Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
57
In the Words of Walt Disney
Fun Facts
Why be a governor or a senator when you can be king of Disneyland? You can dream,
create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world . . . but it requires
people to make the dream a reality.
2001 terrorist attacks and took a battering
after a trio of hurricanes touched down in
Central Florida in the summer of 2004,
the industry has regained much of its
strength as the years have passed. Indeed,
one unfortunate casualty of the economic
slowdown, Cypress Gardens, closed its
doors in 2003 (and again, albeit only
briefly, in 2008), but has since reopened
under new management, and with a new
lineup of attractions.
Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld, are,
as usual, in a building mode, albeit not as
enthusiastically as they were during the
late 1990s. All the parks have added new
attractions, ranging from Soarin' at Epcot
to Universal's Fear Factor Live, to Sea-
World's new entertainment and dining
district, the Waterfront. In 2005, in honor
of California sibling Disneyland's 50th
anniversary, Disney World unveiled new
shows, services, rides, and attractions. The
year 2006 brought with it the addition of
Expedition Everest, Animal Kingdom's
first real thrill ride. And in 2007 the Cin-
derella Castle Suite (now some lucky visi-
tors can actually stay overnight inside the
Magic Kingdom) was unveiled as part of
Disney's Year of a Million Dreams celebra-
tion. New shows, attractions, and an after-
hours Pirate and Princess Party debuted at
the parks. Universal Orlando created a
permanent home for the Blue Man Group
at Universal Studios Florida. In 2008,
Disney's Year of a Million Dreams contin-
ued, Disney-MGM Studios became
Disney's Hollywood Studios, and even
more new shows and attractions (includ-
ing Toy Story Mania and a Disneyesque
version of
American Idol
) debuted. Disney
also closed its clubs on Pleasure Island in
order to “re-imagine” the district. Aquatica
(SeaWorld's eco-themed water park)
became the first new park to open in over
8 years.
The year 2009 brought with it an eco-
nomic upheaval that took a huge toll on
tourism in Orlando, leaving the hotels,
restaurants, and parks scrambling for busi-
ness. Despite the slowdown, two new
mega-coasters still managed to emerge—
Manta, an undersea-themed thriller,
debuted at SeaWorld, while up the road at
Universal Studios, Hollywood Rip Ride
Rockit—a combination rock concert,
music video, and coaster ride, opened.
Disney kicked off its newest year-long
celebration aptly named What Will You
Celebrate, with free admission (to a single
Disney park) as the bonus for guests visit-
ing on their actual birthday. New resorts
continue to spring up in and around
Orlando, but a slowdown in construction
is expected in upcoming years.
Even amidst the most current economic
slump, the pace of progress in this ever-
changing city continues to move forward
(albeit more slowly than in recent years),
and it's a sure bet that these newcomers
will be joined by even newer resorts, rides,
and shopping and dining experiences in
the coming years.
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