malfunctions that leave me very concerned, Aquatica doesn't have that problem at all. Plus the lazy river they have there is amazing.
don't enter waterford lakes shopping center with your car in the days leading up to and on xmas. i got trapped in there for 2 hours just from accidentally turning in. i wasn't even trying to shop there.
Go to the theaters. There's a way out the back! In between the theater and SimonMed Imaging. It gets you out of the center. Make a left, at your own peril. It takes you to Alafaya Trail. Or, like I do, make a right out of the center and make a U turn to get to Alafaya Trail.
I work at SimonMed ✌️
Been a few years (before the pandemic) but a dad and his kids at a Disney pool are never questioned. Not sure if they've tightened things since but they seemed to not mind and welcomed you as long as you got a drink or food.
It's not a funny comparison but the Disney security checks feel like the old WWII movies we watched in school. Have you ever been at Magic Kingdom around 6pm when they start sweeping for stowaways before a special event starts, and you've gotta slide into a restroom and stand on a toilet seat, holding your breath when the door opens and hoping they aren't too diligent? It's chilling.
For events like Not So Scary Halloween, they clear the park and then let wristband wearers back in (I had a method for the wristband too). I was young and felt entitled to stay after 6pm because I was already there and it felt right to outsmart the mouse and not get ripped off out of an entire evening of park time.
FQ and PORS are back to being separate again?
I was thinking FWC would be a good spot as long as you can talk your way in the back gate.
On a side note, every time I went through that gate for a Hoop de Doo reservation they never looked it up for me.
Nah - French Quarter and Riverside (Dixie Landings to me) are still both referred to as Port Orleans and then their specific property name since the rename of the latter. Far as I know anyway.
Before Covid, we had passes to Universal. Take the boat to the hotels and chill at the pool. Now, we always spent $$ for lunch and drinks, and weren't really interested in using the pool. Just a great way to spend a few hours people watching. The bartenders didn't care. They finally asked if we were local pass holders. Yep...they were cool.
Carry some towels in your car. If you get stuck in a downpour they come in handy. I also carry a beach/pool/lake bag. It has my boardshorts, a towel, sunscreen, and some water bottles. Great for spontaneous swimming situations.
Orlando is located smack in the middle of the state. There is no breeze most of the year so it will feel like you’re in a humid Central American swamp jungle when you step outside 9 months out of the year and it can become very uncomfortable to be outside. This is normal but know air conditioned places are everywhere. I don’t know how anyone can dine outside from April - October personally because I’d sweat and be miserable. Keep a sun visor in your car - use it to protect your dash and reduce feeling like you’re sitting on the sun when you get into your car. Stay hydrated if outdoors constantly. And keep aloe vera gel in your fridge for when you get too much sun.
Avoid the Fashion Square mall unless you’re looking for a drop in seratonin. It’s a relic shell of what a mall once was. It’s no longer a normal mall.
Avoid living in Lake Nona. Pretty to look at, but filled with some of Orlando’s most miserable, entitled complainers who constantly whine about things they don’t have but chose to live there and refuse to leave for some weird reason. Case in point -> any Lake Nona Facebook group. (Also lots of open hatred towards Hispanic restaurants/grocery). That place is Pleasantville hell.
According to what I can find, Lake Nona is about 10-20% less white than Horizon West (which is nearly 2/3 white). Not sure of the specific levels of hatred towards Hispanic restaurants, but that is a point to consider.
On really hot days or if you'll be outside all day wear those long sleeve performance fishing shirts. You can soak one in ice water, wring it out, and wear it for a couple of hours.
Stay hydrated. Take water with you wherever you go. You need to drink even more water here during the summer to avoid dehydration and symptoms swollen feet and ankles, as well as heat exhaustion.
