October 2013 - Page 3 of 4 - On the Go in MCO

Brick or Treat at LEGOLAND Florida

Unlike so many others, Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I never really got into as a child and I still don’t. However, when I saw that LEGOLAND Florida was holding their Brick or Treat event, I was game!

Brick or Treat is held on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) during October and the fun begins as soon as you head into Fun Town!

A lot of the action is located around the Grand Carousel area. A couple of times when we were walking by we saw a show going on with a juggler, which was quite fun because there was some kid involvement happening and lots of laughs from the audience.

I found Max hanging out in his firefighter costume!

The three characters, Buddy, Max, and Mummy alternate hanging out by the Grand Carousel for a fun photo opportunity! There is a list of the characters that you’ll find on the times guide.

If your child decides to wear a costume (which they should because I saw some AMAZING ones!), they can enter to be in the costume contest. You can sign them up in front of the Fun Town Theater, which is also where the contest is held. There are three age groups for the contests, 0-3 years, 4-8 years, 9-12 years. Make sure you check out the Brick or Treat guide for the contest times.

In front of the Fun Town Theater is…wait for it…the world’s LARGEST LEGO pumpkin. Yep. It’s as amazing as it sounds. You get to step inside for a super cool photo opp!

Inside Miniland they have integrated a Monster Fighter game (of sorts.) You have to go through and find five ghosts and unscramble the letters that are around the signs in Miniland. The cool part is once you complete the hunt you can enter to win a prize pack…which I need to go back and complete the scavenger hunt so I can try to get the hook up on that prize!!

One of the main attractions is the Brick or Treat Trail.

This is where kids (under 12) can go through and collect goodies! While I didn’t have any kids in my party, I had to go through and see the set up. Lots of different sponsors, so the kids seemed to be getting some pretty sweet (no pun intended) treats.

The Trail opens at 1PM, however, if you have an annual pass, you can beat the line and head down the Trail at noon!

On Saturdays there is a Monster Mash dance party in Miniland! From what I saw there is a DJ set up and I can only imagine the fun that’s bound to be had in Miniland when there’s music. Also during the dance party, the costume contest winners will be announced!

If you’re on the hunt for some of the Monster Fighter LEGO sets, you’ll get a GREAT discount on these sets during Brick or Treat – 20% off, which is one of the best sales that I’ve ever seen on LEGOs. I already had the Haunted House or it would have come home with me!

Happy treating…brick or treating! 🙂

Food & Wine Weekends

Running in concurrence with the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, the Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort and Waldorf Astoria Orlando, located within the gates of the Walt Disney World Resort, is offering Food & Wine Weekends, now through November 9.

Food & Wine Weekends

This special event takes place Fridays through Sundays and offers a taste of the fabulous restaurants and bars inside the Hilton and Waldorf Astoria. Highlights include samplings and exclusive pairing menus from Bull & Bear, La Luce, Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge and Peacock Alley. I recently had the opportunity to experience the event first hand and found it to be a great way to dine at some of the restaurants that I had not tried before.

I began with visiting the lobby kiosk for a Taste of Japan. I sampled three variations of sake, Gekkeikan Zipang Sparkling Sake, Takara Plum Wine and Momokawa Silver. They were all unique in taste and all very good. Paired with the sake was a sampling of a California roll from Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge. It was fresh, tasty, and perfectly chilled. I’m very particular about the temperature of my sushi and this was perfect.

Next, I headed into La Luce by Donna Scala to try out the special chef created menu specifically for that night. The menu changes each Friday and Saturday so there’s always something new to try. I started with the Butternut Squash soup which was garnished with a seared Basil leaf. Next up was bruschetta with mozzarella, roasted tomato, and arugula. It was delicious and filling. I still had a little room left so I chose the risotto made with speck, a meat similar to prosciutto, wrapped scallops with wild mushrooms and reggiano. The final course was a divine cannoli made with ricotta and mascarpone cheese, filled with chunks of chocolate and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Each course had a recommended wine paired with it, though I chose to slowly sip a glass of Robert Oatley Shiraz throughout my dining experience.

