Orlando What’s New

In keeping with its culture of “anything you can do, I can do better,” Orlando’s theme parks try their darnedest to best each other, adding new attractions both big and small, and tweaking old ones to make them new and exciting again. Restaurants come and go in what seems like the blink of an eye, though fierce competition ensures a constant infusion of chic and trendy entries — the best of which remain year after year. And resorts continue to spring up at every turn, each bigger and better than the last. After the nightmare hurricane season of 2004, Orlando has recovered and is once again growing rapidly — 2008 was no exception.

New rides, redesigned attractions, and accommodations in almost every category are being added to bring travelers back for more — often at a pace that’s faster than I can write. Here’s a summary of just some of the things that have changed in the year since this Frommer’s guide was last revised.

Planning Your Trip

Disney World continues to revamp and tweak their website (www.disneyworld.com),enabling you to plan every aspect of your Disney vacation with ease. The Orlando Convention & Visitors Bureau has introduced a new Holiday Guide, an Unexpected Orlando Guide, and a new Preferred Visitor Orlando Magicard. For details (or to order a printed copy of the guides), head to www.orlandoinfo.com.

Where to Stay

On a general note, several area hotels, having met a lengthy list of requirements, have been designated as Florida Green Hotels by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. For more on this Orlando greening trend,

Universal Orlando’s Royal Pacific Resort (tel. 407/503-3000) recently completed a multimillion-dollar makeover. Guest rooms now include iHome clock radios with iPod docking stations, flat-panel TVs, wireless Internet access, and an all-new island decor scheme that better reflects the resort’s South Pacific theme. In addition to the $10-million makeover, eight Jurassic Park-themed kid’s suites, with a separate room designed just for kids, were added.

At press time, the second phase of the Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (tel. 407/939-6244) remains under construction. The Kidani Village, upon completion in spring 2009, will boast 340 villas, a full-service restaurant, and an extensive pool and play area. The villas located within the existing lodge (on the fifth and sixth floors) opened in 2007.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort (tel. 407/939-6244) recently demolished the north wing to make room for the Kingdom Tower, which at press time remains under construction. A full-service restaurant, a themed pool and play area, and a lounge are all part of the package, as is a pedestrian bridge connecting the tower to the existing hotel.

Changes along Hotel Plaza Boulevard include the recent refit of the Regal Sun Resort (tel. 407/828-4444). The resort (known as the Grosvenor in a previous life) underwent a $25-million renovation. Upgrades to its 626 guest rooms, lobby, restaurants, public areas, and meeting space, as well as an overhaul of the pool, completed the transformation.

Accommodations worth noting beyond theme-park boundaries include the Westin Imagine (tel. 888/822-3532; Universal Blvd.), an all-new, luxury, condo-style hotel featuring spacious suites, signature Westin amenities, and an upscale Italian eatery (Fiorella’s Cucina Toscana), which opened its doors in April of 2008. Floridays Resort (tel. 866/797-0022; International Dr.) opened in 2007, and this Mediterranean-inspired resort features spacious two- and three-bedroom suites with homey amenities, a beautifully landscaped pool (with a water park on the way), and a location that’s close to the shops and restaurants that line I-Drive.

Looking ahead, a 500-room Waldorf Astoria (only the second to be built in the U.S.) and a 1,000-room Hilton are scheduled to open near Disney later in 2009. And Disney itself just partnered with Four Seasons Hotels to build a new luxury hotel on the border of WDW; it’s slated to open in 2010.

Where to Dine

Recent additions to Orlando’s dining scene include B.B. King’s Blues Club (tel. 407/370-4550), featuring southern cuisine ranging from BBQ ribs to Carolina glazed salmon, live music, four full-service bars, and an inviting open-air patio. Those eating at Taverna Opa (tel. 407/351-8660) will appreciate the authentic Greek fare and casual atmosphere (evenings, when plate breaking and napkin throwing are common occurrences, are far more festive). The Oceanaire Seafood Room (tel. 407/363-4801), an elegant and sophisticated establishment, combines a menu of fresh seafood with an extensive wine list, an atmosphere reminiscent of a 1930’s supper club (albeit, chic and updated), and an incredibly knowledgeable staff. All of the above restaurants are located in Point Orlando on International Drive.

On a more general dining note, in an effort to promote healthy eating habits, the major theme parks are continuing to make revisions to their menus and meals to increase their nutritional value. Health menu and snack options are now more plentiful at all of the parks.

