Downtown Publix may bag Orlando theater’s plans

Here’s a story from the front page of today’s Sentinel : Publix may bag Orlando theater’s plans By Elizabeth Maupin Sentinel Staff Writer Plans to build a theater in an upscale condo tower on Lake Eola have run afoul of one of the neighbors: downtown Orlando’s only supermarket, Publix.

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Downtown Publix may bag Orlando theater’s plans

10 Reasons Why Vacation Villas Are A Great Alternative To Staying In a Hotel

If you are uncertain about Florida villa rentals and think you should stay in a hotel instead, here are ten good reasons that will make you change your mind.

Home Away From Home – Your villa in Florida will be just like your home because it will have all the same comforts that you have at home making it a better way to relax which is usually a primary reason for a vacation.

Cost – For families who need two or three bedrooms or more, a hotel would require several rooms so that you end up spending more on everything because of multiple rooms rather than condensing costs for one Florida villa. Everything in a hotel is more costly particularly food and for a family with children this can become very expensive.

Privacy – There are no restrictions on dining times that you would experience in a hotel being subject to eating when the dining room is open or room service is available. You could really relax and unwind in a villa and would not have interruptions from a maid to bring you more towels or make up the beds.

Space – In a villa in Florida you would have a whole house for your family to be together without being in cramped separate rooms in a limited amount of space where after a few days it becomes claustrophobic.  Not only will you have multiple bedrooms, but you will have more bathrooms along with a dining area, living area and kitchen. Everyone will have areas that they can retreat to rest or relax instead of being stuck together in one room.

Bathrooms – There is nothing worse than having to wait for a bathroom because someone else is using it. When family members are crowded into a small hotel room with one small bathroom, only one person can get ready making others have to stand in line. With more than one bathroom at your vacation rental you will all be able to get ready at the same time.

Kitchens – With a kitchen you have the ability to cook your meals thereby saving you lots of money. Many vacation rentals have barbeques so that you can eat inside or outside. If you want a snack during the night you have it without having to call room service or go without because it is after hours.

Private Pools – The privacy of your own pool makes a huge difference in terms of relaxation and enjoyment for most families. You could sunbathe by your own pool without a lot of other noisy people disrupting your peace and quiet. If you want company you can invite others over but you won’t have to listen to people that you don’t know and don’t want to talk to.

Parking – Most people will have a rental car when they go on vacation or they have driven the family car. If you stay in a hotel there is normally an additional daily fee for parking the car depending on where you are. With a Florida vacation rental you will be able to park in the garage – just like you do at home. Unless of course it has been converted into a luxury games room for your added enjoyment.

Washing Machines – Although some hotels have facilities for washing clothes, you have to pay for it or you have to find someplace to wash your clothes. With a villa, you will have a washer and drier – just like you do at home.

Independence – A rental allows you the freedom to come and go as you like without worrying about leaving your possessions behind in a room.

Airline Fares Climb as Some Passengers Choose to Drive

There’s predominantly bad news for travelers intending to fly on business or on vacation this summer, according to a recent article appearing in U.S. News & World Report. Not only has the number of delayed flights risen, but so, too, have the number of passengers impacted per plane. For some, the news was worse than for others. Evaluating major airports using a combination of the percentage of flights delayed and the average load of departing aircraft, the U.S. News article branded Detroit’s Wayne County Airport as the nations “most miserable airport”.

Official Department of Transportation numbers paint a frustrating picture for Motown’s frequent fliers. Thirty-nine percent of flights at Detroit leave the tarmac late. Combined with an average load factor of just under seventy-seven percent – meaning that passenger flights leaving Detroit are nearly 77 percent full – Detroit’s airport offers the most misery to the largest number of people when flights are delayed.

Because I live near Detroit and make the occasional business trip to nearby Chicago or Cleveland, these figures got me thinking about the advantages – if any – of traveling by car to these destinations. With the help of some other tips in the article, it was quite easy for me to price and then compare the cost of driving and flying to each of these cities.

Step One in the process was to pay a visit to fuelcostcalculator.com.

Maintained by the American Automobile Association (AAA), this website asks you to supply your departure point and final destination along with the make, model and year of manufacture of your car. Using MPG estimates for your particular vehicle and the average gas price for your neck of the woods, AAA’s fuel cost calculator rapidly calculates the overall distance, the amount of fuel required and cost of that fuel for a typical drive from let’s say – Detroit to Chicago. In my case, I learned that I could expect to consume 10.58 gallons of gas for the 275-mile drive to the Windy City at an approximate fuel cost at just over 33 dollars (33.23). The calculator likewise computed the round-trip cost of the drive, in this case, 66.46.

To find out how this would compare to flying, I next visited sidestep.com.

Sidestep appeals to me because it searches hundreds of airline and discounted fare websites for the best deal and then lets me book directly with the airline company instead of using a go-between like Orbitz, Travelocity or Expedia. Dealing with the airline directly instead of through a third-party ticket broker, makes it easier and possibly less expensive if there are additional fees to change my flight if necessary.

