Tag: Orlando Travel

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Wrapping up Winter Break with The Wizarding World?

January 2, 2012 at 4:22 PM | by | Comments (0)

Not only have we entered 2012 this week, but it's also the last few days of winter break for schoolchildren. If we're talking about college-age kids, then they've got a little longer. Regardless, this is the last dash time for family vacations at the theme parks in Orlando, FL...specifically at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

We've been a few times now since it opened 1.5 years ago, and each time we return with photo galleries and tips aplenty. If you're about to jet down to hit the park or are contemplating a last-minute mini-vacay, here's everything you need to know:

· Changes to ticket prices & ride seating
· Our complete, first-hand survival guide to the Potter park
· Photos from November 2011
· Photos of the all the FOOD
· Inside the Forbidden Journey castle & ride
· The souvenirs! Oh man, the souvenirs.
· Photos & video of the Hippogriff and Dragons roller coasters
· Even more photos (from the night before opening)

[Photo: Jaunted]

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Legoland to Build Itself a New Water Park for Summer 2012

December 6, 2011 at 8:44 AM | by | Comments (0)

Legoland in Florida still has its new theme park smell, but it’s already time to upgrade. The Lego bricks aren’t looking forward to the hot and humid summers, so they’re adding a brand new water park. Officials had mentioned this during the park’s October debut, but now we know that’s it’s all on scheduled and ready to arrive in time for the 2012 summer season.

Obviously there will plenty of spots to splish and splash for the kiddos, and as with the rest of the park it’s going to be tailored to the likes of loves of little ones. Some of the attractions planned for the new waterpark include a Lego Wave Pool, along with something they’re calling Twin Chasers—where you and a buddy twist and turn through intertwined tube tracks.

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SeaWorld Plans to Get Chilly in 2013 with Interactive Penguin Attraction

November 17, 2011 at 12:51 PM | by | Comments (0)

SeaWorld Orlando is located right in the middle of a theme park battleground, and they’re not going to just sit back and let Universal Studios and Walt Disney World have all the fun. They’ve already built new coasters and other attractions, but another round of upgrades and improvements might just keep Shamu ahead of Harry Potter and Mickey Mouse.

For one of the park’s largest expansion ever the place is going back to its roots, and they’re doing even more stuff with the animals. SeaWorld is planning to add a new penguin exhibit, but it’s going to be a little bit different than visiting the zoo. Arriving towards the beginning of 2013—Antarctica — Empire of the Penguin—will bring a whole new array of shops and restaurants to the park along with plenty of penguins.

Of course the centerpiece will be a brand new attraction, but one of the many highlights is the plan to introduce some frigid temperatures to park visitors—like Antarctica cold. They’re still finalizing what exactly the new ride will feature, but they’re promising “closer-then-ever animal connections” with “state-of-the-art interactive ride technologies.”

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Live From The LegoLand Florida Opening

Where: 1 Legoland Way [map], Winter Haven, FL, United States, 33884
October 14, 2011 at 10:40 AM | by | Comments (3)

Theme park openings are awesome, and today we plan to bring you all the latest and greatest as the fine folks of Legoland take the cellophane off their latest park in Winter Haven Florida and let us take a look around today.

It is media day, and Legoland Florida was kind enough to invite us and let us have a look around a day before the park opens to the public.

Miniland, Aqua Wave Racers, and maybe even some Lego Battles await -- so sit back relax and get ready to be awash in the inimitable Lego color palette -- live blog style.

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You've Never Heard of Them, but ArkeFly Jets from Amsterdam to Florida

July 6, 2011 at 1:45 PM | by | Comments (0)

Amstel Light just not cutting it anymore? If you need a dose of the stronger brew, or another of Amsterdam's unique offerings, there's now a new way to get to the Netherlands from Florida. On June 24, Dutch airline ArkeFly launched a non-stop service between Amsterdam and Orlando. SoFla gets a piece of the action, too, with the flight continuing on to Miami International before flying non-stop back to Amsterdam.

The new routes, which will operate Mondays and Fridays, make ArkeFly the only Dutch airline to offer non-stop service to Orlando and Miami.

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Disney Asks for a Few Dollars More

June 14, 2011 at 10:20 AM | by | Comments (0)

It looks like an annual Disney tradition has taken place just in time for the summer vacation season, as the theme parks in California and Florida have raised their ticket prices. There wasn’t too much warning either—which is usually the case—as the house of mouse sent out a little reminder on their Disney Parks blog that things would be heading north effective Sunday, June 12.

For those looking forward to hitting up Walt Disney World anytime soon, tickets for one day of fun at one of the parks is now $85 per adult—it was $82 before the pricing update. Kids—which are only those between age three and nine—get a slight discount at $79 per day. Of course there are all kinds of multi-day park tickets which do provide some sort of discount in one way or another, but unfortunately those were increased as well. Expect a four day ticket—with the ability to hop between the four main parks—to now set you back $298.

