Coach Ditka to Make Guest Appearance on Entourage

Big Mike Ditka Fan? Can’t get enough of the ever popular show Entourage? Well then you’re in luck because Coach Mike Ditka recently announced that he will be making a cameo appearance in the eighth, and final, season of Entourage which begins this July!

Coach Ditka took to the set with another name in sports as well, Barry Alvarez, who is Wisconsin’s athletic director. Ditka hasn’t yet announced what his or Coach Alvarez’s roles will be on the show, or what their lines are, but we can’t wait to watch!

Jeremy Piven, who plays agent Ari Gold in the show, even tweeted a picture of himself and Ditka on the set!

Stay tuned for updates on when the show is set to air!

Enjoy Some Free Fun in Kissimmee During Your Vacation at Mike Ditka Resorts!

Below are some great activities you and your family will enjoy during your visit to Mike Ditka Resorts…and most importantly, they’re free!

-Check out the Old Town Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment Complex where your whole family is sure to find fun every day of the week. However, be sure to visit on Saturday nights where you’ll enjoy the largest weekly car cruise in the United States, the ‘Saturday Nite Cruise’, which features a great array of over 300 classic cars. Plus, the weekend also includes live entertainment!

-Stop by the historic Kissimmee area and check out the old Courthouse located here, that just happens to be the oldest courthouse that’s still in use in the State of Florida! Then travel to the downtown area to see the Kissimmee Sculpture Experience, where each year different artists submit their work and a dozen pieces are selected to line the streets. Next, head to Lakefront Park and be sure to check out the Monument of States along the way.

-Head to St. Cloud, also named “The Friendly Soldier City" for the thousands of Civil War veterans who relocated here in the early 1900s, where you can spend the day strolling the streets, shopping, dining, and “people watching” in the many different antique stores, shops, waterfront parks, and restaurants.

-If you love nature, be sure to check out Osceola County which has the largest population of nesting Bald Eagles in the continental U.S. It’s also one of the country's few re-introduction sites for the endangered Whooping Crane. The best place to spot these birds is at Lake Lizzie Nature Preserve, the Osceola County Environmental Center, and in the Wildlife Management Areas of Bull Creek, Prairie Lakes, Three Lakes, and Triple N Ranch.

-Like to fish? Be sure to spend some time fishing the lakes of Kissimmee, which are famous for their views and abundant amount of bass. Lake Tohopekaliga, located in downtown Kissimmee, is known to fishermen around the world and is a great place for boating, birding, and picnicking along the water's edge. Also, be sure to head over to East Lake Toho in St. Cloud for a full day worth of free fun, where your family will be sure to enjoy relaxing on the beach, playing on the playground, and fishing from several lakefront fishing spots including a fishing pier.

Upcoming Events this Spring near Mike Ditka Resorts

With the official start of spring only a few days away, we decided to put together a list of a few fun, family friendly events taking place this Spring for your family to enjoy during your stay at Mike Ditka Resorts.

Viva La Musica - March 19 - April 02

SeaWorld Orlando hosts a vibrant Latino celebration during Viva La Musica with sensational music, concerts, dance, food sampling and crafts featuring the sights, sounds and tastes of the Hispanic culture.

March 19 - Manny Manuel
March 26 - Jerry Rivera
April 2 - Ednita Nazaris

For more information, visit www.SeaWorld.com.

Arnold Palmer Invitational Golf Tournament - March 21 – March 27

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is one of the premiere-events on the PGA Tour. Enjoy some of the biggest names in golf challenge one another, as well as Bay Hill’s demanding layout.

For more information, visit http://www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com/.

37th Annual Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-in and Expo - March 29 - April 03

There will be educational forums, seminars and "hands-on" workshops; plus commercial exhibitors who offer aviation products and services for everyone. Enjoy a daily air show that showcases both new and old airplanes. The daily airshow will begin at 2pm, except on Tuesday and Wednesday, which will be at 3pm. There will be an additional night air show on Friday at dusk.

For more information, visit http://www.sun-n-fun.org/.

Easter Jam - April 17

Don’t forget to bring your Easter basket! Your kids can enjoy an Easter egg hunt, bounce house, entertainment, games, food and more. Plus, be sure to visit with Peter Cottontail himself!

For more information, visit http://www.kissimmee.org/.

Kissimmee Rodeo - April 30

Enjoy a modern day rodeo in Kissimmee! Catch team roping, barrel racing, bull riding, calf scramble for kids, and much more.

