Each year, the city of Altamonte Springs hosts a fireworks show like none other. With food, games, live music from some of today’s hottest stars, and of course a fireworks display that will keep your jaw to the floor, there’s no wonder why so many people choose Red Hot & Boom to celebrate the 4th of July.
Info: No Personal Fireworks, Pets, or Coolers ***Get there early***
Rain or Shine!
Red Hot and Boom 2012 Artist Lineup:
Cobra Starship – American pop punk band with chart-topping hit singles “Good Girls Go Bad” and “You Make Me Feel…”
Karmin – “Brokenhearted” pop music duo and YouTube sensation
JoJo – Platinum pop and R&B singer-songwriter
Outasight – “Tonight Is the Night” pop solo artist
A Rocket to the Moon – Four-piece alternative rock band from Massachusetts
Neon Hitch – Electropop British singer and songwriter
Chris Rene – Singer-songwriter and X Factor USA finalist
Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Brings Classic Hits to Epcot This Weekend Through July
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The good ole days return to Epcot as select summer nights heat up from June to July with the some of the world’s greatest tribute bands. Classic hits from the likes of U2, The Bee Gees, Bon Jovi and many more will rock during Sounds Like Summer concert series. The high-energy performances take place at the open-air American Gardens Theater in World Showcase.
The schedule (entertainment subject to change without notice):
June 10-17: Hotel California ~ A Salute to the Eagles
June 18 to 23: Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot ~ The Ultimate Billy Joel Show
June 24 to 30: Stayin’ Alive ~ A Tribute to the Bee Gees
July 1 to 7: Slippery When Wet ~ The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
July 8 to 14: The Police Experience ~ A Tribute to the Police
July 15 to 21: SouthBound and Company ~ A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
July 22 to 28: 2U ~ A Tribute to U2
Show times are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. – except on July 4 when show times are 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. Sounds Like Summer concerts are included with Epcot admission. Additional information is available at disneyworld.com/soundslikesummer. For the latest information and updated show times, guests may pick up an Entertainment Guide when entering the park.
From the Desk of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures:
MARVEL STUDIOS BEGINS PRODUCTION ON THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER FRANCHISE “IRON MAN”
Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” Commences Principal Photography
In Preparation for May 3, 2013 Film Release
BURBANK, Calif. (June 4, 2012) – Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios’ release “Marvel’s The Avengers,” production on the highly anticipated film “Iron Man 3,” directed by Shane Black, has commenced production in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.
Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1963, “Iron Man 3” returns Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”) as the iconic Super Hero character Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Gwyneth Paltrow (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,”) as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle (“Iron Man 2”) as James “Rhodey” Rhodes and Jon Favreau (“Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2”) as Happy Hogan. Set for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.
“Iron Man 3” continues the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire inventor/Super Hero, Tony Stark aka “Iron Man.” Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film. Executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard and Dan Mintz.
The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC (“Braveheart,” “Legends of the Fall”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“The Hangover,” “Due Date”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) and Peter S. Elliot (“Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer”), and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Contagion”).
Marvel Studios most recently 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 is currently in release, continues to shatter box office records and is The Walt Disney Studios’ highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studios’ fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.
In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and “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 “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke, 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 “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero’s powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges 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 “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 over 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 www.marvel.com.
Just in time for summer, LEGOLAND Florida expanded their park options with the opening of their all-new Water Park on May 26, 2012.
“With the debut of our new water park, LEGOLAND Florida is now easily a two-day experience,” said LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrain Jones, “which puts us well down the road toward our goal of becoming a multi-day resort destination.”
A “park within a park,” the attraction includes Build-A-Raft River, where guests can build their own LEGO inner tubes and float down a 1,000-foot lazy river. For the little ones, the DUPLO Splash Safari is a toddler haven with perfectly sized slides a zero-depth wading pool. Guests of all ages can play for hours at the Joker Soaker water playground, a riot of brightly colored ladders, levers, pumps and slides of every length and type. And a 583,000 gallon, crystal clear wave pool and five slippery fast slides full of thrills.
The Water Park attraction is actually within LEGOLAND Florida, so guests must purchase a theme park ticket and pay an upgraded fee to enter the Water Park area and it also takes a lot more planning on your part to visit both in one day.
There are several different ticketing options if you are interested in visiting both the LEGOLAND theme park and water park.
Purchase a single-day LEGOLAND Florida ticket with water park upgrade for $87 (adult) or $77 (Children 3-12). Children under 3 only pay $3 for the water park.
Purchase a two-day ticket for $97 (adult) or $87 (Children 3-12) and get access to the theme park and water park for both days. Second day admission must be used within nine days of the first visit.
Purchase a Premium Pass for $179 (adult) or $149 (Children 3-12) and get unlimited access to LEGOLAND Florida and the water park (open Seasonally).
