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Orlando is making an effort to attract chilly Canadians to the Sunshine State.
The promotion, which was launched in Ontario last week and will run for six weeks, includes 6 million coffee cups that will be distributed by Country Style, one of Canada's leading coffee and doughnut chains. The cups include a picture of a palm tree and the slogan, "This warm feeling brought to you by Orlando."
No more free parking
Universal Orlando has stopped offering free parking to people who visit CityWalk in the evening.
Since Jan. 1, the resort has been charging guests $3 to park in its garages between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The resorts charges $12 to park earlier in the day.
Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said the resort decided to move to a pay structure common at other parking garages.
"When we opened CityWalk 10 years ago, parking was complimentary. But now [CityWalk is] established and successful, and we're bring our parking policies more in line with other venues," he said. "We think people are used to paying for parking, especially when it's a parking structure like ours."
Glacier Bay off itinerary
Disney Cruise Line withdrew an application for a permit to sail in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park.
The news was included in a release from the park last week announcing awards to multiple cruise lines that had been competing for the limited number sailing slots. The permits cover sailing in Glacier Bay between 2010 and 2019.
Disney Cruise Line spokeswoman Rena Langley said the company pulled its application because "for now, Glacier Bay doesn't fit in our future itinerary plans."
But Langley said that doesn't necessarily rule Alaska out as a future cruise destination for Disney. "We're continuing to explore many future itinerary options and, certainly, Alaska remains on our radar."
Special delivery
Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando's boutique resort, is offering Valentine's Day packages in which an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin will deliver a keepsake buoy with a personalized message from one sweetie to another.
The packages range from $74.95 to $295.95 -- on top of regular admission to the park -- depending on whether the customers want to add anything from a souvenir photo frame and box of chocolates to a dozen red roses, chilled champagne and a souvenir DVD chronicling the day.
Battle of the minds
The International Drive attraction WonderWorks says its newest exhibit monitors participants' brain waves in a battle of the minds.
"Mindball" is based on technology used as a training tool for West Point cadets, the attraction said. The table-top game requires participants to remain calm and relaxed in order to move a ball across the table "with their mind" and into their opponent's goal. Audience members can follow along as players' brain wave activity is shown on a 52-inch monitor.
Hall of Fame
The founder of Fantasy of Flight has been named to the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame. Kermit Weeks, an aerobatics stunt pilot who created the Polk County aviation attraction, was one of three men inducted into the society this year. Weeks began restoring antique aircraft in the 1970s and now owns more than 140 civilian and military planes, which he has displayed at Fantasy of Flight.
Hotel sells for $1.7M
The Econo Lodge Kissimmee has been sold for $1.7 million, CBRE announced last week. The hotel includes 94 units on nearly three acres near U.S. Highway 192. It was built in 1991. CBRE Hotels represented the seller, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, Conn. The buyer was DSS Investments LLC out of Tampa, CBRE said.
Spotlight on Orlando
Metro Orlando is featured in an 18-page section in Delta Air Lines' in-flight magazine this month. "Portrait: Orlando" focuses on the region's industries and neighborhoods. The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission said a second profile in the February edition of Sky magazine will focus on the region's tourist attractions and arts offerings. The two-part feature is the result of a partnership between the EDC, Orlando Regional Realtor Association and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5414. Sara K. Clarke can be reached at skclarke@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5664.
The promotion, which was launched in Ontario last week and will run for six weeks, includes 6 million coffee cups that will be distributed by Country Style, one of Canada's leading coffee and doughnut chains. The cups include a picture of a palm tree and the slogan, "This warm feeling brought to you by Orlando."
No more free parking
Universal Orlando has stopped offering free parking to people who visit CityWalk in the evening.
Since Jan. 1, the resort has been charging guests $3 to park in its garages between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The resorts charges $12 to park earlier in the day.
Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said the resort decided to move to a pay structure common at other parking garages.
"When we opened CityWalk 10 years ago, parking was complimentary. But now [CityWalk is] established and successful, and we're bring our parking policies more in line with other venues," he said. "We think people are used to paying for parking, especially when it's a parking structure like ours."
Glacier Bay off itinerary
Disney Cruise Line withdrew an application for a permit to sail in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park.
The news was included in a release from the park last week announcing awards to multiple cruise lines that had been competing for the limited number sailing slots. The permits cover sailing in Glacier Bay between 2010 and 2019.
Disney Cruise Line spokeswoman Rena Langley said the company pulled its application because "for now, Glacier Bay doesn't fit in our future itinerary plans."
But Langley said that doesn't necessarily rule Alaska out as a future cruise destination for Disney. "We're continuing to explore many future itinerary options and, certainly, Alaska remains on our radar."
Special delivery
Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando's boutique resort, is offering Valentine's Day packages in which an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin will deliver a keepsake buoy with a personalized message from one sweetie to another.
The packages range from $74.95 to $295.95 -- on top of regular admission to the park -- depending on whether the customers want to add anything from a souvenir photo frame and box of chocolates to a dozen red roses, chilled champagne and a souvenir DVD chronicling the day.
Battle of the minds
The International Drive attraction WonderWorks says its newest exhibit monitors participants' brain waves in a battle of the minds.
"Mindball" is based on technology used as a training tool for West Point cadets, the attraction said. The table-top game requires participants to remain calm and relaxed in order to move a ball across the table "with their mind" and into their opponent's goal. Audience members can follow along as players' brain wave activity is shown on a 52-inch monitor.
Hall of Fame
The founder of Fantasy of Flight has been named to the Florida Aviation Hall of Fame. Kermit Weeks, an aerobatics stunt pilot who created the Polk County aviation attraction, was one of three men inducted into the society this year. Weeks began restoring antique aircraft in the 1970s and now owns more than 140 civilian and military planes, which he has displayed at Fantasy of Flight.
Hotel sells for $1.7M
The Econo Lodge Kissimmee has been sold for $1.7 million, CBRE announced last week. The hotel includes 94 units on nearly three acres near U.S. Highway 192. It was built in 1991. CBRE Hotels represented the seller, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, Conn. The buyer was DSS Investments LLC out of Tampa, CBRE said.
Spotlight on Orlando
Metro Orlando is featured in an 18-page section in Delta Air Lines' in-flight magazine this month. "Portrait: Orlando" focuses on the region's industries and neighborhoods. The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission said a second profile in the February edition of Sky magazine will focus on the region's tourist attractions and arts offerings. The two-part feature is the result of a partnership between the EDC, Orlando Regional Realtor Association and the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5414. Sara K. Clarke can be reached at skclarke@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5664.
