Travel, Theme Parks, and Resorts

The Best Kept Secret in WDW’s Backyard: Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando

29 January 2015 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I’ve been lucky enough to stay at, tour, and even just visit more than my fair share of hotels and resorts, especially in the last 6 years with this site. While staying at an official Disney resort has its perks, I must say [whispers so Mickey doesn’t hear], there are some resorts nearby to give Disney a run for the money. Now before you die-hard Disney resort fans start protesting, please just keep reading and see if you agree when all is said and done. This should be of special interest to all of you runDisney racers out there, because in addition to being a relaxing, amenity-filled, comfiest-beds-ever resort, the Hilton Bonnet Creek has completely ridiculous Marathon Weekends packages that will blow your mind. In the best possible way. I promise.

So I first heard about the Hilton Bonnet Creek through my wonderful friend and fabulous blogger, Amanda Tinney. Amanda had been going to Hilton Bonnet Creek both as an invited guest and on her own time and dime for a while when she invited me over for a girls weekend over the last summer. We had such a great time (despite my getting sunburnt to a crisp because I seem to always forget that people with skin like Merida from Brave need SPF 500) lounging by the pool, being wined and dined at the Bull & Bear, and sleeping in. And it was $99 a night for our room at a special End of Summer rate. That’s Disney Value Resort pricing, people, and this is NOT a value resort in terms of anything BUT price. I still have to write about the exquisite dinner we had at Bull & Bear…I can close my eyes and still taste it, even months later.

Amanda’s and my room at the Hilton Bonnet Creek over the summer

The start of our meal at the Bull & Bear

What I want to tell you about now, however, is Marathon Weekends at Hilton Bonnet Creek and the Waldorf Astoria. While I don’t consider myself a “runner” (yet…) though Amanda would argue that I am, I have been cheering and attending Disney races for the last 4 years or so. I’ve done 4 5k’s and just completed my first 10k during the Walt Disney World Marathon 2015 weekend. I’ve recently lost 50lbs (and still going), so this last race weekend was really my first serious foray into the world of Disney races. While I may not have been running a half or full marathon (or all 4 races for the Dopey medal), I’ve been around enough runners to know what they appreciate and the ins and outs of runDisney races. Hilton Bonnet Creek impressed me from check-in to check-out. If you are a local looking for a great place to lay your head and be close to the action, or flying in just to race, the Hilton Bonnet Creek will treat you like royalty. I know just posting the photos that I did on my social media accounts, I was getting people right and left that said they were going to book their next race weekend there. Which made me SO happy, because we had such a wonderful time there, and I want everyone to experience it first hand!

Here is the run-down of the Bonnet Creek Marathon Weekends amenities:

Two of the “Carb Loading” pasta options from Harvest Bistro at the Hilton Bonnet Creek

Crazy huge breakfast set-up & cheering for runners at Marathon Weekends!

A Special Experience For Runners

As our guest during Marathon Weekends at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, you’ll receive the following:

Complimentary bus transportation to and from the race venue
Carb-Load Pasta Dinner options
Personalized assistance from our Runner’s Concierge … and even dip into their Runners’ Survival Kit!
Complimentary snacks and beverages before the races!
Encouragement & recognition from our Marathon cheerleaders … even at 2:30 am!

A Special Marathon Rate For Runners

To get the most out of your weekend, we recommend the Marathon Weekend rate, which includes:

Special rate on accommodations exclusive to marathon runners
Complimentary bus transportation to and from the race venue
10% food & beverage savings card to be used during your stay
A Welcome Runner’s Amenity

I’m just going to put this question here…what do the Walt Disney World Resorts do for runDisney racers staying on property? Well…if you stay at one the hotels they tell you to…they’ll send a bus for you before the races. That’s…pretty much it. The rest of the benefits to running a runDisney race are associated with the race itself and available to everyone running, no matter where you stay. So deciding whether or not to stay at the Bonnet Creek Resort is really a no-brainer, yes? Yes.

