HHN part two!

Following my own advice (read the first HHN post) a group of us boogied on over to Universal Studios Orlando on a chilly Friday night. On this visit to Halloween Horror Nights we were on a mission, to visit as many houses as possible before starvation and exhaustion kicked in. No shows, no stopping, no mercy! Our group arrived at 7:30 and immediately started our journey into terror.

We blew past the scare zone Esqueleto Muerte and headed into Psychoscareapy. The scare zone was a welcomed change from tall, overweight guys with chainsaws; though it wasn’t very scary. The house was great and featured a familiar face know only as “Izzy Evil”. Immediately after Psychoscarepy we hit Hades, after dodging guys with chainsaws. This house was amazing! It takes a less “fire and brimstone” approach and uses legendary creatures such as the Minotaur, Griffin, and Cyclops to scare patrons. After exiting Hades we headed past the Mummy through the scare zones Zombie Gras and Saws & Steam then into the Orphanage. Again, Zombie Gras is original but not that scary, and of course in Saws & Steam there was another pack of tall overweight guys with chainsaws roaming about. At the Orphanage there are of course, children, and I don’t know what it is but ghost children are really creepy.

After the Orphanage we walked over to Havoc. This house was great as well, with mutated soldiers and plenty of screaming (not from me of course). We then went to Catacombs which I enjoyed more this time around when compared to our first visit to Halloween Horror Nights. Our group then traveled over to Hallowed Past. This house was spectacular; it features all the great ghouls and creatures from past Halloween Horror Nights. I don’t want to spoil it for you but needless to say this was my favorite house. On our way out of the park we walked through a scare zone which contained some more horrors from the past. With two houses left we flipped a coin and headed into Legendary Truth which also featured creepy ghost children.

At 2 am we left Halloween Horror Nights tired and hungry. We stopped to get some delicious pumpkin pancakes and then headed home. Our group braved the best horrors Universal Studios could show us, and we want more! I’m getting another group of friend together and heading back, this time to enjoy the hilarious Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure. With my Frequent Fear Pass I get to go again and again and again. Not sure if this should be included – As before here is a tip when visiting Halloween Horror Nights, visit Zombiegeddon first. The house was closed due to technical problems later in the night. This seems to be a common occurrence and the house maybe closed for good so do yourself a favor and hit this home first.

Submitted by Anthony Breath

Night at the Improv Orlando

On Sunday night the fiancée and I drove over to Pointe Orlando to visit the Improv.  We were there to enjoy the comedic styling of Ian Bagg.  The Improv offers a full menu and bar for us to take advantage of, and we did.  The sweat potatoes fries and spinach dip were great as were our drinks.  The highlight of the night wasn’t our food but the headliner and he did not disappoint.  Ian Bagg was hilarious.  I’m a huge fan of stand up comedy; I feel it is America’s last great performing art form.  With music and acting so much emphasis is but on the way you look or if you sound like everyone else; with comedy people just care if you’re funny or not.   I’ll repeat what I said earlier, Ian Bagg was hilarious.  A Canadian born comedian (say that five times fast) Ian Bagg began his career in 1992.  He moved through the ranks of the Canadian comedy circuit quickly and was headlining after only two years.  After Sunday night I could see why.  My old lady (the fiancée) is not a fan of stand up comedy but she was laughing harder then I was.  With Jim Breuer and Jay Mohr heading to the Improv soon we’ll have to make a return trip.

For more information on upcoming shows, visit Orlando Improv.  Need accommodations while in Orlando? Call us at 1-800-901-8688 or email us to rent your vacation rental for your next Orlando visit.

Submited by Anthony Breath

Our Biggest Sale of the Year

Take an additional 20% off already reduced prices on any stay in the month of October.

We reduced our nightly prices to $69.00 per night for our condos and town homes and $99.00 per night for our vacation homes with private pool. Through the month of October, take an additional 20% off any of our rentals.

