Exotic cocktails will pair like a tropical daydream with fresh new tastes from more than one island paradise at the 16th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 30-Nov. 13, 2011, at Walt Disney World Resort. The one-of-a-kind 45-day festival serves up international cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents, with more than 25 international marketplaces featuring tapas-sized portions paired with beer, wine and inventive new cocktails.

Marketplace tasting menus offer variety and adventure for guests on a mission to tantalize their taste buds during a scenic stroll around the 40-acre World Showcase Lagoon. The adventure can take them to the festival’s first Hawaii marketplace, which will cook up Kalua pork sliders and tuna poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips to team with a refreshing Seven Tiki Mai Tai or a Kona Longboard or Pipeline beer. A new Caribbean Islands marketplace will serve ropa vieja with rice and jerk-spiced chicken with mango salsa. A beverage menu featuring a frozen Dragon Berry Colada and frozen Rock Coconut Mojito is sure to conjure steel-drum fantasies.

With a swing across the Atlantic, guests will be transported to the new Portugal marketplace, where the Portugal Wine Bar will offer best sips to pair with calamari salad with olives and smoked paprika. The Scandinavia marketplace will return after a hiatus with a fresh new Xante Sunshine cocktail made from Xante pear and cognac liquer. And the Canada marketplace will introduce a sweet treat: apple ice wine.

Disney and celebrity chefs will team with winemakers and brew masters from around the world to get the party started Sept. 30. During the six-week festival, guests will discover:

* Three new tasting marketplaces — Hawaii, Caribbean Islands and Portugal — plus new menu offerings at popular returning marketplaces
* Celebrity chef appearances starring top culinarians like Jeff Henderson, Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Gale Gand, Suvir Saran, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Celina Tio, Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro, Warren Brown, Art Smith, Keegan Gerhard and more.
* First-ever HGTV home entertaining seminars each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
* The Cranberry Bog display by Craisins telling the story behind the venerable cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.
* Daily wine seminars, bottle signings, author events and culinary demonstrations at the Festival Welcome Center.
* Eat to the Beat! concerts three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre.

New Sips, Fresh Bites

Festival guests can make a day of circumnavigating the World Showcase Promenade, grazing and sipping as they go. Tapas-sized portions of regional specialties run $3 to $8 each, and recommended wines, cocktails and beers make perfect pairings at each marketplace. For quicker marketplace visits, guests can purchase a festival-themed mini-Disney Gift Card that can be worn on a wristband and loaded and reloaded at several park locations.

Live daily entertainment showcases many cultures with music, acrobatics and improv performances along the promenade. Evening Eat to the Beat! concerts at America Gardens Theatre feature acts from many musical genres. Appearing for the first time on the Eat to the Beat! stage are The Pointer Sisters, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and Gin Blossoms. Fan favorite Taylor Dayne kicks off the festival Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and crowd pleaser Big Bad Voodoo Daddy wraps the event Nov. 11-13.

The festival attracts a diverse audience — from wine connoisseurs and epicures to novices wishing to boost their culinary IQs. Special culinary programs showcase a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers participating in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.

Festival highlights include:

* The Festival Welcome Center, with a Wine Bar, Authentic Taste Seminars, Authors Without Borders weekend conversations and more.
* More than 270 chefs including Disney chefs and culinary stars from across the country conducting culinary demonstrations and hosting dinners and tasting events.
* A complimentary Marketplace Discovery Passport to be stamped at each international marketplace visited for the perfect scrapbook souvenir.
* Popular returning events that include First Bites Opening Reception on Sept. 29; Kitchen Memories (formerly Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen); Mixology Seminar; and “3D” Disney Dessert Discovery.
* The weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting event beginning Oct. 8 and with a new Saturday evening time of 7:30-10 p.m. featuring tempting bites from eminent chefs, more than 50 wines and beers and live entertainment presented by Cirque du Soleil.

Festival guests can enjoy fresh Epcot experiences including the latest Future World high-tech fun at Innoventions and the celebrated return of “Captain EO,” the classic musical 3-D production starring Michael Jackson in a rare big-screen performance. In World Showcase, new and recently updated restaurants welcome guests at the Italy, Japan, Mexico and China pavilions.

What’s Included with Epcot Admission:

Authentic Taste seminars and Authors Without Borders programs with special book signings at the Festival Center, Eat to the Beat! concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Would anyone you know find this blog post useful? If so, send it to them: 

Do you like Disney entertainment “heritage”? Love music? Art? Sports “spectating”? Food and drink adventures? Theme park parties celebrating Halloween or the holidays?

For fun-seekers with any of those passions and special interests, fall 2011 is a season to make some memories at Walt Disney World Resort. Here’s a look at what’s in store from Labor Day through Thanksgiving …

A ‘Tropical Serenade’ rekindling memories

The Sunshine Pavilion, featuring a show variously known as “Tropical Serenade” and “The Enchanted Tiki Birds,” debuted on Oct. 1, 1971, in Magic Kingdom. In 1998, following substantial refurbishment, it re-launched as The Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management, with two famous Disney birds – Iago from Aladdin and Zazu from The Lion King – taking control and trying to spruce up the show.

