Disney Vacation Club Merry Member Mixer

Merry Member Mixer

Come ring in the season with Disney Vacation Club! Mingle with fellow Members at the Merry Member Mixer as you enjoy festive entertainment and complimentary refreshments. Plus, you’ll be able to purchase a limited-edition Disney Vacation Club holiday trading pin (while supplies last).

Celebrate, share, and always discover vacations you never outgrow.

LOCATION
Epcot at the World Showplace Pavilion
Located between the Canada and United Kingdom Pavilions

CELEBRATE THE SEASON ON ONE OF THESE DATES
November 25
December 2
December 9
December 16

TIME
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Universal Orlando Resort’s Holidays Celebration

‘TIS THE SEASON TO CREATE LASTING FAMILY MEMORIES AT

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT’S HOLIDAYS CELEBRATION

Heartwarming Holiday Traditions Return Dec. 7 with Grinchmas, Macy’s Holiday Parade^TM

and Electrifying Holiday Concerts by Mannheim Steamroller

ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 15, 2013) – It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Universal Orlando Resort. From Dec. 7 through Jan. 4, families can create lifelong memories during Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration. Kids from one to 92 can come face-to-face with The Grinch at Grinchmas, watch larger-than-life balloons float through the streets during the Macy’s Holiday Parade^TM and hear Christmas music sensation, Mannheim Steamroller, perform beloved holiday classics with a modern twist.

At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, guests will smile from ear-to-ear during the heartwarming live show, “Grinchmas Wholiday Spectacular,” featuring The Grinch and the Whos from Who-ville, accompanied by an original musical score by Mannheim Steamroller. Guests can meet the mean, green one himself and the Whos daily and, on select dates, enjoy a special breakfast with the characters.
At Universal Studios Florida, the Macy’s Holiday Parade will fill the streets with the same larger-than-life balloons seen in the famous New York City parade. Guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with holiday characters, fantasy-filled floats and a tree-lighting ceremony with the big man himself, Santa Claus. This year, there is a brand new addition to the line-up of timeless holiday parade icons. Happy the Hippo, a recreation of a 1940s Macy’s Parade balloon, will make her debut in New York City this Thanksgiving before heading to Orlando to appear in the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios Florida.

Following the parade, the acclaimed musical group Mannheim Steamroller will take to the Music Plaza stage in Universal Studios six nights this year to perform memorable holiday hits on Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22.

All theme park holiday entertainment – including Mannheim Steamroller concerts – is included as part of park-to-park or multi-day admission to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. For a memorable getaway, guests can take advantage of the following vacation packages:

Make Your Season Bright with Incredible Offers from Universal Orlando

OFFER

DETAILS

Florida Resident 2-Park Preferred Annual Pass

**Available on FlexPay

2-Park Preferred Annual Pass for less than $12* per month
Admission to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Free self-parking after first visit
No blockout dates

*Down payment and restrictions apply.

Florida Resident 2-Park Getaway

**Starting at $149+ per adult, per night, tax inclusive

2 night stay at one of three AAA Four Diamond Award deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando Resort
Florida Resident 2-day base ticket to both theme parks
Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks – a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day
PLUS early park admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the rest of the general public

**Must be booked by Dec. 15, 2013 with travel occurring by Dec. 19, 2013.

New Year’s Eve at Universal CityWalk

On December 31, guests can experience the epic sophistication of EVE 2013, Orlando’s boldest New Year’s party at Universal CityWalk. This year’sall-new event features six unique entertainment zones, access to seven of CityWalk’s high-energy nightclubs, unlimited gourmet cuisine and amidnight champagne toast.

This is a separately ticketed event. More information on EVE 2013 will be available soon at www.UniversalOrlando.com/Hholidays.

Holiday Festivities at the Three Deluxe On-Site Hotels at Universal Orlando

The celebration continues at the three deluxe on-site hotels at Universal Orlando – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Royal Pacific Resort – all of which will glisten with holiday decorations. Hotel guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with holiday buffets and dining events, tree-lighting ceremonies, visits from Santa, and holiday poolside “dive-in” movie presentations.

Loews Portofino Bay Hotel features the Gather Together Thanksgiving feast with Pilgrims and Indians on Thanksgiving Day, then kicks off the holiday season on Friday, November 29 with ‘Holiday Harbor Nights,’ a wine, food, music and tree lighting celebration on the Harbor Piazza. On select nights in December at Portofino, guests can enjoy Holiday in the Harbor featuring carolers, storytelling and visits with Santa. Hard Rock Hotel features special Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve buffets and Santa stops by The Kitchen restaurant every Friday in December. Loews Royal Pacific Resort offers holiday buffets for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, plus a special New Year’s Eve luau to ring in 2014.

About Universal Orlando Resort
Vacation like you mean it at Universal Orlando Resort – where every heart pounding, jaw-dropping, goose-bumping second counts. With two incredible theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex, Universal Orlando is the only place where you can turn spending time with your family into spending time as a family. Together, you can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, become a Minion in the hilarious and heartwarming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, and join Optimus Prime in the fight to save mankind on the new mega-attraction, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D.
Universal Orlando Resort is part of NBCUniversal, a Comcast company. Follow Universal Orlando Resort on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram andYouTube.

