#MagicalStays Contest (CONTEST CLOSED)

Have you always dreamed of staying in a magical home, where you can choose from sleeping in a castle to watching your favorite superhero movie while surrounded by your favorite characters? All of your vacation dreams can come true with a stay at The Fun House at Reunion! This luxury 5 bedroom villa located in Reunion Resort has everything you need for a magical vacation — and you now have the chance to win a free week! That’s right — enter to win a free week at The Fun House at Reunion (RVH_520) by submitting your favorite Orlando vacation memory photo HERE. 

The Fun House at Reunion

By entering our #MagicalStays contest, you’re entering for a chance to win a free 7-night stay in this incredible new vacation home rental. Every inch of the 3,374 square foot house features luxurious furnishings, the latest technology, and magical details to truly make it a home away from home. Each bedroom is customized for both the kids and the adults. Little princesses will love the opportunity to sleep in their own castle, and Jedi knights will love to sleep in their own galactic getaway complete with a fun slide! Adults enjoy King sized beds, and beautiful decor. One room even features a life-size astronaut and fiber optic star ceiling! All bedrooms have their own SMART TV and ensuite bathroom. A great feature is the west-facing private pool and spillover spa. Soak up the famous Florida sunshine while lounging on the patio furniture, or cook a meal outdoors in the summer kitchen and dine outdoors! Play all day in the lounge games room with fun arcade games and a Star Wars Battle Pod Arcade. Get your game on playing foosball or going head to head on the video game systems. At the end of the day, curl up and watch your favorite superhero movie on this 120-inch movie screen in the private home theater. This amazing property is only minutes away from Walt Disney World Resort, and close to other amazing Orlando Area attractions including Universal Studios and SeaWorld.

Enter the Contest

What are you waiting for? Enter the contest now!

Share a photo of your favorite Orlando vacation memory with us. Be sure to keep sharing with your friends and family to get the most votes and win a free stay at The Fun House at Reunion!

Until the next blog post, we hope you have a Magical Day!

 Here at Magical Vacation Homes, we know that capturing your magical memories is an essential part of your vacation. From Snapchat selfies to professional family portraits, everyone has their own favorite way of documenting their trip. If you’re headed to the Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks on your Orlando vacation, chances are you will see PhotoPass photographers taking pictures of you with characters or in front of landmarks like Cinderella’s Castle. Keep reading to learn more about Disney Photopass Day 2018 and how to submit your Orlando vacation photos for your chance to win a free 7 night stay in a magical rental home.

Disney PhotoPass Day 2018

Disney PhotoPass Day 2018, happening Sunday, August 19th, 2018, is a great way to celebrate this awesome service to have professional photos taken of your family on vacation. If you will be in the theme parks on August 19, 2018, there will be some unique photo opportunities to celebrate! Special photo ops include rare characters, like meeting Pinocchio in Magic Kingdom, or some villains like Cruella de Vil and Jafar at Epcot. There will also be special photo props and “Magic Shots” to enhance your fun family vacation photos. Start your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park for some awesome Pixar photo props from Up and Finding Nemo, then head to Hollywood Studios at night for a special Beauty and the Beast light painting photo opportunity. This special event has photo opportunities starting at park open in the morning at 9 am and lasting until 8 pm, but be sure to check each park’s times guide for special character meeting times.

#MagicalStays Photo Contest

Can’t join us at the Disney Theme Parks for PhotoPass day? No need to worry, you can still join in on the photo fun by sharing your Orlando vacation memories with us for our #MagicalStays Photo Contest! The winner of this Magical Contest will receive a FREE 7 Night Stay in RVH_520, The Fun House at Reunion. Enter for your chance to make more magical memories here in Orlando in this amazing house with custom kids bedrooms, a super home movie theater, Enter our contest by submitting your photo HERE, or heading over to our Facebook page to enter! Vote for your favorite Orlando area vacation photo once a day until September 30th, 2018. Share with friends and family to get as many votes as possible to win your 7 night stay at The Fun House at Reunion! Here at Magical Vacation Homes, we know what it takes to make your vacation extra magical. If you’re looking at planning your Orlando vacation and are looking for advice on where to stay, contact our Reservations Team either by phone at 1-866-991-3158 or email reservations@magicalvacationhomes.com. Until the next blog post, we hope you have a magical day!Orlando is a dream vacation destination for princesses of all ages. Here’s our guide to help you plan a dream vacation in Orlando with all of the royal essentials, including a stay in your very own castle!

