Tips for Disney World First Timers

So you’ve finally decided to head to Walt Disney World. With so much to see and do, it’s important to come prepared. Here are some excellent tips to make your trip one that will be remembered for a lifetime.

Plan ahead. Decide ahead of time what your priorities are and make a plan of action.

Get to the parks early! It’s amazing, particularly in busy season, how many of the popular rides you can knock off before half the “World” gets out of bed.

Take the time to rest in the middle of the day. Stay at one of the Magic Kingdom or Epcot resorts, allowing a return in the middle of the day for a nap or dip in the pool.

Call exactly 90 days prior at 7 AM Orlando time for priority seating if breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom is tops on your child’s list. The only way you might get away with sleeping in and booking a bit later for this highly coveted character breakfast is if you are traveling in extremely slow season.

Come prepared for an afternoon shower during the rainy summer months even if the sky looks perfectly clear in the morning. Rent a locker to store your raingear and circle back if skies start to look threatening. However, if you’re caught unprepared, just about every store in the parks sells inexpensive rain ponchos.

Use Fastpass, Disney’s free, nifty timesaving device. It’s offered at all four theme parks and is a great way to save hours of waiting in line. Just insert your park pass in one of the machines located at each individual Fastpass attraction and receive a ticket printed with a designated one-hour window in which you may return and enter a special line with little or no waiting.

Pre-arrange priority seating, Disney’s answer to dining reservations, by calling 407-WDW-DINE. On arrival you’ll receive the next table available for your party size, thus saving hours of frustration and waiting.

Allow plenty of time to reach the theme parks each morning. It’s easy to miss your breakfast priority seating if you don’t allocate enough time.

Be spontaneous. If something catches your eye, even if it’s not on your daily list of things to do, stop and explore. If not, you could miss something wonderful.

Realize the limitations of your children. If they’re tired, take a break. If their feet hurt, get them a stroller (forget that they outgrew one years ago). If a ride scares them don’t force the issue. Such precautions will make your day and the day of other park visitors a lot less stressful.

Bring pagers, 2-way radios, or cell phones. If your party plans on splitting up, they are a perfect way to keep in touch.

Wear broken-in, comfortable footwear. Better yet, bring two pairs and rotate them. Nothing is worse than blisters on your first day and then nursing them for the remainder of your vacation.

Most importantly, slow down and enjoy the magic. Resist the urge to see everything at breakneck speed. You can’t possibly cover it all, so think of this as your first trip to Disney, not your last. There will be time to pick up all the things you missed on the next go-round.

Finally, Not sure on how to get the best price for a Disney World Vacation? Check out this web site: www.OrlandoVacationsAndHotels.Com for all the latest Discounted Orlando Disney World and other area theme park Vacation Packages and Tickets

SeaWorld's Halloween Spooktacular

From pumpkin fishes to friendly sea witches, Halloween meets the sea in October 2008 during SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular, carving an underwater “fantasea” where children can dance with an ice DJ, learn from a school of fish and play with a sea fairy. Offering more than 2 million pieces of trick-or-treat sweets, SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular uniquely brings children’s “fantaseas” to life with enchanted pathways and charming sea creatures, providing the utmost in family-friendly trick-or-treating.

One of Seasame Street’s favorite residents, The Count, along with his friends from Sesame Street, even gets into the Halloween spirit, with Count Von Count’s Spooktacular character breakfast. Little ones will sing, groove and mingle side-by-side with Sesame Street characters, while listening to Halloween-themed music and enjoying a special breakfast “boo”-ffet.

SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 24-26 and 31, 2008, and is included in a single day’s park admission. The event begins each day at 11 AM, leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for the day’s activities.

Disney Movie News

Big news was announced today at the Walt Disney Showcase in Hollywood, California, about the company's future film releases including "Pirates of the Caribbean 4". Johnny Depp will be returning to play everyone's favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. He will also be starring as the Mad Hatter in the upcoming Tim Burton movie, "Alice in Wonderland", and as Tonto in "The Lone Ranger", both of which will also be released by Disney.

In addition, Disney announced that "Cars 2" release date has been moved up to the summer of 2011 instead of Summer of 2012. The sequel will follow Mater and Lightening McQueen as they travel around the world.

National Treasure 3 is also in the works. Jerry Bruckheimer and Nicholas Cage were both on hand at the festivities this afternoon and confirmed the news. That film is scheduled for release in late 2010.

Disney introduces The Disney Fairies

Disney introduced the world to The Disney Fairies on Wednesday, just in time for the October 28 release of their DVD. The film features Tinker Bell as well as her friend Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist and Fawn.

They also announced that they will be opening a new attraction based on the Fairies, called Pixie Hollow. The Hollow will be located in the Mickey's Toontown Fair section of the park and is scheduled to open on October 24.

Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream 2008

Sep, 2008 -- TAMPA, Fla.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay kicks off its ninth season of gut-wrenching scares with the launch of the Howl-O-Scream 2008, and the introduction of exciting new VIP Fear Tour packages, horrifying new haunted houses, and the new faces of evil itself – the lovely Raven Twins.

For 17 select nights, Howl-O-Scream 2008 will prove that not all nightmares happen while you sleep. The devious creatures that infest all-new haunted houses, scare zones, thrilling shows and even the streets themselves will have guests watching their backs, and bone-chilling roller coasters keep the screams coming all night long. The event runs select Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights during October: Oct. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 and Oct. 30-Nov. 1

NEW THIS YEAR! Howl-O-Scream 2008’s new haunted houses will tease your deepest, darkest fears like never before…

Travel Tip: Hotels

Hotels : Stay at one of the many Orlando area hotels (Irlo Bronson Highway for Disney, International Drive for Universal Studios and Sea World.) they are cheaper than Disney or Universal resorts, you will save money that way, remember when you travel to Orlando you must be ready to expend the whole day at the parks , you need your room just to go to asleep.