While at sidestep.com, I found an American Airlines non-stop flight that would whisk me from Detroit to Chicago on a Tuesday and return me the following Thursday at a total round-trip cost of 119.00 dollars. Not a bad price by any means, but still approximately twice the cost of traveling by car. And the price didn’t factor in the cost of airport parking or any additional airport charges or taxes.

Since driving is a pleasure for me, the decision to drive to Chicago on my next business trip was an easy one. My route takes me right by the Detroit airport anyway and I’d rather spend my time driving through the scenic countryside of Western Michigan than battling long lines and possible delays at the airport. In addition, it’s nice to have a familiar car in Chicago and also gratifying to save on the cost of a rental.

Whether a decision like this adds up for you depends to a large extent on your starting point and ultimate destination. While it’s still marginally less expensive for me to drive from Detroit to Los Angeles than it is to fly, for example, I’d never dream of making this long drive part of a business trip.

It’s generally the shorter trips, on the order of 250 to 450 miles, where driving makes sense. See for yourself by comparing the cost of flying and the cost of driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Washington, D.C. to Boston, or Miami to Orlando using the tools available at fuelcostcalculator.com and sidestep.com.

The Best Way to See Orlando

Orlando is a city with a lot to offer, and when searching for vacation hotspots with something for everyone, fewer cities can compare. From Disney World and Universal Orlando to world class golfing, shopping, nightlife and everything in between, Orlando is indeed a vacation paradise.

Choosing Orlando as a vacation destination is easy, but how can one get the best deal that will allow them to see the sights and enjoy the experiences they desire at the best possible price?

According to Kyle Collins, Director of Interactive Marketing for HotelsCorp.com, “Orlando is one of the few vacation destinations that offers almost unlimited package options that can be customized to meet the needs of the individual or group. While package deals to other destinations usually involve substantial savings with limited choices, Orlando can be enjoyed at a discount without having to compromise.”

Travel agencies who specialize in Orlando getaways can help vacationers find a package that suits their tastes and without breaking the bank. Still, some packages may be the most suitable yet not include the full menu of activities that are available in Orlando, “The Vacation Capital of the World.”

“The way to book a satisfying trip to Orlando,” continues Collins, “is by finding a package deal that comes closest to offering all the activities you want and then taking advantage of add-ons to complete the experience.”

Add-ons are usually sold as excursions, tours or simply tickets and can usually be had at a discount if you include them when purchasing your initial package deal. Most agencies have discounted arrangements with the providers and operators of several popular activities, from shows to golf outings and more.

“Although it can be tempting to account for every waking moment by adding various activities to the itinerary, “ warns Collins, “vacationers should remember two important points when booking. The first is that keeping a more open schedule will allow them to relax between activities and enjoy each experience without feeling rushed. The second is that, undoubtedly, travelers will encounter things they want to try while on their vacation, so having some down time scheduled will allow them to make new plans without losing out on what they’ve already booked.”

An End to Columbia's Winning Streak

The Local – Maplewood — Sun Nov 01 12:00:00 UTC 2009 Boo! Halloween was not a great day for high school football in Maplewood, Millburn and South Orange. about: American Columbia Columbia High School football Football Halloween High school maplewood Millburn Millburn High School Offspring South Orange South Orange New Jersey Sport Sports

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An End to Columbia's Winning Streak

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Wizarding World at Universal Studios on Track for 2010 Opening

With each of Orlando Florida’s theme-park resorts promoting new attractions this year, but it’s something that won’t open until next year (2010) that really has people talking.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” the $200 million-plus “theme park within a theme park” that is scheduled to open by next summer in Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, has sparked a near-constant stream of speculation about just how the resort will bring the Harry Potter universe to life.

“The industry scuttlebutt is that it will be fabulous,” said Bob Rogers, founder of BRC Imagination Arts, a Burbank, Calif.-based attractions-design company. “I see the gleam in the eyes of the people who are working on it. They think they’ve got a real winner here.”

Universal Studios has kept the project – based on the wildly lucrative, seven-book series by British author J.K. Rowling and the movies it inspired – largely shrouded in secrecy. Contractors working on the project have been required to sign confidentiality agreements, and the resort has offered few clues beyond a handful of artist renderings. Universal Studios has also fueled the hype with a series of Harry Potter-themed Internet polls asking fans questions such as what dragon they would like to ride (a Chinese Fireball beat out a Hungarian Horntail) and what they would like to drink (butterbeer bested pumpkin juice).

Shops, Eatery & More:

But interviews with people in and around the project, and a review of public records, offer some details about what to expect.

Plans for the 20-acre Wizarding World of Harry Potter show more than a dozen buildings, including at least three shops, a restaurant and multiple forced-perspective decorative buildings. The centerpiece will be the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the iconic castle and keep from the Harry Potter books and movies.

Universal’s Hogwarts, records show, will be 150 feet, or 15 stories, high.

