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Kick start your summer break with an Orlando Vacation package

admin — Sun, 08 May 2011 03:31:53 +0000

School is almost out, time for the kids to enjoy their summer break! Don’t let time slip away! Book your travel today. Check out our specials and save when combining multiple day Disney passes, Universal Studios and Sea World tickets. An Orlando vacation is the perfect way to kick start your summer. Reserve your rental house or hotel today and pay just prior to your arrival dates. It’s like a Disney vacation lay away. Please call us and let us know if you have any questions!

How to avoid long lines at Disney or Universal?

admin — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:48:51 +0000

Your vacation only last so long…. You don’t want to waste hours waiting in long lines for short rides. Here are a couple tips for you. First you will want to arrive to the park around 30-45 minutes before it opens, it will take 10-15 minutes for the parking lot shuttle to take you to the main gate. You will want to know which rides you want to ride before you get to the park. Look on a map and know where they are located and the shortest routes to get to them. By doing your home work you will be able to jump on the rides before most people arrive at the park. Another way to avoid the long lines is late in the evenings. The early bird may get the worm, but he’ll be tired and will turn in early. There is one other option for you. It’s called Fastpass. Please read my other post on Fastpass…

I want to buy a Disney park hopper pass, but how do I get from one park to another?

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:24:38 +0000

With Walt Disney World being divided into four theme parks, a Disney Park Hopper pass is the only way to go. The park hopper pass allows you to go from Magic Kingdom to Epcot to Animal Kingdom then over to Disney-MGM Studios in any order and as many times as you want during your stay. Now the question is “how do I get from park to park?” Below you will find FREE transportation options while visiting the parks.

Monorail:

The elevated monorail has two loops, one links TTC and Magic Kingdom and a handful of resorts the other is from TTC to Epcot. Each one passing by various rides and areas giving you an overview of what is to come.

Tram:

Trams provide transportation from the parks entrances to the parking lots. Be sure to write down or text yourself where you parked. After a long day of fun, shopping and excitement, you may not remember where your car is or even how you got there.

Buses:

Buses provide direct connections between the major theme parks as well as connections from all on premise resorts. Buses a low you to be dropped off at the turnstiles of each park. Go from Downtown Disney, Epcot, Yacht and Beach Clubs, The Caribbean Beach Resort, the Dolphin, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Boardwalk. This is the most convenient transportation within Disney.

Boats:

If you are staying in a water front resort or want to travel along the waterways of Disney, you can catch one of their many boats. Boats will carry you anywhere from Downtown Disney, Port Orleans, Saratoga Springs, Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake.

Car:

When you pay for parking at Disney World, keep your receipt… You can move your car from park to park if you do not want to use the free transportation provided by Disney. If you do move your car, be sure to remember which parking lot and which zone you moved your car to. The parking lot is setup with various themes to make it easy to remember where your car is. Again, after all the fun and excitement you may not remember where you parked.

Remember that all Disney World transportation is free!

What can you do in Orlando with a six-day Orlando vacation package?

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:52:55 +0000

Spending six days in the Orlando can be both fun and a bit of a challenge. With so much to do, how will you create an itinerary? What if the parents want to see one attraction and the kids another? How will you decide what to do? Simple. Do your research. Once you find out which theme parks and attractions exist, it will be much easier to pick and choose what you want to do. Here are some sample vacation packages that you may want to look into:

Six Days at Disney
If you are coming to Orlando solely for the Disney experience, this is a package you will want to check out. With a six-day, park-hopper ticket with Water Park Fun & More options, you will be able to visit all four major Disney theme parks as well as the two water parks. And you can come and go as you please. Start the morning with a nature walk at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, cool off on the water slides at Typhoon Lagoon, and then have a delightful dinner at one of the country’s in the World Showcase at Epcot. Spend another morning having breakfast at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom, soak in the Florida sun at the Blizzard Beach water park and then see some behind-the-scenes magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However you choose to break up the days, you will have the option to see all that Disney has to offer. And if you stay at a Disney resort you will have the chance to experience perks like shuttle service to Disney parks, on-site Disney gift shops and even some character dining options. For the ultimate Disney experience, don’t forget to stop by Downtown Disney too, where you can visit Planet Hollywood for lunch, catch a live performance at House of Blues, buy some Disney souvenirs and then go dancing. This package allows you to do it all.

Disney and Universal
For visitors who would rather break up their vacation a bit and see both Disney and Universal parks, you may prefer a package like this. Mix and match ticket options so that you can see all four Disney parks, the two Disney water parks and Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. A package like this will provide you with endless entertainment. And you can choose to stay at a Universal resort or a Disney resort for convenience. After you spend your days at the theme parks you can also take advantage of the nightlife at Universal’s CityWalk and at Downtown Disney. Each offers a unique variety of fun—specialty shops, fine and casual dining, entertainment and more.