I would definitely return to Food & Wine Weekends at the Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria Orlando. The accommodations are beautiful and very comfortable and the staff is definitely top notch. Visit www.HiltonBonnetCreek.com/Food-Wine and www.WaldorfAstoriaOrlando.com/Food-Wine for more information

Best Bathrooms in Disney

I thought I would take this time to share some of my favorite bathrooms around Walt Disney World and Disneyland. I know this may not be the most glamorous subject, but I thought it would be fun. Hey, maybe you’ll find a new favorite spot. This is certainly subjective, but I am basing my list on a few things. Theming is one parameter, location is another, and size/stall to guest ratio. They don’t all have to meet all criteria and they are not listed in any particular order.

Magic Kingdom Bathrooms

I have to say the Tangled bathrooms in the Magic Kingdom are probably the most themed I’ve ever seen. Rapunzel’s tower is illuminated at night and the surrounding area is beautifully decorated around the village near Rapunzel’s parents’ castle and the Snuggly Duckling. Lanterns are lit up at night and hang above the area to provide a gentle light at night. Outside there are seating clusters even with charging stations. Inside the theming is carried on even further (at least in the ladies room) to reflect many of Rapunzel’s hobbies featured in the opening song of Tangled. Plus, there are tons of stalls and I’ve never had to wait.

As a runner up, I’d choose the bathrooms in the Fantasyland train station. They aren’t quite as spacious as the Tangled toilets, but they are very pretty. Honorable mention in the Magic Kingdom goes to the New Fantasyland bathrooms behind Gaston’s Tavern.

Disneyland Bathrooms

Hands down my favorite bathrooms in Disneyland are the Alice in Wonderland bathrooms adjacent to the Alice attraction and the Matterhorn. Friends of mine steered me to these bathrooms to check them out on my first trip and I wasn’t disappointed. While Alice in Wonderland isn’t one of my favorite Disney films, the attraction is my favorite dark ride in Fantasyland. I loved these bathrooms with the cards for the stall doors and the hearts on the light fixtures.

I haven’t seen them in person, but a shoutout to the Club 33 bathrooms must be made. Also, have to give props to the Tiki Room bathrooms as the only bathrooms to my knowledge inside of an attraction.

Epcot Bathrooms

Just recently the new bathrooms opened in the American Adventure pavilion, which might now usurp the position of my favorite bathrooms from the old Millennium Village/now World Showplace bathrooms as my favorite in World Showcase. I have to give the edge to America because the World Showplace bathrooms are often only open for special events or during super crowded times of the year like New Year’s Eve. The new bathrooms are also much prettier with a colonial theme (or as colonial as you can get with Dyson airblade hand dryers).

In Future World, I adore the bathrooms tucked away to the right of the entrance to the Imagination Pavilion. So few people seem to know these exist I have rarely seen more than one or two other people here. Bonus points are definitely awarded for the bright rainbow colors carrying over the theming from the pavilion and the fact I’ve never had to wait in line for these bathrooms.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios Bathrooms

My pick here for best bathrooms comes down to a matter of convenience and accessibility. The restrooms outside of the American Idol Experience to the right of the attraction entrance aren’t themed at all. They are purely functional, however they are, from what I’ve found, consistently the least crowded bathrooms anywhere in the park. These bathrooms are also pretty centrally located just off of Hollywood Boulevard to the left of the Sorcerer’s Hat.

Disney California Adventure Bathrooms

On first thinking of this post, my immediate answer was the beautifully themed new bathrooms on Buena Vista Street on the right a little after the park entrance. I loved the colors and how they fit right in with the style of Hollywood in the late 20s and early 30s. When I mentioned this post to Shelley, she added the bathrooms in Carthay Circle as a suggestion. I forgot how great these were as well with pictures of Walt and other celebs from the time of the premiere of Snow White at the Carthay Circle Theatre in the 1930s.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Bathrooms

The best themed bathrooms are tucked away in a corner of Camp Minnie-Mickey just outside the exit to the Festival of the Lion King. These are rarely busy, except right after a show of FotLK lets out. They are representative of the decor with a camp style reminiscent of the woods that currently surround them. I say currently because these bathrooms are probably not long for this world with the relocation of Lion King to Africa. The proposed Avartarland expansion of this section of the park will surely be the end of these bathrooms, at least in their current state. I can’t imagine they’d fit in with the landscape of Pandora.

What are some of your favorite bathrooms at Walt Disney World or Disneyland? Did I miss any?

