Saturday, December 29, 2012


WALT DISNEY WORLD NEWS:
The New Fantasyland Expansion

New Fantasyland is NOW OPEN—for the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom park, offering more immersive enchantment and interactive experiences! The expansion presents more Disney characters and stories—in rich detail—in 2 new themed areas:
  • Enchanted Forest
  • Storybook Circus
More additions of fun will continue to be revealed through 2014. Upon completion, Fantasyland will nearly double in size—so you can look forward to extensive additions of fun for the entire family.
Enchanted Forest – Now Open
Meet some favorite Disney Characters in Enchanted Forest, where you'll be immersed in the popular Disney films The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Here, you can venture through lush landscapes, discovering roaring waterfalls and royal castles along the way.
Enchanted Forest attractions and experiences include:
  • Under the Sea~Journey of the Little Mermaid: Enter Prince Eric's castle, board a giant clamshell and rock out on this new musical attraction
  • Be Our Guest Restaurant: Feast in one of 3 incredible dining rooms in the middle of Beast's Castle
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle: Become part of a lively retelling of the "tale as old as time," hosted by Belle and Lumière
  • Ariel's Grotto: Take photos and get autographs with everyone's favorite undersea princess
Storybook Circus – Now Open
Step right up to the classic American circus! Inspired by the Disney animated feature Dumbo, Storybook Circus transports Guests to another era—a period in time when the colorful big-top tents attracted audiences from far and wide with astonishing stunts, majestic animals and spectacular entertainment.
Delight in the following Storybook Circus attractions:
  • The Barnstormer: Take to the sky with The Great Goofini on spiraling stunt plane adventure high above the Storybook Circus grounds.
  • Dumbo The Flying Elephant: Soar high above Storybook Circus with Dumbo on a ride that puts a new twist on an old favorite—and offers twice the fun!
  • Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station: Adjacent to the Fantasyland Train Station and area restrooms is the Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station, a circus-themed water play area where Guests can enjoy cooling refreshment.
  • Fantasyland Station: Delight in the newest addition to Walt Disney World Railroad!
With multicolored circus tents, lively characters and other nods to Dumbo— Storybook Circus is designed to make you feel like you're a part of this cherished film.
Future Fun in New Fantasyland
Beyond 2012, you can look forward to more additions of fun in New Fantasyland, including:
  • Princess Fairytale Hall: Scheduled to open in 2013, this elegant royal court is home to Disney princesses who are ready to meet their subjects
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: Embark on an exhilarating journey inspired by the classic Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

SeaWorld Orlando’s biggest-ever attraction expansion, opening spring 2013.


SEAWORLD NEWS:
Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin will be SeaWorld Orlando’s biggest-ever attraction expansion, opening spring 2013.
   Through the years, SeaWorld Orlando has taken you to far-flung corners of the globe, immersing you in exotic places and introducing them to unique worlds of adventure. But no journey is bigger -- or as incredible -- as the one to come in 2013. It’s a voyage to the bottom-of-the-world, to the coldest and windiest continent, to a place of ice more than 9,000 feet thick. It’s a journey to Antarctica and to the empire of the penguin.
   You’ll be surrounded by the sights, sounds and awesome encounters found in this frozen place, embarking on a one-of-a-kind ride and an incredible family adventure. You’ll experience the mystery and wonder of life on the ice through the eyes of a penguin, sensing the beauty and drama of their sometimes-dangerous habitat. Antarctica – Empire of the Penguin combines closer-than-ever animal connections with state-of-the-art interactive ride technologies for adventures that are different each time. And, it’s safe to say Antarctica – Empire of the Penguin will be the coldest theme park attraction in the world!
A year-and-a-half from opening at SeaWorld Orlando, details are few. For now, SeaWorld Orlando’s Antarctica will stay as mysterious as its namesake continent.
“Only SeaWorld and its parks can take you on these journeys or bring these experiences to life,” said Orlando Parks President, Terry Prather. “We’re excited about what the future holds for our parks and for our fans.” 

