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

Earlier this week Disney Parks announced  that the company’s goal of recruiting 1 million people to donate their time and get a 1-day ticket to Disney in return had been reached, and that the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” promotion is to end.

Those participating in the program signed up to volunteer through the nationwide HandsOn Network and even though  volunteer registration has ended, those who have completed their volunteer activity still have until Dec. 15 to use their free park ticket at Walt Disney World or DisneyLand.

In 2009, Disney distributed 1.2 million free tickets to anyone who went to one of their U.S. theme parks on his or her birthday. That worked out to be about 100,000 per month but the volunteer promotion was so successful that it was getting 100,000 participants per week this year.

At a media event last month at Walt Disney World, Disney officials admitted they were “overwhelmed” by this response.

No word yet on what will happen to the daily “pre-parade” in the Magic Kingdom that is designed to celebrate the promotion. It was the first new use of the Muppets at Walt Disney World in several years so it remains to be seen if  Miss Piggy returns back to her dressing room.

Meanwhile, here at Florida Leisure Vacation Homes, our “Give A Day, Get A Vacation Day” program continues… and will run all year regardless of how many people apply. Details at www.GiveADayGetAVacationDay.com

ORLANDO VACATION ON A REDUCED BUDGET

by Nigel G. Worrall

Do you want to take a vacation in Orlando but are worried about the cost? Well, an Orlando Vacation on a reduced budget is not such the unobtainable goal that you might think. Want to know why? Read on.

A vacation in Orlando always seems like a perfect dream come true. Unfortunately so many times in our lives our dreams do seem completely dependent on money which then makes the dream vacation not quite so perfect. Of course, a perfect dream would be an Orlando vacation where money wasn’t always an issue but even so, it is possible to have a great time in Orlando even if you are on a reduced budget. To have an Orlando vacation on a reduced budget takes a lot of planning and here are a few tips on how to get more for less.

Orlando Vacation on a Reduced Budget – Tip #1.

Walt Disney World is the major attraction in Orlando and the best time to visit happens twice a year, in May and September. The reason is simple; fewer folks travel in those two months and that means it is easier to get really good deals at those times of year.

Orlando vacation on a reduced budget – Tip #2.

Instead of staying in an expensive hotel room try a vacation home rental instead. You get far more for your money and you’ll enjoy the extra space. Vacation rental homes have nice sized living rooms, several bedrooms, a full sized kitchen, and a private swimming pool. You can save money by buying groceries from a local store rather than dining out every meal time and you’ll also save because you won’t feel the need to go out all the time like you do in a cramped hotel room. 

Orlando vacation on a reduced budget – Tip #3.

Go as a larger group. Yes, if you team up with your friends and family you can save big style. Large vacation homes and villas are available for rental at low costs. If you travel in a large group, with friends, relatives and family, costs definitely come down giving the phrase “the more the merrier” a very pertinent meaning.

Orlando vacation on a reduced budget – Tip #4.

One thing that hinders the concept of an Orlando vacation on a reduced budget is the expense incurred visiting the various attraction parks. The theme parks can prove to be very expensive and the savings you made in the accommodation will be spent here if you’re not careful. Orlando is not just about the Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World theme parks,  there are many other parks, lakes, camping and hiking spots to enjoy, completely free of cost. Of course, you should enjoy a great day at one of the major attractions but mix in a few of these low or no cost attractions and you’ll soon see how you can save on your budget.

Orlando vacation on a reduced budget – Tip #5.

Travel is always a major cost so make sure you check out the major travel web sites to get the best flight prices. Check out the low fare airlines such as Jet Blue, Southwest, Air Tran, Spirit and Frontier to get the lowest prices. Renting a car is the cheapest way to get around and this makes it much easier to get to those great low or no cost places.

Orlando is the place to go for the most fun per square foot and if you follow these simple steps you will get the biggest bang for your buck. An Orlando vacation on a reduced budget is very attainable and you can have the time of your life while saving money. It can indeed be the vacation you always dreamed of.

About Nigel G. Worrall:

Nigel Worrall is President / CEO of Florida Leisure Vacation Homes & Total Real Estate Solutions. He is regularly sought by the media as a vacation home and real estate expert and has featured on NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS. He has also featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, Newsweek, Chicago Sun Times, Washington Post, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Business Journal and several other publications. Nigel is also the best selling author of “Big Ideas For Your Business” (Advantage Media)

Nigel serves many clients around the world as a Realtor®, Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Investor, Mortgage Broker and Real Estate Trainer.

