On the Go in MCO - Page 160 of 224 - A lifestyle and informational blog about all that central Florida has to offer! Enjoy our unique perspectives and news about the Orlando area attractions and resorts.

Colorvision Amazing Pictures At The Universal Orlando Resort Expands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here is a quick breakdown of the Star Card Program:

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

* The Star Card Package includes the following items:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Field Trip from Google mobile app review

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

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

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

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

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

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

Visiting LEGOLAND Florida: Fun Town

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Orlando Canine Country Club Review

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

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

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

httpv://youtu.be/wUNHLc7xyRY

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

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

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

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

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

Wordless Wednesday – Outside Hogwarts

Wordless Wednesday – October 2, 2013

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

Ocean Spray Bog Returns to Epcot for Food & Wine Festival

Ocean Spray Returns to Epcot For The18th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The Ocean Spray Bog is back with tips on how to incorporate cranberries into everyday living

At the 18th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival park guests have the opportunity to learn about how cranberries are grown and how every part of this versatile fruit is used at the cranberry bog near the Fountain of Nations.

httpv://youtu.be/FG6Nc_Gxz0E

I had the chance to take a dip in the bog, to talk to a few of the Ocean Spray growers, and to try several dishes from around the world that were created with cranberries and Craisins to kick of the Festival!

This was my second year strapping on waders and heading into the bog, and it is was just as much fun as it was the first time around. The floating berries, chatting with people as they are walking by, and talking to Ocean Spray growers and hearing their family stories is a great way to spend an evening.

Ocean Spray Bog — Our menu of international dishes featuring Craisins

The international dishes we were able to sample were absolutely amazing! I would have never thought of some of these cranberry flavor combinations, but they were delightful!

My favorites were the Craisin glazed Pork Belly with white cheddar maple grits with cranberry and sea salt cured wild salmon with maple sugar crystals from Canada, the Craisin infused five spice char Kobe beef with Sriracha with Craisin vegetable fried rice from Japan, and the mole shrimp quesadilla with cranberry salsa from Mexico. The artisan cheese stuffed mini Craisin Brioche from France was also delicious!

Also until November 11th, chefs at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will showcase the delicious versatility of Craisins Dried Cranberries through select chef demonstrations and private events, at certain restaurants, and at the Hops & Barley Marketplace.

“The beauty of the cranberry isn’t just what you see on the outside, it’s how it makes you feel on the inside,” said Ken Romanzi, COO, Ocean Spray Global. “Through our sponsorship at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, we can illustrate the many ways cranberries can be incorporated into snacks and meals every day, and educate guests about the healthy origins of the fruit.”

The cranberry bog at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is filled with more than 1,000 lbs. of floating cranberries, and is manned with Ocean Spray farmers all to happy to share their heritage, passion for growing cranberries, and spread the word about the healt benefits from these tasty fruits!

If you are passing through Epcot during the Festival, make sure you stop by the bog for a bit to talk to one of Ocean Spray Bog farmers and I am sure you will be surprised at how versatile the cranberry really is and also make sure you try one of the many tasty Craisin dishes!

Can’t make it to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? Visit www.oceanspray.com for delicious everyday ideas and seasonal inspirations from around the world. Cranberry lovers eager to share their stories and recipes are encouraged to tweet @OceanSprayInc or post on Ocean Spray’s Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram pages.

South Florida Museum and Parker Aquarium

Recently I visited the South Florida Museum and Parker Aquarium in Bradenton for the first time. This museum, aquarium and the neighboring Bishop Planetarium have been on my list of things to do for quite some time. As a kid, my mom used to take me to the planetarium for a rock laser light show when we would come to town to visit. Sadly, although the museum is only five minutes from my house, it has taken more than 15 years of me living here to finally get there.

South Florida Museum

The South Florida Museum focuses mostly on the history of the South Florida area. From pre-historic times with a model mastodon and fossils from several extinct species. There are areas of the museum that concentrate on the wildlife with displays of several different ecosystems with animals that inhabit each. Other sections are primarily exploring the history of the discovery and development of the South Florida area.

