Our Final Thoughts

We have now been back in the “working world” for two days. Orlando was an amazing adventure and something that we will never forget. Since we have been back, we have received lots of questions about the 67 Days of Smiles promotion. People seem interested in knowing what they could expect from us, if we are chosen. We even had a person tell Tyler it would be cool to get paid for a vacation. Tyler kindly responded that it would be more like what Lindsay calls Tyler’s golf/work trips, a “work-cation.” Of course it would be a lot of fun, but it would also be a lot of work. Most people don’t do daily blog updates with pictures and videos or constant twitter feeds throughout their vacation.

So, what can people expect from us if we are the lucky pair to be selected as Orlando’s Smile Ambassadors? We would make sure that there are daily blog updates (including pictures and videos) and continuous twitter feeds to keep everyone in the loop about what we would be doing. No matter how long the day is, we understand that this is a job just like any other and it is our obligation to deliver daily blogs and constant tweets to our followers. Also, our blogs would help show off the event we participated in; after a great play or concert we may be in the mood to tell the story through poetry or after an enchanting day at Disney maybe we would tell the story as a fairytale.

We would also get our followers involved in our trip as much as possible by posting restaurant menus, museum attractions and different local events during our free time to allow our followers to vote on what we should eat or do while in Orlando. Of course the Orlando CVB will have a schedule of events for us to complete, but we would like our followers to have a say in our events as well. Whether it is what we should eat for dinner or what local bar or band to check out that evening, we want their opinion and input! We would make it a goal of ours to continue to find new ways to keep our followers coming back throughout the entire 67 days.

Our followers could also expect different segments in our blog. We would include things like “Guys-view,” where Tyler would talk about the activities and events from a male perspective. On the other side of that, we could include “Woman’s Word,” which would give our followers Lindsay’s point of view. Also, going to college in Florida, we still have lots of friends in the area. We would love to have them come into town on occasion so we can really show everyone what it would be like to have a “Girls Night Out” or a “Guys Golf Weekend” in this great city. These segments would be featured every couple of weeks and would help give our followers a wide range of ideas when planning any future trips to Orlando. We also have family that lives close by, so we could have occasional family posts. One post could be “Grandparent’s Day” while another could be a “Day with Mom and Dad”. Having family and friends close by would allow us to bring other views of the city to our followers.

Another segment that we would be very excited to bring you is the “Key to …” segment. Whether it is the “Key to having fun while at Universal Studios” or the “Key to an inexpensive night out in Downtown Orlando,” these “Key points” would make sure our followers get the most out of the city when they visit. The “Key to…” segment would be a more regular occurrence in our blogs, tweets and videos to make sure our followers get all the “Key” information they need.

We are honored to have even been selected as finalists for the 67 Days of Smiles promotion. To represent the largest tourism city in the world would be incredible. Orlando has so many secrets and experiences locked away that are waiting to be revealed. It would be amazing to be the Keys that Unlock Orlando.

Time of our Lives

Once Upon a Time, in a magical land called Orlando, 10 pairs of finalists came together to spend 67 hours creating memories that would last them a lifetime. They came from near and far hoping for an incredible experience, but they never could have imagined the excitement that awaited them.

They spent the first night getting to know each other and settled into their beautiful castles from AllStar Vacation Homes. Their homes were more than anyone could have hoped for. Each came with 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and wonderful common areas. The master suites were spacious and elegant, while the children's rooms were bright, detailed and so much fun! There was a full kitchen, living room, dining area, laundry room and even a game room. And in case you wanted more, there was a screened in pool and jacuzzi for everyone's use. What a great option when you are traveling with a family or group of people!

The finalists were up bright and early the next morning to see the sun rise from high above. At Wallaby Ranch they were pulled into the sky by a plane. When they got to the top and the hang glider was detached, they floated through the air and glided back to the ground. What a view! This once in a lifetime experience is well worth the short drive to the outskirts of the city. Wallaby Ranch offers much more than hang gliding adventures and should be a definite stop on your next trip.

