With Labor Day weekend coming up, many want to know what’s going on at the theme parks here in Orlando. Specifically what Labor Day weekend events and activities are going on at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World? What times will the theme parks be open?

Well, actually the theme parks don’t really do much different things for Labor Day weekend. For the most part they just might have a little more in the parades, a little better fireworks show, maybe some cookout type of food served on open grills.

You might even see a few Labor Day themed food carts or merchandise displays. But for the most part Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World will be like they have been all summer during Labor Day weekend.
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One of the biggest problems people face when they go to a theme park is where to put their stuff when they go on a ride? Almost all rides at theme parks today do not allow you to hold or bring anything with you.

That includes purses, bottles and camera bags around your neck or shoulder. Anything that moves around will not be allowed on. It does not matter if you insist that you can hold onto it, ride operators have rules they have to follow. And one is, nobody brings anything on a ride!

Backpacks also are not permitted on most rides because you can’t get into the seat without taking it off. If you do have bulky items like these there are lockers you can get to put your items in while your on rides.
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Well I’m a bit late, but here’s the 4th of July fireworks 2010 schedules for Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. Each theme park has it’s own way of celebrating July 4th, and they always are great!
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It looks like there will soon be two more orcas, or killer whales, at Sea World in Orlando. Two of the whales, Tamia and Katina are pregnant. The father seems to be Tilikum. Yes, the same one who killed Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau in February.

I guess that’s good news. I’m not sure how that will affect the Shamu shows, if any. With two of the whales being pregnant at the same time there might be a break in the shows when they are getting close to giving birth.

But after everyone will want to see the little new baby whales! So I’m sure that will help out Sea World and give the shows a new angle. I will let you know once they give birth.

Taking in an Orlando dinner show is the best you can do once you arrive here. The Makahiki Luau dinner show (also known as the Polynesian Luau) at Sea World will carry you to a number of rare cultures and tradition of Polynesians.

If you are new to dinner theater, this might be good for you. Satiate your appetite with island specialties including coconuts and island favorites, teaming pineapples, Pu Pu Platters, roasted pork and fresh fish!

This unique Polynesian dinner show takes place every night in the Luau Terrace located inside Sea World Orlando Theme Park. The performers put the right amount of energy into the show and encourage the audience to participate for a more memorable experience. The theater where the dinner is held is very cozy, and you are very close to all the action.
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It’s been all over the news now, so I’m sure you have heard about the tragic death of popular Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau. She was dragged into the water by a killer whale named Tilikum, a large male Orca.

They don’t know, and likely never will know why the killer whale dragged her into the pool, toyed with her and finally drowned her. Tilikum has had other problems with trainers before.

I have seen many Shamu shows with Dawn Brancheau, so it’s a little more upsetting to me than most who have never seen a Shamu show. She was very experienced with years of training.

But when your working with giant killer whales it only takes a second off guard for something tragic to happen, and it did. I’m not going to get into all the details about it, there are plenty of other articles on it if you want all that.

Instead I thought I’d show the youtube video tribute to Dawn Brancheau from Sea World. You can see her love for animals and the joy she had working with them. Rest in peace Dawn Brancheau.

Click here for my Orlando tourist youtube channel!

Well everyone I’m really excited about the past few days. I got myself a cool new camcorder! I’ve been meaning to get one for a long time, and finally got one. It’s nothing fancy, a Panasonic SDR-S26. But it’s great for youtube videos, with a 70X zoom on it!

I also just opened up my own youtube video channel, click the link to see it and all my videos so far. Right now I just have some picture slide show videos I made. But very soon I’ll be taking a lot of videos of Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World and so much more here in Orlando.

In fact next Sat. I’m going to Universal Studios Mardi Gras and take a nice video of that parade. Plus bike week in Daytona is almost here and I’ll take a lot up there. I can see how I’ll be spending more time in the theme parks taking videos of the rides!
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Sea World’s new water park, Aquatica, is getting a brand new and fun water slide for this spring. Called Omaka Rocka, it will be a two-seater tube ride you slide down inside a pipe. What makes it different than the rest is that you will hit walls that you slide high up on, like a skate boarder doing a half-pipe trick.

You’ll end up rocking back and forth on the walls, feeling almost weightless at each peak. Finally at the end you’ll come skimming out into a splashdown area. It’s the first new water slide Aquatica has added since it opened two years ago. It will share the Whanau Way tower already there.

I’ve seen it under construction, and they should have no problem getting it done to open on time, which is March. It looks like a lot of fun and I’ll be sure to ride it once it’s open. Aquatica is a very fun park and well worth it to spend a day there!

Click here for Aquatica water park discount tickets!

