The Newest Concept in Online Dating Experiences

[Editor's Notes: LanceAround gets a lot of interesting emails.

My eyebrows were raised when someone named Kristin sent an email the other day with the title DinnerDate. I got excited. Was someone trying to pick me up? Then I got nervous. What would Mrs. LanceAround think?

But, alas, it wasn't exactly what I thought it was.

It turns out Kristin is an Account Coordinator with Uproarpr.com. Their website indicates that they help promote businesses. According to Kristin's email, restaurant mogul and CEO of Planet Hollywood, Robert Earl, has launched a new dating site in Orlando called DinnerDate.com. This concept allows clients to schedule a "date" with a group of interested "daters" at a local restaurant. Normally, LanceAround does not accept unsolicited promotion requests. But this one seemed unique and worthwhile enough to let my readers know about. I also want to see if anyone has tried this service and, if so, how it worked out for them; so please leave a comment if that's you.

I took a moment to visit the DinnerDate.com website. The concept looks great, but there were several things about the website that were slightly annoying.  For instance, it continually asked me if I wanted to complete a survey--even after I told it a dozen times that I never wanted to complete the survey. There were dinning venues and criteria for scheduling a date (such as "30's & 40's -Limit 6 Daters at Nick's Italian Kitchen" for a price of "$30.") But when I clicked on the purchase button, I discovered that Tax, Gratuity and a $5 Booking fee were not included and I was asked to pay $42.95. Why not just be up front about the entire price? I also searched the website for answers to questions such as, "What is included in the price?" "What are my choices of entrees, desserts, etc.?" "Is alcohol included?" "Can I opt to purchase more when I'm at the restaurant?" "Do they handle special requests such as Vegetarian or Kosher?" I believe the lack of easy access to answers to these questions will turn away some interested new daters--but these are minor corrections to their website that I'm sure they will address as they further refine their business.

In the meantime, here is Kristin's article about this new venture:]

The Dinner Date Logo

DinnerDate

It’s not easy to find quality people to date when your only option is scouring the bars downtown. Why not make a change for 2012? Make the New Year a new you with a new way to date.

Robert Earl, founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood, selected Orlando as the launch city of his first technology venture, DinnerDate.com. Unlike traditional dating websites, singles sign up online for prearranged group dinners of 6-12 eligible locals and meet in-person at popular Orlando restaurants. DinnerDate brings to the forefront the real-life offline connection, without the keyboards and screens, while blending with contemporary online techniques for communicating once a connection was made over dinner.

Marrying the technology of online dating services with the real-world benefits of group activities, DinnerDate helps alleviate the stress and anxiety of one-on-one dates and the safety concerns of online dating. All daters have to do is simply book a seat at the group table and come to the meal ready to enjoy good food and good conversation with other singles. Daters can also invite friends to come on the DinnerDate with them. Then, if daters connect with someone at the meal, they can return to the website to message each other and exchange details.

“The thing that people seem to like best about this concept, besides the whole law of averages, is the fact that if all else goes wrong and you don’t find a match, you still wind up having a good evening out with new interesting people,” Earl said. “And since everyone pays for themselves, there are no awkward ‘who pays’ moments.”

DinnerDate has no monthly fees. Users simply sign up for the dinner that most appeals to them and pay for their three-course meal and a small processing fee. Dinners are budget friendly and themed by age group, sexual orientation and interests, like single parents, 20s to 30s or gay. Participants view profiles and pictures of the people they will be dining with before they sign up and can send private messages after the date to reconnect and plan future dates. For more information, or to sign up, visit www.DinnerDate.com

Shrek The Halls at Gaylord Palms' ICE!

[Editor's Note: Mrs. LanceAround and I have owned a vacation rental home company for 14 years. One of our first guests was the Odrobina Family, who now stay with us several times a year. Our company's newsletter last month offered two free tickets to ICE! for a new reservation. The Odrobinas took us up on the offer, and then requested two additional tickets. We gave them the extra tickets in exchange for today's blog post about ICE!--LanceAround]

Shrek Consults "Christmas for Village Idiots"

By The Odrobina Family
After checking into our Florida Dream Home on December 1^st for our Christmas trip to Orlando, we arrived at ICE! Shrek the Halls at the Gaylord Palms hotel. We were not alone as several tour buses were also unloading to see the show. However, it was a large exhibit and did not feel crowded.

Shrek & Donkey Discuss Santa

ICE! is the Gaylord’s annual ice sculpture display, with this year’s theme featuring king size sculptures of Shrek and all his friends. The display is crafted from 200 tons of ice and is breathtaking.  The accompanying storyline is based on a 2007 holiday TV special titled “Shrek the Halls.” A pre-show video that recaps the TV show explains that Shrek’s friends are coming to Shrek’s house for the holidays. Traditional Christmas customs, however, are foreign to Shrek who is seen reading the “Christmas for Village Idiots” book to get up to speed.

After the pre-show video, everyone is outfitted with full length parkas to ward off the 12 degree temperatures before entering the exhibit. The show winds its way through many scenes containing full color life size sculptures depicting Shrek preparing for Christmas. The “Christmas for Village Idiots” book provides a step by step guide to the holidays, including finding the perfect tree, decorating for the holidays and preparing the Christmas feast. The various scenes depict Shrek employing the Idiot’s Guide in his own unique manner.       

Fiona Has Her Hands Full and Can't Help Decorate

The final scene of the Shrek section ends with giant ice slides available for use by all spectators; just pull your parka down low to avoid a wet rear end!