Exploring Walt Disney World

In the pricing department, Disney once again raised its single-day prices — and to budget-busting levels. Stay only a day at a single park and you’ll pay a whopping $75 (not including tax!) for an adult and $63 for kids ages 3 to 9. That said, at the time this book went to press, Disney’s Magic Your Way park ticket system still rewards vacationers who stay and play at the House of Mouse for a while. Stay 4 days or longer and your price per day can drop significantly under the normal single-day ticket price, even if you tack on an extra option, such as park-hopping privileges. For complete details on the pricing scheme,

At Disney’s theme parks (tel. 407/824-4321; www.disneyworld.com), Epcot’s Spaceship Earth received a much-needed update. The icon’s high-tech exterior, now restored to its original state (the gigantic wand removed) gives way to spruced-up scenery and special effects, interactive touch screens that allow riders to see themselves in a future that they themselves have created, and an all-new interactive post-show area filled with high-tech games. Toy Story takes center stage at the newly renamed Disney’s Hollywood Studios (previously the Disney-MGM Studios) with the addition of Toy Story Mania, an interactive 3-D ride through a world of midway-style games with a high-tech Disney twist, and Block Party Bash (replacing Disney’s Stars & Motor Cars parade), an interactive Disney-Pixar-themed dance party through the streets. The new American Idol-style attraction adds to the existing lineup of spectacular show-style experiences, inviting guests to audition, perform, and even compete live on a stage that practically mimics the original. Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian (after a transformation from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) features behind-the-scenes footage, original concept art, storyboards, props, and costumes from the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. You can explore Aslan’s stone table chamber, see blueprints used for the motion picture, and even meet the prince. And the Jedi Training Academy, once held only during Star Wars Weekends, is now part of the parks permanent lineup, located on a specially created stage adjacent to the Star Tours attraction.

At the Magic Kingdom, a second Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique opened in Cinderella Castle (the original is located at the World of Disney in the Downtown Disney Marketplace). Pint-sized princesses-to-be can be transformed from head to toe with sparkly makeup, fanciful hairdos, and costumes fit for royalty (pricing is dependent on the package chosen).

Exploring Universal Orlando & Seaworld

In keeping with the one-upping culture that pervades Orlando, SeaWorld opened Aquatica, an innovative eco-themed water park, in the spring of 2008. The park features an array of unique interactive experiences that combine the ecological themes of SeaWorld, the interactive opportunities of Discovery Cove, and the fun and excitement of a water park. Across the street at SeaWorld, a splashy new coaster, and SeaWorld’s single most expensive (not to mention ambitious) attraction to date, is set to debut in 2009. While details have yet to be released, the park’s new anchor attraction (rumored to be named Manta) is said to be in keeping with the eco-edutainment adventure park theme, bringing together the world (the riders) and the sea. On a general note, the Busch Entertainment Corporation (which encompasses SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens Africa [in Tampa Bay], among others) is now known as Worlds of Discovery.

In 2008, the Simpsons took up residence at Universal Orlando’s Universal Studios. Replacing the old Back to the Future: The Ride, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie ride along with guests on a hysterical adventure through an animated carnival created by the cantankerous Krusty the Clown. Disaster! A Major Motion Picture … Starring You has replaced the popular (albeit dated) Earthquake. Although the new attraction still rocks the Richter scale, the ride itself remains relatively similar to its predecessor. Tweaks to the storyline and updated special effects add an interactive element to the revamped experience.

A welcome departure from the park’s recent onslaught of refits and replacements is the addition of an all-new coaster, now billed as Universal Studio’s anchor attraction. Taking riders up to speeds of 65 mph, through corkscrew turns, near misses, and a record-breaking loop is the all-new Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit. Suspended high above the walkways of both Universal Studios and CityWalk, this all-new megacoaster (slated to debut in early 2009) takes riders on an interactive, musical, multisensory experience — the bonus, thanks to a sophisticated on- and off-board video system — is that riders will get to piece together their own take-home music video from footage taken during the ride.

At Islands of Adventure, immersive rides and interactive attractions, along with themed entertainment, restaurants, and shops (think Diagon Alley), all combine to recreate the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with meticulous detail. Slated to apparate (that’s “debut,” for those not familiar with wizardry lingo) in late 2009, the $200-million-plus 20-acre park-within-a-park promises to bring Hogwarts Castle, the Village of Hogsmeade, and the Forbidden Forest to life in signature Universal fashion.

Other news out of Universal Orlando includes higher single-day ticket prices ($75 adult, $63 kids ages 3-9), but the company is currently running online promotions that will net you substantial savings. For example, at press time Universal is offering a three-park unlimited admission ticket (good for 7 consecutive days at USF, IOA, and Wet ‘n Wild) for a mere $99.99 — just $25 more than the price of a single-day admission ticket at one park.

Walt Disney World & Orlando After Dark

In a surprising move, Disney shut down all of the nightclubs at Pleasure Island in fall 2008. Details were somewhat sketchy, but the area is to be “re-imagined” with more restaurants and immersive entertainment experiences.

At Disney’s Coronado Resort, Rix Lounge is receiving high marks as one of the hottest clubs in town. The Mediterranean-inspired decor is chic and trendy (and surprisingly un-Disneylike), highlighted by an eclectic mix of glass and wrought iron accents, dramatic lighting, and stories-high curtains — think Vegas come to Disney. Over at Universal’s CityWalk, Rising Star, a new upscale karaoke club, now stands where City Jazz once resided. With the help of a live band and backup singers, guests are invited to take to the stage and show off their talents (or lack thereof).

On the dinner show scene, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show had its last round-up and has closed.