The Other Orlando Blog

Orlando's Leu Gardens is overhauling its landscaping to root out exotic plant species that have found their way to this oasis near downtown. The plan is to restablish native plants, which have the benefit of requiring less water and taking less maintenance.

The price of admission has gone to $7 for adults and $2 for children (K-12). There is free admission on Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Check out their web site.

Labels: leu gardens, orlando

Well, I can tell you how to get to Sesame Street at SeaWorld (thanks to their press release):

The beloved Sesame Street characters return to SeaWorld this spring and summer, delighting families with character meet-and-greets, a Breakfast with Elmo and Friends and an all-new “Elmo and Abby’s Treasure Hunt” musical production.

Throughout the day, kids and parents will also enjoy special character connection opportunities to meet their favorite Sesame Street friends for hugs and photographs.

Guests may even start their day with a fun-filled character breakfast sure to entertain kids and parents alike. Breakfast with Elmo and Friends is offered daily at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The breakfast features a delicious buffet served-up with the hottest characters in town including Elmo, Big Bird, Grover, Zoe, Ernie and Cookie Monster. Prices are $16.95 plus tax for adults and $14.95 for children (ages 3-9). Children under 3 are free. Reservations are required.

Sesame Street’s newest neighbor, Abby Cadabby, is the star of this fun musical show featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster, Rosita and Grover. Beginning May 24 and running through Sept. 1, Abby and her Sesame pals will embark on a treasure hunt adventure as they search for clues to open a talking treasure trunk. Along the way, they’ll encounter a singing tree, a rhyming rock, a shouting toucan and more. As they find the clues to unlock the trunk, they explore their treasures and open their minds to a world of imagination.

Labels: orlando, seaworld, sesame street

The Coaster Critic has spilled the beans about the long-rumored new coaster that will be sort of a centerpiece at SeaWorld.

Located in a central area near the entrance mall, the new ride will be named "Manta" and will be a "flying coaster," that is a steel coaster where you get strapped into a prone, face-down position, with the coaster tracks over your head.

The concept art posted at Coaster Critic makes it look like the wings of the manta ray themed ride vehicle will dip into water at at least one point, sending a wall of water over onlookers (shades of SheiKra!). There's also talk of up-close animal encounters, although how they'll manage that is anybody's guess.

The artwork also makes it look like the ride will cover more ground than the current fenced off area would suggest. Looks like the track will extend over nearby parts of the park. But I wonder where exactly. Key West?

Labels: manta, orlando, roller coasters, seaworld

In a widely anticipated move, Disney has announced that Disney-MGM Studios will become "Disney's Hollywood Studios."

What? No Pixar? No ABC? Disney honcho, Meg Crofton explains:

"The new name reflects how the park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment that today's Hollywood has to offer -- in music, television, movies and theater," Disney World President Meg Crofton stated in a news release.

Huh? So I ask again: No PIxar? No ABC?

Labels: disney-mgm, orlando, theme parks, walt disney world

Reacting to a rash of accidents, Orlando police are installing cameras at 10 high risk intersections. Wendy Michaels thinks it's a good idea.

Wendy Michaels shook hands with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and appeared at the same news conference with top city leaders, but she would trade places with anyone not to be the center of this attention because Michaels nearly died when her car was T-boned in an intersection two years ago by a driver running a red light.

It was cases like Michaels' that prompted Orlando city leaders to move forward with installing cameras at the 10 intersections, and send car owners a ticket if the car is photographed running the red light.

Most of the targeted intersections are well away from the tourist areas, but three are right around Universal Orlando. They are:

Conroy and Kirkman, just north of the park.

Kirkman and Vineland, at the northeast corner of UO property (behind Portofino Bay Hotel).

Kirkman and Major, which marks the eastern entrance to the park.

So slow down, save a life, avoid a ticket.

Labels: hidden cameras, orlando, traffic, universal orlando

One of the unavoidable consequences of the ingenious design of the Portofino Bay Hotel is the long, long corridors that lead from the lobby to the rooms. From time to time, I have heard people complain about it.

But if you think the guests have to hike, spare a thought for the bellmen. I was chatting with a bellman today who told me that someone brought a pedometer to work one day and they figured out that the average bellman at Portofino covers ten miles every day.

Tip well!

Labels: orlando, portofino bay hotel, universal orlando

The Sentinel has a helpful round-up of 4th of July celebrations at Orlando area theme parks.

Labels: fourth of july, orlando, theme parks

Gatorland will be raising its prices July 1, 2007. The new rates will be $22.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids 3 to 12.

Of course, you can easily find coupons that will give you $2.50 off these prices and Florida residents can pay for one day's admission and get in free for a year!

Also coming in July is a new live show called "Vera's Critter Corner."

More info here.

Labels: gatorland, orlando, orlando attractions

Wow! The new owners of Midway Airboats have been busy.

In my original review I talked about how desolate the place looked. And the "before" picture to the left will give you an idea of what I was talking about.

It was really kind of cool in a Mad Max sort of way.

The setting is still wonderfully "untouched by human hands," but the buildings themselves have been touched a lot. They're now covered by some pretty nifty murals as the "after" photo at the right illustrates.

Prices have gone up too, but that should come as no surprise to anyone who's filled up their gas tank recently. Fuel is the single largest expense for an airboat operator.

For more information, visit their web site.

Labels: airboat rides, midway airboats, orlando, orlando attractions