Filed in
Disney news, Event Update, Orlando News |
28 December, 2008
WHAT: Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will invite guests to celebrate their lives’ special moments – large and small – with family and friends at the place where dreams come true. New research shows that families are planning trips around life’s special moments, memories and milestones to celebrate with loved ones. It’s a newly identified, national trend dubbed by experts as “celebration vacations.”
BIRTHDAY FUN FOR FREE: Crowning the celebration is a Disney Parks first: Guests can receive free admission to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009. All it takes is a valid ID including proof of birth date. (Guests who already hold a multi-day ticket or an annual pass that they will use on their birthday can choose an alternate birthday treat instead, but will not be entitled to a cash refund or credit.) Guests can get more details and start the process by registering their birthdays at www.disneyparks.com.
HOW DO I CELEBRATE? MAGICAL EXPERIENCES APLENTY: At Walt Disney World Resort, guests can add on to the fun, choosing from more than 200 experiences ranging from breathtaking (fireworks cruises, sunrise safaris, diving the depths among sea life) to mirth-making (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, character dining, kids’ pirate adventures).
PLANNING NOW EASIER THAN EVER: New Web planning tools will make it easier than ever for guests to create celebrations large and small, with opportunities to customize and personalize their experiences.
PUTTING ‘SPECIAL’ IN SPECIAL OCCASION: Disney advance planners can custom-order cakes, flowers, balloons and more. The fun even extends to table-service restaurants where celebrants can make special dining arrangements.
IT’S A PARTY IN THE PARK!: A celebration street party invites guests of all ages into the heart of the castle parks to join Disney characters and dozens of performers in a celebratory song and dance party at the Magic Kingdom.
Filed in
Disney news, Event Update, New Year's Eve, Orlando News, Universal Studios |
28 December, 2008
There is nothing like "ringing in the New Year" at an Orlando theme park. Dazzling fireworks, special stage entertainment and extended park hours make Orlando's famous theme parks a popular spot to join in the fun.
- At Epcot, a special version of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” the laser-light spectacular featuring dancing flames and cascading fountains orchestrated to an original musical score, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. The park’s Dec. 31 operating hours are 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host “Fantasmic!,” the lavish spectacular of water animation, lasers and fireworks, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 and 10 p.m. Revelers can “rock on” with live performances by in-park band “Mulch, Sweat and Shears,” plus a DJ spinning tunes at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. A special “Lights, Camera, Happy New Year” fireworks show brings in the new year at 11:50 p.m. The park is open from 8 a.m. until midnight on Dec. 31.
- Late-nighters can party at Magic Kingdom until the wee hours with parades and fireworks galore. The park is aglow with “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” at 12 noon and 3:30 p.m., followed by the wondrous “SpectroMagic” parade at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. “Holiday Wishes” fireworks, the boldest and brightest pyrotechnics show at Disney, takes place at 8:30 p.m. capped with the grand finale “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks at 11:50 p.m. On Dec. 31, the park is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 31. Guests can enjoy one of the final presentations of the romping character cavalcade “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade” at 3:45 p.m.
- At SeaWorld Orlando, enjoy a musical celebration and vibrant fireworks. For those who would rather end the year with a splash, the park's attractions and thrill rides will remain open until midnight. Special entertainment from 9pm to 12:30am., featuring Michael Andrew and his 18-piece Atomic Big Band at the Bayside Stadium.
- Universal CityWalk, the Universal Studios 30-acre entertainment complex, hosts one of Orlando's hottest New Year's Eve parties. Bid farewell to 2008 with music by The Doobie Brothers. The evening event includes live entertainment in every nightlife venue and all-you-can-eat buffet with filet mignon, jumbo shrimp, desserts and more; along with a midnight champagne toast. Hats and noisemakers are included with admission. The event is from 8pm to 2am. Advance tickets are $119.99 (plus tax) and $124.99 (plus tax) after Dec. 21. Save an additional $5 on each ticket and receive express line access when purchased with an American Express card.
