Florida Villas Blog

Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the Sea World trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who died following an incident with one of the killer whales.

It appears that the whale grabbed her from the roll off area and began thrashing around and dragging her underwater. This followed a training session with the whale and was massaging Tilikum, a 12,000-pound whale when her ponytail fell onto the whale's nose Wednesday afternoon. That's when Tilikum suddenly grabbed her hair and dragged his trainer into the water where she drowned.

Tilikum, has killed twice before. The first time was when he was involved with another whale in the death of a trainer in a Canadian water park. The second time was when a man hid when the park was closing and entered the whale enclosure when no one was around.

I think that it is time to withdraw the whale from shows and interaction with trainers as it is clear that he can become distressed easily. I would hate to see this animal destroyed just as I am sure that Dawn Brancheau would not want that either.

Universal Studios Orlando have announced the line up for their Mardi Gras entertainment

The line up is as follows:
February 6th: KC and the Sunshine Band
February 13th: Heart
February 14th:Kool and the Gang
February 20th: Blondie
February 27th: Dierks Bentley
March 6th: Akon
March 13th: Aretha Franklin
March 20th: Miranda Lambert
March 27th: Doors Down
April 3rd: Beach Boys
April 9th: Sheryl Crow
April 10th: Flo Rida
April 17th: Chicago

 

 

It looks a like there should be something there to suit all musical tastes.

My advice for folks looking to visit Orlando in 2010 is to book early. Already we have seen many enquiries coming in for next Summer. On top of this the peak booking time is always immediately straight after Christmas. So to avoid disappointment don’t leave it too late!

Vacation home rental has seen an increase over the last few months despite the current economic climate. This is probably due the fact that people are realising that you can have anything from 2 to 24 people staying in a vacation home, therefore making it much better value for money.

If you want to take a look and make a no obligation enquiry to our owners visit either www.perfectfloridavillas.com or www.floridavillaselite.com

We will also be offering very good value Car Hire in 2010, this will be totally safe as we intend to use a pre-paid method for booking the vehicle at either Dollar or Alamo. What this means is that unlike other companies that make bookings on account and when they get into financial difficulties and can’t pay the rental company, the car will not be there for you when you arrive. With us when you pay the car is booked and paid at the same time. So what ever happens to us, your car hire is safe.

You can now follow this blog on Twitter just add @OrlandoVillas

Most people know the Florida Keys and Key West as a great getaway. One of the most unique places on earth. Calm. serene, laid back. Just the right setting to recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your spirits. But a getaway to the Florida Keys and Key West is much more than peace and quiet. And not just because of the legendary fishing and the world’s most spectacular dive sites. The Keys mean history. Art, theater, museums, shopping, fine dining,entertainment and much more. 120 miles of perfect balance between natural beauty and extra-ordinary excitement.  From some of the best camping spots in the country to luxurious hotels. With charming  bed and breakfasts to rustic, family-owned lodgings. In other words, something for everyone.

Whether you drive or fly into Key West, one thing’s for sure: there’s simply no place quite like it. An island city of palm-lined streets, boasting Victorian homes, gingerbread conch houses and mansions on the National Register.

John Audubon and Ernest Hemingway lived here. One had a passion for preservation. The other, a great zest for living. And that combination gives Key West its unique personality. The moment you get on world-famous Duval Street, in Old Town Key West, you do more than feel the ambiance. You become a part of it.

Key West is dive shops and charter boats and glorious sunsets, but it’s also a Bahamian Village. With historic forts, lighthouses, theaters, museums, galleries, festivals, markets, sidewalk cafes and legendary pubs. Even Truman’s Little Whitehouse

At Key West you can buy a postAt Key West you can buy a postcard or a famous hand print. You don’t need a car. Tour the city on foot or by trolley. Mingle with some of the world’s most fun-loving characters. And find some of the best-made cigars and aloe products anywhere. Key West is unique, and unspoiled. A feast for your heart and your soul .

Imagine a place where you can battle a sailfish in the morning and enjoy a live play at night. Where you can explore a marine sanctuary one day, and original artworks the next. Where music naturally belongs, be it Buffet or Bach.

