Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Holiday Activities

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Creates Holiday Memories

With A Lineup Of Family Activities

 Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Guests visiting Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek over the holidays can spend time with the family without the fuss associated with being home for the holidays! The resort has an entire schedule of special activities and festive meals, punctuated by glittering décor and the tinge of tinsel. Holiday rates start at $109 per night through December 24, 2013.

In Orlando, there are memorable experiences for families around every corner, including holiday decoration in most of the theme parks, and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom®. If shopping is on your agenda, the resort is only a few miles from Mall at Millennia, featuring Orlando’s largest collection of upscale shops and department stores.

 

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

The Harvest Classic (Thursday, November 28) – This annual golf classic at Waldorf Astoria® Golf Club is a great way to work up an appetite and spend the Thanksgiving holiday before joining the family for a feast. Guest can enjoy 18-holes for $75. Nike® Rental clubs included. For tee times, please call the Golf Club at 407.597.3780. (Weather permitting.)

Thanksgiving Family Golf Clinic (Saturday, November 30, 10 to 11 a.m.) – The holiday family clinic is a great place to improve your strokes. Tee off with the family, participate in a putting contest and participate in the small group golf instruction from the Waldorf Astoria Golf

Club PGA golf staff. Nike® golf clubs provided if needed. Beginner to moderate-based instruction –$25 per person. To reserve a spot, please call the Golf Club at 407.597.3780. (Weather permitting.)

Thanksgiving Weekend Fireworks Show (Saturday, November 30, 9:30 p.m.) – Bonnet Creek Resort continues the celebration with a private fireworks show for resort guests. (Weather permitting.)

 

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES

Starting December 6 through December 29

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek 

A Holiday Family Experience with Santa (December 6 & 7, 13 & 14, 22-24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.) – Set against a one-of-a-kind backdrop, families can capture a holiday moment with the “Big Guy” surrounded by snow in his sleigh filled with toys and a progressive gingerbread wall. Guests will have the opportunity to help Santa and his elves decorate gingerbread bricks to help build the wall. Donation of $5 per gingerbread brick will benefit Give Kids the World.

A Warm Holiday Welcome with Hot Cocoa (December 6-25, Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m.) – After check-in, a warm treat is a great way to welcome guests to their home away from home during the holidays.

Dive-In Movies (Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m.) – Guests of all ages will pull up a chair around the pool and watch a “holiday-themed” movie on the resorts giant inflatable screen. (Weather permitting.)

Celebrating Christmas, Florida-Style! (Daily, 12:30 – 7 p.m.) – The resort’s recreation staff has a number of cool holiday fun activities for the entire family, poolside! (Weather permitting.)

Seasonal Cocktails (Daily)’Tis the season for some adult fun with holiday cocktails at the resort’s many lounges and bars.

Twilight Golf (Daily, after 2 p.m.) –Guests can take advantage of the Waldorf Astoria® Golf Club Twilight Package and enjoy 18-holes after 2 p.m. at a special rate. Nike® Rental clubs included. (Weather permitting.)

A New You For the Holidays (Daily) – The Waldorf Astoria® Spa is the perfect place to celebrate the holidays. Guests looking for a special hairstyle before a big night out, a manicure with some added sparkle, or just a moment of Zen to reflect on auld acquaintances will find the resorts spa a haven for pampering.

Sweet Treats at MUSE (Daily, available 24 hours) – MUSE lobby sweet shop is the perfect and most delicious way to curb a holiday sweet tooth with, fresh-baked seasonal pastries, creamy ice cream and delightful treats.

Family Golf Clinic (Thursday, December 26, 10 -11 a.m.) – The holiday family clinic is a great place to improve your strokes. Tee off with the family, participate in a putting contest and participate in the small group golf enthusiasts will enjoy small group golf instruction from the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club PGA golf staff. Nike® golf clubs provided if needed. Beginner to moderate-based instruction. There will even be a putting contest, $25 per person. To reserve a spot, please call the Golf Club at407.597.3780. (Weather permitting.)

Lobby Delights (Daily, December 26-January 1, 6 to 7p.m.) – After check-in, guests can enjoy a sampling of holiday spirits for both adults and kids.

