THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. Congratulations to Rosanne, lucky number 402!

The Holiday Inn Club Vacation properties are some of our favorite properties to stay at when we are traveling.  They offer the accommodations and amenities of a hotel and a condominium all rolled into one for a great price.  Recently, I took a trip to Orlando, Florida and we stayed in the Holiday Inn Club Vacation at Orange Lake Resort.

The Holiday Inn Club Vacation at Orange Lake Resort is the perfect base camp for your theme park vacation.  It is located right next to the Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Lodge putting it in close proximity of the major Walt Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks.

Accommodations

The Orange Lake Resort has spacious villas in a variety of sizes.  There are standard, two and three bedroom villas available.  We stayed in a River Island two bedroom villa overlooking the pool area.  Our villa had a spacious living room, a balcony, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a dining area.  At first we thought being located in River Island (one of the most family friendly spots in my opinion) might be loud because of all the families running around, but we were pleasantly surprised.  We could spend time splashing around the water and the lazy river and then return to the quiet of our villa and regroup.

Fun in the Sun

The pools…oh, the pools could keep you busy all week long!  We spent most of our time at River Island during our visit because it was convenient to walk just a few feet out of our room and be right next to the pool!  River Island has several pool areas, a lazy river, a couple of slides, a splash area, the world’s largest inflatable water slide and so much more.  There are other pools located around the property.  The Splash Lagoon has a splash area, zero entry pools, and water slides.  The Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort offers Play Passes that you can purchase (in one or several day increments).  These Play Passes offer unlimited use of the HIPPO waterslide and tube rentals for use on the 1200 square foot lazy river.  The Play Passes also include unlimited miniature golf at the on-site golf courses and visits to the Euro-Bungee.

Other Amenities

There are a number of restaurants on site that vary from poolside bars to sit down restaurants.  Grab a drink at the bar and relax in a lounge chair while your kids splash around in the pools.  Each villa has a wireless connection that actually worked as I tried to get some work done after long days of play.  Pack n’ Plays are available to borrow so you don’t have to travel with your own.  They offer activities at various locations of the property ranging from projects to scavenger hunts and dive in movies.  There are video arcades, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a putt putt course.

The property is competitively priced so even if you aren’t going to utilize the arcades or the pools (though I think you would be nuts not too…they are lovely pools!) because you plan on spending most of your Orlando vacation at theme parks it is still worth a visit! The best part about the Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort for our group was that when we got home from a long day of waiting in lines and running around theme parks, we had a lovely living room to relax in, a kitchen to cook a late night snack and comfortable beds to lay our heads at night.

Do you want to take your family on a weekend getaway to the Holiday Inn Vacations at Orange Lake Resort? Then check out our steal!

The Steal:  Win a $600.00 Family Getaway to Holiday Inn Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando!

Details- Win a Family Getaway to Holiday Inn Club Vacations^® at Orange Lake Resort, located in Orlando, Florida which includes

-          2-night, 3-day stay in a 2-bedroom villa (valued at $400)

-          Travel dates from September 5, 2011 – August 1, 2012* 

-          Includes four 7-Day Play Passes (valued at $200) to use for unlimited Putt-Putt Golf at two on-site courses, rides on the HIPPO waterslide and Euro-Bungee and for tube rentals for use on the 1,200 square foot lazy river.

-          Package valued at $600.00

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:

Step 1: Share this giveaway using the Facebook by clicking the FB “Like” button at the top of the page

Step 2: Leave a blog comment below letting us know that you did.

Get extra entries by repeating steps 1 and 2 once a day.  But be sure to leave a new comment each time.

Get even more additional entries:

Feel free to do any or all of the following actions.  Each action counts as an extra entry but be sure to LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ONE or the entry will not be counted.

• 
• Follow Holiday Inn Club Vacations on Twitter
• Fan Trekaroo on Facebook.
  
• Tweet a link to this Monday Mad Steal via @Trekaroo using the Twitter share button at the top of the page.

• Subscribe to the Trekaroo Blog

• Follow Trekaroo on Twitter
• Post this giveaway on your blog

Rules and guidelines:

• 18 years of age or older
• US Residents only

Deadline to enter: Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 11:59PM PST

What is Monday Madness?

Every Monday, Trekaroo announces on our blog, either a fantastic giveaway or an incredible deal.  It could be a green water bottle, a hotel stay on Maui or theme park tickets. Return every Monday to the Talking Trekaroo Blog for the details. Want a reminder? Become a Trekaroo member or follow us on facebook or twitter.

Thanks to Contest for Moms, Online Sweepstakes, CashNet Sweepstakes, and Sweepstakes Advantage and Contest Girl.

