Orlando's Cypress Garden unveils Splash Island Water Park

Cypress Gardens has opened the attraction's Splash Island water park, launched a new Web site and prepared for a series of concerts as its new owners and management dig in for their first summer season together.

The five Splash Island attractions, which are included with a park admission, opened last Thursday at the Winter Haven theme park.

Live entertainment begins today with the launch of Latin Fest 2008, featuring headliners Carlos Oliva, Ismael Miranda and Tito Nieves this weekend. Later this month, the park is bringing in Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Standard park admission is $39.95 for adults and $34.95 for children ages 3-9 or seniors age 60 or older. However, discount Cypress Garden Tickets are available.

Founded in 1936, the park has struggled against competition from the giant theme parks in recent decades. It was purchased last September for $17 million through a bankruptcy auction by South Adventures LLC of Mulberry. Baker Leisure Group, an Orlando-based theme-park planning and operations firm, took over management in January.

Information courtesy of Orlando Sentinel

Wheel of Fortune Coming to Orlando

Wheel spinner Vanna White was in Orlando yesterday, mostly at SeaWorld Orlando, as Wheel of Fortune prepares to bring its show to SeaWorld in December.

An advance promotional team for Wheel of Fortune is in town shooting teasers and background segments, starring White, at locations around SeaWorld, Aquatica and Central Florida in general over the next few days.

White and Pat Sajac will host 20 shows to be taped in front of live audiences at SeaWorld in December, to be aired in 2009. Wheel of Fortune is one of the most popular and long-running syndicated game shows in TV history. White and Sajac have starred together on the show since 1983.

The show also plans to promote other Orlando locations to illustrate a broad range of Central Florida experiences, and, with help from the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, will be filming spots at Winter Park shops, cafes and galleries, the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes resort and Harry P. Leu Gardens, according to a Wheel of Fortune press release. (There are no plans for the crew to visit Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando.)

At SeaWorld, White will be featured swimming with beluga whales, interacting with sea lions and coming face-to-face with Shamu the killer whale.

Information courtesy of Orlando Sentinel

10 Survival Tips for Taking Kids to Disneyworld

As the school year draws to a close, parents everywhere are gearing up for the family summer vacation. If your family is among the many visitors headed to Disneyworld this summer, even adults may need a few pointers from a class like "Kid Tourism 101" before tackling Kissimmee and Orlando, Florida, the areas best known as home to Walt Disney World.

1) Always have a small backpack for each day's adventure. Pack band-aids, sun block, bug spray, camera, wet wipes, and some light snacks. Always have some water bottles or juice. The hot summer sun in Kissimmee, Florida makes for thirsty tourists of all ages.

2) If traveling with children still in diapers, pack more diapers than a usual day's supply.

3)When entering the Orlando theme parks, make sure the children have a note tucked in a pocket with the child's name, adult's cell phone, Orlando lodging information, license plate with make and color of car, and any medical information. Lost children happen and this info will speed up unification!

4) Kids 3 to 5 years old might balk at the thought of riding in a stroller, but by 2:00 pm wherever you are in Kissimmee or Orlando, a stroller will be welcome!

5) If you have traveled from another time zone, remember a child takes longer to adjust to the time difference. Be patient. Also, remember the need for naps never takes a vacation. Allow down time for children each afternoon.

6) Theme parks are not all there is to do in Kissimmee and Orlando, Florida! Most non-Florida children would love to see an alligator or two. Take them to Scenic Eco Tours for an hour long boat tour of Lake Tohopekaliga. On the northern end of the lake is Mackinson Island which is great hiking territory. The island is only accessible by boat.

7) If your kids are orange juice lovers, let them see and taste the real thing by visiting Ivey Groves Fresh Citrus off Boggy Creek Road just off the Florida Turnpike. A tram ride through the groves is followed by samples of Florida's best known export: orange juice!

8) Kids of all ages love Downtown Disney. From seeing the Lego creations in the lake to getting misted at the Rainforest Cafe, the kids will enjoy the sights and sounds. There is no fee to walk around, but some of the restaurants have long wait times. Early dinners are advised. The parking is free.

9) Don't forget about spending time at the pool. Look for Orlando vacation homes and Kissimmee villas for rent with private pools or large resort pool areas.Sometimes two hours in the pool with mom or dad are really the vacation moments that children will remember long after they leave the land of theme parks.

10) If the resort community where you are staying is quite large, take the kids for a walking tour. The best Florida vacation memories are often closer than you think!