- At Universal Orlando, stay up late at Universal Studios, open until 1am. Please note: Islands of Adventure closes at 10pm.
For more information about Disney celebrations, visit Disneyworld.com or contact 407/824-4321. For more information about SeaWorld, call 407/363-2259 or visit SeaWorld.com. For the scoop on Universal Studios, visit UniversalOrlando.com.
Filed in
Best of Florida Christmas, Christmas, Disney news, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Orlando News, Universal Studios |
18 December, 2008
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Dec. 18, 2008) – For theme park passholders, the Christmas season quickly changes from green to black… as in “holiday black-out periods” when some Orlando passes are not valid at the turnstiles.
To combat the problem, season passholders for select Florida theme parks are invited to receive a choice of a free child’s admission to ICE! or a half-price adult admission to ICE!, with the purchase of a regularly-priced adult admission.
This offer is available by showing a current season pass at the ICE! Box Office during the dates of Dec. 19, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009.
This promotion is valid for season passholders of the following theme parks: all Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks, all Universal Orlando theme parks, SeaWorld Adventure Park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Aquatica, and Wet ‘n Wild. [Note: This includes all types of "season" and "annual" passes, including the Florida Fun Card at SeaWorld or Busch Gardens.]
The fine print: Only one complimentary or discounted ticket will be issued per season passholder, with purchase of a regularly priced adult ICE! ticket. Season passholder must be present, and will be required to show valid theme park season pass. Child tickets valid for children ages 4 through 12 only.
For more information, please visit http://www.gaylordhotels.com/passholder.
About ICE!
At ICE!, guests can explore a whimsical winter wonderland of larger-than-life, three-dimensional hand-carved ice monuments and sculptures, including fantastic frozen creations, slippery ice slides, and memorable holiday scenes. As for the chill, visitors are given oversized parkas to stay comfortable inside the attraction, which is kept at a blustery 9 degrees.
In its sixth season, ICE! reflects the theme “Santa’s Arctic Blast,” featuring several scenes that star “Jolly Cold Saint Nicholas” himself.
One such scene is an oversized photo opportunity featuring a 13.5-foot-tall Santa Claus. Visitors can sit on the knee of this colossal Santa, providing an interesting perspective – and a fun photo! Another guest favorite, the ICE! castle and slides, have been re-designed to celebrate Santa’s Christmas Eve flight… reindeer and all!
The attraction’s signature scene, a life-size Nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice, has been described as one of the most breathtaking depictions of the birth of Christ. Dramatic lighting and a stirring narrative track give guests an opportunity to pause and reflect on the story behind the season.
This year’s attraction is presented by Coca-Cola and Walgreen’s and sponsored by Nissan.
In addition to ICE!, this year’s Best of Florida Christmas program includes an entire slate of holiday revelry:
- Hidden Holiday Gnome Hunt: Families can hunt throughout the Gaylord Palms atriums to spot cleverly hidden gnomes.
- Christmas in Florida: The County Wreath Collection: An exhibition of wreaths decorated to reflect Florida’s diverse destinations, from coast to coast.
- The Majestic Christmas Tree, perched atop the Castillo de San Marcos fort, towering more than 70 feet above Emerald Plaza.
- Live stage entertainment, on select dates.
- Santa visits. (Or, if you're shy, you can send him your wish list via email at an on-site terminal!)
- Holiday brunch with Mrs. Claus on select weekends at Villa de Flora.
- In addition, guests can enjoy themed décor and holiday lights throughout each of the resort's three atriums.
ICE! tickets range from $9.99 - $24.99, depending on the type of ticket, and day of the week.
For more information or reservations, call (407) 586-4-ICE. To learn more about ICE! or Best of Florida Christmas, guests can visit http://www.gaylordpalms.com/ice. To learn more about other holiday events in Central Florida, visit http://www.ChristmasInOrlando.com.