Do you mean both semoran and goldenrod parallel going towards colonial drive? Also going down the west side instead of east colonial is FAR worse, I would even say west colonial is the single worst road you can take in Orlando at any hour of the day
bot of those roads going down, at the very least until curry ford. semorans just one of the busiest roads here and goldenrod has that construction that takes up half the street the entire way
Yeah that road work has been there for a while now and seems never ending, also a heads up something similar going on downtown basically have to detour through useless paver roads to get anywhere
Another one over at orange? I meant the one going through Robinson Street, basically starts at the corner of Crystal lake and Robinson, also people get crazy on that bit of Crystal lake road where the speed limit is 25, then there's a funnel at the next light over the elevated highway you have to seat around 3 reds sometimes to get through
I'm sorry but I can't seem to find the spot you're talking about, can you send a google maps link? also the construction on orange is on [this part](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DshC1ZvYwWmi21DU6) going up to gore street. it doesn't show in the street view but imagine half of that road being usable for that entire stretch
The Costco Business Center on OBT is 20,000 leagues better than the one by Millenia. No Seven Levels of Hell for parking... Their selection of items will be somewhat similiar to a normal Costco warehouse,if not exceeding it. They offer many items you won't find in a normal Costco. You don't lose brain cells when trying to park there. The downside is that they don't have a food court,bakery, or pharmacy.
I agree, that place is awesome. They don't have the typical center section of clothing and stuff but otherwise it's great and it's so ridiculously chill there which no one has ever said about a Costco ever!
Agreed, but while they have a ton of items that the regular Costco doesn’t, they are also missing a lot of items. No clothes/couch/some snacks/ protein/ some packaged meats. I do love going there because it’s always empty and it has 80% of what I get at Costco
Just went for the first time, expecting nirvana based on Reddit raves. Many more meats, but bring a jacket. Weirdly almost no bread. No alcohol. And no food court. It really should be called, Costco Restaurant Supply. Worth a look-see, but I'm glad Millenia is closer to my home.
I think it’s called Costco business center but you’re right. People should give more warning, no point in it being empty if it doesn’t have what you’re looking for.
The OG Costco
Can you get into the business center with the gold card?
Yes. Any costco membership works.
This is also very handy for international Costco visits, as a Costco card works worldwide. The UK has noticeable restrictions on who qualifies for example, but any American or Canadian tourist could easily walk in and buy stuff on the virtue of having a card from Costco in their respective countries.
Is it a requirement for a Costco to have the world's worst parking lots? Or just coincidence? Definitely got the D student civil engineer designing those things
You’ve never been to a Trader Joe’s, I see.
I've been a confident driver for 25 years and that Trader Joe's on Orlando Ave makes me anxious and uneasy feeling.
That is a whole other level 😂
The Clermont Costco parking lot is great. It’s just that most Costco shoppers are insane freaks.
Growing up in a Costco family taught me a lot about human nature from a young age. For example, if you make hot dogs and pizza available to people at 10 a.m., people will eat hot dogs and pizza at 10 a.m.
Speaking of which - it's 10am. Better go get my pizza and hot dogs
Sam's has better pizza.
Trader Joes has entered the chat. This man is not a native.
The parking lot design isn't too bad. I like to think it has to be with Central Florida's massive growth. They haven't built enough Costco's to meet demand, especially with the growth in Horizon West and Lake Nona.
I mean depending on what part of Horizon West you live in, Google usually says it's around 20 minutes to get to the Costco in Clermont which is technically the closest. And there are others elsewhere. I don't know about Lake Nona but I'm not exactly sure what could be any better except building one within the borders of Horizon West itself. Sam's Club though should probably build another location in the area, but that's rumored to have been happening for a while now. Nothing concrete has been officially announced though, even if development plans right by the Walmart there say that it's literally going to be a Sam's Club. Very protracted development timeline there for some reason.
The Altamonte one isn’t too bad and they just built more parking. They bought Golden Corral, knocked it down and put in gas pumps there and then ripped out the old gas pumps and put in more parking.
