Michael Douglas looked happy and on his way to recovery last Wednesday when he posed with wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and their kids, Dylan and Carys, in front of the Epcot Center in Disney World. The family also made a trip to Universal’s Islands of Adventure park and enjoyed a ride on the Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter on Saturday. The family also toured Hogwarts Castle and sampled some Butterbeer and it seems that Michael is once again enjoying life after finishing his treatment for cancer last month.
Also in town at present are newlyweds Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green who are captured below taking their own photo!
Christmas for some folks just isn’t the same without friends, family and the cold snowy weather blowing in the breeze. For other folks, those are all the reasons that they actually want to get away! That’s why Central Florida is the perfect place to visit during the holidays… because Orlando has a few tricks up its sleeve.
If you need snow and ice to feel like it’s the holidays, Orlando has you covered. Every holiday season Gaylord Palms brings their ICE! show to the Orlando / Kissimmee area and it literally is a winter wonderland of snow and ice.
There’s also Christmas caroling at Walt Disney World’s Epcot and the Singing Christmas Trees (shown above) will dazzle you with their beautiful display 250,000 lights as one of Central Florida’s most loved and spectacular traditions continue at First Baptist Church Orlando.
If you wander over to Universal Orlando you’ll be able to see Grinchmas at Islands of Adventure while Macy’s Holiday Parade is always popular at Universal Studios. From the moment you arrive at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, you’ll feel a wave of holiday spirit splash over you. Carols fill the air, a sparkling sea of trees lights up the water and skaters dance on ice. Here in the wintery, watery wonderland, you can journey to the North Pole on The Polar Express Experience, share a smile with a sea lion, and enjoy stunning live shows inspired by the natural world. With everything from elves to Elmo, and from Santa to Shamu, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is where holiday memories are made.
The “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade” celebrates the festive moods of the season with dancing snowflakes, marching toy soldiers, horse-drawn sleighs, enchanting floats and spirited characters all proceeding through the streets of the theme park in a merry and melodic cavalcade. Guests can get in the spirit by enjoying the “jaw dropping” spectacle of 200,000 twinkling white LED lights that adorn Cinderella Castle, as Disney’s newest holiday tradition, Castle Dreamlights and during “Holiday Wishes-Celebrate the Spirit of the Season,” the radiant castle beams brightly as the evening is magically capped with festive fireworks orchestrated to classic holiday tunes.
No holiday celebration would be complete without snow — even in Florida, where the weather outside is hardly frightful. At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party there is a 100 percent chance of flurries on Main Street, U.S.A each party night. And just in case the sight causes a chill: complimentary hot cocoa and cookies are served as the perfect trimming for a not-to-miss outing for the whole family.
Over at Epcot you can celebrate the holiday season with the characters, legends and lore from around the globe. Delight in wondrous tales and customs while experiencing the traditions of Walt Disney World® Resort. The signature events include a breathtaking Candlelight Processional and a special holiday-themed finale to the dazzling IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
Ongoing holiday celebrations throughout the World Showcase featuring festive food, fun and entertainment from a variety of exciting cultures worldwide as well as the Nightly Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens Theatre. This is your chance to revel in the joy of the season as you listen to an unforgettable retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and mass choir.
There’s a lot going on during Christmas in Orlando and here’s one final place you must visit; Celebration Town center for their annual “Now Snowing” event. The event features strolling Charles Dickens Carolers, photos with Santa, the Celebration Express, horse drawn carriage rides, and nightly snowfall.
So why not leave home this Christmas? If you’re looking for a real “Home Away From Home” with or without friends or family, then be sure to check out Florida Leisure Vacation Homes as they have all the trimmings of Christmas with your very own Christmas tree set up in your rental home.
Due to a few technical issues the Florida Leisure newsletter hasn’t hit your mailbox yet so I’m going to post a link to it here so you can actually view it online. Hopefully normal service will resume soon and it will be dropping through your mailbox as it always has!
And if you’re not already receiving our regular FREE monthly printed newsletter through your mailbox, sign up here and we’ll make sure you get your copy!
We’re getting into the holiday mood here at Florida Leisure and today sees the launch of our new Orlando Holiday Sweepstakes… you chance to win a 3 night stay in one of 3 or 4 bedroom vacation homes here in the vacation capital of the world.
To enter, all you need to do is visit www.Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure and click on “Like”. After that, hit the “Sweepstakes” button and enter your email details and birth date and you’re done. If you’re younger than 18 years of age, then I’m sorry but you’ll have to wait a little while longer to be able to enter. The Holiday Sweepstakes runs from noon today through to 9pm on Christmas Day!
It promises to be a lot of fun but remember, you need to be at least 18 years of age, click “LIKE” on Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure and enter the sweepstakes via the “SWEEPSTAKES” tab.
