Today is April 1st, but this is no April Fool’s Prank. Today is Lance Around Orlando’s 100th post!
What a journey it has been!
When my friends, Jedi BFA and Liz The Fair, helped me create a blog, I had zero experience with blogging or any type of social media. Mrs. LanceAround and I are only the owners of a small business that provides gorgeous vacation homes at an exceptional value to guests traveling to the Disney World area. We started this business because we had become passionate about all the wonderful things to see and do in Central Florida.
We then started this blog as an extension of our desire to share that passion and our knowledge with our guests, whom we think of as our friends.
More importantly, we began our journey by being tourists ourselves. After succumbing to the siren’s call of the big boys–Disney, Universal, Sea World and so forth (which we think are wonderful in and of themselves) we then decided to poke around at the vast array of alternate attractions in the Central Florida area; attractions that are not as large or well known. We discovered some hidden gems as well as some tacky rip-offs.
Most of the guides we have read about Central Florida spend the majority of their time talking about the big and the obvious. Yet we knew there were a lot of people, just like us, who enjoy the unique, off-the-beaten-path, places where passion and artistic creativity are the order of the day.
We made it our mission to seek out these treasures and announce them to the world while at the same time providing tips and advice to help navigate through the touristy swamps of Central Florida. We promise nothing except our honest opinions, dedicated efforts and heartfelt observations.
In less than two years we shared 100 of these blog posts with you, our friends who read this blog. We must be doing something right. Since our first month almost two years ago, our readership has increased over 4000%!
Our trademark is that we are a blog for informed readers looking for “more than a mouse.”™ This obvious reference is the hallmark of our blog–that there is so much more to discover in Central Florida beyond Mickey and all his large theme park counterparts. Of course, we’ll keep our readers informed of anything new or unique at the large theme parks, but always with an eye towards those special experiences that aren’t already inundated throughout the vast array of tourbooks and advertisements which permeate the landscape.
We are the blog to turn to when you want to find out where the “locals” go for their food, fun and entertainment.
In addition, we vow to provide due diligence in our efforts to ensure the most thorough and accurate information available. We’re not afraid to seek out the owner, interview the staff and give you the behind-the-scenes story of the places we blog about. And even if someplace gives us free access or perks because we are part of the social media, they are told up front that our posts will be honest and direct because our readers deserve both the truth and our very best effort.
My real name is Lance and I am a real person with a real wife, a real mother and three very real children. Yet, for the purpose of this blog, I have chosen to create a somewhat fictionalized persona in the LanceAround character with Mrs LanceAround, Grammy LanceAround and Number One and Two Sons and Number One Daughter. These personas are based on who we are, yet allow us the creativity and artistic freedom to craft blog posts that convey information in a consistent, down-to-earth, homespun manner. Likewise, Office Manger Anne and Guest Relations Guru Giselle are fictionalized personas of two real team members at our business. They make regular contributions to this blog.
After all, this blog isn’t really about me or my family–it’s about you and the things you might want to see or do when you are our guests here in Central Florida. And if my LanceAround family can help you with that, well, that’s what we love to do!
These past two years and 100 posts have been a great ride–more exciting than any theme park thrill ride–and all of us at Lance Around Orlando have enjoyed having you, our dear readers, along for the trip. A very special shout out to those of you who have taken the time to post comments and improve our blog with your voice.
Let us know if we can be of any further service to you and please feel free to drop us a comment and let us know your opinions.
Lance Boyer aka LanceAround
Karin Boyer aka Mrs. LanceAround
Emily Boyer aka Grammy LanceAround
Brandon aka Number One Son
Colin aka Number Two Son
& Amber aka Number One Daughter
Lance Around Orlando 
April 2, 2010 at 1:54 pm |
Congratulations on your 100th post, Lance (or should I say Mr. LanceAround!) It’s been a pleasure watching you and your blog grow into such a great resource for visitors to the greater Orlando Area. I’m proud to have been able to help you get started. Best–lizthefair
April 2, 2010 at 5:23 pm |
Oooohh, you dossent hasta call me MR. LanceAround. My name is LanceAroundOrlando aka LanceAround aka Lance Boyer aka Lance. Now, you can call me Lance or you can call me Around. You can call me LA or you can call me LB. You can call me LAround or you can call me LanceA. Or you can just call me Lance. But you dossent hasta call me MR. LanceAround.
For those of you yougsters unfamiliar with this pop cultural reference, you can check out this video of Bill Sulga recreating his famous “Raymond J. Johnson, Jr.” routine from the 70’s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoYsfbq3vMc&feature=related
April 2, 2010 at 5:30 pm |
On a serious note, Maureen, this blog would not exist if it were not for you and Jedi b.f.a. I remain forever grateful. I only hope to aspire the the excellence you demonstrate in your blog, http://www.LowHangingFruit.us/. Thanks for all you have done! LanceAround (you dossent hasta call me MR)
June 24, 2010 at 8:17 pm |
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