In sparkling contrast to the colorful Shrek sculptures, the final exhibit is a nativity scene, with ice versions of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, wise men, shepherds and assorted animals.

Puss In Boots Slips on the Ice

At Home With Everyone's Favorite Ogre

Letting the Kids Help Hang the Ornaments on the Tree

Donkey and Gang Arrive at Shrek's Home to Celebrate Christmas

Mrs. Odrobina Demonstrates Proper Technique to Avoid a Wet Rear End

Gaylord Palms is also running a companion show to ICE! Called Kung Fu Panda Awesome SNOW. This seperately charged attraction is set during a winter carnival, has Asian architecture and 150 striking red lanterns dangling from the ceiling. It serves as a snowy playground, complete with snowball fights and is perfect for the youngsters in your party.

A Wintery Playground for Youngsters at Kung Fu Panda Awesome SNOW

Hit the Peacock with a Snowball

MacDill AirFest is a Great Event for the Entire Family!

[Editor's Note: Jeff and Kathryn are from the UK. We manage their beautiful vacation home right beside Disney World. We love when they come to visit because they have an adventurous spirit with a delightful sense of humor. (Oops, they're British so that should be "humour.") They love reading my blog and they often visit the "more than a mouse"™ off-the-beaten-path places we feature. Last week, they turned the tables on me and discovered a delightful event. It's the MacDill AirFest, featuring the USAF Thunderbirds, located in the heart of the bay in Tampa. Kathryn was particularly engaging as her face visibly flushed and she fanned herself with her hand while she spoke of the "hot young men in uniform" who seemed to be everywhere throughout the festival--saying all of this right in front of her husband Jeff. Of course I insisted that she write a guest blog post about her experience (with vivid detailed descriptions of these young men that she found so appealing!) At first, she resisted, but after several emails from the LanceAroundOrlando editorial desk (i.e. SunnyStefani) with a stern warning that she had better do as promised or risk having a reduction of the free compensation she had been promised; she relented and provided the following information. (Albeit sans the requested description!)--LanceAround]

By Homeowners Jeff & Kathryn

We are now back from our trip down to Key West and thought we had better do as promised and send you some details on the MacDill Airfest.

Kathryn was Particularly Interested in the Parachutists

The AirFest is held annually at the MacDill Military Air Force Base near Tampa. We arrived to be met with military precision parking–it is suggested that people should get there around the opening times of 8am to be sure of finding a parking space, although the parking area is huge. It is estimated that over 100,000 people attend the AirFest.

The show actually begins around 9am and runs to around 5pm. There were many aircraft on display, including the range of very large cargo/bomber types. Many of these aircraft allowed people to enter them and have a good look round. There were numerous vendor stalls at the grounds, which were selling various foods and drinks throughout the day.

There were also many static displays from all the different aspects of the military Air Force, which Kathryn found to be very interesting as she was able to get up to and personal with the men in uniforms!! [Editor's note: Wow, Jeff is a much more understanding husband than I am!]

Kathryn Swears This Angular Man is an Actual Parachutist and NOT a Cardboard Cutout!

The actual flying displays included demonstration parachutists, which Kathryn seemed particularly interested in as she had already met one of the display team (see photo–she is the one who is blushing), acrobatic flying, fighter planes both recent and vintage. All this culminated in a fantastic display from the Thunderbird team. Except for the vendors, everything was completely free of charge, including the car parking, which was really great.

All in all it proved to be a fabulous day out.

[Editor's Final Note: Since Kathryn is an avid reader of this blog, perhaps if you would write a comment requesting more details from her regarding the "men in uniform" whom she so passionately found appealing she will be kind enough to respond...]

What an Entrance - Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

What do you get when you cross a mouse, world travel, and deliciousness?  If you said a scene from Ratatouille, you’d be right, but today I’m talking about the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival.   This annual event takes place for three months every autumn at The Walt Disney World Resort’s EPCOT Theme Park. It’s a major draw for all ages; featuring appetizer sized portions of some of the world’s most delectable offerings.  As if that weren’t enough to convince you to book your tickets now, there are also hundreds of beer and wine varieties, which means, there’s something for even those with the most discerning of palates.  I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy this event many times; however, my experience this year was perhaps my favorite thus far.

I came to Florida to participate in the Walt Disney World College Program, a competitive internship where college students are given the opportunity to work for a number of months at the Most Magical Place on Earth.  I had the good fortune, during my program, to live with some truly great people. We decided that we’d all get back together for Food and Wine.  So, last weekend we drove to EPCOT and immersed ourselves in the beauty and culture of the festival. 

EPCOT is divided into two unique sections, Future World and World Showcase.  Future World is an attempt to honor what Walt Disney’s EPCOT was originally intended to be – hence the name Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow.  World Showcase is a sprawling horseshoe of culture.  Eleven country pavilions encircle World Showcase Lagoon and walking through them gives you the sense that you really are globe trotting.  World Showcase is the site of Food and Wine, but along with the regular eleven country line up (Mexico, Norway,China, Germany, Italy, USA, Japan, Morocco, France, The United Kingdom, and Canada) there are twenty eight participating cuisine choices.  When we arrived, we were certainly overwhelmed.  Not really having any game plan, we figured we might as well try a little bit of everything. 

