Note: There seems to be TWO resorts with the name Bonnet Creek in Orlando (Lake Buena Vista).  There’s this one, the Hilton Bonnet Creek, and there is the Wyndham Bonnet Creek.  They have some similarities and both are very nice, but it is the Wyndham that I have personally stayed at and love.  I do not have any first hand knowledge of the Hilton Bonnet Creek Orlando resort, but I have to say, it looks awesome.  I’ve talked about Wyndham Bonnet Creek to some, because I love it there, and didn’t want to cause confusion.  Why there are two resorts with the same name and very similar amenities is beyond me. 

That said…

This is an awesome deal.  Book it.  Seriously.  Then go and enjoy.  Hook up the deeply discounted Florida resident Disney World annual passes (Weekday Select Pass) and plan a Disney vacation this year.  Or two.  Or three.  Just sayin’.  Those passes have lots of restrictions, but if you can go during the week when it is not summertime, you can save a lot over a typical ticket plan for several days or so. 

Here are the details on the resort and the deal:

Standard Room 414 sq. ft., King or 2 Queen bed(s) – regular room rate from $189, deal prices from $115 per night

Click HERE to book.

Minnie’s favorite place when she needs some space.

Sure. The Magic Kingdom is grand and fun and wonderful and all that. But where’s the 24,000-square-foot spa? Where’s the three-acre lazy river pool and the sprawling, state-of-the-art fitness center? Hilton’s Bonnet Creek specializes in grand-scale pleasure. By sharing amenities with the adjacent Waldorf Astoria Orlando, the property’s offerings are endless. Spread out across 482 acres of nature preserve, there are 12 dining and lounge options, a free-form lagoon pool and a world-class Rees Jones golf course. The 1,001 guest rooms offer sophistication and contemporary comforts and, of course, the 22 treatment rooms at the Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain® leave no need unattended. And when, at last, you’re worn out by the bounty of pleasures at the resort, complimentary transportation to Walt Disney World® is ready and waiting.

Pack your bags now if you love…

Variety. The combination of spectacular offerings at the hotel and the services provided by the adjacent Waldorf Astoria proved to be an embarrassment of riches for TripAdvisor travelers.

The Spellbinders

1. Every square inch of the Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain®
2. The Rees Jones-designed golf course
3. Precor® equipment at the fitness center
4. Lively laps in the lagoon pool

Some Reminders

1. The Kids Club is open to children between 5 and 12 years of age and open daily, 10:00AM to 9:00PM
2. Certain amenities, such as the spa and several dining options, are provided by the adjacent Waldorf Astoria

Ahh-menities

1. La Luce and 11 more restaurants and lounges
2. Located on 482-acre nature preserve
3. Rees Jones-designed championship golf course
4. Outdoor pool and 3-acre lazy river
5. Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain®
6. 4,000-square-foot fitness center
7. Complimentary Walt Disney World transportation
8. Kids’ programs
9. In-room dining
10. 24-hour concierge

Policies

1. Final price reflects room charges and taxes per room per night.
2. Children under 12 eat free from the kids’ breakfast and dinner menus at Harvest Bistro. Limit of 2 complimentary kids’ meals per adult entrée purchased.
3. Rates quoted are for up to 4 people.
4. Children up to 18 years stay at no charge in room accompanied by an adult using existing bedding.
5. This is a non-smoking property.
6. Pets are not allowed.
7. Self-parking costs $13 per night, while 24-hour valet parking is $20 per night.
8. In-room Wi-Fi access is available for $9.95 per day. Complimentary Internet access is available in the lobby.
9. Check-in: 3:00PM
10. Checkout: 11:00AM
11. There may be additional charges for some services and activities mentioned.  Additional fees will be incurred at the property directly.  Please contact the property for details.

 This booking is final and cannot be changed, refunded, exchanged, cancelled or transferred to another party

NOTE: THIS DEAL ENDS IN LESS THAN 7 DAYS FROM THIS POSTING.

Cocktails, dinner, dancing and dinosaurs!

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens presents the 16th Annual ExZOOberation 2011, Saturday, April 16, 2011, 6:30 – 11:30p.m. 

Guests will enjoy a delicious buffet dinner, live music by the Faze Band, silent and live auctions, and an outdoor stroll to see the Dinosaurs.

… was fantastic! 

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Fully Charged 

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena  
Jan. 20-23. 2011
Tickets starting at $15
Tickets available at Ticketmaster

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Fully Charged, the all-new, 141st electrifying edition of The Greatest Show On Earth!

Ringling Bros. powers up audiences with acts from all over the globe featuring breathtaking dare-devilry, superhuman stunts and never-seen-before performances that spark the imaginations of Children of All Ages!