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR A Prelude to the Countdown Fireworks Show (Saturday, December 28, 9:30 p.m.) – Bonnet Creek Resort begins the celebration a few nights early – a prelude to the countdown – with a private fireworks show for resort guests. (Weather permitting.) Zeta

Bar “Bubble Lounge” (Tuesday, December 31, 5 p.m. to close) – For New Year’s Eve, Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge will be transformed into the “Bubble Lounge,” featuring a DJ until 1 a.m., a selection of champagnes and a live screening of the ball drop on 10 large-screen televisions. No charge; no reservations required.

 

Christmas events are available to all guests of Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando. Fees may apply to select activities. Event schedule subject to change without notice. Holiday rates start at $109 per night through December 24, 2013. For reservations, call 407-597-3600, or visitwww.hiltonbonnetcreek.com/holiday. For those wanting to give a special and flexible holiday gift, the hotel offers Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Gift Cards. Visit www.hiltonbonnetcreek.com/giftcard.

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About Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek offers the best of both worlds: a convenient “insider” location surrounded by Walt Disney World® Resort and the peaceful serenity of the surrounding 482-acre nature preserve. Resort amenities include elegantly appointed rooms and suites with family-friendly amenities, a three-acre lazy-river pool, a Rees Jones-designed championship golf course, a luxe spa, full fitness center, and nearly a dozen dining and lounge options, including the award-winning La Luce by Donna Scala.

About Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Founded in 1919 as the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to build upon its legacy of innovation by developing products and services to meet the needs of savvy global travelers at more than 550 hotels across six continents. Hilton is the stylish, forward-thinking global leader in hospitality with Team Members shaping experiences in which every guest feels cared for, valued and respected. Access the latest news at news.hilton.com and begin your journey atwww.hilton.com or www.hilton.com/offers for the latest hotel specials. View a list of official social channels at www.hilton.com/social. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of Hilton Worldwide’s ten market leading brands.

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Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Returns

Christmas Town

CELEBRATE A FAMILY TRADITION WITH CHRISTMAS TOWN, ONLY AT BUSCH GARDENS

 

More Snow, More Event Nights and More Than a Million Lights Create the Bay Area’s Biggest Christmas Celebration Ever


Tampa, Fla. (Nov. 13, 2013) – `Tis the season for family traditions! Last year, Busch Gardens® Tampa launched the biggest Christmas celebration ever, and this year, Christmas Town has even more jolly times in store! This year, Christmas Town has more snow, even more event nights and more than a million twinkling lights! Christmas Town transforms the park into a nighttime holiday wonderland of wintery surprises and all things Christmas, filling guests’ senses with seasonal sights, sounds and flavors, and continuing a beautiful tradition for Tampa’s families. What’s even better than that? A portion of the proceeds from Christmas Town will benefit All Children’s Hospital here in the Bay area.

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This year’s event has added even more nights to experience all-new evening attractions, shows and shopping. Christmas Town is open 18 select nights from 6 to 11 p.m., Nov. 29 through Dec. 23.

NEW THIS YEAR! Enjoy unlimited admission to all 18 nights of Christmas Town with the Christmas Town Unlimited ticket for just $89 plus tax for adults and $29 plus tax for children.

NEW THIS YEAR! This year’s event also introduces Discovery Dollars, a new cashless wristband that can be preloaded with cash or linked to a credit card. Dollars can be used at merchandise and dining locations around Christmas Town to make your family’s night even merrier!  Guests who set up accounts with cash can visit Guest Relations upon their exit to have unspent money returned. Unclaimed monies will be donated to SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

And while Christmas Town brings exclusive Yuletide experiences, guests will also have the opportunity to ride some of Busch Gardens’ most popular roller coasters, including Cheetah Hunt, SheiKra and Gwazi.  The special event includes attractions exclusive to the nighttime experience:

This year, SnowWorld® Presented by Coca-Cola® brings real snow back to Florida! This guest favorite is bigger than ever for even more snow-filled fun! Slide down eight new slides, make a snowman, play in the soft white snow or pack the perfect snow balls to test your aim in the target practice area.

All aboard the Christmas Town Express for the biggest Christmas carol sing-a-long on wheels. Friends and family are invited join in singing traditional songs of the season like “Jingle Bells,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” while circling the Serengeti on a beautifully lit vintage-style steam locomotive.

 

The Claus family invites you into their North Pole home at Welcome to Santa’s House. While the elves are busy preparing for Christmas, Mrs. Claus is in the kitchen baking holiday treats, but even Santa himself will take a break from his busy holiday schedule to meet and take photos with families in his private study.