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Filed in
Best of Florida Christmas, Cool Stuff, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Orlando News, Thanksgiving |
29 November, 2008
They came… they saw… they froze their, um, body parts!
The very first gathering of the Orlando Polar Bear Club was a success! A large crowd gathered Friday morning at Gaylord Palms Resort to run through the 9-degree ICE! attraction… in swimwear!
Why? I'm not sure one can fully explain.
For one, it was a fundraiser for Special Olympics Florida. And it was one of those things to do… just to say you did it!
For highlights there is a video posted on YouTube:
If you want to see more photos, they are available on the club's Facebook group page. There are also several in the Orlando Sentinel ICE! photo gallery.
Filed in
Christmas, Event Update, General Stuff, Orlando News, Thanksgiving |
10 November, 2008
In the 1974 classic Christmas special "The Year Without a Santa Claus," Saint Nick decides to take a year off. For the characters (and those watching), it was a blue Christmas, indeed.
For many in Central Florida, the blues have returned.
According to today's Orlando Sentinel, the historic Cypress Gardens theme park will temporarily close on Nov. 17 and reopen in March as a smaller, more focused park.
This, of course, means that the park's popular "Old-Fashioned Christmas" celebration, which once boasted the world's largest Christmas tree (a whopping 116-feet tall!), will remain dark this season.
Here's hoping that Florida's oldest theme park can use the hiatus to get their finances in order, and emerge in the spring as a more profitable endeavor.
We'll be first in line next Christmas!
Filed in
Cool Stuff, Disney news, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Media, Orlando News, Thanksgiving |
6 November, 2008
Details were officially announced today for the wackiest event in Orlando this holiday season, the debut of Orlando Polar Bear Club! On Black Friday — the unofficial name for Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving — thrillseekers will be invited to visit Orlando's 9-degree ICE! attraction… in their bathing suits!
Why? Well, it's a fundraiser for Special Olympics Florida.
The press release further explains: "The short answer is simple… 'just because'," said [Gaylord Palms] resort General Manager Kemp Gallineau. "Because it's fun and memorable — something to laugh about, brag about and blog about. And not everybody can go to Pamplona to run with the bulls."
For those who have not heard of the ICE! attraction, it is a 9-degree walk-through winter wonderland hand carved from two million pounds of ice. It's one of those you've-got-to-see-it-to-believe-it attractions. This year, you can experience ICE! AND bring home wacky photos. How can you pass that up?
The Orlando Polar Bear Club debut, which should make for good television news coverage, will be held at 8:30am on Nov. 28 at the Gaylord Palms ICE! attraction. Tickets are available online.
For further updates about Orlando Christmas events, including ICE! at Gaylord Palms, visit www.christmasinorlando.com
Filed in
Christmas, Event Update, Orlando News, Universal Studios |
6 November, 2008
The Orlando Sentinel reported today that Universal Orlando will be kicking off their holiday season with two performances by the Grammy-winning group Mannheim Steamroller on Dec. 6.
Mannheim Steamroller is known for their unique instrumental tracks that founder Chip Davis calls "18th Century classical rock."
The group, which enjoys enormous popularity during the Christmas season, collaborated on the music for last year's original stage show "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" which will once again be performed at Seuss Landing inside Islands of Adventure theme park.
The 
Universal Studios concerts, held at 6pm and 8pm on Dec. 6, will include music from the IOA "Grinch" show, old favorites, and selections from the new Steamroller CD Christmasville
. It is the only scheduled holiday-season appearances by Steamroller founder Chip Davis.
According to the Sentinel report, the concerts will be included in regular theme-park admission.
For further updates about Orlando Christmas events, including ICE! at Gaylord Palms, visit www.christmasinorlando.com
Filed in
Event Update, Orlando News |
23 October, 2008
You'll find Polar Bear Clubs in cities all over the frozen North. Members of these organizations gather every year to "take the plunge" into frozen waters… just for the thrill (and chill!) of it. I guess it's one of those experiences that can't be explained. If you're meant to participate… you just kinda know!
