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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-WDW.jpg 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

emailcontest-01 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! winastay 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

IMG_6747   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

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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

Cinderella 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

disney-springs-marketplace-carousel 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

IMG_6386 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!I hope everyone is having a magical week! It’s time for our next installment of area attractions in the Central Florida Area, featuring Kissimmee Go-Karts. Here at Magical Vacation Homes, we’re proud to be a local company and support other local area businesses. We also like to use our local advantage to help you create the most magical vacation possible! Keep reading for more information about Kissimmee Go-Karts!

Kissimmee Go-Karts

35267169_692208787837256_7667841380252647424_o.jpg For over 20 years, Kissimmee Go-Karts has been providing affordable family fun to the Central Florida Area. At the center of everything is the Go Kart track. This is the largest track in Central Florida at around 1 mile long! Race on some of the fastest karts around, designed for drivers of all ages and experience levels. Need a break from racing? Check out the amazing arcade! Kissimmee Go-Karts features over 70 arcade games, with classics like Pac Man as well as Skee Ball and Air Hockey! 12764654_109981879393286_8735840065206557395_o.jpg Want to get a full Florida experience? Visit the pool of real Florida alligators! You will even have the opportunity to feed these live gators! Spend the day playing away at Kissimmee Go-Karts and keep the fun of racing going all vacation long by staying at the Oasis Estate. This amazing 8 bedroom rental vacation home in Championsgate provides fun for everyone! Keep playing your favorite games and reminisce on racing around the longest go-kart track in Central Florida — just like Lightning McQueen! VBV_1671.jpg If you’re planning a Central Florida vacation and need some help planning where to stay, contact us today to get started planning the magical vacation of your dreams! 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!

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EPCOT

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

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!The Orlando area offers so many exciting attractions! While we’re best known for our major theme parks, there are many additional attractions around the area that provide just as much excitement, thrills and fun for the family. In this new series on the blog, we’re going to highlight local area attractions we think you should definitely check out to make your vacation even more magical!
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Photo courtesy of Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park.

Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park

Have you ever dreamed of soaring through the trees on giant zip lines? This is the place for you! Orlando Tree Trek features different high ropes courses suited for all members of the family ages 7 and up, with: Not the biggest fan of heights? The park has plenty of walking trails near the courses to view your climbers as they work their way through challenging obstacle courses 10 to 50 feet in the air.

Safety

Safety is the number one most important factor at Orlando Tree Trek. Your experience begins with an immersive training session, with guides demonstrating the two step safety measures and making sure everyone feels confident before climbing up to adventure through the trees. There are some important requirements before climbing, including a signed waiver form, height requirements for adventurers and waist size requirements (not weight).

The Story

Both Magical Vacation Homes and Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park are family owned and operated businesses! Here’s the backstory behind this exciting adventure park: “The Lemieux and Barbusci families set out to build the most fun and challenging Park possible while ensuring that guests’ safety and satisfaction would always be top priority. So they chose two of the most renowned names in the business, TreeGo and Outplay Adventures LLC, to design and build Tree Trek Adventure Park. The two companies have gained an excellent international reputation as builders of multiple parks throughout both North America and Europe. From the materials and designs used to build the Park to the actual equipment used by climbers, only the best have been chosen to ensure everyone will have a safe, carefree and exciting experience. It’s important to the Lemieux and Barbusci families as well as to our guests that everything used in the Park’s construction meet or exceed all established industry standards and that all our outdoor operating procedures, including game and equipment inspections, have been established based on a “best industry practice only” basis.” Truly enjoy every minute at the Orlando Tree Trek without worry! After a long day of zipping through the trees, retreat back to a vacation home that still feels like you’re in nature! The following rental homes border private nature conservations so you still feel the privacy of being in the woods. Print_41 Relax in one of these comfortable sun loungers and dream of flying through the treetops again at the Magic Mansion. This beautiful infinity pool is bordering a nature conservation area so it is as private as it can get. See more information about this beautiful home HERE. 36.jpg Dine al fresco in your own private tropical tree paradise in this beautiful Reunion Resort home. Surround yourself with nature at this property, see more HERE! Located close to all of our vacation properties, as well as the Disney parks, the Orlando Tree Trek is a great attraction to enjoy then retreat to your vacation home to relax. Advance reservations are highly recommended, as they limit the number of people on the courses for maximum enjoyment. Get a 15% Off coupon by signing up on their website! Until the next blog post, we hope you 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

DSC_0110 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

IMG_4309 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!The city of Orlando is known for theme parks and family fun but there is more the city offers. Enjoy the night out with your loved ones with the Magical Dining Month which begins on August 25th, 2017 until October 1st, 2017 where you have over 100 restaurant options which offer three-course, prix fixe dinners for just $35 USD. Choose from some of the finest restaurants in Orlando such as The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Urbain 40, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, STK, and much more. You can view all the participating restaurants to make your selection. We recommend to call your restaurant of choice and make a reservation for your special night. Dinner table at a fine-dining restaurant with plate of chicken and bacon. This event can be a great way to spend with your family while conversating over dinner of your favorite time during your vacation. Not only will you have a great time with your family but you can also save on fine dining. This year the Magical Dining event support Freedom Ride and BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundations and all the participating restaurant will donate $1 USD from each meal. Not only are you spending quality time with your family but you are giving back to a great cause. If looking for a vacation home to experience Magical Dining Month, look no further. Magical Vacation Homes offers 2-14 bedroom homes to choose from. Our newest villa, The Magic Villa at Reunion features a lazy river, a private pool and spa, games room, theater room, secret playroom, fun kids bedrooms, and more. You and your family will enjoy every moment during your next vacation. Our reservations team is available 7 days a week to help you plan your vacation, you can also check out our website with live calendars available.   Until the next blog post, we hope you have a Magical Day!SeaWorld Electric Ocean is a new summer event running from June 17 through August 5, 2017. This event is included in regular park admission and features spectacular shows, fireworks, live entertainment, and glowing sea creatures. Let the rhythm take you away with a DJ and live performers inspired by sea creatures at Club Sea Glow. All ages will enjoy dancing the night away. Be sure to see POP, a unique show that brings you world-renowned bubble masters, lights, lasers, music and bubbles perfect for the whole family! Animation of woman dancing surrounded by animated fireworks and bubbles for SeaWorld's Electric Ocean at SeaWorld Orlando. Shamu’s Celebration: Light up the Night, is a crowd favorite incorporating Shamu, music, and production elements. Head over to Sea Lions Tonite to see your favorite sea lions in a night-time parody of SeaWorld’s best shows and attractions. End the night with Ignite, a firework display that is sure to WOW! The bright colors of the sea will fall down around in this nighttime show. Plan your summer vacation to Orlando and stay in some of the best vacation rentals while visiting world-class theme parks. Continue the underwater theme with this 8-bed vacation rental located in Champions Gate. Until the next blog post, 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 20th, 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.

A night photo of the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye lit up in colors of the rainbow.

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!

Couple's dancing outside in front of the lit up concert main stage at World Showcase during Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival.

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!