The theme parks of Central Florida are always buzzing with excitement and events, and here is everything you can experience this weekend in the parks!
Don’t forget to tune in to News 96.5 WDBO this evening to hear me talk about these events and more on Orlando’s Evening News with Tony Marino!!!
On the Go in the Parks: New this Weekend
While it is a bit of a lull in the parks this weekend, Wednesday kicks off a whirlwind of awesomeness!!!
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and the Mickey Shorts Theater open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and just a park over the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival begins at EPCOT!
Universal Orlando is celebrating 25 years of its family-friendly Mardi Gras festivities with new parade floats, globally inspired cuisine, and live concerts on select nights from February 1 to April 2 at the Universal Studios Florida theme park.
This year’s parade features six new additional floats and steps-off at 6:15 pm on February 28, 7:45 pm on February 29, and 6:15 pm on March 1.
On select nights during the event, guests can enjoy performances by some of the biggest names in music on the Universal Music Plaza Stage.
This weekend you can see:
Saturday, Feb. 29 – TLC
Opening daily at 4 pm, the French Quarter Courtyard is where you can find food and spirits available for purchase and performances from Louisiana jazz, blues, and zydeco bands. You can see the Free Agents Brass Band will take to the French Quarter Courtyard Stage daily until March 6.
All of the excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida or with a Seasonal or Annual Pass (blockout dates apply).
And until April 2, Florida residents can experience this year’s Mardi Gras celebration and the spring season by saving up to $65 on multi-day tickets and up to $75 on Seasonal and Annual Passes.
In 2020 the Seven Seas Food Festival will run from February 7 through May 5, including Fridays (WOOOOT), to give park-goers plenty more chances to sample more than 180 mouthwatering options from Chef Héctor Colón and his amazing culinary team!
New food offerings include the cricket crusted bison slider, duck and mushroom ramen bowl and the chicken and waffle.
Enjoy local craft beers and mouthwatering culinary flavors while exploring our marketplaces throughout the park.
In addition to delicious eats, guests visiting SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival can enjoy world-class entertainment every Saturday and Sunday at Bayside Stadium, all included with theme park admission.
This weekend the Seven Seas Food Festival will feature free concerts from:
February 29 – Grupo Mania
March 1 – Boyz II Men
You can find more information about theme park news and tips by subscribing to our YouTubeChannel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
The 27th Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival will bloom at the Walt Disney World Resort filling the park with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Spring daily from March 4 until June 1, 2020.
Lush Gardens
Imagination blooms around every corner during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival as breathtaking flower beds, plots of plant life, and wildlife habitats can be found in every area of the park.
Bamboo Garden – As a member of the grass family, bamboo can be found at the China Pavilion in many colors, patterns and sizes.
Bold Bromeliads – Located at the Mexico Pavilion
Bonsai Collection – Take a trip to the Japan Pavilion and discover the ancient art of bonsai with some of the finest living sculptures created by bonsai masters, who carefully shape and tend these miniature works of art—creating peace and balance with the earth.
Chinese Zodiac Natural Sculptures – Located at the China Pavilion
English Tea Garden Presented by Twinings of London – Discover the history and art of tea blending at this elegant English Tea Garden at the United Kingdom Pavilion, featuring plants important to some of Twinings finest tea blends.
Festival Blooms – Located at Future World, this display boasts thousands of flowers form colorful, living panoramas overlooking Future World’s East and West lakes.
Floating Mini-Gardens – Peer upon more than 100 petite plots drifting on the ponds that border the walkway between Future World and the World Showcase.
Garden Italiano – From fresh spaghetti sauce to your favorite pizza topping, this Tuscan kitchen garden at the Italy Pavilion features all the produce and herbs needed to create a classic Italian feast.
Health Full Trail Presented by AdventHealth – Delight in a whimsical area along Imagination Walkway for kids, made to inspire youthful energy and creativity. Your whole family can learn fun and interactive ways to stay healthy at a brand-new playground and outdoor kitchen.
The Honey Bee-Stro – Learn about the importance of honeybees in this immersive garden. You can also enjoy some food options, made possible by their hard work, from the adjoining outdoor kitchen. Find it near Imagination! Pavilion.
Kokedama Garden – Admire fresh expressions of an ancient Japanese art. The Kokedama Garden features skilled bonsai creations.
Growing the Future Presented by Murata – Explore how cutting-edge technology paired with agricultural science can transform the way we feed the world. Discover the possibilities with our friends at Science from Scientists and engage in fun, fascinating, hands-on experiments—opening April 7, 2020.
Shakespeare Garden – Thou shalt adore matching up famous quotes to flowers found within this vibrant garden at the United Kingdom Pavilion. William Shakespeare often used flowers and exotic gardens to help set the scenes for his plays and employed them as symbols and metaphors.
The Goodness Garden Butterfly House Presented by GoGo squeeZ – Visit this foliage-filled exhibit at Future World West to view a kaleidoscope of butterflies and observe several species up close, learning about their life cycles and maybe even witnessing them emerging from chrysalises.
Plant a Garden Perfect for Pollinators – Stop by this display near the Butterfly House and take garden-ready ideas home with you, along with garden crafts and sustainable best practices.
Tropical Rainforest Garden – Visit the Mexico Pavilion and learn how Mexico rainforests are rich with plants and animals that have adapted to a wide variety of light levels and water conditions.
