Orlando Travel Blog


Orlando to Host Anti*Pop Music Festival

The 5th-annual Anti*Pop Music Festival will take place in various venues throughout downtown Orlando from November 11-14, 2009. Cost is $5-$15 for individual shows and 4-day passes are also available for $25. Venues include AKA Lounge, BackBooth, Firestone Live, Gibson Showroom, Peacock Room, Plaza Theatre, Tanqueray’s, Will’s Pub, 57 West, Park Ave CDs, BBQ Bar, Uncle Lou’s, Bold Hype, Central Station Bar, and Stardust Coffee & Video parking lot.

Performers will include Blackguard, Ex Deo, Hypocrisy, Ensiferum, DJ Stranger, Orign, BC of Red Tide, amiam, Grey Matter, Twin Tigers, The Antlers, Minus the Bear, godpawn, Thomas Wynn and the Believers, Gasoline Heart, Isaac Russell, Pete Yorn, dagnese, Fight Like Animals, Dreaming in Stereo, Eliza Rickman, Mumpsy, Mumly Troll, Sincere, Knaladeus, Godamus Rhyme, Tunji, Looptroop Rockers, Grieves w/Budo, Cunninlynguists, Oh Fortuna, Young Brother, Telethon, The Pauses, The Tenant, Yacht, Diddles, Kaleigh Baker, Ben Prestage, John Lee Hooker Jr., Senate, illScarlett, Junkierush, The Crazy Carls, Big D & the Kids Table, Ky-Mani Marley, Yacht, Elephant Gun, The New Lows, The Ludes, Six Dead Horses, Junior Bruce, Dark Castle, Black Tusk, Black Cobra, Jason Choi, Maximino, Great Deceivers, Varras Tower, DJ J Storm, S.K.I.P. and Jimmy, DiVINCI and Beef Wellington, Solillquists of Sound, Death Mites, Rouse, Rug, The Beauvilles, King Bee, Sam Rivers Quintet, The Angst, Idol’s End, Big City Bombers, Tooth and the Enamels, The New Threat, Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, Watch Me Disappear, The Still Voice, Overdale, XOXO, Furious Dudes, The Slippery Slopes, Mowgli, Rabbit Punch, Ventricles, Viernes, I Fight Dragons, Whole Wheat Bread, MC Chris, Shapiro, Spring Tigers, The Ettes, Fake Problems, North Via, Kiv Druidi, Vreid, Alestorm, Belphegor, Eluveitie, The pretty Faces, The Legendary JCs, Zach Williams, Brook Waggoner, Jimmy Gnecco, Copeland, Beardsley, Only Thieves, Buff Clout, Bananafish, So Help Me Rifle, 1991, Republicorpse, Khann, Happy Valley, pan/dos, Sunbears, Dr. Moonstein, Lighthouse Music, The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt and others.

For more information about the Anti*Pop Music Festival, visit antipopmusicfest.com.



Central Florida Area Animal Attractions

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

SeaWorld Orlando

Discovery Cove

Aquatica by SeaWorld

Busch Gardens Tampa

Central Florida Zoological Park

Jungle Adventures

Brevard Zoo

Silver Springs



Flashback: Boardwalk and Baseball



Epcot Computer Central Dedication, 1982



Live Entertainment at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Finding Nemo – The Musical

Festival of the Lion King

Flights of Wonder

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade



Flashback: Mystery Fun House
November 2, 2009, 3:28 pm
Filed under: Vacations, orlando, orlando vacation, travel | Tags: , ,



The Five Space Mountains of Disney



Central Florida Attractions

For more information about Central Florida attractions, visit http://www.orlando-florida.net.



Final Weekend for Halloween Horror Nights!



Zoom from Space to Epcot
October 29, 2009, 1:26 pm
Filed under: Disney World, Disney World Video, Epcot, Vacations, disney, orlando, orlando vacation, theme parks | Tags:



Princess Tianna Welcomed to the Magic Kingdom!



