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00:00Woo-hoo!
00:02The Hammonds are here!
00:04Travel is in my blood.
00:06Let's go.
00:07This is the best.
00:08For years, I worked as a tour rep,
00:10following in the footsteps of my dear, lovely mob,
00:14a hard-working, no-nonsense travel agent.
00:17Thanks to our money-saving tips,
00:19we managed to budget our way to a place
00:21that totally captured our hearts.
00:23Look at this! Look at this!
00:24Florida!
00:26I love it!
00:28I was born for Little Havana.
00:30And now the Sunshine State is a big draw for me.
00:34Sorry, I stood on your foot.
00:35And my son, Aidan.
00:37Good job, y'all.
00:38You see him, mate?
00:39Yeah.
00:41But with holiday prices rising...
00:43Oh, my goodness. I'm in heaven.
00:46Can you do Florida...
00:48without breaking the bank?
00:50$4.99 for these.
00:53Oh, yes, Aidan!
00:55Help you, Mum.
00:56Otherwise, just get out.
00:58It's the best day of my life.
01:09OK, and action.
01:11Let's turn over.
01:12Alison and Aidan.
01:15So, here we are again, Bab.
01:17Back on the road,
01:18and in our favourite part of the Sunshine State.
01:24I love Orlando.
01:26And this time, we're going for big experiences
01:29without going large on the price.
01:31If we can hold it all together.
01:35Ever since Aidan was little,
01:37Orlando's biggest theme parks have been keeping us nicely entertained.
01:42OK, here we are.
01:43Back on the road.
01:47Places like Disney, SeaWorld and Universal are where the two of us
01:52and my dear old mum would spend most of our time and money.
01:55Last night, I was thinking about the fact that, back in the day,
01:59it was so much cheaper...
02:00Yeah.
02:00..going to those big theme parks.
02:02But guess how much it is now?
02:03I'd probably say $50.
02:05OK.
02:05Maybe $60.
02:07Let's go $60.
02:08It's $130.
02:10Wow.
02:10For one person to get through the door.
02:12Wow.
02:12Which is unbelievable.
02:14It's not just the entrance fees at Disney World and Universal
02:18that come in at well over $100 each,
02:21and sometimes closer to $200,
02:23but food bills at the big parks can be mega bucks too.
02:26And if you stay in one of the hotels on site,
02:29you could easily be spending thousands.
02:32So the question is,
02:34can you get that theme park experience,
02:37but at a fraction of the price?
02:40So does that mean you're taking me to a theme park?
02:42Well, you need to have a look on your phone
02:44and see if you can find one.
02:47Aidan's favourite thing about the big parks is the rides.
02:50So his first task is to find somewhere
02:53that gives you the same adrenaline rush for a lot less cash.
02:57Starting route to Old Town.
03:00But if you thought roller coasters were twisty and turny,
03:03try driving with Aidan when he's in charge of the directions.
03:07Oh, we were supposed to go there.
03:09You're not helping at all.
03:10I wasn't concentrating.
03:11Oh, we've gone the wrong way now.
03:12Why don't you be the navigator
03:14and tell me left, right, left, right.
03:16It's called teamwork.
03:18Don't let me do everything.
03:20I'm a passenger.
03:21Help your mum.
03:22I'm a passenger.
03:22Otherwise, just get out.
03:28Today, you can't move in Orlando for the giant theme parks.
03:32But back in the 60s, Orlando was just a small town surrounded by swamp land.
03:38When Walt Disney chose it to be the home of his second theme park, opening the Magic Kingdom in 1971,
03:45the city was transformed with over 10 million people visiting in the first year.
03:50SeaWorld opened two years later, and by the time Universal came along in the 90s, more than 40 million people
03:58a year were visiting Orlando's three major attractions.
04:02But Aidan's found another, smaller theme park in Kissimmee, just a 25-minute drive from Orlando Airport.
04:11It opened in the 1980s and was designed to look like a classic American funfair.
04:18It's taken us a while, but finally, working as a team, Aidan, we've arrived.
04:24Oh, is this it? It's Old Town. It's Old Town.
04:26This is it, Mum, yeah. It's Old Town.
04:29We're here, Mum.
04:30Yeah, let's go. Let's do it. Let's go.
04:32There's a lot to take in, but Aidan and I aren't messing around.
04:36We're heading straight for the rides.
04:38It's looking promising, cos this place is brimming with classic funfair rides.
04:43But the main attraction here is the price.
04:47A day pass here is about half what you'd pay to get into the more famous resort parks up the
04:52road.