The perfect family vacation to Disneyworld starts with deciding whether to stay in Orlando or Kissimmee, Florida. For the best value, choose a Disneyworld condo rental or vacation villa in Kissimmee, FL, which is actually home to many vacation resort communities. Multiple rooms in one unit are more affordable than paying for multiple hotel rooms at the Disney World Resort, especially when traveling with Grandparents or another family.

After tiring of tired children, Mom and Dad will also thank themselves for the separate sleeping quarters, additional space to spread out, and also enjoy added savings by cooking family meals. As an added bonus, many Orlando Florida Resorts have a private pool and hot tub, or enjoy the shared recreation facilities at many of the Disney vacation resort communities.

Information courtesy of TransWorldNews

Orlando Arts and Culture Scene Thriving

Think ''Orlando,'' and what comes to mind?

The muscle of the mighty Mouse, a sprawling Disney presence that draws millions each year? The screams of kids on the roller coasters at the Universal Orlando Resort?

Since Walt Disney World opened almost 40 years ago, theme parks have transformed this area from a city surrounded by citrus groves and small communities to a booming tourist magnet.
But the prosperity has also brought a less widely publicized boom: a thriving arts and culture scene.

Among Orlando's cultural riches are a professional opera company, ballet and orchestra; a Shakespeare theater company that presents everything from classics to new work; the oldest, open-to-any-group fringe theater festival in the United States; art museums that house masterpieces, folk art, modern works and a dazzling collection of pieces by stained-glass master Louis Comfort Tiffany; small theaters whose eclectic productions draw adventurous audiences to works by Bertolt Brecht and Samuel Beckett.

And on the drawing board for the fall of 2012 is another key indicator of the arts community's growth: a $425-million, three-theater downtown performing arts center.

''The growth of the arts here has been meteoric over the past 40 years,'' says Jim Helsinger, artistic director of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, which moved into its three-theater complex in the city's museum-and-arts-focused Loch Haven Park in 2001. "In just the past 13 years, we've seen a brand-new art museum, science museum and history center and a new home for the Orlando Repertory Theatre. The opera, ballet and philharmonic are all thriving and just waiting on the new performing arts center.

"The perception needs to catch up to the reality. We have excellent arts organizations to [serve] the people who live here.''

In 1989, the aggregate budgets of Orlando's arts and culture groups were just over $10 million; almost two decades later, the figure is about $40 million. Margot Knight, president of United Arts of Central Florida -- a kind of United Way for arts and culture groups -- says that funding is about half that of the similarly sized Charlotte, N.C., metropolitan area. But she argues that the Orlando area, with its relatively young arts-and-culture community, has ''the quality and breadth to match'' Charlotte's companies and museums.

That budget disparity means that Orlando's groups and institutions have to do more with less. Terry Olson, who has been involved in Orlando arts since he relocated from Minneapolis 26 years ago and serves as director of Orange County's Arts and Cultural Affairs office, says that burnout among the area's arts leaders is one of the biggest challenges.

''We're highly productive,'' Olson says. ``Many people work 70 hours a week and then some.''

One of those multi-tasking arts leaders is Alan Bruun. Bruun works as an associate creative director for Disney and is also artistic director of the downtown-based Mad Cow Theatre Company. His motto: ``I'll sleep when I'm dead.''

Bruun began freelancing for Disney in 1998, the year after he and three associates founded Mad Cow. He went full-time with Disney 4 ½ years ago and now spends his days on Disney work, his nights and weekends at Mad Cow, which has two performance spaces and a gallery. Bruun says that Disney, far from being concerned about his split work life and long hours, has been supportive.

"When I came to work here, I said, 'I run a theater.' And they said, 'Good,' '' Bruun recalls.

"They provide year-round employment for talented people, which is unique in a city our size. They allow actors, directors, stage managers and designers to make a living. Mad Cow becomes an outlet for those talented individuals in a much different setting. Disney could be the 800-pound gorilla if it wanted to be, but whenever possible, concessions will be made [for outside work], because Disney deems it valuable.''

Disney spokesperson Andrea Finger confirms the company's philosophy: "At the heart of our business, we are a creative-content company with deep roots in entertainment, brought to life by our talented, artistic cast members. We're proud to do our part -- together with great community partners -- to support Central Florida's vibrant arts community.''

