Chilean Miners Going to Disney World

The 33 Chilean miners who spent more than two months trapped underground in a Chilean mine are getting a free trip to Walt Disney World in the southeastern U.S. city of Orlando, Florida.

The miners and their families will spend a week at the resort, courtesy of Disney head Bob Iger. Their trip will place at the end of January. It includes not only lodging and admission to the popular resort, but also spending money.

Iger said the Disney Company is proud to welcome "these courageous men" and their families to Disney World.

The miners, who became trapped in early August, were rescued in October. Their ordeal captivated people all over the world, and their rescue was shown live on worldwide TV.

So join these heroes and make your trip to Disneyland to kick start an awesome year booking your orlando vacation villa soon

Jimmy Carter helps release loggerhead sea turtle

In this photo released by the Florida Keys News Bureau, former President Jimmy Carter holds a juvenile green sea turtle next to his wife Rosalynn while a young family member shoots a picture Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010, at The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Fla. Carter and his family toured the facility as a facet of a holiday in the Florida Keys. Left of Carter is hospital veterinarian Doug Mader.

Jimmy Carter has helped release a rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle during a family vacation in the Florida Keys.

The former president participated in the release of Danger, a 102-pound loggerhead turtle, into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday. The turtle had spent three months at The Turtle Hospital.

Carter also toured the facility, which is dedicated to treating and rehabilitating sea turtles.

Carter is in the Keys with wife Rosalynn and a number of family members as part of a holiday respite.

The vacation in the Keys is not the first for Carter and his family. In 1996, the family had a New Year's Eve dinner at the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West and returned there for a visit in December 2007 while on a cruise ship.

If you are also on a holiday mood choose your luxury Florida villa for your trip and enjoy a Florida Holiday

Scuba Diving Santa Hits Florida Keys

 

KEY LARGO, Fla. - Those who had ventured out of their luxury Florida vacation villas had the sight of a scuba diving Santa Claus submerged off Key Largo to deliver a bit of holiday cheer to inhabitants of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Santa Claus was played by Spencer Slate, owner of Key Largo's Atlantis Dive Shop, who has been donning the jolly man's attire for years and dives to offer up underwater holiday photo opportunities for his customers as a fundraiser for local children's charities.

During his subsea excursion Friday afternoon, near John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Santa encountered a large goliath grouper that seemed quite fascinated with the jolly man throughout much of the dive.

Pennekamp Park, which falls within Sanctuary boundaries, recently marked its 50th birthday. It's the first underwater preserve in the United States.

Nick Canon, Mariah Carey At Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade

Ryan Seacrest of “American Idol” hosts from Disney World, and Nick Cannon of “America’s Got Talent” does the honors from Disneyland for the “Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade.”

The annual program airs from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday on ABC (WFTV-Channel 9 locally). The program taped earlier this month.Enjoy the show booking a luxury Florida villas or an Orlando villa near disneyland

Most performers came to Orlando: Mariah Carey performs “Merry Christmas II You,” “Oh Santa” and”All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Jackie Evancho sings “Pie Jesu.” “American Idol” champ Lee DeWyze delivers “The Little Drummer Boy.” Disney Channel favorite Selena Gomez performs “Winter Wonderland.” Darius Rucker sings “Candy Cane Christmas.”

The Orlando guest list also includes Amber Riley and Debby Ryan. Maria Menounos serves as co-host from Walt Disney World Resort.

Other performers who took part include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and four professionals from “Dancing With the Stars”: Tony Dovolani, Kym Johnson, Louis Van Amstel and Chelsea Hightower.

Giant pink snails take over Miami Beach

Dozens of giant pink snails have invaded Miami Beach in what appears to be a bizarre cartoon migration along Florida's sun soaked coast for those who venture out of their luxury Florida villas, but is fact an art project to promote a clean environment.

The international REgeneration Art Project, which has already made its mark in Paris, Milan and Prague among other cities, will remain in this tourist-favored beach community until January 3, said organizers Cracking Art Group.

The 45 colorful mollusks, which are made of recycled plastic, are intended to "play with the city in order to rebuild it ideally and mentally," said the international artistic collective Cracking Art Group, which has joined forces with Italy's Galleria Ca d'Oro for the project.