04:55OK, I want to do a 69.95, cos I might get jealous when I see you on a ride
04:59that I can't go on.
05:00So should we just go get the same?
05:01I think we should.
05:02Can we get two day passes, please?
05:04A day pass?
05:05Yeah, thank you.
05:07We're going to have some fun times with our fun pass.
05:10See you later.
05:11Oh, Aidan, do you remember when you couldn't make the size?
05:14Let's see if you measure up now. Come on.
05:17Let's see ya.
05:18No, I can't do it.
05:20I can't get you on the ride.
05:24Unfortunately, both of us are more than tall enough.
05:27Good news for him, because he's a massive fan of white knuckle roller coasters.
05:33While I am the exact opposite, they terrify the life out of me.
05:39You can't say the same about Susie.
05:42Her son is also an Aidan.
05:44And just like West Midlands Aidan, Florida Aidan loves a roller coaster.
05:49But Mum Susie is the real roller coaster obsessive here.
05:53And this is one of her all-time favourites.
05:57Mind Blower.
05:59You guys are the roller coaster seekers.
06:03Yes.
06:03How many roller coasters have you been on all together?
06:06It's easily above 100.
06:07Well, but here's the thing.
06:08We like to ride in the front and we like to ride in the back.
06:10Okay.
06:10So that's kind of two every time, right?
06:12This is mind-blower.
06:14How's it like?
06:15Well, it's really special because it's the only wooden coaster in our country that goes upside down.
06:20It's also loud.
06:21It's very loud.
06:21It's really loud.
06:22It's very loud.
06:22It goes 40 miles an hour.
06:23There it goes.
06:27It's not just the look of this roller coaster that worries me.
06:31It's the screaming and the screeching.
06:33Why does the whole thing sound like it's in pain?
06:40And part of what makes that sound is it's a wooden coaster, but it's on steel track.
06:48Yes, it goes upside down.
06:50Snakes alive.
06:52But that's not the only thing that draws roller coaster fanatics like Susie to this ride.
06:56At 2,000 feet long and almost 100 feet high, this is also the tallest, longest and fastest operating wooden
07:05roller coaster in Florida.
07:07All of which is making me feel even worse.
07:12It does look a little bit rickety.
07:14Oh, it's not rickety at all.
07:15It's very safe.
07:16Is it?
07:17A ton of fun.
07:17You're going to love it.
07:21I love the fact that mother and son have bonded over their love of roller coasters.
07:25I don't love the fact that they've somehow persuaded me to join them.
07:30You go first.
07:31Oh, my God.
07:32If this doesn't get me mother of the year, I don't know what will.
07:36Oh, my God.
07:37Thank you, too.
07:38Settle in, right?
07:39Mine's not locked.
07:40I'm scared.
07:41He's going to come and check each one of us.
07:43Tell me when it's locked.
07:44Oh, my God.
07:45It's going to go upside down.
07:47I'm having a panic attack.
07:48Ready, Aiden?
07:48Oh, my God.
07:49You know that expression?
07:51Keep your hair on.
07:52I hope my hair pieces don't fall out.
07:54Oh, no.
07:57Why am I doing this?
07:59There's no going back now.
08:01The adrenaline is pumping through my veins.
08:06We're going to die.
08:07No.
08:08No.
08:10Ah!
08:11Ah!
08:12Help me!
08:13Help me!
08:16All I can do now is grin and bear it and just remind myself that this is a wooden roller
08:22coaster.
08:23I mean, come on.
08:24How frightening can it really be?
08:30You?
08:31Is that it?
08:45Ah!
08:48Ah!
08:52Ah!
08:53Ah!
08:53Ah!
08:53Ah!
08:54Ah!
