Disney Vacation » vacation

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!

What can you do in Orlando with a six-day Orlando vacation package?

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:52:55 +0000

Spending six days in the Orlando can be both fun and a bit of a challenge. With so much to do, how will you create an itinerary? What if the parents want to see one attraction and the kids another? How will you decide what to do? Simple. Do your research. Once you find out which theme parks and attractions exist, it will be much easier to pick and choose what you want to do. Here are some sample vacation packages that you may want to look into:

Six Days at Disney
If you are coming to Orlando solely for the Disney experience, this is a package you will want to check out. With a six-day, park-hopper ticket with Water Park Fun & More options, you will be able to visit all four major Disney theme parks as well as the two water parks. And you can come and go as you please. Start the morning with a nature walk at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, cool off on the water slides at Typhoon Lagoon, and then have a delightful dinner at one of the country’s in the World Showcase at Epcot. Spend another morning having breakfast at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom, soak in the Florida sun at the Blizzard Beach water park and then see some behind-the-scenes magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However you choose to break up the days, you will have the option to see all that Disney has to offer. And if you stay at a Disney resort you will have the chance to experience perks like shuttle service to Disney parks, on-site Disney gift shops and even some character dining options. For the ultimate Disney experience, don’t forget to stop by Downtown Disney too, where you can visit Planet Hollywood for lunch, catch a live performance at House of Blues, buy some Disney souvenirs and then go dancing. This package allows you to do it all.

Disney and Universal
For visitors who would rather break up their vacation a bit and see both Disney and Universal parks, you may prefer a package like this. Mix and match ticket options so that you can see all four Disney parks, the two Disney water parks and Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. A package like this will provide you with endless entertainment. And you can choose to stay at a Universal resort or a Disney resort for convenience. After you spend your days at the theme parks you can also take advantage of the nightlife at Universal’s CityWalk and at Downtown Disney. Each offers a unique variety of fun—specialty shops, fine and casual dining, entertainment and more.

Ultimate Variety
Guests who wish to see all of Orlando’s major theme parks will love this vacation package. With a two-day, two-park admission to the Universal parks, a three-day, park-hopper ticket to all of the Disney parks and one-day admission to SeaWorld, you will experience all of the variety offered at the major parks. Spend a day with Shamu and check out the penguin exhibit and SeaWorld, spend a day at a Disney water park, one going around the world at Epcot and one riding coasters at Islands of Adventure. Mix up each day however you wish. And take advantage of CityWalk and Downtown Disney as well as tourist hotspots like the International Drive area.

So depending on what you prefer to see, there is an Orlando vacation package that is perfect for you.

What can you do in Orlando with a five-day Orlando vacation package?

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 07:23:41 +0000

Planning a five-day Orlando vacation can be somewhat overwhelming. There are so many attractions to choose from and you probably want to please everyone you are traveling with. The good news is that there are plenty of Orlando vacation packages available, and each one appeals to a different guest. Whether you want to spend more time with Mickey than Shamu, get a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood, spend all of your time with animals or be exposed to all of these things, there are vacation packages that will allow you to do it all.

Five-day Disney
No matter how many people are in your party, if you’re booking a five-day trip to Orlando you wish to spend your entire vacation seeing everything there is Disney, this package will sure to please you. With a five-day park-hopper option, you will be granted admission to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Come and go as you please. Spend the morning strolling through trails and stopping by a petting zoo at Animal Kingdom, the afternoon going inside the iconic golf-ball structure at Epcot and the evening seeing the fireworks display at Cinderella Castle. A package like this is perfect for true Disney fans. And you may even opt to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel too. If this is the case, you will be provided with shuttle service to theme parks and have extra Disney perks like on-site Disney gift shops and character breakfasts. After you’ve spent time at the theme parks and your hotel, you can even stop by Downtown Disney where you can dine, shop, catch a live show or even have a cocktail.

