The National 9/11 Flag Stitching

Date: Friday, February 18, 2011
Stitching: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Flag Raising: 4:00 p.m.

On February 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., New York City firefighters will assist local heroes and visitors in a historic stitching ceremony to help sew the Florida restorative patch, which features a flag that has flown over Kennedy Space Center, to The National 9/11 Flag. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is proud to host the official Stitching Restoration for the state of Florida.
Destroyed in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001 and stitched back together seven years later by tornado survivors in Greensburg, Kansas, The National 9/11 Flag is a living testament to the resilience and compassion of the American people. It is the modern day version of The Star Spangled Banner. The New York Says Thank You Foundation is currently taking The National 9/11 Flag on a journey across America where local service heroes in all 50 states will be given the historic privilege of stitching the flag back to its original 13-stripe format using pieces of fabric from American flags destined for retirement in each state.

Once the flag is restored and made whole again by the 10th Year Anniversary of 9/11, The National 9/11 Flag will become a part of the permanent collection of the National September 11 Memorial Museum being built at the World Trade Cente

Universal Orlando Announces Mardi Gras Concert Line-up!

It is the biggest, best, party in the country – and Universal Orlando Resort brings it straight from New Orleans to you this February 12 through April 23.

Nationally renowned musical acts combine with an authentic Mardi Gras parade, dozens of colorfully costumed performers, authentic Cajun cooking, and hand-picked New Orleans bands to capture the look, feel and fun of New Orleans – all inside Universal Studios Florida.

Universal Orlando has been creating its special Mardi Gras celebration for more than 15 years – bringing the perfect combination of the Big Easy and spectacular theme park entertainment to its guests all for the price of regular admission.

“If you can’t be in New Orleans or if you can’t get enough of Mardi Gras, then Universal Orlando is the place to be,” said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment for Universal Orlando Resort. “We bring all of what makes Mardi Gras great together with national-level musical artists to create a family-friendly celebration that fills the entire theme park.”

This year’s special Mardi Gras concert line-up features some of the biggest names in Rock, Country, Pop and R&B. Together, the headliners have had more than 100 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and more than 20 Grammy nominations. Performers include Pitbull, also known as “Mr. 305,” who will perform songs from his hit album, “Rebelution,” Neon Trees, who will perform their hit “Animal,” One Republic and country-super-star Blake Shelton. Also performing will be Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beach Boys and Ne-Yo. For a complete list of this year’s performers and dates, see below.

Along with top-name talent comes the world-famous parade - straight from the streets of New Orleans. One-dozen elaborate, hand-crafted floats designed and built by Blaine Kern Artists – the same company that creates floats for New Orleans Mardi Gras – will make their way through the streets of Universal Studios along with dozens of colorfully costumed performers and hundreds of float riders – all of whom throw beads to eager guests. The parade, with its Fire, Air, Water, Earth theme, also features music and a nightly King and Queen of Mardi Gras.

Nearby, in the Universal Studios “French Quarter Courtyard,” the celebration continues. This area will feature New Orleans-inspired food creations by Universal’s chefs – including jambalaya, Po Boy sandwiches and more. And nearly one-dozen hand-picked, authentic New Orleans bands will perform the best of The Big Easy’s Blues, Jazz and Zydeco.

To Pucrchase tickets to Universal Orlando theme park tickets, please click here!

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS’ MARDI GRAS CONCERT SERIES

2011 MARDI GRAS TALENT LINE-UP

Headliners (performing in the Music Plaza)

Saturday, February 12          Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Saturday, February 19          The B-52s

Sunday, February 20            KC & The Sunshine Band

Saturday, February 26          Pitbull

Saturday, March 5                Lynyrd Skynyrd

Saturday, March 12              Foreigner

Friday, March 18                 Neon Trees

Saturday, March 19             Thirty Seconds To Mars

Friday, March 25                 OneRepublic

Saturday, March 26              Blake Shelton

Friday, April 1                      Sean Kingston

Saturday, April 2                  Ne-Yo

Saturday, April 9                  Lifehouse

Saturday, April 16                The Beach Boys

Saturday, April 23                To Be Announced

*Mardi Gras is included as part of regular admission to Universal Studios.