Placed throughout the city, the huge pink snails are "designed to inspire a community-wide conversation about the importance of recycling and its environmental impact, while leaving a potent artistic trace on the Miami Beach community," said the organizers.

Florida holiday travel to increase for second year in a row

Holiday travel in the state of Florida is projected to increase 3.1 percent this year from 2009, with more than 4.8 million Florida residents taking a trip of 50 miles or more away from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.

Overall, travel in the U.S. is projected to increase 3.1 percent from last year, with more than 92.3 million projected travelers.

Holiday travel is mostly comprised of auto travelers, with the majority of Florida residents (4.5 million) traveling by automobile, an increase of 3.2 percent from last year.

AAA expects the average price of regular retail gasoline in Florida to be between $2.95 and $3.05 per gallon during the holiday travel period, respectively.

Air travel is expected to increase by 2.7 percent as well as travel by other modes, which is projected to increase by one percent in the state.

"This is the second year in a row we are seeing consistent increases in national holiday travel numbers,” said Brent Hubele, Vice President, AAA Travel. “This represents healthy growth following the relatively strong 4.4 percent increase in 2009 holiday travel and is a notable milestone in the travel industry’s recovery.”

Travelers projected to go farther from home

Not only is travel projected to increase, but also median spending and total distance traveled. The total amount spent per household is projected to increase 3.6 percent, from $670 in 2009 to $694 this year.

Total spending can be roughly grouped into two categories: transportation and spending that occurs at the travel destination that includes shopping, lodging, dining,in  luxury Florida villas and entertainment.

Travelers intend to journey an average of 1,052 miles round-trip during the year-end holiday period, which is 261 miles greater than last year’s average of 791 miles.

The increase is noteworthy since this year’s holiday period is one day shorter than last year’s period (11 days versus 12).

However, the holiday travel period is longer than any other holiday throughout the year, so it is not surprising that travelers plan to go the furthest during the year-end holiday compared to others.

Airfares decrease, hotel rates increase, car rental rates remain unchanged from last year.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, the lowest round-trip airfares throughout the year-end holiday are expected to decrease three percent from last year with an average round-trip rate of $174 versus the $179 rate in 2009.

Survey logistics

AAA's travel projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The report is comprised of two key components—the actual travel forecast and the holiday traveler profile. The actual forecast is based on economic conditions while the holiday travelers profile is developed employing survey data on travel behaviors. The complete AAA/IHS Global Insight 2010 year-end holiday travel forecast can be viewed at AAA.com/news.

AAA Auto Club South is the third largest affiliate of AAA, with 79 branch offices serving more than 4.1 million members in Florida, Georgia, Middle/West Tennessee, and Puerto Rico. Since its founding in 1938, AAA Auto Club South has worked to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve travel safety.

Rough seas, strong winds wreck Florida cruise ship calls

Heavy surf conditions and strong, gusty winds rattle more than pool cages and homes in Central Florida.  Cruise ships unable to make land yesterday and today are running modified itineraries and even being held out at sea, waiting for conditions to improve.

The Port of Tampa was hoping to see Carnival Inspiration early yesterday but the ship was held out at sea due to weather conditions, leaving on-board passengers scrambling to modify travel plans to their luxury Florida villas.  A new batch of passengers hoping to escape the Florida cold and get on board by Noon were held off and had their vacations cut short a day.  Embarkation was held off with oncoming passengers given several options by Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line

• Sail with us and receive a one day pro-rated refund of your cruise fare (within 2-3 weeks) and a 20% future cruise discount (3 to 5 days).  In addition to the $15 lunch allowance, government fees and pre-purchased shore excursions for Grand Cayman will be reimbursed via an on-board credit.
• Reschedule your cruise and receive a future cruise credit in the amount of your cruise fare.  
• If you wish to stay in the Tampa area this evening, a discounted rate is available at the select hotels listed below.  Complimentary, round-trip shuttle service to and from these properties to the terminal is also available. 
•  Guests who need to reclaim their bags from the porters, will be contacted by Zone Number once the lay down process in the luggage hall has been completed. 
• Refunds will not be provided for hotel accommodations, meals, transfers or other incidental costs.

