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ICE! in Florida: Shrek the Halls and Bring Your Parka!

December 22, 2011 by The Mom Jen 10 Comments

In Florida, you don’t ever think about wearing a parka. But, there is one place you will need it, because believe me when I heard 9 degrees, I didn’t believe it until I felt it! Gaylord Palms Resort is hosting ICE, Shrek the Halls this holiday through January 2nd, and baby, it’s cold inside!

The award-winning ICE! attraction is carved by a team of 40 artisans from Harbin, China. The talented artisans spend more than a month in Kissimmee/Orlando creating this one-of-a-kind attraction. Harbin is best known for its annual International Ice and Snow Festival, where more than 2,000 sculptors annually carve a 100-acre walk-through ice park, using ice from the nearby Songhua River.

After a quick video introduction of the making of the exhibit, and a story line video, you are lead to the parka area. You are more than welcome to bring your own hats, gloves, coats, and sweaters, but thankfully if you’re not prepared, the parkas come in handy! Bright blue, nearly floor-length for me, I climbed into it eagerly as the closer we got to the exhibit the air became cooler.

It’s hard to believe it was in the 70’s outside and here we are shivering and trying to keep our fingers warm enough to snap a photograph! The sculptures were spectacular, the amazing detail on Shrek and all the characters you love from the movies are brought to life in the most frozen way!

You are mesmorized by the lighting and the brilliant colors that have been dyed into the ice to create each and every sculpture. The talent is awe-inspiring and the holiday touches are heart warming to even those unfamiliar with the Shrek story (if possible!).

Probably the biggest hit for the kids (and adults alike) is the 30 foot ice slides that will get your bottom cold and possibly wet, so be prepared! Here’s one of our valiant sliders in our group, I would not do it because I think my legs were numb by this point. The exhibit is over 4 acres worth of magnificence. It’ll take you 20-30 minutes to see it all and by then you’ll be ready to head out and look for that cup of cocoa at the nearby cafe (free with a Foursquare check-in!).

If you’re in the Kissimmee area and want to get a real dose of winter weather and amazing artwork, bring the family to check out ICE!

Our tickets were hosted thanks to the Kissimmee CVB, opinions are my own.

Kissimmee, Florida Entertainment: Capone’s Dinner & Show

December 21, 2011 by The Mom Jen 6 Comments

What are 5 mom bloggers looking for a fun night out in Kissimmee to do? Capone’s Dinner Show, of course fahghettabout anything else! From beginning to end, the gangster era actors wine, dine, and make you laugh in a more than reasonably priced entertainment package!

As the pinstriped suit-wearing mobster leads you through the front doors, you walk right into the gift shops. Hats, feathered boas, toy guns, and more give you even more of a taste of what’s to come that night. The girls and I posed for photos in the hats, giggled, and got ourselves into character as we waited for a few others in our party. As we gave the secret code word, we stood in a spot where our picture was taken as if we were in a lineup. I think everyone was to scowl since were were “getting questioned” but I am sure I smiled goofily forgetting my imagination. While we waited for the show we enjoyed a cocktail up in the lounge where the bartenders were also in character.

We came down for dinner and it was a buffet of delicious Italian food including salads, pastas, a scrumptious lasagne, and some fresh homemade breadsticks! Poor Louise kept getting teased about the Gelato Neopolitano, by “Vito!” During the night, and included in your admission, soft drinks, wines, beer, rum runners, vodka cranberries, rum and coke, coffee and tea are all UNLIMITED! You have that right, over the 4 hours we were there, Vito came around often to top off my vodka cranberry, be careful you will have a fabulous time!With the show you have comedy, singing, dancing, a great slapstick storyline, and even more comedy. The cast of characters from outside the doors, to the lounge, to the waiters are all a part of this huge show that truly knocked my socks off! I mean really, look at the GUY in the coconut bra!

During the show the stars incorporate the audience quite a bit, there were some youngsters there and some older teens, but the show is very much for adults. Not only would my kids not quite “get” the humor or period banter, but there is some sexual innuendo that isn’t for little ears. Although my daughters are dancers and there are some fun numbers in there, I’d choose to not bring my children, make this a fun couple’s night out or a girl’s night for ensuring fun for all!

Thanks to Capone’s and Kissimmee CVB for hosting this event. All opinions are mine. Thanks to Louise at Momstart for the photos!!