It is also important to know that the Water Park opens one hour after LEGOLAND Florida opens its gates seasonally, and since park hours fluctuate its a good idea to check www.LEGOLAND.com when you are planning your visit to the parks.
The first thing that you will want to do is reserve a locker for your belongings at a self-serve kiosk. There are three sizes of lockers available for rent small ($5), large ($7), and family ($12). Also, if you need an extra towel they are available for rent for a daily fee of $3.
There are plenty of umbrellas and lounge chairs, but if you are looking to have an upgraded experience you can reserve a private cabana online or when you arrive. The cabanas are large and airy and include a mini-fridge stocked with 10 bottles of water, upgraded lounge chairs and two souvenir towels. Daily cabana rental prices range from $79 to $199 based on season.
The LEGOLAND Water Park is a perfect way to introduce toddlers and younger children to the water park experience!
The Duplo Splash Safari is a play area perfect for timid toddlers that is loaded with hands on activities such as small slides, animal sprayers, and zero entry splash area. It is such a cute and perfect area for little ones to gain their confidence and have a great time learning about safety at a water park.
Another fun way to experience and see the park is by taking a ride on the 1,000 foot Build-A-Raft River where you can gather floating LEGO foam bricks to create your own perfect raft. This was by far my most favorite attraction! We had a blast floating around the lazy river gathering LEGO pieces to decorate our rafts!!!
Wave pools are tame at the LEGOLAND Florida water park, where gentle rolling waves make the LEGO Wave Pool perfect for the whole family. Smaller children can play at the water’s edge and work up the courage to venture further into the deeper end. The pool is just the right size that its not overwhelming!!!
If the LEGO Wave Pool is too much, you can take a break at the LEGO Imagination Station where kids can test their building skills in this water play area in the shade. I really appreciated that this area was under a large shade, because its important to have some time out of the sun for the little ones.
The Joaker Soaker is a gigantic water playground that is full of brightly colored ladders, levers, pumps and slides of every length and type. It is a great place to let the kids climb and play while the adults take a small and well deserved break! Who am I kidding? We had a blast running and splashing around in this area!!!
If you have thrill seekers in your party, you might want to check out Splash Out and Twin Towers which play home to five super fast slides.
At the Beach-n-Brick Grille there are several healthy (and not so healthy options) available with value in mind since every menu item is priced below $10, before tax, including combos that come with fries, salad or slaw and a 22-ounce drink.
The Surf Shop is the perfect place to shop for things you may have forgotten at home such as sunscreen, towels, swimsuits, and all sorts of things that may be useful for a day at the water park.
I really enjoyed my time at the LEGOLAND Water Park, and think that it is an excellent way to introduce toddlers and younger children to a water park experience!
All-New Sandcastle-Themed Water Playground Expected to Bethe Largest of Its Kind in Florida
Wet ‘n Wild Orlando celebrated the grand opening of its newest attraction, Blastaway Beach™ – a family-friendly, sandcastle-themed water playground. It’s expected to be the largest water playground of its kind in Florida and Wet ‘n Wild’s first new attraction in over four years.
Built around a sandcastle rising 60-feet high, Blastaway Beach™ spans an acre and features 15 slides and expands across two pools with 160 soakers, jets, waterfalls and water cannons. Designed especially for families, the new area has a single entrance and exit, creating a secluded environment that is safe and fun for all ages.
To mark the occasion, Wet ‘n Wild asked local elementary school students to submit artistic representations of Blastaway Beach™. Fifty winners were selected and invited to bring their families to enjoy the new area. Wet ‘n Wild also gave the first 35 families to enter the park free access to Wet ‘n Wild’s All-U-Can-Eat Barbeque for the day.
This week I’d like to focus on two great apps for smartphones from Busch Gardens and Sea World. I have often being accused of being attached to my phone while in the parks, but in this case, this is a good thing. These apps are amazing! They have some great features that I will explore a little further with a bit more detail.
First off, the layout for both Busch Gardens is similar as you can see from the pictures below. On the first screen upon opening the app for the first time after downloading it, you will be asked to choose which park location you’d like to choose from to install that specific park’s information on your phone. Seen below are the screen shots for the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Sea World Orlando. The next screen you will see is the home screen with a built in compass. The screen is broken up into categories of Animals, Search, Shows, Attractions/Rides & Wait Times, Restrooms, Stay Connected, Food and Explore More. I have also taken a picture of the park maps with some of the search options.
Across the bottom of each screen you have the Home, Events, Camera, Map and More options. With the Busch Gardens map above I just zoomed out to see the whole park. For the Sea World map I opted to search for the companion restrooms at the park.
Since the features are practically identical for the two parks, I will focus just on one from this point forward since I went to Sea World most recently and much of the functionality is brought out best while in the park based on GPS location.
Animals
For the Animals section you are able to sort alphabetically by name or distance from your current location within the park.
