August 20, 2014 - On the Go in MCO

LEGOLAND Florida LEGOLAND Hotel Taking Reservations

LEGOLAND FLORIDA RESORT is offering guests a chance to book their spot in history for the opening of the LEGOLAND Hotel!

Reservations now being accepted for the new LEGOLAND® Hotel, opening Summer 2015

It’s less than one year before LEGOLAND Florida Resort opens the doors to its new LEGOLAND Hotel, and the window is now officially open for guests to book their rooms!

Opening Summer 2015, the five story LEGO themed hotel will feature 152 brightly colored and highly themed rooms and suites, thousands of LEGO models and interactive play areas!

The addition of the Hotel gives guests the opportunity to extend their stay and explore LEGOLAND Florida Resort for more than one day giving them the ultimate family experience.

To book your reservation to LEGOLAND Hotel, visit: www.LEGOLANDHotel.com.

Construction is going strong since the November groundbreaking and LEGOLAND Hotel recently reached its “topping off” milestone as the concrete was poured onto the roof.

Emmet, from “The LEGO Movie,” dusted off his construction hat to help with the placing of the Merlin flag. Merlin Entertainments, the parent company of LEGOLAND Parks, is the number one attraction operator in Europe and the second largest in the world with more than 100 attractions in 22 countries and across four continents.

httpv://youtu.be/iZjHHH9ib8E

Located at the main entrance of LEGOLAND Florida, the Hotel includes a pool, restaurants including a kid-size buffet, interactive play areas and is truly designed to inspire imaginations and create memories for all visitors. Hotel guests will have early access to the Park and be treated to nightly entertainment.

Families can choose from one of three popular LEGO toy lines as their room theme: Pirate, Kingdom or Adventure.

LEGOLAND Hotel Pirate Premium Themed Room

All rooms include two separate sleeping areas, with a queen-size bed for grown-ups, and a separate sleeping area for up to three little ones, complete with a bunk bed, pull-out trundle bed and their very own TV! An exciting new room theme will be announced at a later date. Room rates start as low as $249, varying by season. For the most updated information, visit Florida.LEGOLAND.com.

About LEGOLAND® Florida Resort:

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is a 150-acre interactive theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, a Water Park and The LEGO® World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network all geared to families with children ages 2 to 12. Recently announced, The LEGOLAND Hotel will open in 2015 featuring 152 highly themed rooms and suites, LEGO décor, interactive play areas, a pool and a restaurant. There are currently five other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London and LEGOLAND Malaysia —the sixth LEGOLAND Park and first in Asia. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLAND.com.

About Merlin Entertainments:

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS plc is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment. Europe’s number one and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 104 attractions, 10 hotels/3 holiday villages in 22 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its almost 60 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 20,000 employees.

Merlin has twenty three attractions and one hotel in North America – including two stunning LEGOLAND Resorts – LEGOLAND Florida with its theme park, water park, and LEGOLAND California theme park with water park, SEA LIFE Aquarium and themed hotel; Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions in New York City, Washington D.C., Las Vegas; Hollywood; and San Francisco; LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Kansas City Missouri, Atlanta, Boston; Westchester and Toronto, Canada; a Dungeon in San Francisco; and SEA LIFE Aquariums in Phoenix, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, the Mall of America in Minneapolis and Charlotte underlining the company’s position as the world’s biggest global aquarium operator. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Artegon Marketplace Opening Date Announced

Artegon Marketplace Orlando

Opens November 20

International Drive’s Newest Shopping Attraction Features

Florida’s Largest Daily Indoor Artisan Marketplace and World-Class Anchors

Redevelopment of Former I-Drive Landmark to Create 675 New Jobs

Artegon Marketplace Orlando, a 1.1 million-square-foot shopping attraction and artisan marketplace, is scheduled to open on November 20 in the heart of Orlando’s tourism district on International Drive. Paragon Outlet Partners, LLC has redeveloped the former Festival Bay Mall into a new shopping concept for the region inspired by such famous marketplaces as Seattle’s Pike Place, Boston’s Faneuil Hall, New York’s Chelsea Market and the London Flower Market.

“We are making a significant investment to reinvigorate one of the most valuable parcels on I-Drive, delivering an asset to the community that will create jobs, support local artisans, craftspeople and entrepreneurs, and contribute to the local tax base,” said Steven Sless, executive vice president for Paragon Outlet Partners. Sless forecasts Artegon Marketplace will create more than 675 new jobs. At the peak of construction, more than 150 workers were employed.

Artegon Marketplace will house Florida’s largest daily indoor artisan marketplace with more than 160 studio spaces featuring unique art, one-of-a-kind boutiques, handcrafted items and diverse food offerings from some of Central Florida’s finest craftspeople. “We have curated a collection of many of the area’s top artisans, carefully selected for the quality and uniqueness of their works. Food and drink purveyors offer fresh, farm-direct fare of the highest quality,” said Sless.

Complementing the artisan marketplace, Artegon Marketplace is anchored by some of the biggest brands in dining and retail, including Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cinemark Theaters, Sheplers Western Stores, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, and Berghoff’s Octoberfest. The latter two venues are scheduled to open between fall 2014 and spring 2015.

Paragon Outlet Partners, LLC is considered one of the most influential and forward-thinking development firms in the nation’s retail real estate industry. Locally, it is also credited with re-energizing the former Belz Factory Outlet into the highly-successful Prime Outlets Orlando that eventually sold to Simon Properties.