The “new management” has been let go and the future of the Adventureland landmark is in the wings and wit of José, Fritz, Michael and Pierre – four crooning parrot hosts who ushered in sophisticated Audio-Animatronics technology at California’s Disneyland in 1963 at The Enchanted Tiki Room.

In time for fall 2011 vacations, The Enchanted Tiki Room (as the Magic Kingdom attraction now will be called) is being prepared to reflect the show at Disneyland that represents a milestone in Disney theme park entertainment. While Walt Disney’s creative team previously had produced movable figures, none had the sophistication of the bird-brained cast of the Tiki Room. José, Fritz, Michael and Pierre produce movements when solenoid coils hidden inside receive signals recorded onto magnetic tape and are regarded as the first “true” Audio-Animatronics figures.

They introduce a musical presentation by more than 200 birds, flowers and tikis. Even the audience gets into the act, joining in during the musical ditty “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing.”

The Enchanted Tiki Room (tentatively slated for opening in August 2011) has shows throughout Magic Kingdom operating hours.

Events to suit all sorts of tastes

Some of the most popular and enduring special events at Walt Disney World Resort happen during the fall. Here are snapshots:

Disney’s Night of Joy – TobyMac, MercyMe, newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Jars of Clay and Skillet will headline one of the most-decorated lineups in the 29-year history of Disney’s contemporary Christian music event Sept. 9 and Sept. 10, 2011, in Magic Kingdom. The 16 artists have a 20-year legacy of accolades – 70 GMA Dove Awards and eight GRAMMY^® Awards including reigning Christian music Artist of the Year (Francesca Battistelli). Night of Joy is an after-hours event that requires a special ticket. Event hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. each evening. More information is available at www.nightofjoy.com.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party – The headless horseman romps down Main Street, U.S.A. aboard his steed, ghostly apparitions flit among the buildings of Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle is draped in eerie hues and the night sky is painted with bursts of orange and green fireworks during this popular after-hours Magic Kingdom party on 23 select autumn evenings between Sept. 13 and Nov. 1, 2011. The special-ticket event features trick-or-treating throughout the park, “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular, “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade” – including Disney characters and the stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction – and the opportunity to experience popular attractions. Information about dates and tickets is available at www.disneyworld.com/halloween.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – A veritable world of culinary adventures is on the menu Sept. 30-Nov. 13, 2011, during the 16^th edition of the festival presented by Vanity Fair Napkins. The journey along the promenade around World Showcase Lagoon includes more than two dozen marketplaces where everyone from neophytes to epicures and aficionados can nibble and sip their way across six continents of food and beverage adventures. Talented culinarians from across America and around the world will be involved with specialty dinners, seminars featuring cooking demonstrations and wine tastings, the popular Saturday night grand tastings – Party for the Senses – and more.  The festival also will feature the popular Eat to the Beat! concert series each evening. Details are available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic – PGA TOUR thrillers have been the norm in this $4.7 million season-ending event on Disney’s Magnolia and Palm courses. Twelve of the most recent 16 editions of the pro golf event have been decided by one stroke or a playoff. A field of 128 players will tee off in the 41^st Classic Oct. 20-23, 2011. The 2010 winner was Robert Garrigus. More information: www.ChildrensMiracleNetworkClassic.com.

Festival of the Masters – Nearly 150 award-winning artists who turn clay, wood, metals, oils, watercolors and more into creations that treat the eyes – such as paintings, jewelry, sculptures and photographs – will show off their works Nov. 11-13 at Downtown Disney. One of the Southeast’s most highly regarded juried art festivals since 1975, Festival of the Masters features live entertainment and family-friendly activities each day. Admission and parking are complimentary.  For more information, guests may visit www.disneyworld.com/artfestival.

Old Spice Classic – The eight-team college basketball tournament again will be held over Thanksgiving weekend – Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Nov. 24, 25 & 27, 2011 – at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Arizona State, Dayton, DePaul, Fairfield, Indiana State, Minnesota, Texas Tech and Wake Forest make up the field. Seven of the teams reached the 2010 postseason. The Old Spice Classic will feature 12 games over the three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated throughout will face off in a championship match Sunday, Nov. 27. Additional information can be found on the Old Spice Classic website at www.OldSpiceClassic.com.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – On 19 select evenings between Nov. 8 and Dec. 18, 2011, guests can experience the enchantment of Castle Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle plus two special entertainment extravaganzas, “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” and the holiday-themed fireworks spectacular, “Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season.”  The special after-hours party, which requires a separate admission ticket, also features live Disney character stage shows, character greetings, cookies and cocoa, and even “snow” on Main Street, U.S.A.  More details are available at www.DisneyWorld.com/holidays.