This week sees the start of “Celebrate Christmas at Sea World.” From November 26, 2010 through January 2nd, 2011, Sea World will feature spectacular festivities and unforgettable experiences for you and your entire family.
Among this year Sea World Christmas celebrations include: Shamu Christmas Miracles, Clyde and Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas, Sesame Stree Christmas, Winter Wonderland on Ice, and a grand finale Holiday Fireworks and Fountain Show “Holiday Reflections”. Other great attractions included in the Christmas Sea World Celebrations are The Polar Express Experience and Sea of Trees.
EVENT OVERVIEW
The moment you arrive at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, you’ll feel a wave of holiday spirit splash over you. Carols fill the air, a sparkling sea of trees lights up the water and skaters dance on ice. Here in the wintery, watery wonderland, you can journey to the North Pole on The Polar Express Experience, share a smile with a sea lion, and enjoy stunning live shows inspired by the natural world. With everything from elves to Elmo, and from Santa to Shamu, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is where holiday memories are made.
THE MAKAHIKI CHRISTMAS LUAU
Location: SeaFire Inn at The Waterfront
SeaWorld has created a Polynesian celebration of the season complete with island music, incredible entertainment and a feast that could feed all of Santa’s elves (and the reindeer, too). It’s a truly unique way to see the holiday that includes a fire knife dance to light up the night, island costumes full of color and imagination, and a luau dinner the likes of which you’ve never seen. It’s a festival of culture, community and Christmas – celebrated in true SeaWorld spirit.
SHAMU CHRISTMAS… MIRACLES
Location: Shamu Stadium
SeaWorld invites you to experience the power and beauty of our Shamu family in an all-new nighttime holiday show: Shamu Christmas… Miracles. Thrilling holiday music and killer whales soar through the air in a story of reflection and understanding…of peace and friendship…of the everyday miracles that surround us all year long. From the sweeping vocal majesty of the angelic choir to the heart-pounding excitement you’ve come to expect from the prince of the deep, this performance will take you and your family on a stirring voyage into the heart of the holidays.
THE POLAR EXPRESS EXPERIENCE
Location: Wild Arctic
Now boarding! It’s a wondrous journey to the North Pole aboard the legendary Polar Express. The beloved holiday classic comes to life as you and your family are immersed in the heart-warming story of a young boy’s thrilling ride into an enchanted world. The sights, sounds, and scents of the season surround you. From the moment the conductor calls “all aboard” to your arrival at the North Pole (where you’ll meet Santa Claus himself), The Polar Express Experience promises to create an unforgettable holiday memory.
A SESAME STREET CHRISTMAS
Location: Seaport Theatre at The Waterfront
Everybody’s Sesame Street® friends have come to SeaWorld for a festive and fun musical celebration! The holidays have arrived, but Abby Cadabby doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about… she’s never heard of Christmas. Through dance, laughter and interactive sing-a-longs, Elmo, Telly Monster and the rest of her Sesame Street friends teach Abby what Christmas means to them. Your little elves will be smiling all the way home.
CLYDE AND SEAMORE’S COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
Location: Sea Lion & Otter Stadium
Santa’s helpers, Clyde and Seamore, are bringing copious amounts of comedy to Christmas this year. Our loveable sea lions, along with a few mischievous otters and a wintery walrus or two, invite you and yours to their fun-filled holiday celebration. It doesn’t get more holly or jolly than this.
WINTER WONDERLAND ON ICE
Location: Bayside Stadium
Christmas comes to life on a stage of ice, jewels and light as skaters dazzle and delight in this show-stopping, ice skating extravaganza. The other stars of the show are the towering fountains of water dancing on the lake and fireworks that light up the night sky after the last ice show of the evening. It’s a don’t-miss experience for the holidays that will take your breath away.
SEA OF TREES
Location: All Around the Lake
Take a walk through around our winter, water wonderland and immerse yourself in a sea of holiday trees. Our glistening forest sparkles to music and lights up the water… and, your eyes. As the lights literally dance to holiday classics, your heart will soar with wonder and delight at this truly awe-inspiring Christmas treat.
HOLIDAY REFLECTIONS: FIREWORKS AND FOUNTAINS FINALE
SeaWorld celebrates the season with soaring fountains, dazzling lights, and festive fireworks, choreographed to joyous holiday musical favorites. Experience a wondrous SeaWorld Christmas connection that lights the night.
VILLAGE SQUARE
The Village Square is the welcome area to SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, where towering, illuminated trees shine as brightly as our guests’ faces. Picturesque bakery and candy shops fill the air with scents of the season that tempt you with delicious holiday treats. This is your window into our wonderland.