LEGOLAND Florida Hotel

LEGOLAND Florida Announces

LEGOLAND Florida Hotel Opening in 2015

LEGOLAND Florida got even better after their brickbreaking announcement!

httpv://youtu.be/V5uPLpw9f2Y

The LEGOLAND Florida Hotel!

Once the hotel opens in 2015, guests of LEGOLAND Florida will not have to leave the property for accommodations making the park a multi-day destination!

Play, eat, and sleep all in the same place…Yes, please!

With the hotel located so close to LEGOLAND Florida’s Main Entrance, it will add a lot to the energy and flow of the park. Not to mention the view you’ll have as a guest of the hotel!

I can not WAIT for 2015 to get here so I can check out the LEGOLAND Florida Hotel!!!

LEGOLAND Florida General Manager Adrian Jones officially announced the park’s much anticipated LEGOLAND Hotel will open in 2015. The announcement was made alongside community leaders with a ceremonial groundbreaking moment at the site where the hotel will be built, directly to the left of LEGOLAND Florida’s entrance, just steps from Lake Eloise.

“The opening of a LEGOLAND Hotel will transition LEGOLAND Florida from a single-day visit theme park to a multi-day resort destination,” said Jones. “This will serve as a catalyst for future economic development in Polk County.”

Welcoming guests with a multicolored exterior and entrance, the four-story LEGOLAND Hotel will immerse families with young children in the world of LEGO^®, as an extension of the vibrant and interactive theme park experience. Created to bring children’s imaginations to life, the LEGO-themed hotel will feature 152 brightly colored and highly themed rooms and suites, LEGO décor; interactive play areas; a pool and a restaurant.

LEGOLAND Florida Hotel will add 250 construction-related jobs during the construction, and another 250 jobs to its employee base to staff the new hotel upon completion.

This will be the fifth LEGOLAND Hotel in the world joining LEGOLAND California, LEGOLAND Windsor and LEGOLAND Billund hotels. LEGOLAND Malaysia Hotel will soon open its doors.

At LEGOLAND Florida, families enjoy more than 50 rides, shows, attractions, a water park and the all-new LEGO World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network. At the World of Chima, the whole family can board an interactive splash battle ride, The Quest for CHI, and kid’s can splash and play in Cragger’s Swamp and race handheld rip-chord powered vehicles at the Speedorz^TM Arena.

Make sure you keep up with all the LEGOLAND Florida news by following them on Facebook and Twitter!

LEGOLAND^® Florida is a 150-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions and a water park, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun! 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 just opened 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.

Festival of Trees at the Orlando Museum of Art

The 27th Annual Festival of Trees has started and I’m pretty sure that means the holidays are upon us!

Last week I got a chance to take a sneak peek at 2013’s “All That Glitters” trees and decorations. And oh my goodness, there is LOTS of glitter around the the Orlando Museum of Art!

Festival of Trees runs until November 24th, 2013 and features all different styles of trees…

There are trees for EVERYONE’s taste!

I thought this Cinderella inspired tree was very well thought out – she’s ready for the ball on one side of the tree and dirtied with soot on the other.

Deck the Halls, where you can view and purchase various handmade wreathes…

Gingerbread Village…

The Sweet Shoppe (in the PERFECT location – with all the gingerbread houses)…

toy shop…

boutique shop…

tabletop designs…

and so much more!

And I heard a rumor that a certain jolly man will be there in his cozy corner!

There are various galas and events happening throughout the Festival of Trees as well a scavenger hunt for the little ones!

You can purchase tickets here.

For more information on this and other events, check out the Orlando Museum of Art website!

MARVEL ous Movie Adventures

So, I just came home from watching Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World, and I wanted to take this opportunity to take a look back at my adventure through the Marvel movies released to date. Just to be clear, this is going to focus primarily on the Marvel Cinematic Universe put out by Marvel Studios, but will also cover other Marvel movies. First off, I have never once in my life picked up a comic book or graphic novel, so everything I am basing my opinions on came from my impressions from films. I’ll try to keep it spoiler free, but there may be some included, so if you haven’t seen any of these films and wish to, you’ve been warned.

I’ve never really been a huge fan of the superhero genre generally speaking, and if asked, I’d probably say my favorite superhero was Batman (of the Adam West variety of course), but that’s DC, however I have seen all those movies. I think my introduction to Marvel films came by way of the first X-Men film. I didn’t see any of the first three in the theater, but own all three after discovering my affinity for the characters through renting the movies. My love of Logan/Wolverine is deep seeded, and probably isn’t hindered by the fact he is played by the gorgeous Hugh Jackman. Having said that, the only X-Men film I had the misfortune to choose to see in the theater was X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I rebounded from that catching the far superior First Class on tv, and still haven’t seen what I’ve heard is decent in the new The Wolverine film. I prefer the first film, then the second, then First Class, and I’d forget about Last Stand and Origins. I’ll be interested to see where The Wolverine falls within these.

Between the X-Men films I watched the first two of the Spiderman films with Tobey Maguire. I wasn’t all that into it and haven’t to this day seen the third film or the reboot with Andrew Garfield. Also falling in the category of I really wasn’t impressed with it so I didn’t see the sequel is Daredevil (loosely referring to Elektra as the follow up). I vaguely recollect the highlight of Daredevil for me being the appearance of Colin Farrell as a baddie, Bullseye. Not much else about the movie stuck in my memory. Just this year did I get around to watching the Fantastic Four movie, partially because I heard Chris Evans was in it. Are you sensing a trend here? Hot guys are sometimes enough to get me to watch a movie. There, I said it. Feel free to judge away.

