Kissimmee | MomStart

Wild Florida – A Great Theme Park Break for Your Kissimmee Vacation

February 18, 2013 By Momstart 2 Comments

Wild Florida – A Great Theme Park Break for Your Kissimmee Vacation

By: Ashley

After a few days of being surrounded by people and shuffling through lines, you might be ready for a break from the theme parks in Orlando. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE theme parks and thrill rides. I’m also a huge fan of seeing the wild side of things which is exactly what Wild Florida is all about.

Wild Florida is an wildlife park where you can experience amazing air boat rides through the head waters of the Everglades. Wild Florida was actually my first air boat ride, and I absolutely LOVED it! An air boat gives you the chance to put yourself out in the middle of the Florida swamp land. There is no better way to see the wild side of Florida than from the seat of a boat in the middle of the swamp! What does it look like when you’re riding on an air boat? I was able to grab a little video so I could share it with you! (It’s definitely a little loud, so you might want to adjust your volume.) Keep in mind, it’s some buzzing around in the boat and then stops along the way when your guide spots some cool wildlife!

In addition to AMAZING air boat tours through gorgeous Florida wildlife, Wild Florida has a great wildlife park: home for exotic animals, birds, and tortoises. I was extremely impressed with the clean and friendly feel of the wildlife park. All of the animals seemed loved and well cared for. I even saw an animal that was new to me! Have you ever heard of a Zonkey? You also have to make sure you check out some of the young alligators that you can even hold!

Once you have seen the animals, you can take a walk through the “Hawk Swamp.” This platform walk through the wetlands lets you have an up close look at life in the Everglades. I actually learned about “cypress knees.” Cypress knees are the unusual root system growth that occurs with Cypress trees growing in the swamps. Some think this is a way for the tree roots to gain extra oxygen since they are usually submerged in water. Others think this is more of a structure for support and stabilization. Either way, it just goes to show that there is so much for anyone to learn from our friends at Wild Florida.

As if the day at Wild Florida wasn’t exciting enough, they were able to cap off the day with a delicious meal. Sometimes you worry that at parks the food won’t really seem very fresh. With great meat options, my rib lunch was delicious!

If you’re going to be in the Orlando area, I strongly encourage you to check out Wild Florida. It is a place I would love to go back to with my family.

Experience Kissimmee brought me to Florida to experience Kissimmee in person. All opinions are my own, and no compensation was received.

About Ashley – Ashley is a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and former teacher working to navigate through the mysterious world of Mommyia. Read more about her adventures at Momicles and follow her@Momicles2010.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: Kissimmee, Theme Park, travel, vacation, Wild Florida, wildlife

A Visit To Forever Florida Eco Safari Through Photos

February 15, 2013 By Momstart 2 Comments

Forever Florida – Through Photos

You’ve seen us zipline here, you’ve seen us ride the zip line roller coaster, and now Ashley has taken the safari. Here is a post about her experience at Forever Florida.

By: Ashley

I was a little nervous about traveling to Kissimmee pregnant. Not because I had any pregnancy concerns, but more because I knew I would miss out on some of the more adventurous things. You might remember Louise posting about her own experience at Forever Florida. She was able to take on their zip line adrenaline rushes like a champ! I wasn’t sure what experience would be waiting for me when we visited Forever Florida.

As soon as you enter the Forever Florida refuge, you can’t help but feel a little calmer and a little more peaceful. While it’s true that they have one of the most impressive zip line experiences, their wildlife safari is the complete opposite – a relaxing and awe-inspiring ride through some gorgeous Florida wildlife. At first I was a little disappointed to miss out on the zip line course, but after taking the safari, I realize I didn’t miss out on anything at all! Instead, I had a great experience with a fantastic guide and learned SO MUCH about Florida! Here is a little peek at what you can see on the Forever Florida Safari.

The lovely Leslie, my guide through Forever Florida.

Some of the wild boar that can be found in Florida.

Can you spot the deer?

I spy with my little eye, an alligator! Can you see him?

There he is!

It was FACINSATING to learn about the “cracker horses” and “cracker cows” of Florida.

Forever Florida left me saying one thing, “WOW!” Apparently this cow feels the same way!

