Lots of fun, a lot less spending: Downtown Disney

It's no secret that Walt Disney World is THE major reason individuals and families vacation in Orlando. The four parks--Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Disney Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios), and Animal Kingdom--have much to offer. But they can also be expensive. It starts with the steep admission prices and continues with every beverage, snack, and souvenir that you enjoy. Plus, if you're vacationing with little ones, too many days in the parks can be overstimulating, overwhelming, and downright exhausting for the whole family.

To be sure, we would never suggest that anyone who visits Orlando should skip the parks altogether. However, we would encourage you to consider another alternative: Downtown Disney.

Located near the main gates of the parks--and a quick 20-minute drive from our townhouse in Regal Palms--Downtown Disney is a large, vibrant outdoor compound featuring:

• A range of restaurants. Grab a quick bite at Earl of Sandwich or enjoy a dinner "experience" at Rainforest Cafe or the new T-Rex restaurant. After dinner, cool off with an ice-cream concoction from the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain or a gelato from the Italian ice stand.
• Lots of shops, large and small. One of our favorites is the gargantuan "World of Disney" store, where you can get darn near ANYTHING Disney. It's also home to the second Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique--where your little prince or princess can get a Disney makeover!
• Free entertainment. At the Downtown Disney Marketplace amphitheater, we've enjoyed a deejay-hosted "dance party," as well as a wonderful medley of Broadway show tunes performed by high-school students from Illinois. For the wee ones, there's also a great (free) play area at Lego Land.
• Photo ops. There's no question that meeting the real, live Disney characters is better. But most kids are still tickled pink to pose with the Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty statues or the Winnie the Pooh and Friends sculpture at Downtown Disney.

Besides all that, Downtown Disney is a simply a great venue for walking and people watching--and soaking in the gorgeous Florida weather. We've found this especially true when we've visited in, say, January or February! :-)

Ready to see for yourself?

When you're ready to book your trip to the Orlando area, please consider our four-bedroom, three-bathroom townhouse at Regal Palms Resort. Learn more at our website, or call Susan at 1-888-353-6600.

Make time for Manny's

If you're planning a trip to Regal Palms, consider dining at Manny's Chop House in Haines City, Florida.

We found out about Manny's from a server at Gator's Dockside in Cagan Crossings (another great spot, by the way). She told us it's a well-kept secret among the locals: fabulous food, generous portions, and friendly service--all at great prices. We've enjoyed three meals at Manny's, and each time we're pleasantly surprised when we receive our tab. (The prices are lower than we typically pay on the East Coast and WAY less than you'll pay at the tourist-trap places around Orlando.)

One of Manny's signature items is the bottomless salad bowl. Your server will toss the salad in Manny's homemade garlic ranch dressing right at your table. Everyone in our family loves the creamy salad, along with Manny's hot-and-delicious sourdough rolls. Steve has tried several steaks; I've enjoyed grilled salmon and fried fish. Everything is DELICIOUS.

Getting to Manny's
From Regal Palms, just make a right on Route 27 and travel for about 14 miles. It sounds like a lot, but Route 27 is a high-speed road...so you're at Manny's in no time!

Ready to book?
If you're ready to book a stay at Regal Palms, visit our website to check our availability, and then give us a call at 1-888-353-6660. We're also part of a group of private owners, so we can refer you to other conscientious owners if our unit is booked or if you need more than one townhouse.

In the mood for ice cream?

If you get a hankering for ice cream--including sundaes, shakes, and other cold treats--head for Simka's Sweets! We make sure to visit Simka's once or twice (OK, sometimes THREE times!) whenever we're in the area.

This quaint ice-cream parlor with friendly service is located in Cagan Crossings--a downtown-like community of apartments and condomiums that also features great restaurants and shops. (Simka's--and Cagan Crossings--is right across Route 27 from Wal-Mart and Lowe's. From Regal Palms, just make a left on Route 27 and travel three or four miles. Cagan Crossings will be on your left.)