For more information, visit http://www.kissimmeerodeo.com/.


For a list of all events happening around Kissimmee and Mike Ditka Resorts, visit www.VisitKiss.com.

To book your stay at Mike Ditka Resorts-Runaway Beach Club or Mike Ditka Resorts-Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa and take part in one of many fun spring activities taking place around the area, visit www.MikeDitkaResorts.com.

What’s Happening at Mike Ditka Resorts?

Spend Valentine’s Day with Your Special Someone at Mike Ditka Resorts!

If you are in the Florida area this Valentine’s Day weekend, be sure to book a room at Mike Ditka Resorts, in Kissimmee, Florida, for that special someone in your life. Mike Ditka Resorts offers the perfect package for romance, with Coach Ditka’s Sweetheart Package. The perfect example of how a football player can win a lady's heart!

The package includes a box of assorted chocolates and a dozen roses placed in your room before your arrival, and the winning play here is a chilled bottle of the Coach’s very own Mike Ditka brand wine. This is the ultimate play for any football player's playbook!

To make your reservations, call (888) 512-2200 or visit www.MikeDitkaResorts.com.

Holiday Story Contest Winner

We had recently asked you to submit your funny, embarrassing, dreadful, or outrageous story from this holiday season for your chance to win a two night stay at Mike Ditka Resorts! The top three stories have since been voted on and the following story is the winner of our contest:

We were traveling overseas for the holidays and during our travels I stored our passports in the seat pocket in front of me. After about 10 minutes of departing from the plane I realized that I had forgotten the passports in the seat pocket! I sprinted all the way back to our departing gate and was told that I was not allowed back on the plane…after about 5 minutes of arguing with the man at the counter, a flight attended was exiting the plan and over heard what we were talking about and had told me that they had found our passports! So thankfully, we were able to retrieve our passports and enter back into the states after we celebrated the holidays… needless to say…I was not in charge of the passports on the way home!

Thank you all for your entries and congratulations to our winner!

Choose the Right Mike Ditka Resorts Property for You

Looking for the perfect Orlando, Florida Resort? Look no further than Mike Ditka Resorts! With two beautiful, but uniquely different properties in the area, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for at Mike Ditka Resorts. Below is a list of amenities featured at each of Mike Ditka Resorts.

Mike Ditka Resorts – Runaway Beach Club

Services & Amenities - Villas

• Full Sized Refrigerator
• Glass Top Range and Oven
• Recessed Cabinet Microwave
• Full Sized Dishwasher
• Full Sized Washer/Dryer
• Full Gourmet Kitchen & Cookware
• 36" Flat View TV in every room
• DVD Player in Family Room
• Gourmet Coffee Maker & Starbucks® Brand Coffee
• Queen Sleeper Sofa in Family Rooms

Services & Amenities - Property

• On-Site Check In and Reception
• 24 Hour Front Desk & Guest Services
• Free Disney World Theme Park Shuttle
• Basketball Court
• Whirlpool Spa
• Professional Fitness Center
• South Beach Themed Heated Tanning Pool
• 100% Smoke-Free Rooms
• Sundeck Overlooking Tropical Lagoon
• Poolside Activities Staff - Seasonal
• Free Wireless High Speed Broadband Internet Access Property Wide
• Zero Depth Entry Heated Family Pool with Kid Friendly Water Features
• Movie Showings Poolside in the Evening - Seasonal
• Security Gate for Parking and Access to Property
• 24 Hour Business Center with Print, Fax and Computer Usage available

Mike Ditka Resorts – Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa

Services & Amenities - Suites

• Two-, three-, or four bedroom luxury suite
• Spacious floor plans
• Ceiling Fans in All Rooms
• Xbox 360 entertainment system in guest bedrooms
• 42" HD Plasma and 32" HD LCD
• DVD Player
• Full-size/fully-equipped gourmet kitchens
• Spacious, private lanais
• Jetted Garden Tubs
• Utility Room with Washer & Dryer

Services & Amenities - Property

• First Class European Spa
• Free Wireless High Speed Broadband Internet Access Property Wide
• Freeform Zero Depth Entry Pool
• State of the Art Fitness Center
• Business Center
• Beacon's Deli and Sundries Shop
• Portside Pub with Poolside Service
• Gourmet Kitchens & Cookware
• Room Service
• Free Disney World Theme Park Shuttle
• Movie theater

For more information about Mike Ditka Resorts and its two properties Runaway Beach Club and Lighthouse Key Resort and Spa, please visit www.MikeDitkaResorts.com.