1. A Princess Carriage Stroller Rental

  A princess deserves a royal ride! Get the VIP (Very Important Princess) treatment with a Princess Carriage stroller. The theme parks can involve a lot of walking around, and a carriage stroller can be a lifesaver for families not wanting to carry everything around (It’s also perfect for holding all the royal purchases!) Does your little one need a midday nap? The stroller allows for a restful royal sleep by converting into a bed. The Princess Carriage Stroller will soon be available as a checkout option when you book a stay with us, or on their official website found here.

2. A Trip to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Plan a visit to the Fairy Godmothers in Training for a magical makeover! This experience at Walt Disney World requires advanced reservations, available at two locations: Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom or the Boutique in Disney Springs. There are different levels of this royal makeover available for princesses (and handsome young knights!) ages 3 -12. Get the details here and plan for an extra enchanted experience.

3. Dining with the Princesses

Enjoy a royal meal with some Princess friends! On a trip around the World Showcase in Epcot, a stop at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall is a great way to have food for everyone with a buffet, and a visit directly to your table from Princesses! Character Dining is a great way to meet characters, get autographs and photos without having to wait in long lines. Magic Kingdom has some great Royal dining options including Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest — dine in Castles with a prix fixe menu!

4. A Ride on the Royal Carrousel

At the heart of Fantasyland is Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, a must-ride for every princess! Get to choose your own royal horse, and it’s a perfect opportunity to get photos from the designated royal photographers (AKA Mom and Dad). The carrousel usually doesn’t have too long of wait to ride, and does not have any height restrictions so guests of all ages are welcome to ride!

5. A Stay in your very own Castle

After a long day exploring the Theme Parks, every Princess needs to retreat to her own royal castle! With a stay at The Fun House at Reunion, little princesses are given the full royal treatment with a custom-built bedroom just for them! Wake up in a bed fit for a princess and play all day in a custom-built castle! See rates and availability for this amazing home HERE! Here at Magical Vacation Homes, we know what it takes to make your vacation extra magical. Every family deserves the royal treatment! If you’re looking at planning your Orlando vacation and are looking for advice on where to stay, contact our Reservations Team either by phone at 1-866-991-3158 or email reservations@magicalvacationhomes.com. Until the next blog post, we hope you have a magical day!According to AAA Travel, Orlando is the #1 destination for travel this 4th of July! It’s easy to see why, especially when we have theme parks known for their awe-inspiring fireworks spectaculars happening nightly! If you’re planning a 4th of July in Orlando at the theme parks or visiting the Orlando area for Independence Day celebrations, we’ve put together a guide for you! Our first Magical tip: the theme parks fill up very fast on the 4th of July, so be sure to keep that in mind when you are planning your day! There will be heavy crowds, so plan for long wait times for rides and characters and make sure to scope out your fireworks spot early!

EPCOT

Epcot is the #1 spot for Independence Day celebrations! Here’s an inside look at the special offerings:

• Special Fireworks: “The Heartbeat of Freedom” What would a 4th of July celebration be without fireworks? And Epcot has the best show around! It starts at 9 p.m. with a performance of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” which concludes with the addition of a heart-pounding, all-American grand finale. This one-night-only fireworks extravaganza unites music from great American composers with more pyrotechnics than Guests can imagine!
• Voices of Liberty – An Epcot tradition for more than 35 years, this legendary a cappella group will perform a series of special evening concerts of great American songs in the America Gardens Theatre at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8 p.m. Joining the Voices of Liberty on stage will be Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, dressed for the occasion in their special “Spirit of ‘76” attire. Guests can also catch Voices of Liberty performing special patriotic songs in the rotunda of The American Adventure at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Disney Characters – During the day, Guests will have the opportunity to get a special photo with Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale, all wearing their patriotic best, right outside The American Adventure pavilion.
• Specialty Foods – Guests can add some flavor to their celebration with all-American foods throughout the park. There will be decadent red, white and blue cupcakes available at Fountain View and Sunshine Seasons, where they can also nosh on their yummy BBQ pork sandwich. Refreshment Port will have specially decorated croissant doughnuts (Who can resist those?!) and Liberty Inn has got Guests covered with the all-American burger, southern fried chicken sandwich, apple pie cheesecake and –just for the 4th – a slice of watermelon!
• The American Adventure – This epic attraction, another Epcot original, has recently been updated with an all-digital projection system, a new screen, new speakers and an all-new recording of the iconic “Golden Dream” anthem. And look for new faces added to the show’s finale including composer John Williams, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and noted ballerina Misty Copeland.

