Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
388
This call is free from all public telephones
and should be the first call made in case of
any serious medical emergency or acci-
dent.
The Florida Tourism Industry Market-
ing Corporation, the state tourism promo-
tions board, sponsors a
help line
(
&
800/
647-9284
). With operators speaking more
than 100 languages, it can provide general
directions and can help with lost travel
papers and credit cards, minor medical
emergencies, accidents, money transfer,
airline confirmation, and much more.
GASOLINE
PETROL
At press time,
in the U.S., the cost of gasoline (also
known as gas, but never petrol), has stabi-
lized (though it continues to rise), with
prices hovering at around $2.45 a gallon.
Taxes are already included in the printed
price. One U.S. gallon equals 3.8 liters or
.85 imperial gallons. Fill-up locations are
known as gas or service stations.
HOLIDAYS
Banks, government offices,
post offices, and many stores, restaurants,
and museums are closed on the following
legal national holidays: January 1 (New
Year's Day), the third Monday in January
(Martin Luther King, Jr., Day), the third
Monday in February (Presidents' Day), the
last Monday in May (Memorial Day), July
4 (Independence Day), the first Monday in
September (Labor Day), the second Mon-
day in October (Columbus Day), Novem-
ber 11 (Veterans' Day/Armistice Day), the
fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiv-
ing Day), and December 25 (Christmas).
The Tuesday after the first Monday in
November is Election Day, a federal govern-
ment holiday in presidential-election years
(held every 4 years, and next in 2012).
For more information on holidays, see
“Orlando Area Calendar of Events,” in
chapter 2.
HOSPITALS
Dr. P. Phillips Hospital
(formerly the Sand Lake Hospital), 9400
Turkey Lake Rd. (
&
407/351-8500
), is
about 2 miles south of Sand Lake Road.
From the WDW area, take I-4 east to the
Sand Lake Road exit and make a left on
Turkey Lake Road. The hospital is 2 miles
up on your right. To avoid the highway,
take Palm Parkway (off of Apopka-
Vineland near Hotel Plaza Blvd.); it turns
into Turkey Lake Road. The hospital is 2
miles up on your left.
Celebration Health
(
&
407/303-4000
), located in the near-
Disney town of Celebration, is at 400
Celebration Place. From I-4, take the U.S.
192 exit. At the first traffic light, turn
right onto Celebration Avenue. At the first
stop sign, take another right.
Note:
Be sure
to check with your healthcare provider or
insurance carrier regarding regulations for
medical care outside your home area.
INSURANCE
The outlay for an Orlando
vacation can be considerable, especially if
you're buying a vacation package or rent-
ing a home while in the city. If you're
traveling during hurricane season, have a
medical condition, have to shell out a lot
of money in advance of your trip, or if
your vacation package is non-refundable,
do consider obtaining travel insurance.
For information on traveler's insurance,
trip cancelation insurance, and medical
insurance while traveling, please visit
www.frommers.com/planning
.
INTERNET ACCESS
See “Internet &
E-mail” on p. 48.
KENNELS
The major theme parks offer
animal boarding, usually for about $10 to
$15 per day. For information on Disney's
kennel facilities, call
&
407/824-6568.
Resort guests can board their pets overnight
for $13 to $18 ($15-$20 for those not stay-
ing at Disney) at the Transportation and
Ticket Center's kennel on Seven Seas Drive
near the Polynesian Resort as well as at the
locations at Epcot, Hollywood Studios,
Animal Kingdom, and the Fort Wilderness
Campground. At press time, a luxury kennel
(located on Bonnet Creek Pkwy.) offering
overnight boarding and specialized services
for the pampered pet set was in the works
(slated to open in mid-2010). SeaWorld
($6) and Universal Orlando ($10) also offer
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