Hotels Near Walt Disney World: Saving Money by Not Staying With Disney

By Nancy Bobby

Announcing an upcoming vacation to Disney World is likely to be greeted with squeals of excitement from the youngest members and perhaps some of the adults as well. But that excitement is usually quickly tempered by the realization that this could be a very expensive vacation. Fortunately, there are many ways to save money on a vacation to Walt Disney World. And one of the best ways is not to stay in one of Disney's many resort properties, but rather in one of the hundreds of hotels near Walt Disney World.

The benefits to staying off-property are many. To start, expect to get larger and/or better accommodations for the same or less money than you would have spent at a Disney property. If you have a large family, this is especially important, as a typical hotel room is not usually large enough. Plus, if you are traveling during the busy holiday seasons, or peak summer/school vacations, you will find it to be much easier to find rooms in a lower price range.

Many folks would like to visit non-Disney attractions while in the Orlando area. Staying off-site makes this a bit easier and less expensive as well, since a number of hotels provide discounts and coupons to other area theme parks and restaurants. And you will find more options for less expensive meals and shopping.

Other benefits may include shuttle transportation to the theme parks, and the ever-popular free breakfast. Many hotels also have lavishly-designed pool areas, spa and workout rooms, as well as children's activities. And a number of properties have options for suite accommodations with mini-kitchens as well.

But what about that 24/7 immersion in the Disney "magic"? It is true that you will lose that experience if staying off-site, but many people actually find that to be an advantage. And for your family, having a break from all-Disney all the time may be the key to your sanity.

Now if you would like a compromise of sorts, then consider one of the "non-Disney" hotels that are located on Disney property. Several are in the Downtown Disney area, and there are also the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin , near Epcot and Hollywood Studios. These properties, although not owned by Disney, provide a number of Disney World benefits, but without the corresponding price tag. It's a nice way to get the "best of both worlds".

The only real potential disadvantage to staying off Disney property may be transportation. This is one area that you should carefully look at. To begin with, some hotels use a shared shuttle system with other properties, adding additional travel time. Some charge for their shuttle. If you are planning afternoon visits back to your hotel, you will want to consider all your alternatives. Many folks decide to rent a car, which can be a good solution, but realize that you will have a parking fee at the parks, and on peak holidays, the parking lots may actually close to non-Disney guests. Still, research carefully and you will find many great properties where transportation will not be a problem.

Staying in one of the hotels near Walt Disney World should definitely be considered as a great way to save money on your next Disney vacation. Lots of great benefits, and a great price tag: it's a great combination in today's economy! - 24585

About the Author:

Nancy Bobby has enjoyed planning trips to Walt Disney World (and saving money on them) for over a decade. Learn more about her favorite hotels near Walt Disney World, as well as her ideas for planning affordable Disney family vacations.

Cruise Vacations and What You Need To Know

By Tricia Valenstine

Are you someone that wants to get away but not sure how, or still pondering how you are going to spend those vacation days? Have you ever thought about taking a cruise vacation to somewhere you always wanted to visit? Then maybe you should look into taking a cruise.

Specific cruise lines will have certain activities that may differ from others, just as a starter I will be going over the amenities that mostly all of major cruise lines offer with a couple of them varying in some cases.

Offshore excursions that are guided are very popular among many of the popular cruise lines that are out there. The destination is up to you, some packages may stop at 5 or 6 foreign ports, while others maybe only one or two, if there is a port there then there is a cruise ship that will go to it, a simple internet search should be able to answer that question.

Cruise ships offer you a wide array of amenities, so there is always plenty of stuff to do when you are on a cruise ship. Swimming pools and spas can be found, along with chairs so that you can lay out and catch some sun.

There are plenty of opportunities to stay in shape when on a cruise also, of you do not know where to start then many of them offer personal trainers. If you need a rest from the kids then you are in luck as many cruises have day care centers for all ages.

In the United States, casinos are very limited, and can only be found in Vegas, Atlantic City, and Indian reservations. Many cruise ships have casinos that are on board, and when you are out in the open water gambling is not illegal, this is one reason why many people love to take cruises.

You can also enjoy great dining, there are many different restaurants and eateries that are spread through cruise ships. So if you are on a 7 day cruise then you can expect to gain about 10 pounds or more, you might as well spoil yourself while you can.

If you are a night owl then you can enjoy clubs aboard a cruise ship, where you can find dancing and cocktails, if you are old enough of course. Every cruise ship will have some sort of activity, parade or show for the night people.

