Orlando, February 24, 2010. A trainer with 15 years of experience training and handling the Orca Killer Whales at the SeaWorld Orlando attraction was grabbed by Tilikum, Shamu. Dawn Brancheau, a 40 year old senior trainer, was seen petting and rubbing the animal just after an afternoon show when the whale came out of the tank and grabbed Brancheau, pulling her in and under water.

According to visitors who watched the show previously, it was clearly noticed the animal was behaving nervously during the performance and had rejected all commands from the trainers. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a news update: the Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster just opened today, August 19 after a mystery awaiting period with no comments and no projection dates set by Universal Studios in Orlando. Discount Vacation Rentals Online had numerous inquiries on this ride from people all over the country trying to find out something about this ride. Well, with no pre-announcement or any visible signs the Studios cut the ribbon and off it went. For a few months now locals saw bill boards alongside the roads advertising the ride Rip Ride Rockit Opening soon. August 19, a Wednesday in 2009 was apparently the date! Tickets available here on our web site through our certified vendor The Official Ticket Center.

What is The Rip Ride Rockit Attraction?

The Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster is the world’s largest non-inverted loop and a negative-gravity move that makes riders feel like they’ll be thrown from the car. A very complicated attraction indeed but well worth while the wait the first dare devils acknowledged. The cars fly just a mere 30 feet above the awaiting line of crowd, making the line an attraction in itself.

Other than the hoops and the loops (no ooops please), one can choose from 5 different styles of music to play one of the 30 programmed songs to play for each riders’ personal preference and pleasure. It is likely the Rock-n-Roller Coaster in Disney Hollywood Studios gave the people from Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure an idea for this newest ride. Even the name is not the greatest in originality compared to the Disney ride, the attraction on itself though appears to be a few notches higher as it is newer and more innovative.

Discount Vacation Rentals Online looks forward to receive comments, pictures and personal experiences of this and other of the newest attractions in Orlando soon and we will post them here on our blog. Have fun and scream your heart out!

If you are looking for a fun and inexpensive attraction to visit, Fun spot is the place to go. With 2 convenient locations on International Drive and Highway 192, the fun never ends in Central Florida.

Fun Spot is open 7 days a week from 10AM to 12 Midnight. With several different rides for all members of the family to enjoy, no one in your family will be bored at all. Fun Spot is the home of the several go-cart rides that will leave you smiling and wanting to race more and more. The Ride the “Chaos” Extreme Go-Cart Track has multi-level tracks to add the excitement to your evening of adventure. There are also other tracks for the go-carts such as the “Slick” & “Road Course”. You will experience a smooth ride as this track is flat and has many curves and turns. Check out some of the thrill rides such as the Paratrooper, Ferris Wheel, Hot Seat or the Screamer. Don’t forget to visit the NASCAR Speedway- The home of the interactive speedway experience where you will certainly experience the most realistic feel of the race tracks.

Things To Do In Fun Spot Kissimmee

While enjoying the thrilling rides, take a break and enjoy some of the best carnival foods. This park has several different food venues that have candy apples, cotton candy, funnel cakes, hot dogs, smoked turkey legs, popcorn and much more.

Fun spot is the home of the “BigFeet #7. BigFeet 7 was built in May 1988, specifically for the filming of the movie “Road House” with Patrick Swayze. In a key scene, the driver of the BigFeet 7 blasted the truck through a new car showroom destroying four brand new cars. The scene cost $500,000 to stage and was filmed in one take with seven cameras. This monster truck stands 15′3″ tall, 13′1″ wide and weighs 28,000 lbs.
In 2007, BigFeet 7 was sold to Fun Spot and now resides at the Fun Spot Kissimmee location.

Parking and admission is absolutely free. This is a park that you will certainly want to visit during your vacation. The fun never stops until it is time to go home!

Everyone in the family will have a great time at Old Town. Open 365 days out the year, this theme park is known for the many attractions and rides they have to offer. Whether you want to ride the Roller Coaster, Ferris wheel or just take the little ones on the carousel, there is something for children of all ages to surely enjoy.

Old Town is conveniently located off of the Highway 192 within minutes away from the Disney attractions. The park offers free parking and admission to all guests.

