Love is in the air and with a romantic overlay for Valentine’s month, a new segment of the “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” projection show on Cinderella Castle is debuting for Walt Disney World Resort guests. For the first half of Valentine’s month, until Feb. 15, some of the most romantic moments in Disney animation will inspire the special show. The iconic castle in Magic Kingdom will be covered in red roses for one sequence and turned into a beautiful, star-filled sky for another. During part of the show, spectacular stained-glass windows will grace the façades, depicting the stories of Cinderella, Snow White and Belle. “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” is a part of Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” in 2012.
Also in town today was entertainer Paula Abdul who posed with Minnie Mouse at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park . For the day, Minnie Mouse wore her special “Valentine’s Day” dress, with white hearts replacing her usual white polka dots.
Meanwhile over at SeaWorld, there was some love at the Shamu show….
For more than five decades, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has set the industry’s standard for delivering unforgettable entertainment experiences, with Broadway-style stage spectaculars like KaTonga: Musical Tales From the Jungle and innovative ice shows like World Rhythms on Ice.Yesterday, we got the chance to preview the new Iceploration show that Busch hopes will build on that tradition and introduce audiences to the next generation of ice shows.
Starting today, February 2, a cast of 20 brings to life an all-new adventure filled with world-class skaters, more than 75 original costumes, amazing aerial performances, master puppetry and live animal stars.
“The grand scale of this show sets a new standard of entertainment that further solidifies Busch Gardens as one of Florida’s premier theme parks,” said Busch Gardens Park President Jim Dean. “Iceploration reintroduces the ice show to our most loyal fans while bringing together the things Busch Gardens stage productions do best: world-class entertainment with top-notch skaters, amazing costumes, original music, larger-than-life puppets and even animal stars.”
Iceploration, with shows daily in the Moroccan Palace, inspires audiences to “explore the world” on a 30-minute journey to the four corners of the earth. This multi-sensory story, told through theatrical skating and an all-new original score, is the collaboration of an award-winning creative team with Broadway credentials, including Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes (The Drowsy Chaperone, Best Costume Design Tony winner 2007; Legally Blonde the Musical, Best Costume Design Tony nominee 2007).
The 30-minute show opens with Austin, a digitally savvy preteen, who believes that technology has made his generation more connected to the world than ever before. But his grandfather, an old-world explorer, argues that the boy is more disconnected than he realizes, and takes him on an adventure around the globe. Through their travels they visit the African Serengeti, Great Barrier Reef, the Arctic and the Amazon rainforest.
The adventure unfolds as they arrive in the African Serengeti. Here, larger-than-life puppets and spectacular set design bring elephants and other awe-inspiring animals to life at a watering hole. Solo and chorus skating performances accompanied by acrobatics tell an anecdote of an agile cheetah stalking graceful gazelles and meerkats.
Austin and Grandpa then dive into the Great Barrier Reef to explore the harmony of life on the ocean floor. An amazing black light transition and never-before-seen helium-filled puppets immerse the audience in the wonders of the sea, filled with parrotfish and lionfish, sea urchins, turtles and a moray eel.
In the Arctic, majestic skaters become striking snow flurries as a winter storm threatens the travelers. Austin and Grandpa witness even more beauty as they encounter the Aurora Borealis phenomenon, represented with theatrical lighting and projections. Then, they share the stage with amazing live animal stars, including a Siberian lynx and a sled of Siberian huskies as they continue to traverse the tundra.
Austin and Grandpa wrap up their adventure around the globe immersed in the lush, tropical Amazon Rainforest. Squirrel monkeys, sun conures and colorful macaws fill the air as playful frogs and a graceful dragonfly skate into the grand finale: a new signature song called “Meet the World.”
Iceploration performances are included with any daily park admission. More photos at www.Facebook.com/FloridaLeisure and here’s some video:
Seven popular HGTV celebrities will offer the inside scoop on home entertaining at weekend seminars during the 45-day 16th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival running Sept. 30-Nov. 13. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival a top HGTV personality will appear at The Festival Center in Future World to share his or her own secrets to throwing a perfect party.
“Design stars from the network will talk about home entertaining,” said Michael Jenner, festival manager. “Think about the way interior decorators design a room … and imagine that same creative process brought to the dinner table. It’ll be a great way to get ready for all the holidays coming up.”
Here’s the lineup (subject to change):
* Sept. 30-Oct. 2 – Vern Yip, “HGTV Design Star” and “HGTV Urban Oasis”
* Oct. 7-9 – Monica Pedersen, “Designed to Sell”
* Oct. 14-16 – Erin Loechner, “Design Happens”
* Oct. 21-23 – Taniya Nayak, “Designed to Sell”
* Oct. 28-30 – Kim Stoegbauer, “On-line Party Inspiration”
* Nov. 4-6 – Lisa LaPorta, “Designed to Sell”
* Nov. 11-13 – Emily Henderson, “Secrets From a Stylist” and “HGTV Design Star,” winner Season 5 “Design Star”
The appearances are included with Epcot admission.
Today marks the day that leaves Legoland Orlando on a 100 day countdown until the Grand Opening on October 15. LEGOLAND® Florida has released a new batch of photographs as rides begin to appear at the park. Shown below are the Duplo Farm (left) and Grand Central Station, NY (right)
From the Safari Trek (below left) to the LEGO® Technic Test Track Coaster, (Below right), construction crews are hard at work transforming the property into the interactive theme park geared toward families with children ages 2-12.
LEGO TECHNIC® Test Track is a “wild mouse-style roller coaster where brave guests feel the power of acceleration, braking and maneuverability as they race a life-size LEGO TECHNIC vehicle along a wildly twisting track.
The Royal Joust, (pictured above) where kids ride LEGO-themed horses through a number of medieval scenes where they encounter other riders in a simulated joust.
The Banyan Tree located at the botanical gardens area of the park.