Some of the clubs — like the Coney Island Polar Bear Club — have been hosting cold-water swims for more than one hundred years!
We've just learned that Orlando will be the newest city to have its own branch of the famed Polar Bear Club. Yes, as in Sunny Orlando.
The details are still a secret, but organizers have released a date for their official debut – Friday, Nov. 28. Watch this blog for further updates.
If you are not familar with Polar Bear Clubs, check out this video:
While we don't know where Orlando's polar plunge will be held, we can assume it won't be at the following Orlando landmarks:
5. Kissimmee's Lake Tohopekaliga
4. Disney's Blizzard Beach
3. SeaWorld's Shamu Stadium
2. South Beach Pool at Gaylord Palms Resort
1. Gatorland
Stay tuned…
Filed in
Behind-The-Scenes, Best of Florida Christmas, Carving, Christmas, Cool Stuff, Design Chatter, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Orlando News |
20 October, 2008
Although Orlando's ICE! attraction won't open for several weeks, Gaylord Palms is giving a "sneak peek" of this cool holiday spectacle, thanks to two cool web cams that are already feeding live images to fans.
Web Cam One: Winter Wonderland ICE Bridge
Winter Wonderland is currently under construction inside the ICE! attraction at Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando. This romantic scene will feature a romantic winterscape, including a large bridge made completely from ice. When complete, ICE! visitors will be able to walk across the bridge, and take advantage of several photo opportunities, before moving on to the Hall of Ornaments, a colorful new ICE! scene.
Artisans from China are currently at work inside the 9-degree attraction. When the attraction opens, this scene will be home to the ICE! Proposals program, a unique place to propose marriage in Orlando.
To see the progress, click on the web cam link at ChristmasinOrlando.com, found on the right-hand column of the page.
Web Cam Two: Santa's Magic Flight
Santa's Magic Flight is also under construction inside the ICE! attraction. This newly-engineered scene is created from nearly 1 million pounds of ice, and features ice slides for children and adults.
When it opens on Nov. 17, the web cam will catch visitors to the attraction as they slide down the scene's four slides.
To see the progress, click on the web cam link at ChristmasinOrlando.com, found on the right-hand column of the page.
Filed in
Best of Florida Christmas, Christmas, Disney news, Event Update, Gaylord Palms, ICE! at Gaylord Palms, Orlando News, Thanksgiving, Universal Studios |
20 October, 2008
THEME PARK PASSHOLDERS ARE OFFERED
FREE CHILD ADMISSION TO
ICE! AT GAYLORD PALMS
Orlando Attraction Combats Christmas Blackout Periods
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2008) – This year, season passholders for select Florida theme parks can receive a free child’s admission to ICE! for every adult admission purchased.
This offer is available by showing a current season pass at the ICE! Box Office, for use on the following dates:
Nov. 17 through Dec. 5
Dec. 8 through Dec. 12
Dec. 29 through Jan. 4
This promotion is valid for season passholders of the following theme parks: all Walt Disney World theme parks and water parks (including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom), all Universal Orlando theme parks (including Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), SeaWorld Adventure Park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Aquatica, Wet ‘n Wild, and Cypress Gardens.
This special offer will come as welcome news to season passholders, many which have holiday “blackout” periods when the passes are not valid.
The fine print: This offer is valid only on specified dates in 2008. Only one complimentary child ticket will be issued per adult season passholder with purchase of a regularly priced adult ICE! ticket. Season passholder must be present, and will be required to show valid theme park season pass. Child tickets valid for children ages 4 through 12 only.
For more information, please visit www.gaylordpalms.com/passholder.
For further updates about Orlando Christmas events, visit www.christmasinorlando.com
Next Page »
WHAT: Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will invite guests to celebrate their lives’ special moments – large and small – with family and friends at the place where dreams come true. New research shows that families are planning trips around life’s special moments, memories and milestones to celebrate with loved ones. It’s a newly identified, national trend dubbed by experts as “celebration vacations.”
