Goflorida

Goflorida Go Florida is a page for advice and information about Florida and what it has to offer.

Culver’s: Bravery Rewarded in Burger FormWe finally did it. After years of driving past Culver’s and sticking to the usu...
22/05/2025

Culver’s: Bravery Rewarded in Burger Form

We finally did it. After years of driving past Culver’s and sticking to the usual suspects, we decided to break free from our fast-food comfort zone and see what all the fuss (and blue signage) was about.

And let me tell you — bravery tastes like butterburgers and frozen custard.

First Impressions
Culver’s feels a bit like Wendy’s more polite cousin. You order at the counter, take your number, and then sit back while your food is brought to you like you’ve just unlocked fast-food royalty mode. Simple. Efficient. Slightly classier than the usual plastic tray shuffle.

The Food
We ordered a Cranberry Bacon Bleu Chicken Salad and a Culver’s Deluxe Double ButterBurger with Fries. All in, just under $20 — and possibly the best twenty bucks we’ve spent on food this trip.

The salad wasn’t just a sad pile of leaves with a hint of regret. It was packed — actual cranberries, real bacon, and more than enough chicken and bleu cheese to warrant the name. It didn’t feel like a side dish pretending to be a meal.

As for the burger? Moist, flavorful, and messy in that deeply satisfying way. The buttered bun is a small but powerful detail that sets it apart from the usual drive-thru suspects.

Dessert Time: The Frozen Custard
We’d heard the legends. The whispers of the Concrete Mixer. Curiosity won.

This is not your UK-school-dinner custard. It’s rich, creamy, and tastes like it’s been whipped by angels who moonlight at dairy farms. We chose the Concrete Mixer — basically Culver’s answer to the McFlurry, but denser, creamier, and more indulgent. You pick your mix-ins (we chose two because moderation is for later), and they swirl it into a dessert that should frankly come with a warning label.

Verdict
If you’re on the road, on a budget, or just bored of the usual burger circuit, Culver’s is a worthy detour. Delicious food, good portions, and great value — especially if you’re feeding a small army or just hungry enough to eat like one.

And whatever you do, do not leave without trying the frozen custard. Consider it your sweet reward for stepping outside your fast-food comfort zone.

Epic Universe: It’s Here! (And So Are the Queues…)Well folks, today’s the day — Epic Universe at Universal Orlando offic...
22/05/2025

Epic Universe: It’s Here! (And So Are the Queues…)

Well folks, today’s the day — Epic Universe at Universal Orlando officially opens its magical, chaotic, wallet-emptying gates.

The hype? Real.
The crowds? Massive.
The queues? Longer than your last relationship.

People have been lining up since the crack of dawn like it’s Black Friday meets Comic-Con meets… the Sorting Hat decided your house is Queuedor.

We Got a Sneak Peek
Lucky us — we scored preview tickets last week (we’re basically theme park royalty now). We’ve been stalking posts and videos since to see how things have evolved, and let’s just say… interesting is the word.

The Ministry of Magic: The star of the show, the crown jewel, the ride everyone’s talking about — and by talking, we mean whispering dark curses at the 5-hour wait time.
Yes, five hours.
That’s not a typo.
And that’s during limited previews, so once general admission kicks in? Pack snacks, patience, and possibly a tent.

Will It Be Worth It?
We’re crossing everything we’ve got that the park lives up to the hype and all those early-bird ticket holders actually get to enjoy it without spending their entire vacation in line. With so much excitement and such high expectations, Epic Universe definitely has a lot to live up to. But if they can keep those rides riding and queues moving, it could be a new favorite.

Pro Tip: If you’re planning to go soon — plan ahead, rope drop like a pro, and bring a power bank for your phone… because your battery will die long before you make it to the front of Ministry of Magic.

⸻

Final Thoughts:
Epic Universe looks amazing — just make sure you’re ready to embrace the chaos, wear comfy shoes, and maybe bring a wand to magically conjure up a shorter line.