Rather than twitching at the mention of the Orlando area's tourist-magnet theme parks, most arts leaders praise Disney and Universal for their flexibility in letting employees work with arts groups or serve on boards, as well as for their financial contributions to Orlando arts and culture.

Beth Marshall, producing artistic director of Orlando's popular theatrical Fringe Festival, acknowledges that with its internationally known theme parks, Orlando is often seen as ''a city ruled by a Mouse.'' But as the theme parks have expanded, so has the region's arts-and-culture scene.

''We could create it to be whatever the heck we wanted to be,'' Marshall says. "All of us are the cultural pioneers here.''

At many arts events, the audience skews younger than it typically does in South Florida. Patrick Flick, director of new play development at Orlando Shakespeare and the man in charge of the company's annual PlayFest new works festival, points out that the median age in Orlando is just under 33 (vs. 38.7 for Miami and Fort Lauderdale) and says that the area's colleges help account for the youthfulness of the audience.

Orlando's arts groups sometimes collaborate or simply help support each other's programming. Orlando Shakespeare and the family-oriented Orlando Repertory Theatre host the Fringe Festival, which this year will present 436 performances by 67 groups May 15-May 26 at the two theaters and outdoors in Loch Haven Park.

That 45-acre park, ringed by a trio of lakes, is Orlando's cultural haven. It is home to two theater companies, two art museums and the city's science center. Frank Holt, executive director of the Mennello Museum of American Art there, says that the park "gives us all a focus, instead of being scattered.''

''It's definitely a symbiotic relationship that we are fortunate to have,'' says Marena Grant Morrisey, executive director of the Orlando Museum of Art, which was founded in 1924 and currently houses an exhibition of Norman Rockwell paintings. "We do a lot of joint ticketing and cross-promotion.''

The Orlando Ballet, the Orlando Opera and the Orlando Philharmonic, which currently juggle their seasons (along with touring Broadway productions) at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre (a facility that United Arts' Knight calls "acoustically and experientially poor and too in-demand''), will necessarily grow when they become anchors for the new Dr. P. Phillips Orlando Performing Arts Center.

With a 2,800-seat theater, a 1,800-seat multiform theater and a 300-seat theater, the facility designed by architect Barton Myers and theater designer Richard Pilbrow will boost art and audiences, the groups' leaders say.

Davis Gaines, whose many Broadway credits include the title role in The Phantom of the Opera, agrees. Gaines is an Orlando native who is giving back to his hometown by serving on the DPAC board; next season, he'll also sing the title role in a concert version of Sweeney Todd with the Orlando Philharmonic. He calls the Bob Carr, where he has performed many times, ''outdated and obsolete,'' and says the new performing arts center represents a "huge opportunity for children here to grow up with the arts, dance, music, ballet and theater.''

Orlando Opera president James Ireland says his company has been hampered in its choices and its ability to hire artists, directors and designers by the Carr's limitations. The performing arts center, he's certain, will make a critical difference.

''We load in on a Monday, and our first rehearsal is Monday night,'' Ireland says. "It's like instant mashed potatoes. We don't have enough time onstage to light it, rehearse with the actors. The [orchestra] pit isn't big enough. We can't do certain operas.''

David Schillhammer, executive director of the Orlando Philharmonic, calls the new performing arts center a ''decades-long dream'' that has already raised awareness of the orchestra and the fact that Orlando has ''a vibrant arts community'' -- at least, it upped awareness among Orlando-area residents.

Bruce Marks, once a star dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and formerly artistic director of Ballet West and the Boston Ballet, became the Orlando Ballet's artistic director after the death of Fernando Bujones. He knows that grand performing arts palaces bring, with their greater artistic possibilities, greater costs. But arts-enthused Orlando -- ''the only city in Florida with a professional symphony, ballet and opera,'' Marks says -- seems poised to keep the growth going.

Information courtesy of Miami Herald

Orlando Fringe Theatre Festival Begins May 15

Orlando offers more than just resorts and theme parks! Every May since 1991 the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival has provided cutting-edge, genuine theatre and entertainment that is guaranteed to be everything from the unimaginable to the unforgettable.
100% unjuried, 100% uncensored, 100% accessible for artists and audiences alike, 100% of ticket sales given back to the artists. This year's festival runs starts May 15, 2008 and continues for 12 days until May 26th.

Looking for some free entertainment for the kids? This year the Orlando Fringe Festival has included a new feature - Kids Fringe. This free, kid friendly event will be held on the festival weekends from 10 am to 4 pm.

