Archive for May, 2010

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Events at Disney Wide World of Sports

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Perhaps you’ve grown tired of dragging your wife and kids around EPCOT or the Magic Kingdom, and you just want to take in a relaxing game at the local ballpark. There’s only one problem, you may not know where to find the nearest stadium. Thankfully, Disney’s Wide World of Sports is just around the corner from all of the major Disney theme parks, including the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. The massive, 2000 acre campus hosts a myriad of professional and amateur events throughout the calendar year, ranging from college basketball tournaments to the Pop Warner Super Bowl and Atlanta Braves Major League Spring Training. Facilities at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex include six NBA sized Basketball Courts at the T.G. Lee Milk Center, two Little League Baseball Fields, four lighted Softball Fields, 12  tennis courts, a 300 meter track and field complex and six beach volleyball courts.

From February through May, both national and local teams utilize the faculties for spring training, including high school lacrosse teams and high school volleyball teams. Events from May to June at the Wide World of Sports Complex include: Amateur Athletic Union Boys basketball tournaments, AAU Girls basketball tournaments, the Cheer leading and Dance World Championships, Disney’s slow pitch Softball championships, including teams from the U.S. Slow pitch Softball Association, the Danskin Triathlon Series,(the longest running woman’s triathlon series in the U.S). Orlando’s most dedicated young athletes gather for Ironkids Orlando, held on May 15. Iron kids is national event series geared to youth ages six to 15, who are committed to an active and physical lifestyle. At Iron kids Orlando, kids will participate in a variety of activities , including a triathlon.

The month of May ends with a Memorial Day Soccer Shootout, a Florida Youth Soccer Association sanctioned event, which features 500 soccer matches in three days, from May 29 – 31, 2010.

Keep in mind we offer quite a few Orlando hotels near the Disney Wide World of Sports complex. Call today to make a reservation.

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Disney Hotel Events for Spring 2010

Friday, May 28th, 2010

For of a night movie watching under the stars with family, friends or your loved one, check this list of movies, times and locations at various Disney World hotels.

Disney Fort Wildernes: Outdoor movies and times
April 26 – Princess Diaries 2
April 27 – G-Force
April 28 – The Sword and the Stone
April 29 – The Love Bug
April 30 – Old Dogs

Poolside movies at Disney’s All Star Resorts poolside Movies start around 9 p.m.

Sundays: Meet the Robinsons

Mondays: Bolt

Tuesdays: Vote for Enchancted, 101 Dalmations or Bedtime Stories

Wednesdays: Vote for Ratatouiile, Finding Nemo or Wall-E

Thursdays: Vote for Robin Hood, The Sword & The Stone or Rescuers

Fridays:UP

Saturdays: The Princess and the frog

Disney’s Beach Club Resorts: (Yacht Club, Disney’s Boardwalk, Disney’s Swan & Dolphin)
Beach movie schedule
Sunday: Alice in Wonderland
Monday: Toy Story
Tuesday: Toy Story 2
Wednesday: U
Thursday: The Great Mouse Detective
Friday:Old Dogs
Saturday:Princess and the Frog
and outdoor movie schedule
The Grand Floridian Resort’s campfire and dance party starts at 7pm and the movie starts at 9:00pm.
Currently, the Grand Floridian’s movie schedule is:
UP on Sundays, Bolt on Monday nights, G-Force on Thursday nights, Old Dogs on Friday Nights and on Saturdays, they show The Princess and the Frog.
At Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, the movie schedule is High School Musical on April 26, High School Musical 2 on April 27, High School Musical 3 on April 28, National Treasure 2 on April 29 and UP on April 30.

At Disney’s Contemporary resort, you can checkout a nightly movie on large portable screen near the feature pool. Movies for the remainder of April include:
April 26 Camp Rock , April 27 Enchanted, April 28

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Downtown Disney opens West Side up for new business

Monday, May 24th, 2010

If you’re unfamiliar with Disney terminology, you may be confused when you hear the term Vinylmation. Vinylmation collectibles are small, hand-sized collectible figures that come in a variety 1.5-, 3-inch, or 9-inch limited-edition figures. The vinylmation collections include some of the most familiar names and characters from Disney classics and the D-Street store offers shoppers the chance to see the newest collections after their released straight from Disney artists at the Disney Design Group. Artists create the figures from a blank, three-dimensional canvas and enhance the props with visually sensational graphics.
Shumacher proclaimed the Downtown Disney west-side location as the flagship store for Vinylmation and the source for the latest releases of Disney collectibles.