"Transformers" movie franchise is coming to Universal's theme park in Orlando in the summer of 2013.


UNIVERSAL NEWS:
     The popular 3-D ride based on the "Transformers" movie franchise is coming to Universal's theme park in Orlando in the summer of 2013.  

    "Transformers: The Ride—3D" opened this past May at Universal Studios Hollywood and debuted in December 2011 at Universal Studios Singapore. The ride in Orlando will be the same as the other two.
     "This is a wildly popular ride," said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, in a phone interview. "It's technologically groundbreaking and tremendously innovative, experimentally immersive and exciting in a way like no other."
    Michael Bay, director of the three hit "Transformers" movies, worked as a creative consultant on the ride, and the movie's actors provided voice talent for the ride as well. But the attraction offers a story line not found in the films.
"You travel this great journey with these characters in the middle of this epic battle that takes place in city streets," said Woodbury.
   The attraction puts riders inside a 12-person vehicle designed to look like a nimble new Transformer named Evac, who goes on a breakneck chase from the headquarters of the top-secret NEST agency through city streets, across rooftops and even inside an office building on the hunt for a missing shard of the AllSpark, the powerful Transformers artifact.
The action is digitally projected on 14 screens among real-world sets that the ride vehicles move into and past, mixing computer-generated fantasy with reality.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Get Ready For Grinchmas™ Only At Universal's Islands Of Adventure


Get Ready For Grinchmas™
Only At Universal's Islands Of Adventure

This holiday season, Universal's Islands of Adventure will transform Seuss Landing™ into the whimsical world of Grinchmas! It's a wintry wonderland sure to delight Dr. Seuss fans of all ages with festive storybook décor around every corner including the Wonky Tree Lot.

GRINCHMAS™ WHOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
Ornament_IOA_LiveShow
The centerpiece of the celebration is a heartwarming live show starring The Grinch featuring music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller. See characters come to life before your eyes both onstage and off, as Whos from Who-ville stroll through Seuss Landing, ready to say hello and spread good cheer.







MEET THE GRINCH

Ornament_IOA_MeetGrinch

Meet the Grinch in Person!

Get an autograph, shake his hand, or have your photo taken with the mean, green one himself for a one-of-a-kind holiday memento!

See your park map for times.


Legoland Florida's Christmas Bricktacular


Holiday festivities on Saturdays and Sundays in December during Christmas Bricktacular will feature tons of family fun:

  • LEGO® Christmas Tree: The more than 30-foot-tall LEGO Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000 forest green LEGO and DUPLO® bricks provides the perfect place for every holiday family photo. Through Dec. 25, a special family will be chosen to help light the Bricktacular tree each night. The season's first official tree lighting ceremony will be held Nov. 29 at 5pm with a special master of ceremonies.

  • LEGO Model Build Activity: What LEGO lover doesn’t want a chance to build while at Central Florida’s newest theme park featuring massive creations of the world’s most beloved toy? Help LEGOLAND Florida build a LEGO Christmas Tree in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza that will stand over 20 foot tall when completed.

  • LEGO Santa Scavenger Hunt: Help find Santa in this fun-filled holiday scavenger hunt. The whole family can enjoy searching for Santa in the over 30 million LEGO bricks that make up Miniland USA. One lucky hunter each day will receive a prize from the daily drawing.

  • LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier: Guests will have meet and greet opportunities with LEGOLAND Florida’s special holiday friends, LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier.

  • Holiday Festivities and Entertainment: Festive decorations and sounds of the season will fill the entrance of the park and a variety of holiday entertainment will take place throughout the weekend to delight guests of all ages.

  • Holiday Shopping: LEGOLAND Florida is the best place to celebrate the season and pick up the holiday gifts that are on every child’s wish list – LEGO! With six specialty stores, the park is proud to offer a unique and often hard to find selection of LEGO products and more.