Wide World of Sports linked with ESPN

A long overdue transformation effort of the Disney Wide World of Sports brand built nearly a decade ago is underway in effort to resurrect a failed theme park.

In the days to come, the athletic complex will be uplinked to the world-famed ESPN television cable-sports juggernaut. Boasting a whopping 220-acre venue, Disney plans to invest millions of dollars to re-brand the theme park.

Disney is sparing no expense when outfitting the aging arena. Disney intends on making amateur competitors feel like they are in the big league by outfitting the theme-park with high-definition video cameras, big-display screens, jumbo-trons, audio system, satellite uplink to ESPN's headquarters, and a broadcasting center.

Disney speculates that roughly 250,000 amateur athletes will compete at the facility each year. With the latest cutting edge technology, they hope that the amateurs will think they made it into the big time.

As one of the best known brands in the world, the ESPN association is hoped to lure in larger crowds to the old Wide World of Sports stadium that opened in 1997.

Mickey's New Facelift in Video Game

If you own or plan to purchase a Nintendo Wii, it might change the way you look at the cute lovable Mickey Mouse that many of us have all grown up with. Walt Disney is reported to give the lovable character an angry looking make over to where the mouse becomes mean and aggressive. But this aggressive critter will not be the new look of Disney forever, it’s all just going to be put into a video game named “Epic Mickey” for the Nintendo Wii. The game was officially announced by Disney on October 28th and is said to have a totally different plot than any other Disney game. In this game Mickey is stuck in Yen Sid's Cartoon Wasteland where he is forced to face Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and other forgotten Disney characters. Mickey is also on a mission to defeat Phantom Blot who plays the bad guy in this game and his only weapon of choice is a magic paintbrush. The new edgy Mickey is said to be a more appealing version of the mouse and connects to players worldwide, of course it’s hard to defeat a bad guy when you’re a smiling, happy, lovable mouse!

Along with the recent video game, Disney has also received approval from China to build a new park in Shanghai. “Epic Mickey" is expected to be released in the fall of 2010.


“Video-game sales rose 1% in September, according to NPD Group, after six months of declines. Game software sales rose 5%, a smaller increase than analysts had expected. Disney generated about $86 million in retail sales in the U.S. in the first nine months of the year, according to NPD data. Nintendo of America, which is the leading seller of games, made about $1 billion in sales.”

-MSN Money

Personally I believe this is a great strategy Disney is approaching; it has already gained and secured their targeted market and are looking to expand into an entirely opposite market. Disney’s current market is comprised mainly of younger girls – the princesses and fairy tales seemed to do a great job in capturing the attention. With this video game and the recent purchase of Marvel Comics Disney is expanding to a market comprised mainly of young boys which will ultimately put Disney on top of both major markets in the youth industry.

Disney theme-park planned for Shanghai

While Disney's initial foray in China has not been as successful as they had hoped, plans are being made to open a new park in Shanghai.

With steady decline to only 4% park attendance on the second year in China, Disney has not been able to achieve the projected goal of 5.6 million visitors. More than likely, Disney did not correctly gauge the local taste for entertainment in this culture.

In order to be successful in a foreign country, more detailed studies need to be made of the tastes, food, and culture. Some feel that the park's size can not accommodate the potentially larger crowds of a over-populated nation.

However, other projects like Ocean park are good example of a business that can thrive in Hong Kong.

A particular businessman from the west have been successful in Hong Kong namely entrepreneur Zaman who has a very lucrative development and renovation project in Ocean Park. His success can be attributed to a renovation, new management teams, in-house concessionary, improved local Cantonese fare, a giant panda cuisine Sichuan province style and other real animal attractions.

In order to be successful in Hong Kong, a business has to be less Americanesc and integrate more of a cultural Chinese taste.

Disney's Hong Kong park, should be the experiment that can make the new park in Shanghai which may be the largest investment in China to date by an American company.

Only in Florida.

November is the time of the year where you would expect to see snow littering the ground, and tree's loosing their leaves. Snow shoes and gloves accompany people everywhere they go. Snowboarders come out of hiding and Skiers prepare their equipment. Not in Florida! I went to the beach this weekend.

How many other states have tempertures in the low 90's coming into November? I was preparing my board shorts and surfboards. There isn't alot of times you CAN'T go to the beach in Florida. Last Christmas week i spent a weekend in Daytona in the high 80's. This is one of the advantages of living here in the "sunshine state".