This new urban-style location is the flagship store for Vinylmation serving as the place for launching the latest releases of new Disney collectibles. At D-Street, guests can design their own one of a kind commemorative pieces,they can combine uniquely created vinyls, they can shop for trendy fashion apparel, and they can meet cast members while trading. This location will feature product launches, early releases, and top Disney artists throughout the year. If you’ve been lucky enough to experience vinylmation, you know it inspires creativity personality and fun.

Downtown Disney Vice President Keith Bradford said,
“We’re excited to welcome this new addition to  Disney west side to showcase what we already know, that Disney has something for everyone. This shop is perfect complement to what we already offer in D-town in retail, adding to the excellent lines of Disney product. It was just two weeks ago we had a pass holder event and once the guests got inside, they loved the look, feel and creativity of the store; but most of all, they loved the engagement of the D-Street cast members.

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Kissimmee Attractions

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Find fun adventures in Kissimmee besides the main Disney Theme Parks.
If you’re like millions of American families, this isn’t the year you can afford to splurge on a vacation to the top resorts and theme parks, but that doesn’t mean you have to cancel your travel plans to Central Florida.

Kissimmee offers a variety of family-friendly entertainment unrivaled by any place in the world. You can treat the kids to a night of carnival style fun at Fun Spot, Magical Midway or Old Town. Each of these attractions features vintage family favorites, including bumper carts, bumper boats, go karts and rides.  For thrill seekers, they can ride the giant swing, the air balloon or the human slingshot.

If you’re in the mood for mini golf you can put your putter to the test on a wide variety of greens around Orlando. Congo River adventure mini golf features hills, caves and other fascinating landscapes to challenge mini golfers of every skill level. Congo River has two locations: one in Oviedo, and another one off of International Drive, right next to Wet-N-Wild.

If you have nature lovers in your family, consider a trip to Gatorland Park in Kissimmee, where you can see Florida’s most exotic wildlife, including giant alligators and roseate spoonbills. If you don’t mind driving 45 minutes east, there are miles of coastline for a beach day on Cocoa Beach, which is easily accessed from state Road 528, also known as the Beachline. Science lovers can spend a day learning about American’s Space Program at Kennedy Space Center, which is 45 minutes east of Orlando International Airport. Admission is around $35, which includes admission to Animax theater and access to the rocket garden, where models of America’s Apollo and Gemini rockets are on display.

Since Disney World is so popular there is a lot of attractions which have been built in the Kissimmee area. You can have a great Kissimmee vacation package deal and never actually step foot on Disney World Property.

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News & tourist tips for Disney World’s May calendar

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

If you planned a vacation to Disney World or central Florida for the month of May, you’ve already made a savvy move, because you’re one month ahead of the notoriously damp days of June and July in central Florida.
Disney World’s highlight events for May 2010 include 2010 Star Wars Weekends, which are held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from Friday – Sundays, May 21-23, May 28-30, June 4-6, and June 11-13. Of the three weekend days, Saturday is the prime day to visit.

At the end of May, Memorial Day weekend is a wonderful time to experience all the magic that Disney World offers. With three days to plan your visit, and a few weeks head start to the heavy traffic months of summer, you’ll get to see all of the best attractions and special events like Fantasmic. Fantasmic is offered Thursdays and Sundays of May, with fireworks and more. To avoid congested crowds at Fantasmic and to ensure better chances at landing reservations at one of your favorite in park restaurants, avoid  Hollywood Studios at night in May, when Magic Kingdom closes early for Grad night, which pushes more tourists into Hollywood studios.

Another retro favorite event at Disney is the Spectro Magic parade, which is offered numerous times throughout may, including the evenings of May 2,3,6,8,10,13,15,17,20,22,23,24,25,27,29 and 30. Just try to avoid a Spectro Magic day that coincides with extra magic hours, because the crowds will be obnoxiously large.

Extra magic hours are special windows of extra time when each of the Disney parks are open exclusively to Disney Resort guests. With approximately 33,000 hotel rooms  and many guests opting to stay in the park, many of those guests tend to drift toward the nightly shows and events, which means the sections of the park hosting those events become much more crowded than usual.

