Legoland Florida

Lego have announced the opening of Legoland Florida on the site of Cypress Gardens in Central Florida.

It will be the largest Legoland to date and will create 1,000 jobs. It is expected to open in late 2011.

Universal U Select

Universal Orlando has announced a new ticket pricing structure called "U Select", in time for the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It follows a similar idea introduced by Walt Disney World in 2005, the Disney "Magic Your Way" ticket system and the idea is to encourage guests to visit the Universal parks for more than just a couple of days.

Free Gift Card

Disney have announced a free Disney Gift Card with a value of up to $750 for selected 5-night/6-day non-discounted vacation packages booked by March 27, 2010 and used by June 3, 2010. There are different 'blackout' dates depending upon resort.

NASA KSC Tours

NASA Kennedy Space Center Tours

A bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center is included in the price of the admission ticket but there are two other guided bus tours that you can go on but it is advisable to buy your tickets in advance as there is limited availability.

All tour tickets (except the standard KSC tour) are in addition to the maximum or standard admission ticket

Kennedy Space Center Tour

Included in the admission is a trip to the LC-39 Observation Gantry and the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

From the top of the 60 foot tall Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry, you get a 360 degree view of the two giant Shuttle Launch Pads, 39A and 39B. You can also see the Launch Control Center, the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the crawlerway leading to the launch pads.

The recently opened Apollo/Saturn V Center tells the history of the Apollo Moon landing programme and contains a complete Saturn V launch vehicle, Apollo capsule/lander and a lunar rover.

There are a couple of good books covering the Apollo moon landings if you are interested in the early history of the Kennedy Space Center.

Launch Days

Spaceport USA is closed to the general public on launch days unless you have purchased a ticket in advance but it is possible to watch a launch from the nearby areas or from within the NASA complex itself if you purchased a launch pass ticket.

The Kennedy Space Center Tour takes approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours and runs continuously from 10:00 am every day at 15 minute intervals. Last tour starts at 3:45 pm.

NASA Up Close Guided Tour

This is very much a behind the scenes bus tour of the NASA complex and takes in the NASA headquarters, the Space Shuttle launch pads at Complex 39A and 39B, the shuttle landing facilities, the massive Vehicle Assembly Building and NASA's gigantic Crawler Transporters that take the fully assembled space shuttles from the VAB to the launch pads.

Another of the attractions is a visit to the International Space Station Center where from an elevated observation room you can see the actual processing bay where each space station component is checked out, processed in readiness for its trip into orbit aboard a space shuttle.

You can also enter a full-scale mock-up of the Habitation Module where the crew live, sleep and work.

NASA Up Close Guided Tour
Extra stops include the A/B Camera Stop - the closest viewing for the Space Shuttle Launch Pads, and the International Space Station Center where actual components are readied for launch into space. Limited seating and departure times. Number of daily departures vary based on operational requirements. First departure at 10 am. Last departure is at 1:50 pm daily. Runs approx. 120 min. Total tour time with regular KSC tour is approx. 3 hrs.	Adult	$22.00 plus tax
	Child	$16.00 plus tax

Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Guided Tour

On the Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Tour you get to see some of the historic early launch sites of the the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programmes, precursors to today's space shuttle programme.

Amongst the stops are the Air Force Space and Missile Museum, the launch complex where Alan Shepard lifted off on America's first human spaceflight, as well as Apollo Launch Pad 34, the site of the tragic Apollo 1 fire.

This guided bus tour ends at the Apollo/Saturn V Center.

Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Guided Tour
Tour America's first launch sites from the 1960's, visit the Air Force Space and Missile Museum and see today's active unmanned rocket program. Limited seating available. Offered once daily and departs at 12:50 pm. Runs approx. 150 min. Total tour time with regular KSC tour is approx. 3.5 - 4 hrs.	Adult	$22.00 plus tax
	Child	$16.00 plus tax