Theatre lovers will love it down here. Key West gives you plenty of choices with three theatres. The Marathon Community Theatre presents stellar comedies, dramas and musicals throughout the year. And the Key Players will entertain you with a variety of tautly produced shows in the Upper Keys. rprised at the caliber of the resident artists – a wealth of styles and techniques creating works with a flare and freshness that’s uniquely Florida Keys. From paintings to sculptures, the work is innovative, captivating and unique.

Then there’s the music. Not one type, but all. From  Then there’s the music. Not one type, but all. From  Amadeus to ZZ Top. So you can just as easily let loose in one of our pubs, as lose yourself in a vibrant symphony. Whether it's a play, a concert or the perfect painting for the foyer, The Florida Keys & Key West will dazzle you with a variety of cultural venues that are as impressive as they are unexpected.

We took the US27 route which we had been advised was more interesting than the Interstate route. We passed through many towns and so many orange groves which went on and on into the distance. We also saw many sheriffs sitting at the side of the road slightly hidden from view until you were up close so speed limit was kept to....
We stopped for lunch at Key Largo at a Tiki Bar which was just so beautiful looking out over the beautiful blue water. It took us around 4 hours to get from the villa to Key Largo. Then, another hour to Key West. We then drove on to Key West and stopped along the route to paddle in the water as and when we fancied it or if a spot looked particularly scenic.
Upon arrival at Key West we dropped our bags at our hotel, we just went for cheap n cheerful as we had decided we would be out most of the time and so nothing fancy needed. We changed and went out, we went to the southernmost point which is 90miles away from Cuba. There was a man there who took our family photo and said he has been there taking visitor photo’s for around 20 years just for the pleasure of it.
We then went to Duval Street which is where lots of the restaurants and shops are and milled around looking for somewhere for dinner. So many restaurants to choose from and I think we went to the Rum Barrel. The following day we had pre booked a snorkeling trip from 9am - until 1pm, free beers, wine and soft drink thought it would be a nice way to spend the morning.
Upon departure we sailed for around 40 minutes to the reef (by this time myself, Jai and my middle son Ryan were feeling very poorly and had realised we were definitely not sea dogs!! ish. We sThe snorkeling was wonderful and we saw so many lovely fish. We spent around 90 mins in the water. We used a company called FURY who seemed to have a lot of the water sport business as there were stall all along Duval Street. Unfortunately on the way back we all suffered and none of us could stomach even the soft drinks. The captain instructed all of us who felt ill to be ill over the back as the toilets couldn't cope. I was mortified but fortunately there was a whole host of us who didn't have sea legs...
Anyway, back on land we drove to the beach and had a lovely afternoon. The sea was just like walking into a bath, just beautiful. Arun found a coconut and was determined to crack it which he managed after banging it on rocks for about 1/2 hour. Jai drank the milk from inside and said it was so sweet. That evening we went back to Duval Street, had dinner and then went down to the seafront and relaxed, we looked around the shops and walked down to the harbour and sat by the sea for a while taking in the ambience. We got back to the hotel around 11ish.
We went home via Miami - had lunch on Ocean Drive and went on the beach for 1/2 hour and then it poured down so didn't stay there very long. Took the interstate back home and it wasn't such a nice journey.

Submitted by Sandra, you can view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=349

 

 

Animal Kingdom is a paradise for animals, birds, reptiles and other creatures, so what better way to see them than by taking the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride? We have ridden this ride several times, but each time we see something different, and enjoy it even more. It is a good idea to go straight to the safari ride as soon as you arrive, as it is really popular, and gets busy very early. However, you can use your fastpass if you arrive later. It’s great for taking photos of the animals, and if you arrive early you will have more chance of seeing them than after midday, when they tend to be having a siesta.

Kilimanjaro Safari Ride is located within ‘Africa’ at the far left hand corner of the park. As with many of Disney’s attractions, there is a long walk before you reach the actual safari ride, but there are overhead TV screens to get you in the mood, and fill you in on the background story, so you really don’t notice the wait. It is quite cool, with fans overhead, and open sides to the covered walkway which let in any cooling breezes. The scene is very cleverly set, and you can almost imagine yourself back in the old colonial days, wearing a pith helmet and safari suit. After quite a winding walk, which twists and turns, you will eventually come to the Park Ranger Station.