22/05/2025

🎢 Busch Gardens Tampa: Thrills, Bills & a Bit of Disappointment

Yesterday, we dusted off the ol’ sense of adventure and made our way to Busch Gardens Tampa — for the first time in quite a while. And let’s just say… we came, we saw, we spent. 😅

🚗 Getting There
First off, if you’ve heard the legends of Busch Gardens being impossible to find — fear not! Sat navs have slain that dragon. From the Kissimmee area, it’s about a 1 hour and 15-minute drive, depending on traffic, road rage, and snack breaks. Easy peasy.

🎢 So… Is It Worth the Trip?
If you live for the adrenaline rush of giant roller coasters, then yes — this is your playground. Busch Gardens is still packing some serious coaster heat. However, if you’re not a coaster ju**ie, you might find yourself wondering what else there is to do… and the answer may be: not much.

💸 Brace Yourself for Add-Ons
Here’s where the park really surprised us — and not in a good way. Busch Gardens gives a whole new meaning to “nickel and dimed”:
• Parking: $37 (yes, really)
• Lockers for your stuff while you ride: extra $$
• Animal tours: more $$$
• Food and drinks: prepare to remortgage the house 🍔💳

Let’s just say it’s not a budget-friendly day out. Even compared to Disney and Universal, it felt expensive.

🐘 The Animal Side
The animal enclosures, once a signature part of the Busch Gardens experience, felt… a little sad. Often only one animal per enclosure, and not much going on. It lacked the energy and vibrancy we’d hoped for. The safari vibes were more “end of the day at the zoo” than “epic wild adventure.”

🛠️ Park Tired
We also noticed quite a few areas under maintenance. The whole place felt a bit tired, like it’s seen better days and is overdue for a solid refresh.

📉 Final Verdict
If you’re not into thrill rides, you might want to save your time, money, and sanity. For coaster lovers, it might still be worth the trip — but even then, expect to pay more than you bargained for. As for us? Probably won’t be back anytime soon.

20/05/2025

Fancy a cheeky escape to Orlando?

TUI's currently offering flights almost cheaper than a night out in Manchester!
Catch this: fly into Melbourne (Florida, not Australia – don’t pack your boomerang), and you could be sunning it up for under £300.

Flights are from Manchester and available over the next month – so if your boss asks, you “caught a spontaneous vitamin D deficiency.”

Snooze you lose – Mickey won’t wait!

20/05/2025

Hi everyone, just a bit of a heads up regarding ESTA's.
Seen on other sites people having ESTA's declined IF they've travelled to Cuber after 1st Jan 2021. So if you have travelled to Cuba after that date, you will be declined for an ESTA and will need a visa, which takes ages.
This is why you should always sort any entry requirements out before you book anything.
Your insurance doesn't cover this issue.

Theme Park Burnout? Head West, Young (or Slightly Sunburned) TravelerAfter one too many long lines, overpriced churros, ...
20/05/2025

Theme Park Burnout? Head West, Young (or Slightly Sunburned) Traveler

After one too many long lines, overpriced churros, and a rollercoaster that nearly rearranged our internal organs, pack up the car, waved goodbye to the theme park madness, and head west.

And guess what? Florida has a whole other side. Literally.

The west coast is home to some of the best beaches we've ever seen—think soft golden sands, warm turquoise waters, and not a single person in a giant cartoon costume. Clearwater is a hotspot (and we mean that in both senses—bring sunscreen and patience on weekends). But if you get a little creative and slightly lost like we did, you might stumble upon a gem like Honeymoon Island—a national park with miles of stunning, uncrowded beaches and zero screaming ride-goers.

So if Florida for you means more sea breeze and fewer souvenir shops, skip the queue and follow the sun west. Your sanity (and wallet) will thank you.

17/05/2025

Just as we’re packing up our lives in Melbourne and heading off to sunny Clearwater, we thought we’d share a helpful little travel hack that’s saved us from blowing a fuse—literally and figuratively.

It’s one of those “why didn’t we do this sooner?” kind of tips, and it’ll save you suitcase space, stress, and that awkward moment when you realize you’ve packed six devices and exactly zero ways to charge them.

