Top 7 Reasons to Stay in an Orlando All Star Vacation Home

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Disclosure- I went on an all expense paid press trip sponsored by Disney.  All opinions are 100% my own.

all star vacation homes front 2Photo Credit- All Star Vacation Homes

Last month while I was a part of Disney’s #MonkeyKingdomEvent in Orlando, 24 other bloggers and I had the opportunity to stay in one of several luxury All Star Vacation Homes.  Located at 8039 Acadia Estates Ct., the home I stayed in was incredible.  It is 3,183 square feet, has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and sleeps a maximum of 12 guests.  Normally my family and I stay at either a Disney property or an hotel in the Disney area but that was before my experience at the All Star Vacation Home.  There are so many reasons to stay in a vacation home instead of a hotel.  Here are a few of them.

BEAUTY

DSC_0119 (1024x681)When you step into your luxury All Star Vacation Home it’s like stepping into a model home.  It is beautifully decorated yet feels like home.  It is the perfect comfortable home away from home for your Orlando vacation.

 SPACE

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When you stay in an All Star Vacation Home it’s not like staying in a small hotel room where you have no privacy and everyone has to share one or two rooms with little space to spread out and relax.  The All Star Vacation Homes are 2 story homes with several master bedrooms, twin bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, a dining room, kitchen, pool, and more!  You and your family won’t be tripping all over each other in this house!  Each room also has plenty of closet space, drawer space, plus extra linens and towels to make your stay more comfortable.

roomsEveryone can have their own room to spread out and relax in.  Want to vacation with your extended family?  No problem!  There are plenty of rooms (and bathrooms) for everyone!  Instead of spending money on several hotel rooms, this is a much better way for a large family to spend their vacation.
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They even have fun themed rooms for the kids!  How cute is this Nemo room?  One of the other houses has a princess room..

COMFORT

couchThere are so many comfortable places to put your feet up and relax in these homes.  The bed I stayed in was so plush and cozy that I feel asleep quickly and slept like a baby every night.  There are plush reclining chairs in the home theater, cushy couches in the living room, and lots of chairs out by the pool to enjoy on your down time.  When we vacation we’re usually going, going, going so it’s nice to have a place that is comfortable to just relax and enjoy some much needed down time.  When you stay at a hotel the couches are usually pretty hard as are the chairs and you have to fight for chairs around the pool.  No need to worry about any of that when you stay in a private home.  If you stay in one of these vacation homes make sure to leave a day or two free just to stay home and relax.  It will be much needed after several crazy days at the parks.

ENTERTAINMENT

entertainmentIf you stay at an All Star Vacation Home you don’t have to leave the house to have fun.  Upstairs there is a full sized video game and a pool table so get ready to rack ’em up!  Need to do a little work, there’s even a comfortable desk plus each house has it’s own WiFi.
screening roomWant to watch your favorite shows or even a movie?  Not only is there a television in the living room area but there is a plush, comfortable media room for everyone to enjoy.  I just love how it was decorated with lots of classic movie posters.

COMFORTS OF HOME

kitchenOne of the things I love most about staying in a vacation home is having a full kitchen with all the comforts of home at my disposal.  It is gorgeous and they’ve really thought of everything.  I didn’t get to cook at much in the kitchen because we were kept pretty busy on our press trip but I did cook a few times and this kitchen really had me wishing that it was my kitchen at home!

comforts of home 2The kitchens at the All Star Vacation Homes are fully stocked with every appliance, utensil, cookware, and dishware you might possibly need. They’ve thought of everything- full size side by side refrigerator with ice maker and water in the door, gas stove, toaster, coffeemaker, blender, electric can opener, measuring cups, and so much more!  They even stock the house with dish soap, a roll of paper towel, and detergent for the dishwasher plus containers to save your leftovers!  Save money on dining out and cook some of your meals in your home away from home.

diningReady for breakfast or a midnight snack?  You can dine comfortably in the kitchen nook area.  Want a more formal dining experience?  Check out the beautiful dining room table that seats six.

