Welcome to the May Newsletter
Hi Subscriber, welcome to the May 2011 newsletter of the Florida Review & Travel Guide.
This month, new rides open at Busch Gardens (Cheetah Hunt) and Disney's Hollywood Studios (3D Star Tours) whilst Gatorland get close to opening their new Screamin' Gator Zip Line and the Gaylord Resorts get into the movie business, more details below.
Over at SeaWorld the new killer whale show, One Ocean, has opened, replacing Believe.
Gaylord Resorts
Gaylord Resorts have announced a partnership with DreamWorks Animation that will bring some of the well known characters from the animated movies Shrek and Madagascar to the four Gaylord Resorts including the one in Orlando.
Tickets to the 'The DreamWorks® Experience at Gaylord Hotels' will go on sale in July, with the attraction opening in November 2011.
More details next month.
Timeshares Resale Market
The economic downturn has had a dramatic effect on the timeshare business, particularly at the lower end of the market. In Florida, older properties and those in less desirable areas are suffering the worst. Only the strongest brands like Disney are generally faring a little better.
With people struggling to make use of their own properties and pay the annual maintenance costs, some owners are literally giving away their timeshares. The new owners typically have to pay any closing costs, transfer fees and of course pick up the annual maintenance fees but some sellers are so desperate to offload their liabilities they will even pay some of the costs.
A look on internet auction sites show loads of properties with no reserve and a starting price of $1.00, but still many do not sell.
Last week, a deeded (non-expiring) 5 star Marriott Royal Palms 2 bedroom 2 bathroom property in Orlando sold for $1.00. 2011 maintenance fees were $1,036 plus $499 closing costs and $120 transfer fee. Total cost less than $1,700.
Unfortunately this situation is also encouraging unscrupulous companies into the third party resale market and the Florida Attorney General's Office is currently investigating a number of organisations.
Click here to read more about Florida Timeshares.
Top US Beaches
In TripAdvisors annual Travelers' Choice beach survey, Panama City Beach was placed twelfth with Miami Beach in the thirteen slot in the top 25 beaches in the world. Two other Florida beaches were in the top 25.
When looking just at the United States, Florida took six places in the top 10 with Panama City Beach the highest placed. In first place was Myrtle Beach in South Carolina with Panama City Beach (3), Miami Beach (4), Sanibel Island (5), Clearwater (6), Captiva Island (8) and Siesta Key (10). The other three places went to Cape May in New Jersey (2), Honolulu (7) and Poipu (9) both in Hawaii.
Hurricane Predictions
With the start of the 2011 Hurricane Season just a month away, the team from Colorado State University has issued a revised slightly lower overall prediction.
Back in December they predicted 17 named storms of which they estimated nine would become hurricanes and of those, five would become major hurricanes with wind speeds in excess of 110 mph.
They are now predicting 16 named storms which is still above the annual average of 11 named storms, of which five become hurricanes and of those, two become major hurricanes.
They are also forecasting a 48 percent chance of a major hurricane making landfall on the US East coast, including Florida. Last season was very busy with 19 named storms of which twelve became hurricanes. This season looks like being nearly as busy but still well above the average.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will issue its first season outlook on May 19.
Meanwhile over 300 people have been killed when violent storms and tornadoes ripped across the southern States at the end of April and the number is still rising. Over 200 were killed in Alabama alone with other deaths in Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. A State of Emergency has been declared in many areas.
Latest Hotel Deals
Amongst the travel deals in May, we have found Walt Disney World resort hotels deals including Quick Service restaurant discounts, 3 star hotels in Miami for $44 per night and short breaks in the Florida Panhandle. Other deals include:
There are many more good deals this month as tour operators continue to offer discounts, so if you are planning a vacation to Florida during 2011, then let the Florida Review & Travel Guide help you on your way.
This is just a small sample. To see the rest of the great deals and more, click to our late Florida deals page.
Gasoline Prices
Global oil prices continue to rise with no signs of slowing. The average pump prices in Florida has gone up again by nearly 25 cents in the last month, from $3.62 a gallon to $3.86 a gallon for regular.
Analysts had predicted rises to anything between $3.25 and $3.75 a gallon by March/April time and in fact prices rose even higher. In many states, prices have now exceeded $4 a gallon.
