Devoted To Disney

Beth writes:

Let's just say that Martin and Diane Summerfold can get a little obsessed. When they were younger, the Middle Island couple traveled the states together to catch 512 concerts by the Grateful Dead. "I'm still paying for meals we ate in 1968," Diane jokes.

But about 20 years ago, the Summerfolds ditched the Dead and switched to Disney World, a place where a couple of Deadheads could smile, laugh and blubber like babies at the sight of Tinkerbell and Mary Poppins. To date, they've taken 83 vacations to Disney World.

"I can't tell you how magical it is," Diane, 58, says. "Disney is truly there to separate you from your money. But I tell you, I've never smiled so much when giving away my money."

Disneyphiles, as the entertainment company calls them, are people like the Summerfolds who can't get enough of Orlando's Magic Kingdom and other theme parks. They are the people who know the difference between Adventureland and Frontierland. The people who know the meaning of Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.) The people who probably even know which animated chipmunk is Chip and which is Dale (hint: the latter has a red nose.)

Most importantly, they are the people to turn to when planning a Disney vacation. Why? Because Disneyphiles hold the keys to the castle: They have developed strategies to avoid long lines for rides; compiled lists of the best restaurants; and gathered scoop on where Disney characters hangout for autograph hounds. In short, they seemingly have Disney know-how in their DNA.

Number of visitors to Orlando down in 2006, new report says

Jason Garcia writes:

International visitors are particularly important because they tend to stay longer and spend more money on their vacations. The report said they accounted for 17 percent of all visitor spending in Orlando during 2006, even though they made up just 6 percent of all visitors.

There were a few bright spots in the 2006 report: The number of business travelers rose 1.9 percent to 10.5 million. Visitors from Canada jumped 5.5 percent to 693,000.

Courtenay said planners think visitor totals will come in higher when this year's results are tallied, based in part on more-encouraging reports of hotel-room rentals and tourist-tax collections in 2007.

The theme parks have likewise reported more upbeat results this year. A SeaWorld Orlando spokeswoman said SeaWorld has already set annual attendance records even though the busy holidays aren't yet complete. Disney executives have also said their U.S. parks have drawn record crowds.

A spokesman for Universal Orlando said its parks saw double-digit attendance increases during the third-quarter of 2007.

"Our holiday season is off to a very good start," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder added, "and we're excited about the future."

Christmas Vacation Time

The Orlando Sentinel writes:

Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that December has been the worst month for airline delays in each of the past four years. Last December, for instance, more than one out of every four flights -- 26 percent in all -- arrived at least 15 minutes late. Another one out of every 33 flights was canceled.

Snowstorms in the Northeast and Midwest contributed to 34 canceled flights at OIA last Sunday alone.

Still, the crowds might not be as big as they could be this year thanks to $3-a-gallon gasoline and rising airfares. AAA says airfares, for instance, are averaging 16 percent more than they were a year ago.

That's part of the reason AAA's prediction of 8.9 million airline travelers is down 0.3 percent from a year ago, though its prediction for travel by car is up 0.9 percent. The agency's prediction of 639,000 air travelers in Florida is also slightly below last year's 650,000 total.

"Airfares averaging 16 percent more than last Christmas means that bargains may be hard to find for those looking to fly to their destinations," AAA President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Darbelnet said.

Local officials are more optimistic. OIA, for instance, projects a 2.1 percent increase in overall holiday traffic this year.


Vital crowds

The holidays are vital to Central Florida's tourism industry in general and its theme parks in particular -- a point on the calendar when they count on some of their biggest crowds and when they annually stage additional shows, stay open later and run all of their attractions, even the ones they don't open the rest of the year.

December crowds can get so thick that Walt Disney World is forced to close the gates, or at least the parking lots, at some of its theme parks, particularly Magic Kingdom. That happened three times between Christmas and Dec. 29 last year. On one of those days, Dec. 28, the gates to Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom and the parking lot to Disney-MGM Studios all were closed for at least a couple of hours.

Disney executives have expressed optimism that Christmas season attendance this year could be even better. The same is true at SeaWorld Orlando, which has added the Polar Express Experience ride for the holidays, and at Universal Orlando, which has added the Grinch Who Stole Christmas musical at Islands of Adventure and expanded its Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Studios.

In Orlando, the hustle-bustle of seasonal travel brings smiles and sighs

The Orlando Sentinel writes:

But hordes of arriving tourists could mean chaos on Central Florida's highways and jetways.

Officials at Orlando International Airport are bracing for some of the heaviest days of the year, led by Jan. 2, when nearly 110,000 passengers are expected to pass through the airport.

Only the Saturday before Thanksgiving was more crowded this holiday season, according to airport estimates.

