Shelley, Author at On the Go in MCO

runDisney Princess Half Marathon Registration Opens Tomorrow!

Photo: runDisney Princess Half Marathon runDisney — Photo: runDisney

The 2015 runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, February 19-22, opens for registration tomorrow, July 15th, at noon EST!!!

A touch of winter is going to be coming to Florida for this runDisney event, as the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Walt Disney World next year as the Disney Princess 5K and runDisney Kids races will have a Frozen theme with new medals inspired from the film.

Also returning is the Disney Princess Enchanted 10K to help round out the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge, which involves running the 10K and half marathon on consecutive days for a total of 19.3 miles to earn an additional Disney Glass Slipper Challenge Medal!

glass slipper challege medals — 2014 Inaugural Glass Slipper Challenge Medals

The Princess Half Marathon and Tinker Bell Half Marathon hosted at Disneyland in California are women-focused runDisney events and focus on healthy and active lifestyles for women and girls. And participants in both the Tinker Bell and Princess Half Marathons have the opportunity to earn a special Coast-to-Coast Challenge medal.

Keep your eyes open, because we hear there might be a ‘tropical’ challenge that might be announced soon that Olaf would LOVE!!!!

The Princess Half Marathon was my first Half Marathon in 2012, and it is by far my absolute favorite runDisney race!!! I look forward to it every year, because it holds so many special memories and is an amazing display of women and girls excelling in a supportive and positive atmosphere. I love it!

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores Back To School Giveaway

Win a $50 gift card to

Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores

It’s almost August, and you know what that means: school bells will be ringing soon, and so will cash registers during back to school shopping. The Florida Sales Tax Holiday is August 1-3, so plan now to take advantage of that. I’ll be looking for deals throughout the month.

That’s why I plan to head to Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, where shopping is hassle-free and you can find factory-direct premium quality merchandise at savings up to 75% off (and sometimes more). Plus, there’s easy store front parking.

Here’s your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the mall, where you can select merchandise at over 50 spacious outlet shops and get great deals at the area’s only Old Navy outlet store, newcomer U.S. Polo Assn., newly renovated Nike, OshKosh B’Gosh and Tommy Hilfiger Stores, plus other well-known outlets including VF Outlet for uniforms, G by GUESS, Justice, Carter’s, Crocs, Calvin Klein, Levi’s®, Aeropostale, Converse, Famous Footwear Outlet, Fossil, Gap, Izod, Rack Room Shoes, and many more. Don’t forget to stop by and treat yourself at Lindt Chocolate, too!

We are giving away one (1) $50 gift certificate to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. this offer is only valid for one winner, one time, through 2014. No duplicate entries at multiple blogger websites, please.This contest is open to US residents 18 and older. You will be contacted by email about winning, and have 48 hours to respond. pick up your gift certificate in the mall office any week day between 10am-5pm. Please be prepared to show a photo ID.Also, please note that gift certificates MUST be picked up between July 30 and August 30, 2014. Sorry, we are unable to mail gift certificates. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Even if you don’t win, you can get in on the savings by downloading a coupon from the Center’s website, then bringing it to Travelpro at the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores to receive a coupon booklet valued up to $400 in savings. Many stores offer additional savings from 20-40% off to “Friends & Family.” Savvy discount shoppers can learn about these discounts, as well as specific stores and their hours by following the center on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, as well as visiting www.lbvfs.com. Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores is located just one mile from Walt Disney World at 15657 S. Apopka Vineland Road (State Road 535), Orlando, FL 32821-6316, and two miles south of I-4, Exit 68. Stores are openMonday-Saturday, 10am-9pm, and 10am-7pm on Sunday.

Let the school bells ring!

DISCLOSURE: Through a partnership with Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores , I was provided with a gift certificate to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores and one to giveaway. All opinions are my own.

D23 Disney Fanniversary Tickets Available Now To The General Public

D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration Tickets Now Available To The General Public

The Official Disney Fan Club Brings Roadshow Event to Burbank, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, Orlando, and Washington, D.C.

Guests Will Celebrate Favorite Disney Movies, Attractions, Music, Television Shows, Characters, and More.

Tickets are now on sale to the general public for the D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration presented by Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection. The live event will bring Disney magic to 11 cities across the U.S., commemorating dozens of milestones celebrating landmark anniversaries this year.