Along with these movies, there are several others that I didn’t even realize were Marvel until I did a little research for this post. Among these include the Ghost Rider series starring Nicolas Cage, Blade series with Wesley Snipes, the Punisher (two movies?), the Man-Thing (never heard of it), and Howard the Duck?!?!?!? I have not seen any of these films, but as I do tend to be a completionist, I may have to go back and watch them along with Elektra, the two Spiderman movies, the second Fantastic Four, and the new Wolverine movie.

Now we come to the beginning of what is referred to as the Marvel Cinematic Universe; the first film to be released in this series was Iron Man. For whatever reason, I must have been living under a rock for a bit, or maybe I still wasn’t sold on this superhero business, I didn’t see Iron Man in the theater. I caught it on dvd through Netflix in the following months and really enjoyed it. I don’t know why, but I didn’t rush out and buy it right away. Much like my feelings for Tony Stark himself, it is a love/hate slow burn to a crescendo kind of feeling. He is a bad boy, an antihero, but like a moth to a flame, you are drawn to him eventually. Part of his charm is his snarkiness, but also his superior intelligence, oh, and being played by Robert Downey, Jr. doesn’t hurt either. Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist indeed.

I found myself enjoying Iron Man enough to catch the second installation in the theater. Again, I pick the wrong times to catch on to thing (much like computer operating systems) and this was no exception. Although Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury does deliver one of my favorite lines (re: donut), and I like the introduction of the Black Widow, this film was lacking the energy and cohesiveness of the first one. I liked the flashbacks to Howard Stark, but I didn’t connect with this as much as I had the previous movie.

Next up in my Marvel movie adventure came the discovery of Thor. Like Iron Man, I found a lot of humor in this movie, much more than I expected from something directed by Kenneth Branagh. This brought in more of a sci-fi/fantasy element than Iron Man, which was more Earth-based. Sure, Chris Hemsworth is all muscle-y and such. Despite science fiction not being one of my favorite genres of film, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but not as much as Iron Man.

And then came Cap. Ah, Captain America, Steve Rogers, my favorite Avenger (albeit after some deliberation). I do like bad boys, a habit I think I’ve broken now in my mid 30s, but I can appreciate the chivalry and boy next door charm and gentility of Cap. He is the quintessential good guy, maybe why he’s been given the nickname boy scout? A man displaced in time, who has experienced so much, but is still so innocent. Part of what I love from the film is the WWII era setting. The rest is all about the man and his journey, and Chris Evans. 🙂

After this, I forced myself to watch the Incredible Hulk in preparation for the Avengers. My knowledge of the Hulk came from growing up watching Lou Ferrigno in the early 80s. This was a very different, darker monster than what we had seen on tv previously. I thought Edward Norton did a passable job as Bruce Banner, but I struggled to get through this one.

May 4th, 2012. A day emblazoned in my memory by the fine folks at the Disney Film Project Podcast. It became a mantra. The day arrived. I had to wait since I was working until a couple of days later, but caught a matinee at Downtown Disney by myself and absolutely loved it! I could not wait to see it again. This is the film that brought them all together, with the introduction of Mark Ruffalo now as Dr. Banner/Hulk. Before this movie, I had never paid to see a movie more than once in the theater. This one got my money three weekends in a row. I could not get enough. There was action, adventure, humor, and it was larger than life!

This year introduced us to the second round of Marvel films since Disney acquired the Marvel Studios. Loving Iron Man as I do, I had really high hopes for Iron Man 3, and I wasn’t disappointed. The film falls between 1 and 2 for me, but is definitely closer in quality to the first film than the second. I liked the humor and the action and Tony’s reaction to the events of the Avengers film. It is nice to know the man inside the machine is still human and has feelings.

That brings us to tonight’s viewing, Thor: The Dark World. I didn’t realize there was going to be as much sci-fi/fantasy (I feel there was way more than the first one), but still really liked it. I laughed out loud (literally) at several points in the movie, but, like Captain America and the Avengers, it also made me cry. I saw some things telegraphed before they occurred, others, not so much. As a whole, it was a very enjoyable film, which I will definitely be adding to my collection. Plus, Tom Hiddleston as Loki is hilarious, and there is a cameo that had me clapping and laughing so hard, I was glad the theater was almost empty.

From here, what’s next you ask? The next date to remember is 4/4/14 when Captain America: The Winter Soldier is released and man does it look good. It will be interesting to see more introspection from Cap on the happenings of the Avengers and also being displaced in time. This reminds me I also need to watch the short on the Iron Man 3 Blu Ray of Agent Carter. Speaking of agents, I would be remiss to not mention the wonderful Son of Coul, Agent Phil Coulson (his first name is not Agent despite Tony Stark’s insistence). I am really liking the new Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. tv series on ABC. It is a nice combination of superhero/sci-fi/spy genres.

So, as far as my collection of movies goes at this point in time, I currently own the first three X-Men films, all three Iron Man movies, Thor, Captain America, and the Avengers. I will definitely be adding Thor 2 to that list when it comes out ostensibly in the spring. I am already counting down the days til we get the next Captain America film, but in the meantime, make sure you check out the latest trailer.

httpv://youtu.be/NLWsK1ZFunA

Have you seen any or all of the Marvel films I mentioned? What are your favorites so far? Who is your favorite character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Who would you like to be? I wouldn’t mind growing up to be a kick ass babe like Sith from Thor, or Agent Romanov aka Black Widow.

