Disney World Amarillo Rentals

02/02/2025

BUSCH GARDENS-FREE TRANSPORTATION
Perhaps you don’t want the frustration of driving the I4 down to Busch Gardens, or your crew is split on where they want to spend the day. Either way if you are interested in Busch Gardens with FREE transportation, there is a Mears bus waiting for you.

This deal is offered daily. You require proof of a ticket to Busch Gardens to get aboard, and you also must reserve your seat on the bus in advance so they can ensure there is room for you.

The closest pick up location is only minutes away at Maingate Lakeside Resort at 7769 W Irlo Bronson Mem. Hwy.

To learn more, I have included three websites: see what Busch Gardens has to offer, learn more about the Mears FREE transportation service, and your best bet for a secure discount tickets is probably Undercover Tourist.

https://buschgardens.com/tampa/

https://buschgardens.mears.com

https://www.undercovertourist.com/orlando/busch-gardens-tampa-bay/

02/01/2025

FUN SOUVENIR
If you are looking for a souvenir you can use throughout your stay and then take home with you, consider a refreshment glass from The Marketplace & Grill.

Whether you fancy a palm tree drink glass, one with ears or an alligator head, it is a fun way to enjoy your pool-side drinks.

Looking for something a little more refined? The WH wine goblets could be the answer.

*** ALL OF THE DRINK WARE IS SAFE TO USE IN THE POOL AREA.

**** I thought I would include in the photo a little sampling of themed chocolate treats currently available at The Marketplace & Grill. 😋

01/31/2025

TOWEL INFORMATION and TIPS
I got my hair cut and coloured a few days ago and it reminded me of what we have at the villa to offer you regarding towels:
1. The white towels, face cloths and bed linens are provided by a linen service. Two sets of bath and hand towels are provided in each bathroom along with a couple face cloths. (There are a few extra towels stored in the garage above the laundry.) If you are with us for an extended stay, it is expected you will launder these items.
2. The pool towels are multicoloured stripe and are stored in the canvas basket by the pool patio door. It is appreciated if these can be laundered, rolled and returned to the canvas bag prior to your leaving. (Drying Tip: after being in the pool, use the towel tree in the lanai area, the clothes rack in the garage or the dryer on ‘speed dry’ to dry your towels between uses. (Please never hang them on the pool fence.)
3. The black makeup cloths are provided to prevent staining the white face cloths otherwise provided in the bathrooms. The black towels are for use on newly coloured hair so as not to stain the white towels.
4. Tea towels and dish cloths are provided. Launder them in the same manner you would the pool towels, using only COLOUR-SAFE bleach.

TIP #1. If you plan to enter WH early the day of your reservation OR spend the remainder of the day at the main pool after check out, consider picking up a couple cheap Walmart towels. (You will be charged for any pool towels or hand towels missing from the Villa)

TIP #2: throw one dishwasher cube per day of your stay into your luggage so you do not have to purchase them in bulk when you are here. (I wouldn’t risk doing the same with your tide pods, though.😂)

01/28/2025

BUSY BUSY BUSY
Now that the weather has turned right, I am headlong into doing some outdoor chores.
The pool heat has been turned on and the spa should be a perfect temperature so I can soothe my aching muscles this evening . Lol.

01/28/2025

The finished product: seven scraped, sanded and painted sliding door base panels and 6 scraped, sanded and painted door handles.

01/27/2025

NO, NO, NO
Please do not encourage raccoons, squirrels, or any other animal to visit/hang around the villa. All are extremely destructive.
If I could encourage you to do this, it would be appreciated:
1. Place your garbage in the garbage bin at the front door in the morning before 9 AM… never in the evenings.
2. Please do not leave any snacking food in the lanai area as squirrels will literally chew through the screens to get at it. (I am always having to clean up my spilled popcorn. Lol)
3. Operate barbeque rentals outside the lanai area even if they happen to have been delivered inside. This is for fire precautions, as well as to ensure critters, smelling food, do not try to enter the lanai. (The fire extinguisher and fire blanket are kept in the pantry in the kitchen.)

Raccoons and squirrels seem so cute; however, they always have a hidden agenda. Someone, please let the dog know. 🐿️🦝

01/26/2025

BOGO: THE CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE ORLANDO
Between now and September 4, buy one ticket to the Crayola Experience and get the second ticket FREE through kgstickets.com , a reputable seller.
With over 20 experiences encouraging hands-on learning, my niece’s 5 yr. old twins had a blast! I have shared some of their activities with you in the photos below.
The Crayola Experience is adjacent to the Florida Mall, providing the family with a range of dining and shopping opportunities.
The Crayola Experience gets “two thumbs up” 👍 👍 from this crew!

01/25/2025

LOTS OF REASONS TO STOP BY
Stopping at the Welcome Centre at Windsor Hills is the best way to get your holiday off to a great start
1. Send ONE representative from your group to the Welcome Center to pick up your main pool wristbands.
2. Interested in renting sports equipment for a nominal fee? Pick up what you need at the Welcome Center and enjoy our volleyball, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts. You can also pick up what you need for a co****le game, table tennis and the golf putting green.
3. Wondering what there is to see and do outside the parks? Choose from among the various brochures.
4. Weekly clubhouse activities and movies are always posted at the Welcome Center.
5. You can even get a glimpse at future special events. 💘💝💌

*** Guests at Amarillo Villa can always scan the QR code in the frame sitting on the entry table to stay up-to-date on Windsor Hills activities, and movies.

