As I mentioned in an earlier post (see http://SandySpeaks.com/Disney), Walt Disney World announced the opening of a new residential resort that will be nestled amongst the theme parks in Orlando.  This week, Disney announced the builders who will be participating in creating this one-of-a-kind community.  As a real estate broker in Celebration, I’ve had the privilege of working with most of these builders personally and recommend each one highly.  If you would like more information on this incredible opportunity, please contact me at Sandy@SandySellsFlorida.net.  Below is an excerpt from this week’s press release…

(September 28, 2010)– Seven prestigious homebuilders have been selected by Disney to design and construct the luxury homes in the unique resort community of Golden Oak at Walt Disney World® Resort. Each of the builders is purchasing initial individual homesites, allowing construction of the first showcase and spec homes to begin immediately. Since Disney announced the project in June, the company has seen significant interest from potential buyers. Inquiries have come from as far away as Brazil and England – and domestically from New York to Texas to California. The selected builders are currently designing home plans in preparation for the launch of homesite sales later this year. “The homebuilders for Golden Oak have impressive track records of success and dedication to the highest level of quality,” said Page Pierce, vice president, Disney Resort Real Estate Development. “We look forward to seeing their beautiful homes come to life in Golden Oak through their fine craftsmanship and signature styles.”

Golden Oak will initially consist of three types of single-family homes: Village, Estate and Grand Estate Homes. Village Homes will capture the romantic look of a Mediterranean village on homesites up to one-quarter acre. Estate Homes, on approximately one-half acre homesites, will offer a variety of architectural styles including Tuscan, Spanish Revival, Venetian, Italianate, Dutch Colonial and Island Colonial. At up to three-quarters acre in size, Grand Estate Homes will include architectural styles consistent with Estate Homes and will accommodate the needs of large families. The custom homebuilders for the Golden Oak Village Homes are CAHILL, Goehring & Morgan Construction, Inc., and Issa Homes.

The custom homebuilders for Golden Oak Estate Homes and Grand Estate Homes are Derrick Builders, Inc., Jones-Clayton Construction, J. Richard Watson Construction Company, Inc., and Ray Coudriet Builder, Inc.

These experienced custom builders are creating residential design concepts for interested buyers and showcase and spec homes, consistent with the unique architectural aesthetic of the Golden Oak community. Disney conducted a rigorous process to select the homebuilders for Golden Oak. Superlative experience building custom luxury homes in high-end Central Florida communities, expertise in the specific architectural styles planned for Golden Oak and a demonstrated reputation for quality design and construction were some of the criteria used in the selection process. Golden Oak may invite additional builders in the future, as the community and demand grow.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Disney also unveiled the handcrafted sign at the entrance to Golden Oak, the result of many hours of artistry. The name, Golden Oak, is inspired by Walt Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, California, where some say gold nuggets were found in 1842, a filming location for segments of the Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950’s. In addition to the ranch’s official use for The Walt Disney Company, the ranch served as a place of respite and relaxation for Walt and his family. Golden Oak at Walt Disney World® Resort will offer families that same sense of magic and enchantment that Walt believed to be so important. Beyond the literal connection to Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch, the iconic oak tree symbolizes the family, stability, and heritage that this community will encourage. The tree also pays subtle homage to Walt’s “Dreaming Tree,” the tree in his childhood hometown that provided shade for his many hours of daydreaming.

Golden Oak at Walt Disney World® Resort

Golden Oak at Walt Disney World® Resort is a luxury, master-planned gated community being developed at one of the most extraordinary family vacation destinations in the world. This one-of-a-kind resort development will feature custom homes with world-class architecture, surrounded by Florida’s natural environment. Residents will enjoy elite resident services, privileges at Walt Disney World® Resort and access to select amenities at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort.

(Image: Bill Perry / FreeDigitalPhotos.net – Photo of oak tree not associated with Disney)

I was out of town Tuesday night when I received the text from my room-mate/manny, just before midnight.  He was contacting me with the news that my air conditioner had died…completely.  We live in Central Florida, where we have been experiencing temperatures in the 90′s, and even in the low 100′s some days!

My immediate reaction was an expletive spoken under my breath (which I quickly asked forgiveness for).  But, then I started “practicing what I preach” in my Gratitude Boot Camp sessions.  I took some deep, cleansing breaths and started counting all of my blessings.  Then, I said my prayers and drifted off to sleep soundly (instead of tossing and turning and worrying, as I would have done in days past).

