Here are the latest up-dates to go with the 2007 edition of the Brit's Guide, starting with a warning for disabled drivers heading to Florida.

(Page 39 and 59): For all disabled drivers: Florida no longer recognises the use of the British blue disabled parking badge. In the book, we still advise that it is OK to bring your blue badge and use it as you would back home. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! Even the Visit Florida organisation was caught out by this and only recently changed their advice online after we brought it to their attention. The simple fact for disabled drivers is they now have to visit a local tax office in Florida and pay a $15 fee for a temporary disabled parking badge that you can use in all locations, OR (and this is brand new) apply by post as follows to:

Tag Department
Osceola Tax Collector
2501 E Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Kissimmee
Florida 34744
USA

It ideally needs to be sent by certified mail (i.e. so someone signs for it on receipt at the tax office), and it must include: 1) Copy of your UK disabled badge (both sides); 2) Copy of your photo ID pages from your passport; 3) Money order for $15 payable to Osceola County Tax Collector (or you can send your credit card details). PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH! You should allow at least 4 weeks for the process to be completed and it will be valid for a full 6 months anywhere in Florida. The phone number there is 407 742 4000 and fax 407 742 3995.

We are very grateful to the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Osceola County Tax Office – and Tax Collector Patsy Heffner and her staff – for taking this initiative over postal applications, which should really help to make this much more satisfactory for UK visitors.

To find the nearest Orange County tax office where you can visit in person to pay the fee and pick up your temporary badge, look up the following website www.octaxcol.com/OfficeLocations.htm#South%20Semoran%20Tag%20Agency. There are eight Orlando offices where you can pick up the necessary badge (listed under Motor Vehicle Registrations), and it must be stressed this is the new official policy, hence you DO risk a parking fine if you don't comply with these regulations. In Osceola County, there are four tax offices, listed on this website: www.osceolataxcollector.com/locations-hours.html

Be aware none of these offices are open at the weekend, so if you are arriving on a Friday or Saturday, you should either apply in advance by post or you need to wait until the following Monday.

23/8/2007
The Titanic Experience on International Drive (Page 218) has closed, hopefully only temporarily, after being evicted from their location inside the Mercado following a dispute with the landlords over their lease at the former shopping and dining hotspot, which is due for demolition later this year. The attraction hopes to re-open after setting up the impressive walk-through exhibition in their signature ticket office at the front of The Mercado (where the Hard Rock Vault used to be), but there is not timetable for when, or even if, this might happen yet.

A new performing arts centre with three state-of-the-art performance halls is to be built in downtown Orlando, on Orange Avenue and South Street. It will host Orlando's philharmonic, ballet and opera as well as touring Broadway shows. The new centre's plans include 400,000sq ft (37,161sq m) of space, a 2,800-seat hall for large-scale productions, an 1,800-seat hall for local performing arts groups and a 300-seat hall for small performing arts groups. Building should begin late in 2007, but will not be complete until 2009. It also ties in with a grand $1.5billion plan to build a major new sports arena (replacing the Amway Arena, which currently houses the Orlando Magic and Orlando Predators) and refurbish the ageing Citrus Bowl stadium.

Scenic Lake Tours in Kissimmee (Page 236) has added a new nature tour to its excellent range of offerings. The new two-hour option includes a short scenic boat tour and nature walk on Makinson's Island nature trail, where hikers can view eagle nests, owls, mountain goats, raccoons and wild pigs. Cost is $50 for adults and $30 for children.

Walt Disney World has upgraded its boating options by launching a 52ft (16-m) Sea Ray yacht to ply the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake in the Magic Kingdom area. The new Grand 1 will provide hourly-rate cruises of the Magic Kingdom waters. The vessel sails from the marina at Disney's Grand Floridian and can be booked for morning, afternoon or evening excursions from $450/hour for up to 18 passengers. A captain and crew are provided and dining and butler service are available for additional fees. To book, call 407 824 4321.

Go-ahead low-cost American airline Airtran are continuing to expand their Florida-based network across the country, with new daily flights from West Palm Beach to Boston (from November 15) and Sarasota/Bradenton to St Louis (daily flights seasonally from Nov 15). The airline has also re-located its Orlando International Airport operations from Airside A, Terminal 2 to Airside B, Terminal 4 (the same terminal as Virgin and British Airways), using Gates 90-97, giving them more check-in space and expansion room in future. This officially makes them Orlando’s fastest-growing airline, and they are well worth checking out if you are looking to travel further afield in the US. We use them regularly and are impressed by their efficient service and comfortable flights (using Boeing 717s and new 737s), which includes XM satellite radio and free headphones and soft drinks – a real rarity for a low-cost carrier these days. Look up more on www.airtran.com.

16/8/2007
Disney have announced another round of price increases for all their main tickets (single-day admissions and all the multi-day Magic Your Way tickets). This means an adult single-day admission is now $71 (plus tax!), while the multi-day tickets have gone up by about 6% each.

This now annual ritual was followed almost immediately by Universal Orlando, who raised one-day tickets to the same level, although their multi-day package tickets increased by a smaller amount.

Disney-MGM Studios will be changing its name in 2008 to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (not a winning name with us!), so don’t be surprised if you start seeing this terminology used soon in brochures, etc. It is not a new park, just the new name now that Disney’s licence with MGM has expired.

Busch Gardens’ summer programme sees a fabulous new acrobatic show at the Stanleyville Theater. Mystic Garden is a 30-minute production featuring a series of truly breathtaking stunts and acrobatics by the Dragon Pond troupe from China, and it is well worth seeing if you are heading this way at all.