From peaceful and breathtaking, the finalists headed straight into energy and adrenaline at Skyventure Orlando. They got ready to fly, by putting on full jumpsuits, goggles, earplugs and helmets, then had a quick lesson about what to expect. Each person was in the wind tunnel with an instructor and, once in the correct position, they flew on their own with big smiles on their faces :) What a rush and what an experience!

At this point it was only noon and the finalists couldn't believe that their action packed day was only half way finished. They headed to Taverna Opa for a Greek feast! From the homemade fresh hummus to the festive dancing and napkins flying through the air, everyone enjoyed every minute of this delicious and lively lunch experience.

After a short afternoon break, everyone rounded up their pirate gear and headed for an evening out at Pirate's Dinner Adventure. They enjoyed the appetizer buffet and happily followed Andre, the orange pirate, into the arena for dinner and an entertaining show. They yelled and cheered as Andre competed to become the new first mate and they sat with eyes wide as the acrobats performed. They left with content smiles and full stomachs at the conclusion of the show. What a day it had been!

Our story continues early the next morning, when the finalists woke up and headed to different amusement parks in the area. A group went to Hollywood Studios, some went to SeaWorld and others to Universal Orlando. Everyone had perfect weather and a morning filled with adventure and smiles. The finalists at Hollywood Studios spent time on rides like the Rockin' Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror and enjoyed getting to know other people visiting the park. The group at SeaWorld enjoyed the first ride of the morning on the new roller coaster Manta and loved the shows where Shamu and tons of dolphins were on display. Everyone who ventured to Universal Orlando stayed busy with a tour through the park and rides on as many of the big attractions as they could cram into the day.

After all of the excitement from the theme parks, the finalists headed to enjoy some culture downtown. They visited the Orange County Regional History Center first, and from there they checked out local art galleries, restuarants, cafes, parks and museums. They even headed to the top of The Plaza building for a wonderful reception and 360 degree view of the city. It was great to imagine that the final pair chosen would be living in that thriving downtown that seems to be growing and improving every day. The Star Tower will be the perfect home base for the lucky pair!

It was time for dinner so everyone headed to Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant for their last meal together in the magical land. They enjoyed two different types of Sangria and the tapas kept coming, one after the next. Everyone feasted until they couldn't hold any more and then it was back to the castles for a good night's rest.

All 20 finalists enjoyed every moment of their unforgettable journey thanks to the hard work of the Orlando CVB staff. And as for the lucky final pair who is chosen to spend 67 days exploring and sharing, well they will get the Happiest Ever After of all.

THE END

Exploring Downtown Orlando

In the afternoon we spent a little time in Downtown Orlando. What an incredible area of the city :) We started at the Orange County Regional History Center and had a great time exploring the history of the city. Since Tyler and I are Florida State graduates, we took some time to check out the history of the Unconquered Seminoles.

After spending a little time at the History Center, we decided to check out Lake Eola. What a perfect escape in the middle of a thriving city! Lake Eola offers a getaway from the city without ever actually getting away. It's amazing how the sounds of the city seem to drift away and the lake brings a peacefulness to everyone around it.



We grabbed a quick bite at Relax Grill and enjoyed spending some down time with the resident swans. With a park, ampitheater, restaurants and even swan shaped paddle boats, Lake Eola provides a great setting for anyone visiting the Downtown Orlando area.




We attended a small reception at the top of The Plaza building, allowing us to experience a 360 degree view of the city...how incredible! We spoke with developers involved in different areas of downtown and learned so much more about what the city has to offer. What a great growing area...we really enjoyed our time spent downtown!


Then it was onto Ceviche for a fabulous dinner experience! We enjoyed two different kinds of Sangria and ate some fabulous tapas. We enjoyed some great potatoes, hummus and grilled veggies. After a special recommendation from Kelly, who we met earlier in the night, we enjoyed the pork shank as well and were so glad we added it to our menu! The atmosphere at Ceviche was just perfect. The food was unique and creative and with such an extensive menu, it would be easy to enjoy this downtown hotspot time and time again.