Magic Kingdom

Enjoy Disney’s Celebrate America – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky on July 3rd and 4th at 9:15 pm! See beautiful fireworks in the sky and special effects on Cinderella’s Castle. Also around the Magic Kingdom will be DJ Hosted dance parties from 7 pm to midnight on both the 3rd and the 4th in Frontierland and Tomorrowland. Dance the night away with both contemporary songs as well as tunes themed to the lands.

Universal Studios Orlando

Starting at 5 pm on July 4th, Universal Studios Orlando will host special entertainment to celebrate, including a live performance from the band Raydio, award-winning DJ M-Squared spinning hits and a special dance party with Universal’s beloved characters. Fireworks begin at 9 pm, and the park will stay open until 10 pm to keep the Independence Day fun going until late!

4th of July in Orlando Outside of the Theme Parks

Trying to avoid the busy theme park crowds? This website has compiled all of the events happening in the Central Florida area for the 4th! Thinking about planning your Orlando vacation and need some assistance with where to stay? Contact us today, our dedicated reservations team is here 7 days a week to help you plan the vacation of your dreams today! Until the next blog post, have a magical day!Soak up some famous Florida sunshine this summer in Orlando! Enjoy the beautiful sunny weather and keep cool at the same time at some of the area’s best water parks – conveniently located near our magical rental homes. Keep reading for useful info on the best water parks around. Walt Disney World is home to two award-winning Orlando water parks – Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Both offer a unique theme and exciting experiences the whole family can enjoy.

Blizzard Beach

As legend has it, one year a freak snowstorm came to Florida. A ski resort popped up for all of the tourists to enjoy the slopes, but when all of the snow melted, Blizzard Beach water park made its debut! This ski-resort themed water park is home to the thrilling Summit Plummet – a 12 story free-fall body slide. If sliding down one of the highest and fastest water slides on Earth isn’t your thing – no worries! A leisurely lazy river winds through the park for total relaxation, as well as a whole kiddie section named Tike’s Peak, full of fun for the little ones.

Typhoon Lagoon

The other Disney water park is Typhoon Lagoon, themed as a tropical paradise after a crazy typhoon-storm. The centerpiece of this park is one of the largest wave pools in the world. This park also features plenty of places to relax along artificial white sandy beaches and family attractions like the Crush ‘n’ Gusher water coaster and Mayday Falls raft ride. This summer, the park is debuting H2O Glow Nights, staying open at night, for the first time in the 29 years since opening, for a nighttime party with the Toy Story characters.

Volcano Bay

Universal Studios Orlando debuted its new park in 2017 with the opening of Volcano Bay. The water park is themed around a 200-foot tall volcano named “Krakatau” and features a technology-driven experience with a wearable wristband called TapuTapu. The TapuTapu wristband holds your place in line so you can relax and enjoy the park instead of waiting in long lines for popular attractions. There’s a great balance for relaxation and thrills at this gorgeous Polynesian themed park.

Aquatica

SeaWorld Orlando’s water park continues SeaWorld’s themes of animal education and conservation. The most popular slide in the park takes a plunge through the dolphin pool, and the new Ray Rush family slide promises a thrilling slide, splash and soar with the whole family.

LEGOLAND Water Park

Slide, splash and build all day at the LEGOLAND Water Park! There’s some fun for everyone with attractions and slides to the all-new Creative Cove, where you can build and race your own LEGO boat! Beat the heat and still spend some quality time with the whole family at the LEGOLAND Water Park!

Reunion Resort Water Park

You don’t even have to go far from your gorgeous vacation rental home to experience a great Florida water park experience! The Reunion Resort Water Park is 5 acres of tropical Florida fun, with three water slides, a lazy river and a kids play park. In order to spend time at this park, please be sure to register in advance as a Reunion Resort House Guest if the option is available for your rental home – if you have any questions about this, please be sure to reach out to our Care Team and they will happily answer any questions you may have to ensure your vacation is magical!

