Leisure … more than a word, it's a lifestyle

Had a lot of fun last night as I attended the AARP Orlando@50+ event at City Walk, Universal Orlando. No..I’m not quite at that mark yet but I’m not far away and it was good to get out and meet so many folks at the “Meet & Greet” evening.

The day began earlier as AARP members explored the theme parks at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. For many, it was the first time in Orlando and from what I heard, everyone really enjoyed their time. Of course, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was one of the main attractions and naturally I took some time to visit it myself.

I’ll not say anything about it for now, because I have a very special blog coming up soon as we have something to celebrate but all I’ll say is that it was terrific. Terrific is a word that could also be used to explain tonight’s event; plenty of food…and I mean plenty, lots of great people and some fabulous entertainment at the all the bars and clubs at CityWalk set the Orlando@50+ off to the right start.

I’m looking forward to the weekend…and here’s a quick video I filmed earlier…

On this blog I like to feature some of the things to do that you wouldn’t normally think about when you visit Orlando. Sure, everyone knows about the big theme parks at Disney, Universal and Sea World but what about the smaller guys?

Some of the smaller attractions can be a lot of fun and there’s plenty of them to try out and enjoy. One of the best or rather, I should say two of the best, are the Fun Spot attractions. The Fun Spot has two locations in Central Florida, one on International Drive and the other at Old Town. They are both unique and they both offer a lot of fun for all members of the family.

We’ll start by looking at the Fun Spot Orlando Action Park on I-Drive. It’s actually located at 5551 Del Verde Way, one block back from I-Drive just past Wet and Wild as you head towards Orlando Premium Outlets. It’s very easy to get to and you really can’t miss the giant 100 foot tall “Revolver” Ferris wheel…and if you go at night, it’s even easier to spot as it’s just been outfitted with $250,000 worth of LED lighting!

The Orlando location has 5 Go-Kart tracks in total; 3 multi level, 1 flat track and a cadet track for kids aged 4 through 7. The park also has 7 preschool kiddy rides as well as 5 high level thrill rides for all the family to enjoy. Inside the main building you’ll find ticketing and approximately 120 arcade games as well as a cafe where you can grab a burger and a cool drink.

The Go-Kart tracks are broken down by color. There’s a red, blue, yellow and green track and they are all a lot of fun to ride. THE TRASHER is the Racy Red Thrasher Track for single riders that is around 800 Feet in length and is a ground level sprint track; THE CONQUEST (Pictured above left) is the Blue “Florida Ski Jump” Track of approximately 1000 feet in length; THE QUAD HELIX (pictured above right) is the yellow track of 1600 feet in length and THE COMMANDER is the Green Track “Double Dip Bridge” of 600 feet. All kart tracks have height and age restrictions.

Among the thrill rides are the Bumper Boats, the Bumper Kars, Paratrooper, Scrambler and of course, the Revolver Ferris wheel. Kid Spot is the area for pre school children to hang out and have fun. There are seven rides here including Carousel, Kiddie Swings, Frog Hopper, Panda Ride, Super Trucks, the classic Tea Cup Ride and the Kiddie Train. Rounding things off is the Fun Slide, where up to three racers get to race each other down the bumpy slide.

The Fun Spot Kissimmee location is bigger than the International Drive Orlando location and is really best to visit at night time. There is a lot more atmosphere and also a lot more people having fun. The location has 4 major Go-Kart tracks, 11 exciting thrill rides, 8 pre-school rides and of course, that most famous attraction, the World’s tallest SkyCoaster!

All your favorite fun rides can be found in Kissimmee. There’s the breath-taking double wheel called Skywheel, the heart stopping Paratrooper, while you can flip yourself over on the Extraordinary Bike Ride. The Screamin Swing otherwise known as the Hot Seat is sure to get the adrenalin pumping while you’ll soon get used to the yells coming from Screamer. You can catch a wave of fun on Surf’s Up or zip around on Flying Bob’s Bobsleds. Bumper Kars are always possible and so is the classic Tilt A Whirl. For a great view of the park as you spin then the high flying Yo-Yo will fit the bill while speed and spins can be found on Cobra.

The Kid Spot has a great selection of classic pre-school rides to keep all youngsters happy and you’ll enjoy seeing their faces as they ride the classic Carousel, Cyber Jets and the Red Baron. Convoy, Castle Mania, the Kiddie Coaster and the Fun Slide all make for a great time…and don’t forget Bumper Kars for adults and kids to enjoy alike.

The Go-Kart tracks are always fun and you have four choices to test your driving skills. “Vortex” is the place to ride a unique, multi level concrete track with a heart pounding shear drop and a 32 degree banked bowl while over on “Chaos” you get to ride the chaotic labyrinth. The mind bending track leave you smiling from ear to ear!

