Create and Save on admissions in Orlando

THE new Orlando CityPASS program, which debuted recently, lets visitors to Florida build an individualized, easy-to-use ticket to Orlando's most famous and family-friendly theme park collections: the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

Designed by CityPASS, the company that has specialized in bundling discounted admission to the most iconic #attractions in 14 North American destinations for more than 20 years, the #Orlando CityPASS program allows travelers to create a custom vacation experience that comes with the added benefit of compelling #savings. 

Upon visiting the Orlando page of the CityPASS website (citypass.com/orlando), travelers can select the parks they want to include in their customized ticket and then choose the specific type of ticket and number of days. Once the selection process and payment is complete, the ticket is delivered in the language the buyer selected when first entering the CityPASS website (language options include Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish).


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Extra fun for your money

HOME to seven of the world's top theme parks, #Orlando is the No. 1 family vacation destination, Theme Park Capital of the World, and most visited destination in the United States. So to Celebrate the biggest shopping week of the year -- including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday -- Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for the destination, will offer an extra 10 percent off all purchases at OrlandoTickets.com. 

On top of exclusive deals and discounts to more than 40 world-famous theme parks, attractions, activities and dinner shows, the deals will be available for purchase starting November 20 and range from free additional days at theme parks to exclusive offers. Most are valid one year from purchase, perfect for gifting a 2019 vacation.

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Telling a story at SeaWorld

INFINITY Falls is the first attraction at SeaWorld to tell a story beyond the ocean and share a message of water conservation through the adventure of a white-water river expedition, bringing to life the company's Park to Planet mission to help guests understand some of the challenges facing the planet and inspiring them to help.

Set against a rainforest backdrop, the new attraction is the centerpiece of a newly themed area designed to resemble the base camp of explorers and scientists. After riding Infinity Falls, the entire family can explore the base camp and take part in interactive experiences that combine fun with education to learn about the importance of freshwater ecosystems and efforts being taken to make an impact in the real world.

Infinity Falls brings the thrill of white-water rafting into a new experience the family can enjoy together. Aboard 8-passenger circular rafts, riders embark on an adventure through a lush rainforest environment inspired by some of the world's most incredible freshwater ecosystems. The new attraction features dynamic drops and turns, interactive water elements, and allow guests to experience the feel of exhilarating rapids. The ride also features an innovative elevator lift designed to transport the rafts to the top of the ride's 40-foot drop.



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Picture Credit: By Adog104 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72960564

Free admission for U.S. veterans

THROUGH to July 4, 2018, SeaWorld is offering U.S. veterans and up to three guests free admission to all three of its parks – SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio and SeaWorld San Diego.

Since SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment started the Waves of Honor program in 2005, more than 9 million active military, veterans and their families have visited the parks for free, which represents an estimated value of $300 million.

U.S. military veterans and retirees may redeem admission for themselves and up to three guests online at www.WavesofHonor.com


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Luxury travel escape

FOUR Seasons Hotels and Resorts and NetJets, the worldwide leader in private aviation, are launching three new made-to-order packages that deliver the ultimate in personalised luxury travel. The dynamic packages combine world class Four Seasons accommodation with the freedom of flying private with NetJets.

Following the multiple-destination itineraries introduced last year by the two iconic brands, Four Seasons guests and NetJets owners can now visit Anguilla, Orlando or the Bahamas and create a uniquely customisable escape, complete with unmatched service, flexibility and access.

All three packages feature air transportation from NetJets, offering access from 5,000 airports in 170 countries around the globe, and luxury accommodations from Four Seasons. Travellers can fully customise each escape, with a menu of specialty à la carte activities for added personalisation.


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Up in the air . . .

HOT on the heels of the launch of new service between Fort Lauderdale and St. Croix, Spirit Airlines has announced even more flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands from the Sunshine State.

The Department of Tourism announced that Spirit Airlines will inaugurate service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas (STT) with three flights a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, beginning November 8, 2018. The service augments existing daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and St. Thomas.
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Concierge luggage service

HOLD My Luggage, Inc. is a new luggage concierge service located in #Orlando, #Florida. MCO Airport does not have luggage lockers or a luggage service for travelers to store their luggage. 

A solution with a concierge luggage service, the service encompasses picking up, storing, and returning luggage to customers at the airport. This service is for travelers who would like to see more of the city without having to lug their luggage around. 

