March 2017 - On the Go in MCO

Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival #corksandcoasters

If you are still trying to figure out what you are doing this weekend, why not consider a trip to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s third annual Food & Wine Festival DNCE and Walk Off The Earth take the stage!

Don’t know much about the Festival? I’ve got you covered!

The Festival features 13 different culinary cabins that guests can experience throughout the park, each with its own special menu including three new cabins, Tasty Taquiera, Cooking with Coke® Pavilion and Fry Fusion Presented by Coca-Cola®. With a menu of more than 35 delectable dishes designed specifically for the event, including signature dishes and exciting new cuisine like duck tacos, lobster ravioli, bacon mac & cheese, brown sugar rubbed pork belly, banana foster panna cotta and cabernet-filled chocolates, as well as an expanded selection of wines, craft brews and cocktails.

The festival takes place on Saturdays and Sundays now through April 30, and the best part is that these concerts, held at 7pm, are included with any Pass, Fun Card, or daily admission!!!

Busch Gardens Tampa Food and Wine Festival 2017 DNCE

DNCE- Saturday, April 1 at Gwazi Park – 7 p.m.

Formed in the summer of 2015, DNCE first introduced themselves to audiences worldwide with the unexpected release of their debut single “Cake by the Ocean,” their now certified double-platinum breakout smash which has made them one of 2016’s most buzzworthy acts. Released in September 2015 and included on the group’s 4-track debut EP, SWAAY (Republic Records), the song entered the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became a hit at Top 40 radio, where it went top three on the Pop Songs Radio Chart. Internationally, “Cake By The Ocean” reached Top 10 on iTunes in over 10 countries and has generated over 350 million streams on Spotify worldwide. Their second single “Toothbrush” was an instant radio hit and was added to powerhouse Top 40 radio stations like New York’s Z100 and Los Angeles’ KIISFM. The music video for the song stars sultry supermodel Ashley Graham and has garnered wide critical praise from media outlets like Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, People and Rolling Stone. To date, the video has amassed over 50 million views and has been certified gold by the RIAA. With a recent win at the MTV Video Music Awards for “Best New Artist” under their belt, the group has shown no signs of slowing down, recently announcing the upcoming release of their highly anticipated self-titled debut album, DNCE. Available November 18th on Republic Records, the album features the band’s latest hit anthem, “Body Moves.” Assembled by frontman Joe Jonas in the summer of 2015, DNCE’s all-star bandmates include bassist & keyboardist Cole Whittle, who co-founded the band Semi Precious Weapons, South Korean bred guitarist JinJoo, who has toured with the Jonas Brothers, Charli XCX, and CeeLo Green, and drummer Jack Lawless, who has previously joined the Jonas Brothers, Night Terrors of 1927, and Soft Swells on the road.

Walk Off The Earth – Sunday, April 2 at Gwazi Park – 7 p.m.

Walk Off The Earth, the chart-topping viral hit-makers who have extended the boundaries of what a 21st century band can bring to pop music and pop culture, released their Columbia Records sophomore album, ‘Sing It All Away,’ in 2015. The multi-platinum selling Canadian quintet, Marshall, Gianni Luminati, Taylor, Joel Cassady, and Sarah Blackwood, had already established a significant global following when their cover of Gotye’s “Somebody I Used To Know,” ignited the blogosphere, eventually garnering 164 million views, and landing the band a recording contract with Columbia Records. To date, they’ve accumulated almost half billion cumulative views and more than 2 million subscribers. Their single, “Red Hands,” generated 11 million Spotify streams and spent five weeks at #1 on AAA radio. Most notably, however, they are one of the few artists to continually and successfully find success on both DIY online platforms and throughout the traditional music marketplace.

Busch Gardens Tampa Food & Wine Festival Chef Norman Van Aken

In addition to chart topping concerts, this year Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has added more ways to savor the festival including:

SPECIAL PACKAGES:

Food & Wine Festival VIP Priority Seating – VIP Priority Seating is available for each concert date. Reservations start at $24.99.

