Florida Vacation Blog

Archive for the ‘SeaWorld’ Category

Orlando’s theme parks are full of fun and live concerts this weekend. 

At SeaWorld Orlando, Saturday kicks off the start of “Summer Nights at SeaWorld.” Events include the return of the popular killer whale show, Shamu Rocks as well as Reflections, a nightly grand finale fireworks and water fountain show. A new adventure for summer at SeaWorld is a family friendly party zone - Summer Nights Central - that stretches along the path to Bayside Stadium. The area will also feature live music on weekends from now thru August 14.

SeaWorld Orlando also offers extended hours for the summer with the park open until 10 pm.

At Universal Studios, the weekend means another round of the park’s Summer Concert Series. This week’s special musical guest, Nelly, hits the Universal stage at 9 pm on Saturday.

Keeping in step with the other parks, Disney World Resort offers up the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series featuring tribute bands at Epcot. This weekend’s shows on Friday and Saturday feature Hotel California - A Tribute to the Eagles. Beginning Sunday, June 19 and lasting all week, musical performances will feature Stayin’ Alive - A Tribute to the Bee Gees.

Epcot’s Sounds Like Summer concerts are held at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m.

Concerts at all three theme parks are included with regular admission.

Orlando’s Discovery Cove theme park is set to open an exciting new attraction this summer. An all new million-gallon saltwater lagoon called Grand Reef” will represent the first expansion at the Orlando park since it opened back in 2000.

The 2.5-acre artificial reef will offer approximately 125 different species of sea life, including colorful tropical fish, rays, sharks and urchins. Guests will enjoy a unique opportunity to enter the reef to walk, swim and snorkel for an up-close view.

The highlight is an underwater walking tour titled a “SeaVenture.” Guests wearing a 75-pound dive helmet (which weighs just 15 pounds when underwater), can follow a themed trail through the reef while encountering schools of fish.

The SeaVenture experience will be limited to guests age 10 or older and groups of no more than six people at a time. However, the attraction also comes at a cost of $59 per person in addition to regular park admission.

According to the park’s plans, the Grand Reef lagoon will also include an area to view approximately 60 lion fish. The venomous lion fish is native to the Pacific Ocean; however, the Discovery Cove lion fish were collected and removed from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico where they are considered an invasive species.

Discovery Cove maintains a limited capacity of approximately 1,000 each day, so reservations are recommended. Other park features include pristine beaches, lazy river, snorkeling with rays and tropical fish, a free-flight aviary, and at an added cost, the park’s signature dolphin swim experience. Guests also enjoy lockers, snorkel gear, breakfast, lunch, plus unlimited snacks, drinks and select alcoholic beverages.

For more information on Discovery Cove and discount tickets to Orlando’s other theme parks and attractions, go to www.westgatereservations.com.

Looking for a little musical entertainment this weekend? You’ll have plenty of options at Orlando’s major theme parks, including Epcot, SeaWorld and Universal Studios. In all, you can choose from four different featured artists and all the concerts are included with your regular theme park admission ticket!

At Universal Studios’ you can again enjoy a two event weekend with Mardi Gras celebrations both Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, March 25, OneRepublic takes the Mardi Gras stage. Then on Saturday, March 26, there will be another Mardi Gras concert featuring Blake Shelton. On both nights, the music starts at 8:30 pm immediately following the festive 8 pm Mardi Gras parade filled with beads!

At SeaWorld Orlando, Jerry Rivera hits the stage at 3 pm Saturday, March 26 as part of the park’s Viva La Musica celebration of Latin culture. Meanwhile, over at Disney’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, you can find Melissa Manchester performing at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 pm March 25-27 at the America Gardens Theatre.

For details on discount theme park tickets and discount lodging including 5-Star Westgate Resort properties, visit www.westgatereservations.com today.

SeaWorld Orlando began its annual summer celebration over the Memorial Day weekend by welcoming back its popular SeaWorld AfterDark activities and shows.

Back for another fun-filled summer season are the killer whale show “Shamu Rocks,” the comedic “Sea Lions Tonite” as well as “Reflections,” a fireworks-and-fountains finale, which is best seen from seats at Bayside Stadium.

There is one difference in this year’s “Shamu Rocks” show as it will be presented without trainers being in the water with the whales.

SeaWorld AfterDark festivities are scheduled to run through Aug. 15 and all AfterDark shows are included with regular park admission.

For more on SeaWorld Orlando and discount Orlando vacation packages, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com. Or for discount Orlando hotel and resort information, visit www.WestgateReservations.com.

Now thru December 31, 2010, children age 12 and younger can get into SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego for just $5. The dramatically discounted child admission price is valid only when purchased online at www.seaworldcares.com.