Marathon Weekends logo outside the Hilton Bonnet Creek

I love the colors of the Waldorf Astoria

This was in our room when we checked in! 😀

Runner’s Amenity bag for the Marathon Weekends package

View back at the kitchen area in the Deluxe Suite

The wonderful, wonderful bed in the Waldorf Astoria

Turndown service with the next day’s weather

La Luce by Donna Scala at the Hilton Bonnet Creek

ADD to all of the above, the absolutely incredible guest rooms both at the Hilton and the Waldorf Astoria. Since I’d stayed at the Hilton Bonnet Creek over the summer, I was excited to experience all the Waldorf Astoria had to offer after hearing only good things from Amanda. Well, let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I pretty much wanted to move in and never leave. The beds were SO comfy, that is really the only downside…any wee hours of the morning 3am wake-up calls will seem like cruel and unusual punishment after basically being wrapped in a cloud all night in your Waldorf bed. We were lucky enough to be treated to a King suite at the Waldorf for our stay, and as a result I’m pretty much spoiled for life and only want to stay here from now on.

The Waldorf Astoria Orlando is actually, like all Waldorf properties, more of a boutique style hotel, which means excellent service for you, and the intimate feeling of a boutique hotel, with the benefits of the award-winning Bull & Bear, Peacock Alley lounge (which is gorgeous and I want to live there too), the other Waldorf amenities and pool – PLUS, all of the amenities at the Hilton Bonnet Creek, which is right next door, and connected by the convention center so you can walk in comfort inside between the properties. And of course guests staying at the Hilton can also enjoy the restaurants and bars of the Waldorf Astoria too. It really does have it all.

Checking in at the Waldorf was seamless. I was asked for my cell so the concierge could text me with any information and I could ask them for anything, at ANY time! I have to say, that was the coolest feature of all. Being able to ask a question by text (which is my preferred method of communication for the record), and get an instant answer, was heaven I tell ya. We felt so welcomed and at home, it really was an amazing weekend. I know it will be the first of many stays at the Waldorf. The level of guest service we experienced in every corner of both resorts was unparalleled.

In addition to the wonderful Marathon Weekends, the resort offers several special events throughout the year, including one of Amanda’s favorites, Cupcake Lovers Weekend in June, which I feel like I must experience first-hand, for research purposes. They also have spa packages, romance, tea for two, and so many more special experiences. Hopefully I’ve convinced you to look into the Bonnet Creek Resort and stay at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and the Waldorf Astoria Orlando (I mean, you have to stay at both to get the full experience, I think). Did I mention how convenient it is to all the Walt Disney World parks, Downtown Disney, and I-4 if you’re headed to other Orlando destinations? It’s pretty much perfect. I think I need to check out some dates for a weekend getaway…how about you?

Rates for the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek’s Marathon Weekends start at just $149/night. A little more and you get the added luxury of the Waldorf Astoria. There are constantly specials and offers going on, and if you’re a Hilton Honors member, there are double points weekends too. Click the links above to check on availability.

Disclaimer: I was an invited guest at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando for Marathon Weekends and was provided with a complimentary Deluxe Suite, daily breakfast buffet at Oscars, and a $100 room credit. That said, all of the opinions above are my own, and if we had a bad time, I’d have told you that too. But we didn’t. It was amazing. In fact, I need to tell you more things about our stay, and I haven’t even mentioned the lazy river at the Hilton Bonnet Creek or the spa or the brand new Myth Bar that just opened, but I’ll save that for future posts. So come back and check for those!

Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort’s Amazing Marathon Weekends

10 January 2015 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

What better way to ring in a new year and all the potential it embodies than…running a marathon! The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is in its 21st year, and gets more and more popular each year. With so much going on and so many options for resorts during the marathon, the Hilton Bonnet Creek has really differentiated itself from the pack and offers an absolutely amazing Marathon Weekend set up for runners.

I am currently staying at their sister resort, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, and experiencing those Marathon Weekend amenities first-hand. I wanted to post something hear really quick to let you know to follow along at my twitter, instagram and facebook pages to see all of the action as it unfolds. I’ll be writing up a full review after check-out, but until then, as always, my social media outlets are where to find out what’s happening as it happens.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekends at the Hilton Bonnet Creek

Our gorgeous room at the Waldorf Orlando

Huge thanks to the Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando for putting me up here this weekend, having such a plush place close-by to rest my weary feet after running the 5K and 10K (my first) on Thursday and Friday has been wonderful. And as I work up the courage and strength to run a half marathon, I definitely know where I’ll be staying!

