The Simpsons Ride

Universal Studios has open a new ride based on The Simpsons TV show. This ride is crazy. If you love rolloercoasters you will get addictied to tis ride. You will enter into Krustyland's Carnival Midway Park hosted by Krusty the Clown himself. Once you get on the ride, you will go through many hilarious incidents throughout Krustyland. It will seem like everything is going wrong, but remember, it's a ride. Loops, turns, floating, crashing and more will have you screeming one minute and laughing the next. Purchase your tickets today at GreatOrlandoDiscounts.com and come ride one of the best roller coaster rides in town.

The New Disney Express

State department of transportation is planning a new link between Poinciana and Disney World. Funds for this new project will come from $7.1 billion dollars in fees that are collected under Florida’s growth-management laws.

Late night services are offered for employees for extended routes for a price tag of $470,000 in grants for the next five years. Links also intends on seeking matching funds from federal government for a total of $7.36 million for future projects.

Disney projects that the new link 326 could cut commute times from Poinciana from two hours to one hour each direction and also increase the frequency of trips to and from Disney. In addition, a Central Florida Commuter rail line link from Orlando International Airport and Disney is also in the works costing about $7 million in grants.

Some at Lynx consider these deals like winning the lottery with Disney World Central Florida’s largest employer of 62,000 workers.

Orlando Nightlife:

In every vacation we take it is only necessary to put aside at least one day to relax and enjoy the nightlife of a city other than the one we call home. This particular blog serves as an aid to those who come to the Orlando area looking to find a place that meets their particular taste.
There are four main hot spots is Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney, Universal CityWalk, along International Drive, and Downtown Orlando.
Pleasure Island is basically an island with about 6 or 7 different nightclubs that clubbers can have access to with the appropriate ticket costing about $20.00. The environment is geared toward tourists and definitely comes with a theme park feel. Keep in mind, Pleasure Island is not one of the first choices to go out to for Orlando residents partly because of the Disney prices, but it is not a bad place. It would be optimal place to go for those staying at the Disney Resorts due to convenience. On weekends there is a live band in the main walk-way open for requests, and every night at midnight, fireworks are lit to celebrate the night. I give Pleasure Island an overall 6/10.
Universal CityWalk is home to several favorite spots for Orlando residents. These include Bob Marley’s, Pat O’Briens, and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. The great thing about these places is the live music, unique environments, and good service. Bob Marley’s does great covers, Pat O’Briens has amazing dueling pianos, and Margaritaville is one of the best decorated in all of Orlando. Just to give you an idea part of the decorations include and full sized plane in the outdoor patio. On top of that CityWalk is a great environment, very clean, and has a good mix of residents and tourists. Overall rating of 7/10
Along International Drive are several bars and clubs such as Howl at the Moon, Bahama Breeze, and GLO. Bahama breeze is a restaurant however has the best outdoor bar in International Drive. Howl at the Moon has great music and very talented musician. GLO has great accommodations for large parties. Many residents are fond of the nightlife in International Drive. Overall rating of 6/10
The place of highest rating is Downtown Orlando. However, one of the big issues for tourists is the hefty drive up Interstate 4 to get there. Downtown Orlando is home to the best drink specials and the real nightclubs hardcore clubbers are looking for. You can find three level clubs, rooftop bars, 24 hour pizza spots, and possible an Orlando Magic basketball player ever now and then. The exclusive hot spot for Orlando residents however the crowds could be nicer. Overall rating of 9/10

Gas prices affecting the Parks??? I think not

Right about now we are going to talk about the soaring gas prices. They have just hit all time highs in all the major cities in Florida. Premium in Miami is running consumers 4.03 and is about 3.83 here in Orlando.
However, surprisingly we have experienced no change in not only traffic, but the amount of tourists coming to town as well. Since the season started back in mid-march, Orlando residents have noticed the steady increase in visitor license plates from other states as we do each and every year. Many predicted a dramatic influence of gas prices on summer vacationers but I am here my friends to tell you that we are yet to see any difference. Even with the prices of the parks going up each year the visitors seem to keep on coming. Perhaps it is due to new rides put up, for example Mount Everest in Animal Kingdom (Disney), or even new parks being built like Sea World Aquatica. This new park opened in the month of March and still fill up to full capacity each day of the week. It is difficult to put a finger on exactly what keeps drawing tourists to Orlando but I’m sure the adrenaline rush of roller coasters and drenching water rides has something to do with it. It’s hard to say what is in store for the future and gas prices, but from I’m seeing, it would take much more than gas to keep people away from the wonderful and exciting city of Orlando.

The Lil' Bamboo

The other week my friends and I went to this place called Lil’ Bamboo and it turned out to be great. We had been in Orlando for a couple days and this night we decided to take a break and have some fun. We were actually driving in the area and ran into the Lil’ Bamboo by mistake, but it turned out to be a great laid back night. There were three areas to this bar/grill. The first area was the inside which was the main bar and a series of tables. Outside were lounge tables and a pool which was open for swimming. This was officially the first pool bar I have ever been to in my life and it was great. There was also a DJ who was very interactive with the crowd who was playing about every request and one of the hugest collections of Karaoke songs I have ever seen. There were bar runners getting everyone their drinks and serving beers in plastic bottles for those who were partying in the pool.
The Lil’ Bamboo has to be one of the cheapest places for drinks I have ever been in Florida. Between 8 to 9 people the total tab was under $100.00. Some may think that is expensive but for those who go out drinking often they would see that as a bargain. Well inevitably, prices and us being on the vacation, we ended up working on a great buzz and ended up singing numerous songs of Karaoke. Before that night, I swore I would never sing karaoke but that night for some reason, I felt something stir inside of me. From the Beatles, and Naughty by Nature, all the way up to ACDC, and Warren Zevon. If you are in the Kissimmee area and are looking for a place to kick back for cheap drinks and swimming, singing, and dancing, then the Lil’ Bamboo is for you. A great night I be sure to do again the next time I come to town.