Under the program, you can receive one $5 child’s admission for each full-paid, single-day admission (retail price $78.95). The regular child admission (ages 3-9) is $68.95.

By purchasing tickets at the seaworldcares.com site, each $5 child ticket price goes to fund non-profit organizations working on wildlife conservation projects. Guests can choose which effort their donation will support.

For more on Orlando family vacation packages, go to www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

There will be music aplenty filling the delightful springtime air throughout Orlando this weekend. All three of Orlando’s major theme parks are offering special concert series performances.

At Disney’s Epcot, you can turn back the clock to the 1960s and 1970s during the Flower Power Concert Series. The series, which is part of the park’s annual International Flower and Garden Festival, takes place under the skies of the open-air American Gardens Theatre. This weekend’s performances - Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 7:45 p.m. - feature Paul Revere and The Raiders.

At nearby Universal Studios Florida, the extended Mardi Gras celebration continues on Saturday with a fun filled Mardi Gras parade and concert at 8:30 featuring Aretha Franklin.

Meanwhile, at SeaWorld Orlando, Viva La Musica takes place Saturday afternoon with an appearance by musical guest Oscar D’Leon at 4 p.m.

There will be plenty of music, food, beverages and fun across Central Florida when SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay presents their annual Bands, Brew & BBQ 2010 - weekends throughout February.

This feel-good music festival and live concert series offers fabulous concerts, great BBQ food and ice-cold beer. It’s your chance to kick back, enjoy the music of your favorite bands, and experience the fun-filled attractions of the theme parks.

Bands, Brew & BBQ 2010 kicks off at SeaWorld on Feb. 6 with special guest performer LeAnn Rimes. The fun moves to Busch Gardens on Feb. 7 with a concert starring Dennis DeYoung featuring the music of STYX.

For more information on central Florida’s theme parks, details on discount tickets and savings on accommodations, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.

The Muppets are coming. The Muppets are coming.

Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa, FL is preparing to open a new Sesame Street Safari of Fun area, featuring a kid-sized roller coaster, water playelements, a playground and lots of opportunities to take your photo with the ever popular Muppets!

Schedule to open in March, 2010, the new theme park area will boast Air Grover - a new family friendly roller coaster. Geared for children, the coaster will offer big thrills for the little ones, with a 23-foot high hill and hitting speeds up to 23 miles per hour.

Another key attraction to the Sesame Street area includes Bert & Ernie’s Water Hole where kids will enjoy a variety of water jets, dumping buckets and geysers designed for some cool, “splash zone” fun on a hot Central Florida day.

Of course, no Sesame Street attraction would be complete without the Muppets and there will be plenty of potential for meeting and greeting your favorite characters from Big Bird and Elmo to The Count, Bert & Ernie, Cookie Monster and more.

From Busch Gardens and SeaWorld Orlando to Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando, you can visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com to find discount theme park tickets, discount Orlando hotels and discount Orlando vacation packages.

Ready to escape the winter chill? There’s no better time than now to visit Orlando, FL where sunshine and family fun awaits you.

From world class theme parks like Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Studios Resort to a wide variety of fast paced water parks and other attractions, Orlando offers fun for the entire family, regardless of age.

You’ll also find championship golf, nearby beaches, lots of amazing shopping and dining options and much more.  Why wait? Now’s the time to book your Orlando fun vacation. Check out the discounts today at www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com.

The New Year has arrived and much of the nation finds itself in the midst of yet another winter’s chill. Snow, ice and bone-chilling temperatures can quickly cause “cabin fever” to set in throughout the Midwest and Northeast.

Now, with the holidays past and spring break still just a blip on the future horizon, is a great time to visit Florida – the Sunshine State. And what better place to start your winter thaw than in the centerpiece of Central Florida otherwise known as Orlando, the city beautiful. There’s nothing else quite like a discount Orlando vacation package.

Home to world famous Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and dozens of other popular attractions, Orlando is truly the theme park capital of the world and a renowned destination any time of year.

Whether you have been to Central Florida a number of times or are simply looking to go for the first time, Orlando is always full of new adventures and surprises. And 2010 is already teeming with big fun and even bigger adventures.

Universal Studios Resort offers up its newest roller coaster Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. And at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the world is already gearing up for the park’s upcoming grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Meanwhile, Orlando’s newest water park, Aquatica by SeaWorld, recently announced the March opening of an all new ride - Omaka Rocka.

For more information on winter getaways to Florida, discount Orlando, Florida vacation packages and discount SeaWorld tickets or discount Universal tickets, visit www.OrlandoThemeParkVacations.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.