Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Upcoming Events Around Mike Ditka Resorts

Upcoming Events in October

October 1st - - International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals and Cowboys Heritage Festival, and Eat to the Beat Concert Series
October 2nd - - 4th Annual FAA Airboat Show, and The Princess and the Pea Broadway Show
October 8th - - Fright Nights at Silver Springs and Oktoberfest at Celebration
October 9th - - SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular, Fall Festival and Oktoberfest, Viva Osceola, and Freestyle Legends Tour 2
October 29th - - Yo Gabba Gabba! Live

International Food and Wine festival

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is a special fall event that transforms Epcot Theme Park into a food and wine lover's paradise. The festival offers specialty food items, culinary events, sophisticated parties and live musical entertainment starting on October 1st and running through November 14th.

Guest can try delicious regional foods, wines and beers from around the world, learn from renowned chefs and winemakers at special programs and demonstrations, and sample the finest cuisine from around the globe at spectacular culinary events.

Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals and Cowboy Heritage Festival

This festival will be held at Silvers Spurs Arena and will help to celebrate Florida’s rich and colorful cow culture and ranching history. The event starts on Friday, October 1st at 7pm when the start of the Florida Ranch Rodeo Finals Begins. On Saturday, October 2nd, the grounds outside of the arena will be in full swing with The Cowboy Heritage Festival from 10am to 6pm. Following this festival, the continuation of the Ranch Rodeo Finals will start in the arena.

The Cowboy Heritage Festival will include:

• Florida musicians playing throughout the day
• Whip Cracking Contest
• Authentic Cracker Cowboy Hunter Cow Camps
• Gunfight Reenactment based on actually Florida Cow Rustling Event
• Authentic South Eastern Tribes Native American Encampment
• Even More Living History Encampments
• Storytellers
• Florida Authors
• Cowboy Poetry
• Cowboy Artists
• Leather Crafters
• Saddle Makers
• Whip Plaiters
• Beef Cook-off
• Swamp Cabbage Cooking

Friday, September 24, 2010

Disney Vacation? Benefits for Staying off Disney Property

When you’re planning your Disney vacation there is sure to be a debate of whether or not you should stay on Disney property to get the best value of your vacation. Below is a list of reason to why you should consider staying off property.

Reasons to stay off property:

•Fitting your budget - You can find a less expensive hotel by staying off property and there are literally hundreds of nearby hotels to meet any budget. You can also find many reasonably priced hotel and resort suites which will offer your family a lot of living space; suites are both rare and pricey on the Disney property. Hotel rooms in the Kissimmee area can also be a great area to look into, especially if you’d like to get away from the hustle and bustle after you have left the Disney Parks for the day.
•In addition to hotel cost, the choice of eateries ranges from street vendor sandwiches to five-star gourmet…or you can just hit a grocery and pick up some supplies if you are off property.
•Shuttle service to attractions - Disney is a closed environment, but offsite hotels often have shuttles that will take you Orlando’s attractions. Some are even free!
•Convention facilities - If you’re planning a vacation while also attending a work convention or conference, a hotel off property will help separate work and play time.
•Chaos factor - Disney hotels and hotel grounds are busy and on Disney property, the more adult oriented the property, the higher the price.
•Other Day Trips - If Disney is only part, but not all, of your Orlando vacation it may be more convenient to stay off property.

The best way to decide what choice is right for you and your family is planning and research. Decide what your family is looking to get out of your vacation, as well as what each member would like to experience and find a compromise. By finding a hotel that fits your budget, as well as your needs, you’re sure to have a less stressful and more enjoyable experience.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

What’s Going on at Mike Ditka Resorts and in the Orlando area?

‘Dinner with Ditka’
Mike Ditka Resorts held its annual “Dinner with Ditka” event at the Ditka Restaurant in Oakbrook, on September 8th, 2010. Contest winners enjoyed a relaxing and entertaining evening of dinner, drinks, and conversation with Hall of Famer and former NFL Coach of the 1985 Super Bowl Champions, the Chicago Bears, Coach Mike Ditka.

Guests were treated to a wonderful four course meal that consisted of Shrimp Cocktail Shooters, Lamb Chops, and Mini Filet Sliders followed by the Soup of the Day and a choice of salad. The main course included a choice of: Surf & Turf, Coach's Famous Pork Chops, Chicken Parmesan, or Cashew-Crusted Tilapia. Dinner was followed by a selection of delicious desserts, including Banana Cream Pie, Chocolate Mousse and Key Lime Pie. Guests also enjoyed a full service bar which featured top-shelf cocktails, as well as Ditka’s namesake wine.

Guests had a great time laughing and joking with Coach Ditka and his wife Diana throughout the night as they shared stories about the past and talked about this upcoming NFL season. Guests also enjoyed receiving autographs and taking pictures with ‘Da Coach’!

