Well after our busy day at Epcot it was time for a day of rest. Needed to go shopping so we headed for the Publix on West Irlo Bronson highway. First stop though was Ponderosa for breakfast (near Formosa Gardens). Or so we thought. The queue was nearly out of the door. What next? Did I not read in Brits Guide about some people having the same thing and then going to Black Angus down the road? Well lets try it out. I think the book said they experienced the biggest buffet that they had all holiday! Well we must have gone to the wrong Black Angus then!!! Biggest buffet? How about the smallest and worst buffet!! (Simon! Time to remove that Tip from your book!). After a very quick breakfast we left for the Publix. Done our shopping (I still prefer the Winn Dixie Supermarkets) and then decided to try and find the Walmart on Highway 192. Eventually find it and my this place is huge. And I mean huge. Had a wonder around for an hour and the prices were definitely cheaper than other places we went to during our stay. Not significantly cheaper but still cheaper. Wrangler jeans for $14 anyone? Time to leave and find somewhere for lunch. What do I spot across the road? Steak N Shake!!. This was recommended to me in my Best Burgers thread I started off back in October. Well the shakes were excellent. The establishment was very nice and looked like a true American Diner. But what about the burgers! No way near the best burger I have tasted. Not really much better than a Burger King. The fries portion was meagre as well. Oh well still 11 days to go to find the best burger!. Time for a rest and back to the hotel for a swim. Managed to find the 535 road that takes you straight to Lake Buena Vista from Highway 192. Much quicker and avoids all the traffic on 192 and I4. Good shortcut. The hotel has two main pools and one for children. Check out the water temperature in the pools first. One pool should be heated although on this day it was not and it was absolutely freezing. Other days it was heated and was like a bath. Note there is also a Jacuzzi as well. Although the water is absolutely boiling. Didnt stay in there very long. Time for our evening meal which was at Chevys nearby at crossroads. Again no wait to be seated. The service was a bit funny. It sounds friendly, its a bit pushy (offering cocktails and Margaritas) and comes across like its been read from a training manual. We noticed this a lot in the restaurants there. It didnt seem natural and sounded a bit fake. Hard to describe really. But anyway enough rambling. The food was excellent. I have tried Mexican many times in Britain in many places. Some places are not as good any more and some have closed down. But I have a pretty good idea of what is good and what is not. Well this place certainly came out tops. I have not had as good a Mexican as this for many years. Definitely recommend it. Well night is now over and we head back for an early night, ready for tomorrows trip to Universal. Just a few things to point out to first time travellers. If you are staying at any of the hotels around Lake Buena Vista, especially in the crossroads area, beware the roads and traffic. You have to be careful to get the right lane for where you want to go. Near the crossroads junction is the main junction for the I4 freeway. If you need to get onto I4, regardless of which way you want to go you still have to get in the right hand lanes. The same when coming off I4, make sure you get the correct lane for where you want to go. We saw no end of what must have been Brits, changing lines frantically at the junctions and traffic lights. You will get used it after a few days but be warned its not easy especially as there is so much traffic in this area even later in the evening.
Day 4 Universal to be continued
Day 4 Universal to be continued