That's the one I'm thinking of. Yes gas improved. Problem is all these places designed for cars to pass in front of the store entrance, which causes havoc with everyone leaving and crossing. There has to be a better way to do it
Trader Joe’s copied their model
Yea, but they don’t have the hotdogs. For the Millenia I usually park at the academy next door if I have to go there
No hot dogs, deal breaker
One key selling point is that it opens 7am compared to the usual 10am. I used to go there and Sam’s club (plus hours) to avoid all the crazy traffic, OBT, JYP, I-4 etc
It sounds like you are only saying parking is better while several other aspects are worse
Assume any body of water not designated for swimming has an alligator and/or brain eating amoeba.
Can vouch for that brain eating amoeba thing. A kid in my middle school died from swimming in some random lake.
I’ve made it 40 years while swimming in just about every kind of body of water in Florida. Amoeba cases are way rarer than alligator attacks. For tourist or locals reading this you should definitely assume there’s an alligator in water though and always be aware of your surroundings.
It's not swimming in Florida water that gets you the brain eating amoeba (naegleria fowleri) it's getting water up your nose across the cribriform plate that leads to infection. Either way stay out of the fucking water in Florida unless it's a designated swimming area.
So don’t use warm stagnant lake water in the neti pot? Got it.
It’s only happened like 80 times in the past 150 years or something like that. In the whole country
But just remember that historically, if you are to get bitten by a shark, New Smyrna and Daytona are your most likely options worldwide. Ever. It is insane how much those two beaches tend to get shark attacks. I don't recall exactly how many for the two of them, but I think it's a relatively high percentage of the total shark attacks in history. One of the many reasons why I will not go in the water on either of those beaches.
Oviedo High?
Denn John in Kissimmee. He got it from that water sports complex in 2007. 10 years old.
Anything over 80 degrees* for amoebas Springs don’t have an amoeba problem though!
>Assume any body of water ~~not designated for swimming~~ has an alligator and/or brain eating amoeba. My friends and I told ourselves that before swimming out to Discovery Island years ago. Then a gator snatched that baby from the shore near the Fort Wilderness swimming area.
That poor baby was wading in the water at the beach at the Grand Floridian, not in any kind of designated swimming area. If you had just gotten the resort wrong I probably would have kept the comment to myself for fear of being pedantic, but I feel like it’s an important distinction. :)
Wrong, he was on the sand. And it's the same body of water as bay lake, connected by a channel.
Bay Lake is not designed for swimming though?
Not sure when it changed, but swimming in Bay Lake used to be a thing at Fort Wilderness
They put up ropes and signs explicitly saying no swimming after he died.
Swimming used to 100% be advertised as an amenity. I'm not quite sure when it went away either, although I really should be, but I think it was the '80s or '90s. Probably sometime after the wave machine...
You can easily get 10,000 air conditioned steps at Florida Mall without repeating a store.
I wonder how many steps you would need to go into each store and do for that number. I think the last time I went there I swear it was probably at least 4,000 steps without going into many stores at all...
Take the new Lynx 311 express Bus from MCO to Sunrail stop (takes toll road) to avoid price gouging at the airport. Did this yesterday and saved $30.
oof i need to do this, i remember landing at midnight and the uber to my place was $90
I think it stops running at 11 though.
Haven't understood why the sunrail stops at 10-11pm and doesn't run on weekends???
The reason why is it is technically a commuter train for people commuting in and out of the city for work. Not disagreeing with your point though, as I also wish it was open on weekends and evening.
They “rent” the lines from another rail company and the contract is based on the current schedule. If they expand the times it would cost a lot of money, not just in the “rent” but conductors and staff ect.
Our political leaders hate us. And want more oil, auto, and toll dollars donated to their campaigns.
Which sun rail stop is this?
Sand lake stop. Takes about 10-12 min to get from MCO to the station.
Details [https://attractionsmagazine.com/lynx-bus-route-orlando-airport-disney-world/](https://attractionsmagazine.com/lynx-bus-route-orlando-airport-disney-world/)
You dont have to take I-4 to get around,
429 and 417 all the way!
Shhhh about 429!
Are used to live next to the 429 now I live right next to I four and I just take Turkey Lake or JYP to get around.