Search
Search allows you to type in a keyword and gives your results in alphabetical order, but also shows your distance and a brief description. If you are wanting more specific information about dolphins, click on the listed links.
ShowsA'Lure DirectionsA'Lure
One of my favorite things about the app is the show listings. I love all of the shows Sea World to offer and the function of sorting by name, distance or show time is great! I used this to find my way to explore a new show for me: A’Lure. It directed me and kept constantly updating my distance to the show.
Ride & Wait Times
Similar to shows, Ride & Wait Times allows you to sort by name, distance or wait time if you are looking for something to ride.
Restrooms
Again with the Restrooms you are able to sort by name or distance. If you want GPS directions, just click on the name of the restroom and the app will direct you with step by step map using GPS.
Stay Connected
On the Stay Connected tab, you can get more information on Sea World by following them on Twitter, liking them on Facebook, following the Sea World blog or signing up for the email list.
Food
Much like the other categories, with Food you can sort by name or distance. Once you select a location you can see more like sample menu items and pricing.
Explore More - Up-Close ToursExplore More - In-Park DiningExplore More - Animal InteractionsExplore More - Adventure Camps - SleepoversExplore More - Quick Queue
For the Explore More section of the app you can learn more about Tours, Camps, Animal Interaction programs, the Quick Queue program and the All Day Dining Deal (which I highly recommend).
Events
Events lists upcoming things like concert series and special events for the next few months along with more information and specific dates.
Camera
I absolutely loved the Camera function of the app. It was so cool to take pictures in the park and add fun borders right then to save to your phone to upload or send to friends and family. However, this was the only part of the app that I had some issues with it acting a little buggy going back to my phone’s home screen instead of to the app’s home screen when I was done take the picture.
Map
You can see the interactive footsteps on the map once you have selected your destination. Along the top you have options of searching or pre-selected categories of Animal Connections, Shows, Rides, First Aid, Restroom, Nursing Facility, Defibrillator, Drinks, Snacks & Refills, Companion Restrooms, ATM, Amenities, Dining, Lockers, Guest Information, Events, Gifts & Souvenirs, Smoking, and Clear All. You can select multiple options at the same time and can move the map around as well as zoom in and out. Also included is the ability to recenter the GPS to your current position.
More - Contact Us/General Information
If you are wanting to contact Sea World or get more general info about the park, like their address for GPS, you can find this under the More – Contact Us/General Information section.
More - Park Hours
Park Hours is pretty self explanatory and shows the hours for each day of the month when you click on the calendar.
More - Directions
The directions tab is particularly useful if you don’t have a GPS program. When I went to the Directions my phone verified my current location and calculated distance and time based on GPS.
More - Weather
There is even a built in Weather app to give you the forecast for the day.
More - Commitment
If you are wanting to learn more about Sea World’s mission and pledge to environmental education and protection, visit the Commitment section under More.
More - Car FinderCar FinderCar FinderCar Finder
I think my favorite thing using the GPS was the Car Finder function. When you park your car you drop a pin to mark the GPS location of where you parked. When you are leaving for the day you can revisit the car finder to find your car! No more do you have to try to remember where exactly you parked. I found this to be very reliable and it even recognized when I reached my car.
All in all, I am very impressed with the Sea World and Busch Gardens apps. Even though I know my way around the parks well enough to not need a park map, it is nice to have the GPS to show you the shortest distance or alternate routes to get where you are going. There are tons of great features that these apps offer using the GPS technology and search functions. I use these apps pretty much every time I’m in these parks, especially for the show times to see what I can catch on a whim and also for wait times and exploring what is in the area. Honestly, the only thing I had any issues with was the camera function on occasion. I’d say it worked fine three out of five times I tried it. I think these are some of the nicest apps for parks in the area and wish some of the other parks would adopt some of these features and ease of use. Check them out next time you’re in the area or even if you just want to check to see what is going on in the parks in advance of your trip!
Here’s a special offer from Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin:
In honor of Father’s Day, guests can receive a special rate and complimentary room upgrade during Father’s Day Weekend
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – May 30, 2012 – Families looking to give dad the vacation he deserves can now do so with a special Father’s Day offer from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel. For the weekend of June 15-17, guests can receive rooms starting at $199 per night and a complimentary room upgrade at the Orlando hotel.
Located in the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel offers easy access for dads to spend time with their families in the Disney theme parks, unwind on one of the four championship golf courses or drive an exotic sports car at the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
In addition, the hotel itself offers a number of amenities and activities that will appeal to dad and the entire family including five pools, recreational activities, and numerous dining options such as Shula’s Steak House and character dining.
Reservations can be made online at www.swandolphin.com/offers or by calling 1-800-227-1500and mentioning “Father.” Based on rate schedule availability. Offer is valid for stays June 15-17. Taxes, resort services fee and gratuities not included. Not valid with any other special offers, promotions, or for existing reservations or groups.