Please stay tuned and follow along – and feel free to ask any questions either here or on your preferred social media platform, that I can answer for you while I’m here! See you on the courses!

Top 5 Ways to Welcome Fall in Walt Disney World

14 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I know, I know, it’s still summer – it’s still hot – (over 100 here at Walt Disney World!) but I find myself drifting to thoughts of cool autumn breezes, falling leaves, and pumpkins…Okay, maybe some of those things don’t exactly happen here in Florida, but a girl can dream. Believe it or not, “Orlando Halloween” is right around the corner (that’s what we locals call it when Halloween descends upon the area in early August while we’re all sweating in the sun) and that means lots of fun options to get in the Fall spirit. And while I may still be working on my summer vacation reports, I still wanted to put together a list of my top 5 favorite things about this time of the year at the Walt Disney World Resort.

1. Autumn Decorations

Being from Massachusetts, I miss the leaves turning color, the cold, crisp air blowing in, and visions of pumpkins and hay bales at every turn. Luckily, Disney has you covered and makes Main Street, U.S.A. feel like the Autumn I grew up loving. You just have to find some air conditioning for the crisp air part. The decorations may also be found around the Downtown Disney area. It’ll be interesting to see how things are done this year with all the Disney Springs construction going on. For a fun treat, head over to Fort Wilderness and take a stroll (or rent a golf cart) to see the amazing decorations the guests there do at their campsites. It’s unbelievable how much some of them do!

2. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

One of my absolute favorite special ticketed events at Walt Disney World. You just can’t beat the fun you get to experience here with the twice-nightly “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade” led by the infamous Headless Horseman, at 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and “HalloWishes,” a green and orange fireworks spectacle complete with Disney villains, caps the evening festivities at 9:30 p.m. The parade is one of my favorites ever. The grave-diggers are so much fun and the costumes for all the parade sections are wonderful. It really gets you in the Halloween-y mood!

Of course the trick-or-treating is a key selling point of the party, kids and adults alike love getting candy and treats from all the different locations around the park. And don’t forget to get your special Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom card that’s special only for the party – show your party ticket and wrist band to pick up your card at the Main Street Firehouse during party hours.

And, keep reading below for some Halloween treats that you must try! Party dates for 2014 are: September 1, 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26 & 28 and October 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 & 31. Advance purchase (prior to event day) savings are available for select dates. Visit Disneyworld.com/Halloween for party dates and prices, or call 407-W-DISNEY.

Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom Halloween 2014 — Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party card 2014

3. Fall-themed Treats

Last year, we were really treated to some delicious treats during the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and later some were offered in the Magic Kingdom too. I hope all of these will be back this year, and maybe more new ones too! My absolute favorite was the pumpkin waffle sundae pictured below, it was the perfect mix of waffle, ice cream, and Fall! You can see more about these treats and more to do at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on my Top 5 Must-do’s at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party post.

4. Halloween Merchandise

It’s always fun to see the new Halloween merchandise this time of year. Popcorn buckets, t-shirts, Mouse Ears and more! Soon we’ll have a place to purchase Haunted Mansion merchandise year round! Whether you’re looking for something haunted, or your favorite characters in their Halloween gear, there is something for everyone this time of year.

What’s your favorite type of Disney Halloween merchandise to take home? Is your house decorated with a Disney theme?

5. Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival

Another reason to visit Walt Disney World Resort this time of year is without a doubt, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. This year marks the 19th year of enjoying unique and delicious foods, wines, beers, desserts and more around the World Showcase at Epcot. This little festival has grown so much since it first began. There are now countless special dining and tasting events, classes, seminars, after hours and VIP parties, and just plain amazing food (and merchandise!). I love being able to walk around World Showcase at night (usually on a weeknight, it’s much less crowded!) and just enjoy things I may not ever normally try. It’s like a mobile date-night with a view. We’ll have more coverage of the items offered this year, so stay tuned and follow along on instagram, twitter and facebook for the latest photo-finds.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Patagonia Marketplace — New this year: the Patagonia booth will offer Verlasso Salmon

So what are your favorite reasons to visit Walt Disney World this time of year? Have you been before? What are your must-do’s? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!

