Share Your Favorite FREE Orlando Attractions for a Chance to Win a Fun Prize

Last month, I offered to take one of my readers along on an Ohio Road Trip.  I thought it would be fun and I also wanted a bit of practice tweeting and blogging from the road before we hit the trails on our upcoming Road Trip 2011. Things went pretty well, and our traveler was very well behaved, so I’ve decided to do the same thing again. I will select one Flat Traveler to accompany my family on an impromptu trip to Florida.  Only this time I need YOUR help.

Last week, on Twitter, I noticed that Disney was offering a limited number of slots for a premiere of sorts to the grand opening of their newly revamped Star Tours attraction. My mind raced. My oldest son loves all things Star Wars- what a surprise that would be! He’d actually be able to experience the ride BEFORE it opened to the public! How often does that happen? But then I thought, “I’m sure I’m too late. This event is bound to have a ton of interest. It’s probably already full”.  I read the instructions twice and with bated breath and trembling fingers, typed and sent an email. And guess what? I was selected! WOO HOO! YIPPEE!

And then, realty set in. What the heck was I thinking? We can’t go to Disney World! It’s a ten hour drive from our house! We haven’t budgeted for this, my husband would have to miss work….but on the other hand,  it sounds like such an awesome event. And I was selected out of hundreds, if not thousands of responses. There are also other perks, just check out what the website says we should expect:

“Those in attendance will be among a group at our panel discussion with Walt Disney Imagineers. They’ll offer an insider’s look at Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and share some behind-the-scenes details about the experience. Fans will also have a chance to ask questions about the making-of the attraction and what it’s like to work on this project. There will also be a few surprises you won’t want to miss. “

After careful consideration, my husband and I have decided that we will indeed make the trip so my son and I (I’m only allowed one guest) can experience a Meet-Up Disney Style! Which is sure to be phenomenal, because after all, Disney does all things MAGICAL! 

Here’s where your help comes in. Try as we might, we just are not able to afford a one day Disney park ticket at this time ($87 each x 5, you do the math). We’d rather wait when we can make a trip of it and take advantage of the multi-day savings. With my jewelry sales, a planned garage sale, and our travel jar savings, we have enough money to cover gas and lodging, but that leaves almost zero left for entertainment. What free Orlando area attractions can you suggest for my family?

Fill out the form below and if my family decides your comment is the best, we’ll take you along as a Flat Traveler and pick up a little gift for you as a token of our appreciation. Now, who wants to play along?

Here are the rules:

1. Simply fill out the form below with your suggestion of something FREE to do in Orlando. 

2. This contest will end on Wednesday, May 11th at 6 p.m. 

3. My family will select a winner and we will announce the lucky person on Thursday, May 12th.

4. You will have until Saturday, May 14th to email me a picture of your Flat Traveler (I only need a picture, I’ll even dress your traveler for the occasion).

5. That’s it! Now leave me your Best Free Orlando Attraction.  

May the Force be with You!

Back from a Tropical Paradise

I had intended to post this in July but somehow never managed to follow through. We’d swapped Flat Travelers’ with an Air Force family stationed in Hawaii and when I returned home from the Savvy Blogging Summit, I found Tin Can Man and Military Guy had returned from Paradise with a box of goodies.   Just check this out:

Our package included100% Kona Coffee, a tea sampler, coffee chocolate bars and one that actually had potato chips crushed up in it and some fun souvenirs like a deck of playing cards- which my kids put to use when their friends from Ohio were visiting, and sea shell necklaces which the kids quickly claimed.

I can’t even look through the journal without dreaming of traveling to Hawaii, the pictures and postcards are absolutely stunning. The host family took them to some amazing places that included gardens, shoreline and volcanoes! You just don’t see that everyday- well, at least we don’t.  I was going to scan some of the pages of the journal so you’d have an idea of what I’m talking about, but decided you could just visit Meadow Musings and see her Hawaii pictures yourself.

We’re taking their travelers on an extra special trip with us in just a couple days and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Have you ever participated in Flat Traveler exchange? Where did your travelers go?

Another Flat Traveler Adventure

Our Flat Travelers' have been home from Oregon for a few weeks now and are preparing to embark on their 2nd journey and this time will be hosted by an Air Force Family that is currently living in Hawaii. If you're like me and dream of visiting Hawaii, you'll enjoy reading about their Hawaiian Adventures and seeing the beautiful pictures that are posted on a regular basis. We had hoped to get our travelers' in the mail last week, but I think I've stated before how terrible I am at mailing things, haven't I? Besides, Military Guy was MIA for awhile. We finally uncovered him yesterday in plain view on our counter. Hmmm...not sure how I missed that, but the travelers' now have a new journal and are each adorned with a colorful lei so I think they're ready for all the fun they'll encounter while they are away. Safe travels little guys and we're looking forward to showing some new travelers' around the great state of Alabama!

Look Who's Home!

We got a surprise in the mail this week! Before our Texas trip, we'd exchanged Flat Stanley's/Traveler's with the Cato Clan at A House on Fire.

We'd planned to keep them a month and send them back, but I'm soooo terrible at mailing things! Just ask Debbie- I kept her waiting on post cards forever! I am trying to do better. Really.

Anyway, this was our first experience with Flat Traveler's of any sort and it was really fun. I didn't typically post what we did with the traveler's we were hosting, because well, I wanted it to be a surprise when they did get there package. Which by the way, is in route, Sarah. I promise.

I hope the Cato Family is as excited as we were! Just take a peak at what was in our package:

Not only did we get our travelers and journal back, we also have a tourist book of the area and we're proud owners of these totally cool socks (which my daughter loves)in University of Oregon colors! Our puppy even got in on the team color love and has a brand new leash, which by the way he knew was his. You should have seen me trying to take this picture without his nose in it. He kept trying to get to the leash. Of course once he had it, he insisted that we take him on a walk...but there I go. I'm getting off topic and I really do want to share this incredible journal that the Cato's put together for us. It's simply amazing.






Isn't this amazing? I'm so inspired that I'm going to assign my children to create one of their own from each state that we visit...retroactive of course...that should keep them busy all summer!

Thank you Cato Family! We really had a great time!
Of course now that my children have done this, they've kind of caught the bug! My daughter would love to send one to Paris. Any takers?

Deployment

A few years ago I was introduced to the Flat Stanley or Flat Traveler program. If you aren't familiar with this program you can read about more about it here.

Basically, you design a character, exchange travelers with a host family along with a journal and information about the state you live in. They fill in the journal and take pictures of your traveler while it's away while you do the same for theirs. After predetermined amount of time, typically a week or so, you exchange travelers once more and you can read about all the neat places that your traveler was able to visit.

Sounds pretty neat doesn't it? Well though I'd heard about it, we never participated in a swap until now. I ran across Sara's post, Our Homeschool: Flat Stanley is Home and thought it would be fun to atleast host a traveler. So I left a comment offering to squeeze their Flat Stanley into our RV and she agreed. Be sure to stop by her blog and take a peak at the adventure their Stanley had!

Surprisingly, my teenagers decided they wanted to play along and create travelers of their own. So this week they designed their character, created a journal and are eager to send their travelers away. They are especially excited that the travelers are heading to Oregon. Somewhere we've never been.

My kids opted not to go with the Stanley character, but instead designed their own travelers. Wanna peak?

Meet Tin Can Man:


and....

Military Guy:



Ready for deployment. Stay tuned for updates from their important month long mission.

Have you ever participated in the Flat Stanley or Flat Traveler program?