Ultimate Variety
Guests who wish to see all of Orlando’s major theme parks will love this vacation package. With a two-day, two-park admission to the Universal parks, a three-day, park-hopper ticket to all of the Disney parks and one-day admission to SeaWorld, you will experience all of the variety offered at the major parks. Spend a day with Shamu and check out the penguin exhibit and SeaWorld, spend a day at a Disney water park, one going around the world at Epcot and one riding coasters at Islands of Adventure. Mix up each day however you wish. And take advantage of CityWalk and Downtown Disney as well as tourist hotspots like the International Drive area.

So depending on what you prefer to see, there is an Orlando vacation package that is perfect for you.

What can you do in Orlando with a four-day Orlando vacation package?

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:47:39 +0000

If you have four days to spend in the Orlando area, you will probably want to have some kind of itinerary in mind. While four days is a good amount of time to be able to see a variety of attractions, you will want to have an idea of what you are looking for before you book a vacation. To get your wheels turning, here are a few package options. You can opt for one of the packages below, mix and match or incorporate additional smaller attractions, shopping experiences or themed dinners into the mix. Either way, you will be sure to make the most out of your four-day Orlando vacation experience.

Four-day Disney
The ultimate Disney fans will probably want to opt for a package like this. With such a package you can get a ticket to each park for the four days you are in the area or even opt for a park-hopper option that enables you to go in and out of all four parks each day at your leisure. Choose from a park where fairy tales are brought to life at Magic Kingdom, one where you get a behind-the-scenes look into your favorite movies at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a park of technical innovations and a World Showcase at Epcot, or a park full of wildlife at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In addition to the four-day Disney tickets, you can also opt to stay at a Disney resort and take advantage of the transportation and Disney-related perks that come along with it, or you can plan to spend your evenings exploring the shopping, dining and entertainment of Downtown Disney. A package like this is perfect for anyone who is looking for the ultimate Disney experience.

Universal and Disney
To mix it up a bit, you may opt for a package that grants you admission to park-hop at the Disney theme parks for two days and then spend the other two days at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. This package is good for visitors who want a little more variety than just the Disney parks. Choose to stay at a Universal or Disney resort for the ultimate in convenience or stay in a tourist area nearby on 192 or the International Drive area. And spend your evenings dining at the themed restaurants and cafes of CityWalk or Downtown Disney. There you can also shop, see live performances, and even dance and have a few drinks. This package is perfect for the guests who want to spice things up a bit.

SeaWorld and Disney
Perhaps you really want to spend time in Disney. You want to see all of the Disney parks but you also have a soft spot for Shamu. With a package like this, you can see Mickey and Shamu. With a three-day park-hopper Disney ticket, you will be granted admission to all four Disney parks at your leisure. And you can spend your fourth day, or any day in between, watching Shamu and your favorite animals splashing around at SeaWorld.

Ultimate Variety
For guests who want even more of a diverse itinerary, you will probably want a package that includes admission to all of the major theme parks. Such a package will allow you to spend one day seeing aquatic performances at SeaWorld, one day hopping between the two Universal theme parks, and two days hopping between all of the Disney theme parks. This way you are guaranteed a spot at all of the parks.

Remember to also research the areas in which you stay. If you plan on going to only Disney parks, choose accommodations as close to Disney as possible. If you’re going to all of the theme parks, you may instead opt for a resort in a central location. Just be sure to do your research.

Meeting Disney Characters in the Parks

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:35:56 +0000

Tigger

When I took my two year old out going daughter to Disney World’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, I was a little concerned with how she would react to the Disney characters that make appearances in the theme park. After all, she was only two. The characters all are friendly, of course, and they will take the time to pose for family photos and will sign autograph books and memorabilia. At any given time, you can find famous Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Tigger, Captain Hook and a host of other characters throughout all of the Disney parks.

Anyhow, while we were at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios I noticed Tigger not to far from us, and before I could grab my daughter, she ran off to him. She was not intimidated in the least. Once she got to him, she just stood there and looked at him. I think she wanted a hug or to be picked up by him. Her response really surprised me because smaller children can tend to be afraid of the characters especially the Disney villains. Tigger was kind enough to take a picture and sign her autograph book for her. Now, our daughter is a teenager and really does not remember meeting Tigger, but we have a picture, memories, and autograph to prove it.

