A Wilderness Lodge Resort Holiday

December 2013

    Holidays take on a new meaning as you walk into the lobby of any Disney World Resort. The Wilderness Lodge lobby has become our favorite resort to visit over the past 19 years because of the splendor of the decor. The lobby Christmas tree reaches almost as high as the 8 story lobby and the woodsy decorations that adorn the tree are spectacular. There are deer antler decorations, tee-pees, feathers in deep hues of browns ,greens and colors of wind blown leaves in fall. 
    Along with the lobby tree are numerous other holiday decorations that adorn the rainings of the open floors to the lobby below. A favorite spot is a large black bear made of wooden rustic branches with evergreen trees which provides the perfect backdrop for that photo of your family.
   The feeling of "home" is best felt here for the smells of Whispering Canyon Cafe BBQ beef and chicken spills into the lobby and the coziness of the limestone layered 82 ft. fireplace with rocking chairs brings you into the story of the wild west. 
    The lodge was imagined after the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park and the Native American artifacts that dress the lobby with the rich history of these lodges is evident in every detail.
  If Disney is on the list for your next family holiday vacation let me say "Welcome Home", the Wilderness Lodge is that place my family feels the warmth of Christmas and the beauty of the wilderness come to life!
   

Be blown away at Typhoon Lagoon by Tamela Hansen

     As the summer warms up everybody wants to cool down on their Walt Disney World vacations!  The parks offer several areas with cooling mists and water rides, but my favorite thing to do in the summer is going to the water parks at Walt Disney World!  We love Typhoon Lagoon!

     Typhoon Lagoon offers so many fun activities for the entire family just like Blizzard Beach but with a different twist.  A typhoon hit Walt Disney World and left this awesome water park behind!  This is the only place you can swim in one of the largest wave pools, ride water slides, float down the lazy river, and swim with shark!  Yes, I said swim with sharks and Wow what an experience!                                                                                             For the Shark Reef experience, you may know how to swim, but I recommend grabbing a life vest to make the experience even more enjoyable.  Through this adventure you will find yourself in chilly and very deep water. To keep the fish from being spooked you can not kick your feet to swim.  You are only allowed to use your arms to guide you over stingray, tropical fish, and of course Shark!  Brace yourself they are real!

     Of course a family favorite is always Castaway Creek!  This lazy river will meander through misty rain forests, a hidden grotto, and a few more surprises along the way.  With leaves falling everywhere you get the feeling of floating down a creek back home!

     You have to go and ride Crush 'n' Gusher. This has the best variety of water slide roller coasters I've ever experienced.  You have three slide options Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher, and Pineapple Plunger.  So to get the full experience you have to ride them all!

     Gangplank Falls is a must do for all families.  This is a ride we have done with our children since they were toddlers.  It is so much fun to slide down and get wet with the little ones. Now that my children are getting bigger I think it may be even more fun with teenagers.

     Humunga Kowabunga are three water slides that reach 30 miles per hour!  All three are identical and you can even race to the bottom.  To all girls "beware of the bathing suit"!  These are very exhilarating slides and just a complete blast!

     Of course you're at Walt Disney World so the toddlers are never left out. There is a very special place just for children ages 2 to 5 to enjoy their own water adventures. This area is called Ketchakiddee Creek and your toddlers will love it.

     Now, while walking around Typhoon Lagoon you may hear some roaring and crashing but no it's not dinosaurs it,s just a massive wave pool!  As one of the world's largest wave pools this pool holds 3 million gallons of water! When the roar of the waves come hold on tight, your either riding the wave or get knocked down!  Either way you're gonna love it!

     Typhoon Lagoon is a must do summer adventure at Walt Disney World!  It offers all the conveniences you need such as lockers, refillable cups, tasty food, souvenir stores, in case you forgot something, and a few surprises around every corner.

     The dining at Typhoon Lagoon does not disappoint!  Just like all of the Walt Disney World Resort the food is scrumpdiddlyumptious!  If you are on the Disney Dinning Plan you can always use it at the water parks.  Don't forget to stop and satisfy your sweet tooth with an ice cream pail or a Mickey bar and for the adults maybe a frozen cocktail or draft beer.  It's all part of the Disney experience!

     So if you're visiting the Walt Disney World Resort this summer make sure you put Typhoon Lagoon on your list of must do's!  You won't regret it, but you're Gonna Get Wet!