The “Slick” and the “Road Course” complete the set. The road course is the super fast, hair pin curve flat concrete track while “Slick” will test your car handling skills to the full!

SKYCOASTER will let you feel all the thrills of skydiving and hang gliding in one action packed ride. Riding the World’s Tallest Skycoaster  is truly a unique thrill that you will remember for a lifetime.

Visitors are placed in special flight suits, and are fastened to steel cables that can hold up to 9,000 lbs each. Then you start the almost one minute ride to the top of the tower. Once you reach the height of 300 feet, you will hear the crew tell you 3,2,1 fly! You then pull your own ripcord, starting your plunge toward mother earth. You will free fall for 120 feet straight down, then the cables gently catch you and you start your swing out over the water, reaching speeds of 85 mph! At night, see the lights of Orlando, Disney, Universal and the whole Central Florida area, miles away.

There really is no place like the Fun Spot for the whole family to enjoy a few hours of fun. Make sure you go to both the Orlando or Kissimmee locations when you are next in town.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a great event held annually during September and October at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World.  The event really started in response to the very successful Halloween Horror Nights event at Universal Studios Florida.  Disney’s event, really caters to a family atmosphere, whereas Universal’s has more of a “fright-centered” event.

The event  is priced separately and encourages guests to dress up in Halloween costumes and celebrate the season with themed events throughout the park. Normal rules prohibit guests over the age of nine years old from dressing in costume, however, this rule is waived for the party, although anyone dressed as a Disney character is prohibited from signing autographs or posing for pictures with other guests so as not to be confused with regular cast members in those roles.

The event includes “trick or treating” throughout the Magic Kingdom and features an Alice in Wonderland themed trail on the bridge between Mickey’s Toontown Fair and Tomorrowland. It’s entitled, appropriately enough, “Alice and Mad Hatter’s Treat Party.”

A stage show and meet-and-greet with villains from Disney animated movies led by Maleficent  titled “The Disney Villains Mix and Mingle” is held at the Cinderella Castle  Forecourt Stage. Among those to visit are the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook and the Evil Queen.  Other meet-and-greet opportunities exist during the party, including two Disney Character dance parties, one in Fantasyland at Ariel’s Grotto and features  supporting characters such as Chip and Dale  and ‘Stich’s” Cosmic Dance Party”, held at Tomorrowland inside Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe Starlight Room. All the other characters are available at their regular locations, such as the Princesses from the Disney animated canon at Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

A parade and fireworks  show are the centerpieces of the event. The parade, entitled “Mickey’s Boo To You Halloween Parade,” features a pre-parade ride by the Headless Horseman from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  The parade, also features various Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and their friends in Halloween costumes and a live-action version of Ezra, Gus and Phineas, the three hitchhiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion attraction.

The fireworks show  is titled Happy HalloWishes: A Grim Grinning Ghosts’ Spooktacular in the Sky, which is based on the Haunted Mansion and features Halloween-related music from the Disney library of animated films. 

2010 Dates

September 28, 30
October 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29, and 31
November 1

Prices for the party are as follows (all prices listed include tax):

Advance Purchase: $57.46 for adults 10 and older / $51.07 for ages 3-9*

Passholder Discounts: $53.20 / $46.81*

Day of Event (if still available): $63.85 /$57.46

*Not available October 29 and 31. Those two dates are priced at a premium: $69.17 (ages 10 and up) and $62.78 (ages 3-9), tax included.

As we look forward to the opening of the new Amway Center here are some facts and figures about the project:

From a vision to blueprints to reality.

The Orlando Magic served as the developer of the new downtown Amway Center which will compete to host major national events, concerts and family shows. The facility is owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida community.

The Amway Center was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando.The building’s exterior features a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one façade. A 180-foot tall tower and spire serves as a beacon amid the downtown skyline.

At 875,000 square feet, the new arena is almost triple the size of the old Amway Arena. The building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design, unmatched technology, featuring 1,100 digital monitors and the tallest, high-definition video-board in an NBA venue, and multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building.

Every level of ticket buyer will have access to a number of premium amenities, including the:

· The Budweiser Baseline Bar

· Club Restaurant

· Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience

· Orlando on Demand Info. Garden

· STUFF’s Magic Castle presented by Club Wyndham

· Gentlemen Jack Terrace

· Sky Bar

· Multiple indoor-outdoor spaces which celebrate Florida’s climate.

The Magic were major financial participants in the public-private partnership – contributing $50 million toward construction of the Amway Center, $10 million toward the arts center, and $25 million toward construction of five community recreation centers. The Magic’s other contributions toward operations, fund-raising and financing push the team’s total participation in the downtown venue projects to more than $150 million.

In a historic move, the Magic agreed that Amway Center would be designed and constructed to meet the certification criteria for an environmentally “green” building development standard.

