Archive for March, 2008
It’s tax refund time! And your 2008 tax rebates are just around the corner! Use the extra money now for an Orlando vacation of a lifetime at ALL STAR Vacation Homes.
Book now and SAVE $150 when reserving your stay at select luxurious, private pool vacation homes for 5 nights or more during April and May!
Check out the ALL STAR Vacation Homes Vacation Specials page for more details.
Beat the summer rush. Book your Orlando vacation home for April and May now and save!
March 28th, 2008
The enchanting and swashbuckling adventure continues! Walt Disney World has extended its popular Pirate and Princess Party at the Magic Kingdom.
Renamed Mickey’s Pirate and Princess Party, this extended celebration continues on select nights April 1st through June 4th from 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. Now there’s more opportunities for you to explore the Magic Kingdom and discover all its hidden treasures – more of the dazzling parades, more explosive fireworks and more Jack Sparrow and Captain Hook! And don’t forget, both kids and adults alike can dress in their favorite Pirate or Princess costume for a truly immersive experience that only Disney World could dream up.
For your “map” to all the Party’s treasures, visit the Walt Disney World Pirate and Princess Party site today.
March 26th, 2008
Fun, safe, convenient and luxurious, Windsor Hills Resort provides you with one of the most kid-friendly vacation home rental resorts in the Disney World vacation area. And it’s only 3 Miles from the Walt Disney World main gate! Windsor Hills has all the fun of kid-themed resort, plus the luxuries, privacy and convenience you’d expect from an upscale, gated community.
Your children will be thrilled by all the exciting and fun just-for-kids amenities this Orlando vacation resort offers. They’ll make a splash in the water park pool that features fountains, waterslides and even a separate toddler pool! Plus they’ll enjoy playing in the castle-themed playground and at the clubhouse’s video game arcade and billiards room. There’s even a movie theater with a high definition screen plus surround sound! And that’s just the beginning of the fun. Many Windsor Hills vacation homes offer in-home game rooms, private pools and the hottest video game consoles like the Wii, XBOX 360 and the PS3. There’s just no end to the fun your kids will have staying at Windsor Hills!
For grown-ups, there’s plenty of fun and luxurious vacation resort amenities like a spa, a top-of-the-line fitness room and much more! Choose from 4 to 6-bedroom vacation home rentals plus a selection of spacious luxury condos and town homes. At Windsor Hills, you and your kids will have an unforgettable vacation experience like no other!
March 24th, 2008
The Orlando Sentinel featured an article today discussing the economic impact of the vacation home rental industry based on a report issued Thursday. The study, commissioned by the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau and prepared by the Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies at the University of Central Florida Rosen School of Hospitality, details the variety of economic impacts that the vacation home rental industry has on the Central Florida tourism market.
To read the entire article, check out the ALL STAR Vacation Homes News and Events page.
March 21st, 2008
During your Orlando vacation, celebrate Easter the Disney way. At the Magic Kingdom in Tour Guide Gardens there’s the Mr. & Mrs. Bunny Meet and Greet – held daily 11:00am - 6:00pm through this Sunday, March 23rd.
And on Easter Sunday, enjoy a relaxing Orlando Easter Brunch at EPCOT’s International Flower and Garden Festival in the World ShowPlace Pavilion. The brunch features bunny-themed Disney décor and guitar music. Seating Times are from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Happy Easter!
March 21st, 2008
Catch “March Madness” in Florida this weekend as opening rounds of the 2008 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament are hosted at the University of South Florida’s St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. The action starts with first round games on Friday, March 21st and second round games on Sunday March 23rd. For tickets or more information, click here.
Want more basketball excitement? “Travel” on over to the NBA City restaurant at Universal Orlando CityWalk. Enjoy American cuisine, giant screen TVs, interactive games, NBA gear and more!
March 19th, 2008
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Get your green on – there’s still time to celebrate St. Patty’s Day at these popular Orlando vacation spots:
Shamrock-n-Roll at Pat O’Brien’s at Universal CityWalk from 2:00PM – 2:00AM today, with live Irish music, song and dance. Also try the St. Patrick’s Day Street Party at Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney from 7:00PM to 2:00 AM today, featuring music, leprechauns and more!
Plus, don’t miss the Raglan Road Irish Restaurant & Pub, featuring U2 tribute band ‘U2 Elevation’, competitions, free giveaways and more! From 11:00 AM -2:00 AM today and tomorrow.