Have you made your vacation plans for the Summer? If not, you’ll want to check out what’s going on in Orlando as there’s lots of new stuff going on at the theme parks this year. There’s a killer whale show, a new roller-coaster, a cheetah habitat, a zip-line ride over alligators and there’s also the chance to get close to sharks by wading through a coral lagoon with a special diving helmet

It’s a great place to be as Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Gatorland and Legoland Florida – opening in October, all have a lot of new things to do.

SeaWorld

The home of Shamu the killer whale is now the venue for One Ocean, an incredible show involving all the park’s majestic orcas. Replacing the Believe show, One Ocean brings new staging, music and special effects to showcase the talents and special co-ordination of SeaWorld’s trainers and their killer whales. Fountains, video screens and clever lighting all combine for a spectacular 25-minute experience.

Discovery Cove

SeaWorld’s swim-with-dolphins sister park debuts it’s new Grand Reef attraction in June, giving its 1,000 visitors a day a chance to swim and snorkel with thousands of tropical fish and graceful rays. There will be an underwater walking tour, SeaVenture where for an extra $59 per person guests can don special diving helmets and venture beneath the surface to handle sea urchins and star fish, and stand among huge schools of feeding fish as well as observe some fierce looking sharks.

Busch Gardens

Just an hour away in nearby Tampa, Busch Gardens boasts America’s most dynamic and eye-catching ride this year, Cheetah Hunt. With a fast-launch start that blasts from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds and more than 4,429ft of track that twists, turns and dives underground, it features a 130ft drop as well as a figure-of- eight loop in its three-and-a-half-minute duration.

Themed to feel like a cheetah hunting its prey, it will also offer a short stretch where the park’s eight cheetahs will be able to sprint alongside the ride as they chase a special lure as part of their exercise regime. The attraction is due to open on May 27.

Gatorland

Although it’s not one of the mainstream parks, this is Orlando’s oldest, dating back to 1949, and from early June it will offer the Screamin’ Gator zip-line ride, a high-flying adventure taking riders up and over the park’s residents – more than 1,000 alligators and crocodiles. The series of four zips, nature walk and swinging bridge take 45 minutes at a height of up to 56ft and speeds of 30mph to give a new perspective on this collection of flora and fauna. It costs $69.99 per person, including all-day entry to Gatorland.

Legoland Florida

Opening in October the latest member of the worldwide Lego family will offer 150 acres of fun and rides for the two-to-12 age group in classic brick-building style in ten distinct ‘lands’ but all with natural overtones as it is built on the site of the former Cypress Gardens, on the shore of Lake Eloise in Winter Haven, 40 minutes south of Orlando.

Walt Disney World

Star Tours II is Disney’s big offering for 2011, a revamped, version of the classic Star Wars simulator ride that now blasts off for Tatooine and Coruscant, plunging riders into the Boonta Eve Classic pod-race (from the film Star Wars I), in high-definition 3D from May 20 at Hollywood Studios.

The Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun is the new daily parade with all the favorites from films such as Up, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Toy Story and others. Disney Junior – Live On Stage is now open for pre-school fans of programs such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and the new Jake And The Never Land Pirates. Finally, at the Animal Kingdom park, guests can enjoy a three-hour Wild Africa Trek, a small-group journey through the animal savannahs for an extra $189 per person.

You’ll also want to check out what’s going on at the smaller parks and attractions.

Fantasy Surf is a new opportunity to try surfing on an indoor FlowRider system. It is great for novices and experienced surfers alike. Check out this video :

In Orlando city centre you can check out the Skyline Tour (from the Visitor Centre on Orange Avenue) and learn about the 19th Century ‘boom-town’ from a 16th-floor vantage point while nearby, the Orange County History Centre has more insight into Central Florida’s past, some 12,000 years of it, including the area’s Native American heritage and the huge cattle industry, with its own cowboys known as ‘crackers’.

Check out the video below of the chic suburb of Winter Park which features more natural charms, with its own boat tour through the local lakes plus, for art lovers, the unusual Morse Museum of American Art, which boasts one of the largest glass collections by Tiffany in the United States.

Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Fantasy of Flight which hosts an amazing collection of vintage aircraft and daily flying exhibitions put together with real artistry by millionaire collector Kermit Weeks.

And no one should leave without seeing something of the real Florida. Enjoy an airboat ride from Boggy Creek Airboats, the area’s specialists, offering a variety of trips that get off the beaten track for personal, up-close encounters to capture the spirit of the Sunshine State.

One thing’s for certain: you’ll never be short of something to do in Orlando!

I went along to check out the construction progress at Discovery Cove’s “The Grand Reef” earlier today and things look to be going very well. The reef is well under construction and everything looks set for an opening sometime in June. It’s going to be another great visitor experience from what I can see and the all new SeaVenture is going to be something completely different for guests to enjoy.