Disney and Universal
For guests who want to divide the five-day trip into Disney and Universal parks, this option might be best for you. Spend three days at the Disney parks listed above—and make it a park-hopper option for the ultimate experience—and then spend two days with two-park admission to Universal Orlando Resort where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at movie magic when you venture to Universal Studios and then ride coasters and see your favorite cartoon characters brought to life at Islands of Adventure. Choose to stay at either a Disney or Universal hotel, or opt for a neutral hotel located in the tourist districts of 192 or International Drive. Each offers an array of fine, casual and themed dining as well as shopping and entertainment experiences that are sure to excite you. And while you’re at the theme parks, be sure to head to CityWalk, at Universal, and Downtown Disney to grab a bit to eat, buy some souvenirs or simply just take in all of the scenery.

Disney and SeaWorld
Maybe Universal just isn’t your thing. There’s always the Disney and SeaWorld package. With such a package you can get a four-day pass with a park-hopper option to all four Disney parks and then spend your fifth day watching animals perform at SeaWorld. This package is perfect for Disney enthusiasts who want to break up their trip a little bit but not stray too far from the Disney experience. By just taking one day to spend at a non-Disney park, you will be getting variety and also still leaving yourself plenty of time to spend at Walt Disney World Resort.

Ultimate Five Days of Fun
For guests who want the most variety, you will probably enjoy this package that allows you to visit all of the major theme parks. Get a three-day, park-hopper Disney ticket that grants admission to all four Disney parks at your leisure, then spend one day with a two-park admission to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida while you spend the fifth day at SeaWorld.

However you choose to spend your five days, you will definitely be able to see a lot!

What can you do in Orlando with a three-day Orlando vacation package?

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:56:51 +0000

Three days may not seem like a lot, but with the right itinerary, you can experience a tremendous amount of thrills and excitement in just three days. Orlando is home to numerous attractions of varying interests. From indoor skydiving, mini golf and go-karts to theme parks, water parks, themed dining and designer outlet stores, Orlando has it all. Here are a few sample itineraries that will give you an idea of how to spend three days in the area.

Three-day Disney
Walt Disney World Resort encompasses four major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot. With a three-day park-hopper pass you can spend your vacation going between three out of the four parks. Eat lunch at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom then walk the trails at Animal Kingdom. Explore technological innovations and indulge in worldly cuisine at Epcot, then wind down at the firework show at Hollywood Studios. Mix it up a little and have a good time.

Disney and Universal
With an option like this you can spend two days park-hopping at the Disney theme parks and your other day with a one-day, two-park Universal pass that grants you admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. A different spin on this package is to spend two days at Universal, getting admission to both parks, and one day at one Disney park. This option would be better suited for guests who want to spend less time at Disney of course. And you can spend the evening eating at a themed restaurant in CityWalk or doing some shopping and dining at Downtown Disney. You might even want to catch a show at Cirque du Soleil. Whatever you choose to do, it can be done… even in just three days.

SeaWorld and Disney
If you aren’t interested in the Universal parks but you’d rather see Shamu and Mickey, check out a package that includes one-day admission to SeaWorld and a two-day park-hopper pass allowing you to jump around the Disney parks. This means you will be able to see five parks in three days if you want to. How’s that for making good use of your time?!

Disney, Universal and SeaWorld
A package like this will provide you with a one-day ticket to a Disney Park as well as to a Universal park and to SeaWorld. Such an itinerary is perfect for guests who wish to see as much diversity as possible and get a little bit out of each theme park.

As you’ve probably noticed, it’s quite possible to fit a lot to do into three days’ worth of vacation time. And remember to consider where you stay too. You have the option of staying on theme park property or in a tourist district like International Drive—that is both close to the theme parks and offers a plethora of additional attractions, dining, shopping and entertainment options. And remember to factor transportation too. Many hotels provide shuttles to theme parks, there’s a trolley on International Drive, you can always take your own car, or you can rent a car or get a taxi. However you choose to travel, know that there are plenty of ways to transport yourself into the thrills of Orlando.

Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Concert Series

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:01:17 +0000

Sea World Orlando

Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa have a new concert series at their theme parks entitled “Bands, Brew & BBQ.” The name pretty much says it all. The concerts combine great bands, with Anheuser-Busch beer and some tasty barbecue. The good news for visitors to Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa is that there will not be an additional charge for the concerts. They are part of the regular ticket price. The concerts can be seen at Sea World Orlando on Saturdays and at Busch Gardens Tampa, the concerts are on Sundays.

The bands scheduled to perform at Sea World Orlando include LeAnn Rimes on February the 6th, Montgomery Gentry on February the 13th, John Rich on February the 20th and Yes on February the 27th.

For Busch Gardens Tampa, the bands are Dennis DeYoung, of Styx fame, on February 7th, Willie Nelson on February the 14th, Huey Lewis and the News on February 21st and Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo on February the 28th.

So, if you are traveling to the Orlando area for vacation in February, be sure to drop by Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa to catch one of your favorite bands.

Universal Studios Orlando Holiday Events

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:34:11 +0000

Christmas at Universal Studios

When growing up as a child, I always looked forward to the holiday season, and what I enjoyed most, besides the presents, family and cookies, was watching all of the Christmas holiday shows during the cold Winter days. One of my all time favorites growing up was Dr. Seuss’s classic tale, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. Thinking back to it, I can see the Grinch forcing that poor little dog up the mountain in snow above Whooville with an over stuffed red Santa bag that Hercules could not even carry. Fortunately for the dog, he made it to the top. This is certainly one of my favorite Christmas stories and apparently it is a favorite of others too because Universal Studios in Orlando is now offering a slightly different version of the popular tale with their “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” musical. The musical is performed several times each day at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

In addition to this special presentation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, Universal Studios Orlando is also featuring the floats from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at the Universal Studios theme park which is right next to Islands of Adventure. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade concludes with a very special tree lighting presentation. In addition to all of this, Universal also is running concerts by special performers through their holiday events.

If you are looking for a little added holiday fun and memories this holiday season, then, be sure to bring the family to the Universal Studios Orlando holiday events.

Orlando Hotel Market Update

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:26:43 +0000

Discount Orlando Hotels

If you are coming to Orlando for your family vacation and you are still undecided on where to stay, then, be sure to look into some of the great hotel deals that are still available to those traveling to Orlando.

Rates are still low due to the struggling economy and the struggling hotel industry. Just recently it was reported that Orange county took in about 10% less in revenue for October 2009 when compared to the tax revenue brought in during October 2008. This is known as the Orange County Resort Tax.dea

Of course if the county is making less money, so are the local Orlando hotels that reside in Orange County. With this all going on, hotel managers are being squeezed to get more people in the doors, and that means greater deals for those vacationing in Orlando. Now, the deals are greater than ever for staying in Orlando. There are four star hotels that have rooms starting at just $49 a night that are closely situated near Disney. This is quite a deal when you consider that they also offer shuttle service to the Disney theme parks.

So as long as you have the ability to get away from work, now is a great time to pack up the family and head out to Orlando for vacation.

Save Money on Your Orlando Vacation by Planning Ahead

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:24:25 +0000

Orlando Vacation

Time to plan for your Orlando vacation? How exciting! Before you go spend crazy because you want to make this a fantastic vacation, take a little time to plan ahead and you are guaranteed to spend less on your vacation.

The key is to plan ahead. It’s understandable that people are really excited when it comes to taking a vacation. That’s why they often book their vacation on a whim and usually end up spending more than is necessary. To be ahead of the game, start with a budget. Yes, you need one. Decide on how much you plan to spend all together. Then break it down into an itemized list- airfare, lodging, dining, souvenirs/shopping, and all other activities you plan to enjoy while on your vacation.

