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While staying At Orlando Hotels, Enjoy Orlando’s Shopping and Nightlife

3 May By

While staying At Orlando Hotels, Enjoy Orlando’s Shopping and Nightlife

Orlando hotels provide you with all possible comforts and facilities to make your stay more enjoyable but no visit to Orlando is complete unless you’ve seen its shopping facilities and nightlife.

Orlando hotels are always ready to welcome you and make you feel totally at home during your stay in the city. In fact, the hotels in Orlando and OrlandoEscape.com, the ideal website which has been your guide to the city and on which you have probably made your bookings, will also tell you that the city is equipped with some state-of-the-art shopping malls and has an equally heady nightlife as well. It’s just for you to visit them and have a blast while you’re on vacation.

You can just skip into the Florida Mall, the largest shopping center with over 250 shops that sell just about everything. Then there are the Pointe Orlando, Altamonte Mall and The Mercado to pick up some of the best clothing, jewelry and dress accessories at bargain prices as well. At the reception area of most well known Orlando hotels, you will find free pamphlets giving you full details of which shops to visit and for what.

Similarly, Orlando’s nightlife is something to die for. Clubs, bars and restaurants serving every possible cuisine come to life after sundown  and while walking down Universal’s City Walk, you simply can’t miss the glitzy signs of the exclusive clubs like Latin Quarter, City Jazz and the Groove to name a few. Orlando is after all Disney City and the fireworks at night is something that is just not to be missed at all as hotels in Orlando and Orlandoscape.com will advise you well in advance. Heed this advice and you certainly won’t regret it.

In case you are in the mood to take in a dinner show, make sure to book in advance for the major shows like Arabian Nights, Al Capone’s, Medieval Times, Pirates Dinner Adventure, Sleuths, Fiasco’s Dinner Show and Central Florida Improv. You can even enjoy hot air balloon rides, helicopter rides and tours, indoor sky diving and surfing and Wonder Works that are bound to leave a lasting impression on your mind.

The staff of Orlando hotels will also guide you to the Millenia Mall, Prime 1 Outlets and to some of the best Florida flea markets where you can pick up some of the choicest stuff at throway prices. For those who enjoy their sundowners, Orlando offers the Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville,  Bob Marley, Pat O’Brien’s, Rising Star, Red Coconut Club, Cigarz and the groove SM. You can also enjoy a quick drink or simply lounge at the Dragon Room, Tanqueray’s Bar & Grille, Howl At The Moon, The Social and the Grand Bohemian Hotel in that perfect holiday mood immediately after sunset to the wee hours of the morning.

Filed Under: Guest Writers Tagged With: ,

New Rides Coming to Universal!

25 Jan By 2 Comments

Seeing as Charlotte and I just went to Universal a few months ago over thanksgiving and it was an AMAZING time, I wanted to let you in on the new changes.

BIG CHANGES!

New rides, new updates, and new shows!

2012 IS THE YEAR TO BE HERE!


Universal Orlando Resort to Offer More New Entertainment Experiences Across its Entire Destination than
During Any Other Year in its History

Universal Releases First-Ever Looks at All-New Experiences, Including Upcoming Despicable Me Attraction,
New Interactive Parade and Spectacular Nighttime Show

Orlando, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2012) – This year, Universal Orlando Resort will debut more adventure, excitement, laughter and
awe-inspiring moments than ever before – making 2012 an extraordinary year to be here.

There will be something for everyone and every family. From a new Blue Man Group show and newly re-created experience inside one of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions to a stunning parade, spectacular nighttime show
and brand-new blockbuster attraction based on an incredibly popular film – Universal Orlando Resort is bringing guests
more new entertainment across our entire destination in 2012 than during any other year in our history.
The new experiences will begin debuting in February. Guests will discover the exhilarating entertainment of a new Blue
Man Group show; marvel at breathtaking new animation and effects in The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man;
dance and celebrate with their favorite animated characters during Universal’s Superstar Parade and relive memorable
moments from Universal Pictures most powerful and beloved films during the nighttime show Universal’s Cinematic
Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories. And coming this summer – families will laugh together as they are
transformed into minions for an incredible adventure inside the new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction.
Universal Orlando will also be marking the Universal Pictures Centennial Anniversary Celebration during 2012 with a
series of events to be announced throughout the year.

“We are about to offer our guests a historic range of incredible new entertainment experiences,” said Alice Norsworthy,Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Universal Orlando Resort. “This year will be filled with excitement and entertainment for the entire family.”

