Jetsettersblog

The Central Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau, located in Polk County, Fla., is offering visitors a special chance to save throughout 2010 with a “Passport to Adventure and Savings” card.

The savings card gives visitors the chance to save with more than 120 special offers and is available at the Central Florida’s Official Visitor Information Center.

With more than 120 different special offers, visitors can take advantage of multiple offers a day during their entire visit.

For more information, call 800-828-7655 or visit www.visitcentralflorida.org

The new Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, surrounded by Walt Disney World on three sides, is offering complimentary breakfast and dinner at Harvest Bistro just for kids.

The American bistro offers a daily Breakfast Chef’s Table from 7 to 11 a.m. Kids 12 and under eat free with the purchase of each adult entrée and can enjoy a menu designed just for them.

Harvest Bistro is also open for lunch and families can enjoy dining indoors or under the outdoor covered veranda, overlooking Hilton Bonnet Creek’s signature lazy river and pool.

For more information, call 407-597-3600 or visit www.hiltonbonnetcreek.com

Central Florida’s Orlando World Center Marriott Resort is offering its Winter Escape Advance Purchase Rates from only $189 per room, per night through Sept. 7, 2010. For reservations, call 888-99-WORLD and ask for rate code “ADP,” or visit www.marriottworldcenter.com

Universal Orlando Resort and USA Today have partnered to provide the first-ever augmented reality map of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park experience at Universal Orlando Resort.

With just a computer, webcam and the newspaper, viewers can experience a virtual version of the planned attraction, which will be located in the Islands of Adventure theme park.

Augmented reality blends real-life environments with computer animation allowing viewers to explore things in a completely new way. For the first time, guests can explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before experiencing it firsthand.

By rotating the map, viewers can take a closer look at this 20-acre themed environment from all sides and angles.

Hogwarts Castle will appear and they can explore Hogsmeade and see the Hogwarts Express. Blow on your computer’s microphone and the banners n the map will wave.

Visitors to the Ollivanders wand shop at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, for example, will step into one of the most iconic scenes from the bestselling Harry Potter books and blockbuster feature films.

With the assistance of a live actor, along with special effects, guests of Ollivanders will get to experience the same type of magical moment Harry had in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” when a wand “chooses them.”

Universal Orlando Resort has worked closely with Warner Bros. Consumer Products and the Warner Bros. Harry Potter brand team to make this moment as authentic, magical and immersive as possible for guests. “When guests visit Ollivanders, they will instantly feel like they’re in the shop from the films,” said Alan Gilmore, art director of the Harry Potter films and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

“It’s an intimate, single-windowed building, with the same signs, colors and other details read about in the books and seen in the films.

But more importantly, visitors to Ollivanders will experience for themselves the magical moment that forever changed Harry’s life.”

Inside Ollivanders, visitors will be surrounded by thousands of multi-colored dusty wand boxes stacked on shelves from floor to ceiling.

They will be welcomed by an inquisitive Wandkeeper, who will guide them through an enchanting experience to find their very own wand.

First the Wandkeeper will ask the guest a few special questions and then select the first wand for them to try. Just like Harry, the guest will be prompted by the Wandkeeper to give the wand a wave, and a series of magical mishaps will occur until the right fit is found.

In addition to the magic featured in Ollivanders, guests will experience many other magical happenings at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including a Howler featured in the Owl Post shop front window whose ranting can be heard by guests as they pass by.

The Monster Book of Monsters in Dervish and Banges will snarl and growl at anyone who tries to get too close, and the Hog’s Head which can be seen puffing his jowls at visitors who visit the Hog’s Head pub.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s stories and characters, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will provide visitors with an experience complete with multiple themed attractions, shops and a restaurant.

Following the map’s appearance in USA Today, this experience will be available on www.UniversalOrlando.com/HarryPotter

The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in Northeast Florida is offering an “American Hero Rate” of just $89 per room, per night, to active and retired members of the U.S. military, U.S. police officers, and U.S. firefighters.

The special rate also includes complimentary breakfast for two in the resort’s 500 South restaurant.

The offer is available through Dec. 31, 2010, based on space availability.

Guests simply need to ask for the special rate, and then show appropriate supporting ID at check-in.

For golfers, the resort is also offering a special “American Hero Stay & Play” package, which is also available to active or retired members of the U.S. military, U.S. police officers, and U.S. firefighters.

The package for one golfer/one non-golfer in the room (or for one person in the room), includes one round of golf on the popular Slammer & Squire championship course or the renowned King & Bear championship course, deluxe accommodations for one night in a newly remodeled guest room, breakfast daily for one, and range balls.

The rate is from $169 per room, per night through Feb. 11, 2010, or from $179 per room, per night Feb. 12 to May 31, 2010, based on space availability.

The “American Hero Stay & Play” package for two golfers in the room includes one round of golf on the Slammer & Squire or King & Bear, per golfer; deluxe accommodations for one night in a newly remodeled guest room; breakfast daily for two; and range balls. The package is from $259 per room, per night through Feb. 11, 2010, and from $279 per room per night from Feb. 12 to May 31, 2010, based on space availability.

For reservations or more information, call 888-740-7020 or visit www.WorldGolfRenaissance.com

Three new attractions will open in Stockholm during 2010 — a photographic museum, a lookout point and a newly renovated medieval museum.

Fotografiska Museet, a new permanent site for world-class photography and city views, opens in May.