Make Holiday Plans Now for Gaylord Palms ICE! and More

6 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

After my recent visit a little further north of the hot Florida sun, the cooler weather got me thinking about the holiday season, so I was thrilled when this announcement about the Gaylord Palms ICE! theme and other Christmas events came through. This year, ICE! will feature The Nutcracker, one of my favorite holiday tales and one with a personal connection – my mother (a former professional ballerina) played the Sugar Plum Fairy for the Boston Ballet many years ago and it’s always been a family tradition to watch or experience The Nutcracker somehow each year. I think The Nutcracker is a perfect theme for the amazing ice sculptures featured at Gaylord Palms and can’t wait to see it in person. I’ll have to bring my mom too! This year they’ve also added Alpine Snow Tubing to the ICE! festivities. Can’t wait!

Here is more about ICE! and the other Christmas offerings at Gaylord Palms, which is beautiful year-round, but even more so during the holidays:

ICE! Featuring The Nutcracker

Dreams of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mouse King will come to life in a full-on frozen wonderland this winter during Christmas at Gaylord Palms. On Nov. 15 scenes from everyone’s favorite ballet, the Nutcracker, will be reimagined in nearly 2 million pounds of hand-carved vibrant ice sculptures. ICE! will feature four slippery ice slides and live carving stations inside of the Artisans in Action Frostbite Factory.

New in 2014

That’s not the only exciting happening during this year’s annual Christmas at Gaylord Palms. Guests can now experience the rush – Alpine Rush Snow Tubing – an 18’ 8-lane giant snow hill created with 1.5 million pounds of real Florida snow. Children and adults of all ages will frolic with delight as they speed down these snow covered hills.

The Christmas Experience

Christmas at Gaylord Palms is a mystical experience that boasts the true nature of the season all under a glass enclosed atrium. Lush gardens sprinkled with poinsettias, grand holiday displays and more than 2 million twinkling lights. Don’t forget the famous 54-foot-tall majestic Christmas tree; character dining and meet and greets; delectable holiday dining; Cookies with Mrs. Claus and awe-inspiring live entertainment that crowds have grown to love including the rhythmic Luminescence show.

With so much to see and do, the best way to experience Christmas at Gaylord Palms is to spend the night with us. Packages are now on sale at ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com.

ICE! is open daily from Nov. 15, 2014 to Jan. 4, 2015, including holidays. The Christmas experience begins Nov. 21, 2014. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com. There are many specials, Florida resident deals and more to choose from!

Summer Adventures: Stone Mountain in Georgia

1 August 2014 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

On to part two of our epic Summer Family Road Trip – after the Georgia Aquarium, we planned to head to Stone Mountain to explore the state park and experience the famous laser light show at night. However, the leaving at 3am, driving 7 hours, and walking in an aquarium for about 7 more, it was starting to catch up to us. We checked in to our hotel for the night, freshened up and grabbed a quick dinner. It was kind of late, around 7:30, by the time we decided to head over to Stone Mountain, but I at least wanted to see it and see the laser show. I figured we could come back another time and spend the day here, because there really is a lot to explore and do.

As we drove down the road leading to Stone Mountain, we just curved a little bit and the giant mountain loomed before us. Now I know there are many, many mountains bigger than this, but my kids only remember living in flat flat flat Florida, and I haven’t been back to Massachusetts where I grew up, or Virginia where I lived briefly since 2004 and 1987 respectively. And although we had been to California and Disneyland, the San Gabriel mountains were far enough off in the distance that Stone Mountain was pretty impressive to us all. And really, it IS impressive in its own right. Less than 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta, lies this monolith of stone, surrounded by beautiful forests and lakes and natural beauty. After being in the car and inside for most of the previous night and day, we were all ready for some fresh air.

I really had no idea just how much there was to do at Stone Mountain. There are nature trails, a golf course, a quarry exhibit, a grist mill, a carillon, fishing in the lakes, the mountain itself and a sky lift up to the top, and on top of all that, a little amusement park area with kids activities and water fun, 3-D movies. mini-golf and more. On top of that, they have Duck tours, and a railroad for train rides. It really is at least a whole day’s worth of fun.

We got there right as everything was closing down, and though I would’ve loved to do the Sky Ride or the train around the park, it just didn’t work out. So we got our tickets for the laser show and went down to the huge lawn area in front of the mountain and waited for it to start. It really is a fun, family atmosphere at Stone Mountain, with families playing ball and frisbee, having picnic dinners on blankets, you could just tell that for generations, this was a family tradition to come here and enjoy the park and the nighttime show too. Coming from a world of theme parks, this was great to see.