2009-2010 Disney World Holiday Events


Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
November 10 – December 18, 2009


Holidays Around the World
November 27 – December 30, 2009


The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
November 10, 2009 – January 4, 2010


Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade
November 27, 2009 – January 3, 2010


Festival of the Seasons
November 17 – December 24, 2009


New Year’s Eve at Walt Disney World Resort
December 31, 2009



Top 10 SeaWorld Orlando Attractions

1. Manta
Swooping over sea and sky, Manta inspires riders with incredible underwater animal habitats, then soars them face-down, in a horizontal position, aboard a manta-inspired flying coaster.

2. Kraken
An exhilarating roller coaster, Kraken speeds up to 65 miles per hour and reaches a height of 151 as it loops its way high over Serpent’s Lagoon.

3. Believe
An amazing live show, Believe combines the talents of SeaWorld’s resident killer whales with spectacular music, choreography, multimedia and set pieces.

4. Journey to Atlantis
A one-of-a-kind “watercoaster,” Journey to Atlantis akes you on a water flume adventure aboard an eight-passenger boat that features a re-creation of the mythical city of Atlantis and a 60-foot-drop into a splash pool (prepare to get soaked!).

5. A’Lure The Call of the Ocean
A one-of-a-kind show at Nautilus Theater, A’Lure is a mystical odyssey boasts lively music, acrobatics and comedy, along with state-of-the-art special effects.

6. Wild Arctic
Experience a simulated jet helicopter ride to “Base Station Wild Arctic,” a walk-through animal habitat that features polar bears, walruses, beluga whales and harbor seals.

7. Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island
Billed as a tale of “lost loot, pirate plunder and misadventure on the high seas,” Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island takes you on a hilarious swashbuckling adventure that stars a talented group of sea lions, otters and an immense walrus!

8. Blue Horizons
A theatrical spectacular, Blue Horizons showcases majestic animals such as dolphins and false killer whales, as well as talented divers, trapeze artists and exotic birds.

9. Dolphin Cove
A 700,000-galloon lagoon, Dolphin Cover is home to a variety of playful Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Feeding sesions take place at designated times throughout the day.

10. Shark Encounter
Travel along the world’s largest underwater acrylic tunnel at Shark Encounter and view an assortment of shark species, as well as barracuda, eels and venomous fish.



Cirque du Soleil – Inside La Nouba



Don’t Miss New Year’s Eve at Disney World!

Walt Disney World Resort will host a fantastic lineup of fun-filled activities to help bring in the New Year 2010! Mark your calendar for the following Disney World events:

Bay Lake & Seven Seas Lagoon
The Electrical Water Pagaent (9 PM; plays to Magic Kingdom entrance area at 10:25 PM)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade (3:45 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve (9 AM-7 PM)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Fantasmic! nighttime musical special effects extravaganza (6:30 PM)
Live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” back-to-back with a DJ at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat (Mulch, Sweat and Shears sets are 8, 9, 10 and 11 PM; DJ starts at 63;) PM)
A special “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks show starring Mulch, Sweat and Shears (11:55 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 AM-midnight

Disney’s Magic Kingdom
“Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It!” parade and street party (11 AM, 12:30 PM and 5:40 PM)
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade (12 PM and 3:30 PM)
SpectroMagic parade of lights and music (7 PM and 10:30 PM)
Holiday Wishes fireworks (8:30 PM)
Fantasy in the Sky fireworks (11:50 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve: 9 AM-1 AM

Epcot
Special version of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” (7:30 PM and 11:40 PM)
Park hours on New Year’s Eve (9 AM-1 AM)



Haunted Mansion Videos


Haunted Mansion at Disney’s Magic Kingdom


Haunted Mansion at Disneyland
Haunted Mansion at Tokyo Disneyland


Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris


Haunted Mansion: The Making of a Masterpiece
Grim Grinning Ghosts
Leota
Madame Leota Tombstone
Haunted Mansion History, Part 1
Haunted Mansion, Part 2
Haunted Mansion Commercial
Thurl Ravenscroft Interview



Celebrity Narrators Announced for Epcot Holiday Event

Celebrity narrators have been announced for the Epcot Candlelight Processional, which will take place November 27 through December 30, 2009. The Candlelight Processional, which includes a mass choir and 50-piece live orchestra, will take place at America Gardens Theatre nightly at 5 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:15 PM.

