Two minor flaws in the report … they tag the turnaround here “Lakeland” (our fair sister city to the west). Oh, and LEGOLAND Florida is in Winter Haven with 1100 + jobs and a waterpark on the way!

It’s no secret that LEGOLAND is great for all of Polk and that is outstanding because the MSA for Lakeland/Winter Haven is actually the combined sum of all that happens in ALL of Polk!

So thank you to Realtor.com. That’s great news all around.

You can read the entire CNN Money report here.

The Orlando Sentinel reports, “President Obama’s Orlando visit today brings to Florida a promise of an easing of visa restrictions for several countries, particularly Brazil, which has been rising rapidly in recent years as one of Orlando’s biggest sources of tourists.

The plan, as explained by the White House Wednesday, would dispatch more than 100 additional counsels to Brazil and other countries such as India and China, and expand a program that allows “low-risk” international visitors to get through airports more smoothly.

The White House on Thursday morning released an executive order mandating a 40 percent increase in personnel to those countries as well as requiring that 80 percent of “nonimmigrant visa” applicants be interviewed within three weeks. Those interviews now sometimes take much longer.”

LEGOLAND Florida’s Response to President Obama’s Tourism Executive Order

Adrian Jones, General Manager – LEGOLAND Florida

Adrian Jones

“This development is a major game-changer for Florida. An improved visa process helps us roll out the welcome mat to our friends in Brazil and will result in record numbers of young families visiting Florida.

Cost and convenience historically are two of the biggest barriers in travel. By addressing the hassle factor and making the visa process less onerous, we’ve just substantially improved our chance of attracting additional guests.

As a brand new theme park that caters to young families this is of course very welcome news for LEGOLAND Florida. The Brazilians’ affection for America, love of theme parks and their affinity for the LEGO brand present the perfect opportunity for us in that market.

The fact that we’re already seeing large numbers from Latin America combined with today’s announcement is pushing us to seek out more Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking model citizens to better accommodate our guests from across this region.”

If your business is affected by local tourism activities, this schedule is important information to help you plan your year and your promotions.

Winter Haven, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2012) – Central Florida’s newest family theme park is gearing up for an action-packed 2012 with special events specifically geared towards families with children age 2 to 12. From LEGO® Friends Weekend to Kids’ New Year’s Eve the first full year of LEGOLAND® Florida is sure provide many reasons for guests to return again and again. The best way to participate in all the events at LEGOLAND Florida is with an Annual Pass – starting at just $99.

March 24 & 25, 2012
• LEGO® Friends Weekend is a daytime party for girls that includes a LEGO Friends building event, entertainment, games, activities and much more. This first-ever event celebrates girls and their personal individuality, just like the LEGO Group’s newest line of construction toys.

April 14, 2012*
• Runners and walkers can play – or run – their part during the Winter Haven Hospital Foundation Citrus Classic 5K. This community-wide health event is designed for participants of all ages.

July 4, 2012
• Celebrate the 4th of July with a bang at LEGOLAND Florida’s first Independence Day event – Red, Brick & Boom. With special 3D glasses that turn ordinary fireworks into millions of exploding bricks, this July 4th celebration is sure to dazzle and delight.

October 2012
• Brick-or-Treat comes to LEGOLAND Florida every Saturday and Sunday in October. This spooky, kooky event features themed treat stations with candy, snacks and a few surprises along the way.

October 15, 2012
• Go LEGOLAND – it’s your birthday! Guests can celebrate LEGOLAND Florida’s first anniversary with a very special celebration.

Weekends in December
• ‘Tis the season for Christmas Bricktacular at LEGOLAND Florida with a 270,000 brick Christmas tree and festive decorations. Santa Claus makes daily appearances in the park.

December 26-30, 2012 
• Countdown to Kids’ New Year’s Eve features nightly fireworks over Lake Eloise. Watch the spectacular fireworks explode into millions of tiny LEGO bricks with special 3D viewing glasses.
December 31, 2012
• 5-4-3-2-1! Happy Kids’ New Year’s Eve at LEGOLAND Florida where the giant LEGO brick drops at a very kid-friendly midnight KST (Kid Standard Time) – otherwise known as 7 p.m. EST. Other event elements include fireworks and a dance party DJ.

