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

Freshwater Oasis at Discovery Cove is now open and this week we got to take a look at the new area that allows guests to enjoy some wading adventures and face-to-face encounters with playful otters and curious marmosets.

With most of the water at waist-deep level or shallower, Freshwater Oasis invites families to explore all of its nooks and crannies. The area is designed with a rainforest canopy above and sparkling-clear springs below and this makes Freshwater Oasis a completely natural fit within Discovery Cove’s tropical vibe.

Guests are able to relax, explore and learn and that’s really the theme for what’s on offer these days at Discovery Cove. In fact, over the last two years, the park has been completely reinvented. Last year saw the opening of the fantastic “Grand Reef” where guests get to swim with thousands of tropical fish, rays and even come up close to one of nature’s natural wonders… the shark! This year guests have the chance to get up close and personal with playful Asian otters and cheeky marmoset monkeys. There’s even an “In-Water Relaxation Station” … where guests can enjoy an ice cold drink while relaxing in the warm water and soaking up the Orlando sunshine from the brightly colored sunken chairs that are built into the area.

The stars of the new area are, of course, the animals and the Asian small clawed otters will keep you and your family entertained for hours. You enter the area by swimming or wading to a cave and behind the glass you will find these lovable creatures playing and have the time of their life. Using the mask and snorkel provided you can enjoy watching them underwater as they swim and play endlessly.

The smallest of all otters, these Asian-small clawed otter weigh between two and eleven pounds. They are native to Southeast Asia,  areas like Indonesia, China and India and you really do get close to them as very often they enjoy coming up to the glass and taking a look at the strange human species looking at them. They are very entertaining and often they’ll perch themselves on one of the several tree stumps located around their lush habitat.

It’s a really cool way to watch these animals as we all know the Orlando heat can be overbearing at times and being able to watch them as you relax in the water in a covered area is really quite unique.

As you wade, wander, swim and float around the oasis’s water-filled trails you’ll also encounter several Marmoset monkeys. The monkeys have their own island to play on and guests visit them as they float along the trail.

The Marmoset monkeys, natives of the rainforest and upper canopies of South America, can be spotted up in the tip-top of the trees, leaping from tree to tree and running upside down along branches. They love to communicate by making a series of weird and wonderful sounds including whistles, squeaks, clicks, and trills. They weigh only a pound when fully grown and with no glass to separate guests from them, the marmosets are unique animals to take in as you swim through the waist deep water.

It’s another great addition to Discovery Cove and yet more evidence that after a few years of stagnation that the powers that be at SeaWorld recognise the need to constantly innovate and regenerate. Discovery Cove is an exclusive way to spend a day as it limits admission to 1,000 guests per  day. This ensures a unique and personal experience for each and every guest. It has some of the best animal experiences, all day dining and absolutely first class amenities you can find anywhere in the world today.

Advance reservations are required to secure your spot in this paradise of rocky lagoons surrounded by lush landscaping, tropical reefs, winding rivers, a resort-style pool complete with waterfalls, and white-sand beaches. You’ll enjoy The Grand Reef  which features multiple levels of exploration, from shallow waters to deeper swimming adventures as well as white sandy beaches and hammocks swaying in the breeze. It’s really an amazing area to snorkel around  as you’ll see ocean life swimming among canyons inspired by reefs from around the world.

Also, SeaVenture is something you simply cannot afford to miss. It is an underwater walking tour where guests, wearing dive helmets, find up-close encounters with sharks (safely behind massive panoramic windows, I might add!), one-on-one touches with unique animals and schools of fish and gentle rays.

Rounding things off is the opportunity to swim with dolphins in one of the huge pools created just for the experience. If you’ve never swum with a dolphin before, here’s your chance and while it does cost a little extra, it’s well worth the money to be able to say that you did swim with a dolphin!

Seasonal rates for Discovery Cove’s Dolphin Swim Day Resort Package start at $229 (rates for Day Resort Package without dolphin swim experience and guests ages 3-5 start at $149) but prices do vary seasonally. My tip is to go when the weather is warm.. from April through to October… it’s just nicer to have the warmer water than in the cooler Orlando months when the odd day can get a bit nippy!

More photos at FloridaLeisurePhotography.com

Discovery Cove – the ultimate, all-inclusive tropical retreat where guests swim with dolphins has taken immersion to new depths with the opening of The Grand Reef last Friday. The new reef, an all-new area of Discovery Cove, features multiple levels of exploration, from shallow waters to deeper swimming adventures and white sandy beaches, to snorkeling among canyons inspired by reefs from around the world.

“The Grand Reef takes Discovery Cove’s world-class animal encounters to an all new level — several, actually,” said Stewart Clark, the park’s vice president. “It’s what our guests expect from us, unforgettable connections with the sea and making memories that will last forever.  This could only be created by Discovery Cove.”

Visitors just need to get their feet wet to enjoy The Grand Reef, or they can choose to go deep.  They can step into tranquil, shallow waters to discover a below-the-surface world teeming with sea life, or they can snorkel in deeper waters as thousands of exotic fish and graceful rays swim around them.