There are many ticket options to enjoy the various activities and attractions at Stone Mountain, including tickets to see the laser show in special terraced seating, which includes drinks and snacks for everyone in your party to enjoy the show. There is another option for a dinner package, which includes a traditional southern dinner before the show starts. They even have a member pass which pays for itself in two visits, which I just may look into myself!

The laser show was a fun tribute to all things Georgia. Again, you definitely got the sense that it was a time-honored local tradition. Fireworks capped off the show with a very patriotic finale to the night. Then began the trek back to the car, similar to trying to leave Epcot after the 4th of July. Being theme park experts, we took that in stride, but those not used to that kind of a crowd and wait in the parking lot should be prepared. It was beautiful to see the mountain lit up at night.

All in all, I’m very glad we got to experience a little taste of Stone Mountain, and definitely want to return for the day to explore all parts of it. We had a wonderful whirlwind visit to Atlanta, and were now ready for a good night’s sleep before we began the next leg of our journey, into new territory, bigger mountains, and more amazing memories. Stay tuned for part 3!

Four Seasons Orlando Elevates Pool-Side Dining at PB&G

31 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

On our recent sneak peek at the dining options at the Four Seasons Orlando, one of my favorite spots was PB&G, which stands for Pool Bar & Grill. Normally, I think of a pool-side restaurant as a sort of last resort for dining, but this is definitely not the case at the Four Seasons. Much like everything else at a Four Seasons resort, this is done right – you will not find an overcooked burger and fries here, this is fine dining with a southern smokehouse twist.

We sampled the Rotisserie Chicken, served on potato salad with dill, Beef brisket with sauerkraut coleslaw on rye , and Oysters “roc”a fella with spinach puree, smoked aioli, bacon breadcrumbs, as well as the deviled eggs with caviar. These are all things I would probably never have ordered on my own, but I always like to try things when offered like this so I can share them with you (like the seared tuna at Ravello!) and I was surprised at how much I loved everything.

The rotisserie chicken was fork tender and really easy to eat and the potato salad was a great texture and flavor, and wins points for the brown bag presentation. So adorable. The beef brisket was a little more challenging to eat, but no less delicious and a great combo of flavors. The oyster was fried (I probably would not have been daring enough to eat it raw) and tasted great. Coming from New England, I’m used to fried oysters and clams and this reminded me of that, but with a very light, unique breading. The deviled eggs were also fun, and the caviar on top was a great way to make a traditional bbq item more elevated. Families will be happy to know they have great kids options as well, from chicken fingers to bbq, served in a fun kids meal box with activity menu.

PB&G also has a full bar with beers on tap and a signature Absolut Thyme – iced tea with Absolut Peach and a sprig of fresh thyme. Refreshing for a hot Florida summer day, but also dangerously delicious! All seating in PB&G overlooks the lake adjacent to the adult Oasis pool and the family water park area. The hours are from 11am – 6pm presently, as the pool lighting as not been installed as of yet. Reservations are recommended here as well, as I’m sure it will be a very popular choice among guests. If I were staying at the Four Seasons, this would be a must-do for dining.

See more PB&G photos in this gallery (click to enlarge to slideshow):

Summer Adventures: Behind the Scenes at the Georgia Aquarium

30 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Happy summer! We are now back home and enjoying the remainder of the summer break at home, reminiscing about our Great Family Road Trip of 2014. Here is the first part of our adventures, our day at the Georgia Aquarium. I had always wanted to visit this aquarium, having heard about the amazing whale sharks for years now. After our visit, I definitely wish I was closer to Atlanta to enjoy this amazing aquarium more often. If you haven’t been, it’s a must-visit.

We began our trek in the wee hours of the morning (3am) in order to let the kids sleep and enjoy the whole day in Atlanta. While we may have been a little tired, we were all still excited to arrive, stretch our legs and encounter something new. Now, when we arrived, it suddenly hit us that it was a Saturday, in the summer, in a large city. So it was a bit crowded at the aquarium. However, being used to Disney crowds, we took it in stride. However keep that in mind when planning your visit. The wonderful folks at the Georgia Aquarium had set aside tickets for our admission, a dolphin show and a behind-the-scenes tour at the end of our day.