In the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, the award-winning Walt Disney World Swan andDolphin Hotel is the gateway to Central Florida’s greatest theme parks and attractions. The hotel is located between EpcotandDisney’s Hollywood Studios, and nearby Disney’sAnimal Kingdom Theme Park and Magic Kingdom Park. Guests can discover 17 world-class restaurants and lounges, sophisticated guest rooms with Westin Heavenly Beds and the luxurious Mandara Spa. The hotel features five pools, two health clubs, tennis, nearby golf, complimentary transportation throughout the Walt Disney WorldResort and the Extra Magic Hours benefit, where each day, one of the four Walt Disney World Theme Parks is open extra time to enjoy select attractions. (Valid Theme Park admission and Resort ID required). The hotel can be reached at 800-227-1500, www.swandolphin.com or through Facebook at www.facebook.com/swananddolphin.
A few weeks ago, Universal Studios Orlando debuted a new nighttime show in celebration of 100 years of movies from Universal Studios. This is one of the many new attractions that is part of Univeral’s “Year to Be Here” that are debuting in Orlando.
The new show is called Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular. Spectacular is the right description for it. Universal showcases several of its classic movies by featuring clips in segments of the show. The segments vary from 100 Years of Heros to 100 Years of Horror to 100 Years of Laughter. Some of the movies featured include such favorites as Back to the Future, Psycho, The Mummy, American Pie, and Gladiator.
The show is narrated by Morgan Freeman. It has three water screens in the Universal Studios lagoon where the movie clips are projected. The screens can be seen from multiple locations along the lagoon, with the most popular location being the decks near Mel’s Drive In. In addition to the water screens, the show has water fountains, water fan screens and colorful lights between the larger water sceens. To top it off the show includes fireworks to enhance the films and featured moments.
Water screen pre-show
Water fan
I was able to see the show at a preview in April and returned to see it during the opening week. During the preview it appeared that they were testing the water screens that the movies are projected onto, however, once the attraction officially opened the preshow was full of surprises on the water screen. I highly recommend getting there early enough to see these surprises.
A few viewing tips…
– find your spot at least a half hour before the show. While both times that I’ve seen the show the crowds were low, I have no idea how the larger summer crowds will affect your ability to get a good view of the show.
– on windy nights, be aware of which way the wind is blowing. The lagoon is narrow and you are close to the screens, water fountains and water fans and on windy days you will get wet. The lagoon is surrounded by signs indicating the “splash zones.”
– be sure to have a view of the sky. Don’t forget that the show includes fireworks around the lagoon!
If you’re not able to get to Universal soon, here is a video I took during the preview night. I hope you enjoy the show!
From the Desk of Universal Orlando:
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT’S ROCK THE UNIVERSE 2012 TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Experience All the Action of Florida’s Biggest Christian Music
Festival with the Rock Your Weekend Ticket
ORLANDO, Fla. (May 22, 2012) – Tickets are now available for Rock the Universe 2012 – Florida’s biggest Christian music festival – happening Sept. 7 and 8 at Universal Orlando Resort.
Guests can rock out the entire weekend with the “Rock Your Weekend” ticket, which includes admission to both nights of the event and three days admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. This ticket will only be available through Aug. 31, 2012 and will not be sold at the park entrance.
This year’s line-up features some of the most popular names in Christian rock. More than a dozen hit bands will take the stage, including Skillet – awarded a Billboard Music Award for “Top Christian Album” in 2011; four-time Grammy-nominated band Newsboys; rock group Switchfoot, which has sold millions of albums worldwide; and three-time Dove award winner Jeremy Camp. The full line-up is below.
Guests will also enjoy an exciting Fan Zone presented by Coca-Cola including live music by Everfound, Group 1 Crew, Jason Castro and We As Human, autograph sessions with the bands, karaoke and band merchandise. Guests will also experience a Saturday night candle lighting service featuring Tenth Avenue North.
Plus, guests will enjoy the thrilling attractions only found at Universal Studios Florida. They can rock out to their favorite Christian artists at 65 mph on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, laugh along with America’s favorite animated family on The Simpsons Ride and speed through the darkness on the world’s first psychological thrill ride – Revenge of the Mummy.
For more details about Rock the Universe 2012, visit www.RocktheUniverse.com or call 1-866-RTU-INFO (1-866-788-4636).
Universal Orlando Resort
There are many ways to enjoy your Orlando vacation, but there is only one place where vacation becomes adventure: Universal Orlando Resort. It is a unique destination featuring two theme parks, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex. It’s the only Orlando destination where you are not just entertained – you become part of the most exhilarating entertainment ever created. You can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, battle aliens alongside Agent J, and help Shrek save Princess Fiona in Shrek 4-D. Coming this summer: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.