Here you will line up ready to board the large 32 passenger, open sided trucks, which will take you over bumpy ground into the bush. The seats are quite high up, so you get a good view of the animals, and with the canopy overhead and a fresh breeze coming in, it makes for a really enjoyable, if bumpy, ride. If you peer out of the truck at the road you will see animal footprints and tyre tracks in the dust – but, on closer inspection, you will see that it is really concrete! If you go more than once, try to sit on different sides of the truck, as you will get a different view from wherever you sit.

Do have your camera at the ready, but you will have to be quick to capture any photos of the animals, as the truck does not stop. Be prepared by setting your camera to take moving shots.

As you set off, the driver becomes your guide, and it is his, or her, enthusiasm that will make the experience seem real, or not. Our first driver was South African, and entered into the spirit of things with real gusto. It was simply amazing, as the truck set off into the underbush. Throughout the journey he kept in contact, by radio, with the bush pilot who is ‘flying’ overhead, and looking out for animals for us to view – as well as keeping an eye out for poachers. The safari takes you through very realistic African terrain, through savannahs of tall grass, over rocky trails, through a canopy of towering trees, and at one stage over a very rickety and dilapidated bridge – look out for the surprise here! Everywhere you look there are animals, gentle, shy antelope grazing in small groups, then onto the Bongo pool, where you may see a black rhino drinking. 

You may see hippos, basking at the foot of waterfalls, which cascade over the rocks, or large alligators, half covered with water, just waiting to snap at you. The grassland is really spectacular, and gives the impression of being in Africa. There are huge termite mounds and baobab tress – alright, they may be concrete, but they do look realistic.

The height of the safari, for us, is always the elephants, who stand majestically in groups, their massive bodies taking on the red rust colour of the soil they like to bathe in, trunks waving to and fro, as they reach up for leaves. You may be lucky enough to see a baby. It is now that we are asked by the pilot to start looking for Big Red and her offspring, Little Red, who are missing. Could they be in danger? Well, we will keep a look out and see if we can find them.

As we pass a flock of graceful flamingos, their delicate pink plumage making a splash of colour against the gold of the savannah, we are told to look out for cheetahs, lying up amongst the rocks, and maybe a regal lion, stretched out lazily on another mound of rocks, eyes shut, taking a nap in the sunshine.  Your truck will take you past tall necked giraffes swaying as they walk elegantly by, basking hippos and real alligators, wildebeest and gazelles, grazing placidly, regal lions lying splayed out on the rocks, lazily dozing in the sunshine.

All this peace and tranquillity is suddenly shattered, by the crackling of the radio, and an urgent appeal, by one of the reserve wardens, urging us to help find some poachers who have wounded Big Red. Little Red is missing too. It’s time to hang onto your hats as the truck suddenly accelerates, making a quick detour away from the track and through geysers spouting 20 feet into the air. This is when the fun really starts, and you really do have to hang on tight, as the truck twists and turns, rocks and rolls at speed through the potholed terrain. A jeep disappears round the bend, and at the side of the track we can see the remains of the poachers’ camp. The campfires are still smoking, and there are elephant tusks strewn around. They have obviously left in a hurry. We wonder if we are going to be too late to save Little Red? Well, I won’t spoil the excitement……..you will have to wait and see for yourselves!

Then it’s back on the road, through lush tropical vegetation, across a large pool with three large waterfalls, and then we are back home at the Ranger Station. Sadly, our safari is at an end, but you can do it all again if you go and use your fastpass! It’s a ride the children will love, adults, too, and even if the termite hills and the baobab trees are made of concrete, they are pretty good replicas!

The amazing thing is that you will be unaware of the ditches and barriers, which keep the animals in the right place – there are no visible fences.  Most extraordinarily – all the animals are taken into safe enclosures at night – makes you wonder how they get them all back in.

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

 

There is so much to see and do at Animal Kingdom, that it is hard to fit it all in, but one thing I would not want to miss is the wonderful and very spectacular ‘Festival of the Lion King,’ in Camp Minnie Mickey. We normally try to catch a performance later in the day, after we have visited most of the attractions. It is quite a long walk to the huge auditorium, but its well worth it, even if your feet are killing you by then. Try to arrive reasonably early as it gets pretty full and you can then choose where you sit.

