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John and Donna Gross "The Full Mickey - At a Discount!" The Wall Street Journal
Florida Attraction Guide "Water skiers and costumed Southern belles helped make Cypress Gardens famous. And as Central Florida's oldest theme park prepares for its 70th anniversary celebration Monday, the revamped attraction is going back to its roots. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 01/01/06) -------------------------------- Cypress Gardens Improvements "Plans for a yearlong celebration are under way at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, the state's oldest theme park. Among the expected activities: a groundbreaking for a major roller coaster, a new laser and fireworks show for next fall, and a new premium annual pass. The park plans to spend several million dollars on the additions." (Source: Orlando Business Journal, 10/24/05) "[Owner Kent] Buescher announced millions in capital spending over the next year, much of it designed to evoke the venerable park's former glory, including a retro-style water-ski show, the oft-requested dinner cruise, a water taxi, and the once-popular botanical cruise. His most ambitious investment in nostalgia -- "several million" dollars -- is the reconstruction of the Starliner, a classic wooden roller coaster he hopes to have running by 2007. Its white frame was a landmark in Panama City Beach from 1963 to 2004." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 10/27/05) |
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"The Holy Land Experience will close on Sundays starting this weekend to give the staff of 225 time to spend that day in worship and with their families, representatives of the south Orlando attraction said Wednesday." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 10/13/05) "Gatorland, one of the Orlando area's oldest tourist attractions, recently celebrated its latest makeover and announced plans for more renovations, including the addition of a children's water park." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 10/03/05) "Water Mania, Kissimmee's first water park, will close on Labor Day. The family-owned company on West U.S. Highway 192 has been sold along with the Country Hearth Hotel next door... Larson [co-owner] would not disclose the selling price or the buyer's identity. Nor would he say what the buyer plans to do with the property, which is across from the entrance to Celebration... Single-day and season passes for Water Mania may be redeemed for admission at Wet 'n Wild, the company said in a news release." Source: Orlando Sentinel, 08/26/05)
Beth, our travel agent, writes about a Vegas-style resort in Hollywood, Florida: "I had an unexpected opportunity to travel to the Hard Rock Resort & Casino in Hollywood, Florida for two nights this week. The resort is a stone's throw from the Ft. Lauderdale airport and Port Everglades (cruise ship terminal). It's also sandwiched between I-95 and the Florida Turnpike, so very easy to reach. In fact, it's just about a 3-hour drive down the turnpike from Disney! Despite the Hard Rock name, this resort is NOT part of the Loews hotel chain like the Hard Rock at Universal Studios. It is, however, located on a Seminole Indian reservation which is why they can operate a casino. The resort is about as close as you're going to get to a Vegas-style resort in Florida. The large casino attracts many celebrities (especially local pro athletes), and a good deal of space is dedicated to poker tables. Nickel and dime slots are abundant, but quarter and dollar slots still have a solid presence as well. I'm sure the casino is busy during peak season, but this week we found it to be very quiet, even in the evenings. Beware, though... smoking IS permitted. There are 17 dining establishments, including a Hard Rock Cafe and a Johnny Rockets, plenty of shops, a comedy club, and a nice theater which plays host to some decent headliner acts. The upcoming Tim McGraw concert is sold out, but there are still tickets available for Journey. :-) The pool area is amazing, and really beautiful. Lots of waterfalls, two zero-entry areas, a water slide and two or three hot tubs, a sandy "beach," and even a number of cabanas with TVs! The pool bar is located in the center of the lagoon-style pool. Two thumbs up! The rooms are... interesting. Our standard room overlooking the pool was of a decent size, and the beds (complete with down comforters and pillows) are VERY comfy. There's a great TV and sound system, and you get a free CD of rock music hits when you check in so you can try it out. The complimentary shampoo and conditioner have a very strange scent (and not a pleasant one in my opinion), but the have decent coffee in the room and a free safe so that made up for it, I guess. We requested and quickly received a small frig at no additional charge - but don't even THINK about opening the minibar. They warn you at check-in, but we just had to take a peek, and wouldn't you know, one of the candy bars moved. It didn't move much, but it was enough to get my room charged $4.50 for it! The front desk took the charge off without question, though. The decor is on the minimalist/industrial side, but not horrible. My only real gripe was the noise. Our neighbors seemed to really enjoy the sound system - even after midnight - but a quick call to the front desk solved that problem. (You don't mess with these security guys when they come knocking on your door!) Even after the music was turned down, though, we still heard lots of slamming doors, voices in the hallway, thumps and bumps from above, etc. If you're a light sleeper, bring ear plugs! Nearby is the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, which is conveniently located next to a HUGE Bass Pro Shop. I'm not a huge fishing fan myself, but the fishing simulators and the IMAX-like movie at the museum are pretty neat, as is the boardwalk area outside. You can get admission discounts for the museum inside the Bass Pro Shop, or use your AAA card. Next to the resort is a living history museum of the Seminole Tribe. I wasn't at the resort long enough to get over there, but it looked neat. The Billie Swamp Safari (featuring airboat rides) is nearby. We took an hour-long journey north on the turnpike to check out Lion Country Safari, and I have to say that I was impressed. It took us about two hours two drive through the wildlife park while listening to the CD narration. The animals are free to roam, and they do. We had to stop several times to allow zebras, giraffes, etc. to cross the road. There are no fences between you and the animals, and even on a day as hot as this one we had no trouble spotting everything mentioned on the recording. Included in admission is entrance to a second area that requires you to park and walk. There you can purchase nectar to feed lorries that sit on your hand, see a HUGE tortoise, wander through a petting zoo, cool off in a little water park area, and more. The highlight, though, is feeding the giraffes. There were two there on our day, and both were very eager to stick out their long tongues to grab small pieces of (purchased) treats. At around $20 for adults and $15 for children the Lion Country Safari isn't cheap, but you can download a coupon from their website for $2 off per person, which is the same discount AAA cardholders get. (See MONEY SAVING TIP below for link.) Southwest Florida has no shortage of tourist attractions. In short, I was impressed. The two children with us, ages 13 and 7, had a great time, and I took turns with my adult travel companion doing short bouts in the casino in the evenings while the other one watched the kids. The "rack" rate at this time of year is $149 per night + tax, and you get a lot for that compared to other nice resorts in the area - but you'll pay dearly for the food and beverage at most places, and most places did NOT have children's menus. (Hint: Try the soup and sandwich combo for $4.95 or the prime rib dinner for $15.95 at the Blue Plate. Yum!) Gamble early in the day if you don't like to be around smokers, and don't forget that you shouldn't go into a casino thinking you're going to win money. If you're looking for a few days of anti-Disney to balance your trip out, or a place to hang for a day before you do your next cruise, this is a fun option."
