Disney Blog - Orlando Vacation Information

Monday, June 30, 2008

SeaWorld price increase effective today

SeaWorld, Orlando's world-class theme park that takes you beyond the ocean's surface to a world filled with close encounters and wonder is raising gate prices effective today.

Single Day Florida Parks

SeaWorld Adult $74.60
SeaWorld Child $63,85

Busch Garden Tampa Adult $72.71
Busch Garden Tampa Child $62.01

Aquatica Single Day Adult $44.68
Aquatica Single Day Child $38.29

Multi Day Florida Parks

SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Adult $101.12
SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Child $90.47

SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Adult $106.70
SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Child $96.02

SeaWorld Orlando / Busch Gardens Tampa Aquatica Adult $143.99
SeaWorld Orlando / Busch Gardens Tampa Aquatica Child $133.32

*prices include tax

Friday, June 27, 2008

Wet 'N Wild Parking Fees

America's favorite award-winning water park announces new park fees:


Effective Saturday, June 28, 2008, parking fees will be as follows:

Auto $9.00
RV's & Vans: $10.00

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Disney reinvigorates market for family-cruises


For the last 10 years, Disney cruise ships Magic & Wonder which have been servicing customers are about to be joined by two new ship in 2011 and 2012. But while other cruise lines offer access to casinos, Disney offers a host of other facilities and entertainment for diversified families.

It’s probably not fair to say Disney invented the family cruise that evolved in the 80’s, but Disney help to re-invigorate the experience into the successful market it is today.
Disney has a remarkable diversification of activities for children and adults alike. For children Disney offers the amazing Oceaneer lab filled with wonderful science projects that keep children mesmerized for an entire day. Teens can escape to the Aloft Nightclub where they can dance to the latest sounds of technology and teen rock stars. After the clubs close at 1:00am, active teens can shoot some hoop until the wee hours of the morning.

For adults there are nightclubs, classes, restaurants including Palo’s, beer, and wine tasting. Relaxing on the terrace of the stateroom for the afternoon is an adult activity much encouraged. Other activities include Vacation Club cocktail parties, and souvenir hunting. While adults are being entertained, Disney Flounders reef will take care of children from 12 months to 3 years old.

The trip culminates with a stop at Disney’s privately owned tropical paradise Castaway Cay where guests can experience a whole new level of entertainment on shore. Here there is something for everyone including a private beach for teens, a getaway beach for adults and a family beach.

Is SeaWorld changing ownership?

Controversial InBev has placed a bid on SeaWorld, the US based theme park owned by Busch Entertainment Corp. Currently Busch Entertainment owns SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, and Aquatica.

InBev procured adequate financing and made an offer of $47.5 Billion at $65 per share for the big conglomerate. "Let the takeover battle commence" as Anheuser-Busch prepares to reject the offer according to the Wall Street Journal.

In the mean time, Busch Entertainment will complete its transition from St. Cloud scattered 100+ offices to new Orange County location near John Young parkway. This will allow all the entertainment employees to be in one place for the first time in history.

In the future, the entertainment industry may be planning to change its name to “World of Discovery” for a fresh new experience. Most stock analyst believe that Busch Entertainment would have no problem selling the company if necessary.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Fiesta San Juan at Wet 'n Wild

In the mood for some Latin swing? Now you can savor a taste of San Juan from 9:00am - 12:pm June 21st at Wet 'n Wild.

The sounds that move you, the rythyms that groove you. Bring your entire family for a day of music, amazing rides and plenty of Latin food.

Entertainment includes the hotest combo Catherine, Grupo Kompas, Kalcomani & Cuco Reyes y su Orquestra Vibracion.

Mega 98.1 FM & Mega DJ's will host games, prizes and activites through-out the day.

Make sure you check out the next generation The Black Hole with it's twists, turns and psychedelic pulsating lights.

How will you spend your summer nights?

Why not make a big splash at Wet 'n Wild featuring extended hours, special activities and one amazing night on all the rides.

From June 13th every night until August 9th, the park will be open from 9:00am until 11:00pm.

Bring your own cooler, food, towels, sun lotion and lots of people.

One amazing park, all day into the night, during the summer, check out Wet 'n Wild's signature summer beach party, live DJ, music and fun for the whole family

At Wet 'n Wild, the fun just begins when the sun goes down zooming through the Black Hole, pulsating with the lights on The Next Generation, and blasting off on the two-person hydra capsule.