*Blackout dates apply on holidays; other blackout dates may apply based on seasonality and availability.

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Jen Close is the Gulf Region Destination Guroo  for Trekaroo.

Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

The reason why I love Disney travel so much is that there is truly something for everyone and every budget!  As a Disney travel agent, I get asked all the time which resort is the best resort to stay at.  In my opinion, there is not one “best” resort, but there definitely is a Disney Resort that is right for you and your family!   I have listed my top picks below.

For the family dreaming of a tropical getaway: Disney’s Polynesian Resort

The moment you enter this resort, you will feel like you have been whisked away to Hawaii.  This resort offers white sand beaches and hammocks for sunbathing, koi ponds and tropical ambience. Your children will love the themed pool with water slide and the parents will love the Neverland Club which is a supervised childcare area right on site (additional fee applies). Enjoy the 2 table service restaurants at this resort, Kona Cafe and Ohana. Kona Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and Ohana serves up a character breakfast with Lilo, Stitch and Mickey himself.  For dinner, Ohana serves up Polynesian-style cuisine Family-Style!  Or maybe you would like to enjoy a dinner show at this resort. Disney’s Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show offers music, authentic dances and all-you-care-to-eat feast all inspired with the flavor of Polynesia.  You have to try the breakfast speciality, Tonga Toast. And no visit to this resort is complete without the famous Dole Whip, a cream pineapple dessert that can be found at the quick service dining location, Captain Cooks.   My favorite amenity at this resort, is the monorail access.  Disney’s Polynesian Resort is directly on the monorail line which makes it ultra convenient to get to Magic Kingdom. This is ideal for parents with small children so they can take a mid-afternoon break for naps!  Rooms here can accommodate up to 5 guests plus child under the age of 3.

For the family looking for the ultimate Disney splurge: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

At this resort, you will relish the elegant, but not stuffy, atmosphere and decor.   Rooms at this resort can accommodate up to 5 guests plus one child under the age of 3. All rooms offer either two queen-size beds or one king-size bed and a day bed.  To take it to the next level, chose Club Level accommodations where you will receive personalized concierge services and Club Level only access to the lounge where you will enjoy a continental breakfast, midday snacks, afternoon tea and evening wine, cheese, cordials and desserts.  This resort offers 5 table service restaurants, one of which offers a character breakfast and character dinner option.  Two swimming pools, state-of-the-art spa treatments and convenient transportation (also on the monorail line) all make this resort the ultimate Disney splurge!

For the animal lovers in your family: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Imagine walking out onto your balcony and encountering more than 30 species of wildlife up close! This is a reality at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This Disney resort is an African-style lodge with its own wildlife reserve. In order to take full advantage of the views at this resort, make sure and select a “savanna view” room.  But if your budget won’t allow you to upgrade to this type of room, you will still have plenty of opportunities to enjoy the wildlife from the common areas and balconies that all guests are welcome to use.  When nighttime rolls around, your children will love the opportunity to use the resorts “night vision” goggles to view the animals in their natural habitat.   Rooms here can accommodate up to 4 guests plus one child under the age of 3.  Or select a Villa at this resort that can accommodate up to 8 guests.   This resort offers 2 table service restaurants and 1 buffet restaurant all serving up African inspired cuisine.

For guests that want quick and easy access to Epcot and/or Hollywood Studios: Disney’s Beach Club Resort

I love this lakeside resort that boasts Disney’s largest swimming pool, Stormalong Bay.  Your children will love Stormalong Bay that features waterfalls, a sandy bottom portion, a circular lazy river and a themed water slide. You will love the quick and easy access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Both of these Disney theme parks are within walking distance or a short boat ride from the Beach Club Resort.  Also, from this resort, you are within walking distance to Disney’s Boardwalk area that offers dining, entertainment and shopping! Enjoy 3 sit down restaurants here with one of the restaurants offering a character breakfast daily.  Don’t miss Beaches and Cream Soda Shop for lunch or dinner.  This is a classic American soda fountain with juicy burgers and ice cream delights are dished up. The rooms at this resort can accommodate up to 5 guests plus one child under the age of 3.

For larger families on a budget: Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort or Disney’s All Star Music Resort

Let’s start with Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. This resort is a Disney Moderate Resort which makes it moderately priced (not the most expensive and not the least expensive hotel option on Disney property).  Port Orleans Riverside is the only Disney Moderate Resort that can accommodate up to 5 guests plus one child under the age of 3, with two double beds and a trundle bed, which makes it perfect for the larger family that is on a limited budget.  This resort has a “Louisiana, Mississippi” feel to it with sprawling mansions and southern charm. Your children will love Ol’Man Isalnd pool complex that offers a themed water slide.  I love that you can take a fun and free boat ride from this resort to Downtown Disney where you will enjoy shopping, entertainment and a ton of dining options!