Urban Spice – At the Morocco Pavilion, learn how in many eastern cultures, ancient spices were considered more valuable than gold. Even today, many cultures are defined by their signature spices and herb blends, created from plant leaves, stems, roots, seeds and flowers.
Topiaries with character
The topiaries are the highlight of every Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, and this year 70 hand-crafted topiaries have been created by Disney’s talented team horticulturists.
While there are many returning favorites, there are a few new additions you won’t want to miss!
Here is where you will find the topiaries during the Festival:
Anna and Elsa from Frozen – Located at the Norway Pavilion
Bambi & Friends(Featuring Flower, Bambi and Thumper) – Located in Future World East just outside of the new Mousegear
Beauty and the Beast Located at the France Pavilion
Bo Peep and Her Sheep with Woody – Located at Future World East
Bold Bromeliads – Located near The Land at Future World East
Bromeliad Dragon – Located at the Japan Pavilion
Buzz Lightyear – Located near Mission: SPACE at Future World East
Captain Hook and Peter Pan – Located at the United Kingdom Pavilion
Construction Mickey and Minnie with Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale – Located between Future World and World Showcase
Donald and Daisy with Huey, Dewey and Louie – Located near Showcase Plaza
Fantasia – Sorcerer Mickey, Brooms, Ostriches and Hippo – Located near Imagination at Future World West
Lady and the Tramp – Located at the Italy Pavilion (their new location on the water is my favorite)
Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog – Located between the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilions at the France Pavilions
Pandas – Located at the China Pavilion
Pluto and Goofy – Located between Future World and World Showcase
Remy (NEW!) – Located at the France Pavilion
Simba and Friends(Featuring Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa and Sarabi) – Located between The Outpost Shop and the Germany Pavilion
Snow White and Dopey – Located at the Germany Pavilion
Tinker Bell and Fairy Houses – Located at the United Kingdom Pavilion
The Three Caballeros(Featuring Jose, Donald and Panchito) – Located at the Mexico Pavilion
Topiary Butterflies – Located at Future World West
Topiary Flowers – Located near the Main Entrance
Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends – Located at the United Kingdom Pavilion
Interactive Play Scapes
Families can take a step off the Festival path to experience two play gardens filled with hands-on activities and interactive playscapes.
At Bo Peep’s Playtime Training Grounds, located near Test Track, little ones of all ages can enjoy a playful playground and garden inspired by Bo Peep and the rest of your Toy Story pals.
The Play Full Garden, located on the Imagination Walkway, will inspire the entire family to gather for interactive activities that focus on nutrition and wellness.
Family Scavenger Hunts
Gardeners of all ages are invited to participate in Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration, a springtime scavenger hunt starring Spike the bzzzz-iest honey bee at the Walt Disney World Resort.
📷 Walt Disney World Resort- Harrison Cooney
Once you have your Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration map, available for purchase at the Port of Entry for $6.99 plus tax, search for Spike’s best blooms across Epcot’s World Showcase, and once you’ve completed the hunt return the completed map to the Port of Entry store for a special surprise.
Also for a limited time, March 27 to April 12 or while supplies last, Epcot becomes the ‘Hop-piest Place on Earth’ with an Egg-stravaganza Scavenger Hunt around World Showcase in search of Disney character-themed eggs.
Annual Passholders can receive a discount on the purchase of both Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration and the Egg-stravaganza Scavenger Hunts! Just make sure to show your Annual Pass with ID.
Outdoor Kitchens
As festival-goers take in all the floral wonders of the Festival, they can also find culinary delights at over a dozen Outdoor Kitchens around Epcot’s World Showcase.
📷 Walt Disney World Resort – Harrison Cooney
The Outdoor Kitchens open at 11am, and just outside of each location a garden offers inspiration for learning to grow healthy ingredients.
A complete list of Outdoor Kitchens and menus can be found here.
Garden Rocks Concert Series
The popular Garden Rocks Concert Series will rock every evening of the Festival with three performances by chart-topping artists on the America Gardens Theatre stage.
📷 Walt Disney World Resort
It is such a great way to kick off your evening in the park or wrap up a fantastic day!
Additionally, guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at 15 popular Epcot restaurants with guaranteed seating for a nightly concert with a Garden Rocks Dining Package. Dining packages can be booked by calling (407) WDW-DINE.
You can find the entire Garden Rocks Concert Series and more information on the dining packages here.
Festival Exclusive Guided Tours
Guided tours are available for gardeners of all skill levels who are interested in learning more about nature’s magic exclusively during the Festival.
📷 Walt Disney World Resort
The Royal Tea Garden Tour, presented by Twinings, takes place each festival morning at the United Kingdom Pavilion and guides guests through the tranquil tea garden to learn the history and artistry behind growing and blending tea.
The Gardens of the World tour, offered on select days, lets guests join a Disney horticulturist for a three-hour walking tour to explore the festival gardens and topiaries discovering new plant materials and gardening techniques to use in their home gardens.
Epcot admission and a fee are required to join these tours. To make a reservation, call (407) WDW-TOUR.
📷 Walt Disney World Resort
Gene Duncan, photographer
The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, including all gardens and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.
You can find more information about theme park special events, news, and tips by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
The Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival kicks off earlier than ever, starting February 29!
