Refurbishment is completed. Be sure to take guided tour (no extra charge) which provides much detail, and puts things in perspective. Guided tour lasts about 35 minutes. You can see everything in about 90 minutes. Well maintained attraction, helpful staff. Interesting, and a great value.

I took the home/gardens/lab tour and was impressed. Before I took the tour, I looked into the museum and watched some videotapes they had running. The tapes were great and gave some very good information about Edison, Ford, and the estates. Very knowlegable tour guides. I was able to look inside both homes and get some photos. The grounds are beautiful. Edison and Ford both had breathtaking views of the water. There are some benches by the water and I sat there for awhile to take in the lovely scenery. The banyan tree is very beautiful. Tip: Go first thing in the morning before it gets crowded. I took the tour of the Edison-Ford Estates in January 2007.

No wonder this over-publicized tourist trap didn't give out entrance fee information on their website!!

The $9 tour mentioned in an earlier review was gone when our family of four visited this place in October 2006. We almost backed out when seeing the current admission fee of $20 -- and probably should have.

The most impressive part was definitely the huge banyan tree -- alongside the parking area and FREE for the enjoying. Restrooms, snacks and gift shop are right there, too. Buy a gift shop book about Edison with your saved entrance fees and you will learn more.

NOTHING at this site was presented to engage chlldren of any age.

Though we went during the slowest season of the year, the tour was rushed and fairly shallow. Some tour guides did an OK job of presenting tidbits of information quickly. Others did not even try to be heard above the deafening road noise of MacGregor Boulevard.

We were actually allowed on the porches of a couple buildings!! But no one's allowed inside. One could peer over the plexiglass panels at very old furnishings that went unexplained by the tour guide. But if you looked through more than one opening, you had to hustle to catch up to your fast-paced tour guide.

Edison's lab was a pathetic collection of dusty bottles with no interpretation.

The site's riverview of the Caloosahatchee is impressive.

We heard about the botanicals that USED to be there, before the hurricane season of 2004. We heard about the PLANNED restorations that keep several buidings completely off limits now. But no free passes to return in the future were offered.

Basically, if you would like to drive into Fort Myers to donate serious admission money so they can make future restorations, then this is your place!

We toured the Edison/Ford Estate on Dec 27,2005- a very crowded day with a 20 minute line to buy tickets from one very busy cashier. The parking lot, museum and laboratory are one side of the street, the actual estate is across the street on the water. Unfortunately the buildings have been extensively restored and now resemble new construction designed to look old- which is exactly what they are. You cannot go inside most of the buildings and nothing on the seond floors are available for viewing. Most of the rooms are seen through glass panels inserted in the windows.

If you are on a budget you should consider the $9 tour of the museum and then just walk along the sidewalk in front of the estates. You will see 90% of what you need to see.

The day we were there was so hectic that it was hard to find any of the staff actually checking any tickets at all, but I don't think that would be the norm.

Edison knew a good winter spot when he saw it! There is a lot to learn here too.