Populous, formerly HOK Sport, was selected as designer of the Amway Center. Hunt Construction group was selected as the construction manager. The official groundbreaking celebration was held July 25, 2008. The events center was named the Amway Center on August 5, 2008 and the building opened to the public for the first time on October 1, 2010.

Inside the arena, patrons will find modern amenities in a comfortable setting – perfect for hosting family events as well as basketball games. Concourses are spacious, offering unique concessions and activities for kids and adults alike. The Budweiser Baseline Bar on the main Terrace concourse overlooks the event floor, and children will enjoy spending time in the kid-oriented STUFF’s Magic Castle presented by Club Wyndham and retail opportunities on the upper Promenade concourse.

The Magic’s old home, Amway Arena, housed 17,500 seats in just 367,000 square feet of space. The new arena features 875,000 square feet of space – more room to incorporate more modern day amenities found in most professional arenas of the day – and seating which will be expandable to more than 20,000 seats to accommodate major national events.

The new $380 million facility features eight levels, five public concourses, 37 restrooms, 55 concession points of sale, 60 suites, 68 loge boxes, 1,400 club seats. The Amway Center features up to 17 hospitality spaces for rental on a per event basis.

To celebrate Central Florida’s moderate climate, the building is filled with a variety of indoor-outdoor spaces. For instance, once guests enter the voluminous, 80-foot-tall Disney Atrium main lobby, they are able to return to the outdoors via a spacious balcony, the Gentleman Jack Terrace, overlooking Church Street.

The arena was designed to respond to its distinct urban setting while revealing the activities occurring within. Bounded by Church Street, Hughey Avenue, South Street and Division Avenue, the arena’s primary entrance faces north to Church Street, creating a natural extension of the nearby downtown entertainment core. The Church Street entry features a large public entry plaza connecting the arena’s spacious entry lobby.

The massive construction project served as a boon to the local construction business in a time when jobs were scarce because of the sharp downturn of the nation’s economy. The Magic and City of Orlando worked closely with local minority and women-owned businesses — some of which were based out of the nearby Parramore community — awarding them with more than 30 percent of the contracts totaling $90-plus million, exceeding the 24 percent benchmark established by the City of Orlando.

Of the 170-plus minority and women-owned firms which worked to construct the facility, 61 were African-American-owned firms, 51 women-owned firms, 36 Hispanic-owned firms, 20 Asian-American-owned firms and two Native-American-owned firms.

Sustainable design and construction specifics focused on the opportunities to create an environmentally-friendly building in various categories. Among them: providing water efficiency; optimizing energy and atmosphere protection; conserving materials and resources; monitoring indoor environmental quality and health; selecting environmentally preferred operations and maintenance.

These elements combine to create one of the most environmentally-friendly, high-performing professional arenas in the country.

Amway Center includes such sustainable design and construction elements as:

· Remediating a brownfield site that is connected to numerous high density residential, retail and community developments

· Creating a pedestrian-oriented, vegetated plaza area at arena entrances

· Treating storm water runoff from the arena site

· Incorporating a special roofing material to reduce the building cooling load

· Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures

· Improving the building ventilation and lighting systems with various monitoring devices

· Using recycled content materials during construction, and monitoring construction waste to divert materials from landfills

· Implementing a green housekeeping program

· Providing space for storage and collection of recyclable materials

· Incorporating green building signage elements throughout the building to educate visitors about sustainability.

Most technologically advanced building in North America

Harris Corporation is the official technology partner of Amway Center. The arena has more than 1,100 screens of high-definition content via Internet Protocol Television and a state-of-the-art digital signage network which maximizes fan engagement and interaction, distributes an unprecedented amount of patron information, as well as providing unlimited opportunities for advertisers and sponsors.

The Daktronics center-hung scoreboard alone includes four primary high definition LED video displays with 840 lines of resolution, eight auxiliary video/scoring/statistics displays and two LED ring displays. The venue will be the first in the world to utilize high resolution 6 mm surface mount LED pixel technology on all of the center-hung digital displays. More than 9 million individual LEDs will be used in the 18 displays incorporated into the center-hung scoreboard. Overall dimensions of the center-hung scoreboard are 42 feet by 41 feet by 41 feet (HxWxD), making it the tallest and most capable of any in NBA venues. Complementing the primary scoreboard will be two LED ribbon boards mounted on the interior fascia of the seating decks.

The bigger size, flexibility and advanced technology allows Orlando to attract bigger concerts, major political conventions and compete for more major sporting events such as conference and NCAA tournaments.

Amway Center is located just south of Church Street on the west side of I-4 in downtown Orlando.