Featuring dozens of all-new menu items, including delicious food, wine, craft brews, specialty cocktails such as the Iron Gwazi Gimlet, and a fantastic line-up of world-class musical acts – the 6th Annual Food & Wine Festival runs every weekend February 29 through April 26 and is included with park admission.
World-Class Entertainment to Satisfy All Tastes
The Food & Wine Festival line-up reflects musical genres of all tastes – from nostalgic bands to modern favorites.
Concert headliners include:
Feb 29: Collective Soul
March 1: The Commodores
March 7: Chase Bryant & Danielle Bradbery
March 8: Rachel Platten
March 14: Ezra Ray Hart
March 15: THREE DOG NIGHT
March 21: LOCASH
March 22: Fitz & The Tantrums
March 28: Home Free
March 29: Taking Back Sunday
April 4: Third Eye Blind
April 5: KC & The Sunshine Band
April 11: 38 Special
April 12: Micah Tyler & Austin French
April 18 Lee Brice
April 19: Clint Black
April 25: El Gran Combo
April 26: Toad the Wet Sprocket & The Verve Pipe
Fans can book the ultimate festival experience with one of two exclusive VIP packages available for each act, including reserved concert seating and a 5-item Food & Wine Festival Sampler Lanyard.
NEW for 2020, upgrade to the ultimate concert-goer experience with Unlimited Food & Wine Festival VIP Seating which includes VIP seating for EVERY concert of our 2020 Festival!
All-New Menu, All-New Flavors
Busch Gardens’ new award-winning Executive Chef, Ernie Reyes brings a fresh approach to this popular event.
With 25 NEW food items in addition to fan-favorite dishes and over 80 wines, beers and cocktails to choose from, the Food & Wine Festival offers an endless variety of flavors to sip and savor!
Guests can tempt their taste buds with the following NEW items:
The ALL-NEW Chef’s Corner cabin: featuring three signature dishes carefully crafted by the park’s head chefs – arroz con pollo, pork belly taco with kimchi slaw, and pork tenderloin with champagne watercress sauce.
NEW Iconic Coaster Cocktails: including Iron Gwazi Gimlet, Falcon’s Fury Lemon Drop, and Tigris Tea
NEW Pick-A-Barrel tasting: create your own flight of liquors and wines from around the world
Click here to view the entire menu and pick your perfect upgrade or purchase your Food & Wine Festival Sampler Lanyard – the best way to savor and save on everything the event has to offer!
Guests can purchase a 5, 8 or 12-item sampler lanyard to use at each festival cabin to explore sample-sized dishes and drink offerings with ease, starting at just $32.
Pass Members can purchase an exclusive 15-item sampler for the same price as a 12-item sampler and SAVE 20%!
Best Way to Play:
The best value to visit Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival and year-round events is with an Annual Pass that includes 12 months of unlimited visits, FREE parking, FREE Serengeti Safari, merchandise and dining discounts, and special limited-time perks throughout the year.
Or for a limited time, buy a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 2020 Fun Card and an Adventure Island 2020 Fun Card FREE – Florida families can take advantage of this limited time buy-one-get-one FREE offer and get unlimited year-round park admission to TWO until December 31, 2020.
The first look photos of Dockside Inn and Suites guest areas include its casual dining food court – Pier 8 Market, the hotel lobby, resort-style pool, and 2-Bedroom Suites.
Universal Orlando Resort
This first look gives guests a preview of the inspiration for the resort, designed to evoke the feeling of being surrounded by the sea from the shore and catching the sunset from beneath a pier.
Universal Orlando Resort
Dockside Inn and Suites is the second hotel in Universal Orlando’s Value category and will add 2,050 guest rooms to the destination by the end of 2020, featuring both standard rooms and spacious 2-Bedroom Suites that sleep up to six.
Universal Orlando Resort
With rates starting as low as $79 per night based on a five-night stay during value season, Dockside combines the quality guests have come to expect from a Universal Orlando hotel with an extra-affordable price point – creating an experience that is unmatched in the Orlando area.
Plus, hotel guests receive exclusive theme park benefits, including Early Park Admission, complimentary and convenient transportation to and from the theme parks, and more, creating a complete and seamless vacation experience.
Universal Orlando Resort
With the addition of Dockside Inn and Suites and the 750-room Surfside Inn and Suites, the two Universal’s Endless Summer Resort hotels will add 2,800 rooms to the destination – bringing the total room count at Universal Orlando Resort to 9,000 rooms by the end of 2020.
If you are curious about what the rooms look like in person, check out these videos from Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites, its sister resort.
You can find more information and how to book a stay at Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites here.
Today new details were released about the new Mickey Shorts Theater that will open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on March 4, 2020!
The reimagined theater, located between For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration and Star Tours, has an interior inspired by the fun of the Disney Channel cartoon series.
Walt Disney World
How adorable are those seats???
And now we have more information about the one-of-a-kind animated short featuring everyone’s favorite mouse and his leading lady and the post-show experience.
Walt Disney World
The “Vacation Fun” all-new animated short that will be shown in the Mickey Shorts Theater celebrates Mickey and Minnie’s favorite vacation memories, plus a few new adventures!
After the show, guests can make even more memories by stepping into life-sized versions of beloved animated Mickey shorts, where they can pose for photos with family and friends.
Existing shorts from the Mickey Mouse television series that are being used in the post-show photo experience are Yodelburg, Potatoland, Entombed, and Panda-monium.
