On our recent trip to Walt Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we had the amazing opportunity to stay at a beautiful Orlando-area vacation rental home from Global Resort Homes. The experience, our first in a vacation home, was quite different (in some really good ways) from staying at a Disney resort hotel.

Orlando Vacation Home Rental

There are obviously many differences between staying at a hotel and a vacation home. First and most obvious is the size difference. Hotel rooms, even at the more luxury hotels at Walt Disney World, are only about 800 square feet – one room, one bathroom. I often feel cramped and claustrophobic as soon as the bags are unloaded. On the other hand, a vacation home has a living room, kitchen, separate bedrooms and bathrooms. In other words, you have plenty of space to relax and put your feet up even after you unpack.

A Comfortable Home

I admit to being a tad apprehensive about staying at a vacation rental home. This was our first experience staying in a rental home as a family and it was our first time to Disney not staying at a resort hotel. One of my fears was that it I would feel uncomfortable and not quite “at home” in someone else’s house. From the moment we walked in the door to the spotless and tastefully decorated home, I was comfortable and my apprehension was gone. Honestly, I kind of imagined it might feel like staying at a relative’s house where everything is nice and comfortable but you feel like you’re walking on eggshells and you can’t really relax. Thankfully, I was wrong. The decor is so neutral and attractive that it’s really comfortable. It looked like what I wish my house looked like and we just made ourselves right at home.

Room to Relax (and Save)

For our family with young kids one of the absolute worst parts about staying at a hotel is trying to get the kids to go to sleep. We’ve swapped war stories with other parents about hiding in the bathroom after putting the kids to bed so they won’t see us and get distracted. And, even if you stay out of sight, a single room is simply not conducive to multiple sleep schedules, bedtime routines and getting a good night’s sleep. At our vacation home, each of our kids was in their own bedroom. Putting them to bed was almost as easy at it is at home, and our toddler really got into the idea that he had his own new bedroom for the week.

I feared we might miss out on some “Disney magic” staying off-site, but I have to tell you we really didn’t miss anything.

Rental Home vs. Disney Hotel

We’ve been to Walt Disney World twice as a family. The first time we stayed on site in a Disney “moderate resort” and on our recent trip we stayed in a vacation home located several miles from Walt Disney World. While Disney does have a lot of free transportation between parks and resorts, we just found it easier to drive our car every day to the different parks while we stayed at the resort. So, the transition to staying off-site and driving to the park every day was not difficult for us. The drive from our rental home to each park was about 10 minutes. It was really convenient, and the roads are well marked to get you where you want to go.

Granted, staying off-site will require a car of some sort, so if you fly into Orlando you would need to rent a car. Another downside is that you have to pay to park at Disney when you are not staying at a Disney resort. The Windsor Hills resort where our home is located does offer a shuttle to Disney parks, Universal and SeaWorld for a fee, but we did not use this service so I can’t speak to its value.

Another major consideration is food. If staying off-site you are not eligible to purchase the Disney Dining Plan. However, you do have a fully equipped kitchen so you can buy, store and prepare your own food. The first night we arrived at the house we stocked up on some basics at the local grocery store. We ate breakfast at our home every night, had fresh baked cookies at night and could have easily cooked every meal there. The stainless steel kitchen appliances were awesome and there was literally every single gadget, pot and pan you would need to prepare meals.

Why Global Resort Homes?

About Global Resort Homes

Since 1993, Global’s mission is to set a new standard of quality in the Orlando Disney vacation home market and maintained a distinctive level of service for homeowners and their guests.

Global has continued to grow and evolve with the changing times and continues to be at the forefront of the vacation home industry in both vacation home rentals and real estate sales. Today, Global’s team of over 50 professionals maintain and manage over 200 resort homes and Global’s Real Estate team consists of over 35 Real Estate professionals. Global’s dedication and commitment to its guests and homeowners remains and will continue to be the very essence of the company.

Our Global Resort Home Experience

Our experience with Global Resort Homes was nearly flawless. And, in Orlando where location and proximity to the attractions is key, Global Resort Homes has an assortment of properties near Walt Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal. From 2-bedroom condominiums to spacious 7-bedroom homes, Global Resort Home properties are located in resort communities that offer added benefits and amenities to enhance the experience.

