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Friends Don’t Let Friends … Stay in Hotels!
It’s time to enter our Summer Sweepstakes and win a 4 Night Orlando Vacation in a Florida Leisure Vacation Home. It’s dead easy to enter and all you have to do to enter is go to www.Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure and hit the “Like” button and then the “Sweepstakes” tab to enter our competition. You could then be the lucky winner of a fabulous 4 night Orlando vacation.
It’s nice to stop and watch what goes on around you sometimes. I was again reminded about why we do what we do and what we provide to families, friends and guests… I think this short video explains it all. Not much else needs to be said.
I popped down to Clearwater Beach last week to check out how the Gulf oil crisis was affecting the area. I’d received several calls from reporters at various news outlets all wanting to know if it was affecting our business in any way so I decided it was worth the trip to find out what was happening. My last update was a month or so ago and I was further south in the Naples to St Petersburg area so I decided to head closer to home and check out what conditions were like for those folks wanting a quick day trip to the beach from their Orlando vacation home.
I arrived early in the morning as dawn was breaking and visited the famous Pier 60 area. Pier 60 is a great place for families as there is a fabulous play ground area for small kids, several exciting places to dine and of course, the wonderful white sand beach to enjoy.
Clearwater is a great place to visit for the day. You can enjoy plenty of time at the beach, have some marvelous meals for lunch or dinner, celebrate as you watch the sun go down in the evening and then head back to your vacation home and get ready to go again!
And…of course… there is no problem with oil in the Clearwater area!
I sent my eldest daughter, Rebecca, out to take a look at some of the going’s on at the theme parks just recently and she reported back to say that most parks still seem to have a lot of people in them. So much for the economic downturn.
It’s interesting that years ago in economic depressions we used to have food stamps and lines after lines just to get the basic necessities yet today the lines we see are for I-pads! At the end of the day, money is important but so is living life to the fullest and that seems to be the major mind shift I see . In the past people would scrimp and save to be able to afford a vacation whereas today, folks seem entitled to one and often run up their credit cards to do so. It worries me and I want to help do something about it… and you can help me by suggesting some things we can do at Florida Leisure to make sure you still enjoy your vacation but you don’t put yourself in economic jeopardy. Just leave a comment after this blog post with your ideas.
Back to Animal Kingdom. if you haven’t been then you are missing a treat. The park opened on 22 April 1998 and is actually the largest Disney theme park in the world coming in at around 500 acres. The park is themed around animal conservation and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. If you don’t know, it means they have met and exceeded the standards in education, conservation and research.
The Tree of Life is the center piece of the park and everything leads from that. The tree is 14 stories high at 145ft tall and 50 feet wide and the park is made up of seven themed areas; Oasis, Discovery Island, Camp Minnie-Mickey, Africa, Rafiki’s Planet Watch, Asia and DinoLand USA.
To enter the park you go through Oasis and it’s here you’ll encounter spoonbills, ducks, muntjacs, wallabies and giant anteaters. The Rainforest Cafe is also located near the entrance but be careful if you decide to eat here because you’ll need to present your ticket again to go back into the park.
Discovery Island is located at the center of the park and it’s here you’ll find the Tree of Life. The parks biggest gift shops and largest restaurants are located here and each has a different design theme. Also at Discovery Island is “It’s Tough To Be A Bug!” , a comical 4-D film featuring appearances by Flik and Hopper from “A Bug’s Life”.
Camp Mickey is a themed rustic summer camp and it’s here you can meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and many others. The live stage show “Festival of the Lion King” is also located here.
Africa is my favorite area of the park. It is set in the fictional east African village of Harambe and this is where you’ll find some of the fabulous animal exhibits. The village is the namesake of the Harambe Wildlife Preserve which is the fictional home of Africa’s main attraction, Kilimanjaro Safaris and you’ll get a fabulous tour of that by clicking on the video down below. On the Kilimanjaro Safari you climb aboard an open sided safari vehicle and you set out on expedition to see numerous African animals as they freely roam through acres of savanna, rivers and rocky hills. You’ll see giraffes, hippos, African elephants and lions. Once you’ve done the safari you can then explore the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and trek into the forest in search of gorillas. It’s really quite amazing.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch is actually the one section of the park that isn’t connected to Discovery Island. It is instead connected to Africa and it’s here that you can board the Wildlife Express Train to visit Habitat Habit, Conservation Station and Affection Section. All great areas to learn more about efforts to protect endangered primates, conservation efforts supported by the Walt Disney Company and animal care facilities.
