Florida Vacation Blog

Archive for the ‘Discount Orlando Vacations’ Category

Orlando’s theme parks are full of Halloween entertainment. From the very scary at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights to the kid’s fun at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, there’s something for everyone.

At Disney’s Magic Kingdom, you’ll find Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party already in full swing. The annual, separate ticket event allows guests an opportunity to dress up in their costumes and trick-or-treat alongside favorite Disney Characters and Villains.

The Villians Mix and Mingle show has been restyled for this year and now features Dr. Facilier, the voodoo doctor from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” movie. The main musical number for this highly choreographed show is “Friends on the Other Side” from the same movie. The song offers up visual highlights like black-light effects and illuminations. As in the past, the show is followed by a fun meet-and-greet with the Disney Villains.

This year’s event at Magic Kingdom also offers a new trick-or-treat zone, Br’er Rabbit’s Laughin’ Place Candy Patch. The new candy patch area is located adjacent to Splash Mountain in Frontierland and replaces the former Alice & Mad Hatter’s Treat Trail that was formerly located in the old Mickey’s Toontown Fair.

For information on discount Disney tickets and discount Orlando family vacation packages, please visit www.westgatereservations.com.

Tickets for Rock the Universe, the two-night contemporary Christian music celebration at Universal Studios Florida, are currently available for advance purchase.

Rock the Universe remains one of Universal’s most popular annual events. Dates for this year’s after-hours, separate ticket event are Sept. 9-10, 2011.

The weekend combines the theme park’s action-packed thrill rides and attractions with a wide variety of soul-stirring music from the world’s most popular Christian artists. The result is an unforgettable celebration of fun, faith, love and whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll.

Scheduled performers for Friday, Sept. 9, include Switchfoot, Dave Crowder Band, Anberlin, Grits, Family Force 5, Rhema Soul and Hyland. Scheduled performers for Saturday, Sept. 10, include Casting Crowns, Third Day, Relient K, Red, Tenth Ave North, Brandon Heath and Live Fish.

In addition to the main stages, Universal Studios will offer a brand new Fan Zone with more live music from Jason Castro, Dara Maclean and For King and Country.

For more information on tickets, go to www.UniversalOrlando.com. Or visit www.WestgateReservations.com for details on discount theme park tickets and discount Orlando vacation packages.

The Orlando area is world renowned for its theme parks, and there area plenty to choose from between SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Walt Disney World Resort.

But you don’t have to travel far from Orlando to find even more theme park adventure, including Busch Gardens Tampa just a short drive along I-4 through central Florida.

With an amazing collection of roller coasters, family oriented rides and attractions, and even some up close encounters with wild animals, Busch Gardens has plenty to offer.

Sesame Street Safari of Fun is a perfect spot for the youngest in the family to enjoy some time with their favorite Muppets. The Safari area offers up a variety of adventure such as water splash zones, the Air Grover kids’ roller coaster, a number of additional perfect-for-the-kids rides and a live show featuring the Sesame Street characters.

Busch Gardens offers up several distinct spots for viewing an abundance of wild animals, including the Serengeti Plain, Edge of Africa and Walkabout Way which features a special kangaroo feeding area.

Busch Gardens’ newest roller coaster, currently under construction, features both thrills and wild animals. The Cheetah Hunt, set to open in late May, will offer an exhibit of live cheetahs adjacent to the ride.

For information and discount ticket options to Busch Gardens Tampa as well as discount Orlando vacation packages, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

NASA has announced new launch dates for the next (and possibly last) two space shuttle missions.

STS-133 will be the 39^th mission for space shuttle Discovery and the 133^rd shuttle mission overall. The mission, originally scheduled for launch last Nov. 1, is now set for take off on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 4:50 pm from Kennedy Space Center in central Florida. The 11-day supply mission is projected to land at Kennedy Space Center on March 7.

The Discovery flight crew includes Commander Steven Lindsey as well as Pilot Eric Boe, Timothy Kopra, Michael Barratt, Nicole Scott and Alvin Drew. Discovery will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier 4 and critical spare components to the ISS. After returning from the International Space Station, Discovery is likely headed for display at the Smithsonian.

Meanwhile, space shuttle Endeavour is now scheduled to make its 35^th voyage to the International Space Station on April 19, 2011, according to NASA. The proposed 7:48 pm launch could be the final shuttle mission. A third shuttle mission is tentatively scheduled for June, 2011 but that launch could be scrapped due to congressional budget cuts.

For more on the NASA launch schedule, visit www.NASA.gov. Or go to www.WestgateReservations.com for information on discount Orlando vacation packages and resort accommodations.

Surf’s up. And you won’t even have to go to the beach to find the perfect wave! That’s because indoor surfing is coming to the Orlando area this fall.

It’s all part of the excitement at Fantasy Surf, an all-new, indoor aquatic recreation facility currently under construction at FantasyWorld Resort in Kissimmeee, FL.

The new water park venue will utilize a FlowRider system to provide a controlled surfing style environment. When completed, the Fantasy Surf system will be 32 feet wide by 49 feet long. It will also included padded walls a 3-inch sheet of water will create the surf conditions.

The 14,000 square-foot surfing center is tentatively scheduled to open in October, 2010.

For more information on Orlando area hotels, water parks and theme parks, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or go to www.WestgateReservations.com to find discount Orlando vacation packages and discount Orlando tickets.

Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Orlando’s Magic Kingdom this weekend.

The parade, which last ran in Florida in 2001, is returning from Disney’s California Adventure Park as the highlight of Disney’s Summer Nightastic! celebration. A longtime favorite at Magic Kingdom, the parade returns with a variety of enhancements including new floats.

All in all, the Main Street Electrical Parade offers 23 floats and 500,000 lights, led by a new Tinker Bell Pixie Hollow float at the front of the parade. Tinker Bell’s magic pixie dust will be a constant throughout the parade as seen through special effects that offer lighting swoops down the sides of the floats.

Also new to the parade is a float featuring Pinocchio and the bad boys from Pleasure Island.

The parade which runs approximately 45 minutes is scheduled to begin its summer run Sunday June 6 through August 14. However, a preview parade is scheduled for Saturday June 5.

For more on Walt Disney World Resort and discount Orlando vacation packages, to go www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

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.

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.

Join the fun at Orlando’s Gatorland this weekend (Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.) for an after-hours event called Swamp Sunset Celebrations.

Guests can enjoy a train ride, turkey dogs to feed the alligators, a sangria outlet and, of course, plenty of opportunity to see the park’s massive gators up close and personal.

When  you’re not looking into the marsh at the gators, be sure to look overhead as hundreds of egret and other bird nests sit in the trees above the alligator breeding marsh.

For more information about Gatorland and other popular Orlando area theme parks and attractions, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or go to www.WestgateReservations for discount Orlando tickets, hotels, resorts and family vacation packages.