Disney Parks unveiled a new marketing campaign today called “Let the Memories Begin” Thursday. Apparently park guests will become the stars of a nightly photo show to be projected on the spires of Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The campaign is designed to celebrate family vacation memories created at the Disney theme parks every day.
Beginning in January 2011, Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture pictures of guests during the day that will be larger-than-life images during the nighttime show. As many as 500 images will be used every day during the show and new 3-D technology will be used to project the pictures onto the structures. Also, a new song has been commissioned for the show.
Disney also said that they will also begin featuring home videos and snapshots of real guests in television ads and other marketing.
Actors Tom Bergeron and Michael J. Fox helped make the announcement Thursday afternoon in New York City. Here is Disney’s official statement regarding the plans:
“In 2011, Disney guests will become the stars of a nightly spectacular when photos taken in the park during the day become larger-than-life projections on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort or “it’s a small world” at Disneyland Resort. This groundbreaking new experience will celebrate the family vacation memories created in Disney theme parks every day. And this week, Disney guests will begin starring on television, too, as part of the new “Let the Memories Begin” campaign.For the first time, Disney Parks is featuring the home videos and snapshots of real guests in television ads and other marketing that will allow an audience of millions to share in true-life, heartfelt moments.
“A Disney vacation is the perfect way to create family memories that will last a lifetime,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, at a media announcement Thursday in New York. “We’ll spotlight those ‘only-at-Disney’ moments with family and friends during our ‘Let the Memories Begin’ campaign.”
A just-released survey of U.S. and Canadian families conducted for Disney Parks by Ypartnership, a noted research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel, showed that vacation memories hold a special place in family history. Nine out of 10 parents said they planned their vacations with the express hope that they would result in a lasting family memory, the survey showed. And those memories stuck with them – nearly three-quarters said they think back “often” or “very often” on their favorite vacation experiences.”
Most visitors to Central Florida only think one thing “Walt Disney World, Orlando”. What most don’t know is that there is another area that makes up the Walt Disney World area and that is the area known as Kissimmee.
More likely than not, most visitors will stay in properties in the Kissimmee area if they don’t stay directly on Walt Disney World property. So with that in mind, here’s the top 7 things you can do while staying in the area that is closest to Disney:
1. Old Town
Old Town is a great place to visit for all members of the family and is a favorite attraction for shopping, dining, and entertainment in Kissimmee as it features specialty shops, restaurants, and great amusement park rides.
There are over 40 shops featuring an amazing variety of merchandise, around a dozen places to eat and drink and some great rides to blow you away. Rides such as Windstorm Roller Coaster…1,437 feet of steel tracks which twist and turn over 80-degree banks! There’s the colorful & exciting Wave Swinger and you can see Orlando from sixty feet in the air on the Century Ferris Wheel. If that’s not enough adventure for you then spin your wheels around the Happy Days Family Go-Kart Track or try out Super Shot where you’ll feel like you can touch the stars as you slowly inch up to 150 feet and then get dropped suddenly!
On the lighter side, you can take the little ones on the uniquely painted horses of the Merry-Go-Round, spin on the Tea Cups, leap into fun on the Frog Hopper, and ride the Wacky Worm Kiddie Coaster.
Old Town is also the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights as its “Cruise Night”. The Friday Night Cruise is a car show that features 1975–1987 cars and trucks while The Saturday Night Cruise will bring back memories of your first car, your first date and your first kiss as the “pride and joys” from 1974 and earlier bring back ‘lots of memories’ as an average of 300 classic cars, hot rods, street rods and antiques parade down the brick streets of Old Town. Completing the bill is some fabulous live entertainment as some great bands come to Old Town – Kissimmee to play some great tunes.
2. Horse World
Blue sky, hundreds of acres to explore and a good horse beneath you are just some of the delights that will greet you when you visit Horse World. If you love horse riding or enjoying the peaceful Florida countryside then a visit to this trail riding adventure will invigorate your soul. A chance to experience what it was like when life was simple!
3. Lake Lizzie Nature Preserve
This 950-acre nature preserve is one of Florida’s best sites for hiking, horseback riding and nature viewing. The preserve offers marked trails through a variety of habitats leading to the shores of Lake Lizzie and Trout Lake.