The 1000 seat auditorium is now fully enclosed, and benefits from the addition of air conditioning. When we first visited Animal Kingdom it was open at the sides, and sometimes, during heavy showers or thunderstorms it was difficult to remain focused, because of the deafening noise of the rain and thunder. It could also be rather hot and humid, but now it is great.

The atmosphere is electric as the show starts, and the huge animatronic animals emerge from behind the curtains, accompanied by colourfully dressed cast members who sing and dance. Their tribal costumes are extravagant and stunning, with bold colours and vivid use of a variety of materials, and their typical African headdresses are very spectacular. There are 4 animatronic animals, Simba, who sits atop Pride Rock, a swaying giraffe, an elephant, and, in the jungle, Pumba and Timon. The theatre, which has 4 banks of seats, is then divided up so that each bank represents an animal – elephant, wart hog, lion and giraffe. The audience is encouraged to make appropriate noises for their allotted animal, and a member of the audience is coaxed down onto the floor to demonstrate their prowess at making animal noises. It is no problem for elephant or lion, but giraffe and warthog have a bit of a struggle. After a quick practice, this fast moving show is on the road.

There are acrobatic monkeys, in their startling orange striped costumes, who cavort and tumble on the trampoline that rolls out of the central area. They swing on the trapeze and provide a fast moving and intricate display of acrobatics. They tumble and twist and turn, whilst the song ‘Hakuna Matata’ plays.  There is a high speed finale, and then, almost in the bat of an eyelid the trampoline is folded away and disappears.

The mood changes dramatically and the auditorium is filled with pounding drums. The lights are lowered and in come the tribal warriors on stilts, their spectacular costumes, red and yellow striped, grass skirts, topped off with feathered tribal headdresses. There is a fire show, with plumes of flame rising out of the central stage area. The whole floor looks to be alight, and there are spinning torches, surrounded by colorful dancers – but there is an air of foreboding. Fire eaters make us gasp as they swallow flames.

The mood changes yet again, and all is calm and lightness. A turquoise and red bird dances in front of us, the female lifted high into the air, spinning and swooping. They perform to the sounds of that beautiful duet, and one of my favourite songs, ‘Can you feel the love tonight?’ which is sung with such feeling that it brings a lump to your throat. It is enchanting and romantic, and a spine tingling moment as you listen to the glorious harmonies. The female bird spins high in the sky, and as she circles above the audience there is orchestral music – a world in perfect harmony, connected in the circle of life. This wonderfully emotive song is sung with great power and emotion – the whole auditorium is simply transfixed by the beauty and emotion of it all.

Then it’s straight into the powerful, exciting and joyous ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ with its rhythmic chorus of ‘Whimoweh!’ and everyone joins in the singing and clapping, with a parade of eager children drawn into the centre of the auditorium.  More songs follow – Hakuna Matata – ‘no worries for the rest of your days’ – indeed your worries simply disappear in the magic of it all.  The birds return for another beautiful song, followed by the powerfully song ‘Be Prepared’ when an atmosphere of menace and evil emanates.

Simba reappears and sings ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King’ a happy, rhythmic song in which the whole audience participates.  ‘The Circle of Life’ brings the ‘tingle’ factor once more, and delicate birds are brought out on tall sticks, swooping and gliding high above the audience. The finale, itself, is truly spectacular, engulfing you in song and music and dancing, drawing us all together in the circle of life. All too soon it is over, and the huge animatronic animals glide silently backstage. If you are quick, you might just get a photograph before they disappear.

I always leave with a feeling of great calm, awe and wonder, after this truly memorable show, which although offering just a brief taste of the magical musical, The Lion King, brings a visit to Animal Kingdom to a remarkably beautiful end. It is one of Disney’s best shows, combining wonderful sound systems, superb singers and dancers, remarkable animatronics, fast action, suspense, romance, and beautiful songs, in a way that only Disney can do. Don’t miss it, whatever you do.