Travel Hack #297: The One Adapter to Rule Them All

Why bring seven different plug adapters for every country on Earth when you can bring ONE…and a trusty ol’ power strip?

Let’s face it, you don’t need a separate adapter for your phone, laptop, tablet, straightener, electric toothbrush, and that mysterious device you swear is essential but haven’t used since 2019. Just get one international adapter and plug in your good old multi-socket power block like an absolute genius.

You’ll look like a wizard conjuring electricity for your whole group, and you'll only fight over outlets half as much. Bonus: no more crawling behind hotel furniture searching for that one awkwardly placed socket.

So skip the adapter shopping spree and pack like a pro.

Need a Break from Mickey and Mayhem?If you’re staying in the Kissimmee area and have access to a car (or a really fast b...
17/05/2025

Need a Break from Mickey and Mayhem?

If you’re staying in the Kissimmee area and have access to a car (or a really fast bike, we don’t judge), why not escape the theme park madness and head to the coast?

Just hop on the 192 and go east. Seriously, that’s it. No turns, no tolls, no GPS meltdown—just drive straight until the road ends and boom, you’re at Melbourne Beach!

It’s only about 1.5 hours away (unless you drive like your grandma or stop for every Buc-ee’s billboard), and totally worth it. Think miles of golden sand, chill ocean vibes, and a salty Atlantic swim that’ll wash the rollercoaster-induced dizziness right off you.

So pack your sunscreen, leave your mouse ears at the hotel, and enjoy a lazy day by the sea. Your sanity will thank you.

We were lucky enough to grab some Epic Preview tickets yesterday. We won't give any spoilers away about anything, but he...
15/05/2025

We were lucky enough to grab some Epic Preview tickets yesterday. We won't give any spoilers away about anything, but here's our thoughts.
Visually it's stunning, they've really gone overboard on the theming.
When it's open it's going to be busy, unlike other parks, they've partitioned each theme into enclosed sections. Once you are in, that section there's nowhere else to go, so can get a bit crowded. Once you get outside each theme it calms down and there are loads of restaurants and snackeries
If you can, stay till it's dark, it looks amazing in the dark. Instead of a firework display, the fountains, set to music, put on an amazing display.
Get one of the all day refillable cups, they are $20 but worth it.
After 27000 steps and a 18hr day, we are having a breather today.

14/05/2025

Hi everyone, it’s been a while since we posted anything, but we are out here at the moment so we thought we’d post some info and things of interest over the coming couple of weeks.
We arrived yesterday and here are a couple of things that might be of help if you’ve a trip planned.
1. Please make sure you have your ETAS in place before you book your trip. I’ve seen on a couple of other sites people booking holidays and not getting their ESTA’s meaning you need a visa, which can take time. If you’re refused an ESTA, you can’t cancel under your holiday insurance.
2. If you are landing at Orlando International, think about installing the CBP MPC app on your phone. This basically allows you to jump the queue at immigration. Only needs to be done on 1 phone, but add all your parties info, to the app. When you land in Orlando take a clear picture of everyone in your party and upload the document, you’ll then get a notification. When you get to immigration go to section A, and jump the queue, unless everyone on the plane’s done it.
3. If you’re hiring a car, tolls can be a pain and the car hire companies charge a bit. You can now get a Visitors Toll Pass, whereby you only pay for the tolls you use, no daily rate. When you hire your car decline any toll options. Install the app on your phone and follow the instructions. When you get to Orlando, visit one of the machines at the car rental desks, scan your QR code in the machine and out pops a toll transponder. Remember to add the rental car registration to the app, then hang it from the mirror and off you go. It charges tha card you’ve added once your return it.

That’s all for now, but keep an eye out on here for more Florida bits …

This looks great fun. Can't wait for it to open.
19/04/2025

This looks great fun. Can't wait for it to open.

09/04/2025

BREAKING: Universal Studios Great Britain has been confirmed and is set to open in 2031. The new Universal Park will feature multiple lands and attractions as well as a 500 room hotel.

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