New Orlando Attractions for 2008

New Attractions opening in Orlando for 2008: Orlando tourism industry is constantly growing and 2008 will be no different. Numerous new attractions and updates to existing attractions are planned for this year. One of the biggest changes is the renaming of Disney World's Disney-MGM Studios theme park to Disney's Hollywood Studios. The new name will emphasize a park-wide move to an updated theme focusing contemporary Hollywood entertainment. Updates are also planned at SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort and more. Here is a list of what has been announced for the coming year:

Walt Disney World:

Toy Story Mania (opens Summer 2008)- This new ride in the Disney's Hollywood Studios Park will feature a 3-D environment where guests will participate in virtual midway-style games. The ride will have some similarities to the Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin ride in the Magic Kingdom Park including the scoring of points for shooting targets.

Playhouse Disney Live on Stage (February 2008)- The Playhouse Disney attraction is being renovated to add new characters from Disney's Channel's popular Playhouse Disney programming. Characters in the new show will include those from "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse", "Little Einsteins" and "Handy Mandy".

Disney Block Party Bash (Spring 2008)- This new parade at Disney's Hollywood Studios Park features over 20 characters from Disney-Pixar films including Woody & Buzz from the Toy Story franchise and Mike & Sully from Monsters Incorporated. The interactive parade will feature music, floats, trampoline units and acrobatics.

Year of a Million Dreams- Disney has also announced that they will continue their Year of a Million Dreams promotion through 2008. The Year of A Million Dreams offers guests a chance special "dreams" including a one-night stay in the Cinderella's Palace Castle Suite, hot-air balloon rides over the park, dream Fastpasses for rides, shopping sprees, dining packages, private trips to Disney's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas and more.

T-Rex Café (Late 2008)- This dinosaur themed restaurant (affiliated with the Rainforest Café chain) will be located in Downtown Disney. It will feature a retail shop, "life size dinosaurs", "hands-on educational activities" and an extensive menu including grill items, seafood, pizzas, pastas and sandwiches.

Universal Orlando Resort:

The Simpsons Ride (March 15, 2008)- This new simulator based ride is based upon the long-running television cartoon series "The Simpsons". The ride will feature a virtual tour through a cartoon theme park named "Krusty Land" (named after the Krusty the Clown character in the series).

SeaWorld Orlando:

Aquatica (March 2008)- This new water park, being built at the site of SeaWorld in Orlando, will feature an immersive environment covering over 60 acres. The park will be the first ever to incorporate live animals. Numerous attractions are planned including a double wave pool, white sand beach, one of the world's largest interactive water play area and 36 water slides including an enclosed double tube slide that goes through a lagoon filled with dolphins.