Disney’s All Star Music Resort is a Disney Value Resort that offers Family Suites that can accommodate up to 6 guest. The family suites offer one queen-size bed, a living room with a double-size sleeper sofa, and 2 twin-size sleeper chairs. 2 bathrooms and a mini-kitchen with microwave and a small fridge make this resort ideal for the larger family or for families on a budget that want the convenience of preparing some of their meals in their room.  All Star Music Resort offers two swimming pools and a children’s pool.  This resort also offers a food court where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served but you will not find a table service restaurant at this resort or any of the three other Disney Value Resorts.

For the family on a limited budget but want to experience the magic of Disney: Disney’s Pop Century Resort

This is my favorite Disney Value Resort for a number of reasons.  First off, this is the newest of the Disney Value Resorts and although it is not brand new, the rooms here have recently completed refurbishments with new mattresses, new carpet, new bedding and new flat screen tvs!  I love the theming at this resort. It’s like taking a trip down memory lane with all the fashions, catchphrases, toys and dances all noted throughout the resort. The food court here is outstanding as well, in my opinion.  Don’t miss the “tie-dyed” cheesecake and the “Mom’s Night Out” dinners served up in classic tv trays!  It’s a blast from the past.  The best part about this resort is that this is the only Disney Value Resort that has dedicated bus service, meaning, once the bus picks you up at the resort to take you to one of the Disney theme parks, you will not be stopping at another resort along the way.  This saves a lot of time and the other three Disney Value Resorts do not offer this “dedicated” bus service.

As you can see, there truly is something for everyone and every budget at Disney World Resorts!  Still can’t decide which resort is best for your family? No worries, contact Heidi now to take advantage of her free planning services.

Heidi Marlowe is a Superoo as well as a Disney Vacation Specialist , Universal Studios Vacation Specialist, and Orlando Travel Expert with White Glove Destinations, an agent of Destinations to Explore.  This agency is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner offering free concierge/planning services to all Disney locations and Disney cruises.   Contact Heidi to learn more about Disney or to book your next magical vacation.

*All pictures courtesy Walt Disney World Resort

For many families, a vacation  just isn’t a vacation without a good dose of Disney.  As an Orange County resident and Disneyland season pass holder, I get the opportunity to frequently see friends from out of town during their holiday.   I wish I could pretend that they made a trip to see me, but in reality I know its because they can’t live without their annual pilgrimage to the “happiest place on earth”.  In a selfish effort to bring more friends out to the park, I scoped out the hottest deals Disneyland currently has to offer.  I was a woman on a mission and it wasn’t long before I found some great deals for the Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney World as well.  I certainly couldn’t keep all this juicy information to myself and who better to share it with than the loyal readers of Trekaroo?  I hope these tips help you fulfill your family’s Disney dreams this year.

DISNEYLAND

Photo courtesy Trekaroo user "annniepants"

Getting there:  If you are planning on flying to visit Disneyland between now and April 15, 2011, be sure to take advantage of Alaska Airlines “kids fly free” package. Any adult flying on Alaska or Horizon Air into LAX or Orange County can bring one child aged 2-11 for free!!!!  Flights must be booked by 2/19/2011 so hurry up and make plans!

Buy 3 nights get the 4th free: Now through February 19, 2011, families can buy a 3 night Disneyland Resort package and receive a 4th night free along with $20 ESPN Zone Game Card.  Arrivals must be between now and April 11th.

Read Trekaroo reader reviews of  Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.

Park hopper discount:  I love to be able to go back and forth between Disneyland and California adventure is this 3 day park hopper is the way to do it!  For $169, guests can hop back and between the two parks for three days, and enter Disneyland before the general public on one “Magic Morning”.

Active and retired military discounts:  From now until September 28, 2011, active and retired US military can purchase up to six 3-day park hoppers for only $99 per ticket to be used by family or friends!!!!  That’s an incredible deal so grab a member of the military and head to Disneyland.

Southern California residents:  From now through May 14, 2011, Southern California residents can purchase a 2 day ticket for only $99.  This allows you to visit one park per day and the best part- the days do not have to be consecutive!  You can upgrade the 2-day ticket to a park hopper for just $10 more.

Read Trekaroo reader reviews of Disneyland and California Adventure.

DISNEY WORLD

Photo courtesy of Trekaroo user "Kimmy"

Discount on Disney World Resort lodging: Families looking to visit Disney World between February 17th and April 16, 2011 can take advantage of some nice discounts being offered by Disney Resort hotels as long as they book by February 13th.  Disney hotels are discounting their rates from 15-30%.  See the Disney World website for more details.

