Disney Announces Changes for Downtown Disney, Pleasure Island

Walt Disney World is shutting down the six nightclubs at Pleasure Island to make its party district at Downtown Disney more family friendly.

BET SoundStage Club, Mannequins Dance Palace, 8Trax and three other clubs that have for years catered largely to young, single adults -- rather than to Disney's bread-and-butter family market -- will close after Sept. 27.

During the next couple of years, Disney will reopen the Pleasure Island venues with a broader mix of restaurants and shops.

Pleasure Island's change has been the subject of rumors for a while. Now 19 years old, it may have seemed an odd venture for Disney, but it appeared to thrive -- so much so that some in the industry have blamed it for accelerating the decline of the nightlife district in downtown Orlando during the 1990s.

In announcing what they called "a bold new vision" for all of Downtown Disney on Friday, Disney officials framed the Pleasure Island nightclub closures as a response to customers who say they want more broad-based dining and retail opportunities throughout the 120-acre district.

"Right now we believe we've got a shortage of dining capacity and shopping capacity, so we'll be adding to those areas, and we'll be looking at some specialized entertainment options also," said Downtown Disney Vice President Kevin Lansberry.

Pleasure Island opened in 1989, designed to look like a revitalized back-alley warehouse district. Today it is the middle section of Disney World's dining, shopping and entertainment district. Though the two flanking areas, Marketplace and the West Side, also have nightclubs, they operate as parts of restaurants, appealing to broader, family-friendly crowds. Until recently, Pleasure Island has been mostly about music, dancing, drinking and partying -- creating an awkward link between Marketplace and West Side.

"The rumor has been there that they would transform Pleasure Island into something else, but us regulars always thought at least Mannequins and 8Trax would stay alive," said Jorge Vazquez, 41, an accountant who said he goes to Pleasure Island two or three times a month.

Pleasure Island and its counterpart at Universal Orlando, CityWalk, which opened in 1999, both offer coordinated clusters of high-quality, highly themed nightclubs with lots of free parking and security. They offered two carefully conceived alternatives to downtown Orlando's once-vibrant counterpart, Church Street Station.

Orlando lawyer Mark NeJame, majority investor in the downtown nightclub Tabu as well as an investor in other nightclubs, said he is surprised at Disney's announcement but that it could be good news for downtown Orlando.

"It's a real opportunity for downtown to continue its revitalization," NeJame said. "When Pleasure Island first opened, it devastated a lot of the local entrepreneurs and operators."

Though the six nightclubs will close, the other businesses on Pleasure Island -- a couple of restaurants, a cigar bar and a couple of clothing shops -- will remain open. They already offer the broad appeal that Lansberry said Disney's patrons want. He did not offer specifics about what might replace the clubs but said Disney was looking worldwide for restaurant and shopping concepts.

"Some of the offerings might feel like a nightclub, but they won't feel like high-energy clubs like we have today in all likelihood," Lansberry said. "Truthfully, our guests have really gotten out of that in the last couple of years. They want things that are a lot more geared toward family entertainment."

Disney World also is sprucing up Downtown Disney's other two areas, adding restaurants, expanding and updating a band shell, refurbishing and updating other businesses, and bringing in a giant tethered-balloon attraction that visitors will be able to ride in, going up more than 300 feet above Village Lake.

Bob Snow, who developed Church Street Station in the 1970s and has re-entered the picture this year by reopening one of that district's centerpiece nightclubs, the Cheyenne Saloon, said he never blamed Pleasure Island for Church Street's decline. But he, too, said he hopes Pleasure Island's nightclub closures would create more opportunities in downtown Orlando.

Snow said he always was amazed that Disney got into the nightclub-district business in the first place.

"It really surprised me that they're just going to throw in the towel," he said. Then he added: "They got out of their knitting. They got out of their main line, what they do so well."

Information courtesy of Orlando Sentinel

July Events in Orlando

Storytelling at Leu Gardens
Date: July 1st – May 17th 2010
Location: Harry P. Leu Gardens
Storybook fun for your little one is held the third Monday of every month. Sponsored by the Orange County Library System.