Amway Center Fact Sheet

Opening Date: October 2010

Cost: $380 million (total construction cost)

Location: Downtown Orlando; bound by Church Street (north); Hughey Avenue (east); South Street (south); Division Avenue (west)

Owner and Operator: City of Orlando

Primary Tenant: Orlando Magic

Functions: NBA and collegiate basketball, arena football, indoor soccer, concerts, hockey, circuses, stage shows and exhibitions

Design Architect: Populous (formerly HOK Sport)

Local Architects: C.T. Hsu + Associates; Baker Barrios Architects, Inc.

Construction Manager: Hunt Construction Group in association with Rey Group, R.L.

Burns, Inc., HZ Construction and Albu & Associates, Inc.

Program Manager: Turner Construction Company

Theming and Environmental Graphics Designer: RipBang

“Champion of the Community” Founding Building Partners: Harris Corporation; AirTran; PepsiCo; GEICO; Disney; Florida Hospital

Site Acreage: 8.75 acres

Number of Levels: 8: Event Level (E); Mezzanine (Level 1); IOA Founders (2); Terrace (3); Club (4); Promenade (5); Sky (6); Press (7)

Square Footage: 875,000 square feet

Seating Capacities: 19,700 (center stage concert)

16,000 (end stage concerts)

18,500 (NBA)

20,000 (NCAA basketball)

17,200 (hockey/arena football)

Premium Spaces: 60 private suites; 2 bunker suites; 2 super suites; 1,400 club seats; 68 loge boxes (328 seats); and overall 17 hospitality areas available on a per event basis.

Sustainable Design: Anticipated LEED Certified: Sustainable building design will exist in various categories, including a sustainable site; water efficiency; energy optimization and atmosphere protection; materials and resource conservation; indoor environmental quality and health; and environmentally preferred operations and maintenance

Technology: Harris Corporation is the official technology partner for the Amway Center. The arena will have more than 1,100 screens of high-definition content via Internet Protocol Television and a state-of-the-art digital signage network which will maximize fan engagement and interaction, distribute an unprecedented amount of patron information, as well as providing unlimited opportunities for advertisers and sponsors.

MWBE Participation: Commitment to Blueprint; Achieved in excess of 30 percent MWBE participation, above the benchmark goal of 24 percent.

Amenities: The new Amway Center will feature more value than ever before for ticket holders. All patron price levels will have access to premium amenities in the Amway Center such as:

· Budweiser Baseline Bar and Food Court

· Club Restaurant

· Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience and Orlando on Demand Info. Garden

· STUFF’s Magic Castle presented by Club Wyndham

· Coors Light Mountain Bar; Gentleman Jack Terrace; Ozone Bar; Sky Bar

· Outdoor plaza and covered box office

· Retail stores and novelty stands

· Multiple, wider concourses with convenient access to concession stands and restrooms.

· Improved sightlines for all locations and wider seats.

· Unmatched technology, featuring 1,100 digital monitors and the tallest, high-definition videoboard in an NBA arena.

· Accessible seating in all seating levels and for all seating products.

· Parking: 11,000 parking spaces available to the public within 14 garages and surface lots near the Amway Center. There are: 5,000 spaces less than a five-minute walk, of which 2,100 are directly adjacent; 2,500 spaces between a 5-10 minute walk and 3,400 spaces via Lymmo, the downtown circulator; All parking locations will have accessible parking.

Amway Center Additional Features:

· Iconic 180 foot-tall tower with sky bar and sky terrace at top

· Graphic wall on I-4 exterior façade

· 31,000 SF arena floor can be used for exhibition/trade show space, banquets and meetings

· Six banquet rooms and a board room on IOA Founder’s Level

· Information kiosks distributed throughout the arena

· Enclosed pedestrian bridge to connect to GEICO parking garage

· Two street-level retail locations on Church Street, including Metro PCS digital loft

· Terrace concourse with average 30’ width

· State-of-the-art Daktronics center-hung scoreboard with video capability; auxiliary boards located throughout the seating bowl; two LED ribbon boards, one 270-degree on the IOA Founder’s Level and a 360-degree board on the Club Level fascia

· Full basketball practice court that can also be used for events seating up to 500 people

· Two NBA locker rooms; home hockey locker room; home arena football locker room; visiting hockey/arena football locker room; officials’ locker room; six star performer dressing rooms; green room for staging and hospitality; additional auxiliary locker room for show personnel

· 13,500 SF of office space for team administration and 15,000 SF for City Venue administration

· Media interview room and working media facilities on Event Level

· Eight enclosed truck docks and ramp

· Wide variety of food & beverage options

· ADA accessibility on every level

· 18 men’s restrooms and 19 women’s restrooms

· 18 elevators

· Minimum one concession point of sale for every 125 spectators

· ATM machines at each entrance lobby

Ticket Pricing: The Orlando Magic will continue its practice of affordable pricing options in the new Amway Center. Ticket highlights for 2010-2011 in the new Amway Center include:

· 2,500 seats priced $15 or less, 7,000 seats priced $25 or less, and 10,000 seats priced $50 or under per game, while supplies last.