March 17th, 2008
Flower Power is back…at Disney World EPCOT! Celebrating its 15th anniversary, this year’s annual EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival starts next Wednesday, March 19th and runs through June 1st. Formerly a 60-day event, this year the festival has been expanded to 75 days, with its first March opening ever!
Throughout the park, you’ll see up to 70 topiaries, including your favorite Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and even Stitch – plus many more! The festival also features:
- Donald Duck’s “Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros” show in the Mexico pavilion – NEW!
- Peter Pan’s Neverland Garden – NEW!
- Pluto’s Play Zone
- Popular gardening celebrities and authors
- Gardening tips and secrets by Disney horticulturists
- Several themed weekends such as: I Dig Bugs, Art in the Garden, Mother’s Day and more
In addition, there’s the Lift and Sniff Fragrance Garden where you can sample flowers and plants used in making Guerlain perfumes. There’s even a “Flower Power” Concert series featuring classic acts like Herman’s Hermits, The Guess Who, Arlo Guthrie, Tony Orlando and many more. Best of all, the festival – including all gardening programs and exhibits – is included in regular EPCOT admission!
Make your Orlando vacation blossom – visit disneyworld.com/flower or call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) today for more information.
March 14th, 2008
During your Orlando vacation, be sure not to miss these musts for March:
ü Aquatica by SeaWorld – Orlando’s newest water park featuring live dolphins and more as part of the rides.
ü Spring training action with the Atlanta Braves at Disney’s Wide World of Sports and the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium.
ü Mardi Gras at Universal Studios Orlando featuring cajun cuisine, parades, beads plus bands like Huey Lewis & the News and Heart.
March 13th, 2008
Name: DISASTER!
Location: Universal Studios Florida
Formerly named ‘Earthquake’, DISASTER! puts you in the middle of a thrilling disaster movie. The major elements of ‘Earthquake’ are still there: the flood, the fires and the collapsing city streets. What’s new is that you get to star in the action in a “real” movie directed by Frank Kinkaid, a seat-of-his-pants director of B-grade disaster-themed schlock films.
Christopher Walken stars as Kinkaid and interacts with the audience via a new technology called Musion through which a projection of Mr. Walken appears to be right there in front of you – in 3-D! After a “crash course” in the secrets of disaster moviemaking, you head to a soundstage where select audience members are filmed in various action shots. Then it’s time to board the subway, where you are given cues to react as if you are in a real disaster movie.
As the subway returns to the station, you get to see the final cut of the movie trailer starring select audience members (maybe even YOU) and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. This thrilling “movie ride” lasts about 20 minutes and makes you truly feel that you are a movie star.
DISASTER! is located in the San Francisco section at Universal Studios in Orlando.
March 10th, 2008
Need to fill some vacation “space”? After the parks, head on over to the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral to catch the Shuttle Endeavour launch. Scheduled for this Tuesday, March 11th at 2:28 AM ET, the early morning lift-off is sure to provide a spectacular once-in-a-lifetime view. The 16-day mission for the crew of seven astronauts is to transport a robot and the first section of a Japanese research lab to the International Space Station.
Can’t stay up that late? There’s still Mission: Space at Disney’s EPCOT. You can also try your hand at landing the space shuttle on one of WonderWorks’ landing simulators.
Be sure to check the Kennedy Space Center website for updates on Tuesday’s scheduled launch.
March 7th, 2008
Spring…training is still in the air! Don’t miss Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves in action at Disney’s Wide World of Sports. Can’t get enough baseball? Swing on over to see the Houston Astros at the Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee. The grand slam thrills continue for both teams through March 27th, with games scheduled daily.
And don’t forget to hit your own “home” run by booking your family vacation with ALL STAR Vacation Homes today!
March 5th, 2008
After exploring the wonders of SeaWorld and sliding through the seas of fun at Aquatica, unlock the secrets of Discovery Cove – a private, almost hidden paradise where more adventure awaits! Experience sea life first hand as you swim with a school of manta rays, snorkel through a colorful undersea kingdom teeming with tropical fish and coral reefs – and even ride on the back of a real, live dolphin!
And the adventure doesn’t end there. Discovery Cove also features a fully interactive aviary filled with mysterious ruins, jungle rivers and of course birds – over 250 exotic feathered friends for you and your family to enjoy!
Daily admission is limited. Reserve your spots now!
March 3rd, 2008
