Tropical Palms Blog: RV Resort, Cottages, Vacation Home Rentals in Orlando, Florida near Disney

Toys for Tots helped make Christmas a lot brighter for more than 25,000 children in Osceola, Orange, and Seminole counties last year. We’re really proud of all that our Sandcastle vacation cottage homeowners, long-term guests, and team members did to contribute to that great effort. The unwrapped presents they brought to our Christmas party sent the visiting Marines, who volunteer with Toys for Tots and picked up the gifts for the kids, back to their base with cars and trucks loaded down with toys.

So there was only one thing to do – and that’s do it again this year!

Mark your calendars – starting December 1st,  you’re all invited to donate toys for tots.  Guests are encouraged to bring unwrapped new toys to the front office and place under our tree. Tropical Palms will also be hosting an exclusive appreciation party for it’s sandcastle homeowners and long term guests. And like all Tropical Palms’ parties this one is going to be a blast. It kicks off at 6 in the Bamboo Room with, we hope, a contingent of Marines, a menu that features Cornish game hens cooked to holiday perfection, and music courtesy of D.J. Tricia, whose high energy spins are guaranteed to get you out on the floor shaking your groove thing. It’s free for Sandcastle owners and long-term guests, so we want to see all of you in attendance.

Last year the Tropical Palms team did an incredible job of decorating for the party. The tree was decked out with characters from Dr. Seuss and all the tables sported Seuss books that people had donated to add to the bounty of gifts. This year Janet Eastman, who helped to start this tradition three years ago when she first came to Tropical Palms, and her team are promising to outdo themselves to get everyone in the spirit. She’ll be in the kitchen, ably assisted by Maria Delia, Bill Eastman, Humberto Borund, and anyone else who cares to volunteer as a Santa’s helper.

Bartenders Lee Gelderman, a Sandcastle vacation cottage owner and Maintenance Manager Ed Wasilewski have volunteered and will be back pouring at our open bar. Last year, they did such a great job mixing cocktails and drawing beers the duo raised over $80.00 in tips they contributed to Toys for Tots. They promise to do so again this year – so feel free to reach down into your pockets to thank them. Having the Marines here holds special meaning for Lee and his wife Elaine. They have a son who is one of those few good men who serve in the Corps. Right now he’s stationed in Afghanistan. We wish him God’s speed and a safe return.

We also wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to one of the wonderful people from Toys for Tots who make this possible, so we spoke with Stephanie Dent, a member/volunteer coordinator for the Toys For Tots campaign for Osceola County.

For Stephanie, working with Toys For Tots is something of a family tradition. Her Mom, Peggy, volunteered when son, David, Stephanie’s brother and a former Marine now in the Reserves, had to leave to attend school in North Carolina. Peggy got Stephanie involved and now the 19-year old from St. Cloud is devoting all her considerable energy to the cause. She’s busy registering people to collect the toys – it was Stephanie we turned to help us find Marines to attend our party – and is working with Channel 9 to find a warehouse where all the toys can be kept and distributed from. She’s taken on quite a bit of responsibility but feels the cause is worth it.

We so greatly appreciate your efforts and the efforts of Stephanie and thousands like her because in these tough times the only bit of Christmas too many children will have will be the gift delivered by Toys for Tots.

Please join us on December 9^th.

Would you rather reward Dad with another tie he’ll never wear, or three days of fun and games poolside at Tropical on his special weekend? Make Dad feel extra special this year and book that vacation today! The weekend after Father’s Day, we’ll be celebrating the Great American Backyard Campout! And finally, the most patriotic, flag waving 4th of July you’ve ever celebrated. Get ready to parade those golf carts!

Bill & Janet Eastman
Janet and Bill Eastman are savvy shoppers. Before buying anything they do their homework, compare what’s out there and then buy the best. So when they retired in April, bought their Class A motor home and headed for the warm weather south of their Nashville, Michigan home, they checked out a number of resorts before stopping at Tropical Palms.