Clowns from the world-famous clown ally charge the audiences’ funny bones, while megawatts of thrills explode out of the ring including The Human Fuse who rockets across the circus skies igniting the power of the people.

And of course, amazing animals that spark the audience’s awe and wonder.

Experience the current of excitement at Ringling Bros. Fully Charged!

Discount offer:

$5 off select performances with promo code MOM (valid for 1/21 at 3:30pm and 7:30pm, 1/22 at 7:30pm and 1/23 at 5pm). To redeem this savings click here or print out this coupon and bring the offer to the box office.

We had a great time on opening night at the circus.  And by we, I am including our {almost} 3 month old.  I guess it was the music, the lights, and the motion; but he sat in our arms and watched. And watched.  And watched.  Shortly into the second half, the excitement did him in and off to dreamland he went.  I was seriously surprised his first circus went so great.  Absolutely a mention for the baby book! 

There was a little different take from my four year old though.  Although he laughed and laughed at the silliness of the clowns, et al, the majority of the performance was a tad too loud for his liking and I think turned him off performances he would have otherwise enjoyed.  He did like the two appearances by the elephants (I wish they were included more in the show), but didn’t seem too crazy about the tigers.  Again, I think it was the volume that was the biggest damper for him and although it was pretty loud, he has quite a decided preference when it comes to volume.

My husband, mother-in-law and I – rounding out the kids of all ages in our party! – each enjoyed it.  It was a great family night out.

Be warned if you are heading out there – concessions and novelties are not priced for the faint of heart.  Cotton Candy (which does come with a hat) runs $12, drinks are $4, popcorn $7, and the light up toys are $20.  Other concessions and novelties are also available at various prices.  Eat before you go, but bring a little extra cash if you plan to indulge in a little treat… or two. 

Cost of attendance to the circus for our family was provided by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Cross posted on Jacksonville Family Guide.

Orange Park Hot Deal For Kids:

Jump Zone!

Click HERE to grab this deal.
Aprrox 21 hours remaining as of this posting.

There’ll be no more kiddies jumping on beds once they get a taste of all the hip-hoppin’ action going (up and) down at Jump!Zone of Orange Park. With today’s deal, drop just $5 and land one admission, plus a 21-ounce slushy, and a slice of pizza or a corndog for your jumpin’ Jacks and Jills. They’ll love bouncing among the eight giant inflatables, including the Batman Challenge, SpongeBob’s Play House, and the 34-foot Happy Gator. Even your wee ones (ages one and two) can join in the fun at the toddler town. So go ahead, jump on this deal before it deflates.

HOT JACKSONVILLE DEAL:

$99 SPA PACKAGE!

 Click HERE for full details & to purchase!

13 Hours remaining on deal as of this post!!

 Autumn might be the seasonal end of the year, but it’s also a time for new beginnings. Cast-off those extra inches and (dead) skin cells of yore with today’s deal from Total Body Aesthetics. Drop $99 (regularly $220) — and up to 14 inches from your body — with the M’Lis herbal contour body wrap, which helps increase circulation and hydrate your body. Then, put your best face forward with the Synergie Microdermabrasion treatment: It’s three times stronger (and less irritating) than a 30% glycolic peel, leaving your face smooth and spry just in time for fall. So snag this deal in a hurry, before it’s Gone ’til November.

1 Hr Horseback Riding Lesson $20

CLick HERE to get this deal!
10 1/2 hrs remaining for this daily deal as of this posting!

Cowboy hat? Check. Spurs? Check. Voucher for 60% off a riding lesson at Haven Horse Ranch? Check. Saddle up with today’s $20 deal and ride into the sunset with a one-hour horseback riding lesson at this 20-year-old ranch. Good for both kids and adults, this lesson teaches riders the basics (or, for seasoned riders, the finer points) of Western horseback riding, horsemanship, horse training, and general equine care. The recent recipient of a Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation grant, this 26-acre ranch provides horse therapy for more than 500 people with special needs. Whether you’re looking to engage a youngster in a productive activity, or you’ve got cowboy fever on a free afternoon, Haven Horse Ranch is hot to trot. Giddy up!

Jacksonville HOT Deal:

3 Hours Green Cleaning Maid Service $50

Two days left to purchase this hot deal as of this posting!

Click HERE for this deal.

You want to keep the environment green, but you also need to keep your house clean and save on that other kind of green. With all the chemicals in conventional cleaners, though, it’s hard to reconcile what you want with what you need. But it doesn’t have to be. When The Green Cleaning Pros show up at your door, you can rest assured they’ll leave your home spic and span — and the globe as green as Peter Pan. Today’s deal is three hours of eco-friendly home cleaning from this socially conscious maid service for $50 (regularly $105). Their green cleaning products will improve your indoor air quality, decrease your air and water pollution, and free your wallet. With all due respect to Kermit the Frog, it actually is easy being green.

