On our website you have learned about the wonderful pool, waterslides, water play structure, tub rides and water mat racers found in the Encore Club Orlando waterpark - but you haven't heard about the amazing Encore staff's daily poolside activities for kids of all ages. Click here to see the June 2017 activities calendar.  In addition to the fun poolside activities, there are also daily bar specials which can be enjoyed either on the terrace or inside the resort clubhouse at The Shark Lounge or, better yet, enjoy your beverage poolside so that you don't miss a minute of the fun.  Learn more about the Encore Club at Reunion Resort by reviewing our blog post archives and tell your friends to check out www.360vacationhome.com

Tomorrow marks the grand opening of Universal Orlando's third park - Volcano Bay.  Opening May 25, the new Polynesian themed water park promises guests brand new experiences including reduced wait times thanks to wristband technology, gourmet food experiences and, of course, plenty of wild water rides.  The park is sure to be a strong competitor to the two Disney water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.  All three of these water parks require separate admission fees over and above the admissions paid to get into the main theme park and, because of the additional cost, should be considered a whole day activity.  If you are looking for a day or half day at the water park, but don't want to spend the hundreds of extra dollars on admission for every member of your group, you should consider staying at our vacation rental home at The Encore Club Resort at Reunion. Access to the resort's 3 acre waterpark is included with your stay for every member of the household.  No admission fees and no per person cost.  And unlike some resorts who allow you one day at the waterpark with your stay, you can attend the Encore waterpark every day of your stay if you want.  If you are looking with an kid friendly Orlando hotel or vacation home with waterslides, water tub rides, giant aqua play structures and mat racers, check out the Encore Water Park, then book your stay today!

ABC, the television network owned by the Disney Corporation, has announced that they have secured the rights and will be bringing American Idol back to the small screen.  American Idol had previously been broadcasted on the Fox Network.  In a genius plot to cross market it's business entities, it has been reported by the Orlando Weekly and TMZ that the auditions for the show will be held primarily at Walt Disney World, with a few auditions taking place at Disneyland in California as well.  While the move assists in cutting the show's production costs, it also provides Disney World guests with an opportunity to watch the real show live at the theme park, complete with the celebrity judges and the guest performers. It is also an amazing opportunity for guests of our Encore Resort at Reunion vacation home near Disney World to join in the fun or, better yet, become one of the contestants.  After a day by our private pool or riding the waterslides at the amazing waterpark, return to the house, where all 6 bedrooms have an ensuite, and get your hair and makeup ready before you head to Disney's Hollywood Studios for your American Idol audition. Consider staying at our resort for your American Idol Encore!

Hacks and Life Pro Tips (LPT) for avoiding crowds at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando (thanks to Universal Orlando's official blog and their commentators for the quotes and ideas):

If you are a single family staying in one hotel room, consider staying on property to get free Universal Express Access or Disney Extra Magic Hours
It may seem weird for a family trying to rent their Encore Resort at Reunion vacation home to advise you to stay at a theme park resort; however, there may be times when it makes sense.  If this is your first trip to Orlando; you are a family of 4 or less and you plan on visiting Disney or Universal exclusively (ie not going to both parks) then staying at Disney or Universal may make sense.  While staying on property, Disney guests have access to either Disney's "Extra Magic Hours" and those staying at Universal's deluxe resorts have access to the "Universal Express".   The first offers an extra hour in the day where non-resort guests do not have access to the park (normally between 7:00 am and 8:00 am or 11:00 pm and midnight)  For Universal, you get a pass allowing you to skip the regular lines at all participating rides and attractions (sort of like a fastpass).  This is available to none resort guests for an additional fee.  Once your family group is over 4 people, you enter into the area where you need more than one hotel room.  This is where these perks may no longer make economic sense and you are better off renting our Kissimmee villa with water slides , waterpark and a free shuttle to Disney and Universal.

Don’t ride the first thing you see
Most guests will enter through the front gates and head to the nearest attraction. Zig when they zag – head to the back, then work your way forward.

Eat outside of the 11 am – 1 pm lunch window
Most people head to the in-park eateries during this window of time. Because it’s lunch! Plan to snack before or eat a late lunch and you’ll have a bit more of the place to yourself.  Better yet, bring food into the park and eat when you want to (saves money too).

Enter the parks through the “secret entrance”
Did you know there’s a second park entrance to Universal Studios Florida near the Blue Man Group theatre? Head in that direction and get to the rides that much faster.  At Disney's Animal Kingdom, if you head over to Rainforest Cafe, located just left of the entrance into the park, walk through the gift shop and you will find the secret entrance.

Use child swap
Those with kids who can’t or don’t want to go on specific rides can use child swap to keep from waiting in line twice. One parent stays with the child while the other rides, and then you switch. Ask the greeter at the front of the attraction to get you set up.

Single Rider Line
Many rides have a single rider line which will have a wait time that is far less than the normal wait line.  While you won't be able to sit right next to your buddies, you can meet them right after the ride is done and you will likely have saved 30 minutes of your day.

Crowd Calendars
Check out crowd calendars to not only find the best time of year to travel, but also to plan which park to travel to during your stay.  Generally speaking, if a park has Extra Magic Hours, you want to avoid that park.  It will be full of resort guests who showed up between 7:00am - 8:00am for the Extra Magic Hours, but then they don't leave for the rest of the day because they didn't buy a park hopper.  My goto crowd calendar is at www.easywdw.com.