The World of William Joyce
Date: July 1st-Aug. 31st
Location: Orlando Museum of Art
This exhibition features work from one of the most dynamic and talented picture book artists working today. Joyce works in a variety of media, including watercolor, pencils and computer graphics.

Independence Day at Walt Disney World Resort

Date: July 4th
Location: Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom: Traditionally, the 4th of July fireworks at the Magic Kingdom include an enhanced presentation featuring patriotic music themed to spectacular pyrotechnics that ring through the park. This year's schedule:
9:00PM: Holiday Fireworks
10:30pm - 12:30am: Spectromagic
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
9:00PM: Holiday Fireworks
10:30PM: Fantasmic
Epcot: The America Pavilion will have extra performances of the "Voices of Liberty" choral group and visits by "Historic Figures" talking about their era.
10:00PM: Illuminations with special Fourth of July finale
Downtown Disney:
10:30PM: Holiday Fireworks

Fireworks Over The Fountain
Date: July 4th
Location: Lake Eola Park Orlando
Celebrate United States independence at the free fireworks display and laser show around Lake Eola. Pack a picnic basket, comfy blankets and the kids and head out to Lake Eola for an old-fashioned summertime picnic.

Edwin McCain
Date: July 5th
Location: House of Blues Orlando

Peter Murphy
Date: July 6th
Location: House of Blues Orlando

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Date: July 8th
Location: Hard Rock Live – Orlando
Come see Pat Benatar play all her classics and a few new favorites!

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series
Date: July 9-July 10
Location: Disney’s Epcot
Families can gather together for an unforgettable night of music and memories in the open-air America Gardens Theater at Epcot. Tribute bands will cover favorite songs from Elton John, ABBA, The Eagles, Billy Joel, Chicago, and more.

Alexis & Fido “The Concert”
Date: July 11th
Location: House of Blues Orlando

Arts & Crafts Show at Festival Bay Mall
Date: July 17-20
Location: Festival Bay Mall Orlando
Shoppers can come and shop some featured Arts and Crafts vendors such as camphor secret art boxes, handmade silver wire jewelry with semi-precious stones, hand crafted candles, unique photographic art, hand cut solid oak name key chains, handmade country & angel crafts, hand crafted alligator skin products and much more!

Alkaline Trio
Date: July 19th
Location: House of Blues Orlando

Zappa Plays Zappa
Date: July 23rd
Location: Hard Rock Live Orlando

Frank Caliendo
Date: July 25th
Location: Hard Rock Live Orlando

1st Annual Bass & Bellows Car Show
Date: July 26-27
Location: Gatorland
The ultimate car show and sound off at Orlando's only theme park with bite & attitude.

Cinderella
Date: July 27th
Location: Hard Rock Live Orlando

Information courtesy of Orlando CVB

8 Ways to Save on Your Orlando Vacation

Orlando, Florida is synonymous with family fun. Home to some of the best theme parks in the world, Orlando offers exciting thrills, close encounters with your favorite cartoon characters and amazing ways to spend your summer days with your family. This summer season money is tight for many families and some are struggling to ensure their families can still have an unforgettable, deserved vacation. Look no further than Orlando, Florida for the one-stop, do-it-all destination you and your family have been searching for. Even though budgets are tight and gas prices are high, Central Florida is a vacation destination offering discounts and cheap things to do in Orlando making it easy for any family to enjoy some summer fun.

Here are 8 ways to save on your Orlando Vacation:

1) Purchase a Go Orlando Card for discounts on over 50 Orlando attractions, including Cypress Gardens, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Kennedy Space Center, Wonderworks and more. Do as much as you like each day for one low, affordable price. The Go Orlando Card is easy to use....simply present the card. Visit as many attractions as you want in a day! Admission to all listed attractions is included with the card. It comes in 1, 2, 3, 5 & 7 day increments and is activated the first time you use it. Days do not have to be used consecutively, and you can take up to 2 weeks to use it.

2) Discover our Orlando Direct Deals page on ReserveOrlando.com. There are great deals on Orlando tickets and discounts for Orlando attractions. A few of the discounted Orlando activities include Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, Sleuths Mystery Dinner Show, Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tours, Wet ‘n Wild and Arabian Nights Dinner Show to name a few.