“Artegon Marketplace is poised to become a must-see attraction for residents, visitors and conventioneers alike, providing them with a new place to experience the sights, sounds, and flavors unique to Central Florida,” Sless continues. “Guests can discover authentic local culture and take home a hand-made treasure and lasting memento of their trip to Orlando.”

Artegon Marketplace’s industrial-chic environment, punctuated by heavy wooden support beams, exposed brick and weathered steel accents, is designed to transport shoppers into an immersive experience unlike any other in Central Florida. More than 160 local purveyors of handcrafted items and specialty retailers will be selling and demonstrating a kaleidoscope of products and services including eco-friendly handbags and accessories, soaps, jewelry, sculpture, mixed media artwork, custom clothing and much, much more. Hand-crafted foods – ranging from 70 different types of popcorn to hot sauces, nuts and local honey – offer a smorgasbord for eating and gift-giving.

The Artegon Marketplace experience is also highly interactive with caricaturists, henna and jawa tattoo painters, canvas airbrush artists, and other edgy performers. Visitors can watch glassblowing in a studio. Artegon’s center court will feature an expansive rope climbing attraction. Streetmosphere performers, from jugglers to singers to stilt walkers, will stroll throughout. More than 20 in-line retailers, including Subway, will round out the guest experience.

For group outings, Artegon Marketplace is an interactive and entertaining addition to the region’s inventory of options for compelling community events, off-site convention outings, corporate parties and bus tours.

The center provides ample, free surface parking with 5,800 spaces. Operating hours are 10am-9pm Monday–Saturday and 11am-7pm on Sunday. Artisan studios will be open Monday–Saturday 11am-8pm and noon-6pm on Sunday. Artegon Marketplace Orlando is located at 5250 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819.

To learn more about Artegon Marketplace Orlando, visit ArtegonOrlando.com. Like on Facebook and Follow on Twitter and Instagram#EatShopArtegon.

Marvel Studios Begin Production on Marvel’s Ant-Man

Marvel Studios Begins Production

on Marvel’s Ant-Man

Principal Photography Begins in San Francisco

Marvel Studios began principal photography today in San Francisco, California, on its newest Super Hero franchise Marvel’s “Ant-Man.” The film brings one of Marvel comics’ original founding members of The Avengers into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The production also shoots on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as the base for the film’s production.

Marvel Ant-Man — Shot on location in San Francisco, Paul Rudd stars as Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man, in Marvel Studio’s Ant-Man, scheduled for release in the U.S. on July 17th, 2015.

Set for release in the United States on July 17, 2015, the film is directed by Peyton Reed (“Bring it On,” “The Break-Up”) and stars Paul Rudd (“I Love You Man,” “Role Models”) as Scott Lang aka Ant-Man, and Michael Douglas (“Behind The Candelabra,” “Wall Street”) as his mentor Dr. Hank Pym and Evangeline Lilly (“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” “Lost”) as Hope Van Dyne, daughter of Hank Pym.

The film also includes outstanding additional cast including Corey Stoll (“House of Cards,” “The Bourne Legacy”), Bobby Cannavale (“Danny Collins,” “Annie,” “HBO’s “The Long Play”), Michael Peña (“End of Watch,” “American Hustle”), Abby Ryder Fortson (“Togetherness”), Judy Greer (“13 Going on 30,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”), David Dastmalchian (“The Dark Knight,” “Prisoners”), Wood Harris (“Remember the Titans,” “The Wire”), John Slattery (“Mad Men,” Marvel’s “Iron Man 2”) and Gregg Turkington (“The Comedy,” “On Cinema”) and multi-hyphenate T.I. (“American Gangster,” “Takers”).

Based on the Marvel comic character first published in 1962, Marvel’s “Ant-Man” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in Marvel’s “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and the upcoming Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

Marvel’s “Ant-Man” is produced by Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, with Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.

Director Peyton Reed’s creative team also includes Oscar® winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter (“Titanic,” “21”), production designer Sheppard Frankel (“Identity Thief,” “Horrible Bosses”) costume designer Sammy Sheldon Differ (“X-Men: First Class,” “Kick Ass”), visual effects supervisor Jake Morrison (Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” “The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers”), stunt coordinator Jeff Habberstad (Marvel’s “Iron Man 3,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past”) and six-time Oscar® nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudik (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”). The editors include Dan Lebental, ACE (Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” Marvel’s “Iron Man”) and Colby Parker Jr. (“Lone Survivor,” “Hancock”).

Marvel Studios’ upcoming release schedule includes Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015, Marvel’s “Captain America 3” on May 6, 2016, and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” on July 28, 2017.

Marvel Studios continued its unprecedented success in 2014 with more record-breaking films including the #1 releases of Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which recorded the largest April opening of all time at $95 million and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which recorded the largest August opening of all time with $94.1 million. Both films were the #1 film in the world when they were released on April 4, 2014 and August 1, 2014, respectively.

In 2013 Marvel Studios delivered #1 openings for Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World,” which grossed over $640 million worldwide and Marvel’s “Iron Man 3,” which grossed over $1.2 billon worldwide and was the highest grossing film of the calendar year.

In 2012 the studio produced the critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which shattered both domestic and international box office records, is Disney’s highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marked the studio’s fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with Marvel’s “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and Marvel’s “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 Marvel’s “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies Marvel’s “Iron Man” and Marvel’s “The Incredible Hulk.” Marvel’s “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally donned the Super Hero’s powerful armor and starred alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success.

Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend. On June 13, 2008, Marvel released Marvel’s “The Incredible Hulk,” marking its second number one opener of that summer.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. ©MARVEL