LEGOLAND Florida New DUPLO Valley Opening in 2014

LEGOLAND Florida Announces

New DUPLO Valley Toddler Area Opening in 2014

Plans Include New Attractions, Renovations and Enhanced Theming

LEGOLANDFlorida today announced new attractions and significant renovations to the theme park’s toddler-dedicated area, which will be called DUPLO^® Valley when it reopens in spring 2014. Planned enhancements will bring the LEGO^® DUPLO line of preschool building toys to life with new farm-themed attractions, an air-conditioned indoor play area, and a water play area all geared to toddlers ages 2 to 5. DUPLO Valley will be the ideal place for park guests to play and relax with their toddlers.

New attractions coming to DUPLO Valley include a train, a mini tractor ride, and a water play area. The central feature will be the DUPLO Train where toddlers can board a train on their own or with their parents to explore countryside-themed scenery passing through farms, fishing holes and campgrounds. Just across the way, toddlers can jump on a tractor just their size and help the farmers plow the cornfields and hunt for missing farm animals. For those looking to cool off, the new splash and play area will be refreshingly fun with intermittent water spouts and interactive water elements set among larger than life farm animals with a soft deck for safety.

Another key element will be the existing DUPLO Barn, which will feature significant enhancements to allow kids to play indoors in the comfort of air conditioning. Existing attractions will be enhanced with additional DUPLO farm-themed play areas and a toddler room where parents can relax while kids build with DUPLO bricks. The barn’s Baby Care Center will continue to provide all the amenities to take care of young children. It offers private nursing stations, rocking chairs, microwaves, bottle warmers, high chairs, changing stations, Wi-Fi, cell phone charging stations and more. The Baby Care Center will remain open during construction to accommodate families.

During construction, park guests with toddlers are encouraged to explore the many other attractions the entire family can enjoy including the newest attractions in The LEGO World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network. A complete list of toddler-based attractions can be found at www.legoland.com/toddlers.

The new DUPLO Valley will add more excitement to LEGOLAND Florida’s line-up of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions dedicated to children of ages 2 to 12.

Make sure you keep up with all the latest LEGOLAND Florida News, by following them!

Website: www.legoland.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LEGOLANDFlorida
Twitter: www.twitter.com/@LEGOLANDFlorida

Wordless Wednesday: All Aboard

Wordless Wednesday – October 9, 2013

This week’s Wordless Wednesday is a shot I took from Kendra’s 1,000th ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. I was beyond excited to actually get such a great shot of the train as it was about to go under the TTA track! It’s definitely one of my favorite pictures!

A Closer Look At The Villas At The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Disney Vacation Club will be opening their 12^th property, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on October 23, 2013, so I thought we would take a closer look at the rooms they’ll be offering.

The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

Combining tons of Victorian elegance, fun Disney touches, and state of the art technology The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are beautiful!

We had a chance to tour the model rooms at the Disney Vacation Club Walt Disney World Preview Center, and while some of the finishes may be different when the resort opens I know I can’t wait to see the finished product.

httpv://youtu.be/qg9IWD2UyuE

There are four room types at the Villas, and they all feature crown molding, granite countertops, and a mirror TV in each bathroom in addition to what guests have come to expect from staying in a Disney Vacation Club room.

Room Types Available At

The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa:

Deluxe Studio

Sleeps up to 5
1 queen-size bed, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa, 1 pull-down bunk size bed
Kitchenette
Small refrigerator
Wet bar
Flat panel TV and Blu-ray™ player
Full bathroom with separate tub and shower
Private porch or balcony

One-Bedroom Villa

Sleeps up to 5
1 king-size bed, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa, 1 pull-down bunk-size bed
Fully equipped kitchen
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove and oven
Washer and dryer
Flat panel TV and Blu-ray player
Freestanding tub with air jets
Walk-in shower
Private porch or balcony

The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa will feature many of the amenities guests have come to love at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa…especially the larger selection of H2O products found in each bathroom.