The next day, I did not allow myself to get upset at all about the broken air conditioner, even though it was happening at an inopportune time.  Instead, I focused on my blessings; remembered that I grew up in a house with no air in Florida and survived; and took action to find ways to live with the situation for a while, by getting my hands on some oscillating fans to use temporarily.  I went about my day in a calm way, knowing that “this too shall pass”.

As I was driving home last night, I kept my thoughts on all of the good things going on in my life, not allowing any negative statements to enter my brain, not even for a minute!  When we arrived home, I explained to my almost-four year old son, Jake, that he was only gonna sleep in a light shirt, instead of his jammies and socks, for a while.  I started walking towards the stairs to put him to bed.  I felt completely at ease with our situation and was ready to let the hot night take me back to happy, childhood memories.

As I was passing by the closet that holds the breaker box for my house, I stopped to check it even though David had already done so.  The breaker for the air conditioner appeared to be lined up with all of the rest, but I flipped it off and back on any way.  It was music to my ears when I heard the air conditioner kick on and Jake squealed with delight when his Mommy started doing a very up-beat happy dance!  We danced around and sang our new “Mommy and Jake are Grateful for Air Conditioning” song for quite a while before we went up to his bedroom.  It was fun!!!

I woke up feeling extra grateful and happy today.  David is perplexed.  Jake is well-rested.  And, I am feeling the powerful sense of accomplishment that comes with remaining calm during a crises.

Resolve, right now, that you will remain calm the next time an unexpected challenge arises in your life.  It is powerful.

With my 50th birthday fast-approaching (wow…that does not even sound possible, even as I put it in writing for all the world to see – yikes) and ever since I unexpectedly & miracoulosly gave birth at the age of 46.5; I have been feeling the need for a change in my life.  I have always felt that there was something more that I should be doing and over the past 3 years, that need has turned into a burning desire.

Through the wondrous power of social media, I was invited to attend an event that changed my life forever, by starting me upon the path of my new beginning.  The event was held the first weekend of June and was called Mega Book ’09.  It was hosted by a man that I’ve long admired…Mark Victor Hansen.  He is a best-selling author (co-creating “The Chicken Soup for the Soul” series); the founder of MEGA Book University; a great leader & a philanthropist.

After attending what turned out to be a spiritual awakening for me, I decided that it was time to fulfill my life-long dream of becoming a writer, public speaker, and coach.  Every night for several weeks after Mega Book…I would lie in bed and, as I was drifting off to sleep, ask God to reveal to me what I should be doing right now to inspire and help others.  One night, I awoke at 2:00 a.m. with the words “Gratitude Boot Camp” practically screaming in my mind.  I ran downstairs and jumped on my computer and was ecstatic to discover that the domain names for GBC were available (and not even for a premium price…yay)!  I took this as a sign that this was what I was meant to do, at this moment.

For the past several weeks, I have been creating and am now launching “Gratitude Boot Camp” ~ A self-development program that guides attendees through positive and productive steps in order to Give, Grow, and Prosper!

During these hard economic times, it is the Mission of Gratitude Boot Camp to empower and inspire people to be aware of and focus on their current blessings and to take positive steps, based on Gratitude, that lead them down the path of Success & Happiness.

In the future, I will hold “Gratitude Boot Camp” weekends as well as offer many inspirational treats and tools such as webinars/tele-seminars.  Right now, I am conducting the boot camps on a weekly basis in the Central Florida area.  Gratitude Boot Camp covers 12 topics that are designed to help people grow personally, professionally, financially, socially, and spiritually, while having their heart lead the way!

If you are a business owner in the Central Florida area and would like to have me come into your office once per week to conduct a 12-week “Gratitude Boot Camp”, contact me today at 407.592.4663 or at Sandy@GratitudeBootCamp.com.  And…if you are looking for a Speaker who inspires and entertains the audience, give me a call!

Please visit www.Facebook.com/GratitudeBootCamp to become a GBC fan.  There you can practice Gratitude daily by participating in the ‘Gratitude and Empowerment from 1 to 10 Project’; by connecting with other positive people; and by viewing the postings for Monday’s Motivation; Tuesday’s To Do; Wednesday’s Word; Thursday’s Thought; Friday’s Feature; Saturday’s Story; and Sunday’s Statement.

It’s important to make Gratitude a habit…because your habits create your life!