Visiting ICON Park on I-Drive just got an upgrade, thanks to the release of an all-access ticket to exciting attractions along with major food, drink, and retail discounts.
The ICON Park Play Pass, $65 per person plus tax, unlocks the fun that ICON Park offers including entrance to world-renowned attractions and discounts at a broad selection of funky bars, restaurants, and retail stores.
Madame Tussauds Orlando
With a Play Pass, guests will receive one entry to:
The Wheel at ICON Park
Madame Tussauds Orlando
SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium
Orlando Starflyer
Pearl Express Train
7D Dark Ride Adventure
Arcade City $5.00 Play Card
Foodies won’t want to miss out on incredible dining discounts at ICON Park’s refined eateries with the Play Pass. They can enjoy up to 20 percent off at favorites like the Sugar Factory, Tin Roof, Mikado, Shake Shack, Ox Grill and more. Play Pass holders also get exclusive access to all-day happy hour at ICON Park’s Lawn Bar, Deck Bar and Wheelhouse Bar.
But no trip to ICON Park is complete without a little shopping. Play Pass holders can shop ’til they drop and save big at ICON Park’s amazing stores. They receive up to 25 percent off on favorite brands like Tervis, Sunglass Boutique, Flip Flop Shop, The Wheel Gift Shop and more.
Finally, visitors can commemorate their trip with a digital photo package from ICON Park. The Play Pass gets guests free digital pre-ride photos of The Wheel and 50 percent off printed photos.
“Whether you’re a tourist or a local, our new Play Pass is the perfect way to experience ICON Park,” said Chris Jaskiewicz, president, and CEO of ICON Park. “We have so much to offer at ICON Park and we are eager to share our attractions, restaurants, and shops. The Play Pass is a fun and affordable option for everyone.”
The pass is now available online and in-person and is valid for 30 days from the date of purchase.
The theme parks of Central Florida are always buzzing with excitement and events, and here is everything you can experience On the Go in the Parks this weekend!
Don’t forget to tune in to News 96.5 WDBO this evening to hear me talk about these events and more on Orlando’s Evening News with Tony Marino!!!
It is the final weekend for the Epcot International Festival of the Arts!!!
The celebration of visual, culinary, and performing arts from around the world happens daily through February 24, 2020.
The Disney on Broadway Concert Series is the highlight of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts as Broadway stars reprise favorite songs from past performances in award-winning shows three times a day on the American Gardens Theatre stage.
Performances are at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM daily, and you will want to arrive AT LEAST 30 minutes before the concert is set to begin.
This weekend the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will feature:
Universal Orlando is celebrating 25 years of its family-friendly Mardi Gras festivities with new parade floats, globally inspired cuisine, and live concerts on select nights from February 1 to April 2 at the Universal Studios Florida theme park.
This year’s parade features six new additional floats and steps-off at 6:15 pm this weekend.
On select nights during the event, guests can enjoy performances by some of the biggest names in music on the Universal Music Plaza Stage.
This weekend you can see:
Saturday, Feb. 22 – Kool & the Gang @ 8:30 pm
Opening daily at 4 pm, the French Quarter Courtyard is where you can find food and spirits available for purchase and performances from Louisiana jazz, blues, and zydeco bands. You can see the Dirty Bourbon River Show will take to the French Quarter Courtyard Stage daily until February 13.
All of the excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida or with a Seasonal or Annual Pass (blackout dates apply).
And until April 2, Florida residents can experience this year’s Mardi Gras celebration and the spring season by saving up to $65 on multi-day tickets and up to $75 on Seasonal and Annual Passes.
Don’t forget that Mardi Gras celebrations at Universal Studios Florida are held rain or shine, so be sure to plan accordingly.
In 2020 the Seven Seas Food Festival will run from February 7 through May 5, including Fridays (WOOOOT), to give park-goers plenty more chances to sample more than 180 mouthwatering options from Chef Héctor Colón and his amazing culinary team!
New food offerings include the cricket crusted bison slider, duck and mushroom ramen bowl and the chicken and waffle.
Enjoy local craft beers and mouthwatering culinary flavors while exploring our marketplaces throughout the park.
In addition to delicious eats, guests visiting SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival can enjoy world-class entertainment every Saturday and Sunday at Bayside Stadium, all included with theme park admission.
This weekend the Seven Seas Food Festival will feature free concerts from:
February 22 – Walk Off The Earth
February 23 – Dennis DeYoung; The Music of Styx
You can find more information about what’s On the Go in the Parks by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
The City Beautiful and Central Florida have so much to offer outside of the parks, and every week we’ll be sharing our top picks for events outside of the parks you’ll want to put on your calendar while you are On the Go in Orlando!
Sanford Residential Historic District (101 E 10th Street Sanford, FL 32771)
Admission is FREE -Food and vendors extra
The 3rd Annual Sanford Porchfest Music Festival will fill downtown Sanford with 50 bands on 12 porches uniting an entire community. one cause.
This event is built and ran entirely on goodwill, and 100% of the proceeds (general donations/merchandise sales) will be reinvested into the community.
Porchfest is family, pet, bicycle, and walker friendly.
The Festival Headquarters, 101 E 10th Street Sanford, FL 32771, is where festival-goers can pick up merchandise, maps, and other information.