09:19I've been shaken, rattled, deafened
09:24even my face is hurting me and my conversation skills have gone out the
09:30window I enjoy that sound it's like so loud so loud so loud that's the scariest
09:38roller coaster I've ever been on really absolutely I can't say I share Susie's
09:43love of roller coasters but one thing we can agree on is that there's nothing
09:48better than spending time with a son called Aidan did you have a favorite
09:52part Susie I can't say there was any favorite part whatsoever however I can
09:57see why you would love that yes it was fast it's loud that was the funny hills
10:02it was how I'll be honest with you for me it was how but I get I get why you
10:07love
10:07it yes I get why you love it so are we going again no we're not going to okay
10:13right Aidan's had his big theme park treat now it's Alison time and I'm pleased to
10:19see that another thing this theme park has in common with the big attractions is a
10:23huge choice of places to eat but you can pay more than $13 just for a tub of
10:30popcorn in the major parts so we want to see if old towns food stores a better value
10:36oh babes is that's a popcorn company oh my days hello hello there hello this is this is good
10:48the classic little popcorn store was one of the original food shops in old town the owner Rodney has
10:55been selling its outrageous flavors to tourists and locals ever since what type of customers do you
11:02get here we get people from everywhere primarily people that you know want to do something on a
11:09budget and they don't want to do the expensive theme parks you know so they come here because the same
11:14$300 you spend getting into a theme park you can spend it in Kissimmee popcorn exactly what the whole
11:21$300 please we need that a substantial bag of popcorn here cost way less than you paint a theme park
11:30so
11:31we're definitely saving money we just need to decide which flavor to go for we have white cheddar yellow
11:37cheddar from nacho to bacon and cheese we also have spicy flavors like wasabi buffalo breath
11:42buffalo breath is basically like hot cheetos oh I don't like the sound of buffalo breath but I never
11:50shy away from a popcorn challenge sweet or savory popcorn is a passion in the Hammond household so how
11:58will we do with the wackier flavors it's time for Zania and Isaiah to put our taste buds to the
12:04test and
12:04how many flavors have you got just out of intro 50 to 70 flavors they choose the flavors and whoever
12:13gets the most right doesn't pay for the popcorn okay here we go and what that is could be used
12:21for a
12:21lot of things this is garlic flavor honey mustard I don't think I'm gonna be very good at this but
12:31we'll
12:31give it a go I just say salted so no it's not wasabi you think with the amount of popcorn
12:41we eat we'd be
12:42better at this cheese flavor both cheddar cheese close cheesy cheesy it's something like breakfast wise
12:50cheesy waffles bacon and cheese bacon what's this on it's cheesy with a bit of a spice
13:03pizza yes Aiden scored it's son one mom now I've got to get this one now cookies and cream
13:21so this is one flavor whoever guesses correctly wins all right let's go ready candy floss no
13:31tea fruity no apple nope it's nothing nostalgia bubblegum I had no idea no idea our thrill-seeking
13:45mission away from the big theme parks has got off to a fine start old town isn't as glitzy as
13:54Disney or
13:54as cool as Universal but he has that old American funfair spirit it smells like candy floss and hot dog
14:05onions the queues don't go on and on and on and the rides are as terrifying as anywhere else it's
14:13got
14:13more of an old-fashioned feel to it all right but best of all our day out here has cost
14:22us around half
14:23what we'd spend at a big theme park now that's what I call a buzz on a budget
14:33and it's a bus that keeps on bussing we're getting a lot of adrenaline
14:49when you come to Orlando for thrills and excitement the price of the entertainment and the bills for
14:55food aren't the only things to factor in of course there's a small matter of where you're gonna stay
15:01and that can be the biggest cost of all one way to keep the cost down is to find accommodation
15:07that
15:08comes with its own entertainment this home less than 30 minutes drive from the big theme parks is part of
15:15a funky new trend in Orlando for holiday rentals that offer more than just a place to stay of course
15:23you've got the usual run-of-the-mill stuff like a massive pool and an outside bar but you've also
15:30got a pool table a poker table an indoor bar a karaoke system bedrooms for kids of all ages and
15:41an arcade
15:42room oh and a slide of course this is the kind of place that could keep Aidan and me happy
15:50for hours
15:52but you really need to be a big group to make something like this work because sharing the cost
15:57can make a lot of sense and dollars save you up to 50 per person per night compared to a
16:05mid-range
16:05hotel inside one of the parks staying outside the theme parks also makes you more aware of the other
16:16attractions dotted around Orlando you start to remember that life isn't all about a giant mouse
16:22or a boy wizard there are other things you can do and see and often on a much smaller budget
16:29show off
16:30every time I get in the little car little electric car get excited finding cheaper alternatives to the
16:37theme parks isn't rocket science there are plenty of places offering a variety of thrills and spills
