Archives for May 2011

Shamu’s Happy Harbor rides and playground at SeaWorld Orlando

Shamu’s Happy Harbor rides and playground at SeaWorld Orlando is fun for little kids while offering a break for parents. It’s a great place for the kids to play while you relax on the bench with some drinks.

Featuring a water-filled spray ground, remote-controlled trucks and whirlpool tea cups, Shamu’s Happy Harbor is the most popular area for small children at Sea World.

This play area is hosted by the park’s Shamu killer whale mascot, and has a four-story net tower with kiddie slides, climbing pyramid and bounce houses.
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Wizarding world of Harry Potter Flight of the Hippogriff ride

Wizarding world of Harry Potter Flight of the Hippogriff ride

If you have little kids in tow on your trip to The Wizarding world of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, and they’re Harry Potter fans, they’ll probably be disappointed that they can’t ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

Riders for that attraction have to be at least 48 inches tall. If, however, your little wizards are at least 36 inches tall, they can enjoy the Flight of the Hippogriff ride roller coaster.

What’s a hippogriff? A hippogriff is a mythological creature that has the head of an eagle and the body of a horse. Here’s the back story to the ride: Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, teaches young wizards-in-training to fly a Hippogriff.
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Blue Horizons show at SeaWorld

Blue Horizons at SeaWorld is a show the likes of which you’ve never seen before. Featured at Orlando’s SeaWorld, the show is an extravaganza that combines animal performances, divers, birds, aerialists, and aspects of a Broadway production.

The set of Blue Horizons was designed by Stanley Meyer, famous for his work on Beauty and the Beast Broadway musical. Along with designing the set, Meyer was also used as a consultant for Blue Horizons.

Meyer’s set includes a forty-feet-tall framework over the pool, where human performers balance, dive, and float on clouds. They also make some heart-stopping plunges with bungee cords, much to the delight of audiences.
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Walt Disney World Epcot show IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

Disney's Epcot Illuminations fireworks show

IllumiNations: Relections of Earth is a show that takes place at Disney World’s Epcot theme park. The show lasts 14 minutes every night unless it’s canceled due to weather restrictions.

Specific show times may change, so be sure to check the schedule. This amazing show is made up of fireworks, lasers, and water, along with music. Every member of the family is sure to enjoy this spectacular show!

It can be viewed from anywhere within the World Showcase that offers an unobstructed view of the lagoon.
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Walt Disney World Grand Floridian Spa and Health Club

Disney's Grand Floridian Spa and Health Club

For a totally pampering experience, luxuriate in a treatment at the Walt Disney World Grand Floridian Spa and Health Club. Located just south of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort’s main building, the spa and health club will treat your mind, your body, and your soul.

Skincare treatments include several facials designed to cleanse and give new life to your face. All products used for the treatments are plant-based. A few of the facials available are the custom European facial, the marine mineral facial, the Grand Floridian Deluxe facial, and the gentleman’s facial.

For total relaxation and improved circulation, enjoy a soothing massage. Several different methods of massage therapy are available, including a sports massage, a Swedish massage, a firm pressure massage, and a bamboo harmony massage.
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Universal Studios Rock the Universe Christian Music Festival 2011

Universal Studios Rock the Universe Christian Music Festival 2011

Grab the kids, pack your bags, and head to Universal Studios Rock the Universe Christian Music Festival 2011, Florida’s largest Christian music festival. The event will span an entire weekend, including September 9, 10, and 11, 2011.

The whole family can experience some amazing entertainment, inspiration, fellowship, faith, and fun – all rolled into one!

And there’s more. With Fan Zone, you’ll have the chance to meet some of your favorite artists. Dr. Jay Strack, president of Student Leadership University, will be on hand Saturday to lead everyone in an unforgettable candlelighting ceremony.
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Walt Disney World Miniature Golf Courses

Disney miniature golf courses

Walt Disney World has four different fun miniature golf courses you can play on in case you did not know. They are each themed differently in detail, just like the theme parks.

