Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Prime Value Destination - Kissimmee, FL!!!!


     Recently the staff of Premier Reunion Services along with the Coordinator for the USS Huntington, Gene Volcik, and the Coordinator of the USS Mississippi, Paul Shepley, were invited to visit Kissimmee, Florida, for a wonderful tour of their attractions. The visit was to highlight all the activities Kissimmee has to offer that are not Disney related and to encourage military reunion groups to consider the Kissimmee area when deciding on a location for their reunions. We were all greatly impressed with what we saw and thought we would share some of our experiences with you.


     Our three-day visit began with a tour to the Museum of Military History. The 10,000-square-foot museum provides interactive displays and exhibits beginning with historical photos, uniforms and interpretations of the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the recent military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of the displays that we found particularly interesting were a large panoramic diagram depicting one of the elaborate tunnel systems used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War, actual uniforms and supplies used in various  wars and a rare World War II motorcycle. There was also an opportunity to have a dog tag made on-site by one of the museum guides.

     One of our most adventurous outings was to Wild Florida where we took an airboat ride into the headwaters of the Everglades. Speeding through the water we saw alligators, flocks of many different species of birds and, believe it or not—cows munching on the plant life in the swamps, knee-deep in the water. Also located on the property was the Wild Life and Nature Park which featured zebras, watusis, water buffalo, emus, alligators, peacocks and many other exotic animals. We also had the opportunity to hold an alligator. A few of us took the challenge and lived to tell about it!


     Our next visit was to Stallion 51, a huge collection of vintage aircraft, all air-worthy and in prime condition. The amazing thing about this facility was that it offered anyone—no experience necessary—the chance to fly (after a training session, of course) a World War II P-51 Mustang.
     In much the same grain as Stallion 51, the Warbird Museum also housed a collection of vintage airplanes. Some in our group were able to climb on the wing of one of the P-51 Mustangs and look inside the cockpit. Flight opportunities for the adventurous souls were also offered at this museum.

     There is no shortage of nighttime entertainment in Kissimmee either. Our day continued with an evening visit to the Arabian Nights Dinner Show. “The American Princess” show features an American girl who discovers she is a princess and must find her Prince Charming. The stars of the show are the beautiful Arabian horses who put on a spectacular performance as various young men arrive on horseback to compete for the princess’s affections. A wonderful dinner is served as the performance takes place.
     Day two started very early with what turned out to be our favorite activity of the trip—a flight in a hot air balloon! Although we missed the sunrise because weather conditions a few miles away kept us from launching on time, we thoroughly enjoyed the ride! Beautiful scenery, floating peacefully in the fresh morning air—wonderful experience! (The only hitch to the ride was getting in and out—no ladder or step stool; we just had to climb over the basket top—no small fete for our “mature” bodies!)





     Our next visit was to Gatorland, “Alligator Capital of the World”. Alligators of all sizes make their home here, including Chester the Dog Eater. Chester was becoming a pest in one neighborhood because he was eating the homeowners’ dogs. Gatorland came to the rescue and captured Chester for the park. He is now the largest alligator at Gatorland at 13 feet. He has his own area and seems very happy in his new home. Another rarity at the park are the giant white alligators, seen only at Gatorland. Quite a sight to behold! A walk along the long boardwalk in the park allowed us to see thousands of white egrets nesting in the trees. They choose the park for nesting because the alligators keep away all the predators which would, in the wild, eat their eggs. Many other creatures are also on display here, including giant turtles, boa constrictors and all types of exotic birds. We all thoroughly enjoyed our visit.



     A visit to Old Town was next on our agenda. We ate lunch at the A& W Restaurant, with 1950’s décor, ad then moved on to the Chocolate Kingdom. Here we learned about the history and processing of chocolate through a tour conducted by a knowledgeable guide, and then we were able to have our own chocolate bars made to order. There was much more to see in Old Town, but our time was limited, so we didn’t get a chance to see everything, but it looked like a great place to shop and be entertained at an amusement park on site.
     Our evening entertainment was at Capone’s Dinner and Show. A buffet featuring many Italian favorites was enjoyed before the beginning of the show. The show itself was set in a 1930’s Chicago speakeasy with a zany cast of characters who get into lots of trouble, leading to hilarious consequences. The cast also brought the audience into the show by coming down to the tables and talking with them. This made for some very funny ad libbing by the cast. It was a wonderfully entertaining evening which we all enjoyed very much.

     The next morning we spent touring some of Kissimmee’s hotels, and then lunch was at a wonderful authentic Italian restaurant, Pacinos’s. Following lunch we had another rare experience at Fantasy of Flight, the world’s greatest aircraft collection airport. First we viewed the take off and landing of a P-51 Mustang. Then we were able to hear a very special presentation by three of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, who were there for only a few appearances. They shared some of their experiences of a segregated America in a question/answer type interview and then took questions from the audience. Afterwards they were available for photos and personal greetings. It was truly a privilege to hear and meet them. After the presentation we toured the facility which offers a wide variety of experiences including simulated rides in a Corsair Fighter atop an aircraft carrier, a hot air balloon, and a hang glider. One can take a walk through a World War II bomber  which ends at a World War II exhibit. We did not have time for all the experiences that were available here, but really enjoyed the ones we were able to visit.
     Our last evening in Kissimmee was spent at the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Show. Before the show we got to visit the museum in a separate building which contains artifacts that date back for as much as 800 years. The most fascinating artifacts were the actual tools used for torture in Medieval times—things like body stretchers, skull crushers, and other unimaginable punishments. Clothing, tools, furniture and household items were also on display. It  certainly made us appreciate the times we live in. When it was time for the dinner and show, we were escorted to our seats in the “Blue Knight” section of the arena. The pageantry and thrills of an authentic medieval tournament came to life inside the walls of the King’s 11th century-style castle. Six armor-clad Knights on valiant horses sought the title of Champion amidst the clashing of lance and shield and heart-pounding combat. Dinner, without benefit of utensils, was served during the show. Luckily for our group, our “Blue Knight” won the competition and claimed the title of Champion.


We can't promise this for future reunions, but we were so privileged to meet
 three of the Tuskegee Airmen.  What an honor!

     All during our visit we were treated like royalty and were certainly impressed with everything we were shown in Kissimmee. The weather was wonderful, the sights were spectacular and the overall impression was that Kissimmee would make a great place for a reunion.  We consider Kissimmee to be a Prime Value Destination and we encourage you to make Kissimmee your 2014 reunion location.
__________