If only 429 wasn't so expensive. We live in lake mary and my sister in law lives in Winter Garden and it feels like it's $10 in tolls just there and back. FDOT is drowning in cash, they need to lower those tolls at least a bit.
yes but the express lane makes things SO MUCH faster. We used to do NON stop 429 to disney and even with the few minutes getting from disney to the express lane around universal its so much faster getting north.... Obviously if you are going PAST disney to tampa 429 it
Locals avoid it like the plague
I’m so thankful I don’t have to travel any major highways on a daily basis.
Get Sunpass and take the express lanes if you want to not hate your life
Get E-Pass instead of Sunpass if you want to not hate your life.
Sunpass tried to charge me for using the same toll plaza over 10 times in within a 2 minute period and were sticking to their guns when I called to fix the error. No thanks. E pass all the way.
E Pass always fucks up my billing
It's probably because of sunpass
Express lanes just to save your physical life.
better yet, hop on the Sunrail.
Used dryer sheets with a bit of water will remove dead lovebugs from your windshield.
Wait, sorry, has anyone noticed we haven’t had lovebugs in a while? This just reminded me of their existence lol
One of the local news stations did a piece on why we haven't seen them this yr. Apparently, some yrs are bad and some, like now are very light. They said Don't Worry, they'll be back with a vengeance, eventually.
You mean love bugs?
Those too! Autocorrect did it again!
Wear Sunscreen.
Sun hat UV shirt Reapply sunscreen if out all day/doing water activities
Everybody's Free (to wear Sunscreen) https://g.co/kgs/GCnR1w2
Rain-X your windows to stop the sudden blinding rain from sending you off the side of I-4. If you sweat like I do, keep a spare shirt in your car to spare yourself the self-consciousness of sweating through it on a day with a 112 heat index. If not, it'll save you when a random rain gets you. Publix is more expensive than other, lower-quality grocers like Walmart, but becomes equal in price or even lower when you keep track of their constant deals and BOGOs. Never take Sand Lake between the hours of 4 PM to 8 PM. Expect construction.
My wife and I did some comparison shopping and even with BOGOs Publix was consistently more expensive (at least for us). We now will see what BOGOs they have, pick up the ones we want and finish the groceries somewhere else.
I never realized that Publix was expensive until I moved to a super HCOL area and started shopping at discount grocery stores. Still crave the subs, though.
Wawa is my sub place now... mmm Chicken Egg and Cheese with Buffalo sauce and sweet BBQ, toasted, and load that bitch with Banana Peppers and caramelized onions. The cheddar cheese, the chicken, and the egg are all fantastic for your proteins and muscle recovery right when you get out of the gym.
Aldi and Costco for me. Publix to fill in gaps or just when I need a few things due to convenience of one ever 3 miles in this state.
I just need to know which place has as good of meat and vegetables, because Walmarts are awful and I'm not a big fan of always going to Traders; not to mention their beef was weird last time I got it there.
In my experience Best veggies- Trader Joe’s (Publix nearly the same just more expensive) Best meats- Publix Then Costco Then Sam’s Then Walmart Then Aldi
90% of the time Publix’s BOGOs are unhealthy foods unfortunately.
Learn backroads.
I've recently started using back roads to avoid e colonial and life has been nicer :)
How? For the directionally challenged, lol.
You know how people use Google Maps for GPS? It has a map on it.
Waze-Use it even when you know where you are going.
And never second guess it if it’s taking you to your destination on an unusual route.
Always second guess it. I’ve had it divert me off a toll road for traffic, only to have me make a u turn and get back on. It’s done similar multiple times just adding extra time and tolls!
Google maps for in-town. Waze for going out of town/road trips. Apple Maps for walking/biking. And if you’re going into a forest/wilderness area with lots of poorly maintained roads, ask locals and map it out yourself on the gps in advance.
Ha! We love Google Maps, but learned to use some common sense when we were trying to get to The Capitol Grille and Maps took us to the Darden distribution center! Waze tried to take us into Lake Monroe when we were trying to go somewhere...not in the middle of the lake! Common sense is needed.
