On the Go in MCO - Page 162 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.

Disney Dish: Epcot’s Biergarten’s Nudel Gratin

Last month on the Disney Parks Blog, a post was published about new menu items at the Biergarten in Epcot. Included in this article was a recipe for the new to the buffet nudel gratin. Looking at the pictures alone made me hungry for this Disney dish, so I decided to give it a shot making it at home.

Here is the recipe from the Parks Blog:

Nudel Gratin
Serves 8 to 10

2 cups heavy cream
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch ground white pepper
Pinch nutmeg
4 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pound cooked elbow macaroni

Preheat oven to 375F. Spray a 16×9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Combine cream, eggs, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl, whisking to combine. Toss cheeses together in a small bowl until combined; remove 1 cup cheese and set aside. Stir remaining cheeses into cream mixture.
Cook macaroni until just tender; drain and add cream mixture, stirring immediately. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Cover with foil.
Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil, and sprinkle reserved cheese over top of noodles. Bake 15 minutes longer.
Cool 10 minutes before cutting into squares. Serve warm.

My Disney Dish: Nudel Gratin

Nudel gratin is essentially a form of macaroni in cheese to put it in its simplest terms. The basics are there with elbow macaroni pasta, cheese, cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg and eggs. I have made mac and cheese from scratch before, but had forgotten how much time it takes in comparison to opening a box of Kraft or heating up Stouffer’s frozen mac and cheese. Make sure you read through the entire recipe including the instructions and not just the ingredients before you start cooking. I made the mistake of not doing so and didn’t realize until I was ready for it that I was out of aluminum foil and had to go out and get some even though the food was ready to go in the oven. I don’t think it had any adverse affect delaying the baking, but it made dinner later, which was annoying. So make sure you have your baking dish, mixing bowls, cooking spray, aluminum foil, etc. all ready to go along with your ingredients.

Since I couldn’t find shredded white cheddar or swiss cheese with the other shredded cheeses at Publix, I bought blocks of each type of cheese and ended up grating them myself. This also added just a couple minutes to the relatively quick prep time of otherwise about 15-20 minutes. Most of the prep time was taken up by preheating the oven while waiting for the water to boil and cooking the pasta. While these were happening that didn’t need active supervision, I combined the cream, eggs, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cheeses. Total start to finish time with preheating, prep work, baking and cooling should take about an hour and ten minutes, so make sure you set aside a good amount of time before dinner to start.

Incorporating half of the cheese into cream mixture

Cooked pasta before adding cheese and cream

Overall, my brother and I thought it turned out well, and we would definitely have it again. We served it with ham and peas with a chardonnay, which seemed to complement the pasta dish well. Have you tried to make your favorite Disney dish at home? I’ve tried a few with varying degrees of success, but this was one of the best results and best tasting recipes I’ve made from Walt Disney World. Give it a try if you’re looking for a relatively easy, albeit time consuming, dish to start.

Pasta with cheese and cream mixture before baking

Pasta after baking 30 minutes with cheese and cream

Remaining cheese on top after baking for 30 minutes

Celebration Kicks Off Fall With Oktoberfest

Celebration Kicks off Seventh Annual Oktoberfest

with Falling Leaves on October 25^th and 26^th

On October 25^th and 26^th, Celebration Town Center transforms before your very eyes as the falling leaves of the season drop on Market Street in the Fall Festival known as Oktoberfest. Listen for the rustling of leaves, relax by the lakeside and rock your troubles away, and enjoy the live music with family and friends in this one-of-a-kind themed extravaganza.

On Friday October 25^thOktoberfest will be celebrated in the old-world German tradition featuring the sounds of Dan Witucki & Heimatland Musikanten. Come join in on the interactive live show featuring everything from yodeling to crowd sing-a-long fun.

Then, come back on October 26^thas Celebration Town Center will celebrate “Rocktoberfest”. Featuring the sounds of The Micah Read Band and Lucy Iris, Celebration Town Center is the place to be to usher in Fall. It’s the coolest family-friendly Oktoberfest in the Southeast, so don’t miss it.

Hop on a hayride, dance to terrific live music, paint a pumpkin, or just stroll and enjoy the crisp fall air and enjoy the great savings at the lakeside promenade.

Leaves fall daily at 7:00, 8:00, and 9:00 PM.