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Don’t worry about bringing your entire closet with you on your trip.  Each house features a full size washer and dryer so you can do a quick load and have clean clothes.  Do a load before you leave and you won’t have to worry about doing mountains of laundry when you return from your vacation.  That is usually one of the things I hate about coming back from vacation.  It was so nice coming home and having all my laundry done for a change.

GREAT FOR FAMILIES

highchairMy girls are tweens now so we don’t travel with lots of gear anymore (thankfully!) but I was pleasantly surprised to find a high chair and a jumper for children as well as a childproof gate around the pool.  Those would have been such a blessing when my girls were younger.  While my family doesn’t need the baby gear, the All Star Vacation Homes are so family friendly for all types of families.  It would be so nice to stay in a house where I wouldn’t have to worry about my kids being too noisy, as they often are.

PRIVATE POOL AND HOT TUB

poolHate trying to find a towel or a lounge chair at a crowded hotel pool?  Don’t like swimming with that creepy old man watching you and your kids?  Or the rowdy teenagers on vacation from college?  That’s not a problem at an All Star Vacation Home.  Step right outside to your private pool with ample space for lounging around.  Feel like spending a relaxing day by the pool and in the hot tub?  There’s even a barbecue if you want to have a cookout.

With so many amazing comforts and amenities, once you stay at an All Star Vacation Home, you’ll never want to stay in a hotel again!







 

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10 Things I Learned From the Wilderness Explorers Program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom #MonkeyKingdomEvent

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20150416_091243 (1024x576)Wilderness Explorers is a FREE program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Participants go around from station to station earning badges as they go.  We had the opportunity to learn about the program first hand on our press trip for the Monkey Kingdom movie that is now open in theaters.

20150420_203946 (723x1024)First take the Wilderness Explorer’s Pledge and fill out your membership card.20150420_204046 (670x1024)

Learn the Wilderness Explorer’s Call

20150420_204013 (576x1024)Start Exploring!

Here are some things we learned:20150416_090046 (2) (1024x704)

  • The Wilderness Explorers Program has been around for 15 years but has grown in size from 6 stations to 31 badges to earn.
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  • The target audience for the Wilderness Explorers Program is families with kids from 7-10 years old but families with older or younger children will also enjoy it.  We participated in the program without children and had a blast collecting badges so even if you don’t have children with you, grab a Wilderness Explorer’s Handbook and earn some badges.
    Wilderness Explorer Program
  • The beauty of the Wilderness Explorers Program is that it DOES NOT involve technology.  It uses cast members who present information and engage participants as they explore the park going from station to station.
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  • Participants are given a Wilderness Explorer Handbook at one of 9 Troop Leader Stations.  They are located all over the park so you don’t have to be in the front of the park to get started.
  • Exploring is a life long adventure.  Most participants average about 12 badges a day and come back multiple times with their books to earn all the badges.
  • The Wilderness Explorers Program connects families to nature and each other.  It shows them parts of the park they might not have seen and gets parents involved in the learning, too.
  • There are 3 types of cast members who give out badges- Trooper Leaders (interns who are trained in education or science), Merchandise Cast Members (who share all about various authentic merchandise that is available in the park), and Cultural Cast Members (who share about their native countries).20150416_093425 (576x1024)
  • Troop Leaders and other representatives don’t just give out badges, they engage the participants, ask them questions about what they have learned, and teach them new things, too.
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  • Find cast members with orange satchels or look for signs with W/E on it to find badges to earn.
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  • When you earn all the badges you earn a special Senior Wilderness Explorer badge.

Build Your Own Backyard Habitat

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Learn About Animal NutritionP1240395

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P1240394Meet Rafiki and He Might Just Check Your Head For Bugs!