For more information, visit www.fotografiska.eu

SkyView, two glass gondolas that ride 85 meters above the ground on the world’s biggest spherical building, the Ericsson Globe, opens Feb. 5. For more information, visit www.skyviewstockholm.se 

The Museum of Medieval Stockholm re-opened on Jan. 24 after extensive restoration. For more information, visit www.medeltidsmuseum.stockholm.se

Miami Seaquarium is extending a very special offer to park guests;  through Feb. 12, 2010,

Super Bowl and Pro Bowl team fans will receive one admission free for each regular priced admission purchased.

The offer is good for up to six people per party and is not valid with other discounts or annual pass purchase.

Fans of the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints may claim the special offer by showing their state driver’s license or other official government ID from Indiana or Louisiana at the Miami Seaquarium ticket booths.

For those that are not residents of these two states, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl ticket stubs will be accepted. General admission to Miami Seaquarium is $37.95 and $27.95 for children (ages 3 to 9).

For more information, visit www.miamiseaquarium.com

The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando CVB) has launched a new program featuring rotating Super Deals for travel any time throughout the year.

Only available through www.VisitOrlando.com/deals  Southwest Vacations kicks off the Super Deal program with an exclusive Orlando CVB offer starting at $34 a day for a seven-day Orlando vacation.

From now until March 1, when travelers purchase a flight and a seven-night hotel package at select Orlando hotels, three of those nights are free.

Hotel options include locations throughout Orlando including DoubleTree at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, Sheraton Safari Hotel & Suites, Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and other properties.

Travelers who book this exclusive Orlando CVB package on www.VisitOrlando.com/deals  will save an extra $150.

In addition, a seven-day Disney’s Magic Your Way Ticket can be added to the package for the price of a four-day ticket.

The Southwest Vacations Super Deal is only available to book until March 1, but travel can take place anytime during 2010.

A new limited-time Super Deal will be unveiled on March 2 and new Super Deals will continue to rotate through 2010.

For more details and to book, go to www.VisitOrlando.com/deals

In addition to the Super Deal, the Orlando CVB unveiled its 2010 Orlando Magicard which provides year-round savings at more than 75 area establishments including attractions, accommodations, restaurants, dinner theaters, ground transportation, golf courses, and cultural arts.

The Orlando Magic Card is free and can be downloaded at www.VisitOrlando.com/deals  , requested for mail delivery by calling 800-551-0181, or picked up at The Official Visitors Center in Orlando.

The 2010 version of the card provides expanded offers including theme park deals and other significant savings options such as free nights plus additional free amenities at area accommodations; buy one ticket, get one free offers at attractions; or straight discounts up to 50 percent off.

For more information about vacation experiences in Orlando, to order a complimentary vacation planning kit that includes a comprehensive Official Vacation Guide and the Orlando Magicard or to purchase discount attraction tickets, call 800-551-0181

or visit www.VisitOrlando.com

Merlin Entertainments announced a multimillion-dollar investment in the biggest family tourist center in the world with the planned opening of Legoland Florida.

Merlin has purchased the historic Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fla., from property investment company Land South Group and will open Legoland Florida on the site at the end of 2011. The deal to buy the 145-acre site includes the freehold on the current theme park and waterpark as well as an operating lease in perpetuity on the historic botanical gardens.

Merlin plans a significant multimillion-dollar investment over a number of years, up to and beyond opening, in what will be the biggest Legoland to date.

In line with the group’s “resort” strategy for its theme parks, this is likely to include both accommodations and the addition of further branded attractions from the Merlin portfolio.

This will build on the $100 million invested over the past few years in improved infrastructure on the site.

The Florida development will be Merlin’s second Legoland Park in North America and will play an important role in the group’s continued growth in the U.S. It will provide a full-day, year round, theme park experience geared towards families with children between the ages of 2 and 12.

Its design will mirror the successful concept of the four existing Legoland Parks in Denmark, Germany, the U.K. and California.

However, as with the other four, it will also have its own unique “twist” reflecting its stunning location and adding a Florida flavor.

The decision to open a Legoland Park in Florida follows considerable research in the area by Merlin over a number of years.

This indicated a high recognition of the Legoland Park brand and a more than 90 percent intention to visit by families in this target market.

The issue therefore has been to find the ideal site. Cypress Gardens has long been a popular location for millions of visitors.

Merlin believes its central Florida location, approximately 30 minutes from Orlando and also close to Tampa, is the perfect site for a leisure brand as powerful and compelling as Legoland. The development follows the success of Legoland California, which opened in 1999. Legoland Florida will be the biggest Legoland Park ever opened and will offer a unique mix of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including spectacular Lego models and other interactive elements for the whole family to enjoy together.

For more information, visit www.legoland.com

Adventures by Disney, named the “World’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator” by the 2009 World Travel Awards, has added a new line of itineraries to its list of family vacations for summer 2010.

“Known as the Gateway Collection, these itineraries provide guests with more time on their own to explore the destinations and sites at their leisure,” the company says.

In conjunction with the added time, travelers receive the benefits of Adventures by Disney’s Adventure Guides who are the concierges for each trip and are available to provide recommendations and schedule reservations.

Departing in summer 2010, these itineraries feature, “Gateway to London and Paris,” “Gateway to Italy” and “Gateway to Costa Rica” with dates in June, July, August and September.

“Our new Gateway Collection is ideal for guests looking for a vacation that balances just the right amount of leisure time and freedom to explore destinations on their own with the benefits of Adventures by Disney’s guided tours and VIP hassle-free travel,” said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line & New Vacation Operations.

All Gateway Collection itineraries feature Adventures by Disney’s special touches called the “Disney Difference” and some VIP access into popular tourist attractions.

On “Gateway to Costa Rica,” for example, families will become immersed in their surroundings when they embark on a jungle cruise through Tortuguero National Park with a naturalist, exploring the many canals and rich wildlife of the Mangrove.