Playing a round or two of miniature golf is a wonderful way for families to spend time together. It also allows kids a chance to burn off some nervous energy. Like everything else at Walt Disney World in Orlando, the golf courses are amazing!

Disney’s Fantasia Gardens miniature golf course is located in the Epcot Resort area. Based on the famous movie, the course includes lots of whimsical characters from Fantasia, along with some pretty amazing special water effects.
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Universal Studios summer concert series 2011

Universal Studios summer concert series weekends!

Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida has a great summer concert series coming up this summer. These exciting concerts kick off on June 11 with the Go-Gos. All of the summer concerts start at 9:00 p.m.

There will be three concerts in June as well as three in July. The final concert of the summer will be given on July 16 with Drake. With this awesome lineup, everyone is sure to enjoy the events!

Here’s the Universal Studios summer concert series list, date and artist, with a lineup of the summer concert series performers:
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Disney’s re-done Star Tours ride at Hollywood Studios open May 20th

The re-opening of Star Tours is this may 20th!

If your a Star Wars fan you know that the Star Tours ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was closed for a make-over a while back. Well soon it will be open again with an all new look and feel!

In fact the Star Tours ride at Hollywood Studios will have it’s grand opening next Friday, May 20th 2011. I’ve got some inside information about it which I’ll share here. So don’t read any further if you don’t want to know!

The new Star Tours ride actually still has the same layout as before, basically. What has changed is the look, theme and the ride. The ride theme is totally different than before, which was about everyone on a ship manned by a clumsy robot.
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Two miniature golf courses coming to Universal Studios CityWalk

Golf courses coming to Citywalk

It sounds a little strange, but two 18 hole miniature golf courses are coming to Universal Studios CityWalk! Strange because I was scratching my head trying to figure out where the heck they would fit them into the CityWalk complex?

The golf courses will be put in the lower level of CityWalk, next to the movie theater and visible from the long walkway that connects to the parking garage. The only place I can think they would fit is that tall grass area you now see to your right as you come into the complex.

Dubbed the Hollywood Drive-In Golf, they will be themed after 1950’s horror and science fiction movies. That seems fitting for the home of Halloween Horror Nights!

The two miniature golf courses at Universal Studios CityWalk will feature a flying saucer, graveyard, giant spider and the basement of a haunted house. They say it will really be done good with state of the art technology.

They also will be open both day and night. Sounds like one of a kind type of golf courses. Work will begin soon on them and finish by early next year. So look for those if your a miniature golf course buff!

Local Doggie Derby at Baldwin Park pictures and videos

Besides talking about the theme parks here in Orlando I also try to go to many local events going on. Since I also run a pet website here, I went this past weekend to the 4th annual Doggie Derby at Baldwin Park, Orlando.

It was a fun event, with people racing their doggies in a short grassy area to benefit a local pet rescue organization. I took a lot of video and pictures there, so maybe you’ll see yourself and your dog here!

The top video has all the derby races back to back. Well not all of them but a lot of them. The video below has general shots of the pet vendors, people and pets.
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Downtown Disney summer sale for annual passholders!

trick or treating at Disney downtown Marketplace

Hey everyone, I just wanted to give you a heads up if your a Disney Annual passholder. Disney gives annual passholders lots of neat deals and specials throughout the year, and this is one of them.

From 6:30 to 9 A.M. July 23th 2011 at the Disney Downtown Marketplace you can get up to 75% off your favorite select Disney merchandise. I’m not sure if all the Disney stores will participate in this or not.

There also will be special door busters and surprise markdowns. So those will add some excitement to the sale I’m sure! Please note the time, which is in the morning, NOT the evening.

Annual passholders always go to these sales in big numbers, so be early and ready. No sign-up is necessary, just show up. Guests must show valid Disney passholder IDs and government-issued photo IDs to enter the store at the time of purchase.

You can do an early Christmas shopping during this and save a lot on Disney merchandise. I’m not a morning person myself, but if you are then check out this Disney annual passholder summer sale at Disney’s Downtown Marketplace and save!