Windsor Hills, the resort community where we stayed, has many amenities.

• 2 bedroom condos, 2 & 3 bedroom townhomes, 3 to 6 bedroom homes
• Homes have private screened swimming pool and spa
• Townhomes have small pool
• Master suite with king or queen size bed and TV
• Master bathroom with garden tub and separate shower
• Fully equipped kitchens with breakfast area and formal dining area
• One or two living areas with TV, VCR or DVD player
• Washer and dryer
• Homes available with game rooms that include billiards, table tennis and air hockey
• Homes available with play stations for kids

Our main issue with the home had to do with our kids “exploring” the home, which wasn’t childproofed. Within 5 minutes of arriving, my daughter pulled a place mat from the beautifully set dining room table and broke a plate and bowl in the process. Global Resort Homes was very gracious about it and said “No worries, things happens.” In fact, when things break (within reason), Global Resort Homes replaces them at no charge to the guest.

Tour Our Home

Overall, I highly recommend Global Resort Homes. We had a beautiful home and certainly didn’t feel like anything was missing from our Disney experience. What we lacked in proximity to the parks, we made up for space, comfort and excellent sleep for all of us.

To Rent or Not to Rent

To Rent… We had an amazing experience staying in the Windsor Hills resort. I think the vacation rental home is perfect for families – large and small – the separate bedrooms, kitchen and amenities are invaluable. It’s a great option for traveling with extended family, too, as you can all be together but have your own bedrooms and private space. And, how much fun would it be to rent a large home and split the cost with another family?

Or Not to Rent… You’ll have to rent a car to get around the area and will have to pay for parking at local theme parks and attractions. Vacation homes lack the convenience of hotels (no concierge, maid service, etc), but they do have the comfort of home and that’s worth a lot when traveling as a family.

Rental Rates: Vacation rentals with Global Resort Homes start as low as $79 a night. 2-bedroom condominiums in the Windsor Hills resort are available from $122 per night, and 5 bedroom homes like the one where we stayed are available for $278 a night.

Plan Your Vacation Today! If you have any questions about Orlando Vacation Homes with Global Resort Homes, call 877-582-6967 or visit Global Resort Homes online.

Disclosure: Thank you to Global Resort Homes for providing a resort home for the purposes of this review. Opinions expressed are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

Anyone who’s traveled with children will tell you that it’s no piece of cake. The sheer volume of stuff required for a successful trip is enough to intimidate even the most seasoned traveler. Unfortunately, when traveling – whether by car or plane – you often have limited space. With that in mind, Orlando Stroller Rentals offers an amazing service – completely convenient and affordable stroller rental for hitting the parks and attractions in Orlando.

About Orlando Stroller Rentals

Originally, from Connecticut, we would visit Disney during the summer months or school vacations since I was an elementary teacher. We would always bring our own stroller with us. We did not bring a stroller on our last trip from CT to Disney because our children were five and six. We did not even own a stroller anymore. We soon realized, after one day in the parks, that we wished we had a stroller with us. We rented one in the parks, which worked fine up until we had to return it before we exited Epcot. Our five year old daughter was very tired and my husband had to carry her back to the Beach Club Resort where we were staying. Our six year old son was not very happy walking back either. After renting a stroller for three more days, we knew there had to be a stroller alternative for parents like us…needing a stroller that could accommodate a high weight capacity, is easy to push, reclines, has a large sun canopy, is easy to fold, and is delivered to and picked up from Orlando area hotels.

Let’s face it, if any place requires a stroller it’s Walt Disney World. Even if your children are older and you don’t use a stroller on a daily basis, you will NEED one when you walk (and walk and walk) the parks.

Quality Strollers

Orlando Stroller Rentals loans only high quality strollers, including the Baby Jogger City Mini and Baby Jogger City Classic. If you need a double, they offer the City Mini Double, City Classic Double and a Sit and Stand stroller. There’s no denying these strollers are perfect for Disney – lightweight, high weight capacity and large sunshade. We used the Baby Jogger City Mini Double and it was great. I loved the oversized sunshade, the basket underneath and the fact that the kids could recline individually when our daughter was sleeping but our son was wide awake.

