Busch Gardens, near Tampa, has some amazing roller coasters – but that’s not all, it also has animals, plenty of them – from giraffes to elephants, rhinos to cheetahs. So it is no surprise that their new roller coaster combines both. Called ‘Cheetah Hunt,’ this new roller coaster will open in the late spring of 2011, hopefully by the end of May, and it will be themed around those large cats, the cheetahs. Busch Gardens, of course, has three world class roller coasters already – ‘Kumba,’ ‘Montu’ and ‘Gwazi,’ but this new coaster is set to beat them all with its innovation and speed.

When completed, ‘Cheetah Hunt’ will be Busch Garden’s longest roller coaster at 4,429ft, and it will mimic the speed and agility of a cheetah. The total ride time, including loading and unloading will be three and a half minutes, with the actual ride lasting one minute 20 seconds. Cheetah Hunt is a launch coaster, with three acceleration points, one of which will propel the riders from zero to 60 mph in a matter of seconds. There will also be an inversion and a 130 ft drop into an underground trench. Most interestingly, part of the ride will speed across part of the Serengeti Plain at speeds of up to 60 mph.

For those roller coaster buffs who also like statistics, Cheetah Hunt will be a Linear Synchronous Motor Launch coaster, with more than three quarters of a mile of track. This system uses the force of repelling magnets to launch its riders from 0 to 60 mph in a matter of seconds. In fact, this motor will do so three times. It will exert forces of up to 4G, and its peak height will be 102 ft – truly scary! There will be five trains, each with a total of 16 passengers, and it is expected that 1370 passengers will ride this coaster each hour. There is a height restriction of 48 inches, so younger children will be excluded.

The coaster starts with a launch which propels the train out of the station, which was once the former monorail station, and into the grassland surrounding the area. It is only a few moments later that the second acceleration takes place, propelling riders to 60 mph and up to the tower which climbs over 10 stories above the African countryside. It will then plunge 130 ft into a subterranean trench before its final section where there is a third burst of speed as the train catapults itself back across the plain an into the station. For those experts in roller coasters there will be heartline roll inversions, air time parabolas and over-banked turns. Or to the layman, pretty scary manoeuvres!

In addition to this there will be a new cheetah habitat where visitors can view the cheetahs close up. In order to give visitors the very best view of these, the fastest land animal, there will be a glass panelled viewing area overlooking the plains. Five cheetahs have already arrived on site ready for the opening of this new cheetah habitat, and in addition, there will be touch screen panels with educational information.

And if all that wasn’t enough there has been some exciting news with the arrival of a new baby cheetah last month. This little cub was born to a mother who was unable to care for him, which meant he was losing weight. The decision was made to hand raise him and he is now doing well, growing stronger, putting on weight and exploring his new home. Although he was not born at Busch Gardens he was brought there on the recommendation of the SSP (Species Survival Plan) from Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. At the moment he requires regular feeding round the clock, but when he is a little older he will join the group of cheetahs who will live in the Cheetah Run alongside the new Cheetah Hunt roller coaster. It is also hoped that, when he matures he could become part of the breeding programme which will help boost the numbers of these critically endangered cheetahs. Sadly, only about 12,000 cheetahs remain in the world.

I know my children can’t wait to try out this new roller coaster. As for me, well I will be quite happy to keep my feet firmly on the ground, and watch the wonderful cheetahs in their habitat.

Article written by “ellie” an Orlando Villa owner. You can view her property at Orlando Villas

Hollywood Studios is one of my favourite Disney parks, not least because it has the wonderful 'Fantasmic' laser and lights show. But it wasn't always called Hollywood Studios. It opened with the name 'Disney-MGM-Studios' in 1989, the third of the Disney parks to debut in Orlando. Here are some of the interesting facts which I have discovered over the years.

Hollywood Studios covers around 135 acres, and its theming was based on the golden age of Hollywood in the 1930s and 40s, and of course the movie industry. It is amazingly popular and is the seventh most visited theme park in the world, and the third most visited in the USA. In 2009 it welcomed 9.7 million people through its doors.