Pirates Dinner Adventure has an all-new VIP programme, which adds a special lounge, more appetisers (including coconut shrimp, beef tips with bacon, ravioli, tortellini and chicken spring rolls) and exlusive ’extras’ for this popular dinner-show. The show itself has also been tweaked, with some new characters, audience inter-action and some impressive new stunts and other elements. The Governors VIP Upgrade costs an extra $25 per person, which includes:

• Exclusive use of the Governors Lounge
• Front row seating during the main show
• Audience participation guaranteed (for those who want it!)
• A specially prepared VIP appetiser buffet
• Champagne toast
• A private bar
• A one-on-one photo opportunity on stage with cast
• An opportunity to upgrade your dinner entree to Filet Mignon or Lobster tail with shrimp and Salmon
• Plus the obligatory pirate hat and beads!

For more info, check out www.piratesdinneradventure.com.

19/7/2007
The 12th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will take place Sept 28-Nov 11. Each day during the six-week-long festival, the park's Future World and World Showcase will overflow with food, wine and beer that spotlight regional experiences from New Zealand to Mexico. Also featured are special wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, Eat to the Beat! Concerts (featuring performers like Jon Secada, Little Richard, Village People and David Cassidy), and culinary exhibits. The event is included with regular admission to Epcot, but additional charges apply for food and beverage samples (well worth trying!).

Cypress Gardens Adventure Park has opened Starliner, the classic wooden coaster that was the first of its kind when built in Panama City Beach, Florida, in 1963. The park has stayed true to the coaster’s original design with a few profile modifications, including higher banks and sharper turns. The historic coaster was built by designer John Allen and is one of only 11 Allen coasters still in operation throughout the world. Look up more at www.cypressgardens.com.

Gator Golf and Adventure Park has opened on International Drive (next to the Magical Midway park, Page 219). The attraction includes an 18-hole miniature golf course, more than 300 alligators and live gator shows three times each evening. Hours of operation are 10am-11pm daily, with Gator Golf $9.99 for adults and the Gator Adventure Show at $9.99, or $14.99 for a combo golf/gator show ticket.

The admission price at Gatorland has increased to $22.95 per adult and $14.95 per child, which includes admission to the park's new water play area, Gator Gully Splash Park.

The Central Florida Zoo (in Seminole County – Page 244) announced its new status as a botanical garden along with the opening of the "Porcupines of the Plant Kingdom" display. The gardens are interspersed throughout the zoo and include more than 800 plant species, highlighting many of the native plants found in Florida. The new exhibit will feature a variety of thorns, spines and prickles used to protect the flesh within a plant as well as sculptures of larger-than-life porcupines. Admission is still $9.95 for adults and $5.95 for children 3-12.

9/6/2007
Universal Orlando: the announcement of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter for their Islands of Adventure park (Page 166) took place last month, with an outline of what will be happening to add a seventh ‘island’ here. Part of the Lost Continent will be incorporated into the Harry Potter area, but it will also utilise current staff car park space at the back of this area to create a 20-acre land. Several rides will be re-themed for the Wizarding World (we presume they will be Dueling Dragons and the Flying Unicorn at the moment), but there will also be a blockbuster all-new ride and several other attractions, plus three areas themed after Hogwart’s Castle, Hogsmeade Village and the Forbidden Forest, which will include shops and restaurants. There are no other details at present but, as this area is not due to open until late 2009/early 2010, there is plenty of time for more to trickle out and keep us on tenterhooks for this huge undertaking!

More imminently, June 15 sees the arrival of a new stunt show on the central Lagoon at Islands of Adventure. Called the HydroAction Ski Show, it will take place up to 5 times a day and feature an array of daring stunts from wake-boarders, water-skiers and high-speed boats, all with a high-energy music backing. The show will run throughout the peak summer season (to August 18). Meanwhile, the Universal 360 Cinesphere Spectacular show (Page 164) at Universal Studios will start up again on June 30 for the nightly spectacular finale at this park (until August 18).

Meanwhile, the Blue Man Group has now taken up permanent residence at Universal’s CityWalk, and we should have a review of this highly-touted new show soon. This is a separately ticketed event with tickets starting at $59 for adults and $49 for children 3-9, while there are combination theme park admission and show tickets from $112 and $101. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Universal ticket line (in the US) on 1888 340 5476 or visit www.universalorlando.com.

1/6/2007
The Kennedy Space Center has now opened its $60million new Shuttle Launch Experience (Page 205) and it is truly as good as the advance publicity. We got a look at it during their media preview and there is a full review of it on this month’s Newsletter (so make sure you are subscribed! – if you have missed out for any reason, see: http://askdaisy.net/orlando/Jun_07.html).

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom park has closed its Haunted Mansion attraction (Page 111) for a major overhaul, which will add revamp much of the ride’s technology, lighting and sound system and “add some new ghosts!” The ride is not due to re-open again until mid-September, however.

At the Epcot park, the big Italian restaurant L’Originale Alfredo di Ristorante in the Italy pavilion is to close on August 31 to make way for a new, as yet un-named replacement by the Patina Group of restaurants (who operate several outlets at the Downtown Disney area in Disneyland Anaheim). A restaurant will continue to operate in this Epcot location after August 31, called Tutto Italia, but expect a new, themed version at some stage in autumn 2008. The iconic Spaceship Earth ride will also be closed for a major refurbishment, which will involve a new storyline and new show scenes, from July 9 to November 1. There is a full programme for Epcot’s Sounds Like Summer concert series (at the American Gardens theatre), with a series of excellent tribute bands. The line-up is as follows: June 11-17, Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi tribute band); June 18-24, Stayin' Alive (The Bee Gees); June 25-July 1, Kevin White (Garth Brooks); July 2-8, Respect (Aretha Franklin); July 9-17, the superb Bjorn Again (ABBA); July 18-24, Hotel California (The Eagles); July 25-29, 52nd Street (Billy Joel); July 30-August 5, Captain Fantastic (Elton John); August 6-12, Transit Authority (Chicago).

