Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
SeaWorld killer whale dies while giving birth
The park said Taima, a 20-year-old orca born at SeaWorld Orlando in 1990, died late in the afternoon, approximately 20 hours after going into labor Saturday evening.
The calf was stillborn.
“Everyone is very saddened by the loss … Everyone is reeling,” said Dr. Chris Dold, vice president of veterinary services for Orlando-based SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Taima “was a member of the family.”
More here.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Harry Potter and the VIP access
Colin and Vicky Hanley were first through the doors with kids Luke, eight, and Caitlan, six, yesterday. And the family, from Swadlincote, Derbyshire, thought it was a magical marvel.
Colin said last night: "It is fabulous - the kids were blown away when we walked into Hogsmeade and they saw the Hogwarts Express at the station.
"It's far better than we expected it to be. My son Luke is a huge Potter fan and he's just been in heaven!
"The new ride in the castle is probably the best theme park ride we have ever done.
"You feel like you are flying through the air with the dragons and the pre-ride walk through the castle is great. Seeing Harry and his pals appear and talk to you was incredible.
"We went into the wand shop Ollivanders three times to make sure that Luke was chosen by the Wand Master - it was worth the wait!"
Exclusive access is a huge coup for Virgin Holidays, who are celebrating their 25th birthday this year.
Their customers get in earlier and enjoy a breakfast at the Three Broomsticks as well as picking up a free gift.
And to celebrate their 25th birthday they have come up with an amazing offer for Sun readers who book an Orlando holiday.
the Hogwarts Express
Call to book between now and June 13 and you'll get a FREE Universal Orlando 2-Park Bonus Ticket for every person (adult and child) booking a new seven-night minimum stay Virgin Holiday to Florida that departs before October 31 next year.
With the 2-Park Bonus Ticket, you get unlimited access to Universal Islands of Adventure - including the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter - and Universal Studios theme parks for 14 days.
That could save an incredible £350 for a family of four.
We've full details on the offer on the right. But however you get to Orlando, I can guarantee you're in for a treat.
Universal have always done fabulous movie rides and brilliant recreations - The Simpsons ride and rock coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit are two of my Orlando all-time favourites. And when I had a sneak preview of the Wizarding World last month I was amazed by the detail that has gone into creating Potter.
The excitement starts as you walk through the ornate gates and spy the Hogwarts Express billowing plumes of steam at Hogsmeade station. Snow sparkles on roofs from Ollivander's Wand Shop and the Owl Post Office to the Three Broomsticks Inn and Hog's Head pub.
And there, looming in the distance, is the iconic Hogwarts Castle - towering on its grey, rocky crag above a forest of pine. Author JK Rowling has been involved in creating this celebration of all things Potter, coming up with new stories and characters for its three rides, approving every morsel of food and piece of merchandise for sale.
The jewel in the crown is Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey - a ride snaking through the awesome Castle and featuring stars of the books and films brought to life with stunning holographics, robotics and live action.
Standing in a queue has never been such fun - winding its way through the creepy corners and corridors of the school before bumping into Professor Dumbledore in his office.
On to the Defence Against The Dark Arts classroom and here Harry, Hermione and Ron appear to rescue you from a dull lesson - promising a wild ride as you escape the dragon, take part in a game of Quidditch and have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow.
A strong stomach is all you'll need for the second ride in the park - Dragon Challenge. Originally the hugely popular Duelling Dragons ride, it has been re-themed and now sees the mythical creatures battling in the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
Dragon Challenge is a thrill attraction for the over-tens with its 60mph close-shave ride as two cars come within inches of each other. The final ride in the park, Flight Of The Hippogriff, will delight younger fans. Hagrid's welcome as you queue is a great introduction to Harry's story for little ones.
But the park is much more than its three rides. The streets of Hogsmeade village are lined with stores fans will be familiar with. Pop into Ollivanders and you could be chosen by the wand.
The shop is small and will be hugely popular but only 30-odd people can cram in at once and they will all want to see the wand choosing someone and hear the wandmaster's patter - it could lead to long queues outside.
At the Owl Post, send off your own letters marked with a Hogsmeade stamp. Or check out the authentic tricks and magic at Zonko's joke shop - there are plenty you'll remember from the film and some more besides.
The entire park is a tribute to the incredible attention to detail and faithful recreation of the world of Potter.
Muggles will definitely not be disappointed!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Universal Orlando allows first group of regular day guests inside Wizarding World of Harry Potter soft opening
Today Universal Orlando began allowing a limited number of regular day guests into the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter section of the Islands of Adventure theme park. On-site Universal hotel guests were allowed in first, beginning at 8 a.m., as they have been since Friday, May 28. But at around 9 a.m., it was decided to begin to allow a certain number of other guests into the Wizarding World.