Yesterday, the line modified the itineraries of several ships Carnival Fascination spent the day at sea rather than visiting Key West. Carnival Freedom is in  Cozumel today, avoiding a Key West call also.

Celebrating John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park’s 50th Anniversary

Called the "crown jewel of the state park system," divers, snorkelers and Keys visitors can thank the late Miami Herald editor John Pennekamp for helping to create the first undersea park in the United States, dedicated December 10, 1960.

Saturday, Dec. 11 — FREE Family Event
Florida State Parks Event — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park — free park admission

* Educational Fair & Environmental Expo — fun for the entire family!
* Featured Speaker: Dr. Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, explorer and Time Magazine's first "Hero for the Planet"
* Environmental Exhibits
* Children's activities
* Fifty-year oral history & stories by former Park Managers & Staff

Key Largo Annual (Evening) Boat Parade - "50 Years Under the Sea"
Celebrating John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park’s 50th

These were some of the celebrations that took place to mark the golden jubilee and those who ventured out of their Florida villas got a free outing with some everlatsing memories at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park


For more information visit

http://www.fla-keys.com/pennekamp50/events.cfm

Harry Potter park chips away at Disney’s dominance

Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and their children had a holiday in Florida enjoying their Florida villas.Also they visited Disneyland recently and took a ride on the Flight of the Hippogriff at University Orlando Resort.


ORLANDO, Fla. — The new Harry Potter attraction at Universal Orlando has drawn huge crowds since it opened in June, while attendance at Walt Disney World stayed flat.

Industry and Florida tourism officials are now wondering if Universal can maintain the momentum and gain some permanent ground on Disney, whose footprint on central Florida is massive. Universal reported a 36 percent increase in attendance at its Orlando parks in the three months after the attraction opened compared to the same period last year.

Everyone agrees that the eye-popping success of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been a shot in the arm for all the Orlando-area attractions, which had seen crowds drop off in the dismal economy.

244 sea cows die of cold

Not only are the tourists holidaying in their Florida villas affected by the cold

Cold killed a record 244manatees this year in Florida, quadruple the previous year, accounting for one in every three sea cow deaths statewide and almost half the deaths in Brevard.

The die off spells uncertain lasting effects on the federally listed endangered species.

"It's too early to comment on the long-term implications," said Gil McRae, director of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg.

The deaths signify more than just a growing manatee population, he said. "There was an environmental effect in this case."

The record deaths come the same year state researchers announced they counted a record 5,067 manatees statewide the week of Jan. 11, smashing the previous record of 3,802, set in 2009.

Florida's previous record -- 56 cold stress deaths -- also happened last year.

In Brevard, cold killed a record 76 manatees this year, or 46 percent ofthe 165 total manatee deaths countywide. Brevard had 13 cold stress deaths last year.

The county's previous record was 28 cold stress deaths in 1990, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission database.

State biologists blame this year's record deaths on an unusually cold winter.

But boating advocates say the government's also to blame for allowing and encouraging utilities that discharge warm water through their power plants into coastal waters.

That, they say, trained manatees to stay farther north in the winter. The manatees get caught out in the cold when they venture too far from power plants, which can compromise their immune systems.

Florida Power & Light Co. this year began heating water specifically for manatees this year, when it demolished its Port St. John plant. A $4.7 million heating system will keep the manatees warm there until a new $1.1 billion natural gas plant is operational.

"It's not natural," said Tom McGill, a boater from Merritt Island who fought for years to stop slow-speed manatee zones in Brevard County.

A task force of federal and state biologists has for years tried to come up with a plan for preventing cold-stress deaths.

Read More

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20101211/NEWS01/12110314/1006/

Gulf Coast cities hope ads boost tourism

TALLAHASSEE — Eager to counteract harmful misinformation about the oil spill, the Florida League of Cities on Thursday began an advertising campaign promoting Panhandle tourism.

"We never really were impacted by the oil at all — maybe a few tar balls here and there in the June-July timeframe — but it's over," Mayor Sarah "Sam" Seevers of Destin said. "We need to put a nail in the coffin of the myths that have been happening. Our beaches are beautiful. The water is clear. It's safe to eat the seafood."

The "Fall in love with Northwest Florida" campaign is aimed at state residents.

