The parade is a dazzling event, with beautiful floats, costumes, and entertainers. Catch plenty of colorful beads, just like in New Orleans! Kids can go to the Little Jester’s Parade Viewing Areas by the Terminator attraction to make sure they’ll be able to view the parade. There is also a KidZone Mardi Pardi Krewe in the Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, which will ensure everyone- no matter how small- will get free beads of their own. There is also a live show just for kids.

Huge musical talents perform after dusk on these special nights. Past performances include Heart, The Beach Boys, Earth, Wind & Fire, and many others. So far it has been confirmed that Kelly Clarkson will be performing on February 18!

Come for the show, stay for the After Party! Anyone with a ticket to Universal during Mardi Gras nights gets free admission to seven clubs and bars at CityWalk. (Some venues are 21 and older; CityWalk is open til 2am.)

There’s still time to make your reservation, so visit our site or call us toll-free at 1.866.882.4720!

There has been an unveiling of a maze in the Hollywood location based on the 2005 movie Hostel and its 2007 sequel, promised to have plenty of gore. Hopefully there will be more news out for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando soon!

Halloween Horror Nights first began 21 years ago (hence why this year’s number is 21, of course). There have been many infamous icons, including Jack the Clown, the Caretaker, the Director, the Storyteller, Bloody Mary, and many others. They each have their own unique back story, and many of them have fans far after their event is over- and most of them come back for supporting roles later on. Last year’s icon (that’s Halloween Horror Nights XX, or 20) was the embodiment of fear itself; appropriately named The Fear, his tagline was Twenty Years of Fear. It was a sort of tribute to all 20 years of icons, mazes, haunted houses, shows, and more.

Please be considerate- Universal warns that Halloween Horror Nights is unsuitable for children under 13 (and many children and adults above 13, too!). No small children or infants; they can get lost easily in the crowds and fog.

Well, Universal is rebooting it; it comes out in theaters October 14th of this year. But Universal has decided to use The Thing in haunted houses this year, so guests will get a unique and early glance at what the new movie will look like. The first trailer for the movie looks frightening enough, and I personally can’t wait to see it for myself!

The Thing is the first haunted house to be uncovered for Halloween Horror Nights 21, which is exciting in and of itself. A full reveal is said to be given in August- that’s this coming week, so stay tuned to the blog!

This year’s theme for Halloween Horror Nights incorporated 21 nicely- it’s definitely going to have something to do with gambling, with the intro to the site showing a hand clutching two playing cards (an Ace and a Queen, actually); the camera pans out and the hand has been severed.

Remember, the event is not suitable for kids under 13 (or for the easily frightened). No masks or outside drinks allowed either; this doesn’t mean that you can’t dress up, though- part of the fun is dressing as weird or silly as you want to!

The logo for Halloween Horror Nights 2011 has the number 21 inside a spade symbol. The intro, crackling and filled with old-time, classy jazz, is of a hand holding two cards on a table- an Ace and a Queen. As the intro goes on, words flash across the screen: “Be careful what you wager… because nobody beats the HOUSE.” The camera pans out and the hand has been severed.

Halloween Horror Nights has risen in popularity over the years, with characters- called event icons- including a frightening Bloody Mary, Jack the Clown, the Caretaker, the Crypt Keeper (he was the first “unofficial” icon), the Director, the Storyteller, the Usher, and last year, the Fear (with the tagline Twenty Years of Fear). Halloween Horror Nights always includes a variety of scare zones, haunted houses, parades, and terrifying effects such as dim lighting and a thick fog, which hides scary people wielding chainsaws and other characters that often jump out at guests.

Genevieve Gorder
March 4 thru March 6
“The Art of Sculpting Space”
Genevieve is a judge on HGTV Design Star and has her own interior design series, Dear Genevieve.

Lisa LaPorta
March 11 thru March 13
“Design It Yourself: Easy-To-Follow Tips for Designing Your Favorite Rooms”
Lisa, designer, has appeared on the HGTV shows Designed to Sell, Designers’ Challenge, and Designing for the Sexes.

Kim Myles
“The 5 DIY Secrets That Can Transform Any Space”
March 18 thru March 20
Kim was co-host on Holiday Battle on the Block, host of Endless Yard Sale, and has her own series, Myles of Style.

Brian Patrick Flynn
“Mobile Gardens”
March 25 thru March 27
Brian writes for HGTV.com’s Design Happens blog and is in their web series Fast Fixes. He also founded the popular lifestyle website Decor Demon.

The next guest in the lineup is:

Taniya Nayak
“Adding Value to Your Home Without Breaking the Bank”
April 1 thru April 3

This, as with most Disney World Orlando events, is not to be missed! Dedicated gardeners, amateur hobbyists, and anyone who likes “pretty flowers” can get tons of useful tips and see beautiful flowers and gardens. Make a reservation today and experience greenery with a touch of Disney magic for yourself!

