This year, the resort will host the Waldorf Astoria Enchanted Glow at sunset on Friday and Saturday evenings, featuring a brilliant display of Chinese wish lanterns in the resort pool. Guests will have opportunity to purchase and decorate their own wish lantern during the day (11am till dusk), to be set afloat that evening at 9pm. According to legend, the wish will be granted when the lanterns is set afloat that evening, creating a beautiful candle-lit spectacle.

Other Enchanted Evening highlights include:

Lobby /Peacock Alley

• Weird Science Ice Cream Social; 4pm-6pm (Friday) On Friday evenings, guests can watch the most magical ice cream form in front of their eyes… thanks to liquid nitrogen (which is more than 300 degrees below zero) and some amazing ingredients. [Additional fee]
• Champagne Check-In; 3pm-6pm (Friday) Help us celebrate our Enchanted Evenings with a complimentary glass of champagne at check in on Friday.
• Evening Entertainment at Peacock Alley; 8pm-Midnight (Daily)Grab a seat and enjoy live music while taking in the fabulous vibe of Peacock Alley.
• Mojito Madness at Peacock Alley; 5pm-7pm (Friday and Saturday) Partake in an interactive mojito experience, sampling four different flavors. [Additional fee]
• Royal Tea, a new Waldorf Astoria Orlando tradition; 3pm-5pm (Sunday) Treasure time together as you savor finely-prepared tea sandwiches and house-made pastries while sipping premium hot tea, and listening to live piano music. [Additional fee]

Waldorf Astoria Spa

Extend the bliss of a spa treatment with a special experience from 6pm-8pm while the children enjoy complimentary admission to the WA Kids Club. Wind down with complimentary champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries in the Spa Lounge. (Friday and Saturday)

Waldorf Astoria Pool

Enchanted Evenings Twilight Celebration

• Live Entertainment at the Pool; 4pm-8pm (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
• Crafts at Splash Hut; 2pm and 4pm (Daily) Fun crafts that may include herb garden potting, wind chimes, sun catchers, pin wheels, calendars or kite decorating. Crafts vary by day. [Additional fee]
• Kids Club Astoria After Dark: Kids Night Out; 6pm-10pm (Friday and Saturday) Event includes pizza dinner at Aquamarine. Parents can enjoy a 10 percent discount at Bull & Bear for dining this evening. [Additional fee]

6:00-6:30pm Scavenger Hunt
6:30-7:00pm Surrey Bike Obstacle Course
7:00-8:00pm Make your own pizza dinner at Aquamarine; Decorate Wish Lanterns
8:00-8:45pm Craft Time (telescope, kids tee shirt or clay hand print)
8:45-9:30pm Participate in Make A Wish Lantern event while enjoying s’mores at firepit
9:30-10:00pm Bingo in Kids Club

• Family S’mores Night; Sunset to 9pm. (Friday and Saturday) Enjoy the fire-pit. S’more kits available to purchase.
• Make a Wish Floating Lanterns; 9:30pm-11pm (Friday and Saturday) During the day, families can purchase and decorate a Floating Wish Lantern. At 9pm they are all lit and set afloat in the pool, creating a glowing spectacle of light.
• Starry, Starry Nights Astronomy Walk; Select Dates Enrich your spirit while star gazing with an Orlando Science Center astronomer. Weather permitting.

Daytime Fun on the Cabana Lawn

• Color Me Canvas; 9:30am (Sunday) Learn to paint on canvas.
• Cabana Lawn Games (Daily) Chess, Corn Toss, Croquet

Golf/Putting Green/Promenade

•  Enchanted Evenings Horse and Carriage Rides; 7pm-11pm (Saturday) Romantic trip around the Resort in a lighted carriage. 30 minutes, includes champagne and strawberries, upgraded packages available. [Additional fee]
• Golf Getaway Package at Waldorf Astoria® Golf Club; 9am-12noon (Saturday & Sunday) Enjoy a relaxing 18 holes for $95 including rental clubs and a $20 food/beverage credit at the cart. Package available from 9am-12pm Saturdays & Sundays.
• Saturday Golf Clinics; 10am-11am (Saturday) Enjoy small group golf instruction from our PGA Golf Staff at Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. Taylor Made golf clubs provided if needed. Beginner to moderate-based instruction. $35 per person, sleeve of logo golf balls included.
• Twilight Golf at Waldorf Astoria® Golf Club; after 2pm (Daily) Enjoy 18-holes after 2 pm for $75, including rental clubs.

Bull and Bear

• Chef’s Cooking Demo: Organic Food & Wine Tasting; 3pm-4pm (Saturday) Learn about organic foods as you taste in Bull & Bear’s kitchen. Relax and enjoy the demonstration as you learn how our Chef expertly prepares your meal. Then take home the recipe to recreate later for family and friends. Promises to be a savory experience that will delight your palette. $35 per person

Jazz Under the “Full Moon”: Select Dates

Join us at the pool under the glimmering light of the (nearly) full moon and sip a cocktail while listening to live contemporary Jazz favorites. Sunset to 11pm.

• Friday, June 8
• Saturday, July 7th – including a private fireworks show over Bonnet Creek Golf Club
•  Friday, August 3
• Friday, August 31

Waldorf Astoria Orlando has put the destination on the map for luxury travelers. Nestled in a nature preserve and conveniently located inside the gates of Walt Disney World, the resort is a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of neighboring theme parks. Cara Goldsbury, author of Luxury Guide to Disney World, calls it “stunningly impressive.” “Swank and sophisticated,” she continued, “Waldorf Astoria has redefined local luxury in Orlando.”