Disney Increases Its Cast of Characters

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:31:54 +0000

The sale of Marvel comics to Disney was recently approved by Marvel shareholders. Each share owned by the shareholders brought in $54.03. The final purchase price of Marvel by Disney was $4.24 billion. The purchase by Disney is their largest since they purchased the animation company, Pixar Animation Studios, the maker of Cars, Up and Toy Story.

Isaac ‘Ike’ Perlmutter, Marvel Chief Executive, will maintain his position at Marvel where he oversees all business and he will have to report to Disney CEO Robert Iger. Iger was quoted saying that the sale can help Disney increase profits.

Some 6,000 Marvel characters were included in the sale. Some of the more popular Marvel characters included are Captain America, Spiderman, Daredevil, Wolverine, Cyclops, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider, Sub Mariner, Green Goblin, and King Pin.

In a separate deal, Disney took 10% control of POW! Entertainment for $2.5 million. POW! is run by Stan Lee, who created many of the popular Marvel characters. Lee said that they agreed upon a three-year relationship with Disney where they will provide Disney greater rights to their creative output & exclusive consulting services. Stan Lee is considered the creator of Spiderman.

Harry Potter Theme Park Advertising Starts

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:35:34 +0000

Harry Potter

Universal studios Orlando is gearing up for the much anticipated launch of Orlando’s newest theme park within a them park, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The big launch is set for Spring of 2010. No official date has been provided yet.

The advertising and marketing departments are busier than ever at Universal Studios as the first ads are beginning to run on NBC. NBC just happens to be the parent company of Universal Studios Orlando. In addition to the ads running on NBC, a partnership has been formed with one of the UK’s best known travel agencies.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is costing Universal over two hundred million dollars and the main marketing push is expected to start after the new year starts. The Orlando vacation market is very competitive. Vacationers have the choice of going to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot Center, Sea World and Busch Gardens as well as Universals’ theme parks. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the largest addition to a theme park since Disney launched the Animal Kingdom back in 1998.

Universal isn’t spilling any beans when it comes to their marketing approach so Disney will just have to wait and react, if at all, but with a slow economy, vacationers’ dollars are more precious than ever.

Disney Annual Pass – Now 90 Days Free

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:28:54 +0000

Disney Annual Pass

Disney annual passholders- what’s up with the renewal offer of three free months? You may have heard that Disney is offering three free months to use your passes if you renew by December 31^st of this year. I know I know. What about everyone who’s passes don’t expire until after then? Well, at first, Disney was not going to offer the deal to anyone who’s passes expired later, but then there was some good news! Disney’s Passholder site announced, right on the welcome page, that they have extended the offer through August!

This extension offer is Disney’s attempt to maintain its annual passholder numbers while offering a good deal. Three free months- you do the math. The savings are considerable. I was really glad that Disney decided to extend the offer. It’s a smart business decision on their part and in this crazy economy, families are looking for bargains. I think this may just be a great idea for all involved. I’m told that this extension offer does not apply to the Epcot After 4:00 pass, so check into that, if you’re an After 4:00 passholder.

But, some pages on Disney’s sites still mention the December 31^st date, so there is some confusion around this offer. I believe they have extended the offer through August, but if you want to be sure it’s best to contact them and make sure! Let’s hope they really do mean to offer the extension until next year. This would be a good idea for them and us!

Disney’s Newest Ride in Epcot – The Sum of All Thrills

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:45:52 +0000

Epcot Center - The Sum of All Thrills

Disney World’s Epcot in Orlando has a new ride. It is a simulated roller coaster. What is a simulated roller coaster? It is a ride that you actual get into, but only two people at a time. You are enclosed, so it feels like you are riding the roller coaster, but you are really staying in the same spot, just moving around some. You will have a screen in front of you that will make it look like you’re actually moving along a track on a real roller coaster. It just opened last week, so if you want to be one of the first to experience it, there is still time.

It is a virtual ride, so people with motion sickness, like me, may not want to risk it. Your body will be moving and I’m sure the Disney imagineers have done a great job coordinating the physical movements with the virtual ones on the screen, but somehow my body knows the truth.

This new ride is called The Sum of All Thrills and it can be experienced in the Innoventions pavilion at Epcot. Probably the coolest thing I have heard about the ride is that riders get to design their own ride. For example, you can simulate a bobsled ride, an airplane ride, or a traditional roller coaster ride. Then you lay out the track that your ride will take. This can include loopty loops, straight falls, and all the ups and downs you think you can handle.

It’s the next step in technology-driven rides and Epcot is the perfect place for it-with their technology focus. Right now it’s one of the only rides that you have a part in creating, but I think it’s the future of thrill rides and if stomachs can handle it, more power to them!