Orlando City To Be Major League Soccer’s 21st Club

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER AWARDS EXPANSION TEAM TO ORLANDO
MLS’ 21^st Team Will Debut in 2015 as League Expands to the Southeast

ORLANDO (November 19, 2013) – One of the fastest-growing, top 20 metropolitan areas in the United States will soon be the home of Major League Soccer’s 21^st club, as MLS Commissioner Don Garber and expansion team owners Flávio Augusto da Silva and Phil Rawlins announced tonight that Orlando will join the league in 2015.  Orlando’s new MLS team, Orlando City Soccer Club, will join as an expansion team for the league’s 20^th season.

With the addition of Orlando, MLS has added 11 clubs since the beginning of the 2005 season, leading to a remarkable and rapid transformation of professional soccer in North America. Three more expansion teams will be added by 2020.

“We are proud and excited to welcome Orlando to Major League Soccer,” Commissioner Garber said. “From the success of the Orlando City Soccer Club, to the incredible fan support and passion in the community, this is a new market that really excites us. We have great confidence in Flávio Augusto da Silva, Phil Rawlins and the rest of the Orlando City ownership group.   They love this sport, our League and this city. And thanks to the commitment of ownership, the City of Orlando and Orange County, Orlando City will soon have a spectacular new stadium that will provide fans and the entire community with a truly unique downtown sporting experience.”

One of the world’s top tourism destinations with more than 57 million visitors annually, metropolitan Orlando is the 19^th largest market in the United States and features a diverse, young and vibrant community.  The Orlando area’s Hispanic population has more than doubled since 2000, making it the nation’s fourth fastest-growing Latino market.

Orlando City’s inaugural season will see the club open its own soccer stadium in downtown Orlando. The brand new stadium will be located on Church Street, in a vibrant section of Orlando’s entertainment district. The new stadium will be accessible by both car and public transportation, with its construction scheduled to begin in spring of 2014. Prior to moving into the new stadium in the summer of 2015, Orlando City will play matches at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium.

During the past year, Orlando has hosted several major soccer events, including the USL PRO championship match in September, which drew a USL-record crowd of 20,886 fans to the Citrus Bowl. More recently, the U.S. and Brazil match on November 10 at the Citrus Bowl drew the largest home crowd in nearly 10 years for the U.S. women’s national team. In addition, Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, where Orlando City will play the 2014 USL PRO season, has served as host to MLS preseason training and many elite international clubs.

Da Silva, a native of Brazil, leads Orlando City’s ownership group, which includes club Founder and President Phil Rawlins, Chairman John Bonner and 10 local partners.  Da Silva previously owned Wise Up, a group of more than 400 language schools operating in five countries, and currently owns Geração de Valor (Valuable Generation), a company dedicated to developing young entrepreneurs.  He is the former chairman of Ometz Group, an organization consisting of 16 holding companies, including Wise Up.

“Orlando is a special city with amazing fans that have embraced the beautiful game and we have no doubt that Orlando City will become the next success story in MLS,” said Da Silva. “We would like to thank MLS leadership for working with us and helping us bring Major League Soccer to Central Florida. Our goal is to continue the championship-winning ways this organization has established and to further the special relationship that this club has with its fans and the city of Orlando.”

Originally from the United Kingdom and a part-owner of English Premier League club Stoke City, Rawlins founded and developed a highly successful information technology sales and marketing consulting company. He founded the Austin Aztex, a USL PRO team, in 2007, before moving the team to Orlando in late 2010.

“It is a dream come true to bring Major League Soccer to Orlando,” said Rawlins. “The fans in Orlando have clearly demonstrated that they are ready for MLS, and we look forward to celebrating with them and working together to set a new standard in this country. We have watched the evolution of Major League Soccer, and we are thrilled to join what has become one of the fastest growing and most exciting leagues in the world.”

Individuals who purchase 2014 Orlando City season tickets will have top priority for the club’s 2015 MLS season seat selection. Call (855) ORL-CITY or visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com for details.

Details regarding conference alignment and schedule format for future MLS seasons will be unveiled at a later date.

About Major League Soccer

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Major League Soccer’s 18^th season featured 19 clubs each playing 34 regular-season matches. Those clubs include the Chicago Fire; Chivas USA; Colorado Rapids; Columbus Crew; D.C. United; FC Dallas; Houston Dynamo; 2012 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy; Montreal Impact; New York Red Bulls; New England Revolution; Philadelphia Union; Portland Timbers; Real Salt Lake; San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders FC; Sporting Kansas City; Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Expansion teams New York City FC and Orlando City Soccer Club will begin play in 2015. MLS Cup 2013 will be played December 7, 2013. For more information about MLS, log on to the league’s official website at www.MLSsoccer.com.