The Animal Kingdom has revamped its Kilimanjaro Safari (Page 150) ride to add a ninth row of seats to their vehicles and re-jig the storyline slightly. Newcomers probably won’t notice anything dramatic, but repeat visitors may well see some changes to the script and that ‘Miss Jobson’ is no longer part of the story, while the final scene with ‘Little Red’ has been enhanced.

June 16 will see the re-opening of Busch Gardens’ monstrous SheiKra dive-coaster (Page 198) after a renovation to make it a floorless experience (i.e. there’s nothing to brace yourself against for that big 200ft drop!).

The highly Brit-popular Cricketers Arms pub on International Drive is finally moving out of its location in the moribund Mercado Center for the big Festival Bay mall at the top of I-Drive. Their new home will be much bigger and smarter than previously, although still with a lot of the décor and pub paraphernalia that made it feel so welcoming. The beer selections will also be enhanced, along with a breakfast menu. Their much-liked traditions of live football and evening entertainment will still be there, though. Look up www.cricketersarmspub.com for the latest info, including their grand re-opening date later this month.

24/5/2007
Sadly, we have to report the excellent Wildlife Safari Tour at Boggy Creek Airboats’ Southport Park location in Kissimmee (Page 235/6) is currently suspended. We believe the neighbouring ranch which the safari runs through has created major hassle for the operation, so Boggy Creek have decided to halt the rides for the time being. No re-start date is known as yet.

20/5/2007
Look out for a great new way to go coast-to-coast from Florida to California in June when new Brit’s Guide partners AirTran Airways start their non-stop scheduled service from Orlando to San Diego. Fares can be as low as $109 one-way and we rate AirTran one of the best low-cost carriers in the US, with a consistent, reliable service and the benefits of live, in-flight XM Satellite radio (with free headphones). Check out www.airtran.com for full details.

14/5/2007
Regular visitors to Kissimmee will notice that the huge former Hyatt Resort on Highway 192 (close to the junction with I-4) has just reopened as the Orlando Sun Resort, part of the Lexington Collection hotel group. The 1,000-room hotel had been closed for almost 3 years and provides a new relatively budget choice in a great location fairly close to the Maingate entrance to Walt Disney World. Look up more at www.lexingtonhotels.com.

23/4/2007
Universal Orlando has confirmed that The Simpsons ride is to replace the now-closed Back To The Future attraction at the Universal Studios park. It will utilize the same building but be far more elaborate in terms of the ride technology and theming, with the whole of the area around the ride themed to Krusty the Clown’s Krustyland. It is all due to open in Spring 2008 and there will be some fun additional elements in ‘Krustyland’ to look out for before you take a wild journey through Springfield in the company of Bart, Homer and Co.

30/3/2007
Walt Disney World: much to our surprise, just a few days before the official opening of the new show, the Magic Kingdom has changed the name of the Laugh Floor Comedy Club to the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. No real explanation why, other than the fact someone in management possibly noticed there was no name connection with the Monsters Inc film it was themed around. It is a fairly gentle laugh-along with one-eyed monster Mike Wazowski, and with some clever audience interaction, but it is not quite up to the sharp humour of Turtle Talk With Crush at Epcot.

Disney's Wide World of Sports has announced a new 70,000 sq ft arena (more than twice the size of their current indoor venue, The Milk House) will be built for 2008, marking the 10th anniversary of the sports complex. It will feature a host of indoor events, including basketball, volleyball and roller-hockey.

Disney's Pirate & Princess Party will return this August at the Magic Kingdom after an inconclusive test run in Feb/March. We found this to be a great family event, and hopefully more people will buy tickets for this on the following dates: Aug 11, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31 and Sept. 3. The separately ticketed event runs from 7-12pm on those dates and is a great way to enjoy some unique fun at the Magic Kingdom, with a special parade and fireworks show, and other live entertainment. Feel free to dress up, too!

Incidentally, Disney are still insisting their will be NO celebrations or special events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Epcot park in October. Quite frankly, we don't believe them! To ignore the anniversary of this truly ground-parking park while at the same time celebrating the '10th anniversary' of the largely ignored and ignorable Wide World of Sports complex just doesn't make any sense to us.

SeaWorld: the home of Shamu and Co has a whole new array of entertainment this summer, starting with a new evening show at Shamu Stadium in peak periods starting at the end of May. Shamu Rocks will be a different, party-orientated version of the big killer-whale show, with a rock 'n roll theme, pop music and special video performances. Elmo & The Bookaneers will feature Elmo and other Sesame Street characters in a special show for the under 5s and their families at the Bayside Stadium (replacing the Fusion show). And, in Shamu's Happy Harbor, the line-up of new children's rides will be completed with the opening of Ocean Commotion (a swinging, back-and-forth boat ride), Flying Fiddler (a 20ft tower ride on a giant crab) and the Sea Carousel (a traditional carousel ride on 56 themed sea creatures).

Busch Gardens: one of our favourite coasters, The Python, has closed here to make way for a complete renovation of the Congo area of the park. The good news is 2008 will see a dramatic new children's play area, Jungle Village, with an elaborate adventure playground for the 6-12 age group. There will also be new animal encounters, with Claw Island and the park's white tigers being replaced by more dramatic habitats, offering up-close views similar to the Edge Of Africa area. The Vivi Storehouse restaurant has also closed during renovation. Also new at Busch, is the Mirage Canteen show, replacing Moroccan Roll at the Marrakesh Theater. Here, you travel back in time with this 1940s musical revue at the Canteen, “where a few locals who vaguely remember its glimmering heyday gather to hear the piano player recall the songs of a bygone era."

Gatorland has released additional information on Gator Gully Splash Park, the park's $1million expansion set to open later this spring. The new attraction features a quarter-acre of water-based fun with an animal theme, including giant egrets spilling water, water guns mounted on giant alligators and Grandma’s Wet Shack. New characters known as the Gator Gully Gang will become the symbols of the splash park. The attraction will be geared toward children and is included in regular park admission ($19.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 3-12).

