Merry Christmas from Global Resort Homes

From all the staff at Global Resort Homes, we would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. This year Global is making a donation to Seeds Of Hope Brazil, an organization that helps children living on the streets and in the orphanages of Sao Paulo Brazil. An e-card just went out to all of our owners and friends. To see what was sent click HERE.

As we enter our busiest time of the year, we wish safe travels to all incoming guests. Staying in an vacation home for the holidays can be a very special experience and we hope that all of our guests have the very best time possible.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

B52’s and Foreigner on New Years Eve at City Walk

It’s becoming sort of a tradition for my wife and I to spend New Years Eve at Universal. We intend to try Pleasure Island but the entertainment always seems lacking. Anyway, this year will be no different - we’ll ring in the New Year in style at City Walk. If you haven’t been to City Walk on New Years your in for a treat. When I was younger I do not think I would have gone out of my way to see the B52’s. Maybe Foreigner but it would have been a stretch! In any event, I haven’t been let down by Universal on New Years Eve yet so I’ll trust them again - I’ll just wince a little bit when Love Shack it played. Maybe next year they’ll get Whitesnake?

Starting from the entrance to Starbucks and ending at Margaritaville, the entire area is walled off for those willing to pay $119.00 + tax for a ‘private party’.

I have to say, I’m not a fan of crowds and I hate waiting in line for a meal but the spread that is put out is worth a little wait. The salmon filets that usually are outside of Buffet’s Margaritaville are worth the trip alone. Plus, in the past 3 years we have attended, the masses of people never seem to get that large. Sure, theres a gaggle of revelers around but there is still room to walk and move.

For complete details on the event vist the official Universal City Walk site. Last year there was an option to pay an additional fee ($40.00 I think) for unlimited top-shelf drinks. I didn’t see that option online so you may want to ask when purchasing your tickets.

Tip: Getting out of Universal on New Years (and the 4th of July) is a exercise in patience. You can easily spend 60 minutes leaving the garage. If your up for it, take in a movie after the midnight fireworks when everyone is trying to leave. Although the clubs are open till 2 a.m., most people start leaving once the fireworks have concluded. You’ll have an easy walk and exit once you leave the theater.

See you there!

–

Bill

Texting - Orlando vacation deals on the small screen

Since now everyone had a mobile phone (including my 92 year old grandfather) Global is testing a new way to communicate with its guests - text messaging. Although, technically, it’s not a ‘new’ way to communicate. I think we can all thank American Idol with bringing text voting to the masses and the concept into the main stream for the rest of us. By the ‘rest of us’, I mean non-teenage thumb bandits that can not type those magical 140 characters in 4 seconds while driving a car. So, how does it work?

Each week (or when necessary ) we will post a new special that is only available to those who text the word GRHSALE to 41411 - ask your kids, they will help. Once sent, you will get an immediate reply with that weeks special. If you don’t want to have to randomly check each week, text GRHSALE to 41411 and then text the letter ‘Y‘ in response to the first message we send you. At that point, you will automatically receive any new sales directly to your mobile phone. Text ‘UNSUB‘ at any time to remove yourself from the list.

Check with your mobile carrier to see if you have SMS messaging on your phone. Standard carrier SMS rates apply.

Typhoon Lagoon - ‘Crush n Gusher’ - Review

Just a quick post about our recent visit to Typhoon Lagoon. My daughter and I had a chance to ride the “Crush -n- Gusher“, a new 1-3 rider water-coaster in Typhoon Lagoon - our favorite Disney water park. We love the wave pool!

Themed like an abandoned fruit processing plant, Crush n Gusher is located behind the locker section and I noticed that there is a small beach area that didn’t seem too crowded in comparison to others around the wave pool. It might be a good place to drop your belongings before venturing out into the main park.

There are three lines to choose from: Banana Blaster, Coconut Crusher or Pineapple Plunger. All three offer, more or less, the same ride. Our wait was only about 10 minutes each lane (there was a lot of rain that day and park attendance was low) so we quickly completed all three routes.

TIP: Lift you butt up when casting off. Those rollers are not very pleasant!

Halloween in Orlando

GlobalResortHomes.com is planning a special live event directly from one of the parks during October. Minute by minute updates will be posted to the site as Bill (and his family) stroll through one of the ’spooked out’ theme parks. Readers will be able to post live questions and get a near instant response. Stay tuned for additional details.

Here is a run down of the Orlando theme park events.

Halloween Horror Nights 17 — Carnival of Carnage
Tip: Order online and in advance for special discounts. This event regularly sells out and starts at 6:30 pm.

How do you feel about chainsaws - sans chains? Diet Mountain Dew bottles filled with ‘evil’ coins? If that does it for you then the ‘Carnival of Carnage’ is your best bet. I would consider Universals Halloween event to be the most adult oriented of the three in Orlando - not the best place for small children unless they recently emerged from a corn field. Get it? Children of the corn? Oh well. HHN’s is full of ‘Gotcha’ moments, lots of simulated fog, and no less then 8 haunted houses. Jason & Freddie are back to renew their friendship as Leather face joins this award winning ensemble. Of course, the whole carnival is run by everyones favorite clown - Jack. He only gets work for about 30 days a year and his frustration shows!

2007 Dates: Sept. 28, 29, Oct. 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 24-28, and 31, Nov. 1-3.
Cost: $64.95.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Easily scared? Gutless? This ‘Not-So-Scary’ event is for you.

2007 Dates: Sept. 14, 21, 28, 30, Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, and Nov. 2
Cost: $38.95 or $45.95 for ages 10 and up; $32.95 or $39.95 for ages 3-9

Having children crying en masse isn’t traditional Disney so you won’t find rubber knife wielding Jason wannabes walking throughout the park. The young (and the young at heart) are encouraged to come in costume to the event. A special Halloween parade, select rides (the recently refurbished Haunted Mansion just opened), storytelling, and cast members dolling out free candy make up the bulk of the event. Your teen-age children might cry “LAME!” but your pre-teen kids will howl in delight.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular
FREE !!! Low-key family fun. Suitable for all ages

Seaworld’s Halloween event also has a low-scare factor (like Disney) and is best suited for those looking to do some in park trick-or-treating. Lacking some of the high-tech effects and spooked-out walk around characters (Shamu did not like the horns they wanted him to wear) Seaworld does have one thing going for it that the Disney and Universal do not … it’s free to all park guests. Kids can also come in costume.

- Bill

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