The best place for Thursday night happy hour is the brand new Hyatt Place Orlando/ Lake Mary. Join us in the hotel wine bar and café each Thursday for live music, appetizers, buy one, get one free drinks and the chance to win a weekend getaway at Hyatt Place.
Date: Begins 5/07/09 and runs every Thursday thereafter.
Church Street in downtown Orlando is the nightclub district favored by young locals as well as out-of-town visitors who prefer their nightlife to be stroller free. Some of the most popular nightclubs in downtown Orlando are situated here, including Chillers (shown at left), Big Belly, Latitudes, and Antigua. Other dance bars, like Tabu Nightclub and Club Firestone, are located just off of Church Street on Orange Avenue.
The Church Street Station is clearly visible from the eastbound side of I-4 and spans both sides of Church Street and both sides of CSX’s A Line tracks. In the early 1970s the station was developed as an entertainment complex with bars and restaurants, and by the mid-1980s it was one of the top tourist attractions in the state of Florida. After Walt Disney World added Downtown Disney and Universal Orlando created CityWalk, tourists tended to gravitate to the nightlife offerings that were closest to the attractions, and many stores and restaurants at Church Street Station began to close down.
Today, Church Street Orlando maintains a smaller, but lively local crowd, with the added benefit of inexpensive, easy to find parking, plus a pub crawling atmosphere that is distinctly different from the larger, touristy crowds.
A wine tasting, gourmet food and jazz event at the Italian-themed Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando. Featuring select wines and sparkling wines, gourmet food samples, live music performance by Michael Andrew & Swingerhead and a balcony music show paying tribute to Mama (Mia) on Friday , May 8, 2009 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
The event will be at Harbor Piazza Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando5601 universal Boulevard Orlando, Florida 32819 and admission is $35 (general admission)$60 (reserved seating)includes private wine station and passed hors d'oeuvres. You may log onto LoewsHotels.Tix.com to buy tickets or call for more information, call 407-503-1200.
Free self-parking or $5 valet parking . The famous Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando re-creates the charm and romance of the famed seaside village of Portofino, Italy, right down to the cobblestone streets and outdoor cafes. As the premier luxury resort at Universal Orlando, the hotel offers the utmost in European style and elegance and is one of three themed, on-site Loews hotels. Featuring 750 rooms and suites, exceptional dining and a wealth of recreation, Portofino allows its guests to experience 'la dolce vita' - the sweet life - without traveling halfway around the world.
With authentic cuisine, generous portions, and family style dining, Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant has brought a bit of the “Old Country” to Orlando. Every dish is prepared from scratch, and every plate is full enough that most patrons will end up taking a bit of the Maggiano’s experience home with them at the end of the evening.Maggiano’s specializes in family style dining, so the entire table can enjoy a variety of entrée salads, pasta, seafood and meat dishes. Gluten-free pastas can even be prepared upon request. Everything is priced per person, so the plates won't stop coming until everyone has had a chance to sample each dish. Menu items include gnocchi in tomato vodka sauce, linguine with clams with a choice of red or white clam sauce, veal marsala, chicken parmesan, filet mignon, and a special “Sunday Only” Italian Pot Roast. The dessert offerings include tiramisu and Maggiano’s signature spumoni ice cream.
Located in the Pointe Orlando shopping mall on International Drive, Maggiano’s is walking distance from the Orange County Convention Center. In addition to lunch and dinner, Maggiano’s can also host banquet events; for more information, visit the Maggiano’s Web site.