Included in the 105-minute show created by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are tributes to beloved classics such as: Donald Duck’s 80th anniversary, the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair, Sleeping Beauty, Haunted Mansion, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Little Mermaid, the Disney Afternoon, The Lion King, Splash Mountain, and many more. Plus, Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection will debut never-before-heard songs from the upcoming releases honoringSleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid. The show will also feature exclusive video interviews with Disney Legends, luminaries, and celebrities sharing stories about the “Fanniversary” to which they contributed.

In addition, following each show, two rare items from the Walt Disney Archives will be on display for guests to see and photograph: a hat worn by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, and a “Duckster” award. Created in 1952, this bronze-colored award in the image of Donald Duck honored those who made significant contributions to Disney over the years. Both Walt Disney and Donald Duck himself were among the recipients of this unique honor.

Tickets for the general public are available now for $40 each. Specially priced tickets are available for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. Tickets are available at D23.com/Events. The touring schedule is as follows:

August 9: Burbank, Calif.
August 10: San Diego
August 16 & 17: San Francisco
September 6: Chicago
September 13: Seattle
September 20: Atlanta
September 21: Philadelphia
September 26: Washington, D.C.
September 28: New York City
October 4: Boston
October 25: Orlando

For times, locations, and additional details, please visit the event listing page.

Candlelight Processional Packages Available

It’s Christmas in July as the Disney Parks Blog announced that Candlelight Processional Dining Packages can be booked starting today.

For those who don’t know, the Candlelight Processional is a holiday tradition at Walt Disney World! During this moving show, a celebrity narrator accompanied by a full orchestra and choir fill the America Gardens Theater at Epcot with Christmas songs and stories.

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages are available on select days during the holiday season, and start at $35 for lunch and $50 for dinner for adults. Included in the Candlelight Processional Package is a delicious meal at an Epcot restaurant and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances.

You can find more information, including all the restaurants participating here.

Here are some things to know about the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages before you book:

Seating at the Candlelight Processional is first-come, first-served unless you’ve reserved a Candlelight Processional Dining Packages.
Dining packages are paid for at the individual restaurant, where you’ll receive your Candlelight Seating badges for seating at the America Gardens Theatre for the booked showtime.
Advance reservations are highly recommended for the Candlelight Processional Dining Packages and can be made up to 180 days prior to your visit.
Park admission is required and is not included in the price of the dining package.

Note: Availability is limited. Guests can call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or book online at www.disneyworld.com/holidays.

Also released today, was a partial list of celebrity narrators for this year including Candlelight veterans Whoopi Goldberg and Jodi Benson, and the addition of two fabulous new narrators Academy-Award-winning actress Sharon Stone and Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer.

Here is the early schedule of Candlelight Processional Narrators:

Jodi Benson – 11/28 – 11/29
TBD – 11/30 – 12/2
TBD – 12/3 – 12/4
Whoopi Goldberg – 12/5 – 12/6
TBD – 12/7* – 12/8
TBD – 12/9 – 12/11
TBD – 12/12 – 12/14
Sharon Stone (New) – 12/15 – 12/17
Ana Gasteyer (New) – 12/18 – 12/20
Marlee Matlin – 12/21 – 12/23
TBD – 12/24 – 12/25
TBD – 12/26 – 12/27
Steven Curtis Chapman – 12/28 – 12/30

Some things to keep in mind about this early list of Candlelight Processional celebrity narrators:

* Narrators are subject to change without notice.

* Show Times are at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. each night.

*Show Times on December 7 are 6:45 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. only

Pick Six: Diagon Alley Tips and Tricks

With the Grand Opening of Diagon Alley today, I thought I would share some of time saving tips and tricks!

1. The Dragon’s Fire

The a 60ft, seven-ton, fire-breathing Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon breathes fire every 15 minutes, and there is a loud build up so you have plenty of time to get your camera ready!

It was awesome!

My favorite spot to watch from is the stairs to nowhere, just behind Hagrid’s Motorbike next to Gringott’s. It was great seeing the expressions on people’s faces as they watched for the first time!

2. Potions

Water in Diagon Alley is ‘Gilly Water’, and it is available only at a few Diagon Alley food and beverage locations for $4.00.

But to take your Gilly Water experience to the next level, you can add one of four potions to it for an additional $4.25 at Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment, located in the arcade across from the stage.