Two-Bedroom Villa

Sleeps up to 9
1 king-size bed, 2 queen-size beds, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa, 1 pull-down bunk-size bed
Fully equipped kitchen
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove and oven
Washer and dryer
Flat panel TV and Blu-ray player
Freestanding tub with air jets
Walk-in shower
Private porch or balcony

Three-Bedroom Grand Villa

Sleeps up to 12
1 king-size bed, 4 queen-size beds, 1 queen-size sleeper sofa
Fully equipped kitchen
Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Stove and oven
Laundry room with washer and dryer
4 bathrooms – 1 with whirlpool tub and shower, 1 with shower only, and 2 with combination tub/shower
Media room with home theater system including flat panel TV and Blu-ray player
Flat panel TV in living room and each bedroom, with Blu-ray player in living room
Dining room with dining table and chairs
Private porch or balcony

Cheryl shared some thoughts comparing The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to Bay Lake Tower in this DVC post, and I can’t wait to hear what she thinks of the completed project!

I hope that you enjoyed this look around The Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and don’t forget to join us on October 23^rd!

Orlando City Soccer Is One Step Closer To Soccer Stadium

City of Orlando Commissioners Unanimously Approve Funding For

Orlanco City SC Soccer Stadium

Orange County Commissioners Vote on 22^nd Final Step in Bringing MLS to Orlando

The City of Orlando Board of Commissioners voted through the approval of funds for a new downtown, multi-purpose soccer stadium Monday afternoon in downtown Orlando. The vote moves the club one step closer toward bringing a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to Orlando, with the Orange County Commissioners vote on October 22 the final stage in completion of stadium funding.

“This is obviously a very big step toward our goal of bringing MLS,” said Orlando City President Phil Rawlins. “I am delighted to have the City behind us so we can now focus on the second vote that is only two weeks away.”

Supporters came out to the event to show the support of the vote, which was unanimous among the six Commissioners and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. The vote approved the use of Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funds for multiple venues, including a soccer stadium.

“There are significant days in our community and this is one of them,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Hopefully we have another one later this month.“

The final step on funding for a stadium will occur on Tuesday, October 22, at the County Administration Building. Pending the County approval of the stadium plan, Orlando would be able to enter into final negotiations with MLS to award an expansion team to Central Florida.

The October 22 vote takes place at 201 S Rosalind Avenue at the County Administration Building. Parking is available around the building.

For more information on the upcoming votes, stay tuned to OrlandoCitySoccer.com.

About Orlando City Soccer Club:

Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) is a premier soccer club in the United States, aiming to be in Major League Soccer by 2015. The Lions recently captured the 2013 USL PRO Championship, the club’s second postseason title in just three years. Outside of the pro squad, OCSC also has their own youth club, Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS) and a U23s team that participates in the PDL. For more information on the pro and youth clubs, visit OrlandoCitySoccer.com and OrlandoCityYouth.org.

Barry Manilow Live At The Amway Center

Multi-million selling artist Barry Manilow performs his collection of smash hits at the Amway Center on Saturday, January 18, 2014. Tickets are on sale now.

What: Barry Manilow

When: January 18, 2014 | 7:30 pm

Where: Amway Center | Orlando, Florida

On Sale: Now!!!

Manilow, the undisputed number one adult contemporary artist of all time, brings his high-energy, hit-packed concert to Orlando for one night only. With more than 50 top 40 hits like “Mandy,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Copacabana (at The Copa),” Manilow will perform many of his memorable songs.

Ticket Prices: $25, $50, $100 & $150 | All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges.

Doors Open: Door opening times for the Amway Center vary according to each event. Guests may enter the arena one hour prior to the start time of each event, unless otherwise specifically noted. Guests may check door times in advance by calling 407.440.7900.

Camera Policy: The show reserves the right to approve camera use at any time during and/or before the event and to prohibit the use of any camera that is deemed unacceptable. Cameras with a detachable lens, iPads and the use of flash photography are prohibited at all Amway Center events. Check amwaycenter.com or call the administration office at 407.440.7000 prior to the event for any camera policy updates. Camera policy is subject to change at any time at the show’s discretion.

With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Manilow’s inimitable career encompasses virtually every arena of entertainment, including performing, writing, composing, arranging and producing. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Manilow has produced, arranged and released more than 40 albums during the course of his career. He has also written and produced songs for legendary artists such as Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Dionne Warwick and many more. He has been honored with a Grammy^®, two Emmys, a Tony Award, an Oscar nomination and a top-selling autobiography.

