Things To Do In SW Florida

Boosted by the opening of the Epic Universe theme park, Orange County’s tourist tax collections hit an all-time high in fiscal year 2024-25, shattering the previous 12-month best, set last year, by $25.1 million, according to a comptroller report released this morning.

The revenue boom reflects a host of positive factors over the course of the year, including record-breaking numbers of tourists statewide and higher room rates locally, which translate into more tax dollars.

Comptroller Phil Diamond, whose office tracks collections and spending of the bed tax, cautiously celebrated the new record of $384.5 million, but also worried about challenges that could hamstring Central Florida’s tourism-focused economy in the immediate future.

He cited recent flight cancellations blamed on a shortage of air-traffic controllers and the shutdown of the federal government.

“These are very unique but very real concerns which just haven’t been concerns until this month,” Diamond said in a phone interview. “While a great many people drive here from the southeastern United States, a great many more — Canadians and New Yorkers, people from the northeast and upper Midwest — really wouldn’t come here if they couldn’t fly. It just wouldn’t be practical.” read more

By DAMIAN J. TROISE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell on Wall Street Tuesday, pulled down by losses in the same big tech companies that have been the main drivers of the market’s rally so far this year.

The downturn pulled every major index further away from the all-time highs set just last week. Losses were spread broadly throughout every sector, but technology stocks were the heaviest weights.

Palantir Technologies, which had more than doubled so far this year, fell 7.9% despite reporting results that beat analysts’ forecasts. Nvidia also reversed course from a day earlier, falling 4%, while Microsoft fell 0.5%.

The technology sector is typically the driving force behind the market’s broader movement, including its record-setting year. Huge values for companies including Nvidia and Microsoft give them outsize influence over the broader market’s direction.

The S&P 500 fell 80.42 points, or 1.2% to 6,771.55. The index set its most recent all-time high last week, and is still up more than 15% for the year. read more

I’ve researched savings accounts for more than a decade. I know that choosing the right account can mean the difference between earning an extra $1,000 or more at the end of the year, and earning next to nothing. (Been there, done that.)

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  Orange County’s tourist tax in 2024-25 smashed the all-time record. Will it continue?

But when it comes to my personal savings, I also don’t chase every new account that has a flashy 5% intro rate or that offers a $300 bank bonus. I do pay attention, though. And if there’s a better option, I’ll consider making a switch.

I have my own set of rules that I follow before fully committing. If you’re eyeing a better deal for your savings, consider them for yourself. read more

As Port Canaveral begins its winter sailing season, several new ships are helping to chart the way for the cruise port to see an anticipated 9 million passenger movements in the next year.

Celebrity, Princess and MSC are bringing some of their newest and largest ships to Florida’s Space Coast to sail itineraries to the Caribbean and Bahamas now through April. After Celebrity and Princess both had their first season at the port last year, the Edge-class Celebrity Apex and Royal-class Sky Princess, both built in 2019, are wintering in Florida following stints in England.

“Princess and Celebrity are two brands that people have been requesting for years because they have traditionally only operated out of South Florida,” said Capt. John Murray, CEO of Port Canaveral. “Last year was sort of an experiment to see how well they would do here. Needless to say, they overperformed. We have two larger vessels coming this year, and we’re really excited about that because it gives a different option to cruisers.” read more

A new attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom puts polar bears in your face, introduces one very wet walrus, presents a buff buffalo clad in Lycra and solves a mystery, all in 10 minutes.

It’s all digital, fortunately. “Zootopia: Better Zoogether,” an animated 4D show, opens to the public inside the park’s Tree of Life Theater on Friday.

Its arrival comes just ahead of the release of “Zootopia 2,” which comes to theaters Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving. It’s the sequel to 2016’s “Zootopia” from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

“Better Zoogether” and the new film were in production at the same time, which allowed for cross-over and cooperation between Walt Disney Imagineering and the studios.

The two creative arms bounced back ideas for a couple of years, Jared Bush, chief creative officer at the studios, said after a preview of “Better Zoogether” at the theme park this week.

“Obviously, they can do things that we can’t. We can’t get someone to be spit upon by a walrus,” Bush said. “That’s the sort of interactive, immersive quality … that’s really, really spectacular.” read more