The spots feature the mayors of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City Beach tossing a beach ball and extolling the virtues of Panhandle vacationing.

"Our member cities were deeply impacted by the BP oil spill at the height of their tourist season," said Rebecca O'Hara, legislative affairs director for the League of Cities.

Anderson said that in July, normally the peak of the tourist season when they book Florida Villas, Disney villas in advance , vacation-related revenues were off by about 23 percent in the region.

The state got millions from BP for tourism advertising, but Anderson said the money is running out.

Janice Caluda, vice president of the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, said her organization will donate four free TV spots for every one paid for by the League of Cities. She said the commercials will run all over the state for six months.

Read More

http://www.pnj.com/article/20101210/NEWS01/12100329/1006/NEWS01/Gulf-Coast-cities-hope-ads-boost-tourism

Let Florida State Parks Light Up Your Holiday Season

 

Holiday cheer and spirit are filling the air and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging Floridians to step out of their Florida villas and into the Florida State Park and enjoy the festive magic and splendor of a holiday light display. Featuring millions of bright lights draped across beautiful landscapes, these state park exhibits are the perfect venue to celebrate the holiday season.

“From intricate and dazzling to simple and elegant state park light displays are a result of dedication and hard work from volunteers and employees sharing their holiday spirit,” said DEP Florida State Parks Director Donald Forgione. “I encourage everyone to take a break from the busy holiday schedule and to come soak up the spirit with their family and friends.”

Activities at Florida’s state parks are plentiful. Up and down the state, there are ample things to do throughout the month that entertain the young, young-at-heart and even the four-legged ones. On Saturday, December 11 alone, some of the scheduled events include:

• The Santa Paws 5K Run & Pet Parade – Held at Highlands Hammock State Park, it’s an event the whole family can enjoy. Afterwards, Santa Paws will be available for canine photo ops. In the evening, guests can pack their baskets of goodies and enjoy The Tammerlin Christmas Concert in the picnic area.

• At Weeki Wachee Springs State Park magical performances by former mermaids representing the 1940s to the 1970s will take you back to the attraction’s early years.

• If you like games, you’ll enjoy the Wildlife Jeopardy Program about turtles at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. From noon to 12:30, information Jeopardy-style will educate and entertain attendees of all ages.

• Grab those fishing poles and head out to Colt Creek State Park for ‘Fishing with Santa’. Join the big guy in a little friendly competition to see who catches what from Mac Lake. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will provide poles, bait and tackle free of charge; children ages 15 and under do not need a fishing license.

• Put on your running shoes for Jack’s 50K and 25K Trail Race on the Joe Kenner Trail in Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach alongside the Intracoastal Waterway. All entrants will receive shirts and finisher awards and Overall Male and Female winners will receive special handcrafted trophies.

• The annual Winterfest Boat Parade at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park features more than 100 boats decorated with holiday lights. Local personalities, Indian arts and crafts, the Lucky Lottery tent, and prizes and games galore will be going on throughout the day, and Santa and Billy the Marlin will make special appearances.

• Celebrate John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park’s 50th anniversary. Park entrance will be waived so all can join in the celebration which includes guest speaker, world-renowned oceanographer and underwater explorer Dr. Sylvia Earle. Learn about the park’s history from John D. Pennekamp’s descendants along with former park staffers.

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs
December 4-31, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Experience the ultimate high voltage holiday of more than four million lights on display including the majestic oak trees adorned with thousands of lights, an antebellum museum dressed in full holiday splendor, Santa’s runway and more. Admission is $2 per person and includes complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn. For more information, call (386) 397-4331.

CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW
Three Rivers State Park, Sneads
December 10 and 17, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Three Rivers State Park invites visitors to a scenic drive through the park to enjoy all the beautiful light displays. Admission is waived for the event. For more information, call (850) 482-9006

To learn more about these events, click on the park link, then click ‘Things to do’, events. To learn about all December events, go to http://www.floridastateparks.org.

Tourists brave cold, hit beaches in sweaters

Tourists in southwest Florida aren't letting the sunshine state's cold temperatures keep them locked in their Florida villas away from the sand, bundling up before heading to the beach.