Parking and Admission are FREE!!!

There is something for everyone at this one of a kind Fall Festival presented by Lexin and sponsored in part by San Adams, Mona Lisa Suite Hotel, Axis Magazine, The Celebration Town Tavern, and Experience Kissimmee. For more information, visit us at www.celebrationtowncenter.com

Come early, Stay Late, and have fun at Celebration’s 7^th Annual Oktoberfest!!!!

October 25^th Schedule

5:30 PM DJ Tami Begins/Pumpkin Painting Begins

6:10-7:00 PM Dan Witucki & Heimatland Musikanten

7:00 PM Leaves Fall

7:15-8:00 PM Dan Witucki & Heimatland Musikanten

8:00 PM Leaves Fall

8:15-9:00 PM Dan Witucki & Heimatland Musikanten

9:00 PM Leaves Fall

9:15-10:00 PM Dan Witucki & Heimatland Musikanten

10:00 PM Event Ends

October 26^th Schedule

5:00 PM DJ Tami Begins/Pumpkin Painting Begins

5:30-6:15 PM TBA

6:15-7:00 PM Lucy Iris

7:00 PM Leaves Fall

7:15-8:00 PM The Micah Read Band

8:00 PM Leaves Fall

8:15-9:00 PM The Micah Read Band

9:00 PM Leaves Fall

9:15-10:00 PM The Micah Read Band

10:30 PM Event Ends

Wordless Wednesday: Halloween Mickey & Minnie

Wordless Wednesday – September 11, 2013

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays! So when I start to see the Halloween decorations go up at the Magic Kingdom I get really excited! This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to the fun windows of the Emporium on Main Street USA! I absolutely adore Minnie and Mickey’s new Halloween outfits, and can’t wait to go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on Friday!

John Mayer Born And Raised Tour Coming To Amway Center

Seven-time Grammy Award^®-winning singer, songwriter and musician John Mayer announced additional dates for his current U.S. tour after a successful summer run, selling out in Los Angeles, Denver, Houston and Dallas among many other major cities. This is the singer’s first tour following a three-year hiatus. John Mayer brings his Born and Raised Tour to the Amway Center on December 9. Tickets go on sale September 20 at 10 a.m.

WHAT: JOHN MAYER | BORN AND RAISED TOUR with special guest PHILLIP PHILLIPS

WHEN: MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013 | 7:30 P.M.

WHERE: AMWAY CENTER | ORLANDO, FLORIDA

ON SALE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 | 10 A.M.

The new tour dates kick off on November 19 and run through December 17 with Phillip Phillips (“Home,” “Gone, Gone, Gone”) continuing to support for most U.S. shows. Citi cardmembers have exclusive access to pre-sale tickets with most dates going on sale September 17 at 10 a.m. EST. For full details please visit www.citiprivatepass.com and www.johnmayer.com.

Mayer’s new album “Paradise Valley” debuted at number one in four countries and in the Top 10 in another 8 countries. The new album also marks his highest career chart entry in Switzerland, Ireland, Austria, Italy and Belgium. His previous albums – “Room for Squares,” “Heavier Things,” “Continuum,” live album “Where the Light Is,” “Battle Studies” and “Born and Raised” – have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide combined.

Mayer is using the U.S. tour to both raise funds for and heighten awareness of the effects of post-traumatic stress on our military veterans. One dollar from each tour ticket sold in the U.S. will go to the Northern California Institute for Research and Education (NCIRE). Mayer partnered with NCIRE two years ago to create programs that help veterans return to healthy and productive civilian lives.

He has been honored with seven Grammy Awards and an additional 11 nominations. Mayer has also been included in Time Magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential contemporary thinkers, leaders, artists and entertainers, and twice been featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine’s annual “Guitar” issue. Last year, he was honored in Washington, D.C. by the Recording Academy for his philanthropic work on behalf of both U.S. military veterans and young people interested in music.

TICKETS: $33, $53 & $73 – 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.

Magical Dining Month Kicks Off With A Special Dinner

Local Chef Whips up Five-Star

Dinner at Ronald McDonald House

Charities of Central Florida

to Kick Off Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month

-Pint-sized kid chefs help cooks prepare island-inspired meal for families of critically ill children-

-Special dinner helps kick off Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month Benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida-

More than 40 moms, dads, siblings and some very special kids were treated to a five-star Caribbean feast at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida near Florida Hospital today.