The Kissimmee Fun Spot USA, next to the big Old Town shopping/dining/thrill-ride complex, is building a new multi-level go-kart track that will open this June.

One of Kissimmee’s more popular dinner attractions, Arabian Nights, has added more experiences to its show this year. Among the additions are two fabulous Genies, dazzling new costumes, 15 new horses, the magic of Michael Barron before and during the show, plus an expanded menu featuring New York strip steak.

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament will complete a $7million renovation of its castle this spring. Among the renovations are a new courtyard and 38ft video display sign, expansion of the waiting area, a new state-of-the-art kitchen, and a new ticketing building with drawbridge and moat. On selected dates in June and July, Medieval Times will have special matinees for summer camps and parks and recreation groups. The special matinee includes a lunch of chicken, potato, cookie and beverages for $18, plus tax, per person.

Closed: the big Race Rock motor-sports themed restaurant on International Drive (Page 300). Sadly, it has been sold to new owners and will be completely re-developed as an as-yet unnamed new restaurant at some stage in the future.

OTHER RECENT UP-DATES:
WALT DISNEY WORLD
THEME PARKS:

7/3/2007: Increasing - the price of a one-day ticket for Disney's water parks, up from $36 to $39 for adults and $30 to $33 for children (3-9).

Closed: Let's Have a Ball, the new live show in Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland; while the wonderful Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki rooms at Epcot's Japan pavilion are shut for an extensive refurbishment until August 25.

Also, El Rio Del Tiempo in the Mexico pavilion at Epcot will re-open on April 2 after a long refurbishment as the newly-themed Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Caballeros (Donald Duck, Panchito and Jose Carioca), with all-new lighting, sound system, scenery and storyline.

27/12/2006: In the Animal Kingdom, the name of the new restaurant in Asia has been confirmed as Yak and Yeti, due to open summer 2007. It is currently being built by Landry's Restaurants (the operators of the two Rainforest Cafes in Walt Disney World), replacing the area occupied by the Chakranadi Chicken Shop and Sunaulo Toran Fries (two of the least distinguished meal outlets in the Disney empire). The extensive area is all boarded off, but the new restaurant will feature both counter and full-service dining, as well as a themed shop.

29/11/2006: The High School Musical Pep Rally has not proved a huge success in the Magic Kingdom (as we rather suspected - see 1/10/2006), and it is being moved out of the park. It will relocate, on a smaller scale, as a roving street show to Disney-MGM Studios.

1/11/2006: Much more detail has been released about the special 15-month Walt Disney World celebration Year Of A Million Dreams, including all the many different prizes and special 'dreams' being handed out by Cast Members on a daily basis (by the thousand!) throughout the parks and Downtown Disney. First of all, there will actually be some 1,250,001 giveaways in the period from October 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007. And, while the vast majority are fairly modest in nature, like Disney pins and Mickey Mouse ears (in total, 1,248,754 prizes have a value of $25 or less), the ultimate value of ‘Dreams’ on offer will top $17million, with 60 prizes worth more than $5,000. The top-value prizes are three 220-point memberships in the Disney Vacation Club at the Saratoga Springs Resort, including purchase, taxes, maintenance fees and exchange fees, plus $25,110 to defray income tax on the prize. These are each valued at $83,701. Then there are 3 Grand Marshal World Tour prizes – 14-night round-the-world trips for four to visit ALL 11 Disney theme parks and serve as marshals in all five Magic Kingdom-style parks (including airfare, transfers, park admission and $75/person per day spending money), which are valued at $45,370 each.

Other major ‘Dreams’ include 6 Adventures By Disney trips to various locations (including Italy, France and Costa Rica) valued from $15,500-$25,600; 18 Disney cruises valued from $9,880-$16,900; and 15 trips each to Disney World and Disneyland (worth $5,200 apiece). There will then be the much-anticipated 367 individual nights in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse at the Disneyland Resort and 307 nights in the newly-created Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom (which are valued at $572 and $587 respectively, although they cannot be bought, as such). The list of minor prizes is also lengthy, and provides the bulk of the ‘Dreams’ which Disney first announced in the summer. They include dinner at Disney restaurants, after-hours park admissions, special event parties and FastPass badges for individual parks, right down to pin and lanyard sets and free photo vouchers (worth $15 each). Some will be individual awards, while others (like FastPass badges and pin and lanyard sets) will be given to groups. And all awards will take place in the four parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom), the two water parks AND Downtown Disney (plus the two parks and Downtown Disney area of Disneyland California).

Walt Disney World car parking: this is now $10, not $9 as stated in the book (and in line with all the other major parks). At Epcot, the Living Seas Pavilion (Page 125) has officially changed name to The Seas With Nemo & Friends Pavilion to coincide with the opening of the new Nemo ride (see below under September and October up-dates). At the Magic Kingdom, Disney have introduced new live shows, many of them with audience participation (see below under October up-dates), which add some fun extra elements to the park and are well worth seeing - especially our favourite - Captain Jack's Pirate Tutorial!

1/10/2006: Magic Kingdom: We now have the full details of all the new 'immersive entertainment' on offer with the start of Year Of A Million Dreams, which runs from October 1, 2006, to December 31, 2007. All of them are fun, interactive and lively. In Disney's own words, it's a chance to 'Live your Dreams': "Dreams are wonderful things. Hopes and wishes so vivid you can almost touch them. In the blink of an eye, you’re on an amazing adventure or in a fairy tale fantasy, wrapped in your own world of happily ever after.  Now, imagine those dreams come to life. Not only do you see a princess, you’re invited to attend the Royal Ball. Meet a pirate and you can become a pirate. Or a cowboy. Suddenly, you’re not watching a parade, you’re IN the parade. Or you’re one of the spirit leaders in a high school pep rally. It’s imagination in full-force. Make believe, made real. And it’s happening all around you every day." Walt would certainly approve of those sentiments, we feel, and, for children especially, it represents a wonderful opportunity to take part in some rousing events.

Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial - Performed up to seven times a day outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Adventureland, and with each set lasting 20 minutes, this is an opportunity for all youngsters who fancy the pirate's life to get a rollicking first-hand account from everyone's favourite Hollywood racketeer Johnny Depp (or at least a good lookalike!). Visitors are warned to "Keep an eye out for scallywags and ne’er-do-wells, because there are pirates among us - and they’re looking to recruit! None other than Captain Jack Sparrow’s first mate, Mack, is searching out brave souls who dream of a pirate’s life. Can you swing a sword, sail the seas, and spot a cursed treasure before you plunder it? Good. ‘Cause Captain Jack himself is going to test your mettle. If you’re still standing after that, maybe he’ll even let you take the Pirate Oath and join his crew as an honorary buccaneer."

Let's Have A Ball - subtitled the Happily Ever After Party, this takes place up to seven times a day, at 20 minutes a time, behind the Castle in Fantasyland (it effectively replaces the old Sword In The Stone Ceremony, which was discontinued in August). With two performers on a small stage, it involves a lot of audience participation in various dances and games, with the grand finale featuring an appearance by Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Prince Phillip in a royal waltz. Or, in Disney's words, "You are invited to take your place in the King’s grand court. An amazing Royal Ball is about to be held and Princess Aurora and Prince Philip are on their way to welcome all the Lords and Ladies from across the land.  That’s YOU! As the music plays and merry-makers lead the way, you’ll take your place alongside Disney royalty in a fairytale dream come true."

Woody's Cowboy Camp - more audience participation is on the menu here in Frontierland, six times a day. Led by Sam the Singin' Cowboy, you get the chance to meet Toy Story characters Woody, Jesse and Bullseye and join in some cowboy anthems, like 'She'll be coming round the mountain' and 'You've got a friend in me.' Kids get to have fun with the hosts and characters and dance around in over-size cowboy hats. Once again, in their own words it is a case of "Yaaahooo!!! That’s not a stampede up ahead, it’s Woody’s Cowboy Camp. Got a hankerin’ for a bit of hootin’, hollerin’ and whoopin’ it up? Sam the Singin’ Cowboy is roundin’ up pardners to be part of the posse! Just saddle up and join Woody, Jesse, Bullseye and their pals for a rootin’, tootin’ western hoedown as big as the prairie. It’s a hootenanny packed with a little ridin’, a little singin’, a little dancin’ and a whole lot of fun.  Yippee Kai Yay!" NB: We looked up hootenanny in the dictionary - it said 'a gathering at which folk-singers entertain, often with the audience joining in.' So there. Under 'Yippee Kai Yay' it just said 'Huh?'

Family Fun Day Parade - here's a chance to take part in some typical Disney festivities along Main Street USA (from the Castle Forecourt down to Town Square) three times a day. The locals will invite you to "Parade your red, white and blue spirit down the heart of Main Street as you join the celebration. For the first time, guests are invited to perform in a parade alongside beloved Disney Characters! Banners rise, the band plays and crowds line the street. Laughing, singing, dancing and marching to the music, you’re not just seeing a parade – you and your whole family are IN the parade. With flags flying and crowds cheering, promenade your way to Town Square and wow the world with your talents in a patriotic grand finale." The characters include Pluto, Daisy, Horace, Clarabelle, Chip and Dale and a mobile band, with the Main Street fire engine (for guests to ride in) and another group of guests on foot, stopping in Town Square for a lively rendition of Yankee Doodle Dandy (among other typical tunes).

High School Musical Pep Rally - this will not mean a lot to anyone who hasn't attended a typical American high school pep rally, where the cheerleaders, singers and dancers get everyone going with a lively set of standard songs, but it is another live and interactive show. Performing up to seven times a day in Tomorrowland (where a permanent stage will be built for it by January 2007 in front of the old Skyway cable-car building), it features a 10-strong cast to help you get the hang of the song and dance routines from the recent Disney TV film High School Musical. It is a glimpse into US school culture that has no British equivalent (that we are aware of!), or, as they say themselves, "The crowd’s roaring. Pom-poms are waving. And the megaphone blares: 'We’ve got spirit, yes we do. We’ve got spirit, HOW ‘BOUT YOU?!?' The East High cheerleaders can’t do it alone. It’s gonna take your cheering skills to rock the Wildcats Homecoming Pep Rally! C’mon, get in the game! We’re all in this together. Show your spirit, sing out loud, and groove to the music from the hit movie as you get your cheer-on and live out your High School Musical dreams."

Dream Along with Mickey - not a part of the immersive entertainment but the new 20-minute show on the Castle Forecourt Stage six times a day. We had been told Cinderella's Surprise Celebration would make its return after the two-year stint of the rather saccharine Cinderellabration, but this all-new show is a much better replacement. In many ways, we have seen the basic idea before, as Mickey and pals stage a cute song-and-dance party to celebrate the power of dreams, but the all-new format with Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Cinderella, Aurora, Snow White (and their princes), plus Wendy and Peter Pan, is lively and great family fare. There is a brief incursion from Maleficent and Captain Hook before peace is restored and everyone can live 'happily ever after.'

As of October 22, the IllumiNations Cruise price has gone up to $275 and Birthday Cruises to $300 (Pages 44 and 131).