Ace Cafe Orlando, 100 W Livingston St, Orlando, FL 32801
Tickets are $40
Beerfest like a VIP at the 3rd Annual Central Florida Brewers Guild Festival!
This locals-only festival will feature specialty, one-off, and rare beers from your favorite Central Florida breweries. Admission will include a sampler cup, beer samples, live music, and hangs with Orlando area brewers.
Tickets are limited for a true VIP experience, no long lines or breweries tapped out hours early, and profits will go toward helping the Central Florida Brewers Guild promote the awesome beer in the Orlando area.
Lake Concord Park, 95 Triplet Lake Dr, Casselberry, FL 32707
Admission is FREE -Food and vendors extra
Lake Concord Park in Casselberry will be rocking with a Mardi Gras fun for the entire family!
The concert begins at 6 p.m. with local favorite, Beth McKee, a singer/songwriter/pianist/accordion player and former member of the popular New Orleans country-cajun band Evangeline, before The Subdues headline the night.
The famous Mardi Paw Parade officially opens the Mardi Gras Music Festival. Pups and Krewe will line up and show their beads to the judges at 5:00 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the top 3 costumes. Cost is $10 per dog and all the proceeds benefit Franklin’s Friends.
Lake Eola Park, 512 E Washington St, Orlando, FL 32801
Tickets start at $15
The Annual Downtown Food & Wine Festival is back for its 12th appearance at Lake Eola on February 22 and 23!
Enjoy over 30 of Orlando’s premier restaurants paired with over 50 wines from around the world while rocking out to live music!
You can find more information about local events and more by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Bringing the best of Southern food, hospitality, and live country music to the No. 1 travel destination in the United States, Ryman Hospitality Properties is set to open Ole Red Orlando at ICON Park on International Drive April 14.
With venues in Nashville, Tennessee; Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Shelton’s hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, Ole Red Orlando is the fourth establishment of the Ole Red brand, a lifestyle, and entertainment concept inspired by Shelton’s clever hit, “Ol’ Red.”
Ole Red Orlando will feature live music with state-of-the-art acoustics and lighting for a concert-quality music experience as well as indoor and outdoor private event areas and three bars. The venue will also be equipped with a large stage and concert-level production and sound capabilities, along with a video wall and additional LED screens. Programming will include showcases for up-and-coming talent and live music throughout the week hand-picked by Opry Entertainment Group’s programming team.
The $15 million venue will offer 17,289 square feet on two levels and seat approximately 500 guests. It will provide extensive event space for private dining, corporate events, weddings, and group outings.
A made-from-scratch, Shelton-inspired menu will feature Ole Red signature items such as “Champagne of Fried Chicken,” along with specialty cocktails, an extensive selection of beer and wine and Orlando-only specialties.
Ole Red Orlando is now hiring for select positions, and all other positions will be posted beginning Feb. 24. The venue will be hosting a Grand Hire event March 16 – 21. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply online in advance to secure an interview time and day. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information and to apply, visit olered.com/orlando/jobs.
Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Bob Carr Theater are always hosting amazing events, and here is the latest news and what is on sale now at the venues!
Just Announced – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts:
Presented by: Dr. Phillips Center in association with Live Nation
An all-new live production based on the hit TV show….The Masked Singer National Tour is coming to Orlando!
Your favorite characters from the hit Fox TV show brought to life live on stage, as well as surprise celebrity hosts, and amazing new performances. Can you guess who’s behind the mask?
A mystery celebrity will be unmasked in every city in this can’t-miss spectacular live show for audiences of all ages!
On Sale Now – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts:
Presented by: Dr. Phillips Center in association with Bill Blumenreich
“Delusions of Space Enthusiasts”
In this illustrated talk, Neil deGrasse Tyson will explore the perennial mismatch between collective expectations of where we should be in space by now and the geopolitical, cultural, and economic realities that limit it.
One of the most innovative comedians around, Elizardi Castro uses language and culture to create humor that appeals to audiences of all ages. He has written and performed eight one man shows including “Made in Puerto Rico” and most recently, “Words Cannot Explain”.
His one man show “Made in Puerto Rico” made its Off-Broadway debut in 2019 and ran for seven weeks, selling out thirty two shows! His critically acclaimed shows have been reviewed and recommended by numerous publications including the Chicago Sun-Times and the Orlando Sentinel.
His shows have also been featured on ABC’s The View; Telemundo’s Emmy-winning morning show, Un Nuevo Dia; Fox’s Good Day New York, WGN-TV, and the Univision network, among others. He recently won “Best Stand Up” at the acclaimed United Solo Festival in NYC.
Vizier Jafar dreams of obtaining the Magic Lamp. Jafar makes a plan on how to brutally take over the throne. Jasmine and Aladdin are reunited at the Palace. Jafar is furious and orders Aladdin to be cast into the abyss. The Genie comes to Aladdin’s aid and they escape together after trapping Jafar in the Magic Lamp forever. Jasmine and Aladdin are finally able to be together.
Russian Ballet Alafaya/Ballet Fedotov presents original choreography by Vadim Fedotov with original music by David Goldstein “Aladdin”. Based on the Arabian tale “One thousand and one nights”.Special guest artists, Principal Ballet dancers from Ukraine and Japan.
Celebrate African American Artistry With These Great Shows
February Features – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts:
The iconic dance company returns to the Dr. Phillips Center with powerful new works and their signature piece, Revelations.