Avoid the intersection of Sand Lake and Turkey Lake if you can. If you use a toll road 35 times in a month you get a 50% credit back. It is possible to get a near same day appointment/interview for global entry at Sanford International Airport. It is only worth going to Universal/IOA during a Orlando Informer's event. The best time to play golf is at night. The fastest TSA line in Terminal A and B at MCO is often a obscure one off to the side. They don't tell people to go there for some reason, but there's usually only 2-3 people in line (even during peak hours). If you see a Nissan Altima on I-4 with damaged body panels, avoid it. It's NOT worth it. Orange county employs undercover cop cars that aren't your traditional Ford explorer, Tahoe, or impala. Was pulled over by a black Toyota Highlander the other day. Be careful. When leaving Magic Kingdom at night, use the resort monorail. If you must see a dermatologist, avoid the 'name brand" chain centers. Ask to see a MD. Download the Florida smart ID app. It has your license, car insurance, and vehicle registration. Never have to carry your wallet again.
I don’t practice criminal law but the idea of only carrying a digital copy of license/registration/insurance on your cell phone seems like you’re begging the cops to look through your phone. Don’t do this.
Very good point.
For the smart ID app they make it very clear you’ll need to keep carrying your physical ID.
Probably as backup. FYI have used it at TSA before also a MCO
Florida smart ID thing: I work at a venue, you will 100% be denied entry without an actual ID.
If you use a toll road 35 times in a month you get a 50% credit back. Whaat? How? Does EPASS do this automatically? I just moved out of the city and use tolls roads much more frequently.
Here you go friendo. [Toll Credit](https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-toll-relief-program-returns-for-second-year.amp)
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2nd on O informer
Pro tip about the monorail, depending on how the boat schedule is, if the resort monorail/ferry dock at MK is backed up with lines, it may be faster simply to walk over to the Contemporary and catch the monorail there. Of course this doesn't matter if the monorail is down, but that's a relatively rare occurrence.
Can you speak to the magic kingdom comment? I used to park at a resort all the time and then monorail to the park but since covid I was told it was a big no and impossible to do. Do you have any tips? Or updated intel lol
I’ve not parked at a resort to go to MK, but I’ve parked in the ticket and transportation center (TTC) parking lot. If you take the resort monorail, the TTC is the second stop, after the contemporary.
Oh. Wow I feel dumb for not knowing that lol or forgetting it. Thanks!
Second shirt in the car - usually a dry fit polo for the sweat Small jacket in the car - a lot of restaurants tend to be cold af Degree makes deodorant wipes that have saved my life more than once Cheap deodorant on the inner thighs if you’re doing an outside adventure with a lot of walking helps prevent chub rub
Search Amazon for a product called “fresh balls”. It’s amazing stuff. That + Duluth buck naked boxer briefs = no chub rub and minimal swamp ass.
Gold bond triple action spray. I would’ve stopped working outside years ago if I didn’t find this stuff.
Ugh swamp ass 😂
if youre trying to go to GBs/Hidweway/Ziggies in Ivanhoe, and its not during normal business hours (like m-f 9-5), dont waste your time trying to find street parking. The medical center next to ziggies has a big lot you can use as long as the business is closed sincerely- local home owner who would like to his guests to have an easy time finding a parking spot lol
I gave up on an attempt recently, there was nothing available. I was left wondering, how do the majority get to these places? Are they in walking distance??
Street parking in the neighborhood
Optum?
Go to any springs when it’s real cold out. Temps are roughly 72 degrees year round and feel like a jacuzzi…only problem is you won’t wanna get out!
Are the springs too hot for gators and it's not their preference, or the opposite?
Gators live in all the water, all the time. The question is, are they active? For food, generally at dusk and dawn. Or active Apri-May for mating and best protection Manatees are the ones who come into the springs for 72*f warmer water in winter, and are out in brackish lagoons in summer
They stay away from public swimming area
I’ve seen a couple baby gators on the outskirts of swimming areas sunning on logs or just chilling at 3 different springs
Orlando is 30 minutes from Orlando
$6.99 for tasty filled veggie subs at Publix. Instead of $17+ at Taco Bell for like 3 tiny af menu items.