All events (*except Citrus Classic 5K) are included with park admission and subject to change without notice. For the most current information on LEGOLAND Florida special events, visit www.LEGOLAND.com.

LEGOLAND guests enjoy the Technic roller coaster.

At approximately 12:30 p.m. today, LEGOLAND Florida stopped admitting guests “to ensure the guests of LEGOLAND Florida have an enjoyable day with their families.” The park had posted cautionary facebook entries earlier that it was approaching capacity and may have to turn guests away. Cypress Gardens Boulevard was experiencing significant traffic as well.

Disney parks also reached capacity today and I-4 was reportedly jammed. Central Florida tourism enjoying a very big day.

LEGOLAND will open at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, December 29.)

Cheryl Beckert, Carol Carter and Jane West have compiled 80 pages of the most interesting destinations in Auburndale, Davenport, Dundee, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales and right here in Winter Haven. Stop in for a copy and find out about all the places you didn’t know you needed to visit!

A perfect resource for visitors it is also ideal for stuffing in stockings this Christmas season. This useful and entertaining book is available in the Chamber Lobby for $12.95 plus tax. Lobby  hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Get your copy today and let Sweet P.E.A.S. challenge your GPS system while you play, eat and shop in east Polk — especially Winter Haven!

Discover the Sh-opportunities! Buy local!

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (November, 28, 2011) – Just six weeks after its official grand opening, LEGOLAND® Florida today released details of its first expansion – LEGOLAND Water Park. Scheduled to open in time for summer 2012, the water park will feature a wave pool, Build-A-Raft lazy river, tube slides, body slides and an interactive water-play structure – DUPLO® Safari.

“We’re very excited to share plans for this amazing new attraction,” said LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian
Jones. “True to our mission, the water park attraction has been designed for families with children ages 2 to 12 and will add hours of water play to an already full day and move LEGOLAND Florida into a multi-day experience for vacationers. The additional also adds another great value proposition for our Annual Pass members.”

Admission to the water park attraction is included with an all-new LEGOLAND Premium Pass, which offers 12 months admission to LEGOLAND Florida and seasonal access to the LEGOLAND Water Park. (Please note: If you currently have an annual pass to the park, you can upgrade to the Premium Pass for access to the water park for the difference in price.) Single-day LEGOLAND Florida guests may upgrade to a water park attraction ticket for an additional $12 per person (children under 3 are $3). The Premium Pass is now available for purchase at www.LEGOLAND.com or select AAA Auto Club Group branches.

Key areas of LEGOLAND Water Park attraction include:

· LEGO Wave Pool – Families can catch a gentle wave or simply cool off in this perfectly sized wave pool where the waves are just big enough for all ages to enjoy

· Twin Chasers – Friends ride tubes 375 feet down an intertwining pair of enclosed water slides before plunging into a refreshing pool below

· Splash Out – The thrill seekers of the family can ascend to the tallest point of the water park attraction and choose from one of three unique slides, then speed down a 60-foot drop and “splash out” into the water below

· Joker Soaker – A fun, interactive playground with various lengths, heights and types of slides that offer something different for every member of the family. Guests can wade in the surrounding pool and be surprised with a torrential spill from a 300-gallon bucket

· Build-A-Raft River – Families can imagine, design and build a unique LEGO vessel and set afloat on a maiden voyage around the 1000-foot-long lazy river, set amongst playful LEGO Friends, flowering vegetation and palm trees

· DUPLO® Splash Safari – Toddlers will rule at this water play area with shorter slides and interactive, larger-than-life DUPLO creatures

“This newest attraction is just one of many ways we will continue to evolve LEGOLAND Florida over the next several years,” said Jones. “Creating a multi-visit proposition for families adds another dimension to the LEGOLAND Florida offering. Adding the water park attraction will fulfill this criteria as well as offering a unique attraction in Central Florida. ”

Play your part this Christmas Season!