· For the first time ever, the introduction of a $5 per game ticket (more than 600 available).

Design Principles: Amway Center is designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The building’s exterior will feature a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one façade. A 180-foot tall tower will serve as a beacon amid the downtown skyline.

Civic Building: Created a community gathering place for Orlando and Central Florida, with a clear front door.

Context: Designed each façade with respect to its distinct environment; responded to the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the specific façade.

Sustainable: Implemented design strategies to create one of the country’s most environmentally friendly arenas.

Indoor-Outdoor: Celebrated Central Florida climate by allowing movement indoors and out.

Front porch: Created an entry design element that relates the design to local architecture.

Landscape: Integrated a variety of native landscape forms of various scale and type.

Pattern and Texture: Used a variety of design elements in both horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Alive: Brought the building to life with color, graphics and signage.

Public Art: Identified key locations for public art to further define the building’s personality coordinated by Sports & The Arts.

Amway Center: By the Numbers

270,181,975 Pounds of concrete used to build the Amway Center.

9,400,000 Pounds of total steel used to build the Amway Center, including six, 380-foot, 150-ton roof trusses which were locally fabricated just six miles from the arena site. The total length of all arena steel roof framing equals 55,287 feet or 10.5 miles.

9,000,000 Number of LED lights in the center-hung videoboard, the tallest and most high-definition in an NBA venue measuring in at 42 feet high and weighing in at 80,000 pounds.

875,000 Square footage of the new Amway Center – almost triple the size of the old 367,000 square foot arena.

800,000 Gallons of water saved annually in the environmentally-friendly building which employs a rain water collection system for irrigation and high-efficiency water flow fixtures in restrooms. Water consumption will be reduced by 40 percent over a comparably sized building.

750,000 Estimate dollars in annual energy savings because of the high efficiency “green” systems in place in the Amway Center. Overall the environmentally-friendly systems will cut energy consumption by 24 percent over a comparable, code compliant, designed building.

20,000 Maximum number of seats in the flexible Amway Center. Orlando Magic seating will be 18,500.

13,000 Number of light fixtures in the building.

10,000 Number of parking spaces within a 10-minute walk of the arena.

7,000 Number of Magic tickets priced $25 or less, including the first-time ever introduction of $5 tickets (while supplies last).

2250 Number of construction workers who built the Amway Center.

1,196 Number of plumbing devices in the building, including 563 toilets/urinals.

1,100 Number of high-definition video displays in the new Amway Center.

470 Combined number of devices used (240) to make the Amway Center wireless, and touch screen control-based units (230) for patrons to order food, beverages and merchandise.

340 Number of pieces of art work (140 original pieces and 200 museum quality photographs) in the Amway Center, as part of the public arts program for the building. Fourteen Central Florida artists contributed an estimated 110 pieces to the collection.

248 Combined number of Pepsi soda taps (113) and beer taps (135) in the building.

227 Food and beverage points of sale in the new Amway Center. There are 18 permanent concession stands and 45 portable units, while 40 percent of the stands have cooking capability.

180 Feet the iconic spire atop the tower overlooking downtown reaches into the sky.

177 Number of local/minority and women-owned companies that were awarded contracts to construct the Amway Center. Of the total businesses, which received more than $90 million in contracts, 67 were African-American-owned, 52 women-owned, 36 Hispanic-owned, 20 Asian-American-owned, two Native-American-owned.

68 Number of loge boxes.

60 Number of suites.

48 Miles of cable used to wire the Amway Center.

37 Number of restrooms (19 women’s/18 men’s) in the new Amway Center, as compared to just eight restrooms in the old building.

20-24 The range of seat widths in inches in the new Amway Center, compared to an average 18-inch width in the old building.

18 Number of elevators, compared to four in the old building. In addition there are 19 staircases and six escalators easing vertical travel over the seven levels of the building.

17 Number of hospitality spaces available for rent on a per event basis.

10 Fan interactive areas open to all level of ticket buyers, highlighted by the Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, Orlando on Demand Info. Garden, STUFF’S Magic Castle presented by Club Wyndham, the Budweiser Baseline Bar and Gentleman Jack Terrace.

9 Number of retail locations, anchored by the Orlando Magic’s Team Shop, presented by adidas.

9 Miles of pipe in the event floor used to make and melt the ice surface.

5 Number of public concourses in the new Amway Center, averaging 30-feet in width, compared to one twenty-foot wide concourse in the old building.

Orlando is getting set to welcome its brand new sports, concert and events facility… the all brand spanking new Amway Center. The countdown is on for the 1st October opening to the general public and it promises to be a magnificent occasion.

