Al's Blog – Advice You Can't Refuse

Wow Orlando is going to be geting so many new reasons to visit in the next two years. First up is The Wizarding World of Harry Poter set to open soon although Universal has not announced an official opening date. They have said spring 2010 as the only opening information for now. I drive by it on I-4 frequently and the towers are quite a site from I-4 really cool looking. Universal is in the hiring and training stage at the moment. The theme park within a theme park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be inside Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando and I’m pretty sure construction is done. That’s why I think it will be open prior to spring break, I can promise you Universal wants it open for the lucrative spring break period.

Next on the schedule is Co Co Key Water Resort and hotel scheduled for March 25th, 2010. This is not your ordinary hotel it’s also a half day water attraction. Their target market is kids 4-11 and they will offer much more than the water park for kids and parents. Day passes are just twelve dollars so it’s an inexpensive alternative to the Orlando areas other half day attractions.

I believe Disney will be the next attraction operator to make a new splash in the Orlando area with it’s next generation technology and it’s rebirth of Fantasy Land at the Magic Kingdom. Disney has some major new competition hitting the market and since their theme parks are what started Orlando tourism so they are vulnerable because they have some of the oldest theme parks in Orlando. But don’t count Disney out with the remake of Fantasy Land on the agenda it will entice families back to the Magic Kingdom and the new technology they will be debuting will have a dramatic impact on all their theme parks I believe. Disney has been very hush hush about the new technology and are spending enough on it to add a new theme park so my belief is that it will be cutting edge. It better be for Epcot Center and Disney Studios with all the new options coming my belief is these are the most vulnerable of Disney’s Orlando Resort.

Finnaly Legoland’s acquisition of Cypress Gardens is scheduled to open in 2011 and be converted to a Legoland theme park, which brings the worlds second largest attraction operator to Orlando. It will have fourty to fifty main attractions, the water ski show, botanical gardens and the plan is to keep one of the wooden roller coasters because there are so few of them left. All this and the Lego experience too, I mean how many kids love their legos? Kids will be able to build bigger than they could ever build at home.

So with all the new options coming to Orlando I suggest booking your Orlando vacation soon as possible. You can get incredible deals on hotels as average rates have been tumbling for two years now. What goes down will come back up and with all that’s hiting Orlando, room rates will soon begin to rise. I hope while in Orlando you will consider visiting my one of a kind dinner show/theatre Capone’s Dinner & Show visit us at www.alcapones.com to discover our blast from the past!

Legoland has purchased one of Florida’s original attractions Cypress Gardens and some tourism analysts think it won’t work in the Orlando metropolitan area. To those who don’t believe here’s some of what Merlin, the parent company of Legoland, have to say about it’s choice of location. Merlin has a successful track record of  taking historic gardens and making them a hit currently they have in their portfolio three garden attractions  two in Great Britain and one in Italy. Besides the gardens forty to fifty main attractions are planned plus the Lego themed attractions for Orlando’s Legoland.

Other information disclosed is Merlin’s plan to keep Splash Water Park open as a separate ticket from Legoland. In the park they plan on keeping at least one of the wooden roller coasters. At this point they also plan to continue another Cypress Gardens tradition it’s water ski show.

Because of it’s out of the way location (about forty minutes to Disney) tourism insiders have openly wondered why Merlin chose the Cypress Gardens park to open it’s second Legoland in the United States. The answers started with the historic gardens plus the cost of developing a completely new park as opposed to renovating an existing park. Because so much of the infrastructure is in place the time frame to open the park shaves many years off the opening date.

So you decide do you think Legoland Orlando will be a hit or a miss?

The Orlando area will soon have a new attraction located at the former Cypress Gardens theme park. What really makes this interesting is the Blackstone Group has a hand in the purchase. Blackstone has been making moves in Orlando that will eventually give it control of numerous Orlando area attractions including Universal Orlando, Sea Worlds parks, four water parks and now another entry into the Orlando theme park market. I think Disney is going to have a real challenge for Orlando theme park dollars.

Rumors have been circulating that Merlin (worlds second largest amusement operator) has been wanting to enter the Orlando market for some time now. There is only one other Legoland in the United States and it’s in Calfornia so geographicaly Orlando is a good fit to open another Legoland in  the United States with it’s high concentrarion of tourism.

The possibilities of this planned theme park acquisition are to be disclosed this coming Thursday at a news conference. There are numerous ways the company can make this location work better than it has ever before. With their numerous other entertainment options my guess is they will combine the Legoland theme park with other properties it owns perhaps combining it with a Madame Tusasauds Wax Museums. They also bought the Splash Island Water Park and botanical gardens as part of the acquisition. It will be interesting to see how they utilize the current infrastructure of Cypress Gardens, Splash Island, the botanical gardens and will they keep the water ski shows. We shall soon find out but one thing is for sure it will be good for Orlando tourism.

Hopefully you will have the time whenever in Orlando to visit Capone’s Dinner & Show visit www.alcapones.com

The only attraction with American Idol the experience daily is at the Disney Studios.  Contestants drawn from daily guests are spunky and often very funny. You never know who may be performing on the grand stage on Hollywood Boulevard. Although this park boasts some of the best shows at theme parks it also has fun and exciting rides but not very scary which is fine by me.

The Rocking Roller Coaster highlights a nice variety of kid friendly rides. Iconic Hollywood restaurants recreated in Orlando give this park a real star power. This park isn’t for you if you’re looking for the scariest rides in Orlando. Those of us who don’t like wild rides can appreciate this park with the family. This park is also very senior friendly so if the Grand Parents come along this park will please every generation.

Cypress Gardens located about fourty five minutes from the Orlando area it’s also a great park for families with multi generational appeal. There’s a water park for the young and the young at heart, live entertainment including their world famous water ski show. Should you go this route it’ll save you a bundle and provide a great day of family fun.