Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons kicked off another fabulous Mardi Gras season at Univeral Orlando last weekend and every Saturday and on other select nights from February 12th – April 23rd, you can you catch one of fifteen live concerts by some of the biggest names in music, as well as Universal’s most spectacular parade ever, colorful street performers, authentic Cajun food, beads by the handful and a whole lot more more!

Here’s the list of who’s coming to O-Town:

Saturday, February 19 The B-52s

Sunday, February 20 KC & The Sunshine Band

Saturday, February 26 Pitbull

Saturday, March 5 Lynyrd Skynyrd

Saturday, March 12 Foreigner

Friday, March 18 Neon Trees

Saturday, March 19 The Roots

Friday, March 25 OneRepublic

Saturday, March 26 Blake Shelton

Friday, April 1 Sean Kingston

Saturday, April 2 Ne-Yo

Saturday, April 9 Lifehouse

Saturday, April 16 The Beach Boys

Saturday, April 23 Thirty Seconds To Mars

LOVE IS IN THE AIR FOR DISNEY VALENTINES — Beloved Disney character couples are “feelin’ the love” at Walt Disney World Resort during Valentine’s month. Against the fairytale backdrop of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom are Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Aladdin and Jasmine, Belle and Beast, Price Eric and Ariel, Cinderella and Prince Charming and Donald and Daisy Duck.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Actress/singer Vanessa Hudgens poses yesterday with the “Beast” from Disney’s animated film “Beauty and the Beast” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Hudgens’ co-stars in the upcoming motion picture “Beastly,” which will be released in theaters March 4, 2011.

Wow… it’s almost been a week since the Super Bowl XLV. It’s “Most Valuable Player”, Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, made good on his promise of “I’m going to Disney World” when he arrived at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom last Monday afternoon, 7th February 2011. Joined by Mickey Mouse, the Packer star was immersed in applause and showered with confetti for the second time in less than 24 hours as he rode a red convertible down Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

The event marked the continuation of a grand tradition that began in 1987 when New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms proclaimed “I’m going to Disney World” in a television commercial spot right after Super Bowl XXI.

After the ride ride down Main Street U.S.A. (under the threat of rain and mainly under the gun to get to The Late Show with David Letterman in New York), Rodgers visited the Rose Garden where he was given a gift of cheese in the shape of a G (for Green Bay) as fans nearby chanted “cut the cheese”. He then quickly met with reporters before heading out.

The Magic Kingdom Philharmonic Band provided a musical backdrop to the procession that included Minnie Mouse (decked out as a cheerleader), Chip ‘n’ Dale in referee garb, and “football Goofy” plus players from a central Florida NFL Youth Football team. It was quite a sight… here’s some video…

We’ve been getting quite a lot of rainy cold weather in the last week and visiting the theme parks is never as much fun when conditions are like this. Sure, you can still have a wonderful time but there are other places to go and to see that can bring just as much enjoyment and excitement. Shopping is one of those things you can do when the rain comes down and a visit to Florida Mall will get you dancing up and down at some of the great bargains there are to be had in the Orlando area.

The Florida Mall is a large enclosed shopping mall  in Orlando and it first opened its doors in 1986.  It is widely recognized as one of the premier shopping experience destinations in the area and is located close to many of the Orlando attractions including Walt Disney World,  Seaworld and Universal Orlando.

The mall  is situated on the southeast corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road and features over 250 stores, and includes some of the biggest names imaginable as its main anchors. Macy’s, Dillard’s, Sears, JC Penny, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom can all be found at Florida Mall as well as The Florida Hotel.

At nearly 2,000,000 square feet, it stands as one of the largest single-story malls in the United States and it’s here that you’ll find fabulous fashion, exceptional eateries and some delightful diversions.  There’s plenty of parking and  many opportunities to relax and refresh the mind and body. It’s a great place to visit no matter the weather so make sure it’s on your hit list when you’re in Orlando. Here’s some video to give you a preview…

Today’s my birthday and I’ve just been given a very nice present. Someone just sent me the list of the Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook… and we are third on the list!

And that’s thanks to all of you that read this blog and follow us on Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure , YouTube.com/FloridaLeisure and Twitter.com/FloridaLeisure.

It’s quite an achievement when you look at some of the companies listed there. Most of the illustrious company we find ourselves among, spend millions of dollars a year on their marketing to attract guests and to feature prominently on the internet. In my opinion, most of them do it badly as they really fail to communicate with their audience and the people who matter most to them… their followers and their customers.

