The 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is in the works, and is being held from March 3rd through May 16th this year at Disney’s Epcot theme park. It will feature topiary character sculptures (that’s sculptures made from plants!), and like every year, many gardening experts will provide gardening tips, ideas, and other information. There will be millions of flowers all over the park, hundreds of butterflies in the butterfly garden, and public demonstrations of advanced international gardening techniques. There will also be live music during the Flower Power Concert series, which features music from the 60’s and 70’s. You can also shop for gardening tools to help you make your home garden as beautiful as it can be!
The tentative concert lineup is as follows; concerts are held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 7:45 p.m.
March 5 – 7 Jose Feliciano
March 12 – 14 Paul Revere & The Raiders
March 19 – 21 David Cassidy
March 26 – 28 Starship
April 2 – 4 Tony Orlando
April 9 – 11 Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
April 16 – 18 Ricky Nelson Remembered Featuring the Nelsons
April 23 – 25 Atlanta Rhythm Section
April 30, May 1-2 Fran Cosmo; Great Singer! formerly of the band Boston
May 7 – 9 Davy Jones
May 14 – 16 Chubby Checker & The Wildcats
Everyone is still eagerly awaiting the opening of Universal Orlando’s newest addition to the Islands of Adventure theme park- the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, due to open this spring. Although the specific opening date is still not known, Universal will be putting a commercial on television during the Super Bowl. and the marketing has really begun to step up- the latest is a special map of the Wizarding World which, when printed out and held up to a webcam, comes to life in 3-D.
The map can be found and printed out on Harry Potter 3D. Detailed instructions can also be found there.
The fans are waiting not too patiently for the new world to open; attraction details were released September of last year and we’ve been hungrily waiting for more information.
Coming to Orlando for a weekend? On a budget? Maybe you’ve already visited Disney World and Universal Orlando Escape? Well, the two parks often overshadow many of Orlando’s other attractions- such as the popular sea-themed park, SeaWorld.
SeaWorld has plenty to see and do for all ages- there are rollercoasters such as the Kraken, Orlando’s only floorless coaster; the Penguin Encounter, where you can see several penguin species inside an indoor exhibit; many live animal shows that include dolphins and seals; even a motion simulator, the Wild Arctic. There is plenty to do, even more to see, and fine and casual dining for when everyone gets hungry!
Admission is fairly priced, perfect for anyone on a budget. If you buy a one day pass you can get a second day free. And for Florida residents, the Florida Fun Card has been reintroduced- buy a one day ticket and get the rest of the year free, no blackout dates, at no extra cost.
There is also the “Here’s To the Heroes” – any active duty, active reserve, ready reserve service member or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens under the program, as well as up to three dependents. He or she only need to register online at www.herosalute.com or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a Department of Defense photo ID. Also eligible are members of foreign military forces serving in the coalitions in Iraq or Afghanistan or attached to American units in the U.S. for training.
We have amazing vacation packages that include tickets to SeaWorld and hotels that are literally within walking distance- and we deliver the tickets directly to the hotels at no extra cost, meaning you can check in and go to the parks in no time. No waiting at the tickets counter means more time inside the park. Convenience, great packages, and fantastic service- all at the best price, guaranteed!
Universal Escape Orlando’s Universal Studios is celebrating its 15th annual Mardi Gras this year on Saturday nights from February 6th through April 17th, and also Sunday, February 14th and Friday, April 9th. The theme of this year’s event is “15 Years of Beads, Bands, and Good Times.” This year will have bigger and better parade floats, more beads, more music, and more New Orleans food and drinks. There are three brand new parade floats- the music float, the food float, and the New Orleans float. Other floats include the children’s float, the title float, the mythology float, the jester float, and many others.
Although Universal Studios serves alcohol to anyone 21 and older, it is very controlled and the result is a fun party that the whole family can go to- without having to worry about intoxicated partiers or child-unfriendly sights.