3) Orlando vacation packages are another great way to save in Orlando. On ReserveOrlando.com there are packages available featuring Universal Studios, Disney World, Gatorland, Cypress Gardens and Wet ‘n Wild. They are a great way to save money and still have fun!

4) Your won’t find Cheap Disney Tickets anywhere, but you’ll certainly find the best Discount Disney Tickets and Park Hopper Passes on ReserveOrlando.com. There are special deals offering free days at Disney World or you can get a great low price ticket for a 1-3 day pass. The deals are available, are you?

5) Universal Studios Orlando discounts are also available on ReserveOrlando.com. We are proud to offer the some of the best discount Universal Studios tickets around, with deals the whole family will enjoy. Our prices are way lower than gate prices, and offerings include a 2 park unlimited admission pass and a CityWalk Party Pass ticket.

6) There are plenty of Free Things to do in Orlando. Spend some time at Lake Eola Park, visit a museum like the Cornell Fine Arts Museum or explore Old Town, where every Saturday night free rock-n-roll concert and a parade of 300 vintage cars. There are plenty of outdoor activities for families and historical sites to visit, so be sure to check out all of the Free activities in Orlando.

7) Get a Central Florida Play Pass. This 7-day pass features unlimited admission to seven unique and out of the ordinary attractions and museums, including Cypress Gardens, Fantasy of Flight and Bok Tower Gardens. The pass is flexible, you can come and go as much as you like at each location, plus it’s a great value for families!

8) Take a short trip to the beach. Orlando may be in central Florida, but a trip to the beach is just a short drive away. Cocoa Beach is the closest beach to Orlando, with about an hour drive time on SR-528 to the east. Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach are about an hour and a half away, and are located east on I-4. A trip to the beach is cheap, fun and family friendly!

Disney World's Hollywood Studios Party Central

Disney's Hollywood Studios is becoming party central at Walt Disney World.

As it undergoes a change in theme during its 20th year, "The Studios," as the theme park is nicknamed, is adding performance venues and drawing events away from the resort's other three parks, becoming the site for most official Disney parties aimed at teens and young adults.

That party mission went largely unspoken last August, when Disney announced a slew of theme, attraction, entertainment and name changes for what had always been the giant resort's third-most-popular park, known until then as Disney-MGM Studios.

Yet Hollywood Studios -- which already possessed the most concert and show venues in Disney World, not to mention several attractions popular among youth, such as Tower of Terror -- now has a broader entertainment theme and is getting even more venues. It also is quietly grabbing a larger share of the after-hours party crowd.

Epcot appeals to older revelers with its shopping, dining, wines and flowers, and oldies acts such as Herman's Hermits. Magic Kingdom's parties offer visitors an array of princesses and pirates, as well as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Hollywood Studios is ready for those who want to rock.

"Now, with the new venues coming on board . . . and with our major attractions, that kind of resonates with these age groups, with the teens coming in," said Rilous Carter, Disney World vice president for Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Already home to three major annual bashes -- including this month's Star Wars Weekends -- and a number of annual after-hours private parties, The Studios also is taking over Disney World's annual high school "grad nights" and its annual "Night of Joy" Christian music festivals. Both grad nights and Night of Joy had until now taken place in Magic Kingdom. Disney's eighth-grade grad nights made the move to The Studios this year from Animal Kingdom. Last year, The Studios grabbed the High School Musical Pep Rally from Magic Kingdom.

"We think this is probably a better fit for these age groups," Carter said. "Magic Kingdom is a great venue -- they've loved it over the years. But this gives it [a youth-oriented event] more concert venues to stage musical shows or dance floors.

For most of its history, The Studios has been a solid third in popularity behind Magic Kingdom and Epcot in terms of general-admission attendance. But last year it narrowly missed being overtaken by Disney's Animal Kingdom, the resort's newest theme park, where attendance has been growing at faster rates in recent years.

This year, The Studios is getting:

*The only major Disney World ride to open this year, Toy Story Midway Mania.

*The resort's only major new show, American Idol Experience.