About Orlando City Soccer Club

Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) is Major League Soccer’s newest expansion team. The club will begin play in MLS in 2015, becoming the league’s 21^st club. The Lions’ first team has won two USL PRO regular season titles and two postseason championships and will continue play in USL PRO in 2014 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Outside of the first squad, OCSC also has a youth club, Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS) and a U-23 team that participates in the PDL. For more information on the pro and youth clubs, visit www.OrlandoCitySoccer.com and www.OrlandoCityYouth.org.

www.MLSsoccer.com

Chanukah Events Around Orlando for 2013

This year is very eventful if you are Jewish because Chanukah falls on Thanksgiving, but if you don’t have family in town there are plenty of events you can attend.

Jewish Heritage Night with the Orlando Magic

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

First night of Chanukah

Amway Center in downtown Orlando

400 W Church St #200, Orlando, FL 32801

Pregame and Menorah lighting at 6:30 PM in the Vista Room

Tip-off at 7:00 PM

To Purchase Tickets Click Here

Chanukah Extravaganza at Orlando Torah Academy
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
05:00 PM to 07:00 PM

Orlando Torah Academy will be hosting a Community Chanukah Extravaganza with food, fun, raffles and prizes.

Chanukah on the Park

Join Chabad of Orlando Saturday November 30th, 7:00 PM at Central Park on Park Ave.

Grand Menorah Lighting
JAO and JCC – Kids Sing A Long
Chassidic Dancers
Chocolate Chanukah Gelt
Live Concert by Dr. Laz
Sufganiot – Donuts
Grand $1000 Drawing
Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available

Orlando Torah Center

Join the Rosen Plaza and Chabad of South Orlando for their Chanukah Family Festival

Sunday, December 1, 2013
4pm-7pm

Event Includes:

6:00pm Grand Menorah Ceremony Lighting & Family Celebration, Latke Cook-Off
Chanukah Arts and Crafts, Raffles, Prizes, Gelt
Helicopter Rides, Teen Club with Games & Music
Fine Food Concessions Offered by Kosher Gourmet Food Court
Kosher Cotton Candy, Delicious Sufganiyot (Donuts), Food & Hot Dog Concessions
Live Music & Theater Acts, World Record Breaking Dreidel Spinning
20 Carnival Games, Miniature Train, Skeeball, Bounce Houses, Football & Basketball Toss

FREE ADMISSION
For More Information, please call 407-996-0256

Chanukah On Ice With The Orlando Solar Bears

Wednesday, December 4th the last night of Chanukah

Doors open at 6:00 PM

Puck-drop at 7:00 PM

Grand Ice Menorah Lighting during the first intermission

Purchase tickets at www.orlandosolarbearshockey.com/lights

Use Special Offer Code: LIGHTS

Wordless Wednesday: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue

Wordless Wednesday –

November 20, 2013

Valet Parking at Downtown Disney for Tables in Wonderland Members through January 1, 2014

DowntownDisneyLogo

Tables in Wonderland Members may now enjoy Complimentary Valet Parking at Downtown Disney Area through January 1, 2014. There are some rules that apply for this perk:

Complimentary valet parking is for the sole purpose of dining at one of the participating restaurants at Downtown Disney area.
One vehicle per membership card.
Present your membership card with a valid dining receipt from the participating Downtown Disney restaurant at the valet stand upon retrieving your vehicle.
Valet parking service is available from 4pm – 2am daily.
Valet Parking can be accessed via Entrance 4 at Downtown Disney West Side.
If a member would like to take advantage of the valet parking service but will not be dining at a participating Tables in Wonderland restaurant, the price is $15 per vehicle, gratuity accepted.
There will be a charge for parking and valet services on Tables in Wonderland blockout dates. For a full list of blockout days and program policies, please visit www.tablesinwonderland.com

Capone’s Dinner and Show in Kissimmee, Florida

For the past 10+ years, I have been to Capone’s Dinner & Show numerous times! The main reason is my mom LOVES it.

I’m telling you, I can quote the show. And I notice when songs are removed (I’m still sad one of my favorite music numbers is gone.)

When we got there to pick up our tickets we were given our secret password and the option to go in a bit early and enjoy the upstairs bar. The early access means that you have to pay for at least one drink (per person), but you’ll get first go at food before everyone else starts pouring in.

The meal provided is buffet style (read: buff-et) and you can view the menu here. As for the drinks…they are a plenty! Included in your ticket price is unlimited drinks, which makes the show even THAT much funnier 😉 Your choice of unlimited drinks include: Bud Light draft, rum runner, rum & cola, cranberry & vodka, white zinfandel, merlot & chardonnay wines, soda, iced tea, hot tea, coffee, cranberry juice, fruit punch. (You’ve already gotten a great deal with the meal/drinks alone!)

When we were given access to be able take some pictures and video, I couldn’t wait to share it!

httpv://youtu.be/aS4O0gGAbd8

What’s Capone’s about? Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but you’re in the gangster underworld.

All of the wait staff are in character and talk and act like gangsters would (or at least that’s the way I would imagine they would..you know, if they were somewhat nice.)

The stage is taken over by a six person show – Bunny and her new husband, Fingers, are the who the story line follows. The songs are catchy and the lines exchanged are punchy.

So many laughs and “oh, that was a pun” laughs are heard during the show.

Whether you’re a local and have driven by it or your visiting from out of town, make sure to stop by Capone’s for dinner and laughs! Before you call for reservations make sure you check out their website for any deals they may have on tickets (I just looked and spied a 50% off coupon!)

