Hi Deb. Yes, we have been working on up-dates now for the 2005 book and on our new Brit's Guide website -
www.askdaisy.net/orlando - which will be able to carry all our up-dates in future. Here's what we have so far:
Things That Beat Our Deadline
WALT DISNEY WORLD
THEME PARKS:
Magic Kingdom: Guests will enjoy Meet And Greets in the new Princess Room at Mickeys Toontown Fair (Page 103). Ariel will be in attendance until Ariels Grotto is refurbished later in 2005. Princesses include Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Snow White, and Cinderella. Additional Princesses will make guest appearances. Stitchs Great Escape is now open, in place of the old Alien Encounter attraction, but it still seems to spook younger children when the theatre is plunged in to darkness (and Stitch suddenly belches in your ear!) (Page 104).
Epcot: Spaceship Earths Global Activity Center has closed indefinitely (Page 114). At The Living Seas pavilion, two new encounters based on the Disney-Pixar hit film Finding Nemo provide encounters with laid-back turtle Crash and Bruce, the vegetarian shark (Page 114).
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORTS:
Animal Kingdom Lodge now has hearing assistance devises available to Lodge guests (Page 66).
Contemporary Resort: The Childrens Activity Center, the Mouseketeer Club, has closed indefinitely (Page 61).
Grand Floridian Resorts Pirate Cruise for children now has an age limit of 4-10 years, meaning 3-year-olds will no longer be allowed to take the Pirate Cruise (Page 62).
WALT DISNEY WORLD DINING:
Priority Seating requirements: All table service dining now requires a credit card to hold a Priority Seating on major holiday dates. 2005 Holidays include New Years Eve, New Years Day, St Valentines Day (February 14), Easter Sunday (March 27), Mothers Day (May 8), Memorial Day (May 30) Fathers Day (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (September 5), Halloween (October 31), Thanksgiving (November 24), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (Page 61).
Chef Mickeys: Beginning October 10, 2005, Chef Mickeys buffet will be $17.99 ages 12 and up, $9.99 ages 3-11 (Page 62).
Cinderellas Royal Table (Magic Kingdom) and The Princess Storybook Breakfast (Epcot) require a credit card to hold a Priority Seating (Page 93)
Birthday Cakes can be ordered 48 hours in advance at 407-824-1520. Delivery available (Page 42).
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:
Typhoon Lagoon: a major refurbishment in early 2005 sees the addition of a fabulous new flume ride (Page 208),
Downtown Disney: the big shopping/dining/entertainment complex has opened a new store, Mickeys Mart, featuring Everything Ten Dollars and Under (Page 286).
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS/ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE:
Halloween Horror Nights (click HERE! for our special feature on HHN) has a price increase to $54.75. For an additional $15, guests can purchase a Horror Night Express Pass to bypass most of the attraction queues (Page 162).
OTHER PARKS
SEAWORLD:
The Key West Dolphin Fest will be closing, to be replaced by a revolutionary and creative design that encompasses both sea and sky" in summer 2XXX (Page 167).
CYPRESS GARDENS:
Cypress Gardens Grand Opening occurred on December 9, 2004, with a full weekly schedule and a special Grand Opening admission price of $29.95, available through 28 February 2005. Regular admission beginning 1 March is $34.95 (ages 10-54), and $29.95 (ages 3-9 and over 55). Parking is $7.00. The park opens at 10:00 am, with varying closing times from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. See website for specific days and times.
http://cypressgardens.com/welcome.asp
The all-new Adventure Park debuted their newest roller-coaster, Hurricane Charley, as well as a new craftsmans village, botanical gardens, water-ski show and ice skating show. Live entertainment though March 2005 includes Kenny Rogers, Glen Campbell, The Drifters, The Coasters, The Platters, Chubby Checker, Pat Boone, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Loretta Lynn, Guy Lombardo, and the Smothers Brothers. (Page 191)
ORLANDO AREA ATTRACTIONS
SPORTS AND OUTDOOR ADVENTURES:
Boggy Creek Parasail have suspended their parasailing excursions until further notice (Page 218).
Walt Disney Worlds Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge golf courses now have GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) on all golf carts, with the ability to measure distance between ball and pin, show statistics, location of golfers in front of and behind your party, hazards, relay weather conditions and enable guests to order refreshments from the beverage carts (Page 234).
Flying Tigers Warbird Air Museum in Kisssimmee has been forced to close in the wake of extensive damage caused by the unprecedented hurricane season. No re-opening is expected (Page 222).
Hard Rock Vault has closed indefinitely (Page 200).