4. Boggy Creek Airboat Ride
An airboat ride offers you the chance to glide through the beautiful Florida wetlands and get up close and personal with exotic birds, turtles and of course, the Florida alligator in their own natural environment. You’ll also get the chance to fly like the wind into the swamps experiencing the awesome feel of an airboat ride traveling up to 45 miles per hour.
5. Green Meadows Petting Farm
“Everyone milks a cow” at Green Meadows Petting Farm, where you can interact with more than 300 animals during a two-hour guided tour throughout the farm. Everyone is encouraged to have a “hands on” experience during the tour by petting a variety of pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, donkeys, and more as tour leaders teach kids about the farm and its animals. Kids can also take a pony ride and experience a tractor-drawn hayride.
6. Forever Florida
This 4700-acre eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area offers approximately 10 miles of hiking trails and a chance to step into Florida’s past. The Florida National Scenic Trail runs through this property and you’ll experience natural streams, forests, pastures, wetlands and learn about the wide array of Forever Florida’s wildlife including alligators, black bears, white-tail deer and the endangered Florida panther.
You can visit the Crescent J, a picturesque Florida ranch featuring a living museum of Spanish Colonial Cattle and Florida’s unique Cracker Horses and enjoy three fully guided adventures that are offered through Florida EcoSafaris: Coach Safari, Horseback Safari and, Florida’s first and only Zipline Safari. The Zipline Safari will take you on a two and a half hour adventure like no other, reaching heights of 55 feet and speeds up to 25 mph as you sail above it all on this breathtaking aerial nature tour.
7. Take in a Dinner Show
Kissimmee is home to three of the best Dinner Show’s you’ll ever see. Capone’s Dinner Show is a cheerful mishmash of Broadway Show, nightclub cabaret, sketch comedy revue and an all you can eat Italian buffet set during the prohibition era while Medieval Times Dinner Show is a dinner show set in the times of lords and ladies. Sit down and enjoy a royal four course meal as you watch six brave knights compete and battle for your favor. With daring exhibits of valor, metal to metal sword fighting, and high speed jousting, you will be on the edge of your seat. Over at Arabian Nights Dinner Show you’ll experience a “Storybook Tale of Romance and Adventure” as the Broadway-style production featuring over 60 of the world’s most beautiful horses pulls off amazing stunts, state-of-the-art special effects and a delicious prime rib feast.
Orlando has more than 4,000 places you can go to eat and despite rumors to the contrary, they aren’t all chains or fast food establishments. There are a good number of fine independently owned restaurants and many of them within easy reach of your vacation rental home.
Just round the corner from International Drive is what the locals call ‘Restaurant Row’. It is effectively the stretch of Sand Lake Road west of Interstate 4 heading towards the famous Bay Hill area. It’s here you’ll find some excellent restaurants that will cater for every taste and flavor you can imagine.
If I may, I’ll start with my favorite(s) and then move down
Chatham’s Place — 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando; 407-345-2992
Chatham’s Place is small and upscale with a menu to match. The cuisine has touches of southern charm, and the pecan-crusted grouper is a local legend. You’ll enjoy the ambiance and top notch service if you go…and you’ll be sure to want a quick return.
Seasons 52 — 7700 Sand Lake Rd., Orlando; 407-354-5212
OK, I confess that technically this is really a chain with eight locations, but this is Darden’s latest concept and it’s a winner. I’ve eaten here on several occasions and I’ve never been disappointed. The original concept of the restaurant was that something, somewhere comes into season every week of the year, thus 52 seasons. Pretty much everything on the menu is superb but save a little room for the mini desserts as you’ll want more than one.
Vines Grille & Wine Bar — 7533 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando; 407-351-1227
If you love live jazz then this is the place for you. You can sit at the bar and enjoy a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail and let the world drift by. If you prefer, enjoy dinner at one of the comfortable tables in the classy and upscale dining room.
Roy’s – 7760 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando; 407-352-4844
In Hawaii, there are two things of equal importance…food and the “aloha” spirit. The blending of these two dynamic principles is how Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion® Cuisine was born. European techniques and Asian cuisine meet Hawaiian hospitality to create a fine dining experience unlike any other. Where the “aloha” style of service comes straight from the heart, and where any occasion becomes an unforgettable evening.