*Two new parades, Block Party Bash and the revised High School Musical 2: School's Out rally.

"I think this is our year," said Carter, the park's chief executive.

In addition, a new indoor concert venue to be called the Premiere Theater is being fashioned from an unused open-air theater. The air-conditioned venue will soon be joined by the American Idol Experience theater and two other stadiums that can each hold thousands of people. Large temporary stages and dance floors are also easily erected in front of the park's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and its giant Sorcerer's Hat.

Ronald Logan, a former Disney park-entertainment executive who now is an associate professor at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management, said Disney World designs its show venues to be available for alternative uses, provided those uses fit the surrounding park's overall theme. With the added venues and other changes, The Studios is now much more flexible in that regard, he said.

"There has been a broadening of the whole mission and theme, where you can address anything you want," Logan said.

Still, unlike Universal Studios' signature events -- Mardi Gras and Halloween Horror Nights -- after-hours events in Disney's Hollywood Studios might never feature such edgy entertainment as Kid Rock or the Bill & Ted shows. Not the official events, anyway. But like all theme parks, Hollywood Studios is available for rent, and under private control, the various show facilities could take on a different tone.

Information & Image courtesy of Orlando Sentinel

New Presentation for Disney's Fourth of July Celebration

WDWmagic.com reports that this year's July 4 fireworks in the Magic Kingdom will not be the "Fantasy in the Sky" show, as they have been for years. Instead, there will be a new presentation, "Disney's Celebrate America! -- A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky," designed by Brad Cicotti.

It will take the place of "Wishes" on July 3 and 4. Rehearsal nights are June 29 and July 1.

However, the official Disney Web site still lists a presentation of "Fantasy in the Sky" at 9 p.m. July 4.

Information courtesy of Orlando Sentinel

"New" is the Magic Word for Orlando Theme Parks

Central Florida theme parks' new attractions — unveiled each year to welcome summer visitors — are like a red carpet rolled out for fun. For 2008, highlights include a whole new water park, a new wildlife area at another park, and a prize giveaway and a new interactive attraction at yet another.

SeaWorld Orlando's new water park, Aquatica, is on International Drive, across the street from SeaWorld. The 59-acre playground is themed to the South Seas islands with crystal rivers, grottoes, waterfalls, rich greenery, flowers and exotic fauna, including macaws and kookaburras. Aquatica offers animal encounters, serene and extreme water experiences, high-speed thrills and a white sand beach. Water — 3.3 million gallons of it — flows freely in lagoons, rivers and racing rides.

Attractions include two wave pools lined by wide sandy beaches, Adventure River with rapids, Lazy River with a grotto filled with thousands of fish and an underwater view of the Commerson's dolphins' habitat, a double raft ride, and an eight-lane racer with a 300-foot slide and tunnels. The park's signature ride has 300 feet of clear tubes that send visitors speeding through a lagoon filled with black and white Commerson's dolphins. Other park amenities include a children's area, family play area, and personal cabanas.

Walt Disney World Resort has extended its Year of a Million Dreams through 2008, with new Disney Dreams Giveaway prizes awarded at random. These include New Year's Eve in the Cinderella Castle Suite; Disney's Bahamas private island for a day; a hot-air balloon ride over Epcot; a behind-the-scenes peek at Disney Imagineering; and the chance to serve as grand marshal leading the parks' parades in France, California, Hong Kong and Florida. Another prize is multiple yearly Disney vacations, including a Bahamian voyage on Disney Cruise Line, a tour to China or Australia or other destinations from Adventures By Disney, and trips to Disneyland and Disney World. The winner of this prize — he or she can take up to three guests — will take one trip a year through Sept. 30, 2012.

Also new at Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, formerly Disney-MGM, has a whole set of attractions this year. Arguably the most exciting of these is the interactive competition of Toy Story Mania! opening May 31. Inspired by Disney-Pixar's Toy Story films, visitors to the attraction begin by donning 3-D glasses, boarding the ride and zipping into a series of midway-style games hosted by many Toy Story characters including Woody, Hamm and Rex. Inside Andy's Toy Box, visitors try to rack up the most points by using spring-action shooters to launch darts at balloons, eggs at barnyard targets and rings at aliens.