Scrumptious gourmet fare at a fantastic value with spectacular view and Complimentary Valet Parking
La Coquina: Uniquely-presented in the style of a European Market, award-winning Brunch at La Coquina is the ultimate way to celebrate Mother’s Day. Offering a seemingly-endless buffet of gourmet new world cuisine, unlimited complimentary champagne and a panoramic view of swans gliding along private Lake Windsong, La Coquina Brunch is truly an experience to remember. Feast on mouth-watering entrees and irresistible desserts by the legendary, award-winning pastry chef of the year, Steven Rujak. Adults $69.00++ with raw bar and carving station/ Kids $34.50
Hours: 10:30am– 6 pm
Cascade: Cascade is the perfect spot to celebrate Mother’s Day with views of private Lake Windsong and a generous buffet of classic favorites and inventive new dishes. Adults $59.00 and Kids $29.50++
Hours: noon– 4 pm
Reservations Strongly Recommended Call 4072393853
Located in the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress 1 Grand Cypress Boulevard Orlando, Florida 32836
Disney guests who want to be literally in the middle of the theme park action are in for a treat – or three – at Walt Disney World Resort this spring. Imagine performing a vocal onstage in front of a thousand people. Or being part of an audience that evaluates and votes on vocal performances. Or playing the role of a world adventurer crusading to thwart the bad guys. Or a party-goer who “gets down” and dances in the street.
Three new experiences will allow spring vacationers to participate in all those activities following debuts in late January and February of ‘The American Idol Experience’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot and “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It!” Street Party at Magic Kingdom.
Here’s a snapshot of each experience:
“The American Idol Experience” – Starry-eyed Disney guests get a taste of the pop culture phenomenon “American Idol” – up close and personal by experiencing the challenge of auditioning and the rush of performing onstage in competition or judging the performances in a live interactive setting modeled after the “American Idol” set. There are several show times daily. Guests advancing through the screening process to the nightly final competition can earn a guaranteed reservation for a regional audition for the “American Idol” TV show by topping the audience voting.
Disney’s Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure – In an experience inspired by Disney Channel’s Emmy Award-winning “Kim Possible” animated series, guests become secret agents to save the world from comical villains and their mad inventions in this interactive adventure packed with mystery and excitement. Guests team up with members of Team Possible in this high-tech adventure in Epcot’s Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Japan, France and United Kingdom pavilions. Each pavilion features a different mission and villain from the TV series.
“Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It!” Street Party – It’s party time when a cast of Disney characters, stilt walkers and other performers processes down Main Street, U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle to high-energy tunes such as “Breakout” and “I Like To Move It.” Floats decked out as gift-wrapped packages are part of the procession, and near the castle, Mad Hatter, Genie, Lumiere and Sebastian – the life and light of the party – pop out of four huge boxes. They join about a dozen other Disney characters headed by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse to mix and mingle and dance in the street with Magic Kingdom guests during a 12- to 15-minute party that takes place three times daily.
While in Magic Kingdom, guests may want to check out the “refreshed” 3 o’clock parade. New music, new costumes and some new float décor are now part of the parade. The procession also makes more stops – during which party dancers perform to get guests into a celebratory spirit. And to go with the changes, the parade has a new name: “Celebrate A Dream Come True.” It and the street party are part of Disney Parks’ program “What Will You Celebrate?” which began in January.
Most people think of Orlando, FL as the tourism capital of the southeastern United States, but did you know that it is also a college town? The University of Central Florida has more than 50,000 students attending classes on UCF’s main campus on the east side of Orlando (just take University Avenue all the way east) and its 11 regional campuses throughout Central Florida. Many UCF graduates remain in the Orlando area, making UCF Knights bumper stickers almost as commonplace as Walt Disney World antenna toppers.
Compared to Florida State, the University of Florida and the University of Miami, UCF is a relative newcomer, founded in 1968. Forty years later, UCF has become the fifth-largest university in the nation, and it is still expanding with the newly established College of Graduate Studies and the College of Medicine.
The College of Medicine is particularly exciting for local residents because it will create thousands of jobs as part of “Medical City” of research institutions and hospitals being built in the southeastern part of Orlando. The UCF College of Medicine is the first medical school in US history to offer full four-year scholarships to an entire class—over 4300 applicants competed for 40 slots in the new Med School. UCF area hotels
Route 46 Entertainment District® is Seminole County’s new entertainment hot spot. Guests experience the charm of old Florida highway culture with a modern day spin by offering dining, entertainment, live music, dancing, and so much more! Route 46 Entertainment District® offers other dining options:
The Smokehouse at Route 46®– Perfect for any occasion. Savory, bold, smoked meats offered with fast service in a cozy cabin setting, with take-out and catering options available. It’s not your typical barbecue, sauce is not required!