HML, Inc.'s luggage concierge service will be available in 23 port cities in the United States, as well as tourist hubs domestically and internationally.
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A new record for U.S. travel

TOURISM officials have announced a historic milestone in the travel industry as #Orlando became the first U.S. destination to surpass 70 million annual visitors. In 2017, 72 million visitors traveled to Orlando, an increase of more than 5 percent over the prior year, once again making it America's most-visited destination.

Home to seven of the world's top theme parks, Orlando, Theme Park Capital of the World, is the No. 1 family vacation destination and the most visited destination in the United States. An unparalleled mix of unique experiences create cherished memories for visitors, including legendary theme parks, an array of world-class water parks, entertainment venues, an award-winning food scene, shopping and nightlife. Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly any other destination in the world, from expansive resorts to uniquely themed hotels.

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Headrush in Orlando

FUN Spot America, a family-owned business with a history dating back to 1969 in the industry, has announced a new ride at their Orlando, Florida location. Fun Spot America will open HeadRush 360 on May 1, 2018. 

HeadRush 360, which sits 12 riders and is 40 feet tall, is manufactured by SBF Visa Group. The ride is part of an overall expansion Fun Spot America has been planning for the Orlando location. The company also has parks in Kissimmee, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia.

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New budget hotels for Universal Orlando

UNIVERSAL Orlando has revealed plans for two new budget resort hotels as well as a new Fast & Furious attraction opening in Spring 2018.  The hotels will be located close to the three theme parks and Universal CityWalk's dining and entertainment district. Amenities include a combined three pools, two food courts, coffee bars, poolside bars, fitness rooms and car rental facilities.

The developments will be the destination's seventh and eighth hotels and will bring the total number of rooms up to 9,000 when combined with Universal's 600-room Aventura Hotel, opening in August 2018.

This spring will also see the opening of the Fast & Furious - Supercharged attraction at Universal Orlando.

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Self-drive adventure in high demand

NORTH AMERICA is one of the most popular and in demand places in the world for a road trip. But with over 7.5 million KM* of road across the 2 countries – where do you even start? DriveAway recently quizzed over 4,500 Australian travellers on their individual travel preferences, to help recommend their ultimate North American road trip. Route 66 or LA to Vegas? Well the most popular ones might actually surprise you. 

DriveAway found that with along its impressive beaches, wineries and national parks in California, Los Angeles to San Francisco was the most popular drive across all traveller types. In particular it was most popular for those lone wolf travellers – great for some reflective soul searching along the stunning west coastline of the USA – with thirty-eight percent of lone wolf travellers landing on this drive.

The road trip most suited to families travelling was Miami to Orlando. With all the theme parks like Universal and Disney, it’s easy to see why this drive was so popular for families, with thirty-two percent of family travellers being recommended this road trip. On the other end of the scale we also had families who were most suited to driving a Canadian road trip – a much more relaxed and scenic type of holiday – differing from driving to the major city locations.

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SeaWorld Adds New Killer Whale Up-close Tour

THE Killer Whale Up-Close Tour gives guests the opportunity to meet the park’s killer whales in ways never before offered at the park. The 45-minute tour includes learning from the park’s killer whale trainers, meeting the whales and understanding their unique personalities and even taking part in an interaction with one off the whales.

During the tour, which takes place daily, SeaWorld’s trainers share stories and information about the killer whales, demonstrate how the whales take part in voluntary husbandry sessions and discuss their healthcare, feeding habits and more. The engaging and interactive tour also gives participants the chance to try their hand at a session with the whales alongside a trainer. Throughout the entire experience, guests can take photos to help forever preserve the memory of the one-of-a-kind experience.

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Orlando Magical Dining returns in the Fall

FROM internationally renowned chefs to home-grown venues, #Orlando is a destination where the culinary possibilities are both fresh and seemingly endless. Theme parks restaurants keep Central Florida on the map with award-winning dining, and independent restaurateurs bring fresh concepts to the table. Whether locally owned or part of expanding franchises, many of the destination's newest restaurants mirror the national trends: American cuisine, farm-friendly menus and simple food with regional accents. Nationally, Orlando has emerged as a prominent dining destination, and continues to grow in both quantity and quality of flavors.