Michael Eisner's dedication of 1989 really sums up what Hollywood Studios stands for, and what Disney had in mind when it opened:

'The world you have entered was created by The Walt Disney Company, and is dedicated to Hollywood - not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists whenever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic. We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was - and always will be.'

Each of the Disney parks has its own icon. At Epcot it is the huge Spaceship Earth at the entrance, at Magic Kingdom it is Cinderella's Castle, and for Animal Kingdom it is the wonderful Tree of Life. - for MGM Studios it was the Earful Tower, a copy of the water towers found in Hollywood studio backlots in the early 1900s. These water towers served an important purpose - that of safety, as should a fire have happened on set, the water from these towers would have been used to douse the flames. Mickey's ears could be found atop the Earful Tower, and these were lit by special lighting which outlined them at night. The Earful Tower was built by Caldwell Tanks of Louisville, Kentucky in 1988, and during the Christmas season a huge Father Christmas hat was placed over it. Indeed, during the Fourth of July festivities in 2001 Mickey's ears were decorated with the American flag. Of course, the name, Earful Tower is a pun on Eiffel Tower.

However, in 2001, as part of the 100 Years of Magic celebration, a new icon was unveiled - the huge Sorcerer's Hat which stands in front of the Great Movie Ride, and which originated in that much loved classic Disney animated film, Fantasia. It stands 122 ft high, and underneath the hat you can see Mickey Mouse's ears and hand emerging from the ground. In fact this huge fibreglass hat is completely empty as nothing has been built within its 60,000 ft of interior space.

After a rather rocky relationship with MGM it was eventually decided that they should go their separate ways, and this gave Disney the opportunity to re-invent this wonderful theme park as Disney felt that it should have a more modern image. In the words of Meg Crofton, the Walt Disney World President, the theme park would become Disney's Hollywood Studios, and the name would reflect how the park had grown 'from representing the golden age of movies, to a celebration of the new entertainment that today's Hollywood has to offer - in music, television, movies and theatre.' Thus is was that the MGM name finally disappeared on January 7th, 2008, although it took several more months before they were able to complete all the changes to the signage that was necessary.

This name change actually resulted in a huge operation, as every single sign had to either be removed and replaced with a new sign, or it had to be painted over. The original logo of MGM Studios featured the iconic MGM lion roaring, with Mickey below it holding a clapboard. Every trace of the old logo had to be obliterated, and that included merchandise in the shops, on maps, and on such things as bus stops. It was a mammoth task, and one which took a huge amount of money to complete. The new Hollywood Studios logo shows the torso, arms and head of Mickey Mouse, holding a film-maker's clapboard, and it has a retro feel about it.

For more interesting facts about Hollywood Studios, read Part 2.

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

There is so much to see and do at Animal Kingdom, that it is hard to fit it all in, but one thing I would not want to miss is the wonderful and very spectacular ‘Festival of the Lion King,’ in Camp Minnie Mickey. We normally try to catch a performance later in the day, after we have visited most of the attractions. It is quite a long walk to the huge auditorium, but its well worth it, even if your feet are killing you by then. Try to arrive reasonably early as it gets pretty full and you can then choose where you sit.

The 1000 seat auditorium is now fully enclosed, and benefits from the addition of air conditioning. When we first visited Animal Kingdom it was open at the sides, and sometimes, during heavy showers or thunderstorms it was difficult to remain focused, because of the deafening noise of the rain and thunder. It could also be rather hot and humid, but now it is great.

The atmosphere is electric as the show starts, and the huge animatronic animals emerge from behind the curtains, accompanied by colourfully dressed cast members who sing and dance. Their tribal costumes are extravagant and stunning, with bold colours and vivid use of a variety of materials, and their typical African headdresses are very spectacular. There are 4 animatronic animals, Simba, who sits atop Pride Rock, a swaying giraffe, an elephant, and, in the jungle, Pumba and Timon. The theatre, which has 4 banks of seats, is then divided up so that each bank represents an animal – elephant, wart hog, lion and giraffe. The audience is encouraged to make appropriate noises for their allotted animal, and a member of the audience is coaxed down onto the floor to demonstrate their prowess at making animal noises. It is no problem for elephant or lion, but giraffe and warthog have a bit of a struggle. After a quick practice, this fast moving show is on the road.