Show Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Show Time: 7:30 p.m.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater grew from a now-fabled performance in March 1958 at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Led by Alvin Ailey and a group of young African-American modern dancers, that performance changed forever the perception of American dance.
The Ailey company has gone on to perform for an estimated 25 million people at theaters in 48 states and 71 countries on six continents – as well as millions more through television broadcasts, film screenings, and online platforms.
Today, the Company continues Mr. Ailey’s mission by presenting important works of the past and commissioning new ones. In all, more than 235 works by over 90 choreographers have been part of the Ailey company’s repertory.
The legendary artist, fresh off her star turn on The Masked Singer, makes her debut at the Dr. Phillips Center.
Show Date: Thursday, January 30, 2020
Show Time: 8 p.m.
Very few singers over the last fifty years have matched her unassailable artistry of Gladys Knight. This seven-time Grammy winner has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B and Adult Contemporary, and has triumphed in film, television and live performance.
Knight has recorded more than 38 albums over the years, including four solo albums during the past two decades: “Good Woman” (1991); “Just for You” (1994); the inspirational “Many Different Roads” (1999); and “At Last” (2001). “At Last” showed the world that she still has what it takes to record a hit album, employing the talents of contemporary producers like Randy Jackson, Gary Brown and James D.C. Williams III, Jon John, Jamey Jaz, Keith Thomas, Tom Dowd and Tiger Roberts.
Celebrate the best of 10 years and experience this trio’s remarkable vocals.
Show Date: Thursday, February 20, 2020
Show Time: 8 p.m.
From their debut in 2011 to the present day, IL VOLO has performed over 300 concerts in 210 cities on 3 continents, mostly sold out.
The new album, 10 Years – The Best of, offers all the best of Il Volo’s repertoire, from “O Sole Mio” to “My Way” to “Grande Amore.” The tracklist is comprised both by songs recorded in the studio and by new live recordings such as the June show in Matera, Italy which was filmed and will be broadcast later this year.
Il Volo: Ten Years will make its premiere on PBS stations nationwide beginning November 30.
America’s favorite dance show is going back on tour this winter with “Dancing with the Stars – Live Tour 2020.” Kate Flannery will be joining the show to wow live audiences across the country by performing fan-favorite routines from this past season.
The all-new production will feature fan-favorite professional dancers wowing audiences with every type of dance style as seen on ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars. The show continues its legacy of performing showstopping routines alongside new numbers choreographed just for the live show ranging from the time-honored dances of the Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Salsa, Tango – and everything in between. In the longest and most expansive North American tour to date, audiences will have the opportunity to experience the excitement, glamour and glitz they see in the ballroom every Monday night live in their hometowns.
Courtesy of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
How to Buy Tickets – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Bill and Mary Darden Box Office in person at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue 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. Prices, shows, artists, dates and times are subject to change at any time without notice.
Don’t forget to tune in to News 96.5 WDBO this evening to hear me talk about these events and more on Orlando’s Evening News with Tony Marino!!!
The theme parks of Central Florida are always buzzing with excitement and events, and here is everything you can experience On the Go in the Parks this weekend!
City Works Eatery & Pour House is the newest dining location to open on the West Side of Disney Springs.
The restaurant is Disney Springs’ premier sports restaurant and bar and offers the ultimate sports viewing experience with its high-definition TVs – including a video wall housing a 168-inch, high-definition video screen complemented by four 110-inch and 12 65-inch screens – and 90 local, regional and global craft beers on draft.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m.-midnight. It also offers brunch dishes on the weekends 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Universal Orlando is celebrating 25 years of its family-friendly Mardi Gras festivities with new parade floats, globally inspired cuisine, and live concerts on select nights from February 1 to April 2 at the Universal Studios Florida theme park.
This year’s parade features six new additional floats, and steps-off at 7:45 pm on February 1 and 6 pm on February 2.
On select nights during the event, guests can enjoy performances by some of the biggest names in music on the Universal Music Plaza Stage.
This weekend you can see:
Saturday, Feb. 15 – Bell Biv DeVoe @ 8:30 pm
Sunday, Feb. 16 – +Live+ @ 8:30 pm
Opening daily at 4 pm, the French Quarter Courtyard is where you can find food and spirits available for purchase and performances from Louisiana jazz, blues, and zydeco bands. You can see the Dirty Bourbon River Show will take to the French Quarter Courtyard Stage daily until February 13.
All of the excitement of Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras celebration is included with admission to Universal Studios Florida or with a Seasonal or Annual Pass (blockout dates apply).
And until April 2, Florida residents can experience this year’s Mardi Gras celebration and the spring season by saving up to $65 on multi-day tickets and up to $75 on Seasonal and Annual Passes.
Don’t forget that Mardi Gras celebrations at Universal Studios Florida are held rain or shine, so be sure to plan accordingly.
In 2020 the Seven Seas Food Festival will run from February 7 through May 5, including Fridays (WOOOOT), to give park-goers plenty more chances to sample more than 180 mouthwatering options from Chef Héctor Colón and his amazing culinary team!
New food offerings include the cricket crusted bison slider, duck and mushroom ramen bowl and the chicken and waffle.
Enjoy local craft beers and mouthwatering culinary flavors while exploring our marketplaces throughout the park.