Read Trekaroo reader reviews of Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas,  Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Hotel.

Bring the little ones for free: Families who purchase a 4-night/4 day Magic Your Way room and ticket package at select Disney Resort hotels can bring their 3-9 year old children for free on select nights from February through October 2011. The Disney World website says that stays February 17- April 16 should be booked by February 13th and stays April 28- October 1st should be booked by March 27th to take advantage of this deal.

Active and retired military discounts:  From now until September 28, 2011, active and retired US military can purchase up to six 4-day tickets for $138.  You get to choose either “park hopper” tickets or “water park fun and more” tickets.  You can  also upgrade your tickets to cover both option (park hopper and water park fun) for $165. Members of the military can also save up to 40% at select Disney resort hotels. See Disney World website for more details.

Florida Residents: From now through May 22, 2011, Florida residents can purchase a 4 day Wild 4 Disney Pass for only $119.  This allows purchasers to visit one theme park per day for 4 days, and the days to not have to be consecutive. The week of 4/17-4/24/11 is blocked out from this promotion.

DISNEY CRUISE LINES

There is so much to look forward to with Disney Cruise Lines in 2011.  The Disney Dream is about to depart on it’s inaugural sail to the Caribbean and Disney cruises will finally be offered on the West Coast to destinations such as Mexico and Alaska. Families can enjoy a 7-night Alaskan Cruise departing on May 17th, 2011 for as little as $139 per person per day (based on 2 adults/ 2 children for a total voyage fare of $3892).   Families looking to head to Europe on a Disney Cruise can embark on an 11-night itinerary which includes Malta, Tunisia, Corsica, Italy, and France for 139 per person per day as well.  See the Disney Cruise booking site for details.

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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.

Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA

Our Trekaroo KidsMobile has pulled into one of American’s most visited destinations:

Orlando, Florida

Just about every family who visits Orlando will make a pilgrimage to Walt Disney World.  Some will not see anything else in Orlando besides their Disney resort and theme parks.   Whether you’ve got eyes only for Disney or you’re hoping to explore all the other kid-friendly attractions in Orlando, we all want to know what real families say is worth it in Orlando.

First up, Trekaroo families have cast their votes and have decided that they simply love these attractions in Orlando.

Top Activities for Kids in Orlando, Florida – voted by parents

Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando, Florida – voted by parents

Next, here’s what some local Floridian mom bloggers and Orlando aficionados recommend to visiting families.  They’ve been there, done that, and now they’re giving you their inside scoop.

Kicking us off with a list of the 5 Tot-friendly Restaurants Favorites in at Disney in Orlando is Jen who lives in Florida and has spent lots of time at Disney World.  She’s an adventurous mom of two kids (ages 2 and 4) who has not allowed having kids to slow her down.  She writes in depth about their family’s exciting adventures on Two Kids and A Map.

Mary shares her favorite Disney Hotels for Teens and Tweens.  She loves thoroughly researching and planning their family’s trips and we all get to benefit from her road-tested recommendations.   You can follow her travel trips and tips on Travel with Teens and Tweens . Although they live in Boston, they’ve visited Disney World in Orlando every year since their kids could walk.

Amanda brings us her Top 5 “Must Do” Walt Disney World Attractions with Teens. She been a Disney fanatic since she was a wee one and has even been a Disney cast member.  Being local to Orlando has made it possible for her to visit every Disney attraction, event and restaurant.  If you’re heading to Walt Disney World, this is THE mom you want to talk to for the inside scoop. Heading to Disney, stop over at her blog Disney Everyday.

Melanie brings us a prized list of Free and Low-Cost Activities in Orlando for Preschoolers.  She’s the mom behind the well-written and thoughtful blog modernmami where she gives ink to topics such as being a working mom and parenting a preschooler.  Lucky for us she’s sharing the inside scoop on her home town of Orlando.

Other Resources for Walt Disney World and Orlando, Florida

• All 71 Activities for Kids in and around Orlando, Florida
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around Orlando, Florida

• Water Parks in Florida – Cheerio Family
• More Disney, Less Waiting – A review of RideMax – Li Er Hanson

Next stop, Memphis, Tennessee – Jump on board the KidsMobile!

The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while
1) expressing their unique point of view
2) getting a web of link exchanges.

Join us for one of our next stopovers.