For the past few days, the scheduled hours for each morning’s previews have been 8 a.m. – 10 a.m., though once inside, guests are gently urged out of the area by noon. But today was the first time that park guests who are not staying at a Universal Orlando on-site hotel have been allowed in during a window of roughly 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. I was told by a Universal team member that a limited number of guests were being let in and that number is based on how many hotel guests were let in during the early entry period from 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
There are is guarantee that these “soft openings” will continue in the coming days. Whether more day guests will be allowed into the Wizarding World seems to, at least for now, hinge upon the number of on-site hotel guests that take advantage of the early morning previews. So while it is possible that arriving at Islands of Adventure first thing in the morning could gain you access to Hogsmeade Village, it is also just as possible that guests will continue to patiently wait outside the Wizarding World’s gatesMonday, May 17, 2010
Like organisms that once fed off of one another in a relationship that was more symbiotic than competitive, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando are now hunting on a recession-altered landscape with less food to go around.
It used to be that marketing by any of the Big Three was good for all of them. Moms and dads lured in by a promotion to one resort were practically guaranteed to take the family to at least one of the other two during their stay.
Last year, though, in a theme-park match of survival of the fittest, that dynamic changed and Disney further cemented its place as the Big One and stopped feeding scraps to the others.
A report on estimated theme-park attendance released this week shows that Disney grew its market share in Orlando with flat to 1 percent gains at its four parks in 2009 while the crowds plummeted 10 percent at Universal Studios and 11 percent at sister park Islands of Adventure while SeaWorld fell 7 percent.
The recession helped along Disney's plan to keep more vacationers on its property and ensure they spend all of their money there rather than give cuts to Spider-Man and Shamu.
The Disney marketing machine drummed heavy discounts such as buy four hotel nights get three free, Magic Your Way ticket packages and the clincher — a shuttle system for guests and their luggage to and from the airport that means fewer people rent cars and easily come and go from the resort.
The appeal of all of those deals soared as the economy faltered. And the good-for-one-good-for-all mantra was bibbidi-bobbitied into boo for everyone but Disney.
The deep discounts kept Disney from losing attendance at the expense of Universal and SeaWorld. And it's clear from the numbers that the dips were brandwide and not just pinned to the resorts' big draws, because the same trend played out among the water parks as well. Disney water parks were flat while SeaWorld's Aquatica was down 7 percent and Universal's Wet n' Wild was down 5 percent.
But will Disney manage to keep its edge — and for how long?
Good answer: Guests and non-guests can see Family Feud at Universal
UPDATE: Here’s the Sentinel’s Family Feud trivia quiz.
As our TV Guy Hal Boedeker reported, Family Feud is moving its production to Universal Orlando. Episodes with new host Steve Harvey will be taped on a Universal Studios theme park soundstage beginning July 10.
You don’t have to be a theme-park guest to watch the taping, but you might exercise caution before striking out for an afternoon of game show watching.
First of all, tape times will vary. Universal suggests calling 407-224-6000 for the latest info. And the tapings won’t happen every day. Universal has 22 taping dates posted between July and September.
Theme park guests will follow signs within the park to the tapings or visit the Studio Audience Center for information.
But non-guests can go too. Park in the Universal mega-garage (bet on them charging you there). Go through Universal CityWalk and walk toward the Sharp Aquos Theater (home of Blue Man Group). Bear right at the theater (you’ll be in the shadow of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit ) and follow the Family Feud signs.
More cautionary tales: Seating is first-come, first-served, and it’s recommended you arrive an hour early. This is posted at the Universal/Feud site, along with info about auditioning.
Family Feud finds a home at Universal Orlando
Executive producer Kevin Williams cited several reasons for moving the game show from Los Angeles, but the chief one is that entertainer Steve Harvey is becoming host.
"Everything is being geared around him," Williams said in an interview last week. "He's based in Atlanta. It's a 45-minute flight for him to Orlando."
But Family Feud sees potential in the Orlando market.
"If you're not shooting in Los Angeles, Orlando studios are a good alternative," Williams said. "Universal is so well set up with marketing. And the audience comes from all over the country and the world. That suits our brand."
FremantleMedia, which produces Family Feud and American Idol, knows Orlando has a lot to offer from the American Idol Experience at Walt Disney World, Williams added.
The game show will tape 165 episodes from July through September on Sound Stage 19 at Universal Orlando Resort. Episodes will be staged Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate Harvey, who hosts a radio show from Atlanta. Family Feud will produce four to eight episodes a day.
Family Feud is one of the most familiar game shows since Richard Dawson hosted it in the 1970s. This version of the show has been running 11 years in syndication. Current host John O'Hurley followed Richard Karn and Louie Anderson in the job. The show airs at 10 a.m. weekdays on WFTV-Channel 9.
Universal Orlando will play up Family Feud in promotions to bring more guests to the resort, said Pamela Tuscany, vice president of production.
"We did a dynamic change last year. We looked for audience-based television opportunities for guests to see live television," Tuscany said. "It's a strategy. We've been working with Fremantle."
America's Got Talent, another Fremantle show, recently taped at Universal.
In Los Angeles, Family Feud has to bring the audiences in. At Universal, Williams expects a different dynamic: an energized audience looking for something similar to getting on a ride. But you won't have to be a theme-park guest to see a taping.
"We have to construct an experience," Williams said. "We want Steve to connect with families and get his comedy out."