Experience Kissimmee brought me to Florida to experience Kissimmee in person. All opinions are my own, and no compensation was received.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: eco safari, Forever Florida, Kissimmee, travel

Where to Stay In Kissimmee: Westgate Vacation Villas

February 14, 2013 By Momstart 2 Comments

Westgate Vacation Villas – A Home Away from Home While in Kissimmee

By: Ashley

Are you planning a trip to Kissimmee or the Orlando area? Do you need a place to stay that can accommodate your whole family? Have you entered the Decade of Memories Contest and want to know where you could stay? I had the chance to stay at the Westgate Resorts Vacation Villas recently and I can definitely see how the location and amenities make it a great accommodation option for anyone traveling to Kissimmee.

The number one selling point to me on any family accommodations is the actual living space. The extra amenities are wonderful, but usually when you are planning a vacation, you need your sleeping and eating space to be just right. Especially when traveling with kids, sleeping arrangements can always be tricky, and having to eat out every meal can be extremely expensive. The kitchenette in the Westgate Villas is the perfect option to help keep meals healthier and more affordable. I wanted to make sure you knew what the room was like, so here is a video!

After staying with Westgate Resorts, I am also impressed by their list of special amenities. I was trying to figure out a way to summarize them, but the list is so long! Some on site dining options, shuttles to theme parks, complimentary parking, and they are even pet friendly! During my stay, I had a few trips to Drafts Sports Bar and Grill, one of the on-site restaurants. I was impressed with the fresh taste and quality of the ingredients for the dinner menu. They also offer a very affordable breakfast buffet (only about $6 a person).

Here was dinner from Drafts (chicken quesadilla, club sandwich):

What else does Westgate have to offer?

- Fourteen Outdoor Heated Pools

- Fourteen Hot Tubs

- Playground

- Game Room

- Fitness Center

- Lakeside Marina and Dock

- Disney Movie Theater

- 24 Hour Front Desk and Security

- Complimentary Shuttle Service to Area Restaurants

Experience Kissimmee brought me to Florida to experience Kissimmee in person. All opinions are my own, and no compensation was received.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: Florida, hotel, Kissimmee, review, travel, Westgate Vacation Villas

The Gator Capital of America and Florida Family Fun Stop: Gatorland #Kiss10

February 13, 2013 By Momstart 2 Comments

Gatorland – The Gator Capital of America and Family Fun Stop in Orlando #Kiss10

By: Ashley

Gatorland, also known as the gator capital of America, is an amazing wildlife park in Orlando, Florida. You can find alligators, crocodiles, majestic white alligators, snakes, and a breathtaking array of birds. What’s even more amazing is the sense of family you can’t help but feel as you stroll through the park.

If you’re planning a trip to Orlando or anywhere in the Kissimmee area, one of the big questions you might have is “Should I go to Gatorland?” I can honestly say I would take my family there. Admission to Gatorland is about $25.00 for adults and $17 for kids 3 and up (Florida residents are eligible for a discount). With the number of attractions, shows, and exhibits in the park, you could easily spend the entire day outside with your family at a reasonable price.

If you’re now wondering what there is to do in Gatorland, let me help you out! Gatorland is home to thousands of alligators and crocodiles, an aviary, a boardwalk through a breathtaking marsh area, a petting zoo, a kids splash zone, and amazing one-of-a-kind reptilian shows. All of this is included with regular park admission.

If you’re interested in adding even more to your gator adventure, Gatorland has a ton of add on special packages. They’ve even added on a Screamin’ Gator Zip Line which takes you over seven stories high with an amazing view above the trees.

As is the case with pretty much any attraction that features live animals, you may wonder what kind of care the animals receive. At Gatorland, many of the animals are actually rescued. Chester the alligator was actually rescued after he got kicked out of his home because he was eating too many dogs! Gatorland has also adopted animals rescued from animal hoarders like several Pythons found in the park. Even the white leucistic alligators wouldn’t be able to survive in the wild. While not all of the animals in Gatorland are rescues, the family feel that is around every corner leaves me thinking they’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. The staff at Gatorland obviously cares about each other, loves wildlife, and wants to share their joy with you.

Gatorland is actually one of the oldest, continually running attractions in Central Florida establish in 1949. The iconic jaws in front of the main entrance were at one time the official entrance into the park. After surviving a massive fire, the gator jaws are still there ready for photo ops, and a great landmark letting you know exactly where you are – Gatorland!