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your family? Purchase a discounted annual pass to Florida’s newest theme park LEGOLAND Florida! Chamber members see link below!

With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions all dedicated to families with children age 2 to 12, LEGOLAND Florida is the perfect place to spend the Christmas season with your family, and with an annual pass you’re able to come back again and again.

LEGOLAND Florida is getting into the holiday spirit with the first annual Christmas Bricktacular. Festive decorations and sounds of the season will fill The Beginning and Fun Town through the holidays, Dec. 8-31, followed by Kids’ New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31.

This season at LEGOLAND Florida:

A 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas Tree will be lit each night

Santa Claus will make special daily appearances in the historical botanical gardens

Kids’ New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31st will feature special 3-D Fireworks at 7pm

Holiday events are included in park admission. We look forward to seeing you and your family at the park this Christmas season! (Please note the park is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays through December 14. The park will then be open seven days each week through January 9, 2012.) You can check park hours here.

Giving LEGOLAND tickets or annual passes for Christmas?  Chamber members can stuff those stockings for less through our special arrangement with the park. Here’s sample pricing:

Adult single day ticket: (Regularly $75.)   $60.25

Child/Senior single day ticket (Gate price $65)  $51.75

Adult two-day ticket (Gate price $90)  $73.00  (Valid for two visits within 7 days of first use.)

Child/Senior two-day ticket (Gate price $85) $64.50  (Valid for two visits within 7 days of first use.)

Adult Annual Pass (Gate Price $129) $125.50

Child/Senior Standard Pass (Gate price $99)  $95.50

Adult Plus Pass (Gate price $159)  $155.50  (includes parking and in park discounts on food and merchandise)

Child/Senior Plus Pass (Gate price $129)  $125.50 (includes parking and in park discounts on food and merchandise)

PURCHASE  DISCOUNTED STOCKING STUFFERS HERE!

Hollywood Bowl in LEGO ... photograph by Will Chappell

Miniland at Night, LEGOLAND® Florida, Winter Haven

“A centralized focus on economic development for Winter Haven is our primary reason for forming the Winter Haven EDC.” said Ingram Leedy, President/CEO of Elephant Outlook and Chairman of the Transition Team heading up the EDC effort.

“We’ve identified target industries best suited for recruitment to and expansion in the Winter Haven area, such as medical services; software and information technology; and logistics and distribution facilities. General business and professional services would be on that list, as well as agribusiness. Those are niches we will be directing our development efforts towards.” Leedy said.

Charter Board Members of the new EDC include representatives from the 6-10 Corporation, Collany Properties, Elephant Outlook, Envisors Engineering, The Landings, Polk State College, Tampa Electric, Tucker Construction, USF Polytechnic, and Winter Haven Hospital. Legal and accounting services to establish the EDC have been donated by Sharit, Bunn & Chilton, P.A. and LarsonAllen, LLP, respectively. The EDC Board intends to develop a membership program, solicit additional board members, raise funds and hire a new Executive Director/CEO by the end of 2011.

“We have built tremendous momentum for the EDC with great interest and commitment from Winter Haven business leaders and city officials. The formation of the EDC would not have been possible without the support of the City of Winter Haven. ” Leedy said, adding that efforts by the organization will complement new economic development in the area by CSX, LEGOLAND Florida and more.

Leedy noted,  “The creation of the Winter Haven Economic Development Council is a culmination of hard work and real visioning for our community and we expect great things from this important public/private partnership.”

The Royal Joust:  Kids ride LEGO-themed horses through a number of medieval scenes where they encounter other riders in a simulated joust.

LEGO TECHNIC® Test Track is a “wild mouse-style roller coaster where brave guests feel the power of acceleration, braking and maneuverability as they race a life-size LEGO TECHNIC vehicle along a wildly twisting track.

Dupelo Farm is coming together …

A giant construction worker visits Grand Central Station, a model in Miniland.

And the historic Banyan Tree stands ready to greet visitors to the botanical gardens once again! The tree was brought to the site in a five-gallon bucket in 1939!

LEGOLAND Florida: 100 Days to opening! Got your passes yet? Complete details and countdown clock here!