Monroe’s at Route 46® – Upper casual dining specializing in classic American cuisine. Everything from steak to seafood presented in an intimate atmosphere with truly inspiring flavors, making it an exceptional dining experience.
The Saloon at Route 46® – A refined lounge with cozy spaces, constructed of handcrafted oak woods. Partake in a classic cocktail, appetizer, dinner, and great conversation. It’s perfect for an evening with friends.
Private event space and catering services are also available at Route 46 Entertainment District®. From board meetings to weddings, any type of event can be hosted on the property. Offsite catering and party packages are available with a wide array of culinary options: smoked barbecue meat, unique desserts, delectable hors d'oeuvres, steak/seafood ensembles, and more.
Nestled between Daytona Beach and Orlando’s tourist attractions on the I-4 corridor, Route 46 Entertainment District® is the perfect destination for all ages and personalities. Offering a wide variety of dining and entertainment experiences in the northern Orlando market, Route 46 Entertainment District® is accommodating, convenient and most importantly fun!
Route 46 Entertainment District® is privately owned and operated. It was developed based on the love of the bygone days, which encapsulates the integrity and pride of craftsmanship and service of that era. Route 46 Entertainment District® is operated under a team of individuals who share the same goal – to deliver the ultimate experience to each guest.
In what has become a traditional rite of spring for the city of Celebration, FL, the Great American Pie Festival returns to Lakeside Park April 25 – 26. The festival will be open 11:00 am – 7:00 pm on Saturday, April 25 and 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, April 26.
The highlight of the Great American Pie Festival is the never-ending pie buffet, featuring pies from Bakers Square, Bonert's Slice of Pie, Edwards, Key West Key Lime Pie Co., Inc., Mrs. Smith's Bakeries, Publix SuperMarkets Inc., Rocky Mountain Pies, Sara Lee Bakery, California Raisin Marketing Board, Schwan's Bakery, Village Inn Restaurants and Wick's Pies. Admission to the Never Ending Pie Buffet is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children age 6-12.
The event also features a kids’ area with games, crafts, pie making activities and inflatables. There will be live entertainment and cooking demonstrations on the main stage, and a pie eating contest for the die-hard pie lovers as well.
That same weekend Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort and Convention Center is hosting the 2009 APC Crisco® National Pie Championships®. This contest is an opportunity for professional and amateur bakers to compete for a $5,000 grand prize. Junior chefs (ages 14 – 17) can also enter pies to compete for a $1,000 gift certificate to the Chef Depot, a source for all Professional Chef Tools. For the past several years the Food Network has covered the National Pie Championship and broadcast a special presentation on the event in the fall.
Route 46 Entertainment District® opens its fourth and final venue, the Garage Bar at Route 46™. The Garage Bar at Route 46™ takes guests on an exhilarating ride by incorporating hot rods, classic car collectibles, and vintage cars with innovative lighting and sound. The Garage Bar’s motto is “This is not your parents’ watering hole! It’s cool, flirtatious and combustive.”
Garage Bar at Route 46™ brings a whole new experience in nightlife to Seminole County. Fun and energetic bartenders serve up serious libations, while keeping guests entertained. There will be nightly specials happy hour to late night. Garage Bar at Route 46™ also has a full service restaurant. From Riblets, Mini Sandwiches to signature Smoked Chicken Wings, this is not your typical bar food fare.
Garage Bar at Route 46™ is and indoor/outdoor bar that features a deejay booth along with an outdoor dance floor and stage called the “Main Stage.” Garage Bar at Route 46™ doesn’t discriminate when it comes to music and entertainment. From rock, country, blues, pop, dance to jazz, Route 46 celebrates all types of music. Deejays perform nightly and live entertainment is featured on weekends. “We continue to add entertainment at Route 46 Entertainment District!” Check out the entertainment/event calendar at http://www.route-46.com/ . Route 46 Entertainment District® encourages guests to join the Route 46 eClub to get the latest news on upcoming entertainment, events and special offerings.
