Orlando theme parks prepare for fireworks fury

July 3, 2009

fireworks

Heads up! Orlando’s theme parks are preparing for their Independence Day fireworks extravaganzas.

Pyrotechnics expert Andrew Hage checks the connections of several fireworks at the top of SeaWorld’s 400-foot-tall Sky Tower. In the distance is Manta, the park’s new roller coaster. SeaWorld has special fireworks displays this July 4th weekend. The sky-filling displays can be seen at 10:30 p.m. today and tomorrow. Our friend John Frost over at the Disney Blog has a roundup of all the other Fourth of July shows.

And speaking of Manta, as you read in this morning’s interview with Robert Niles, his readers named the new coaster their top pick for best coaster of the summer. Here’s a video we recently shot of the ride.

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Theme Park Insider: “People will endure long lines, brutal temperatures, shocking prices and whatever else you throw at ‘em”

Robert Niles is the founder and editor of Theme Park Insider, a Web site for theme park vacations. He’s a former Walt Disney World attractions host, trainer and lead and has worked as a staff writer, editor and Web site producer at the Los Angeles Times and the Rocky Mountain News. I asked him to share his summer theme park tips.

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Broadsided by Budget’s $422 car repair bill — what’s next?

Terry Boyle rented a car from Budget in Edinburgh, and when he got home, he found an unpleasant surprise from his car rental company: a $271 repair bill.

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Expert reveals best Independence Day parties in America

Michael Guerriero is the author of Party Across America! 101 Of the Greatest Festivals, Sporting Events, And Celebrations in the U.S.. Laid off from his corporate job, Guerriero used his severance pay to fund a cross-country trip to find the best parties in America. I asked him about the top spots for this Fourth of July.

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Are car rental companies downgrading their categories to rev up revenues?

P.J. Zornosa is a longtime Alamo Rent a Car customer. He knows what to ask for when he’s renting a car, and knows what to expect. Or at least, he thought he did.

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How badly to you hate the middle seat? New survey says you’d rather visit the dentist

More than half of of Americans would rather go to the dentist than sit in the middle seat, according to a new survey by 3M Privacy Filters. Some 54 percent would prefer a visit to the doctor’s office than getting stuck in one of the uncomfortable seats. An even higher number (56 percent) would rather be stuck in traffic or go on a blind date.

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Shatner + laughing gas = hilarious Priceline commercial

Can’t. Stop. Laughing.

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What’s new on Elliott? Collection agencies are coming for you, Billy Mays and US Airways, and birds of prey

Travel companies are leaning on collection agencies to squeeze every last penny out of you. Here’s what you need to know in order to fight back.

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J.D. Power says Alaska, JetBlue are the best of the worst — but who cares?

Our friends at J.D. Power and Associates are at it again. Last week they leaked their 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction Study to a largely uncritical mainstream media. This morning, they let the rest of us have the results, in which they claim “overall customer satisfaction with airlines in 2009 has declined for a third consecutive year to a four-year low.” But has it? And does that mean anything?

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Bizarre new car rental trick: an airport fee for a non-airport rental

When it comes to fees, never underestimate the car rental industry’s creativity. If you do, you might miss the six percent surcharge that Avis slipped on Monica Huchro’s bill last week.

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FAA official: “No mention whatsoever of the possibility that Billy Mays wasn’t wearing a seatbelt”

Laura Brown is the acting assistant administrator for communications at the Federal Aviation Administration. After the death of Billy Mays yesterday, she was quoted as saying the TV pitchman wasn’t wearing a seatbelt on a plane that made an emergency landing. I asked her about the interview and the importance of seatbelts.

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What happens when a million iPhone 3Gs units hit the road?

You get this: Video uploads to YouTube from mobile phones jumped 400 percent in a week. The mobile video revolution has begun. And no one will be more affected than travelers.

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Billy Mays dies after US Airways flight — is there a link?

Believe it or not, the latest celebrity death has a travel angle. TV pitchman Billy Mays, who was found dead in his Tampa home this morning, was a passenger on a US Airways flight yesterday. His son first reported the news on Twitter.
And here’s where things get a little weird.
The highly respected TV Newser blog [...]

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Air Canada

http://www.aircanada.com
PO Box 64239,
5512 4th Street, NW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2K 6J0
Head Office
Air Canada Centre
7373 Côte-Vertu Blvd. West
Dorval, Quebec H4Y 1H4
(888) 247-2262
(514) 393-3333
How to get through to an operator: press 1, 0, 0, 0, 0.
Overview
Air Canada’s customer service reputation is somewhere between “OK” and “fine,” according to passengers. There are few horror stories to report, and the ones [...]

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Doggone airlines! 4 reasons pets shouldn’t fly

In their struggle to turn a profit, airlines have piled on a lot of fees in the last year, from surcharges for checked luggage to extras for confirmed reservations. And just when it seemed they had found every last fee, it looks as if they’ve turned up one more: They’re looking to Fido and Fluffy for a little extra cash. Specifically, to their owners.

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