This coming Monday, November 5th, the UK pavilion at Epcot will celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. Like the festivities they have been featuring in some of the other World Showcase countries, the UK will play host to a celebration for guests to focus on a date important to the host pavilion. Similar festivities have been held in Canada, America and Mexico earlier this year.
From 11am – 5pm, guests are invited to take part in learning more about the holiday from UK Cast Members. Once they finish the discovery experience, guests will collect a certificate of completion and prizes from the Kidcot fun stop. The pavilion will also be decorated with penants and buntings in the colors of the flag.
Guy Fawkes Day focuses on an attempt to blow up the House of Parliament on November 5, 1605. It was an unsuccessful try to assassinate King James I. One of the conspirators who was to supply the gunpowder was Guy Fawkes. The celebration is also known in the UK as Bonfire or Fireworks Night.
I love how Epcot is adding these fun and educational activities to the countries of World Showcase. It gives those of us who frequent the parks pretty much weekly a chance to experience different things that keep it fresh and new. They are the little things that are great for kids young and old. I hope they keep coming up with innovative ways to illuminate the history and culture of the countries.
I was fortunate enough to participate in the Fourth of July celebration in America earlier this year and loved the trivia aspect of it as well as learning some new things. Have you ever taken part in any of these celebrations? Will you be around on Monday to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day and lift a pint in the UK?
SeaWorld Orlando Animal Rescue Team Members, Kate Spicer and Janbel Green return a 75-pound loggerhead sea turtle to the waters of the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla., where it was returned today.
SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team from Orlando traveled to the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla., to return two sea turtles that the park received earlier this year. Both turtles were rescued from the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla. By the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and brought to SeaWorld for rehabilitation and care.
One, a 75-pound loggerhead, came to SeaWorld in May with a large J-hook stuck in its throat. Upon arrival, the turtle received a health assessment, and it was determined that it had been living with the large hook in its throat for 4 years. SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquarium Team administered antibiotics and made sure the underweight turtle was eating normally and gaining weight before being approved for today’s return.
A smaller green sea turtle was also returned today. Extremely emaciated and lethargic upon arrival in September, the six-pound turtle received antibiotics and was monitored to ensure the tiny animal was gaining weight until being cleared for return today.
SeaWorld Orlando Animal Rescue Team Member, Janbel Green returns a six-pound green sea turtle into the waters of the Indian River Lagoon near Sebastian, Fla.
For more than 45 years, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has helped animals in need — ill, injured and orphaned. More than 20,000 animals have been rescued by our experts. SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.So far in 2012, the SeaWorld Aquarium Team and SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team has rescued 35 turtles and returned 13.
Recently I went to Carmel Café & Wine Bar in Sarasota for a friend’s birthday lunch. It was my first time visiting the restaurant and was very pleasantly surprised by what I encountered. The aesthetics were nice and it was welcoming and comforting from when you enter. What I was most excited about after I walked in was seeing the stack of Apple iPads on a table by the hostess stand.
I immediately asked the hostess jokingly if we got iPads to play with during our meal. Surprisingly, she said we got one, but not to play with. She explained as she escorted us to our table that the iPads are used for ordering. The menus are all on there along with the ability to order.
I had a new toy to play with during lunch and couldn’t wait to explore the functionality! The menus were very clearly laid out and featured full color pictures as well as written descriptions of each menu item. You could swipe from right to left to select the next category from appetizers to entrees, beverages to dessert. You also have the ability to search from the menu at the top and quickly jump to the desired category instead of scrolling through them.
Flatbread menuMenu SearchGluten Free MenuVegetarian Menu
This was such an awesome experience! To be able to control your food and the timing and not have to depend on servers to come around was great. We first ordered our drinks, then appetizers, then when we were getting towards the end of our first course, we ordered our entrees. This made the process so much smoother and more fun than the typical dining experience. Service was prompt and the timing flowed much better instead of food being brought out before you were ready only to get cold, or long after you had finished your previous course.
Our server still stopped by periodically, but it felt like at natural times to see about water refills, instead of the often annoyance of a server coming too frequently or not frequently enough. This felt like we had more control over our meal and the experience was made more enjoyable by the technology Carmel Café brought to the table. We even had the ability to see our check as we added items to our order on the iPad.
On top of the amazing use of technology to ameliorate our meal, the food was excellent. There were tons of healthy options including gluten free and vegetarian menu options. I cannot wait to go back to Carmel Café again since this was such a pleasurable experience and the food was great! They even offer great specials like “After 5 at Carmel,” which feature $5.00 wines, small plates and martinis on weeknights from 5-7pm, Wine Wednesdays, and Prix Fixe Dinners for 2. In addition to the Sarasota restaurant, they have locations in Tampa and Clearwater.
