Honoring Our Nation’s Heros

As September 11th is fast approaching it marks the 7th anniversary of that horrible and tragic day in history and I can still recall the exact feelings I experienced at the time.  My husband was a New York City Detective and was one of many NYC officers who responded to the call to the Trade Towers.  En route he was instructed to respond and aid in the search and rescue at a nearby building that had been compromised.   I remember frantically watching the news, fearing that another building would collapse and maybe my spouse wouldn’t return home.  When my husband came home the next day, he smelled like sulfur.  We put his clothes in the trash and embraced each other and our 2 small girls, grateful for his safe return and grieving for those who didn’t make it home to their families.
 
We had our annual Orlando family vacation scheduled for the following week - we debated if we should even go, but the officers were encouraged to keep any scheduled vacations because the months ahead would not allow them to do so.
 
I remember our drive from New York was solemn and sobering.  As we drove over the bridge and we looked at the beautiful NY skyline which had been completely and forever altered, the sulfuric smoke still lingered in the air.  The sky was devoid of any activity since all airplanes were grounded.  It was as though we were in a dream.  When we reached our Orlando vacation rental, our two little girls, oblivious to the turmoil in the world, were gleeful and excited.  And they served as a reminder to us that there was still good in the world.  When we went to one of the Disney attractions, the park was virtually empty, a continual reminder that life as we had known had forever changed.  But, I vowed to enjoy every moment, not to take my time with my family for granted, knowing that in a moment it could be gone.  While the vacation was not one of the best vacations we’ve had, it certainly was one of the most necessary.
 
Global recognizes the sacrifices of our officers, fireman, and military and the sacrifices of their families. In honor of those sacrifices, Global is proud to offer an Orlando military discount and special rates to police and fire fighters.  We are truly thankful.

The True Cost of a Vacation

The soaring gas prices, the surging cost of groceries, and a housing slump have been the continual topics of discussion lately.  We talk about it over breakfast, we debate about it at lunch with co-workers, and we hear about it as we watch the evening news at dinner.  Then, as we sit down to watch our favorite reality show, we see a commercial with a smiling family of four walking towards a magical castle - mom and dad holding hands, Johnny sitting on dad’s shoulders, little Suzie gazing with wonder at fireworks - and our hearts sink because the idea of a family vacation seems not just unlikely, but truly impossible.  As we reason to ourselves, we simply can’t afford it.

However, the reality is we can’t afford NOT to go. According to a report in the October/November issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, vacations are actually vital to our physical and mental health.  They protect our health by reducing stress. In fact, people tend to exercise and rest more while on vacations and they provide opportunities to interact with family and friends.

The Travel Industry Association of America has reported that the average American family of four plans on spending approximately $1000 dollars on their longest trip this summer, which is a 7% decrease from what they spent last year.  People are calling these vacations, stay-cations, and they are afraid to venture too far from home.  But, you don’t have to stay home this summer, it’s possible to still enjoy a wonderful vacation.

I can remember one of the best vacations my family and I ever enjoyed in Orlando was during a time we were on a limited budget, so we decided not to go to all the attractions that year and to stay on the resort property.  It was great!!!!  There was no rushing to get ready, no standing in line for hours with two tired toddlers, no spending $150 for hamburgers, cokes, and popcorn all in a day.  Instead, we slept in, my husband made his famous pancakes, and we ate our breakfast on our terrace.  We laughed, talked, and listened to one another.  We walked around the beautiful property, swam for hours in the pool, played family volleyball and challenged another family in an intense game of Ping-Pong.  We had friends over for dinner - everyone brought a dish, the kids watched movies, and the adults played cards. It was one of the best vacations and also one of the least expensive we’ve ever had.

Stay tuned for how Global Resort Homes can help you plan an affordable and memorable Orlando Vacation!

Dana

Moving Day: Cypress Pointe Resort

As I mentioned in my first entry, I was asked by Russ (Global’s General Manager) to come and stay at a few of their Orlando vacation homes and write about my experiences and opinions about their various vacation homes and the Orlando area in general.  Up until now, I have been staying at an amazing, 6 bedroom vacation home in Windsor Hills Resort.  As much as I loved my accommodations, I knew if I wanted to get the “full” feel for all the properties Global Resort Homes has to offer its guests, I would need to stay at a few different communities.  As such, it has come time for me to relocate to Cypress Pointe Resort, Global Resort Home’s newest community made up of 4, 5, or 6 bedroom detached vacation homes.  

My first observation as I pulled into Cypress Pointe Resort was that the community was quaint and quiet – Florida wetlands and mature trees form the background for most of the homes in Cypress Pointe, offering its guests a sense of privacy and tranquility while being only miles away from Orlando area attractions.  Every home comes with its own pool, spa, and game room in addition to a fully equipped kitchen, spacious bedrooms, and all the luxurious of home.  As I settled into my new Orlando vacation home, I knew (yet again) I was in for a totally different experience then if I were to be staying at a typical Orlando hotel or resort. 

As I unpacked and settled into my new home I began planning what I would do the next day.  After much thought, I decided I would go check out Wet ‘N Wild as I had yet to experience any of Orlando’s renowned water parks.  I checked the weather and it was predicted to be another beautiful day in Orlando so I headed to bed and set my alarm for 8am so I could hit the water park bright and early!!  Waterslides and sun – what could be better???

Jordan

A Day at Epcot

I was overwhelmed by the many areas of Disney World and didn’t quite know where to start.  I chose to spend the day at Epcot Center – a choice I should of considered and researched more carefully.  I left my Orlando vacation home around 10am and arrived at Epcot a short ten minutes later.  I was amazed at how close Epcot was to Windsor Hills Resort and how easy it was to park once I arrived. 

Epcot Center did not embody the characteristics I imagine when I think about Disney World and I was genuinely disappointed as I roamed the park looking for things to do.  There are no roller coasters, no water rides – essentially nothing I was hoping for when I chose to hang out at Epcot Center for the day.  Now I may be naïve and should have known that this was the case, but I am not all that knowledgeable about Disney World and what the different areas of the park offer.  I was under the impression that almost all areas of the park had roller coasters.  Clearly, this is not the case.

I decided to check out “Test Track”, which puts you through a simulation of the tests that GM’s crash test dummies go through.  The line was long and I ended up waiting almost two hours before I reached the front.  At least there were historical exhibits of all things GM related to keep me entertained as I waited.  Once I actually got on the ride, I did enjoy the simulation and was very interested in all the safety measures GM puts their cars through. 

Next I decided to check out “Mission Space”.  Same deal as “Test Track” - long line (about another 2 hours) but interesting exhibits to keep me entertained as I waited.   “Mission Space” puts you through a simulation similar to what astronauts go through as they launch into space.  Very cool experience and I was happy I waited the 2 hours for this ride. 

After spending almost 4 hours of my day waiting in line, I decided that I was done with Epcot and would go home and research the areas of Disney World that had actual roller coasters.  Epcot would be great to take younger children to for the day – the rides aren’t intense and each ride offers educational value related to the themes of the ride.  However, if you are looking for thrills and roller coasters, Epcot is not the place to go!

Jordan