Universal Adventures

Yesterday we got up bright and early to get some great time in at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We got lucky with a beautiful day and had an incredible tour guide named Branden Colton. We have been so excited to share everything we saw, so here it is!


We first got to the park and had a little bit of time before our tour started. So we headed on foot to check out a couple of the hotels on the grounds. We started at the big globe in front of Universal Studios and walked along the winding path towards the Hard Rock Hotel. What a beautiful walk! By the time you get through the gardens, high trees and incredible scenery, it is hard to believe you are still on the same grounds when you reach the hotel.

The Hard Rock Hotel claims to be the perfect mix of funk and fun and they could not have said it better! From the moment you step inside the lobby, you become completely caught up in the energy and excitement. We left the Hard Rock and headed to the Portofino Bay Hotel, just a short distance away. This hotel is flooded with charm and character and if let your mind go for just a minute, you could definitely believe you were in the middle of beautiful Italy.

We hopped on a rickshaw to get back to the globe, and really enjoyed the nice relaxing ride. The rickshaw rides are free of charge but be sure to tip your driver for all his hard work. What a great way to get around!

We met for our tour and headed to Islands of Adventure. The first ride of the morning was The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. We even got to meet Spider-Man himself on our way in! The ride was completely spectacular and something we could have done over and over. The ride combines a 3-D adventure with a great story, and in the end you get a fantastic result. This is a must-ride attraction and, being the most expensive ride ever put into a theme park, no trip would be complete without it.

We stayed on Marvel Super Hero Island and headed straight to Doctor Doom's Fearfall for a thrilling view of the entire park! With legs dangling, we shot up to the top of the tower and enjoyed every second. What an incredible rush and what a ride!

From there it was on to the Incredible Hulk Coaster. From the moment you launch off from zero to 40 mph, you know you are in for quite a ride! If you love roller coasters....then this is the one for you! You will twist and flip and turn and, before you know it, you will come to the end and find yourself running back to the end of the line for more.

On our way to the next ride, we made our way through Suess Landing! What an incredible place for children...of all ages :) There are no right angles in Suess Landing and the bright colors and curves will surely bring a smile to everyone's face. The music plays out of speakers which are all 4 feet off the ground, making this area very kid friendly.

Next, we were off to conquer the Dueling Dragons, both Fire and Ice. We rode Fire Dragon first and sat in the back row for an incredible experience as we watched the entire ride through our feet, as our tour guide suggested. It was amazing to see the two coasters intertwine from a completely new perspective. We learned that this ride is the only duel coaster attraction in the world where the two sides do not mirror each other. After Fire...we were off to Ice Dragon. For this side we sat in the front row and enjoyed a thrilling ride where we came face to face with Fire several times. We thought it was completely worthwhile to check out both sides of this fierce ride...such a thrill :)

It was getting hot, so for our last ride in Islands of Adventure we headed to Jurassic Park River Adventure for a little relief from the heat. We had a great ride and especially enjoyed the big cooling drop at the end. If you are looking to get wet...the front row is definitely the place for you! If staying a little more dry is something you would prefer, be sure to stick to the back and the middle seats would definitely be the best place for you.

We got to walk by the construction of an exciting new part of the park coming in 2010...The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! From what we could see, everything is looking great and being a very secret project, our guide Branden could only promise that it will be amazing when completed!



We left Islands of Adventure and walked under the new roller coaster coming to Universal Studios later in 2009 called Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. This new attraction looks like it is going to be a fabulous addition to the park! The ride will not go upside down and each person will be able to pick their own soundtrack for the journey. We know everyone can't wait for this new adventure to open!

Once in Universal Studios, our first stop was to Revenge of the Mummy. This was a unique roller coaster ride in the dark that quickly became one of our favorites! The story and effects were great and we would definitely recommend making it a priority when visiting this park.

Then we were off to JAWS, an old favorite. We rode along as our skipper navigated us through our face to face interaction with giant teeth and a mean smile. Luckily we made it through safely and we are sure all visitors would enjoy this classic adventure.