Following World Showcase’s curve to the right, we passed a pavilion new to this year’s festival, Craft Beers.  It lived up to its name, offering eight inventive selections from which to choose.  You have the option, when it comes to drinks, to purchase a 6oz, 12oz, or 22oz serving.  I strongly recommend going with the 6oz option if you planning on doing a fair deal of sampling, trust me here I speak from experience.  We continued around and ran into a Food and Wine staple, Greece.  Please do yourself a favor and try the Spanakopita ($2.25.) You’ll love it.   Spanakopita, or spinach pie, is a classic Greek dish consisting of a pastry shell filled with spinach, feta cheese, onions, egg, and seasonings.  While it’s still not as good as my grandmother’s (who is not Greek), it remains a close second. 

Our next stop was Ireland (if you know me at all you know there I’ll never pass up a chance to carouse with my fell Irishmen).  Four Thousand pounds of lobster were used at the festival this year. I think I ate most of them personally.  Ireland, which is finally beginning to embrace seafood as a legitimate dining option, featured an exquisitely presented and absolutely delicious Lobster and Scallop Fisherman’s Pie ($3.25).  During my afternoon excursion, this was also the only place I opted for a 22oz beer ($11.75, I know, right!) It’s just that it’s a requirement when there’s Guinness  behind the bar.

We continued around the world passing the International Gateway, which is the back entrance to EPOCT that leads to the Disney Boardwalk Hotel and Entertainment district. Walking into France, there was only one thing on all of our minds, pastries. We were distracted, however, when we saw a small group of people ahead all dressed in kilts and shirts that bore the phrase “3rd Annual Eat, Drink, and Repeat Tour.” Intrigued I ventured over to inquire about how the third year was going. Turned out, they were a family from Scotland who use the Food and Wine Festival as a family reunion each year. Naturally, I figured that since we had already concluded the Irish merrymaking we should simply continue it with the Scots.

Our group, considerably larger now, made our way though France in search of something light, fluffy, and containing far too many calories. However, seeing the word’s “Crème Brûlée” made me quickly change course. For those of you unfortunate enough to have never tried it, Crème Brûlée is simply the best dessert ever, period. Meaning “Burnt Cream” in french, it is indescribably good. The base is a rich custard, which is contrasted by a level of caramel. EPOCT’s Crème Brûlée was flavored with chocolate and topped with carmalized sugar. Honestly, I would have paid $1000 for it, but it was only $3.25, so I ate two.

We continued around and were headed toward the American Pavillion when Singapore caught my eye. Well, it was actually the menu outside Singapore that grabbed my attention, but nevertheless, I simply had to stop. Written under the drink section were the words “Tiger Beer………$5.50.” I was puzzled, a little scared, and extremely curious. Eventually curiosity (or rather peer pressure from the Scots) won out and I bought one. Somewhat reluctantly, and with a vague fear I’d somehow transform into Charlie Sheen, I drank it. Frankly, it wasn’t bad. It was actually quite good, but for the life of me I don’t know why. There were no discernible flavors and I haven’t been able to come up with anything to which it is. Which means it gets the same treatment that art does from me. I liked it, but don’t try and tell me why its good just let me enjoy it.

Returning to normalcy, we entered the American Pavillion. There was a Sugar Ray concert going on when we arrived (yes that Sugar Ray, from the 90’s. Yes, I thought it was too awesome to be true too.) It was part of the Eat to the Beat Concert Series that accompanies Food and Wine. Some of this years headliners were Boyz II Men, Hanson, and Air Supply. Deciding to switch back to something more my taste we got a sampling of Sam Adam’s Cherry Wheat ($3.50) and a Turkey Leg ($9.19) and watched the concert, feeling distinctly American, despite being surrounded by men in kilts.

Next up was Poland and the Golabki – Pork Stuffed Cabbage – which was neither as gross or euphemistic as it sounds. I mean really, if it’s only $2.75, I’ll try anything once. Making the final turn around the horse shoe, we spotted a pavilion that was new for 2011, Scandinavia. I didn’t drink anything from here, mostly because everything they had started with an “X” and if that’s not ominous foreshadowing, I don’t know what is. However, I was daring enough to try the Taste of Scandinavia (Cured Salmon, Herring, and Shrimp Salad, $4.00). Try the Herring at Your Own Risk – Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You!

I figured I like shrimp; I like salmon, so I’ll probably like herring.  Long story short, I don’t like herring, but don’t let that stop you from trying it.    Rounding out the day was Mexico.  It is important to stipulate that Mexico is always the last place to go to in EPCOT.  Why?  Well it’s quite simple really, Mexico has tequila.  We all enjoyed a couple of Margaritas (at $10 a glass they weren’t too overpriced) and decided to call it a day.  Actually, that’s a lie. We didn’t call it a day; we went back around in the opposite direction and then we went around again.  When I think of how much money I spent that day, well, let’s just say I don’t like to think about, so please don’t bring it up. 

Our evening was capped off with Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, EPCOT’s nightly fireworks show over the World Showcase Lagoon.  During the show, in the middle of the lake, sits a giant spinning globe covered with LED video screens.  Videos of different natural events, animals, and environments are played on the globe throughout the show and it is truly beautiful to watch.  Perhaps, it was the tequila, but I found myself thinking of how extraordinary the world we live in really is, then the globe exploded and fireworks shot out of it. (Don’t worry it’s supposed to do this.)  After that all I could think of was how awesome fireworks are, but I had that one moment, so give me some credit. 

Downtown Orlando

More Than a Mouse™
There’s nothing like a family vacation, but sometimes the adults in the group want to head out on their own.  If this is what you’re after, then you’re in luck because there’s no place like Downtown Orlando for a great night on the town. 