There are 13 amazing headliners this year:
- Sat., Feb. 6: KC and The Sunshine Band
- Sat., Feb. 13: Heart
- Sun., Feb. 14: Kool & the Gang
- Sat., Feb. 20: Blondie
- Sat., Feb. 27: Dierks Bentley
- Sat., March 6: Akon
- Sat., March 13: Aretha Franklin
- Sat., March 20: Miranda Lambert
- Sat., March 27: 3 Doors Down
- Sat., April 3: Beach Boys
- Fri., April 9: Sheryl Crow
- Sat., April 10: Flo Rida
- Sat., April 17: Chicago
Concert times are listed as follows:
February 6 – March 20, April 17 – 8:30 pm
March 27 – April 10 – 9:30 pm
We are already in the last two weeks of January and still no definite opening date for Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Inside the Islands of Adventure theme park, guests can plainly see that the construction is well underway, and should make the spring deadline. The new area is being closely watched by avid fans of the Harry Potter series, and everyone is waiting for new information to come from Universal about the island. But so far there’s been no news since September of 2009. However, we are all waiting patiently for Universal to announce a specific opening date.
For anyone living in a cave with no internet, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a brand-new island at Universal Escape’s Islands of Adventure theme park. It is a long-awaited addition to an already popular theme park and it already has a small following, with several web sites devoted to any news on the subject. It features shops, restaurants, and other famous places from the internationally read book series Harry Potter and the hit movie series of the same name. Among the buildings are the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as buildings from the nearby magical town of Hogsmeade. Stores include a joke shop selling themed pranks and a restaurant that serves butterbeer, a popular drink straight out of the books and movies. As for rides, the popular rollercoaster Dueling Dragons has begun undergoing renovations to become the themed Dragon Challenge. The children’s rollercoaster The Flying Unicorn has become Flight of the Hippogriff.
Let’s face it- theme parks can be expensive. But the biggest expense is, surprisingly, not always the admission tickets- it’s what you buy inside the parks that start hurting your wallet. I covered the largest in-park expense before- bottled water. This time I’ll comer the second biggest expense and ways to save money.
The second biggest expense, hands down, is eating at the theme parks.
It isn’t really possible- or feasible- to leave the parks and find a cheap place to dine when everyone gets hungry; and it can be all too tempting to splurge on fries and burgers at the nearest dining area. But it adds up fast, and it can be a huge black hole for your money. Fries are as much as $4 in some places, bottles of water about $2.50.
We suggest bringing snacks and even lunch to the parks- while coolers are usually not allowed at the parks, food is not prohibited; neither are drinks (except alcoholic beverages). Snacks high in protein will keep energy levels high without a resulting crash. This saves you money for a nice dinner at a restaurant, or for delicious ice cream treats throughout the hot summer day (my Disney favorite is Mickey‘s Premium Ice-Cream Bars). You can also cave in and buy some sodas without the feeling of regret one feels after a bad purchase.
Put carrots, grapes, pretzels, and some nuts into plastic baggies (one each per person). Include some granola bars as well if desired. Bring water along to counteract the saltiness of the nuts and pretzels.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is looking for employees. Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park is now hiring employees to work at the newest island, Universal recently announced. The new land will need its own crew of witches and wizards to man rides and work the restaurants and shops, among other activities- and it‘s no surprise to anyone that it may need more employees than other islands. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a massive project full of rides, shops, and restaurants- and it will certainly be a busy area, judging by the sheer amount of Harry Potter fans that are eager to come visit. Among the many roles are Production Cooks, Actors, and Sales Associates. Service Cashiers, Attraction Attendants, and many other positions are also currently available.
Hit hard in the economic slowdown last year, the new jobs are welcome in the significantly smaller Orlando, Florida economy, as Orlando depends on tourism for much of its employment and revenue. And not only is the new park creating necessary jobs, it is also attracting much-needed tourism to the city, something most Orlando dwellers have been eagerly waiting for. The park is expected to breathe new life into the Orlando area, and businesses will be able to thrive once more.
Anyone looking for a job at the new park can apply at the Universal Escape Orlando website.