Parker Aquarium

Accompanying the South Florida Museum is the Parker Aquarium, which is home to Snooty the manatee, the world’s oldest known manatee who was born in captivity. Snooty is somewhat of a celebrity here in Bradenton at 65 years old. He has even made national news and has his own Snooty cam! While at the South Florida Museum I had an opportunity to see Snooty getting fed and a question and answer session with one of his trainers. I highly recommend this to anyone who gets a chance to catch this as it is great fun to watch Snooty and the other two manatees get fed and the Q&A session is very informative and interesting.

Bishop Planetarium

The Bishop Planetarium is the one section of the South Florida Museum that I had visited previously, but it had probably been a good 15 – 20 years. Since I had been last there was a fire and the planetarium had been renovated. Just after I visited, the planetarium closed for another refurbishment, which I understand is to upgrade the projection software. The renovation is scheduled to be finished in a few weeks with a current date listed as “mid-October.” I finished touring the South Florida Museum and Parker Aquarium, so before the rock hall of fame show in the planetarium I was able to catch a star show. This show was interesting as it highlighted what we would see in the night sky specifically in our geographic location at this time of year. I’d like to go back and see this again at different times of year to see the different constellations and planets that may be visible.

In peak season (January – April) the South Florida Museum is open 7 days a week. The rest of the year the museum is closed on Mondays. Hours are 10am – 5pm, except on Sundays, which are from 12pm to 5pm. Other than the aforementioned Mondays, the museum is only closed New Year’s Day, the second Monday in March, the first Saturday in November, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Regular admission is $15.95, $13. 95 for 65+, $11.95 for children 4-12, children 3 and under are free with paying adult. Active duty military with id are free. Family Night is the first Saturday of each month and offers everyone half price admission after 4pm with extended hours until 8pm. Family Night also usually includes screening of a family friendly (often Disney) movie. Currently since the Bishop Planetarium is closed, there is a $4 discount off admission.

I’m so glad I took the time to discover the South Florida Museum. It is a fantastic way to spend a few hours for kids and adults alike. You can go just for the laser light show with a discounted admission, but then you’re missing out on some of the best of what this complex has to offer. I hope to soon take advantage of one of the other great features of the museum, Film Fridays. Almost every Friday night the museum offers a $5 movie. The films range from classics like Meet Me In St. Louis and Some Like It Hot to Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. The upcoming series, “Greetings from Florida,” features movies set in Florida. This is a great way to catch classic films and re-releases up on the big screen.

If you find yourself with an extra day, or even an afternoon, take the opportunity to come explore the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Aquarium in Bradenton. It is a great value and a fun day trip. Have you been to the museum? If not, Snooty is waiting to meet you. Come on down!

Beyond Bollywood At The Enzian Theater

south_asian_festival

Beyond Bollywood: The 19th Annual South Asian Film Festival at the Enzian Theater showcases diverse images of South Asian (India/Pakistan) culture and heritage through acclaimed independent films from across the globe. This program is part of Enzian’s cultural festival circuit and is co-presented with the Asian Cultural Association.

The festival is held on September 28 – 29, 2013

Ezian Theater — Jadoo preceded by Unravel – September 28 at 11:00 am

Enzian Theater Beyond Bollywood Ticket Prices:
Series Pass – $35
Individual Tickets – $10
Group rates (25 or more) – $1 discount on individual ticket

Visit Enzian’s website for more information.

HUGE Orlando Home Show Giveaway!

{Sponsored Post}

The Orlando Home Show returns with even more inspiration, fun, and demonstrations to help you fall into your dream home!

Orlando Home Show Featuring Bravo’s Josh Flagg, Food Network’s Emily Ellyn,

DIY Experts, and Top Local Chefs

The Orlando Home Show will be returning October 4-6 to a new location in the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse, Hall C facing International Drive, and I am excited to go!