On Friday, the new Amway Center will open its doors to the Central Florida community for the first time. Opening Weekend at Amway Center will feature a series of free, community events that showcase all of the fan amenities and state-of-the-art technology available only in Downtown Orlando’s new events center.

Opening day activities will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 1 on Church Street in front of the Amway Center. At precisely 10:01 a.m. on 10/01, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando Magic President Alex Martins, Orlando City Commissioners and other Central Florida leaders will open the doors to the new Amway Center for the first time to the public. Following the ceremonial ribbon cutting and building dedication, the community will be invited into the lower bowl for Mayor Dyer’s Annual State of Downtown Address. This year, the State of Downtown is a free event where the entire Central Florida community can participate in this historic day.

On Saturday, October 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mayor Dyer invites Central Florida residents back to the Amway Center for a free, community open house. This event will feature self-guided tours, entertainment and local performances, free popcorn and soda and commemorative items to celebrate this historic accomplishment. Representatives from the Orlando Magic and Orlando Predators will also be on-hand. Residents can experience a “taste of the Amway Center” with a sampling of the newest food offerings available for purchase.

The self-guided tour of the Amway Center will take patrons through the most technologically-advanced events center in the country, showcasing two levels of spacious concourses that include an impressive array of concessions; a stop along the way so the kids can climb STUFF’S Magic Castle, then up to the contemporary, open-air setting of Gentleman Jack’s Terrace, then up 100 feet to the Sky Bar spotlighting some of Downtown Orlando’s best views; past the player locker rooms and ultimately in the lower bowl where you can see the largest arena video board in the country.

Keep reading this blog…as I’ll be updating you during the week on how things are progressing…

The newly relaunched ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort continues to add more athlete enhancements ready for 2011 with the addition of the new Hewlett-Packard Photo Creation Center inside the renamed HP Field House at the complex. The creation center will allow athletes, coaches and fans to create and design an assortment of uniquely customized posters, photo albums, and materials to commemorate their sports experience.

It is also widely rumored that English Premier League club Manchester City will take over the partnership spot currently occupied by rivals Chelsea. Early in 2007, Chelsea and Disney’s Wide World of Sports announced a long-term partnership to help promote soccer at all levels in the US. Under the terms of the four-year agreement, Chelsea became the official pro club of Disney’s Wide World of Sports and also the presenting sponsor of Disney’s Soccer Showcase Series.

In a week when the two richest clubs in English football clash in a fascinating encounter at Eastlands (City beat Chelsea 1-0 in the EPL today) it seems the world’s leading entertainment company intends to switch to City next summer. Garry Cook, City’s chief executive, is understood to have used his North American contacts as a former Nike power broker to clinch the deal. We shall see.

Meanwhile here’s a video showing the latest from ESPN Wide World of Sports:

One of the things we’re constantly being asked in the Florida Leisure office is “where can we go to eat, watch a movie and do some shopping that isn’t too far from our vacation home?”

Some of the best malls such as the Mall of Millenia or the Florida Mall  are about 20 to 30 minutes drive from most vacation homes so we always recommend the Loop as its just a short drive from the homes located on the east side of Walt Disney World.

The Loop is an interesting mix of over 75 shops, eateries and a 16 screen cinema. It has some great stores and its a great place to spend a morning or an afternoon. The mall is outdoors and its really nice to be able to wander from shop to shop, store to store in the great Florida weather.

The Loop is made up of two areas, The Loop itself and The Loop West. (Click on the map above to see in closer detail.) It is located on the corner of Osceola Parkway and John Young Parkway and is very easy to get to.

Some of the department stores include Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, JC Penny, and Kohl’s while there is a a huge choice of stores if you’re shopping for apparel, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Places like Dress Barn, Famous Footwear, Christoper & Banks, Men’s Warehouse, Old Navy and Rue 21.

If you are looking for health and beauty then Avon, GNC, Ulta, Hand and Stone or Matthew Michaels Salon & Spa has you covered. For housewares, home furnishings or home improvement then you can check out Bed Bath & Beyond, Kirkland’s, Pier 1 Imports or the Yankee Candle Company.

For those of the sporting persuasion then Sports Authority is a must visit while those who love video / electronics will enjoy a visit to Game Stop, T-Mobile or the Sprint store.  CVS, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and Vitamin World are the places for pharmaceutical services and if you’re in the mood for crafts then stop by Michaels.

On the entertainment side of things then Party City is fun to browse around and of course, there’s the 16 screen Regal Cinema where you can catch a newly released movie. If you’re feeling hungry then The Loop is the place to visit. There are 16 restaurants and eateries as well as an ABC Fine Wine & Spirits store.