Who is going to take the hit for growing recession in the USA?

Can you imagine, just 4 years ago a house that is now on the market for $208,000 was selling for $98,000? Kissimmee assessors estimated the same house to have a value of $180,000 in 2008. Now every street has a house for sale that probably sold 3 or 4 years ago. Could it be that appraisers inflated prices under pressure from different entities?

Imagine, house inflation peaked at almost 212% since 2004. According to an article by Mary Shanklin, appraisers were pressured by developers, real estate agents, and lenders to pump up appraisal values. Where state appraisal regulators asleep at the wheel? Of course, investors and home owners turned a blind eye hoping that they hit the jack pot with underserved increase in equities.

Could Corporate greed be responsible for an overheated housing market in America? When an appraiser under pressure from a constituent such as a real estate agent inflates the value of a property it affects the whole community. Many appraisers under coercion adjusted up prices 55% in 2006. When an lender is not honest with a home owner regarding the appraisal value and what they can afford, this leads to foreclosures. Inflated prices often drive taxes up obligating many owners to abandon their house.

Can you imagine regulators and local offices where aware of appraisals that exaggerated the square footage of actual properties? Still some appraisers declared they inspect homes in Florida while living in another state and based their appraisal on mere photographs. Still other sources indicate that buyer incentives from said Lakeside Villas offered $40,000 of buyer incentives driving the prices to an average of $240,000.

During recessions, analysts believe that our economy is driven by the housing market. Likewise, the government which is never culpable, needs to point a finger somewhere. As such, the FBI is now looking for someone to point the finger at or is George Bush at fault for everything? According to FBI spokesman federal agent Norm Meadows, we should be able to rely on these professionals to accurately appraise real estate currently on the market.

Fraudulent appraisal of over 15% may be responsible for an over inflated real estate market. Some lenders emphatically told appraiser not to post any undesirable photos. Still some homeowners allowed their mortgage broker and bank to select an appraiser instead of selecting one themselves. One common phrase heard from loan originators implied that they would give an appraiser "the job" if the appraisal came in at $500,000!

Several real estate agents right here in Kissimmee insisted that the home they listed on the market for $208,000 had value and that they were tracking an upturn in the housing market. When you told them, “sir your mistaken the housing slump will continue through the middle of 2008 and that this house is only worth $120,000” all they could see is their commissions dropping and continued to aid and abet the fraudulent inflated value.

Properties that are subject to the biggest fraud are those where there were few similar properties to compare with. With new developments, developers need a couple of appraisals to seed the value for the whole subdivision. Once you can obtain an appraisal at a higher price, you set the top value for the whole subdivision.

But now, it’s a buyers market and it’s working in reverse. Buyers are now setting record low purchase prices which are dropping the values of the subdivision to a level more appropriate to 2004.

Disney plans to expand its Cruise Line to UK

Disney aggressively plans to increase its presence in the Cruise market by making a big move in the UK. This summer, Disney is planning on sending its top brass to open an office in the UK this summer.

By 2012, Disney plans on monopolizing the market by building 2 more Disney Cruise Ships one of which probably will be stationed in Germany according to most analysts.

Heading up a group of 20 employees will be Tom Wolben, Disney’s senior cruise line No. 2 executive and vice president of operations.

Currently, Disney Cruise Line employs about 3000 people of which 1000 thousand are based at either Celebration headquarters, or Port Canaveral operation. With the London office, Disney is attempting to be “well positioned” in order to take advantage of European markets as well as recruit new talent.

As we progress into the 21st century, the infatuation for short time gratification, satiation of whimsical lusts and the growing narcissism may keep Disney in business for years to come.

Driven crazy on Mad Tea Party ride?

Last year, Miss Victory Walker was found guilty and convicted of a misdemeanor for beating Aimee Krause on the Mad Tea Party ride. Just a coincidence you think? Sources say that the sentence was reduced from aggravated battery which caries a sentence of 15 years in prison.

Two witnesses both Lori and Darbi 10 of Louisiana, told the jury that they saw Walker continuously pummeling Aimee in the Head at Disney’s MAD Tea Party ride. According to witnesses, Miss Walker clutched Aimee by the ponytail and repeatedly slammed her head against the teacup.

Suffering minor injuries in the accident, two expert witnesses testified that Krause had suffered permanent brain damage from a concussion. Krause claims the injury to her head was cause by someone pulling her by the hair as well as agravated injury to her knees.

The defense team intimated that Krause exaggerated her injuries with the hopes of profiting from a law suit with Disney World. Walkers attorney refuted the claim implying that MRI’s do not reveal evidence of brain damage.