Other new attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios include Block Party Bash, an interactive parade debuting in spring with Disney-Pixar film characters including The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2. Playhouse Disney Live on Stage! reopened in February with a new cast of characters including favorite stars from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Handy Manny. High School Musical 2: School's Out! comes to life in the park's streets on a traveling stage, and the Meet and Greet character setting in the park's Animation Courtyard welcomes Handy Manny, in addition to regulars Jo Jo and Goliath, and the Little Einsteins.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has a new wildlife area: Jungala. The new observation area allows visitors multiple ways to see such animals as orangutans and white tigers in a jungle setting. Located in the park's Congo area, Jungala has waterways, a waterfall, and village and jungle environments. Jungala also includes a family fun section with rides and exploration areas, some of the latter being three stories high and overlooking the wildlife. In addition to close-up viewing of wildlife, Jungala offers interaction with animals and features street entertainment.

While theme park fans all over the country await the debut in 2009 of the Harry Potter environment within Universal's Islands of Adventure Park, Universal Studios unveils Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Ride… Starring You. This attraction, which replaces Earthquake, combines the drama of Earthquake with new celebrity talent, new ride elements, interactive components and a new storyline.

Also at Universal Orlando is a new simulator ride based on The Simpsons. It replaces the park's Back To The Future ride.

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park has announced a series of concerts and special events for spring and summer. Among the special family-friendly happenings is Kidzpalooza now through June 22, with dozens of interactive activities, shows, concerts and parties. Kids can get messy in the park's super-sloppy game show Gunk'd. Other special events include Celebrate America, June 27-Aug. 3, with daytime entertainment, exhibits and shows and evening live music, street performers and a nightly laser show. Wild Encounters (Aug. 8-10, 12-17, and 22-24) features close-up opportunities with animals and educational events such as keeper talks, animal experts and celebrities from Animal Planet, as well as backstage tours not regularly offered.

Information courtesy of South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Orlando Theme Parks Add New Elements for Repeat Fun

High above International Drive, Wet 'n Wild patrons prepare to slide down the water park's newly revamped Black Hole attraction. Along its 500-foot plummet, they might encounter strobes, lasers, a shimmering water wall and sudden changes in temperature before splashing down.


But even if those riders immediately return to the top, they're not likely to have the same experience. That's because the ride's special effects now occur in random sequences, one of the newest techniques used by theme parks and attractions to lure customers back for a second -- or third -- round.


"Theme parks have figured out that the real money is in the repeat visitors -- getting people to come back and do the ride again and again," said Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, a Web site devoted to theme parks. "The way to do that is either create something that's just so incredible and amazing that people can't ever get enough of it -- or change it around so that it's different next time," he said.


The forerunner of the ever-changing rides is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Built in 1994, it entered multiple-personality mode five years ago when random sequencing was introduced to its 13-story plunges.Variable factors include ride time, drop length and air time. Since then, advances in technology have encouraged theme-park companies to create more attractions with user options and fluid features.


At the Wet 'n Wild ride -- now called The Black Hole: The Next Generation -- riders select one of two slides, each with different effects and sequences. Technology developed since Black Hole debuted 10 years ago can help keep it fresh, said David Wright, director of marketing for the park. "We have the ability to continually program the lights and the effects," he said. "We could change the sequencing [again]."


Toy Story Mania, a computerized shooting-gallery-style attraction now in previews at Disney's Hollywood Studios, was designed with repeat business in mind, said Imagineer Chrissie Allen, a producer for the ride.In the new 3-D ride, players launch virtual objects (darts, baseballs, cream pies) toward targets that appear on screens. It makes guests feel as though they've been shrunk to toy size to play five pint-sized arcade games.

The scoring system appears, but a video-game staple known as Easter eggs -- hidden or secret bonus targets -- can catapult a player's score. "You'll discover things each time you play," Allen said. "It gives you a higher level of challenge each time you come back and play. We have team members who haven't found all of them yet, and they've been riding hundreds of times," she said. "We think that's going to be a really big selling point for the ride."