The new 2012 experiences at Universal Orlando Resort include:

Blue Man Group ~ Opening February 2012 at Universal CityWalk

Universal Orlando’s Blue Man Group show is taking their unique and captivating mash-up of high energy music, comedy,
audience participation and collective exhilaration to another level. Featuring a new show environment, new music, new
technology and new experiences, the show will allow audiences to join the Blue Men as they discover, engage and explore the world’s obsession with cutting-edge technology. Signature Blue Man Group moments combine with breathtakingly fun new pieces for an explosive evening of entertainment. New show elements include the curious Blue Men interacting with enormous “GiPads,” a funny and insightful look at contemporary communication vehicles, and a pulsating new finale with an original Blue Man Group music score that will have guests jumping to their feet. Look closely – you may even see the Blue Men take a spin on one of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ~ Experience March 2012 at Islands of Adventure

Universal Orlando is transforming what is already one of the most amazing attraction experiences ever created into what
will feel like an all-new adventure. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man will soon feature all-new, 4K digital highdefinition animation, new high tech 3-D glasses and upgrades to the set, audio and lighting systems. The re-animation of the ride film will include an entirely new level of detail for guests to discover, including a cameo by legendary comic book icon and Spider-Man co-creator, Stan Lee.

Universal’s Superstar Parade ~ Opening Spring 2012 at Universal Studios Florida
Some of today’s most beloved characters and stories will bring new adventure to the streets of Universal Studios during
Universal’s Superstar Parade – an all-new daily parade that features larger-than-life floats, state-of-the-art technology and hundreds of energetic street performers. Guests will sing and dance along with characters like the minions from Despicable Me, E.B. from the hit comedy, Hop, Nickelodeon’s Dora & Diego and SpongeBob SquarePants during the interactive experience. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy performances and character meet and greets prior to the parade at
select locations throughout the day.

Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories ~ Opening Spring 2012 at Universal Studios Florida
Narrated by award-winning actor and recent Golden Globe – Cecil B. DeMille honoree, Morgan Freeman, Universal
Orlando’s brand-new nighttime show, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, will celebrate the most powerful and emotional
moments from Universal Pictures’ most iconic films – all on cutting-edge waterfall screens within the Universal Studios
lagoon and surrounded by colorful fountains and pyrotechnics. The experience will take guests on a journey through epic cinematic moments filled with heroes, horror, laughter, good vs. evil and triumph. The new show opens this spring, runs all summer and then on select nights through the end of the year.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ~ Opening Summer 2012 at Universal Studios Florida
Universal Orlando’s newest attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, will take guests on an unforgettable 3-D adventure with their favorite characters from the hit film – Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes and the mischievous minions. The experience begins when guests enter Gru’s home, where they learn that they’re being recruited to become minions and undergo “minion training.” Things don’t go as planned, and guests find themselves on a wildly hysterical journey with Gru and his daughters. Once guests make it through training, they join an interactive, minion-inspired dance party where they can show off their best moves.

Minutes away from Universal Orlando, the popular Wet ‘n Wild water park will open its first interactive family
water play area this summer – allowing everyone in the family to splash and swim together. Amidst lush, tropical
landscaping, the new area will feature 15 water slides and more than 100 soakers, jets, waterfalls and water cannons
- making it the largest interactive water play experience in Florida.

Universal Orlando 3-night vacation packages are available starting from only $249 per adult, tax inclusive. Upgrade to an on-site hotel and receive complimentary Universal Express access to Skip The Regular Lines for FREE in both theme
parks. For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.universalorlando.com.

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Charlotte and I vacation like Pro’s

4 Dec By 16 Comments

If you are reading this from a hotel room, the chances are you are an amateur vacationer. I want to teach you how to vacation like a pro here in the Kissimmee area and it starts with this: Stop Sharing a room with your children. I don’t know about you, but crowding your kids inside a hotel room with one bathroom and two beds for any number of days makes me want to stay home…or need a vacation from my vacation.

No. Thank. You.

Last week Charlotte and I were guests at Windsor Hill. Having been there twice before, I felt like an old pro coming home. And that is what it felt like…coming home. With condos and full homes available for rent, you will no longer think twice after experiencing the ultimate in family luxurious vacationing but without the premium price. Starting at only $122 per night for a 2 bedroom condo, or$138 per night for the 3 bedroom condo we stayed in, you can position yourself only 1.5 miles from Disney Main gate with your own personal pool (with or without heat), private rooms, private bathrooms, flat screen TVs, movie rentals, and a public pool with a water slide, Global Resorts made it pretty hard to even want to head out to the theme parks.

(we had enough room to have some of our friends that were local to come and stay and play with us)


As an added benefit, I was able to wash all my clothes before I went home saving me the dreaded “after vacation” laundry pile. We also picked up some food to put in the food storage at Target down the street (we got so much we had emergency food storage and long term food storage !) and kept milk, cereal, snacks and sandwiches in our fridge instead of resorting to the fried foods of every meal that seem to accompany our vacations.