So, it was a long day at the theme parks, but great news, the younger kids are worn out and ready to call it a night.  Now the older kids can leave the parents at home (or vice versa, whichever works) and look for something more geared to their own age.  You’ll quickly find that there isn’t a more eclectic mix of nightlife options than in Downtown Orlando. 

Parking is Easy
It’s certainly not as hard to navigate downtown as people say it is.  Get on I-4, get off I-4 and it’s just that easy.  Parking is also a breeze.  For tonight’s adventure, you’ll want to drop the car off at the Church Street Lot at 150 South Hughey Ave or the Garland Lot at 109 W. Pine Street. You’ll also want to make your night out a Friday, since you’ll have the most fun without paying weekend prices. Then head straight down the world renown Church Street.

Start with Dessert
Since you’ve probably already had dinner, a nice snack is a great way to start your evening.  There is no better person to see in downtown than Patti Schmidt, owner of the world famous sweet shop The Dessert Lady at 120 W. Church Street.

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth

They make the best Lemon Rum Cake I’ve ever tasted, but my all time favorite is their authentic and delicious New York Cheesecake.  They also have some great cocktails, an extensive wine list and awesome coffee drinks.  There truly is no better place than The Dessert Lady to get your night off on the right foot. They are open on Friday until 12 am, but since you’re making a night of it, I’d recommend spending your 9 pm to 10 pm hour here before heading further down Church Street. 

Looking Good at Club 23 Orlando
I guess it’s an appropriate time to mention, that when I go out, I like to look good.  Yes it’s a personal decision. I mean I could just wear my gym shorts and a t-shirt and still look fine. (Well, better than fine!) But I choose not to.  My point is, there are these things called dress codes.  Society has them so there aren’t a bunch of naked people running in the streets. Clubs have them so you won’t have to encounter the same smell coming from the next stool over as comes from the next seat over on the bus.  Places with dress codes are not prissy, they’re posh and they are worth your time.  One such place is less than two blocks ahead of you, just look for number 23 as you walk down Church Street.  Named for its street address, 23 W. Church Street, Club 23 Orlando is what some might call pretentioius but what I like to call trendy. 

Inside Club 23

I like to think of this club as the perfect midway point of a great Friday night.  Sure, there’s a $10 cover, which you can avoid if you get there early enough, but you know what you’re getting into for that money.  It’s a more upscale clientele that serve to make the environment inviting and more high-end than a lot of the other downtown venues.  23 oozes with old world charm, from the narrow staircase you have to climb to get in, to the long curvy bar, to the large plush couches and warm wood décor, this place is definitely more lounge than club. Thus it makes sense as a midway point.  Sit down, grab a couple martinis or any of their excellent beer imports and let your dessert digest.  The DJ’s in here do spin some great tracks, so by all means, feel free to dance, but it is a smaller place so there’s not a lot of room.  Which is why, at midnight, it is time to head back downstairs and on to the third and final stop of the night.

Rockin’ at the Rok
Exclusivity is one of those traits that always seems to make everything more attractive.  If something is rare or not overly know, than it becomes more valuable or more desirable.  The same can be said of places.  For example, if you’ve never been to Paris, but you’ve seen it on the Travel Channel then it makes you want to go.  It’s even worse if you know someone who’s been there because all they talk about is what a great time they had.  Now, I’d never suggest flying to Paris to cap off your night in Orlando, although it’s not the worst idea, but I can guarantee you’ll have bragging rights with most of your friends when you tell them you stopped at the Rok Room during your Orlando vacation.  Located at 41 W. Church Street, this is a true hidden gem and one of those places you’d never find unless you knew to look for it.

Inside Rok Room

Tucked neatly down a short alley, Rok Room is not your typical Church Street Bar.  That is to say, you get a different blend of music than you do at most places.  Rok Room lives up to its name. Huge pictures of rock and roll legends adorn the walls and the décor is chic but edgy.  There’s no cover, so that’s a plus, and the drinks aren’t over priced.  It’s a great place to end the evening because you can dance to some truly unique mashups of 80’s rock over modern hip hop or sit on the comfy white couches and have a conversation without losing your voice.  This place fills up fast after midnight, so time your arrival, but don’t worry too much, because they usually keep the music playing until after 2 am every night.  Overall, Rok Room is an experience, the light, the sound, it’s unique and a real must see. 

B Safe B4 U Go!
One more important tip as you head home, make sure to use your designated driver. DUI’s are not only expensive, they’ll probably ruin those happy memories you made at Magic Kingdom ealier that day.  Remember, even though you’re on vacation, jail cells are not good alternative accommodations, even if you are trying to save a little money. 

So, on your next trip, don’t feel bad about “taking a little me time.”  By which I mean “take me with you” as you head to downtown Orlando for some good old fashioned nighttime fun.

I Don't Think This Post is About a Car

[Editor's Note: Today we are delighted to introduce the newest member of the LanceAroundOrlando blogging team--TheRyanKing. He hails from the northeast and currently works alongside LanceAround and SunnyStefani at the Florida Dream Homes check-in center. We are delighted to be adding his razor sharp wit and profound insights to our blogging team--LanceAround]

What’s one of the most annoying things about Florida? Yes, having to pay that much money for admission to a theme park is one answer.  However, for those of us that live here, we’ll usually say, “It’s the bugs!”

It’s true. With its unique subtropical climate, Florida is one of the “buggiest” states in the country. But, twice a year, for two weeks at a time, Florida is overrun by an insect so terrible, so vile, that it’s very name strikes fear in the hearts of even the bravest Floridian. It’s…The lovebug!

I’m not kidding.