"The way we amuse ourselves is in flux", said Niles of Theme Park Insider. "The consumer-entertainment model has changed over the past generation from passive entertainment such as movies and TV to more active entertainment like video games and the Web," he said. "So it makes sense that the theme-park industry would react to that and start introducing rides that incorporate a little bit more active technology."


Universal Studios will tap into the trend of personalized entertainment with a roller coaster set to open next spring. Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will feature traditional hills and spills but also permit riders to pick their own soundtracks and create music videos of the experience. They'll be able to download those videos for use on their personal Web sites.


"It really came from the trend in youth culture of being able to customize their world -- whether it's music selections to what they watch on television to what they carry around with them for entertainment," said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts. "It's important, in our thinking, to be able to transform the ride experience to that next generation, really the YouTube generation," he said.


"Technology will improve. There's a reason why [video game] Grand Theft Auto IV looks, feels, acts and behaves much differently from Pong or Breakout or early-generation video games," Niles said. "You're going to see the same type of development within the theme-park industry," he said. "I don't know if it will happen quite as impressively, quite as quickly as it did with video games. But you're definitely going to see growth and change."


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 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!

March Events in Orlando

2008 Mardi Gras at Universal Studios
Universal Orlando
Through April 19, 2008
Let the good times roll at Mardi Gras 2008! Universal Studios boasts the largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans – complete with a live concert series that features a diversity of musical stars, colorful parades full of floats, plenty of beads to collect, elaborately costumed characters and delectable “Big Easy” cuisine such as jambalaya and shrimp gumbo. Mardi Gras 2008 at Universal Studios began on Saturday, February 2, 2008 and runs for 12 Saturday nights through April 19, 2008. Topping the entertainment list for Mardi Gras 2008 are such musical superstars as country singer Gretchen Wilson, rockers Third Eye Blind and Heart, rap artist L.L. Cool J and old-school crooners such as Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Smokey Robinson and Kool & The Gang.

2008 Bike Week
Various Sites, Daytona Beach, Florida
February 29 – March 9, 2008
The “World’s Largest Motorcycle Event” attracts more than 500,000 bike enthusiasts from all over the world for a raucous 10 days of motorcycle shows, exhibits, live concerts, races at the Daytona International Speedway and, last but certainly not least, hardcore partying on Main and Beach streets. Admission is charged to certain events.

2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Bay Hill Club & Lodge
9000 Bay Hill Boulevard, Orlando, Florida
March 1 – March 16, 200
The Arnold Palmer Invitational (formerly known as the Bay Hill Invitational) draws the world’s top professional golfers on the PGA Tour. The event traces its history back to 1966 when it began as the Florida Citrus Open Invitational. Tiger Woods, who lives in nearby Windermere, captured an unprecedented four consecutive Bay Hill championships from 2000 to 2003. Admission is charged. The 2008 Arnold Palmer Invitational takes place from March 12-18 at the 7,137-yard, par-70 course at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando with a purse of $5.8 million ($1,044,000 to the champion).

2008 Central Florida Home & Garden Show
Orange County Convention Center Center, Orlando, Florida
March 7-9, 2008
The Central Florida region’s largest consumer home and garden showcase features more than 475 exhibits that will help you through every step of your home improvement projects. Whether you are looking for decorating ideas, remodeling plans or landscaping tips, you’ll find expert advice here. Admission is charged.

2008 Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
March 19 – June 1, 2008
View colorful displays of roses, wildflowers, topiary displays of your favorite Disney characters and world-class horticultural displays at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which has expanded to 75 days for 2008. The floral festival – which includes a live Flower Power Concert Series, gardening seminars, workshops, demonstrations and children’s activities – is included with regular admission to Epcot.

2008 Florida Film Festival
Enzian Theater, 1300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland, Florida
March 28 – April 6, 2008
Move aside, Sundance! For film buffs, the 10-day Florida Film Festival is the showcase for the best in American independent and foreign films, documentaries, narrative films, midnight movies, regional and family films, and animation. Sponsored by Enzian Theater, the Florida Film Festival has become one of the most respected regional film festivals in the United States. Festival events include Spotlight Films, International Showcase, Special Screenings, American Independent Competition, Midnight Movies, Student Works, Forums and Celebrations. Past attendees have included Oliver Stone, Gabriel Byrne, Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Steve Buscemi and William H. Macy. Admission is charged.