Florida Eco-Safaris: Zipline and Cypress Canopy Cycles Review

December 19, 2011 by The Mom Jen 8 Comments

Having just zip-lined for the first time just last month, I was thrilled to visit Florida Eco-Safaris in Forever, Florida and have another zip adventure as well as another surprise experience!

This special place (a 4700 acre eco-ranch)boasts nine distinct Florida ecosystems, home to an endless array of natural flora and fauna including alligators, black bears, white-tail deer, nearly two hundred species of birds and the endangered Florida Panther. In fact, Forever Florida has been identified by the Florida Wildlife Commission as a biological hotspot hosting one of the highest concentrations of endangered and highly threatened species in the State. Best of all, your visit makes a difference! A significant portion of revenues from all of the fun adventures offered by Florida EcoSafaris go directly toward supporting the conservation of Florida’s wilderness and wildlife conservation area boasting beautifully untamed wilderness, natural streams, wetlands and dense cypress forests. Choose from four amazing ways to explore Forever Florida: Coach Safari, Horseback Safari, soar over it all on Florida’s biggest and All New Zipline Safari or pedal through the treetops on the New Cypress Canopy Cycle.

Zipline

After signing the waiver and getting weighed in (lb. limits), we headed to a safari coach to take us to where we’d start the zipline safari adventure. Along the way we passed horses and cows while keeping our eyes out for alligators along the banks of the surrounding creeks. Reaching our destination, we removed unnecessary bulky belongings into a locker (cameras are okay with a wrist strap) and climbed into our harnesses. We were led through the safety measures and then walked to the scaffolding to our first jump. Our guides Megan and Stephanie kept their banter light and comedic to keep our mind off of being scared. Because I had recently ziplined, I offered to go first not as the veteran but to get to the other side to relax watching everyone else.7 ziplines are on the course plus 2 rope bridges. The longest zip was about 600ft long about 68 ft off the ground. The lines were quick and my landings great. Unlike my Catalina zip, I made it to the end each and every time without getting the line thrown out, thanks to no winds.

Over one line we zipped over a pond where George the Alligator waded. As we flew overhead he basked in the sun watching us carefully, yet making the adventure that much more thrilling. Though I know I was safe, telling the story of zipping over alligators makes me look like a daredevil to impress my friends and kids!I felt safe and secure and had a great time with my friends and the spunky girls. I was brave at the end, let go with one hand and posed for the camera. The second time was just as exhilarating as the first and my fear wanes after each zip. I had a fabulous time.

Cypress Canyon Cycles

To our excitement, Eco-Safaris’ newest attraction-the first of it’s kind in the US!- was offered to us. The Cypress Canopy Cycles take the same wiring as the zip uses and with a pedaling motion you propel yourself along a course through the very same trees and “jungle” where you zipped. Making sure you stay an orange or black brackets-worth between you and the person ahead of you (so you don’t weigh the line), you get a bird’s eye view of the palm tree tops and floor below. We even pedaled over George where I got my own personal photograph of him.

The ride is a workout! Be prepared to pedal a mile and a half over a generally flat line with a few elevations but equal descents. Since you are slightly laid back, only my calves and quadriceps felt wobbly where my back felt good, if I must say, it’s the most comfortable “bike” ride I’ve experienced.

I surprised myself in being more anxious over the cycle ride, I felt as if I were riding the bike on a highwire rather than hanging beneath it. The zip-line gave me a thrill with each jump then getting “grounded” and if I had to choose I’d do the zip-line all over again there and on my next adventure!

Getting back to the gift shop and diner we were treated to a barbecue lunch of pulled-pork sandwiches, slaw, baked beans, and apple cobbler. The workout gave us a voracious appetite and the food was cooked perfectly and was filling. The entire staff was wonderful and our experience a wonderful memory!

If you visit Kissimmee, you must stop by Florida Eco-Safaris and have an adventure of your own. They also offer a safari ride that gets you up close and personal with the wild life conservation on the land and you experience the vast expanse of the park. Find Florida Eco-Safaris on Twitter, https://twitter.com/#!/FLEcoSafaris and Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/FloridaEcoSafaris to learn more!

Thank you to the Kissimmee CVB and Florida Eco-Safaris for hosting our adventures and lunch. Thanks to Travis Cole, our photographer for some amazing shots. All opinions are my own.