WATERFRONT AREA
Christmas brings out the child in all of us. That’s probably why everyone feels right at home at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, where kids can enjoy all the joy of the holidays along with favorites Clyde and Seamore, Sesame Street and more! Gather the entire family for lunch with Santa at SeaFire Inn, then enjoy a traditional holiday menu for dinner at Sharks Underwater Grill.
BAYSIDE & CHRISTMAS MARKET
‘Tis the season for being together. Feel the warmth of family as you admire festive ice dancers gliding merrily across the ice, then visit the bustling Christmas Market. You’ll find something special for that special someone among unique artisans and culinary delights. There’s no cooler place at SeaWorld.
SHOPPING:
The park is filled with hidden experiences you won’t want to miss. Keep your eye out for collectible ornaments and figurines located in the Waterfront at Under the Sun. Find licensed Polar Express items, stockings and holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list in the Wild Arctic gift shop.
Make your Holiday cards truly unique by taking your family photo in front of a life-sized Polar Express train car or on the bridge amongst the Sea of Trees. And no Christmas is complete without a picture taken with Santa in the North Pole (at Wild Arctic).
Memories are made, and captured, at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration… make sure you visit this holiday season. Here’s a preview video:
Work will soon begin on a completely re-imagined Pleasure Island and other one-of-a-kind experiences as Walt Disney World Resort continues to bring new stories to life at Downtown Disney. Combined, the projects are expected to create an estimated 1,200 new jobs over the next three years.
“We have made great progress since first announcing our vision to bring new shopping, dining and entertainment experiences to Downtown Disney, many of which can’t be found anywhere else and have already become guest favorites,” said Keith Bradford, vice president of Downtown Disney. “We look forward to providing even more ways for our guests to enjoy Downtown Disney, while at the same time creating new jobs for Central Floridians.”
A nostalgic yet modern take on an early 20th century port city and amusement pier will evolve Pleasure Island into “Hyperion Wharf.” By day, the bustling port district will draw guests in with its stylish boutiques and innovative restaurants and by night, thousands of lights will transform the area into an electric wonderland.
Taking its name from Hyperion, the Greek god of light, as well as the street on which Walt Disney built his first major animation studio, the wharf district also will feature a relaxing lakeside park and enhanced pedestrian walkways. Its diverse eateries will expand dining availability at Downtown Disney by more than 25 percent.
“Hyperion Wharf will offer guests of all ages a vibrant atmosphere and new experiences that can be enjoyed by day or by night,” said Bradford. “Whether looking for a great place to dine with the whole family or a place to relax and enjoy live music, Hyperion Wharf will provide the perfect setting for guests to make new memories with us.”
In addition to the new wharf district, numerous other projects are underway at Downtown Disney, including:
· an extensive renovation of Lego Imagination Center, which will increase its overall footprint by nearly 3,500 square-feet and add new Lego exterior models featuring scenes from classic Disney movies;
· enhancements at AMC that will take the movie-going experience at Downtown Disney to the next level with new digital technology, a paradigm-shifting Concession Stand of the Future and Florida’s first Fork & Screen Theater;
· numerous new or renovated retail shops and merchandise vignettes, as well as additional atmosphere entertainment, throughout Downtown Disney.
Combined, these projects are expected to create an estimated 600 construction jobs, 500 restaurant, retail and entertainment jobs and support 100 vendor and supplier jobs.
Other recent additions to Downtown Disney include:
· new entertainment, such as the Characters in Flight tethered balloon ride, the ETX theater at AMC and an enhanced outdoor performance area;
· unique shopping experiences like D Street, littlemissmatched, RIDEMAKERZ,
Tren-D and Disney’s Design-a-Tee;
· immersive dining, like T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure, Paradiso 37 and the recently opened Pollo Campero and Fresh A-Peel, a new quick-service restaurant combining authentic Latin-style chicken and side dishes, as well as fresh, healthy creations such as salads, wraps and gluten-free desserts.
Wow! It’s been a week since I last posted to this blog and having been in the habit of writing something everyday it feels a little weird not to have contributed in so long. So where have I been?
Last week I attended a marketing conference in the lovely city of Baltimore. I’ll write more about it later but having gone there expecting rain, dull and cloudy weather, not to mention cold, I was very pleasantly surprised. The weather was wonderful and the whole 5 days were a combination of hard work, catching up with old friends, learning new things and enjoying a fabulous city.
So, what’s been going on in Orlando while I’ve been away?
Over at Disney the Pollo Campero restaurant opened at Downtown Disney. It shares the space with Fresh A-Peel and Babycakes NYC. Pollo Campero features Latin-flavored chicken, Fresh A-Peel offers salads, wraps and all natural burgers and hot dogs and Babycakes NYC is a vegan bakery.
