A Word of Thanks

I just wanted to take a moment and give a really big thank you to those businesses and associations in the community that support the Camosun School of Business, and students like myself. This semester I received the Hotel Association of Greater Victoria Co-op Education Award as well as bursaries through the Camosun College Foundation from the Great Canadian Beer Festival Society and Attractions Victoria. These generous contributions are invaluable to students like myself, and I can't accurately articulate how much I appreciate them. Without this support I would be really struggling to pull this work term together. So thank you, not just to the donors of my specific awards and bursaries, but also to all the other donors, your support is VERY much appreciated.

The Top 5

So we're 7 days away from leaving and as a crazy Disney fanatic, I can't help but wonder what hotel I'll be working in! Sooooo I've compiled a list of my top 5 favorite resorts in Disneyworld. Obviously they are all lovely and I'll be happy with whichever resort I'm assigned to, however, these ones are my absolute favorite and I can't wait to see them in real life!! So the way the resorts work in Disneyworld is that there's several different categories; Deluxe Villas,  Deluxe Resort Hotels, Moderate Resort Hotels, and Value Resort Hotels. There's even campgrounds!! Disney has gone to great lengths to ensure that everyone has a place to stay at Disneyworld, no matter what budget!! There's over 25 different resorts in the park (actually I believe there's 31, but that's unconfirmed knowledge)!! And I've gone through every one of them online trying to decide which ones I love the most! So without much further ado, I present my favorite resorts!! I hope you like them as much as I do!! Click the names of each resort to see the resorts in more detail!!

 Oh also, sidebar, did you know that Disneyworld's "Typhoon Lagoon" waterpark is home to the world's biggest wave pool?! Its true.


Erica's Top 5 Disneyworld Resort List

5. Disney's Port Orlean's Resort - French Quarter
This resort made the list because it looks like SO MUCH FUN!!! Located in Downtown Disney, this resort invokes the fun and frolic of historic New Orleans!! I had to put this one on the list because I'm fascinated by New Orleans and particularly the raucous lives of those who lived in the French Quarter, I love jazz music and cajun food! So this one definitely gets a spot in the top 5!

4. Disney's Polynesian Resort
Located in the Magic Kingdom are of the park, this resort is a tropical paradise, it is build to resemble a royal Tahitian assembly lodge. The furniture is bamboo and rattan. The Nanea Volcano pool features a 40 foot high volcano with a waterfall and a waterslide!  The dining room has huge carved totems and is warm and inviting. I've never been to Polynesia, but looking at this resort makes me feel like I have. I love how much attention to detail is put into these resorts, it really transports you to another world!

3. Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Located within Disney's Animal Kingdom, this resort is situated within the park's 21 acre wildlife preserve, featuring over 30 different species of animals that roam freely. The buildings are modeled after an African lodge. Something I love about this resort is that the villas and lobby are built to stretch out in the shape of a water buffalo's horns!! I also love that it's right in the wildlife preserve!!

2. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Located in the Magic Kingdom theme park, this is Disneyworld's flagship resort. Opulent and spacious, it sits on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Victorian style resort's grand lobby stands over 5 stories high and is lit by two massive chandeliers. It is luxury at it's finest. This is on the list because I simply adore the grandeur of it, and I love Victorian style buildings and decor.

1. Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
Here we are!! Number 1!! My very favorite resort in Disneyworld. This is a stunning Victorian style, equestrian themed resort in the Downtown Disney area. It is inspired by Saratoga Springs, a late-1800's New York retreat area that was well known for spas and horse racing. The resort is set on 65 acres, and features lakes and fountains on the grounds. There are 6 different areas that make up the Saratoga Springs; The Springs, The Paddock, Congress Park, The Carousel, The Grandstand, and The Treehouse Villas. There are many reasons that this resort is number one on my list. First and foremost, I'm a horseback rider so anything with an equestrian theme goes right to the top of most of my lists. Also I love the idea of the treehouse villas. They are actually built on pedestals and beams and are raised 10 feet off the ground so guests are sleeping in the lush green trees! I adore that idea. Plus the resort is simply stunning, I can't wait to see it in real life!!

 So there is my list! I hope you enjoyed it!! Can't wait to actually be there!!

Italy

I am totally in love with this hotel called Maison Moschino! It's so beautiful and dream-like. There's also a fun article about it!  The hotel rooms are designed to create the feeling that one is in a fairy tale. Take a look at the 'life is a bed of roses' room, where rose petals drip from the chandelier onto and covering the bed. SO AMAZING!! I would make a trip to Italy just to stay here!!

Luxury Resorts

Just to put you in the traveling mood, I was stumbling today and found this AMAZING article with gorgeous photos of the Luxury Dhigu Resort in the Maldives. How amazing would it be to go here?

Look!!

I've just discovered Stumble Upon!! It's so neat!! I found this awesome link regarding ancient civilizations!! Click here to see what I saw!

Cool link!

I love love love Hotelchatter!! There's so many really neat links and fun articles!! Like this one, pools it's a list of the top 10 death defying pools within hotels!! Check it out! It's really interesting!! There's also a top 10 list of the worlds ugliest hotel and the sexiest hotels too!! I highly recommend following this website!! It's really cool!!

Meh

Happy new year!!! It's 2011. This year promises to be full of adventures. I'm in a bit of a dead zone right now where it's close enough to time to leave that I'm packing and tying up loose ends and such, but not close enough that it feels real yet. I'm not really excited. Chris came into the club last night and he's super pumped, I'm just not quite there yet. Obviously I'm very excited to go and I'm looking forward to the amazing opportunity, but it's just too far away. I'm working every day until I leave, I've got to pack up my whole life and say goodbye to my amazing wonderful friends. I think I'm just sad because Taryn leaves for Oz on monday and so I've been focused on saying bye to her. I think I've also just been talking about Florida so much that it's become unreal. I don't think it's going to hit me until I'm on the plane. I'm definitely more organized than most of the crew I'm travelling with. I get texts or phone calls everyday from the crew needing help organizing and preparing. I like being the one that everyone goes to for help, makes me feel needed!! I'm trying to learn as much as I can about Florida in general before I go because since I'm concierge I think the learning curve will be quite steep, I'll need to learn lots really quickly. I got a really awesome Disneyworld guide book for Christmas, it's soooooo cool!!! I also got a new camera that's lovely so WATCH OUT!! lots of photos coming your way!! I'm currently checking out http://www.visitflorida.com/ for fun facts and info!! Hopefully it helps!!