16:45without hitting you quite so hard at the tills there are more sedate options too for the more discerning
16:53adventure seeker quite happy to never see another roller coaster ever again but what about the other big
17:00thing that theme parks offer the giant Showtime extravaganzas the massive productions where you feel
17:08like you're actually inside a movie with the action happening all around you to find out we're on our
17:16way to an attraction my mom always wanted to visit but sadly she never made it here we are oh
17:24look we've got a proper moat
17:27castle Hammond Central Florida is not the most obvious place for a 14th century jousting show is it it's a
17:36bit like us Brits going crazy for a
17:38wild west show in Smedic but this place has been going strong since the 1980s it's basically strictly come Lansing
17:47there's horses
17:57and some very chickeny food the four course feast and the two hour show are included in the price so
18:05it's food and
18:06entertainment on a budget and another big tip for all these attractions if you book online you get a discount
18:13but the extra special thing about this for me is the crowd
18:17they're a big part of the action picking their side cheering their team and booing the opposition
18:25it's a bit like panto in the UK really
18:31hello hello there should we curtsy you can I would love to see it and I love doing a panto
18:38oh yes I do
18:40beautiful my lord
18:41there you go wonderful
18:44but we turned up early for a cheeky sneak peek behind the curtain to see just what it takes
18:50to put on a show like this seven nights a week and it looks like we're getting the royal treatment
18:56here
18:56being greeted by the Queen or Christina to her mates now you guys are going to see the show but
19:03first I'm
19:04actually going to take you backstage so you can meet a couple of my nights and some of our horses
19:10there you go let's do it
19:12while Aidan just wants to play with his chopper
19:15quite a cool sword I like this
19:16it's heavy
19:18it's the horses I've come to see so while he sharpens up his sword skills I'm heading backstage with Her
19:25Majesty
19:26these are our stables
19:28oh they're the most beautiful horses I've ever seen
19:31they are they're great boys
19:33these horses are the main attraction because what would a mighty queen or brave knight be without their trusty steed
19:42who's this
19:43who's this?
19:44this is Hidalgo
19:45hi
19:46so lovely
19:48oh do you like a little scratch?
19:50and these are unmistakably the stars of the show
19:53you can tell
19:54do they know when it's showtime?
19:56they absolutely do know when it's showtime
19:58they do they are ready to go
20:02the horses play a major role in the show
20:05there are several complicated equestrian scenes
20:08and of course there's the jousting
20:10so the horses need to be as well trained as the sword wielding knights
20:17oh we stepped, I forgot the step, I forgot the step
20:19ok let's go again
20:22these two knights Lord Nelson and Lord Logan are brothers
20:25so they've been fighting each other for years
20:28and thanks to their experience and expertise
20:31squire Aidan hasn't lost any limbs yet
20:35what did you guys do before this then? were you stuntmen?
20:37oh you'd be surprised
20:37I came into this previously I was an overnight security officer
20:42wow
20:42I used to do a non-emergic transport as an EMT
20:45so I was like hospice transport, women care
20:47and before that I was a line cook
20:49so I didn't know how to ride a horse or fight or stage anything like that
20:52so you learned everything here
20:55it's the same for the horses
20:56they've been trained not to just perform all the moves
20:59but to do it in front of a massive crowd
21:02screaming like they're at some oldie worldie Super Bowl
21:06the horses reward after a hard day's night
21:08is some superstar pampering
21:10and lead horse trainer, Lord Stephen to you and me
21:14is going to demonstrate how to make Hidalgo feel special
21:19so what we do after every show
21:21yeah
21:21we braid all of their hair
21:22really?
21:23yeah
21:23wow they are well looked after
21:25yeah so it's pretty simple
21:26over, under, over, under
21:28and he doesn't mind
21:29oh no they actually prefer it
21:30really?
21:31because in the Florida heat
21:32it takes the hair off the neck
21:34it's also time for us to spend with them bonding with the horses
21:37yeah
21:37should I get involved?
21:38yeah absolutely
21:39okay I'm going in
21:40don't worry I'm uh I know
21:42I'm gonna look after you
21:43oh he's gorgeous
21:44he's more interested in the camera
21:45yeah
21:45Alison I might have you do mine afterwards
21:47oh no problem darling
21:48no problem whatsoever
21:50lovely hair
21:51the more time we spend doing things like this
21:53the more that we can make sure that they're acclimated to human beings
21:57yeah
21:57the more we pay attention to their skin, to their hair
22:00make sure that they're in good health
22:02and they don't get freaked out by the audiences
22:04we spend a lot of time training them when we first get them in
22:07to make sure they don't get scared
22:09to make sure the camera flashes, the lights, the music, we use fog in the show
22:14and they have to get acclimated to it all
22:16how old is he?
22:17he is eight years old
22:19so we start training them at three
22:21they usually don't make it into the show until about four or five
22:24and then we retire them when they are about eighteen
22:27I really enjoy that
22:29actually I feel like I've bonded
22:31yeah it's one of the best ways to spend time with them
22:34what do you think of the braids?
