Disney Vacation » Orlando Travel

Good Value Eating at Disney World

Orlando Team — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:46:38 +0000

It’s true that food and drinks are expensive inside tourist attractions. It’s not any different at Disney World, where prices of merchandise can get hefty. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy good value eating while you’re here.

One of the things you can do is to bring your own snacks and drinks. To do this effectively, book a hotel that offers free breakfast, preferably one that’s a buffet so you can eat heavily during the first meal for the day and feel quite full until late in the afternoon. By the time you get hungry, you can take out the food and drinks you’ve packed and devour them until you’re fully appeased. This saves you not only a great deal of money but also time and energy since you no longer have to fall into long lines to the snack bars and fast foods.

If you prefer to dine at the theme park, you’ll be glad to know that there are a few budget restaurants and food places that you can check out. For about $60 per family of four, you can enjoy a full buffet at fun-filled restaurants such as the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom. It’s hard to miss this food place since it has Winnie the Pooh characters. The price per head for adults is $15.95 for lunch, $19.95 for dinner. Kids meanwhile only have to pay $9.95. Since this is a very popular restaurant, it would be a smart idea to make advance reservations to get ahead of the crowd.

Other popular buffet restaurants that you can also check out include Cinderella’s Royal Table, and the Polynesian Resort’s dinners. You’ll also probably love the Boma restaurant and Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Now if you don’t want to eat a huge meal and would prefer dining a la carte instead of a buffet, you can get good value dining experience at the Prime-Time Diner, which is located at the Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Decorated with 50’s theme, the place gives you an extraordinary nostalgic feeling. You’ll find old fashioned televisions everywhere and the wait staff are in full character. They even talk to the guests in a comic patter, which is something that you don’t get to see everyday.

There are plenty of budget dining places that you can find inside the theme park. Apart from planning the food itinerary, it’s also a must to choose your hotel well. Inside or near the theme parks, you’ll find various wonderful hotel choices like the Lake Buena Vista Holiday Inn for example. If you wish to stay outside the resort for whatever reason you may have, then you can go for Orlando or Kissimmee hotels.

Wherever you choose to stay, see to it that you book in advance so that you don’t run out of accommodations. It would be a good idea to read customer reviews first before you make your booking. This way, you can end up with a hotel accommodation that’s not only right at your budget but will also provide you a comfortable and memorable stay.

Come Home…to Orlando?

Orlando Team — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:09:02 +0000

You’ve waited and saved and dreamed; now you’re taking your family on the vacation of a lifetime. This year, you’re going to Orlando and doing it all! Still, when you think of nights in a cramped hotel room, with kids who are “wired,” cranky, or a nightmarish combination of both, you’re not as excited as you’d like to be. After all, adults like a vacation to be fun…but we also need it to be relaxing, too.

Fortunately, when it comes to Orlando vacations, you have a multitude of lodging options available. Terra Verde Resort, for instance. For the price of an upscale hotel room or average suite, you can rent a vacation villa with all the comforts of home–and more!

Located ten minutes from Disney World and five minutes from US 192, Terra Verde Resort is easy to find. It’s a gated vacation home community, in which homeowners rent properties out to vacationing families. The homes are freestanding–Terre Verde looks just like a very nice subdivision–and large, featuring 4-6 bedrooms and a corresponding number of baths. Most homes will sleep ten, and some will hold even more! This means that, by sharing a home with friends or relatives, you can lower your vacation lodging costs to below the price of a regular Orlando hotel room, yet still enjoy luxuries far beyond that price point!

So, what does Terre Verde have to offer?

First of all, security. Terre Verde is a gated community with security patrols. This keeps it family-friendly; you won’t need to worry about loud parties and guests misbehaving at all hours. Terre Verde features a club house with exercise facilities, an internet café, billiards, playground, basketball courts and nature trails. Your family can splash in the community pool while you enjoy a dip in the spa or a cleansing sauna. A concierge is available to help you with restaurant and entertainment information, as well as with any concerns that might arise.

Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But that’s not all. Most homeowners provide special amenities for their guests. Options vary by villa, but common perks include:

•Off-street parking
•Private pool, often with mosquito netting
•Pool safety devices, including covers and door alarms
•Pool toys
•Screen-protected patio
•Grill
•Fully-equipped kitchen (cooking at “home” saves money!)
•Stocked game room, with foosball, video game consoles and games, board games, etc.
•Books
•Children’s toys, including ride-ons
•Baby equipment
•Free local calls (some offer free long distance and international calls)
•Free wifi and office equipment
•Television, DVDs, music systems
•Theme-decorated bedrooms and bathrooms
•Golf clubs

The list of potential amenities is endless. No matter what you need to make your trip comfortable and enjoyable, you’ll find a villa owner who offers it.

You’re going to Disney World; of course the kids will have a blast. But Orlando vacations should be relaxing for Dad and Mom, too. This year, make it a real vacation, by renting a Terre Verde villa!

Nightlife Hot Spots in Orlando

Orlando Team — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:03:14 +0000

Who says Disneyland only has to be fun for the kiddies? Whether you’re two or 102, Disneyland in Orlando, Florida has something in store for you. Florida makes an ideal get away for not only families with young children, but honeymooning couples seeking a romantic get-away as well as twenty and thirty-somethings. With plenty of chic shopping and delicious restaurant opportunities, the fun only heats up after the sun goes down! And after you have the time of your life, settle in for a fabulous night’s sleep at one of Florida’s luxurious Kissimmee hotels.

If you’re in the mood to dance the night away, be sure to check out Orlando’s Tabu Night Club. The spacious interior offers an upscale and accommodating environment where you will immediately feel right at home. The state-of-the-art sound system is perfect for listening to one of the hottest DJ’s or bands that Tabu features throughout the week.

A great restaurant to check out if you want to add a little bit of island flare to your life is Bongo’s Cuban Café. This authentic Cuban restaurant dishes out some of the most flavorful food you’ll ever have the chance to sink your teeth into. Their tropical Havana décor will put you in that beach vibe mood that is perfect for warm nights spend in Florida.

Want a romantic evening out with your spouse? Then treat yourself to a savory meal at the intimate Habitat Lounge. This gorgeous venue has soft piano music playing in the background and features a breathtaking view of Adam Mark’s outdoor pool. Both you and your sweetheart will love sharing a delicious meal for two and enjoying your vacation the way it was meant to be enjoyed – like you’re the only two people in the world.

Orlando offers amazing nightlife options for everyone. Once the fun is over, you can escape to the quiet charm of your Terra Verde Resort near Disney for a relaxing night in.

How to Have a Stress Free Vacation

Orlando Team — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 10:51:13 +0000

It’s pouring down rain outside, the kids are screaming and your husband is nagging you to pick up his laundry from the cleaners on your way home from work. The baby throws his grits from breakfast and hits you square in the middle of your 70 dollar blouse just as the phone rings and your boss tells you the urgent meeting you needed to attend started 20 minutes ago. At that moment you realize that you haven’t had a vacation in 2 years.

Now is the time to cancel all of those unnecessary ballet classes and play dates. You need to pick up the phone and rent a Vacation home in Davenport Florida. Take the entire family and leave the cell phones and computers behind. Think about it for a minute. When was the last time you went somewhere and left your cell phone or your laptop at home? You probably can’t think of the last time can you?

If you want to go to Disney World then you may want to book a vacation rental in Orlando. That way you don’t have to deal with any type of stressful traffic on your way to Orlando to visit one of the four water parks, Sea World or Disney World.

Now the thing to do when you get to your vacation rental in Orlando is not worry about anything. Remember this is a stress free vacation with no interference from work, school or well-meaning family and friends. This is the time to reconnect with your family and yourself. Take the time to take a moonlit swim with your husband. Have a candle lit dinner for two on the back patio or go on an all-day shopping trip with your teenage daughter.