I have been doing a little thinking about doing pin trading on our Walt Disney World vacation next year.  The little guy will be four or five when we visit Walt Disney World, depending on when we schedule our trip(s) and I am curious if it is something he would get into.  I have heard you can get pins to get you started pretty reasonable on eBay.  They aren’t the more desirable pins, but the idea is to trade them, right?  SO it doesn’t really matter what you start with.  Most cast members wear lanyards full of pins for trading.  There are certain restrictions or rules - mainly you have to trade a pin that the cast member does not currently have on their lanyard and you have to have approved Disney pins. There are certain Disney family (ABC, ESPN, etc) company pins that are also acceptable for trading. I’ll have to do a little research before we head to Walt Disney World.  I am just wondering if I will end up the one doing the trading instead of the kidlet!

Beyond the pins, there’s the lanyard to consider to hold all the pins for trading and collecting.  There’s a wide variety out there sure to please any kid and make the pin trading more fun.  I’m not sure that they would work for pin trading, but I’ve also seen some pretty beaded lanyards that I wouldn’t mind sporting (if you have an id badge for work, it may work for you).  The flat ribbon type lanyards would probably work best for pin trading. 

The number of pins for trading out there seem almost limitless.  Different parks (and areas within the parks!), resorts, even the cruise line have specialty pins that differe from each other. Think of the number of characters there are – many of othse have numerous pins each.  Special event pins, pins available only to cast members (until traded), and limited collections, oh my!  I’m pretty excited about the possibilities – I just hope it is something the little guy will enjoy as well. 

Disclaimer: Sponsored link included in this post, however all opinions are 100% those of Florida Fun Reviews.

The little guy is getting older – he is turning four this month – and he is getting a little curious about the world of camping.  There are a plethora of places to go camping in Florida, as I’m sure there are in most any state.  We were in a store the other day that happened to sell a good bit of camping gear – campfire cooking supplies, lanterns, camping tents, etc – and his little curiosity radar went up. 

Honestly? My idea of camping would be a decked out Recreational Vehicle, not a tent. Just stepping outside my front door at home, I’m greeted by brid sized {almost!} mosquitoes.  I don’t have much desire to go looking for them on some idea of a vacation.  Since we don’t actually own an R.V. (of any kind, much less a fully decked out one!) and since the little guy is getting less little everyday, I am sure it is only a matter of time before I’m dragged out into the wild and treated to a lovely camping experience.  

In the meantime, possibly when it gets a little cooler (though that could be November!), Daddy and son may try a little camping trip in the wonders of the backyard. And by backyard, I mean immediate backyard. Later they may graduate to a more wooded area of the backyard.  That way I can be close if needed, but still enjoy all my comforts of home!  Baby is due in November, so it may be a good idea to start planning little adventures for the big brother since Mommy will be so preoccupied during those early weeks. 

If you are feeling even slightly more brave than I, check out Camp Florida and pick a spot to pitch your tent!

Disclaimer: Sponsored link included in this post, however all opinions are 100% those of Florida Fun Reviews.

Walt Disney World had a pretty awesome deal for Florida residents earlier this year – 4 days / 4 parks for $99 TOTAL per person. That’s only $24.25 per park/day!  They also had special Florida resident lodging rates for some of those dates.  Unfortunately, that deal expired last month.  I was excited about taking advantage of it for our family, but circumstances (“morning” sickness, weakness) made me unable to go and post-poned our family’s Walt Disney World vacation for 2010.

I then set my sights on a 2011 Disney vacation.  I was browsing Disney’s website and checking out ticket packages, etc and came across another excellent deal for Florida residents, albeit with a lot of restrictions. Ah, but all of the date restrictions matched perfectly with the dates we would NOT want to go to Disney, anyway.  Our schedule is very flexible, our son is not in school, and we tend to avoid Walt Disney World when it is likely to be most crowded.  For about $500, we can buy annual passes for two adult and one child! We will have a new baby by then, but babies and toddlers are free, so just three tickets will cover our family.

Granted, not everyone lives in Florida {that’s a good thing or we’d be reeeealllly crowded!} or has such a flexible schedule. I guess that makes us a little on the lucky side.  Then there’s lodging and other possible vacation needs. Most Disney World Packages include park tickets, lodging, and a meal plan.  I will probably be piecing together our own package {there’s an on-the-very-edge-of-but-technically-off-property resort that we love to stay at – hello lazy river!} but between now and the end of the year I will be exploring options. I would like to try for a full week vacation at Disney as well as random one – two day jaunts during 2011.  For the one – two day trips, we may stay on the property at Disney World.

Disclaimer: Sponsored link included in this post, however all opinions are 100% those of Florida Fun Reviews.