Not Going To Parks

[mickeyluv'r]

The Showcase of Citrus website shows that "pick your own citrus" is November to May. Everything else is open year-round.

Their website also says that their 2023 season ended April 6. Lasting until May is somewhat unusual, and that would be the late season oranges.

A more detailed breakdown: Navels tend to run Nov 15-Jan, Honeybells are Dec24-Jan, Temples- Feb, and March-April tends to be just Valencia oranges. White grapefruit runs Dec to about Jan 15, Red runs nov to April, Tangerines tend to run Nov to April 15. After April 15, if there are any oranges left to pick, the best of the citrus crop has already passed.

I've been buying FL citrus for years. The primary company I've used for used for 10+ years, normally ships mid-Nov through mid-April. This year, they could not get FL citrus at all in November or April. (Instead, they sold/shipped fruit from CA!)


As of early May, official prediction was that FL growers would fill under 16 million boxes this season. That is shockingly low, and the lowest total since the 1934-1935.

2000 - 2004 - FL produced over 200 million boxes annually. CA, the #2 state, produced between 51 and 64 million boxes.
2005- citrus greening first detected- FL crop dropped to 150 million boxes, CA produced 65
2006-2013 FL produced between 129 and 170 million boxes, CA 46 to 63
2014 - 105 million boxes, CA 50
2017 - 69
2018 - Irma (landfall Sept of 2017) - 45
2019 - FL 72, CA 52
2021 - 53
2022- Ian (sept of 2022)- 41
2023 - FL produced less than 16 million boxes, predicted CA 45 million boxes. (Source: American Farm Bureau Federation)

FL has just been on a terrible downward trajectory over the last 20 years.

In 1970, the US produced 75% of worldwide grapefruit, China zero.
By the early 2000's: US was at 43%, China 29%.
For 2023, it looks to be US 4%, China 76%. (Source: American Farm Bureau Federation)
Those are sobering statistics.

According to the USDA, over 80% of US oranges are used in juice, with over 90% of Florida oranges used to make juice. Only 16% of US oranges were sold fresh. (as of 2013)



I also came across this news story specifically mentioning Showcase of Citrus. They were hit hard by a severe hailstorm in April 2023 that badly damaged their trees.
https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando...royed--thousands--of-oranges-at-citrus-farm--

I wholly endorse supporting FL orange growers! I hope the owner is able to recover.

 

[Titanium]

They still have Swan boats available over at the Swan/Dolphin. Not the same, but still nice. I think guests staying at S/D/SR get a discount coupon as part of staying at S/D/SR.

I tried to find details by looking on the touring plans webpage, and YIKES! their review is bit harsh. We did not incur any surprise expenses of $50/day. We did pay the resort fee, but it was disclosed when we booked the hotel. All in all, we saved quite a bit staying at the Swan over a WDW deluxe hotel, and we have gotten some really nice rooms.

TP doesn't mention that the hotels have a AAA 20% discount on food. I don't know if there's a discount on the boats or gift shop, but there might be. Just off the room alone, a night or two and the AAA discount pays for a AAA membership.

TP also gives a mildly negative impression of the S/D/SR employees, that I don't feel is fair. The employees we have met there a quite a few stays have always been excellent.

Thank you for posting this. We do all our travel outiside WDW with Marriott properties so I'm going to look into these two for our Fall trip. Up til now we've stayed at WDW resorts but I didn't know until this year these two were in the Marriott family. We do like the PO but if we can accrue points at the Swan or Dolphin why not!!!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Thank you for posting this. We do all our travel outiside WDW with Marriott properties so I'm going to look into these two for our Fall trip. Up til now we've stayed at WDW resorts but I didn't know until this year these two were in the Marriott family. We do like the PO but if we can accrue points at the Swan or Dolphin why not!!!

If you regularly stay at Marriott properties w/a membership, then I suggest checking them out. This forum has lots of information.

 

[HeatherC]

We are coming to Orlando, staying close to Disney springs. We are not going to parks, we need suggestions what else we can do.

We like to spend a day picnicking at Weeki Watchee Springs. We also like Winter Park. You can do a boat tour through the canals that connect a couple lakes together. It is also home to Rollins College which has a cool museum. The Main Street is all shops and restaurants so fun to explore.

For an easy beach day we go to Cocoa Beach and park at Lori Wilson Park and walk next door to the Hilton to have lunch at their outdoor restaurant.

Another day trip is Mt Dora. Cute little town with lots of little shops and restaurants.

We also usually spend an afternoon at Orlando Premium outlets and get lunch out.

Lots to do in Orlando for sure. Have a fun time!