So if you want to go on a cruise for a specific activity, make sure that you call in advance and ask as many questions as possible. For instance if you want to go on a cruise to gamble, then Disney Cruise Lines would not be the right choice for you. - 24585

About the Author:

For those that are in need of more details on cruise vacations, Tricia happens to have an wonderful resource guide where you can learn all about a caribbean cruise vacation.

How to Find the Perfect Park City Hotels

By Barry Borenski

Park City Utah is a popular vacation destination, but many people who visit wonder how to find the best place to stay since there are literally hundreds of lodging options. The town does have a few major hotel brands such as Comfort Inn, Best Western, and Marriott but the majority of the best rentals are privately owned homes and condominiums.

Property management companies offer these privately owned residences for nightly rental. You may also be able to rent directly through an individual homeowner but this can be slightly riskier for the consumer. There are also central reservations agencies and private booking companies who contract with management companies and usually take a commission of up to 25% for the service. Since the property manager has to pay a commission to the booking agency, sometimes you can get a better deal if you contact the property manager directly.

Seasoned visitors to Park City often use the Park City Chamber's website www.parkcityinfo.com to search for information on property management companies offering nightly rentals. The Chamber is a great resource for doing research. Their site allows you to find the names of the different management companies as well as their telephone numbers and websites. You'll have to visit each manager's website directly to see what properties they have available for rent.

Since there are so many different property management companies, with new ones popping up each year, many visitors end up booking through central reservations or one of the other booking companies. These services can definitely save time but you're almost certain to pay rack rate since the property managers have to pay them such a high commission for arranging the business.

I recently became aware of a website called www.localtourist.com that specializes in connecting visitors with businesses in the Park City area. Local Tourist is an informational directory similar to the Park City Chamber; however, it allows you to search individual rentals and then contact the property manager directly. You are probably going to get a better deal since they don't take a commission like booking agencies.

Local Tourist doesn't just help with lodging; the site also helps you research the three ski resorts, activity vendors, and restaurants. The restaurant search has all of the standard search functionality you would expect as well as a detailed neighborhood search so you'll be able to find the perfect restaurant close to where you are staying.

Park City has become a destination for foodies as well as adventure seekers. The town now boasts over 100 restaurants and many are highly acclaimed so you'll definitely want to do some research before you plunk down your hard earned cash while on vacation. Local Tourist does a great job with their restaurant search feature but you should also check out the Park City Chamber's website www.parkcityinfo.com because they have a nice restaurant search as well.

Park City, Utah is one of the top ski destinations in the country and is a must visit if you are an avid skier. Even if you are not a skier or snowboarder, the town offers so many activities and dining options it is worth a visit. The destination is becoming increasingly popular in the summer due to the food and wine festivals, summer outdoor concert series, art festivals, and above all clean, crisp, mountain air. It really won't matter when you choose to visit; Park City will definitely provide a memorable vacation experience. - 24585

About the Author:

Barry Borenski is a Travel and Leisure columnist who currently lives in Lake Placid New York with his wife and two children. Barry recommends the site Local Tourist for travel planning to Park City UT.

Alex Rodriguez

By Denise I Smithson

Known as A-Rod to fans and teammates, Alex Rodriguez plays third base for the New York Yankees. Born in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood, Rodriguez moved to the Dominican Republic at the age of four. However, the family soon returned to the US and settled in Miami. Soon after, is father abandoned Alex and his mother, moving to New Jersey.

It was in Miami that Rodriguez began playing baseball, becoming a star on his high school team. Rodriguez went All-American in his senior year, becoming the first high school player to try out for Team America.

Upon finishing high school, Rodriguez signed a letter of intent to play for the baseball team at the University of Miami - but he decided to pursue a professional career in baseball instead, entering the amateur draft.

A-Rod was quickly drafted by the Seattle Mariners, becoming only the third 18 year old short stop since 1900! Unfortunately, his first season was cut short by 1994's major league baseball strike.

As a result, it wasn't until 1996 that5 Rodriguez really came into his own. In this season, he batted a very impressive .358, scoring 36 home runs and 123 RBIs, the highest average for any right hand batter in the AL since Joe Di Maggio. This was also the 3rd highest batting average for a short stop in any league - Rodriguez would finish out the season with the Major League's highest total of hits, runs, doubles and extra base hits, earning him the Major League Player of the Year title.

