Filed under: Busch Gardens, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Orlando Day Trips, theme parks | Tags: Busch Gardens, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Video, Cheetah Hunt, Cheetah Hunt Roller Coaster
Filed under: Florida, Florida Attractions | Tags: Florida, Florida Attractions, Florida History, Ocala, Six Gun Territory, Six Gun Territory Video
Filed under: Orlando Day Trips | Tags: Florida State Parks, Hillsborough River State Park, orlando day trips
For more Orlando day trips, visit http://www.orlando-florida.net/day-trips.
Filed under: disney, Disney World, Disney World Video, Florida Attractions, Magic Kingdom, orlando, Orlando Attractions, theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort
The original roller coaster at Walt Disney World Resort, Space Mountain is located in Tomorrowland and features two roller coaster tracks that wind through the 183-foot-tall mountain in total darkness at speeds up to 28 miles per hour. Believe it or not, astronauts Jim Irwin, Gordon Cooper and Scott Carpenter took the first ride during the grand opening of Space Mountain in 1975. You must be at least 44 inches tall to ride Space Mountain. FASTPASS is available for Space Mountain. Two other hugely popular Magic Kingdom thrill rides lies within Frontierland: Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. At Splash Mountain, you take a wildly entertaining flume ride and meet lively characters such as Brer Bear, Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit from Disney’s classic 1946 film, Song of the South. Prepare yourself for a five-story free fall at a 45-degree angle into the splash pool at 40 miles per hour (you will get soaked!). You must be at least 40 inches tall to ride Splash Mountain. FASTPASS is available for Splash Mountain. Adjacent to Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a “runaway train” that speeds its way through an Old West mining town through caves, around mountains and over sulfur pools. It’s billed as “the wildest ride in the wilderness!” You must be at least 40 inches tall to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. FASTPASS is available for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Filed under: disney, Disney World, Disney's Hollywood Studios, ESPN The Weekend, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Orlando Events, theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort | Tags: Cal Ripken Jr., Colin Cowherd, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Dr. J, ESPN, ESPN The Weekend, Mariano Rivera, Mike & Mike, Mike Golic, Mike Greenberg, Urban Meyer
The 2011 version of ESPN the Weekend will be held March 4-6, 2011, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – featuring world-class athletes and all your favorite ESPN personalities. Presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods and hosted by “Mike & Mike in the Morning” stars Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, ESPN The Weekend will include motorcades, conversations with ESPN and sports celebrities, behind-the-scenes looks at ESPN shows, an interactive sports area and live onsite telecasts. Other ESPN personalities scheduled to appear at the fan fest include Colin Cowherd, Ron Jaworski, Nomar Garciaparra and Urban Meyer, along with sports stars such as Chad Ochocinco, Larry Fitzgerald, Mariano Rivera, Julius “Dr. J” Erving and Cal Ripken, Jr. The complete list of ESPN personalities and sports celebrities expected to attend is detailed at www.espntheweekend.com (Click on Who’s Coming). New for this year’s event, a handful of the sports world’s most popular mascots will be visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including the Phillie Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies), Albert E. Gator (Univ. of Florida), the Penn State Nittany Lion, the Oregon Duck, Stuff the Magic Dragon (Orlando Magic) and Captain Fear the Buccaneer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Again this year, the event stretches to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, as the 220-acre sports venue hosts ESPN Radio broadcasts of “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, and a trio of Atlanta Braves Spring Training games at Champion Stadium (March 3-5).
Filed under: Disney World, Epcot, Florida, Orlando concerts, Orlando Events, Orlando Live Entertainment, Orlando Shows, orlando vacation, Walt Disney World Resort, Westgate, Westgate Destinations, Westgate Resorts | Tags: Billy Davis Jr., Chubby Checker, Davy Jones, Epcot, Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, Flower Power Concert Series, Herman's Hermits, Jose Feliciano, Juice Newton, Marilyn McCoo, Melissa Manchester, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Peter Noone, Ricky Nelson, Starship, The Guess Who, The Nelsons, Westgate, Westgate Destinations, Westgate Resorts
The Flower Power Concert Series returns to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival each Friday through Sunday from March 4 through May 15, 2011. Performances will take place at the America Gardens Theatre at 5:15 PM, 6:30 PM and 7:45 PM each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the 18th-annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. The lineup (subject to change without notice) is listed below.
March 4-6, 2011 - Jose Feliciano
March 11-13, 2011 - The Guess Who
March 18-20, 2011 - Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
March 25-27, 2011 - Melissa Manchester
April 1-3, 2011 - Starship starring Mickey Thomas
April 8-10, 2011 - Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.
April 15-17, 2011 - Juice Newton
April 22-24, 2011 - Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring The Nelsons
April 29-30, May 1, 2011 - Paul Revere & The Raiders
May 6-8, 2011 - Davy Jones
May 13-15, 2011 - Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
Flower Power performances are included with Epcot admission. For additional information about the festival, visit www.disneyworld.com/flower.
Looking for great deals on spacious accommodations during your next Orlando vacation getaway? Look no farther than Westgate Resorts, which offers comfortable suites, first-class amenities and convenient access to Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando theme parks, as well as other Orlando area attractions. Choose from Westgate Resorts properties such as Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Leisure Resort, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Vacation Villas. For more information about Westgate Resort properties, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.
Filed under: Florida, Florida Attractions, Roller Coasters, theme parks | Tags: Boardwalk and Baseball, Circus World, cypress gardens, Cypress Knee Museum, Discovery Island, Disney World Attractions, Florida Attractions, Hard Rock Vault, Haunted Mansion, King Henry's Feast, Lost Florida Attractions, Mystery Fun House, Pirates World, Six Gun Territory, Skull Kingdom, Splendid China, Tragedy in U.S. History Museum, Xanadu: Home of the Future
A Work in Progress (Which Ones Did I Miss?) . . .