Take your thrills to a new level at Wet 'n Wild water park in Orlando.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Make a splash at Cypress Garden's Splash Island

Without a doubt, this is one of those places forgotten in time!

On a hot summer day, explore one of the coolest places on earth, Cypress Garden's own Splash Island.

Enjoy cascaded waterfalls, a lazy river, a lost paradise, liquid playhouse, water canons, 7 high-speed water slides and much more.

Cypress Garden's Splash Island will be operating during the following hours during June:

Sat & Sun 11:00am - 7:00pm
Mon - Fri 11:00am - 8:00pm


This is one island that you won't mind being stranded on!!

Monday, June 09, 2008

A Day at Cypress Gardens

On my last trip to Cypress Gardens, I was amazed to discover such a wide variety of things to do for the whole family said William Rocker CEO of Rockers Fruit Co. in Kissimmee otherwise known as “Billy Boy.” In addition to the old Cypress Belle, Botanical Gardens, and Plantation Gardens, Cypress Gardens is presenting a new image to all of its guests in an effort to re-invigorate interest in the 72 year-old theme park.

Cypress Gardens declared bankruptcy in 2003 and was sold for $16.9 million to the Baker Leisure Group. The new Cypress gardens is hoping to increase revenues by catering to groups including Bright House Networks, State Farm Insurance, and Kissimmee Housing Authority.

For the price of $32.99/Adult & $29.99/Child, "you basically have the whole park to yourself for the entire day" said Rocker. It’s just a sweet deal!! Not only can you view the breathtaking Plantation/ Botanical Gardens but they also have an amazing theme park, concerts/events, and high-speed roller coasters.

Imagine:
  • you can have twice the fun
  • half the price of rival theme parks Disney World, Sea World and Wet 'n Wild.
  • With over 39 rides
  • you don't even have to wait in long lines

Join in the action with lightening fast roller-coasters including Starliner, Thunderbolt, Fiesta Express, Galaxy Spin, Okeechobee Rampage and much more. Included with your ticket are Family Classics including Paradise Sky Wheel, Tilt A Whirl, Boardwalk Carousel, Fire Brigade, Fun Slide, Jalopy Junction Rockin’ Tug and many more.

Kids can stay busy all day with low stress attractions including Rio Grande Train, Stars & Stripes, Super Truckers, Gear Jammers just to mention a few.
    "Because the park does not have the iconic Disney World signature, people just don’t know what there missing" said Rocker. Just 1 hour from Kissimmee, you can take your entire family to Florida’s oldest theme parks for the time of their lives.

    Thursday, June 05, 2008

    Early access to Aquatica during the summer

    Now you can have America's favorite theme park to yourself for a couple of hours in the morning.

    Cool water slides, high-speed competitive mat rides, giant side by side wave pools, zoom a twisting five-story maze, all-you-can-eat scrumptious meals, whimpsical seas of fun, quadruple slide towers, immersion into animal habitats clear plastic tubes are only a few amazing water-activities that define Orlando's #1 hot-spot.

    Now with Aquatica's new summer hours from 9:00am - 10:00pm, all pre-purchased ticket holders will be guaranteed unlimited early access to the park at 8:00am. Imagine 17 amazing water themes all to yourself for the first hour at Aquatica with a pre-purchased ticket.

    Don't miss this limited time offer!

    Monday, June 02, 2008

    Can Cypress Gardens bloom again?

    After a slow recovery from bankruptcy, Cypress gardens, Florida’s oldest theme park is creating a new image for generations of families. Now under a new management, Baker Leisure Group is planning ways to make the historic park profitable.

    For a short time Cypress Gardens had an uncertain future said Steve Baker. Can you imagine, the botanical park with its famous southern belles trademark was open in 1936 by Dick and Julie Pope? Due to competition from local rivals, the park continued to diminish in attendance and then close in 2003. Finally the park was sold in a bankruptcy auction for $16.9 million.

    The new park owners are cautiously optimistic about making changes to a theme park with over 72 years of history. Guests can continue to enjoy the things that made the theme park popular including water-ski shows, Southern belles and the gardens.

    Many from the outside will think their opening a new park with much of the old park baggage. In the future, Cypress Gardens will cater to weddings, quinceaneras, and private parties. Even this year, the old theme park has hosted events for Bright House Networks, Stare Farm Insurance, and Kissimmee Housing Authority. In some venues, corporate events account for at least 30% of park attendance. Corporate outings according to Dennis Speigel will be a staple-crop for the business in the future.