ORLANDO, Fla. - Don’t let high gas prices and rising airfare put a damper on your summer travel plans. If you’re heading to the theme park capital of the world, there’s plenty new to see and do.

Last year, despite a year-to-year decrease in Florida tourism for the first time since 2001, the state’s giant theme parks still saw more tourists. And for the first time in recent memory, each of them has a new major attraction to keep the turnstiles churning as tourism rebounds this year.

So take a water slide ride with dolphins at the new Aquatica park adjacent to SeaWorld. Come face-to-face with orangutans and Bengal tigers at Busch Gardens’ new Jungala. Zap Toy Story targets in 3-D at Disney, or spin though Springfield on Universal’s new Simpsons ride. It’s all here waiting in sunny central Florida.

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written by Andrew