www.disneyorlando.co.uk

Our news archive.................

www.disneyorlando.co.uk - We are pleased to announce that, coming very soon, we will have a new website dedicated to finding you a perfect villa in Florida. The new site will be a sister of this one and will be similar in style to this one. (16/1/2001)

DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE-RESERVATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED - Reservations for Walt Disney World's newest and most unique resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, are now being accepted. Inspired by the cultural splendor and exotic beauty of an African wildlife reserve, the 1,293-room, six-story deluxe resort is scheduled to open in April 2001. It will feature hand-carved furnishings, a mud fireplace in the lobby and sweeping views of a 33-acre tropical savanna filled with free-roaming animals. Animal Kingdom Lodge will offer many guests a view of the more than 100 hoofed animals and 100 birds spread across 33-acres of grassland. Accommodations, offered in a range of sizes, are finished in rich tapestries and vibrant colors. Guest rooms feature jewel tones and hand-carved furnishings. "Royal Suite" reaches new heights with a domed, hut-like living room fit for a king. Complementing the guest accommodations: a festive marketplace shop and flowing swimming pools. Culinary creations will abound at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Jiko-The Cooking Place is a casual restaurant open for dinner that will feature a taste of Africa in an atmosphere shaped by local traditions and customs. Focusing on simpler, lighter cuisine, it will retain the spirit and refinements of a great restaurant while concentrating on the basics of cooking with an emphasis on the freshest of products. The design represents an abstract view of Africa, with twin wood-burning ovens as the restaurant's icons. Boma-Flavors of Africa, a family restaurant open for breakfast and dinner, will capture the essence of vibrant life in the Africa marketplace. This family-fun buffet restaurant provides guests the ability to savor the African experience, which has multicultural influences. The restaurant showcases an exhibit kitchen, wood-burning grill and rotisserie. The dining areas are under thatched roofs. · Maria, the quick-service restaurant open morning to night, will offer great good and poolside dining. Victoria Falls, a mezzanine lounge, will serve specialty coffees and teas and a variety of beverages at night. This lounge overlooks Boma-Flavors of Africa. The addition of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge will bring to 18 the number of Disney-owned-and-operated resorts. Rates range from $199 to $510 (rates may vary within this range depending on season and room type). (4/1/2001)

WDW (Grand Floridan Resort and Spa) - Disney has announced the construction of a brand new pool at the Grand Floridian that should open during summer 2001. The pool will be located on the beach near the main building. It will feature a waterslide that weaves through the trees, a walking bridge, and a kid's play area. A very large new sun deck will overlook the Seven Seas Lagoon and be a perfect spot for sunbathers. (20/12/2000)

BUSCH GARDENS - RHINO RALLY LATEST - The 8 minute attraction will have you board 16 passenger off road jeeps for a tour of the African Wildness. This is an off road Safari race with up close encounters with dozens of animal species along the way, when you aren't blasting over the humps and bumps in the road or blazing a trail through shallow lakes. At the end of the 16 acre course you'll take a "short cut" to the Finish Line that may not have been the best idea. Slowly crossing a pontoon bridge, you will get caught in the middle of a Flash Flood that will tear the bridge apart and your Land Rover will be trapped on a piece of the wreckage and sent down the river, over the rapids, under waterfalls, until you can find a way to get back to dry land again! Animals to be included: Asian elephants, cape buffalo, white rhinoceros, alligators, antelope, zebra, warthogs, gazelle, wildebeest, flamingoes and hundreds of hoofed animals.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - DINO-RAMA! - Work has begun and Disney has officially announced Dino-Rama. Triceratops Spin, a new Dumbo style ride similar to the new Magic Carpet ride at the Magic Kingdom, will be added first and ready to open sometime in 2001. Primeval Whirl, a spinning coaster will be added later and opened sometime in 2002. Disney described the coaster as some kind of spinning "Time Machine" ride where the cars will drop through the jaws of a Dinosaur skeleton.

ANIMAL KINGDOM - The Conservation Station area has been renamed Rafiki's Planet Watch. The building is still Conservation Station however, they've just given the whole area a new name. The Safari Village area is rumoured to be renamed to Discovery Island. The park is preparing to add FastPass to It's Tough To Be a Bug. It could be in place by December.

MGM STUDIOS - Who Wants To Be a Millionaire? - "Eyes and Ears", the Disney employee newsletter has confirmed that the new Millionaire show will be build inside Soundstages 2 & 3. The show is expected to cycle 600 guests per show and will pick the players from a Fast Finger round. Audience members will play along with the Player and points will be kept for each player. Highest Score will be invited down to play as the next player when the first wins or loses. You will still be able to "Phone a Friend" but it wont be anyone you know, instead you'll talk to complete stranger who is waiting outside for the next show to start.