The Orlando Home Show is loaded with a fresh lineup of experts ready to rock this three-day home improvement extravaganza to help you find fresh inspiration, helpful tips, innovative products, and fantastic deals in remodeling, home improvement, design and fall outdoor projects.

Orlando Home Show highlights include appearances by Josh Flagg of Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles and Emily Ellyn of Food Network’s Next Food Network Star and Cupcake Wars; demonstrations by some of the area’s top chefs on the Edible Orlando Cooking Stage; daily how-to presentations by the DIY Guy; a display of two “Tiny Houses,” one just 96-square-feet in size; designer rooms showcasing repurposed, restored or recycled items; a food truck rally on Sunday, only; and much, much more!

There will also be tons of great demonstrations and tasty samples prepared by some of the area’s favorite chefs and culinary pros will be abundant throughout the weekend on the Edible Orlando Cooking Stage. Scheduled to demonstrate their signature recipes and dispense advice are Anthony Hull of Crimson Tavern; Chris De Sormoux of Marlow’s Tavern; chefs from White Wolf Café/Wolfie’s PizzaMia; as well as Edible Orlando Publisher Kendra Lott; Orlando Sentinel Food Editor Heather McPherson; Real Radio 104.1’s Dirty Jim; and KQ103 FM’s Gloria B.

Other not-to-be-missed features and opportunities at the Florida Home Show include:

EDU (Educators) Day on Friday only, offering free admission to any teacher or employee of a local public or private school, day care, college or university when showing a valid school ID or business card at the box office
The Orlando Home Show will host its first-ever food truck rally on Sunday only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some of Central Florida’s favorite mobile food purveyors, including Curbside Chef, The Pastrami Project, Saigon Sizzle, Mayan Grill, Magic4urPalate and Wako Taco, will be serving up delicious fare for purchase at the Westwood Lobby Entrance of the Convention Center.
four designer rooms created by students from the International Academy of Design & Technology showcasing repurposed, restored or recycled items.
New and interesting products making their debut at the Orlando Home Show will be noted by a “featured product” floor tile, making it easy for guests to find them.
Giveaways, enter-to-win contests and prize drawings round out the winning line-up for guests.
“Stay Calm and DIY.” Do-it-yourself projects can be daunting, especially for first-timers. Enter Chris Tice. The Central Florida-based military veteran and DIY expert will demystify the process while demonstrating projects four times daily in his booth as well as on the main stage.
Living tiny is simply better for the environment, says Dan Louche, owner of Tiny Home Builders and one of the pioneers of the Tiny Home movement. The Atlanta-based designer/builder will talk more about the trend during his stage presentations and at his booth which will display two examples of tiny houses — one just 96-square-feet in size.
Guests can also get valuable answers to important questions about remodeling, home improvement, design and fall outdoor project from hundreds of experts around the show floor and on the main stage throughout the weekend. (Visit www.OrlandoHomeShow.com for a complete listing of stage presentations and times).

Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m, and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the door, and are $10 for adults 13+, $5 for seniors (60+, at the box office only), $5 for children ages 6-12, and free for children ages five and under. Advance tickets can be purchased online for a $3 discount off full-price $10 admission at www.OrlandoHomeShow.com, courtesy of Florida Blue. Parking is available in the West Concourse and is $9 per car, per day. The Orange County Convention Center/West Concourse is located at 9800 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. Directions here: http://www.occc.net/global/directions.asp.

But here is your chance to win an awesome Orlando Home Show Prize Pack!!!

Orlando Home Show Prize Pack Includes…

* 4 tickets to the Orlando Home Show*

*Meet and Greet with Emily Ellyn after her Sat., Oct. 3, 2:30 p.m. presentation*

*Complimentary Marlow’s Tavern appetizer*

*Complimentary one-year subscription to Edible Orlando magazine*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please make sure you read the fine print about entering and claiming your Orlando Home Show Prize Pack!