Our first stop was to see the whale sharks. There are several different places to see them; as you walk around the tank, on a moving walkway as the fish and sharks swim above you, and a viewing area with a giant window where you can just sit and enjoy the views. It was crazy to see how huge these sharks are, as well as their tank-mates, giant manta rays and other sharks and huge fish. I loved seeing my older kids taking photos on their phones and with their cameras and sharing them on social media, which is of course what the adults were doing too! We then saw the rest of the exhibits in that area and moved on to the beluga whales and penguins. Little Gio loved crawling through these cool tunnel-like crawl spaces where you could view the animals in their habitat from behind glass. We then stopped for lunch and on busy days like that was, the aquarium’s ballroom is open for seating on the floor above the food court area. So we got to enjoy our meals with a great view of beluga whales from the window in the ballroom.

Next up was the Dolphin Show – Dolphin Tales. Coming from the theme park capital of the world with SeaWorld down the street, we felt right at home with this show. It was full of songs and performance and a very dramatic tale told along with the dolphins act. The main song totally got stuck in our head, it was great.

To wind up our day, we met with our guide for our behind-the-scenes tour. Let me say, if you are planning a visit to the aquarium, you simply MUST do this. I think we may have been given a special tour based on what the kids said they were interested in, and we really got to see a little bit of everything, but there are many options depending on your budget, time, and ages in your group. But on a day like we went, it made all the difference to be away from the crowds, seeing above the various tanks and exhibits, and learning so much more on a one-on-one basis. We were able to see the veterinary, research, and commissary areas for the aquariums many creatures. The photo to the right shows 3 teenage penguins, getting accustomed to their habitat before joining the group. Penguins are flatfooted, so they place stones down to mimic the areas they would be walking on in the wild, to make their little flippers shaped the right way. The little guy was quite interested in Gio (and vice versa!)

The highlight of our tour was definitely the feeding of the whale sharks. It was so interesting to see how this is actually accomplished, and learn so much more about the sharks themselves. Everyone loved it. They also have additional programs where you can actually swim with the whale sharks, or beluga whales, or dolphins. Any of those would be amazing to do on a return trip.

Most of all, what we came away with was the feeling of how much the people who work for the Georgia Aquarium truly care about where they work, the animals they help on a daily basis, and sharing knowledge and education with all those they encounter. Every person working, from the admission window to the cafeteria to the workers in the exhibits, were unbelievably friendly and helpful. I’m so very thankful that my family got to experience this great place and I cannot wait to return some day.

Here’s a gallery of the highlights of the rest of our day:

The Georgia Aquarium is a little over a 6 hour drive from the Orlando area, but certainly a lot closer by air! They have extended summer hours and many ticket options for savings when purchasing in advance or online. You can learn more about the various exhibits in the aquarium, including Ocean Voyager, Cold Water Quest, Tropical Diver, River Scout and more. They really highlight all the different regions that our aquatic wildlife come from and what we can do to keep them safe and cared for.

Disclaimer: Very special thanks to the Georgia Aquarium for setting up our admission and tours. We had such a wonderful time – but my opinions and thoughts are my own.

Four Seasons Orlando Resort Opens Dining to All

29 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

The Four Seasons Orlando Resort is quickly becoming my favorite place to visit in the Walt Disney World area. The resort itself and the grounds are just so relaxing and inviting. And inviting is exactly what the Four Seasons Orlando is going for, for both locals and non-guests visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. When I first toured the property back in May, discussions were still underway regarding non-guests visiting the property or dining in the 5 restaurants the Four Seasons will eventually have open. At our recent visit we were pleased to hear that the Four Seasons welcomes non-guests to book dining reservations and spa appointments at their gorgeous resort.

To familiarize us with their dining options and spa, we were given a tour of some of their spaces (some are still under construction but will be completed August 3 or later in September) and samples of some of the amazing cuisine that will be offered. Here I’ll share my thoughts and photos on the first place we visited on our tour, Ravello.

Ravello is the Italian restaurant at the lobby level of the Four Seasons. To the right of the front lobby, you come to the Ravello lounge, tastefully decorated in modern design and colors, not giving a hint at all to the type of cuisine awaiting downstairs. You can enjoy lovely water views from Ravello’s large windows and there is comfortable outdoor seating for both the lounge upstairs and the restaurant downstairs. The lounge is open from 5pm – midnight and seats 70 inside and 88 outside, offering a full bar, appetizers, and pastry creations from the chef.