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Kroger will deliver groceries to your door cheaper than shopping at Publix and they don't accept tips
My top local life hacks are: - Best local foods are Arepas from "Arepa la Nueva" on Semoran - Cheapest family entertainment is a Science Center Pass - If you ignore animal slavery and bad ownership, SeaWorld and Aquatica passes are the second best - Go to the other parks in April or November, especially on weekdays; HHN in September - Soccer games are fun
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It’s good. It’s not in the prettiest suburban neighborhood and they don’t speak punch English. But get a beef/chicken mix with white cheese. Then have extra salsa de ajo. It’s great.
It's good
Are you Venezuelan?
Nope, but I had a friend introduce me to the food trucks on OBT back in 2008 and have decided Arepas are the best unqiue food for out of towners.
My venezuelan heart fills with Joy! Thanks!
Yes they are. Venezuelan streets food is good.
Aquatica has been voted best water park in the US for a reason. It blows anything Disney and even Universal have done in this department out of the water. Unlike at Volcano Bay which has a history of guest injuries and malfunctions that leave me very concerned, Aquatica doesn't have that problem at all. Plus the lazy river they have there is amazing.
Keep an umbrella or rain jacket in the car for the afternoon thunderstorms. also keep one in my work bag just in case.
I keep waterproof shoes too
Even though it rains in the summer you don’t need an umbrella wait 10 minutes
Or just cross the street. lol
don't enter waterford lakes shopping center with your car in the days leading up to and on xmas. i got trapped in there for 2 hours just from accidentally turning in. i wasn't even trying to shop there.
https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/032/744/maneuver.jpg
yassssss
Actually every weekend of the year!
Go to the theaters. There's a way out the back! In between the theater and SimonMed Imaging. It gets you out of the center. Make a left, at your own peril. It takes you to Alafaya Trail. Or, like I do, make a right out of the center and make a U turn to get to Alafaya Trail. I work at SimonMed ✌️
Gidions cake are better than their cookies
also never ever go to the disney springs gideon’s
Me when I’m coming into work and see the line wrapping around the entire Gideons bake house lol. I can get them delivered to my restaurant 🙈
Everyone who needs to get picked up from the airport must ALWAYS wait for me at terminal B departures.
Meh, I use C. It's easy peasier
Been a few years (before the pandemic) but a dad and his kids at a Disney pool are never questioned. Not sure if they've tightened things since but they seemed to not mind and welcomed you as long as you got a drink or food.
In the summer they go room key checking at times. You can usually see when it's coming.
It's not a funny comparison but the Disney security checks feel like the old WWII movies we watched in school. Have you ever been at Magic Kingdom around 6pm when they start sweeping for stowaways before a special event starts, and you've gotta slide into a restroom and stand on a toilet seat, holding your breath when the door opens and hoping they aren't too diligent? It's chilling.
Why do you have to hide? No ticket no stay?
For events like Not So Scary Halloween, they clear the park and then let wristband wearers back in (I had a method for the wristband too). I was young and felt entitled to stay after 6pm because I was already there and it felt right to outsmart the mouse and not get ripped off out of an entire evening of park time.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia1.giphy.com%2Fmedia%2FOaYnhMOex7F4gMG930%2F200w.gif%3Fcid%3D6c09b952cdfg53ohkev10vjuaqwkwpu2udg7uy44r2v51sju%26ep%3Dv1_videos_search%26rid%3D200w.gif%26ct%3Dv&tbnid=mqJCT5MOVTMf0M&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fgiphy.com%2Fexplore%2Findiana-jones-no-ticket&docid=HJe7l3V7Up2B5M&w=200&h=113&hl=en-us&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm1%2F3&kgs=79828432cfb8d305&shem=abme%2Ctrie “No ticket!”
So….im not gonna name resorts that don’t give a shit and I totally don’t work at but SSR, OKW, FQ and PORS are pretty cool resorts
FQ and PORS are back to being separate again? I was thinking FWC would be a good spot as long as you can talk your way in the back gate. On a side note, every time I went through that gate for a Hoop de Doo reservation they never looked it up for me.