About Florida Leisure:

Florida Leisure Vacation Homes is the leading vacation home company in the Orlando, Fla. – Disney area, offering 3-7 bedroom private vacation homes near to all the Orlando area attractions. Each home has it’s own fully equipped kitchen, 3-7 bedrooms, lounge, dining room, laundry, 2 car garage and best of all, private swimming pool. http://www.FloridaLeisure.com

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is coming along nicely in readiness for it’s Spring opening. There’s no official announcement for an opening date as yet but Sarah Holt of Universal Orlando recently revealed a few more things in a presentation she made to Orlando area vacation home managers recently.

During her presentation, Holt made it clear that the Harry Potter park will definitely have a lot to offer Universal’s guests. That includes rides, dining and shopping options, and a replication of Hogwarts Castle, home to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a building that Holt promised would be “very authentic.”

The Dragon Challenge roller coaster ride will allow guests will feel like they’re being chased by a dragon. Less intense will be the Flight of the Hippogriff, modeled on the creature that’s half-horse and half-eagle.

“This is a family-friendly coaster,” Holt said.

The largest ride will be Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

“You’ll go on this great journey specifically designed for this part of the park,” Holt said. “It’s ground-breaking, state of the art technology that will even surpass the Spiderman ride. If you’ve been on Spiderman, you know that’s pretty big.”

The theme park will host the Three Broomsticks restaurant and the Hog’s Head Pub, where Holt said guests can buy “very old liquor, and we’ll have animated hog’s heads on the wall that will interact with you while you drink your old beer. The Butter Beer is going to be non-alcholic..”

There will be shops as well, like Honeydukes, a candy store that will sell, among other things, chocolate frogs and Treacle Fudge. Dervish & Banges is a toy store that will sell, not surprisingly, broomsticks among the many selections.

“Ninety-five percent of them are completely unique products,” Holt said. “You will not be able to buy them anywhere else.”

There’s a Frog Choir that will perform five times d ay, Holt said, adding, “This is very top secret, so you’re the first one’s to hear about it.”

And there is some good news… ticket prices won’t be going up when the new theme park opens. Hurray… someone understands we’re in a depression!

Today is Dr Seuss’ birthday.

One of my favorite things to do in Orlando is to visit Seuss Landing at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Sports fans can meet star athletes and ESPN personalities this weekend at ESPN the Weekend at Walt Disney World.

The one-of-a-kind sports-themed special event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park and the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will showcase ESPN personalities as well as on-site telecasts of popular television and radio programs. The one-of-a-kind special sports- themed event takes place February 25-28 and will give fans the opportunity to see and hear their favorite on-air personalities, including Mike & Mike in the Morning co-hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, who are celebrating 10 years together next week. ESPN will present live telecasts including First Take and NFL Live and Baseball Tonight from a set in front of Mickeys Sorcerers Hat at Disneys Hollywood Studios.

In addition, many current and legendary athletes will be making appearances, including Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and former Heisman Trophy winner and current University of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. ESPN personalities John Anderson, Ted Bruschi, Colin Cowherd, Ron Jaworski, Karl Ravech, Sage Steele, Dick Vitale, and Trey Wingo are scheduled to participate. Athletes Maurice Jones-Drew, Jason Witten, Adam Vinateri, Brian Dawkins, and many more are participating in the event. To check out the ESPN sports personalities and sports celebrities slated to attend the sixth annual event, go to www.espntheweekend.com (click on Whos Coming).

The festivities will begin with a special grand opening event at the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Feb. 25 with a performance by the world famous Harlem Globe Trotters.

Over the course of the week we’ve talked about some of the things to do in Orlando. Today, I want to take a quick look at some of the things you can do “Beyond Orlando”.

Down in Lake Wales you can find Bok Tower Gardens. This gorgeous 250 acre National Historic Landmark sits on the peninsular of Florida’s highest point. The sanctuary features Omsted-de-signed landscaped gardens crowned with a majestic 205 foot marble and coquina bell tower with a 60 bell carillon. Every hour you can hear angelic music ringing from the bells.

Daytona 500 Experience – now that the Daytona 500 is out of the way for another year don’t think that’s where the fun stops. The Daytona 500 Experience is a highly interactive motor sports attraction year round. It is designed to be fun for everyone and will entertain and educate all race fans.