For more information, visit www.CentralFloridaHomeAndGardenShow.com , or call 877-871-SHOW (7469). Connect on Facebook, Twitter (@FloridaHomeShow), Pinterest (pinterest.com/homeshows/) for up-to-the-minute show details, discounts and fabulous home improvement tips. Visit the show’s blog at www.HomeAndGardenBlog.com.

Good luck with our giveaway and I hope to see you there!!!

Disclaimer: Through a partnership with the Orlando Home Show, I received tickets to attend the Orlando Home Show for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ripley’s Orlando Odditorium Oddtoberfest

Ripley’s Orlando Odditorium Serves up Free Fall Fun

with Second Annual Oddtoberfest

Performers, live music, food and more at October 12 event

October is famous for the one day full of fright, fun and festivities. Of course that day is Oddtoberfest at Ripley’s Orlando (ok, Halloween is pretty cool too).

On Saturday, October 12, Ripley’s Orlando holds its second annual Oddtoberfest from noon to 5 pm. It’s a day to pay homage and celebrate the unusual, and the public is invited to take part in this FREE event.

The day’s events include:

Sensei Mike Reeves and his Over the Edge Team display their amazing karate skills. Reeves will break bricks and boards and even attempt to break a few world records!
“Trick Ropin’ Trevor” Dreher will display his world-class trick roping talents.
“Qubits” founder Mark Burginger will build a 13 foot tall tower made entirely from Qubits toy pieces. He and the company were featured on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Live music from Beebs and Her Money Makers. Fresh off the Vans Warped Tour, the group is as close to being Ripley’s house band as you can get. Ripley’s sponsored them on the Vans tour, and the band shot the video for their hit Jumpin’ at the Orlando Odditorium.
Amazing vehicles from Parker Brothers Concepts; see the famous Green Machine – but this is no kid’s toy; it’s adult size and powered by a motorcycle engine!
Food trucks
Carnival games and prizes
Face painting
Temporary tattoo artist
Bounce house

The event will be held in the parking lot rain or shine and is FREE to the public. Guests who want to tour the Odditorium will be required to purchase tickets.

Ripley’s Orlando Odditorium, located at 8201 International Drive, is open from 9 a.m. to midnight 365 days a year. For more information, please visit www.ripleys.com/orlando.

Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival Returns This Week

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Each year, Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival continues to be one of the most anticipated special events for guests of Walt Disney World. Around World Showcase, kiosks are setup for the festival that feature food and beverages from countries and regions around the world. This year includes more than 25 kiosks with returning favorites, and new offerings from Scotland like the seared salmon, vegetarian haggis, and banoffee tart. The Scottish booth will also serve Innis & Gunn Original beer, which I recently discovered at the Grand Floridian, and what I may be most excited about, Scotch tastings from Glenfiddich with 12, 15 and 18 years included in the flight.

The kiosks will presumably, like in years past, take Disney Dining Plan snack credits for payment for most of the food and some non-alcoholic beverages. This is a fantastic use of your snack credits if you are on the dining plan as some of these individual items can often cost upwards of $6 or $7 like the lobster dishes at the Hops & Barley kiosk. The festival will definitely have me going back to some of my favorites including the escargot in France, Fisherman’s pie and cheese plate in Ireland, kahlua pork sliders and tuna poke from Hawaii, Florida shrimp ceviche, and Schinken nudel in Germany.

Another great thing about the Food & Wine Festival is that you get the opportunity to try some of the featured menu items from some of Epcot’s restaurants that you may not be able to get into very easily, like Le Cellier in Canada. For those not fortunate enough to get a reservation, don’t despair. You can sample the restaurant’s cheddar cheese soup and filet mignon with truffle sauce at this year’s festival booth.

In addition to the kiosks, the festival plays host to celebrity chefs and representatives from vineyards and other spirit companies. Many special events are offered over the festival’s almost two month span from September 27 through November 11 this year. Seminars and mixology classes along with tastings are among some of the more affordable extras that can start as low as $10 or so for some (occasionally passholder discounts are offered for select events). Other special parties, like the Party for the Senses, can go to upwards of $200 per person. Check out the festival page to see more details or call (407) 939-3463 to book.