Some of the excellent restaurants include Bonefish Grill, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Macaroni Grill and Chili’s. Ben & Jerry’s, Barnie’s Coffee & Tea, Chipolte Mexican Grill, Johnny Rockets, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Red Brick Pizza, Panera Bread and the Tropical Smoothie Cafe all get fine reports.

If you want to grab a book to take back to your vacation home then Books A Million is an excellent book store with a huge array of magazines, newly released books and a small cafe. It’s very easy to while away a few hours inside here!

So if you’re looking for the best shopping in Kissimmee or Osceola County, The Loop is definitely the place to go! Have fun… and here’s a short video I made recently…

Disney Parks unveiled a new marketing campaign today called “Let the Memories Begin” Thursday. Apparently park guests will become the stars of a nightly photo show to be projected on the spires of Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The campaign is designed to celebrate family vacation memories created at the Disney theme parks every day.

Beginning in January 2011, Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture pictures of guests during the day that will be larger-than-life images during the nighttime show. As many as 500 images will be used every day during the show and new 3-D technology will be used to project the pictures onto the structures. Also, a new song has been commissioned for the show.

Disney also said that they will also begin featuring home videos and snapshots of real guests in television ads and other marketing.

Actors Tom Bergeron and Michael J. Fox helped make the announcement Thursday afternoon in New York City. Here is Disney’s official statement regarding the plans:

“In 2011, Disney guests will become the stars of a nightly spectacular when photos taken in the park during the day become larger-than-life projections on Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort or “it’s a small world” at Disneyland Resort. This groundbreaking new experience will celebrate the family vacation memories created in Disney theme parks every day. And this week, Disney guests will begin starring on television, too, as part of the new “Let the Memories Begin” campaign.For the first time, Disney Parks is featuring the home videos and snapshots of real guests in television ads and other marketing that will allow an audience of millions to share in true-life, heartfelt moments.

“A Disney vacation is the perfect way to create family memories that will last a lifetime,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, at a media announcement Thursday in New York. “We’ll spotlight those ‘only-at-Disney’ moments with family and friends during our ‘Let the Memories Begin’ campaign.”

A just-released survey of U.S. and Canadian families conducted for Disney Parks by Ypartnership, a noted research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel, showed that vacation memories hold a special place in family history. Nine out of 10 parents said they planned their vacations with the express hope that they would result in a lasting family memory, the survey showed. And those memories stuck with them – nearly three-quarters said they think back “often” or “very often” on their favorite vacation experiences.”

Sometimes it’s nice to let your imagination run riot for a few hours and so it was when I recently visited WonderWorks, at Pointe Orlando on International Drive. WonderWorks claims to be an amusement park for the mind and with over 100 interactive exhibits it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

There’s something at this venue for everyone. Kids aged 1 through to Seniors aged 101 will enjoy everything on offer and get to do some neat things. It all starts when you arrive and you know you are in for a weird and wacky time when you see the building.

The building’s dramatic exterior is 82 feet tall and literally towers over nearing structures. As if that wasn’t enough, the mere sight of an upside down building will catch your attention like no other before it. WonderWorks is a three story tall classically designed building that has simply landed, upside down, atop a 1930′s era brick warehouse.

Of course, I say simply landed upside down but there’s a whole lot more to it than that. Removed from the glare of the media and the encumbrances of governmental restrictions (shouldn’t we all be so lucky?); a group of scientists from around the world collaborated to find answers to the unexplainable. Their mission: to understand, predict and control these phenomena. In early 1998, during a top secret experiment, something went awry. When the scientists attempted to harness the power of a man made tornado, the giant, swirling vortex unleashed its power throughout the laboratories! The energy vortex lifted the research facility from its foundation and transported the laboratory hundreds of miles away to Orlando, where it landed upside down, but otherwise functionally intact.

As you walk through the entrance door you’ll notice the grand staircase, upside down. The reception counter is nearby and from there your journey begins. As you wander through the three story building you’ll come across some of the most imaginative displays and amazing exhibits found anywhere in the world.

You’ll enjoy some of the most sophisticated graphics and audio presentation techniques available. The first floor is where you’ll discover exhibits like Natural Disasters, where disasters are explained in basic scientific terms. You get chance to revisit 1989 and the San Francisco earthquake that collapsed a freeway and stopped the World Series in baseball. Check out Hurricane Hole and feel the effects of 71 mph winds.

The Anti-Gravity Chamber is a favorite as you try and work out which way the water is traveling…is it from floor to ceiling or ceiling to floor?

From there, make your way to the second floor and lie on the Bed of Nails. 3,500 sharp nails are in this bed and all it needs is 2 kilograms of pressure to puncture the skin… how brave are you? After that press your entire body into the WonderWall and see a 3-dimensional impression appear.

As you move along you’ll be entertained by the Big Piano as adults and children play music with their feet. Strike a Pose is different as you get to leave your shadow behind. You stand directly in front of a wall and block bright light from reaching it by striking a pose. While the rest of the wall quickly absorbs the light, the area you blocked remains dark…even after you walk away!