Straight from the South Pole, the Christmas Town penguins have brought a bit of ice and snow all the way to Florida! Come chill with these dapper little creatures and marvel at their underwater antics at the newly expanded Penguin Point, complete with a giant penguin photo opportunity in the Nairobi area.

Even Busch Gardens’ most familiar fans will barely recognize the portions of the park that convert to Christmas Town through special entertainment, live music, festive treats, holiday shopping and more than one million twinkling Christmas lights:

NEW! Enjoy a trip back in time to celebrate Christmas in the good ‘ole days in Holiday Hills. In this nostalgic town, a live brass band sets the mood for seasonal fun with everyone’s favorite Christmas tunes while Mrs. Claus cooks up delicious holiday fare for the whole family at Mrs. Claus’s Family Feast.

NEW! Journey into Jungala to see a nature-inspired Christmas, including a new tree light show in Christmas Time Terrace. A larger-than-life Christmas tree comes alive every fifteen minutes with spectacular dancing lights. The breathtaking light show on this 40-foot tree is the perfect place for this year’s family photo.

NEW! Sneak a kiss with your sweetheart in the beautiful garden walkway of Mistletoe Memories. Here, romantic topiaries, flowers and sparkling white twinkle lights fill the trees overhead and set the scene for sweet moments with loved ones and beautiful photos worth cherishing.

Celebration Village brings together the rich, warm colors of Christmas and heartfelt voices lifted in song to welcome guests as they enter Christmas Town. Draped in jewel-tone ornaments and glowing lights, the Moroccan Village comes alive with local choirs in the Marrakesh Theater and shops full of holiday gifts.

Family and friends will cozy up to brave the chill in the air along Ice Wonder Way. The frozen pathway sparkles and shimmers in the night as brilliant white garland wraps the front of the Moroccan Palace, welcoming guests for special performances of Angels of Peace: A Christmas Journey on Ice.

Wild colors, exotic decorations and intricate animal patterns create the kind of Christmas found only in nature! Stretching along the Cheetah Hunt walkway, Jungle Jubilee welcomes guests to Florida’s only triple-launch coaster and the iconic Crown Colony restaurant, featuring special holiday fare and the Carol of the Bells light show.

Experience the humble magnificence of that first Christmas night and remember the real “reason for the season” along Miracle WayGuests will marvel at a topiary representation of the Holy Nativity and illuminated angels, set along the Stanleyville Bridge in the warm glow of Christmas lights and sacred holiday music.

Christmas has come to Sesame Street! Meet Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Big Bird, Zoe and Abby for photos and plenty of hugs for a funny, furry Christmas in Sesame Street A Very Furry Christmas at Busch Gardens. Stick around to see the characters in the all-new, heartwarming show Elmo’s Christmas Wish.

When it’s warm in December and there’s more sand than snow, celebrate a Floridian Christmas with a touch of the tropics in the Enchanted Flamingo Valley. Guests will be “thinking pink” as they encounter decorated palm trees and a flock of festive flamingos created from thousands of twinkling pink lights.

Christmas is in full bloom along Poinsettia Parkway, where guests can lose themselves among hundreds of traditional holiday flowers that set the scene for breathtaking pictures.  Make a family memory in front of an enormous tree made entirely of beautiful red poinsettias.

On your way to seasonal shops, delicious treats or to play in the snow, stop by Jingle Bell Junction and step into a larger-than-life-sized greeting card for fun family memories beneath a thousand dazzling Christmas lights, located at the crossroads of Christmas Town in Gwazi® Plaza.

Explore Christmas Town Village’s quaint holiday cabins while shopping for the perfect gift and indulge in a delicious seasonal treat like hot chocolate, waffles with ice cream, warm-baked cookies and rustic sandwiches along the Gwazi® Park walkway. Kids can climb aboard the Jingle Bell Express, a pint-sized train for a holly-jolly ride.

Steps away from the playful flock at Penguin Point, bright and colorful lights line the pathway and fill every branch of every tree surrounding the North Pole. Savor holiday treats and sights as your family prepares to meet the big man himself on the way to Welcome to Santa’s House.

Guests who have come to love Busch Gardens’ traditional holiday shows will still be able to see Christmas on Ice, Christmas from the Heart and Christmas Celebration during the day. But at Christmas Town, new shows will provide a very special evening of family-friendly entertainment:

NEW! Join Elmo, Cookie Monster, Zoe and everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends in Christmas Town’s all-new show, Elmo’s Christmas Wish. Sing and dance along with Elmo as he makes a Christmas wish to Santa and learns the meaning behind Christmas.