The Mission of the Orlando Fringe is to provide an accessible, affordable outlet that draws diverse elements of the community together and inspires creative experiences through the arts.
Not to be confused with frilly decorative borders or extremist political parties, Fringe is a festival or, rather, a celebration of the theatrical and performing arts.

The Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival takes place in and around Loch Haven Park over the course of the twelve days leading up to Memorial Day. Frequently referred to as "the premier springtime cultural event in Central Florida", The Orlando Fringe Festival encompasses more than 500 uncensored and non-juried performances each year.

After you're done visiting the Orlando Fringe Festival, you'll need a nice place to rest and relax. Orlando Hotels provide the perfect combination of convenience and comfort, creating a great place to stay while you play.

Enjoy the Festival!

Orlando Offers Tons of Fun for Adults

While a fun-filled holiday at Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort or SeaWorld Orlando might top many a child’s wish list, a full slate of action-packed and entertaining rides, shows and experiences mean that grown-ups will have an unforgettable time in Orlando – with or without the kids.

At the Walt Disney World Resort, your choices are limitless. Brave the triple threat of the Disney mountain range at the Magic Kingdom – Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. You’ll be glued to your seat at Disney-MGM Studios as cars come dangerously close to disaster in Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. Take a high-speed thrill ride on Rock ‘n Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith or an ill-fated lift ride on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. For a peaceful experience in the outdoors, take in the Maharajah Jungle Trek or the Pangani Forest Expedition Trail at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. To add a little spice to your day, look for exotic animals on the Kilimanjaro Safaris, twist and turn on the Kali River Rapids, travel back in time to go face-to-face with a dinosaur or scale the heights of Expedition Everest to encounter the mythical yeti during a thrilling roller coaster ride. And, Disney film favorites come to life in stage presentations featuring the stars of “Finding Nemo” and “The Lion King.”


A day spent at Epcot is all about discovery. Discover the how, what and why of the world we live in through explorations of the oceans, space, earth and even the human mind in Future World. Out-of this world experiences include Soarin’ over the redwood forests of California on a hang glider or heading for Mars on Mission: Space. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and tastes of the eleven nations represented in the World Showcase. Time your visit accordingly and you could be in for an extra treat. The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, held in May, and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, held each autumn, are visitor favorites with plenty of fun for everyone.

Universal Orlando Resort offers two distinct theme park experiences, of particular appeal to adults. You are invited to live the movies at Universal Studios Florida where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into scenes from your favorite films and television shows. From Hollywood classics like “Jaws” and “I Love Lucy” to today’s blockbusters like “The Mummy” and “Shrek,” you couldn’t find a better place to be part of the action.

The Trainer-for-the-Day program at Gatorland allows visitors the opportunity to get as close as they want to huge alligators or crocodiles. This fun-for-the-whole-family (kids 12 years or older) and older) experience is not for the weak at heart. It will be your job to work along side the Gatorland staff as they feed, train and interact with rare and amazing gators and crocs. Plan on getting a little dirty, and by all means, make sure and bring your camera.

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, you are invited to explore five themed islands – each one filled with unique thrills. Roam with the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, laugh along with the cartoon characters that inhabit Toon Lagoon or explore the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss, the creator of “The Cat in the Hat,” at Seuss Island. Thrill seekers will feel right at home as they battle evil villains alongside Spider-Man and spiral out of control on The Incredible Hulk Coaster on Marvel Super Hero Island. Before you can catch your breath, you will be engaged in a battle between two fierce dragons – Fire and Ice – as you twist, turn and come within inches of making contact with the other coaster on the Dueling Dragons roller coaster in The Lost Continent.

In recent years, SeaWorld Orlando has introduced two new shows that spark the imagination of guests of all ages. Introduced this spring, “Believe” showcases the park’s killer whales in a beautifully choreographed story of a child’s belief in his dreams that will have you revisiting your childhood hopes and aspirations. Not to be outdone, the park’s dolphins and false killer whales are the stars of “Blue Horizons." A breakthrough theatrical spectacular featuring aerialists and world-class divers, it tells the story of a young girl’s adventure in a place where the sea meets the sky. Get your adrenalin flowing with a water-coaster ride to the lost city of Atlantis or a heart-racing encounter with Kraken, the roller coaster named for a mythological sea monster.
As night falls, the excitement builds at Orlando’s theme parks with special nighttime shows, fireworks spectaculars and themed parades. It’s a show you won’t want to miss.