"Joining its sister park in Georgia and a growing number of attractions across the country, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park on Friday unveiled a portion of its new water park -- Splash Island. Only two of Splash Island's five rides were ready at Friday's soft opening... Cypress Gardens officials say two additional rides -- the Voodoo Plunge and Tonga Tubes -- should open within a week." Access to the water park is included in regular admission. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/30/05)
"Orlando is the test market for a new chain of NASCAR retail outlets planned for high-traffic tourist locations throughout the country. You don't get much more high traffic and tourist packed than International Drive, and the first NASCAR store opened there without fanfare about a week ago. It's next door to the Harley-Davidson merchandise store and just across Sand Lake Road from one of the world's largest McDonald's restaurants." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/31/05)
"Each summer, Gatorland offers thrill-seekers the chance to assist in its annual egg-collecting duties. When the park's randy reptile residents are done mating, trainers guide guests into the 10-acre breeding marsh in search of fertile nests. Once a mound is isolated from the protective mother, participants carefully excavate the pile of decomposing plant matter to unearth 30 to 70 eggs. From there, it's off to incubation and a safe birth." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/08/05)
"The Holy Land Experience may seem like just another theme park, with its $30 admission charge, $5 parking fee and souvenir shops. But, ending a four-year legal battle, a judge has ruled that the religious-themed attraction deserves the same tax-exempt status given to churches and museums. The ruling spares its owner from paying a delinquent property-tax bill that would have climbed to more than $1 million by the end of the year." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/12/05)
"The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is building The Shuttle Experience, a multimillion-dollar simulator attraction that will add some high-tech, gee-whiz fun to the center, adjacent to the nation's space-shuttle launch operations... The attraction, which will simulate a shuttle launch and landing, is being built in the same area where a mock orbiter display is now located." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 07/02/05)
"Almost seven months after its grand reopening, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park continues to grow. Today, dozens of animals will officially be unveiled in Nature's Way, the park's redesigned and refurbished animal exhibit." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 05/26/05)
"Bankrupted by poor management, battered by hurricanes and outpaced by more modern theme parks, Florida's historic Marineland attraction is undergoing a multimillion-dollar transformation... Visitors will be able to swim with its dolphins, snorkel in its oceanariums and make educational forays into rich surroundings that include oak hammocks, marshes, estuaries, rivers and the ocean." (Source: Orlando Sentinel. 05/09/05)
"A 42-year-old wooden roller coaster that has been a Panama City Beach landmark may make its way to [Cypress Gardens]... The coaster was built by legendary designer John Allen in 1963 and undulates for 2,000 feet atop whitewashed latticework. It remains in Panama City Beach and will be dismantled and then reconstructed at its new home." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/28/05) Daytona Lagoon: "A water park in the heart of Daytona Beach's tourist zone had been envisioned as a key part of beach revitalization, but in its previous incarnation as Adventure Landing, the $15 million water park drowned in a sea of red ink from its opening day in 1998... Now resurrected as Daytona Lagoon, the park has a new pricing structure and a cheaper lease with Volusia County, and it has undergone more than $3 million in renovations..." Money Saving Tip: Florida residents save $7.00 per adult ticket and can buy a season pass for $60. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/26/05)
"Gatorland's famous alligator-mouth entrance is undergoing a little dental work as part of a $1 million renovation at the park, the most extensive in about a decade. The 55-year-old attraction and wildlife preserve near Kissimmee is getting a new facade and landscaping, and the 42-year-old toothy entryway is being touched up and reinforced to help it welcome tourists for decades to come." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 03/01/05) To attract families, "Cypress Gardens owner Kent Buescher plans to break ground today on a $10 million water park that will include several speed slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and a children's water play area... Designs for Splash Island, which is slated to open this summer, include a Polynesian theme with lush landscaping... An arcade complete with interactive games and a DJ will open in a few weeks, which will further appeal to teens." (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 02/22/05)
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