Disney-MGM Studios: the new entertainment is not confined just to the Magic kingdom, as, outside the Star Tours ride at Disney-MGM, you will also be able to enjoy the Be A Jedi Knight show up to 9 times a day. This is something that proved a hit during the Star Wars Weekends at the Studios in the last two years and is now being rolled out on a regular basis. Here, several young Obi Wan Kenobi wannabes get the chance to go through their paces with a Jedi Master (sadly, not Yoda!), before being challenged by the sinister Darth Maul - and then Darth Vader himself! Cue lots of light saber-rattling, with the inevitable victory for the Jedi trainees!

Epcot: The Living Seas pavilion will change name to The Seas With Nemo & Friends once the new ride is fully up and running this month (see 15/9/2006), which makes sense with all the new Finding Nemo elements in that pavilion now. There will also be an elaborate queuing area to the Nemo ride, with a clever transition from beach to under the sea and some vivid special visual effects featuring the various Nemo characters, including various projections into the main aquarium itself. It all sounds quite superb, and we are hopeful this will restore this rather overlooked pavilion back to its former glories.

15/9/2006: Epcot: The Seas with Nemo and Friends, the new ride aboard 'clamobiles' in the Living Seas pavilion is now thought to be ready for its official opening in late October, with annual pass holders getting their own preview from October 13-15. This means it could well be in 'soft opening' mode from mid-October onwards - so don't forget to check it out if you're looking for the chance to be one of the first to ride!

27/8/2006: Walt Disney World Resort: Parking prices at Disney's theme parks have risen from $9 to $10 per day, in keeping with all the other parks. They have also raised their Magic Your Way Base Ticket prices again this year (for the second time), with a single day pass (no park hopping) selling for $56 (ages 3-9) and $67 (ages 10 and up), plus tax.

10/7/2006: Magic Kingdom: Wannabe Pirates and Princesses can enjoy a new special evening party at the Magic Kingdom in 2007. Disney's Pirate and Princess Party will be an additional, separately-ticketed event on specific nights in January, February and March, in a similar manner to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and the Not So Scary Halloween Party. The 13 evenings will include 'Pirate adventure coves' and 'Princess royal courts', plus free sweets, trinkets and themed entertainment, including 'swashbuckling and dancing'. Guests will be given special 'Treasure maps' and 'Treasure bags' on entering the park to navigate around the various events, while there will also be themed Character greetings and a new stage show. Other highlights will be a Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade (which shows at all special evening parties) and a new fireworks show. Tickets will be $36.95 for adults and $29.95 for children (3-9) in advance, or $42.95 and $35.95 on the night (if available). Call 407 934 6397 to book.

WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORTS

All Star Music Resort: A brand new development at the Jazz and Calypso sections of this budget-priced resort is the creation of almost 200 suites that sleep up to six (a big bonus for larger families, as there are few options for 5 or more in most Disney hotels). The suites consist of two standard rooms fused together, creating 520sq ft of space with a main bedroom featuring a queen-size bed (and 27in TV!) and a living room with a convertible sofa and two ottoman chairs that convert into single beds. In addition, the living room has another 27in TV, plus a kitchenette with sink, fridge and microwave. There are also two full bathrooms. These rooms will be available from June 4, 2006. NB: We suspect Disney will implement this change right across the second (unopened) phase of the Pop Century Resort, too, at some stage in 2008.

Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan is a new and exclusive benefit for Disney Resort Hotel guests. It is a points system that offers complete flexibility to eat meals in any combination you choose at any of more than 100 Walt Disney World Restaurants.  When you purchase the Dining Plan, "you can relax in the knowledge that all your meals have been paid for in advance," say Disney. The plan offers two meals and one snack per day, per person over 3 years old. The meal points allowance per person per night is as follows:

• one table service meal including starter, main course and non-alcoholic drinks
• one counter service meal including one main course, one non-alcoholic drink or full combo meal
• one snack per day including popcorn, ice cream, soft drink, etc

One table service meal can be exchanged for one character dining experience; two table service meals can be exchanged for one fine dining location. The cost is £21.99 per adult per day and £8.99 per child per day through the Walt Disney Travel company on www.disneyworld.co.uk or 0870 24 24 900 (plus various tour operators). On a daily basis, it is quite a cost-effective plan, but, over a two-week holiday (and you HAVE to buy the Plan for the full duration of your Disney stay) it still adds up to quite a significant amount (around £866 for a family of four, with children under 10). Our feeling is you might still be better off paying as you go, and having some meals away from Disney (where they are usually cheaper).

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS/ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE:

3/7/2007: NASCAR Sports Grille at Universal Orlando's CityWalk is now open after a $10m makeover from the NASCAR Cafe.

27/12/2006: Universal Orlando has joined the healthy-options meal movement, with the announcement of new reduced-fat meals in both parks. Kids meals will come with a choice of fruit or trans fat-free fries, while adults can choose either a side salad or the lower-fat fries. All outlets will begin cooking with trans fat-free oils in 2007, with the aim to be completely trans fat-free by the end of the year, and nutrition information will be posted at all food outlets. However, the good news is tempered by the fact Universal has raised car parking prices AGAIN, to a whopping $11 per car, meaning their parking costs have gone up by 37% in just two years. With their attendance already down, you wonder why they seem intent in putting people off with these nickle-and-dime price tactics.