The hotel is part of a unique resort complex that also features the top-rated Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, the championship golf course artfully designed by Rees Jones, which has been named one of the most “playable” courses in the crowded Florida market by two national golf magazines.

Waldorf Astoria Orlando infuses timeless Jazz Age-elegance from The Waldorf=Astoria in New York City, with the vibrant and modern ambiance of Florida. It features 498 guest rooms and suites with sweeping vistas of Walt Disney World and the Bonnet Creek nature preserve. The resort’s 171 stunning suites have been called “the best rooms in all of Central Florida.”

Golf Channel travel writer Brandon Tucker called the resort “an exclusive playground for the adult-minded traveler.” It includes re-imagined versions of famed New York City restaurants include Bull & Bear, Peacock Alley, and Oscar’s. Bull & Bear, the hotel’s signature restaurant, was named Best Fine Dining by Orlando Home & Leisure magazine in its elusive Silver Spoon Awards issue. The hotel’s award-winning spa, which has been profiled by both American Spa and Spa magazines, offers treatments from Guerlain, the legendary Parisian fragrance house.

To make a reservation, please visit www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com, or call 888-353-2009.

Wow, the Saturday night carriage rides and the Sunday afternoon tea sound wonderful…too bad I work on Sundays All of the great activities will just add to the magic of staying at a resort as beautiful as the Waldorf Astoria Orlando so make your reservations now!

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thinkSMART software is developed to enhance and encourage reading skills, critical thinking & logical problem-solving, and do so in a fun creative way.

Crazy Machines (DS & Wii): Think outside of the box and push the boundaries of creative thinking as you utilize random objects (anvil, rolling spheres and more!) to build a variety of increasingly complex contraptions that cause chain reactions. Big picture thinking, big fun and big points await in the construction of Crazy Machines!

Labyrinth (DS): Based on the popular board game, Labyrinth drops players in a series of mazes where logical thinking and problem solving skills are the only way out.  Move the walls with the stylus and discover all your treasures in the labyrinth before your opponents do!

Scotland Yard: The Hunt for Mr. X (DS): The chase is a-foot! Scotland Yard is searching for Mister X in London, New York, Berlin, Paris & Amsterdam.  Deductive thinking and procedural logic are key as players aid the famous detectives in the capture of the elusive Mr. X.
I gave all 3 games to my 16 year old son for him to play and review for me, here is what he had to say.

The two DS games I tested (Labyrinth and Scotland Yard) were really lacking on instructions. They basically tell you the story of the game and then tell you to play without telling you what to do. After I figured out how to play the games they were both a lot of fun and highly addicting!  They are themed for a little younger kids, probably between the ages of 8-12. They both take alot of thinking and stratagy. The Wii game (Crazy Machines) was a lot of fun as I do enjoy making and watching Rube Goldberg Machines. This one is also themed for a younger audience than myself, and it’s pretty tricky! Even I got stuck on some levels. There were a few minor glitches in the game. I did have to exit and restart the game after it randomly froze on me.

All in all the games were fun but not very intuitive. They could all use more instruction at the beginning of the game.

The post Summer Vacation is Winding Down-Stay Sharp with Mentor Interactive appeared first on The Mom Maven.

The “Kids Rule! Concierge”-Each day during peak check-in times the “Kids Rule! Concierge” desk provides kids with welcome gifts including: Aruba beach bags, miniature suntan lotion, and beach pail and shovel. In addition, families can learn about the popular Camp Hyatt program – which features Aruba-specific activities such as Papiamento language lessons, island scavenger hunts and Aruban story time.

Dive-In Movie-Spend even more time at the pool as a family with movies on the Main Pool Deck every Tuesday and Thursday. Enjoy theater-style seating or dive right in and watch family-oriented feature films projected onto a giant screen. Forgot to pack popcorn? Refreshments such as popcorn and drinks will be available via concession.

Kids “Pay Their Age” at Palms-During peak periods, children “Pay Their Age” at a special kid’s dinner buffet in Palms restaurant. Sample items kid favorites such as macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, pizza bagels and warm baked cookies.

Smooth & Cool Family Bonding-Every Monday at 10:30am Kadushi Fresh Fruit Juice Bar will teach families how to make the resort’s most popular smoothies. This is an excellent activity for teens or for family bonding, especially as complimentary samples and recipe cards will be handed out as keepsakes to bring home.

Complimentary Healthy Snacks and Soothing Aloe Mists-Sun and fun typically leads to hungry bellies at snack time! Each day, complimentary skewers of tropical fruits will be offered to guests around the pool at 2:00 pm. Throughout the day, the pool staff will offer guests lounging about the pool a cool, refreshing mist of locally grown aloe, an Aruban specialty.

Let the Family Games Begin-New family oriented team-building activities on the summer schedule include Family Tug-o-War, Family Limbo Contests and Token Dives.

The Hyatt Regency Aruba is located on 12 acres of beachfront property on Aruba’s world-renowned Palm Beach.  The 357 guestrooms and suites have been recently renovated and recreational facilities are abundant:  3-level pool complex, spa with fitness center, tennis and basketball courts, private beach, Camp Hyatt for kids and the Casino Copa Cabana.  On-site dining includes Ruinas del Mar restaurant, Café Piccolo, Café Japengo and the Palms Bar & Grille.   The resort is also conveniently located just a short drive away from the airport.

Room rates for July and August begin at $296 per night. The Hyatt Regency Aruba is offering their popular “Three for Free” promotion – book three nights and enjoy a fourth night free with a free room upgrade and free daily breakfast for two.  In addition, “Three for Free” can be combined with the “Family Plan” package, which offers a second room at 50% off the published rate and includes free daily breakfast for kids 12 and under.

What are you waiting for? Book your family vacation today!

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