Orlando, Florida: Why You Should Choose Global Resort Homes over a Hotel

December 19, 2011 by The Mom Jen 11 Comments

One of the most important things when you travel is having a comfortable, reasonably priced, and relaxing place to stay, a place to call your “home base.” I want to take my family across country and back to Florida where I just spent a fabulous long weekend, our home base will absolutely be a Global Resort Home! Don’t get me wrong, we stay in hotels and resorts, but now that I’ve stayed with Global in Kissimmee, I can’t stay anywhere else! Here are my top three reasons to stay with Global Resort Homes over an Orlando Hotel.

1. It’s Like Home (even better): When you go on vacation with your family, long drives, flights, and unfamiliar surroundings can make children and frankly parents nervous. Global Resort Homes provide you will all the comforts your own home and more. Personal touches like murals of Mickey/Captain Jack Sparrow/Disney Princesses and stuffed animals in the bedroom, children’s themed plates in the kitchen, and the garage-sized game area, complete with gaming systems/pool table/air hockey and more, often have the kids so eager you have to drag them to the theme park! Let’s not forget their own bed, own room, own television, own space, things you cannot get squeezed into a hotel room. Each individually owned home has special touches to truly have their customers coming back year after year.

2. Perks: Right outside the kitchen door, you can walk right to the pool and spa at any time of day! Covered to protect from bugs and gated for safety, the pool and spa can be utilized after a long day of activity to relax and unwind when you want to, and there are no limits on time or space. Mom and Dad can enjoy the spa at night while the kids are just inside, and pool time for the kids doesn’t have to be an independent activity that you need to stop everything else to do.

No, you don’t want to think you have to cook, do dishes, or keep a kitchen clean on your vacation! But having the option to stock the fridge with drinks and snacks from the grocery store versus buying them at 3X the cost at a theme park will keep you to your budget. Global Resort Homes also contracts with a personal chef that will cook for you or prepare meals ahead of time! Coming home after an activity, you can pop a pre-made meal into the oven while you shower and the kids nap, and have it ready when you are. These perks allow you and your family to comfortably multi-task, spend quality time with family or friends, without over-spending or added stress!

3. Affordable: Traveling as a family of five adds dollar signs to each planned trip. Often hotel and resort rooms have a maximum occupancy of 4 people. Although my youngest is small, squeezing us all in a small room with 2 beds leaves someone on the floor if a pull-away couch isn’t included. Our only other option is paying up to double for a suite or an adjoining room. Global Resorts can offer rental homes with up to 7 bedrooms, all the amenities of home and more, all for comparable or lower prices than hotels with similar amenities. A Global Resort Home with:
-4 bedrooms
-4 full bathrooms
-full Kitchen
-living room
-dining room
-laundry room
-game room
-pool
-hot tub
-sleeps 10
will run from as low as $383/night, which is phenomenal. Smaller families can vacation with friends and literally split that cost to save you money!

My Take: My experience with Global Resort Homes, specifically 2542 Archfeld Blvd. in Windsor Hills, is my first of many to come. I loved that the homeowner adds special touches to each room of the house to make guests feel welcome and important. Just before our stay, the home we stayed in was adorned with a lighted Christmas tree inside and decorated the tree in the front yard with lights. Being away from my kids and husband around the holidays was brightened by this special touch. The décor was beautiful and not to the point where I felt I couldn’t relax and put my feet up on the couch. I enjoyed the hot tub one night as well as the pool and it was refreshing and I didn’t have the pressure of getting out at a specific time, swim with strangers or be modest.

Though I didn’t use the washer/dryer due to opting for an early bedtime the night before I left, I think the main plus is going home with clean laundry! That’s one less chore to do! Homeowners that work with Global take pride in their rentals and appreciate feedback both positive and constructive. I will leave a suggestion for our owner (on his personal Home Away listing page) for a towel bar near the shower on the downstairs bathroom. I’ve been wanting to bring my family to Orlando and Global Resorts are perfect vacation homes near Disney, no doubt about it!

To learn more, follow them on Facebook to hear about the latest promotions and deals or on Twitter.
Thank you to Global Resort Homes for a 4 night stay, Kissimmee Guest Services for providing snacks in our home, and for the Kissimmee CVB for flying me to Orlando. All opinions are 100% my own.