Four Seasons Orlando — Ravello lounge views

A beautiful set of stairs take you downstairs to Ravello’s main dining area, which features an open kitchen concept (as all their dining locations do), dark wood and light colors for a warm but elegant feel. This modern Italian kitchen offers a fresh pasta bar with housemade pastas, pizza with housemade dough and brick ovens, along with regional specialties from resident chef Fabrizio Schenardi, who has an extensive high-end hotel resume of experience and it definitely showed in the items we sampled that evening.

Ravello also offers two private dining rooms, where they will have cooking demos for adults and children as well as 114 seats outside. I have no doubt that Ravello will be a wonderful meeting place for friends to get together and share a great meal and enjoy some amazing cuisine at the same time. The seared tuna we tried is on the menu as Tonno – Pan Seared Tuna | Eggplant Caponata | Saba | Basil Oil, I have to admit, I have avoided tuna in the past because I thought I wouldn’t like it, but I tried this and loved it. It tasted more like melt-in-your-mouth filet mignon than fish. I would order it again in a heartbeat. We also sampled the Veal Ravioli – Veal, Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed | Wild Mushrooms | Truffle Essence, which left me wanting more. The pasta was so light and fresh, with just the right amount of cheese and sauce, an excellent combination of flavors. I will definitely be back to sample the full menu.

Ravello Four Seasons Orlando — Ravello bar

Ravello is open now at the Four Seasons Orlando Resort. You may book a reservation using Open Table. Parking at the Four Seasons is Valet only, but can be validated for a lower amount. I’ll have a full review when I experience the entire menu in a couple of weeks. I’ll also have upcoming posts on the PB&G pool area restaurant, Lickety Split dessert and coffee shop, and The Spa.

Disclaimer: Thank you to the Four Seasons for inviting us out and offering us some tastes of what’s to come at the Four Seasons Orlando. My opinions and thoughts are my own.

Four Seasons Orlando Extends a Special Florida Resident Rate

11 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After seeing the Four Seasons Resort Orlando in person during a construction tour, I fell in love and became an instant evangelist for this gorgeous luxury hotel. The Four Seasons will be opening to the public on August 3, and in celebration of that, they are offering a very special Florida Resident Rate. If you live in Florida, I can’t recommend enough that you run to the phone to book a stay here. It is simply beautiful and a wonderful addition the the Walt Disney World Resort area hotels. Here are the official details of the Florida Resident Rate:

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, opening on August 3, is pleased to extend a special rate exclusively for Florida residents. Situated in a breathtaking location at the Walt Disney World Resort, Four Seasons is located in a lushly landscaped area with many mature trees, lakes and wetlands. A Four Seasons “staycation” near the most magical place on Earth is now even more enticing for Florida residents, with this special Florida resident pricing.
For the introductory period of August 17, 2014 through October 9, 2014, the Florida resident rate is USD 279.00 for a Golden Oak View Room, and includes valet parking for one car. A Golden Oak View room can sleep three adults, or two adults and two children. At 500 square-feet plus a spacious furnished balcony, the guestrooms include a king bed plus a queen-size sofa sleeper, and a 5-piece marble bath complete with in-mirror television and Bose surround-sound.

Guests of Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort will have complimentary transportation to Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios . In addition to enjoying all the nearby Disney attractions, a highlight of Four Seasons Resort Orlando is the five-acre (two hectare) “Explorer Island” water park, including a winding lazy river complete with a rapids section, two water slides, an interactive splash zone with water cannons, and much more. The Kids For All Seasons program offers organized activities for children ages 4-12, and is complimentary. Adults will enjoy the adult-only pool, 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed Tranquilo Golf Club, and The Spa at Four Seasons. Recreational pursuits for guests of all ages are sure to provide ample entertainment.

The Florida resident offer is available exclusively by telephone reservation: 1-800-267-3046.
A valid Florida state identification will be required at the time of check-in.

The Grand Family Summer Tradition – Road Trip!