29/11/2006: Universal Orlando will welcome the eclectic sounds and comedy of the renowned Blue Man Group next summer, when their theatrical style will take up permanent residence for nightly shows. In the same way the magnificent Cirque Du Soleil show La Nouba has its own theatre and separately ticketed show in Downtown Disney, so Blue Man Group will have a 1,000-seat venue built for them in the former Nickelodeon Studios area, which will then have a separate box office and entrance and be taken out of the Universal Studios park. The first show is scheduled for June 7 but bookings are already open and it is sure to be a hot ticket, at least for the first few months, so we would strongly advise booking early if this appeals to you. To get an idea of their style, check out the Blue Man group website - www.blueman.com. Their zany style and vibrant music has been a big hit with American audiences since the late 1980s, and they have performed long-running shows in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Toronto, London and Berlin. This new version (which will last around 1hr 45min) will see various elements from previous shows knitted together with all-new material, and served up in their specially-built new venue. Tickets are currently $45-$55 for adults for the matinee performance ($39-$45 for children 3-9) and $59-$69 for the evening show ($49-$59 for children), and are completely separate to theme park tickets (although Universal also have special offers for a combo park-Blue Man show ticket on their website, www.universalorlando.com). Show times are variously at 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9pm. Book online or call Universal Orlando at 407 224 6000. Susan has seen their show in Boston and rates them one of the funniest comedy acts anywhere. PS: they can also be quite messy, so if you have seats near the stage, you might not want to wear your best clothes!

Another Universal Orlando novelty is the arrival of iVillage Live, a new one-hour daytime NBC TV show, which will be filmed live in Islands of Adventure each weekday at noon, starting December 4. The former Toon Amphitheater (Page 171) will be adapted for the new show, which features 'family, food, fashion, friendships and fun!' The audience will have the chance to win prizes, as well as take part in the show, but you will need to pick up a (free) ticket at least 24 hours in advance. Send an email to iVillageLIvetickets@nbcuni.com or call (in the US) 1866 448 5360. Check out their website at iVillageLive.com and take part in live chats and online voting.

OTHER PARKS
SEAWORLD

7/3/2007: A new Trainer For A Day programme has started at Discovery Cove, featuring more time with the park's dolphins (price $429, plus tax). SeaWorld has also announced full details of their forthcoming (spring 2008) new water park. Aquatica will be a truly stunning park, covering 59 acres and with a vibrant, colourful tropical theming. It will feature some 30 rides, slides and flumes, plus two side-by-side wave pools, two contrasting lazy river attractions and a giant 'Water Fortress' kids' play area. More details are sure to be forthcoming in the months ahead, but the outline plan alone looks quite fantastic and a real departure for water parks. The headline ride features two side-by-side perspex tubes which go through a lagoon full of Commerson's dolphins. Plenty of Wow! factor there.

1/11/2006: The SeaWorld park ultimately held back on some of the extra additions to their Shamu's Happy Harbor area (Page 183), but the Beach Bussies and Ocean Commotion rides will be added in the near future. The Shamu Express mini-coaster, Jazzy Jellies and Swishy Fishies all opened as expected.

BUSCH GARDENS

7/3/2007:  Busch Gardens' monstrous 'dive-coaster' SheiKra, will have its cars altered to be completely 'floorless' (nothing to push your feet against on those 200ft drops!) from June 16. It will close for the makeover on May 29.

CYPRESS GARDENS

29/11/2006: Cypress Gardens Adventure Park (Page 207) has announced several new items for 2007. The rebuilding and opening of the classic Starliner wooden coaster (the first of its kind when built in 1963) is now scheduled for June 2007; Bugsville, a new children’s area consisting of 13 rides, a special theatre and large interactive play structure, opens in spring 2007; there is a new pass exchange programme, which offers annual passholders from ANY other theme park in the country free admission to Cypress Gardens (on production of that annual pass); new food and shopping venues will be added; and you can also buy a new Passport, which includes unlimited admission to Cypress Gardens Adventure Park and Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia, as well as free parking. Aside from the addition of 'A Bugsville Adventure,' the daily show line-up is also being revamped. A new ice skating show, Frosty Follies, opened on November 17 as part of their 'Old-Fashioned Christmas' celebration, with an all-new ice show debuting in January. The park also promises more entertaining and informative animal shows in Nature’s Way and other 'surprises' during the year. The New Year sees Cypress Gardens celebrating 65 years of water ski history with a new show. Explore the evolution of the sport and its relationship with Cypress Gardens since the first show opened as a spur-of-the- moment thing one sunny afternoon in 1943. Many records have been set and firsts attempted at the park through the years and some of these will be revisited through the new show.

GATORLAND

29/11/2006: Happily, Gatorland wasn't out of action for too long. Although the front of Orlando's oldest attraction was completely burn out, they have been able to open a new entrance in the south corner of the car park, and the rest of the park is now operating normally again (while they set about re-building the front). They officially re-opened on November 24 after a whirlwind re-organisation and non-stop efforts by the staff, and we can again thoroughly recommend a visit here.

7/11/2006: Sadly, we have to report that a major fire at Gatorland (Pages 214-215) has put that charming park out of action for the time being. The fire, on the morning of November 6, completely gutted the main entrance, including the gift shop and offices, and caused extensive damage to the iconic gator mouth entryway. The owners do plan to re-open, but there is no current time-frame for when they will be able to take visitors again. Please stay tuned to our Up-Date pages, and we will be sure to keep you fully informed of their progress. They certainly deserve our full support and we hope people will make an extra effort to visit Gatorland - which dates back to 1949 - when it is open again. Their plans to add a new children's water park by April will also continue.

OTHER ORLANDO ATTRACTIONS
INTERNATIONAL DRIVE

7/3/2007: Bergamo's, the flamboyant Italian restaurant, formerly at The Mercado, is now open at the Festival Bay  Mall at the top of I-Drive. The Cricketers Arms is now confirmed to be moving here in the summer while Monkey Joe's, a new indoor soft-play area for toddlers and children 2-12, opens this summer at the mall.

Meanwhile, The Mercado is all but a derelict hulk these days, with portions of it already marked for demolition. The only units left open are the Cricketers (until May), the Butcher Shop steakhouse and Guadalajara Mexican grill (evenings only) and the buffet Chinese restaurant (lunch and dinner), plus the small internet cafe at the front and the Titanic Experience attraction (which continues to be a great choice). To be perfectly honest, we can no longer recommend The Mercado as somewhere that looks a worthwhile visit, unless you are keen to see the Titanic Experience.