Hours of operation are Sunday 2:00 pm – 2:00 am, Monday – Tuesday 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm and Wednesday – Saturday 4:00 pm – 2:00 am.
The Garage Bar at Route 46™ also offers accommodations for private parties. It’s the premiere spot for VIPs, bachelor/bachelorette parties, anniversaries and birthdays. To be considered for a performance at Route 46 Entertainment District®, entertainers are asked to fill out booking request form at www.route-46.com/booking. Entertainers that do not have an electronic press kit, can mail or drop off a press kit to the mailing address below. Do not call Route 46, please be patient as Route 46 receives many submissions every week.
Come experience the roar of the Garage Bar!
For more information, please visit route-46.com or call 407-268-4646.
For budget-minded Orlando visitors, US 192 in Kissimmee offers the proximity to Walt Disney World that vacationers are looking for without the higher prices found at the WDW property hotels or the crowds that fill the busy tourist district on International Drive.
Many of the hotels on US 192 include “Gateway” or “Maingate” in the name if they are within five miles of the main entrance to Walt Disney World. At its busiest point close to the Interstate 4 interchange, US 192 runs east-west, so many of these hotels have the distinction of being “Maingate East” or “Maingate West” depending on what side of Walt Disney World the accommodations are located. When booking a hotel in the Orlando 192 area, look for the “Walt Disney World Good Neighbor” label, which means that Disney shuttle services and ticket sales are usually available.
Right off of US 192 just east of I-4 is the town of Celebration, FL, which is a Disney-inspired example of urban planning. With a lively town center and plenty of outdoor cafes and boutique shops, Celebration frequently hosts festivals and other events that draw visitors from across Central Florida as well as tourists who enjoy making a side trip from their Disney vacation.
STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows.
The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. As USA Today says, "STOMP finds beautiful noises in the strangest places." STOMP. See what all the noise is about. CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS Password: STOMP JUNE 9 - 14, 2009 Carr Performing Arts Centre
How can a guest get the absolute most theme park fun – and value – out of a Walt Disney World visit? The overarching tip is: Get to know the territory. Do research. Ask questions. Several means to this end are:
Read a guidebook. Visit the official Walt Disney World Resort Web site (http://www.disneyworld.com/) and obtain a free vacation planning DVD; at the site, also check out the online planning tools which offer suggestions about experiences which may be of interest to first-time guests or to those combining a celebration with a Disney vacation.
Consult with the Disney World Moms Panel (http://www.disneyworldmoms.com/) comprised of Disney-savvy parents who share knowledge in an online forum. The information gleaned from a combination of sources may lead a guest to conclude – correctly – that many considerations are involved in getting the most out of the theme park experience. Furthermore, many of the considerations ultimately involve a guest’s interests and individual circumstances. For instance, while the four Walt Disney World theme parks are all created for family fun, virtually any guest familiar with Disney World has a “favorite park.” That’s because the parks’ themes vary dramatically – from lands of whimsy in Magic Kingdom to worlds of scientific and cultural accomplishment at Epcot to streets, sets and backlots of show business at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to realms of animals living, extinct and imaginary at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Guests are immersed in those thematic worlds through stories “told” in attractions and experiences. But the methods of immersive storytelling are many. Sometimes a physically interactive entertainment concept is used, with guests being drawn into the action and becoming stars of the show. Sometimes ride systems carry guests on journeys that range from tame to wild – just like the stories. And sometimes the experience is physically passive, designed for the senses to “drink it in.”
With “homework” ahead of vacation, a guest can customize an itinerary to suit interests as well as considerations such as age, height restrictions and ambulatory limitations. A valuable source of information relating to “Traveling With Little Ones” and “Guests With Disabilities” is http://www.disneyworld.com/. (On the home page, under the heading “Plan Your Vacation,” click on “In-Depth Planning Topics” for links to specialized information.)