“Everyone was so nice and helpful,” says Janet. “They showed us around and showed us all that was available. It was the nicest park we saw and it just seems to have an endless variety of activities.

“We’ve gotten friendly with a number of other folks. We enjoy going to the Bamboo Room for Monday, Wednesday and Friday game nights. We also get together with a group of about 12 to 14 people, go out to eat and explore different local restaurants. We enjoy that because we owned and operated a restaurant.”

And while the Eastmans are having a great time at Tropical, they also enjoy getting out and seeing all that’s nearby. “One of the best things for us is the proximity of Tropical Palms to all the local theme parks. We really enjoy Disney and have bought a seasonal pass so we can go whenever we want. Being so close makes that easy,” Janet explains.

The Eastmans are already taking an active part in the community, participating in last Christmas’ successful Toys for Tots program. They contributed Christmas candy for a class full of kids taught by one of our team members at a local school.

The Eastmans also like our team members. “Whenever I have a question or need help with something and I mention it to them, they’re right on it. We went on a cruise and needed a place to board our cat and dog while we were away. They had a great recommendation.”

So just how happy are the Eastmans with their decision to stay here? They’ve already booked their stay for next winter.

Carol & George Acker
You might think that after 38 years working as a teamster, George Acker had spent enough time behind the wheel. But as he says with a laugh, “I just can’t get enough of the diesel, so now I drive an RV.”

That RV brought him and wife Carol to Florida from their home near Albany, NY four years ago after they’d retired. They tried another RV park but didn’t think much of it. That changed as soon as they drove into Tropical. One look at the pool and the palms and they knew this was the place for them. They stayed three weeks that first year and have been back every year since, staying longer each time. Like the diesel, Tropical Palms has been getting addictive and they’ve already booked for six months next year.

‘It’s a beautiful setting,” George says and Carol concurs. “Lots of palms trees, well maintained, always clean. And every year when we come back they’ve upgraded, especially the last couple of years. This year it’s a bigger, better pool area.”

The other big attraction for the Ackers is all the nearby attractions. They’ve got a ten-day hopper pass to the Disney Parks, where their favorite is the Animal Kingdom. “We see the ‘Tree of Life’ movie every time we go and we always get a kick out of it.” And they enjoy spending time in Old Town, where George likes to watch the car parades while Carol visits the shops. “She’s been in everyone of them about a hundred times and has plans for another hundred.”

But the best part of Tropical Palms is the friends they’ve made. “Carol calls me the ‘Mayor’ because every day I walk Sassy, our Boxer, and stop and talk with everyone I run into. The people here are fantastic and we’ve made lots of friends and do a lot of socializing.’

George likes the parties Tropical throws for the “long term RVers,” those guests that stay for most of the season. “The food and drinks are always terrific. We really enjoy it.”

“Tropical reminds me of when we were kids and loved building forts and being inside them. My theory is that RVers are still like those little kids. Except now the RV is our fort – only this time it has all the conveniences.”

Both Jack & Beverly Robert and Don & Linda Torrey came to Tropical Palms thinking they would retire to a nice quiet life here. Were they ever wrong – and they couldn’t be happier about it. If fact, they’re enjoying themselves so much, these two first time families have already booked reservations for next year.

Jack and Beverly Robert
When Jack and Beverly Robert came to Tropical Palms for the first time this October, it was their intention to spend their six months with us doing little but taking it easy and relaxing.  Things didn’t quite work out the way the couple from Manchester, Connecticut expected.

Jack and Beverly have barely stopped since their arrival. They’ve gotten involved with our Monday, Wednesday and Friday game nights. They’ve been playing Bocce Ball, Miniature Golf and Shuffle Board; they can’t wait to get a Wii bowling league started.

They’ve also been spending a lot of time visiting and enjoying the nearby parks: Disney World, Sea World, Busch Gardens and the Hard Rock Cafe. Now they’re thinking of volunteering at one of the local community centers or shelters that will earn them a free pass to Disney. It’s been a whirl of activity – and that doesn’t even take into account the time they spend at the pool.