I highly recommend Carmel Café and hope that some of this use of the iPad technology will spread to other restaurants and maybe even to our theme parks. I was recently listening to an episode of the Betamouse podcast from last year and they talked about their desire to see something of this nature at Walt Disney World. I would love to see this come to fruition in the near future whether by iPad or even your own smartphone. Like they say in Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom, “What will they think up next? … Who know? We’ve got a whole new century waiting for us out there.”
If you are interested in learning more about how Carmel Café uses Apple technology to improve the dining experience, check out this video here on Apple’s website.
Carmel Cafe barCarmel Cafe dining roomGrilled Lemon Chicken & Artichoke descriptionGrilled Lemon Chicken & Artichoke flatbreadSoup MenuTomato Basil soupGlass of red wineBLTA descriptionBLTA Sandwich with Fresh FruitGrilled Chicken Caprese descriptionGrilled Chicken Caprese SaladCheck details
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What better way to celebrate Halloween than by taking a look at the Frankenweenie merchandise that is available at Walt Disney World!
From creative genius Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” The Nightmare Before Christmas”) comes “Frankenweenie,” a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.
A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D. The talented voice cast includes: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder.
Presented by Disney, “Frankenweenie” is directed by Tim Burton, produced by Tim Burton and Allison Abbate, from a screenplay by John August, based on an original idea by Tim Burton. “Frankenweenie”.
Being the proud father of a six year old little princess obsessed with all things Tinker Bell, I have seen the previous three Fairies movies more times that should be allowed by law. However, Disney has done a fantastic job keeping this franchise alive and fresh much longer than most, and they definitely didn’t disappoint this time around. Their ability to take a secondary character and transform her into a compelling central figure has been unmatched with this franchise. Kids, at least mine, can’t get enough of the misadventures of this spunky sprite and her band of fairy friends.
Disney’s fourth animated Fairies tale, Tinker Bell And The Secret Of The Wings, follows the continued adventures, and misadventures of Tinker Bell and the fairies of Pixie Hollow. Once again Tink’s curiosity and knack for trouble takes her on a journey into a place forbidden for warm weather fairies to go. The Winter Woods, a cold unforgiving side of Pixie Hollow, lies just beyond a stream at the border of the warm weather fairies domain. While helping animal migrate to the Winter Woods, Tink’s curiosity drives her across the border into the cold where she experiences her wings glowing brightly in the cold and snowy air. When she discovers the answers to the mystery of her miraculous glowing wings lies deep in the Winter Woods with the winter fairies, her adventure begins. But she will soon discover that both joy and danger await her on her journey.
Tinker Bell and The Secret of the Wings is a sweet, heartfelt story about love, determination, tolerance, and the importance of family. It manages to take a simple concept and story line and deliver a great message while maintaining a high entertainment value. My 6 year old daughter, who generally can’t sit through an entire movie, was captivated from start to finish. It flowed very nicely though the story, and there was very little down time, so it kept the attention of my little girl throughout. It is a great movie for the whole family, and with a running time under 90 minutes, it is perfect for the younger kids as well. The dazzling animation will hook you, and the great story telling will keep you captivated to the very end. Secret of the Wings was as good, if not better that all three previous films, and I would highly recommend it to any fans of family movies, not just the Disney fans out there.
The Adventure Park Announces Seventh Calf Since 2004
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Welcomes Seventh Baby White Rhinoceros
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay welcomed a baby white rhinoceros on Tuesday, October 23, 2012. The female rhino was born 26-acre white rhino habitat on Busch Gardens’ Serengeti Plain.
The baby is the second calf born to mother Kisiri and the seventh calf born to father Tambo. Busch Gardens has celebrated a total of seventh white rhino births since October 2004. The new baby weighed an estimated 140 pounds at the time of the birth. The newborn – who has yet to be named – will gain approximately four pounds each day until it reaches an adult weight of approximately 3,500 to 4,000 pounds.
Busch Gardens participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) to ensure genetic diversification among threatened and endangered animals in zoological facilities. The birth brings the total white and black rhino population at the adventure park to eight.
Kisiri, Tambo and another female white rhino were airlifted from Kruger National Park in South Africa in 2001 through the efforts of the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of rhinos. Fewer than 15,000 white rhinos remain in the wild, and approximately 200 live in zoological facilities across North America.
Since its inception in 2003, The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has granted $7 million USD to more than 500 projects in the U.S. and around the world, including $194,000 USD grants to rhino conservation projects. The Fund was created by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation dedicated to supporting environmental and wildlife conservation initiatives.