Temperatures dipped into the 40's Tuesday morning and raising to the mid-50's by the afternoon - but still tourists were laying out on the beach by 10:30 a.m.

"Its still pretty out even though the natives probably think we're crazy for being out here," said Carroll Blair, a tourist from Indiana.

Some groups said they were going for a walk on the beach and then going to a tanning salon before heading back out of town.

Temperatures are expected to continue to dip into the week.

Rescued sea cows released into bay

Three manatees, two of which nearly froze to death in the chilly coastal waters of west central Florida last winter and the third from the previous winter, have warmed up and were released into Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

The trio of cold-stressed sea cows were plucked from the rehabilitation tank at the Lowry Park Zoo and taken to Apollo Beach, where they were released.

The manatees, named TECO 2, Turner and Bartlett, had been rehabbing at the David A. Straz Jr. Manatee Hospital at the zoo, recovering from cold-water stress during last winter's record cold spell.

Save the Manatee Club officials estimated that more than 300 manatees -- about 12 percent of the sea mammals' Florida population -- perished in the cold last winter. Before then, the record number of manatee deaths attributed to the cold in any given year was 56.

Several dozen were rescued from the frigid waters and have undergone rehab at various facilities around the state.

TECO 2 is a young adult male rescued near the TECO power plant in March 2009.

He weighed just 270 pounds at the time and, at not-quite 1, he was too young to be separated from his mother, who was nowhere to be found.

Turner is a young adult female rescued from Turner Creek in January after biologists determined she was cold stressed. She weighed about 400 pounds at the time.

Bartlett was rescued near Bartlett Park in St. Petersburg and has traveled extensively since she was pulled out of the water in January.

After her initial rescue, she was taken to the Columbus Zoo in Ohio.

After gaining strength and weight, to about 600 pounds, Bartlett was shipped to Lowry Park Zoo.

Step out from your florida villas and have a look at these amazing creatures

Drilling Ban Make Florida Tourism Happy

Florida tourism industry is pretty have with the off shore drilling ban. Florida tourism believes that drilling ban is important to save $65 Billion tourism industry in the state.

Last week Obama administration decided to let the drilling ban stand along Florida's coastline. The decision has come under severe criticism from some sections but so far tourism industry is very happy.

In April BP’s Deepwater Horizon exploded which poured nearly 175 million gallons of oil in the sea which ended up on the beautiful beaches of Florida. Tourism industry took a big hit because of the oil spill as negative media coverage turned tourists to other destinations.

There were no takers for many of the florida villas and rentals which made Hotels, restaurants and tour operators in Florida suffered massive losses because of drop in tourist arrivals. Apart from tourism, fishing industry also took huge losses because of oil spill.

Hotels owners says that Florida tourism is $65 billion industry which can't be risked for $700 million of oil drilling revenues. They believe that tourism plays a major role is state's economy as more such incidents could dent the industry further.

Its a miracle that Florida tourism has managed to come out of the incident pretty good in shape but it doesn't mean that government take such risk again to Jeopardize tourism industry. Its not just tourism industry but also the environmentalist who also supports the ban on off shore drilling because of the damage caused by the oil spill to marine life.

However the opposition of drilling ban cites that this will increase United States' dependence of the oil from hostile countries therefore drilling should be continue in the region. Luckily for tourism industry, drilling has been banned until 2017 which gives them time to recover from the current losses caused by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Free Admission to Pennekamp Park Heralds 50th Anniversary Celebration

Free admission to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is available Saturday, Dec. 11, during a special 50th birthday celebration planned for that day.

Be a part of the golden anniversary and chart your plans for this day from your Florida villas

The golden anniversary of the park at mile marker 102.5 on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway offers a variety of events beginning at 9 a.m. the culmination of 11 days of events in Key Largo honoring America’s first undersea preserve.

Scheduled activities include an Environmental Expo featuring ecological and historical exhibits, oral histories shared by past park managers and staff as well as a featured keynote presentation by Dr. Sylvia Earle, a renowned oceanographer and Time magazine’s first “Hero for the Planet.”

Souvenir anniversary medallions and lapel pins are to be available while supplies last, as well as posters of an underwater scene, created for the park’s 50th by artist Wyland.