Experience Kissimmee brought me to Florida to experience Kissimmee in person. All opinions are my own, and no compensation was received.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: Florida, gator capital, Gatorland, Kissimmee, Orlando, travel

Experience Kissimmee Yourself with a Decade of Memories #Kiss10 @VisitKissimmee – #Contest

February 7, 2013 By Momstart 1 Comment

Experience Kissimmee Yourself with a Decade of Memories #Kiss10 @VisitKissimmee – #Contest

By: Ashley

How would you like to win a trip to Kissimmee, Florida? That’s a trip including airfare, accommodations, and a rental car. How would you like be able to bring along your entire family (up to 5 additional people)? If you think that sounds like a great prize, just wait until you hear the rest. Experience Kissimmee is giving away an entire Decade of Memories with Kissimmee Vacations. By entering their Decade of Memories contest, you could win one trip a year to Kissimmee, Florida for ten years! That’s an entire decade of fun, adventure filled, sunny Florida memories for you and your family!

After getting to spend some time in Kissimmee, I have seen firsthand that there is NO WAY you can do everything you want to do in a single trip. I’m not even sure you can really squeeze it into ten years, but it’s worth a shot!

When you hear Kissimmee, you might automatically think Disney, but the truthfully there is SO much more to do! Kissimmee is home to airboat excursions, zipline adventures, wonderful wildlife, gorgeous golfing, premier shopping, dining, and entertainment! Do you think you could spend a little time over the next ten years in Kissimmee? I do!

So how do you enter the Decade of Memories contest?

1. Submit a story telling how you would spend your time during your Decade of Memories in Kissimmee by February 28, 2013.

2. If you’re selected as one of 25 finalists, make a short video that brings your story to life.

3. The public votes on the winner using the Experience Kissimmee Facebook page. (A great page to check out anyway if you’re planning a trip of your own!)

4. WIN the Grand Prize of ten years worth of Kissimmee vacations!

So what exactly is included in this grand prize package?

- 10 trips for the winner (and 5 guests per trip) to visit Kissimmee, Florida for 7 days, 6 nights.

- Roundtrip, economy class airfare.

- Accommodations at Westgate Resorts.

- A rental car during your stay.

- PLUS $25,000 cash!

*Make sure you checkout Decade of Memories for official rules, entry information and more.

So, what are you waiting for? Go get busy writing so you can enter to win this amazing vacation package! Time is ticking and you’ve only got until February 28!

Experience Kissimmee brought me to Florida to experience Kissimmee in person. All opinions are my own, and no compensation was received.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: contest, decade of memories, experience kissimmee, Florida, Kissimmee, travel

5 Ways to Experience Kissimmee Without Going to Disney #Kiss10

February 6, 2013 By Momstart 6 Comments

5 Ways to Experience Kissimmee Without Going to Disney

By: Ashley

We all know that Disney is a magical place, but Kissimmee is home to so many amazing activities and adventures! You could plan a weeklong vacation to Kissimmee full of fun and adventure without even going to Disney. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Disney (Who doesn’t?!?), but sometimes families need to know what else there is in Orlando.

1. Wild Florida – This place is full of Florida wildlife from the second you step onto the grounds. A petting zoo, airboat rides, and of course alligators can keep your family busy for hours!

2. Forever Florida – If you want to see some untouched, natural Florida scenery, but aren’t feeling the boat riding bug, Forever Florida is a great stop. This eco-ranch of 4700 acres offers a ton of adventures including horseback tours, safari rides, and amazing zipline tours.

3. Arabian Nights – This family owned and operated dinner entertainment show features gorgeous horses and a patriotic story. Enjoy a meal while watching a theatrical show unfold before your eyes.

4. Gatorland – It’s impossible to feature Florida wildlife without alligators and Gatorland is the alligator hot spot. Gator shows, gator rescues, gator babies, mysterious white gators, and more can be found at this great Orlando attraction where you could easily spend a day.

5. Premium Outlets Orlando – Once you’ve seen the wild side of Kissimmee, you can take a day to hit this shopper’s paradise. Upscale stores like Coach, and kid friendly stops like Stride Rite make this a great shopping destination for all.

So there you have it – 5 ways to spend a day in Orlando without going to Disney. I have to admit that not all of these places are officially in Orlando or Kissimmee, but they’re all very close. They also all have great online resources to help you plan your family’s visit. Don’t forget to check out our own Kissimmee experiences here on MomStart to help you plan your trip.

Experience Kissimmee brought me to Florida to experience Kissimmee in person. All opinions are my own, and no compensation was received.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: Arabian Nights, Forever Florida, Gatorland, Kissimmee, premium Outlests Orlando, Wild Florida

Arabian Nights in Kissimmee, FL: A Heartwarming, Patriotic Horseshow @ArabianNightsFL #Kiss10

February 5, 2013 By Momstart 1 Comment

Arabian Nights in Kissimmee, FL – A Heartwarming, Patriotic Horseshow (@ArabianNightsFL)

By: Ashley

Arabian Nights is a dinner show where horses are the stars of the show. In the current production, an all American girl celebrates her 21^st birthday, only to discover she is actually Princess Scheherazade in need of a prince! A magical genie enters the story to help her travel the world to find her true love – a prince who loves horses as much as she does.