Calling a few friends, we got up at dawn and took a road trip about an hour from Kissimmee to Cocoa Beach. Where the surf is always great and the tides are always shallow. This is the perfect beach to go to with families. Kids can hang out in the shallow tides, while adults can wade out a little deep and the surfing crowd can go even further and never worry about no having some waves. This is one of the few beaches in Florida that actually hosts surfing tournaments all year round. These are obviously in designated sections so that the kids can play in a danger free zone.

On this particular day, it started out a little cloudy in the morning but quickly cleared up so it wasn't too hot, and we didnt have to worry about alot of sunscreen. It felt great to be in the water. It was the perfect temperture for the low 90's. Not too cold, but still refreshing. The waves further out were perfect, breaking at a sand bar about 1/6 of a mile out. This kept us all away from the people so we didnt have to worry about weaving while surfing, and put them out of harms way. The children played in the shallow waters with the girls and had a blast.

There are plenty of restaurants right on the beach. From a Wendy's to a Red Lobster, there are placed to eat all over the place. We stopped at a little Italian Place and got some pizza because we all voted it sounded like the best beach lunch. This was also one of the best pizza places i have ever encountered. And relatively cheap! It cost me about $8 for 3 slices and a gatorade. It was incredible.

Its nice, among the hussle and bussle of theme parks, to make a relaxing trip to the beach and be able to any time of the year. Located only an hour or so from the Kissimmee Area, it makes this excursion worth while. Nothing beats Florida's beaches. This is an opportunity that shouldn't be missed. Make sure you include a day in your vacation to make a daylong trip to the beach.

Free movies at the Plaza Cinema Cafe Theatre

For years Orlando's city officials have been looking for a way to prop-up the retail sector at downtown Orlando. Hosting festivals, donating space, providing low-cost parking, promoting downtown were all part of the agreement for the Cinema.

With its 12-screen movie plaza, free movies, and new retail stores, it appears that the Plaza Cinema Cafe Theatre is on track for success. Patrons that come to see a movie can pay as little as $2 on parking for the first 3 hours.

With only 6 months of operations, retail store owners have a positive outlook that the theater will draw the projected 10,000 guests during weeks of free movie premiers.

Many tenants that have been in operation prior to the theater being opened have experienced marketable increase in business. Up to $6 million in an incentives are available to the Plaza Cinema as long as they maintain their agreement.

Before the theater opened their has been many vacant store fronts in the area that the city is hoping will be occupied in the months to come.

Oh the Wonder!

"One of the first conditions of hapiness, is that the link between man and nature shall never be broken." - Leo Tolstoy.

How many people do not enjoy having wildlife eat chips out of their hands while having a family picnic? Or who dont like feeding the birds leftover french-fries? Or dont enjoy riding horses or playing with house-pets? This is one of the few joys humans partake in. Their connection with nature.

There arent many theme parks that are able to convey this aspect of life. How awesome would it be to spend time of the day in a care-free world. One may ask, "The Carribean right?" No. Discovery Cove.

Discovery Cove is certainly one of a kind. Instead of your typical attraction and rides, Discovery Cove offers experiences rather than thrills. Instead of a roller coaster, guests can swim with dolphins and snorkel with Sting Rays (That dont sting). Its a fully emmersive experience that you won't be able to recieve anywhere else.

Discovery Cove is owned by Sea World, so it isn't a little park. It offers all different sorts of things to do. They have an Aviary that contains thousands of birds from all over the world. Both Exotic and Native. The cool thing, is they even allow the guests to feed and hold the birds, and its rarely too crowded.

They have a coral reef that they built that allows visitors to snorkel with all the exotic fish and even eels with equipment they provide. The endless color you will see under the water is breathtaking.

And of course, swimming with the dolphins. Guests can enjoy 30 minute sessions with dolphins that allows them to swim with them along side a professional trainer that shows them the ins and outs of the experience. This is the main attraction at Discovery Cove and this is what they base the majority of their marketing around. Its one of the most incredible experiences one can imagine.

Discovery cove is the most original theme park in Central Florida. There is very few things that happen here that guests have already done. Its full emmersion take on the park lets visitors experience a whole different side of the earth, untouched and unscathed by man. Its clear that the staff at the park are passionate about what they do and that just makes the experience all the more amazing. This is a park that visitors to Orlando dont want to miss.

The never-ending dream ship

As one of the most spectacular dream-ships afloat, the Dream offers both the elegance and sophistication of a twentieth century ocean liner.

Its family-friendly innovations, set it apart from other cruise ships offering entertainment for all ages. For the first-time ever, Dream offers AquaDuck, Virtual Porthole, Enchanted Art and Living Characters interactive themes.