The Grand Reef will feature multiple levels of exploration, from shallow waters to deeper swimming adventures and white sandy beaches with hammocks swaying in the breeze. You’ll also be able to enjoy snorkeling among canyons inspired by reefs from around the world.

The Grand Reef footprint is approximately 2.5 acres and will have close to a million gallons of water in it. The water temperature will be a comfortable 77 degrees and approximately 10,000 animals, representing 125 different species of fish, rays and sharks will be housed at the site.

Fish

Thousands of tropical fish will dart through crystal-clear waters, creating a whirlpool of color inside the reef’s grottos and crevices as Discovery Cove’s experts chose only the most colorful of species whose natural populations are healthy and sustained. The fish will include angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasses and tangs as well as larger, unusual-looking hogfish and filefish. A showcase moment will happen when snorkelers get up-close to the venomous lionfish but safely behind panoramic windows! Thousands and thousands of schooling sardines, shining in the sun, will also swim freely throughout the main reef making it a spectrum of color.

Rays

Dozens of rays, gliding through the water, are always a beautiful sight and four species of rays will fly among swimmers, including the spotted eagle, cownose, southern, and bluntnose rays. Spotted eagle rays are typically found in Caribbean and Pacific waters and these unique animals with white spots and greater than 5-foot wingspans are a protected species. Discovery Cove is one of the few, and most successful, eagle ray breeding programs in the world.

Eels

A variety of long and slinky exotic eels will also swim among The Grand Reef’s canyons but the good news is that they will also be behind glass and other interesting species including grouper and triggerfish will also make their home with the eels. In essence, eels are really just elongated fish, ranging in length from two inches up to 12 feet for the giant moray and there are approximately 800 species of them that us humans love to hate!

Sharks

Sharks are always a big attraction providing we know we’re safe and The Grand Reef aims to provide a view like no other…from the water. Exciting new views of sharks will allow non-swimmers to gaze down from above while snorkelers and SeaVenture participants can gaze through 10-foot-tall panoramic windows into a habitat filled with zebra, nurse and blacktip and whitetip reef sharks. New to Discovery Cove will be the species known as zebra sharks and they are found in Southeast Asia, Southern Africa and Western and Northern Australia. Typically they are cream-colored with spots even though they’re born with stripes – somewhat suggesting a sharky zebra. They’re also known as Australian leopard sharks.

SeaVenture Dive Helmets

And here's me trying one on...

SeaVenture

The Grand Reef’s innovative experience, SeaVenture, will be an underwater walking tour where guests, wearing some futuristic looking dive helmets, will feel right at home under the sea. After climbing down a ladder and setting foot on the reef floor, guests will immediately come eye-to-eye with the sharks although they will be behind a full, 8-foot-tall, 21-foot long panoramic window. During their journey, guests will encounter velvety rays, exotic-looking lionfish hiding under a dock and even touch a star fish or sea urchin found along the way. The adventure ends with schools of fish feeding around the divers with the massive open reef as the backdrop.

The ladders to descend to start your SeaVenture tour...

Some say it’s similar to walking on the moon … only you are surrounded by fish. SCUBA certification is not required and the program is about an hour long for groups of up to six people per excursion while the cost will initially be $59 per participant. Other Reef Facts

Removable Coral

Discovery Cove is using a unique technology to ensure The Grand Reef’s man-made coral maintains its vibrant colors. Each piece of coral, most weighing around a ton, is actually inflatable. When filled with air, the coral sections float to the surface for easy maintenance and cleaning. Overall, The Reef will have 90 pieces of the colorful coral in four different sizes.

The trick to making the coral float...and sink.... valves!

Salt Water

It takes about 140 tons of salt to make The Grand Reef’s crystal clear water but the recipe is a closely guarded secret and Discovery Cove’s staff aren’t giving it away!

Beach Sand

Discovery Cove has found the perfect beach sand for The Grand Reef and it’s used throughout the park. It is actually mined in nearby Davenport, Florida, and is actually from Florida’s ancient beach dunes. More than 5 million pounds will be used around The Grand Reef, and every pound is sifted and grated in order to make the sand feel just right – not too coarse and not too fine.

Cabanas

Finally, eight new cabanas will be found at The Grand Reef and these private, shaded areas are available for rental at an additional fee and are located right at the water’s edge. Complete with table and chairs, chaise lounges and rolled towels, the cabanas provide a special place for guests to relax when they’re not in the water, swimming among thousands of tropical fish.

Discovery Cove is a really cool day out and it is very exclusive. When the reef is finished the park will still only allow 1,000 guests per day to visit. The all-inclusive adventure includes one-of-a-kind opportunities to swim with dolphins, rays, and tropical fish as well as hand-feed exotic birds.

Discovery Cove is a tropical oasis in Orlando and you’ll be sure to relax and enjoy the paradise of rocky lagoons surrounded by lush landscaping, tropical reefs, winding rivers, a resort-style pool complete with waterfalls, and pristine white-sand beaches.