I suppose that’s the one thing we excel at more than most. We certainly aren’t the cheapest vacation home company in Orlando but neither do we want to manage homes that aren’t being kept up to the highest standards by owners scraping by to hold onto their homes. Our guests and our followers seem to appreciate us for what we are, a small family sized business doing their utmost to give everyone a fantastic experience when visiting Orlando.

Sure, we could just focus on what we do…namely, renting vacation homes, but we don’t… we want to know more about our friends, our guests and those that follow us. We want to make sure they have a great time visiting our City and seeing everything there is to do. That’s why I personally write this blog and it’s why I insist on the highest standards possible from everyone involved in our business. You see, it’s really more than a business, it’s a passion, and I think that’s really what comes home when you see us listed in 3rd place of the Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook.

Thank you to everyone…you’ve sure made my day

Nigel

PS.

If you’re not already following us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or even on this blog…make sure you click the appropriate button below and “friend”, “like” or “follow” us.

PPS.

Here’s the full list of Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook – click on it to open as a better image :

PPS. Because it’s my birthday, I’m going to do something special until 5pm tonight… I’m giving everyone a whooping 20% off a reservation in one of our vacation homes if you book today When you call my front desk staff on 1-800 – 760-1114 make sure you quote “Nigel’s Birthday! Or, you can email sales@floridaleisure.com and quote “Nigel’s Birthday!” in the title.

It's Nigel's Birthday and here he celebrates the news that Florida Leisure is placed 3rd on the Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook!

HGTV kicks up the “curb appeal” of the 18th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2 through May 15 with a first-time sponsorship featuring weekend appearances by its acclaimed designers and landscaping experts. The star-studded lineup includes Genevieve Gorder, Lisa LaPorta, Kim Myles, Brian Patrick Flynn, Taniya Nayak, Ahmed Hassan, Patti Moreno, Michele Beschen, John Gidding, Frank Fontana, and Vern Yip.

The country’s leading home and lifestyle television brand brings an addictive blend of design, decorating and landscaping inspiration to the enduring, 75-day gardening extravaganza at Walt Disney World Resort.

At the Festival Center presented by HGTV, popular celebrity experts will appear each Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival on the HGTV Stage. The HGTV hosts will deliver valuable tips to Disney guests on topics including “Mobile Gardens,” “Secrets to Bringing Indoor Style Outside” and “Gardening with Kids.”

“We are thrilled to welcome HGTV and so many of the network’s great Talent to Epcot this spring,” said Dan Cockerell, vice president of Epcot. “HGTV’s design and gardening personalities add an exciting, and entertaining new element to a festival that reinvents itself year after year.”

As part of the sponsorship, HGTV also will present a new, twice-its-previous-size Bambi’s Butterfly House along the Future World Imagination Walkway. Inside this popular festival stop are hundreds of native butterflies and character topiaries from the timeless Disney classic film, “Bambi.” This year’s display celebrates the upcoming release of “Bambi” Diamond Edition, for the first time on Blu-ray Hi-Def.

“People visit Disney for a memorable experience where they are inspired, enlightened and entertained,” said Jim Samples, president, HGTV. “Our star designers will provide just such an experience for the Disney guest during The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV. Disney is the ideal venue and destination for us to connect face-to-face with our passionate viewers.”

The HGTV celebrity lineup includes:
Genevieve Gorder, HGTV Design Star and Dear Genevieve (March 4-6)
The Art of Sculpting Space

Lisa LaPorta, Designed to Sell (March 11 – 13)
Design It Yourself: Easy-to-follow Tips for Designing Your Favorite Rooms

Kim Myles, Myles of Style (March 18 – 20)
The 5 DIY Secrets That Can Transform Any Space

Brian Patrick Flynn, Design Happens, HGTV.com (March 25-27)
Mobile Gardens

Taniya Nayak, Designed to Sell and Destination Design (April 1-3)
Adding Value to Your Home Without Breaking the Bank

Ahmed Hassan, Yard Crashers (April 8-10)
Life, Love and Landscaping

Patti Moreno, Garden Girl, HGTV.com (April 15-17)
Gardening with Kids: Fun Seed Starting Projects

Michele Beschen, B. Original (April 22-24)
When Nature Calls: Creative, Back-to-Basics Style for All Things Natural and Decorative

John Gidding, Curb Appeal: The Block (April 29-30, May 1)
The Design Process: Curb Appeal Projects from Concept to Construction

Frank Fontana, Design on a Dime (May 6-8)
Beautiful on a Budget: High Style, Low-Cost Secrets to Bringing Indoor Styling Outside

Vern Yip, HGTV Design Star (May 13-15)
Top Design Trends Made Affordable and Accessible

In addition to its own celebrity stage appearances, HGTV will present the popular twice-daily Disney Gardening at Home series, where guests can join a workshop and take home projects ranging from hanging baskets to water garden features. The Festival Center’s HGTV Theater will present a special-engagement film featuring tips and hints from HGTV shows.