Not that they’re complaining. In fact, they’re having such a good time they’ve already booked a stay for next year. And now Jack’s brother, John, who came to spend the holidays with them, enjoyed himself so much he’s decided to join them and booked space for next year.

“Everybody’s always happy and wearing a smile,” is the way Jack describes both Team Members and Residents at the Resort. “It’s made it a pleasure getting to know the people here. Everyone’s from a different place and it’s fun getting to know them. We’ve made some really good friends. In fact, we’ve been talking to some other couples about possibly taking a cruise together later in the year.”

A cruise may be the only way the Roberts can finally relax.

Don and Linda Torrey

Like the Roberts, Don and Linda Torrey are also retired and are spending their first winter at Tropical Palms. Also like the Roberts, the Torreys, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, are doing so much and enjoying themselves so much that they, too, have already made reservations for next year.

Don found Tropical Palms on the Internet. He’s been an RVer all his life, traveling with his parents as a child. He and his wife continued the lifestyle and over the years they’ve been to dozens of parks all along the eastern seaboard. In all those years they haven’t found one they like nearly as much as they do Tropical Palms.

“Everyone bends over backwards to make your visit memorable,” Don explains.  “But what makes Tropical Palms really unique is that here everyone knows your name. It makes you feel like part of the community, part of a family. It’s just fantastic.”

Don and Linda have also been spending a lot of time at Disney, where they bought a season pass that allows them to go as often as they’d like. Don, who describes himself as a “gearhead” because of his love of old classic cars – he’s owned more than 70 – enjoys seeing the car shows at Old Town. “I love the muscle cars,” he says.

They also enjoy taking part in the Aquafit classes at the pool, walking with a group of friends, frequenting the poolside cafe and they’re regular attendees at game nights.

Twice a month they get together with friends. “Each gathering has a different theme. Sometimes it’s dinner, sometimes it’s hors d’oeuvres, sometimes we just brown bag it. But it’s always a good time.” Don says.

They’ve also helped turn the dinners into a fund raising opportunity by creating a Brown Bag auction, where everyone buys a little something and puts it in a brown bag. The bags are then auctioned after dinner. Proceeds go to local charities.

It seems the Torreys, like the Roberts, are having too much fun to start taking it easy just yet.

It’s always easy getting into the spirit of the season at Tropical Palms and this year is no exception. We have fun parties, great entertainment and good times planned to make it a special holiday for all our guests.

Our season kicks off with a Ho, Ho Ho the weekend of December 11^th with a Saturday Night Sweet & Savory buffet reception for all our Sandcastle Homeowners in the Bamboo Room. There’ll be music and entertainment and we’re hoping to get some Marines to join us to help start our toy collection drive.

We’re putting a Hawaiian spin on the holiday the weekend of December 18^th with a Christmas Luau. The pool deck will be dressed up in holiday lights, we’ll have a DJ, karaoke, an ice cream social and all the usual fun, games and activities like our dive-in movies – all with a Christmas theme, of course.

Christmas Day we’ll be serving a grand traditional dinner with a menu that includes ham, potatoes au gratin, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole – and yes, it will be topped with marshmallows – and green garden salad. And of course there will ooey, gooey brownies and an incredible assortment of pies. Perfect for after presents.

There will be three seatings, at 12, 1 and 2 so you can pick one that’s most convenient for your family. Be sure to make reservations now because you won’t want to miss a single bite – or any of the great fun things we’ve got planned for the day.

We’re also unwrapping some gifts for you, like an upgraded pool deck with more furniture and chairs so you can enjoy all the poolside activities even more. And we’ve stuffed your stocking with a new bocce ball court and an additional nine holes of miniature golf to really challenge your skills.

Our volunteers have also been putting some presents under the tree, starting some great new programs you’ll definitely want to be a part of, get in shape morning walking and aqua fit classes, horseshoes, Spanish lessons and game nights. Contact Andy or Luke if you’re interested in attending or if you have a program you’d like to start. We’re always looking for great ideas, so get involved.

Let’s get this party started. Make your reservations now!