March 2007 Newsletter

Hi subscriber, welcome to the March newsletter of the Florida Review & Travel Guide.

Last month, the Florida weather took a terrible toll. Whilst the Northern States have been battling with huge snowfalls, Florida had its fair share of bad weather with terrible consequences.

During the early hours of the morning of February 2nd, severe thunderstorms, accompanied by three tornadoes swept across Central Florida north of Orlando leaving a trail of death and destruction.

Lake, Sumter and Volusia Counties bore the brunt of the storms and 21 people died in the towns of Lade Lake and Paisley in Lake County.

Many of those who died were living in mobile (park) homes but even the Lady Lake Church of God which was built to withstand 150 mph winds was destroyed.

As if the human tragedy was not enough, 17 out of the 18 endangered young Whooping Cranes that had migrated south from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin last year as part of a plan to build a second migratory flock in Florida were also killed in the storms. The storks were in an an enclosure at the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge near Crystal River. It is estimated that around 60 or so cranes remain in Florida and the second flock of around 200 birds over winter on the Texas Gulf Coast.

A hail storm at the Kennedy Space Center has also delayed the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (see NASA News).

Passport Changes

From January 23, everyone entering the US via the borders with Canada and Mexico, including citizens of America, Canada and Mexico and those returning from a Caribbean cruise have been required to show a passport.

It is hoped that by early 2008, children aged 15 or less, with parental consent, will be able to travel with a certified copy of their birth certificate instead of a passport. Children aged 16 to 18 in sports and school groups etc. and with parental supervision will also be exempt.

This is only likely to apply to land and sea border crossings, everyone arriving by air will still need to present a passport.    Read more...

US One Dollar Coin

The US Mint have introduced another $1 coin just before President's Day. This time it is a gold coloured coin featuring George Washington on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other side. [Image - United States Mint image]

The intention is to feature a different former president every three months in the order in which they served and the series will run up until 2016. This follows on from the successful series of 50 State Quarters that are being issued, each with a design associated with one of the US States on the reverse.    Read more...

Shark attacks in 2006

Figures for unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2006 have been released and show a slight increase in the total number of attacks, up from 61 in 2005 to 62 in 2006 of which 4 were fatal. Though there were no fatal attacks off the US coast in 2006, the US still remains the country with the most attacks, numbering 38. Of these, over two thirds occurred off the Florida coastline.    Read more...

British Airways baggage allowance

British Airways have reduced the total weight of their checked baggage allowances on domestic and long haul flights.

All bags must be 23 kgs (51 lbs) or less but an amnesty is in force until September 30, 2007 allowing bags up to 32 kgs to be checked in.    Read more...

Latest Books

Florida books published in March

Books about Florida published in March include:

• DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Walt Disney World Resort & Orlando
• Wallpaper City Guide: Miami
• Econoguide Walt Disney World Resort Universal Orlando (see this month's book review)

All these books can be found in our new Florida book directory. Read more...

In February, NASA successfully launched a Delta II rocket carrying the five THEMIS satellites that will analyse the geomagnetic substorms in the Earth's atmosphere.

This was the first launch from Cape Kennedy of the newly established United Launch Alliance rocket program which brings together the Boeing Delta and Lockheed Martin Atlas rocket families under a single company. [Image - Courtesy of NASA]

Further problems with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has reinforced the need for one further servicing mission (SM4). The aim is to extend its life until 2013 when its replacement, the infrared-sensitive James Webb Space Telescope, is due to be launched.

One shuttle flight (Discovery, STS-125) has been earmarked to service the Hubble sometime in mid to late 2008. As well as fitting new gyros and batteries, the crew will also install two new science instruments, a Cosmic Origins Spectrograph replacing the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR) and a Wide Field Camera 3 which will replace the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) and possibly attempt to repair the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS).

The Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-117 had been rolled out to the launch pad and the next mission to the International Space Station was all set to blast off on March 15 but on February 26, a severe hail storm damaged the external fuel tank and NASA have decided to roll Atlantis back to the Vehicle Assemby Building for repairs. A new launch date has yet to be set but the next launch window is in late April/early May. Launch tickets are currently on sale.    Read more...

Following the speculation reported in last month's newsletter that Disney Cruise Line might be considering introducing a third cruise ship, they have now announced that they have ordered not one, but two new ships !!.

Disney have contracted with a German shipyard to build two new cruise liners which will more than double their present passenger capacity. [Image - Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line]

The first will be launched in 2011 and the second a year later. Each ship will be 122,000 tons compared to the 83,000 tons of the existing Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and will feature two additional decks and have 1,250 staterooms.

They will follow the classic look of their sister ships with art deco inspired styling from the 1920s and 30s.

This will give the Disney Cruise Line the capacity to operate more Mediterranean and West Coast cruises plus the possibility of adding new itineraries within the Caribbean and maybe other destinations.    Read more...

The 5th edition of Econoguide Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando is written by Corey Sandler and is published by Globe Pequot Press on March 1, 2007.

As its name suggests, the Econoguide covers not only Walt Disney World but all the other theme parks in Central Florida including Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Africa plus museums and natural wonders.

Corey Sandler use his expert knowledge to help you make the most of your vacation.