Christini’s Ristorante Italiano – 7600 Dr. Phillip’s Blvd., Orlando;407-345-8770
This award winning upscale Italian restaurant is a favorite among the locals. The food is simply fabulous and the service unsurpassed.
Moonfish — 7525 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando; 407-363-7762. If seafood is more to your taste then Moon Fish has you covered. Daily fresh fish selections as well as Prime and Choice mid-western aged steaks cooked over a natural wood-burning pit and an intriguing sushi menu.
Those are just some of my favorite selections on “Restaurant Row” but don’t worry if they don’t appeal to you as there is so much more choice if you take a trip to the area. If you decide to make a trip there from your vacation home then allow around 20 to 25 minutes as you’ll pass the “Crossroads” area which is where you’ll find much of the tourist traffic around the Walt Disney World Lake Buena Vista entrance.
It’s important to remember that “Restaurant Row” is split into three distinct areas; Dr. Phillips Marketplace, The Fountains at Bay Hill, and Plaza Venezia.
The more established and long standing restaurants are located in The Dr. Phillips Marketplace since it was the only center in the area until about a decade ago and this is where some of the more long standing favorites can be found. Places like Morton’s Steakhouse, Carreiras, and Christini’s. But do lookout for some of the newer establishments that have come onto the scene such as Press 101, Pups, Einstein’s Bagel, Five Guys, and of course Starbucks.
The Fountains include Vines Grille & Wine Bar, Antonio’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, The Melting Pot, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, and Moonfish. Over the road at Plaza Venezia you’ll find Timpano, Samba Room, Amura, Roy’s, Bonefish, and Season’s 52. Timpano is an Italian Chophouse and the best place to listen to Frank Sinatra impersonators. Samba Room has great Cuban cuisine and on Fridays, as poetically coined by Gloria Estafan, a great place to shake your body to the rhythm of the conga until you can’t shake it any longa. If sushi and sake are to your taste then try out Amura.
Another area starting to make a name for itself on “Restaurant Row” is Dellagio and it’s here you can experience the style and magic of Tuscany in this premiere mixed use town center development that literally takes you to Italy with its intricate designs and authentic sophisticated architecture. Dellagio features a signature water fountain that was inspired by the famous Place de la Concorde and it is the focal point of the piazza, overlooking the tranquil lake.
Dellagio has some interesting restaurants such as Flemings Steak House, Cantina Laredo – a gourmet Mexican restaurant, Bravo Cucina Italiana, Big Fin Seafood Kitchen, Kilwins and Dragonfly Sushi.
Earlier in the blog I mentioned the “Crossroads” area and perhaps I should cover that in a little more detail as it is certainly a popular area with folks who are vacationing in Orlando.It is situated near the entrance to Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney Marketplace on Apopka Vineland Road. It offers about 25 specialty shops and restaurants, including stores such as Beyond Electronics, Whites Books and Gifts, Disney Character Connection, Foot Locker and Sunglass Hut, along with Gooding’s, a 24-hour grocery store that offers a big deli and variety of prepared food.
Restaurants include Chilli’s,TGI’s, Fuddruckers, Flipper’s Pizzeria, Johnnie’s Hideaway, Tacho bell, Red Lobster, Sweet Tomatoes, and an Indian restaurant. Once you’ve dined, you might even fancy a game of crazy golf at Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf located toward the rear of the property.
Overall, I’m sure you’ll agree that Orlando has some great places to eat… enjoy this short video tour and see for yourself:
July was one of the warmest months on record in the Central Florida area but it seems the weather has now done a complete turn around. Cooler temperatures and overcast days seem to be in our upcoming forecast this week and it seems we are going to get a lot of rain in the next few days. With that in mind, I thought I’d put together a list of some of the things you can do during the wet weather.
1. Visit A Museum
Museums are educational as well as fun! The Orlando Science Center and the Orange County History Center have lots of activities to occupy all the family for the day. On the cultural side you can visit the Orlando Museum of Art which has a nice selection of American Portraits and Landscapes.
2. Go to the Movies!
Your vacation home is a great place to while away the rainy hours with it’s games room, large screen TV, internet access and other fantastic amenities but sometimes you just want to get out and about. A visit to a local movie theater to catch the latest flick is a great way to spend some time. Downtown Disney, The Loop and the I-Max theaterat Point Orlando are all great places to enjoy a movie and have some fun.