Pennekamp Park 50thSlated for the expo are some 40 organizations representing Florida Keys and national conservation groups including the Coral Restoration Foundation, The Dolphin Research Center, The Turtle Hospital, Florida Keys national wildlife refuges, Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, The Nature Conservancy, History of Diving Museum, National Parks and Conservation Association, the Florida Park Service and the Wyland Foundation Youth Ambassadors for the Planet.

Visitors also can enjoy the park’s popular water activities — at regular concession prices — including viewing the reef on glass-bottom-boat or snorkel and scuba tours, as well as canoeing and kayaking on mangrove-lined waterways.

A visitor center featuring a refurbished 30,000-gallon aquarium, as well as nature trails, picnic pavilions and two beaches round out the variety of offerings at Pennekamp.

More details are at www.fla-keys.com/pennekamp50. Key Largo visitor and accommodations’ information is at www.fla-keys.com/keylargo or 1-800-822-1088.

Read More

http://www.newmanpr.com/2010/12/01/free-admission-to-pennekamp-park-heralds-50th-anniversary-celebration/

Florida Skating Academy's Holiday Roller Skating Show is Dec. 12

Siobhan Boismier and Eric Hadley will perform in the Florida Skating Academy’s Holiday Roller Skating Show at Spinnations Skating Center in Port Richey.




For more than a decade, the Florida Skating Academy's Holiday Roller Skating Show has been one of the highlights of the season. The fast-paced, colorful two-hour show has featured world and national champion skaters of all ages. It's no surprise that tickets go quickly, so advance purchase is highly recommended. This year's show at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at Spinnations Skating Center in Port Richey promises to be as exciting as previous ones. "The (show) will feature U.S. competitors just returning from the World Championships in Portugal," said Angela Serini, publicist for the organization.

Topping the 20-act show will be senior world-class pairs skaters Siobhan Boismier of New Port Richey and Eric Hadley of Melbourne; world-class singles skater John Burchfield; Junior World figure skater Erica Sheley; and national champions Tabitha Clark, Meghan Boyce, and Lorenzo and Francesca Bertoglio.

Others in the show are the 11-member "Golden Rollers" and the "Kids" Class, Bronze Class and Florida Skating Academy senior club members.

The skaters will perform to songs from the 1930s through the present, such as Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy; Anchors Aweigh; Sing, Sing, Sing; At Last; Boogie Shoes; Shake Your Groove Thing and Frosty the Snowman.

Doors will open at 1 p.m. for people who have purchased tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at the door, if available, at 1:45 p.m. The show starts at 2 p.m.

So what are you waiting for book your tickets soon and enjoy the occasion which will be as fabulous as the Florida villas you are put up with. For those planning to holiday book your tickets and your Florida vacation rentals in advance to enjoy your holiday which will be one of your best Florida vacations

Read More

http://www.tampabay.com/features/performingarts/florida-skating-academys-holiday-roller-skating-show-is-dec-12/1137752

Disney World workers say they rely on handouts

The largest union representing workers at Walt Disney World (DIS.N) has produced a documentary critical of wages and benefits at the Orlando theme park intended to increase pressure on the company to raise its hourly wage offer in current contract negotiations.

The documentary, titled "Mouse Trapped 2010," was scheduled to premiere at a union meeting on Tuesday. A trailer for the documentary can be seen here

In it, an employee identified as Doug in the Animal Kingdom said on camera, "For me and my family to survive, we have to go to the churches. We have to go to the church and we get handouts."

Bryan in the Transportation and Ticketing Center said in the documentary, "I can work for 50 hours a week and bring home $165 because of my insurance and other deductions that come out of my check."

"It's about putting pressure on the company in advance of mediation. This is us yelling a little louder," said Eric Clinton, president of UniteHere Local 362, one of six unions under the umbrella Service Trades Council negotiating a new 42-month contract for 27,000 full-time workers at the theme park.

Covered employees -- who include bus drivers, waiters, custodians, parking attendants and front desk staff -- currently are working under an extension of their old contract, which expired on Oct. 2. Clinton said workers in his union on average are paid $10 an hour. Mediation is set for Thursday.

Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said the company, central Florida's largest employer, is standing by its original offer -- voted down by the union -- of 3 percent raises each of the next three years.