Looking for just a weekend getaway? There are no limitations on this offer, 20% off any of our rentals with a stay in the month of October.
 

Only two more weeks to take advantage of this offer, don't miss it!

The fall months are a great time to visit Central Florida; the weather is fantastic and it is low season. With sunny and warm days and cooler nights, the weather could not be any better! Central Floridians look forward to the months of September, October and November for the low humidity and end of the rainy season. Since it is low season for attractions, by visiting during these months, a traveler can take advantage less crowded theme parks and very little to no lines, meaning more time to spend with family and friends. Great deals can also be found with airline tickets and attraction tickets, such as Sea World, offering the 2nd day free with any one day admission purchase.


To take advantage of this offer, please contact us at 1-800-901-8688 or email us.
View details of this offer here!

Epcot's Food and Wine Festival

Me and my husband visited Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival last Monday, we were excited to go and sample all the food it has to offer this year.  We spent all day walking and exploring the festival, listening to music and eating more than I could!  We’ll start off with my favorites and on the top of the list would have to be Canada’s Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.  A must-have at this year’s festival!  It was excellent, beautifully creamy and cheese but not overdone.  We then went onto Japan and my husband had the Spicy Tuna Roll which he said was one of the best he’s ever had, from the freshness of the tuna to the wasabi.  Lastly, France’s escargot persillade en brochile were a very nice surprise.  Having not had escargot before, I was pleasantly shocked by the taste, not at all what I expected, in the best of ways.    

Good, but not on my favorites were Chile’s ceviche and Italy’s baked cheese ravioli.  Having had plenty of fantastic ceviche, I was not impressed and wish I could have something better to say about Chile’s interpretation.  As far as the ravioli’s I am slightly biased (I am a huge fan of Olive Garden’s cheese ravioli!) but can say that I expected a bit better compared to other fantastic food I’ve had at Italy’s Pavilion.  The portions varied in size and price depending on what you were sampling, prices started at $2.50, giving you a small taste and leaving you wanting more.

As part of Epcot’s Food and Wine, there is of course their concert series and this year more chances to see your favorite artists as they added one more show to the daily schedule.  We were transported back the 80’s with Air Supply and were excited to be in the audience for one of the three mini-concerts they were playing that day.  I wish they would have played more than just three songs, they sounded just like they did a decade (or two!) ago.  We truly had a great day and enjoyed all the food we sampled, cannot wait to visit again before it ends!  Don’t miss your opportunity to sample great cuisine from all over the world at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival 2010. 

Need accommodations during your foodie adventure?  We offer vacation rental homes and condos close to Walt Disney World.  Call American Vacation Homes for your Orlando vacation rental at 1-800-901-8688 or email us. 

Submitted by Janette Rosado - American Vacation Homes

First Night at Halloween Horror Nights

This year’s Halloween Horror Nights is quickly shaping up to be the best one yet.  With eight new houses, six new scare zones and the steadfast favorite Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure you’ll be screaming or laughing through the night.  I’ve recently visit Universal Studios Orlando after the park had transformed itself into a ghoulish nightmare.  There are very few spots to hide from all the terror; on your way to a haunted house there are scare zones which feature some great panic inducing moments.  My fiancée and I arrived around nine thirty on a Wednesday evening.  In past years I couldn’t help but notice the large crowds on a Friday or Saturday compared to the smaller ones on a weekday such as this.    The two of us braved the horrors of the Catacombs (haunted house) and the Warehouse (scare zone).  Each of these attractions had its own feel as the Catacombs told a story of plaque and death; the Warehouse showcased monsters and ghouls from past Halloween Horror Nights.  We ended the night rolling in the stands as Bill, Ted, Lady Gaga and The Count (yes The Count from Sesame Street) put on a comedy show like no other.  Events like this are best enjoyed with a group of friends and with so much happening in the park multiple visits are a must.  The Frequent Fear Pass comes highly recommended as you’ll be able to enjoy the fun again and again.

Submitted by Anthony Breath