3. Wander the Malls.
When its raining is a great time to visit the Malls. Mall of Millennia, Florida Mall, Orlando Premium Outlets and many of the other malls are always an enjoyable place to visit and get that shopping bug out of the system. Orlando has some great shopping and dining places..go out and explore them!
4. Visit the ‘Distraction Attractions’
Sounds odd but the ‘distraction attractions’ are a great place to visit when the bad weather arrives and when wandering the main parks is no longer any fun. Places like the Titanic Exhibition, Orlando Science Museum and Wonder Works all have interactive exhibits that will amuse you for hours.
5. Visit the Library
The Hart Memorial Library at 211 Dakin Avenue, Kissimmee or the West Osceola Library at 6070 W Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee are two great places to visit to find some great reading material. You can surf the web, browse through magazines and newspapers or simply hang around and enjoy a great book.
6. Disney Quest
DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive theme park is a one-of-a-kind gaming experience in the Downtown Disney area. Discover 5 floors of cutting-edge technology, virtual reality and 3D encounters fueled by Disney innovation and imagination.
Don’t miss Pirates of the Caribbean, Virtual Jungle Cruise, CyberSpace Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblasters, Animation Academy and much more!
7. Visit the Theme Parks
Lots of folks take a look at the weather and decide to visit the theme parks on another day. However, visiting the theme parks when it’s raining can be fun and it almost always means the lines will be shorter. Remember, most attractions and shows are indoors or in covered pavilions…it’s only getting to them that may cause you to get a little wet. So break out the poncho or the umbrella and go for it!
I was just reading an article about foreign buyers literally invading the US to buy homes and I thought you’d like to see it if you haven’t already. It’s written by Steve Cook of Real Estate Economy Watch:
The number of American homes bought by foreign nationals has nearly doubled in the past year as falling property values and record numbers of distress sales encouraged immigrants and foreign investors to take advantage of affordable prices. With home purchases by American citizens plummeting in the wake of the tax credit, foreigners are now poised to gain an even larger ownership share of US properties.
Foreign purchases accounted for about four and a half percent of all USA sales between April 2009 and April 2010, according to a new study by the National Association of Realtors. For the twelve months ending April 2010, foreign purchases of U.S. residences totaled $64 billion. This is almost twice the $36 billion in foreign transactions that took place during the twelve months ending April 2009. The percent of dollar volume represented by foreign transactions increased from 4.3% in 2009 to 7.1% in 2010.
About half of foreign bought properties were purchased as primary residences, and the rest as vacation homes and investment properties. Most bought properties in suburban locales and cities. Only 14 percent of foreign buyers bought in resort areas. Two factors important to international clients when purchasing property in the U.S. are proximity to their home country and the convenience of air transportation. Florida typically attracts European, Canadian and South American buyers while the East Coast draws Europeans. The West Coast brings Asian buyers and the Southwest attracts Mexicans.
It’s an interesting read and while it somewhat reflects what is happening here in Central Florida, the availability of money for loans and mortgages remains grim. Cash buyers are scoring some great deals at the moment and I expect that trend to continue for quite a while yet.
In my book “What You Must Know About Buying Your Vacation Home” I talk about why vacation properties are still great investments and it’s absolutely true about residential property still being a good way to build wealth providing you buy right.
The one thing I find interesting is that most lenders have stopped lending to foreign nationals yet they still continue to buy in some volume. Imagine what might happen if one or two of lenders decided to lend again to foreigners instead of retreating into their Government sponsored safe hole. Maybe, just maybe, we’d see more distressed real estate purchased and that would then help values go up and the economy to recover faster? Just a thought.
One of the most popular vacation destinations in the world is Orlando, Florida. A huge reason why so many people visit this part of the world is because of the Walt Disney World resort and its theme parks. Walt Disney World resort is the world’s largest recreational resort and is located in both Lake Buena Vista and Kissimmee.
Kissimmee is located on the southern part of the Disney complex and it’s here that you’ll find most of the areas vacation rental homes. There are many advantages for renting a vacation home in Kissimmee but number one amongst them is the ability to enjoy a luxurious yet affordable vacation. The second reason is the fact that you are just moments away from enjoying the Disney experience as well as all the other local theme parks such as Sea World and Universal Orlando, not to mention all the other attractions that the area has to offer.