NEW! Christmas Time Tree Show brings a larger-than-life Christmas tree alive every fifteen minutes with spectacular dancing lights.

NEW! Join the adventure as everyone’s favorite Madagascar friends including Gloria, Alex, King Julien and the penguins go on a vacation with a Christmas twist in Madagascar Live! Operation: Christmas Vacation. Fun and colorful holographic ornaments fill the trees overhead on the plaza pathway leading to this all-new show.

World-class skaters will bring to life favorite Christmas songs both traditional and contemporary, in a cool, angel-inspired ice show, Angels of Peace: A Christmas Journey on Ice, produced especially for Christmas Town by the creators of Christmas on Ice and Iceploration.

Busch Gardens’ Crown Colony House restaurant sets the stage for a stunning ballet of music and light each night under the stars. The Carol of the Bells features tens of thousands of Christmas lights covering the façade of the stately building set in motion to a choreographed presentation of stirring seasonal songs.

Local church choirs, school choruses and professional performance groups from around Florida raise their voices in joy and fill the Marrakesh Theater with song and Christmas cheer in the Hallelujah Showcase. Performance groups will change nightly and feature traditional, classic and new holiday ballads and favorites.

 

For those who can’t wait to get their night at Christmas Town started, guests are invited to pull up a chair at Mrs. Claus’ Family Feast for a special evening filled with stories, songs, a delicious buffet of traditional holiday fare, plenty of opportunities for holiday hugs and photos with Mrs. Claus and her favorite elves. Space is limited for this exclusive dining experience and reservations must be made in advance at ChristmasTown.com             

 

“Christmas Town is a unique holiday tradition for Tampa Bay-area families,” says Jim Dean, Busch Gardens Tampa’s park president. “We’ve creating a season-long celebration for family and friends unlike any other event our guests have ever seen – the kind of Christmas fun only Busch Gardens can provide.”

 

Christmas Town is a separate-ticketed night event, and regular daytime admission is not required or included. General admission for Christmas Town is $60 for adults and $20 for children plus tax. Busch Gardens annual pass members will receive the deepest discounts with advance online pricing starting at $25, and special offers are available for guests wishing to upgrade their paid daily admission toBusch Gardens. Gift cards and tickets are available at Bay area Publix and AAA locations and additional discounts are offered through promotional codes from Coca-Cola® at Dunkin Donuts® and Fantastic Sam’s®.  Families with children ages 3 to 9 will enjoy a special advance-purchase price of $10 for their youngest members.

 

Christmas Town will also offer some magnificent new opportunities for groups looking to book a unique holiday party. For details, call the Busch Gardens Events Team at (813) 987-5523.

For the latest park news, “Like” Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook.

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The Crooked Spoon Gastropub Review

This meal was paid for by me and my friends. No compensation. I wanted to share a place that we love with you.

A few years ago, The Crooked Spoon was a food truck. And while I had never tried anything from the food truck, I had heard wonderful things about it.

From there, Chef Saelg decided that he wanted an an actual location and I’m so happy that Clermont was decided upon. That means that I don’t have to drive to Orlando all the time for a super fantastic meal!

The food truck may not be around anymore (from what I know), but The Crooked Spoon is worth the drive from wherever you are when you’re in the Central Florida area!

The Crooked Spoon

We’ve gone twice now and the first time we went we were excited about our meals and loved every bite of them and this past time was no different.

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The prices are good. They have a happy hour. And the food has been amazing so far!

Crab cake to start off with. I mean, just look at the presentation of this thing.

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Their drinks look and taste amazing. And their beer and wine selection is quite impressive as well!

Here’s the rest of the food our table had (minus the pork belly BLT because I apparently ate it all before I remembered that I needed to take a picture. Oops!)

6 Cheese Mac and Cheese (the plate looks small here, but it is SO not!)

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Cranberry Turkey Sandwich

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Smoked Chicken Wings (this is actually an appetizer, but my friend really liked this last time so went with them as a meal)

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The restaurant is set up really well with lots of space and a big outdoor area as well.

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I HIGHLY recommend you going to try out The Crooked Spoon Gastropub because…well, just typing this up made me want to go back and we went there last night!

The Crooked Spoon is located right next to the Citrus Tower in Clermont – 200 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont, FL 34711

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