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And the Next Movie Universal Studios is Turning into an Attraction is...

May 19, 2011 at 11:22 AM | by | Comments (0)

It was almost this time last year that Universal Studios Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened, and we're not ashamed to say our time at the park created some of our most memorable and fun moments from 2010.

Instead of resting on their laurels, Universal just announced more improvements and new things coming to their Orlando park, although these won't be ready until next year. The biggest deal is that the movie Despicable Me will become a 3D "experience" ride to replace the Jimmy Neutron one already in place. Here's the lowdown on that:

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Celebrate with Aaron Rodgers Today at Disney's Magic Kingdom

February 7, 2011 at 12:59 PM | by | Comments (0)

Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers won't have much downtime today. He's already on his way to Orlando for the ticker-tape parade down Main Street U.S.A at Disney's Magic Kingdom, which he'll squeeze in before heading to New York City for Late Night with David Letterman tonight.

After helping the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XLV&3151;in a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers&3151;in Dallas last night, Aaron stepped in front of the TV cameras and shouted the words every athlete dreams of: “I’m going to Disney World!”

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Celebrates Its Millionth Mug of Butterbeer

January 6, 2011 at 12:29 PM | by | Comments (3)

Who would've guessed that, prior to the Harry Potter phenomenon, so many people would be willing to shell out $13 each for a frothy souvenir mug full of a sweet swill that tastes like a cross between butterscotch and shortbread cookies? Butterbeer, a favorite warming drink taken straight from the Harry Potter books, has been adapted as a cold and frozen drink at Universal Studios' The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and today they announced that they've now sold over 1 million Butterbeers to visitors since the theme park-within-a-theme park opened back in mid-June, 2010.

According to our friends at MuggleNet, the occasion is being celebrated today as the park staff hand out vouchers for free Butterbeer to Wizarding World visitors.

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Two Airport Flashmobs Shock Travelers with Holiday Cheer

December 21, 2010 at 11:33 AM | by | Comment (1)

Tis the season for back-ups at airport check-in desks and clogs at security, but never did we think that an airline would encourage such crowding during the prime holiday travel season. But then, Air Canada is a little different, hm? A few days ago, at Vancouver International Airport, 60 dancers joined together to form an Air Canada-sponsored flashmob.

The cute little event, which appears to have gone down during a slow evening period at the airport (thank god), involved young people donning Santa hats and going all out in dancing to a live rendition of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."

Meanwhile, at Orlando International Airport, another flashmob was delighting travelers, but this time with their voice:

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World's 'Merriest' Coasters: The Incredible Hulk During Grinchmas at Universal Orlando

December 2, 2010 at 9:07 AM | by | Comments (0)

Even though Florida is hardly known for its winter weather, it hasn’t stopped theme parks like Universal Studios Orlando from getting into the holiday spirit. In addition to their lineup of rides and attractions, there’s plenty of trees, lights, as well as red and green versions of everything. While it’s a little difficult to string lights from a booming steel roller coaster, the surroundings still make one of its coasters one of the best this holiday season.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster sits around the corner from Harry Potter and his friends at the Islands of Adventure Park, and there’s really no way to miss it as it’s got to be one of the largest structures present within the park. In line for the coaster you think that all is going well, except that once you pass through an unattended science experiment, things get a little crazy—Santa needs to remember not to bring this kid a chemistry set next year. Buckle in and the coaster accelerates up to 40mph in just two seconds—while going up hill—and that’s when you’re turned into the Hulk.

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Harry Potter Has His Own Plane and You Can Fly on It

September 15, 2010 at 3:44 PM | by | Comment (1)

Okay, so we don't know how we missed this back in June—probably because we were too busy reporting on the theme park opening itself—but AirTran partnered up with Universal Studios to promote the newly-opened Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando with some new livery. The paintjob went on one of the airline's Boeing 717s, and although there's not Harry Potter on it, his hand is pictured almost coming out of the jet's engine to case magic from a wand pointing towards the nose.

We think we learned long ago that flying in an airplane isn't magic, but this is still a cute livery idea. The disembodied hand is a little unnerving, perhaps AirTran should have paid a little more to get Harry's likeness up on the tail? If Southwest can put Sports Illustrated supermodel Bar Refaeli on the side of one of their jets, then AirTran should be able to get a teenage boy on theirs.

We think there needs to be yet another Harry Potter movie: Snapes on a Plane!

If you're flying to Orlando International Airport anytime soon, keep an eye open for the magical wand plane and let us know if the hand creeps you out too.

[Photo: FlyingJ21]

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