It’s A Small World Characters at Disneyland

As I may have mentioned, I’m getting ready to head back to Disneyland in a few weeks. One of the things I really enjoy about going to the California parks is the fact there are slight differences between some of the attractions. One such attraction is It’s A Small World. Not only is their loading zone outside with a really cool clock show on the quarter hour, but this year they are even getting a new projection show for the holidays that I hope to catch in addition to the holiday overlay.

Don’t get me wrong, I really like the It’s A Small World we have here in Florida, but I have to admit I was more than a bit excited when I learned that the California version of the ride features some of my favorite characters. It’s A Small World takes vignettes from different countries and regions around the world to show children and their similiarities. This boat ride showcases some classic animated characters from Disney films as well as some newer beloved Pixar pals too.

It’s A Small World is a classic attraction from the 1960s that many did not want to see changed at Disneyland to include the characters. I have seen the version without characters here at Walt Disney World literally hundreds of times in my lifetime, and I like the addition of the characters to the Disneyland ride. I know it isn’t for everyone, but I think it adds a bit more fun and that the characters, for the most part, fit in seamlessly with the other It’s A Small World dolls in that Mary Blair style.

What do you think of the characters? Are they a fun addition in your opinion, or would you prefer the original version?

runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Meet-Up

On Thursday, November 7, runDisney held their first nighttime meet-up leading into the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. Previously, meet-ups had always been held on weekday morning and I wouldn’t have been able to attend due to work. As soon as I saw that this one would be held at night, I jumped at the chance to sign up. Luckily, I got my email in quick enough and I made the list of 125 attendees!

Check-in began at 7:00, but the meet-up didn’t officially start until 8:30 where we were to be in place at Mexico Vista for Illuminations. I got there around 7:30 and received my admission ticket, a runDisney shirt made specifically for the meet-up that we were asked to change into, and a fastpass for Test Track to be used that night. With some free time on my hands, I wandered around World Showcase for a bit.

Soon it was time for the first part of the evening – Illuminations! This is my favorite nighttime show at Walt Disney World so I was especially excited to have a prime viewing spot.

After waiting for some of the park crowd to thin out, we made our way over to the America Gardens Theatre. There were a couple food stations set out, one with the Trick’n Chick’n Curry from the Terra booth at the Food and Wine Festival. I hadn’t had the chance to try that yet so I was happy to have that opportunity and ended up really liking it! They also had samplings of chardonnay from The Vegan Vine. I can honestly say that I had no idea that there was vegan wine. It was really good too!

Chef Mickey was also available during this time for pictures. I also took the opportunity to meet Jeff Galloway, whose run-walk-run method I follow. He was so nice and was genuinely happy to hear from everyone about how they were doing in their training.

Soon it was time to hear from a few speakers. First up, sports media director Darrell Fry and Faron Kelley, Director of Marketing and Communications for Disney Sports, came up to give out some prizes. I was really hoping to win one of the certificates for a future runDisney race entry! Next up was Jeff Galloway and nutritionist Tara Gidus. They spoke about how great runDisney has been in making running accessible to so many people. I, for one, probably would not be running if it wasn’t for volunteering for one of their races and seeing how fun it could be. Tara also gave some advice on fueling up for a night race.

We also heard from a couple of Epcot chefs who told us about foods that might be good for us to try during the party after finishing the Wine and Dine Half Marathon. One excellent suggestion was the salmon from the Scotland booth. My friends and I definitely enjoyed that one after the race!

Representatives from New Balance spoke a bit about the shoes that were designed for runDisney. They have been wildly popular with long lines to purchase at the race expos. They let us know that the current versions would only be available through Wine and Dine Weekend and the 2014 design would be available at Marathon Weekend in January. Sneak peeks will be coming so keep an eye out on Twitter! Other new merchandise next year will include race specific shoe inserts and lace charms. We got to see the race inserts and they looked great!

Next up – time to run! There were two running groups: one for straight running and one for run-walk-run. I went with the latter and off we went through an empty World Showcase. The torches and countries had remained lit after Illuminations, which was pretty cool. We ran one and a half times around the lagoon, ending up by the Fountain of Nations for some group photos.

runDisney Group Shot — Photo courtesy of runDisney

After photos, we headed to the front of the park for a toast. The meet ended around midnight and was a great start to a fun Wine and Dine Weekend! If you ever have the chance to attend a runDisney meet-up, I would definitely recommend it!

2013 Full Sail University Hall of Fame Class

Full Sail University Announces

2013 Hall of Fame Induction Class

Full Sail University is proud to announce the 2013 Full Sail University Hall of Fame induction class comprised of six graduates recognized for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment, media, and the arts. The induction of this new class of honorees will occur during Full Sail’s 5th Annual Hall of Fame Week, which will be held February 2014.

Coinciding with the university’s 35th anniversary year, the 5th Annual Hall of Fame schedule will include a weeklong series of campus-wide events featuring VIP speaking engagements, guest lectures, and concerts – including several events that will be open to the public – culminating in an induction ceremony to celebrate and recognize the 2013 class of inductees.

Sponsors already committed in support of the 5th Annual Full Sail University Hall of Fame Week include: Adobe Systems, Inc., Avid, CDW-G, Cisco, Murphy Lighting Systems, Sennheiser, and WWE, with additional sponsor announcements forthcoming.

