If it is your Birthday when you visit Walt Disney World in Florida next Year, you will get to celebrate your big day for free, yes, that's right you will be given free entry to the park. According to Fox news as long as you show a valid form of id there will be no charge for you.

 Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said that he hoped visitors would make the most of the opportunity. "Our goal is to mark the special moments in your life in a way that your family will remember forever," he added.

If you have already bought your ticket, you can either get a ticket for next year, get a fast pass for up to 6 people or spend the ticket equivalent on merchandise. So it seems worthwhile letting them know if you are visiting on your birthday

So the time is finally just about here when we set off for our next visit to Orlando Florida. I know most UK visitors go for 2 weeks and many US visitors for less but this is our first time for so short a visit. Well 15 days to be precise. It is niggling away at me that the time will just fly by. Circumstances are such that it is only possible to visit for this amount of time so we will have to make the most of it and cram everything in.

 We didn't visit last year instead we went to Jamaica which was a nice change but I must confess to missing my "Florida Fix". If we had been going for more time we probably would have gone to our favourite haunt of Ft Myers for some chill out time. Maybe next time. 

As it has been two years since visiting Orlando I expect to see quite a lot of changes as things move so fast there. We fly out on Tuesday with Virgin Atlantic. I am pleased we always fly Virgin and that they are one of the more stable airlines with a lot of cash behind them. I feel so sorry for those that have recently suffered losses through the collapse of the XL group.

 

Anyway when we get back I will write a trip report.

So you have decided to rent an Orlando villa for this year's vacation. So what do you do next? First visit a site such as Orlando Villas by Perfect Florida Villas or Florida Villas Elite and take a look at what is on offer. Browse or search the villas to find the perfect villa for your trip. Check to see the distances from the theme parks if this is one of your reasons to visit. Most all of the villas listed are within 10 -15 mins of Walt Disney World. If you have any questions you can ask the owner directly and they will only be too happy to help. Once you have selected the villa or villas you are interested in send out your enquiry. Be sure to list any preferences that you would like, such as, games room or South facing pool etc.

Next you will receive replies form owners meeting your requirements. They will confirm that they have availability and give you a total price for the period. You will see just what good value it represents especially for larger families and groups. Once again, if you have any questions feel free to ask. Once your mind is made up and you have chosen your dream villa contact the owner and let them know. They will ask you to send a deposit to secure the booking. There will be nothing else to pay until the final balance is due. This could be anywhere from 8 - 12 weeks prior to you arriving in Orlando. With the final balance a security deposit is normally required, some owners take a swipe of a credit card to cover this. The security deposit is like a damage bond and if there is no damage the owner will return it shortly after your departure from the villa. The security deposit amount is around $300/£200 for the stay. 

Shortly before you arrive at your chosen villa you will be given the details of how to get to it and how to gain access. Almost all of the villas have a lock box on the outside or an electronic door lock that has a code to allow access. Inside the lock box you will find the door keys after entering a code. This eliminates the need to have to travel to a central point to pick up keys which is great especially after a long flight.

I'm sure you will be sad to leave your new found home and will not be able to wait till you can return. If you do wish to come back in future years contact the owner and ask if they would give you a discount, most owners do give a discount to repeat visitors.

 That's about all there is to it. If you would like to rent the property above visit Orlando Villas.

If you are like me and have fond memories of Pleasure Island in Orlando. You will no doubt be sad to hear the news of its demise. Disney has annonuced that they will be closing the entertainment theme park as from 27th September this year.

They have not come out directly and said what will be there in place of it but it sounds like it will be much more retail outlets along the lines of the West Side area.

I have had some great times there over the years including some real New Years Eve's! I have seen artists such as Little Richard, Robert Palmer, Blondie, the B52's and many more. I don't see the chance to do that anymore in such a relaxed venue.

It appears that Sea Worlds Aquatica Water Park has been a victim of its own success. Many days now the park has closed its gates at 11am once it is full. They have received another 1000 sun loungers and have more on order after people complaining of not being able to find one.

This may still be the "Honeymoon Period" for the park and no doubt it will settle down a bit once visitors to Orlando have seen what it is all about. So the advice here is get there early!

Halloween Horror Nighst have become very popular over the years and is now a well and trully major event at Universal Studios. It has been held at both Univesal Studios and Islands of Adventure in the past.

One thing I can sayis, it is definately not for kids! Or those of a nervous disposition. Many people don't like it and would not go again others, love it and can't wait till they get to go once again.

They dim down the lights and in some places it is very dark. There are people with chainsaws jumping out at you through the dark and smoke, others creep up on you and whisper in your ear.

The haunted houses, there are about 7 of them, have long lines most of the time but you can by a fast pass for around $70!! Called a front of line pass. If you don't have something like this you can expect to wait up to 2hrs to get it some of the houses. Many people complain that there are groups of younger guests that are drunk and a bit out of control too. 

I myself thought it was a good laugh and worth doing but wouldn't go again unless it was with someone that hadn't been and wanted to go. The dates this year are:

Sept 26 - 27
Oct 2 - 5, 9 -12, 16 - 19, 22 - 26, & 29 -31
Nov 1

Normal ticket price $69.99 plus tax. Or you can go for the Frequent Fear Pass at the same price and go as many times as you wish except for a few selected dates and the 31st Oct.