Here’s some video from today’s visit:

Today’s my birthday and I’ve just been given a very nice present. Someone just sent me the list of the Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook… and we are third on the list!

And that’s thanks to all of you that read this blog and follow us on Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure , YouTube.com/FloridaLeisure and Twitter.com/FloridaLeisure.

It’s quite an achievement when you look at some of the companies listed there. Most of the illustrious company we find ourselves among, spend millions of dollars a year on their marketing to attract guests and to feature prominently on the internet. In my opinion, most of them do it badly as they really fail to communicate with their audience and the people who matter most to them… their followers and their customers.

I suppose that’s the one thing we excel at more than most. We certainly aren’t the cheapest vacation home company in Orlando but neither do we want to manage homes that aren’t being kept up to the highest standards by owners scraping by to hold onto their homes. Our guests and our followers seem to appreciate us for what we are, a small family sized business doing their utmost to give everyone a fantastic experience when visiting Orlando.

Sure, we could just focus on what we do…namely, renting vacation homes, but we don’t… we want to know more about our friends, our guests and those that follow us. We want to make sure they have a great time visiting our City and seeing everything there is to do. That’s why I personally write this blog and it’s why I insist on the highest standards possible from everyone involved in our business. You see, it’s really more than a business, it’s a passion, and I think that’s really what comes home when you see us listed in 3rd place of the Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook.

Thank you to everyone…you’ve sure made my day

Nigel

PS.

If you’re not already following us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or even on this blog…make sure you click the appropriate button below and “friend”, “like” or “follow” us.

PPS.

Here’s the full list of Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook – click on it to open as a better image :

PPS. Because it’s my birthday, I’m going to do something special until 5pm tonight… I’m giving everyone a whooping 20% off a reservation in one of our vacation homes if you book today When you call my front desk staff on 1-800 – 760-1114 make sure you quote “Nigel’s Birthday! Or, you can email sales@floridaleisure.com and quote “Nigel’s Birthday!” in the title.

It's Nigel's Birthday and here he celebrates the news that Florida Leisure is placed 3rd on the Top 25 Vacation Rental Pages on Facebook!

I just received the press release from Mecum Auctions in regard to the recent sale at Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee over the weekend. The results are pretty amazing…who say’s we’re in a tough economy?

MECUM AUCTIONS REPORTS FINAL SALES FROM 2011 KISSIMMEE REACHING $40 MILLION
Rare Boats, Winning Muscle Cars Lead Results from the Five-Day Auction

MARENGO, Ill. – After five days of high-energy crowds and eager bidding, Mecum Auctions announces total gross sales (excluding buyer’s premium) for its 2011 Kissimmee Auction reached an impressive $39.9 million.

With sales continuing to take place after the weekend event via Mecum’s “The Bid Goes On” department, the company anticipates final totals will certainly exceed $40 million.

Nearly 1,500 cars went up for bid during the auction, which took place Jan. 26-30 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Fla. and had a 73% sell-through rate.  Mecum’s top seller ($975,000) was a rare wooden boat known as “The Last Riva” – a 1996 Riva Aquarama Special Hull #774 that was the last Riva hand-built wooden boat sold to the public.

“Our Kissimmee Auction continues to evolve each year into a larger and larger event with increased sales, greater attendance and enthusiasm, and more collectible vehicles crossing the auction block,” said President Dana Mecum.  “We offered a wide variety of classic cars, motorcycles, wooden boats as well as automotive memorabilia.  The collector world has definitely expanded into new markets, and the Mecum Auctions team is excited and prepared to lead the charge with our popular events that deliver something for everyone’s taste and budget.”

The Top 10 Kissimmee Auction Sales (all sales reflect hammer prices) were:
1. 1996 Riva Aquarama Special Hull #774 (Lot S182) at $975,000
2. 1963 Shelby Cobra DragonSnake (Lot S121.1) at $875,000
3. 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster (Lot F211.1) at $550,000
4. 1970 Riva Aquarama Series III Hull #416 (Lot S183) at $325,000
5. 1957 Ford Thunderbird DF Phase 1 (Lot F209) at $250,000
6. 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible Ram Air III (Lot S233) at $225,000
7. 1940 Packard Darrin Convertible (Lot S97) at $205,000
8. 2007 Chevrolet Budweiser #8 NASCAR (Lot S201) at $200,000
9. 1932 Ford Hi Boy Roadster (Lot S228) at $180,000
10. 1964 Mercury A/FX Comet (Lot F163) at $175,000

Complete results are available to Mecum InfoNet members, which is free to join at www.Mecum.com.  Mecum InfoNet members can log in to see car-by-car results by visiting the Results Page.

You can watch coverage of past Mecum Auctions, including the recent Kissimmee event, every Saturday evening during their popular TV series “Mecum Auto Auctions: Muscle Cars & More” airing on Discovery Communications’ HD Theater.  Visit http://dhd.discovery.com for show times.

The Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 24 years, now offering an industry-leading 7,500 collector cars per year.  Next on the Mecum schedule is the Spring Kansas City Auction, March 11-12, 2011, in Kansas City, MO.

Golf in Orlando

by Nigel G. Worrall

The sunny state of Florida with its lush green beautiful landscaped golf courses is one of the hottest sporting destinations in USA. Apart from its exotic tourist spots, Florida draws thousands of visitors every year simply because of the great golf experiences there are to be had. Golf in Florida is simply outstanding and here you can strike the balance between quality family time as well as enjoying your favorite pastime.

One of the highlights of a golf trip to Florida is the ability to rent a vacation villa or vacation home which is not only convenient but also economical. The facilities a vacation villa or home has to offer are quite incomparable with those which hotels offer. In a hotel you may feel confined to your room and other members of your party may be spread out on different floors with no common area for you all to have some  privacy; most vacation homes have private gardens and swimming pools attached which allow you privacy along with all the luxuries. Fully equipped kitchens complete with a pantry with your favorite food items, gaming rooms & LCD televisions with DVD libraries are just a few of their features. There is no compromise on services since most provide housekeeping, garden and pool staff and even an on request driver. All of this is available at great rates and often very much lower than compared to the cost of staying at a hotel and eating out on a daily basis. There are many options available to you throughout Florida and some of the best are located near golf clubs and provide a wholesome family vacation while enabling you to play some great golf in Florida!

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Invitational

Of course, Florida is home to some of the best PGA golf tournaments and you will definitely be spoilt for choice heading out for a round of golf in Florida. Since professionals know the best, most of the golf courses in Central Florida have been designed by them to provide the golf enthusiast a true to life experience. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson have each designed an 18-hole course at The Reunion Resort and Club of Orlando for instance. The main golf course, designed by Arnold Palmer, is simply breathtaking with a lavish landscape of natural preserve woods, water bodies and palm trees.

A rare opportunity to play one of the world’s most highly acclaimed layouts is available at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill club and this is the setting for The Bay Hill Invitational PGA tour event every year. This grand event sees many of the world’s greatest players compete against each other. Presented by MasterCard, the event in 2011 will be held between March 24 and March 27 and tickets are available online as well as at the Club. http://www.arnoldpalmerinvitational.com/

Disney’s World of Golf

Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando is another popular golf facility and includes some of the finest PGA Tour Courses amongst its 6 golfing facilities. With perfect green lawns, hazardous obstacles and breathtaking landscapes there is no dearth of Disney’s magic at any of these courses. Even the golf carts here are up to date with technologies such as GPS tracking, making golf in Florida a truly modern day experience.

Eagle Pines is the popular Disney golf course designed by Pete Dye sprawled across 6,772 yards and boasts of many water hazards and Osprey Ridge, designed by Thomas Fazio is a one of Florida’s finest golf course spread across 7,101 yards.

Disney is also home to the PGA TOUR FUNAI Classic which is hosted on the Palm and Magnolia golf courses. The Palm is a great golf course for the intermediate to advanced player while the Magnolia, which derives its name from the various Magnolia trees spotted across the course, is home to the final rounds of the FUNAI CLASSIC. Slated to be held between Oct 20 and Oct 23 in 2011, tickets will be available online and also from Walt Disney World Resorts.

While most of Disney’s courses are designed keeping accomplished players in mind; families can still enjoy their part of the action at Disney’s Oak Trail which is a relaxing nine-hole course that every member of the family can enjoy.

Florida has many varied options for enjoying a round of golf and you’ll soon feel that golf in the Sunshine State is not just a sport, but truly a passion. It’s also the perfect place for a fabulous family vacation or a golf trip with your pals.

Good article in today’s New York Times from Brooke Barnes that addresses what the staff at Disney are doing to address the long lines at its theme parks. Makes for interesting reading:

ORLANDO, Fla. — Deep in the bowels of Walt Disney World, inside an underground bunker called the Disney Operational Command Center, technicians know that you are standing in line and that you are most likely annoyed about it. Their clandestine mission: to get you to the fun faster.

To handle over 30 million annual visitors — many of them during this busiest time of year for the megaresort — Disney World long ago turned the art of crowd control into a science. But the putative Happiest Place on Earth has decided it must figure out how to quicken the pace even more. A cultural shift toward impatience — fed by video games and smartphones — is demanding it, park managers say. To stay relevant to the entertain-me-right-this-second generation, Disney must evolve.

And so it has spent the last year outfitting an underground, nerve center to address that most low-tech of problems, the wait. Located under Cinderella Castle, the new center uses video cameras, computer programs, digital park maps and other whiz-bang tools to spot gridlock before it forms and deploy countermeasures in real time.

In one corner, employees watch flat-screen televisions that depict various attractions in green, yellow and red outlines, with the colors representing wait-time gradations.