P1240396Meet Lots of Animals

20150416_101056 (576x1024)The Wilderness Explorers Program at Disney’s Animal Kingdom encourages families and children to experience the park in a whole new way! As Wilderness Explorers, Guests participate in a variety of activities, such as hiking the trails, digging for fossils, studying gorilla behaviors, listening to animal sounds, learning how veterinarians care for animals, and interacting with Cultural Cast Members representing different countries in Africa and Asia. Completing each activity allows you to earn a sticker badge in their very own Wilderness Explorers handbook, which can be picked up from any of the nine Troop Leader locations around the park. Explorers can earn up to 31 badges, but are encouraged to earn these badges in multiple visits, since exploring is a lifelong adventure! Completing all 31 badges gives guests the honorary title of Senior Wilderness Explorer. The program’s goal is to connect guests with animals, conservation and culture while spending time together as a family, during and even after their visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Don’t forget to take your family to see Monkey Kingdom!!!

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Disclosure- I was invited on an all expense paid trip to Orlando for the Monkey Kingdom Event.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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I’m Going to Orlando to Monkey Around With Disneynature

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Thank you for visiting Cori's Cozy Corner! Please make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our E-mails!

Disclosure- I will be going on an all expense paid trip to Orlando on behalf of Disney for the #MonkeyKingdomEvent.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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I am so excited to announce that I was selected as one of 25 bloggers to go to Orlando, FL from Tuesday, April 14th – Sunday, April 19th to screen MONKEY KINGDOM (opening in theaters on 4/17) and attend 3 full days at WALT DISNEY WORLD(!) celebrating all things Disneynature!   Below are just some of the awesome, exciting things we’ll be doing so make sure to follow along with these 3 hashtags-

#MonkeyKingdomEvent #AllStarVacationHomes and #DisneySideimage003 (4)

  • We will be screening Disneynature’s Monkey Kingdom which opens in theaters April 17th.

  • Going backstage at Disney’s ANIMAL KINGDOM to learn how Disney Cast Members tend to the 1,500-plus inhabitants who live thereimage007
  • Going on a Wilderness Exploration where we will jaunt across jungles, furrow into forests and make our way through the woods while we set out on a series of fact-finding challenges
  • Joining an Animal Specialist for a deliciously insightful, 4-course lunch at the restaurant Sanaa
  • Going on the Wild Africa Trek where we will go on a privately guided VIP expedition offering close encounters with exotic African wildlife in their native habitat.  We will roam with wild animals on this 3-hour safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. Wild Africa Trek offers guests the perfect opportunity to explore the Safi River Valley and discover animals of nearly every variety in an uninhibited, natural environment. We’ll see yawning hippos and hissing crocodiles just 10 feet below as we make your way across a shaky rope bridge, secured to an overhead track with a safety harness. EEEK!!!  We’ll ride in a rugged safari vehicle over an open savanna teeming with native African creatures—from towering giraffes to powerful rhinos.  OMG I CAN’T WAIT!image018
  • Dinner  at The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show
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  • Visit the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (Check out the pictures below.  It’s going to be beautiful!)image020

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  • Interview Disneynature Ambassador Dr. M Sanjayan10855061_10106354099784914_8740967046728785675_o
  • Free time to go on all our favorite rides at WALT DISNEY WORLD!

unnamedWhile we are in Orlando, we will be staying at four luxurious ALL STAR VACATION HOMES located only a few miles from WALT DISNEY WORLDAll Star Vacation Homes offers an expanding collection of vacation homes, town homes and condos with luxury amenities in Orlando and Sanibel & Captiva Islands, FL and San Diego, CA.

image009 (1) Here are some pictures from these vacation homes.  When my daughter saw the pictures of the home I will be staying in she asked me if it was for millionaires.  Luckily for all of us non-millionaires, we can stay in one of these vacation homes, too!  The one I am staying in has a home theater and a game room!  Plus a pool and hot tub that I will be spending our time off relaxing in.

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