It has 13 different attractions within the 60,000 square foot facility and you won’t want to miss the IMAX theater with its four story screen and high tech sound system. The admission price is between $19 and $24 but it does give you a guided track tour to boot.

Silver Springs are located about an hour and a half’s drive from Orlando. The theme park is surrounded by the beautiful Silver River and is home to plenty of wildlife. In the 350 acres guests can check out alligators, endangered bears and panthers  and explore the Kritter Koral petting zoo as well as watch an array of wildlife shows.

Weeki Wachee Springs is where you can see live mermaids perform in the spring. The mermaids have delighted visitors since 1947. Today, visitors can still witness the magic of the mermaids, take a river boat cruise and canoe or kayak on the Weeki Wachee River. The 538-acre park features a first magnitude spring and a 400-seat submerged theatre for watching the live mermaid show.

Buccaneer Bay offers a fun-filled flume ride for thrill seekers of all ages and the white sandy beach area and covered picnic pavilions provide a relaxing day for the entire family. Weeki Wachee’s animal shows also provide audiences with an entertaining and educational look at domesticated birds and reptiles. Located on U.S. 19 at the intersection of State Road 50, just north of Spring Hill and south of Homosassa Springs.

When you think of Orlando you immediately think of theme parks, sun and fun. However, Orlando has other wonderful things to do and there is a grown up side to the City that you may care to enjoy with that someone special this Valentine’s Day.

Lake Eola is a lovely centerpiece to the City with its footpaths and vintage fountain. For some fun you can take to the lake on a paddle boat elegantly decorated as a swan for around $15 for half an hour. Lake Eola Swan Boats can be found at 101 N. Rosalind Avenue.

While gliding across Lake Eola you can take in Orlando’s vibrant business area and like many Southern cities, Orlando has plenty of charming brick paved roads, bungalows and enormous oak trees draped in Spanish moss for you to enjoy.

From the north east corner of Lake Eola you come across Thornton Park which is home to many cafes, boutique stores and local watering holes that have lots of patio seating… great for people watching!

Orlando also has a great night life and if you wander over to South Orange Avenue you’ll stumble upon bars, concert halls and nightclubs lining the street.

Of course, you can spend the most romantic day of the year at one of Walt Disney World’s six parks, Universal Orlando or Sea World but for a really wonderful treat why not visit Discovery Cove and enjoy the Valentine’s Sweetheart Package where you can present your lover with a box of chocolates, a dozen red roses, champagne served in a private cabana and a love note delivered by a real dolphin.

Where is this year going already?

1st February already … and things are moving at a rapid pace here at Florida Leisure. We decided to move our blog to a new domain …so welcome to FloridaLeisureBlog.com and that’ll leave Florida Leisure Online for other things we have planned later in the year.

Our “Give A Day, Get A Vacation Day” campaign is going well and the response has been interesting! We’ve also got a few more things in the pipeline that I’ll be able to tell you about soon I hope…

So what is going on in Orlando this month?

Well for a start there’s going to be plenty of Super Bowl parties this weekend.  Miller’s Ale House, Friday’s Front Row and Bobby G’s Sports Bar & Grill are all great places to head for gourmet buffets and beer, wine and liqour.

Then there’s Valentine’s Day and you”ll find a whole host of events around then. Stuff like “Nude Nite” Fine Art in the Lake Ivanhoe Antique District from 11 to 13 Feb.  There’s also “Art in Bloom” Valentine’s weekend featuring floral designs enhancing artwork found in the Polasek residence.

If art’s not your thing then why not try one of the three Valentine’s Day packages at Discovery Cove? Swimming with the dolphins is one sure fire way to enjoy a great time together.

If you’d like to give a concert a try, then Leu Gardens hosts a Valentine’s Day concert under the stars where you can bring a picnic basket full of your favorite treats and enjoy the music of Michael Andrew with Swingerhead and Ricky and the Buzzcatz.

Of course the movies are always a great place to go on this special day of the year but we also have some great shows. Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group and Phantom of the Opera are all in town and you really should head to at least one of them.

The Osceola County Fair runs from 12 to 21 February at Osceola Heritage Park. Here you can enjoy midway rides and carnival games during the 10 day event meanwhile over at Central Florida Fairgrounds, the Central Florida Fair runs from 25 Feb to 7 March.

February is a big month…be sure to drop by this blog again as I’ll be updating you from time to time.