Unlike most theme parks Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando, offers their Halloween activities, entertainment, and fun at no additional charge to admission making it a really great value and experience for everyone to enjoy!
There is a HUGE Trick-or-Treat Trail that winds its way around over half of the park, and is jam packed full of candy stops, entertainment, and unique Halloween characters! There are two entrances to the trail, which opens at noon, and you receive a really nice paper Trick-or-Treating bag to continue with their dedication to use bags that are more eco-friendly! We prefer to start at the entrance closer to the Dolphin Nursery, because it is really festive and filled with bubbles which Zoe cannot resist!!! Another great part of the Halloween Spooktacular event is that if you follow the Trick-or-Treat trail you will eventually hit every highlight of the event!
This band appeared along the Trick-or-Treat Trail
Penelope’s Party Zone is where we tend to spend a large majority of our time at Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando! This area, in Bayside Stadium, is where you can find a DJ and characters getting down, a free craft activity, storytelling, drawing areas for younger children, and most importantly a shady spot for parents and kids to take a break from the fun for a bit! I really think that Zoe would rather spend her time dancing than getting candy!
Storytelling at Penelope’s Party Zone
There is also Sesame Street Countdown to Halloween which is a really fun show that plays only on Halloween Spooktacular days. This is a fun musical production about Halloween starring all of your favorite characters. It is a favorite part of Spooktacular in our family.
Check out the all-new Penelope’s Photacular where you can show off your most Halloween Spooktacular costume, and it might make a celebrity guest appearance before the Shamu Rocks show in a virtual costume parade! Located on the Bayside Trick-or-Treat Trail between Bayside Stadium and Wild Arctic this fun photo stop also includes some great SeaWorld Characters!!! The virtual costume parade before Shamu Rocks will start 30 minutes prior to the show, so make sure that you get to the stadium early so you don’t miss any of the fun.
There are a lot of fun opportunities to meet your favorite SeaWorld Characters!
While all of the above events are free, there are a few ways that you can enhance your day at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular. The Count Von Count Spooktacular Breakfast at the Seafire Inn is a wonderful way to start your Spooktacular day!!! At this buffet breakfast you will get to meet your favorite Sesame Street characters and watch a show. You want to make sure that you get there at least 15 minutes early, because there is a special character who greets you, a 5×7 photo is included in the price of the buffet for your family as a keepsake! The cost for the Count Von Count Spooktacular Breakfast is $24.99 for ages 10 and up and $14.99 for children, and as always at SeaWorld Orlando Passholder discounts are available!
Your special greeter at the Count Von Count Spooktacular Breakfast
Also at Penelope’s Party Zone, there is a create your own apple and rice crispy treat stand. There are tons of topping and decorations for your edible masterpiece, and it is $5 ($4.50 for Passholders) which is a great value.
Along the Trick-or-Treat Trail there are also a lot of fun games that cost a little extra, but every player wins a prize so you really can’t go wrong! Zoe won a pink octopus that she is very proud of.
If you haven’t had the chance to experience Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld, what are you waiting for??? This is the last weekend so you better hurry!!!
Halloween is almost here! The pumpkins have been carved, candy is ready to be distributed, costumes are laid out and the kids are ready (us big kids too). What if you aren’t home for Halloween, but are fortunate enough to be at Walt Disney World for this awesome time of year? The first thought is of course to try to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (my favorite special event of the year) at the Magic Kingdom, but what if you’ve already done that or don’t feel like spending money for a ticket? I’ve got some suggestions of great things to do at resorts where you can have a ton of fun!
In the past I have visited both Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk to trick or treat on Halloween when I didn’t have a ticket to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. This year Walt Disney World is mixing up their locations and offering some spooky activities for kids of all ages at select resorts for registered guests of those resorts. On October 30th, Bay Lake Tower and Disney’s Contemporary Resort will both offer a variety of games, arts and crafts and trick or treat trails! Fort Wilderness also gets in on the Halloween fun a day early even with a pet costume parade.
Halloween adds the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa to the list of resorts participating in the special activities. Each one offers their own spin on both individual and group activities, but all the resorts share one thing at the end of the night: Halloween themed movies! Tuesday night, Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary will show Spooky Buddies at 8pm and Fort Wilderness will have The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad at 8:40pm followed by The Haunted Mansion. Wednesday BLT and the Contemporary will show Something Wicked This Way Comes at 8pm, Fort Wilderness will show Hocus Pocus at 8:40pm. The Grand Floridian and Polynesian will have The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad at 7:30pm followed by Hocus Pocus, and Wilderness Lodge will have Hocus Pocus at 8pm. Saratoga Springs will have a Spooky Viewer’s Choice movie at 8pm.