The inductees to be honored at the 5th Annual Full Sail University Hall of Fame Week are:

Kim Alpert

* Current Title: Founder and Director of Creative Strategy at Make Amazing
* Industry Credits: With over a decade of working for world-renowned marketing and advertising agencies, Kim has been the creative force behind award-winning campaigns for global brands including: The Four Seasons Hotels, Nintendo, Samsung, Motorola, Sears, Pizza Hut, Reynolds Wrap, and Seattle’s Best Coffee, just to name a few.
* Her work as a Creative Director and Strategist has been broadcast nationally and hosted online with unique visitors in the millions.
* 2003 Graduate (Digital Arts & Design)

Tom Boyd

* Current Title: Underwater Cinematographer
* Industry Credits: During his 20+ year career, Tom has worked on more than 35 award-winning film and television projects including: Parenthood, CSI: NY, NCIS, Little Miss Sunshine, and Crimson Tide.
* His work has been featured by popular national and international brands including: TLC, IMAX, NCAA, and Nike.
* 1991 Graduate (Film)

Demacio “Demo” Castellon

* Current Title: Producer, Engineer, Mixer and Artistic Director Industry Credits: A native of Florida, Demo has worked as an engineer, mixer, producer, programmer, artistic director, and A&R representative for countless artists such as: Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, Lady GaGa, Robin Thicke, Rihanna, One Republic, Jay Z, Timbaland and Chris Cornell.
* His innovative style can be heard on Jay Z’s 2013 #1 release, Magna Carta Holy Grail, and Madonna’s 2013 #1 DVD release, MDNA World Tour.
* Demo is currently working with longtime collaborator Timbaland on a new posthumous Michael Jackson album, to be released in 2014.
* 2001 Graduate (Recording Arts)

Leon Hopkins

* Current Title: Road Staff Manager for Clair Global
* Industry Credits: Serving the world of concert touring for more than 28 years in two major capacities Leon currently serves as the Road Staff Manager for Clair Global, a leading sound reinforcement provider worldwide. In this capacity he has focused on road staff development at both the entry and experienced skill levels helping to launch and advance many careers which includes numerous Full Sail graduates for more than two decades of audio service to the worldwide touring industry.
* Previously, Leon served as a Live Sound System Engineer working around the globe with touring projects including major artists such as: Boston, Genesis, George Michael, Janet Jackson, Paul McCartney, ZZ Top, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, and more.
* 1985 Graduate (Recording Arts)

Larry Katz

* Current Title: Second Assistant Director
* Industry Credits: Working in production for over a decade in the motion picture industry Larry’s credits on major blockbuster films include: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Captain America: The First Avenger, X-Men: First Class, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
* In addition to feature film credits, his career includes work on numerous television projects including the primetime hits ER, Desperate Housewives, Castle, and 7th Heaven, as well as Showtime’s comedy-drama series, Californication.
* 2000 Graduate (Film)

Juan Peralta

* Current Title: Re-Recording Mixer at Skywalker Sound
* Industry Credits: Juan has worked on more than 90 film, television, and video game titles, including: Oblivion, War Horse, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, TRON: Legacy, Avatar, Ratatouille, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Cars, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, and many more.
* His latest projects include: Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
* In 2009, he won the Best Sound Editing award from the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) for WALL•E.
* 1996 Graduate (Recording Arts)

Since 2009, the university has celebrated the now time-honored tradition that is the Full Sail University Hall of Fame. Its purpose is to acknowledge those graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment, media, and the arts throughout the university’s 35-year history. This honor serves as a tribute to the creative inspiration, technical brilliance, and determination of each inductee, their unyielding dedication to more than a decade of excellence in their professional career, and their heartfelt commitment to the students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Full Sail University.

“As we embark on the fifth year of this remarkable celebration, we look forward to welcoming the latest induction class of the Full Sail University Hall of Fame back to campus, and we congratulate them on receiving this prestigious honor,” said Garry Jones, President of Full Sail University. “It is with great pride that we share this announcement with our students, staff, faculty, alumni, the Orlando community, and the entertainment industry as a whole.”

Additional information regarding events, special guests, and live concert performances will be announced, as we get closer to Hall of Fame Week. Please visit the official Full Sail Blog for more details, and follow @FullSail to join the #FullSailHOF conversation on Twitter.

About Full Sail University:
Full Sail University is an award-winning educational leader for those pursuing careers in the entertainment and media industry. Founded in 1979, Full Sail has been recognized as one of the Top Five Game Degree Programs by Electronic Gaming Monthly, one of the Best Music Programs by Rolling Stone Magazine, and one of the Best Film Programs by UNleashed Magazine. In addition, Full Sail received the “21st Century Best Practices in Distance Learning Award” from the United States Distance Learning Association, was named the “School/College of the Year” by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges, and was recognized as one of the Top 100 Social Media Colleges by Studentadvisor.com.

Full Sail offers on-campus and online Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree programs in areas related to animation, art, business, education, graphic design, film, marketing, web development, music, recording arts, sports, and video games. Full Sail graduate credits include work on OSCAR®, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, ADDY®, MTV Video Music Award, and Spike Video Game Award nominated and winning projects.

www.fullsail.edu
www.twitter.com/fullsail
www.facebook.com/fullsailuniversity

Brad Paisley Coming To The Amway Center

Brad Paisley, the connoisseur of country music, announced his Beat This Winter Tour today. Paisley, the Country Music Entertainer of the Year, visits the Amway Center on Saturday, January 25, 2014. Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 15 at 10 a.m.

