August 17, 2010 
Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park presents a delightful mix of new thrill rides with classic attractions that appeal to longtime visitors while attracting new generations of enthusiasts. Some of the must-see attractions at the Magic Kingdom include Splash Mountain, an incredible flume ride that features audio-animatronic characters from Disney’s classic film, Song of the South; Space Mountain, a thrilling indoor roller coaster that shoots you on a journey through the cosmos in complete darkness; Pirates of the Caribbean, a hilarious adventure through an island town overrun with pirates; Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, where you score points by zapping aliens; Haunted Mansion, home to 999 ghosts and assorted ghouls; and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a “runaway train” that speeds its way through an Old West mining town. Other Magic Kingdom highlights include Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, Jungle Cruise and Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, among others.
       
August 16, 2010 
Rock the Universe 2010 will take place at Universal Studios Florida September 10-11, 2010, featuring one of the most exciting celebrations of Christian music in the country! For more information about Rock the Universe 2010 and to purchase tickets, visit www.rocktheuniverse.com.
Rock the Universe 2010 Lineup
Friday, September 10, 2010: Skillet, Newsboys, Jars of Clay, Hawk Nelson, Decyfer Down, Kutless, Chuck Tocco
Saturday, September 11, 2010: Relient K, tobyMac, Jeremy Camp, Grits, Needtobreathe, Fireflight, Jeff Chandler
       
August 5, 2010 
One of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, Expedition Everest is located in the Asia section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and has already achieved cult status among regular visitors to the theme park. Towering nearly 200 feet, Expedition Everest features an amazing train adventure through bamboo forests, cascading waterfalls, mountain caverns and icy canyons toward a terrifying encounter with the ferocious Yeti (abominable snowman). You must be at least 44 inches tall to ride Expedition Everest. Health restrictions are also posted at the entrance to Expedition Everest. FASTPASS is available (and recommended!) for Expedition Everest. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also boasts a thrilling rafting adventure ride called Kali River Rapids (prepare to get soaked!), which is also located in the Asia section of the theme park. You must be at least 38 inches tall to ride the Kali River Rapids. FASTPASS is available for Kali River Rapids.
Looking for Disney World tickets? Check out the latest theme park ticket deals and Orlando vacation packages at www.orlando-florida.net.
       
August 2, 2010 
In addition to world-class theme parks such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, the Orlando area offers a variety of festivals, events and fairs in 2010 that are sure to please visitors and residents alike. On most weekends throughout 2010, but especially during the fall, you’ll discover lively festivals and events going on somewhere in Orlando. Mark your calendar for the following Orlando events this fall:
2010 Orlando Home Show
October 22-24, 2010
Enjoy interesting exhibits, talk to home improvement experts and listen to special guest speakers at the Orlando area’s largest home design and landscaping showcase, which will take place at the Orange County Convention Center.
2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
October 1 – November 14, 2010
Take an eclectic tour of the world at the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival as you sample delicious foods and fine wines during this international culinary celebration, which also offers nightly Eat to the Beat! concerts, celebrity-che cooking demonstrations, children’s activities and the talents of street performers from acrobats to musicians.
2010 Halloween Horror Nights
September 24, 25 & 30; October 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31, 2010
Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, which celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2010, is the largest Halloween event in the United States and spread out over both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Events at the month-long fright fest include specialty designed haunted houses and mazes, inescapable scare zones, a Halloween parade, thrilling shows and live music, as well as an assortment of wandering ghouls, zombies, demons, werewolves, ghosts, goblins and vampires.
2010 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
September 14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28 & 30; October 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29 & 31; November 1, 2010
This after-hours extravaganza at Disney’s Magic Kingdom allows guests to dress up in Halloween costumes and also features the “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade and the “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular. There’s trick-or-treating as well and also the opportunity to enjoy rides and attractions from 7 PM to midnight.
2010 SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular
Select Dates in October 2010
Halloween meets the sea at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, carving an underwater “fantasea” where children can dance with an ice DJ, learn from a school of fish and play with a sea fairy. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular uniquely brings children’s “fantaseas” to life with enchanted pathways and charming sea creatures, providing the utmost in family-friendly trick-or-treating.
2010 Children’s Miracle Network Classic
November 11-14, 2010
One of the most popular events on the PGA Tour, the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World Resort has served as an annual tradition since 1971, the same year Disney World opened its doors. The Children’s Miracle Network Classic, takes place at Disney’s championship Palm and Magnolia courses.
2010 Festival of the Masters
November 12-14, 2010
Festival of the Masters at Walt Disney World Resort is simply one of the most acclaimed open-air art festivals in the United States. Approximately 150 award-winning artists display their diverse wares at this immense outdoor showcase at Downtown Disney that also includes live entertainment, culinary offerings and children’s activities, as well as the House of Blues Folk Art Festival.
Good sources for more information on upcoming Orlando festivals and events include the “Orlando Seasonal Events” section of the Orlando, Florida Guide, as well as the Friday entertainment sections of the Orlando Sentinel and the Orlando Weekly, a weekly arts and entertainment publication.
Seeking spacious and affordable accommodations during your Orlando vacation getaway this fall? Look no farther than Westgate Resorts, which offers spacious suites, abundant amenities and convenient access to Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando theme parks, as well as other Orlando area attractions. Choose from Westgate Resorts properties such as Westgate Blue Tree Resort, Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Leisure Resort, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Vacation Villas. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.
       