Submitted by "ellie" a vacation home owner, view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Surely the most magical part of Disney has to be Cinderella’s castle? How many of us, as children, dreamed of castles and princesses, princes and fairy godmothers, witches and dragons? I am sure that, like me, you cannot have failed to have been touched by the magic when you first saw Cinderella’s castle. Actually, I have to admit it was a bit of a shock to me, as I had always thought of it as being pink, but of course, that is the castle in Disneyland Paris, and Disneyworld’s magical castle is grey and blue, with gold spires. Set against the deep azure blue skies of Florida it is the perfect colour.

But did you know that it is supposedly the most photographed building in the world? I expect, like me, you have dozens of photos of the castle from every possible angle, and it is a firm favourite for a family portrait. I bet there is not one of us who does not have a photo of the family with the castle as a backdrop! It is certainly a great landmark as it can be seen from almost all parts of the park, so you need never get lost.

I wonder what is it about the castle that stirs the senses and takes us back to a mythical age when dragons roamed and knights in shining armour rescued princesses? Well, whatever it is, Disney seems to have found the perfect formula in Cinderella’s castle – from sunrise when it is suffused in a golden glow, through noon when it stands proud against an azure sky, and finally to dusk when it is lit up with  16.7 million colours. But of course it is night-time when the castle truly comes alive, bathed in a million exploding stars, as the dramatic firework display explodes around it and Tinkerbell flies across the sky. Like many others I have stood, entranced, the music and sounds engulfing me as I watch the castle changing colour - the perfect backdrop to the spectacular pyrotechnics of the evening.

Of course it is all an illusion – but one which we really don’t mind believing in. Said to be inspired by Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian region of Germany, it stands only 189 ft tall but it appears larger because of forced perspective. The bricks and other details get smaller as the building gets taller, so it appears larger than it really is – it actually looks more like 300ft tall. In fact they are not really bricks at all, but the walls both inside and outside have been sculpted to resemble solid granite. The inside of the castle is made of reinforced gypsum plaster, supported by a huge steel frame weighing six hundred tons. The exterior facade is fibreglass.  The castle was completed in July 1971, and took 18 months to construct. In fact Walt Disney did not think the castle at Disneyland was prominent enough, so when the castle was built at Magic Kingdom at Disney World it was elevated. Walt Disney also wanted nothing to be taller than the castle, so he added a flag on it for good measure. It is said that one of the flagpoles has an artificial flag that is really a transmitting antenna for co-ordinating the Main St parade.

A well kept secret is the 650 sq ft hotel suite which was hidden inside the castle. It was designed to be used as a private apartment for Walt himself, but it was never finished. However, in 2006 it was decided to complete  the suite so that, as part of the ‘Year of a Million Dreams’ promotion, lucky guests could be chosen at random and given the opportunity to stay there overnight. Designers had to create a suite fit for Cinderella, herself a fictional princess, and that took some doing. After all, would she, for example, have a television? Well, they decided she would, so a plasma screen TV takes pride of place over the ornate fireplace. The lucky winners were escorted to the suite and then taken for a special meal at Cinderella’s ‘Royal Table Restaurant.’ A trip to the ‘Wishes’ show followed the meal, and from here they were taken in Cinderella’s carriage to their suite, where Cinderella herself gave them a wake-up call the following morning. They even had the services of a butler to take care of all their needs during the night. Now if that isn’t magical I don’t know what is! I have to admit that I would have been thrilled to have won a night in Cinderella’s suite.

One of my favourite parts of the castle is the stunning mosaic tile murals which adorn the walls of the corridor which runs through the middle of the palace. These huge 15ft by 10ft panels were designed by Dorothea Redmond, and then executed by a team of 6 mosaicists, led by Hanns-Joachim Scharff. They tell the story of Cinderella, and it is said that some of the tiles are real gold and silver. The mosaics took over two years to complete, and consist of hundreds of thousands of pieces of Italian glass, in over 500 colours. Don’t forget to look closely at these mosaics as if you take a peep at Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters as they watch Cinderella trying on the glass slipper, you will see that one sister has a red face, which is suffused with anger, whilst the other is green with envy.