The castle will also house what is expected to be the Wizarding World’s signature attraction. Several people familiar with the project, including one person directly involved, said the ride will be what’s known as a “robocoaster” – a ride system in which guests sit in seats suspended from a robotic arm that can swivel and swoop in multiple directions while it advances along a track.

Plans show the track snaking through more than a dozen scenes, though what those scenes will be remains a mystery. The attraction, according to the people familiar with it, will also feature an elaborate pre-show queue with special effects such as floating candles and snow falling indoors.

Before they arrive at Hogwarts, guests entering the Wizarding World will pass through Hogsmeade Village, an old-Europe-style town from the Harry Potter novels. Universal’s plans for Hogsmeade include The Three Broomsticks restaurant, shops and stylized locker and stroller-parking areas. The few clues Universal Studios has provided indicate the stores will include Dervish & Banges, which sells and repairs magical equipment, and Honeydukes, a sweet shop whose treats include chocolate-covered frogs.

In between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, Universal Studios is building Hagrid’s Hut, home of the friendly half-giant. It has also said it plans to re-create the Forbidden Forest, an ominous setting from the books that’s home to creatures such as centaurs, unicorns and spiderlike “acromantulas.”

Re-themed coasters?

There is little yet to indicate what rides will be included in the Harry Potter Wizarding World beyond the Hogwarts “dark” ride. Part of the Wizarding World is being built in the Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure, and documents indicate that two existing attractions there – Dueling Dragons, where riders choose between two intertwined roller coasters, and the Flying Unicorn, a children’s coaster closed last year as part of the Potter construction – will be incorporated into Harry Potter’s world.

Both rides are expected to be re-themed with Harry Potter story lines. Records show, for instance, that Universal Studios plans to add a large tent at the entrance of Dueling Dragons, which fans have speculated will ultimately be converted into a re-creation of a wizarding tournament from one of the books in which one of the events involves stealing eggs from dragons.

Of course, the rides are almost secondary for fans when it comes to the Wizarding World, said Robert Niles, publisher of the Web site www.themeparkinsider.com.

“People are expecting to immerse themselves in the whole Harry Potter universe,” Niles said. “Really, a lot more than other attractions, people are going to be paying a lot of attention to the theming, the attention to detail and the atmosphere of the place, more so than the rides.”

Universal Studios would not elaborate on any of its plans last week.

“We will be excited to talk about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – when we are ready to do so,” spokesman Tom Schroder said.

The off-the-charts anticipation surrounding the Wizarding World of Harry Potter comes with some risk for Universal, said Rogers, of BRC Imagination Arts. “If you’re dealing with one of the great intellectual properties like, for example, Star Trek or Harry Potter, you have to work very hard to make sure that you don’t disappoint the fan base,” he said.

Whatever is ultimately included when the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens next year, newer additions will soon follow. Universal’s licensing contract with Warner Bros. requires the resort to add elements from the final movies in the series – the last of which isn’t scheduled to arrive in theaters until 2011.

The contract even states that the later movies must be represented “in generally similar per-movie proportion” as the first five films.

Travelling to London Hotels is a Great Experience

In the welfare of future generations the city of London has a proud history. There are hundred’s of London hotels located near two dozen museums. Different types of hotels are there in London like cheap hotels, budget hotels. There is a hotel queens-hotel located 8 miles from the most central part of london. In this hotel there is a Roof-Top restaurant open for breakfast and dinner. This hotel have rooms in which different facilities are available such as central heating, colour T.V. In all the rooms sharing facilities, tea and coffee making facilities are available. Also you can go for more hotels in London which are providing you facilities according to your budget. If your budget is high then it will provide you luxury . quality-hotel-hampstead . This hotel is located in the heart of London. This hotel provides you facilities like Guestrooms facilities, Travelling facilities. If you are looking for a well furnished hotel then go to this hotel park-street-hotel. This hotel is the London first’s property which introduced the concept of Fractional ownership.The decoration of this is very high standard. This is a superior first class hotel. In this hotel different category of room are available like Family rooms, Single rooms, Double rooms. All the room in this hotel have ensuite facilities . All the London hotels provide you one of its most unique services. In London you are enjoying your holidays very much. Different hotels are there in London according to your budget.

What Are Best 2 Or 3 Things To See At Epcot?

I’m 58 and have only one afternoon to spend at Disneyworld. What are the best things to see in one afternoon?

Families Urged to Review Healthy Habits in Midst of Influenza Outbreak (PitchEngine)

Orlando, FL- October, 2009 As the number of confirmed H1N1 Influenza A cases continues to grow both nationwide and worldwide, Senior Helpers In Home Health Orlando, FL the fastest growing provider of in-home care for seniors, is urging families to review their hygiene practices to keep their elderly loved ones safe. While federal officials arent saying senior citizens have a greater risk…

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Families Urged to Review Healthy Habits in Midst of Influenza Outbreak (PitchEngine)

Viking Classic canceled

PGA Tour officials have canceled the weather -stricken Viking Classic because of unplayable course conditions.

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Viking Classic canceled

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