House Vs Condo

I have stayed in large Vacation Homes (Global Provides those as well) and while the pools in those homes accommodate more people and there are more bedrooms if your party is larger, there really is no reason to forgo a vacation condo. I couldn’t hear the neighbors, the privacy in the back was the same, and the condos had our every need met. Plus, as a bonus, Charlotte didn’t need me in the pool to swim back and forth (just supervision). Since she is a water baby by heart, her pool hours could easily turn into a 4 hour affair so this was a good thing. You also still get all the amenities like the neighborhood pools, games, rec rooms, and parks regardless of renting a condo or a home.

With all of this, why, just WHY would you put yourself in a cubical they call a hotel room? Same four walled box, beds next to each other, zero privacy, and in the Orlando area, upwards of $200+ a night for your ” 1 bedroom, 2 bed, home away from home”. I personally dont want to be confined to going to bed at 8pm so my children can get some sleep…kwim?

Blech.

For the Kids

Vacations are for kids too. For Charlotte, aside from the personal access to a backyard pool (and temperatures warm enough to swim), she felt like a little diva with a flat screen and a bathroom in her room. I think it was the first time she ASKED me if she could take a bath. I was like..what? You want to take a bath? The novelty of having her own space was very apparent.  And for a kid without a TV in her at home bedroom, she easily turned on Nick Jr and let me sleep in.

But don’t take my word for it, check out our gorgeous vacation condo:

(I didnt get a picture before Tornado Charlotte moved in on the bottom left there…lol)

Safety with Global Resort Homes

When you check into Windsor Hills you will find locked gates with guards that check the passes prior to opening the gates, whether you are going in or out, fully key locked homes, access codes needed for the pool, game room, and parks. Our individual pool at our condo had safety gates and alarms on the back door.

I would like to tell you that heading out to the attractions was our favorite part of our mom/daughter trip…and Universal’s Islands of Adventure was spectacular, but in all honesty, if I had let her, Charlotte would have done this ALL DAY LONG. Which she did a good portion of one day which is why the clouds are moving in on these pictures…it was nearly 5pm:

(Your rental comes with a code to access the community pool and Club House up front where you can rent movies, enjoy a game room, and even order sandwiches and drinks at a small store )

To book this condo or check out homes that can accommodate entire households and to find current discounts and specials going on during the times you plan on vacationing,  you can contact Global Resort Homes on Facebook, Twitter, or call 1-800-426-0472.  You can also find more properties located throughout the Orlando area next to Seaworld and more!

Questions? Please leave them and Ill be glad to answer.

Have you ever stayed at a condo or vacation home over a hotel?

~Trisha

——-

media stay provided to facilitate the article. Opinions are 100% Charlotte and I’s. To read more about our Mother/Daughter trip, check out Thanksgiving at Disney World, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Legoland.

Filed Under: Family Travel, Parenting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Running Brandcation

13 Nov By 14 Comments

I wanted to share some of the chaos of what it looked liked before everyone got there…running a meetup out of the town you live in is relatively complicated requiring lots of people who love you enough to host the boxes, drop them off, help you unload them. I think that we were totally unprepared for the positive sponsorships we received and all the staging we had to do when we arrived to our destination.

Boxes. Boxes. Boxes. If I never have to break down a box again for as long as I live, Ill be happy. Also, if you are thinking of running an event like this, make sure you have a full arsenal of tape, garbage bags, screwdriver and flashlight on hand.

Trust me.

We are incredibly grateful to all the sponsors who directly contributed to the success of the event by making it a ton of fun and easing the attending cost.

The ULTIMATE Sponsor:

Global Resort Homes

Event Sponsors:

Brandcation Swag Bag Sponsors:


Snack Sponsors:
Giveaway Sponsors:
Filed Under: Brandcation, Family Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,

Win 7 -day stay in an Orlando $1500 TONIGHT

3 Feb By 14 Comments

Tonight (Wednesday February 3, 2010) at 8:30 pm CST, I am helping to host a Twitter party (along with Kim) for Global Resort Homes.

And there are great prizes!

Here are the details:

Twitter handles to make sure you follow:

Hashtag:

#grh

Prizes:

Four (4):

$25 VISA Gift Cards

One (1) Grand Prize:

One week (7 days) in a 3 bedroom townhome with splash pool in Windsor Palms aprox. value $1500 (does not include pool heat).

(Restrictions apply based upon availability, and blackout dates are Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s weeks.)

So join us tonight, tell a friend and maybe win a GREAT prize!  If you don’t know how a Twitter party works, basically you follow the hosts, respond to the questions and make conversation, include the hashtag, and winners will be randomly selected from those participating.

An RSVP isn’t required, but let us know in the comments below if you will be there!

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