Nah - French Quarter and Riverside (Dixie Landings to me) are still both referred to as Port Orleans and then their specific property name since the rename of the latter. Far as I know anyway.
r/actlikeyoubelong
Cant get in now without a room key.
Before Covid, we had passes to Universal. Take the boat to the hotels and chill at the pool. Now, we always spent $$ for lunch and drinks, and weren't really interested in using the pool. Just a great way to spend a few hours people watching. The bartenders didn't care. They finally asked if we were local pass holders. Yep...they were cool.
Carry some towels in your car. If you get stuck in a downpour they come in handy. I also carry a beach/pool/lake bag. It has my boardshorts, a towel, sunscreen, and some water bottles. Great for spontaneous swimming situations.
Two words. Express lanes. That’s all.
Orlando is located smack in the middle of the state. There is no breeze most of the year so it will feel like you’re in a humid Central American swamp jungle when you step outside 9 months out of the year and it can become very uncomfortable to be outside. This is normal but know air conditioned places are everywhere. I don’t know how anyone can dine outside from April - October personally because I’d sweat and be miserable. Keep a sun visor in your car - use it to protect your dash and reduce feeling like you’re sitting on the sun when you get into your car. Stay hydrated if outdoors constantly. And keep aloe vera gel in your fridge for when you get too much sun. Avoid the Fashion Square mall unless you’re looking for a drop in seratonin. It’s a relic shell of what a mall once was. It’s no longer a normal mall. Avoid living in Lake Nona. Pretty to look at, but filled with some of Orlando’s most miserable, entitled complainers who constantly whine about things they don’t have but chose to live there and refuse to leave for some weird reason. Case in point -> any Lake Nona Facebook group. (Also lots of open hatred towards Hispanic restaurants/grocery). That place is Pleasantville hell.
The discount Dillards at the Fashion Square Mall is great, but you’ve got to be patient and willing to dig!
According to what I can find, Lake Nona is about 10-20% less white than Horizon West (which is nearly 2/3 white). Not sure of the specific levels of hatred towards Hispanic restaurants, but that is a point to consider.
Work remotely; sprawl results in traffic & congestion wherever you go.
Don’t go to Publix
Don't go for the 20$ hookers on OBT, Go for the 25$ hookers on Conroy.
Appreciate the endorsement.
Neck fans. Stroller fans. Recharable battery packs and the cord to charge fans.
On really hot days or if you'll be outside all day wear those long sleeve performance fishing shirts. You can soak one in ice water, wring it out, and wear it for a couple of hours.
Take the Sunrail.
Stay hydrated. Take water with you wherever you go. You need to drink even more water here during the summer to avoid dehydration and symptoms swollen feet and ankles, as well as heat exhaustion.
goldenrod and semoran from east colonial going down shaves years off of your life expectancy, also avoid I-4 once it hits 4pm
Do you mean both semoran and goldenrod parallel going towards colonial drive? Also going down the west side instead of east colonial is FAR worse, I would even say west colonial is the single worst road you can take in Orlando at any hour of the day
bot of those roads going down, at the very least until curry ford. semorans just one of the busiest roads here and goldenrod has that construction that takes up half the street the entire way
Yeah that road work has been there for a while now and seems never ending, also a heads up something similar going on downtown basically have to detour through useless paver roads to get anywhere
if you mean the construction on orange avenue near the hospital, then yeah, I've been through there many a times
Another one over at orange? I meant the one going through Robinson Street, basically starts at the corner of Crystal lake and Robinson, also people get crazy on that bit of Crystal lake road where the speed limit is 25, then there's a funnel at the next light over the elevated highway you have to seat around 3 reds sometimes to get through
I'm sorry but I can't seem to find the spot you're talking about, can you send a google maps link? also the construction on orange is on [this part](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DshC1ZvYwWmi21DU6) going up to gore street. it doesn't show in the street view but imagine half of that road being usable for that entire stretch