If Pirates of the Caribbean, the ride that sends people on a spirited voyage through the Spanish Main, suddenly blinks from green to yellow, the center might respond by alerting managers to launch more boats.

Another option involves dispatching Captain Jack Sparrow or Goofy or one of their pals to the queue to entertain people as they wait. “It’s about being nimble and quickly noticing that, ‘Hey, let’s make sure there is some relief out there for those people,’ ” said Phil Holmes, vice president of the Magic Kingdom, the flagship Disney World park.

What if Fantasyland is swamped with people but adjacent Tomorrowland has plenty of elbow room? The operations center can route a miniparade called “Move it! Shake it! Celebrate It!” into the less-populated pocket to siphon guests in that direction. Other technicians in the command center monitor restaurants, perhaps spotting that additional registers need to be opened or dispatching greeters to hand out menus to people waiting to order.

“These moments add up until they collectively help the entire park,” Mr. Holmes said.

In recent years, according to Disney research, the average Magic Kingdom visitor has had time for only nine rides — out of more than 40 — because of lengthy waits and crowded walkways and restaurants. In the last few months, however, the operations center has managed to make enough nips and tucks to lift that average to 10.

“Control is Disney’s middle name, so they have always been on the cutting edge of this kind of thing,” said Bob Sehlinger, co-author of “The Unofficial Guide: Walt Disney World 2011” and a writer on Disney for Frommers.com. Mr. Sehlinger added, “The challenge is that you only have so many options once the bathtub is full.”

Disney, which is periodically criticized for overreaching in the name of cultural dominance (and profits), does not see any of this monitoring as the slightest bit invasive. Rather, the company regards it as just another part of its efforts to pull every possible lever in the name of a better guest experience.

The primary goal of the command center, as stated by Disney, is to make guests happier — because to increase revenue in its $10.7 billion theme park business, which includes resorts in Paris and Hong Kong, Disney needs its current customers to return more often. “Giving our guests faster and better access to the fun,” said Thomas O. Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, “is at the heart of our investment in technology.”

Disney also wants to raise per-capita spending. “If we can also increase the average number of shop or restaurant visits, that’s a huge win for us,” Mr. Holmes said.

Disney has long been a leader in technological innovation, whether that means inventing cameras to make animated films or creating the audio animatronic robots for the attraction It’s a Small World.

Behind-the-scenes systems — typically kept top secret by the company as it strives to create an environment where things happen as if by magic — are also highly computerized. Ride capacity is determined in part by analyzing hotel reservations, flight bookings and historic attendance data. Satellites provide minute-by-minute weather analysis. A system called FastPass allows people to skip lines for popular rides like the Jungle Cruise.

But the command center reflects how Disney is deepening its reliance on technology as it thinks about adapting decades-old parks, which are primarily built around nostalgia for an America gone by, for 21st century expectations. “It’s not about us needing to keep pace with technological change,” Mr. Staggs said. “We need to set the pace for that kind of change.”

For instance, Disney has been experimenting with smartphones to help guide people more efficiently. Mobile Magic, a $1.99 app, allows visitors to type in “Sleeping Beauty” and receive directions to where that princess (or at least a costumed stand-in) is signing autographs. In the future, typing in “hamburger” might reveal the nearest restaurant with the shortest wait.

Disney has also been adding video games to wait areas. At Space Mountain, 87 game stations now line the queue to keep visitors entertained. (Games, about 90 seconds in length, involve simple things like clearing runways of asteroids). Gaming has also been added to the queue for Soarin’, an Epcot ride that simulates a hang glider flight.

Blogs that watch Disney’s parks have speculated that engineers (“imagineers,” in the company’s parlance) are also looking at bigger ideas, like wristbands that contain information like your name, credit card number and favorite Disney characters. While Disney is keeping a tight lid on specifics, these devices would enable simple transactions like the purchase of souvenirs — just pay by swiping your wristband — as well as more complicated attractions that interact with guests.

“Picture a day where there is memory built into these characters — they will know that they’ve seen you four or five times before and that your name is Bobby,” said Bruce E. Vaughn, chief creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. “Those are the kinds of limits that are dissolving so quickly that we can see being able to implement them in the meaningfully near future.”

Dreaming about the future was not something on Mr. Holmes’s mind as he gave a reporter a rare peek behind the Disney operations veil. He had a park to run, and the command center had spotted trouble at the tea cups.

After running smoothly all morning, the spinning Mad Tea Party abruptly stopped meeting precalculated ridership goals. A few minutes later, Mr. Holmes had his answer: a new employee had taken over the ride and was leaving tea cups unloaded.

“In the theme park business these days,” he said, “patience is not always a virtue.”

The original article is here.

As the holiday season rolls round, families get together to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. It’s a time to reflect on the past, enjoy the present and look forward to the future. Old traditions are repeated and new ones made and that’s what makes the Christmas holidays such a wonderful time for family and friends.