Walt Disney World does offer stroller rentals, but have you seen those things? Let’s compare side by side – which would you prefer to push and which do you think your kids would prefer to ride in?

Cost Effective

It might surprise you to find out that Orlando Stroller Rental can actually be LESS EXPENSIVE than Disney rental.

Extremely Convenient

Orlando Stroller Rentals deliver your stroller to your door – whether you are staying on site, in an Orlando area hotel or at a private rental home. We arrived at our rental home to find our double City Mini waiting (with rain cover) at our door. And, it was picked up the morning we left. It really couldn’t have been easier.

Unlike Disney stroller rentals that must be returned to the park at the end of the day, you take and use the Orlando Stroller Rental as your own. We took it with us everywhere – on the monorail, to the mall, to every Disney park we visited. Definitely check out the Frequently Asked Questions which has a lot of great information about this unique service.

To Rent or Not to Rent

To Rent… If you are traveling to Orlando, I highly recommend Orlando Stroller Rentals. The strollers are high quality, the service is excellent and the price is competitive and affordable. There is really no comparison to the Disney strollers – Orlando Stroller Rental is hand’s down the choice to make.

Or Not to Rent… If you have your own stroller and have room to bring it, you won’t need a rental. Our stroller was clean but was obviously used (it was missing a hardness pad). But, honestly, if you’re not traveling with one, Orlando Stroller Rental is a must have for Disney with kids.

Shop! Check out all the stroller options at OrlandoStrollersRentals.com. There are two single strollers, two double strollers, a Sit and Stand and even a Special Needs PushChair available for rent.

Disclosure: Thank you to Orlando Stroller Rental for providing us the service for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and uninfluenced by receipt of product. Others may have a different experience.

If I was smart I’d also have a photo of me and my new friends from the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. But, like a mom, I took tons of photos of my children and have a grand total of 3 photos of me from Walt Disney World. And, sadly, no good photos of me and the awesome friends I enjoyed meeting.

Luckily, I have these great photos of Preschool Boy and some of his “friends” from Disney World. I only wish I had a photo of him and Graham – since the two of them were fast friends and played and danced so well together.

I look forward to seeing your photos.

This picture is also on the 365 Days of Children’s Clothes, but it is so stinking cute, it’s worth repeating.

Preschool Boy got a great thrill when he met and chatted up Mickey and Minnie at a dance party this evening at Hollywood Studios. After an awesome family dinner with new friends, all the conference attendees had the opportunity to ride Toy Story Mania after the park closed. We rode three times and somehow my score did not improve. Hmph.

Not surprisingly, Walt Disney World hosted an amazing event and I was really impressed with every meal and family party. We really had a blast and felt pretty special.

Before the fun this evening, I spent the day listening to inspiring speakers and meeting great blogging friends. Here’s the Whrrl from conference sessions.

I had hoped to blog and get some work done in the evenings, but I am wiped out! Totally exhausted. So, I’m taking the easy way out tonight and sharing the Whrrl story about this mornings events at the Disney Social Media Mom Celebration. First up this morning was a breakfast with marketing guru and Twitter mega-star Guy Kawasaki. He was entertaining and informative, and I admit much more enjoyable than I expected.

Next up was an event to celebrate extraordinary volunteers from across the country. Disney has declared 2010 the year to Celebrate Volunteers and they’re giving an incentive to get out and get active in your community. This year, when you “Give a Day, you Get a Disney Day.” That means, when you spend one day helping a participating charity you receive a free one day pass to any Disney park. And, of course, you get all the personal satisfaction that comes with volunteer work. It’s a pretty neat program and so far this year over 600,000 people have committed to one day of service!

We ended the evening with a dinner under the stars featuring some Disney Channel stars. Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato sang a new song for the Friends for Change campaign called “Make a Wave.”

Oh, and in between everything official, we rode the “The Seas with Nemo and Friends” no less than 3 times. Preschool Boy is a tad obsessed!

Things will be back to normal “Shopping Mama” stuff when I get home. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the updates from Disney.

Disclosure: My family and I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration; however, the price was discounted and we received some complimentary items to enhance the Disney experience.