He would play with several more teams until in 2004 he signed with the New York Yankees. During his years with the Yankees, he would set more records of home runs; RBI's and win Most Valuable Player in 2005 and again in 2007. Despite all his accomplishments, A-Rod would begin to receive criticism for being unable to perform well in clutch situations, that is under extreme pressure. Fans and sport writers alike would criticize his abilities. Much of this he simply takes in stride and has been quoted as saying, "I could care less. In my career, I've been hearing it for a long time. It will never stop until you win five or six World Series in a row, and hit a Joe Carter home run. I've done a lot of special things in this game, and for none of that to be considered clutch, it's an injustice." He must be doing something right however because in 2007 the Yankees and Rodriguez came to an agreement for a ten year contract at the tune of two hundred and seventy five million dollars and millions more if he breaks the home run record.

A-Rod's personal life is also controversial; he has been seen with another woman and his marriage is reputed to be on the rocks. There have also been rumors that Rodriguez has had an affair with Madonna, something lent more credence by the singer's own troubled marriage to filmmaker Guy Ritchie. - 24585

About the Author:

How much do you know about baseball? Nothing But Sports is a great place to brush up on your sports trivia and learn how to swing that bat.

Nicklaus Bio

By Denise I Smithson

Even before he was old enough to drive a car, it was obvious that Jack Nicklaus (also known as The Golden Bear) was destined to become a golf legend. At the age of 13, this son of a Columbus, Ohio pharmacist broke 70 while playing 18 holes.

As a junior player he won the Ohio Open in 1956 at sixteen years of age, the US Amateur twice (1959 and 1961), and an NCAA Championship in 1961. When Nicklaus played in the 1960 US Open he had a 282 and finished second behind golf great Arnold Palmer. He was also a part of and won the US Eisenhower Trophy with his team in 1960 with a four-round score of 269-this record still stands today.

Nicklaus was playing on the pro circuit by 1962, when he won his first US Open. Defeating Arnold Palmer in this tournament made him a household name overnight. He would win the Masters twice in the 1960's even though it would be 1970 before he would win his next US Open. He took nine more major titles in the 1970s, breaking the 13 title record held by Bobby Jones. His last major tournament can in 1986, when he was 46; the oldest player to win this tournament.

In 1990, Nicklaus joined the PGA Senior tour. He would win 10 tournaments on the tour by 1996. Eight of these were major tournament wins, no less. His last appearance in a major tournament would be in 2005. Since then, he has stayed active in the golf world - designing courses, holding his own PGA tournament (the Memorial Tournament) and writing both autobiographies and instructional books - on how to play his way, of course.

Like his long-time rival Arnold Palmer, Nicklaus came to prominence as golf was beginning to be a televised sport. He quickly became one of the highest paid players, earning a then unheard of $60,000 in 1962; a year he would also win Rookie of the Year. 1963 was an even better year for Palmer as he captured the PGA and Masters championships.

His records include one for lowest score in the last 36 holes (in the 1964 British Open) and his 1965 Masters winning tournament record of 271 (which stood until 1997 when until Tiger Woods hit 270).

Asked to describe himself and his career in a 1970 interview given shortly after the death of his father, Nicklaus remarked: "I was playing good golf, but it really wasn't that big a deal to me one way or the other. And then my father passed away and I sort of realized he had certainly lived his life through my golf game. I really hadn't probably given him the best of that. So I sort of got myself back to work. So 1970 was an emotional one for me from that standpoint-it was a big boost." This may be the case; Nicklaus was certainly a record setter - he was the first player to win all four major tournaments twice in the course of his career.

Nicklaus won his third PGA player of the year award in 1974 and became one of the first additions to the World Golf Hall of Fame. The following year, he took his fifth Masters and fourth PGA championship titles. He was named the ABC Wide World of Sports Athlete of the year the same year. Unbelievable for anyone but the golden bear, he won his sixth Masters in 1986. In fact, Nicklaus shares the record for having won all major championship three times with Tiger Woods. For his record breaking achievements in the game and his support for the sport off of it, The Golden Bear will always be a legend to golf fans. He remains an active force n the golf world and is still continuing to contribute to the game - Jack Nicklaus is nothing if not impressive. - 24585

About the Author:

When you want a question answered about sports, be sure to visit http://nothingbutsports.info. Here you will find sports trivia, tips, quotations, and resources about all kinds of sports activities. Visit us today at Nothing But Sports.

The Facts Boxing vs. MMA

By Denise I Smithson

Mixed martial arts is a sport which has been seeing an ever expanding fan base over the past decade. The sport really started to take off after a UFC-centered reality TV show which exposed the sport to the public. The UFC is the official MMA league which produces and promotes the matches; all of the professional MMA fighters are in the league, giving the UFC a lock on the sport. Many people worry that the attention paid to MMA comes at the expense of boxing, but the two sports are different enough that there shouldn't be any cause for alarm - there is no reason to follow one sport and not the other, since MMA is not intended to replace boxing.