Once you have set your budget, start checking into airfare and hotel or vacation home rates. The longer in advance you book your flight and lodging, the more money you can save. When choosing dates to travel, try to book your vacation during the off-season. If you have children in school, you probably think that you have to travel when they are out for Summer Vacation or Spring Break. That’s understandable, but realize that 90% of families with school aged children will be thinking the same way. Because of this, during these times are when hotels hike their rates. Maybe it’s okay every few years for Johnny to miss a few days of school so the family can enjoy a better family vacation because they will be able to travel when fewer families can.

Just these simple steps of planning ahead can reduce your vacation cost by 10% to 50%! It really is worth the effort.

Aquatica at Last

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:56:17 +0000

Aquatica

I finally made it to Aquatica! It was great. My husband and I went on Saturday, just the two of us. We were a little apprehensive to go to a water park. I had been to Wet N Wild in Orlando many years ago as a teenager. It was fun for me at that time, but I actually thought it was something that I would not care to do as an adult. But when Aquatica was being built last year and we started seeing advertisements about it, my husband kept saying we should go. He had never been to a water park before at all.

So we went. I thought that since it is October, it would be sort of cool outside, but boy was I wrong. It’s hotter than ever this October. But for a water park, that is a good thing. It took us a few minutes to get our bearings- find lockers, locate a park map, etc. Once we rented a locker and stored our food, shoes, clothes, and towels, we headed to our first ride. I have to admit, just looking at them, I was a little afraid of some of the rides, especially the ones that send you through a tunnel. So, for the first ride, I chose one that we could ride on together. There are a few rides that two people can go down together, on one big raft. We went on the one called Roo Hoo, which the ride announcement said means “goodbye” in Australian. It was very fun, hardly scary at all. So, once we had that first one under our belts, we were not afraid anymore, but excited and hurrying to the next ride.

We are in our mid thirties and we absolutely loved our time at Aquatica. The park hours are currently 10:00 am to 5:00 pm- just enough time to have lots of fun and get quite tired. We brought our own lunch and only bought a small snack there. Aquatica can be enjoyed by people of all ages. We even saw grandmothers there, lounging at the beach and keeping an eye on the family bags and strollers, while the parents took the kids on rides. We would definitely go again, especially when we have kids to enjoy it with.

Free Disney Birthday Ticket

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:52:59 +0000

Free Disney Birthday Ticket

In this troubled economy companies are forced to be more creative than ever to attract new business and keep previous customers coming back. In the past I thought Disney would never be affected by a lagging economy, but yes, even the mouse has had to actually work for his cheese this year. One effort to boost Disney ticket sales this year has been the birthday campaign. They gave free admission to anyone who registered their birthday on Disney’s website, then provided proof of their birth date when arriving at the park.

At first, people thought it was too good to be true, but think about it. No one goes to Disney World alone. No, you’re going to bring at least one person with you, especially on your birthday. Plus, you’re going to buy souvenirs or food while you’re there, so they aren’t losing money on the deal. But it is a nice break if you’re planning to go to a Disney park this year. At least one person would get in free and that saves a good chunk of money. All year I have been thinking, “If only my husband and I shared the same birthday. How cool (and rare) would that be, to both get in free at the same time!” Oh well. I bet it has happened, but not often.

Anyway, next year, 2010, Disney’s campaign is going to be that to get a free ticket, you have to volunteer at a selected charity for a day. Like with the birthday ticket, you’ll need to sign up to volunteer at one of the charity options on Disney’s site. Once you complete your volunteer work, you will receive a voucher to take to a Disney park, which you will redeem for your one-day park ticket.

Well, if this campaign is as successful as the birthday campaign, a lot of charities will have a lot more help next year. Disney has given out almost a million free birthday tickets so far this year. Yes, they are trying to get and keep business, but at least they have paired it with helping others. It’s a win-win for everyone.