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

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.