The Four potions that you can purchase (with their coresponding flavors) are:

Fire Protection Potion: Watermelon

Babbling Beverage: Fruit Punch

Draught of Peace: Mixed Berry

Elixir to Induce Euphoria: Pineapple

If you want to try a potion, but want to skip out on the Gilly Water you can purchase the vial and add it to your own water.

3. Gringott’s Money Exchange

At the Gringott’s Money Exchange, you can exchange Muggle money for Gringott’s Bank Notes.

The Gringott’s Money Exchange is a separate location, next to Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment and across from Eternelle’s Elixir of Refreshment under the arcade in Diagon Alley.

This is a really cool experience, because you get to interact with animatronic goblin who oversees the exchange of currency.

These Bank Notes can be spent anywhere, but I have a feeling that most people will save them instead of spending them.

4. Pram Parking

There are several adorable signs that say ‘Pram Parking’ throughout the arcade in Diagon Alley.

With the streets being uneven, large crowds, tight walkways, and stores with intricate displays, having a place to park your pram out of the way is a great idea.

Pram parking is located just to the right of Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, and you will find a helpful witch or wizard there to help you.

5. Butterbeer Ice Cream

Butterbeer Ice Cream is my everything! In my eyes, it is the perfect ice cream of all time.

That being said, the line to head into Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour are often times long.

But if it is Butterbeer Ice Cream you are seeking, you can head over to the Fountain of Fair Fortune, located across from the Magical Menagerie near Knockturn Alley.

The Fountain of Fair Fortune is also a great place to grab a Butterbeer, Frozen Butterbeer, Fishy Green Ale, Gillywater, Wizard’s Brew, Dragon Scale, Strongbow, Fuller’s London Pride, and Amstel Light.

6. When it rains it pours

When it rains, and often times it does rain in Orlando, Diagon Alley is my new favorite place to visit!

With an arcade over most of the open areas, tons of shops, and ample covered spaces there are a lot of great places to duck into while you wait out the storm.

My favorite place to go though, is Knockturn Alley! This sinister place is completely covered, and is home to what might be my favorite shop Borgin and Burkes!

Plus, there are a lot of interactive wand experiences in this area to keep little ones occupied as you wander the dark alley ways.

We will be covering more about Diagon Alley at the Universal Orlando Resort, so make sure you keep up with our adventures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Celebrate The Magic Summer Fun

Celebrate the Magic is one of those things that I tend to walk by and take for granted, because it is always ‘there’ when we are trying to find the right spot for Wishes! or the Main Street Electrical parade.

Here is a little bit about Celebrate the Magic if you are like me…

With a little pixie dust from Tinker Bell, watch Cinderella Castle come to life right before your eyes.

Witness a spellbinding show that traces the longstanding legacy of Disney storytelling and imagination. When Tinker Bell splashes pixie dust atop Cinderella Castle, the regal castle is magically refashioned into an enchanted canvas unfurling with spectacular Disney imagery.

Travel down the rabbit hole with Alice, soar high above the Big Top with Dumbo, and wander the African savanna with Simba.

Drawing inspiration from Disney’s many memorable characters and stories, Celebrate the Magic invites you to take off on a breathtaking visual and musical journey, and to experience Disney movies—from beloved classics to contemporary favorites—in an entirely new and unforgettable way.

However what makes Celebrate the Magic so special is that it receives several seasonal updates a year, and this year’s Summer tag does not disappoint! It is full of fun, tikis, and under the sea shenanigans.

The Summer sequence of projections begins right after the Wreck It Ralph section.

Phineas and Ferb kick off the Summer sequence with a, “Ferb! I know what we are going to do today!”

Fun and upbeat music kicks off as the castle is sketched and colored.

Starting at the bottom of the castle and spreading upwards tiki torches appear and “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” plays.

Then the castle is adorned with tikis, torches, and a little blue alien.

Leis are dropped onto the castle turrets before the castle is draped in a pattern that features Lilo, Stitch, and their friends.

The pattern turns into a wave that Nani, Lilo, and Stitch then ride out.

A ‘Sand’ castle is now being projected with a fun kid sung “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”.

Waves then wash away the sand castle as beach ball drop all over the castle.

“Under the Sea” rings out as the castle is flooded and the beach balls make way for Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder, and their fellow sea inhabitants.

The party ends as some familiar fish friends (not food) swim across the castle with calls of ‘Mine, Mine, Mine’ as the castle goes black.