Several chef-hat-clad kid “volunteers” worked side-by-side with Citrus Restaurant Executive Chef and General Manager, Mark Roberts as cooks and servers prepared the savory treat to help promote Visit Orlando’s local charitable event, Magical Dining Month.

Now through the end of September, more than 60 top Orlando-area restaurants like Citrus are offering $33, three-course dinners, with $1 from each meal donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida.

More Magical Dining Month Info…

Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month features more than 60 of Orlando’s top restaurants offering $33 three-course dinners throughout the entire month of September. More information about Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, including a complete list of participating restaurants, menus and hotel packages, is available at OrlandoMagicalDining.com.

Citrus Restaurant features regionally inspired new American cuisine. While Citrus is not “historic” or “citrus themed”, the restaurant name is meant to respect Central Florida’s heritage. The Citrus Restaurant concept reflects their interpretation of Florida flavors and ideas like fresh, clean, local and independent. The restaurant is located at 821 North Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando. To book a reservation, call 407.373.0622.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida (RMHCCF) finds, creates and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and families. The cornerstone program, the Ronald McDonald House^®, provides a home away from home that offers comfort and care to families with children receiving treatment at local hospitals and medical facilities in Orlando. Since its inception in 1996, RMHCCF has served over 18,000 families. For more information about the charity, please visit www.rmhccf.org or call (407) 206-0957.

WWE RAW At The Amway Center

Finally! WWE Raw has come back to Orlando!!!

WWE Monday Night Raw returns to Orlando for the first time in three years visiting the Amway Center on October 28 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale September 14 at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $15.

WHAT: WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW

WHEN: MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013 | 7:30 P.M.

WHERE: AMWAY CENTER | ORLANDO, FLORIDA

ON SALE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2013 | 10 A.M.

See your favorite WWE Superstars live including:

WWE Champion Randy Orton
Heavyweight Champion Alberto del Rio
WWE COO Triple H
Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel & Paul Heyman
United States Champion Dean Ambrose of The Shield
Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins & Roman Reigns of The Shield
Daniel Bryan
CM Punk
The Big Show
Mark Henry

Many more of your favorites will be added. Card is subject to change. Visit http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw for more information.

TICKETS: $15, $25, $35, $50 & $95 – Buy tickets at amwaycenter.com, Chase Box Office Amway Center box office, Ticketmaster retail locations, charge-by-phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com. All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges. For Amway Center box office and ticket information, visit amwaycenter.com (phone purchases are not available through the Amway Center box office). The Amway Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Amway Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.

ABOUT AMWAY CENTER

SeaWorld Orlando Rescues Male Manatee

SeaWorld Orlando Now Caring for

Male Manatee Rescued

Near Daytona Beach, Florida

A male manatee brought to SeaWorld Orlando on Saturday, Aug. 31, by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues to recover and receive care for watercraft injuries. SeaWorld veterinarians performed radiographs to see if there were internal injuries to the spine and chest. The manatee was found in the Tomoka River near Daytona Beach, Fla.

Estimated to be approximately 8.75 feet in length and weighing around 680 pounds, the manatee was rescued because he had watercraft injuries and was suffering from a pneumothorax, likely caused by the watercraft injuries. When a manatee has a pneumothorax its body cavity fills with air and it cannot stay submerged.

Today SeaWorld Orlando animal care experts took radiographs of the manatee’s chest cavity and performed a “chest tap” to relieve the animal of built up pressure and air. He also was given antibiotics. The manatee is in guarded condition and will be monitored closely during the next few days.

So far in 2013, SeaWorld has rescued 15 and returned 8 manatees back to their natural habitat. In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than four decades.

All manatee rescue footage produced by SeaWorld under FWS Permit Number MA7701911.

If you see injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.

Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party Starts Tuesday

My favorite special event at Walt Disney World, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, returns this Tuesday to the Magic Kingdom. This party takes place on select nights in September and October typically several times per week. The dates run from September 10th through November 1st this year. Guests must purchase separate tickets for this hard ticket event and the party goes from 7pm until midnight, however you can usually enter the park at 4pm on the party ticket.