If you’ve been on vacation here, either in late April/early May or late August/early September, you’ve definitely seen them. There can be thousands of them at one time or just that one pair you can’t seem to get unattached from your shirt sleeve. If you look closely, that one annoying bug is actually two, joined together.

Lovebugs in Action

The Plecia nearctica, as they are scientifically known, are a member of the March fly family. They are also known as the honeymoon fly, telephone bug, double-headed bug, united bug and kissing bug and are found in the Southeastern United States; specifically in the gulf coast region. American entomologist Dilbert Elmo (D.E.) Hardy first reported on them in 1940. One male and one female will usually remain attached to each other, even after they finish mating, until death, which certainly adds a somewhat Shakespearean dimension to this otherwise mundane topic.

At only 1/4 inch, they would never appear to be much of a nuisance, but believe me when I say, “They are!” Why do we hate them so much? Well, it certainly isn’t because of their ferociousness. (They can’t hurt you since they don’t bite or sting.) Rather, it has to do with how they travel. See, love bugs travel in giant swarms, sometimes numbering in the tens of thousands, which can cause a little problem. Think about driving down the highway. That’s right! Picture this, you’re leisurely cruising along, when all of the sudden it starts snowing black…in the middle of Central Florida…at the end of August. That’s really the best way to describe driving through a lovebug invasion. Except, unlike snow, your windshield wipers are useless as the squished bug juice just spreads around and makes it more difficult to see.

Your View on a Busy Lovebug Day

Inside the body of lovebugs is a slightly acidic juice. This isn’t a problem for a person. That is, until the juice runs into your windshield and bumper as you cruise down Interstate 4. This acid splatters across your glass and paint and, in about 30 seconds, dries in place. It becomes impossible to remove. Thankfully, all you need is a quick soaking of water and a sponge. But hurry, lovebug acid will strip the paint off your car if it’s left there very long.

A popular urban myth states that the lovebug was the result of a genetic experiment at the University of Florida gone horribly wrong. Supposedly, they crossed a fly and a mosquito in an attempt to create an enemy for mosquito larva. According to lore, they accidentally created a male lovebug, a pair somehow escaped into the wild and the population soon exploded. When you live in Florida you quickly assume that any myth about the University of Florida Gators was concocted by their arch enemies in Tallahassee, the Florida State Seminoles, and you take it with a grain of salt. (Next you’ll believe claims that Gatorade was created at the University of Florida and is never drunk by Florida State University football players — oh, wait, that one is actually true!)

Luckily this flying circus of lovebugs only lasts four weeks each year–two in the autumn and two in the spring. That means if you want to see them, you’ll have to plan your trip accordingly. Because, like the Grand Canyon or the Great Wall of China, lovebug season is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

And when you’re standing at the gas station, scrubbing the windshield of your rental car, remember to take a minute and reflect on the beautifully romantic life of the common Plecia nearctica (the “lovebug”) which you just ended at 70 miles per hour.

Disney's Approach to Timeshare is Much More Reasonable

[Editor’s Note: Today’s post was written by our good friend Heidi Strawser who hails from my home state of Pennsylvania.  Heidi has her own blog, Reviews and Reflections, which focuses on the things in her life that she loves the most—Christianity, family, homeschooling, Disney World, reading…just to name a few. I was so excited to see her when she stopped by my office last week. I knew she was in town, but didn’t expect her because she stayed on Disney property and did not stay with my vacation rental home company (which she talks about in today’s post.)

Her post today focuses on timeshares, which is a huge industry in Central Florida.  In essence, a timeshare means you are purchasing a “fractionalized ownership” in a dwelling. (Usually you own one week a year in a condominium type dwelling.) The most common technique timeshare companies use to sell their properties works like this. They hold up signs along the road advertising a ridiculously low price for theme park tickets. For about $20 they sell you a voucher and say that all you have to do is go a “short presentation” about a great resort. At that presentation, you’ll get food. When it’s over, you get your cheap tickets.

What happens during that presentation? Let’s just say that Heidi’s description below is consistent with my own experience as well as the experiences of lots of other people who went to a timeshare presentation. And hence the debate—are timeshares a legitimate option? I will be honest with you. I recognize that they are a “legal” option. (In other words, the selling of the timeshare is not, technically, illegal.) However, I believe they are an irresponsible option. Anytime an industry produces an overwhelming number of companies that have to lie (“the presentation only lasts an hour”), uses high pressure tactics (“let me have my supervisor speak with you”) or bullying behavior (“Stay seated, this won’t take much longer…”) then I believe such an industry should be avoided at all costs.

In her guest post, Heidi has graciously made several references to my vacation rental home company. At first, I thought I might edit them out for fear that they might be viewed as a shameless plug—or worse—that I had asked Heidi to plug my business. Of course, I did no such thing. In the end, I decided that Heidi wrote what she wrote and I would leave it as is, with very minor editing, and just be honest with you about it. Thanks, Heidi, for the kind words!—LanceAround]

My Thoughts on Timeshares

Heidi and Family

Recently, we spent some time in the central Florida area.  The reason for the visit was strictly business; but, with my family, when the opportunity to be within a stone’s throw of Walt Disney World comes up, we jump on it! 