Some hotels offer free limited bus service to the major parks (though most of these shuttles don’t run frequently enough to satisfy most people.) You may really want a car.

Make reservations in advance specially during summer, holydays or special weekends.

Hotel Taxes : Orlando 12.5% Kissimmee : 13%

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

In 2009, Universal's Islands of Adventure will open a new Harry Potter-themed Island, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, possibly incorporating elements from The Lost Continent. It will feature three different areas: The forbidden forest, Hogsmeade Village, and Hogwarts Castle itself. Three attractions (not known yet) will come with this land, as well as many Harry Potter themed shops and restaurants.

Bay Lake Resort "Disney's Contemporary Resort"

Disney World set to Open Two New Resorts in 2009

Disney Vacation Club's "Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort" will feature views of the Magic Kingdom and Bay Lake.

Plans include a rooftop lounge, zero entry Bay Cove pool with waterslide, whirlpool and interactive children's water feature, fireworks viewing deck and a sky bridge (elevated walkway) connecting this new resort to the iconic Contemporary Resort.

Bay Lake Tower will offer studio units as well as one, two and three bedroom accommodations. The one/two/three bedroom units will feature a fully equipped kitchen with granite countertops, washer/dryer, separate bedrooms and other amenities which provide a "home" environment. The interior furnishings are described as family friendly "rich woods and warm fabrics".

The Lobby area will have glass encased columns and woven woods with views of the pool and Bay Lake. A Community Hall activity center will also be part of Bay Lake Tower.

One of the most exciting features will be the "Top of the World Lounge", named after the original restaurant located at the Contemporary Resort. The outdoor deck will offer unparalled views of the Magic Kingdom Fireworks. (Access is limited and usage guidelines will be enforced.)

The "Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa" will feature 60 three bedroom units which will accommodate up to nine guests.

The original Treehouse Villas were opened in 1975 and accommodated guests through 2002. These octagon shaped units, nestled in the woods, featured elevated views of the tranquil surroundings.

Of concern in building the new units are the surrounding wetlands. Disney has decreased the footprints of the original treehouses which has reduced the encroachment of the wetlands by 70 percent per unit.

When completed, the Treehouse Villas will be elevated 10 feet from ground level. Each accommodation will feature three bedrooms with flat screen TV's. Two of the bedrooms will have a Queen bed and one will have bunkbeds, with a Queen sleep sofa and a sleeper chair in the living room. The units will have two bathrooms, an open kitchen with a granite counter with seating for three and separate table with seating for six. The living room will also have a flat screen and cathedral ceilings.

The Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will have its own pool and will share the featured amenities at Saratoga Springs including the boat transportation to Downtown Disney, tennis, bike rentals, kid's playground, spa/fitness center and feature pool with slide.

Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween

This Halloween, join Mickey and his friends at the Magic Kingdom for 18 nights of "not so scary" fun at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. The Magic Kingdom is transformed into a kid-friendly "Spooky" Party. There will be Halloween fireworks and a specially themed parade starring all of your favorite Disney characters.

Guests, especially children, are invited to wear costumes. However, guests are asked to choose costumes that are not obstructive to the child's view or that may be offensive to other park guests.

Walt Disney Studios Green Lights "Tomorrow Land" The Movie

Walt Disney Studios has announced that they will be making a movie inspired by the Tomorrowland section of their Disney Theme Parks.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is set to be in the film, and they have already hired writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore to do the script.

Disney said that while the theme park area is the inspiration for the film, it will not be the setting of the film.

SeaWorld Announces Manta

SeaWorld has confirmed that Manta is due to open Summer 2009

Following the announcement in April, there has been speculation around the construction of the newest coaster at Seaworld. We were told that the new coaster will as suggested at the time be called Manta. Manta will be Seaworld Orlando’s second major coaster, the other being Kraken.

Following on from the mix of animal/ride combinations at the recently opened Aquatica water park, Manta will show riders underwater animal habitats and then soar them skywards on a Manta styled flying coaster. Early artwork suggests that you’ll sit under the Manta face down in a hand-gliding position.

Designed to give the ride the feeling of gliding, swooping and diving, Manta will reach a height of 140 feet, top speeds of 60mph moving through four inversions on 3,359 feet of track covering 7 acres of the park. The ride will be constructed by swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard who were also responsible for the construction of Kraken, Hulk Rollercoaster and Duelling Dragons to name a few.

The attraction is to begin when visitors enter a mythical village filled with artisan-created engravings and artwork that celebrate ray legend and lore. In the queue line, visitors will wind through caverns adorned with ray-inspired art in marble, jewels, and mosaics, all hand-created.

If you’re not a coaster fan, then you’ll still get the opportunity to view the aquarium that forms part of the ride, which will be filled with rays, as well as thousands of fish and other creatures native to oceans all over the world.

Orlando Disney Parks and Universal

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Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando

It's coming, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando is coming. Starting in late Sept and running on select nights thru out Oct. and November, come to Universal Studios in Orlando Florida where you are sure to get the scream of your life. This years theme is Urban Legends and is sure to be a scream of a time.

Haven't got you tickets yet? Check out Orlando Vacations and Hotels for some really great Universal Vacation Packages

Holiday Season Is Coming

Right now Orlando Vacations and Hotels is having really great Vacation Package Specials to Orlando and Disney World. Get a 4 Day/3 Night Orlando Vacation plus 2 Adult Tickets to Disney World for 3 Days for only $249. Check it out! These packages go fast.