2008 Central Florida Fair
Central Florida Fairgrounds, 4603 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida
April 17-27, 2008
Since 1887, the 11-day Central Florida Fair has celebrated the best in regional arts and crafts, live music and dance, food, livestock shows, thrilling carnival rides, fascinating interactive exhibits and much more! The Wade Shows Midway boasts 100 rides and attractions. Admission is charged.

Everyone is Invited to Orlando's Spring Break

Spring Break may be a time-honored tradition for college students, but in Orlando, it’s becoming an event for the entire household. During Orlando’s Family Spring Break® in 2008, families can take a break from busy work and school schedules to reconnect and recharge without needing to venture a long way from home. New attractions near Kissimmee and in Orlando are opening just in time for Orlando’s 6th annual Family Spring Break.

Family Attractions

Aquatica – SeaWorld’s Waterpark, blending up close animal experiences with thrilling rides and whimsical underwater adventures.

A uniquely hilarious journey through Springfield with the Simpson family on Universal Studios Florida’s new ride, The Simpsons, based on FOX’s blockbuster series and the longest running sitcom on television.

“Block Party Bash,” an interactive parade featuring over 20 Disney•Pixar characters and the latest “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage” show, featuring characters from “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Little Einsteins,” “Handy Manny” and more at new to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios).

Jungala at Busch Gardens Africa, a four-acre attraction set in a lush landscape, featuring exciting signature rides, a family climbing area and exotic animal interactions.

The continuation of Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams campaign, where special dreams from free ice cream to a night in Cinderella’s Castle Suite are awarded to guests.

Family Events

Throughout the spring, Orlando is also packed with annual festivals, sports and special events that are perfect for families.

Visitors can take in a local community celebration where they can devour endless samples of pies April 19-20 at the Great American Pie Festival in Celebration.

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens presents “Hippity Hop Adventure” March 22-23, when kids receive a free bunny tail, win prizes, enjoy face painting and more as they discover clues along an adventure trail leading them to the Easter Bunny.

A classic children’s book comes to life when the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre presents “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” February 23 – March 16.

An interactive song and dance extravaganza connecting the clues with Steve, Blue, Goldilocks and many other favorite storybook characters in “Blue's Clues Live! The Most Spectacular Place” presented by the Orlando Repertory Theater happens March 7-30.

Baseball fans can enjoy a sneak preview of the upcoming Major League Baseball season at The Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex February 27 – March 29 during the Atlanta Braves spring training season.

As the NBA playoff battle heats up, spend an evening filled with fast-paced NBA hoopla as The Orlando Magic battle in 14 home games throughout the months of March and April at the Amway Arena.

Information courtesy of Orlando CVB

Orlando's Theme Parks Unveil New Attractions

Orlando, Florida's theme parks roll out new attractions each year just in time to welcome summer visitors. This year, the highlights include a new wildlife area, a prize give-away, and an interactive attraction at the area theme parks.

Here's a park-by-park line-up of the novelties visitors will find, beginning in spring:

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is opening a new wildlife area, Jungala, this spring. Jungala's observation area will allow visitors to get a bird's-eye view of animals, such as orangutans and white tigers. Located in the park's Congo area, Jungala also will have waterways, a waterfall and village.

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park will have a series of concerts and special events for spring and summer. Kidzpalooza will run from May 16 to June 22, with dozens of interactive activities, shows, concerts and parties. Kids can get messy in the park's super-sloppy game show, Gunk'd. Other music events at Cypress Gardens include Celebrate America, June 27 to Aug. 3, with daytime and night-time entertainment, exhibits and laser shows. Wild Encounters (Aug. 8-10, 12-17, and 22-24) will feature close animal encounters, backstage access and educational events with animal keepers, experts and Animal Planet celebrities.