The summer tag for Celebrate the Magic is a little less than two minutes, but as you can see they packed a lot of great animation and moments into that time.

If you want to catch the Summer tag of Celebrate the Magic, here are some of my best tips!

There are two showings of Celebrate the Magic a night (usually 9:45 pm and 10:35 pm, but check the daily times guide or My Disney Experience to be sure), and the second show is a lot less crowded to watch!
If you decide to watch the show during it’s second showing, try to move as close as you can to the castle because you will find the closer you get you will find more opportunities to sit on the ground (a unique perspective for tired feet) to view the show.

Celebrate the Magic is projected on the front and sides of Cinderella Castle, and each vantage point offers a different experience! If you want to watch from the front try to be center near the hub, the castle forecourt is also open for the show and that is really interesting, and from the side I prefer the Tomorrowland side going towards Merida’s Meet and Greet.
If you have a pair of Glow with the Show Ears, they will interact with the show’s lighting and effects.
The show is great to photograph! Make sure that you listen for music cues of when the projections will change and don’t worry too much about using your flash.

I found a great video on YouTube from Steve Gray of the entire Celebrate the Magic castle projection show. The Summer tag begins around the 3:35 mark and ends around the 5:23 mark.

httpv://youtu.be/pxtUpbdn_T8

Orlando City SC Wins Second I-4 Derby Title

Orlando City SC Defeats Tampa to Claim Second I-4 Derby Title

Lions secure 3-2 win on the road for second I-4 Derby championship is as many years

Orlando City SC defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (NASL) 3-2 (6-2 aggregate) at Al Lang Stadium on Sunday evening to claim its second consecutive I-4 Derby title, presented by United World Soccer. Numerous City supporters ventured on the away trip to witness the Lions defeat the Rowdies for the sixth time in as many matches played over the past two seasons.

“As I said to the players, you can never get tired of winning titles. We scored some very good goals tonight and all three were delights to watch,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath after the derby win. “Coming in with a three goal lead, we could’ve taken our foot off the pedal but we didn’t. We worked and hard and I’m delighted not only for the players but also for our supporters. Once again, it was a great turnout from them, and I hope they’ve enjoyed it as much as we have.”

Orlando City broke through in the 31^st minute when Kevin Molino played a crafty one-two with Corey Hertzog inside the area, before producing a composed finish from six yards away. Molino’s ability to provide the opening goal for Orlando continues the impressive 2014 campaign being displayed so far by the club’s first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) signing, who currently leads USL PRO in goals (11), assists (6) and points (28).

Tampa Bay leveled the score-line just four minutes later, after a costly mistake from the Orlando defense. Midfielder Darel Russell was able to dispossess Lions’ center-half Tommy Redding and play Georgi Hristov in behind with ample space, leaving Carl Woszczynksi with no chance.

For City’s second goal of the half, Molino was once again involved when the Trinidadian earned a free-kick for Orlando on the edge of the area in the 43^rd minute. Ceren’s ensuing set-piece featured a bit of cleverness, as the midfielder beat Thompson by striking his effort under the wall to find the back of the net.

The 2-1 score-line at the end of the half was a fair reflection of the first 45 minutes, as Orlando were the better side on the ball while the Rowdies’ attacking efforts were more sporadic and less threatening. As a result, Tampa Head Coach Ricky Hill made two attacking changes at the half, bringing on Midfielder Evans Frimpong and Forward Luciano Olguin.

Less than 20 minutes into the half, Tampa coordinated a response to Ceren’s strike when Hristov scored his second goal of the match. The striker was played in behind Ricardo Morris and slotted the ball underneath Woszczynski for an equalizer that was crucial for Tampa to stand any chance of claiming the I-4 Derby title.

Tampa Bay’s push to get forward in the second half seemed to re-motivate Orlando City, who had been in no rush to secure another goal, as they maintained a 5-2 lead on aggregate.

After holding off Tampa Bay’s push early in the second half, City responded with another goal in the 75^th minute via Corey Hertzog. The striker’s finish proved to be the final dagger, as the Rowdies would’ve had to put forth a monumental effort to overcome four goals in 15 minutes.

To prevent any further damage, Heath brought on Mbengue and several trialist players to provide fresh legs as Orlando secured its second straight I-4 Derby title with tremendous support from the numerous City faithful in attendance, who made the trip down I-4 to create a home atmosphere on the road.

