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- Jan 3, 2001
TOURISM & TRAVEL
Disney show gets animated
Scott Powers and Christopher Boyd | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted April 9, 2007
A ride through the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase now includes an adventure with Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito, the heroes of the 1944 Disney film The Three Caballeros.
Walt Disney World just reopened the Mexico Pavilion ride with the new film Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros, replacing El Rio Del Tiempo.
Riders take a boat tour as a live-action film portrays the beauty and culture of Mexico. The live-action sights are overlaid with an animated story about the reunion of the caballeros for a grand performance in Mexico City.
But Donald Duck disappears to take in the sights of the country, and Jose the parrot and Panchito the Mexican charro rooster must find their missing friend in time to save the show.
Costumed characters of Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito will mingle with visitors just outside the pavilion.
Elmo's World
SeaWorld Orlando has opened its new Elmo and the Bookaneers show at the Bayside Stadium, opening what Busch Entertainment expects will be a long, close relationship with the makers of the Sesame Street TV show.
The live show features Elmo, Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby and other characters from the popular children's TV show in an adventure involving pirates and books.
The full-scale production will feature special effects, stage-, lake- and sky-based action, and SeaWorld animals.
Laughs at last
After a trial run in December and January and a reworked show, Walt Disney World has finally opened the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor comedy show starring the one-eyed monster character Mike Wozowski from the movie Monsters Inc.
In the Magic Kingdom show, Mike and other animated comedians run through an 11-minute comedy routine, mixing jokes and interactive technology to talk with and respond to the audience.
Hotel style
Radisson Hotels & Resorts last week launched an online boutique that allows customers to buy items that are part of the hotel chain's furnishings and products.
The chain, a division of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, is selling high-quality linens, bath products and even beds. The company is marketing the commodities through the www.radissonguestboutique.com.
Radisson joins a growing list of hotel chains selling goods to guests. Some hotels even offer clothing that their staffs wear on duty in lobby gift shops. Radisson says its decision to launch a product line is a way to connect with its guests in a new way.
Coke is it
Southwest Airlines, the dominant carrier at Orlando International, has extended its contract with the Coca-Cola Co. through 2011. Financial terms of the three-year extension were not disclosed.
The company will continue supplying the airline with soft drinks such as Coke, Diet Coke and Sprite as well as Seagram's mixers and Minute Maid juices.
Back in the air
US Airways Group Inc. plans to recall 26 more pilots this month through December to serve as first officers on 100-seat aircraft the carrier is adding to serve smaller markets. US Airways, which was sixth in market share at Orlando International in January, also intends to call back about 90 laid-off flight attendants to fill vacancies caused by attrition, spokesman Philip Gee said last week.
The flight-attendant recalls aren't related to the growing fleet of Embraer 190 jets, he said.
US Airways said the pilot recalls are in addition to its January announcement that it would call back up to 274 pilots during this year's first half.
Information from Bloomberg News was used in this report. Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441. Christopher Boyd can be reached at cboyd@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5723.