April 2012: SeaWorld Orlando opened one of its new attractions – TurtleTrek – which uses technology in a different way, and Disney World announced opening dates for its upgraded Fantasyland section, which will come online step-by-step over the next two years. Now open at SeaWorld Orlando In TurtleTrek, SeaWorld uses 3-D movie technology, a domed [...] Read more...
April 2012: Kudos to the Walt Disney Company on this one: They constantly survey guests, ask what would make them happy, and attempt to make it happen. Critics say it’s a way to make more money because it is. But while most company’s mission statements say something like, “Put the customer first,” Disney actually does [...] Read more...
Walt Disney World opened the first new section of its massive Fantasyland expansion with little fanfare, probably because it’s not much to look at … yet. An existing roller coaster was re-themed, a new Dumbo ride added, and a new train station opened. Guests must pass a stark wall of unexciting plywood to reach the [...] Read more...
March 2012: This summer, tourists have a reason to stay late at Universal Studios Orlando. The previously announced parade and nighttime show – free with paid admission to the park – debut on May 8, 2012. Orlando visitors will have a new attraction, and Universal will sell more food and souvenirs to guests who stay [...] Read more...
March 2012: Disney World’s second park celebrates the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 7 to May 20. It’s a goldmine for people who love to shove their hands through dirt and watch flowers burst into bloom, but it also boosts the park’s appearance for tourists who simply think flowers are pretty. While the [...] Read more...
March 2012: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Florida’s Attorney General have stopped the operators of an alleged vacation fraud scheme from doing business. According to a release from Attorney General Pam Bondi, the companies told people they could win a vacation prize worth thousands of dollars if they called a toll-free phone number [...] Read more...
February 2012: The massive Fantasyland expansion in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will add acres to the park and new rides, adventures, and atmosphere – but not without taking another victim: Snow White’s Scary Adventures, an original ride dating back to the park’s opening, closes forever on May 31, 2012. There are good reasons for the [...] Read more...
January 2012: Universal Studios Orlando released new information about rides, shows and even parade upgrades debuting this year. Overall, it shows a clear push to boost attendance at the Universal Studios park rather than Islands of Adventure, where a boy wizard named Harry Potter continues to draw in tourists. The lineup also reflects a shift [...] Read more...
January 2012: As announced, Universal Studios’ closed the Jaws ride – its giant man-eating shark – but the axe swung farther than that. In shutting down the Jaws ride, Universal also shuttered the entire town of Amity. It closed the Nathan’s hot dog restaurant; it closed the games of chance; it even closed the beer-and-ice-cream [...] Read more...
January 2012: It’s official. Forbes – the financial guru that analyzes money in all its forms – released its first-ever list of bargain shopping in America, and Orlando secured the top spot. According to Susan Lomax, VP of publicity for Orlando, shopping is now the No. 1 activity for international tourists, which must come as [...] Read more...
