New Orlando Attractions

International Drive Addition
The Great Wheel Corp., a company based in Singapore, is planning to build a massive observation wheel in Orlando, similar to the famed London Eye. The Great Orlando Wheel will weigh 4,200 tons, tower 400 feet over Orlando’s main tourist district, and cost an estimated $200 million. Riders travel in large, glass capsules attached to the wheel’s rim, which creates a “top of the world” feel. The Orlando wheel will hold 960 riders and travel nine inches a second, slow enough that riders will be able to get on and off without stopping the wheel’s rotation.

One round on the wheel will take 30 minutes and offer views of as far as 25 miles. It’s scheduled to open in mid- to late 2010 and the company aims to price the attraction as a little more costly than a movie ticket, or in the $15-to-$20 range.

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Universal News
Universal Orlando announced this week that its new The Simpsons Ride reached the 1 million rider mark, faster than any other attraction in the resort’s history. Dion Fenderson of Eastpointe, MI became the 1 millionth rider Monday night. The ride officially opened May 15, meaning Fenderson and one million other people piled onto the simulated roller coaster adventure through Krustyland in two month’s time.

Halloween Horror Nights Update
This week we learned that Brian Brushwood, an “extreme” magician who participated in last year’s Freak Show, will be the star of his own show. Among the sklls he displayed in 2007 were fire-eating (including “the human candle” trick) and various stunt piercings (tongue skewering, nail up through nose and out through eye, a little number called “the human crazy straw.”)

This will be the 18th edition of HHN at Universal. It runs for 23 select nights between Sept 26 and Nov. 1. Brushwood will perform each of the 23 nights. Stay tuned for information on discount Halloween Horror Nights tickets from Westgate Resorts in the Orlando area.

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