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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA

Trekaroo families have the inside scoop, and the word on the ‘roo is that the Orlando area has a slew of magical adventures for the little ones. Cities within the city were even specifically built for youngsters (and their wallet-toting parents, of course). Orlando boasts Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, gigantic water parks as well as thematic journeys through Medieval Times and the Holy Land.  Yet, Orlando is not all leg-achingly gigantic parks, it’s a city growing fast in may directions with unique venues for locals and tourists alike. It is also in the midst of vibrant natural areas with diverse wildlife.  Trekaroo parents have given us an inside look to the best of the best in the Orlando area.

#1 Activity and Best Amusement Park for Kids: Disney’s Magic Kingdom

“You can’t skip Disney. You MUST visit Disney at least once in your life.” There’s not much room for disagreement with this imperative from Lilkidthings.  With 73 Trekaroo families giving unanimously positive reviews, it’s clear as the crystal that Disney is an amazing destination. “You don’t go to Dinsey unless you plan to have a fun filled day,” says bukosker. Even a skeptic will believe in magic by trip’s end.  Take bejolly65′s comment: “I was so hesitant and cynical when we decided to go to Disney World. [...] But I guess there is a reason that Disney World is so popular. They really know what they are doing.”  The kids need no such convincing.  Many a trekaroo family speaks of how enchanted their child was seeing Cinderella or taking a magic carpet ride. “The girls loved Magic Kingdom, because as we all know Cinderella’s Castle is there,” says Trekaroo family metro927. While kids will be excited just being in the Kingdom, Trekaroo parents all agree that a day at Disney needs to be planned for maximum magic to occur and they have left a goldmine of suggestions. Keebz, an iPhone equipped mom, downloaded the Disney app and scoped out wait times. Don’t be alarmed if the plan falls apart, it’s only natural as parents and kids alike get lost in the atmosphere. As Travelingmom says, “This place can make an infant out of a grown man!”

Photo Credit: flickr/ninjapoodles

Best Museum for Kids to Explore: Orlando Science Center

From hurricanes to space shuttles, the Central Florida area is one of the most interesting places for science and the Orlando Science Center works hard to capture the creative energy of the area.  Trekaroo family apalanza says that the Science Center is great for all ages, but suggests packing your own lunch to save some cash.  For locals, WE3REEDS suggests the annual membership that allows unlimited access throughout the year. “Imax is included as well as all their special events.”  For denizens of more distant lands, the Orlando Science Center is a great excuse to get away from the parks and explore the town.

Photo Credit: OSC

Best Place to See Animals in Action: Sea World

While Disney may have your kids singing “Under the Sea”, Sea World journeys under and over while riding on the back of an orca whale.  Trekaroo parents concur that Sea World magnifies the wonders of ocean life with spectacular shows.  ”All the shows were great and VERY entertaining,” said akotash.  But it’s not all just high-flying whales, mischievous sea lions and acrobatic dolphins.  ”The last time I was at SeaWorld, we were able to get up close and touch the dolphins as we fed them,” commented Kat569.  Sea World offers many opportunities to get close to the animals and for some extra greenbacks, you can take behind the scenes tours.  Younger kids will certainly be amazed by the high-energy shows and every child will love the massive playground area in Shamu’s Happy Harbor.   What parents love most, though is seeing the look of amazement on their child’s face as the animals show their power.

Photo Credit: flickr/Big C Harvey

Best Natural Experience for Kids: Kelly Park

With an amusement park on nearly every corner, it’s easy to forget that Orlando is set among natural wonders of its own.  Kelly Park is a great place to get away and experience Florida’s abundant flora and fauna without having to drive too far from the city.  Shauna, a Trekaroo mom, commented that Kelly Park is “a great family outing for next to nothing!”  With a cost of ONE dollar, it will be by far the cheapest activity of any Orlando vacation. Shauna also suggests renting a tube and floating down the river as a great way to eco-tour Central Florida.  Even without the aquatic journey, there are plenty of reasons to pay the park a visit.  Volleyball courts, picnic tables, nature trails and even camping make the park a relaxing destination that is close enough to escape to on a whim.

Photo Credit: flickr/systemslibrarian

Wonder what Trekaroo Families voted as the Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando?
Top Kid-friendly Hotels in Orlando, Florida - voted by parents

More Resources for Orlando

• All 71 Activities for Kids in and around Orlando, Florida
• Kid-friendly hotels in and around Orlando, Florida

• More Disney, Less Waiting – A review of RideMax
• 5 Tot-friendly Restaurants Favorites in at Disney
• Disney Hotels for Tween and Teens
• Top 5 “Must Do” Walt Disney World Attractions with Teens
• Free and Low-Cost Activities in Orlando for Preschoolers
• Water Parks in Florida

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Stephen Wanta is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TX | VA | WA