Visit Orlando's Magical Dining Month, sponsored by American Express, returns Aug. 25 - Oct. 1 with an unprecedented number of restaurants - more than 100 - each offering a three-course, prix fixe dinner menu for just $35 per person. 

Celebrating its 12th year, the popular dining initiative provides a variety of options for local foodies or visiting gourmands who are looking to try out a local favorite or one of the hottest new venues added to Orlando's growing culinary scene. For the first time, six restaurants from Walt Disney World Resort hotels join the program's growing line-up.

OrlandoMagicalDining.com

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Universal Eruption

VOLCANO Bay, Universal Orlando’s third theme park, opened on May 25. The South Pacific-themed park welcomed its first guests to much fanfare and a ceremony featuring performances by an array of Maori water dancers and ‘Haka’ war dancers.

Spanning 25 acres Volcano Bay is being billed as the ‘next-level’ water theme park and combines storytelling and immersive guest experiences with innovative technology.

It features more than 30 experiences including 18 separate attractions such as a multi-directional wave pool with sandy beaches, a peaceful winding river, twisting multi-rider raft rides, speeding body slides that drop from the top of the volcano into the waters below and more.

Among its many features are the ability for guests to enjoy many 'TapTu Play' experiences throughout the park - like controlling streams of water spurting from whales in Tot Tiki Reef, shooting water cannons at guests snaking down Kopiko Wai Winding River or illuminating images in the volcano’s hidden caves. Guests can make purchases throughout the entire park with their TapuTapu wearable, eliminating the need to carry cash, credit cards or a wallet throughout the park.

Over the last seven years, 25 new experiences – entire themed areas, attractions, restaurants, and hotels – have been added across #Universal #Orlando and the theme park now has 5,600 rooms across its five (soon to be six) on-site hotels.

universalorlando.com

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Dolphin Days at SeaWorld Orlando

DOLPHIN Days debuted on April 1st replacing the popular Blue Horizons after an eleven-year run at Dolphin Theater. In the new presentation, the audience will learn more about the individual personalities of each Atlantic bottlenose dolphin while witnessing the special bond they share with their trainers.

Dolphin Days will also present an interactive opportunity for young guests and during each show, one lucky young volunteer will be selected from the audience to learn firsthand from the training team in an up-close encounter with one of the dolphins and a green-winged macaw.

The addition of Dolphin Days is the latest example of how SeaWorld continues to provide families with experiences that matter. The park’s new Dolphin Nursery will open in time for summer, offering an interactive educational experience for guests to see dolphins up close.

The addition of virtual reality to Kraken and the new nighttime spectacular Electric Ocean round out an exciting line-up of new attractions and shows opening this year.

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Pandora - The World of Avatar

THE largest addition in the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Pandora – The World of Avatar at opens May 27 at Walt Disney World Resort. The all-new land will immerse guests in a mystical world of massive floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and breathtaking new experiences.

Based on Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron’s record-breaking box-office hit, AVATAR, the new land welcomes guests to the lush world of Pandora long after the human conflict with the native Na’vi inhabitants has ended. The dramatic daytime beauty of the land transforms to glow by night when bioluminescent flora and intricate nighttime experiences add a dreamlike quality to Pandora.

Guests to Disney’s Animal Kingdom cross the park’s Discovery River into Pandora – The World of Avatar and continue along a winding rainforest path for their first glimpse of the land’s iconic floating mountains.

“When guests come across the bridge, they are transferred light-years away, to the Alpha-Centauri solar system and Pandora,” says Jon Landau, AVATAR producer, Lightstorm Entertainment. “It’s an otherworldly, fully-themed experience.”

As guests explore the verdant terrain sprawling beneath mountains that appear to float in the sky, they see waterfalls cascading down the mountainside into meandering streams and pools, and they discover two thrilling new expeditions: Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey.

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Take your pick Miami or Orlando?

OR with these savings maybe both?

My America Holiday is a tour operator specialising in tailor-made holidays to the USA. The company offers everything from city breaks with flights and accommodation to multi-destination holidays, tailor-made fly drive itineraries, escorted tours, cruises and rail holidays.