I’m totally late and usually post Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday night, but we were figuring out the internet situation last night and I missed the chance. But, there are some photos from today that simply must be shared! So, here are some pictures from our day at the Magic Kingdom.

Getting ready for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party!

Merry Go Round behind Cinderella’s Castle.

I can’t believe how engaged and excited Toddler Girl was today. And, clearly our day at the park wore her out. This is how she fell asleep for an afternoon nap. In case you can’t really tell, her legs are crossed and up against the wall of Pack n Play.

After spending the day at the park, we attended the first event of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. It was very cool and very Disney! While my husband and the kids played sports at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, I attended a press conference about new and upcoming projects at Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line. I’ll post more about that later, but suffice it to say, everything looks amazing! From the return of the Electrical Parade this summer to the launch of the new Disney Dream cruise ship next year to the mega-expansion of Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom (to include princesses’ villages!)… ya, pretty amazing.

Disclosure: My family and I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration; however, the price was discounted and we received some complimentary items to enhance the Disney experience.

After a long day in the car I am happy to report we made it safely and happily to Orlando. Notice I said “Orlando” and not “Disney”? I made the error of telling Preschool Boy we were driving to Disney World today, so imagine his displeasure when we were actually off-site at a (completely amazing) vacation home and not seeing Mickey ir riding rides. He got over it relatively quickly, surprisingly, and was content to explore our temporary home away from home.

This week we’re staying at a gorgeous vacation home courtesy of Global Resort Homes. They hooked up big time and we’re getting comfortable in a fully equipped 5 bedroom home. Preschool Boy has already proclaimed that he loves “our new fancy home.” I’m really interested in the Disney experience when staying off site – the home is located 1.5 miles from the park (not sure which park or attraction) so we’re not far.

When we arrived at the house this evening there was a twin stroller waiting from Orlando Stroller Rentals. They deliver and pick up from on and off-park locations. Isn’t that cool? It’s so freaking convenient, the stroller is nice (Baby Jogger City Mini) and we didn’t have to take up valuable trunk space bringing ours from home.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Global Resort Homes and Orlando Stroller Rental for providing sample experiences for the purpose of review.

Now that the family is going back to Disney World, let the mouse ears gear shopping commence! My first stop? Etsy, of course. Here are some of my favorite finds for girls – from head to toe – for under $10.

It might be the cold weather talking, but this Crochet Minnie Ears Beanie is just about the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Only $10 for the baby size!

We’ve got the little head covered, and now for the tooties. KPCreations’ Ribbon Ruffle sock with Mickey embellishment is the perfect little accessory for your Disney fan.

If you can use an iron, you can handle the rhinestone transfers at Custom Bling Apparel. With a large assortment of Disney styles and customization options you can definitely find something for your little one. With prices starting at only $5.95, the hard part will be picking your favorite design.

Happy shopping!

Actually, correction, WE’RE going. That’s right, the whole Shopping Mama gang is going to pile in the car and drive to Orlando next month for a family-friendly mom blog convention. The Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World is the hottest ticket in the blogosphere and is already sold out. I’m counting my lucky stars to be attending this amazing event.

About the Social Media Moms Celebration

The Walt Disney World Resort near beautiful Orlando, Florida is the setting for this first ever, family-friendly social media conference for moms. You’ll experience special events, conference sessions and private parties taking place across the 40-square mile entertainment complex. You’ll have a chance to experience the fun and fantasy of Walt Disney World while hearing from captivating speakers such as Guy Kawasaki, Maxine Clark, MaryEllen Hooper, and more.

Family-Friendly Blogger Event

Doesn’t it sound awesome?! I’m excited on so many levels, but here are the basics. I am grateful for the opportunity to travel to Walt Disney World for a very affordable conference package price. I am excited to meet other bloggers and can’t wait to learn from the best of the best. And, most importantly, I am thankful for a family-friendly setting so the four of us can enjoy the event together.

Sponsor The Shopping Mama

For me, the main focus of the event will be to learn and grow as a blogger and enjoy Disney with my family. However, if you have a product that is related to family travel, there are a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available. Please contact me for details.

Watch out, Disney! Here we come!