For more information, visit:
www.manilow.com
www.facebook.com/barrymanilow
www.manilowmusicproject.org/

TICKETS: $9.49, $37.99, $67.99, $97.99, $127.49 & $157.49 – Buy tickets at amwaycenter.com, Chase Box Office at Amway Center, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com. All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges. For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Amway Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.

ABOUT AMWAY CENTER

The Orlando Magic served as the developer of the Amway Center, which hosts major national events, concerts and family shows. Opened in the fall of 2010, the facility is owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida community. The Amway Center was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The building’s exterior features a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one facade. A 180-foot tall tower serves as a beacon amid the downtown skyline. The 875,000 square foot, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design and unmatched technology, including 1,100 digital monitors, the tallest high-definition video board in an NBA venue and multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building. Amway Center was recently honored with TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ 2013 Customer Experience Award and named SportsBusiness Journal’s 2012 Sports Facility of the Year. For more information about the Amway Center, visit www.amwaycenter.com.

Seminole Hard Rock Tampa Monster’s Ball

**Seminole Hard Rock TampaHosting A Monster’s Ball That Will Be Fang-tastic Affair**

True Blood’s Joe Manganiello Making Special Appearance at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa

He plays the role of a werewolf on the HBO television series True Blood, so it seems appropriate JoeManganiello will be making a special guest appearance at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa “Monster’s Ball” on Saturday, October 26.

The “Monster’s Ball” will be staged in Hard Rock Cafe and include a $1,000 costume contest (no masks or full facial make-up allowed).

The evening will be hosted by 93.3 FLZ’s Brian Fink with Monster mash-up music mixes provided by DJ Barry Carew (from the 2013 Corona Light Kenny Chesney Tour) and DJ Santana.

Limited pre-sale tickets starting at $15 will go on sale Monday, October 7, at www.ROCKTAMPA.com.

Before taking over as the werewolf Alcide Herveaux on True Blood, Manganiello played Flash Thompson in the Spider-Man film series and had recurring roles on such TV shows as ER, How I Met Your Mother and One Tree Hill. He was also in the movie “Magic Mike” with Channing Tatum.

Having once been paid to dress up like Captain Morgan at bars in Pittsburgh, Manganiello went on to graduate from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in drama. He was named US Magazine’s “Sharp Dressed Man” of 2011.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa recently completed a $75 million expansion, making it the world’s sixth-largest casino, based on gaming positions or number of seats at a table or slot. This ultimate entertainment destination features 118 table games including Blackjack, Mini and Midi-Baccarat, Pai Gow Tiles and Poker, Three Card Poker and Texas Hold ‘em Poker, along with over 5,000 slot machines and a smoke-free poker room with 50 tables offering high stakes action. The luxurious High Limit Table Games Room features 17 tables for blackjack and midi-baccarat and offers higher table limits, a personal cashier and attentive bartenders. For the sixth year in a row, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has awarded this 250-luxury room hotel its prestigious Four Diamond rating. Guests can enjoy a new pool area and restaurants including the Hard Rock Cafe Tampa, part of Hard Rock’s 142 globally recognized rock ‘n’ roll themed restaurants, the award-winning Council Oak Steaks & Seafood Restaurant, and Rise Kitchen & Bakery™, which features freshly baked breads and entrees made with fresh ingredients. The new Asian gaming complex Jubao Palace features 17 table games and an accompanying 15-seat, quick service noodle bar. Valet and more than 5,000 free, self-parking spaces are available. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is located off of I-4 at North Orient Road and Hillsborough Avenue, between I-75 and I-275, about 10 minutes east of downtown Tampa. For more information, please call 1-800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrocktampa.com or www.facebook.com/seminolehardrocktampa. Follow us on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/SHRTampa.

Pick Six: Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando

A highlight of the Halloween Party season in Orlando for our family is Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando!

Halloween Spooktacular events at SeaWorld Orlando take place weekends in October on the 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27 from 12 to 8 pm, and Trick-or-Treat stations, special characters, Penelope’s Party Zone, and more are all included with your admission! There are also special Halloween Spooktacular themed cookie decorating, merchandise, and games which are available at a very reasonable extra charge.

While the party is filled with great activities, characters, candy, and fun here are our favorite highlights of Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando!