Many considerations that impact satisfaction are common to all guests. They involve tickets, time and convenience. Here’s a closer look at some aspects of ticket-buying, time use (plus time saving and time “expanding”) and guest services that can add up to an exceptional, value-enhanced theme park experience.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge recently welcomed a new “resident” – a Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture hatchling that is a member of a threatened species. While weighing less than six ounces and about eight inches long when hatched, a vulture could grow to reach sizes close to three feet in height, with a wingspan of nearly eight feet, and can weigh 15-20 pounds. The baby, born in early 2009, and its parents reside on one of the unique resort’s savannahs at Walt Disney World Resort.
A stylish boutique with designer flair and eclectic offerings becomes a premier shopping spot at Downtown Disney Marketplace with the March opening of Tren-D. The urban-inspired Walt Disney World specialty store is a one-of-a-kind, hip destination for fashion-conscious shoppers seeking trendy apparel and novel accessories.
“This unique environment, filled with textured fabrics, new silhouettes, and whimsical art and design allows us the opportunity to push the creative envelope as it relates to fashion and our characters,” said Mark Perrotta, director of Product Development and Design. “Our guests continue to respond to trend merchandise and novel products that they can’t purchase at home. Tren-D speaks to what is happening today with a blend of vintage and hip with stylized Disney influences.”Offerings include organic loungewear, embroidered handbags, jeweled sunglasses and trendy accessories set among stylish art and unique furnishings.
The eclectic environment offers a raw and unfinished feel with jeweled chandeliers, distinct fixtures and mod furnishings.Much of the merchandise will not be available anywhere else at Downtown Disney. Designers such as Kidada Jones, Tarina Tarantino and Roxy will showcase their artistry – blending it with Disney-inspired creations.“With its exclusive product lines and new environment, we think Tren-D will complement the existing merchandise offerings at Downtown Disney,” said Perrotta.Tren-D is in a 2,500-square-foot venue near Pin Traders and Once Upon A Toy.
There's an exciting way for Walt Disney World guests to choose their Star Wars destiny -- be it Jedi or Sith -- and live their adventure inspired by a galaxy far, far away.
Located at the Once Upon a Toy store at Downtown Disney Marketplace is the Build Your Own Lightsaber kiosk, a step-by-step, Star Wars merchandise experience that invites guests to build custom lightsabers with thousands of unique possibilities.
The experience takes guests through nine steps in which they choose every part of their lightsaber, including the color of the blade, sleeve rings, hilt sleeves and ignition switches.
Each lightsaber features authentic Star Wars sound effects, and guests can select colored crystals and filters to cast the legendary glow of the lightsaber blade (purple, green, red or blue).
From the start, guests opt for a Jedi or Sith lightsaber, with bins of custom parts available for each order. Guests can create their very own design or follow instructions to replicate lightsabers used by such favorite Star Wars characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Each electronic lightsaber features specialized lights, sounds and vibrations.
Once complete, guests proceed to checkout where they receive batteries to power up their creation and a store-exclusive Jedi or Sith pin.
No matter how elaborate the design -- guests can even create the double-bladed lightsaber like the one made famous by the evil Sith apprentice, Darth Maul -- each completed lightsaber is $19.95.
The Build Your Own Lightsaber display is the latest in customizable merchandise experiences at Once Upon a Toy, joining the Build Your Own Potato Head and Create Your Own My Little Pony areas.
The 407 area code covers the city of Orlando, and is the main area code for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties as well as parts of Lake and Volusia counties. Orlando is the county seat of Orange County, and Osceola and Seminole are the counties directly to the south and north of Orange County, respectively.
Like many parts of the country, Florida has experienced a boom in area codes over the past two decades as cell phone usage has increased—and in the case of the Sunshine State; there has been a population boom as well. The 407 area code was created in 1988, and it was carved out of the older 305 area code that used to cover Central and Southeast Florida all the way down to the Florida Keys.
Since 1999 there has been an area code split in Central Florida with the 407 and 321 area codes, so an incoming phone call with either the 407 or 321 area codes would be a call from the Orlando metropolitan area. Central Florida residents also have to dial the three-digit area code plus the seven-digit number when making a local call.