Everyday of the week there is a different event that takes place at Old Town. If you plan on visiting on a Wednesday, you will be sure to enjoy live Elvis performance. Go back in time and hear all of your favorite Elvis songs and get all shook up! Concerts begin at 7:00 PM and attendance is absolutely free! On Thursdays, kick back and enjoy bike night. All foreign and domestic bikes will be presented down the streets of Old Town. On Fridays, enjoy the night cruisers car show for all antique cars from 1975-1987. On Saturday, you must see the classic hot rods from the 1950s to 1970s.

While you are going back down memory lane, you must visit the Blue Max Tavern for dinner and enjoy and evening of karaoke. You may also visit the classic AW and enjoy a root beer float in the classic 50’s style dine-in restaurant. There are many other places to visit such as Happy Day’s Arcade. Treat your children to a fun fulfill evening of arcade games. Children of all ages will earn tickets playing ski ball or video games. Turn in your tickets to win a special prize at Happy Days. There is so much to do and so much to see.

For a little over one year, SeaWorld Orlando’s waterpark known as Aquatica has offered a new, serene experience and expansive variety of water rides to guests visiting the Central Florida area.  The new waterpark covers over 60 acres of property, landscaped to express a lush surrounding filled with vivid, colorful flowers and greenery, a tropical floral scent and a relaxed South Sea Islands atmosphere.  The park is set to resemble the raw beauty of Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea.

Aquatica features crystal-blue rivers winding through hidden grottos, sparkling waterfalls, and sky-high rock formations creating the back drop of these waterways through the park.   You’ll also see live animals from across the globe including Commerson’s dolphins, macaw of every shade and vibrant fish that bring the park to life.

Here you can experience 80,000 square feet of white sand-beach area, 36 water slides, and six rivers and lagoons with specialty features such as high-energy habitats for their amazing wildlife and sea creatures.  The most notable ride is the parks signature attraction known as the Dolphin Plunge. Here you ride down transparent tubes through an underwater world home to the beautiful black-and-white Commerson’s Dolphins.  If water slides are not your thing, you can still catch a playful show with the Dolphins and their trainer daily.  Show times are posted near the view of the water slide near the entrance of the park.

Rides for all ages and excitement levels are present at Aquatica.  Anything from gentle river journeys to extreme rolling rapids, eight-lane racing slides, triple-drop raft rides, a one-of-a-kind interactive water play areas (world’s largest), and even a children’s pool for your tiny tots who are not even able walk on their little tootsies yet.  Special slide tubes and rafts were designed just for Moms & Dads with small children.

Last but certainly not least: maybe you’re craving a day at the beach but time just doesn’t permit for the hour trip to the coast? Enjoy the wide sandy beaches at the water park. Surrounded by refreshing lagoons, the beach areas provide plenty of room to soak up the sun or you can enjoy the cool shade provided by the towering oaks and palm trees.  Personal cabanas can be rented for a private retreat, while the park also shares several beach chairs, loungers and giant umbrellas to guard you and the kids from the rays, at no charge. So sit back, relax and take in your vacation!

DVRO provides you with a great Park Map of Aquatica, so you can plan your wet-and-wild day at the waterpark this summer! Need tickets, visit the ticket page on DVRO’s website and we’ll help you get started. You can even choose a 2-park ticket in order to visit Aquatica and SeaWorld if you desire.  Be sure to contact Discount Vacation Rentals Online if you need any assistance finding an accommodation near the waterpark or if you simply have questions on our recommedations on parks, attractions and restaurants. We’re happy to help and we look forward to seeing you soon to enjoy the waterparks and sunshine of Orlando Florida.

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So you’ve been to Disneyland California and with that you decided next year to take the kids to the grandest place for all things magical, Walt Disney World Orlando.  Now it’s time for a vacation this year and the kids are still at that age where they haven’t had enough of their favorite Disney characters but you and your spouse, well let’s just say you want a break from it all no matter where the journey takes you.  Maybe you’ve traveled to this superb destination once before for your honeymoon years ago or it could simply be the dream vacation of a lifetime for your wife as well, as she’s yearned to visit the city of lights since you can remember.  Why not please the entire family with a luxury vacation and visit the Disneyland Resort in Paris, France where dreams come true for the kids and Mom & Dad too!