Windsor Hills Splash Park

Enjoy the brand new community splash park and water slides in Windsor Hills! Windsor Hills Resort is located only two miles away from Disney with all of the amenities of a luxury resort paired with the comfort, convenience, and privacy of a high-end vacation home, at just fraction of the cost! Be one of the first guests to enjoy the brand new pool enhancements when you stay in one of our Windsor Hills properties!

Your Magical Vacation Home

Sometimes, you don’t even have to leave your backyard to stay cool and have fun in the sun with your whole family! Relax in privacy with your own backyard pool, soak up some Florida sunshine and spend quality time with your loved ones. This beautiful Reunion home, Designed for Vacations, even has a waterslide in this infinity pool with a spillover spa. Get details and check availability HERE Looking for some privacy and relaxation? Stay at The White House at Reunion to enjoy the LARGEST infinity pool in Reunion. To add to the ultimate relaxation, the property is bordering a nature conservation which adds to the feeling of privacy and has a private sauna  Learn more about this beautiful villa HERE I hope you’re ready to splash your way through the summer at some of Orlando’s finest waterparks! If you’re looking for tickets to these exciting experiences, check out this website for some great deals! Book your dream vacation with confidence now at MagicalVacationHomes.com! Until the next blog post, we hope you have a magical day!It’s going to be another exciting summer for theme parks here in Orlando! Earlier this month, Visit Orlando announced a record-setting 72 million visitors to Orlando, who came to see all of the new attractions and events. Here’s an inside look at new happenings this summer: Walt Disney World Toy Story Land opens June 30^th, 2018 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Check out our blog post for more details on the new land! Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be open for select nights for H2O Glow Nights, inviting guests to join the Toy Story crew for an electric glow party celebration with character meet and greets and exclusive dining offerings. Get your tickets for this special nighttime event by calling (407) 939-1872. Universal Studios  The world of underground racing made its debut at Universal Studios earlier this month with the opening of Fast & Furious – Supercharged. Guests tour through the Fast & Furious headquarters, past vehicles, and artifacts that were used in the films, before ending up in a high-speed race themselves. A long-awaited new nighttime show is set to premiere this summer to replace Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular. While very little has been revealed about the show, it will feature animated characters, a new storyline, lighting, and special effects. Sea World Sea World Orlando is home to both exciting thrill rides as well as educational experiences. This summer, the all-new family attraction Infinity Falls seeks to combine both experiences with the world’s tallest drop on a river raft ride while spreading the message of conservation and connection to the world’s rivers. Over at Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park, Ray Rush opened in mid-May to excited reviews. This 60-foot tall family raft ride promises multiple ways to slide, splash and soar like never before. It’s not too late to book your Orlando summer vacation! Contact us to book your dream vacation with confidence today. Until the next blog post, we hope you have a Magical day!Walt Disney World’s highly anticipated Toy Story Land is opening up this summer at Hollywood Studios. Beginning June 30^th, 2018, guests are invited to shrink down to toys and play in Andy’s backyard with two new attractions, Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers, in addition to Woody’s Lunch Box, a delicious new dining location. The Slinky Dog Dash is a family-friendly coaster that will take you up, down and twisting all around the new land. Alien Swirling Saucers promises an out-of-this-world interstellar spin in a toy rocket with the little green aliens. These new attractions join the fan-favorite Midway Mania ride, a 4D “Ride ‘n’ Blast” shootin’ game. After all of these exciting rides, have a bite to eat at Woody’s Lunch Box, a quick-service dining location serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. The menu features classic comfort food with a twist, including S’ mores French Toast, “Totchos” (Chili Cheese Tater Tot Nachos), Soda Floats and Lunch Box Tarts for dessert. Keep the fun going all vacation by staying in one of our custom-built themed rooms, like this one in a beautiful 5 bedroom Windsor Hills Resort home, with a ball pit, slide and TVs in the bunk beds! If you’re thinking of booking your Orlando vacation and have some questions, please contact our team today. We also have our concierge team ready to help with additional assistance. Until the next blog post, we hope you have a Magical Day!  Traveling as a family on a budget? When traveling with family, expenses can reach the ultimate high prices. According to Forbes, Orlando is the most affordable destination in the U.S. The warm weather, theme parks, water parks, and resorts make Orlando a perfect vacation destination for a family getaway.