The next morning when you wake up refreshed and ready to meet the day (if you chose a vacation home in Davenport Florida) you may want to just hang around Davenport for the day. Lounge around the house until noon then head out to the local museum or visit one of the gorgeous gardens. After watching the sun set on your deck then take a walk on the beach by moonlight and just count all of the blessings in your life.

No work, no school, no cells and no computers. Just you, your husband and your children getting back to basics and enjoying each other instead of depending on modern technology to make you happy. After visiting these places you may not even want to go home and decide to remain on a permanent vacation. Wouldn’t it be nice if that was an option? But of course we all know it isn’t and pretty soon you will have to get back to the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However if you enjoyed spending time with your family and getting back to basics the entire trip will have accomplished what you set out to do and that is have a stress free vacation for all!

Disney: Cure for Growing Up

Orlando Team — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:50:07 +0000

A vacation, at last. Recently, I’ve been busy with work as most adults are these days, and I really feel that I need this Orlando vacation. Hotel-hopping might be a good idea but an average Joe like me can’t afford that, even if I wanted it so much.

Though, my plans didn’t come to fruition because I suddenly decided to go to Disney. I ended up renting a house in that Terra Verde Resort near Disney, which wasn’t so bad after all. I had the house to myself and had fun ogling at the fun things Disney had in store. Oh, the joy of being young again. At least there’s still Disney!

The 50 Year Old Traveler

Orlando Team — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:48:49 +0000

Imagine, you are in front of Terra Verde Resort. Orlando offers a lot more hotels for you to chose, but you know that this must be it. That’s what happened to me two weeks ago.

It was amazing how I ended up in front of Terra Verde Resort. The bus I was in had a flat tire, so I asked if I could just go out to find the place I must go. Thankfully the driver gave directions to Disney Orlando. Hotels are inside, he said, but I guess I didn’t catch that part. My mind messed up the directions and, that’s how I got there.

A Mutual Interest

Orlando Team — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:47:53 +0000

Four summers ago, I faintly remember a planned Orlando Vacation. Hotel accommodation was average since we did not ask for much. My family is quite minimalist, see. We don’t need much to live, as long as there’s shelter and food, we’re fine. Though, that’s the only time when we spoiled ourselves for the first time. It was great in Orlando. Good Neighbor Hotels were the first places we went, and we were awed by their extravagance. For some odd reason, we love to check out hotels, even though we don’t really check in. I guess it’s that one of the mutual things that usually occurs in families.

Choosing a Hotel: Suggestions

Orlando Team — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:46:41 +0000

In this pamphlet with a big bold “Orlando Vacation Hotel” that I got from an acquaintance that went there for a tour around the city, I found a hotel that might suit my family’s budget. It’s a small hotel near Disney called Ramada Inn. I don’t really know much about this, but the only thing I found out about it is that it’s one of the Good Neighbor Hotels. Orlando houses a lot of hotels because of the theme parks all over the city. It’s amazing that they have a lot of hotels and don’t really see much that rivalry, I guess that’s just me.

A Different Kind of Hotel-Hopping

Orlando Team — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:45:10 +0000

If you have gone into one of the Orlando hotels, you may have probably seen me once or twice. I have worked in pretty much all of the major hotels in there, save for one because it’s too far from my house. But in the end, I stuck with one of the Disney Good Neighbor Hotels, the Sheraton Park Hotel. I don’t know why, but I really love that place. I’ve been working at hotels since I got out of college. I have grown fond with the staff and am friends with the manager since we were friends already in grade school.

Orlando Vacation Tip #1

Orlando Team — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:43:19 +0000

Florida is a great vacation place anytime of the year. It’s sunny all year long, and you don’t have to worry about storms. Miami and Orlando are usually recommended as the best places to go during the summer: Miami for the beaches and nightlife, Orlando for the theme parks.

In Orlando, the most well-known theme park is Walt Disney World. If you’re looking for places to stay for the night or two in here, well, there are two choices for hotels inside Disney World or outside. In addition to those inside, there are also hotels outside Disney that are in partnership with the theme park, such as Holiday Inn Hotel, which is a Disney Orlando hotel.