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Downtown Disney opens Paradiso 37

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Next time you’re heading out for fine dining in Disney’s World nightlife spot, Downtown Disney, be sure to check out one of the newest additions to the restaurant lineup, Paradiso 37  which is located on the west side of Downtown Disney. The waterfront restaurant offers casual dining at a reasonable price, with main courses ranging from$15 to $30 per dish.

Paradiso 37  features the foods of 37 countries of North America, Central America, South America and Caribbean. Specialities at Paradiso 37 include skirt steak, ribs, fish fry, Mexican food and half-pound burgers. Popular items on the appetizer menu include the dipping trio. One of the most popular drinks includes corzing which includes strawberry puree, jaberno line juice, and tequila.

If you’re craving a beer or microbrew, your taste buds will be happy to know that they’re about to experience the world’s coldest draft beer, which is served at approximately 29 degrees. For starters, the appetizer menus includes several items under $7.99, including home-style North American Potato Pancakes, which are topped with chives, Special Paradiso 37 Spice Blend, and then sauteed to a Golden Brown. This dish is served with sour cream and the cost is $5.99. Other items include Mexican Chips and Salsa, served with fire roasted Tomato Salsa for just $3.99. Mexican food lovers will also enjoy the Chile con carne, slow cooked tender ground beef with onions, peppers, and chills, topped with Chef’s Special cheeses and served with Corn Tortilla Chips, all for $6.50. Paradiso features 38 tequilas and nightly live entertainment. Paradiso’s menu features 15 appetizers, 3 salads, Mexican food, a Colombian style whole crispy hen, Chilean styled salmon, burritos, quattro tacos, enchiladas, bacon and pineapple BBQ, surf and turf and citrus BBQ pork ribs.
Desserts at Paradiso 37 include Chilean sopapillas, which are crispy fritters dusted in sugar and served with a chocolate sauce, for $5.99, and the world famous churros, dusted with cinnamon and served with caramel, for $5.99

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Disney expands Flying Fish Cafe

Friday, May 14th, 2010

For the tourists who want to add more to their Disney dining experience, there’s a new table made just for them at Disney’s Flying Fish Cafe. Park visitors can get an up-close view of their food preparation and interact with a world-class chef at “Chef’s counter”, Sunday through Thursday, seating is offered at 5:45 pm and 8:15 pm.

Chef Tim Keating is often asked to create a personalized meal for his patrons, and with his past experience in-mind,  Keating created this interactive experience available to everyone. The Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner allows up to six guests to sit at the granite counter overlooking the on-stage kitchen where they will be able to see their meals being created. This experience includes five courses, paired with wine by sommelier Keith Gimbel. Keating says there will be a “new spin on menu items.” Guests will also have the opportunity to interact with the restaurant’s chefs.

Before you make plans to eat with chef Keating, be sure to check your budget. A seat at the Chef’s Counter will cost you $135, $85 without wine pairings. Reservations are recommended.

If you have room in your wallet and your stomach after your meal at Fish Factory, head over to the Tomorrowland Terrace Wishes Dessert Party has returned to Walt Disney Word. Guests are encouraged to book advance reservations for the Dessert party, which includes top of the line treats and prime seats to enjoy during the nightly fireworks spectacular show.  a prime viewing location for the popular “Wishes” fireworks spectacular.

Don’t forget to make your Orlando hotel reservations today if you are planning on visiting this year. We have great deals on quite few properties.

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Universal disastrous first quarter with 44% profit drop

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Despite the new attractions and adventurous rides that have recently been added to central Florida’s theme parks, the parks haven’t been immune to the damaging effects of the international recession. A perfect example is Universal Studios in Orlando, which recently released its first quarter reports. The report revealed more discouraging news in and a recurring theme from the past two years: profits were dramatically down. According to the report, profits at Universal Studios Orlando saw a 44 percent decrease from this time last year. 2009 first quarter earnings were $34 million and 2010 has only brought in $19 million.
While much of the blame can fall on slumping tourism dollars, other contributing factors may include the  heavy amount of marketing and advertising dollars the resort is leveraging  to promote one of the most widely anticipated theme park additions across the world: the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. For months, Universal Studios has been leaking clips of videos and hints about the Island themed around the bestselling Harry Potter books penned by J.K. Rowling.
Officials are hoping to see an increase in attendance and profits with the opening of the new attraction on June 18.
According to reports from the Orlando Sentinel, attendance was down 10% at Universal’s two theme parks during the first quarter of 2010.
Universal Orlando spent $3 million to advertise the Harry Potter Island in a Super Bowl commercial.  In a written statement, Universal Studios President Bill Davis said:

“We are excited about the June 18 grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and what it will mean for our guests and our business. We continue to look to the future and manage our business aggressively.”