Asia is home to Maharajah Jungle Trek, where you can visit Komodo dragons, fruit bats, tapirs and tigers. It is also home to the Kali River Rapids and you will get soaked if you venture onto this fabulous ride. Expedition Everest is also located here and its a nerve wracking roller coaster ride through the Himalayas.
DinoLand USA is the place to learn more about dinosaurs and it is also home to “Finding Nemo – The Musical” that is located in the “Theater in the Wild” as well as DINOSAUR, a thrill ride taking you back through time to the late Cretaceous period. There’s also a great playground for the kids called Boneyard.
All in all, Animal Kingdom is a great place to visit and to enjoy. It has a lot of fun stuff but it’s also an educational experience and you can’t help but marvel at all this planet really has to offer when you stop to think about it. Enjoy the video:
Ever wanted to play golf but it’s been too dark to play? Years ago we’d have been laughing at the suggestion you could play golf at night without floodlights but today it’s a realistic possibility. Since it’s introduction a few years ago “Glow In The Dark Golf” has become pretty popular and now its coming to my own local course, Kissimmee Oaks, here in Kissimmee, Orlando on Friday 13th August.
For those of you not familiar with the game then you’ll need to know it’s very popular with mini golf and regular golfers alike. The “glow in the dark” golf balls are not just some gimmick but are professional night golf balls which are designed for everything from long drives to gentle putting. Combined with glow in the dark glow sticks that surround the green and the hazards, you can actually enjoy a great round of golf no matter what time of day.
The 1st ever “Glow in the Dark” Golf event to be held at Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club will be at 8.30pm on Friday August 13th and the cost is $35. The Entry Fee covers 9 holes of golf, green fee, cart fee, 2 Glow balls, Prizes and Giveaways, Golf Course and Cart set up and a whole lot of fun!
You can register with us at Florida Leisure Vacation Homes by calling 1-800-760-1114 or direct at Kissimmee Oaks on 407 933 4055 and if you mention “Glow in the Dark – Florida Leisure” you’ll even enjoy a discount on the $35 price.
So, don’t miss this opportunity to play in Kissimmee Oaks FIRST EVER “Glow in the Dark” night golf event. The field is limited to the first 72 players to register.
7 Step Guide to a Walt Disney World Vacation
By Nigel G. Worrall
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:
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 forget to 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?
We learned more about next years opening of Legoland Florida yesterday and it promises to be a fun filled park with lots to see and do with many of the highlights being similar to the ones featured in the Southern California park.
For a start there will be the Fun Town Fire Academy, a driving school, a Duplo play area for younger guests, and a medieval-themed Legoland Castle. The emphasis will be on interactive amusements for young children as they explore the Land of Adventure, with is dinosaur-themed wooden roller coaster and the Factory Tour, which will show how Lego plastic building blocks are actually made. Lego said the park will feature more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including thousands of large Lego models.
The park, scheduled to open in the fall of 2011, is being built in Winter Haven on the former Cypress Gardens site. The park is counting on its predecessor’s most-famous features — such as its botanical gardens and water-ski shows — to give Legoland Florida a unique flavor.
Legoland has projected that 2 million people will attend the park in its first year of operation. But it is hoping that annual figure grows to 3 million eventually.
Thousands of people attended the community open house yesterday at the Winter Haven Orange Dome. Those who turned up were mainly curious about the new theme park and the status of the old gardens. There was also a lot of interest in the 1,000 jobs that Legoland is expected to generate although no employment applications were taken at Thursday’s event.
During the open house, members of the crowd learned about the planned preservation of the gardens and some of the other traditional entertainment that has featured in previous years when the park was known as Cypress Gardens. Features such as the well renowned ski shows will continue but will get a Lego-like makeover. Unfortunately though, one of Cypress Gardens’ newer additions, the wooden Starliner roller coaster, relocated to the park in 2007 from Panama City, won’t make the cut when Legoland Florida opens.
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