I absolutely love this Halloween Party for the festive fall vibe you get the second you approach the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. Colors of orange and gold greet guests along with foliage, jack o’lanterns and pumpkin characters in Town Square. I can’t wait to attend the party this coming Friday the 13th, which I hope will add and air of spookiness to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

What I am most looking forward to is the Boo To You Halloween Parade, which takes place twice during the evening. If you can stick it out for the later second parade it is usually much less crowded than the first one. Also, try to get a spot as close to the parade route as possible to get great viewing of the crowd favorite Headless Horseman that leads the parade and my favorites, the Haunted Mansion grave diggers. The Halloween Party has also been known to showcase the alter egos of the Dapper Dans, the ghoulish Cadaver Dans. Do not miss these guys if you can find them!

Main Street waiting for the Boo To You parade

Of course there will be trick or treating during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but I’m still not sure if I’m going to be going in costume or not this year. I usually go the first week and it is still pushing 90 and humid in the evenings, so I typically go in shorts and a Halloween themed t-shirt. Also not to be missed are the special fireworks, Hallowishes, which are again some of my favorites of the entire year at the Magic Kingdom.

New this year are a few additions to the Halloween Party. Phineas and Ferb will be joining the Creepa Crew, which was the new group last year to help warm up the crowd before the parades by getting folks dancing in the streets. From the Nightmare Before Christmas, Sally and Jack Skellington will be joining in on the fun for meet and greets with guests in Town Square. I am so excited to see them to get me even more excited for Haunted Mansion Holiday, which I’ll be seeing for the first time during my trip to Disneyland this December! Also first timers to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year will be Mike and Sulley from Monster Inc. They will be hosting the Monstrous Scream-O-Ween Ball in Tomorrowland, so bring your boogie shoes!

The dance parties are always fun to check out, along with the Villains stage show in front of Cinderella Castle. I enjoy seeing guests and characters all decked out in costumes for the Halloween party. One of my must dos is to see the special characters in front of the Haunted Mansion before I ride. An added benefit of the party only selling limited number of tickets is that the attractions that are open typically have much shorter wait times than what you normally encounter during the day. There are usually only a handful of attractions that are closed during the party, including the Jungle Cruise, Carousel of Progress, the Liberty Belle, and the train. If you go in early at 4pm on your party ticket you can often knock out these few before they close down for the Halloween party at 7pm.

As usual there will be special merchandise only available during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you see something you like that is party specific, please make sure you purchase it during the party as they are exclusive to the event and cannot be bought outside of the Halloween parties. I learned this the hard way my first party back in 2008. Above all else, make sure to have fun and just soak in the beginning of fall at Walt Disney World. I hope to be able to attend again, but if not, I’m going to make the most of the Halloween party on Friday night. Will you be there? Some of us from On the Go in MCO will be there. Come join the fun and see if you can track us down!

Oakley Women’s Apparel Isn’t For Socializing

{Sponsored Post}

While many of us hear the name Oakley and think of only sunglasses, I had the opportunity to visit the Oakley Store at the Florida Mall to take a peek at their Women’s line of running gear.

And I have to say that now when I think of Oakley, I am going to think of how their women’s running gear is awesome!

The first thing that I like about the line of clothing is that it starts at a reasonable price point, while still providing great quality and neat features and details.

I know this may sound silly, but I also am a fan of a thumb cut-out on the cuff of a Flexibility Hoodie! This simple little feature helps keep your hands a little warmer without lugging around gloves.

The Flexibility Hoodie features moisture–wicking fabric delivers dry comfort, and a nearly seamless design reduces chafing during big swings and precision approaches. The seams that do exist are flat and specifically designed to contour to the natural shape of the body for enhanced comfort. With a zip placket and mesh panels at the underarms, this hoodie offers a balance of insulation and breathability.

Hydrolix^™ fabric helps wick moisture away for a comfortable fit
Strategically placed mesh panels for increased ventilation
Engineered, flat seams for natural range of motion
Hood for protection from the elements
Thumbholes at cuffs to help keep hands and wrists warm
Anti–bacterial technology to help fight odor–causing microbes

The other thing that struck me about the Women’s Oakley line of clothing is that they are always finding new technology and techniques to make their gear work the best for you.

The Oakley Race Day Tank was my favorite tank! While being super cute, it also has a lot of great features!