In addition to delicious eats, guests visiting SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival can enjoy world-class entertainment every Saturday and Sunday at Bayside Stadium, all included with theme park admission.
This weekend the Seven Seas Food Festival will feature free concerts from:
The annual Epcot International Festival of the Arts at the Walt Disney World Resort will fill the park with a celebration of visual, culinary, and performing arts from around the world daily through February 24, 2020.
The Disney on Broadway Concert Series is the highlight of the Epcot International Festival of the Arts as Broadway stars reprise favorite songs from past performances in award-winning shows three times a day on the American Gardens Theatre stage.
Performances are at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM daily, and you will want to arrive AT LEAST 30 minutes before the concert is set to begin.
This weekend the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will feature:
Syndee Winters and Michael James Scott
February 14 through 17
You can find more information about theme park news and tips by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
LEGOLAND Florida is offering families an all-new, all-inclusive vacation package that is packed with perks from check-in through checkout available for booking vacation stays starting April 17.
This all-new package includes a stay at one of the on-site, immersive LEGOLAND hotels and unlimited admission to LEGOLAND theme park and water park during guests’ resort stay.
Photo / Chip Litherland for LEGOLAND Florida/Merlin Entertainments Group Inc.
The LEGO experience starts the moment families arrive! From beginning the day with mile-high pancake stacks through conquering first rollercoasters, this vacation package is built for kids to take the lead. With special entertainment that feels plucked straight from the theme park, including exclusive LEGO hero meet and greets, and nightly pajama dance parties, the family fun keeps going even after the park closes. The best part? It’s all included.
Photo: LEGOLAND Florida
Meals are also included from check-in through the checkout with breakfast and dinner at one of four hotel restaurants and lunch at any of the theme or water park’s ten restaurants. Families can also enjoy unlimited golf at the Resort’s Florida’s Wild Side Mini Golf.
Additional benefits include valet parking, DigiPass photo package and unlimited Coca-Cola freestyle refills in a souvenir cup throughout the guests’ entire visit.
All-Inclusive guests will receive an exclusive credential lanyard with each benefit identified, making it easy for families to track the use of each perk. With an all-inclusive vacation experience, the biggest benefit for families is more time…more time to have the best vacation ever!
Photo: LEGOLAND Florida
Families can craft their vacation by selecting any of the three LEGOLAND Florida Resort hotels, including LEGOLAND Florida Hotel, LEGOLAND Beach Retreat, and the all-new Pirate Island Hotel, opening April 17.
Located just 130 kid-steps from the theme park entrance, LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel will feature 150 LEGO-filled rooms (including four suites), a heated pool (complete with LEGO soft bricks to build in the pool), hundreds of LEGO models, exclusive character experiences and in-room LEGO treasure hunts. Similar to the popular LEGOLAND Hotel, each room will include two separate spaces: a kid’s sleeping area and an adult area.
The five-story hotel will house the pirate-themed Shipwreck Restaurant with family-style dining, Smuggler’s Bar for adult swashbucklers, an entertainment area with kid-friendly nightly programming and LEGO play areas. Directly outside the entrance to the hotel, a pirate shipwreck will greet guests and offer a unique photo opportunity.
You can find more information about theme park news and tips by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
26 time Grammy Award-Winning artists, Emilio and Gloria Estefan, have opened their newest Estefan Kitchen restaurant location in Sunset Walk, located in the Margaritaville Resort Orlando complex.
The well-known Miami destination brings the essence of Cuba to Orlando with modern and traditional dishes, live entertainment, and over-the-top dance performances.
“Sunset Walk is the perfect destination for Estefan Kitchen to call home,” said Emilio Estefan. “Bongos Cuban Café celebrated 22 years in the community and we’re thrilled to turn the page and continue sharing our culture with our neighbors in Orlando. Estefan Kitchen is the perfect destination for locals and visitors. . .it’s where music & food bring people together, and we know they’ll have an unforgettable experience each time they visit.”
The restaurant’s beautiful dining room is elegantly designed with tropical plants, marble floors, an indoor/outdoor bar and a stage for live nightly performances.
The menu features a mix of traditional Latin cuisine, including vegan and vegetarian options, and “Miriam’s Chicken and Rice Asopao” is a signature recipe from the Estefan’s personal Chef that has been passed down for generations in Puerto Rico.
The dish features braised quartered chicken, rice, green peas, roasted red pepper, sweet plantains, and asopao, a specific type of Arroz con Pollo.
And I’m really excited to share that recipe for Miriam’s Chicken and Rice Asopao!
Miriam’s Chicken and Rice Asopao Estefan Kitchen
PREP TIME: 20 MIN
TOTAL COOKING TIME: 60 MIN
INGREDIENTS: 15 MIN
SERVINGS: 8 PEOPLE
INGREDIENTS:
½ cup olive oil for frying
8 chicken thighs or legs, skin on
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoon cumin
1 large onion, chopped
1 large red pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cups chicken broth
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
2 teaspoon Saffron
1 ea bay leaf
2 teaspoons oregano
2 cups rice
½ cup frozen green baby peas
2 oz green olives
4 oz sweet plantain
Roasted Red Peppers
Directions 1.) In a large pot over medium-high heat, add the oil and sauté the chicken, browning on both sides. Season with salt, pepper and dashes of cumin. Remove chicken once the fat has been released. Reserve. 2.) In the same pot, you fried the chicken in, sauté the onion and red pepper over medium heat until the onion is translucent. Add the crushed garlic and cook an additional minute or two, stirring frequently. 3.) Return chicken to the same pot; add broth, tomato sauce, saffron, bay leaf, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add the rice, stir to coat and fully submerge it. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. When the rice has absorbed some of the liquid, cover and simmer on low heat for about 30 to 45 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked 4.) Add the frozen peas, olives, roasted red peppers & sweet plantain during the last five minutes of cooking only. Remove from heat 5.) Serve.