MAGIC KINGDOM -The latest news is, contrary to previous reports, that FastPass will not be added to Big Thunder Mountain until Summer 2001. Meanwhile work to install FastPass at Peter Pan has started and should be ready by Christmas.

MAGIC KINGDOM - The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Disney has confirmed that a new ride - Magic Carpet is well under construction and will be ready to open by Spring 2001. The ride will include whirling Magic Carpets around a large Genie Lamp surrounded by water spitting camels. They will hold 4 riders in two rows. The front row will control the up and down movements, while the back row can tilt the carpet from side to side. It's said that there will be a total of 16 arms, so this new ride will have a much higher capacity than Dumbo or Astro-Orbiter. The nearby shops will recieve a total refurb to become the Agrabah Bazaar just in time for Christmas.

Aladdin Ride

DISNEY - Disney's Pop Century Resort - Disney hope to open this new hotel by December 2001 instead of the planned Spring 2002. It is a 20 building 5,760 room hotel near the Disney/MGM studios, just south of the Caribbean Beach hotel. Similar to the All Stars resort in price and amenities, each pair of buildings will feature a theme from a decade in the last century (1900 to 1990's). A giant Jukebox will theme the front of the '50's themed buildings and a giant Yo-Yo for the '60's. The sides of the buildings will have dancing silhouettes of that era.

UNIVERSAL - Hard Rock Hotel at Universal will open in Jan. 2001.

GENERAL RUMOURS - Just a few rumours (mostly unconfirmed) we have heard.....The Great Movie Ride at MGM is being closed for refurbishment late January, from what we can gather it is quite a major refurb and could take a while although we believe it will be back by Summer 2001 at the latest?!? (a complete script change and more Fantasia 2000 are promised)....Horizons at Epcot will we be reopening under its new title in 2003....Rhino Rally at Busch Gardens will be open next year and from some reviews we have heard this is going to be one not to miss!.....Lots of rumours around about transportation at WDW, including the possibility of WDW charging for the use of monorails etc. by non Disney guests. Extension of the monorail service and a new light rail system!....More Soon.

SEA WORLD - The park celebrates the holiday season with a month-long celebration including: *"SkyTower Tradition" The Christmas tree features 2,462 dazzling lights adorning the 400-foot SkyTower. Topped with a 20-foot star, the beacon can be seen from miles away - and even spotted by airline passengers flying over Orlando. The SkyTower Christmas tree tradition began in 1974. *"Key West Santa" Santa dons Bermuda shorts, shades and sunscreen and takes residency at "Key West at SeaWorld." Entertainers add island spice to the holiday spirit with Key West Christmas jingles, ornament juggling and magicians who make it snow. *"Shamu Rocks America" Trainers and killer whales perform astonishing feats to a festive holiday rock 'n roll beat during this evening extravaganza. *"Clydesdale Christmas" Adorned with sleigh bells, the famous Budweiser Clydesdales parade through the park pulling their trademark wagon complete with bows, garland and a 14-foot tree atop. Guest may also have their photo taken with a Clydesdale in the hamlet, which is decorated for the season. *"Pets On Stage" The mice will be stirring all through the house as cast of performing pets adopted from animal shelters celebrate with special holiday-themed shows. *"Christmas in Hawaii" Experience the enchantment of the South Seas with a holiday twist including an appearance by SeaWorld's Hawaiian Santa. The Aloha Polynesian Luau is a nightly celebration of Hawaiian music, dance and cuisine set under glittering holiday lights in the Luau Terrace. Please call (800) 327-2424 or (407) 363-2559 for reservations. Park admission is not required, but there is an additional fee for the Luau. Luau admission: Adult $35.95 (ages 13 & up); junior $25.95 (ages 8-12); child $15.95 (ages 3-7); infants free, but require reservations. Performances: Nov. 27 - Dec. 26, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 26 - 30, 5:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; Dec. 31, 6:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. *SeaWorld Orlando Rings In The New Year The Orlando night sky explodes with bright fireworks as musical beats pulsate through the park during SeaWorld's week-long New Year's Eve celebration Dec. 26 - 31. The nightly musical spectacle features hot new artists performing country, pop and sizzling Latin music. Costumed characters dressed in their holiday best, sky dancers and other street performers add festive entertainment to the park-wide party. Two amazing fireworks and laser light shows occur each night, with the biggest blasts saved for the final countdown on New Year's Eve. New Year's festivities are included with regular park admission. SeaWorld Orlando is open until 6 p.m., Dec. 1 - 17; 7 p.m., Dec. 18 - 25; 10 p.m., Dec. 26 - 30; and 1 a.m. on Dec. 31/Jan.1.