July 29, 2010 
       
July 28, 2010 The 2010-2011 season of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater features:
“The Little Red Riding Hood Show” – July 15 – August 8, 2010
“The 39 Steps” – September 15 – October 10, 2010
“The Turn of the Screw” – October 13 – November 7, 2010
“Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” – October 21 – November 20, 2010
“Chaps! A Jingle Jangle Christmas” – December 1-26, 2010
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – January 26 – March 19, 2011
“Pride and Prejudice” – February 9 – March 20, 2011
“Beowulf” – February 23 – March 20, 2011
“Charm” – March 23 – April 17, 2011
“Alexander, Who’s Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move” – March 31 – April 24, 2011
“Playfest! The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays” – April 8-17, 2011
For more information about the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, visit www.orlandoshakes.org.
       
July 15, 2010 
“Dear sweet Leota/beloved by all/In regions beyond now/but having a ball”
“Good friend Gordon/now you’ve crossed/the River Jordan”
“R.I.P. Mister Sewell/the victim of/a dirty duel/Peaceful rest”
“R.I.P. In memoriam Uncle Myall/here you’ll lie/for quite a while”
“Here lies a man/named Martin/the lights went out/on this old Spartan”
“Here lies/good old Fred/a great big rock/fell on his head/R.I.P.”
“Rest in peace/Cousin Huet/we all know/you didn’t do it”
“Master Gracey/laid to rest/no mourning please/at his request/Farewell”
“In memory of/our patriarch/dear departed/Grandpa Marc”
“At peaceful rest/lies Brother Claude/planted here/beneath this sod”
“Dear departed/Brother Dave/he chased a bear/into a cave”
“Requiescat/Francis Xavier/no time off for/good behavior/R.I.P.”
For more Disney World trivia, visit www.orlando-florida.net!
       
July 9, 2010 
Beat the heat during summer 2010 and cool off at one of the Orlando area’s state-of-the-art water parks, where you can barrel down a thrilling waterslide, take a whitewater rafting adventure, snorkel through a colorful reef full of exotic fish, body surf in one of the world’s largest wave pools and interact with dolphins, sharks and stingrays.
Billed as the “ Coolest Water Park in Central Florida,” Disney’s Blizzard Beach boasts nearly two dozen waterslides – all centered around 220-foot-tall Mount Gushmore! Highlights of Disney’s Blizzard Beach include the twisting flumes of the Runoff Rapids tube run, Snow Stormers racing slides, Cross Country Creek river ride, Melt-Away Bay wave pool, Downhill Double Dipper racing slides, Summit Plummet free-fall slide, Teamboat Springs raft ride, Mount Gushmore Chair Lift, Tike’s Peak children’s water play area and Ski Patrol Training Camp.
According to Disney World legend, a freak storm dumped a ship high atop Mount Mayday and created Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon in the process! In addition to a Shark Reef, Surf Pool and Humunga Kowabunga speed slides, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon features the Ketchakiddee Creek children’s water play area; Storm Slides; Keelhaul Falls, Gangplank Falls and Mayday Falls tube runs; Castaway Creek lazy river ride; and a Sandy White Beach, the perfect spot to enjoy some relaxation in the sun.
From thrilling waterslides to relaxing river rides to children’s water play areas, Wet ‘n Wild Water Park has something for everyone! Nestled in the heart of world-famous International Drive, Wet ‘n Wild is known as “ America’s most exhilarating water park.” The truly adventurous will want to experience Wet ‘n Wild’s “extreme slides” such as “The Blast,” “Der Stuka” and “The Storm,” as well as “Brain Wash” (which features a 53-foot vertical drop) and the Disco H20 raft adventure.
Spend a day in a tropical paradise at Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando’s sister theme park, which allows visitors to interact with bottlenose dolphins, sharks, barracuda and stingrays, as well as snorkel through a colorful reef full of exotic fish. Float down a river through waterfalls and lush landscaping, feed hundreds of tropical birds and relax on a white-sand beach overlooking the beautiful lagoon. Attendance at Discovery Cove is limited to 1,000 guests a day, so it is never crowded. Note: Reservations are required for Discovery Cove.
In addition, SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquatica opened along International Drive in the spring of 2008. The sister theme park of SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Aquatica boasts 36 thrilling waterslides, side-by-side wave pools, raft rides, more than 80,000 square feet of white-sand beach, and six rivers and lagoons. SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquatica’s signature attraction is the 300-foot-long waterslide, which features a clear tube that will plunge riders down a 42-foot drop and through a crystal-clear lagoon full of black-and-white Commerson’s Dolphins.
With state-of-the-art water parks and world-class theme parks, Orlando is the ideal destination for family vacations this summer. And if you are seeking great deals on comfortable accommodations that provide convenient access to world-class theme parks and attractions, check out Westgate Resorts, which offers a variety of Orlando area properties, including Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Vacation Villas, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Palace, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Leisure Resort. For more information about Westgate Resorts, call (800) 864-1645 or visit www.westgatedestinations.com.
     