Orlando’s next match will take place in league play when the Lions host the Wilmington Hammerheads on July 12 at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.

The match will be live streamed via YouTube.com/OrlandoCitySC.

For more information, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com

GIVEAWAY: WWE SmackDown Coming to the Amway Center!

WWE SmackDown is coming to the Amway Center on July 22, 2014, and I am so stoked to share some of my favorite tips for attending and to host an awesome giveaway for a four (4) pack of tickets!!!

Last November RAW came to the Amway Center, we took Zoe to her first WWE RAW and I shared my Pick Six: Taking Kids to a live WWE Event so this time around I want to focus more on tips for the whole family!

1. Getting to know the Amway Center

Amway Center at Dusk — Photo: Amway Center from Instagram

We are so lucky to have the Amway Center in Orlando, and their site is full of great information!

Here are some items that are really helpful to know!

You can find a detailed listing of their bars and restaurants here.
Their Accessibility Guide is SUPER helpful!
The Amway Center offers guests reserved/pre-paid parking in the GEICO Garage (400 West South St.) and Church Street Garage (150 South Hughey Avenue), adjacent to the Amway Center. Reserved/pre-paid parking can be purchased through ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 800-745-3000 and/or the Amway Center Box Office during regular box office hours. Purchases must be made by 5 pm, the day prior to the event.
Find additional reserved/pre-paid parking for the new Amway Center on our Downtown Orlando interactive maps or our new iPhone and Android apps on the City of Orlando website. Also find event road closures and how to pre-pay for parking.

Door opening times for the Amway Center vary according to each event. Guests may enter the arena one hour prior to the start time of each event, unless otherwise specifically noted. Guests may check door times in advance by calling 407.440.7900.
Camera Policy: The show reserves the right to approve camera use at any time during and/or before the event and to prohibit the use of any camera that is deemed unacceptable. Cameras with a detachable lens, iPads and the use of flash photography are prohibited at all Amway Center events. Check amwaycenter.com or call the administration office at 407.440.7000 prior to the event for any camera policy updates. Camera policy is subject to change at any time at the show’s discretion.
The Amway Center is incredibly active on Social Media, so make sure that you give them a follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! They share great behind the scenes pictures, information, and host giveaways of their own!
There is even an Amway Center App!

You can even take a Virtual Tour of the Amway Center!

2. Where to sit

Do you want to be close to the action? Do you want to be close to the concourse in case you need to be close to restrooms and concessions? Is your sole focus budget? Are you looking for a unique experience?

There is a seating option for every need and price point at the Amway Center for WWE SmackDown, and it is good to do a bit of homework to know where you want to sit and how much you want to spend on tickets.

Tickets for WWE SmackDown at the Amway Center are $15-$95 and are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling, and facility fee charges.

You can find more ticket information here.

3. WWE SmackDown Talent

It is important to remember that the WWE SmackDown line-up is subject to change and there will be surprises!

But here is some of the WWE Superstars that are schedule to be at WWE SmackDown at the Amway Center on July 22, 2014.

Bray Wyatt and the Wyatt Family
Dean Ambrose
Seth Rollins
Roman Reigns
Kane
Sheamus

4. Budget for the night

The one thing that always catches us off guard when we attend things like this (or the circus) is how much we spend on extras like food and t-shirts at events!

To combat our food costs at events is to eat as closely as we can to the beginning of the event! WWE SmackDown at the Amway Center starts at 7:00 pm, so we will definitely be eating an early dinner!

We knew going in that we would all want a t-shirt to show our support for our favorite wrestler, so to get an idea of how much we would be spending we visited the WWE Shop online.

Amway Center WWE Live Event RAW SmackDown — Zoe in her latest WWE shirt! As you can see, she is a Paige fan!

5. To sign or not to sign that is the question…

WWE SmackDown Cena Signs Amway Center — Some of the signs from WWE RAW at the Amway Center

We have never brought a sign to a WWE event, however plenty of people do!

Just make sure that you are considerate if you do decide to bring a sign! You don’t want to block people’s view!

Also, know that your sign will be looked at upon arrival at the Amway Center to make sure that it is appropriate.

6. Fun WWE Extras

At WWE RAW at the Amway Center, WWE NXT Superstars and Divas were signing for free!