Prices near the major airports have always been on the expensive side but one gas station in Orlando, Suncoast Energys, located near Orlando International Airport has the distinction of being the most expensive gas station in the whole of the USA with a regular pump price of an astonishing $5.69 a gallon compared the average Orlando price of $3.78 per gallon.
Orlando does not have the authority to regulate pump prices but they have recently passed an ordinance that requires all gas stations to post their prices on signs that are clearly visible from the street. Suncoast Energys does not yet comply with this ordinance. Before filling up, always check the prices, you have been warned and if you cannot see the prices from the road take heed!
You can always find the latest pump prices at GasPriceWatch.com.
Orlando Thrill Park Rejected
Despite outline approval from Orlando City Council planners, the planning application for the new 78 acre Orlando Thrill Park at the northern end of International Drive has been soundly rejected by a local planning body on noise grounds. The Orlando City planners had recommended the developers plans but with some changes to reduce the noise impact such as the siting of the parking garages, a canal and trees as a buffer between the park and nearly residential neighbourhoods.
The proposed location of the park was between the Festival Bay Mall and the 60 year old Tangelo Park residential district. Concern over the noise of guests particularly on the many roller coaster rides convinced the volunteer Municipal Planning Board to vote 9-0 against the plans (with 2 abstentions).
OTP Group LLC, the company behind the Orlando Thrill Park, can either appeal against the decision or possibly attempt to site the proposed park on other vacant land in the Orlando area. The Orlando City Council will decide on May 23 whether to accept or reject the board's recommendations.
Unlike most other Orlando theme parks which are heavily themed and feature costumed characters and shows, the Orlando Thrill Park would rely primarily on the thrill factor alone with cutting-edge rides.
Amongst the 14 or so proposed rides, including an incredible eight roller coasters, is a 425 foot tall Intamin Inverted Accelerator Coaster. This would be the first of its kind, but similar in concept to the amazing Top Thrill Dragster ride at Cedar Point.
OTP Group has estimated that the proposed park could bring in 2 million visitors a year and employ over 900 full time staff. If permission is granted, they are looking at a summer 2013 opening date.
Fate of Space Shuttles
With the end of the Space Shuttle programme in sight, NASA has now announced the names of the museums that are to receive the three remaining airworthy Space Shuttles on their retirement.
As expected, the Kennedy Space Center is to receive a shuttle and another had already been promised to the National Air and Space Museum. The final resting places of the three remaining shuttles will be:
- Space Shuttle Discovery to the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington DC (replacing Enterprise)
- Space Shuttle Atlantis to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida
- Space Shuttle Endeavour to the California Science Center, Los Angeles, California
A fourth Space Shuttle, Enterprise is currently located at the National Air and Space Museum and it will move to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York. It never actually went into space but was used to test systems, gliding and landings, being launched from the top of a Boeing 747 shuttle carrier aircraft.
Around 20 museums had made a bid for a shuttle but the idea was to locate them across the breadth of the United States to give everyone a chance to see one.
Read more about the future of the remaining Space Shuttles.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Changes
Having secured one of the retiring Space Shuttles, Atlantis, the company that runs the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) attraction, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, have announced exciting plans for the future.
Atlantis will form the centre of a brand new 65,000-square-foot attraction to celebrate the Space Shuttle programme. Work on the new shuttle exhibit will start next year and hopefully be completed in 2013.
The new building will be sited where the shuttle replica Explorer is currently located, alongside the Shuttle Launch Experience attraction. Initial artists impressions show Atlantis displayed as if in flight with the cargo bay doors open and the robotic arm deployed.
As well as Atlantis, there are also plans to move the exhibits from the Astronauts Hall of Fame from its present location to the main KSC complex. It is unclear at this time as to whether the existing Hall of Fame site will continue to house the Astronaut Training Experience and other educational facilities.
The third major improvement will see a 200 foot high observation tower being built near the Apollo/Saturn V Center. The tower would give a clear view of both the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and KSC launch pads as well as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Atlantic Ocean beaches.
Other work could involve a new entrance from State Road 405 and changes to the tour bus loading area.
Read more about the Kennedy Space Center.
3D Star Tours
The newly re-engineered Star Tours ride "Star Tours - The Adventures Continue" is set to re-open on the first day of this years Star Wars Weekends on May 20 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The story lines are set between the third and fourth movies but the big differences from the old Star Tours ride are firstly it is in 3D and secondly there are multiple destinations.