9 July 2014 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

I never like to peg myself into any one blogging ‘niche’, as I’ve written about many times here. I’m not a mom blogger, I’m not solely a Disney blogger or even Orlando blogger. Over my 5 years here at Zannaland, I’ve still never found exactly the “one thing” I should stick with. I began Zannaland to share my thoughts on my personal history of coming to Walt Disney World as a girl through adulthood, which morphed into covering new things to do and merchandise of interest at Walt Disney World. I branched out to cover other area theme parks but I am now keeping that coverage to places that I feel personally passionate about, and resorts in the area that I think are worth staying at. Now, I am in the position to travel more in my life, and I find myself wanting to blog more about travel and exploring some of the other great destinations out there. But I don’t want to leave Disney behind, or my newly beloved Diagon Alley. So I’ll continue to not fit into a specific blogger mold, and keep sharing my personal views and experiences with you all here. My next adventure is one I am very excited about chronicling here.

Growing up, it was rare that we would fly from Massachusetts to Florida to visit Walt Disney World. We would drive and my parents would build many stops into our trips over and back, visiting all the major spots down the eastern seaboard on our way. I have so many wonderful memories of visiting Baltimore and Philadelphia and Washington DC, Charleston, and Savannah on these trips. It’s a great way to get to know the history of this great country of ours. I always wanted to continue this tradition with my own children, but things never really worked out in the whole summer vacation department. Things have changed and I’m now in a place where I can make up for lost time with showing my kids America. I’m also now with someone who has spent his life visiting National Parks and seeing a whole other side to our country that I haven’t really experienced myself. So we decided for our first family road trip to combine the best of both worlds; the natural and the man-made, to get our feet wet in the family travel ocean and see where we want to go from here.

At the end of this week, we’ll be embarking on our first trip together and we are all very excited. We decided to stay pretty close to home for this first venture, since with two teenagers and a 5 year-old, we aren’t really sure how the whole car-ride experience will play out. (Earplugs have been purchased)

Our first stop will be Atlanta, a place I’ve only ever been once myself (aside from airport layovers). I’ve always wanted to visit the Georgia Aquarium so I thought this would be a great place to make our first stop and be fun for everyone. The kids are super excited about seeing the Whale Sharks and all the other amazing creatures there. We’ll be taking a behind-the-scenes tour in addition to all the regular shows and exhibits, so I know I’ll have so much to share here after our visit!

After our day at the Georgia Aquarium, we’ll be heading over to Stone Mountain. There we’ll see all there is at this amazing park (I was shocked at how much there was to do here – I knew about the laser show, but I thought that was it!). We’ll end our day of exploration with the famous laser show on the mountain, and then spend the night in Atlanta before heading out on the road again.

Then the scenic driving will begin as we make our way to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I’m super excited about this and think it’s a great introduction to our National Parks for the kids. I’ve only ever been to Acadia briefly, but I also used to live near the Blue Ridge Mountains, so I’m excited to see all the wonder of nature around us. We’ll be staying in a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN for a few nights, doing hiking and exploring during the day, even taking time to visit some friends while there. I cannot wait to wake up to sights like this:

After spending most of the week in the Smokies, we’ll make the short journey to Asheville, NC. We’ll then explore the amazing Biltmore Estate. I am thrilled about seeing the estate and grounds and the kind folks at the Biltmore have set us up with a full audio tour, vineyard tour and even the new kids audio tour for our 5 year-old so he has as much fun as we do. I grew up visiting the mansions of Newport, RI, and my oldest children don’t remember their visits there at all, so I’m happy they’ll get to experience something like this on such a grand level.

The last portion of our trip will be a scenic drive up part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, to just leisurely take in those beautiful sights up to around Boone, NC before making the journey back down to Florida. On our way back, we decided to take the coastal route home, and may make spontaneous stops at either Charleston or Savannah – we’ll see how things go!

Along our road trip, you can expect lots of instagrams, tweets, and updates to my facebook page, but I may wait to blog until I return, so I can make sure I experience everything first hand and not behind a computer or phone screen. I’m excited to share this trip with my family, and then here with you, sharing any tips I find along the way and get some ideas for next time.

So have you done many road trips either solo or with your family? I’d love to hear some of your favorite memories or experiences and if you’ve visited the places I mentioned above, I’m definitely up for your recommendations and must-dos while we’re there!

You can follow along on instagram or twitter with the hashtag: #zannatravels. See you on the road!