Estefan Kitchen is open from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit http://estefankitchenorlando.com/.
City Works Eatery & Pour House is the newest dining location to open on the West Side of Disney Springs, and we were lucky to be there for the grand opening ceremonies.
The restaurant is Disney Springs’ premier sports restaurant and bar and offers the ultimate sports viewing experience with its high-definition TVs – including a video wall housing a 168-inch, high-definition video screen complemented by four 110-inch and 12 65-inch screens – and 90 local, regional and global craft beers on draft.
Photo: City Works
Located next to the NBA Experience, City Works is an 8,632-square-foot restaurant that offers brilliant twists on American classics. It seats 309 people and includes a 1,767-square-foot patio and three full-service bars, two of which provide covered, open-air dining along the patio.
With 17 televisions, a state-of-the-art sound system and unique menu items and promos supporting big games throughout the year, City Works is the place in Central Florida to watch sports. Upcoming highlights include the NCAA tournament and Major League Baseball Opening Day.
Photo: City Works
City Works has dedicated 30-40% of its draft beer taps to local breweries and eight wines on draft. It will also offer a seasonally changing cocktail menu and a fully stocked bar, plus a whiskey list.
Guests can enjoy Happy Hour specials, including $2 off well drinks, local craft beers and glasses of wine, and $7 bar bites Monday through Thursday 3-6 p.m. Drink specials also are available 10 p.m.-midnight.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight, Friday 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Saturday 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m.-midnight. It also offers brunch dishes on the weekends 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
We are really excited to visit soon (did someone say new Mukbang?) to try more of the menu!
Photo: City Works
You can find more information about theme park news and tips by subscribing to our YouTube Channel and following @onthegoinmco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
In the new issue of Disney twenty-three, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club, author Bruce Steele traveled to the set of the film to witness the elaborate battle sequences and the intimate, self-reflective moments that make this new movie so spectacular.
While the tale of Mulan—the young woman who masqueraded as a man in the Imperial Army to fight Northern Invaders attacking China—may date back centuries, director Niki Caro says, “It felt to me that the story was as resonant now as when it was written.” Caro, and cast from Disney’s incredible live-action adaptation of Mulan, which opens this March, discuss making the epic film that honors both the beloved animated classic and the original story of the heroic warrior.
Plus, star Chris Pratt and members of the creative team from Disney and Pixar’s Onward reveal how they made movie magic, while its two leading characters search for a little magic in their own realm. And Pratt talks about the bond he shared with costar (and fellow Avenger) Tom Holland: “Tom really is like a little brother to me, and you see that in this movie.”
And speaking of Avengers, Scarlett Johansson is back as the eponymous star of Black Widow, and the actor and her costar Florence Pugh discuss what it’s like to exchange barbs—and punches—in the new film.
In honor of Earth Month, Disney twenty-three explores The Walt Disney Company’s extensive history of conservation, dating back to Walt himself. And to celebrate both the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th anniversary of the Disney Conservation Fund, the publication takes a look at the many ways Disney upholds Walt’s vision, from new Disneynature movies and specials coming to Disney+, to National Geographic’s enduring legacy of protecting nature, to an exclusive interview with world-renowned anthropologist Jane Goodall.
Also included in the Spring issue of Disney twenty-three:
An oral history of A Goofy Movie—in honor of its 25th anniversary—with the stars and director of the fan-favorite film
Todrick Hall talks about crafting the music for the new Magic Happens parade at Disneyland
A first look at the dazzling new show Drawn to Life, a breathtaking partnership between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Walt Disney Animation Studios coming to Walt Disney World Resort this spring
The voice cast of Star Wars: The Clone Wars prepares us for the stunning final season coming to Disney+
Grace VanderWaal and the cast of Stargirl talk about adapting the YA favorite into a Disney+ original
A sneak peek at Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic, an exhibition of more than 400 treasures opening this March at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Calif.
Regular features including From the Desk Of, By the Numbers, Character Analysis, D Society, and Ask the Walt Disney Archives
Disney twenty-three, which is delivered directly to fans’ doorsteps, is offered exclusively to D23 Gold and Gold Family Members as a benefit of their membership. The latest issue will begin arriving in mid-February.
About D23
The name “D23” pays homage to the exciting journey that began in 1923 when Walt Disney opened his first studio in Hollywood. D23 is the first official club for fans in Disney’s 90-plus-year history. It gives its members a greater connection to the entire world of Disney by placing them in the middle of the magic through its quarterly publication, Disney twenty-three; a rich website at D23.com with members-only content; member-exclusive discounts; and special events for D23 Members throughout the year.
Fans can join D23 at Gold Membership ($99.99), Gold Family Membership ($129.99), and General Membership (complimentary) levels at D23.com. To keep up with all the latest D23 news and events, follow DisneyD23 on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