SeaWorld Orlando's new water park, Aquatica, opens this spring, on International Drive, across the street from SeaWorld. This park is a 59-acre paradise for water lovers with crystal rivers, grottoes, waterfalls, rich greenery, flowers and exotic fauna including macaws and kookabooras under the South Seas theme. Aquatica offers up-close animal encounters, serene and extreme water experiences, high speed thrills and a white sand beach. There are also two wave pools lined by wide, sandy beaches, lagoons, rivers and 300 feet of clear tubes that send guest racing through a lagoon filled with black and white Commerson's dolphins. Other park amenities include a children's area, family play area, and personal cabanas.

Universal Orlando Resort will present Disaster! A Major Motion Picture ride, which will feature celebrity talent, new ride elements and a new storyline. This new ride, expected to open in late spring, relaces Earthquake. The Simpsons ride is expected to open in spring, replacing the Back to the Future ride.

Walt Disney World Resort has extended its Year of a Million Dreams, with new Disney Dreams Giveaway prizes awarded at random. Prizes include access that money can't buy, such as a pass to spend New Year's Eve in the Cinderella Castle Suite; a trip to Disney's private island in the Bahamas for a day; a hot-air balloon ride over Epcot; a behind-the-scenes peek at Disney Imagineering; and the opportunity to serve as grand marshall leading the parks' parades in France, California, Hong Kong and Florida.

Also new this year is Disney's Hollywood Studios, formerly Disney-MGM. The Studios will host an interactive competition of "Toy Story Mania!" opening this summer. Riders will don 3-D glasses, board vehicles and zip into a series of midway-style games hosted by Toy Story characters Woody, Hamm and Rex. Inside Andy's Toy Box, visitors can try to rack up points by using spring-action shooters to launch darts at balloons, eggs at barnyard targets and rings at aliens. Other new attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios include Block Party Bash, an interactive parade debuting in spring with Disney- Pixar film characters from The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2. "Playhouse Disney Live on Stage!" re-opened in February with a new cast of characters including favorite stars from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the Little Einsteins and Handy Manny. There is also a traveling stage show for tweens: "High School Musical 2: School's Out!"

Information courtesy of South Florida Sun-Sentinel

15th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Blooming Soon

Celebrating "Fun in the Sun," the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is packed with new experiences for the entire family in Orlando, Florida. See millions of blooms and the largest collection of Disney Topiary anywhere! Interact with top horticulturists inside the Wonders of Life Pavilion 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 that inspired generations during the Flower Power Concert Series. Try our new "Easter Brunch" on March 23rd. And mom will love our scrumptious "Mother's Day Brunch" on May 11th so make your reservations early! Space is limited. Call 407-WDW-DINE for reservations.

EVENT DATES:March 19 - June 1, 2008

EVENT TICKETS:Admission to Epcot required.

2008 ENTERTAINMENT: (All entertainment is subject to change without notice)


Festival Highlights
Fun in the Sun - Main Entrance - Goofy catches the perfect wave as we celebrate all the fun you can have in the sun!

Green Garden - Future World East -Discover how you can create an environmentally friendly, low-input garden of your own as you explore this unique garden.

Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden - Test Track Walkway - Presented by Claritin®Experience hundreds of free-flying butterflies as you venture through lush foliage in this distinctive garden and butterfly house.

Peter Pan's Neverland Garden - Imagination Walkway - Presented by ValleyCrest Landscaping Solutions, Inc. & Cherry Lake Tree FarmSee some of your favorite characters from Peter Pan in topiary! Most appreciated by children 2-5.

Dynamite Vegetable Garden - Future World West - Presented by Dynamite Plant Food®Discover the fun and great taste of growing fabulous vegetables.

Florida's Wildflowers - Imagination Walkway - Presented by the Florida Department of AgricultureSee how Florida's wildflower growers are helping to make our state a more beautiful place. Children may participate in a fun wildflower activity.

Tricks of the Trade - Future World WestGet a "behind the scenes" look at how Disney's Horticulture makes some of its most popular elements.

Sculpture Garden - Future World WestWander among works of art on loan from some of Florida's most prestigious collections in a beautiful garden setting.

Water Garden Wonders - Presented by Aquascape, Inc.Gather cool concepts for water gardens that a