22:36perfect
22:36thank you so much
22:37I'll see you in the show later Babs
22:39seeing the show I'm looking forward to it
22:42thanks Steve
22:42thank you
22:43see you later
22:46I'm not being funny but I'm definitely better at braiding than Aiden is at sword fighting
22:51head strike on the other side
22:53head strike
22:54oh sorry sorry
22:55head strike
22:57luckily he won't be risking life and limb in the show tonight
23:01but Nelson and Logan will be
23:03before you go
23:04go ahead
23:04who do you think is going to win?
23:06oh
23:07I'm the older brother
23:08I'm going to give it to the older brother
23:09I'm going to give it to the older brother
23:10I'm going to give it to the older brother
23:10you could
23:11you know what
23:11you've got to prove me wrong
23:13I'll be glad to prove you wrong
23:15okay
23:21that's the rehearsal over
23:23now it's show time
23:25the middle ages are back with a vengeance
23:28Queen Christina is on her throne
23:32the crowds have been summoned
23:34and tonight
23:35they're going to party
23:36like it's 1399
23:38yes I'm ready
23:40woo
23:42and you can't have a medieval party without a crown can you?
23:46so I've got hold of one that's the perfect size for Aiden
23:50put your crown on
23:52put your crown on
23:52put your crown on
23:53come on
23:55join in
23:55join in
23:56join in
23:57join in
24:02never mind
24:03he's just going to have to look silly
24:05because all the other spectators are well up for the headgear
24:08I'm ready for this
24:11the first thing you need to do is work out whose side you're on
24:14there's the red team over there
24:16with the red and yellow
24:17with the red and yellow
24:18yes team
24:19we're going to win
24:20woo
24:21yeah
24:23that's our team
24:24then you just need some authentic medieval weaponry
24:28thanks
24:29the small sword is yours
24:30and it's game on
24:36the jousting event pits the knights against each other
24:40red and yellow
24:43red and yellow
24:47and lord logan is up next
24:49oh
24:53oh
24:53oh that was quite bad that line
24:57and he does all right
24:59yeah
25:02yeah
25:04well done well done my knights
25:08then in the heat of the action
25:10dinner turns up
25:13oh my god it's massive isn't it
25:14yeah
25:15now that's what you call a middle age spread
25:18i think you do have to eat in your fingers that many years are
25:20yeah literally half a chicken on your plate
25:23the show cracks on
25:25and one by one the knights fall
25:27until in the end
25:29it all comes down to a battle of the brothers
25:31red and yellow versus black and white
25:35who's gonna win eh
25:36i said the big brother so i said white and black
25:40i say red and yellow it's our team
25:42red and yellow
25:47you can do it
25:49you can do it mate
25:52it looks like aiden taught them well
25:55especially logan
26:10it's a win for the red and yellows with a little bit of help from the hammonds
26:29and while they may have a funny idea about what the medieval period was really like
26:34we can safely say that americans know true royalty when they see it
26:39and our queen of love and beauty
26:43oh thank you
26:45oh thank you darling
26:47oh my god this is so awesome
26:49i'm so happy everyone
26:53god i never expected that it's been the best day my lord
26:56that was really good
26:58what a way to crown our alternative day out in orlando
27:02we've done it
27:03we've stayed away from the big theme park resorts
27:06but have we really managed to get the full theme park effect
27:09without the theme park price tag
27:12do you think we got the same theme park experience
27:15that same adrenaline
27:16i think we did
27:17but for less
27:18for less i definitely think we did
27:19i've worked it out roughly
27:21it's about 260 dollars
27:23for what we've done today
27:25and if you think about it
27:26that is the price that is just for the tickets
27:28to go to where we go theme park
27:30exactly
27:30and we've literally done the whole day
27:32we've done it
27:32i've got adrenaline
27:33i've been entertained
27:34i've been fed
27:36happy
27:36i've become a queen
27:37you have
27:38i mean what more do we need
27:39the only thing i'm sad about
27:40is the fact that your nan wasn't here
27:42because she always wanted to come here
27:44she would have loved it
27:44we used to drive passing
27:45she said we've got to do that
27:46and she never did it
27:47she would have loved it here
27:48but that just goes to show
27:50whenever you want to do something
27:52yeah
27:52do it there and then
27:53don't wait around
27:54because you never know when your next day is
27:55it's true
27:56do you know what i mean
27:57enjoy it
27:57i did should we go
27:59did you enjoy it
28:00i loved it
28:00mwah
28:01right let's get out of the queen
28:02come on
28:03half the queen
28:03oh sorry
28:05oh don't forget your sword bab
28:06oh yeah
28:07ha ha ha ha
28:37you