We navigated through the park and visited MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack next. This giant video game of a ride allows you to shoot alients as your car turns and moves and swivels. The more aliens you shoot, the higher your score goes! If you can rack up a score of 150,000 points, you will be promoted from a trainee to a full-fledged agent. We enjoyed the ride and hope you will too!

Our final stop of the day was The Simpsons Ride which was voted Best New Theme Park Ride in 2008 worldwide. What an experience! Your senses will be overloaded as you follow the Simpson family on their adventure. This ride is completely worth the wait and will be a fun spectacle for everyone...whether you are a big Simpsons fan or not.

We wrapped up our day at the parks with a huge THANK YOU to our incredible tour guide Branden. He was a wealth of knowledge and had so many great hints for every attraction. Our day would not have been half as great without him and if you have a chance to take a guided tour of these parks, there would be no one better to request as your guide!



Our KEYS to having fun at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure:

• Be SURE to wear comfortable shoes because you will do a LOT of walking!
• Don't forget your sunscreen if you are visiting in the summertime...be sure to re-apply!
• On The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man keep an eye out for a movie billboard on your left with a phone number. Remember the number and dial it when you get out of the ride, using a 407 area code, for a special message from Spider Man!
• Lift your arms and legs straight out in front of you on Doctor Doom's Fearfall for about 2 seconds of zero gravity at the top of the ride!
• BE READY for the zero to forty take off on the Incredible Hulk Coaster!
• The Dueling Dragons provide two very different rides. On Fire Dragon be sure to watch through your feet for the ride and on Ice Dragon, waiting to sit in the front row will be completely worthwhile!
• Make sure you hold onto your belongings on Revenge of the Mummy...it is quite a ride!
• If you are looking for a place to stop and eat...check out Mythos in Islands of Adventure! It has been voted Best Theme Park Restaurant for 6 straight years!
  

ARRRGH! A Pirate's Life For Me

Many years ago our story takes place,

when gypsies and pirates sailed the sea;

Captain Sebastian the Black was feared by all,

because he would never let his hostages go free.

Tonight we traveled back to this time,

and began with an appetizer buffet;

we had no idea we'd become part of the show,

and that we'd all be captured today.

We were greeted and welcomed by Princess Anita,

with guests young and old all the same;

we followed our pirate, and cheered loud for orange,

he was big and strong and Andre was his name.

We watched sword fights, heard gun shots,

enjoyed dinner, drinks, song and dance too;

we yelled as other pirates battled with Andre,

their colors were red, green, yellow, purple and blue.

What a great night we had, full of entertainment,

for adventurous Orlando visitors of any age;

there's no better way to see a great show,

than with a giant pirate ship as your stage.

You too can have this magical experience,

at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, a must see attraction;

so make reservations and round up your pirates,

because we promise, you don't want to miss this action!

Hang Gliding, Skydiving and Opa OH MY!

What an incredible first full day we have had in Orlando already...and we're not even finished yet! We got up BRIGHT and EARLY this morning and met the bus at 5:15am to head out to Wallaby Ranch www.wallaby.com. The Wallaby Ranch offers year-round tandem hang gliding flights and hang gliding instruction, and is located just outside of Orlando. Trust us, it is well worth the trip! They use aerotowing techniques to pull the hang gliders up into the air and then disconnect to allow for that peaceful and incredible float to the ground. What an experience! We were expecting something wild that would be sure to get our adrenaline pumping, and instead discovered one very breathtaking and relaxing experience.

We were welcomed by a BEAUTIFUL sunrise!

I got to go FIRST!

Tyler landing from his great ride!

The Wallaby Ranch was the PERFECT backdrop for our first adventure in Orlando and in addition to hang gliding, it offers a wonderful camping community with great ammenities and beautiful scenery. It would be a great stop on any traveler's vacation!