My boss graciously offered to put us up in a timeshare complex (which shall not remain nameless – more on that later in this post).  But, we wanted more than just the Sunday – Sunday down there, especially since the last 3 days of that week would be devoted to working.  So, we traveled down early, decided to use some of the points we’ve been racking up on our Disney Visa, and stayed on Disney property for the first time ever.  (Now, let it be known that if I were traveling down with extended family or friends, or if I were not being given accommodations for free, I’d definitely rent through Florida Dream Homes – and I’m not just saying that because this is LanceAround’s blog. )

Anyway, we arrived at the Port Orleans Riverside on a Thursday afternoon. We decided to forego making any “real” plans for Friday, so that we could just hang out and enjoy what the resort had to offer.  I must say that we all enjoyed our stay at Port Orleans and would definitely consider returning in the future. 

While there, we were greeted in the lobby by one of the “spokespeople” for the Disney Vacation Club – a precious British lady who was lots of fun to chat with and spent extra time conversing with the children. When she asked if we’d be interested in taking some time to learn more about the Disney Vacation Club, I think we were a little wary at first. We’ve been roped into these timeshare speeches in the past and they’re never pleasant.  However, something about the way she presented it made it sound so appealing – “it will only take an hour of your time . . . there is a special room for the younger children to play in while you do the tour . . . it’s a no-pressure sales pitch (could this be true?!) . . . afterwards, you’ll be treated to ice cream in our on-site ice cream parlor . . . each member of your family will receive a $15 gift certificate to be used anywhere on Disney property.”  An hour?  $75?  Ice cream?  Yep, we can handle that.

And it was EXACTLY as it was represented.  We dropped our two younger children (ages 10 and 5) off in the children’s area (they were thrilled!). The rest of us were  greeted by our representative who sat down with us in a living-room-like environment, took about 10-15 minutes to talk about the program, how it worked, and how much it cost. Then, he showed us around 3 different “samples” of the resort accommodations. Afterwards, we got our ice cream and our gift cards, and the van driver whisked us off to Downtown Disney (our choice).  No pressure, fun, yummy, and the kids enjoyed spending their gift cards (truthfully, so did we).

Fast forward a few days and we found ourselves leaving Disney and moving to the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort.  Our front desk check-in experience was less than pleasant. Then, when we finally were allowed to check in, we were told we needed to go to another desk for a parking pass. At that desk, it “was our lucky day”. . . “because we were from PA, we were lucky enough to be eligible for a free breakfast and resort tour the next day.”  Seriously?!  We were going to pass, having just seen the Disney Vacation Club a few days prior, but my boss wanted to do it for the “cheap” Disney tickets.

When we got there, we were immediately separated from my boss and her family, who ended up skipping out on the whole thing.  We weren’t so lucky.  First, we were escorted to an area with lots of little “rooms” (tables and chairs) and told to help ourselves to the “breakfast”.  What?!  Individually wrapped, dry, hard pastries?!  Already, we were getting a bad taste in our mouths (pun intended). We were told that our representative was busy but would be with us shortly.  Already the kids were getting restless, but we waited (thinking my boss was putting up with this same treatment in another area of the facility).

It LOOKS Like a Resort, But by the End of Your Timeshare Presentation You Might Wonder If You Are in a Prison!

When our representative finally did arrive, he started trying to sell us a timeshare.  What was promised to take an hour and a half of our time was extended to almost double that.  The promised $75 gift card suddenly didn’t seem worth it. Despite our attempts to explain to him that we weren’t interested in purchasing a timeshare, it wasn’t something we were considering, and it wasn’t currently in the budget, he continued to push and push and push.  And, he got rude about it too.  If his rudeness weren’t enough to turn us off, his lies were – he told us things about the Disney program that were out and out wrong (and he knew we had just heard that sales pitch a few days earlier).

I could go on and on and share in detail some of the things that were said, but I’m trying to put it behind me.  Let’s just say that if I had been considering purchasing a timeshare, I definitely would NOT be purchasing from Wyndham!  The $75 gift card really turned out to be only $65, as the card was rejected when we attempted to use the last $10 on it.

Now, I’m not complaining about the accommodations at the Bonnet Creek Resort – they were lovely and very comfortable. However, the staff was less than accommodating and the experience with the timeshare pitch was so disappointing.  I think we learned a few important lessons from this experience – - -

• Say NO to those timeshare “deals” unless it’s at the Disney Vacation Club.
• If you’re going to be in the Orlando/Disney area, I’d recommend either staying on Disney property or renting a Florida Dream Home through LanceAround’s company.  (We’ve done the hotel thing and I could write a whole other post about some of those experiences.)
• Oh, and one more thing, if you’re traveling from the north, you may want to go during a different time of year.  May in central FL is HOT!

Boba Fett's Advice to J and Mo is Simple--"Be Cool"

Last month Edward James Olmos, who portrayed Commander Adama in the new Battlestar Galatica, gave a shout out to our good friends J and Mo, who love science fiction. Perhaps their favorite sci-fi of all time is Star Wars. J even proclaims he’s a Jedi bfa. So I knew that when Jeremy Bulloch came to Disney World for a Star Wars Weekend Jeremy would want to give a special shout out to J and Mo.

You see, Jeremy portrayed Boba Fett, the bounty hunter, in the original Star Wars Trilogy.

Sure enough, as soon as I introduced myself as the blogger LanceAround, he immediately recorded this message to J and Mo. We suspect there’s a deeper, hidden message embedded inside this video so listen very carefully:

I asked Jeremy how he became so popular when playing a character who was completely covered in costume. He suggested that he has so much charisma, it just oozed out of the costume and onto the screen. Makes sense to me.

And in case you’re wondering how we managed to smuggle this highly sensitive video out of from under the noses of the dreaded Imperial Stormtroopers, well, it wasn’t easy. Number One Daughter had to use the Jedi mind trick to get the video out.