Banana Beach Cookout (All Day Pass):

Enjoy unlimited visits all day for the best of the grill at our all-you-care-to-eat cookout! And, when we say “cookout” we mean ALL out food and fun. Juicy burgers, flavorful veggie burgers, ball park franks, our famous chicken drumsticks, and a bountiful array of fruits, sides and desserts. Plus, all of the ice-cold Pepsi products you care to drink during your visit!
Adult ALL DAY Pass from $15.99
Child Ages 3 – 9 ALL DAY Pass from $9.99

• The Banana Beach Cookout All Day Pass allows you unlimited visits all day to the Banana Beach Restaurant
• Buffet selections include hamburgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs, chicken and fruits and more
• Beverage selections include all of the ice cold Pepsi products you can drink
• There is a 48 hour cancellation requirement policy for refunds
• RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
• Park admission is required, but not included
• Sharing and take out is prohibited
• Menu and prices are subject to change without notice

This is the main restaurant in Aquatica, and the plan makes sense if you can send the kids to grab a bite or something to drink (Pepsi products) every time they feel hungry, and with the cost of soda products inside the parks, this is of great value, specially during the summer.

The barbecue-style buffet offers bread pudding, cole slaw, potato salad and beans as sides with hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue chicken drumsticks fronting the main course side of the table. The buffet even includes a moderately sized toppings bar including lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and pickels. All meals include unlimited refills of soft drinks. For the price of an all day buffet, it is worth the money.

SeaWorld Orlando All Day Dining Deal:

PAY ONCE AND DINE ALL DAY!
Adult: $29.99 plus tax
Child (3-9): $14.99 plus tax

Make it easy! Purchase the All Day Dining Deal and Receive a Wristband to enjoy All You Care to Eat and Drink All Day at our participating restaurants.
Pay once and never have to take out your wallet for the rest of the day. To receive your wrist band, bring your e-Ticket dining voucher to the attendant at the Information Counter just inside the Main Gate.

Get up to 1 entrée platter, 1 additional side item, and 1 Fountain Soft Drink, Iced Tea OR 20 oz Aquafina each time through the line, Childs Price includes Kids Meal entrees only. Each restaurant has a variety of foods to choose from that will sure to satisfy everyone’s appetite.

Participating restaurants:
• Voyagers Smokehouse (excluding baby back ribs)
• Seaport Pizza
• Terrace Café
• Spice Mill
• Seafire Inn
• Mango Joe’s

This meal plan has received mixed reviews from our guest, but the consensus is that it would make sense if you’re going to be at the park for the whole day and eat no less than 2 meals to make it worth it. My own experience, going with my nephews, was less expensive than paying each time they felt hungry, and with the cost of soda products inside the parks, a great deal if you are going during summertime.

Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando started at the beginning of February and will run through the month of April every Saturday and select weekdays. There’s a huge concert line-up, tons of beads being given out, and, of course, a parade!

If you haven’t gone yet, you’ve already missed some awesome bands. But no fear- there are still a ton of great shows left!

The remaining concerts scheduled for the Music Plaza stage after the parades are:

Feb. 20 – KC and the Sunshine Band
Feb 26 -  Pitbull
Mar 5 -   Lynyrd Skynyrd
Mar 12 – Foreigner
Mar 18 – Neon Trees
Mar 19 – The Roots
Mar 25 – One Republic
Mar 26 – Blake Shelton
April 1 – Sean Kingston
April 2 – Ne-Yo
April 9 – Lifehouse
Apr 16 – The Beach Boys
Apr 23 – Thirty Seconds To Mars

Bands of New Orleans will be playing in the French Quarter during the parades. The remaining line-up is:

Feb 26 – John Lisi and Delta Funk
Mar 5 – Grady Champion
Mar 12 – Honey Island Swamp Band
Mar 18/19 – J.J. Callier and the Zydeco Knockouts
Mar 25/26 – Soul Project
Apr 1/2 -Lil Brian and the Zydeco Travellers
Apr 9 – Rockin Jake
Apr 16 – Beth McKee & the Sliders
Apr 23 – Daddy Mac Blues Band

“Utilizing a crack team of artists, animators, and computer whizzes, the buildings themselves will be decorates, animates, renovates, and completely re-imagined as we take a journey though our guests’ Disney memories,” writes Alan Brunn, director of the Let the Memories Begin Projections Project, on the official Disney blog. “The show celebrates our guests’ most magical experiences, from that first announcement of ‘We’re going to Disney!’, through all the fun, adventure, and family times, culminating with a spectacular finale involving thousands of photos, video, and fireworks.”

I have to admit, even though I’ve gone to Disney hundreds of times since I was too young to remember, just seeing snippets of those ‘We’re going to Disney!’ videos during Disney’s Let the Memories Begin campaign on television always gets me a bit teared up!

Make some Disney memories of your own by booking with us for an affordable, unforgettable Disney World vacation! We  offer accommodations at Disney World resorts as well, so you can get the best Disney World experience for a fraction of the cost!

The company says its reasons have to do with a restructuring, as is said in SeaWorld Parks President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Atchison‘s prepared statement: “This restructuring will allow us to operate more efficiently and better position us for long-term growth and independence. Our primary goal is to eliminate some of the duplication of responsibility that affects performance, innovation and our ability to execute quickly…It is an unfortunate, but necessary, consequence of a restructuring of this sort that positions will be lost.”

We wish those laid off the best of luck in finding new, permanent jobs- perhaps with other Orlando theme parks?