01/23/2025

FINALLY!
Sometimes the simplest project can turn into the most onerous task. Such was the case when I was looking for replacement bumper pads for the sliding shower doors at the villa.

For the past year, I have scoured Lowe’s, Ace Hardware and Home Depots looking for these to no avail. I even ordered substitutes off Amazon a couple times only to be disappointed with the product, resulting in returns.

Last week I did a GOOGLE image search which finally took me to the original manufacturer. I paid more than I wanted, but I received them today and I’m over the moon happy with them!

Yay for small victories in obtaining small things… like bumper pads.

01/22/2025

TEN BUCK TUESDAYS
I had brunch with my nieces and their families yesterday, after which we decided to go to Gametime, a very large indoor gaming facility on Sunset Walk, Margaritaville.

With rain outside and five kids under the age of nine ready to burn off some energy, this was the perfect activity. There were appropriate games for all ages. The kids LOVED it…. and so did we.

We took advantage of ‘10 BUCK TUESDAY’ which afforded 4 hours of timed play for $10 on the blue card-reader machines. The special did not allow us to garner points nor claim prizes, but for anybody travelling that is a blessing as you do not have to tell your kids you cannot take a suitcase of toys home with you. 👌

We also enjoyed 3 of the $10 food/drink items : game time nachos, traditional cheese pizza, and mango ale. It was all delicious.

Check out the website for other offers:

https://www.gametimeplayers.com/home-kissimmee/

01/21/2025

A SECOND TURNING LANE?
The lights are up at the entrance to Windsor Hills. They should be operational within the next week or so.

It had grown precarious making a left-hand turn out of the complex onto Old Lake Wilson Road. Having these lights installed should help that. 

Previously, there was one designated right and left turn lane. The new light configuration leads one to believe there may now be two left lanes and one right turning lane onto Old Lake Wilson Road.

Turning right INTO Windsor Hills is done without a dedicated turning lane. It is not yet clear how the lights will be configured. There may be a dedicated green turning signal; however, it is good to know that a right turn is permitted on a red light, provided it  is safe to do so.

TIP: if you are planning a right turn into Windsor Hills, begin signalling when you see the metal railing along the side of the road. Tap your brakes to get the attention of the person behind you as you signal and slow down to negotiate the turn. The entrance has a tendency to sneak up on you.

01/19/2025

SOUTHERN HILL FARMS
A visit to Southern Hill Farms has been on my “to-do” list for quite some time. I took advantage of decent weather yesterday to go there.
I chose to travel Avalon Road to Schofield Road, thereby not having to travel the 429 which is a toll road. Depending on traffic, it will take about 20-25 minutes to get there.
What a pleasant surprise this place is!! I highly recommend a visit.
It is currently strawberry season along with some vegetables. I would love to visit next month when the peach trees are in full blossom. I can’t imagine how beautiful that will look!
The farm has so many things to see and do. It is neat and tidy, very well managed and family-oriented. I look forward to going back.
Check their website for additional information regarding when certain fruits are in season, special events, etc.

NOTE: This venue is CASHLESS; bring your card.

https://southernhillfarms.com

01/19/2025

01/19/2025

The strawberries were not plentiful by the time I got to the patch. In fact, picking was suspended shortly thereafter. It was a shame as the berries looked fantastic. However, those still on the plant just weren’t ready for picking. The cool weather over the past couple weeks could have affected their regular ripening patterns.
TIP: Do treat yourself to one of their strawberry donuts, for which they are known.

Sunflowers are the flower of the season. They are beautiful. They were displayed in vases around the venue, and were available for picking. 

01/19/2025

There was a steady stream of people heading to and from the strawberry patches. I was designated to patch seven and eight yesterday. It was slim pickings by the time I got there, so I did not end up going home with any strawberries.
Be sure to check their website before driving out. They keep their website current; however, they still cannot predict the rate at which the fruits will get picked. Picking was available when I checked the website before I left. However, it was suspended shortly after I got there. 

01/19/2025

Who doesn’t love sunflowers!!

01/19/2025

From this vantage point one appreciates the gentle rolling hills of this area.

01/18/2025

I KNEW BEFORE I LEFT THE VILLA…
that I had 3 strikes against me: it was the nicest day we had had all week, it was Friday of a long weekend and it was the first day of EPCOT’s FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS.

EPCOT was bonkers for people! Of course I (and it seems everyone else) wanted to taste some of the new dishes at the festival this year. It wasn’t going to happen. The lines were way too long for my liking and patience. 

There were lineups for everything, including the Creations Shop where all of the new festival gear was available for sale; the food booths, but particularly the ones featuring new dishes, and visual art vendor booths where people were willing to pay hundreds, nay thousands, for a piece of Disney art.

I had never attended DAY ONE of the festival before. I soon discovered it is a day when every blogger shows up as do most of the artists and dedicated Disney enthusiasts. This, too, helped to explain why EPCOT was so busy.

The festival runs for five weeks from January 17 – February 27, which means if you want to attend you have a short window of time to do so. I may have to try to slip back there a second time before the festival is over… some soft shell crab sliders have my name all over them. 😋

Because it was so busy, I only stayed a couple hours, but here is a sampling of some of the things I did see and do.

I’ve added a couple comments below each photo.