The Essential British Guidebook for Orlando is Now Out!

Something we always look forward to here at Debbie’s Villas is the publication of the essential Florida guidebook for UK visitors, the Brit Guide to Orlando & Walt Disney World, which has become something of an institution for many visitors, first-timers and regulars alike.

Written by Simon and Susan of Veness Travel Media, it is now in its 27th year and remains ‘the Bible’ for chapter and verse on the whole Orlando holiday experience, from the detailed planning of it all the way to the journey back home.

The chapter on accommodation and, especially, villas is of particular interest, and we’re proud to say Debbie’s Villas once again gets several positive mentions in the book.

The Brit Guide began life as a 186-page newcomer in the guidebook world in 1995, and has since grown to nearly twice that size as the destination itself has increased in both extent and excitement.

For those who don’t know them, Simon and Susan, who live quite close to the wonderful Winter Garden, are extremely passionate about the Theme Park Capital of the World and are highly active in keeping tabs on the vast range of attractions throughout Central Florida.

They are very much the Mr and Mrs Florida for the UK as they also write for the Telegraph, The Sun, iPaper, BA Highlife magazine and others, as well as being the Orlando restaurant reviewers for various magazines and websites.

Simon and Susan’s Story

But let them tell their own story here, as it’s a great example of how to have an idea, see it through to fruition – and then keep working at it.

“With thanks to the entire Debbie’s Villas team, we are delighted to say ‘Hello!’ to all those people who are thinking about or are in the process of booking an Orlando villa holiday,” says Simon. “In the first instance, you are in exactly the right place, and you are spot on in thinking a villa is the right idea for a memorable family holiday.

“We have seen the range of villas offerings in the Orlando grow enormously in the past 20 years, and there’s a good reason for that, with the chance to really kick back and enjoy your holiday in total comfort, while being a little removed from the non-stop frenzy of the theme parks.”

Orlando Attractions have Grown so Much Since 1995

“It’s a growth that positively mirrors our own at the Brit Guide,” adds Susan. “Back in 1995, the book was very much reflective of the times when there were just six theme parks and, maybe, 5,000 villas. Since then, we have added two more theme parks, three water parks – and more than 20,000 new villas!

“The other major growth area in Orlando terms has been in the expansion of things like shopping, restaurants and the more natural attractions, like Crystal River (where you can swim with manatees), the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, kayaking at places like Wekiva Island, and taking an airboat ride.”

The most important thing that Susan and Simon promote, though, is planning, and the need to do your ‘homework’ before leaving home.

There’s Nowhere Like Orlando

“Orlando is unlike any other destination in the world,” Simon explains. “There is SO much to do here that you can get pulled in umpteen directions at once and, if you don’t have at least a rough plan of what you want to do with your two or three weeks here, it’s easy to get confused, side-tracked or just plain exhausted from the non-stop nature of it all.”

“The best advice we can offer is that you just can’t ‘Do it all’,” insists Susan. “This also isn’t the kind of place where you can just make it up as you go along, especially if you’ve never been to America before. There is a vast area that goes under the name ‘Orlando’ and it is getting bigger and more complicated all the time.”

Simon, who created the Brit Guide template following his first visit on holiday in 1993, considers this to be the underlying ethos of the book: “We love living here and we want all our visitors to get the best out of it, too. That’s why we started the Brit Guide in the first place, and we hope you’ll take a look at it and discover why we’re so passionate about it.”

So there you have it – direct from the most authoritative source on the subject. Now, who’s ready to dive in and start planning their next – or first – Orlando villa holiday?!

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