Dozens of Disney character topiaries are back by popular demand at this year’s festival. Woody, Buzz Lightyear and chief villain Lotso of the Oscar-nominated Disney blockbuster, “Toy Story 3,” make their first topiary appearance in front of Spaceship Earth at the park’s front-entrance garden. Topiary craftsmen also will debut floral versions of Lightning McQueen and Mater, stars of “Cars 2,” to be released in theaters this June.

Flower Power concerts will rock the open-air America Gardens Theatre stage three times each Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening with popular acts like Davy Jones and Chubby Checker & The Wildcats. New-to-the-festival performers will include Melissa Manchester, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.

More information about the 18th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs, presentations and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

If you’re in Kissimmee over the next few days you’ll want to make note of the Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show and Fair which opens on February 11 and runs through to 20th at Osceola Heritage Park. This will be the  67th Annual Osceola County Fair and it features over 80 daring thrill rides, a fun-filled kiddieland, prize winning games and spectacular shows… something for everyone!

The Fair offers plenty of traditional favorites such as the Garden/Antique Tractor Pull and Children’s Pet Show and the Draft Horse Pull and Baby Show. Village Inn’s Annual Pie Eating Contest is also a featured event. The Exhibition Building will be filled with Arts & Crafts exhibits submitted by Osceola County residents and 4-H members. Commercial exhibitors selling unique goods from around the country will also be on hand.

Osceola County Fair will host the State 4-H Dairy Show. Participants throughout the state compete in cattle judging, showmanship and Dairy Quiz bowl. Other Livestock shows such as Purebred, Steer, Hog, Lamb, Sheep, Goat, Poultry and Rabbit take place through out the week. The Livestock Sales enable local residents and businesses an opportunity to purchase meat at affordable prices while supporting Osceola County’s youth.

In addition to thrilling rides, and games of chance, the Fair’s midway offers favorite foods such as funnel cakes sprinkled in sugar, candied apples, cotton candy and mouth watering Bar-b-que.

Fair Opens:

Monday – Thursday 5:00 p.m.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12:00 P.M. Noon

Admission is just  $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for Seniors and Children 5-11, Children 4 and under are free. Parking is free. Unlimited ride armband specials are available everyday!

The web site for the event is www.osceolacountyfair.com

I’ve been asked many times over the last 48 hours what I thought about HomeAway’s SuperBowl advert and it’s somewhat difficult to understand exactly what the folks over there were thinking when showing video footage of a baby being smashed against or through a glass window.

If the goal was to create some controversy, like Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes, then they hit a bulls-eye. However, if they were hoping to increase viewer response then sadly they were wide of the mark. Families are the stable of vacation rentals… they rent them to get together and enjoy time with each other …to enjoy the extra space, the extra privacy and the freedom to do what they want when they want…but this attempt at poking fun at crammed rooms in hotels badly backfired as the nation recoiled in horror at the graphic images presented on screen.

I’ve created a short video showing what the real message might have been and how humor could have been used in a different way….

On February 18, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will host The National 9/11 Flag Stitching Restoration for the state of Florida, presented by The New York Says Thank You Foundation. As part of a national journey across America, local service heroes and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex guests will join FDNY firefighters to help sew the Florida restorative patch, featuring a retired flag that flew over Kennedy Space Center, onto the historic National 9/11 Flag.

The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, beginning with a ceremony led by The New York Says Thank You Foundation, followed by the first flag stitches by nominated heroes, first responders, families of 9/11 victims and local veterans. Flag stitching will be open to guests immediately following the ceremony until 3:00 p.m. The 20-by-30.5 foot flag, with the completed Florida patch, will be raised at 4:00 p.m. in the Rocket Garden.

The public is invited to nominate local service heroes from Florida who deserve the honor of stitching The National 9/11 Flag at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Nominees can be people of all ages who exemplify service and sacrifice to their local communities and to the U.S. and may be a wounded warrior, military veteran, first responder, educator, student, or volunteer service leader. Nominations must be received by February 11 and must be submitted online at www.National911Flag.org by clicking on “Nominate a Service Hero.”

The National 9/11 Flag, recovered in fragments after the collapse of the World Trade Center, is on a cross-country journey to be stitched back to its original 13-stripe format using pieces of fabric from American flags destined for retirement in all 50 states. Once the flag is made whole again by the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, The National 9/11 Flag will become part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Center.

A $5 discount coupon is available for additional guests and the general public by visiting www.KennedySpaceCenter.com/flag.