CitySurfing Orlando

As we mentioned in an earlier story, Walt Disney World’s newest resort, Disney’s Art of Animation, is already accepting reservations and plans to open up for guests as of May 31, 2012.

The first wing to open to guests will be the Finding Nemo wing of family suites and WDW has been kind enough to release these photos of the external decor for the wing.

The first thing to notice is that unlike other value Disney resorts, there is no exterior hallway. This allows the themed decor to include huge murals on the side of the building, as you can see in the next photo.

The next photo is of the main “Big Blue” pool area, which is not only zero-entry, but is the largest pool on Disneyworld property.

I think the whole external decor looks great and very whimsical. Even if you aren’t a guest, head over for some great photo ops with the family.

The next section to open will be the Cars family wing, which Disney says will be open for reservations starting June 18. Here, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas.

The Lion King wing is the last family suites wing to open, and that should start accepting reservations for dates around August 10. Its decor is a journey through an African landscape complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matata time.

Finally, the Little Mermaid standard room wing will open for reservations starting September 15, which is decorated like an under-the-sea kingdom, complete with a 35-ft-tall model of King Triton.

In the meantime, here are a few more photos of the Finding Nemo wing:

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It’s a sign of the times, but last week the Orlando Business Journal reported that the owners of Orlando Fashion Square Mall have put the property up for sale.

It’s Central Florida’s oldest major mall, having opened in 1973, but it also sits away from the busy tourist areas. As a result it generates over $100 per sq foot less of profit than the company’s other properties.

Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, which owns the mall, will also sell off three Pennsylvania malls and one in New Jersey, to help pay off debts.

As far as Orlando cultural events go, the annual Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival is one of the city’s biggest. Voted “Best Festival” by the Orlando Weekly for nine consecutive years, the 2012 Festival showcases over 500 theatrical performances over a thirteen-day period, throughout ten indoor venues at Loch Haven Park.

This year’s event, which marks its 21st year, takes place from May 16 through 28.

To attend any of the performances, you must first purchase an $8 fest button. Proceeds from these buttons are what fund the festival.

Then you can attend the actual performances, which range in price from free to $11. Any money raised by individual tickets goes to the artists performing that particular show.

In addition to ticketed performances at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 E Rollins St. Orlando, FL 32803) and Orlando Repertory Theatre (1001 E. Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803), the Orlando Fringe Festival hosts a number of interdisciplinary activities and exhibits.

Kids Fringe, held at the Mennello Museum of American Art (900 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL 32803), offers free arts and theatre activities for the whole family from 10am to 4pm on the weekends. Visual Fringe is on display throughout Festival venues, and exhibit artwork is available for purchase.

Festival hours are 4pm to Midnight on weeknights, and 10am to Midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets for Festival performances can be purchased at www.OrlandoFringe.org, or during the Festival at Box Office locations in the Lowndes Shakespeare Center and the Orlando Repertory Theatre.

In the last 19 months since the Amway Center has been open downtown, there has been an unused corner of the property that was originally set aside as restaurant space.

It’s taken this long to find a willing investor, but according to sources, the space is expected to be taken over by The Club at NBA City. The venture will be a partnership between the NBA City restaurant venue at Universal CityWalk and the former manager of the exclusive Montecristo Club at the old Orlando city arena.

A third of the size of the CityWalk venue, The Club at NBA City will be a little over 4,000-sq-ft., not including use of the outdoor plaza for a small patio seating area.

Half will be open to the public with both internal and external entrances, so patrons will not need an event ticket to get inside. The menu offerings are expected to be different and slightly more upscale than the barfood menu offered by the CityWalk venue.

The other half will be a private members-only section, like the old Montecristo Club, that will be available for event rentals.

Initially, The Club at NBA City will only be open for lunch and dinner on event days at the Amway Center. The venue is expected to be open by October 2012.

On select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from now through June 3, the Orlando Science Center is taking Astronomy Day and stretching it into a month-long celebration during May 2012.

Throughout the building, demonstrations that examine gravity, what comets are made of and how space suits work will be taking place. It’s here you’ll find the Science On A Sphere exhibit, which connects guests of all ages to earth and space science through a dramatic visual presentation. Using a six-foot suspended sphere and state-of-the-art projection technology, explore our planet’s dynamic landscape and weather, tour the solar system and understand the complex relationship between our planet and its sister worlds. And be among the first to experience its newest program, Kinesthetic Astronomy, to learn about the four seasons and the rotation of the earth.

The aluminum-domed Crosby Observatory atop the Orlando Science Center will be open for SunWatch events during these select weekends. Peer through the powerful, 10-inch lens of one of the largest publicly-accessible refractor telescopes in Florida and safely gaze upon the closest star to our home planet.

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