Pick Six:

Halloween Spooktacular Orlando Highlights

1. Decorations

I absolutely adore how SeaWorld Orlando is transformed for Halloween Spooktacular! You’ll find fishy looking pumpkins, tons of bubbles, colorful banners, and scenes that really transport you to a Halloween ‘Fantasea’! Zoe especially loves the bubbles everywhere!!!

2. Characters

When you think of SeaWorld you may not think of meeting characters, but you should! This year Pirate Shamu and friends are meeting and dancing with guests at Penelope’s Party Zone in Bayside Stadium. This is a HUGE improvement from last year’s meet and greet location, because the characters really know how to boogie and really who doesn’t want to dance with Shamu???

3. Free Activities

Since Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando is during the day and centered around family fun, there are really great free activities for kids of all ages! For the younger guests at Halloween Spooktacular, there are coloring easels with stools and play areas. And for the older guests, there are pumpkin foam crafts to make and iPads with big screens set up to play the SeaWorld Turtle Trek game! These activities are all found in Penelope’s Party Zone, and I will warn parents that you will spend a lot of your Halloween Spooktacular time here!

4. Cookie Decorating

Every year there is a special treat to decorate, and this year’s cookie decorating doesn’t disappoint! On the upper walkway of Bayside Stadium you will find the cookie decorating tents where you can purchase a cookie decorating kit for $5.50, which includes a cookie, icing, decorating sprinkles & candies, and your choice of water, apple juice, and milk. What I especially love about this area is that it is a place where you and your children can sit away from the party to grab a snack and let them unwind for a spell. If you are a SeaWorld Orlando Annual Passholder, you will receive a discount on the cookie decorating kit!

5. Animal Interactions

Zoe ALWAYS loves the animal interactions that she finds when we visit SeaWorld Orlando, and she loves them even more when she can take a picture with them in her Halloween costume! The day we attended Halloween Spooktacular, Zoe met a Tawny Frogmouth, who was super soft and sweet!

6. Trick-or-Treating

I left our favorite highlight for last…Trick-or-Treating! At Halloween Spooktacular Trick-or-Treating is no joke! You can enter the Underwater Fantasea Path near Shamu Stadium or at the path near the Dolphin Nursery, and the path takes you through the center of all the Halloween Spooktacular fun with 12 Trick-or-Treating spots. The lines are clearly marked which keeps things really organized, and the type of candy being distributed is clearly displayed so you can see if you want to stop or if you need to start thinking of a candy trade to make! You also don’t have to worry about bringing a bag for your treats, because they have high quality paper bags and maps at both entrances to the path!

When you do go to Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando, make sure that you follow SeaWorld on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for great details and information! If you are sharing pictures also make sure to tag your pictures with #SeaWorldSpooktacular, because SeaWorld wants to hear from you and they are even holding contests for attendees!

I hope that you enjoyed our Pick Six for Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando, and I’d love to hear what you love the best about this family-friendly and fun filled Halloween event!

Colorvision Amazing Pictures At The Universal Orlando Resort Expands

Colorvision Amazing Pictures At Universal Orlando Resort Adds Two Great Photo Experiences

Universal Orlando Guests Now Have Innovative Ways to Capture Timeless Park Memories

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Colorvision International Inc. – Amazing Pictures (Colorvision) headquarters to learn about the expanding photo experience they are offering at the Universal Orlando Resort!

“Colorvision has been proud to partner with Universal Orlando Resort since 2009,” said Colorvision President Mark Simmons. “We are thrilled to unveil this one of a kind system, designed specifically with the guests of Universal Orlando Resort in mind. Colorvision has been providing high end digital products that memorialize the guest’s experience forever while generating superior results for our partners for the last 35 years, and the best is yet to come.”

When you visit the Universal Orlando Resort, you find tons of photo options to make your visit to Universal Orlando Resort memorable! You will find Colorvision providing roaming photographers, fun pictures that put you in scenes with some of your favorite characters, on-ride photos, their newest offering which lets you take a seat in the Simpsons living room, and more.

In addition to these photo experiences at Universal Orlando Resort, the Universal Photo Connect and Star Card have debuted that are perfect for Annual Passholders and for guests spending an extended amount of time at the resort.

The Universal Photo Connect is a way to keep the photos that you to take photos during your visit to the Universal Orlando Resort organized and in one place online so you can view and share them easily.