New Front Desk TV
During your next visit to Mike Ditka Resorts – Runaway Beach Club you might notice something a little different when you check in at the front desk…a NEW TV! This TV will be used to showcase upcoming events at the property, amenities available for guest use, photos of the property, specials, discounts & much more!

Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Studios will be holding their “20th Halloween Horror Nights” starting this Friday, September 24th. The event will run for 24 nights and this year’s event will include 8 new haunted houses! This event requires a separate admission.

For more information on this year’s “Halloween Horror Nights”, visit http://www.halloweenhorrornights.com/orlando/.

Hollow Scream
Starting this September 30th, Busch Gardens will be bringing back “Howl-O-Scream” to their theme park. The event will take place every Thursday, Friday & Saturday leading up to Halloween. “Howl-O-Scream” will take place every Thursday from 7:30pm – 1am and every Friday & Saturday from 7:30pm – 2am.

For more information on this scary event, visit http://tampa.howl-o-scream.com/.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Press Release: Mike Ditka Resorts Contest Winners Enjoyed Dinner with ‘Da Coach’ Mike Ditka

Mike Ditka Resorts held its annual “Dinner with Ditka” event this past September 8th, 2010 where contest winners enjoyed a relaxing and entertaining evening of dinner, drinks, and wonderful conversation with Hall of Famer & former NFL Coach of the 1985 Super Bowl Champions, the Chicago Bears, Coach Mike Ditka.

The “Dinner with Ditka” event was held at Mike Ditka’s namesake restaurant, Ditka’s of Oakbrook, where Mike Ditka was accompanied by this wife, Diana. The dinner took place in an intimate and personal setting composed of only 22 guests, giving every person a chance to mingle and talk one-on-one with Coach Ditka and his wife.

Guests were treated to a wonderful four course meal that was first presented to them on their own personalized menus, which most had signed by Coach Ditka! Throughout the night guests dined on Shrimp Cocktail Shooters, Lamb Chops, and Mini Filet Sliders followed by the Soup of the Day and a choice of salad. The main course included a choice of: Surf & Turf, Coach's Famous Pork Chops, Chicken Parmesan, or Cashew-Crusted Tilapia. Dinner was followed by a selection of delicious desserts, including Banana Cream Pie, Chocolate Mousse and Key Lime Pie. Guest also enjoyed a full service bar which featured delicious cocktails, as well as Ditka’s namesake wine.

Overall, guests had a wonderful time laughing and joking with Coach Ditka and his wife Diana throughout the night as they shared stories about the past and talked about this upcoming NFL season. The evening wrapped up with a lot of pictures being taken and autographs being given, making this one evening guests won’t soon forget.

Mike Ditka Resorts has two locations in the Orlando area and is managed by Geneva Hospitality, LLC, a premier hotel/condominium management company.

Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is an Orlando Resort featuring the perfect backdrop for your next family vacation. Mike Ditka Resorts—Runaway Beach Club is located 2.5 miles from the Walt Disney World resort and just minutes from other Central Florida attractions.

Mike Ditka Resorts-Runaway Beach Club offers all the conveniences of a resort with the space and luxury of a private residence. Guests will enjoy some of Orlando’s largest one-, two- and three-bedroom villas and loft villas. Each luxury villa has a fully-equipped gourmet kitchen and dining area, flat screen TVs and DVD players. The sprawling grounds of this Orlando resort feature a heated “Key West” zero-entry family pool with water features for kids, a heated adult pool, outdoor hot tub, and tanning deck. The resort offers a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an impressive indoor basketball court.

Mike Ditka Resorts – Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa offers a luxury property located 3 miles from Walt Disney World directly on the beautiful magnificent shores of Turtle Lake. Mike Ditka Resorts - Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa has plenty of amenities to make your vacation amazing including an on-site first class European Spa, private theater room, billiard room, state of the art fitness center, heated lap pool and freeform zero-entry depth heated pool. Guests will also enjoy luxury suites which include gourmet kitchens with cookware, 42” HD plasma and 32” HD LCD in each bedroom plus DVD players, jetted garden tubs, and utility rooms with full size washer and dryer.

For more information on these two wonderful Orlando resorts, please visit www.MikeDitkaResorts.com or call (888) 512-2200.

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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Bring Your Sports Team to Mike Ditka Resorts This Season

Top 10 Reasons Your Sports Group Should Stay at Mike Ditka Resorts- Runaway Beach Club

1. Mike Ditka Resorts is the only resort in Central Florida with a professional sports figure endorsement.

2. It is a smoke free property which provides your team with a clean and healthy environment.

3. The resort features an all suite property with large floor plans which provides your group with enough leg room and can accommodate up to 12 players or team members.

4. Each room is equipped with a full-sized gourmet kitchen and cookware which makes eating on site accessible and inexpensive.