Empty water ride boat at Universal Studios

Well it’s the new year, 2010! The holidays are gone, and it’s now the middle of the winter here in the USA. Of course down here in Florida it’s still toasty warm, maybe a bit cool. It’s also one of the most perfect times to take that Disney Orlando vacation you’ve been waiting for! A lot of people have the misconception that winter is when it’s crowded in Florida.

Everyone knows the snowbirds come down here for the winter. That’s true, but most of them are older folks who don’t really care for the theme parks. The kids are back in school, so most in USA don’t feel they should take an Orlando vacation in the winter. Same is true for our Canada neighbors.

Even the tourist from the UK, which makes up a lot of the theme park crowds, wait until summer to visit Disney. That leaves from now until Easter with the theme parks light on crowds. The weather is nice, around the 60′s or 70′s during the day. The bugs are gone, and it does not rain hardly at all during the winter months.

That means it’s a perfect time to see Disney, Universal Studios and Sea World here in Orlando. If your an older couple with no kids, single, childless couple or home school your kids you don’t have to worry about taking the kids out of school. Prices for everything are also lower than in the summer. It really is much lighter now than the summer tourist crowds.

So if you can, head down here to Orlando and enjoy the theme parks without having to fight the crowds, summer heat, rain, bugs and higher prices. Pay for your theme park tickets online and be all set when you get here!

Well I hope everyone had a great Christmas, at least those that celebrate it. The next big holiday of course is New Years eve. Just about all attractions in Orlando will have some type of New Years event or party going on. Many want to know what will be happening at the big theme parks for New Years Eve. So here’s a brief run down of what’s going on.

Universal Studios
Since Universal Studios has a big nightclub complex right at the parks it’s only natural that they will be having more events than the others. Most of the clubs at Citywalk, Universal Studios night time party zone, will be having live music inside them. Two big time bands; The Temptations and The Four Tops will be performing several times on New Years eve.

Between performances you can dine on all-you-can-eat gourmet cuisine and great desserts! Then, cap off the night with a midnight countdown, champagne toast, confetti burst and more! Yes you have to buy a special ticket, get your Universal Studios New Years eve party tickets here.

Walt Disney World
Disney’s New Years eve events are not really that much. The holiday is not one that fits the family friendly parks. About the only thing different will be better firework displays in each of the parks that have them. However they will have the best fireworks of any place in Orlando, and well worth it to go and see.

Sea World
Surprisingly Sea World will be having a special New Years eve event going on. From 9:00 PM to 12:30 AM you can hear continuous Jazz music from live entertainers in the park. At the Bayside stadium Michael Andrew and the Atomic Big Band will be performing live. Then at midnight you can see fantastic fireworks light up the sky.

So there you have it, the New Years eve events at the big three theme parks here in Orlando. Of course many nightclubs and smaller attractions will have their own little fireworks, party poppers and holiday events. You can buy fireworks in Florida, so don’t be surprised to see and hear folks setting off their own fireworks display!

Sea World of Orlando has some new Christmas holiday events this year, along with some old ones. The Shamu show features new holiday music and festive lights, along with new tricks from Shamu and friends.

Clyde and Seamore, the funny, comical sea lions have a new Christmas show called “Countdown to Christmas” that is a hoot.

The gang from Sesame Street will be at Sea World putting on their own holiday show called “A Sesame Street Christmas.” The show will featuring our favorite yellow friend Big Bird and the other popular character as they show what Christmas is all about. There will also be a meet and greet after the show for kids.
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A week ago I made a post about what is going on Thanksgiving day at Disney. So I thought I’d also tell you what will be going on at Universal Studios and Sea World on Thanksgiving day. The truth of the matter is, there really is not that much extra going on at any of the theme parks on Thanksgiving day, except for bigger crowds!

Both Universal Studios and Sea World will have a few extra decorations and so on with a Thanksgiving theme. But there are no special Thanksgiving parades planned, or any Thanksgiving shows. It’s just not a Holiday that lends itself good with theme parks.

Here and there you will find restaurants in both Universal Studios and Sea World that will be serving the traditional Thanksgiving meal, like turkey, ham and cranberries. Normally it will be the bigger restaurants in the parks that will be serving Thanksgiving meals.

But that’s really about the only things that will be different. However because it’s a Holiday the parks WILL be full, very full. So be prepared for that and come early. Right after Thanksgiving all the parks will put up their Christmas decorations and lights.

They really do a good job transforming the parks into a Christmas theme, and the lights at night are fantastic. So if you are visiting the parks at Thanksgiving make sure you also come back the day or two after Thanksgiving, and stay till night to see the lights!