Welcome to the March Newsletter
Hi Subscriber, welcome to the March newsletter of the
Florida Review & Travel Guide.
Last month, the Florida weather took a terrible toll.
Whilst the Northern States have been battling with huge snowfalls, Florida had
its fair share of bad weather with terrible consequences.
During the early hours of the morning of February 2nd, severe thunderstorms,
accompanied by three tornadoes swept across Central Florida north of Orlando leaving
a trail of death and destruction.
Lake, Sumter and Volusia Counties bore the brunt of the storms and 21 people died
in the towns of Lade Lake and Paisley in Lake County.
Many of those who died were living in mobile (park) homes but even the Lady Lake
Church of God which was built to withstand 150 mph winds was destroyed.
As if the human tragedy was not enough, 17 out of the 18 endangered young Whooping
Cranes that had migrated south from the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in central
Wisconsin last year as part of a plan to build a second migratory flock in Florida were
also killed in the storms. The storks were in an an enclosure at the Chassahowitzka
National Wildlife Refuge near Crystal River. It is estimated that around 60 or so cranes
remain in Florida and the second flock of around 200 birds over winter on the Texas
Gulf Coast.
A hail storm at the Kennedy Space Center has also delayed the launch of the
Space Shuttle Atlantis (see NASA News).
Passport Changes
From January 23, everyone entering the US via the borders with Canada and Mexico,
including citizens of America, Canada and Mexico and those returning from a Caribbean
cruise have been required to show a passport.
It is hoped that by early 2008, children aged 15 or less, with parental consent, will
be able to travel with a certified copy of their birth certificate instead of a
passport. Children aged 16 to 18 in sports and school groups etc. and with
parental supervision will also be exempt.
This is only likely to apply to land and sea border crossings, everyone arriving
by air will still need to present a passport.
Read more...
US One Dollar Coin
The US Mint have introduced another $1 coin just before President's Day. This
time it is a gold coloured coin featuring George Washington on one side and the
Statue of Liberty on the other side. [Image - United States Mint image]
The intention is to feature a different former president every three months in
the order in which they served and the series will run up until 2016. This follows
on from the successful series of 50 State Quarters that are being issued, each
with a design associated with one of the US States on the reverse.
Read more...
Shark attacks in 2006
Figures for unprovoked shark attacks worldwide in 2006 have been released and
show a slight increase in the total number of attacks, up from 61 in 2005 to 62 in
2006 of which 4 were fatal. Though there were no fatal attacks off the US coast in
2006, the US still remains the country with the most attacks, numbering 38.
Of these, over two thirds occurred off the Florida coastline.
Read more...
British Airways baggage allowance
British Airways have reduced the total weight of their checked baggage allowances on
domestic and long haul flights.
All bags must be 23 kgs (51 lbs) or less but an amnesty is in force until September
30, 2007 allowing bags up to 32 kgs to be checked in.
Read more...
Latest Books
Florida books published in March
Books about Florida published in March include:
- DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Walt Disney World Resort & Orlando
- Wallpaper City Guide: Miami
- Econoguide Walt Disney World Resort Universal Orlando (see this month's book review)
All these books can be found in our new Florida book directory.
Read more...
In February, NASA successfully launched a Delta II rocket carrying the five THEMIS
satellites that will analyse the geomagnetic substorms in the Earth's atmosphere.
This was the first launch from Cape Kennedy of the newly established United Launch
Alliance rocket program which brings together the Boeing Delta and Lockheed Martin
Atlas rocket families under a single company. [Image - Courtesy of NASA]
Further problems with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on board the Hubble Space
Telescope (HST) has reinforced the need for one further servicing mission (SM4). The
aim is to extend its life until 2013 when its replacement, the infrared-sensitive
James Webb Space Telescope, is due to be launched.
One shuttle flight (Discovery, STS-125) has been earmarked to service the Hubble
sometime in mid to late 2008. As well as fitting new gyros and batteries, the crew
will also install two new science instruments, a Cosmic Origins Spectrograph replacing
the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR) and a Wide Field
Camera 3 which will replace the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) and possibly
attempt to repair the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS).
The Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-117 had been rolled out to the launch pad and the
next mission to the International Space Station was all set to blast off on March 15
but on February 26, a severe hail storm damaged the external fuel tank and NASA have
decided to roll Atlantis back to the Vehicle Assemby Building for repairs. A new
launch date has yet to be set but the next launch window is in late April/early May.
Launch tickets are currently on sale.
Read more...
Disney Cruise Lines New Ships
Following the speculation reported in last month's newsletter that Disney Cruise
Line might be considering introducing a third cruise ship, they have now announced
that they have ordered not one, but two new ships !!.
Disney have contracted with a German shipyard to build two new cruise liners which
will more than double their present passenger capacity. [Image - Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line]
The first will be launched in 2011 and the second a year later. Each ship will be
122,000 tons compared to the 83,000 tons of the existing Disney Magic and Disney
Wonder and will feature two additional decks and have 1,250 staterooms.
They will follow the classic look of their sister ships with art deco inspired
styling from the 1920s and 30s.
This will give the Disney Cruise Line the capacity to operate more Mediterranean
and West Coast cruises plus the possibility of adding new itineraries within the
Caribbean and maybe other destinations.
Read more...
Book Review - Econoguide Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando
The 5th edition of Econoguide Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando is
written by Corey Sandler and is published by Globe Pequot Press on March 1, 2007.
As its name suggests, the Econoguide covers not only Walt Disney World but all the
other theme parks in Central Florida including Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Busch
Gardens Africa plus museums and natural wonders.
Corey Sandler use his expert knowledge to help you make the most of your vacation.
