Angeline and I just returned from a fun-filled weekend in Kissimmee, where we hung out with the five finalists (and their families) in the Decade of Kissimmee Memories contest.
More than 1,500 people entered the contest to win 10 years of vacations in Kissimmee, and the team at Experience Kissimmee narrowed it down to just five finalists! After all that hard work, they left the rest up to the public: the five finalists created their own original videos documenting what a decade of Kissimmee memories meant to them, and then they asked people on Facebook to vote for their favorite video!
So why did Angeline and I go to Kissimmee to hang out with the finalists and their families? To help spread the word about the contest and to encourage as many votes as we possibly could!
It was so fun to actually meet the families and hang out with them as we had a little taste of all that Kissimmee had to offer the winning family!
We visited Charley’s Steakhouse, had a delicious breakfast at the Shrekfest Character Breakfast at Gaylord Palms Resort, took an airboat ride at Boggy Creek Airboats, enjoyed dinner and a show at Arabian Nights, and then we spent a day at Seaworld!
The kids loved meeting Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots at the Gaylord Palms Resort, though I think some of the kids were just as fascinated by the koi pond!
I think everyone’s favorite experience was spending the day at Seaworld!
The Decade of Kissimmee Memories contest winner was announced at a special luncheon on Tuesday afternoon.
Experience Kissimmee did a fantastic job of making the event incredibly exciting and really treated the finalists and their families like celebrities, complete with a red carpet!
After a delicious lunch and watching all of the finalist’s videos, Experience Kissimmee announced Brooke Shuff from Grand Rapids, Michigan as the Decade of Kissimmee Memories contest winner.
She was so excited, she started crying right there on stage!
Brooke was awarded 10 vacations to experience all the excitement and entertainment in Kissimmee!
The Grand Prize includes airfare, accommodations at Westgate Vacation Villas, and rental car for 10 Kissimmee vacations with five guests.
“Brooke’s video, A Decade of Fun in the Sun, is about the excitement families experience before a sunny escape to Kissimmee,” shared Tracy Ward, interim executive director for Experience Kissimmee. “She now has an entire decade of vacations to explore all the theme parks, outdoor adventures, outstanding sports and recreation, premier shopping, and fabulous Kissimmee weather.”
Brooke’s video featured her children bundling up to enjoy more than 50 inches of annual snow while daydreaming about sunshine, theme parks, and family fun in Kissimmee. It was truly heartwarming and I am so glad that she won!
You can find more information about the Decade of Kissimmee Memories contest including photographs from our weekend adventure in Kissimmee and all of the videos here.
Want to take your own vacation in Kissimmee? Find everything you need to plan your dream vacation at www.experiencekissimmee.com!
My and Angeline’s hotel, food and activities were paid for by Experience Kissimmee, but all opinions – and excitement! – are my own.
I am so happy for her. What an incredible prize to win!
I can only imagine the joy this family must be feeling!
Her video was really great!