You may also want to treat yourself to some unique theme park experiences that hold special appeal for adult visitors. Take a break from quick-service meals and enjoy a fine dining experience inside the theme parks. Or learn how the parks make the magic that you experience every day as a guest on a special VIP or Behind-The-Scenes tour. And, an amazing animal encounter is sure to create holiday memories you will be talking about for years to come.


Information courtesy of Orlando Visitors Bureau

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival offers Array of Activities

The Fifteenth Annual Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival Blossoms to 75 Days! Once again, Disney World's Epcot blossoms into a beautiful and vast garden arrayed in color. The beauty of Mother Nature is displayed throughout the park, while guests are also treated with new experiences and added activities for extra fun.

Celebrating "Fun in the Sun," the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival is packed with new experiences for the entire family. See millions of blooms and the largest collection of Disney Topiary anywhere! Interact with top horticulturists at Garden Town, a new festival addition, where you can get gardening tips, participate in demonstrations, plan your day, and more! Have a fun evening "under the stars" at the America Gardens Theatre and enjoy the music you grew up with during the Flower Power Concert Series. Celebrate a special mother's day with mom at our scrumptious "Mother's Day Brunch" on May 11th. Make your reservations early!

Dates: March 19, 2008 - June 1, 2008

Festival Highlights

Epcot®Experience the best of the fest by enjoying the Festival Highlights that are not to be missed!

Flower Power Concert SeriesEpcot®Relax under the stars and groove to your favorite music from the '60s and '70s.

Especially for KidsEpcot®Gardening isn't just for grown-ups. Stop by to participate in fun family activities sure to tickle your pixies.

Themed WeekendsEpcot®Enhance your trip to the Festival by joining us during our Themed Weekends - packed with guest speakers, amazing hands-on experiences and entertaining activities for kids.

Easter and Mother's Day BrunchEpcot®Feast among the flowers during our popular Easter and Mother's Day Brunch.

Garden Town ProgramsEpcot®Stop and smell the roses — and then give your other senses a workout with some fantastic Festival Center programs for the entire family.

Lodging near Disney World is available, with a wide selection found on our hotel page. To browse our selection, visit our website, ReserveOrlando.com, or click on the hotel tab above.

Disney's Toy Story Mania Ride Interactive Surprise

Disney Parks guests will don 3-D glasses and enter a wild and wooly 4-D world of Woody the Cowboy and Buzz Lightyear when Toy Story Mania! premieres this summer. The attraction will debut on both coasts: at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and along the Paradise Pier midway in Disney's California Adventure at Disneyland Resort in California.

Celebrating the Disney•Pixar classics "Toy Story" and "Toy Story II," Toy Story Mania! raises the bar for interactive ride-game attractions. It's a high energy, immersive adventure that makes guests a key part of the action as their game play triggers special effects that provide a fourth dimension of fun. "Toy Story Mania!" engages guests in a whole new way with the delightful characters of the films. Upon entering the attraction, guests will be welcomed by Mr. Potato Head, more than five feet tall and looking like he stepped right down from the movie screen. The state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics Mr. Potato Head makes a perfect carnival barker for the immersive Toy Story Mania! experience, since he is the first attraction-based Audio-Animatronics figure who can engage guests in a two-way conversation.

Everyone gets a front row seat when guests put on their 3-D glasses, "shrink" to the size of a toy, and board the Toy Story Mania! carnival tram ride vehicles, whose fast travel and spinning add a huge amount of fun to the interactive experience. The exciting and colorful route takes guests through "Andy's Bedroom" filled with oversized murals and toys. The vehicles spin to face Toy Story Mania! game booths - high-tech yet rooted in classic midway games of skill - and guests aim for 3-D animated targets using their own on-board "spring-action shooters." Players pair up and sit side-by-side for a friendly competition that delivers an ever-changing variety of targets and surprises.

As they play, guests can actually see the "virtual" objects they've launched leave their "spring-action shooters" and hit the targets (or not). And thanks to 4-D special effects technology, they may sense objects whirring past them as they pop out of the 3-D scenes.

The Toy Story Mania! games - five of them, plus an introductory practice round - are designed to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages and skills, from beginners to serious gamers.

Play is energized by the spirit of the "Toy Story" characters cast in games that best suit their very animated personalities. First comes the "Pie Throw Practice" round in which guests can try splattering targets with "virtual" pies. Next Hamm the pig hosts a "Hamm & Eggs" booth in which players launch "plastic virtual eggs" at various barnyard targets. "Bo Peep's Baaa-loon Pop" presents a landscape full of balloon sheep, trees and other objects at which guests can launch virtual darts. But players had better be careful! A popped virtual water balloon might add an additional 4-D wet dimension to the game.