5. Every room comes equipped with a full sized washer and dryer; perfect for washing clothes or uniforms after a long workout or team practice.

6. An on-site indoor basketball court is available, perfect for team practices or cardio workouts.

7. The extensive fitness center features cardio and magnum machines, which provides your team with the right equipment no matter what their exercise regime calls for.

8. The business center offers computers, fax machines, and printing capabilities which make it easy to create and print game plans for all your players.

9. The clubhouse is perfect for team building exercises and meetings no matter how big or small your group is.

10. Two refreshing pools, as well as a relaxing hot tub and full service tiki bar, are perfect for unwinding after a long practice or tournament.

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Looking for the perfect place to take your sports group? Check out the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex! This 220-acre sports complex is the host of more than 60 sports and thousands of events for athletes of all ages and skill levels. The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex features a state-of-the-art broadcast center and the ESPN Innovation Lab to professionally kept fields and courts. There really is no other sports facility like this on earth! Bring your sports group to one of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex’s many events.

Sports at Mike Ditka Resorts
Stay Tuned! Mike Ditka Resorts – Runaway Beach Club will be featuring NFL games on their outdoor TV at the Tiki Bar, as well as featuring fall and NFL drink specials!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Enjoy a Wonderful Stay at Mike Ditka Resorts!

Half Price Gift Certificates

What’s better than a nice relaxing and carefree vacation? How about one that’s ½ the price! That’s right…50% off any future 2011 stay at Mike Ditka Resorts!

By purchasing ½ price gift certificates now, you’ll receive $100 free for every $100 you spend. Pay for a $100 gift certificate, receive $200! Pay for a $200 gift certificate, receive $400!

It’s as simple as that! Use them for yourself, your family, or give them as gifts. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on this special offer!

But hurry…this offer is only available until 9/30! Call us today at (888) 512-2200.

*Restrictions apply.

Book Your Next Corporate Meetings at Runaway Beach Club

Looking to host a business meeting in the Orlando/Kissimmee, Florida area? Why not do so at Mike Ditka Resorts!

Mike Ditka Resorts has the perfect meeting facilities and amenities to keep both meeting planners and attendees happy, including: free wireless high speed internet access property wide, a 24 hour business center with print, fax, and computer usage available, and three meeting spaces, including outdoor seating, depending on the size of your group.

While you are there, enjoy one, two, and three bedroom luxury villas, all of which include: full-size, fully equipped kitchens, full-size washers/dryers, 36 in. flat screen TV’s in living room and all bedrooms, and queen size sofa sleepers in the living rooms.

Also, enjoy the many resort amenities, such as:

• Tanning pool with tiki bar
• Zero depth entry family pool with water features for the kids
• Sun deck overlooking beautiful lagoon
• Complimentary shuttle service to & from Disney parks
• State of the art fitness center
• Seasonal poolside activities
• Nightly poolside family movies
• Indoor basketball court
• “Da Coach’s” gift shop and sundries

Whether your meeting consists for four people or 104 people, Mike Ditka Resorts has the perfect meeting space for your group.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mike Ditka was the Number 1 draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1961!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Upcoming Events Around the Orlando Area

September Mike Ditka Quote of the Month

“There’s some discipline involved. There’s some sacrifices.”

Labor Day Weekend

Haven’t made any plans for this Labor Day weekend yet? Come spend it with Mike Ditka Resorts in Kissimmee, Florida!

Enjoy fun in the sun at Mike Ditka Resorts by enjoying our two tropical themed outdoor pools, our relaxing sun deck overlooking the man made lagoon, or daily drink specials from our tiki bar, plus so much more!

Night of Joy
This September 10th and 11th be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as some of the most popular names and most powerful voices in Rock, Pop and Gospel Contemporary Christian music take the stage during “Night of Joy”.

Guests will enjoy the rockin' sounds from some of today's most powerful voices in Contemporary Christian music in live concert performances on stages throughout Disney's Hollywood Studios Park. It's going to be a magical, musical celebration of inspiration and joy!

Here are a list of performers at this year’s event: Chris Tomlin, David Crowder*Band, Casting Crowns, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Group 1 Crew, Tenth Avenue North, Sidewalk Prophets, Mercyme, Third Day, Family Force 5Smokie Norful, Red, LeCrae, and Day of Fire.

It’s gonna be a night…or two…you’ll never forget!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a Halloween-themed special event held on select dates in that requires a separate ticket to attend. During the party, guests of all ages are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes to collect delicious candy by trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom theme park.

In addition to many favorite Disney attractions, Mickey's Party is filled with special entertainment, including:

•Mickey's "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parade
•“Happy HalloWishes” Fireworks Display
•Favorite Disney Characters and Disney Villains in special Halloween costumes.
•Special lighting, music and themes transform special areas of Magic Kingdom theme park into happy haunted hollows.