Surprises abound.  Families can seek discoveries along the water’s edge or cross a bridge to see sharks swimming below.  They’ll play hide-and-seek with thousands of beautiful fish, from small colorful wrasses to large spotted eagle rays. Further out in the reef, stunning habitats create the feeling of swimming right alongside venomous lionfish and sharp-toothed reef sharks, each safely behind glass.  Guests can take paths and bridges to the reef’s islands and hidden grottos as they delve into the reef from above, around and below.

Those looking for an even more exhilarating adventure can take part in The Grand Reef’s innovative experience, SeaVenture, an underwater walking tour.  Wearing dive helmets, guests find up-close excitement around every corner, each step yielding a new discovery.  They’ll come across lionfish and sharks (safely behind massive panoramic windows), one-on-one touches with unique animals and schools of fish and gentle rays swimming by. SeaVenture is a once-in-a-lifetime, undersea experience available for a nominal fee.

The Grand Reef is the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation, a fully immersive tropical escape, new to discover in Orlando this summer and beyond. Discovery Cove is a full-day experience where guests can swim with dolphins, hand-feed exotic birds, snorkel through beautiful fresh and salt water lagoons and relax on pristine, white-sand beaches. In addition to the park’s one-of-a-kind animal interactions and lush natural beauty, Discovery Cove delivers superlative, personalized service, and unlimited access to an unparalleled array of first-class amenities.

Discovery Cove amenities include meals, snacks and beverages throughout the day’s adventures, towels, wet suits and swim gear, plus a pass for unlimited admission* to either SeaWorld or Aquatica in Orlando or Busch Gardens in Tampa to be used surrounding a Discovery Cove visit. Guests can upgrade to the Ultimate package which includes admission to all three sister parks for an additional fee.  Advanced reservations are required.

Seasonal rates for Discovery Cove’s Dolphin Swim Day Resort Package start at $199 (rates for Day Resort Package without dolphin swim experience and guests ages 3-5 start at $129).  Prices vary seasonally.

Here’s some video:

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:

Well today marks the last day of the year and it’s always fun to look back and reflect on some of the things that happened and what interested most people. That’s why we’ve taken a look at our YouTube.com/FloridaLeisure channel to see exactly what were the most popular videos from over 100 that we made in 2010.

Coming in at No. 10 is the Fun Spot video… this is the video featuring the two great fun parks in the Orlando area…one on International Drive and the other on US 192 at Old Town.

At No. 9 is the Sea World Up Close VIP Dolphin Encounter… a great way to get up close and personal with the dolphins at SeaWorld.

At No. 8 is the LPGA Golf video featuring the exciting finish to the tour when six of the ladies were in close competition for the leading titles in the World here in Orlando.

No 7 is the video from the AARP conference that came to Orlando in September and features part of Peter Greenberg’s talk on how to travel and save money.

No 6 is the visit I made to Disney’s Animal Kingdom… one of the more popular theme parks and evidence of that comes from the number of views the video attracted.

No 5 is the video featuring the World’s capital for water skiing. This was a video I made after calling in at the Water Skiing Hall of Fame…I’d often driven by the place but never stopped…I didn’t know what I’d been missing!

No 4 is the video I made featuring the opening day at the new Amway Arena here in Orlando… it’s the new home of the Orlando Magic and many of the concerts that come to town… a great place to visit to take in a game or listen to some great artists.

No 3 is the Restaurant Row video I put together after visiting the Sand Lake Road area of Orlando. This area really is a great place to visit and some of the best food in Florida can be found here…and you bet the place will be heaving tonight…New Year’s Eve!

Coming in at the No. 2 spot is the Discovery Cove video. A lot of people wonder about the experience at Dolphin Cove and this video goes behind the scenes and shows you everything you need to know.

And the No. 1 video for 2010 is the Hotel or Vacation Rental Home video with over 30,000 views showing just how popular vacation rental homes have now become. This video explains the differences and cost savings between vacation rental homes and hotels and points out that no matter whether you are visiting on business or pleasure, a vacation home really is the best choice for a more relaxing and enjoyable time that saves you real money into the bargain!

Hope you’ve enjoyed our review of the Top 10 Florida Leisure videos for 2010 and please do visit YouTube.com/FloridaLeisure to seee some of the videos that didn’t quite make the list… there’s a lot to choose from such as the SeaWorld Penguin Up Close VIP Encounter, the Harry Potter section at Island’s of Adventure and the Lego Imagination Center at Downtown Disney.

Have a wonderful evening tonight and here’s looking forward to a great 2011 and the chance to create more memories!

It’s that time of year again. Central Florida schools will be back in session starting tomorrow, 23rd August and there’s a good side and a bad side to this.

If you’re dashing off to a theme park them you might get delayed a little by the yellow school buses that will be sure to be clogging the highways. On the other hand, the theme parks will be quieter.