Of course there are many myths which have grown up around this magical castle. It is said that a ghost can sometimes be seen walking around in the crowds. There is another myth that it can be dismantled during a hurricane, but this is absolutely false.

One thing is for sure – the prime icon of Disneyworld, Orlando will always be Cinderella’s Castle. Undoubtedly it will continue to bring a touch of magic to millions of people in the future, and it will certainly give me goose bumps whenever I see it for the first time, as I walk through the gates of Magic Kingdom.

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

 

Essentially there are 4 water parks in Orlando. There are the two Disney water parks Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach along with Sea Worlds offering Aquatica and last but not least Wet n Wild.

Typhoon Lagoon.

This water park is my favourite I think. I love the way it is laid out and its Caribbean atmosphere. There are plenty of sandy areas to sunbathe or read a book but for me I just love the wave pool with its tidal wave every 90 seconds. It is quite powerful and can knock you off your feet. Even in the shallow areas it is advisable to take small children by the hand. There is a recently added attraction to TL and that is “Crush n Gusher” this is a unique water rollercoaster where riders get into a 2 or 3 man tube and you ride the high pressure water up hill and down dale. Some parts of the ride go into an enclosed tunnel. Great fun!! There is of course a lazy river that can be quite busy depending on the time of year and day of the week and you may have to wait a short while for a tube. There are several eating places that serve up fast food along with a couple of “tiki” type bars that serve beer and cocktails. TL does have a few slides but nothing to really rave about. There is a kiddie’s area “Ketchakiddee Creek” where everything is geared up for the smaller kids with some mini flumes and plenty of water flying about. Generally I would advise you to get there early the park officially opens at 10:00 but they start to let you through the turnstiles at around 9:45. This is to allow you to get towels and life jackets if required and anything from the shop. You are then held at a rope on the bridge that gives access to TL until 10:00. Then it is a bit of a race to get the best sun bathing areas situated in the right spot.

Blizzard Beach

This water park is for the more energetic of us. It can involve a lot of step climbing to reach some of its many slides and flumes. Probably the most well known and popular slide is of course Summit Plummit. This slide stands over 120 ft tall and you reach speeds of up to 60 mph. There are all sorts of slides here ones where you need a tube, others where you use a mat and then those like summit plummet where you just use your body. There again is a small kiddie’s area “Tykes Peak” that has all manner of

kiddie friendly stuff. There seems to be fewer areas to sunbathe here although it might be deceiving. The wave pool is not as good as TL and it just alternates between choppy water (Bobbing Waves) and calm. As with TL there are several fast food outlets. As with TL it opens at 10:00

 

Aquatica

This is the latest addition to the water parks of Orlando. It is owned by Sea World and one that I was keen to see. However, I was disappointed. The first thing was that you have to pay for parking and also the park seemed a lot smaller than I anticipated. I did like the Crazy River..... It has quite a strong current and takes some getting in and out of. You don’t have any tubes and life jackets are available and small kids must use them. There is also the Commerson's Dolphins on the Dolphin Plunge – it’s a slide with a transparent area that passes underwater where the dolphins are. I also wasn’t impressed with the choices of places to eat. There only seemed to be two places but I would say that the food choices were probably more healthy than the previous two water parks.

Wet n Wild

It has been a few years since I have been here, it just didn’t hold the same attraction for me that the two Disney parks did. Prior to Blizzard Beach this was the only place that you find some fairly good slides and that was the reason I went there but I find that it is not a great place to soak up some sun. I would say that this is more suited to the kids of the family. The slides are still pretty good I guess and admission is probably cheaper than the Disney parks and can be included in the Orlando Flex Ticket. There no real sandy areas and I personally don’t like walking on that plastic prickly green stuff! The really good thing about Wet n Wild is that its location is smack bang on International Drive.

Dates for this years Halloween Horror nights have been released by Universal. The dates are as follows:

September 25 & 26, October 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 and 31. (Frequent Fear Pass dates are Sept. 25 & 26, Oct. 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 21, 22, 25, 28 and 29.)

The cost of entry has remained the same as last year at a steep $69.99! The ironic thing is you can buy a Frequent Fear Pass for the same price and go to as many of the 13 Frequent Fear dates as you wish.