There are acrobatic monkeys, in their startling orange striped costumes, who cavort and tumble on the trampoline that rolls out of the central area. They swing on the trapeze and provide a fast moving and intricate display of acrobatics. They tumble and twist and turn, whilst the song ‘Hakuna Matata’ plays.  There is a high speed finale, and then, almost in the bat of an eyelid the trampoline is folded away and disappears.

The mood changes dramatically and the auditorium is filled with pounding drums. The lights are lowered and in come the tribal warriors on stilts, their spectacular costumes, red and yellow striped, grass skirts, topped off with feathered tribal headdresses. There is a fire show, with plumes of flame rising out of the central stage area. The whole floor looks to be alight, and there are spinning torches, surrounded by colorful dancers – but there is an air of foreboding. Fire eaters make us gasp as they swallow flames.

The mood changes yet again, and all is calm and lightness. A turquoise and red bird dances in front of us, the female lifted high into the air, spinning and swooping. They perform to the sounds of that beautiful duet, and one of my favourite songs, ‘Can you feel the love tonight?’ which is sung with such feeling that it brings a lump to your throat. It is enchanting and romantic, and a spine tingling moment as you listen to the glorious harmonies. The female bird spins high in the sky, and as she circles above the audience there is orchestral music – a world in perfect harmony, connected in the circle of life. This wonderfully emotive song is sung with great power and emotion – the whole auditorium is simply transfixed by the beauty and emotion of it all.

Then it’s straight into the powerful, exciting and joyous ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ with its rhythmic chorus of ‘Whimoweh!’ and everyone joins in the singing and clapping, with a parade of eager children drawn into the centre of the auditorium.  More songs follow – Hakuna Matata – ‘no worries for the rest of your days’ – indeed your worries simply disappear in the magic of it all.  The birds return for another beautiful song, followed by the powerfully song ‘Be Prepared’ when an atmosphere of menace and evil emanates.

Simba reappears and sings ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King’ a happy, rhythmic song in which the whole audience participates.  ‘The Circle of Life’ brings the ‘tingle’ factor once more, and delicate birds are brought out on tall sticks, swooping and gliding high above the audience. The finale, itself, is truly spectacular, engulfing you in song and music and dancing, drawing us all together in the circle of life. All too soon it is over, and the huge animatronic animals glide silently backstage. If you are quick, you might just get a photograph before they disappear.

I always leave with a feeling of great calm, awe and wonder, after this truly memorable show, which although offering just a brief taste of the magical musical, The Lion King, brings a visit to Animal Kingdom to a remarkably beautiful end. It is one of Disney’s best shows, combining wonderful sound systems, superb singers and dancers, remarkable animatronics, fast action, suspense, romance, and beautiful songs, in a way that only Disney can do. Don’t miss it, whatever you do.

Submitted by "ellie" a vacation home owner, view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Epcot is a great day out, but for me, one of my favourite parts is in the Land pavilion, mainly because it houses one of my favourite rides – ‘Soarin.’ This pavilion explores how we can use the land for our benefit, but it also highlights the ways we can destroy it too. Future technologies are explored here and the land itself is celebrated.

One of the most interesting and educational places to visit, this huge pavilion covers six acres, and has a fast food court, a unique sit-down restaurant that moves, and three great attractions, including Soarin’. Don’t visit Epcot without taking the relaxing and highly informative boat ride which takes you on a 14 minute journey through Disney’s unique indoor growing area. There are four greenhouses and each one is different, plus the amazing ‘Aquacell.’

We often do this boat tour late in the afternoon when there are fewer queues. You will sit in a boat with bench seats, and the seats at the front will give you the best view. The tour starts with a slow boat ride in the dark, and at one time there was a Cast member to give you a live narration. They have now been replaced by a recording. You sail slowly through a deciduous forest in the middle of a rainstorm, and then on through a tropical rainforest, a desert and the American prairie. Look out for the audio-animatronic figures which were originally created for an attraction which never came to fruition – ‘Western River Expedition.’ Of course there are special effects, including wind, heat and mist. The question is, how do we feed a growing world population whilst not destroying the very earth we live on, and what environmental issues should we take into consideration?