WHAT:

Brad Paisley | Beat This Winter Tour

With Special Guests

Chris Young & Danielle Bradbery

WHERE:

Amway Center | Orlando, Florida

WHEN:

Saturday, January 25, 2014

ON SALE:

Friday, November 15, 2013 | 10:00 am

Special guests on the tour include Chris Young, winner of USA Network’s television program, “Nashville Star” in 2006 and Danielle Bradbery, the youngest and current winner of NBC’s “The Voice.”

TICKETS: $37.50, $67.50 & $87.50 – Buy tickets at amwaycenter.com, Chase Box Office Amway Center box office, 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.

SeaWorld Debuts AnimalVision

SeaWorld Fans “Dive” into the AnimalVision Digital Premiere

Interactive Platform Officially Launched Today, Providing 24/7 Window into SeaWorld’s Animal Habitats

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment launched AnimalVision,™ 24/7, on-habitat cameras streaming footage of penguins from Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin at SeaWorld Orlando, rays from Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark® in San Antonio and turtles from SeaWorld San Diego’s Turtle Reef®. AnimalVision.com offers an interactive website experience allowing visitors to create connections with amazing animals right from the comfort of home.

httpv://youtu.be/4a4dxRRaHs4

In celebration, viewers from across the nation had the chance to virtually “swim” with penguins at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction. Fans were encouraged to submit photos of their best penguin expressions through the official SeaWorld social channels and tune in to AnimalVision.com today at 1 p.m. to see themselves swimming with the penguins.

A SeaWorld diver was placed in the chilly 30-degree waters at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin with an iPad displaying fan–submitted photos as penguins swam by. At SeaWorld San Antonio, viewers also had the chance to interview a SeaWorld educator submerged with rays at Aquatica San Antonio, and in SeaWorld San Diego, they learned fun facts about sea turtles in the park’s Turtle Reef®.

AnimalVision provides animal camera fans with an interactive experience that goes beyond simply watching the animals demonstrating their natural behaviors. The new platform features:

Video web portal designed to be viewed from any computer, smartphone or tablet
The ability to take, share and save photos of their favorite video moment
Live Twitter feeds share comments with other AnimalVision viewers and interactive “ask the experts” sessions with animal trainers and zoological staff
Education and conservation information and facts about each featured species
Downloadable games
Additional animal species will be showcased in the near future

Each of the six cameras is high definition for the best viewing experience possible, including multiple viewpoints of the habitats. The cameras at SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™, show four different species of penguins both in the water and up on the ice. At Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark® in San Antonio, more than 200 stingrays and tropical fish including various species of angel, tang and butterfly fish are seen from shallow and deep underwater viewpoints. Turtle Reef® at SeaWorld San Diego features more than 40 threatened green sea turtles ranging in age from four to 50 years old with a view of the 280,000-gallon aquarium they call home.

About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company delivering personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature and enable its customers to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world we share. The Company owns or licenses a portfolio of globally recognized brands including SeaWorld®, Shamu® and Busch Gardens®. Over its more than 50 year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 11 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind collection of approximately 67,000 marine and terrestrial animals. The Company’s theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests. In addition to its theme parks, the company has recently begun to leverage its brands into media, entertainment and consumer products. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE: SEAS). Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. can be obtained online at www.seaworldentertainment.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register to automatically receive the Company’s press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail.

LEGOLAND Florida Announces

LEGOLAND Florida Hotel Opening in 2015

This year is very eventful if you are Jewish because Chanukah falls on Thanksgiving, but if you don’t have family in town there are plenty of events you can attend.

Jewish Heritage Night with the Orlando Magic

Wednesday, November 27th, 2013

First night of Chanukah

Amway Center in downtown Orlando

400 W Church St #200, Orlando, FL 32801

Pregame and Menorah lighting at 6:30 PM in the Vista Room

Tip-off at 7:00 PM

Chanukah Extravaganza at Orlando Torah Academy Wednesday, November 27, 2013 05:00 PM to 07:00 PM

Orlando Torah Academy will be hosting a Community Chanukah Extravaganza with food, fun, raffles and prizes.

Chanukah on the Park

Join Chabad of Orlando Saturday November 30th, 7:00 PM at Central Park on Park Ave.

Grand Menorah Lighting

JAO and JCC – Kids Sing A Long

Chassidic Dancers

Chocolate Chanukah Gelt

Live Concert by Dr. Laz

Sufganiot – Donuts

Grand $1000 Drawing

Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available

Orlando Torah Center

Join the Rosen Plaza and Chabad of South Orlando for their Chanukah Family Festival

Sunday, December 1, 2013 4pm-7pm

Event Includes:

6:00pm Grand Menorah Ceremony Lighting & Family Celebration, Latke Cook-Off

Chanukah Arts and Crafts, Raffles, Prizes, Gelt

Helicopter Rides, Teen Club with Games & Music

Fine Food Concessions Offered by Kosher Gourmet Food Court

Kosher Cotton Candy, Delicious Sufganiyot (Donuts), Food & Hot Dog Concessions

Live Music & Theater Acts, World Record Breaking Dreidel Spinning

20 Carnival Games, Miniature Train, Skeeball, Bounce Houses, Football & Basketball Toss

FREE ADMISSION For More Information, please call 407-996-0256