"We're maintaining it's a fair and competitive offer," Finger told Reuters.

Clinton said, however, that Disney also wants to increase the health insurance premiums paid by employees by more than the pay raise, with the result that workers would wind up with a net loss of 8 cents per hour.

The only way to avoid the loss, Clinton said, would be for workers to step down to a cheaper "value" health insurance program that Disney is offering, which he said would cover catastrophic medical conditions but not typical doctor visits.

Finger said some employees might need to scale back their health coverage to avoid a drop in take-home pay but insisted most could keep their existing plan and still see a raise.

"An overwhelming majority of cast members will get more pay at the end of three years," she said.

The union wants workers to at least break even and hopes for a net raise of 10 cents an hour or more, Clinton said.

"We know the federal government is operating at a deficit," Clinton said, reacting to the recently announced federal employee wage freezes. "But Disney has the exact opposite situation. They made $3.3 billion in profit last year. Disney could lift the standard of living in this town (Orlando) if it wanted to."

Even with the economic slowdown the holiday seekers seem to be undeterred and places like Disney world do have their fair share of the crowds as it continues to be one of the best Florida vacations to head to once you linger out of your Florida Villas

Read More

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN304043720101130

Orlando Thrill Park unveils 14 rides for planned Florida amusement

Located on International Drive across the I-4 corridor from Universal Studios Florida, Orlando Thrill Park would be a 5-mile drive from SeaWorld Orlando and about 10 miles from Walt Disney World.

The timing seems to be spot on with the Christmas holiday season on the cards and the travellers booking their Orlando vacation homes

Developers hope to secure financing in the coming months and submit plans for city approval by summer 2011, Bell said. Neighbors have raised concerns about noise and traffic.

During a pair of interviews, Bell stressed that the preliminary plans were subject to change and that the detailed park layout and proposed ride mix would continue to evolve with the project.

Bell pointed to two parks as inspiration for Orlando Thrill Park: Cedar Point in Ohio and Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, which have been dueling for a decade over the title of "Roller Coaster Capital of the World."

But with half as many coasters as Cedar Point and Magic Mountain, OTP's ride inventory would likely look a lot like Knott's Berry Farm in California -- without the Wild West theme, Bell acknowledged. Indeed, eight of the 14 rides envisioned for Orlando Thrill Park can be found at Cedar Point, Magic Mountain and/or Knott's.

Orlando Thrill Park hopes to fill a void created by the absence of any Six Flags or Cedar Fair amusement parks in Florida. Indeed, the Orlando-area parks -- Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens -- are dominated by theme rather than thrills.

"We're not trying to out-Disney Disney," Bell said. "We know we can't do that."

The hope, he said, would be to steal a day from tourists on weeklong vacations to Orlando and draw locals from throughout Florida. Bell anticipates Orlando Thrill Park could attract 2 million annual visitors out of the roughly 50 million (nearly 47 million last year, says the local tourist bureau) who come to the Orlando area every year. The project includes plans for a 3,300-space multi-story parking structure.

Florida certainly has its share of top-notch coasters: the SheiKra floorless dive machine at Busch Gardens Tampa, the Manta flying coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, the Incredible Hulk launched coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure and Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

But only one central Florida park would compete with Orlando Thrill Park's eight proposed coasters: Busch Gardens Tampa, which also claims eight. SeaWorld has only four coasters. and Universal boasts only seven coasters between its two parks. And it’s the same for Disney, which counts a mere seven coasters among its four parks. (All counts are according to Roller Coaster Database)

Orlando Thrill Park would have no themed environments, no costumed characters, no dark rides and few if any shows, Bell said. Instead, it would be all about the biggest, tallest, fastest, longest, steepest and greatest thrills.

No price tag has been pinned to the new park, but by my estimate the ride inventory alone would top $100 million. Bell said he hopes OTP would serve as a proving ground for the latest and greatest from the amusement industry, showcasing one-of-a-kind, prototype, record-breaking, envelope-pushing, adrenaline-based extreme rides.

"To us they're just giant Tinkertoys," Bell said. "After a while, we'll just sell the old rides and add new prototypes.