If you’re looking for new ideas of how to make this year’s holiday special, we have a few ideas:

1. Decorate the Christmas Tree Together
Decorating the Christmas tree together is fun and taking turns to put an ornament on the tree creates memories for every member of the family…it’s as if every member of the family has put their own personal touch on it.

2. Make Your Own Holiday Ornaments
Having all family members create their own holiday ornament to hang on the tree or around the house is a fun family thing to do. You can do this with everything from toilet rolls to art paper, glitter and clothespins.

3. Take Plenty of Photos
Recording memories along the way is a great way to bring back memories and start new ones. Looking back through the year and remembering good times is one of life’s small pleasures. You can even incorporate them into your holiday ornaments!

4. Create a Memory Jar
Have everyone in the family write down two or three of their favorite family or holiday memories. When you all get together have each person pick a piece of paper out of the jar and read the memory out loud. It’s a great way to relive old times!

5. Playtime
Playing games is a huge family pastime around Christmas. It’s a time to bring laughter and joy to your family gatherings so make sure you drag out a favorite family game and have fun!

6. Movie Time
Have each person write down their favorite movie on a slip of paper and let someone draw for a movie the whole family can watch together.

7. Honoring Loved Ones
The holiday period can be a sad one for many family members as they remember a loved one who has passed on. Focusing on the good memories of a person can ease the pain and helps everyone move forward.

8. Wish List
Have everyone create a wish list of the changes they would make in the world to make it a better place. Once done, have everyone combine the list into one master list and then spend time together taking positive steps to help bring about those changes you want to see in the world. It’s a great way to bond and work towards a common goal.

9. Go for a stroll
Sometimes getting out in the fresh air is just the tonic for those Christmas blues… you know, the time when you’ve eaten and drunk too much. It’s a great way to enjoy each others company and share hopes and dreams for the new year.

10. Giving
The holiday season really is all about giving. Why not create a new tradition that involves giving to those in need? Your family could donate gifts or time to worthy causes and bring joy to people in need. Children will enjoy participating in the joy of giving and learning about the problems other people face.

Hope we’ve given you some ideas… from all of us at Florida Leisure…we wish you…

A Very Happy Christmas

Next week sees the start of the holiday travel period and it’s always a hectic time. The only problem with holiday traveling is the mass of people that you are going to travel with and it’s bound to be a trying and testing experience. To survive the holiday travel rigmarole, here are some practical tips to consider.

1. Plan Your Trip.

As with every venture in life proper planning can help smooth the way ahead. Planning ahead will lessen chances of encountering problems along the way. You may also be able to get great deals on airfare, accommodation and attraction tickets. Preparing everything you want to do and laying out the steps one by one can make your holiday much more pleasurable.

2. Pack in layers.

A good idea when packing your luggage is to pack in layers. Start with a layer of clothes, then a layer of electronics, then another layer of clothes, then another layer of heavier items, and so on. This allows TSA officers to quickly scan your luggage more quickly and means you’ll be through security in no time.

3. Confirm Your Status and Print Your Boarding Pass.

Before you head to the airport, always confirm your flight status and print your boarding pass if you can.This can be done online and will save you the headache of discovering that your flight has been delayed or canceled when you arrive at the airport.

4. Allow Plenty of Time.

Always plan on getting to the airport at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure time. It is always better to be early than to be rushed and it’s important to remember that airport parking lots will be more crowded, ticket lines will be longer, and other passengers who are less prepared will inevitably hold up the process.

5. Watch What You Wear.

Going through airport security can be a doddle if you watch what you wear. Never wear clothing with metal and make sure you remove everything from your pockets and put it in your carry on. Dress in a manner that does not identify you as a misplaced tourist and always wear footwear that is easy to slip off and put back on easily.

6. Watch Your Valuables.

When traveling always be conscious that thieves are on the look out for easy prey.  So make sure that you keep your purse, wallet, keys, cell phones, cameras, laptop computer, etc close to you.

7. Tag Your Luggage.

Losing luggage while traveling tend to go hand in hand.  Labeling your luggage with your name, address and phone number will prove invaluable should the worst happen and greatly increases your chances of seeing it again!

8. Keep Your ID Handy.

TSA security requires a government issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, or military ID) and if you don’t have one or have misplaced it, two forms of non-photo ID (local, state, or federal) will be required, such as a birth certificate, Medicare card, voter registration, or Social Security card. Always keep it handy and easy to access.

9. Get Comfortable.

To get the most from your holiday break and hether traveling by aircraft or car always make sure you situate yourself as comfortably as possible. It’s important to relax during the journey so you’ll feel fresh and ready to go when you arrive.

10. Get Travel Insurance

Buying travel insurance is a good idea especially if you are taking expensive holiday gifts with you. Be sure to get coverage for loss as well as theft and you should also get coverage for travel cancellation since flights are quite unpredictable during peak seasons.

Holidays add a special touch to any vacation and with some simple planning and preparation you can ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible . Happy Holidays!