When you think of glamorous cities, does Orlando come to mind? We are sure you probably think of New York and Paris before the theme park capital even comes close to popping up in your head. Well thanks to the legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel from New York, Orlando will be getting a dose of luxury over in Bonnet Creek. Nestled close to the Walt Disney World Resort, this beautiful hotel will provide visitors a decadent escape from the Orlando theme park madness, theme restaurants and theme hotels.

Going to the parks is great, but knowing you get to go home to a luxurious hotel room after a long day of riding fun attractions (and having to deal with their long lines) is even better. Orlando’s Waldorf Astoria is only the second Waldorf Astoria in the world and the first of the hotels to be a resort. Much like the New York Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue, you will find beautiful rooms and décor including a marble floor lobby with sky blue domed ceilings and a replica of the clock in the New York location. This clock made of wood and nickel also chimes every 15 minutes and uses the same tone as the original clock in NYC.

The prices of the hotel rooms aren’t a bad deal either. Prices this fall will start at around $200, much cheaper than in New York. While this lucky price streak reverses in March (the Orlando Waldorf Astoria will have rooms starting at $330 while the NYC rooms will be $240) you can’t beat that price for the chance to stay in the hotel of hotels. There are a few unique Florida features at the Bonnet Creek Waldorf. For example, the patio and its furniture are built to withstand hurricanes and instead of getting views of New York City you’ll get incredible views of the hotel’s multiple golf courses and beautiful pools.

The Waldorf Astoria’s general manager thinks this is the best time to open the Orlando branch considering the additions of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Universal Studios Orlando and the massive expansion of Fantasyland over at the Magic Kingdom.

"The next foreseeable five or six years are going to be dynamic in Orlando," said General Manager R. Michael King. "We're here at an opportune moment when that's happening." This is sure to be a hit with luxury travelers!

Holiday Inn is one of the most widely-recognized and family-friendly hotel brands in the world, and now it is heading right to the doorstep of Walt Disney World Resort! With a 2007 announcement of a one-billion dollar relaunch program for their brand, Holiday Inn set out to modernize their brand with a contemporary brand image, increased quality, and consistency throughout their hotels. Over 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels will be receiving face-lifts to be debuted by the end of 2010. Over 800 hotels have been “relaunched,” thus far, and next on the list for its updated debut it the Holiday Inn in the Walt Disney World Resort!

“When the Holiday Inn in the Walt Disney World Resort opens this Fall, it will be both the newest property in the Downtown Disney area and the only Holiday Inn on Disney property,” said John Merkin, senior Vice President of Brand Management for Holiday Inn Brands, the Americas, to finchannel.com. “Many of today’s travelers have memories of staying at Holiday Inn during their own childhood family vacations, and we’re excited that out new contemporary brand will now be part of even more vacation magic.”

The new Holiday Inn on Walt Disney World property will feature the elements of the relaunch, including refreshed guest rooms, signature welcome service to the hotel, and a new service promise. Guests will be welcomed to the hotel with customized music and scent selections floating through the air, giving guests a complete sensory experience. The new “Stay Real” service plan will give guests a personalized experience, so that they feel more like an individual rather than a number. There will even be a head leader to this program – the Guest Experience Champion! Rooms will be redefined with new bedding, improved bathrooms, LCD HD televisions, and numerous guest rooms that overlook the Walt Disney World Resort, perfect for viewing nighttime firework displays. Also within the hotel, there will be a state-of-the-art fitness complex, jogging paths, swimming pool, lap pool, hot tub, sun deck, and a game room.

This 14-story, 323 room, Holiday Inn will be within walking distance to Downtown Disney Marketplace. In fact, as a paying guest, you will be treated just as you would on any other Disney property hotel. You will get the added perks of complimentary transportation to the Disney theme parks (every 30 minutes), guaranteed access and preferred tee times at Walt Disney World golf courses, assistance with reservations for Walt Disney World restaurants and dining experiences, Disney character breakfasts, an on-site Disney retail store, and, even, free delivery service of Disney Theme Park purchases and souvenirs to your hotel room.