O Hydrolix fabric manages moisture to keep you comfortable on the move
Seamless construction reduces irritations
Anti–bacterial action reduces the effects of odor–causing microbes
Adjustable straps and contoured stretch fabric create a customized, comfortable fit
Built–in bra controls bounce

But my favorite design feature of the Race Day Tank, is that it is designed and constructed to stay put as you work out so your tank doesn’t end up higher than you want it to be.

And while there are still a lot of great sunglasses, both for fashion and for athletics, they have something even more fun!

The Oakley Store at the Florida Mall has a way to customize your own glasses in the store that are ready for you to try and tweak before you buy them.

Oakley also has great bags! They have anything from backpacks to totes to foldable duffle bags that are ideal for travel!

As part of this review I was sent a Factory Lite duffel that has been amazing on my two trips to California! It’s a great size bag that was perfect to use as a way to have a little extra wiggle room in case you bought too much or wanted a little extra room in your luggage.

I really had a blast touring the Oakley Store at the Florida Mall, and I look forward to bringing you more reviews of their products in the future!

Disclaimer: Through a partnership with Oakley, I received a Factory Lite Duffel bag for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Seminole Hard Rock Pinktober Campaign Kicks Off Soon!

Seminole Hard Rock Recognizes Breast Cancer Survivors

with Premier Sponsorship of Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk

Effort is Part of October’s PINKTOBER™ 14^th Annual Breast Cancer Research & Awareness Campaign

Dedicated to the fight against breast cancer, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa is the premier sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer walk which takes place on Saturday, October 19, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Team members will also participate in the walk. Hard Rock’s commitment to breast cancer awareness and research continues throughout October with its PINKTOBER™ campaign. This marks the 14^th year of Hard Rock International’s support and the sixth year for SHRHC’s efforts.

Monies raised from the non-competitive 5K walk fund groundbreaking research to find, prevent, treat and cure breast cancer; ensure access to mammograms for women who need them; and provide free resources and support to the one in two newly diagnosed women who turn to the Society for help and support, including transportation and lodging during treatment.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa joined the American Cancer Society in 2006 with a team of walkers for the event. Since then, the company has raised more than $50,000 for the American Cancer Society. Last year, the casino was one of the top two fundraising teams and had more than 300 walkers.

“As a global leader in the entertainment industry, we are proud to lend our resources as part of Hard Rock International’s breast cancer research and awareness campaign to educate the local Tampa community about this deadly disease,” said John Fontana, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. “Our month-long charitable effort is designed to engage guests, celebrate survivors, raise awareness and drive funds toward research for the advancement of defenses and treatments for breast cancer.”

Through their 2012 PINKTOBER™ efforts, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino donated nearly $65,000 to help fund research for prevention and a cure for breast cancer. This year, they hope to raise even more funds.

Hard Rock will donate proceeds from the sale of special limited-edition PINKTOBER™ merchandise to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation ®, the Caron Keating Foundation and select local charities worldwide. The special collection items are available October 1 – 31.

The resort will donate 25 percent of the proceeds from its “Get into Bed” PINKTOBER™ “Pink Sheets” guest room bookings to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Guests can request to stay in the limited availability “Pink Sheets” rooms at no additional cost. Guests will also receive a complimentary commemorative Hard Rock pin. The select guestrooms will also be supplied with special collectible PINKTOBER™ bathrobes that can be purchased in the Seminole Hard Rock Retail Store, with a portion of the proceeds donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®.

Additionally, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino will be donating 100 percent of the retail purchase price of its limited edition collectible PINKTOBER™ Hard Rock pins ($12), and 15 percent of the retail purchase price of its ladies pink T-shirts ($26); pink-hued guitar-embossed “Sleep Like A Rock” bedding sheet sets (queen $95, king $105); pillow cases (queen $50, king $60); scarf ($18); bracelet $(18); and pink robe ($80) to the cause.

To further direct attention to PINKTOBER’s charitable efforts, SHRHC will showcase color-changing lights designed to bathe both the middle of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel tower sides and the main casino floor in pink hues. Special “Pink-tini” cocktails ($7.25) will be served in the casino’s Center and Lobby bars throughout October with partial proceeds also donated.

Disney Floral and Gifts has a new website!