Time for a peek at some photos of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter‘s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! One of our employees recently went to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and snapped a bunch of gorgeous photos of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in construction; I picked out three of my favorites for today’s post. The Hogwarts castle is going to look amazing, with beautifully crafted detail even in minor areas. Construction is going well and soon Hogwarts should be completed and perhaps visible from outside the Islands of Adventure park.
The following photos capture the majestic Hogwarts castle rising steadily among the rest of Islands of Adventure’s buildings:
We’re all waiting excitedly and a little anxiously for Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter to open! I only wish we could get some more details- such as the opening date or some official construction photos. Although reports state the date is set to be this spring, many fans are certain it will be closer to summer before the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be open to visitors.
Are you getting the most from your Orlando vacation? You’ve done your research, and looked on our main site to find out which parks are best for you and your family; perhaps you’ve decided to go to both Disney World and Universal Orlando during your stay here to maximize your experience.
Could you have picked too much to do in too few days?
Say that you picked a total of 7 theme parks in 7 days- that’s a whole week; surely that’s enough time to enjoy all four Disney World parks and both Universal Orlando theme parks, right?
Consider this: it can take a full day to experience one park. Some parks, especially Disney World parks, require two days to get the most out of them. So you might find yourself leaving some of the parks early. And what about Busch Gardens or SeaWorld? The virtual DisneyQuest? The Kennedy Space Center?
There are also tons of tourist attractions in the area that many Floridians love to visit- dinner shows (such as the popular Medieval Times), Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, hot air balloon rides, a skydiving simulator, and many other unique places to visit.
It may be best to either take a longer vacation, or break it up over several trips throughout the year- and we have amazing, affordable vacation packages that can make that possible.
All those still waiting for their acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – rejoice! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the newest addition to Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure theme park, and is sure to bring a magical world to life. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was announced in 2007, and Universal has gone to great lengths to really make the new “Island” at Island of Adventure at Universal Escape Orlando an immersive experience. There will be several new rides and stores, while other attractions are completely revamped to match the new, unbelievable experience:
Hogsmeade, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s central area, which has the same spellbinding spirit as the Hogsmeade straight out of the Harry Potter books and movies; the entrance is designed to emulate the Hogwarts Express entering Hogsmeade station
Zonko’s, a fantastic joke shop
Honeydukes, a sweets store with delicious chocolates and candy straight from the Harry Potter universe
The Three Broomsticks, where visitors can stop and get a delightfully British bite to eat, or some Butterbeer if they’re thirsty
The Owlery, an actual US post office that postmarks letters as sent from Hogsmeade
Ollivanders, where kids and adults alike can choose their very own wands – or, rather, be chosen by their own wands. “The wand chooses the wizard,” after all
Dervish and Banges, a magical equipment shop, where anything needed for a day in a magical world can be found
Dragon Challenge, an intense two-track roller coaster that lets visitors experience the dragon challenge from the Triwizard Tournament (Previously “Dueling Dragons”)
Flight of the Hippogriff, a smaller-scale roller coaster that isn’t quite as intense as the Dragon Challenge, Flight of the Hippogriff takes passengers through Hogwarts (Previously “The Flying Unicorn“)
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, an attraction that takes visitors through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods, sure to impress even the Freds and Georges who have “seen it all”
Hogwarts Castle, a replica of the world famous school itself
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is scheduled to open Spring 2010.
This new “Island” on Islands of Adventure at Universal Escape Orlando will surely be the most popular of all and hotels near Universal Escape Orlando are already filling up for the grand opening (and remember: once availability runs low, prices go up), so take advantage of our still low prices while they last.
A regular admission to Islands of Adventure (Universal 1 day base ticket) is all that is needed to visit the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
will feature topiary character sculptures (that’s sculptures made from plants!), and like every year, many gardening experts will provide gardening tips, ideas, and other information. There will be millions of flowers all over the park, hundreds of butterflies in the butterfly garden, and public demonstrations of advanced international gardening techniques. There will also be live music during the Flower Power Concert series, which features music from the 60’s and 70’s. You can also shop for gardening tools to help you make your home garden as beautiful as it can be!
