Florida Vacation Blog

Archive for May, 2010

Guests at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park holding special Universal Orlando Resort hotel package deals were allowed into the park’s new Wizarding World of Harry Potter area earlier today.

Those guests were among the first to enjoy the new and highly secretive ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The ride, housed inside the signature Hogwarts castle, takes passengers on a virtual fly-along with Potter characters through various adventures and includes encounters with Dementors, dragons and a Quidditch match.

The official Grand Opening of the $200 million Wizarding World is scheduled for June 18, 2010.

Last chance. This weekend marks the end of the 2010 version of Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

It’s your last opportunity to see the dramatic topiaries such as the American Gothic Mickey and Minnie near the entrance to World Showcase. It’s your last chance to see the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden and Butterfly House with Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. And it’s your final chance to see the green wall, a large wall featuring a fountain and a variety of greenery.

The weekend festivities also conclude this year’s Flower Power Concert Series. The final musical guest artist is Chubby Checker who performs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 pm in the American Gardens outdoor theatre.

For more highlights of Epcot and Walt Disney World Resort, please visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or go to www.WestgateReservations.com for details on discount Orlando vacation packages and resort lodging at Westgate Lakes Resort and Spa.

The countdown is on.

Visitors to central Florida will be flocking to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 14 for the scheduled launch of space shuttle Atlantis on its STS-132 mission.

The shuttle is on Launch Pad 39A as crews continue with preparations for the scheduled liftoff at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

Atlantis will be heading to the International Space Station, where the shuttle’s six astronauts will spend a 12-day mission to deliver an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built mini research module.

Favorable launch conditions are predicted as a high-pressure system continues to dominate Florida’s weather pattern, bringing plenty of sunshine to the sunshine state.

The English rock band Psychedelic Furs is scheduled to be the musical guest at this month’s Velvet Sessions concert at the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando.

The group will perform in the lobby of Universal Orlando’s Hard Rock on May 27, 2010.

Admission is $25 online and $30 at the door and includes specific specialty drinks and a variety of finger foods beginning at 6:30 p.m. and running til 8:30 p.m. There will be a cash bar starting at 8:30 p.m. when the Furs take the stage. Parking is complimentary at the Hard Rock Hotel.

For more on the monthly Velvet Sessions program at Hard Rock, visit www.velvetsessions.com. Or visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for details on Universal Orlando Resort and other Orlando area theme parks and attractions.

One of the nation’s longest-running and most popular game shows is coming to Orlando.

Family Feud, famous for the phrase, “survey says…” is moving its production studio from Las Angeles to a new home at Universal Orlando Resort this summer. In addition to the change in venue, the show will also welcome a new host in entertainer Steve Harvey.

The game show will tape 165 episodes from July thru September on Sound Stage 19 at Universal Orlando Resort. The episodes will be staged on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Family Feud will produce four to eight episodes a day.

You don’t have to be a theme park guest to watch the tapings. Currently, there are 22 taping dates scheduled between July and September, 2010. Access to the studio will be available through Universal CityWalk for those not visiting the theme park.

Family Feud is one of the most familiar game shows since Richard Dawson originally hosted it in the 1970s. The current version of the show has been running 11 years in syndication and airs weekdays at 10 a.m. ET.

Universal Orlando will play up Family Feud in promotions to bring more guests to the resort, said Pamela Tuscany, vice president of production.

For more information on Family Feud, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com. For details on the Universal theme parks and discount Orlando vacation packages and tickets, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

The Original Wailers, featuring Al Anderson and Junior Marvin, will perform at Universal CityWalk during its annual reggae celebration Saturday, May 15 in Orlando, FL.

The late Bob Marley and the Wailers sold more than 250 million albums worldwide with such hit songs such as “Get Up, Stand Up” and “One Love.”

Saturday’s reggae party, A Tribute to Freedom, at Bob Marley’s within Universal Orlando CityWalk is scheduled to run from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and includes live music and authentic Jamaican food.

Admission to Bob Marley’s is free before 6 p.m., but a $15 cover charge will be assessed after that point. There’s also a $25 VIP ticket available that includes upstairs access, drink specials, an appetizer buffet from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and free admission to other select CityWalk clubs.

Go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com for details on Universal Orlando theme park, Universal CityWalk and discount Orlando vacation packages.

Some of the most special Disney moments don’t necessarily come within Orlando’s famous Disney World theme parks. Rather, some special moment occur at Disney’s wonderful character meals.

Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner at Disney’s spectacular Grand Floridian Resort is one such event that is sure to bring smiles and memories to your little princess.

The delicious meal features Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia and Drizella all making their rounds to greet dinner guests. While the mean stepmother and her daughters stay in character while meeting the kids in attendance, they offer a lot of laughs. Meanwhile, Cinderella also comes out several times to dance with Prince Charming. The dashing and handsome prince also finds time to dance with many of the little guest princesses.

The restaurant is beautifully decorated with an old-time amusement park theme that includes statues of carousel animals. The centerpiece is Big Bertha, a turn-of-the-century, fancifully designed organ from France that gives concerts while you dine. The instrument simultaneously plays pipes, drums, bells, cymbals, castanets and a xylophone.

While the character meals are as much about the experience as the dining, the food is delightful, plentiful and varied, with offerings ranging from prime rib to strawberry soup.

Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner costs $35.99 plus tax for adults and $17.99 plus tax for children ages 3 to 9. For more information about Walt Disney World Resort and discount Orlando family vacation packages, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

If you didn’t get your fill of great music and spectacular concerts during the long-running Mardi Gras celebration at Universal Studios, don’t worry - there’s more music to come this summer.

The Summer Concert Series at Universal Studios brings six more exciting concerts to the Orlando theme park.

The Summer Concert Series runs every Saturday from June 12 through July 17 with concerts starting at 9 pm except the the July 3 show which starts at 8 pm. Best of all, the concerts are included with your regular Universal Studios admission.

Scheduled performers include:

June 12       Train

June 19       Pitbull

June 26       Earth Wind & Fire

July 3           Pat Benetar & REO Speedwagon

July 10         Rob Thomas

July 17         Counting Crows

For more information about Universal Studios discount tickets or discount Orlando family vacation packages, please visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with FREE Admission to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL.

The central Florida attraction will feature carillon concerts being performed on the Singing Tower at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 9.

The “Faces, Events & Places” art exhibit by Owen Jolly and “Fertile Ground” sculpture exhibit by William Kidd will also be on display in the Garden’s Visitor Center through May 27, 2010.

For information, on this and other Orlando area attractions, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

There are always plenty of monkeys to be seen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but one former Monkee will be on hand at Disney’s Epcot this weekend.

Davy Jones, former teen heartthrob and lead singer of the Monkees, is this weekend’s musical guest for the Flower Power concert series at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Show times are 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 pm.

The concert is just part of the fun at the Flower & Garden Festival which also features a colorful array of flowers, gardens, topiaries and educational events.

Enjoy millions of blooming flowers and a vibrant collection of Disney-themed topiaries, and get up close with hundreds of colorful butterflies inside Minnie’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden.

During the weekends throughout the festival, guests can also meet with top horticulturists, learn helpful gardening tips and attend public demonstrations of advanced gardening techniques from around the world.

Davy Jones will perform each evening this weekend at the America Gardens Theatre next to the American Adventure Pavilion. The concert and festival is included with regular Epcot admission.