Merry Christmas from the KGS Staff Rock Band!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Disney Introduces New "Duffy the Disney Bear" Character

Disney Parks introduced a new character, Duffy the Disney Bear.

Duffy who has been a fixture at Tokyo DisneySea for more than six years, is a teddy bear belonging to Mickey Mouse. He even resembles his owner. Duffy's face is shaped like Mickey's, he has Mickey heads on his paws and he has a very unique birthmark on his hip.

You can meet Duffy and have your picture taken with him, as well as purchase Duffys dressed up in holiday attire for Christmas, Easter and other special occasions, such as birthdays and graduations.  You can snack on special Duffy-themed treats, and the Kidcot mask program at Epcot will change to a unique Duffy mask that you can take from country to country to color, decorate and receive Duffy stamps.

Happy Halloween From the KGS Staff!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Discovery Cove adds The Grand Reef in 2011

ORLANDO, Fla. (October 13, 2010) -- Discovery Cove, the ultimate, all-inclusive tropical retreat where guests swim with dolphins, takes immersion to new depths when it opens an all-new area -- The Grand Reef -- in June 2011.

The new reef features multiple levels of exploration, from shallow waters to deeper swimming adventures, from white sandy beaches and hammocks swaying in the breeze, to snorkeling among canyons inspired by reefs from around the world.

“The Grand Reef takes Discovery Cove’s world-class animal encounters to an all new level -- several, actually,” said Stewart Clark, the park’s vice president. “It’s what our guests expect from us, unforgettable connections with the sea and making memories that will last forever.  This could only be created by Discovery Cove.”

Visitors just need to get their feet wet to enjoy The Grand Reef, or they can choose to go deep.  They can step into tranquil, shallow waters to discover a below-the-surface world teeming with sea life, or they can snorkel in deeper waters as thousands of exotic fish and graceful rays swim around them.

Surprises abound. Families can seek discoveries along the water’s edge or cross a bridge to see sharks swimming below. They’ll play hide-and-seek with thousands of beautiful fish, from small colorful wrasses to large spotted eagle rays. Further out in the reef, stunning habitats create the feeling of swimming right alongside venomous lionfish and sharp-toothed reef sharks, each safely behind glass. Guests can take paths and bridges to the reef’s islands and hidden grottos as they delve into the reef from above, around and below.

Those looking for an even more exhilarating adventure can take part in The Grand Reef’s innovative experience, SeaVenture, an underwater walking tour. Wearing dive helmets, guests find up-close excitement around every corner, each step yielding a new discovery. They’ll come across lionfish and sharks (safely behind massive panoramic windows), one-on-one touches with unique animals and schools of fish and gentle rays swimming by. SeaVenture is a once-in-a-lifetime, undersea experience available for a nominal fee.

The Grand Reef is the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation, a fully immersive tropical escape, new to discover in Orlando in 2011.

Discovery Cove is a full-day experience where guests can swim with dolphins, hand-feed exotic birds, snorkel through beautiful fresh and salt water lagoons and relax on pristine, white-sand beaches. In addition to the park’s one-of-a-kind animal interactions and lush natural beauty, Discovery Cove delivers superlative, personalized service, and unlimited access to an unparalleled array of first-class amenities.

Discovery Cove amenities include meals, snacks and beverages throughout the day’s adventures, towels, wet suits and swim gear, plus a pass for unlimited admission* to either SeaWorld or Aquatica in Orlando or Busch Gardens in Tampa to be used surrounding a Discovery Cove visit. Guests can upgrade to the Ultimate package which includes admission to all three sister parks for an additional fee. Advanced reservations are required.

Seasonal rates for Discovery Cove’s Dolphin Swim Day Resort Package start at $199 (rates for Day Resort Package without dolphin swim experience and guests ages 3-5 start at $129).  Prices vary seasonally.

*SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens passes must be used consecutively with the Discovery Cove visit ― either before, after, or a combination of both for a period of 14 days.

A New Roller Coaster at Busch Gardens is Coming Soon!

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