Harvey will receive a lot of support as Fremantle stages the show. "Bottom line: We hire a lot of people," Williams said. "We fly in a core group who knows how to make the show. But we're leaning heavily on the Orlando infrastructure and production community. There's a lot of qualified people down there. America's Got Talent went well for us."
Williams didn't give a number, but Tuscany estimated that Fremantle will probably hire 50 to 70 people.
Several times a week, Family Feud will carry a plug for Orlando. Providing $150,000 in all to help the game show relocate were the city of Orlando, the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"We thought that was important because of the jobs it [Family Feud] would create, the economic impact it would generate and the promotion of downtown Orlando on a national stage," said Orlando spokeswoman Heather Allebaugh.
Monday, April 19, 2010
How To Book a Luxury Cruise at a Huge Discount
Ahh! The joy of a cruise. If you're an experienced cruise traveler you know what it means. If you've never been on a cruise, it is only a matter of taking your first one and you'll be hooked for life.
No travel experience in the world offers the pleasures of a cruise. It's the ultimate stress free vacation. All-inclusive service, delicious food, luxury amenities, fantastic weather and exotic destinations are just a few of the factors that make cruising the fastest growing segment of the travel industry.
Now, what if you could combine all of that with a discount of up to 75% off?
Believe it or not, it's possible from a company called Vacations To Go.
Way back in 1984, Vacations To Go realized that cruise companies had a dilemma. Their profits relied on selling most of their cabins well in advance at full price. They couldn't offer steep discounts on unsold cabins because people would just wait until the last minute and then all cabins would be sold at a discount. Vacations To Go approached the cruise lines with a way for them to sell their unsold cabins at a deep discount without affecting their full price market.
How did they do it?
Simply put, the cruise lines allow Vacations To Go to re-market their unsold cabins to their exclusive and highly confidential client list at huge discounts from the regular price.
Vacations To Go has now provided more than a million of their "members" with dream vacations at a fraction of the regular price, often as much as 75% off. It has also achieved the highest level of recognition possible for exceptional sales and superior service from every major cruise line in the world.
So how do you get onto this exclusive and confidential list?
That's the easy part - all you have to do is register on their web site. That's how you become a "member" and Vacations To Go is then authorized by the cruise lines to offer you these amazing deals.
It's completely free and once you're registered you'll instantly have access to some really cool features.
The "90-Day Ticker" is a complete listing of last-minute cruise deals on the world's best cruise lines, showing information on destination stops, port city, ship type and much more. Customers frequently save more than half what they would normally pay, often up to an amazing 75 percent off.
And it's not just last minute deals that can have huge savings. The "Find A Bargain" feature shows special early bird discounts, two-for-one deals and promotions for seniors, military personnel and others that they've negotiated with top cruise lines.
Vacations To Go offers one of the widest selections of cruises. If you know exactly what you want, or if you are new to cruising and are looking for help in selecting the cruise best suited to your individual needs, www.vacationstogo.com is the place to start your cruise adventure.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Whale kills trainer at Florida's SeaWorld
Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:46pm EST
Related News
* IWC draft plan sees end to commercial whaling ban
Tue, Feb 23 2010
* Australia sets Japan Nov deadline to halt whaling
Thu, Feb 18 2010
By Jane Sutton
MIAMI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A killer whale at the SeaWorld amusement park in central Florida killed a trainer on Wednesday, a sheriff's spokesman said.
"She apparently slipped and fell into the tank and was fatally injured by one of the whales," Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons said.
The 40-year-old trainer was dead when rescue officials arrived, he said.
Media reports said the orca at the park's Shamu Stadium grabbed the woman by the waist, thrashed her about and dragged her underwater.
The trainer was killed in the whale holding area just before the start of a public performance and the stadium was immediately evacuated.
Dan Brown, president of SeaWorld Orlando, said the victim was one of the park's most experienced animal trainers.
There were conflicting reports about how the incident occurred. The Orlando Sentinel quoted a spectator as saying the whale came up from the water and grabbed the trainer by her waist. The sheriff's official said preliminary accounts indicated she slipped and fell in, but that was still under investigation.
The Florida park is owned by the Blackstone Group (BX.N), a private equity company that also owns part of the Universal Orlando theme park.
A spokesman for SeaWorld in San Diego, California, said killer whale shows have been suspended following the death in Orlando.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the orca involved in Wednesday's incident, named Tillikum but popularly known as "Tilly," has a controversial past.
The whale was blamed for the drowning of one of his trainers in 1991 while he was performing at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia, the newspaper said.
Sold to SeaWorld as a stud in 1992, the whale was involved in a second incident when authorities discovered the body of a naked man lying across his back in July 1999.
Authorities said the man, who had either snuck into SeaWorld after hours or hidden in the park until it closed, most likely drowned after suffering hypothermia in the 55-degree (12.7 C) water.
A former contractor with SeaWorld told the Sentinel that Tillikum is typically kept isolated from SeaWorld's other killer whales and that trainers were not allowed to get in the water with him because of his history. (Editing by Tom Brown and Sandra Maler)