In and around The City Beautiful, Lynx buses provide a valuable service fulfilling Orlando’s public transportation needs. These colorful buses are easy to spot, and most vehicles even have a small bike rack for commuters. There are over 75 Lynx bus routes in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, and until Central Florida gets the proposed SunRail commuter trains, Lynx buses are the only public transportation in town, covering an area of more than 2,500 square miles.
If you are a new Lynx passenger who is unsure of which route to take, the Lynx Web site’s trip planner can assist travelers if they enter their starting point and destination. Several Lynx routes go to the Orlando attractions, including Downtown Disney, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios, and International Drive. Several Disney resorts and other hotels are also on Lynx bus routes, including the All-Star Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Yacht and Beach Club on Link 303, and the Orlando Marriott World Center and Caribe Royale Resort on Link 304.
From now until the end of the year, the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes is currently offering a family package starting from $219 per room per night, with full access to many of the upscale amenities that make the JW Marriott an ideal place to spend a relaxing day in the Sunshine State.
This package includes: • Two connecting deluxe rooms (1 King to Double/Double) • Breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children (12 and under) in the Citron restaurant • Complimentary self parking • Unlimited amenities in the resort pool area, which includes an extensive lazy river that links the outdoor heated pools together • 25 game tokens for the JW Marriott game room • Unlimited ice cream for kids (12 and under) • Guaranteed 2:00 p.m. checkout • Complimentary use of the fitness center in the adjoining Ritz Carlton
Actual rates vary depending on date of reservations. The JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes is just a few minutes away from SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica, and is also close to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando. The resort shares the Grande Lakes property with the Ritz Carlton Orlando.
Doors open at 11 a.m., program begins at 11:30 a.m.; Coach Meyer speaks at noon, and BBQ will be served at 1 p.m. and the fun continues until 3 p.m.! Then, head across the street to Ceviche for our after party, enjoy drink specials and watch the 2008 BCS National Championship Game -exclusively for Gator Gathering attendees!
Activities include: Autograph Session with Coach Meyer*, pictures with Albert and Alberta, casino games for Gator Memorabilia, a Gator Bounce House and inflatable games (weather permitting), LIVE Gators from Gatorland, face painting, balloon animals, raffle, silent auction, Gator vendors, and lots of Gator Fun!
Advance Tickets - REGISTER NOW!UF Alumni Association Members: $20Non-members: $30Children (under 12 years): $10 Exclusive Reserved Seating Tickets - UF Alumni Association Members $40Non-members $50Children (under 12 years) $20This year, reserve exclusive seating with excellent viewing of the Coach's presentation! Your seats will be reserved around the main stage and throughout the balconies of Cheyenne Saloon with excellent views. Regular price, non-reserved Advance tickets are first-come, first-served seating and may result in standing room only.
Orlando vacationers will be able to celebrate Easter Sunday on the road at SeaWorld Orlando’s Bayside Stadium for the annual Z88.3 Easter sunrise service, to be held this Sunday April 12 at 7:00 a.m.
The service is sponsored by local Christian radio station Z88.3 FM and doors open at 6:00 a.m. Admission and parking are free, but admission to SeaWorld after the service is not included. According to the Z88.3 Web site, a love offering will be taken at the service.
This year’s featured guest speaker will be Lisa Whelchel, founder of MomTime Ministries and best known for her portrayal of Blair Warner on the 1980s sitcom “The Facts of Life.” The service will be led by musical artist Big Daddy Weave. Last year, over 5,500 people attended the Easter Sunrise Service.
Downtown Disney guests will get a bird's-eye view of Walt Disney World Resort as they soar to new heights in a new attraction now open at Downtown Disney's West Side near Pleasure Island. Characters in Flight, operated by Aerophile, is a giant tethered gas balloon with a whimsical Disney design featuring a dozen of Disney's animated flying characters in silhouette such as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Dumbo. Characters in Flight will rise 500 feet into the sky carrying up to 30 passengers to a height of 400 feet. Flight times and availability will depend on weather conditions. Riders can catch flights 7 days a week, adults $16, and $10 for children ages 3-9. Availability is on first-come, first-serve basis.