It’s this time of year that international visitors love the most. Orlando’s kids are back in school and that means anyone flying in from around the globe to enjoy Central Florida’s attractions are going to have an easier time. Lines will less and getting around the theme parks is so much nicer. It’s certainly a great time to visit Orlando’s newest attraction “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” for example but you can also expect fewer people at all the area’s favorites; Disney World, Sea World, Gatorland, Discovery Cove, etc.

When you think of Orlando you immediately think of theme parks, sun and fun. However, Orlando has other wonderful things to do and there is a grown up side to the City that you may care to enjoy with that someone special this Valentine’s Day.

Lake Eola is a lovely centerpiece to the City with its footpaths and vintage fountain. For some fun you can take to the lake on a paddle boat elegantly decorated as a swan for around $15 for half an hour. Lake Eola Swan Boats can be found at 101 N. Rosalind Avenue.

While gliding across Lake Eola you can take in Orlando’s vibrant business area and like many Southern cities, Orlando has plenty of charming brick paved roads, bungalows and enormous oak trees draped in Spanish moss for you to enjoy.

From the north east corner of Lake Eola you come across Thornton Park which is home to many cafes, boutique stores and local watering holes that have lots of patio seating… great for people watching!

Orlando also has a great night life and if you wander over to South Orange Avenue you’ll stumble upon bars, concert halls and nightclubs lining the street.

Of course, you can spend the most romantic day of the year at one of Walt Disney World’s six parks, Universal Orlando or Sea World but for a really wonderful treat why not visit Discovery Cove and enjoy the Valentine’s Sweetheart Package where you can present your lover with a box of chocolates, a dozen red roses, champagne served in a private cabana and a love note delivered by a real dolphin.

Just recently I was invited to visit Discovery Cove to take a look around as we get a lot of our guests who ask about this wonderful park. Unfortunately I didn’t get to don my swimsuit or get into the water but I did have an enjoyable time wandering around and taking notes so I could talk to you about it in this blog.

Discovery Cove is situated very close to Sea World, about 15 minutes from most of our vacation homes and is open from 9.00am to 5.30pm on a daily basis. The park really feels like a tropical getaway and is the only place to experience the most exciting animal encounters the world has to offer. At Discovery Cove you can swim with a bottlenose dolphin and make a friend that will live in your heart forever. You can don a mask and snorkel in the Tropical Reef, a breathtaking underwater world teeming with thousands of exotic tropical fish and graceful rays. You will enjoy the freshwater swimming areas all year round as the water is kept in the 74 to 80 degree range. In the winter it might feel a little chilly so Discovery Cove does provide a full length wetsuit to keep you nice, snug and warm if would like one.

Nigel Worrall in the aviary at Discovery Cove

Alternatively, you can simply wander around and take time to enjoy the songs and vibrant colors of birds from all over the world in the Explorer’s Free Flight Aviary. Insider Tip: Make sure you grab some food inside the aviary to feed the birds…they’ll enjoy sitting on your shoulder or your hand as you feed them.

Here are some of my other Insider Tips to a great day out at Discovery Cove:

• Discovery Cove is all inclusive…that means everything is included. Once you’ve paid your entrance fee…that’s it…no more to pay.
• Discovery Cove provides all guests with swim vests and/or wetsuits, a mask and snorkel, towels and beach chairs. They will also provide you with a sample of a specially formulated sunscreen that is safe for use in the animal habitats.
• You should bring your own swimsuits (some people forget believe it or not), and, if you choose, water socks or rubber pool shoes. Don’t forget a hat, sunglasses, cover-up and dry clothes.
• Find out when stingray feeding times are when you arrive…it’s a lot of fun!
• Make sure you “Come Hungry”… remember the day is all inclusive and you can eat and drink as much as you like. Have breakfast at the park when you arrive!
• Do not wear jewelry; it’s for the safety of the animals.
• Make the day even more special: Ask about a private cabana…it’s an exclusive way to spend the day.

Private Cabana at Discovery Cove

So make sure you ask us about a day at Discovery Cove when you plan your next trip to Orlando…you’ll be glad you did.

Some good news at last! Orlando is THE place to visit in 2009. While everyone else in the travel industry is in free fall, Orlando is bucking the trend. The first week of 2009 saw a 14.75% increase in hotel occupancy according to Smith Travel Research and here at Florida Leisure Vacation Homes we were in excess of 20%.

It seems Orlando is THE place to visit and there’s a long list of reasons for that. First we have the world famous theme parks. Walt Disney World with Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, then there’s Sea World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Discovery Cove and hundreds of smaller places to visit to entertain the family.

We then have the beaches…within 90 minutes you can spend a day on the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic Coast. You can visit Kennedy Space Center and watch a shuttle launch or you can simply chill and do nothing.

Rounding it off, we have some world class shopping and a lot of really great dining experiences.

So while the rest of the country sees their numbers dropping, it seems now is the time to take a long weekend break and enjoy the sun and some down time.