To participate in the Universal Photo Connect, you will need to get your picture taken by a Photo Connect photographer to receive a card and then you will need to visit Photo Connect locations in both the Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure parks to see your pictures and choose your options before you leave for the day. Both of the main stores are located just inside of the turnstiles are are clearly marked.

There are tons of products that can be ordered online and customized with your photos, and my favorite that we saw was their photo books which are reasonably priced and are created with the help of Colorvision International Inc. – Amazing Pictures (Colorvision) graphic designers.

For me the most exciting launch between Colorvision and Universal Orlando Resort is the Star Card!

Guests who purchase the Star Card get great photos accessible online and large format print of their favorite image, a lanyard, a personalized Photo Connect Card displaying their favorite image and a digital copy of all pictures taken in the parks.

After your visit to the Universal Orlando Resort, Star Card guests easily log into their accounts universalphotoconnect.com from home where they can share their pictures on social media, order prints, and photo CDs (with stock professional stock photos included) & products.

Here is a quick breakdown of the Star Card Program:

* The Star Card Package is $59.95 plus tax and can be bought at locations in both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

* The Star Card Package includes the following items:

Digital copies of all you in-park and ride photos for five days.
(1) 8×10 or 5×7 photo print per package.
Photo Connect lanyard.
Customized Photo Connect Card (with your favorite photos).
Photo CD of all your pictures (fulfilled online, shipping and handling fees apply).
Discounts up to 20 percent on prints, videos, and accessories sold at the Photo Connect Stores

* Prints can be added to your Star Card Package for $24.95 plus tax, and you can also get a prints only version of the Star Card which you can get more details at the locations in the parks. The prints are 4×6 and are only limited to the times you do the attraction, ride, in-park experience, or character photos.

* You can pre-purchase your Star Card Package and save $10! Here is the link to pre-order your package!

* The Star Card is ideal for Annual Passholders, because you can get a whole year of photos for $59.95 plus tax!

*Guests can also share photos via the Amazing Pictures Mobile App for Apple and Andriod!

The team at Colorvision are continuing to create new and easier ways for guests to use, share, and experience the Universal Orlando Resort, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

As part of this review I was provided a Star Card to use, and we have had a lot of fun taking photos and sharing our memories with family & friends.

Make sure to follow us Colorvision International Inc. – Amazing Pictures (Colorvision) on Twitter @CVCREATIVE and Facebook for great offers and up-to-date news!

Field Trip from Google mobile app review

Field Trip is one of those apps that I stumbled upon recently. It is developed by Google, but is also available on Apple devices. This app helps you explore the world around you by discovering points of interest based on different categories. You can setup the app to find things around you in specific subjects like Architecture, Historic Places & Events, Lifestyle, Offers & Deals, Food, Drinks & Fun, Cool & Unique, and Art & Museums.

In the Field Trip app you can see things around you on a map using Google Maps, in a list on the Nearby tab, Recent places you have been near, and Favorites that you can save by logging into your Google account. Once you sign in with your profile, you also have the ability to sign up for the Fieldtripper newsletter by email that will send you suggestions to your inbox.

Within each of the interest categories, you can select the feeds that contribute to the suggestions. These are taken from all over the world, so you can drill down and choose to leave out some that are in other languages or not specific to your geographic location if you opt to do so. I like to keep everything selected because you never know when someone in Germany will travel to your area and suggest something new to try. Also, in each subject you can select on a sliding scale to show more or less from each particular source. Field Trip additionally allows you to set the frequency of your overall notifications from Explore (frequent), Feeling Lucky (occasional) to Off (disabled).

Settings for Field Trip can be customized to turn notification sounds on and off. Bluetooth can also be enabled if you want to have your sounds come through instead of through your phone or tablet speakers. A cool feature is the speaking aspect of the Field Trip app. You can choose to have titles and descriptions, just titles, or nothing spoken to you by the app. Furthermore, you can tell the app when to speak.

I love the Field Trip app for discovering new stuff around home for a staycation, exploring a new area, or just learning more about places you’ve already visited. You can share the information you discover through Google+, Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, text, etc. right from the Field Trip app. Feedback options are available for each article so content can be improved over time. Each card for the points of interest features more detailed information including a Google Maps link for easy directions. Here you can see info on McKechnie Field and Bonefish Grill in the app.