The book offers money-saving tips and expert advice on travelling, lodging and dining
around the Orlando and Kissimmee area with details of the lowest airline fares and
room rates.
As well as information on how to get there, there is also advice on the best times
of the year to visit, the best days and and even the best time of day to visit the
attractions, to get the most from your time.
Read more...
More theme park ticket news this month, most of it good !!
Walt Disney World
Both of Disney's water parks will be back on stream after their annual maintenance
when Typhoon Lagoon re-opens on March 18 but with increased admission prices. Day
ticket prices at both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon were recently increased by
$3, from $36 to $39 for adults and from $30 to $33 for children aged 3-9.
If you are a Florida Resident, then you can get a "Florida Resident Water Park after
2 p.m. Annual Pass" for $59 for adults and $47.20 for children. As its name suggests
it is valid after 2 pm for a whole year and gives you access to both water parks.
You can also buy a one-day Blizzard Beach/Winter Summerland Combo Ticket at $46.50 for
adults and $38.50 for children which gives you access to both Blizzard Beach and the
nearby Winter Summerland miniature golf course for a day.
Universal Orlando
Universal are taking on Disney with their new seven day pass, their online EarlyBird
Exclusives claiming it offers seven days admission for less than the price of a
one-day Disney World Park Hopper. The ticket which cannot be bought at the gate offers
seven consecutive days of unlimited admission to both Universal Studios and Universal's
Islands of Adventure for $85 for adults or children. Universal are also offering other
two and three day ticket deals which must be purchased by April 30.
Remember, if you are planning on visiting, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Africa or Wet 'n
Wild as well, then it might be worth considering a multi-park Orlando Flexticket instead.
SeaWorld
SeaWorld are also hotting up the ticket wars with their Be A Kid Again promotion.
If you buy your ticket at least 7 days in advance online, you can take advantage of
SeaWorld's Be A Kid Again Advance Purchase and purchase an adult ticket for the same
price as a child ticket. In addition, you can also get a second day free.
Silver Springs
At Silver Springs, they have introduced a 12-month Silver Pass which is available to
purchase until March 31 and gives you a full year of access to Silver Springs and Wild
Waters waterpark including free parking, all concerts and special events plus 10% off
merchandise for $54.99 for adults and children or $49.99 for seniors (55 and over).
All prices are plus sales tax.
Read more...
Free Monthly Desktop Wallpaper
Desktop calendars for March 2007 (Epcot monorail and Spaceship Earth) and April
2007 (Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios) are ready to download now.
Note that some of the larger files can be 200-300k in size so if you are on a modem dialup
line it will take a few minutes to download.
To view and then download the Florida free desktop wallpaper for March now, click
here.
Following last month's rumours about a new ride at Disney's MGM Studios in the old
"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game building, Disney have now confirmed the new
ride will be called Toy Story Mania and it will open in 2008 at both Disney's
MGM Studios in Florida and Disneyland in California. [Image - Courtesy of Walt Disney Company]
Guests will don 3-D glasses and ride in pairs through a world as seen by the toys
in the famous Disney-Pixar classics "Toy Story" and "Toy Story II" with their
favourite characters, Woody the Cowboy, Buzz Lightyear, Hamm, Bo Peep and the
Little Green Army Men.
The ride is aimed at the whole family and you get a chance to compete against your
fellow rider in a shooting contest against animated targets using a special on-board
toy cannon. The unpredictable nature of the ride and hidden targets will give you
a different experience ever time you ride and allow you to access different
levels of play.
Disney have also announced that they will be expanding the Disney's Saratoga Springs
Resort & Spa and opening their eighth Disney Vacation Club resort, the Disney's Animal
Kingdom Villas in the fall of 2007.
Read more...
There are no public holidays in March but of course, March is an important month for
anyone of Irish descent in Florida when St. Patrick's Day is celebrated at a
number of venues around the State.
If you are an 'old' music fan then a number of famous performers will be playing
concerts this month including the Beach Boys, Neil Sedaka and Englebert Humperdinck.
Spring Training gets into full swing as major baseball teams take part in the
Grapefruit League.
March again is a great month for County Fairs particularly if you are a fan of
strawberries with several strawberry festivals taking place in wonderfully appropriate
places like Plant City and Floral City in Central Florida.
For full coverage of March events throughout the State of Florida, click
here.
Everyone fears the hurricane season but you can never underestimate the power of the
weather systems that operate throughout Florida all year round.
Remember, there are two seasons for tornadoes. The main one is in the summer between
June and September but as has been proved this year, there is a more deadly spring
season between February and April.
Windspeeds in these latest tornadoes were estimated to have been between 155 and 165
mph. In addition, temperatures have been unseasonally cold with near freezing overnight
temperatures in North and Central Florida during the first part of the February.
March looks like being variable with a mixture of sunshine and showers and the
occasional thunderstorm particularly in the North and Central regions. Overall
temperatures will be a couple of degrees down on normal.
Around Pensacola and Jacksonville, expect daily highs in the low 60s to low 70s on
the west coast and low 80s on the east coast with overnight temperatures dropping
to the low 40s.
Across the Central belt of Tampa and Orlando, the daily highs will range from low
70s to mid 80s with overnight lows dropping to the low 50s.
Further south, the daytime temperature will stay in the mid 70s to high 80s in Miami
but a little lower in the Keys with overnight temperatures in the 60s.
To check out the rest of the weather for all of Florida including a live weather map,
monthly temperature and rainfall charts
across the State and the latest hurricane news, click
here.
We plan to bring you a newsletter on the first day of each month with details of
upcoming events and news from across Florida.
Copyright © 2007, Stephen Downs, Florida Review & Travel Guide.
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