Food & Wine Sampler – Guests with exclusive interests in culinary offerings can purchase a Food & Wine sampler that includes any samples of choice throughout the Festival. Samplers are available in quantities of five, eight or twelve and start at $29.99.

Wine by the Bottle – Guests can take home a part of the Food & Wine Festival with wine available for purchase by the bottle in select gift shops, including Xcursions, Nature’s Kingdom and Tiger Trail.

SeaWorld Orlando Summer Camps For Kids

I can’t believe it’s that time again…but it is time to start registering kids for Summer Camps and one of the most popular in the City Beautiful are hosted by SeaWorld Orlando!

SeaWorld Orlando Summer Camps 2017 Campers watching dolphins jump — SeaWorld Orlando

The popular camps offer one-of-a-kind educational, exciting encounters that can’t be found in a traditional classroom. Each camp includes up-close experiences with marine animals designed to encourage a lifelong passion for wildlife and the environment. Registration is now open for 2017 sessions which run weekly June 5 through August 4.

Each week, campers are immersed in the wonders of the sea through exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunities and educational sessions along with the opportunity to experiences SeaWorld’s amazing attractions, rides and shows. The opportunities campers receive are unparalleled: first-hand experiences with veterinarians, animal trainers and animal care staff. During camp, attendees around surrounded by aquatic life as they make friends, have fun, explore and create lifelong memories.

SeaWorld Camps provide a learning environment that fosters exploration and self-discovery. Campers from choose to take part in two types of camp experiences:

Day Camps: During their week, participants learn about a variety of animals, including whales, dolphins, penguins and sea lions. Campers focus on a particular theme throughout the week.

SeaWorld Orlando Summer Camps 2017 Shark Touch Pool — SeaWorld Orlando

Each day they learn about different species through songs, take-home arts and crafts, time with zoological staff, up-close animal encounters and more. Children going into preschool through 8^th grade can take part in SeaWorld’s Day Camp. Daily lunch, snacks, a camp T-shirt and water bottle are included.

Resident Camps: Created especially for students interested in potential careers with animals, Resident Camps provide extensive experiences and hands on learning. Students going in to 7th-12^th grade learn what it takes to train and work with marine animals.

SeaWorld Orlando Summer Camps 2017 Resident Camps — SeaWorld Orlando

Sessions include personal one-on-one time with a penguin and other animals, the chance to snorkel while submerged in a shark cage, opportunities to work with the animal care staff and the ability to help SeaWorld’s team create enriching environments for the animals. Residents also get to experience a full day at Discovery Cove, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling with tropical fish and rays, and feeding exotic birds in a free-flight aviary. Resident Camp fee includes all camp activities, lodging onsite at SeaWorld and at a partner hotel for five nights, all meals and snacks. Supervision and guidance is provided 24 hours a day for the entire duration. Resident Camps are so popular, many campers fly in from around the country; these campers receive transportation to and from the Orlando International Airport by the dedicated camp staff to start their camp experience.

SeaWorld Orlando Summer Camps 2017 Campers at Underwater Viewing 2 — SeaWorld Orlando

Prices for Day Camp start at $350 for one week; Resident Camp pricing starts at $1200 for one week. After camp care is also available from 3 to 5 p.m. for an extra fee. Parents are able to register their children online at SeaWorldCamps.com/Orlando or by calling 407-545-5550.

Annual Passholder Preview of Pandora – The World of Avatar

Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will want to keep an eye out for an email from Disney Destinations with the opportunity to register to be among the first to explore Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

You’re invited to visit a groundbreaking destination, Pandora—The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom_® Theme Park. Here, you’ll be among the first to experience expeditions where you can fly on the back of a banshee, walk under floating mountains and navigate a mystical Na’vi river.

This world beyond belief awaits you!As this is an early exploration of Pandora—The World of Avatar, please note that access to some areas of the Valley of Mo’ara on Pandora may be limited during your visit. The number of reservations for this event are limited and subject to availability.