I would love to be able to take part in some of these crafts like Monster Masks, Monster Mickey Tie Dye, Ghosts, Ghouls & Goblins Chalk Art, Pumpkin Decorating Contests, Creepy Crawly Crafts, and Decorate a Trick or Treat Tote. Also games like Ghoulish Guessing Contest, Totally to Die For Trivia, Spooky Scramble, Boo Bingo, and Disney Halloween Trivia sound like a blast! I really wish I was staying at one of these resorts next week so I could take advantage of all of these great offerings.
If you are a guest at any of these resorts I hope you enjoy these incredible sounding activities across the Walt Disney World resorts for Halloween. This is such a fun time of year to try out new special things to do at your resort that you maybe haven’t tried before. Please consult your resort activities guide or a recreation cast member for detailed descriptions, locations and times. Activities and times are subject to change without notice.
Also, feel free to visit our Facebook page to see some of our pictures from Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year. Looking to get more for your Halloween fix? Check out some of our previous posts about MNSSHP here, here, and here.
Team USA Olympians Visit Animal Athletes At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
McKayla Maroney Was “Impressed” At Busch Gardens
McKayla Maroney and Jonathan Horton at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Members of Team USA visited Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Wednesday, October 24. Olympic gold medalist McKayla Maroney and two-time Olympian Jonathan Horton met several of Busch Gardens’ animal “athletes.” First, Zeny the red-ruffed lemur and Tufts the African ground hornbill impressed the gymnasts with their balance skills before the duo was introduced to a group of the fastest land mammals. Maroney and Horton encountered a coalition of cheetahs at the new Cheetah Run exhibit near Cheetah Hunt, Florida’s first triple-launch roller coaster.
McKayla and Tufts the African ground hornbill
The two Olympians will join other award-winning gymnasts this Sunday, October 28, in Tampa for the Sunday’s Kellogg’s® Tour of Gymnastics event at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, a national tour featuring Team USA’s top-performing gymnasts.
McKayla and Jonathan with Zeny the red-ruffed lemur
McKayla Maroney won the 2012 Olympic Team Gold Medal, and Jonathan Horton was a 2012 Olympian who earned the 2008 Olympic Silver Medal on the horizontal bar, and was recognized with the 2008 Olympic Bronze Team Medal.
OKTOBERFEST RETURNS TO MEDIEVAL TIMES DINNER & TOURNAMENT IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN
Medieval Times is ready to get spooky…Medieval style!
While Medieval Times is a really fun way to spend an evening away from the parks, this Halloween they are kicking it up another notch with their Oktoberfest celebrations on October 27, 2012.
Florida residents are invited to cheer their favorite Knights, dine without utensils, and meet their heroes after the show at their first Medieval Times’ Masquerade and costume party! Come dressed as your favorite vixen or villain for your chance to celebrate Halloween (both pre and post show) and win Halloween themed prizes in some fun holiday contests. After the show, the masquerade continues in the castle with a DJ and raffle giveaways to lucky Oktoberfest attendees.
While it IS all fun and games at Medieval Times, there are a few rules! Oktoberfest attendees must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol. Oktoberfest event included with regular ticket purchase. Florida residents will enjoy a discounted ticket price of $33.95 as a part of our Florida Residents Savings special, valid now through Oct. 31st. For safety, please do not wear costumes that are obstructive or offensive. Toy weapons are not permitted.
We had the opportunity to go to the first weekend of Oktoberfest at Medieval Times, and it was an absolute blast!!! The Becks girls were there with all sorts of fun games, prizes, and great drink specials. The show itself has been revamped recently, and it really exciting! Zoe even got to be Queen of the Tournament for the Red and Yellow Knight!
If you are looking for a great way to celebrated Halloween with your family, Medieval Times Oktoberfest should be your top choice!!!
Make sure that you follow Medieval Times on Twitter, Like them on Facebook, and online!
LOCATION: Medieval Times – 4510 W. Vine Street – Kissimmee, FL 34746
DATE: Saturday, October 27th – 5:00 – 7:00 pm for the pre-show party – Note: Oktoberfest continues after the show!
ORLANDO CITY HEAD COACH ADRIAN HEATH SIGNS NEW CONTRACT
Deal comes amidst strong push from MLS clubs to hire the Orlando City manager
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) today announced that Head Coach Adrian Heath has signed a new three-year contract that will keep Heath with the organization through October 2015. Heath has been a target for several MLS teams after completing another successful season, but Orlando City management worked hard to retain Heath as head coach of the Lions.
