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.

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney used to be called the Disney Village and today it consists of three separate areas, namely West Side, Pleasure Island (currently being redeveloped) and the Downtown Disney Marketplace stretching along the shores of Lake Buena Vista.

Downtown Disney provides day and night-time entertainment and is similar in concept to Universal Citywalk offering shopping, eating, nightclubs and live music.

The clubs on Pleasure Island have recently closed and it is unclear as to what will happen to this part of Downtown Disney

Parking is free at Downtown Disney and generally admission is free to the West Side and Marketplace (unless stated otherwise).

Downtown Disney by night with the distinctive Bongo's Cafe

West Side

West Side is home to the Cirque du Soleil® show La Nouba™ as well as a massive Virgin Megastore (closes on May 31, 2009), the DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park, AMC® Pleasure Island 24 Theatres Complex, House of Blues® concert hall and lots of other shops and restaurants.

There are separate admission charges for the Cirque du Soleil®, DisneyQuest®, AMC® and House of Blues®. However, entry to DisneyQuest® is free if you have an Ultimate Park Hopper or Premium Annual Pass Holder ticket.

The latest attraction to open on the West Side is Characters In Flight, a tethered balloon ride that takes you 400 feet up in the air over the waterfront giving you unparalleled views of the surrounding area.

The balloon is decorated with some of Disney's flying characters, such as Mary Poppins, Dumbo and Peter Pan and can carry up to 30 guests at a time.

The six minute flight costs $16 for adults and $10 for children (plus taxes) and is open seven days a week from 10:30 am to 11:00 pm (to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pleasure Island

Pleasure Island used to open at 7p.m. every evening and was the ultimate party place with 8 nightclubs each with their own theme ranging from 1970's disco though country and western, jazz and top 40 music.

Under 18 year olds had to be accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older who has an acceptable form of identification.

You had to pay a separate admission fee to get into Pleasure Island unless you had an Ultimate Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus ticket.

The clubs included the Adventurers Club, Comedy Warehouse, Mannequin Dance Palace, Club Motion, Rock 'n' Roll Beach Club, 8 Trax Disco, BET Soundstage Club and Pleasure Island Jazz Club. You needed to be 18 to gain entry to most of the clubs except for Mannequins Dance Palace and BET SoundsStage Club Thursday through Saturday when you needed to be at least 21.

At midnight every night there was a New York style street party with countdown and fireworks.

Marketplace

The Downtown Disney Marketplace is a collection of shops and restaurants including the World Of Disney (largest Disney merchandise store on the planet), the Lego Imagination Center, Tren-D and Disney's Days of Christmas.

Eating in Downtown Disney

Amongst the restaurants in Downtown Disney Marketplace is the Rainforest Cafe, Fultons Crab House which is in a replica of a paddleboat and Wolfgang Puck's Express.

You are spoilt for choice at West Side where there is a Planet Hollywood, the Cuban/Latin Bongo's Cafe, the gourmet Wolfgang Puck's Cafe and the southern style House of Blues.