The “happiest place on Earth” is an ideal place to celebrate the Easter holiday. Walt Disney World offers religious services on Easter Sunday, an opportunity to meet Mr. and Mrs. Bunny at Magic Kingdom, plus special meals at many of the resort’s restaurants.
Walt Disney World will hold religious services on Sunday, april 12 at the Contemporary Resort in the Fantasia Ballroom. Catholic Masses will be held 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., and a Protestant service will take place at 9:00 a.m. Since the parking lots at the Contemporary, Polynesian and Grand Floridian will have parking restrictions, WDW recommends that resort guests use the monorail and the WDW shuttle buses to get to the services.
Easter brunch with Disney characters at the Grand Floridian’s 1900 Park Fare is a popular dining experience; call ahead to 407-WDW-DINE to see if there are any available openings during this very busy weekend. If the 1900 Park Fare is booked, ask the reservations operator for other WDW resort restaurants that are offering special Easter menus. WDW resort restaurants do not require a theme park admission, but they do require a reservation.
For guests spending the day at Magic Kingdom, keep an eye out for Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, who will appear intermittently throughout the park between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” takes place at Magic Kingdom at 3:00 p.m .on Easter Sunday, and Mr. and Mrs. Bunny will be a part of the pre-parade activities.
It's the best concert deal for one of the most anticipated live shows around! Take advantage of this special offer and receive two tickets for the price of one! The availability is limited, so get them while supplies last! Yanni has discovered and developed four of the most extraordinary young voices in music today. For the first time ever, Yanni re-interprets his classic compositions and debuts new music introducing show-stopping vocalists Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Ender Thomas and Leslie Mills.
Until last year, Smokey Bones was part of the family of Orlando-based Darden Restaurants. The restaurants are now under new management with fewer locations, but the hearty barbeque dishes and family-friendly sports bar atmosphere have remained the same.
While there are other choices on the menu, including burgers, steaks, and fire grilled chicken, but the main draw for Smokey Bones customers are the ribs. Full rack and 1/3 rack platters are available for tender baby back or St. Louis style ribs. There are four fire-grilled flavors to choose from: original sauce, Memphis dry rub, brown sugar and jerk BBQ. Smokey Bones also has pulled pork sandwiches available for diners who like their meat off the bone.
With locations at Waterford Lakes, Colonial Drive in Orlando and the outlying areas of Casselberry, Sanford and Kissimmee, customers won't have to travel too far to enjoy the Smokey Bones casual dining experience.
SeaWorld Orlando’s New Mega-Attraction Opens Summer 2009It’s an immersive experience only SeaWorld could create.The journey begins the moment guests enter a village filled with artisan-created engravings and artwork that celebrate legends and lore of the ray. Anticipation builds as guests wind through caverns adorned with ray-inspired art in marble, jewels, and mosaics, all hand-created and left behind by artists who were moved to pay tribute to the beauty, grace and intrigue of these animals.
Inside this world, floor-to-ceiling windows create mesmerizing face-to-fin encounters with hundreds of rays, as well as thousands of fish and mysterious creatures native to oceans all over the world. Shark rays, spotted eagle rays, leopard rays and cow nose rays float past guests with fluidity and grace in a view entirely new to SeaWorld’s guests.
The Manta experience then evolves from seeing ... to being.
Boarding a coaster inspired by the largest and most powerful of the rays, guests will fly face-down in a horizontal position, attached to a giant, manta-shaped coaster train. With a wing span of 12 feet, the huge manta – with riders secured safely to its belly - will soar over SeaWorld in the most thrilling flying coaster ever created.
“This ride is uniquely SeaWorld,” said Dan Brown, Vice President and General Manager of SeaWorld Orlando. “We’re known for connecting guests with the sea and its amazing creatures. Only on Manta will you find out what it’s like to fly with a giant ray.”
