New Year's Eve at Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Down Memory Lane – A Waldorf Astoria New Year Celebration. Join us at Bull and Bear Prime Steakhouse for Orlando’s exclusive New Year’s Eve experience at Waldorf Astoria. Gather with us as we look to our past, present and future for culinary inspiration… a journey that unfolds over 2 seatings, 8 courses, and a few extra surprises from the chef!

Find out why Bull and Bear was named “Best Fine Dining” in Orlando Home & Leisure’s Silver Spoon Dining Awards issue.

Seating one: “Prelude to a Kiss”, 5:30pm to 7:30pm
• $110 per person, 3-course pre-fixe menu pricing
• $45 for children ages 12 and under
• Wine pairing available, but not included in the pre-fixe price

Seating two: “Down Memory Lane”, 8:00pm to Close
• $185 per person, 5-course pre-fixe menu pricing
• $60 for children ages 12 and under
• Wine pairing available, but not included in the pre-fixe price
• Children are encouraged to attend the on-site WA Kids New Year’s Party,
available through WA Kids Club, from 7pm – 12:30am, for $100 per child

Dress code is Jacket and tie required; black-tie preferred and for reservations please call Manny Belete or Alexandria Herndon at 407-597-5414

The Waldorf Astoria Orlando is located at 14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane Orlando, FL 32821 - (407) 597-5500. You may also visit their website for more information

ICE at Gaylord Palms through January 2

At long last Florida residents and vacationers have an excuse to put on a sweater, long pants and leave those flip flops at home, as the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center brings back ICE! now through January 2. ICE! Has become a cherished tradition in the Orlando area, where visitors can marvel at life-size ice sculptures in a 14,000 temperature controlled area set to a very frosty 9 degree. Bright blue oversized parkas are provided, but seriously, leave those shorts and flip flops at home.

Tickets can be purchased online, at Gaylord Palms, or in conjunction with one of the many special holiday packages that are available through the resort, including the Best of Florida Christmas Package, Christmas Memories at Gaylord Palms Package and Grandparents Getaway. This year's presentation involves an icy twist on the classic story, Twas the Night Before Christmas.

In addition to the dazzling display, there will be plenty of photo opportunities, Christmas gifts, and even a chance to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa in the Gaylord Palms' spacious atrium. There are even a couple of solid ice slides that children can enjoy--it's probably the only place in Florida where kids can go sledding. Buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines; for many visitors and locals ICE! is the highlight of Orlando's holiday season.

How to Handle Your Shopping And Shipping in Disney World

Merchandise purchases don’t have to be a burden to Walt Disney World theme park guests. There are alternatives to carrying the packages throughout the parks:

Package pickup is available at no charge. Merchandise is moved to package pickup, conveniently located near the front entrance of each park, for guests’ pickup when they are leaving the park.

Hotel delivery is available at no charge to guests of Walt Disney World resorts. Purchases made prior to 7 p.m. will be delivered to the guest’s hotel by noon the following day. Purchases made after 7 p.m. will be at the hotel on the second day after purchase.

Shipping is available for an additional charge at the time of purchase.

View other excellent shopping malls in Orlando and Orlandoescape's favorite shopping spots in Orlando offers high-end fashion shopping, over 100 of the hottest brands, the most unique shopping destination and specialty shops. Orlando is a shopper’s paradise

More Reasons To Visit Orlando This Holiday

• Discover Orlando’s Newest Travel Ideas
• Clarion Hotel Maingate at Mile Marker 5
• Magic Kingdom Holiday Wishes
• Discover Orlando This Holiday
• Wild Africa Trek’ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade

No visit to Walt Disney World would be complete without watching a Disney parade, which is why the Main Street Electrical Parade created quite a bit of buzz in the Orlando attractions community when it was reintroduced earlier this year after a nearly decade-long absence.

The original Main Street Electrical Parade ran from 1977 to 2001 at Magic Kingdom, and when it returned in its original form in June 2010 it was only supposed to return for the summer season, but the parade's popularity has extended this event into am open ended engagement.

While Magic Kingdom has always had parades and fireworks as part of its nighttime entertainment, the 1970s era Main Street Electrical Parade has a more of an emphasis on the classic Disney movies that were released when company founder Walt Disney was still alive (Disney died in 1966, shortly after selecting Orlando as the site for Walt Disney World). That means less Disney princesses compared to previous nighttime parades--although Cinderella and Snow White figure prominently into the Main Street Electrical Parade, as they have in the past.

Other highlights of the Disney Main Street Electrical Parade include Tinkerbell, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, and of course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Orlando Holiday Hotel Guide

Orlando Vacations & Packages by Starwood - 4 days just $149.00

Walt Disney Maingate / Kissimmee

Walt Disney / Lake Buena Vista

Marriott Village at Lake Buena Vista

SeaWorld / Convention Center

International Drive Area

Downtown Orlando Hotels

Orlando Airport Hotels

Universal Orlando Area

Altamonte Springs Hotels

Bonnet Creek Lake Buena Vista

Lake Mary Hotels Area

Prime Outlets International Drive becomes Premium Outlets

For those visitors who are planning on doing a little holiday shopping at one of Orlando's expansive outlet malls, there are now two Premium Outlets to choose from, since Prime Outlets on the northernmost end of International Drive is now operating under the Premium Outlets name. Before the mall underwent a full renovation a couple of years ago, it was known as the Belz Outlet Mall.


As far as customers are concerned, the only thing that has changed for the Premium Outlet Mall on I-Drive is the name. Shoppers can still find impressive savings at Betsy Johnson, Coach, J.Crew, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Victoria's Secret, Columbia, Bass Shoes, and many more.

Orlando Premium Outlets on Vineland Ave. is still in its original location just off if the southern end of International Drive. Orlando Premium Outlets offers many of the same stores as its "sister" shopping mall just up the road. No matter which Premium Outlet Mall you choose, be prepared that parking is at a premium, although the valet service can take some of the stress out of finding a coveted parking spot.