Don’t believe me? Seeing is believing…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WWII Veterans to Share Their Personal Recollections of D-Day,the Largest Military Invasion in World History, during Fantasy of Flight’s Legends & Legacies Symposium Series

May 13-14

Stories Portrayed in Band of Brothers and Countless Other WWII Movies to be Told Firsthand by the Men Who Were There

POLK CITY, Fla. (April 25, 2011)  – On May 13 and 14, the general public will have a rare and historic opportunity to hear firsthand from some of the few living World War II veterans who participated in the largest military invasion in world history — The Invasion of Normandy, better known as D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Just one installment of Fantasy of Flight’s six-part Legends & Legacies Symposium Series, “D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy,” will shine the spotlight on the men who fought for their lives on that historic day when thousands of Allied Forces stormed the beach in Normandy, France in navy ships, planes and gliders, via parachutes and in amphibious vehicles to set in motion a military operation so massive, once it began, there was no turning back.

One of the only attractions in the country to bring together legendary World War II heroes to share their firsthand accounts, Fantasy of Flight is proud to present this newly expanded symposium series which invites WWII aviation heroes and their families to offer a glimpse of what it was like to fly in the heyday of aviation. The series also includes heroes from WWII who served on the ground protecting and supporting the men and women in flight.  Each symposium features several open-forum/question-and-answer sessions, followed by meet-and-greet/autograph signing sessions.

Throughout the weekend, WWII heroes Richard Ortega, Clifford Kantz and Howard Huebner, will share personal stories and recollections of the D-Day invasion and the grueling weeks that followed. Their stories promise to sound hauntingly familiar: Richard Ortega served with Easy Company, which was portrayed in the 2001 HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers and 1992 book by Stephen Ambrose. Howard Huebner, a paratrooper, fought with Easy Company after members of his company missed their drop zone by several miles and became separated dangerously close to German barracks. His story is portrayed in the film D-Day Down to Earth – Return of the 507th.

“This is an incredible opportunity to hear firsthand about one of the most historically significant battles in world history from the men who were actually there, fighting for their lives,” said Kim Long, General Manager of Fantasy of Flight. “We are expecting a full house at Fantasy of Flight May 13-14 to honor these most respected and decorated WWII veterans.”

CMS Richard A. Ortega is a 30-year veteran of the United States military, with four years in the Army and 26 years in the Air Force. Trained as an infantryman and paratrooper, Ortega landed at Omaha Beach with the first assault wave, Easy Company, 2nd battalion of the 116th infantry regiment of the 29th infantry division. He spent 56 days on the front line, suffering 12 minor wounds before he was seriously wounded and evacuated to Southern England. He spent nine months in the hospital there before being transferred in May 1945 to the Army Air Corps to become a bombardier instructor in a B-29/50.

In July 1950, he served as the lead bombardier on the 1st B-29 mission flown over North Korea. He flew more than 10,000 hours in various roles in 11 types of aircraft, including the C-119, B-17, B-29, KC-97 and KC-135. In his later career, he participated in the development and deployment of the LGM-30 and LGM-118A Peacekeeper ICBM missiles. Ortega’s combat decorations include: two Silver Star medals, four Bronze Star medals with “V” (valor for combat), seven Purple Hearts, and many more. He retired from the United States Air Force on June 30, 1970.

Ortega feels strongly about sharing his message with the public during Fantasy of Flight’s Legends & Legacies symposium, and in particular, with today’s youth. “…We must instill upon the hearts and minds of the American public and our youth the values of citizenship, personal responsibilities, a sense of accomplishment, and enable them to become honorable members in our community  for competent and professional service to our nation. In this regard, we must relate to them the story of the sacrifices experienced by the American Military Forces during the Invasion of France who risked their lives to liberate France and the rest of Europe… We must continue to devote our time, talents and treasures to motivate the American public and our youth to seriously support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Major Clifford Kantz retired in 1963 after 20 years in the Air Force. He flew 16 combat missions during World War II, the first of which was on D-Day, when he piloted a C-47 to drop paratroopers over Normandy. He flew one of 27 planes in the 100th TCS or Troop Carrying Squadron, which flew with three other squadrons the morning of D-Day for a total of 90 planes flying in formation. In an article he submitted to his hometown newspaper, The Daily News in Lebanon, Penn., Kantz recalled being blinded by searchlights as the planes neared the beach, and watching as the paratroopers descended from the planes. “Even at this speed, I could see their eyes and they were terrified for a few brief moments as much as I was.” His first combat mission lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes, but Kantz said, “Strangely it seemed much longer and much shorter… Many of my friends never returned that day.” The significance of the event wasn’t lost on the young pilot, who on D-Day was only 20 years old. “I shall never forget the small part that I played in the greatest military operation of any war in history.”

Special Staff Sargeant Howard Huebner, a U.S. Army Paratrooper was just 21 when he jumped out of a plane and into the history books on D-Day. His company, C-company of the 507th, was the last of the paratroopers to jump, and by then, the landscape of their planned drop zone looked drastically different, causing them to become disoriented and jump miles off target. Separated from his company, he fought with the 506th and 501st, securing the French town of Pouppeville and later fighting in one of WWII’s bloodiest battles at La Fiere Causeway, the site depicted in the movie “D-Day Down to Earth – Return of the 507th.”