If you are looking for the consistent service that you would expect from Holiday Inn’s while on your Walt Disney World vacation, you should check-in to the new Holiday Inn on Walt Disney World property starting this Fall. And, as always, if you are looking for the consistently discounted prices for Walt Disney World tickets, you can depend on OrlandoFunTickets.com.

There doesn not seem to be anything that can not be done on the internet these days. A person can buy stocks, groceries, and furniture, take an art class, and find a date for Saturday night. And now, Walt Disney World is jumping onto the internet convenience bandwagon with new services and tools that makes planning and taking a Disney vacation even easier.

One such service is online check-in, which was launched earlier this week for Disney resort. A completely free service available to all guests staying at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts, online check-in is designed to simplify and streamline guest arrivals.

Here’s how it all works: within ten days of their arrival, guests go online and provide check-in information, let the resort know what time they’ll be arriving, and give their room preferences (though they can’t always be guaranteed). Guests can also provide the names of all the people in their party as well as a credit card to cover resort charges. Then when they arrive, instead of proceeding to the check-in desk, guests visit a special welcome location where their room keys and other registration material are waiting. Should they have any questions when they arrive, Disney cast members will be available to provide information.

“Our new Online Check-In Service offers added convenience and time savings for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests,” said Kevin Myers, vice president of Resort Operations for Walt Disney World Resort. “It’s the latest benefit created as part of our continuous effort to provide a seamless and hassle-free arrival experience for our guests as they begin their Disney vacation.”

And if that wasn’t hassle-free enough, Walt Disney World also recently launched a new element on its website to make planning a Disney trip a little easier and more memorable. Now, guests can go online and use a new Web planner to learn about what fun experiences are available at Disney and even customize their own “celebration vacation” itinerary. With everything from fireworks cruises to street parties and specialty birthday cakes and parties, this interactive online celebration planner asks soon-to-be Disney guests “What Will You Celebrate?” and then tells them how they can celebrate it.

All guests have to do is go online and tell the planner what they’re celebrating – a birthday, reunion, personal triumph, romantic occasion, or even a first visit. Based on the occasion, the online planner gives a list of ideas, such as a Sweetheart Dinner for Two at Victoria & Albert’s or a trip to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom.

Now if only you could get your Walt Disney World tickets online…oh wait, you can! And you can get them at discount, too. Simply check out the tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com, which you can even have delivered to your Disney resort, to which you can check-in online, after planning your Disney vacation on the internet. What will they put online next?

It is no secret to any of us Orlando-ers that our bustling metropolis is home to some lovely and luxurious resorts. However, it is still nice when Orlando hotels get special recognition, and that they have. Travel + Leisure Magazine recently released their list of the top resorts in the US, and no less than seven of our hometown favorites made the list. Though any vacation filled with trips to Orlando theme parks is fun in and of itself, staying at these top-notch hotels makes an Orlando vacation that much sweeter.

Coming in at the highest ranking was the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes. This high-quality resort is loved by visitors for its unparalleled service and beautiful grounds. Inspired by the Palazzos of Italy, the Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes features 584 guest rooms, 11 dining establishments, and gorgeous views of the lakes, pools, and gardens from a five-foot balcony in every room. Theme park goers will also love this swank resort; it offers complimentary transportation to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica, Universal Orlando, and Wet ‘n Wild.

Up next on Travel + Leisure’s list is a popular Walt Disney World Resort favorite, the Animal Kingdom Lodge. This extraordinary resort will transport you to a wild safari with its African-style lodge design. Located on a 33-acre wildlife reserve where hundreds of exotic animals roam free, the Animal Kingdom Lodge features private balconies in every room. Families will love watching zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and wildebeests stroll by. The resort is also remarkably clean, with a beautiful lobby, lovely pools, and that impeccable Disney service with a smile.