If you haven’t already noticed, Disney Floral and Gifts has an all new website!

www.disneyfloralandgifts.com

The new site launched a few weeks ago to great reviews, and is much more user friendly.

One exciting new feature is that you can now order any of Disney Floral’s Magical In Room Celebrations directly from the site, which was previously not possible.

Disney Floral and Gifts In Room Celebrations

When choosing your gift you can even add that extra magical touch by personalizing your gift with embroidery on many of the items. Disney Floral and Gifts have even added thread color and font styles to the options now, so you can be sure to achieve the exact look you’d like.

If for some reason you don’t see a gift that’s exactly what you’d like, you can create your own basket now. Just use the “Custom Gift Builder” tab, and from there you can select the type of bag or container you’d like to use. Then you can go ahead and fill it as you desire, they have also added lots of snacks and little extras so you can now customize your gifts and create the perfect basket!

New items for fall and Halloween have already been added for you to order, and their Mickey’s Spooktacular In Room Celebration is not one to be missed! This year Disney Floral even added Halloween pillow cases, which can be embroidered, so guests can take these home and use them each year!

One exciting new item is their Cinderella slipper! This slipper is actually crystal and now has a little heart on the front that has a blue light underneath, so when switched on the slipper glows blue like Cinderella’s dress!

Soon enough they will be adding their Winter offerings for Christmas and Hanukkah so be sure to check back regularly to Disney Floral and Gifts for new exciting gift ideas!

Orlando City 2013 USL PRO Championship Match Preview

Orlando City Faces Charlotte

Saturday In 2013 USL PRO Championship

Orlando City def Riverhounds — Photo by Allison Petro

Lions attempt to capture second postseason title against Eagles Saturday night

Orlando City SC (16-4-6, 54 points, No. 2 seed) hosts the Charlotte Eagles (10-5-11, 41 points, No. 5 seed) in the 2013 USL PRO Championship on Saturday, September 7, at Fifth Third Bank Field at the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Lions attempt to capture a second postseason title in franchise history Saturday night, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

“This is the final game, and we know what we have to do,” said Orlando City Head Coach Adrian Heath. “We will have another great crowd at the Citrus Bowl Saturday night and we want to make them happy.”

Saturday’s opponent, Charlotte, upset the No. 1 seeded Richmond Kickers 2-1 last Saturday night to advance to the Championship.Midfielder Chris Ramirez scored his second goal of the postseason and Nate Thornton notched the final goal for the victory.

“Their front three players will cause different problems than most of the players in the league,” Heath continued. “I wasn’t surprised that Charlotte beat Richmond. We have to control possession and dictate the tempo of the game. I think if we can do that, we can win the game.”

Leading the Charlotte frontline is striker Jorge Herrera, who led the Eagles in scoring in 2013 with 10 goals. Charlotte is coached by Mark Steffens, who’s in his 17^th year with the Eagles.

The Lions have played the Eagles twice in 2013, winning 1-0 in Orlando while ending in a 0-0 draw in Charlotte. The Lions have yet to fall to the Eagles in three years, compiling a 4-0-2 all-time record against the North Carolina side.

Orlando is in the Championship match for the first time since 2011. The Lions topped the Harrisburg City Islanders on penalty kicks two years ago, taking home the USL PRO Championship in the club’s inaugural season.

Tickets for the Championship game are available by calling (855) ORL-CITY. For more information on Saturday’s Championship match, stay tuned to OrlandoCitySoccer.com.

Minor League Baseball at McKechnie Field

McKechnie Field in Bradenton is one of baseball’s best stadiums for spring training. It is quaint and has charm, even after its huge refurbishment completed earlier this year. The stadium has even been compared to the venerable Fenway Park in Boston. Home to spring training of the Pittsburgh Pirates, McKechnie Field was first built in 1923 and has been a part of the Grapefruit League for the Pirates since 1969.

Living in Bradenton, I’ve had the opportunity to catch many spring training games. McKechnie Field is a fantastic location that is literally a five minute drive from my house. On special nights there are sometimes fireworks, which I can see from my driveway about 20 blocks away. For the Pirates’ 40th Anniversary at McKechnie Field, lights were added to the stadium so night games could be played there finally. Baseball at night in Florida is great since it does tend to be pretty warm here.

