August 27, 2018

As most already know, it has been a little frustrating trying to find special things to do with everyone including what to do at Disney due to Bike Week, Spring Break, and 12 Hours at Sebring taking place all in that same week.  The good news is that Disney is now working with us and hopefully before Christmas we will have some idea as to what they can and cannot do.

However, as of this afternoon I believe I have identified one of the best events/venue's that we could think of.  It turns out that what will probably be the largest car museum in America will be opening their doors with over 650,000 sq. ft. of indoor floor space, over 6500 parking spots and the space and plans for three additional motels on the property.  The name, The Orlando Auto Museum!  Now I would send you to their website but they are not putting this online until their grand opening which will be sometime over the next several months.  Basically their location and many of the details regarding this museum are not publically available at this time, but my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting the General Manager responsible for putting it all together and he took us around the entire facility on a golf cart for a full preview of what they are doing, much of which is already taking shape with cars and other collectible items already on site.

This museum will be absolutely magnificent!  Not only do they have the largest collections of many types of cars, but will have dedicated show rooms set up for various movie cars such as The Bat Cave and their James Bond collection with a full set of cars and other memorabilia, one of the largest indoor car assignment showrooms, an indoor car show area, game rooms, restaurants, bowling alley, indoor electric go-cart track (with some real capability of racing), indoor 15 plus screen movie theater, an indoor and outdoor drive-in movie area and so much more.  This will definitely be a car guys dream come true...

Ok, so what are the plans.  Well, I have decided to replace the all day car cruise to Tampa/St. Petersburg on Friday with a much shorter cruise around Central Florida which will take us maybe 3-4 hours including time for a picnic lunch and some very scenic areas for some great old Florida pictures with our cars, followed by a full afternoon at the Orlando Auto Museum with an outside showing of The Love Bug.  The museum will be open until Midnight so we will not be rushed and will be able to have supper there as well as plenty of great cars/memorabilia to look at and exciting entertainment to keep us busy.  We will invite all VW owners coming to Eddy's show in Lakeland to join us if they can but the museum will provide us with special roped off parking for the Herbies.  Those coming for Eddy's show will want to leave early so that they can attend the Friday night cruise-in at the Burger King or to check-in around 10:00pm that evening for camping at the RP Funding Center.

This is going to be one fantastic Friday that we will remember for a long time!  I was so excited after our tour of the facility that I simply had to create this page to tell everyone and share it with all of the VW community forums.  You will not want to miss this 3 day event and all of the great plans we have planned, especially this one of a kind museum...

drluv

P.S.  Entry to the major showroom area of the museum, restaurants, etc., is free but there may be some cost associated with the special showcases and games such as bowling, go-carts, etc..  These details will be worked out between us and the museum and posted here when they are available...