Mind Ball is a challenging bio feedback game for two based on EEG technology. Players wear a headband with electrodes and relax their minds in order to use their brain waves to move a ball across the table. The winner is the player who is most relaxed!

The Control Room continues the adventure and this is where you get to discover the freedom of flight in Fighter Jets, land the space shuttle and explore the latest in virtual reality as you design the roller coaster you’ve always wanted and then ride it! Be warned, you can get rather dizzy just watching WonderCoaster… it is unique and has the ability to turn 360 degrees in every direction.

Leaving the Control Room you get the chance to relax and enjoy the Far Out Art gallery. It’s always a lot of fun trying to work out what an artist has conjured up and here is no exception. I won’t say anymore but working out some of this stuff is just plain challenging!

Finally, you arrive at the third story… naturally enough it’s called “The Basement”… yep, don’t forget the place is turned upside down! The Basement is home to the XD Theater and its 4D Extreme Motion Ride, lazer tag and the one of a kind, Indoor Ropes Challenge Course. The motion ride is housed in a 12 seat theater that takes guests along an amazing adventure that transcends time, space and imagination by combining the 3D film with special effects and motion seats. This gives it the fourth dimension!

Lazer tag sees players vest up and compete against others inside the blacklight maze. It’s a fun game and combines innovative technology with fast paced entertainment. The other major attraction in “The basement” is the Indoor Ropes Challenge Course. Completed in May of this year it stands some 36 feet tall and guests get the chance to climb three stories of ropes and encounter more than 20 obstacles along a course that tests both stamina and endurance. Important to note that guests must wear closed toe shoes to participate…you have been warned.

So that’s a brief review of WonderWorks…make sure you plan for half a day here because you’ll need it to see everything… and there is just one more thing I need to tell you about… Orlando’s funniest dinner show is held here. Showtime happens nightly at 6.00pm and 8.00pm and The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show with Tony Brent is one of the hidden secrets in Orlando. It has been voted “Best Dinner Show” by both Wesh 2 and the Orlando Sentinel. The show is a mixture of amazing magic, impersonations and high energy improvisational comedy. Guests get to enjoy a table side dinner service of fresh hand tossed cheese and pepperoni pizza, salad, popcorn and unlimited beer, wine, soda and dessert! It’s a MUST DO when in Orlando!

Disney has completed the renovation of one of it’s restaurant areas in the Mexico area of World Showcase and it’s very much a case of in with the new and upgrade the old!

La Cantina de San Angel previously occupied the space and has now been turned into a 150 seat quick service restaurant while the all new La Hacienda de San Angel is a 267-seat table service restaurant overlooking the lagoon.

La Cantina opens daily at 11 a.m. and will serve lunch and dinner and guests will enjoy sitting under the covered patio area or relaxing inside with full air conditioning until mid-afternoon. The inside dining area then closes to make way for the 4 p.m. opening of La Hacienda for dinner.

La Hacienda (menu above – click to open larger image) features mouth watering starters like queso fundido (warm cheese with poblano pepper and chorizo) accompanied by homemade tortillas ($12.50). Entrées include a mixed grill for two with flank steak, chicken, chorizo and vegetables or a seafood version with grouper, shrimp and scallops ($49.95); flank steak with spring onions, refried beans and cactus leaves ($25.95); and grilled talapia with roasted corn and cactus leaves ($23.95). Dessert specialties include chocolate churros ($7.95), sweet tamales ($7.95) and Mexican Ice Cream ($6.25).

La Cantina’s menu features many traditional favorites including; chicken and beef tacos on fresh handmade corn tortillas ($10.95-$11.95), nachos ($9.95), cheese empanadas ($10.95), guacamole and chips ($7.25), warm churros ($3.95) and Mexican popsicles ($3.95).

Naturally, margaritas are available as you wander through Mexico on your World Showcase journey, or you can save this treat until your evening meal later in the day. La Hacienda will also have its very own “tequila ambassador” and will feature tasty tequila flights ($18).

With the new architectural design, guests can enjoy the panoramic waterfront views of the IllumiNations fireworks as they dine. Combining two of Mexico’s most important cultural gifts, art and food, the idea is to transport guests back to a different time and place, one in which they are welcomed into the old-world countryside home of their gracious Mexican hosts.

Original pieces of art adorn each room in La Hacienda, which are set to resemble different living areas, such as the living room, grand salon, pantry and artist’s studio.

“It’s an honor to bring the traditions, style and flavors of Mexico to the World Showcase at Epcot,” said Richard D. Debler, president of San Angel Inn. “This project is filled with passion, inspiration and pride.”

Guests can reserve seating through Disney’s main reservation line at 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463).