When traveling on a budget, we have a few tips to help you stay on track. First, we recommend planning your travels ahead of time. Typically, during the summer season, you can expect the flight prices to be high. If you can travel during the off-season, spring or fall, you can see instant savings. Secondly, decide which attractions are most important for your family to visit. If traveling with children, it is likely Walt Disney World will be first on the list. Many attractions offer special offers for Canadian guests. Walt Disney World is offering a Special Ticket Pricing from now through May 20^th, 2017 for Canadian Residents. There are more attractions that offer discounts just for Canadians, such as, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, The Coca-Cola Orlando Eye, and more! We also recommend Kissimmee Guest Services to our guests looking for discounted park tickets.

When looking for accommodations, private vacation rentals offer the most for families on a budget. Vacation homes offer extra amenities, a full kitchen allowing you to prepare meals, and provides more space and privacy that you just can’t get while staying in hotels. With all of these key features, your family will save money enjoying the amenities in the home, the full kitchen allows you to prepare meals in the home so you can avoid eating out, and there is no need to reserve multiple hotel rooms to accommodate the whole family. Here at Magical Vacation Homes, we specialize in 2 to 14 vacation rentals with hotel-style amenities located just minutes away from major theme parks. Our newest villa located in Reunion Resort can accommodate up to 14 guests and was created with guest feedback in mind. Designed for Vacation is a 3,330-sq. ft. pool villa full of fun for all with theme bedrooms, a retro games room, movie room, extended deck with fire pit, and more. Save up to 40% on a last-minute getaway now through the end of May! Let us help you plan your next vacation with our reservations team available 7 days a week or check out our website with live calendars. Remember, Orlando is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the world and has something for everyone to enjoy. Until the next blog post, have a magical day!Enter a world full of spring wonder, fresh flavors, incredible topiaries, and fun interactive activities for the whole family!  Take part in the annual International Flower and Garden running from March 1 to May 29, 2017, in Walt Disney World’s Epcot. Eat tasty treats from the outdoor kitchens offering farm-to-table plates. Wander the World Showcase and sample dishes and drinks from around the world. Dance the night away to the Garden Rocks Concert Series that runs on weekends with different artists each weekend. Be sure to check the artist’s schedule to see which artist is performing each week!

Offering over 70 topiaries throughout all of Epcot. Highlights include topiaries of Anna and Elsa, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Enjoy special exhibits and gardens including Butterflies on the Go, Floating Mini-Gardens, and the Illuminated Gardens. While visiting the theme park capital of the world, stay in one of our new luxury villas. The whole family will truly unwind in a fully equipped villa with a private pool, theater room and themed bedroom for the little ones! Until the next blog post, have a magical day!Epcot is debuting a brand new festival and showcases three artistic areas including visual, culinary and performing arts. The International Festival of the Arts runs Friday through Monday from now until February 20, 2017! This event is perfect for all ages with tasty dishes, captivating performances, and incredible artwork. Culinary Arts You can visit Food Studios throughout the World Showcase. Tasty highlights from the Food Studios include the Deconstructed Purple Sweet Potato Pie, Trio of Savory Croissant Doughnuts, BLT with Crispy Pork Belly, and the Classic Reuben. Each different food station offers food in different artistic styles including Pop Art, Deconstructionism, Modernism, and Renaissance just to name a few. Performing Arts Be wowed by a variety of live performances! Your family can enjoy the Disney on Broadway Concert Series including Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Tarzan, The Lion King and more! Be sure to view the schedules of concerts before visiting the park. There are other shows to choose from including the Community Arts Showcase, Art in Performance, and The Show Must Go On!. All of these shows are held at select times on select days, so be sure to check out the time’s schedule! Visual Arts Immerse yourself in Disney art with seminars, must-see exhibits, workshops, photo ops, and portraits. View exhibits from all over the world and even purchase some of your favorite pieces. Learn the basics of pieces from the artists themselves and even be the student in professional workshops. Be sure to visit Epcot for this new festival before it ends February 20! Call our reservationists today for help finding your perfect vacation rental! Check out this 9 bedroom villa with tons of upgrades, private theater, games room, and private pool! Until the next blog post, have a magical day!