Disneyland Resort Paris opened its doors April 12, 1992 after twenty years of planning and constructing.  The resort features many hotels, recreations and restaurants for guests to enjoy, just as Walt Disney World Orlando, but with a few variations in theme, cuisine and of course the language in which we communicate.  Covering 4,800 acres, Disneyland Paris consists of two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.  The Disney Village entertainment venue was designed around our local Downtown Disney in Orlando, as it contains a variety of bars, shops, restaurants, a dinner show, and other venues.  Here you will also find Golf Disneyland, a course featuring 9-hole and 18-hole courses.

There’s plenty of hotels to choose from on the Disneyland property.  You have seven Disneyland Resort Paris hotels, while there are an additional six hotels that are associated but not currently managed by Euro Disney S.C.A.  These associated hotels also provide the perks of a Disneyland Resort hotel, such as free shuttle bus transportation to the parks, and luggage assistance.  Depending on which hotel you choose you will also have spectacular services that may include a pool, fitness room, golf (fee applies), a skating rink and tennis courts.  So even if you encounter a few hours of rain and don’t want to hit the theme parks, you can enjoy numerous indoor activities at your hotel until the sun shines again.

After a few days at the park with the kids, then it’s off to enjoy the sights of the city for Mom & Dad half of the vacation.  Every day excursions to see the city’s major sights are available by coach and boat.  You can also opt for the “evening tour of Paris” which is a magnificent sight and allows you to discover why Paris is deserving of the nickname “City of Lights“.  The nightly excursion is available on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings typically.  Don’t worry about communication difficulties, as the the tourist information kiosk located at the entrance of the Disney Parks and Disney Village have advisers there who speak several languages including English and Spanish.  English speaking drivers/couriers will lead your excursion through Paris’ royal heritage and history, local artist’s villages, medieval sites and even a nature trail which is home to one hundred big cat families including the Kruger lions, white tigers, Sri Lanka leopards and Amur leopards.  Four different trails around the park complete this stunning feline world tour.

We hope to have given you food for thought for your next vacation to Disney.  But hey, it’s not your typical drive or flight to the theme parks.  If you’re traveling with toddlers, be sure to pack lots of activities and toys to keep them company on the approximate 9 hour flight.  With luck you can book a flight leaving the states in the evening hours, that way the kids can enjoy dinner on the plane, watch a movie and then hit the snooze button for the remaining part of the trip.  Don’t forget there is a considerable time difference when traveling across seas, so you may want to plan your time to walk the theme parks a few days after you arrive.  This will give you and the kids plenty of rest to reduce jet lag–trust us it’s needed! Have a great vacation and be sure to send Discount Vacation Rentals Online any photos of your trip to Disneyland Paris.

We encourage visitors who have been to Disney Paris to send any tips and advice in the comments box here under. Please? It may help our guests tremendously and they will be grateful!

Now there’s more to smile about on your vacation to Orlando, Florida.  You already have the cheery sunshine, the thrilling rides and more attractions than you can even consider taking in when visiting Orlando–how about a great deal to go along with the most popular vacation destination this summer?  The “Bundles of Smiles” promotion was organized by the Orlando & Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. in order to assist travelers of all sorts in finding an affordable vacation this season.

The promotion bundles over 100 deals from business of all sorts throughout the Orlando area including accommodations, attractions, golf, sports & recreation, vacation rentals, arts & culture, dining, transportation and YES even shopping! These incredible offers will be available through June 30, 2009 and the best part is…the Smiles Card is ABSOLUTELY FREE!  What’s not to love about this deal?  Simply visit the visitors bureau website for more details and exclusive offers currently running.

You’ll also have the chance to win a free trip to Orlando by showing photos of how Orlando makes you smile.  All you have to do is send in your photos of your best Orlando-inspired smile and you could walk away with the grand prize.  The trip includes round trip flights for four to Orlando, a four night stay at the Orlando World Center Marriott only 1.5 miles to Disney, and a $200 gift certificate to enjoy the finest dining at your choice from 10 different restaurants within the resort.  You will also be provided a rental car and two-day admission tickets to Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando or Universal Orlando.

We say visit the site, print your free Smiles Card and say ”cheese!” We can’t wait to have you back in Orlando this year!