One of the most fun parts of the festival is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. This year new acts join some of the favorites that have been coming back for years. Last year I got to see both Sugar Ray and Boyz II Men put on great concerts. This year’s lineup (subject to change and courtesy of Disney) is as follows:

9/27-9/29	STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas	“We Built This City”
9/30-10/1	NEW! The Go-Go’s	“We Got The Beat”
10/2-10/4	Air Supply	“All Out of Love”
10/5-10/6	Sister Hazel	“All for You”
10/7-10/9	Sugar Ray	“Fly”
10/10-10/11	NEW! Edwin McCain	“I’ll Be”
10/12-10/13	NEW! The Manhattan Transfer	“Boy From New York City”
10/14-10/15	NEW! Wilson Phillips	“Hold On”
10/16-10/17	The Pointer Sisters	“I’m So Excited”
10/18-10/20	Night Ranger	“Sister Christian”
10/21-10/23	Boyz II Men	“End of the Road”
10/24-10/25	Survivor	“Eye of the Tiger”
10/26-10/27	38 Special	“Caught Up in You”
10/28-10/30	Smash Mouth	“Walkin’ on the Sun”
10/31-11/1	NEW! Spin Doctors	“Two Princes”
11/2-11/3	NEW! Christopher Cross	“Sailing”
11/4-11/5	Hanson	“Get the Girl Back”
11/6-11/8	Dennis DeYoung original member of the group STYX	“Come Sail Away”
11/9-11/11	Big Bad Voodoo Daddy	“Go Daddy-O”

Concerts take place in the America Gardens Theatre at 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00pm each night. Some of these performers can be very popular and guests have been known to line up hours in advance to try to get seats for the show. If there is someone that you really want to see, try to get there an hour or so ahead of time to give yourself the best chance to get into the theatre. If you don’t get in, rest assured, you can still see/hear the music and the band from elsewhere in the American pavilion.

I cannot wait for the Food & Wine Festival to start! This is one of my favorite events of the year, I often try to spread out my visits over three or four days to sample a few items each time. This gives me time to digest between booths and also to give my wallet a rest since you can literally spend hundreds to thousands if you were to purchase each item at each booth of the festival. I won’t be able to go for a few weeks, but I know many who are going this weekend.

Have you been to Epcot for the International Food & Wine Festival? If so, what are some of your favorite items? Have you done any of the special events or tastings? What are you most looking forward to? Let us know!

SeaWorld Debuts Float In The 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Paradae

SeaWorld Debuts ‘A Sea of Surprises’ Float

In the 87th Annual Macy’s

Thanksgiving Day Parade

Sculptures of sea turtles, penguins and fish among the amazing sea creatures

featured aboard new 32 foot-long float

For almost five decades, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has surprised and amazed guests with unique entertainment, thrilling rides, and up-close encounters with amazing sea life. Millions have been inspired through the power of entertainment, to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world. This Thanksgiving the beauty and majesty of the sea will come to life on the streets of New York as SeaWorld’s “A Sea of Surprises” float debuts in the 87^th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade^®.

“The magicians of Macy’s Parade Studio have outdone themselves yet again with the awe-inspiring and entertaining design of the new SeaWorld float,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “With its diverse and majestic depictions of sea creatures transformed into larger-than-life form, the ‘A Sea of Surprises’ float is sure to inspire millions of children and adults to learn more about, appreciate and enjoy all forms of aquatic life.”

From sea turtles, penguins and angel fish to sharks and breaching whales, amazing sea sculptures abound on the new float. Featuring rolling ocean waves, the gentle movement of swaying kelp and a vibrant school of tropical fish, the scene will take spectators on an extraordinary undersea journey. Taking center stage on the “A Sea of Surprises” float is the iconic Shamu, breaching 27-feet above the millions of Parade spectators lining the streets of Manhattan.