The contrast with last year was especially sharp because Universal in 2009 cut deeply into its marketing budget as it sought to reduce costs during the global recession.

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Mother Day Events in Orlando

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

Give mom a memorable mothers day gift with a vacation package to Kissimmee. What better way to express your love for your mother than to make her feel like a kid again. You can bring back the childlike joy with a trip to Walt Disney World or one of the many other attractions in the Kissimmee/central Florida area.

If your mom loves marine life, she can dine with the Dolphins at Discovery Cove.  Or you might want to check out  Sea World’s Mother’s Day Escape package at Discovery Cove  which includes a note delivered via Atlantic bottle nose dolphin, a Crabtree & Evelyn La Source spa essential gift basket, photo and frame, champagne and private cabana. The cost is  the standard park admission plus $329 and the purchase of at least one dolphin-swim, which is priced at $200. This is quite expensive but it will definitely put a smile on Mom’s face.

For a cheaper experience with the fish, you can bring mom to EPCOT’s Coral Reef restaurant at The Seas with Nemo and Friends exhibit. When your mom is done dining with the fish, the family can walk a short distance to EPCOT’s annual spring event, the International Flower and Garden Festival. She’ll be awestruck by the majestic beauty of millions of blooming topiary and  colorful butterflies inside Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden.

For the moms who want to just get away and get the royal treatment, Gaylord Palms’ first-ever “Mom Prom & Family Affair” Mother’s Day weekend package, for $149,which includes one night in a guest room and 20% discount on Mother’s Day Brunch in Emerald Plaza on Sunday, May 9 and self-parking for one vehicle.

Other restaurants to consider for a Mother’s day dinner include Jiko at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, for an African feast of dishes including savanna rolls, Swahili curry shrimp, and grilled swordfish. She can top-off her first-class meal with Tanzanian chocolate cheesecake.

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Sea World Vacation Packages

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

SeaWorld is one of the hidden gems here in Orlando, and it is one of my favorite theme parks in Orlando. We have quite a few Sea World vacation packages which are quite popular with our guests, and we offer three hotels which offer shuttle service to Sea World. Please check out our package section for our discount Sea World vacation packages or you might also be interested in Southwest Airlines special offers as well.

Nature lovers and thrill seekers alike will love a trip to SeaWorld, and thanks to official partners such as Renaissance resort and Southwest Airlines, an affordable trip to Sea World isn’t out of your dreams.
You can book four nights and four tickets with the Renaissance Orlando SeaWorld vacation package, or buy 3 nights and get two free.  Southwest Airlines also has an official partnership with Sea World. You may notice the planes decorated with Shamu painted on the side. Vacation packages featuring lodging for four nights and admission for four at $689 can be combined with Southwest Airline’s notoriously low-priced tickets. There’s also the build your own vacation package, which gives you more flexibility to pick your own options. Other preferred partners of Sea World Orlando include the Orlando Hilton, which features a variety of amenities for athletes, including a Basketball court, tennis courts, /volleyball/boccie ball and a nine-hole putting course to keep your putting on par.  There’s also a complete workout facility and a full service spa with 15 treatment rooms and seven restaurants to choose from if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of I-Drive.

Other preferred partners include Laquinta Inn, with free breakfast a pool, spa and fitness center. There’s also DoubleTree Resort on I-Drive, Hilton Garden Inn at SeaWorld International Center, Embassy Suites on I-Drive, Hilton Grand Vacations Suites at SeaWorld International Center, Crowne Plaza Universal Orlando, Hollywood Suites by Hilton, Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Floriday Resort ,Blue Heron Beach Resort and WestGate Lakes.

For young adults looking to stay away from the loud crowds and loud children, you should consider Crowne Plaza Resort in Orlando, which is ranked among the Top 100 resorts.

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