At Epcot Disney has taken Duffy the Disney Bear to new heights as guests at the park can now check out the 20-foot-tall Christmas tree made from 1,200 stuffed Duffy bears. The tree starts Disney cast members’ annual collection for Toys for Tots. Topping the “Cuddliest Christmas Tree” with a giant red bow at the ceremony were members of the U.S. Marine Corps, Walt Disney World Ambassador Clay Shoemaker and Walt Disney World VoluntEARS.
Each year, Walt Disney World VoluntEARS donate thousands of hours of service and tens of thousands of toys to Toys for Tots – all with the goal of making the holidays brighter for deserving children throughout Central Florida. For the next few weeks, cast members will play the role of Santa’s helpers by collecting new toys for the annual toy drive, which will be added to the 1,200 Duffy bears.
At the Children’s Miracle Network Classic held at Disney’s Magnolia course last on Sunday, Robert Garrigus shot an 8-under 64 to win allowing him to keep his PGA TOUR card and atoning for his colossal collapse earlier this year at Memphis. He finished at 21 under, three shots clear of Roland Thatcher for his first tour victory.
Over at SeaWorld, it was announced that its popular killer-whale show ‘Believe’ will be replaced early next year. Park officials confirmed that the new show, which has yet to be named, will debut in the spring of 2011 at all three of the SeaWorld venues.
There’s nothing to report from Universal so it seems it was a relatively normal week here in ‘O’ Town.
Following on from last weeks Dolphin VIP Up-Close Tour is the Penguin version! I was fortunate to be able to do both tours in the same day and this was the second time I’d been on the penguin tour.
The tour has been updated a little with the starting point being different as you walk through the penguin encounter before then go behind the scenes and learning a lot more about the life of a Sea World trainer.
The tour is your chance to find out about life in the Antarctic and the penguins lack of fear around human beings. Inside the penguin’s habitat is a chilly atmosphere with the air temperature being 30 degrees while the water they swim around in is 45 degrees. Also, you probably never thought that snow could fall in Florida but here’s a place where it falls every day as nearly 6,000 pounds falls down on the habitat.
You’ll have a lot of fun watching and learning about the penguins and it’s really a great tour with an added bonus or two thrown in. The Florida Leisure concierge would be happy to help book a tour for you and your family next time you are in Orlando.
Hall of Famer and 2003 Disney champion Vijay Singh returns to Disney for the first time in four years at this week’s Children’s Miracle Network Classic, Nov. 11-14, joined by two more members of the U.S. Ryder Cup squad.
Rickie Fowler, who made Ryder Cup history as the first PGA Tour rookie to land a U.S. roster berth, was announced last week by tournament officials and by the time the entry window closed Stewart Cink and Jeff Overton also appeared on the 124-man list.
Stephen Ames, Disney’s champion in two of the past three years, will sit out this edition with back problems that flared up two weeks ago in Las Vegas. Doctors have advised him to spend the rest of the year healing.
Four other former champions will make their returns – Davis Love III (2008), Joe Durant (2006), Ryan Palmer (2004) and Jeff Maggert (1993).
The entry list also features three winners from the Fall Series’ other four events. Jonathan Byrd, whose playoff ace ended the Las Vegas event, joined the field along with Rocco Mediate (Frys.com Open) and Heath Slocum (McGladrey Classic).
A strong contingent of Orlando-based pros includes Chris DiMarco, Brian Gay, J.B. Holmes, Charles Howell, Lee Janzen and Chris Couch. Golf Channel’s Big Break Disney Golf winner Mike Perez received sponsor’s exemptions and will now compete against his brother, Pat Perez, ranked 103rd on the money list.
“The DiMarco family has long been a part of the Disney Classic, dating back to Chris’s father, Rich, who played in the Pro-Am, and continues to this day with Chris and his kids participating in the traditional father-child event here at Disney,” said tournament chairman Kevin Weickel. “Mike Perez obviously knows our course well after winning Big Break Disney Golf, and we look forward to seeing his dream come true of playing in a PGA TOUR event here at Disney.”
The two-day pro-am field, which will compete the Thursday and Friday of tournament week, is headlined by Julius “Dr. J’’ Erving, White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, San Francisco Giants outfielder Aaron Rowand and Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena and pitcher James Shields.
Once again, guests also will have the opportunity to experience the Wine & Dine Walk, throughout the back nine of Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course. Patterned after the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, five specialty locations will offer culinary pairings of tapas-sized appetizers, entrees, desserts and wines especially for the event.
Tickets for individual rounds ($10), badges for Classic week ($20) and a new one-day Wine & Dine ticket ($45) are available at www.ChildrensMiracleNetworkClassic.com or through www.ticketmaster.com. The new Wine & Dine ticket is good for five entrees, one at each location, and one beverage, along the back nine of the Magnolia Golf Course. Net proceeds go to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, including the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in Orlando, and Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville.