Current Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can register themselves and four guest from their Friends & Family List on their My Disney Experience Account to attend a two hour preview of the Valley of Mo’ara starting May 13th.

The preview window is 2 weeks, and there are 3 time slots available per day from 12 pm – 2 pm, 3 pm – 5 pm, and 6 pm -8 pm.

When you are signing up for a slot make sure at no time do you hit the back button, because the system does queue you up and if you hit the back button it could affect your registration process.

Once you have registered you will receive a confirmation email, and here’s the fine print:

Passholder In-Park Preview for Pandora – The World of Avatar

All Guests must be Passholders in order to register for a time slot to preview Pandora – The World of Avatar.
Guests may only register for one (1) time slot over the course of the preview period.
If an Annual Passholder would like to register a Guest to accompany them, that Guest must also have a valid annual pass for admission to the event’s theme park location on the date of the event, be listed on your Family & Friends list and have opted to share “All My Plans” with you.
Passholders with confirmed reservations will receive an additional email with details on how to check in for this experience, by May 12, 2017.
All Guests must present their valid annual pass (or linked MagicBand), government issued ID and confirmation page to a Cast Member in order to enter Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park and Pandora – The World of Avatar on the date of your preview.
Availability is subject to change without notice.
Event is subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather.
Guests must meet appropriate boarding and height requirements for the attractions.
Capacity is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Due to limited capacity, modifications to existing reservations will not be available.
Limit one reservation per Passholder. Reservations are nontransferable and void if sold or otherwise transferred.

Once you have registered, if you have any issues you can call the passholder line at (407) 560-7277. (Just a warning that at the time of publishing this post wait times were almost an hour)

Keep in mind that these emails do go out in waves, so if you haven’t received yours yet be patient!!! While you wait, make sure that all of your family members and friends My Disney Experience accounts are connected to make registration easier!

Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson Coming To Orlando

I grew up with a father who was a HUGE Jethro Tull fan, and this November the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts will host Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson in the art center’s Walt Disney Theater on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 8 pm.

Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The anticipated concert will feature a solid collection of the best-known Tull repertoire from 1968 to date. Fans will recognize key songs from various albums – songs which put Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson on the map in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Many of the songs will be accompanied by big screen HD video elements to enhance the concert experience. Favorites include, “Dharma for One” in 1968, “Bourée,” “Nothing is Easy,” “A New Day Yesterday,” “Living in the Past,” “Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” “My God,” all through “Thick as a Brick” and material from albums of the following three decades. A few recent works round out the concert selection which will vary each performance.

Anderson is accompanied by Tull members David Goodier (bass), John O’Hara (keyboards), Florian Ophale (guitar), and Scott Hammond (drums).

Jethro Tull by Ian Anderson will play in Australia and New Zealand in April of this year, with further dates throughout Europe, South America and the United States, including the Orlando date, later this year.

Tickets are on sale now starting at $35.00 and may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 , or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases are subject to handling fees.

A new album from Anderson and England’s The Carducci String Quartet entitled “Jethro Tull – The String Quartets” will be available in March 24, 2017 via The End Records/BMG. The album is available for pre-order on Pledge Music at http://www.pledgemusic.com/.

Wild Florida Welcomes Two Nile Crocodiles

Wild Florida Airboats and Gator Park has welcomed two Nile Crocodiles to its Gator and Wildlife Park. The male and female crocodile pair were among a surplus of reptiles at a park located near the Florida Keys.

Wild Florida Gators March 2017

The 8-foot-long male and 6-foot-long female are acclimating to their new exhibit at Wild Florida and will begin training in the next couple of weeks. Known to be extremely intelligent animals, Wild Florida’s goal is for the crocodiles to eventually respond to their names and various queues.

Wild Florida’s mission has always been to promote a connection with the animals and further educate guests on the species in its wildlife park and nature conservation.