When you board the Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft you will not know which of the six destinations you are bound for; Naboo, a Death Star, Tattooine, Coruscant, Kashyyyk or Hoth. In total there are 54 different story combinations involving multiple planets so you can take the ride many times and experience a different story each time.
The original pilot is an AC-38 droid called Ace but owning to a mishap, the Starspeeder is eventually piloted by C-3PO (aided by R2-D2), again voiced by Anthony Daniels who has appeared in every Star Wars film to date.
Along the way you may encounter both friends and foes including a galactic bounty hunter who is after you, Darth Vader, legions of Imperial stormtroopers, Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Boba Fett. Amongst the story lines you may join in a podrace on Tattooine, meet Wookiees in the forests of Kashyyyk, race through a partially completed Death Star, visit Coruscant the busiest planet in the Universe, battle blizzards and AT-ATs on snow covered Hoth or dive underwater on Naboo.
As part of the run up to the official opening, Disney have been on the road promoting the new ride at various malls in Florida.
You can also print out a personalised Star Tours Galactic Passport to take with you and get stamped as you leave the ride, just visit startourspassport.com and choose from four different characters; a rebel pilot, a pod racer, a Jedi or a princess. Upload your own photo and print out your passport.
Read more about the Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Beyond Disney: the Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld & the Best of Central Florida
A companion to the long running The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World edited by Bob Sehlinger with Robert N. Jenkins, the 7th edition of Beyond Disney: the Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld & the Best of Central Florida was re-published in April 2011 and is an insiders guide to Central Florida's non-Disney attractions.
The opening chapter covers where to stay with the pros and cons of the various parts of International Drive, Lake Buena Vista and the I-4 corridor and US-192 in Kissimmee with hotel/motel comparisons, rankings and information charts.
Useful tips include advice on booking your accommodation online and the fact that hotel rates for a given date vary over time. The best deals seem to occur about 45-60 days before the arrival date.
The Beyond Disney book covers all the other major theme parks across central Florida. There is complete coverage of the big four, namely Universal Orlando (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
As well as the big four, the book also covers Discovery Cove, Legoland Florida (opening in October 2011), Gatorland, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and The Holy Land Experience.
Read the full review of Beyond Disney: the Unofficial Guide to Universal Orlando, SeaWorld & the Best of Central Florida.
New Ride Updates
Busch Gardens
At Busch Gardens in Tampa, they have started testing the new Cheetah Hunt roller coaster. They have been launching trains out of the starting station and then from the second launch up over the tower into a tight spiral and a cork-screw manoeuvre.
The new ride is due to officially open on May 27, during the Memorial weekend.
Busch Gardens has also taken the opportunity to promote the new ride and the Cheetah Run attraction by showing a cute 8 week old male cheetah cub with its new best friend, a yellow female Labrador puppy. The cub was rejected by its mother and has been hand reared. The intention is that the cheetah and labrador will live together and form part of a project to help promote awareness to the plight of cheetahs in the wild.
A Facebook competition has been run to give them both names and the cheetah will be called Kasi and the labrador Mtani which mean "one with speed" and "close friend" respectively in Swahili.
Universal Studios
Following the announcement last month that the Jimmy Neutron ride at Universal Studios would close in August, Universal Orlando has started dropping hints about what its potential replacement could be. So far, rumours are pointing towards Despicable Me or a possible replacement King Kong ride. All Universal will say at this point is that the new ride will be an "all-new experience based on an amazing concept".
The last ride at Universal based upon King Kong was an aerial tram ride called Kongfrontation. It closed in 2002 to be replaced by the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster attraction.
Gatorland
Over at Gatorland in Orlando, they are now taking reservations for their new Screamin' Gator Zip Line. The ride costs $69.99 (plus tax) and includes admission to Gatorland for the day. The zip line is due to open May/June.
Read more about the Screamin' Gator Zip Line.
Free Monthly Desktop Wallpaper
May and June 2011 desktop wallpaper calendars
The free Florida desktop wallpaper calendars are now available in new widescreen and netbook format as well as standard format so if you have a widescreen monitor or a netbook you can now download a new widescreen calendar. 
Free desktop calendars for May 2011 (Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom) and June 2011 (Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay) are ready to download now.
Note that some of the larger files can be up to 700k in size so if you are on a modem dialup line it will take a few minutes to download.
