Disney discounts for Florida locals
Walt Disney World is offering a January promotion again for Florida residents to buy multiday tickets.
The Florida Resident Discover Disney special is a three-day ticket for $159 plus tax or a four-day ticket for $179 plus tax.
It is a 14 percent increase from the previous January offers in 2017 and 2016 when the three-day ticket cost $139 for Florida residents. However, there are no blockout dates this year, according to Disney. In 2017, a few days were blocked out at Animal Kingdom.
Proof of Florida residency is required to purchase the tickets at theme park or water park ticket windows, or a Guest Relations location.
The tickets are valid for one park — Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot or Animal Kingdom — per day unless the tickets are upgraded to park hoppers, which cost an additional $30 plus tax on the three-day ticket and $37.50 plus tax on the four-day ticket.
“Tickets may be used on nonconsecutive days until June 24,” according to Disney’s online promotion.
Regular one-day, one park tickets to Disney parks can cost as much as $119, depending on the day, according to its website.
Disney has been in construction mode in recent years. It opened Pandora — The World of Avatar in May at Animal Kingdom. It will debut Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios this year; an official opening date has not been announced. In 2019, Disney will unveil Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios.
To make way for some of the changes, Disney shut down Ellen’s Universe of Energy at Epcot and Great Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios in 2017.
Revenue growth from hotel taxes continues.
The Orange County Comptroller’s Office reported nearly $21.8 million brought in November, a 7 percent increase from November 2016.
“It is great to see TDT collections continue to come in above projections,” Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond said in a news release.
The money comes from a 6 percent tax on shortterm rentals, hotels and motels.
After Hurricane Irma, people evacuated to Central Florida and the hotel tax revenue grew in September from the same month last year.
An Orange County committee, which is made up of several elected officials in“Lego cluding County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, give recommendations on how to spend the tax money to the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
The hotel tax helps pay for projects that are intended to grow tourism. Some of the funds paid for expanding the Orange County Convention Center or landing more athletic games, such as NFL Pro Bowl to Camping World Stadium.
Some lawmakers have argued the hotel tax should be spent on items that benefit local residents and called for the money to be spent on public services such as roads.
Legoland is kicking off a new kid-friendly ninjathemed event for three weekends in early 2018, the attraction said in a news release.
Lego Ninjago Days are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Jan. 20-21, 27-28 and Feb. 3-4.
Ninjago Days takes over the popular theme park with ninjathemed activities, new Lego character meet-andgreets, delicious, kidfriendly treats and the debut of a 12-minute, ‘4D’ theatrical attraction starring the heroes of Cartoon Network’s ‘Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu,’” Legoland said in its release. The festivities are included with the price of admission at the Polk County park.
The Legoland resorts will also offer special events.
Legoland Hotel offers a nightly ninja training school, a scavenger hunt and character appearances while the Legoland Beach Resort features an obstacle course and nightly scavenger hunt.
Disney: 'A Wrinkle in Time' preview set for Hollywood Studios
Visitors to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park will soon be able to watch a preview of “A Wrinkle in Time,” a film featuring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and Zach Galifianakis.
The sneak peek and a display of costumes used in the production of the Walt Disney Pictures film will be available within the Walt Disney Presents attraction beginning Feb. 9. “A Wrinkle in Time” opens March 9.
The film’s plot involves a woman traveling to a distant planet, where her astrophysicist father is being held captive. It’s based on a novel, published in 1962, written by Madeleine L’Engle.
Distinctive character names include Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which.
The film was directed by Ava DuVernay (“Selma,” “Middle of Nowhere”).
The preview, available for a limited time, also will be shown at Disney California Adventure theme park in Anaheim.