7 NIGHTS IN 3-STAR ORLANDO FROM JUST £335 PP – FLY FROM MANCHESTER​

Stay at the Celebration Suites at Old Town in #Orlando this May, from just £335 per person. The Celebration Suites has 450 spacious one and two bedroom suites, with balconies or patios overlooking the pool, in a two-story building. Based on two adults and two children staying on a room-only basis and includes direct British Airways flights with a 10th May 2017 departure, flying from Manchester.

7 NIGHTS IN 3-STAR MIAMI FROM JUST £669 PP – FLY FROM LONDON HEATHROW

Stay at the Deauville Beach Resort in #Miami this November, from just £669 per person. Hang loose amid deluxe spaces and stunning ocean views at The Deauville Beach Resort. Its beachfront location stations you a short drive from shopping and entertainment venues of South Beach. Unwind in the jazz club or soothe in the large pool after a day on the beach. This price is based on two adults staying on a room-only basis and includes direct British Airways flights with a 24th November 2017 departure, flying from London Heathrow.

Both these offers must be booked by the 19th March 2017 through www.myamericaholiday.co.uk

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Best Teahouses & Tea Rooms in Orlando

FLORIDA Vacation Homes By Owner (FVHBO) have released their guide to the best teahouses and tea rooms in #Orlando for those of us Brits on holiday in #Florida who are struggling without our favourite beverage. . .

Dandelion Communitea Cafe – Mills50 Neighborhood, Orlando, FL
This popular gathering place serves organic loose leaf teas and herbal tisanes, as well as fair trade organic coffee, craft beer, and wine.

Garden View Tea Room – Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL
Located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Garden View Tea Room offers relaxing ambiance in which to enjoy afternoon tea.

Infusion Tea – College Park Neighborhood, Orlando, FL The College Park section of Orlando is a quiet, pedestrian-friendly area with a commercial strip along Edgewater Drive with lots of independent restaurants, cafes, and stores. Among them is Infusion Tea, a local favorite for loose leaf teas and healthy vegetarian fare.

KrungThep Tea Time – Winter Park, FL
“KrungThep” is the Thai word for Bangkok, which may tip you off that this place features Thai beverages and cuisine. Indulge in unique Thai-inspired sandwiches and exotic teas bursting with flavor, and please, don’t skip dessert here.

Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria – The Milk District Neighborhood, Orlando, FL
This establishment is worth patronizing as much for the delicious, creative sandwiches as for the lovingly prepared tea. There’s a Thai influence here too, as owner and pastry chef Pom Moongauklang is a Thailand native. 

Tea and Tea – Winter Park, FL Choose from nearly 100 different types of loose leaf tea and enjoy your selection traditional style or blended, hot or iced. There are also sandwiches, muffins, scones, pastries, cakes, cookies, and other goodies to accompany your beverage. 

The Tea Room – Thornton Park Neighborhood, Orlando, FL
For a modern tea room experience capturing all the charm and sensory delights of the afternoon tea tradition, visit The Tea Room. 

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Orlando theme park thrills for 2017

WITH some of the largest expansions in theme park history and a year packed with new sporting venues and events, #Orlando - #themepark capital of the world SM - is ramping up for another landmark year of new reasons to visit. 

• Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando Resort, opening June 1, 2017, is an all-new water park inspired by postcard-perfect tropical islands promising innovative, thrilling attractions made even more enjoyable with new technology eliminating long lines or wrestling with tubes.

• "Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Universal Orlando Resort invites guests to join the Tonight Show's studio audience on the ultimate race through the streets - and skies - of New York City.

• Pandora - The World of AVATAR, the largest expansion in Disney's Animal Kingdom history, will feature floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and a Banshee flying attraction, as well as new after-dark entertainment.

• Miss Fortune Falls at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon is a new family-style raft ride that is among the lengthiest at both Disney water parks with a ride time of two minutes.

• SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken roller coaster will transform into a virtual reality roller coaster experience, taking guests on a deep sea mission alongside sea creatures.

• SeaWorld Orlando's Electric Ocean, opening summer, is a new end-of-day spectacle event with bioluminescent lighting, immersing guests in a glowing sea of wonder.

• LEGOLAND Florida Resort's LEGO NINJAGO World, a new immersive land opening in early 2017, features an interactive dark ride where guests can blast fire, lightning and ice with their hands. In addition, LEGOLAND Beach Retreat opens mid-2017.

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