Still, the king of the attractions, Walt Disney World, is confident enough the tourism industry is rebounding to reopen the 1,008-room French Quarter hotel May 31. The French Quarter, part of the twin-hotel package at the Port Orleans Resort, closed last November after occupancy dropped to a level where it was not cost-effective for Disney to keep the property open.

The 2,048-room Riverside Hotel, the second half of Port Orleans, opened in March after being closed since last fall. Disney officials couldn't be reached at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline. But hospitality industry consultants tell GlobeSt.com attendance figures are starting to rise gradually at Disney and other Central Florida attractions.

Disney has also began hiring again, looking for 700 qualified workers. Disney's main competitor, Universal Orlando, is helping Loews Corp. find 1,000 workers for Lowes' Royal Pacific Resort expected to open by fall on Universal property.

CNL Hospitality Corp. of Orlando, a growing resort development and investment organization, has opened a 350-room Residence Inn at SeaWorld International Center at 11000 Westwood Boulevard. Marriott International Inc. is the manager.

While the major attractions gear up for a stronger summer and fall season, smaller hotels and motels in nearby Osceola County still don't have occupancy numbers where they would like them.

"It's going to be a good year or more before many of us smaller operators see occupancies in the high 80s again," the owner/operator of a 100-unit hotel in the Disney corridor tells GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity.

Four Central Florida hotels are asking local county tax collectors for more time in paying their 2001 property taxes. They are Sheraton Lakes and Knights Inn on U.S. 192 and Hampton Inn on Maingate Lane in Osceola County; and Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Lake County.

Once-shuttered movie theaters are also beginning a comeback in Central Florida. The latest reopening is the former Interstate 6 in Altamonte Springs at Interstate 4 and State Road 436 (Semoran Boulevard). Sunstar Theaters LLC is the new owner.