Before you get to the venue for your live WWE event, make sure you keep watch for things going on around the venue and an eye on the WWE Social Media Accounts (Twitter, Facebook, & Tout) for fun extras that will be going on before the event!

Also, make sure you download the WWE App on your phone for some fun extras during WWE SmackDown, too!

And now for the fun part…We are giving away a Four (4) pack of tickets to see WWE Smackdown at the Amway Center on July 22, 2014!

Contest is open to Residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years and older. We will be giving away one (1) prize pack of Four (4) Tickets to see WWE SmackDown at the Amway Center July 22, 2014. Void where prohibited by law. We use Rafflecopter to choose one lucky winner at random, and each & every contest entry will be verified. The winner of our contest will be contacted by email (so be sure to double check your entry) and will have 48 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen. The winner will be responsible for picking up their tickets on the day of the show at the Amway Center’s Will Call with a valid photo ID. Parking at the Amway Center is not included in this contest. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SeaWorld Orlando Fourth Of July Celebration

SeaWorld Orlando is hosting a Fourth of July Celebration where the seas awake after dusk to beautiful, bursts of bright fireworks.

Take in the awe-inspiring whales and light spectacle at the all-new nighttime show Shamu’s Celebration: Light up the Night, featuring new, original music and production elements, as well as new killer whale behaviors.

Head over to Bayside Stadium next and end the evening with an even bigger bang; catch a magnificent, patriotic-inspired show featuring 25 singers and a nine piece band that is topped off with a special Fourth of July firework finale.

SeaWorld Orlando Pass Members should visit the Pass Member website to learn about exclusive reserved Fourth of July fireworks viewing.

There are also two ways to take celebrating the Fourth of July at SeaWorld Orlando to the next level!

Dine With Shamu Fourth of July Celebration

Celebrate Fourth of July with an immersive and memorable dining experience – Dine With Shamu.

Enjoy a delicious menu of seasonal and sustainable items while sitting at a reserved table that brings you closer than ever to SeaWorld’s majestic whales.

Afterwards, enjoy reserved seating at our all-new Shamu® show Light up the Night, featuring new, original music and production elements, as well as new killer whale behaviors.

End the evening with a bang at Bayside Stadium for the fireworks finale.

Dine with Shamu Fourth of July Celebration Adult (Ages 10+) $69.00, Children (Ages 3-9) $59.00, and Infants (Under 3) are free.

SeaWorld Signature Show Seating

Reserve your seats at our most popular shows this Fourth of July and get reserved seating at Bayside Stadium for our patriotic show and fireworks finale. This special seating is only available on July 4.

SeaWorld Orlando Signature Show Seating begins at $24.00 per person.

For more information about celebrating the Fourth of July at SeaWorld Orlando please check out their site!

Don’t forget about the two new shows for the Summer at SeaWorld Orlando:

The all-new nighttime show, Shamu’s Celebration: Light up the Night and is a high-energy show featuring new, original music and production elements, and new killer whale behaviors. Shamu Stadium is transformed with stylistic lighting and colorful backdrops to create a social and celebratory atmosphere, guided by a host each night, and ending with a fireworks finale.

The new weekend daytime show, Generation Nature LIVE, connects guests with animals, explores nature and helps guests discover how they can protect wildlife and their habitats. During each show, guests will have the opportunity to meet the SeaWorld leaders in animal rescue, rehabilitation and preservation as they share their unique stories about a variety of rescued animals they care for. The Generation Nature program is all about inspiring kids to be Game Changers for nature. After the show, guests can meet animals up close at the all-new SEA Garden.

The best way to experience SeaWorld and these amazing new shows and Fourth of July is with an all-new ticket offer, Your Day, Priced Your Way, where guests can save $15 on a ticket valid any day of the week. If schedules are flexible, guests can save $30 on a weekday ticket. This new offer allows for great family time while spending less family money. Plus, planning in advance and buying tickets online allows guests the convenience of printing at home and going straight through the turnstiles. This special ticket offer is available to U.S. residents for advance purchase only at SeaWorldOrlando.com or by calling (888) 800-5447. Your Day, Priced Your Way tickets are valid for one day’s admission to SeaWorld Orlando and must be used within one year of purchase.

For more information, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com.