A stay in a vacation home is simply a far more luxurious vacation than compared to staying in a hotel. The home is far more inviting and has much more space than the typical hotel room or suite. You can relax in private without worrying about noisy neighbors, you have your own private pool to splash around in and you have an element of privacy that you just can’t get at a hotel.
Most vacation rental homes are conveniently located in quiet residential communities but just moments from the main area theme parks. A Kissimmee vacation home offers many perks that a hotel simply cannot. Things such as large screen TV’s, separate bedrooms, games rooms, home theaters, and two or maybe three large living areas top the list.
Cost is also a major consideration and if you are traveling with a large family then putting them up in several hotel rooms can get very expensive. Depending on the size of your family, you can rent a house with three bedrooms, or more, for around the same price of one hotel room and it is certainly a far better option than trying to cram everyone in to one hotel room. Just imagine the convenience of not having to wait for your turn to use the bathroom or watching what someone else wants to watch on TV as vacation homes usually have TV’s in each bedroom.
One major drawback of hotels is the fact that most hotel pools are situated outside in the open air and that means you may soon be the target of annoying insects or bugs. Each vacation rental house comes with a screened in lanai and pool area that prevents annoying pests from attacking you and this means all the family can enjoy relaxing and unwinding in comfort.
A fully functioning kitchen is also another benefit of vacationing in a rental home. Going out for every meal soon gets tiring not to mention very expensive. Vacation homes give you far more options than a hotel with a solitary restaurant that opens when the hotel says it will open. Naturally, you might fancy a lie in one morning and a kitchen allows you to eat what you want, when you want to eat it so there’s no missing breakfast. In fact, it’s just like being at home as you can get groceries from local stores and enjoy the feeling of being home away from home.
Vacation homes are also great places to come home to after a busy day at a theme park or visiting some local attraction. Sometimes you might just fancy a quiet night in and nothing can be better than ordering a pizza or cooking a sumptuous meal for the ones you love at the end of a busy day. Each vacation home is usually equipped with everything you might need for cooking and baking and preparing a meal on vacation is just one way to involve the whole family and have some fun.
Talking of family fun, most vacation homes also have a whole host of amenities that include cable TV, DVD players, broadband internet, video game systems, pool tables and a whole lot more for all the family to enjoy. Sometimes you may find that you’ll just not want to go out and that you just want to enjoy a day at home. Vacation home rentals really do give you lots of space to move around and live in and it’s not uncommon to feel like a King or Queen in a palace when you take a vacation in a rental home.
In fact, those that choose to vacation this way rarely go back to hotels afterwards so if you haven’t stayed in a vacation home before, this really is something you need to look into before your next trip.
If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation this Summer or Fall you’ll need to start planning and preparing like no other vacation before. Walt Disney World covers 47 square miles (think twice as large as Manhattan and you’ll get the idea!) and has so many things to do that even those of us who live here struggle to keep up with it all.
In short, here’s just SOME of the available offerings at Walt Disney World:
4 major theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
2 water parks: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon
Over 20 large resorts
5 golf courses
2 mini-golf courses
Numerous lakes offering water sports, boating and fishing
2 dinner shows
BoardWalk entertainment district
DisneyQuest “virtual theme park”
Downtown Disney shopping and dining district
So with all this choice, just where do you begin?
1. When.
Deciding when to go will be top of your list. Much will depend on your budget, kids’ school schedules and other factors such as what you like to do individually and as a family, will heavily influence your decision.
Tip #1: Visit Disney when the kids are in school to enjoy the quieter theme parks more. Lines will be shorter and more comfortable
2. What.
This is a critical step in the planning. There is so much to do that you’ll want to plan out what everyone wants to see and do.
Tip #2: List the “Must Do’s” and then do a secondary list of “Maybe’s”. Involve everyone in this process and you’ll have a more enjoyable trip.
3.How Long?
There’s never enough time to see it all, so armed with your list in #2 you can now chart out how long it will take you to visit the “Must Do’s” and how long it will take you to do the “Maybe’s.” Be warned, even if you visit for a month, you simply can’t see it all.