From there it's on to "Green Army Men Shoot Camp" where the challenge is to break plates with baseballs. Next up is "Buzz Lightyear's Flying Tossers," a ring-toss game hosted by everyone's favorite space ranger, with Little Green Aliens as the targets. For the grand finale game, Toy Story Mania! players will ride through Wild West scenes launching virtual suction-cup darts at targets in "Woody's Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Gallery." A final "Woody's Bonus Roundup" encourages guests to fire their "spring-action shooters" as rapidly as possible at one last super-target for extra points. When scores are tallied, players' skill levels are identified with the reward of an onscreen "virtual plush."

The game play of Toy Story Mania! is accompanied by ingenious musical variations of Randy Newman's "You've Got A Friend in Me," arranged by veteran music editor Bruno Coon, a frequent Newman collaborator, to compliment the games - for example, a military brass band version for "Green Army Man Shoot Camp." No matter how many times guests return to ride and play, they can be sure every ride-through will be different.

Information courtesy of Magical Mountain and Disney

Visit Orlando for Fun in the Sun

There are many reasons to visit Orlando, Florida. Home of the most famous mouse in the world, many people know of the fun that awaits them in Orlando. However, there are many things to do in Orlando that are unexpected gems. In fact, Orlando is a versatile array of activities and luxuries that comprise a vacation destination in which families, couples and friends can relax and enjoy everything about Florida.

When visitors come to Orlando, Disney World is generally a must see. Their exciting theme parks, uniquely designed to provide Disney experiences, bring out the kid in all of us. Universal Orlando Resort is also a must see, especially for those that love roller coasters and nightlife. There are many rides and activities within Universal, suitable for those of all ages. As the weather warms up, people flock to Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, where the waves and thrills are enough to whet anyone’s appetite. Cypress Gardens, a family favorite embracing traditional fun, is also a nice addition to any vacation.

While visiting the area, there are many entertaining Orlando dinner shows to see. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show and Pirate’s Dinner Adventure are popular among guests, and are always a hit with kids. Other attractions in Orlando worth a visit include Wonderworks, Gatorland, Magical Midway and don’t forget to take a ride on Boggy Creek Airboat rides.

Orlando Lodging offers guests a multitude of options. SunLake Resort, Blue Tree Resort, Radisson Resort, Runaway Beach Resort, Mike Ditka Resort, Days Inn Maingate, Floridays Orlando, and the Galleria Palms hotel are just a few of the properties available.

Visit Orlando today! You’ll be glad you did!

New Coaster Coming to Universal Orlando Resort

Adrenaline pumping and music thumping, you find yourself heading straight toward the sky. Suddenly, you are doing 65 mph, 17 stories over Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Gasping with excitement, you rock out to a song you picked before strapping in. And, it’s all on video. Once the adventure is over, you edit the video to send to your friends.

This is true high-tech, customizable, multi-sensory entertainment. Scheduled to open in spring 2009, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will stake its claim as the most technologically advanced roller coaster in the world. The Universal Creative team is combining audio and special effects engineering, sophisticated on- and off-board video and one-of-a-kind guest personalization to create a roller coaster experience unlike any other.

“This is the perfect intersection of the digital age and theme park entertainment,” said Mark Woodbury, President of Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts. “Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit blends roller coaster intensity and guest interaction in a way where no two experiences will be the same.”

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit touts six near-miss moments and first-ever thrills including a record-breaking loop. Ride vehicles feature the brightest and most innovative color changing LEDs in the world. High-energy visual displays fill the queue line. With up to four ride vehicles on the tracks at any given time, and with concert lighting and special effects mixed in, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be a true high-intensity, multi-sensory experience that is unmatched.
Guests can customize their ride experience by choosing what song will play while they’re on the roller coaster. LED boards in the queue lines will display song options from five genres (classic rock, rap, country, pop and soundtracks). Once on-board, guests can choose their song or let the coaster’s digital sound system choose for them. When the ride is over, guests will be able to customize footage from their experience and compile it into a take-home music video.

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be located near the Jimmy Neutron attraction traveling the southern perimeter of the Universal Studios theme park, over to the CityWalk lagoon and back.

Information and Image courtesy of Universal Studios