Red, Brick And Boom At LEGOLAND Florida

Red, Brick and Boom Returns to

LEGOLAND Florida With New Fireworks Show

LEGOLAND Florida is celebrating the 4^th of July weekend in 2014 with its annual Red, Brick and Boom event!

Red, Brick and Boom is three nights of fireworks set to The LEGO Movie soundtrack will light up the sky for all guests to experience, along with fun activities for the entire family to enjoy. The event allows visitors to celebrate the weekend in style while experiencing LEGOLAND Florida’s more than 50 rides, shows and attractions.

Red, Brick and Boom at

LEGOLAND Florida Activities:

Fireworks choreographed to The LEGO Movie soundtrack, including such hits as “Everything is Awesome!”
Special viewing glasses to turn fireworks into millions of exploding LEGO bricks at night

Collective, interactive build of a giant LEGO American Flag
Special scavenger hunt in Miniland USA to win a LEGO Prize pack and much more

Where: LEGOLAND Florida | One LEGOLAND Way, Winter Haven, FL, 33884 |

When: Red, Brick and Boom will run from Friday, July 4^th through Sunday, July 6^th and is included in park admission. Park hours will be extended to 9 p.m. during the three-day event.

Additional Details: For more information, please visit Florida.LEGOLAND.com.

LEGOLAND Florida:

LEGOLAND Florida is a 150-acre interactive theme park with more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, a Water Park and The LEGO World of Chima presented by Cartoon Network all geared to families with children ages 2 to 12. Recently announced, The LEGOLAND Hotel will open in 2015 featuring 152 highly themed rooms and suites, LEGO décor, interactive play areas, a pool and a restaurant. 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.

Wordless Wednesday: Disneyland Dedication

Wordless Wednesday: July 2, 2014

IKEA Orlando: Feeding The Future In July

IKEA Orlando is joining forces with Feeding America to help stop the grumbling of little tummies in the local area with a special promotion this July.

During July, for every Healthy Kid’s Meal purchased, IKEA will donate a $1 towards Feeding America and the fight to end childhood hunger.

IKEA will be donating up to a maximum for $50,000, and helping them reach that goal is easy on the wallet!

During our visit to IKEA Orlando we were able to try the two Healthy Kid’s Meals, that for the month of July are also reduced to $1.99 and both are equally yummy!

The Kid’s Grilled Chicken (210 calories) comes with carrot sticks, strawberries, string cheese (that is separately packaged for a later snack), and lingonberry drink.

The Kid’s Organic Pasta (324 calories) is moose shaped pasta with a tomato sauce that is served with yogurt and lingonberry drink.

On Kids Eat Free Tuesdays at IKEA Orlando, if you choose either of these two meals a dollar will still be donated to the Feeding the Future campaign!

If you don’t have any little tummies in your family to feed, it is super easy to support the campaign! You will have the option to add a dollar to your purchase in their Restaurant, Swedish Food Market, and Bistro!

And while you are shopping at IKEA Orlando, don’t forget to take advantage of their other family amenities!!!

DISCLOSURE: Through a partnership with IKEA Orlando, I was provided with promotional items in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Great Balls of Fire Exhibit Opens At Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Celebrates July 2 Grand Opening

Of Great Balls of Fire Exhibit

with Astronaut Tom Jones

Great Balls of Fire, a new new interactive exhibit, will be opening at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on July 2, 2014.

At the Great Balls of Fire exhibit, guests will discover the risks that asteroids, comets, and meteorites present to our planet. The exhibit explores how we keep track of near-Earth objects while examining the effects of possible impacts.

To help celebrate the Grand Opening Dr. Tom Jones, a four-time space shuttle astronaut, will be the guest of honor. As a senior research scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Jones will focus on the future direction of human space exploration, uses of asteroid and space resources and defending Earth from asteroid impacts.

Within the Great Balls of Fire exhibit is Asteroid Encounter, where guests can climb aboard a “spaceship” and blast off to the asteroid belt and Jupiter while compiling data about asteroids and comets. Guests also can explore what would happen if one of these celestial bodies were to hit their hometown, determine Science Fact or Science Fiction of Hollywood movie clips and much more.