SEA WORLD - Baby Shamu Doing Swimmingly At SeaWorld. SeaWorld Orlando's Baby Shamu is packing on plenty of extra pounds this holiday season. Tipping the scales at 700 lbs., the seven-foot-long male calf has doubled his weight since birth. This is the second calf born to Taima, a 17-foot-long, 5,400 pound killer whale. As Baby Shamu matures, he will naturally attempt to mimic his mother's behaviors, trailing her throughout SeaWorld's killer whale shows, training sessions and playtimes. Guests can often spot mother and calf at Shamu: Close Up!, a state-of-the-art habitat allowing a face-to-face, underwater look at killer whales, or making cameo appearances in The Shamu Adventure show. SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world. In addition to this calf, 13 killer whales have been born and successfully raised at SeaWorld parks in San Diego, Calif., San Antonio, Texas and Orlando.

WDW - Disney is now offering a new tour at Epcot called "Undiscovered Future World." This behind-the-scenes tour explores the pavilions at Future World and focuses on technological achievement. The tour takes place on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It starts at 9 AM, lasts 4 1/2 hours, and costs US$45 a person. Admission to Epcot is required and is not included in the price. Guests must be 16 years old. Annual Pass holders, members of the Disney Vacation Club, and those who use their American Express card will save 15%. For more details, call 407/WDW-TOUR.

UNIVERSAL ESCAPE - Guests staying at Universal's onsite hotels, the Portofino and Hard Rock Hotel, will have immediate access to almost all attractions and rides at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure! The no-wait program has just a few exclusions: Islands of Adventure's One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish and Pteranodon Flyers, and Universal Studios' Fievel`s Playland waterslide. The new program will be extended to include future official Universal hotels. Universal still doesn't offer the single ticket holder any special benefit like Disney's FASTPASS, but Universal says it will come up with something soon. Universal does offer Universal Express which allows multi-day pass holders, including annual and seasonal pass holders, to enter the parks two hours early and enjoy the rides with very little wait. Coinciding with its release of "The Grinch," Universal has decorated Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure with Whoville holiday decorations. The Grinch and Whoville residents will be on hand spreading Xmas cheer. Universal says this will become a tradition at IOA. (Source: Orlando Sentinel).

SEA WORLD/DISCOVERY COVE - As the USA eagerly awaits news from Florida, the state is celebrating another "big" story -- the birth of a 350-pound killer whale. Here, mom Taima nudges her newborn calf toward the surface of the water for its first breath as Shamu family members look on. SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world; 14 killer whales have been born and successfully raised at SeaWorld parks in San Diego, San Antonio, Texas and Ohio. The Really "Big" News From Florida Tuesday, November 13 Taima (pronounced as Ty-e-ma), an 11-year-old killer whale, gave birth to a calf --estimated to measure 7 feet long -- Wednesday, November 8 at 3:47 p.m. in SeaWorld Orlando's multimillion-gallon research and breeding facility, Shamu Stadium. Overnight, the baby began nursing. SeaWorld animal care specialists are cautiously optimistic about the progress of the baby and her mother. A newly born Atlantic bottlenose dolphin -- weighing approximately 30 pounds and measuring 3 feet long -- swims along side its mother Jenny at Discovery Cove in Orlando. Born early morning on Wednesday, October 4, the bottlenose-baby instinctively swam to the surface of the water for its first breath of air. The calf is nursing and bonding with its mother behind the scenes, but will eventually join other dolphins and guests in the dolphin swim program. Orlando's newest vacation destination, Discovery Cove, provides guests the opportunity to swim with dolphins, wade with rays, hand-feed exotic birds and snorkel with tropical fish.

new births

BUSCH GARDENS - World renowned animal expert Jack Hanna arrives in style in a custom-designed Land Rover for the announcement of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's new Rhino Rally, an off-road safari river adventure opening Spring 2001. Rhino Rally will blend up-close animal encounters with an unpredictable off-road safari competition that ends with a raging river thrill ride. While traversing a rugged, sparsely-marked "course" in the free-driving Land Rover vehicles, 17-member rally teams will go from up-close animal encounters to facing a terrifying flash flood. Jack Hanna gets a close encounter with a black rhino at the announcement of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's new off-road safari river adventure called Rhino Rally. "This is going to be the most extraordinary up-close animal encounter outside of Africa," said Hanna. Opening Spring 2001, the new attraction will take a 17-member rally team of guests into close encounters with elephants, white rhinos, antelope, alligators, cape buffalo, warthogs and other exotic African species.

Rhino Rally