For more tips or help organizing your Orlando trip or for help figuring out how to stay at our Disney World vacation home and staying within your Disney on a budget 2017 plan, drop us an email and we will try to help you out

In keeping with the last 2 blog entries, we want to make sure that our internet friends are aware of the latest offerings being made available to Disney World guests. 

Disney's Night of Joy is a concert event where popular Christian bands and singer-songwriters take the stage for a 2-night event.  For fans of Christian music this is the must see event of the year.  Tickets will go on sale in early June and the scheduled talent for this event includes:

• Friday, Sept. 8 – MercyMe, TobyMac, Zach Williams, Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, Matt Maher, Colton Dixon, Rend Collective.
• Saturday, Sept. 9 – Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Franklin, Jordan Feliz, Crowder, Jeremy Camp, Tye Tribbett.

Click on this link for more details about ticket pricing and options.  If you are planning to attend the event, we welcome you to consider booking our 6 bedroom Kissimmee vacation home near Disney World, located within the Orlando area's newest kid friendly resort community - The Encore Club Resort at Reunion.  If your vacation includes theme parks, concerts and waterslides, this is the home for you.  Contact us for more details.

Hot on the heals of tickets becoming available for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Disney is putting us in the Christmas mood by making available tickets to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  Like MNSSHP, MVMCP is an exclusive opportunity to enjoy Magic Kingdom after the park has closed for regular visitors.  The party runs from November 9 - December 22.  As I mentioned in my last blog post, not surprisingly, these celebrations are promoted during a time that the Orlando theme parks are experiencing lower attendance.  Let's face it, if kids are in school, the theme parks are less busy.  This is a great opportunity to enjoy our Kissimmee Florida vacation home rental and avoid some of the crowds, while experiencing a really cool Christmas experience.

When Mickey celebrates the season, Magic Kingdom park lights up with excitement for Guests of all ages. Cinderella Castle shimmers. Joyful music fills the air. Disney Characters don their most festive attire. Favorite attractions take on a holiday theme. And enchanting surprises lie around almost every turn!   Meet some of Disney’s most beloved Characters decked out for the holiday season.  During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you’re invited to share hugs, receive autographs and snap pictures with more than 15 beloved Disney Characters as they spread holiday cheer around Magic Kingdom park. Share in the yuletide spirit with classic Characters dressed in their holiday best, and enjoy rare appearances from the likes of Santa Jack Skellington as Sandy Clause and Scrooge McDuck—no “Bah! Humbug!” here.

It may seem a bit early to be talking about Halloween, but since this has a tendency to sell out (especially for October 31) I thought I should give you the heads up that tickets are now available for this awesome Walt Disney World experience for visitors to Magic Kingdom between August 25 - November 1.   Back again for 2017, it’s the happiest haunting on Earth! Don’t miss your chance to collect candies, sweets and frightfully delightful treats—all while the park hosts grim grinning ghosts, eerie entertainment and Disney Characters that go bump in the night.  The parties are held in Magic Kingdom after the park closes from 7 p.m. to midnight (but historically guests can arrive at 4:00 p.m.).  If you are staying at our Orlando Vacation Home at the Encore Club Resort at Reunion, this is the perfect day to sleep in and then take a dip in the private backyard pool. Relax and enjoy lunch in our fully equipped kitchen and then head to the amazing water park to enjoy the huge Surfin' Safari with waterslides, the two person tub ride, the water mat racers and, for the brave among you, the thrilling aqua drop.  Or just hang out by the huge Cove pool and chill with lunch and a beverage. After your "day off" from getting up early for rope drop at the parks, enjoy a spooky fun evening at Magic Kingdom.  And since much of this period is considered a "low" period for renting, the rates for our home are the lowest for the year.  Take a look and then send us your booking request! 

This Friday May 12, 2017 is the debut of the new Magic Kingdom fireworks spectacular "Happily Ever After".  Unless you are really organized, you won't have time to book our Encore Club Resort at Reunion vacation home and take the free shuttle bus to watch the debut.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that you can still watch the debut online by streaming it.  Check out this site for details

On March 25, 2017 we blogged about the unfortunate ending to the long run of "Wishes" fireworks.  Wishes will be done in 6 days, but in 7 days we will be introduced to a new and amazing new nighttime spectacular known as "Happily Ever After"  This show is not only a fireworks display, but also a high tech projection and laser show.  And if you want an answer to the question "Will we still see Tinkerbell fly during the new fireworks at Disney World", watch the video carefully to find out!!  If you are excited to see the newest fireworks display at Walt Disney World in person rather than on a Youtube video, don't delay in booking our Orlando vacation home rental near Walt Disney World at the fabulous Encore Club Resort at Reunion.  Contact us for more details.

Enjoy yourself today Star Wars fans.  Have fun watching these cute Lego videos that lightheartedly summarize the Star Wars Trilogy and the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy.  They would look even better on the large screen in our Kissimmee vacation home's theater room!  And remember, our Encore Club Resort at Reunion villa is less than 12 parsecs from Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios - future home of Star Wars Land!