However, boxing has been declining in popularity in the US for some time now. Of course, the sweet science is at no risk of extinction - there is a core of loyal fans that will always support the sport. Despite the repeated predictions of boxing's demise, the sport isn't going anywhere. However, some long time boxing fans feel that MMA is nothing but a cheap, sensationalized knock off of their favorite sport.

At the same time, many boxing fans have begun to appreciate MMA while still remaining dedicated to boxing as well. There's plenty for boxing fans to appreciate in mixed martial arts fighting. The sport incorporates elements of boxing, wrestling, judo, kickboxing, Muay Thai and other styles. This blend of styles into a single event makes for a sport which is something all its own.

Boxing fans and MMA fans in fact can find a lot to enjoy in both sports. MMA events don't feature much in the way of advanced boxing techniques and since these fighters don't specialize in the discipline, the work of athletes in professional boxing is worlds apart from what you'll see in a MMA match.

However, with smaller gloves that serve merely as knuckle guards, there are many more knockouts and fights can seem more exciting in that fashion. It depends on what you are looking for, a finer display of skill and technique or a potentially more explosive display. People can like both and turn to each for separate reasons.

It's definitely possible to be a fan of MMA and boxing at the same time. Fans enjoy each sport for different reasons. You're not letting down boxing by taking in a MMA event; and the UFC won't feel betrayed if you watch a boxing match. It's not as if you hear people saying that they can't watch soccer since they like to watch baseball. The sports may share a few similarities, but they are at their very core different sports which should not be taken to be in competition with each other for your attention.

Boxing and MMA fans need to come to an understanding that the sports are two different animals and have different things to offer fans. Naturally, you don't have to like both; no sport will appeal to every fan. However, you should approach each sport on its own merits rather than in relation to other sports. - 24585

About the Author:

Nothing But Sports is a website dedicated to everything about sports providing millions of internet sports enthusiasts with great information and resources about sports. Visit us today at http://nothingbutsports.info.

Maintaining Your Woodworking Equipment Is Easy

By Ryan Henders

Any individual that owns any type of tools knows the importance of keeping them maintained and in good working order. Most of the wood working tools for example are not cheap to buy. In addition, they will not do the best job they are designed for if the applicable ones are not kept sharp.

Keeping the woodworking tools sharp does not only make for precision work it reduces the possibility of accidents as well. This means that you are going to have to invest in some tools just to do the job of keeping the others sharpened. The problem is how do you know which ones to buy for what tool. What you are going to need will also be determined as to the type of woodworking you do. Each specialized area has its own tool requirements. For example, if you do woodcarving or construct wood furniture then your needs will be different.

There are some tools that you can hand sharpen but there are others that will require power sharpeners. You will need to learn about each one of your tools then determine what will be needed to sharpen them.

One thing you are going to learn is that power equipment designed for sharpening tools do not necessarily do a better job they are just able to do the same job much faster. For tools that have been neglected the power sharpening tools work great at removing any build up debris on the cutting components. Most often, these cutting edges are gouged and this really is where you will need the power sharpening equipment to do an effective job.

One of the most popular pieces of equipment for sharpening is the grinders. It must be noted that the shop grinders are not for using on woodworking tools in their original state. They need some modifications done to them first. You will need to remove the original wheel that comes on the shop grinder and replace it with one of the wheels that is designed specifically for sharpening wood working tools. The original blade that came on your grinder is designed for sharpening items such as the blades of your lawnmower or for grinding in general.

Another part that also needs to be changed is the tool rest. You will find the tool rest that comes on the grinder difficult to adjust because it?s so small. This makes it most difficult for any type of control of your grinding. Doing your grinding up grades won?t be difficult to do because they are readily available on the market.

Once you have purchased your grinder and completed the necessary changes to it then you will be ready to start getting your woodworking tools back in shape where they can do a great job just like they were designed to do. Often novices to woodworking tools will blame the inferior job they are doing on the quality of the tool not realizing it?s because of a dull blade. Then there are some that will attempt to just change the blade instead of sharpening the one they have. - 24585

About the Author:

Want to build sheds the easy way? Get free shed plans of a storage shed at MyShedPlans site now. MyShedPlans offers you over 12,000 shed plans and woodworking patterns. It is the ultimate woodworkers resource