Buying discounted Orlando attraction tickets…sounded like an easy task at first right? Or you may have thought that the discount Disney tickets would be much easier to find online but are you finding yourself swamped with countless offers on tours and other gimmicks? Many guests visiting the Orlando Kissimmee, Florida area search for discounted theme park and Orlando attraction tickets once they have finalized their accommodation reservation for their vacation in Orlando.  Most of the time, they are searching much farther than necessary and get lost into a world of trendy offers and gimmicks.  Discount Vacation Rentals Online is here to give you the scoop on finding fabulous deals on Orlando attraction tickets, including discount Disney tickets to all major theme parks such as Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios Orlando, Busch Gardens and even deals on dinner shows and other local favorites.

Our first word of advice is if it sounds to good to be true (the deal on your tickets)…then ASK QUESTIONS and get some answers.  You’ll see many online offers advertising Disney tickets for $20 per park or maybe even a package deal including 2 tickets for 2 days at Disney including hotel expenses for ONLY…some incredible, inexpensive rate.  You need to ask questions and find answers, so we say read the Terms and Conditions for the provider.  Typically there’s small print you would have other wise not read or took note of when clicking the “submit” button for that fantastic deal.  Many ticket providers do provide the deal but at the expense of your precious vacation time.  You will be asked to attend a resort tour or ‘obligation free’ presentation of the newest facility they’re promoting.  That tour is not on your schedule but on theirs–they choose the date and time you will be attending.  Amongst other requirements (including but not limited to: proof of identity, current address, household income, etc) you will also be provided with the tickets after you attend the tour-NO exceptions.  Meaning if you had a well-thought out plan on how you’d like to spend your week of vacation stay in Central Florida…forget about it.  Your schedule will unfortunately evolve around theirs. And one more thing: if you do not attend the tour, be sure to expect a hefty processing fee to be added to your credit card bill upon your departure of the resort.

Why waste your vacation time and your hard earned dollars!  Buy your discounted tickets from a third-party vendor, that offers a great- no gimmick- deal on your purchase.  Third party vendors purchase their tickets in bulk, permitting the vendor to pass on a portion of the discount to the guests visiting Orlando.  Each park offers their tickets at different prices and/ or specials, therefore, each attraction ticket you purchase through these vendors will vary in the amount of the discount provided.  But feel at ease in knowing that your ticket price with the vendor will be lower than that of a ticket at gate price.

Another convenience to you is that you can order your tickets online (discount Disney tickets and all other parks) and they can be shipped to your home address prior to your trip to Orlando, or you can pick them up when you arrive, or you could even have them delivered to your place of accommodation upon your arrival to the Orlando Kissimmee, Florida area. Whichever option works best for you, be sure to ask your vacation rental home provider for the name of their trusted ticket vendor.  Chances are you’re only one click away from finding that great deal on your attraction tickets, instead of searching through hours of invaluable vacation offers.  Now get back to planning that fabulous vacation!

As you walk through the entrance of SeaWorld Orlando, you can’t help but notice bright blue beams towering above your head in an organized fashion.  This is the newest addition to the SeaWorld theme park and it is known as the Manta.  Properly named, the Manta-themed joy ride is a thrilling roller coaster with a queue line like you’ve never seen and offers the heart-pounding experience of flying face-down in a horizontal position.  This steel coaster is sure to please even the crowd who intends not to ride the new attraction.

Some stats to get you prepared for the adventure: The Manta has a top height of 140 feet- while your first drop alone is 113 feet. Its top speed is 56 miles per hour and the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 35 seconds long.  Still not rushing to the doors for opening weekend?  The Manta will be featured amongst the marine life theme in which SeaWorld is known best and it will introduce guests to an array of breathtaking sea life and lush landscaping.  Viewing tanks of plexiglas from the ceiling to the floor, along with cascading waterfalls and other creative exhibits will display a variety of sea rays, several species of tropical fish, sea horses and more.

With its swift swoops and turns you’ll fly through the remarkable landscaping surrounding the coaster and you’ll even skim the lagoon, creating a spray of water that will surely be a sight for riders and onlookers alike.  This attraction opens Memorial Day Weekend in Orlando so be sure to get your tickets in advance through DVRO.  Book your Orlando vacation rental home, purchase your tickets online and get the family to SeaWorld for the Manta opening on May 22- See you soon!