Orlando Named No. 1 Hot Spot For Travelers In 2015

 

At the center of I-Drive 360, the Orlando Eye offers breathtaking views of Central Florida

According to Priceline.com, Orlando is the No. 1 "hot spot" for travelers in 2015. After a multi-year surge of blockbuster expansions at Orlando's world-class theme parks, Orlando's retail, dining and entertainment scene is following suit in 2015. Visit Orlando, the destination's official tourism association, uncovered 15 new openings 2015 travelers will be among the first to experience:

INTERNATIONAL DRIVE

In the heart of Orlando's tourism corridor, International Drive will see significant development in 2015 with the addition of several retail, dining and entertainment venues.

1. I-Drive 360, a new entertainment complex from Merlin Entertainments, will open a trio of new attractions. At the heart of the complex, The Orlando Eye is a 400-foot-tall (12.92-meter) observation wheel providing breathtaking views of Central Florida in all directions within fully enclosed, air-conditioned glass capsules. Madame Tussauds, the world's most famous celebrity wax attraction, offers visitors the ultimate fame experience with its signature red carpet treatment. SEA LIFE Orlando delivers a new wave of underwater adventures with beautiful displays of colorful fish, sharks, jellyfish, sea horses and more, that turn the traditional aquarium observation on its head. The Yardhouse, Tin Roof and more retail, restaurants and entertainment yet to be announced, will add to the experience.

2. Orlando welcomes one of South Beach's hottest dance clubs with the addition of Mangos Tropical Café. With 55,000 square feet (5,109 square meters) of entertainment space, the Orlando location is a massive restaurant and nightlife destination offering high-energy entertainment for a wide variety of tastes. Guests will enjoy Salsa, Bachatta, Reggae and Pop performances with Floribbean Cuisine and tropical cocktails.

3. Escapology Orlando brings a new kind of entertainment to Orlando with its first U.S. location. The attraction challenges guests to be their own heroes in a thrilling game of adventure and mystery. Teams of up to six players are locked in a themed room with just 60 minutes to combine clues, solve puzzles and discover the key to escape.

4. Nearby International Drive, The Florida Mall takes coloring to a new level with the opening of Crayola Experience. The 70,000-square-foot (6,503-square-meter) attraction will offer 25 hands-on activities.

5. The list of dining and entertainment options unique to Orlando continues to grow with the addition of The Whiskey on Sand Lake Road, welcoming lovers of gourmet burgers, craft cocktails and rock 'n roll fun. With over 100 brands of whiskey for the thirsty connoisseur, the venue will also host live entertainment, from musical guests to head-to-head "food fights," where local chefs will pit recipe against recipe.

THEME PARKS

6. Walt Disney World Resort is transforming Downtown Disney into Disney Springs doubling the number of shops, restaurants and other venues. The new area will open in phases starting in 2015 and include, Morimoto Asia, a one-of-a-kind dining experience created by Chef Masaharu Morimoto, of Iron Chef America fame. For the master chef's first pan-Asian dining experience, Morimoto Asia's extraordinary, 36-foot (11-meter) tall, two-story layout includes a vast range of areas to explore including open terraces, a grand hall, private rooms, long bar, cocktail lounge, waterside seating and more.

7. The BOATHOUSE is an upscale, waterfront dining restaurant at Disney Springs that will immerse guests with experiences beyond the cuisine. Guests can listen to live music or take a romantic Captain's guided tour aboard The Venezia, a beautifully crafted 40-foot (12-meter) wooden Italian Water Taxi featuring champagne toasts and chocolate-covered strawberries. The BOATHOUSE will be showcased in an expansive restaurant with three distinctive bars, one built over the water. Guests will enjoy a gourmet menu served daily until 2 a.m. featuring steaks, chops, fresh seafood and a raw bar.

8. STK Orlando blends two concepts into one—the modern steakhouse and a chic lounge. Unique features include a live DJ, high-energy atmosphere and a sleek environment designed to encourage guests to interact and mingle. STK Orlando boasts the only rooftop dining venue in Disney Springs.

9. LEGOLAND Florida Resort will open a new land called Heartlake City, set to welcome guests this summer. The expansion will include a horse-themed disc coaster called Mia's Riding Adventure, an interactive show titled 'Friends to the Rescue' and new shops inside the Heartlake Mall.

10. SeaWorld Orlando will debut an all-new show, Clyde & Seamore's Sea Lion High, a hilarious tale, filled with amazing animal behaviors and splashy audience fun. The comedic sea lion duo will be joined by mischievous otters, a 2,300 lb. (1043 kg) walrus and a cast of goofy human characters.

DOWNTOWN ORLANDO

11. The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts delivers a stellar lineup of 2015 entertainment for its inaugural season: Broadway productions including Disney's Newsies, Motown the Musical, Pippin and Disney's Beauty and the Beast; big-name musicians John Mellancamp, Jason Mraz and Idina Menzel; and comedians Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno and Bill Maher will complement an ongoing Jazz Roots series and Orlando Ballet season.

