Tourism News from Orlando Florida

Orlando Publishes New Guide to Area's Nature, Culture and Heritage Offerings
The Orlando CVB has recently published its 2006 "Unexpected Orlando Guide®." The 24-page guide highlights natural, cultural and heritage tourism offerings throughout the Orlando area. It includes 103 listings of Orlando's hidden treasures as well as an Orlando area map and maps of downtown Orlando and downtown Winter Park. Consumers can request a guide by calling 1-800-867-1496 (United States and Canada) or can download it at orlandoinfo.com/unexpectedorlando.

Orlando Condo-Hotels on the Rise
Orlando is home to more than 113,000 hotel rooms, 26,000 vacation home rentals and 16,000 vacation ownership units. Condo-hotels are the newest accommodation option on the rise, and Orlando is targeted as the site for more than 20 luxury properties including: The Blue Rose, Floridays Resort Orlando, Palazzo del Lago by InterContinental, Sage Resort and The Village of Imagine. The announced condo-hotel properties will open by 2009 and include features ranging from spas and upscale restaurants to meeting space and cinematic and Broadway-style theatres. The projects will add a total of 17,500 rooms to Orlando's accommodation options. For more information on each property, see the Weekly What's New listing on orlandoinfo.com/media.

Orlando Summer Gas Deals for Visitors
The increase in gas prices has received nationwide attention. Research has shown that gas prices won't curtail travel, but will change travel habits, and the Orlando community has responded by offering special gas deals for visitors traveling this summer such as complimentary gas cards and

Orlando Attractions Update:

SeaWorld Orlando opened a new Shamu show in May called "Believe," which combines a "killer whale ballet" of grace and agility with an original music score. The park also unveiled three new additions to Shamu's Happy Harbor play area including a family friendly roller coaster, a jellyfish-themed samba tower ride and a beach bucket-themed tea cup ride.
Universal Orlando opens the High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride June 22 at Islands of Adventure. The ride will immerse guests in the world of Dr. Seuss and his famous stories as it transports them throughout Seuss Landing. The park will also open a high-tech nightly lagoon show called Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular in July at Universal Studios. The show relies on 360-degree "cinespheres," an original music score, 300 outdoor speakers, lasers and pyrotechnic effects to place guests in the midst of their favorite films.

Walt Disney World Resort
Expedition EVEREST opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom in April. The ride lets guests discover the fearsome lore of the yeti aboard out-of-control railcars that race forward and backward, sending adventurers swooping into the unknown to brave twists, turns and drops inside and outside a mighty mountain. The Bibbidi, Bobbidi Boutique opened at Downtown Disney. The shop gives little girls the opportunity to get a full princess treatment—including hair, makeup, nails, princess costume and a photo. The Walt Disney World Resort also plans to add two new attractions, both with a "Finding Nemo" theme. Coming in late 2006 will be a live 30-minute musical show at Disney's Animal Kingdom called Finding Nemo—The Musical. Epcot opens The Seas with Nemo & Friends, a whimsical and visually stunning attraction that has the stars of "Finding Nemo" swimming amid the live marine life of the huge aquarium in The Living Seas pavilion.

Featured Activities:
Orlando Opera Announces 2006-2007 Season
The Orlando Opera announced the musical lineup for its 49th season to be held at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in downtown Orlando. Performances for the 2006-2007 season include: "Samson & Dalila," Nov. 17, 19 and 21, 2006; "The Pirates of Penzance," Feb. 16, 18 and 20, 2007 and "Madama Butterfly" March 23, 25 and 27, 2007. For more information, visit orlandoopera.org.
What's New in Orlando
From exhilarating attractions and gourmet restaurants to fashion-savvy boutiques and unexpected cultural venues, Central Florida is always introducing something new to entertain and amaze visitors.

Did You Know?
• More than 2,000 couples get married every year at Walt Disney World Resort.
• SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay now takes the crown as Florida's tallest roller coaster. This thrill machine is also the tallest dive coaster in the world and the first of its kind to incorporate an Immelmann loop (a rolling maneuver); a second, 138-foot (42-meter) dive into an underground tunnel and a water-feature finale.

Source : http://travelvideo.tv/