27/12/2006: The fun haunted house attraction of Skull Kingdom on International Drive (Page 218) will not re-open its doors after closing last month (just temporarily, we believed). The latest news is that the owner is going to redevelop the site completely for apartments, and all the contents of Skull Kingdom are now up for auction. This also means the end of their Chamber of Magic dinner show (Page 280), and will remove one of I-Drive's most notable landmarks. Skull Kingdom opened in 1996 and was consistently voted one of America's top haunted houses, but there obviously hasn't been the business recently to keep it operating successfully.

By contrast, Fun Spot Action Park (Page 218) has announced a decrease in its admission prices. Adult admission is now $29.95 (from $34.95) and includes unlimited go-karts, rides and arcade use. Children’s armbands are now $14.95 (down from $24.95).

1/11/2006: Wet 'n Wild will close its Hydra Fighter and Blue Niagara rides (Pages 229-230) at the end of 2006 to make way for a major new attraction, called Brain Wash in summer 2007. The new ride will be a fully-themed, multi-passenger attraction complete with music, lights and special effects and is scheduled to open for spring 2007.

DINING:

7/3/2007: The Porterhouse Restaurant is new at the Orlando Airport Marriott, an authentic American steakhouse featuring dry-aged US prime beef. With a British executive chef and some truly superb steaks, it is well worth checking out this recently-refurbished hotel - and staying for dinner!

Pointe Orlando (Pages 273 and 311) now has Maggiano's Little Italy as its latest opening, a superb (and large) family-style Italian restaurant in 1940s period style (check out their lovely entry Gallery). Portions are suitably large but everything is beautifully cooked and very tempting. It is also proving extremely popular, for both lunch and dinner, so expect a wait at peak periods unless you book (407 241 8650).

27/11/2006: The Orlando Brewing Co, is new in downtown Orlando and offers daily which offers brewery tours - as well as products by the pint! At 1301 Atlanta Ave, it features a 100-seat tasting room that offers 21 beers on tap, including nine of the handcrafted products produced in the building’s brewing area, and nightly live music. The Brewery opens at noon daily and stays open until 9pm Sun-Thur and 2 am Fri and Sat. It is one of only eight organic breweries in America certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

SHOPPING:

27/11/2006: The smart new Tommy Bahama Tropical Café and Emporium opens on Dec 7, 2006, featuring signature dishes like Saba Steak Salad, Tommy’s World Famous Coconut Shrimp and the Barbados Brownie. The restaurant has 300 seats, including an outdoor patio for up to 105 and a semi-private area that seats 40. There is also a large Tommy Bahama shop, with an extensive range of upscale clothing, accessories and home furnishings. Also new is The Grape, a novel wine bar and wine retailer, where you can happily sip a glass or two of any of their products and enjoy some tasty hors d'oeuvres. There is also live music periodically. From what we have seen at Pointe Orlando recently, the huge reconstruction of the whole mall is paying big dividends, with the shopping and dining complex taking on a much fresher and more inviting air. More new shops and restaurants will open in the coming months, while the rather ugly tower that used to house the cinema ticket office is next for demolition. The whole process should be complete later this year (around Sept/Oct, they hope).

29/11/2006: The Pointe will have two new restaurants in summer 2007. Redrock Canyon Grill features Southwest and American cuisine in a casual, energetic atmosphere with a menu offering fresh items such as rotisserie chicken, grilled or smoked fish and barbeque St. Louis ribs. It will seat 292 people and have a private room that seats 30 and opens on to a patio. The smaller Pizzeria Valdiano offers a menu filled with authentic favourites such as pizza by the slice, Stromboli, pastas and salads. It will seat 65-70.

Pointe Orlando renovations are resulting in some fantastic new offerings, including The Capital Grille (fine dining in a luxurious, upscale atmosphere), which opened this past Spring. The Oceanaire (fresh-daily seafood offerings) is due to open soon. The Grape (wine bar and retail), Taverna Opa (authentic Greek cuisine) and Maggie Moo's, our favourite decadent ice cream (which we sampled in Newport News, Virginia, during a recent trek out East) are the Pointe's newest confirmed tenants, due to open through 2007.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

3/7/2007: Reunion Grande, the ultra-smart 11-storey Condo Hotel at the massive golf-themed Ginn Reunion Resort just to the south of Orlando. It features a five-star restaurant, Forte, and a super-chic rooftop pool, terrace and tapas bar. One of the best views in the area!

Changing name: From the Hawaiian Maingate Inn to America's Best Value Inn in Kissimmee, this budget hotel is open again after a $3.5million makeover.

1/11/2006: The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts (Page 69) has just completed the first phase of a $60million renovation to completely revamp the lobbies, meeting space and introduce a new art programme. The next phase will see a major upgrade of all the suites, featuring elegant new interiors.

Wyndham Palms Resort & Country Club in Kissimmee (not to be confused with the Windsor Palms Resort - Page 90) has become the Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club. The resort recently expanded the main pool area, 'Dunes Lagoon', to feature a 2-storey water slide anchored by a 30ft rock wall, swimming pool, 17,000sq ft of deck space, 10 private cabanas and a sandy beach play area. The resort also plans to add 65 villas by the end of 2007. Call 407 226 9501 for more details.
After five years in the Westin family of hotels, The Kessler Collection announced the Westin Grand Bohemian in downtown Orlando will become an independent hotel from November 20. The hotel will be renamed Grand Bohemian Hotel – Orlando. The hotel will continue normal operations and retain all existing staff.

OTHER AREAS:

First Choice have a new charter service from Bristol direct to Orlando Sanford Airport every Sunday, the first of its kind from Bristol. However, a number of your operators, including Thomson, Thomas Cook and Cosmos, have all cancelled their winter flight programmes to Florida, and will not resume again until March 2008.