Here is the Great Balls of Fire Exhibit Grand Opening Schedule:

**All times are subject to change**

2 p.m. Grand Opening of Great Balls of Fire: Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Dr. Tom Jones, four-time space shuttle astronaut and asteroid expert

3 p.m. Asteroid presentation by Dr. Tom Jones

4 p.m. Autograph signing, Dr. Tom Jones, The Space Shop

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Flavors of Summer

Savor the Flavors of Summer at the

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Enjoy Hemingway’s Signature Summer Pre-Fixe Menu in July and August

Savor the flavor of the islands with Hemingway’s summer pre-fixe menu at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Designed by Executive Chef Kenneth Juran, the three-course menu is available in July and August and features many of “Papa’s” seasonal favorites including:

Key Lime Caesar Salad
Florida Rock Shrimp Chowder with Zellwood sweet corn
Hemingway’s “Cayo Hueso” Crab Cakes

Duvall Street Shrimp Scampi featuring jumbo tiger shrimp
Cuban Criollo Chicken seasoned with a blend of fresh herbs and spices
Crispy Black Fin Snapper served with a coconut yucca cake
Key Lime Tart or Peanut Butter Bombe for dessert

“Our summer menu serves as a showcase for the high quality, fresh ingredients the season delivers,” Juran says. “Each course was designed to capture the essence of the islands and provide guests with a truly delectable experience.”

Starting at $64 per couple, the three-course #FlavorsOfSummer menu may also be paired with Canvas wines for $89 per couple.

A TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence recipient, Hemingway’s also offers menu selections for young diners, as well seasonal vegetarian and gluten-free options including the Long Boat Key salad, vegetable truffle, pasta roulade, and vegan, gluten-free chocolate cake.

Located just minutes from popular Orlando area attractions, the 1,500 acre Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress boasts luxurious amenities surrounded by a tropical oasis that features the resort’s signature, half-acre lagoon pool. Florida resident rates, starting at $129 per night, are available now through Dec. 31, 2014.

About Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

The award-winning, 1,500 acre Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is located one mile from Walt Disney World® and close to Universal Orlando® and SeaWorld® Orlando with a host of amenities and activities including 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf and the award-winning Tennis and Racquet Club. Located along the 1,000 feet of white sandy beach of private Lake Windsong, the free-flowing lagoon pool boasts 12 waterfalls, heated and non-heated pools, two whirlpools, new Water Slide Tower Pavilion, new children’s Rock Climbing Stations, new interactive Water Jet Splash Zone, rope bridge, walking paths, and expansive, wrap-around sundecks. New features complement the resort’s favorite activities including; S’mores pit, beach volleyball, tether ball, hammocks, watersports and marked jogging, walking, and biking trails.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is centrally located with convenient access to Orlando International Airport and Interstate 4 off Exit 68 in LakeBuena Vista. The resort’s address is One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, Florida, USA 32836. For more information; call 407.239.1234; visitwww.GrandCypress.Hyatt.com; like Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress on Facebook; and follow on Twitter at @HRGrandCypress.

About Hyatt Regency

The Hyatt Regency brand is an energizing hotel brand that connects travelers to who and what matters most to them. More than 140 conveniently located Hyatt Regency urban and resort locations in over 30 countries around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient business meetings to memorable family vacations. The brand offers a one-stop experience that puts everything guests need right at their fingertips. Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts offer a full range of services and amenities, including notable culinary experiences; technology-enabled ways to collaborate; the space to work, engage or relax; and expert planners who take care of every detail. For more information, visit hyattregency.com or facebook.com/HyattRegency.

Aqua Drag Racer Now Open At Wet ‘N Wild

Wet ‘n Wild Orlando Opens All New, Family Friedly Racing Attraction – Aqua Drag Racer

All New Water Based Racing Attraction Expected to be

the Tallest and Fastest of Its Kind in Florida

Wet ‘n Wild Orlando has opened their newest attraction, the Aqua Drag Racer™ – a family-friendly, four lane racing attraction.

It’s expected to be the tallest and fastest water based racing attraction of its kind in Florida aimed at providing thrill seekers with an experience unlike any other around.

Standing six stories tall and featuring four parallel racing lanes, guests on the Aqua Drag Racer will take their place at a starting line that is 65-feet high and prepare for a turbo-charged adrenaline rush the whole family can share. Get ready for a full throttle plunge at screaming speeds while powering through enclosed braided, twisting tunnels at fifteen feet per second. It is full throttle acceleration with no brakes allowed and the newest way families share the rush in a head-to-head racing competition atWet ‘n Wild!

For more information about The Aqua Drag Racer, visit www.wetnwildorlando.com.