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.

At Epcot, guests can travel around the World Showcase and get a taste of countries like Germany, Italy, France, and even Morocco. But for a true taste of Africa, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the place to go, and even more so now with the opening of the new Kidani Village Resort. A new Disney Vacation Club property that’s begun opening in phases earlier this month, Kidani Village envelops guests with African-inspired art, authentic African cuisine, and incredible views looking out onto an animal-filled savannah.

Families will be able to indulge their taste for adventure at Kidani Village, which is named for the Swahili word for “necklace.” From the moment they step into the lobby and take in the hand-carved columns, intricate patterns, and gold-toned furnishings, guests will feel like they’ve been transported to Africa. Arching windows in the lobby provide an unparalled view of the savannah, and swaying floor lamps and vibrant fixtures add to the splendor and authenticity of the resort.

Guests can choose from studio and one, two, and three bedroom accommodations at Kidani Village, each equipped with homey comforts like kitchens, living areas, and more. Each villa features custom-made furnishings and African décor, in addition to a view of the savannah.

The Village also includes Jambo House, which opened in July 2007 and consists of 109 remodeled two-bedroom equivalent accommodations on the fifth and sixth floors of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The remaining rooms of Kidani Village are expected to open this fall.

Other new amenities in the resort at Kidani Village include Sanaa, a 150-seat restaurant serving African cooking infused with Indian flavors. Named after the Swahili word for “artwork,” Sanaa opened May 1 and features interiors inspired by African art.

Guests can also enjoy Samawati Springs Pool, a themed pool area with a 128-foot slide and two whirlpool spas, and Uwanja Camp, a water-play area with three themed zones featuring age-specific activities for kids. More active fun is available on a basketball half-court, a shuffleboard court, and two lighted, hard-court tennis courts located in a sports area, and there’s also a “Survival of the Fittest” fitness center featuring treadmills, bicycles, stair climbers, and limited free weights.

To wind down and relax, guests of Kidani Village can utilize the Zahanati Massage & Fitness Center inside Jambo House, which offers spa services. Meanwhile, any shopping bug can be satisfied at Johari Treasures, a merchandise shop with logo and character merchandise, plush toys, sundries, books and magazines, and more.

And of course, no resort is complete without handy access to Walt Disney World. Kidani Village offers convenient transportation to all the Disney parks.

To book a stay at Kidani Village, one need only call Disney to make reservations. And to begin your escape to the wild savannah, don’t forget to pair your African accommodations with an African-style adventure at Animal Kingdom or one of the other parks by getting your Walt Disney World tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com.

As if the What Will You Celebrate promotion at Disney was not already cool enough, a Walt Disney World resort is now offering an additional present to complete your celebration. At the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin, guests can now enjoy a complimentary room on their birthday. Add in one of the great birthday gifts from Disney for your theme park adventures, and there’s no doubt now that Disney is the place to go for an all-out birthday celebration.

The Swan & Dolphin, a Four-Diamond luxury resort located in the heart of Disney World, is offering birthday guys and gals a complimentary birthday room with a minimum three-night stay. Under this offer, birthday celebrators can also purchase a second room for an additional $99 per night.

And to cap things off, when birthday guests dine in one of the Swan & Dolphin’s signature, award-winning restaurants, they’ll receive a complimentary birthday cake prepared by two-time champion pastry chef, Laurent Branlard. The resort’s restaurants include Todd English’s bluezoo, Shula’s Steak House, and Il Mulino New York Trattoria. Dinner reservations should be made at least five days in advance to allow for birthday cake preparations.

When guests book their birthday stay at the Swan & Dolphin, they should provide the rate code “BDAY.” And don’t forget to pack your ID when you go on vacation – you’ll need it to verify your birthday at the resort, but you’ll also need it to redeem your birthday treats when you visit Walt Disney World.

In case you need reminding, celebrating your birthday at Walt Disney World can earn you one of three awesome gifts: a 1-Day Magic Your Way base ticket for use any time until your next birthday; a birthday FASTPASS exchange card for a certain number of attractions at the Disney park you visit on your birthday (valid for the birthday person and up to five members of his/her party); or a birthday fun card in an amount equal to the price of a 1-day Magic Your Way base ticket to use for certain purchases like merchandise, recreation or tour experiences, or Disney’s PhotoPass on-site services at participating Walt Disney World locations. The birthday fun card never expires and can be used repeatedly until there’s no amount left on it.

All you have to do to redeem your three gifts is have your ID and a Walt Disney World ticket from OrlandoFunTickets.com handy, and head to the guest services line when you enter Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, or Hollywood Studios.

So if you’ve got a birthday coming up, there’s one guaranteed fun way that you can celebrate with friends in style – a trip to a Walt Disney World theme park, complete with a stay at the Disney Swan & Dolphin Resort. Start by checking out Walt Disney World tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com, and you’ll be on your way to one great celebration.

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.

Located just outside Orlando and right next door to the Walt Disney World Resort you will find The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. This sister property of the Gaylord Opryland in Tennessee features the best that Florida has to offer.

The hotel is divided into three sections. The main atrium is inspired by St. Augustine and features a replica of the San Marcos Castle and the Ponce Leon Fountain of Youth. The Key West atrium offers a refreshing décor with lavish colors and a feeling similar to that of the tropics. This is where you will find Sunset Sam’s Fish Camp featuring seafood and Caribbean inspired dishes. At Sunset Sam's Fish Camp you can have your dinner on the dock or on the SS Gaylord, a 60 ft long sailboat. As you walk through the Everglades Atrium you can imagine yourself walking around rugged wooden pathways, over misty water, in the beautiful Florida Everglades. In the Everglades Atrium you will also find the Old Hickory Steakhouse, their fine dining steak and seafood restaurant known for their wine list and cheese pairing. The famous Canyon Ranch Spa is also located in this section, featuring a state-of-the-art spa and salon. The hotel also features Villa de Flora; with five cook stations offering different dishes from the Mediterranean. It also offers Sora, their brand new South Beach inspired sushi bar. If you are looking for nighttime fun then head out to Auggie's Dueling Piano Bar or H2O Sports Bar. If fun in the sun is what you are after then head out to one of the two refreshing pools.

This beautiful resort is complemented with the country’s largest adjoining convention center. The Florida Exhibition Rooms and the two main ballrooms offer conventioneers an excellent location to host their event. The wedding pavilion and the Orange Blossom Ballroom are very popular with couples when looking for a location to have their special day.

Overall this resort offers everything you need without leaving property: great dining, entertainment, and the best service Florida has to offer. So head over to the Gaylord Palms and experience Orlando, Florida in a new and different way.

Thanks to Ronald Alicea, Shipping and Fulfillment Coordinator for OrlandoFunTickets.com, for this informative article!