I can’t wait to explore even more to find exciting opportunities around me that I didn’t know existed from restaurants to entertainment and cultural offerings. Have you tried out this new app? What do you think? Any favorite discoveries so far? Let me know what you think.

Visiting LEGOLAND Florida: Fun Town

Last time we ventured into LEGOLAND territory we didn’t get too far beyond the beginning. Well, have no fear! We’re now going to be heading further into the bricks.

Fun Town is our next stop. Seriously, Fun Town. What more can you expect than FUN?! And shops…some of my favorite shops actually.

The first thing you see when you enter Fun Town is the Grand Carousel! While I’ve never ridden it, I’m pretty sure I need to one of the next times I’m there.

To the left of the Grand Carousel is the Fresh From Florida Greenhouse. I recently checked this out with my parents and we had such a fun time trying to find where the LEGOs were throughout the Greenhouse area. (Spoiler: They are everywhere!)

There is information about foods that grow in Florida, facts about timber and solar, and even barrels that you can reach into and guess what seeds are hidden in there. PLUS all of the fruit is made from LEGOs, even the oranges hanging from the trees…mind blown.

Next/attached to the Fresh From Florida Greenhouse is the Garden Shop. There used to be a lot of random gardening supplies in there and some LEGOs (this is actually where I got quite a few of my minifigs), however the last time I was in there it was WAY more LEGOs than anything – which isn’t a bad thing, just couldn’t find too much gardening/yard items. However, I would LOVE a birdbath LEGO set that I could put together…

The Factory is where you can see how the bricks are made and it is also home to the Pick A Brick store. A whole wall of LEGOs. Yes, please!

Also surrounding the Grand Carousel is the Studio Store with all kinds of LEGO sets relating to movies (Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc)

Granny’s Apple Fries are also right there. I’m sure you’ve heard everyone raving about them! You should definitely try them out while you’re there! (I liked them, but was not a fan of the whipped cream that the guy talked us into.)

The fun of building your own minifigs happens at none other than the…Minifigure Market! (Side note: if you buy minifigures and you get doubles, make sure you trade with the Model Citizens around LEGOLAND!)

And last but not least, the Friends Shop. The cutesy girly LEGOs can all be found in this shop. ~~I’m pretty sure~~ I would like them all.

There are a few other little snack and food places around Fun Town as well. And there’s the Wells Fargo 4-D Theater which currently shows THREE different movies throughout the day, including Legends of Chima!

Have any questions about LEGOLAND Florida? I’ll be heading back soon and would love to get any information or questions answered while I’m there!

Orlando Canine Country Club Review

Since I was planning to take a longer trip away from home than I normally do, I decided to try a new place that opened up by the Airport named Orlando Canine Country Club. I had saw the Orlando Canine Country Club booth at the Posh Pooch Celebration Event In February, and they seemed like they would be a great fit for us.

I called and made an appointment for them to “interview” Jasper. At the interview I filled out forms, they petted Jasper, and then Jasper waited in a playroom while I took a tour of the facility.

The suites were decently sized and open so you could see in, they have an open floor plan. I returned and then they took Jasper to go play with the other dogs, then Jasper came back and they said I needed to get a harness and recommended I have Jasper wear it a week before his arrival, and that I could firm up my drop off time via email before I arrived.

httpv://youtu.be/wUNHLc7xyRY

My mom picked us up and we went to drop Jasper off before she dropped us off. Todd seemed pretty impressed, Jasper was excited to arrive. We were told they were making changes to the webcams, we said see you later to Jasper and we were off.

During our vacation, we took time away to call in and see how he was doing, of course he was having fun and naps as scheduled. After we returned, my mother in law emailed letting us know she saw him briefly on the webcam.

I picked him up on the Monday after I returned, he looked great and was ready to head home.

Pricing for the Orlando Canine Country Club was $30 per night which is very reasonable, and I probably will use them again if I’m flying for vacation since they are so close to the airport.

Well I’m sure I haven’t answered everything, they have a FAQ if you have more questions.

Wordless Wednesday – Outside Hogwarts

Wordless Wednesday – October 2, 2013

This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to just outside of Hogwarts in Universal’s Island of Adventure at the Universal Orlando Resort. I could seriously spend all day in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter wandering the streets of Hogsmeade!!!