Recalled Huebner, “We had a little cover for a few feet and then nothing but sheer luck and the good Lord with us, but we made it across. It was running and firing. You see your buddies lying there and you can’t help them, but we were trained to kill or be killed and that’s what took us across the causeway; guts and determination.”  The casualties suffered in taking the bridge were extremely high.  “It cost 500 lives to take a half mile of road,” he recounted. “A very high price to pay.”  C-company fought for 33 straight days in Normandy with no reinforcements, rations or supplies. Only 75 of 230 men in Huebner’s company survived. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1946 as a Special Staff Sergeant.

The “Legends & Legacies Symposium Series” features six topics scheduled for 2011, with remaining symposiums to include “D-Day: The Invasion of Normandy,” May 13-14; “The Pacific War: Power and Pursuit,” June 10-11; and “The Great Escape: Heroes Underground,” Oct. 14-15.  All symposiums are included with daily general admission and are free for all Annual Passholders. Call 863-984-3500 or go to http://www.fantasyofflight.com/ for more information.

Fantasy of Flight general admission is $28.95 plus tax for adults, $14.95 plus tax for youth (age 6-15) and five and under are free with full paying adult.  Group rates are available.

In celebration of National Military Appreciation Month, Fantasy of Flight is pleased to offer complimentary admission to all active-duty, retired and reserve members of the U.S. armed forces throughout the month of May. Guests must present a current military ID to qualify for the free general admission ticket. The offer is not valid with any other offers or discounts.

For more information, visit www.fantasyofflight.com.

Fantasy of Flight is Central Florida’s premier aviation-themed attraction showcasing vintage aircraft from the world’s largest private collection; themed immersion experiences; interactive exhibits; a tram tour of aircraft maintenance areas; Restoration and Backlot tours; Fun with Flight center for families and the country’s only Aerial Demonstration of the Day (weather permitting) featuring a vintage plane.  General admission also includes The Tuskegee Airmen – They Dared to Fly exhibit; the multimedia tribute to the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) – A Passionate Pursuit, a walking audio tour and many special events throughout the year. 

Hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.   General admission is $28.95 for adults, $26.95 for seniors ages 55 and over and $14.95 for children, ages 6-15, plus 7 percent sales tax.  Annual passes are available for $69.95 for adults, $39.95 for children ages 6–15, plus 7 percent sales tax, and are good for one year from the date of purchase.  Biplane rides, through Waldo Wright’s Flying Service, and hot air balloon rides, are available for an extra charge.  For more information about Fantasy of Flight, call 863-984-3500 or visit http://www.fantasyofflight.com/.

SunnyStefani Got Framed--We Swear!

I’ve been in sunny Orlando for two months now; enjoying every moment of it. Over Easter weekend my family came to celebrate the holiday with me. After looking through what felt like a hundred attraction brochures, they decided on “Capone’s Dinner & Show.”

It seems no matter where I move to I can’t escape good ole Chicago. Upon arrival at Capone’s we had to give a secret password to get in. (I won’t reveal how we knew the password–you’ll have to figure that out for yourself!)

Being the gangsters that we are, as soon as we got in we had our mug shots taken. (We didn’t do it, we swear!  We were framed!) We decided to start the show by going to Al’s Secret Hideaway Bar. This special room is on the second floor. To enter, there is a one-drink minimum per person (which could be a child’s drink for $2.50.) It then gives you access to be among the first people to be seated while everyone else is waiting outside in the general admission line.

Once our gang was seated we were shocked by the presence of our server, ‘Joey Too Slow.’ Immediately I thought I was back in Chicago at “Ed Debevic’s” where the staff is supposed to act rude and insult you. However, little to my surprise, he was very attentive and not ‘too slow.’

Capone's Dinner & Show

Admission is reasonably priced considering it’s an all you can eat real Italian buffet feast that includes unlimited alcoholic beverages, plus dessert. We enjoyed the show as it was very entertaining. We liked the fact that the servers got involved with the show and that there was audience interaction.

The vocals weren’t the greatest but what do you expect, it’s not Broadway. The songs were catchy, to the point where I was still singing one yesterday (La La La, I’m going bananas.) The actors were quick on their feet when an audience member would yell something and interrupt them. For example, Fingers, a gangster, was hiding from the villain of the show, Buggs. When Buggs finally caught up with Fingers he pulled out a gun and a kid in the audience held up a fork and said use this. The fork then became the butt of an ongoing joke, “fork you,” no, “fork you,” which was quite entertaining and really got the audience laughing.

Overall, we enjoyed the night. The food wasn’t to die for but the lasagna and beef were good. The unlimited drinks alone covered the cost of the show. Unlike most Orlando Dinner Shows, it was an all-you-can-eat buffet. The only thing I was disappointed about was there were no tommy guns used during the show and Al Capone was only mentioned once. I was expecting gangsters to be shot and mobsters to be running around looking to kill each other, but there was nothing of that sort. Capone’s is a very family friendly mobster dinner show–appropriate for children of all ages.

I would go back again, just to enjoy the great atmosphere.

Capone’s Dinner & Show
4740 W. Hwy. 192 (Irlo Bronson Hwy.)
Kissimmee, FL 34746
800.220.8428

[Ed Note: We're not going to put a link to Capone's website on this post because it plays annoying music and, what's far worse, even if you tell it you don't want the sound when you click on a new link it starts playing again--Capone's, please take note and fix this!]

[Ed Note May 6, 2011:  Within a day of posting this review, we received a comment from John Kucik, the President of Capone's, informing us that he has taken the music off all the webpages except for the home page. True to our word, we have now put in links to their website onto this post. Please enjoy Capone's, it's a lot of fun--then leave a comment letting us know your review!]