Imagine riding a high-energy first-ever water coaster aboard a cruise liner that twists drops, turns, accelerates uphill and braves the river rapids. Now passengers can recline in their staterooms while glimpsing at the industry-first virtual Portholes offering an outside real-time view of the ocean hosted by Mickey Mouse and friends pop-ups.

Without a doubt, the Dream continues the Disney legacy of elegance and grace of one of the most stylish transatlantic ships afloat. With it's signature exterior design capturing the colors of the Mouse, Disney character silhouettes, gigantic red funnels, bold black hull, the Dream is a symbol of Art Deco elegance.

Passing through the expansive 3-deck atrium graced by Admiral Donald Duck is just the beginning of luxury as guests meander to their staterooms. Disney offers nothing but comfort & style boasting nearly 150 inside staterooms, 1,100 exterior staterooms, 860 verandahs, nearly 200 ocean-views, 19 one-bedroom suites and much more.

After checking into Disney first-ever staterooms, guests can indulge in a one-of-a-kind dining experience at Disney's signature elaborately themed restaurants. Dining aboard the Dream will be a memorable experience for years to come. Offering three world-class cuisines, get ready for a mouth-watering experience at either the Animoator's Palate, Enchanted Garden or Royal Palace.

Regardless of which dining experience you choose, be inspired by signature Disney animation, classic Disney films and a uniquely inspired Versailles-theme that transports guests to the lovely conservatory with white trellises, glass-light fixtures, and cascading fountains.

It would be a disservice to attempt to describe a journey that only a personal experience could embrace. With itineraries beginning in 2011, the Dream will offer three-and four-night voyages from port of call Cape Canaveral Florida.

Universals attendance drops 4th straight quarter

As the global recession bottoms out, Universal Studios continues to feel the squeeze on its theme parks Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.

While sales on food, drink and souvenirs fell 2% , attendance continued to drop the last three months to 11% reflecting a decrease from 3 million to 2.7 million visitors. But things were even worst the 1st and 2nd quarter were attendance dropped 20% and 14% respectively.

Universals spokesman believe that the slumping economy was responsible for a 20.9% decline in profits from $42.2 million to $37.3 million at Orlando's #2 theme-park.

Although Universal slashed it's expenses by 14.2 percent, operating revenues dropped 14.4% down to $224.6 million.

Sea World Price Change 09'

Before Sea World actually comes out with an official release for the new prices there were already rumors going around that the annual pass prices have gone up. In reality, that’s far from the truth. Sea World will either lower the price for Florida Residents or keep the annual pass the same price. Sea World has announced that they will raise their prices on Friday, which may not be such a surprise to everyone is that the price is still below competitors Disney World and Universal Studios. However, its only by a whopping $0.05. But as stated earlier the resort will reduce the price of its popular "Fun Cards," which will allow Florida residents to purchase a single-day ticket and be able to make repeated visits to the park. Sea world plans to raise the price of a one day base ticket $4 making the cost $78.95.

Along with Sea World, Busch Gardens will also undergo the exact same price changes. Joe Couceiro, CMO for SeaWorld parent Busch Entertainment Corp. said the higher base price is "something that not only is indicative of what we feel is the value of our parks but frankly is going to allow us to continue to invest in our parks at the level our customers expect." Meaning that the customers will be paying for what they believe the park is worth and they will be getting their money’s worth.

Orlando-based Busch Entertainment is in the process of being sold for up to $2.7 billion. Company observers expected that the ticket prices would rise shortly after the Blackstone purchase was announced to the public earlier this month, even though the sale is not expected to close until after the New Year.

Multi-park ticket options will also be raised, Sea World primarily sells the multi-park ticket options to out-of-state tourists. Similar to its major competitors Disney and Universal, Busch uses its pricing structure to drive customers toward more frequent visits to the parks and facilities.

Disney Dream 09'

Long without a headline story Disney has recently released the plans of it’s new cruise ship that is scheduled to hit the sea sooner than you imagine. That’s right, on November 9, 2009 you will be able to book a cruise on the all new Disney Dream.

Becoming the 3rd ship of an already impressive line, the Dream will be joining its sister ships on the open seas soon! The dreams intricate yet simple design truly flaunts it’s height by displaying its 14 towering decks. The overall length of the ship is about 1,115 feet long and about 125 feet wide. With all of the attractions and amenities you couldn’t expect this vessel to be light; the ship weighs in at 128,000-tons! The ship is rated to accommodate 4,000 passengers and nearly 1,500 crew members that are on call at all times of the day for the duration of your cruise.