Ready to book?
If you're ready to book a stay at Regal Palms, visit our website to check our availability, and then give us a call at 1-888-353-6660. We're also part of a group of private owners, so we can refer you to other conscientious owners if our unit is booked or if you need more than one townhouse.

What to pack. What to buy.

Our Regal Palms townhouse is your "home away from home." It comes equipped with a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. So you can easily stock snacks and drinks--or even prepare a few meals so you can avoid the expense of restaurants. You can also pack lighter than you might normally pack since doing laundry is fast and convenient.

In speaking with our guests, many people have questions about what they need to bring and what they should plan to buy once they arrive at Regal Palms.

You don't need to bring bed linens or towels. Those are provided in the unit. You do need to bring your clothing and other personal items. You may want to bring your own toiletries, or if you'd like to carry on your luggage to avoid those pesky fees, consider purchasing toiletries once you arrive in Davenport. You may also wish to bring favorite DVDs, which you can watch using one of our DVD players.

Depending on your personal preference and the length of your stay at Regal Palms, you may wish to purchase some or all of the following:

• Dishwasher detergent and/or dish soap and scouring pads
• Disposable storage containers, such as those made by the Glad or Ziploc brands
• Aluminum foil, plastic wrap and/or wax paper if you plan to cook
• Condiments (sugar, salt, pepper, etc.)
• Paper products (napkins, paper towels, facial tissue, along with additional toilet paper)
• Laundry detergent and fabric softener (Tip: The new three-in-one Purex sheets are a fantastic choice. You can get detergent and softener in one mess-free product. If you have sheets leftover, they're easy to bring home in your suitcase!)
• All-purpose cleaning wipes
• Milk, coffee, and all other food items you wish to have on hand

There's a great Publix grocery store at the corner of Route 27 and Sand Mine Road--about a two-minute drive from Regal Palms. If you want more savings or selection, consider visiting the Wal-Mart SuperCenter on Route 27. From Sand Mine Road, make a left on to Route 27 and travel about three or four miles. You'll be there in no time!

When you're ready to book your "home away from home" at Regal Palms, call us at 1-888-353-6600 or visit our website to check rates and availability.

Why are there so Regal Palms many websites? What's the best way to book?

If you've been looking into a stay at Regal Palms, you probably went online to learn more. You probably found about a zillion different websites, and chances are, you're a bit confused about the resort and how to book a three- or four-bedroom townhouse. We'd like to explain so that you can have utmost confidence about your decision to stay Regal Palms--and can make an informed choice about how to book.

First, Regal Palms Resort is what's known as a "condotel." It's like a hotel in that there's a 24-by-7 check-in desk, a central pool, a restaurant and bar, and on-site housekeeping and maintenance personnel. And it's like a bunch of condominiums in that the units themselves--the townhouses--are individually owned properties. (Adding to the confusion: The resort also includes about 100 timeshare units, which are managed through Consolidated Resorts.)

When you want to book a townhouse, you can either contact the resort or an online service (Expedia, Travelocity, and the like) as you would a hotel, or you can identify owners and work directly with them. Either way, Regal Palms is a great place to stay.

Even so, there are a couple of important advantages to working with an owner. The first advantage: location. When you work with an owner, you can find out exactly where the unit is located in the complex. Since there are 400+ units in the community, some townhouses are considerably closer to the pool and clubhouse than others.

The second advantage: extras. When you work with an owner, you'll know exactly what to expect in your unit. A "standard" unit has just two TV sets--one in the great room and one in the upstairs master. But many owners--including Steve and me--have chosen to add more TVs, along with DVDs and other "extras." Since purchasing our unit in 2005, we've had lots of guests book directly with us, and many call us back when they're ready to return to the Orlando area.

If you're ready to book a trip, visit our website to check our availability, and then give us a call at 1-888-353-6660. We're also part of a group of private owners, so we can refer you to other conscientious owners if our unit is booked or if you need more than one townhouse.

Regal Palms: A photographic introduction

Thinking of visiting--or returning to--Regal Palms Resort and Spa in Davenport, Florida? Either way, our Regal Palms photo stream will make you want to get there sooner!

When you're ready to make a reservation, call us at 1-888-353-6600.