Click to view and then download the Florida free desktop wallpaper for May or June now.
Also don't forget if you are looking for inspiration on what to do on your Florida vacation, why not take advantage of our collection of free Florida brochures where you will find information on many activities including golfing vacations, eco-tours, scuba diving and Caribbean cruises.
May Events
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival concludes this month with the final few concerts including Davy Jones and finally Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits. Later in the month Disney is also holding their annual Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios which coincides with the re-opening of the Star Tours ride.
In May, there are plenty of celebrations with both Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day and the armed forces are remembered on both Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day.
Elsewhere, the Space Shuttle Endeavour will make its final landing. Only one more launch after this one.
Noticeable artists on tour in Florida this month include Kylie Minogue, Luis Miguel, Tim McGraw, Bon Jovi, Earth, Wind And Fire, Kris Kristofferson and Bill Cosby.
Looking further ahead, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, ZZ Top, Motley Crue and Katy Perry are also performing in Florida.
Click here for full coverage of the latest events throughout the State of Florida or for a comprehensive list of upcoming Florida concerts.
Weather Forecast
As mentioned elsewhere, the southern States suffered terrible loss of life from devastating storms and tornadoes in late April though Florida escaped unscathed.
At the end of April, temperatures reached record levels in Central Florida with 95 degrees being recorded in Orlando and 96 degrees in Sanford. May will see temperatures a little above seasonal averages and rainfall about average for the time of year.
In the North around Pensacola and Jacksonville, the month will start with plenty of sunshine but with the occasional shower with daytime temperatures in the low 70s to high 80s. Overnight temperatures will be in the high 50s to high 60s. Again, it will be warmer on the East coast with the temperature exceeding 90 degrees on some days.
Across the Central region, the weather outlook is similar but even warmer. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s to low 90s during the day, dropping to mid 60s to high 60s over night.
Down in Miami and the Keys, the weather will be similar. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s to low 90s during the day and low 70s to mid 70s overnight. In the Keys there will be less chance of rain.
Click here 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.
May Books
Not many Florida books published in May but there are a few late entries from April as well, including PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2011 Deluxe and The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia.
May Book list
- Days Out in Central Florida from The Villages by Gillian Birch
- The Epcot Explorer's Encyclopedia: A guide to the flora, fauna, and fun of the world's greatest theme park! by R. A. Pedersen
- Winter Park Chronicles by Gayle Prince Rajtar, Steve Rajtar
- Driving in Florida: The Politically Incorrect Guide to Surviving the Roadways of the Sunshine State by H. A. Grossbard
- Antiquing in Florida by Linda Stamberger
- Michelin Green Guide Florida, 5th Edition
- A Tourist's Guide to Jacksonville, Florida and the Surrounding Area by SB Jeffrey
- The Unauthorized Guide to Carnival Cruise Line Ports of Call: Key West, Florida by Jo Burns
- PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2011 Deluxe: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake! by Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx, Allison Cerel Marx
- Panama City Beach: Tales from the World's Most Beautiful Beaches by Jeannie Weller Cooper
- How to Survive Retirement in Florida by John Haswell MD
- Florida: The State's Most Notorious Criminal Cases by Catherine Cole, Cynthia Thuma
- Jacksonville and the State of Florida:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know by Kate Boehm Jerome
- Wallpaper* City Guide Miami 2012
- Landscapes and Hydrology of the Predrainage Everglades by Christopher W. McVoy, Winifred Park Said, Jayantha Obeysekera, Joel Van Arman, Thomas Dreschel
- Marineland by Cheryl Messinger, Terran McGinnis
- From Sun Cities to The Villages: A History of Active Adult, Age-Restricted Communities by Judith Ann Trolander
We plan to bring you a newsletter on the first day of each month with details of upcoming events and news from across Florida.
Copyright © 2011, Stephen Downs, Florida Review & Travel Guide. All rights reserved. Please do NOT reprint or host on your website without explicit permission from http://www.floridareview.co.uk.
We are always interested in your comments and feedback so please email us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you have anything you would like to tell us or any problems you have encountered trying to read this newsletter.
Please feel free to forward this message to any of your friends but please keep the message intact. You can also subscribe to the Florida Review & Travel Guide Newsletter online, read this issue online or read all the back issues in the eZine newsletter archive.
|