But two other big days are just around the corner: Friday, when nearly 106,000 travelers are expected, and Saturday, when more than 109,000 travelers should be there. The airport handles about 98,000 passengers on an average day.

Taken as a whole, November and December are actually much quieter months at the airport than those in the spring and summer, because spring-break and summer vacations give families ample time for trips to the theme parks. But airport officials say the holidays are more intense in that so much of the travel is focused on a few days.

"There is a crush around specific dates," OIA spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said. "There are busier peak days."

Complicating matters at this time of year are winter storms up North, which can wreak havoc with airlines' already packed flight schedules.

Generosity lets ailing youngsters have Christmas to remember

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

The Hwangs were among more than 100 families who were guests at a giant Christmas party at Give Kids the World, a charity that treats children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to theme-park vacations. This is the first year that the nonprofit, which is 21 years old, has thrown a holiday party on such a large scale.

The shindig, which included a magician, a deejay, a juggler, face-painting and a visit from Santa, was a gift from Dr. Phillips-area residents Ed and Maritza Gonzalez, who donated the catering, entertainment and gifts.

"We were looking for an organization to give back," said Ed Gonzalez, 46, a businessman. "We've been blessed over the years."

The party was one more way that Give Kids the World offers families a respite from the often-overwhelming routine of caring for a gravely or terminally ill child.

Jeanette Parker of Orlando stays at home to care for her youngest daughter, Ruth, 5, who has a heart defect, epilepsy and autism and is not toilet-trained. There's little time -- or money -- for a vacation. On Christmas, though, Parker, her husband, Leonard, and their three daughters, including Ruth, got a break.

Monday Mouse Watch : Changes to Disney Dining Plan infuriate WDW guests

Jim Hill writes:

There are many things that one might expect to hear at a full-service eatery at the Walt Disney World Resort. An attentive server asking a guest if they can get them another Coke. Or an anxious parent -- as they clutch their camera -- asking when's Mickey going to come through the restaurant again.

But what you don't expect to hear is a patron swearing at the top of their lungs at a WDW restaurant manager over something they just found on their bill.

Yet over the past seven days, this scene has been repeatedly at Disney World eateries. With Security having to be called in several cases in order to deal with these irate customers. All because these WDW visitors are furious with the changes that have recently been made to the Disney Dining Plan.

"And what's the Disney Dining Plan?," you ask. Much like Disney's Magical Express Transportation, it is yet another of the Mouse's ingenious schemes to keep WDW guests (more importantly, their wallets) on property. Preventing them from wandering on down the road and then spending their dough at the SeaWorld Adventure Park or the Universal Orlando Resort.

Florida resorts and cruises offer romance for Valentine's Day

Georgina writes:

A Caribbean cruise offers endless horizons, the to-and-fro motion of the sea, abundant food and activities and entertainment. Celebrity Cruises; Constellation sails from Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 8 and 29 on10-night voyages to such idylls as St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Maarten. You can opt for a stateroom with private veranda to toast the sunset at sea with your love. Rates for veranda cabins run about $259 per person per night including meals onboard and entertainment. Visit www.celebritycruises.com.

If you and your loved one would like to be catered to by a butler during your Caribbean voyage, try Azamara Quest's 14-night Caribbean cruise departing on Feb. 16 from Miami to such idylls as St. John, Dominica, St. Vincent, Tobago, St. Barts, Virgin Gorda, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Turks & Caicos. Fares for a veranda cabin start at $249 per person, per night, including food and entertainment on board. Visit www.azamaracruises.com.

Swan and Dolphin are two monumental hotels in Orlando, near Epcot, that boast "entertainment architecture" with gigantic icons of swans and dolphins. Guests can walk to Epcot with its international pavilions and superb restaurants. Among the gourmet restaurants on the Swan and Dolphin property is the one of chef Todd English with delectable steaks, fish and seafood.

The luxurious Swan and Dolphin offer the Mandara Spa by Elemis, an oasis with exotic treatments and a meditation garden. Other resort amenities include five pools, including a three-acre tropical-themed with waterfall and a beach with white sands. Visit www.swandolphin.com.

The South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island re-opened last year after a $140 million renovation. This 330-acre resort (more than half is a natural reserve) offers a variety of lodging options including tropical-décor hotel rooms and condos. Pastimes include spectacular sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, shelling, golf and dining on seafood in the new Harbourside Bar & Grill –don't miss the crab cakes! Visit www.southseas.com

The Song of the Sea on Sanibel has as its backyard the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel has only 30 rooms, each one with a private porch and they serve breakfast alfresco in a patio with flowers and a fountain. Activities include bike rides (bike rental is free), shelling and water sports. Visit www.sanibelcollection.com.