Africa U.S.A. – Boca Raton, Florida
Alligator Joe’s – West Palm Beach, Florida
Boardwalk and Baseball – Haines City, Florida
Bongoland – Port Orange, Florida
Cape Coral Gardens – Cape Coral, Florida
Circus World – Haines City, Florida
Cypress Gardens – Winter Haven, Florida
Cypress Knee Museum – Palmdale, Florida
Discovery Island – Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Dog Land – Chiefland, Florida
Fairyland – Tampa, Florida
Floridaland – Osprey, Florida
Hard Rock Vault – Orlando, Florida
Haunted Mansion – Kissimmee, Florida
King Henry’s Feast – Orlando, Florida
Lost Lake Caverns – Miami, Florida
Masterpiece Gardens – Lake Wales, Florida
Miracle Strip Amusement Park – Panama City Beach, Florida
Moonshine Still – St. Augustine, Florida
Mystery Fun House – Orlando, Florida
Mystery House – St. Augustine, Florida
Ocala Caverns – Ocala, Florida
Ocean World – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Pirates World – Dania, Florida
Six Gun Territory – Ocala, Florida
Skull Kingdom – Orlando, Florida
Splendid China – Kissimmee, Florida
Stars Hall of Fame – Orlando, Florida
Storyland – Pompano Beach, Florida
Texas Jim’s Sarasota Reptile Farm & Zoo – Sarasota, Florida
Tragedy in U.S. History Museum – St. Augustine, Florida
The Upside-Down House – Sunrise, Florida
Water Mania – Kissimmee, Florida
Xanadu: Home of the Future – Kissimmee, Florida
BONUS: Top 10 Defunct Disney World Attractions
In addition Florida’s Lost Tourist Attractions is a great resource for defunct attractions throughout the Sunshine State!
Filed under: Busch Gardens, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Central Florida, Florida, orlando, Orlando concerts, Orlando Events, Orlando Live Entertainment, Orlando Shows, sea world, SeaWorld Orlando, theme parks | Tags: Angel & Khriz, Busch Gardens, Busch Gardens Concerts, Chino and Nacho, Ednita Nazario, El Canario, Elvis Crespo, Ismael Miranda, Jerry Rivera, Jose Alberto, Manny Manuel, SeaWorld Concerts, SeaWorld Orlando, Viva La Musica
A lively Latin festival at both SeaWorld® Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa, Viva La Musica features award-winning musicians, delicious Latin food, arts and crafts, and much more. Viva La Musica will take place on select dates between March 12 and April 2, 2011.
2011 VIVA LA MUSICA SCHEDULE
SeaWorld Orlando
March 12, 2011: Chino and Nacho
March 19, 2011: Manny Manuel
March 26, 2011: Jerry Rivera
April 2, 2011: Ednita Nazario
Busch Gardens Tampa
March 13: Elvis Crespo
March 20: Jose Alberto “El Canario”
March 27: Angel & Khriz
April 3: Ismael Miranda
Admission to Viva La Musica is included with regular park admission. Event doors open at noon. Concerts begin at 3 PM. Concert seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Concert dates and artists are subject to change without notice. For more information on concert times and to purchase tickets, visit www.seaworld.com.
Filed under: Central Florida, Disney World, hotels, Orlando Events, Orlando Hotels, Orlando Shows, SeaWorld Orlando, theme parks, universal orlando, Walt Disney World Resort, Westgate, Westgate Destinations, Westgate Resorts | Tags: Chevy Show, Classic Chevys, Disney World, orlando hotels, SeaWorld Orlando, Serenity Spa by Westgate, universal orlando, Westgate, Westgate Lakes, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Resorts, Westgate Smokehouse Grill, Winter National, Winter National Chevy Show
Hosted by Classic Camaro of Central Florida, the 19th-annual Winter National 2011, a classic Chevy show, will take place at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa February 10-13, 2011. The Winter National will feature 1955-57 Chevys, 1958-72 Late Great Chevys, 1967-2011 Camaros & F-Bodies and 1953-82 Corvettes.
For more information about Winter National 2011, visit www.classicchevy.com/showregistration/index/viewshow/id/35.
Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa (10000 Turkey Lake Road) places you in the heart of all the action in Orlando, Florida, which features beautiful weather year round, world-class theme parks (such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando), family-friendly dining and much more. The picturesque lakefront Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa offers spacious accommodations that range from studios to four-bedroom suites. Onsite amenities include the award-winning Westgate Smokehouse Grill and Serenity Spa by Westgate. For more information about Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, visit www.wglakes.com.
Filed under: Orlando concerts, Orlando Events, Orlando Hotels, universal orlando | Tags: Hard Rock Hotel, Orlando concerts, Sugar Ray, universal orlando, Velvet Sessions
For February only, Velvet Sessions at Universal Orlando Resort moves to the last Wednesday of the month (February 23, 2011) as part of Hard Rock Hotel’s 10th anniversary bash. Sugar Ray will perform all of its hits such as ”Answer the Phone,” “Fly,” “Someday,” “Every Morning,” “When It’s Over,” “Falls Apart” and more.
Tickets include free specialty drinks, finger foods and warm-up tunes from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Cash bars and live band from 8:30 PM onward. Tickets are $29 online (ticketing fees apply) or $35 at the door. Valet parking is complimentary for those attending Velvet Sessions, which is a 21 and older event. Visit velvetsessions.com for more information.