Beat the heat during summer 2010 and cool off at one of the Orlando area’s state-of-the-art water parks, where you can barrel down a thrilling waterslide, take a whitewater rafting adventure, snorkel through a colorful reef full of exotic fish, body surf in one of the world’s largest wave pools and interact with dolphins, sharks and stingrays.
Billed as the “ Coolest Water Park in Central Florida,” Disney’s Blizzard Beach boasts nearly two dozen waterslides – all centered around 220-foot-tall Mount Gushmore! Highlights of Disney’s Blizzard Beach include the twisting flumes of the Runoff Rapids tube run, Snow Stormers racing slides, Cross Country Creek river ride, Melt-Away Bay wave pool, Downhill Double Dipper racing slides, Summit Plummet free-fall slide, Teamboat Springs raft ride, Mount Gushmore Chair Lift, Tike’s Peak children’s water play area and Ski Patrol Training Camp.
According to Disney World legend, a freak storm dumped a ship high atop Mount Mayday and created Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon in the process! In addition to a Shark Reef, Surf Pool and Humunga Kowabunga speed slides, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon features the Ketchakiddee Creek children’s water play area; Storm Slides; Keelhaul Falls, Gangplank Falls and Mayday Falls tube runs; Castaway Creek lazy river ride; and a Sandy White Beach, the perfect spot to enjoy some relaxation in the sun.
From thrilling waterslides to relaxing river rides to children’s water play areas, Wet ‘n Wild Water Park has something for everyone! Nestled in the heart of world-famous International Drive, Wet ‘n Wild is known as “ America’s most exhilarating water park.” The truly adventurous will want to experience Wet ‘n Wild’s “extreme slides” such as “The Blast,” “Der Stuka” and “The Storm,” as well as “Brain Wash” (which features a 53-foot vertical drop) and the Disco H20 raft adventure.
Spend a day in a tropical paradise at Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando’s sister theme park, which allows visitors to interact with bottlenose dolphins, sharks, barracuda and stingrays, as well as snorkel through a colorful reef full of exotic fish. Float down a river through waterfalls and lush landscaping, feed hundreds of tropical birds and relax on a white-sand beach overlooking the beautiful lagoon. Attendance at Discovery Cove is limited to 1,000 guests a day, so it is never crowded. Note: Reservations are required for Discovery Cove.
In addition, SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquatica opened along International Drive in the spring of 2008. The sister theme park of SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Aquatica boasts 36 thrilling waterslides, side-by-side wave pools, raft rides, more than 80,000 square feet of white-sand beach, and six rivers and lagoons. SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquatica’s signature attraction is the 300-foot-long waterslide, which features a clear tube that will plunge riders down a 42-foot drop and through a crystal-clear lagoon full of black-and-white Commerson’s Dolphins.
With state-of-the-art water parks and world-class theme parks, Orlando is the ideal destination for family vacations this summer. And if you are seeking great deals on comfortable accommodations that provide convenient access to world-class theme parks and attractions, check out Westgate Resorts, which offers a variety of Orlando area properties, including Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa, Westgate Vacation Villas, Westgate Palace, Westgate Towers, Westgate Palace, Westgate Town Center and Westgate Leisure Resort. For more information about Westgate Resorts, call (800) 864-1645 or visit www.westgatedestinations.com.
 
July 8, 2010 
Universal Orlando Resort will feature The Fixx as part of its ‘Velvet Sessions’ series at Hard Rock Hotel on Thursday, July 29, 2010, at 6:30 PM. The group will perform all of its classic hits such as “One Thing Leads To Another,” “Red Skies,” “Saved by Zero, “Are We Ourselves,” Secret Separation,” “Deeper and Deeper” and more. Velvet Sessions is Hard Rock Hotel’s special rock ‘n’ roll cocktail party and lobby concert held the last Thursday of the month (January through October). A $25 ticket includes free specialty drinks, finger foods and warm-up tunes from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Cash bars and live band from 8:30 PM onward. Tickets are $25 online (ticketing fees apply) or $30 at the door. Valet parking is complimentary for those attending Velvet Sessions, which is a 21 and older event. Visit velvetsessions.com for more information.
       
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