A little ways away from the parks, the Grand Bohemian Hotel in downtown Orlando provides an excellent resort experience that’s perfect for vacationing couples and folks in town on business. All 250 of the Bohemian’s guest rooms are adorned lavishly with lush velvet drapes and deep Java wood, and the resort itself features a collection of over 150 works of art. And though it’s not the ideal hotel for those merely looking to enjoy theme parks, the Grand Bohemian is close to the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Ballet, and other area attractions. Be sure to enjoy the free Continental Breakfast before you rush off to see the sights in the morning.

And perfect for the Universal Orlando lover, the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel received a nod for its beautiful design and spacious rooms. A replica of Italy’s Portofino Village, this charming resort comes complete with cobblestoned streets, cafes, and a waterside piazza. Couples will love the romantic nightly show, and families will enjoy the family suites, which come with separate kids quarters complete with bunk beds. What guests will love most, however, is that their room key card doubles as a Universal Express pass for rides at Universal Studio and Islands of Adventure.

Other Orlando hotels that received a coveted spot on Travel + Leisure’s list include the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. If you want to see what all the buzz is about, we highly recommend checking out Orlando’s top resorts for yourself. A stay at one of these leading hotels is the perfect accompaniment to any Orlando theme park adventure. Though you might their rates a bit pricier than your average (they are the best, after all), you can save extra by purchasing discount Orlando theme park tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com.

The Universal Orlando Resort wants to add some extra value to your upcoming vacation to Central Florida. With the introduction of Extra Value Weeks, you and your family can save big if you stay at one of the three Loews hotels on-site at Universal Orlando during one of these designated savings periods. And if saving money is something that is of interest to you, you are in the correct place to begin with! We at OrlandoFunTickets.com offer visitors to the Central Florida area the opportunity to see all of our first-class attractions at a discounted rate. In addition offering discounted tickets to the two Universal Orlando theme parks, we also have special ticket offers for Disney, Sea World, Discovery Cove, Aquatica (Sea World’s news water park), other top local attractions and dinner shows. To learn more about saving big with Universal’s Extra Value Weeks, keep reading below – and to purchase your discounted park tickets for your vacation stay, click here now!

Universal has designated their Extra Value Weeks time periods as April 13-June 4, August 17-October 2 and November 30-December 18, 2008. As we stated above, if you stay at least three nights at either Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific Resort or Portofino Bay Hotel, you will receive an exclusive Extra Value Weeks rate for that time period, along with a special gift for choosing to vacation at Universal. Guests traveling during the first Extra Value Weeks period will receive two exclusive “The Simpsons” T-shirts to commemorate the grand opening of the attraction based on the hit TV show at Universal Studios. Guests staying with Universal during the second period, from August to October, will be granted an AMC Movie Experience Pack, which includes two free movie vouchers at the theater located at nearby CityWalk, along with a $10.00 voucher for concessions. Finally, the third and final Extra Value Weeks period comes with a $25 Universal Orlando gift card which you can use at your own discretion.

In addition to these great deals, there are even more reasons why you should take advantage of Universal’s Extra Value Weeks. Upon check-in at your resort, your family will also receive a special savings guide that has $150 worth of discounts on food and merchandise you can use at the three Universal hotels, CityWalk, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. And, the longer you stay, the longer you will save, as any family staying four or more nights will receive two free Universal Orlando tickets to use for their vacation!

In addition to the special rate and savings above that you will receive as part of the Extra Value Weeks promotion, you will also enjoy a host of benefits that are guaranteed for all guests at one of these spectacular resorts. Not only will you enjoy free transportation all around the Universal property, but you can also skip right through the lines at the theme parks by just showing your room key! This Universal Express pass can be purchased for an extra fee by any Universal Orlando guest, but as an on-site visitor, you get it for free! You can also take advantage of the amazing recreation opportunities and first-class restaurants that are all located right there on each hotel’s grounds.

While all of these complimentary perks will certainly add up to big savings for your family vacation, just remember that you can also save big bucks on your tickets into both Universal Studios and Island of Adventure with our discounted theme park ticket deals. To add even more value into your Extra Value Week vacation, click here now and let the saving begin!