In 2010, Minor League Baseball came to Bradenton in the form of the Bradenton Marauders, Pittsburgh’s single A team. The stadium seats about 8,500, which is a nice intimate feel where you can get seats very close to the field. This is a great feeling, especially during Spring Training when you can see some of your favorite players just feet away from you. In comparison to the Atlanta Braves’ location at Champion Stadium at Walt Disney World, McKechnie Field is about 1,000 seats smaller.

Accessibility is a key factor in getting to a game for me. I love baseball, and being able to decide last minute to catch a game and to pay less than $10 for a ticket day of game, is fantastic. You can even get advance tickets for about $6 which makes the games even that much more appealing. This weekend my mom and I were lucky enough to catch some great weather, which this time of year is a challenge. We decided last minute to go to the Marauder’s game since it was the last home game of the season.

I hadn’t been to McKechnie Field for a little over a year and a half and was very impressed with all of the new renovations. The concessions have been vastly improved as well as new restrooms added. In the outfield there is a great boardwalk section with tables and chairs along the outfield wall with great views. The food is relatively affordable and so are drinks as far as baseball food goes. Our tickets were about $17 for the two of us, mom had a bbq pulled pork sandwich, I had an Italian sausage and we split nachos for about another $17. Then we each had a 24 ounce premium draft beer for $6.50 each. That to me was a huge steal, especially since it was at the Kona bar where they had Koko Brown, Longboard Lager, Fire Rock Pale Ale and Big Wave Golden Ale on draft.

We had great seats about 7 or 8 rows behind the Marauder’s dugout just a little behind first base. The game was pretty slow at first, but the Marauders pulled out the win, with a rally in the bottom of the 8th to beat the Fort Myers Miracle 3-2. In each half inning there are great games to keep the fans involved, especially the kids. This includes things like hula hoop contest, frozen tshirt contest, dizzy bat run, and many more. The kids seem to be really interested in these and they are fun to keep the adults entertained too.

After the game there was a special fireworks show for the last game at McKechnie Field of the season. They will also do special nights throughout the summer where they do the fireworks, in addition to holidays like 4th of July. There are great areas for groups to reserve and quite a few were in use the other night. They were setup in roped off sections of the boardwalk area with buffet stations for dinner. This seemed like a fun way to experience the game with a group of friends.

All in all, McKechnie Field is a great place to experience baseball, whether for the Pirates during spring training or for the Marauders games that usually run from April through August. If you get an opportunity, I strongly encourage you to check out this great baseball stadium that is a fantastic place just minutes from the Gulf Beaches. Parking fees usually run from $5-10 in area parking lots around the stadium.

Marauders logo

Marty leading fans in Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Have you been to McKechnie Field? Have you been to either spring training or a minor league game before? If not, you have a few months to plan before spring training rolls around in the end of February. Get planning!

Wordless Wednesday – I Know You

Wordless Wednesday – September 4, 2013

This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to Disneyland! Nestled among water fountains just outside of the entrance to the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough, you will find this statue of Aurora dancing with Prince Phillip as Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather all surround her. It’s such a pretty statuette in person, and it really captures the charm of the movie and the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough!

Haunted Mansion Disney Dooney and Bourke Purse

Haunted Mansion Disney Dooney and Bourke Purse Coming to the Parks September 13, 2013!

This Haunted Mansion Disney Dooney and Bourke Purse is to DIE for!

Earlier today the Disney Parks Blog absolutely made my day!!!

Disney Design Group artist Mark Seppala created this Haunted Mansion Disney Dooney and Bourke bag with such attention to detail it is amazing! The creepy color palate, the pop of red in the interior of the bag, the subtle wallpaper patter, and especially the hang tag with the attraction logo!

I am in love to say the least!!!

The bag will have a retail of $330.00 (plus tax), and will be released at the following merchandise locations starting September 13, 2013.

Walt Disney World Resort:

Tren-D and the World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace
Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park
MouseGear at Epcot
Keystone Clothiers at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Summer Lace at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disneyland Resort:

Disney Vault 28 and World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney District
Disney Clothiers at Disneyland park
Elias & Co. at Disney California Adventure park

The Disney Parks online store will also carry this bag in the fall, but if you are anything like me you are going to want to be a Happy Haunt with this bag as soon as possible!