“We are thrilled to debut our SeaWorld “A Sea of Surprises” float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a tribute to SeaWorld’s 50^th celebration,” said Jim Atchison, President and CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Next year the parks will commemorate this milestone with a year-long celebration at the three SeaWorld parks in San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio. We hope this festive float represents the fun, inspiration and surprises that guests will find during a visit to SeaWorld.”

Beginning next March, SeaWorld celebrates its 50^th-year with a sea of surprises at all three parks that includes new interactive experiences and shows, even more up-close animal encounters throughout the park and the SeaWorld “Surprise Squad” treating guests with prizes and special experiences every day. For more information, visit www.SeaWorld.com/Celebration.

The 87^th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs nationwide on NBC-TV, on Thursday,November 28^th from 9am-12pm, in all time zones.

About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

With more than 50 million viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators that line up along the streets of New York City each year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. For more than 80 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. Growing in size and scale, the Parade proudly marches down a more than 2-mile route in New York City with more than 8,000 participants in tow including Macy’s employees, their families, celebrities, athletes, clowns and dance groups spreading holiday cheer. The Parade also features America’s best marching bands, fabulous floats and Macy’s signature giant helium character balloons. For more information on the Macy’s Parade please visit www.macys.com/parade or call the Parade hotline at (212) 494-4495.

About SeaWorld:

SeaWorld is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. It operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue and rehabilitate ocean marine animals that are ill, injured and orphaned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld^® rescue team has helped more than 22,000 animals in need over the last four decades. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has granted more than $9 million to wildlife research and conservation projects that protect wildlife and wild places. The Fund commits 100% of donations to on-the-ground wildlife conservation efforts. Learn more at www.SeaWorld.com

About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™:

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

Wordless Wednesday: Where It All Began

Wordless Wednesday: September 25, 2013

This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to the coolest thing at Disneyland! It looks like an old, green park bench, but it is where the idea of Disneyland began, This is the park bench where Walt sat and watched his daughters ride the carousel in Griffith Park and thought about creating a place where they could spend time and have fun together.

Well it came about when my daughters were very young and Saturday was always Daddy’s Day with his two daughters. So we’d start out and I’d take them to the merry-go-round and take them to different places. And as I sit there while they rode the merry-go-round, did all these kind of things, sit on a bench and eating peanuts. I felt that there should be something big, some kind of amusement enterprise where the parents and children could have fun together.

—Walt Disney

Family Day At Universal Studios Florida

Every so often our Universal Orlando Daredevil wants to take a break from taking on Universal Orlando Resort at a break-neck pace, so we decided to head to Universal Studios Florida to have a fun day in the park together!

Since we are always running through the parks, we decided to let Zoe make the decisions and that led us to a really fun and laid back day!

Zoe’s first stop was E.T. Adventure, which is one of our favorite attractions in the park, to take a walk through the woods before we took an adventurous bike ride. I seriously don’t know what it is about this ride that makes us so incredibly happy…but it does! I hope I never stop giggling at E.T. saying ‘Shelley’!

A good tip is that if you have riders who aren’t comfortable on the ‘bike seats’, you can talk to a Team Member to see if there is a ride vehicle with a bench available to ride.

After we saved The Green Planet, E.T.’s home world, we headed over to Fievel’s Playland to let Zoe run around for a bit!

While she was playing and riding the water slide, Dave and I used the time to take it easy for a minute and talk in the shade!

After 3 rides on the slide, Zoe decided it was time to keep our adventure going!

But we didn’t get the chance to make it too far, because she saw that SpongeBob was out at SpongeBob StorePants which made for some great pictures and fun as we found some cool details in the store! Zoe especially lost her mind when she found Gary!!!

Zoe then decided it was time to eat, so we headed over to Springfield to visit her absolute favorite part of Universal Studios Florida!