We’re extremely proud of our colleagues over at Walt Disney World and we were overjoyed when we heard of their latest promotion “Give A Day. Get A Day”.

So we put our heads together to work out how we could make it even sweeter. And we believe we have come up with something very special.

It’s our own “Give A Day Get A Vacation Day” promotion and it’s designed to dovetail into what the good folks at Disney are doing. From now until December 15th if you volunteer to give a day not only will you get a free theme park ticket from Disney but you’ll also qualify to get a free vacation day with Florida Leisure.

Details are on our Give A Day Get A Vacation Day website.

Disney World is the ideal destination for families wishing to ring in the New Year in style but its important to plan your day well to avoid disappointment. Remember, lots of other people will be at Disney World to bring in a new decade and just last Monday Disney had to close both Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom because they were so busy. So the first tip is Arrive Early before the parks close.

Here’s a few extra tips to help New Year’s Eve go smoothly:

Magic Kingdom will welcome 2010 with probably the most spectacular fireworks display at Walt Disney World and that’s why lots of people want to go there. The New Year’s Eve fireworks generally include a stunning display of synchronized fireworks launched near the Magic Kingdom and several locations along the Seven Seas Lagoon, the human made lake in front of the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom closes at 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve but remember The Magic Kingdom is the only Walt Disney World theme park where alcoholic beverages are not served.

Guests can drink their way around the world at Epcot though. The theme park features special New Year’s Eve kiosks in World Showcase with imported and American beer, bubbly, and spirits. In addition, World Showcase’s eleven international pavilions feature casual and formal restaurants with cuisine from around the world. Entertainment ranges from live DJs to outdoor dance clubs and festive lighting. Those who wish to party the night away can linger after the midnight fireworks show, but be prepared to spend some money: Epcot celebrated New Year’s Eve 2008 by raising the regular price of alcoholic beverages for the holiday festivities. Epcot stays open until 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios) and Disney’s Animal Kingdom also offer alcoholic beverages. Disney’s Hollywood Studios stays open until midnight for regular park guests; Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes at 8:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, which is fine for families with young children, but those wishing to get more bang for their Disney buck are better off celebrating at one of Disney’s other theme parks.

It is highly recommended that you make advance dining reservations if you are planning on visiting  Magic Kingdom or Disney’s three other theme parks before you head to the parks. New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest days of the year at Disney World, and escaping the crowds for an hour or two while dining at one of Disney’s themed restaurants is a major advantage. Although the most popular restaurants are often booked months in advance, Disney opens additional restaurants during the holiday season to accommodate the crowds. Call 1-407-WDW-DINE for more information or to make dining reservations.

Be sure to inquire about accommodations for children and special needs guests. In order to accommodate the large holiday crowds, Disney World changes select services on New Year’s Eve. Additional restrooms are provided in some locations, while other locations limit guests’ access to the facilities. On New Year’s Eve 2008, for instance, the Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room at Epcot’s United Kingdom pavilion blocked access to the restrooms for children dining at the restaurant. The pub section of the restaurant is especially busy on New Year’s Eve, and the restaurant’s restrooms are located in the pub.

Use Disney’s FASTPASS service while at the parks. Each Disney World guest is eligible for Disney’s free FASTPASS service, which entitles the bearer to enter a special, shorter line at select rides or attractions at a scheduled time in order to reduce wait time. Because New Year’s Eve is such a popular time to visit Disney, families will not be able to take in as many rides and attractions as they would on a regular day at the parks. Yet Disney’s FASTPASS service will enable park guests to spend less time waiting in line and more time having fun.

Crowd control is a major issue on New Year’s Eve. At peak times like the conclusion of the fireworks, walking through the theme parks or driving away from the parks is extremely difficult. Where the crowds converge, such as the relatively narrow entrance to World Showcase, pedestrian traffic literally comes to a standstill. Guests with small children, strollers, motorized scooters, or wheelchairs are at an extra disadvantage on New Year’s Eve and other periods of extremely high traffic. It is best to wait until the crowd dissipates after the fireworks before exiting or attempting to travel from one section of the park to another.

Disney World distributes complimentary New Year’s 2010 hats and party horns inside the theme parks. Hats and horns are distributed on a first come, first served basis at select locations throughout the parks and inside restaurants. Be prepared for an all-night cacophony as children and adults blow their horns incessantly. Happy New Year!