Westgate Salutes Military Weekend

As a military spouse that’s been in this game for more than a decade, I find that I spend most of my time making sure that other military spouses know about each and every benefit they can take advantage of.

This past November, I learned about an incredible opportunity for military families, and I immediately wanted to shout about it from the rooftops.

Each Veterans Day, Westgate Resorts in Orlando gives away free vacations to 900 military families! It seemed too good to be true, so I took the time this past December to head to Orlando and participate in the Westgate Salutes Military Weekend event to see it for myself.

From the moment they picked me up from the airport, I knew it was going to be an amazing and welcoming weekend. At check-in, each military family received the activity-filled itinerary and a bag full of swag (even a blanket for the outdoor movie!). The fun began right away with a resource fair (including activities for children) that I checked out on the walk to my complimentary room.

I opened the door to my resort room, and my jaw dropped. It was pristine, well-equipped, and it overlooked one of the outdoor pools. Since it was winter-time and I currently live in Kansas, the first thing I wanted to do was throw on a bathing suit and head down to sit in the sunshine. While catching rays, I took a look at the schedule for the weekend and noticed there would be two movies that evening that I wanted to check out. 

Previous AWTR guest Michael Gier was showing his documentary Wounded Heroes and allowing some time for a Q & A at the end. The documentary highlighted a lot of fantastic information about PTSD treatment, and I was busy taking notes during the entire film.

Later in the evening, I brought my blanket out to the baseball field and watched The Grinch while eating complimentary cotton candy and other treats. Perfect event for families!

After getting a full night’s sleep (because the bed felt like a cloud), it was time to get Day 2 started. I considered heading to Disney, Universal, or Sea World (with the complimentary tickets they offered), because they were incredibly close-by, but Westgate had activities from sunup to sundown, and I had a fear of missing out (FOMO is real!).

The Red, White, and Blue 5K was my first ever race, but I was eager to explore more of the Westgate property, so I woke up at sunrise to run with the other military families. I loved seeing everyone rooting for each other and watching the children complete the race (much faster than me).

The Family Field Day and Vehicle Display kept me entertained for hours, and WW2 Armor put on quite the show—firing their tanks (so thankful for the free ear protection!), crushing cars, and completing an obstacle course. Definitely a highlight that I enjoyed.

After a hot afternoon under the Florida sun, it was perfect timing to check out Shipwreck Island, the resort waterpark, which features a giant pirate ship for children, water slides, and even a lazy river! It has a full bar and restaurant, so you could potentially spend the entire day there.

The main event was the concert and fireworks on the lawn outside my patio. No need to eat dinner beforehand, because they were handing out complimentary food and beverages. The Chris Weaver Band did not disappoint, playing old favorites and a few patriotic songs leading up to the fireworks. I may have actually shed a tear or two because the atmosphere reminded me of why I love the military community.

Overall, Westgate Resorts went over the top taking care of the military families that joined for the weekend, and they put a lot of effort into creating a memorable event. I will definitely try to attend another event in the future, and I suggest you set an alarm to do the same!