After leaving the ranch, we headed to Skyventure Orlando for a little Indoor Skydiving. Our two morning activities could not have been more different, and yet we are in no way able to pick a favorite! The facilities at Skyventure are top notch and the staff was incredibly helpful and even more friendly. Now this activity, it definitely got our adrenaline pumping! The feeling of the wind hitting your face as you slowly fall into the tunnel is completely amazing and invigorating. Each person was in the tunnel for a minute and a half per turn and had the help of an instructor at all times. The instructors were a lot of fun and very patient! They used hand motions to help you get into the best position and did all they could to make sure you had a great time. We each got 2 turns in the tunnel and enjoyed watching everyone in the group have a go. You can only imagine the great faces people can make when their smiles are in the wind :)

The outside of Skyventure Orlando

Practicing our skills :)

Joey Fatone helps the Keys UNLOCK ORLANDO

Skyventure provides fun for EVERYONE! It is safe for children as young as 3 and if you are up for an adventure, it is a stop you will surely want to make.

And if we thought our day couldn't get any more action packed before noon, it was actually time to eat lunch at Taverna Opa http://www.opaorlando.com/home.php. This is a fabulous Greek Restaurant on International Drive with mouth wattering food and a lively atmosphere. The food never stopped coming and dish after dish was absolutely delicious. After we had finished indulging in the food, our waiter got us up and led us in a Greek dance around the restaurant. They turned the music up and, as we all danced together holding hands, they threw white napkins into the air, by the hundred, to help create an unforgettable dining experience. We're glad we didn't have to stay to clean up, but we sure did enjoy our time there!

Now, after a short break back at the houses, we are heading out for a themed dinner at Pirates Dinner Adventure www.piratesdinneradventure.com, which promises to be a great show! We are looking forward to dining with pirates and then heading out for a night on the town. Check back in the morning for pictures from the second half of what might be one of the most memorable days we have ever shared.

All Smiles,

Tyler and Lindsay

Getting to know Orlando

It's the end of our first day in Orlando and we have already had such a great time so far! We left Charlotte at 1:30 and made it to Orlando around 3, only to find rainy weather and a little lightning. Once we were greeted by Steve from Orlando CVB, in his fabulous bright blue shirt, we went down to baggage claim to wait for our bags. While everyone waited out the weather, we decided to get to know some of the other people from our flight. We know why we're in Orlando, to win 67 more days of course, but why does everyone else come to Orlando?!

Once we got our luggage, we met 3 other finalist pairs on a party bus that took us to our homes for the trip. We spent the ride getting to know:

Kyle and Stacey, childhood friends from NYC

Kyle and Trina, newlyweds from Nebraska

and Renee and Nabavi(A fellow Nole!), friends from NYC

Once we got to the house we all sat and took individual personality tests. The tests were 240 questions with answers ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. After the test, we finally got to move our stuff into the house we are actually staying in. The 10 finalists pairs are split into three different houses, all provided by All Star Vacation Homes. These homes are BEAUTIFUL! They are all 6 bedroom/4 bath with game rooms, screened in pools and even themed children's rooms. Any family vacationing in Orlando would be crazy not to take advantage of everything they have to offer. Check out the website at www.allstarvacationhomes.com for more details. In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures of the rooms:

How COOL?!

Once we all got settled, the Orlando CVB staff and all of the finalists enjoyed a BBQ together so we could spend some time getting to know each other.

All 10 Finalist Pairs!

We have enjoyed getting to know the other pairs staying in the same house as us.

Tanja and Rommy, cousins who grew up together in Germany-

staying in a Pirate themed room.

Mike and Clay, brothers from Canada-

enjoying the bubble gum pink Hannah Montana room.

Brendan and Bryce, brothers from California-

racing to sleep in the NASCAR room.

There are also 3 other great pairs that we are looking forward to getting to know better as the trip goes on:

Daz and Kate, couple from Australia

Shannon and Justin, friends from Florida

Melissa and April, friends from Florida

We are anxiously looking forward to our day tomorrow! We are set to get up early but we couldn't be more excited for Hang Gliding at Wallaby Ranch and Indoor Sky Diving at Sky Venture Orlando. The Daily Buzz Morning Show will be there filming and we have been told they will be bringing a guest celebrity as well :) Check back tomorrow for more details!

All Smiles,

Tyler and Lindsay