Along with these reptiles, a new animal trainer will join the Wild Florida team. Andrew Biddle will be responsible for training the crocodiles as well as enhancing the daily alligator feeding shows. Biddle has more than 20 years of experience in training and handling several species of animals, including alligators and crocodiles.

Wild Florida Andrew Biddle March 2017

“My mission is teaching the world how amazing animals are. Conservation through education. Giving people the chance to experience opportunities like no other with these amazing animals,” Biddle shared.

In addition to the new crocodiles, the wildlife park is home to various native Florida species and exotic animals such as sloths, lemurs, zebras, tropical birds, and more. Admission to the Gator and Wildlife Park is free with the purchase of an airboat tour, or separately for $18 per adult and $15 per child. Florida residents get 50% off with valid photo ID.

Wild Florida Logo

Wild Florida Airboats and Gator Park, which opened on Lake Cypress in Kenansville in 2010, focuses on educating individuals on Central Florida’s natural resources. The Wild Florida team is dedicated to protecting, conserving, and enhancing Florida’s diverse ecosystem to ensure that future generations can enjoy the wonders of wild, native Florida.

Boardwalk Bowl Hosts PBA Event

Bowlers in the Orlando area have the chance to compete with some of the best bowlers in the world while making a difference.

Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center will be the site of the inaugural PBA South Strike Out Crohn’s and Colitis Open Pro-Am on Friday, March 24. The event benefits the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.

Professional bowler Rhino Page is set to host the event, and scheduled pros include Tommy Jones, Walter Ray Williams Jr., EJ Tackett, Ronnie Russell and Norm Duke.

Bowlers can participate in two ways. For $25, bowlers will receive the Champion for Charity package, which includes a chance to bowl with the professionals, a PBA certificate and a souvenir.

For $40, bowlers will receive the Charitable Competition package, which also includes the chance to compete for monetary prizes.

Both packages allow participants to bowl three games of 3-6-9 with three PBA professionals. The professionals move every game so bowlers can meet and compete with the very best.

A portion of the entry fee will go to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. Entries must be paid by Friday, March 24, 2017, at noon. Walk-ins are also welcome for $5 more if space is available. The additional $5 collected from walk-ins will go directly to the foundation.

In addition, on Saturday, March 25, there will be a special Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Fundraising event. It will take place from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.at Boardwalk Bowl.

Participants will be able to bowl and will receive shoe rental and a T-shirt, and there will be music and entertainment. Price for the bowling event is $35. General admission and a T-shirt is $20, and a donation and T-shirt is $30. Sign up must be completed by Thursday, March 23. For more information, email CCFASouthOpen@hotmail.com.

For more information on the PBA South Open Pro-Am, visit the leagues page of the Boardwalk Bowl website here.

2017 Vans Warped Tour Announcement At Full Sail Live

The entire lineup for 2017’s Vans Warped Tour, presented by Journeys, will be unveiled via a LIVE webcast, direct from Full Sail Live, the state-of-the-art performance venue on the campus of Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL on Wednesday, March 22nd at 6pm EST.

Now in its 23rd year, the Vans Warped Tour is the largest traveling music festival in the United States, and the longest-running touring music festival in North America. The festival was originally conceived by founder Lyman in 1995 as an eclectic alternative rock festival, with a focus on punk rock, over the years the tour has grown to include a multitude of genres, including metal, hip hop, reggae, pop and more.

The webcast will feature live performances from a selection of artists performing on this summer’s tour. Fans can tune into the webcast on March 22nd, via vanswarpedtour.com.

A limited number of free tickets to the announcement event will be made available to the public. Space is limited, and will be available on a first come, first served basis. If you are in the Central Florida area and are interested in learning how to attend the event in person, visit www.FullSailBlog.com/VWT.

Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman added, “The entire team at Full Sail University was amazing to work with for the [artist announcement] event last year, so we are honored that they wanted to host the event again. After 22 years on the road, it’s great to have partners like Full Sail University that believe in the tour, its message, and its success.”