The book offers money-saving tips and expert advice on travelling, lodging and dining around the Orlando and Kissimmee area with details of the lowest airline fares and room rates.

As well as information on how to get there, there is also advice on the best times of the year to visit, the best days and and even the best time of day to visit the attractions, to get the most from your time. Read more...

More theme park ticket news this month, most of it good !!

Walt Disney World

Both of Disney's water parks will be back on stream after their annual maintenance when Typhoon Lagoon re-opens on March 18 but with increased admission prices. Day ticket prices at both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon were recently increased by $3, from $36 to $39 for adults and from $30 to $33 for children aged 3-9.

If you are a Florida Resident, then you can get a "Florida Resident Water Park after 2 p.m. Annual Pass" for $59 for adults and $47.20 for children. As its name suggests it is valid after 2 pm for a whole year and gives you access to both water parks.

You can also buy a one-day Blizzard Beach/Winter Summerland Combo Ticket at $46.50 for adults and $38.50 for children which gives you access to both Blizzard Beach and the nearby Winter Summerland miniature golf course for a day.

Universal Orlando

Universal are taking on Disney with their new seven day pass, their online EarlyBird Exclusives claiming it offers seven days admission for less than the price of a one-day Disney World Park Hopper. The ticket which cannot be bought at the gate offers seven consecutive days of unlimited admission to both Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure for $85 for adults or children. Universal are also offering other two and three day ticket deals which must be purchased by April 30.

Remember, if you are planning on visiting, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Africa or Wet 'n Wild as well, then it might be worth considering a multi-park Orlando Flexticket instead.

SeaWorld

SeaWorld are also hotting up the ticket wars with their Be A Kid Again promotion.

If you buy your ticket at least 7 days in advance online, you can take advantage of SeaWorld's Be A Kid Again Advance Purchase and purchase an adult ticket for the same price as a child ticket. In addition, you can also get a second day free.

Silver Springs

At Silver Springs, they have introduced a 12-month Silver Pass which is available to purchase until March 31 and gives you a full year of access to Silver Springs and Wild Waters waterpark including free parking, all concerts and special events plus 10% off merchandise for $54.99 for adults and children or $49.99 for seniors (55 and over).

All prices are plus sales tax.    Read more...

Desktop calendars for March 2007 (Epcot monorail and Spaceship Earth) and April 2007 (Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios) are ready to download now.

Note that some of the larger files can be 200-300k in size so if you are on a modem dialup line it will take a few minutes to download.

To view and then download the Florida free desktop wallpaper for March now, click here.

Following last month's rumours about a new ride at Disney's MGM Studios in the old "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game building, Disney have now confirmed the new ride will be called Toy Story Mania and it will open in 2008 at both Disney's MGM Studios in Florida and Disneyland in California. [Image - Courtesy of Walt Disney Company]

Guests will don 3-D glasses and ride in pairs through a world as seen by the toys in the famous Disney-Pixar classics "Toy Story" and "Toy Story II" with their favourite characters, Woody the Cowboy, Buzz Lightyear, Hamm, Bo Peep and the Little Green Army Men.

The ride is aimed at the whole family and you get a chance to compete against your fellow rider in a shooting contest against animated targets using a special on-board toy cannon. The unpredictable nature of the ride and hidden targets will give you a different experience ever time you ride and allow you to access different levels of play.

Disney have also announced that they will be expanding the Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and opening their eighth Disney Vacation Club resort, the Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas in the fall of 2007.    Read more...

There are no public holidays in March but of course, March is an important month for anyone of Irish descent in Florida when St. Patrick's Day is celebrated at a number of venues around the State.

If you are an 'old' music fan then a number of famous performers will be playing concerts this month including the Beach Boys, Neil Sedaka and Englebert Humperdinck.

Spring Training gets into full swing as major baseball teams take part in the Grapefruit League.

March again is a great month for County Fairs particularly if you are a fan of strawberries with several strawberry festivals taking place in wonderfully appropriate places like Plant City and Floral City in Central Florida.

For full coverage of March events throughout the State of Florida, click here.

Everyone fears the hurricane season but you can never underestimate the power of the weather systems that operate throughout Florida all year round.

Remember, there are two seasons for tornadoes. The main one is in the summer between June and September but as has been proved this year, there is a more deadly spring season between February and April.

Windspeeds in these latest tornadoes were estimated to have been between 155 and 165 mph. In addition, temperatures have been unseasonally cold with near freezing overnight temperatures in North and Central Florida during the first part of the February.

March looks like being variable with a mixture of sunshine and showers and the occasional thunderstorm particularly in the North and Central regions. Overall temperatures will be a couple of degrees down on normal.

Around Pensacola and Jacksonville, expect daily highs in the low 60s to low 70s on the west coast and low 80s on the east coast with overnight temperatures dropping to the low 40s.

Across the Central belt of Tampa and Orlando, the daily highs will range from low 70s to mid 80s with overnight lows dropping to the low 50s.

Further south, the daytime temperature will stay in the mid 70s to high 80s in Miami but a little lower in the Keys with overnight temperatures in the 60s.

To check out the rest of the weather for all of Florida including a live weather map, monthly temperature and rainfall charts across the State and the latest hurricane news, click here.

We plan to bring you a newsletter on the first day of each month with details of upcoming events and news from across Florida.

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