Orlando Thrill Park can be assured to become one of the best Florida vacations spots, the tourists got one more theme park to stroll out from their Florida villas

Read More

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/la-trb-orlando-thrill-park-20102411,0,1287824.story

Giant Oak to get Florida vacation

It seems not only are the public waiting to holiday in Florida Villas but also the giant oak

Drew Coontz, assistant to trainer Chris Block, was all smiles Saturday morning a day after GIANT OAK (Giant's Causeway) brought the month of November to a successful close for the barn.

"I'm on cloud nine," Coontz said. "It's like winning the (Kentucky) Oaks (G1) and (Kentucky) Derby (G1)."

Giant Oak's victory in Friday's Clark H. (G1) via disqualification of Successful Dan (Successful Appeal) came on the heels of a Thanksgiving Day victory in the Falls City H. (G2) by the Block-trained Dundalk Dust (Military).

"He is doing great this morning and he will leave for Ocala tomorrow morning for some time off," Coontz said of Giant Oak, who will eventually be sent to Fair Grounds for a second shot at the New Orleans H. (G2) on March 26. The four-year-old finished fifth in the 2010 running of that race.

Giant Oak gave the Illinois-based Block stable its third stakes victory of the meet. Askbut I Won'ttell (Horse Chestnut [SAf]) had won the Cardinal H. (G3) on November 7.

"When I came here with Giant Oak (in early November before the Breeders' Cup), I had two horses waiting for me," Coontz said. "One was Askbut I Won'ttell and the other horse (Wulfgar [War Chant]) ran on the Friday night (November 19) program and got claimed."

The only Block runner that shipped in for a stakes and did not take home a major check was Mister Marti Gras (Belong to Me), who finished fifth in the Commonwealth Turf (G3) on November 13.

The Block runners shared the west end of Barn 48 with trainer Tony Reinstedler's stable.

"This was the spot to be in," Coontz said. "We did great, and Tony had four winners and two seconds from six starters. This was the right barn."

While Coontz and company were floating on cloud nine, a few barns away trainer David Fawkes was getting ready to drive DUKE OF MISCHIEF (Graeme Hall) back to South Florida after the colt was elevated to fifth on the disqualification of DEMARCATION (Gulch).

Duke of Mischief pressed the pressed from his outside post position (11) and was with the leaders until things got tight in the upper stretch.

"I thought he was maybe a little too close early, but then I saw :49 (:48 4/5) for the half-mile and I thought we might be all right," Fawkes said. "But then he got in tight in the stretch and he just doesn't like to be in a spot like that."

Fawkes said that Duke of Mischief came out of the race fine and would get some time off before possibly pointing to the Sunshine Millions at the end of January or possibly a return to the grass.

Finishing right behind Duke of Mischief was BRASS HAT (Prized), who was trying to become the fifth nine-year-old to win a Grade 1 race.

"That was just a tough field yesterday," trainer Buff Bradley said. "He had a safe trip and came back fine. He will take a couple of months off for a vacation, and if he stays healthy we would look at the Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland in late April to start him back."

Meanwhile, trainer Paul McGee was wondering what might have after seeing both Demarcation and DUBIOUS MISS (E Dubai) with the leaders in upper stretch only to have the roof cave in when Demarcation caused the inference that led to his being placed last by the stewards.

"I really don't know what they were doing playing bumper cars at the three-sixteenths pole," McGee said. "(Jockey) Robby (Albarado) said he felt Dubious Miss was getting ready to explode and he was getting ready to set him down and then he gets walloped -- walloped by the home team."

McGee said both horses came out of the race in good order.

"I might give Demarcation some time off in Ocala," McGee said, "but he will eventually go to the Fair Grounds, where Dubious Miss will be."

Super Derby (G2) hero APART (Flatter), promoted to seventh after finishing eighth in the Clark, could eventually have a rematch with Giant Oak in the New Orleans 'Cap, according to trainer Al Stall Jr. The New Orleans native was interviewed Saturday morning by Jill Byrne on her paddock show at Churchill Downs, and Stall offered a humorous aside for the show.

"Whenever I got suspended, I was happy," said Stall, who would make use of the time by going right to Fair Grounds to watch the races. "Finally, they figured out that what they really had to do was making me sit on a bench in the hallway for six hours."