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