Celebrity Narrator Schedule

November 27-29, 2009 – Isabella Rossellini
November 30 & December 1-2, 2009 – John O’Hurley
December 3-5, 2009 – Steven Curtis Chapman
December 6-8, 2009 – Anika Noni Rose
December 9-11, 2009 – Andy Garcia
December 12-14, 2009 – Vanessa Williams
December 15-17, 2009 – Abigail Breslin
December 18-20, 2009 – Whoopi Goldberg
December 21-23, 2009 – Brian Dennehy
December 24-26, 2009 – Edward James Olmos
December 27-30, 2009 – Angela Bassett/Courtney B. Vance

Note: Performances are included with Epcot admission. Guests are advised to arrive early. Schedule subject to change without notice.



Newest Disney World Restaurants


Contempo Cafe – Disney’s Contemporary Resort


Kouzzina by Cat Cora – Disney’s Boardwalk


Paradiso 37 – Downtown Disney Area


T-Rex Cafe – Downtown Disney Area


The Wave

For more information about Disney World restaurants, visit www.orlando-florida.net.



What’s New at Walt Disney World Resort!



Disney World Thrill Rides

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Expedition Everest

Mission: SPACE

Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Soarin’

Space Mountain

Splash Mountain

Test Track

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

For more information about Disney World thrill rides, visit www.orlando-florida.net/press-releases/disney-world-thrill-rides.htm.



Summit Plummet Video

For more information about Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park at Walt Disney World Resort, visit www.orlando-florida.net.



Flashback: If You Had Wings



Top 10 Latest Additions at Disney World

If you haven’t treated the family to Walt Disney World Resort during the past few years and visited its four world-class theme parks – Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom – check out all of the great new Disney attractions you’ve been missing:

1. Toy Story Midway Mania! – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Inspired by the classic Disney•Pixar animated film, Toy Story, Toy Story Mania! features state-of-the-art, 3-D technology to create an interactive ride-through video game.

2. The American Idol Experience – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Based on the immensely popular FOX TV series, “American Idol,” the new American Idol Experience attraction will allow guests to “watch, perform and vote” for their favorite singers.

3. Sum of All Thrills – Epcot
Presented by Raytheon, Sum of All Thrills is a simulated thrill ride that involves a state-of-the-art robotic simulator at Epcot’s Innoventions.

4. Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party – Disney’s Magic Kingdom
A fun-filled interactive show, the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party features your favorite Disney characters dancing and singing in front of Cinderella Castle.

5. Characters in Flight – Downtown Disney
A 72-foot diameter tethered balloon, Characters in Flight soars up to 400 feet above the waterfront at Downtown Disney and provide passengers with a spectacular 360-degree view.

6. High School Musical 3: Senior Year – Right Here! Right Now! – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This lively 15-minute stage show is based on the immensely popular Walt Disney Pictures’ movie, High School Musical 3: Senior Year and takes place in the Hollywood Boulevard area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

7. Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure – Epcot
Using the latest technology, Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure invites guests of all ages to become secret agents, teaming up with members of Team Possible to save the world from various comical villains and their mad inventions.

8. The Pirates League – Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Located right outside of Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland, The Pirates League offers “pirate makeovers” for all ages.

9. New Disney World Restaurants – Downtown Disney Area & Disney’s Boardwalk
New Disney World restaurants include Kouzzina by Cat Cora at Disney’s Boardwalk, as well as Paradiso 37 and T-Rex Cafe at Downtown Disney Area.

10. TrenD – Downtown Disney Area
A stylish boutique that features “chic, edgy and up-to-date” Disney fashions and accessories, TrenD is located in the Downtown Disney Marketplace.



Tampa Bay Bucs Cheerleaders at Howl-O-Scream
October 14, 2009, 1:04 pm
Filed under: Busch Gardens | Tags: ,

Don’t miss Howl-O-Scream Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights through October 31, 2009, at Busch Gardens Tampa!



Universal’s Velvet Sessions to Host Twisted Sister

The October Velvet Sessions at Universal Orlando Resort will feature Twisted Sister as they perform such hits as “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “I Wanna Rock,” “The Price” and more. Velvet Sessions will take place at Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday, October 29, 2009. Cost is $40, which includes free specialty drinks, finger foods and warm-up tunes from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM and cash bars and live band from 8:30 PM onward. Visit www.velvetsessions.com for more details.