With such an impressive line already functioning in the ocean the Disney Dream does not stray far from the original ships. The design aspect of the ship is relatively similar to that of the original the only thing that majorly sets this ship apart from the rest is the state of the art technology. Disney’s interior designers did a great job in combing sleek style with a classic feel to it. When you take your first step aboard the Disney Dream it’s almost like you teleport to an age of adventure and wonder. The humorous and child like acts that are displayed within the cruise mix with the elegance to truly provide a pleasant experience. The interior of the ship is filled with lavish decorative murals that mingle with sparkling fixtures, furnishings, original paintings, statues and woodwork envelope. The design doesn’t just stop at the hallways of the ship. You’ll be able to notice the design in youth activity clubs, resplendent restaurants, intimate lounges and theatre spaces.

Year-round, you and your family are invited to hop aboard on this unforgettable cruise adventure on the Disney Dream. Discover for yourself and find the ultimate meaning of relaxation no matter where your destination takes you.

Disney Adventures

We totally signed up for this, it was amazing. I’m not even joking; this is an experience that every family should have. If you can afford it, do it, there’s no questions asked. We decided to take out trip to Italy, we have always been told that it is one of the greatest countries to see, and were ecstatic once we had purchased the tickets. We flew into Italy expecting to have nine days of fun; instead we had nine days of incredible fun. The second we got off the plane we were greeted by the Disney Adventure Guides, they escorted us to our vehicle. The first day we spent a night in the Hotel Bernini Bristol that should have been called a resort, assigned to us. That morning we were greeted by our Adventure Guides, who knew every little thing there was to know about the famed city of Rome. They took us to monuments and tourist locations, we even got to see the incredible coliseum, and many other incredible sites. There was a lot of information they gave us about every thing, and we had time to ask questions, and we even had photo opportunities. We ate lunch at a traditional Italian restaurant where we broke bread and enjoyed great Italian food. Then we continued our guided tour of Rome, enjoying all the historical sites and listening to what the tour guides had to say.

On day three we went to the Vatican City Museum, where we had a guided tour throughout the entire place. We learned about so much history and are I would totally call myself a pro now. We were supposed to go to the Sistine chapel that day, but for some reason they were closed, so instead we spent a bunch of free time exploring the museum. Once again we enjoyed lunch at a fantastic restaurant on one of streets. After that they let us go shopping, a definite plus, and then we met back up at a restaurant for some great dinner.

Day four we visited a medieval town on the outskirts of Rome, where we saw a beautiful cathedral and took tons of pictures. Then we were taken to the countryside via motor coaches, it was so cool! We then had lunch and shopping in Orvieto a town with beautiful architecture that it has kept all these years. After that we went to Borgo di Artimino, a name I had to look up to spell correctly. Here we were given new rooms and had the freedom to explore the entire place.
On day five we were taken to a beautiful kitchen with friendly chefs who taught everyone, even the kids to make pasta. Not only did we make pasta in the morning, but we each got to eat our own for lunch. After we enjoyed our food we got the freedom to enjoy a swim at the villas and just a time to relax. At the end of our day the tour guides had set up a barbeque dinner for us all.
On the sixth day we were ushered to the incredible city of Florence, where we enjoyed guided tours and store-side arts. The city was beautiful and you found some form of art and entertainment around ever corner. We spent the rest of the day exploring and eating local food in beautiful villas.

On the Seventh day we were given a train ride, yes a train ride into Venice. That means we got to see the rest of the countryside through our windows, and boy was it beautiful. Once in Venice we had a guided boat tour through the entire city, where we saw beautiful sites and had some incredible photo opportunities. Then we had some traditional Italian Pizza, and boy was it totally great, there was no pizza like it. Then we resided to a beautiful hotel with an awesome garden for a courtyard, we spent the rest of the night here.

On the eighth day we had another guided tour, this time on foot to explore the beautiful landscape of Venice. Our tour guides knew everything there was to know about the history and modern events of this beautiful city. After that we met with some of the locals to make some cool masks to take home. These were so awesome that we took great care in bringing them back. After that we spent the rest of the day shopping and exploring all of Venice, it was so fun!

On the last day we were given a farewell by the guides and ushered to the airport, when we returned home not only were we completely satisfied, but we were greeted by a letter in the mail that we now had a free 3 day cruise on one of the famed Disney Cruise Liners. This is a must for anyone who can afford it, it was fun and educational, plus we got an awesome cruise! We plan to pick another trip next year, but were not sure to where just yet, I encourage you all to go, I cannot stress that enough.