“We are thrilled that Adrian has signed a new contract with us.” said Orlando City President Phil Rawlins. “When you have a coach of Adrian’s ability and track-record, he is bound to attract attention from other clubs. It’s no secret that several MLS clubs have enquired about Adrian but we have been fighting hard over the past few months to keep him as our coach. We believe in his style of play, his philosophy and his leadership of the players. We want to keep Adrian at the helm as we make our own push to bring Major League Soccer here in Central Florida.”
Heath has been with Orlando since they began operations in late 2010, leading the Lions to records of 15-3-6 in 2011 and 17-1-6 in 2012 during regular season play. In just two seasons with City, Heath has led the Lions to two regular season championships and one postseason title.
“I want to thank the club for their support and belief in me,” said Heath. “I am delighted that we have been able to reach an agreement on a new contract.
The former Everton star is also a key component of Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS), leading the youth club in a new style of play and direction in their first season under direction of OCSC.
“I am looking forward to building on the two regular season titles we have already won and in playing my part in helping Orlando achieve its goal of MLS. I also want to thank the fans for all support over the past two years, they have been terrific!” said Heath.
About Orlando City Soccer Club:
Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) is the premier professional soccer sports franchise in the State of Florida. The Lion’s pro team has won two regular season titles and one postseason championship during their short time in Orlando. Outside of the pro squad, OCSC also has their own youth club, Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS) and a U23s team that participates in the PDL. For more information on the pro and youth clubs, visit www.orlandocitysoccer.com and www.orlandocityyouth.org.
Roccos Tacos and Tequila Bar is a fabulous new restaurant located on West Sand Lake Road in Orlando. The decor is very eclectic and representative of what one would find in the tequila region of Mexico. There are beautiful star shaped chandeliers as well as masks of all shapes and sizes along the walls. The restaurant houses three bars, one outside as you approach the front door, another just inside the main entrance, and a third which opens to the outdoor patio situated with a charming lake view. Starting at 9 PM nightly, a live DJ plays a variety of upbeat music, setting a fun and party like atmosphere. The dress code is casual while maintaining a hip and trendy vibe. It’s a family friendly environment but can get very loud so take that into consideration with young children. Dining reservations can be made by phone and walk-ups are taken as well. There is complimentary valet which is recommended due to the limited availability of parking.
Enough logistics, let’s discuss the food! It’s delicious! The menu can be described as upscale Mexican cuisine with a variety of choices. One of the house specialties is the guacamole prepared tableside. Eaten with the house made tortilla chips, it’s almost a meal in itself. Another great appetizer choice is the Queso Fundido Con Chorizo, which is simply a casserole of cheese, Chili’s, and chorizo sausage baked in an iron skillet and served with flour tortillas. There are a variety of other appetizers to choose from, but be sure to save room for the main course!
Rocco’s offers an array of entree choices including salads, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and combination plates. Within our group, we had the California fish tacos, the chimichanga Nationale, and the carne asada soft tacos. The fish tacos are filled with fried mahi mahi, served with cabbage slaw and avocado ranch, and come with rice and beans for $17. The chimichanga is made with a spicy chicken, also served with rice and beans, and is $13. The carne asada, or grilled skirt steak, tacos were $4.50 each. Speaking of tacos, Tuesday’s are a great time to visit for Taco Tuesdays. For $14.95, it’s all you can eat tacos, in any combination of chicken, pork, spicy beef, steak, mahi, shrimp, chorizo and mushrooms. You can choose from hard or soft shell tacos and all are served with taco sauce, lettuce, pico de gallo, cilantro, pickled red onions and cotija cheese. The shrimp, mahi, and steak seemed to be the most popular. Rocco’s Tacos also has offerings for kids including chicken fingers, pasta, quesadillas, and hot dogs.
The bar at Rocco’s serves everything from tequila and margaritas to sangria, beer and wine. They have 225 varieties of tequila ranging in price from $6 to $85. The flavored margaritas are not to be missed including pomegranate, mango, and blood orange. When owner Rocco Mangel is in the restaurant, he can be found on the bar in his white platform shoes pouring free Patron to the sounds of the song “Tequila!” A great non-alcoholic treat is the “REAL” Coca Cola made with real sugar cane in Mexico.
Rocco’s Tacos is a great place to go to hang out with friends, grab a drink, enjoy a meal, or bring the whole family. They serve lunch, dinner, and have a limited late night menu along with a full bar during all business hours. The atmosphere and service are top notch as is the quality of the food and drinks. Be sure to check out the newest location in Orlando or try one of the other four locations in South Florida. Visit their website at www.RoccosTacos.com, friend them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