I would best describe the show as good, old fashioned, family fun. There are plenty of one-liners to make you chuckle, music to make you move and even sing along, and a storyline that is safe for young children. The horse trainers are extremely talented and will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat during some of their heart stopping stunts. Have you ever seen a man jump through fire?

The menu at Arabian Nights is pretty limited. Honestly, I don’t think people come here for the food though. There are enough options that anyone should be able to have a good meal, but the show is really what Arabian Nights is all about.

The family at Arabian Nights takes great pride in the care of their horses. That was a big question I had, so you might be wondering the same thing. The horses are exercised and/or turned out to play every day and their stalls are cleaned 3 times a day. The horses are mostly voice trained and never touched with a whip.

If you’re planning to visit Arabian Nights, you should know that the fun can start even before you take your seat. The doors open about an hour and 45 minutes before the start of the show. You can shop in the gift shop, enjoy an appetizer buffet (when I went it was tortilla chips and salsa – tasty!), and even visit the cash bar. There are also Henna Tattoos and caricatures. I was a little disappointed that I missed the belly dancer though. I did see her in costume and would have LOVED to see her dance!

Arabian Nights has several different add on options. Everything from stable tours, to drink packages, and even a performer for a day option! The group I was with actually had the VIP Experience which included a stable tour and special preferred seating.

This can be a pretty pricey night, so I would definitely make sure it’s a special occasion and something that your family really wants to do. General admission tickets with the online 25% discount are about $50 each. You do need to remember though, that you do get dinner included with the price of your ticket.

A heartwarming, patriotic show starring gorgeous horses – THAT is what Arabian Nights is all about.

Experience Kissimmee brought me to Florida to experience Kissimmee in person. All opinions are my own, and no compensation was received.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: Arabian Nights, Dinner show, Florida, Kissimmee, travel

Florida’s 500 Years of Adventure: 50 Different Vacation Packages Giveaway #Kiss10

February 1, 2013 By Momstart 2 Comments

If you’re following the hashtag #kiss10 on twitter then you’ll know Ashley is in Kissimmee Florida right now representing MomStart. I’ve been to Kissimmee twice last year and I loved it. There is so much to do in Kissimmee and the surrounding areas. You have Disney, Gatorland, Forever Florida and Boggy Creek Airboat rides, and that’s just to name a few of the adventures. I experienced plenty of firsts and I expect the same for Ashley. I also can’t wait until I have the opportunity to go back with my two adorable children. They are going to love it there as will you.

This year marks Florida’s 500^th anniversary of when Ponce de Leon discovered the Sunshine State. In celebration of this milestone, VISIT FLORIDA is making it easier for adventurous families to explore Florida.

Starting this month, prospective travelers have chances to win 50 different vacations to Florida – adventures that evoke the state’s heritage of discovery and exploration. “Florida’s 500 Years of Adventure” sweepstakes gives away 50 vacation prize packages, one per week through Dec. 29, 2013. Enter at win.VISITFLORIDA.com. Participants may enter every day for chances to win. Prize packages will include trips to destinations around the state where travelers can participate in everything from manatee snorkel tours in the Crystal River to rounds of golf at the Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in Orlando.

In addition, throughout the month of March, the third-largest ship in the world, the Juan Sebastian Elcano, will dock in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Cape Canaveral. This sail training ship of the Royal Spanish Navy will then travel to St. Augustine in April for the opening of a two-acre living history museum, The Colonial Quarter. This permanent addition to the St. Augustine visitor experience will provide historically accurate portrayals of the initial arrival of European culture on Florida’s shores with exhibits, shows, hands-on interactive activities, taverns, restaurants and more.

Check out the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Filed Under: personal, travel Tagged With: Florida, giveaway, Kiss10, Kissimmee, sweepstakes, travel

Photography: Kissimmee Sea World Sting Rays

May 3, 2012 By Momstart 15 Comments

This photo was taken by Global Resort Homes a great home rental place to stay while on vacation in Kissimmee at Sea World. If you want to see more photos like this one follow Global Resort Homes on Facebook. You can also follow Kissimmee CVB on Facebook or just book a stay and see for yourself.