12. Orlando City Soccer Club is Major League Soccer's newest expansion team set to debut in 2015 with global soccer icon, Kaká. The Orlando City Soccer Club will kick-off their first MLS season at the newly rebuilt Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. After a $207 million reconstruction, sports fans will enjoy an all-new lower bowl with more legroom, improved broadband and Wi-Fi coverage and expanded concession with healthy and gluten-free options.

13. An influx of restaurants will join new downtown Orlando venues in 2015, including: Two Chefs Seafood, featuring comfort food and seafood from former chefs of Emeril's Orlando and The Palm Restaurant; and North Quarter Tavern, a chef-driven neighborhood tavern by the team behind downtown Orlando's power-lunch staple, Citrus Restaurant.

AREA HOTELS

14. Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort will feature 20 Bungalows on Seven Seas Lagoon and 360 Deluxe Studios. The Bungalows will be the first of this type of accommodation at Disney, sleep up to eight guests, and feature a plunge pool with views of fireworks over Magic Kingdom Park. The first phase is scheduled to open in 2015. The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is getting a $125 million, multi-phased, multi-story upgrade.

15. The JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes will welcome new restaurant concept based on the resort's 13,000-square-foot (1,208-square-meter) farm. Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen, will serve up farm-fresh food and signature craft beer.

NewYork.Com Celebrates Its One Year Anniversity With Free $25 Discount Gift Cards And Free Social Media Give-Aways Including Tours, Museums, & Shows

– From riveting Broadway Shows to engaging tours and attractions, NewYork.com has emerged as a leading online resource for planning and booking a New York City experience. In honor of its one-year anniversary, NewYork.com is giving away thousands of dollars in gift cards to customers.

For one week only from June 9 – 13, 2014, new customers can obtain a $25 NewYork.com gift card when they sign up to receive NewYork.com’s popular e-newsletter. Within 48 hours of signing up, new subscribers will receive an email containing an e-gift card and instructions. All current NewYork.com subscribers will receive an e-gift card during the week of June 9 in an anniversary celebration email.

NewYork.com has achieved great success within its first year of operation; growing its unique monthly visitors by over 200% year-over-year, increasing its social following by over 250% and expanding its hotel inventory by 400% since re-launching in 2013.  NewYork.com is committed to delivering insightful and helpful information about how to best experience New York, whether you’re local, looking for things to do or planning a visit,  which has helped build a strong social following on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+ in addition to a growing and loyal site following.
“This is a significant milestone for NewYork.com,” said Stephanie Baker, SVP Marketing. “We are committed to producing interesting content and offering a wide range of products that represent the best of New York. We look forward to expanding our partnerships, offering an even wider range of New York experiences and sharing our insider knowledge of the city to increase NewYork.com’s value to our subscribers and customers.”

To redeem the $25 NewYork.com gift card, consumers must:

• Visit NewYork.com and become a subscriber – http://www.newyork.com/newsletter/, they will receive a confirmation e-mail and within 48 hours receive their NewYork.com gift card with instructions on how to redeem it to make a purchase of $100 or more on one of the hundreds of activities, events, shows, tours and hotels that are featured on the site.
• Each gift code is valid for one purchase only through July 31, 2014

NewYork.com will also be running prize giveaways across its social media platforms using the hashtag #CheersToAYear from June 16^th through 20^th. The winners will be chosen at random from participants who correctly answer NewYork.com’s Scavenger Hunt Question of the Day.

Each day, they will give away a pair of tickets to a popular attraction to the winner of the Scavenger Hunt. Tickets they will be giving away include:
Circle Line - any cruise excluding specialty cruises
CitySights NY – “All Around Town” Tour
Intrepid – Admission to the museum
New York Water Taxi - any New York Water Taxi or Circle Line Downtown Cruise
Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Admission tickets
American Museum of Natural History - 2 SuperSaver Tickets and a hardcover book detailing the making of their famous dioramas
On Location Tours - any tour offered
Madame Tussauds - Admission tickets
Blue Man Group – Admission to a show



In the travel and entertainment arena, NewYork.com features 60+ Broadway and off-Broadway Shows, 165 New York City tours and attractions, 14,000+ Zagat-rated restaurants and 400+ hotels. In addition to providing an unmatched platform for consumers to book their New York City itinerary in a single transaction, the user-friendly website also offers in-depth content on everything pertaining to the city. Site visitors will discover hundreds of hidden gems, local hangouts and celebrity hot spots, Broadway gossip, historical haunts and much more while visiting NewYork.com. Exciting tips written by real New Yorkers highlight all aspects of city life including: the best food trucks in Brooklyn, fine dining establishments near Wall Street and the trendiest boutiques in Soho. There’s even information on finding a job and the best places to rent and buy property. NewYork.com has it all covered; it is connected to everything.

To plan a memorable New York City experience, visit: http://www.newyork.com/

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