“Imagine an experience that takes you from being surrounded by the grace and power of hundreds of live rays and thousands of exotic fish, to a flying coaster thrill ride where you glide, spin and soar like a giant manta, the biggest ray of all,” said Joseph Couceiro, Chief Marketing Officer for SeaWorld’s parent company, Busch Entertainment Corporation. Manta is scheduled to open at SeaWorld Orlando Memorial Day Weekend 2009.
The American Idol Experience is a fun, liveperformance show where you determine the destiny
of the singers onstage by voting as a member of the audience. You decide who has what it takes to move on to the next round...and you see the results immediately! You’ll have an opportunity to experience the stunning set (one of the most technologically advanced theaters ever created inside the Walt Disney World® Resort), giving you the thrill of experiencing what it’s like to really be at an actual Hollywood production! Plus, even if you aren’t familiar with the TV show, if you or someone in your party, likes to sing…then auditioning to perform live on stage at this attraction just might help make your own dream come true.”
For pizza lovers around the country, Chicago-style pizza is in a league of its own. And for Orlando visitors who are seeking a slice of Chicago-style stuffed crust pizza in the Sunshine State, Giordano's has three locations in the Orlando area, conveniently located close to Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, just off of International Drive on Sand Lake Road and in nearby Kissimmee, FL.
Like the franchised version of Uno Chicago Grill, Giordano's serves up deep dish pizza that requires a knife, fork and an empty stomach to fully enjoy. Giordano's differs from Uno Chicago Grill pizza in that Giordano's adds an extra layer of pizza dough on top of the generous layer of cheese, creating the "stuffed crust" effect.
Giordano's decor in its Florida locations reminds visitors (at nearly every opportunity) that this is a Chicago-themed restaurant, complete with reprints of vintage posters from the Windy City. Although Giordano's customers might not exactly feel as if they are in a Chicagoland eating establishment--there's no place to hang their winter coats--a slice of the restaurant's stuffed crust pizza will definitely remind some of Orlando's Midwestern visitors of home.
Now Open at CityWalk – Element, Burger King Whopper Bar, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Panda ExpressElement – Share in the lifestyle of skateboarding at Element featuring skateboards and accessories; shoes; mens, juniors and boys apparel; sunglasses and watches.
Burger King Whopper Bar – Visit the world’s first, only at Universal CityWalk, and enjoy the flame-broiled burger you love with over a million ways to HAVE IT YOUR WAY®
!Moe’s Southwest Grill – Get ready for giant burritos, cheesy quesadillas and flavorful salads prepared right before your eyes.
Welcome to Moe’s!Panda Express – Wok on over to Panda Express, with original Orange Chicken and zesty Beijing Beef wok-ed up fresh, hot and fast. Experience Pandamonium!
Experience all of the benefits of a downtown location without all of the downtown hassles at the Clarion Inn and Conference Center in Altamonte Springs, just a few minutes north of Orlando. The hotel has a three diamond rating from AAA and has had a $2 million upgrade to the entire facility.
With 264 guest rooms, including 63 suites, the Clarion Inn and Conference Center can accommodate meetings, weddings, receptions, corporate events or holiday parties with the help of the Clarion’s professional planners. The hotel offers 10,000 sq. ft. versatile space, a 3,200 sq. ft. ballroom, 1,200 sq ft meeting room, a Center Gallery pre-function area, four Executive Boardrooms, plus A/V services, catering, free WI-FI and a business center to make every function run as smoothly as possible.
At the end of the day, guests can enjoy the tropical setting of the Clarion’s 20 ft waterfall and the Olympic sized pool and sun-deck, or work out in the 24 fitness center. There is live entertainment in the Why Not Lounge, with admission to the in-house Comedy Club free to hotel guests. Guests will also enjoy a complimentary full hot breakfast every morning in the Waterfall Café.
Whether your trip to the Orlando area involves business, pleasure—or a little of both—the Clarion Inn and Conference Center can accommodate the needs of your upcoming conference or reception.
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The best place for Thursday night happy hour is the brand new Hyatt Place Orlando/ Lake Mary. Join us in the hotel wine bar and café each Thursday for live music, appetizers, buy one, get one free drinks and the chance to win a weekend getaway at Hyatt Place.
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