Zoe loves eating at Fast Food Boulevard, so while she and Dave enjoyed Krusty Burgers I decided to give the Bumblebee Man Taco Truck a try!

Simpsons Universal Orlando — Bumblebee Man’s Taco Truck

I had the Carne Asada Tacos, and they were really good! You have your choice of tortilla (flour or corn) for the tacos and it comes with tortilla chips. The steak was perfectly cooked, the guacamole was surprisingly delicious, and the toppings were fresh! The only thing that I wish was different is that they don’t have any Annual Pass discounts. However, the tacos paired with a Flaming Moe made a perfect and light meal for a warm day! I apologize for the lack of picture, but I was starving and they were really tasty!

We decided to give Kang & Kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl a spin, and while it wasn’t the best of decisions after lunch it was still a lot of fun! The signs along the queue are a lot of fun and getting your saucer into orbit just right to trigger the character voices around the attraction is a great plus!

It may sound weird, but Zoe loves answering the phone outside of the Kwik-E-Mart! She would stay here forever if we let her!

We finally were able to lure her away with promises of letting her play the carnival games outside of The Simpsons Ride. While the games look like your typical sketchy carnival games, the Team Members in this area are always there to make them super fun! The games aren’t too expensive or hard that you don’t have a good chance at winning a prize.

Another big plus of these games is that you can win actual Simpsons prizes, and Zoe wound up winning a little Lisa who is now by her side at all times!

Lisa and Zoe wanted to kick it up a little bit, so we took a spin on MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack. While it is a really fun attraction, the air conditioning was blasting which was a huge bonus on this super sunny day!

We knew our day was starting to wind down, so we walked along the construction and took a moment to play with the Universal ScreenPlay app! It was another nice break from rushing towards the exit.

For Zoe’s last treat of the day, she asked to climb the walls! She absolutely loves the climbing area located near The Mummy, and for $5 it is more than fairly priced for similar experiences outside of the park! Adults have to sign a waiver, kids wear a harness and helmet, and helpful Team Members are there for extra encouragement.

As Optimus ‘Primed’ us to the fact storms were starting to roll in, we decided to head home after a fun and relaxing day at Universal Studios Florida.

I hope that you enjoyed joining us on our Family day at Universal Studios Florida, what do your kids like to choose when they get to call the shots and choose the attractions?

Cher Dressed To Kill Tour Coming To Amway Center

It’s now official. The one and only Cher revealed that she is kicking off her “Dressed To Kill” 49-city North American Tour beginning in Phoenix on March 22 with stops in NY, LA, Boston, Las Vegas and other major markets. Cher shared the happy news with her fans following her performance on the Today Show this morning. Cher plays the Amway Center on May 16 tickets go on sale.

What: Cher | Dressed to Kill Tour

When: Friday, May 16, 2014 | 8 pm

Where: Amway Center | Orlando, Florida

On Sale: Friday, October 11, 2013 | 12 Noon

The national tour promoter is Marshall Arts USA. For ticket information and to sign up for tour updates, please visit Cher.com.

“The Farewell Tour,” Cher’s previous tour later dubbed “The Never Can Say Goodbye Tour,” was one of the most successful tours ever by a solo artist and played for a record-breaking 325 dates and was seen by over 5.5 million people.

American Express^®Card members can purchase tickets to select cities before the general public beginning Monday September 30 at 10 a.m. throughThursday, October 3 at 10 p.m.

All online ticket purchases (presale and general public) receive a free copy of Cher’s new album “Closer To The Truth,” due to release September 24 on Warner Bros Records.

Cher is in New York this week celebrating the album’s release with upcoming appearances on David Letterman (September 24) and Live! with Kelly & Michael (October 1). Cher will also appear as a mentor with Blake Shelton on NBC’s “The Voice” airing in October.

TICKETS: $25.50, $45.50, $95.50 & $131 – Buy tickets at amwaycenter.com, Chase Box Office at Amway Center, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com. All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges. For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Amway Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.

ABOUT AMWAY CENTER

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