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) -- Managers at SeaWorld Orlando are planning a review of training procedures following the death of one or their main performers in what has been described as a freak accident.

"Sharky,"  a dolphin died on Saturday during a show at SeaWorld Orlando's Discovery Cove.   A spokesperson with the attraction says the 30-year-old dolphin was performing a trick when it collided with a second dolphin.   The other animal is expected to survive.

There is a new ticket that has appeared on one of the ticket websites www.tickets4fun.com It covers all the main parks that you are likely to visit on your trip. It lasts for 14 days from first use. There are Two versions of it, the second version includes Busch Gardens in Tampa. Basically, it combines the Orlando Flex Ticket and The Disney Ultimate ticket. One thing to note it also includes Sea World's new water park Aqutica. The parks included in the ticket price are: Note: For UK Guests only.

Freedom Ticket
Magic Kingdom Park
Epcot
Disney-MGM Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park*
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park*
Pleasure Island in the Downtown Disney area
DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Park***
Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex**.
Universal’s Islands of Adventure®
Universal Studios®
SeaWorld® Orlando
Aquatica™
Wet’n Wild® Orlando

* Water Parks are subject to seasonal closure
** Valid only on event days, some events require an additional admission charge.
*** Excludes prize games.
Cost: £280 Adults £240 Child.
Freedom Ticket 2
As above but including Busch Gardens
Cost £302 Adult £259 Child.

If you are a Star Wars fan, then Disney's Hollywood Studios (MGM Studios) is where you want to be over the coming weekends. The theme park will be having the Star Wars Weekends (Fri - Sun) on consecutive weekends from June 6th - June 29th. There is no extra charge and addmission is covered by normal ticket prices. Here are some of the actors making an appearance.
 

• Weekend #1, June 6-8, 2008
• Daniel Logan (young "boba Fett") and a celebrity to be announced.
• Weekend #2, June 13-15, 2008
• Peter Mayhew ("Chewbacca") and David Prowse ("Darth Vader").
• Weekend #3, June 20-22, 2008
• Matt Wood ("General Grievous") and a celebrity to be announced.
• Weekend #4, June 27-29, 2008
• Jeremy Bulloch ("Boba Fett") and a celebrity to be announced.

Other features of the festivities include:

• Stars of the Saga — Visiting Star Wars celebrities take part in daily autograph sessions, talk show-style conversations and Hollywood-style motorcades.
• To Endor... and Back? — Guests can take flight to the moon of Endor in Star Tours, an action-packed flight simulator that salutes the Star Wars series.
• One-of-a-Kind Collectibles — Star Wars fans will find a treasure trove of event-exclusive Star Wars memorabilia -- from limited-edition Disney character figures (clad in famous Star Wars costumes), trading pins and commemorative posters to apparel, medallions, action figures and other commemorative items.
• Legends of the Force — Star Wars characters, celebrities and more are featured in a daily motorcade which travels from the entrance of the theme park to the Star Tours attraction.
• Behind the Force — A behind-the-scenes film presentation shows guests some of the movie magic Lucasfilm Ltd. created to bring the Star Wars saga to the cinema.
• Hyperspace Hoopla — A nightly grand finale featuring Star Wars characters and high-energy music brings each event day to a close.

May the force be with you!

Prior to owning a vacation villa in Orlando almost all of the hotels we used to stay in were on and around International Drive. It still holds an attraction to me, much more than the 192, everything looks newer, more so the Plaza end of the drive, which is from Sandlake road heading South towards the Convention Center.

I have seen huge changes to the "Drive" over the years way back when Universal Boulevard was known as Republic Drive and there was little or no construction on it. Since then there has been a boom in hotel and condos springing up everywhere. One of the attractions for me when staying on the drive was that fact that it was easy to leave the car back at the hotel if we wanted and take a stroll to nearby restaurants and shops.

The Pointe Orlando shopping area has seen a few major changes. When it was first built it was a welcome addition for tourists and shoppers with it's Muvico multi screen cinema and many shops and restaurants including Tommy Hilfiger, Armani Exchange, Foot Locker and many more. Restaurants such as Dan Marinos, Johnny Rockets and Hooters were great places to eat but the crowning glory was the arrival of the huge anchor toy store FAO Shwartz with it's gigantic Teddy Bear, Barbie's shoe and toy soldier. Within a few years things started to change and FAO Shwartz closed their doors for financial reasons ands some of the other stores and restaurants closed too, including Dan Marinos, relocating a little further away in Dr Phillips. Pointe Orlando has now had a rebirth and is now back to it's former glory with some new venues too. BB Kings Blues Club, The Capital Grill and Redrock Canyon Grille to name just a few.

On the old Mercado site as well as Universal Boulevard there are new Condominium Hotel Towers. Is this the next generation of hotels on the I drive area? These condos will be privately owned but you will be able to rent many of them. Which is better for the families visiting Orlando. The hotels will still do ok with all the delegates and trade show visitors to the now completed huge Orange County Convention Center. To me this was always a bit of a downside staying in hotels close to it as they tended to be more orientated for the business traveller and not so much to the annual vacationer.

I Drive offers so much especially for those that do not have a car and will always have a special place in my heart but for me staying in a vacation home takes a lot of beating!