Disney's Blizzard Beach by Tamela Hansen

     Disney's Blizzard Beach

     Summer is finally here and we are all ready for our summer vacation!  There is no better place to spend a family vacation then at Walt Disney World!

     It is true that the parks are quite full during the summer and quite warm but have you ever explored Disney water parks?  We love Disney's Water Parks!  Disney Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are awesome for those hot summer days.  They are perfect for everyone.  We have adventured both parks with small toddlers and even older ones with limited mobility.

     If you are staying at a Disney resorts you can take bus transportation to Blizzard Beach.   Blizzard Beach also offers locker rentals for holding your personal items.   Showers are available and towels rentals for the entire day.

     Blizzard Beach is one of the most unique water parks I have ever experienced.  Everyone in the family can enjoy Cross Country Creek.  Just grab a raft and float down a winding Creek through caves and surprises along the way.  Be careful of those leaky pipes and the sneezing Alligator!  The whole family will enjoy this so much you may ride for a little while leave get a bite to eat or ride another ride but I promise you'll be back during the day!

     Another one of our family favorites is the Toboggan Racers.  This two hundred and fifty foot water slide with three drops provides fun for the entire family.  Eight racers can line up beside one another with their mat and Ready, Set, and Go, race to the bottom! 

     We have also enjoyed Teamboat Springs since our children were very small.  This is the perfect family ride for all ages.  The chairlift can provide transportation to the top of the mountain for younger ones or ones with limited mobility.  This ride provides 1200 feet of twists and turns.  You're gonna get wet!

     

     Of course Disney always offers a few thrill rides!  If thrill rides are what you're looking for you might want to check out Summit Plummet, Slush Gusher and Runoff Rapids!  Be prepared to lose your stomach!

     Now for the little tots in the family, Blizzard Beach offers a special area just for you.  Tike's Peak offers miniature scales experiences of the rides at Blizzard Beach.  This also provides a nice place to relax and catch some rays for the older ones in the family.

     For the younger kids and tweens in the group Blizzard Beach has a special place just for you!  Ski Patrol Training Camp offers challenges such as zip-lines, walking on ice while using a net above to balance, and several awesome water slides.  Even if you do not have younger children this area is a must!  You have to watch the children faces as they go down the zip-line,  PRICELESS!

     Blizzard beach offers so many other adventures and experiences.  It will take an entire day to truly enjoy everything that Blizzard Beach has to offer.  While you are visiting the park don't forget to stop and have lunch and a special snack.  Try a pretzel dog with cheese, or a jumbo turkey leg and for dessert a Mickey bar, a Sand Pail or Mini Donuts.  You can purchase a refillable cup for your day and on those hot summers days you will be glad you did!  Then while soaking in some rays you can enjoy a nice cold draft beer or a special frozen cocktail!  Gotta love boat drinks!

     So if you're headed to Walt Disney World this summer and decide that you need a day to cool off then head over to Blizzard Beach.  You won't be disappointed, but you're going to GET WET!!!

Check Out This Week's Travel Discounts with our Destinations in Florida Travel!

Disney & Orlando Digest 

Discounts with Destinations in Florida Travel

Disneyland® Resort in California

Disney Discounts 

Walt Disney World^® Resort

●      New!  Free Day to Play at the Disney Theme Parks:  Buy 6 or more tickets for your family or friends with the 4-Day, 5-Day, 6-Day, 7-Day, 8-Day, or 9-Day tickets and you will get an extra day free.  Imagine another day to ride Splash Mountain or another day to get pictures with Mickey Mouse!  If you are visiting together, order your tickets together to save money!  Must book by June 14.

●      Free Memory Maker to Cherish Your Disney World Moments:  Imagine capturing your favorite pictures from your Disney World vacation!  You can do that with Disney’s Memory Maker.  Book a package from August 15-September 30 for at least 3 nights with 2-Day tickets and get the new Memory Maker free.  Prices start from just $899 plus tax for a family of 3 at a Disney Value Resort.  

●      Save up to 30% on Rooms at Select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels:  Savings apply for stays most nights March 14, 2014 - April 12, 2014 and April 20, 2014 – June 15, 2014.  Upgrade to a room and ticket package with a minimum 4-day Magic Your Way Ticket and get one more ticket day FREE!  Visit Destinations in Florida for more details.

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●      Military Discount:  Active duty and retired members of the US military can get specially discounted rooms at Disney Resort most nights through September 27^th, 2014.  Thank you for serving our country.