Tickets for this year’s tour will go on sale on March 22nd at 10am local time at vanswarpedtour.com, and will be coming to Orlando on June 30th!

As a bonus for early ticket buyers, the first 500 tickets sold for each show will be at the lowest price available and will include a digital download of the Official Vans Warped Tour 50-song compilation.

Ed Sheeran Returns To The Amway Center

Ed Sheeran 2017 Tour Amway Center

If you are like me, you were really excited when multiple Grammy Award-winning global superstar Ed Sheeran announced the details for his North American arena tour included a return to Orlando’s Amway Center on Thursday, August 31.

The tour celebrates Sheeran’s landmark third studio album, “÷.” The album – pronounced “divide” – includes the universal hit singles, “Shape of You” and “Castle On The Hill,” both of which made incredible chart entries after their simultaneous January release. “Shape of You” debuted at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 – Sheeran’s first time atop the overall chart and has remained there for six weeks total. Meanwhile, “Castle On The Hill” entered the Hot 100 at number six, establishing Sheeran as the first artist to ever have two singles make simultaneous top 10 debuts in the chart’s 58-year history. “Shape of You” was quickly certified double-platinum by the RIAA, while “Castle on the Hill” earned gold — the first two songs released in 2017 to achieve RIAA certifications this year.

Ed Sheeran Orlando Information At-A-Glance:

What:

ED SHEERAN NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

When:

Thursday, August 31, 2017 | 7:30 pm

Where:

Amway Center | Orlando, FL

On Sale:

Friday, March 17, 2017 | 10 am

Tickets:

$36.50, $66.50 & $86.50 (prices subject to change). 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

Super Ed Sheeran fans will want to make sure that they keep up with him on his Official website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.

LEGOLAND Florida Hosts The LEGO Batman Movie Days

Super Hero. Crime-fighter. Master Builder. LEGO Batman is all of those and so much more.

With the scene-stealing star of The LEGO Movie starring in his very own big-screen adventure, The LEGO Batman Movie, from Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Animation Group and LEGO System A/S, LEGOLAND Florida Resort will celebrate the Caped Crusader with an exclusive new event taking place March 4-5 and 11-12 at the place #BuiltForKids.

LEGOLAND Florida LEGO Batman Weekends 2017

LEGOLAND Florida Resort Hosts LEGO Batman Movie Days

Developed with The LEGO Group and Warner Bros. Consumer Products, The LEGO Batman Movie Days promise epic fun for kids and families, with everything centered on the beloved crime-fighter who “only works in black. And sometimes, very, very dark gray.”

Fans can meet Gotham City’s iconic DC super hero in LEGO form only at LEGOLAND theme parks and LEGOLAND Discovery Centers in 2017. Included with all forms of LEGOLAND Florida theme park admission, including annual passes, The Movie Days will include an exclusive photo op with LEGO Batman, a Batman-themed scavenger hunt throughout MINILAND USA and multiple hands-on LEGO building activities inspired by The LEGO Batman Movie.

No extra ticket required!

LEGOLAND Florida LEGO Batman Weekends 2017 — PHOTO / LOCK + LAND, Chip Litherland for LEGOLAND Florida Resort

During the two event weekends, fans and passholders will receive special LEGO Batman retail gifts with qualifying purchases while supplies last. Visit The Big Shop and LEGO Studio Store for a huge selection of LEGO building sets, limited-edition LEGO Minifigures, costumes, accessories and more from the smash-hit movie.

As fans of The LEGO Batman Movie, I can say that we are incredibly excited to check out these special weekends at the LEGOLAND Florida Resort!!!

For more information about visiting LEGOLAND Florida Resort, including savings on advance purchase of admission tickets, multi-tier annual passes, educational programs, services for guests with disabilities, VIP Experiences, Premium Upgrades, military discounts, on-site accommodations and much more, visit www.LEGOLAND.com/florida, or call (877) 350-5346.