Tip #3: If you want to visit all four theme parks and actually experience the majority of the attractions, parades and shows, you will need at least 5 full days! (Epcot can easily take 2 days all by itself as it is split into two sections; Future World and World Showcase. You might also find you need a day and a half at Magic Kingdom to enjoy everything there is on offer.)
If you then find you would like to do some of the “extras,” like Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon water parks or a trip to DisneyQuest you will need to allow more days. If you are visiting for a first time, I believe you need at least 7 to 10 days to do all the major theme parks and sample some of the other delights.
4.Transportation.
Depending where you live you’ll need to decide whether to travel by plane or automobile. If you’re flying, do you then want to rent a vehicle so you can see other things in the Orlando area?
Tip #4: Hire a car and stay off site to save money. There are some great places to stay that will help you save way more than the cost of vehicle hire.
5. Theme Park Tickets.
A big expense when visiting Walt Disney World is the cost of entry to the parks. It is important to look over your itinerary, get out the calculator, take a look at all the prices and available deals to figure out which tickets make most sense for your situation.
Tip #5: There are many ticket companies offering great deals. Check each one out and don’t be tempted by the deal that seems to be too good. Go with a reputable and approved Disney ticket agency.
6. Where To Stay.
Here’s another big decision. Stay on Disney property or stay off site? If you take the advice in Tip #4 you’ll stay off site and save $$$’s but if you are seriously considering an on site resort stay then make sure you check out all of Disney’s resorts by searching for photo’s and details on the internet. Each resort is themed differently and some are very expensive.
Tip #6 :Rent a Vacation Home. Renting a vacation home off site makes a lot of sense for most families. A fully equipped vacation home has 3 to 7 bedrooms (enough room for all the family at one nightly rate rather than multiple rooms at a hotel), a fully equipped kitchen (prepare meals at home rather than eat in expensive restaurants), large lounge and living areas (with flat screen TV’s, DVD’s VCR’s, games machines) and your own private heated swimming pool.
You’ll not only save money but you can keep all the family together and create some great memories.
7. Relax and Enjoy.
Don’t forgetto take some time out to do absolutely nothing. The temptation with a Disney vacation is to always be on the go. It’s important to allow time to recharge your batteries and to go home refreshed.
Tip #7: Allow one rest day for every two days of theme parks.
That’s it! Everything else is “gravy.” You can make reservations for meals, book special events and do all kinds of other planning but these are the seven basic steps to enjoy a great Disney vacation. Have fun!
Well, it all comes to an end tomorrow… the month long soccer festival known as the World Cup has its final and it promises to be a mouthwatering match as Holland take on Spain. Neither team has won the cup before so we are assured of a new winner. For Spain this is their first final while the Dutch have been here before and lost on both previous occasions.
In 1974, a fantastic Holland side lost to Germany. It was a travesty. The side was coached by Rinus Michels, who pioneered “Total Football” at Ajax Amsterdam in the late 60′s and early 70′s. Johan Cruyff was part of that side and the duo teamed up again in 74 to lead the Dutch World Cup campaign in Germany. They played some fantastic football….fantasy football in a way, and marched on to the final. It started well for them as Wolverhampton referee Jack Taylor gave the Dutch a penalty just seconds into the game, as Cruyff was unfairly tackled and the fabulous Neeskens converted before the Germans even had chance to touch the ball. Unfortunately the Netherlands couldn’t hold onto the lead and the Germans came back to win 2-1.
Four years later, the World Cup was held in Argentina. It was a ticker tape affair as mountains of paper floated down to the pitch before every game but it didn’t stop the Dutch marching to the final where they met the hosts. The game ended up going to extra time after Mario Kempes had given Argentina the lead in the first half and Dick Nannings equalized on the 82nd minute mark. It ended up with a 3-1 scoreline favoring Argentina after the extra 30 minutes play.
So, the Dutch will be hoping for third time lucky. Unfortunately, it seems fate is conspiring against them, as an Octopus named Paul, of all things, has predicted a Spanish win. You may mock and laugh at the idea but so far the octopus has correctly predicted 6 games on the run.
The only real issue once the final is done is…what on earth am I going to do now? I suppose a return to normal work is called for… anyone know if there’s a tiddlywinks contest going on somewhere?