The part I enjoy the most is the tour through the greenhouses and laboratories where we learn about the latest farming techniques, including aquaculture, hydroponics, aeroponics, nutrient film techniques and desert farming. We always find this fascinating, as you see how it is possible to grow crops in the most unlikely of conditions. Plants are grown in a variety of mediums including rockwool, sand, coconut coir and perlite.

The Tropics Greenhouse has a 60ft dome where crops from the tropics are grown, including bananas, peanuts, rice, sugar cane, jackfruit, peach palm, dragon fruit, java apple, vanilla, pineapple papaya and cacao.

The Temperate Greenhouse features such technologies as integrated pest management, sustainable agriculture and specialized irrigation systems, which are designed to increase crop production and decrease waste. Here you can see huge crops such as Atlantic Giant pumpkins, winter melons and Nine Pound Lemon. As well as these giant crops you will see cotton, turnip, sunflowers, millet and beets.

The Production Greenhouse, now known as the String Greenhouse, is where tons of vegetables are grown for the Land’s Garden Grill Restaurant. Innovative high density techniques are used including vertical growing techniques, in which plants are grown on special trellises. These encourage plants to grow in the shape of trees. One of the most amazing plants grown by this method is the tomato tree which produced over 32,000 tomatoes over a 16 month period. Here you will see peppers, lettuce, eggplant, snake gourd, tomatoes and other vegetables. You will even see some amusing cucumbers and pumpkins grown in the shape of Mickey Mouse. They use growing systems which are kind to the environment, and over a year this greenhouse yields over 30 tons of produce.

But the most fascinating green house has to be the ‘Creative Greenhouse’ where plants are grown without soil – some just hang from the ceiling, most are gown via aeroponics, in which a fine mist of nutrients and water is sprayed onto the roots of the plants which dangle in the air. You can also see the hydroponic growing units which were developed by NASA for growing food on long space journeys. Look out for Swiss chard, super-dwarf wheat, rosemary, squash, lettuce, basil, cabbage, marigolds and snapdragons.

Fish are also farmed, and the boat also takes you past through the ‘Aquacell ‘where you will see many high-density tanks as well as low density display tanks and tubes. Some of the fish which are farmed here are used in the Coral Reef Restaurant in the ‘Seas With Nemo and Friends’ pavilion. You will see shrimp, catfish, eels, sturgeon, tilapia, bass and even American alligators.

The plants themselves are labelled to help you recognise them, and it is fascinating to see the innovative ways in which plants can be grown. If you want a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes then you can take a ‘Behind the Seeds’ greenhouse tour. For just $16 for adults and $12 for children, aged 3-9 you can see the latest innovations, taste some of the produce which has been grown, and feed the fish. Although you can make reservations at the tour desk to the left of Soarin’ you can also book up to 90 days in advance by calling 407 939 8687.

This is not something I would recommend if you have young children, but older children would probably find it fascinating. Its also great if you are feeling a little hot and weary!

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:  http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Sea World have announced a new tour that gives you admission with preferred seating to the Shamu show, “Believe” the dolphin show, Blue Horizons” and the Clyde and Seamore show and, gives you a photo opportunity immediately following the shows. It’s called Animal Shows and Photo Experience.

You also get to interact with a Penguin and a Clydesdale. The tour will run with groups of around 12 at a time and is a walking tour that lasts around 5 hours. At the conclusion of the tour you receive a photo cd of your days adventures.

The cost is from $125 for adults and from $100 for children. This is on top of the regular admission price.

Diana – The people’s princess the new exhibit is now open. It occupies the old Virgin Mega store in the West Side part of Downtown Disney. There are many artefacts on display along with some of her dresses. The exhibit covers the whole of the downstairs part of the building. It charts her life from child to icon.

Admission is $14.50 (ages 10 and above), $5 for ages 3-9. Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. The exhibit will be at Downtown Disney through Nov. 30, 2009.