Orlando Vacation » events

Things to Do in December in Orlando

DisneyMom — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:17:21 +0000

If you are visiting Orlando during December, you will be treated to a whirlwind set of events, as each theme park and many of the large hotels put on over the top Christmas events. Christmas runs all month long in Orlando, so plan on getting a fix of holiday cheer no matter when you visit this month, or where you stay.

Some of the most popular events include:

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: Disney World’s headlining holiday event takes place in the Magic Kingdom on select nights this month. Expect a festive evening, with holiday carols, hot chocolate and your favorite Disney characters. You’ll also be treated to a parade that only Disney could put on — and even an unusual Orlando snowfall.
Grinchmas at Universal Orlando: The grumpy Grinch himself is the host of this event, which features a musical performance of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, Grinchy meet and greets and a character breakfast. All Grinchmas events take place in the Islands of Adventure section of Universal, and are performed on select dates in December.
Sea World’s Christmas: Sea World offers a variety of Christmas events and experiences, including a special holiday reworking of the Wild Arctic ride– this simulator gets a Polar Express themed makeover for the holiday season. You can also catch Sesame Street themed Christmas shows and events, and a special holiday killer whale show in Shamu Stadium.
ICE! at the Gaylord Palms: This holiday spectacular brings snow and ice direct to Orlando. This year, ICE features a “Shrek the Halls” theme, with your favorite Dreamworks characters on hand to celebrate the season. Head to ICE for plenty of indoor snow and winter effects, character meet and greets, shows and hands on activities this holiday season.

No matter which event you choose, plan on spending some extra time getting around the Orlando theme parks in December. Holiday crowds will begin to arrive in droves mid-month, peaking Christmas week, so give yourself plenty of time to get around and to see all that Orlando has to offer in the holiday season.

Christmas in Disney World

DisneyMom — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:16:41 +0000

If you are heading to Florida for an Orlando vacation this holiday season, make the most of your trip by visiting the Disney theme parks. Christmas arrives early each year in Disney World; if you visit the theme parks and resorts for Thanksgiving, you’ll notice the Christmas decorations spring up practically overnight. Disney Imagineers are hard at work by the end of November, staging elaborate holiday decorations in the resorts and the theme parks. No matter which hotel you choose, or which theme park you visit first, you’ll find plenty to do to celebrate the Christmas season when you visit Disney World.

Head to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for the ultimate holiday celebration.

Disney World Christmas Highlights:

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: The premier Christmas event at Disney World, Mickey’s Christmas party is a premium ticket event thrown on select nights during November and December. Guests can explore and enjoy the Magic Kingdom theme park without the holiday crowds; the event also includes a special Christmas parade, party treats and even snow on Main Street USA. This event requires a separate ticket for admission and reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for the days leading up to the holiday.

Resort Decorations: Each of the Disney resorts offers themed decorations in the lobby and grounds. The Christmas decorations spring up almost overnight, and are designed to match and enhance the hotel’s decor. Look for primitive woodsy decor featuring whimsical bears and other wildlife at the Wilderness Lodge, while the more formal Grand Floridian sports a life-sized gingerbread house and plenty of Victorian inspired Christmas finery. Consider making dining reservations at a few of the deluxe resorts–you’ll be able to enjoy different Christmas scenery each evening.

The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Lights: Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to one of the most spectacular displays of Christmas lights you’ll find anywhere. An entire portion of the park is given a sparkling makeover, and the evening lighting (complete with the occasional snowflake), is a breathtaking event. The Spectacle of Lights is free with your park admission, simply drop by in the evening and enjoy the show.

Shrek the Halls Preparations Begin at the Gaylord Palms

DisneyMom — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:55:59 +0000

The calander may say “October”, but artisans and sculptors are already hard at work crafting the intricate decor for the Gaylord Palm’s annual ICE! festival. The theme for this year’s Christmas event is “Shrek the Halls”, but you’ll see plenty of other Dreamworks characters on hand, including the penguins of Madagascar and characters from Kung Fu Panda.

Visit theGaylord Palms this holiday season for the annual ICE! fest.

Sculptors are hard at work converting over two million pounds of ice to a frozen wonderland of Dreamworks themed fun. The icy playground will take about a month to complete, and features clear, white and colorful sculptures, attractions and slides, all protected from the Orlando sun.

ICE! is an annual holiday event with a different theme each year. This year’s “Shrek the Halls/Dreamworks” focus promises to be family friendly and a fun addition to any Orlando vacation. In addition to ice sculptures and slides, the Christmas at the Gaylord Palms includes Santa visits, a Kung Fu Panda snow playground, live entertainment and character greetings, and a gingerbread decorating area hosted by “Gingy” from the Shrek films.

You do not have to stay at the Gaylord Palms to enjoy ICE! or the Christmas events. The events are scheduled to run from November 16,2011- January 2,2012, and tickets are required.

“Shrek the Halls” and ICE! are well worth a visit, particularly if you are in town for the holidays, and want to visit with some rarely seen Dreamworks characters.

Fall Orlando Vacation Tips

DisneyMom — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:04:20 +0000

If you are heading to our area for an Orlando vacation, we’ve assembled some helpful information to let you get a head start on your packing and itinerary planning. Knowing what to bring can save you some space in your suitcase (and excess baggage fees if you are flying), while hitting the right theme park on the right days can dramatically cut the amount of time you spend waiting in line:

Weather: If an Orlando vacation is in your forecast for October or November, plan on enjoying comfortable temperatures, but pack a lightweight jacket just in case. You may want to keep an eye on the tropics as well. Though it may feel like summer has passed, hurricane season is still in effect in fall.

Events: The Orlando theme parks are bursting with fall events, from the fun and festive Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom to a special Harry Potter film celebration at Universal. If you are in town during the fall, check out the event schedules for each park you plan on visiting so you won’t miss out on the fun.

Crowds: Expect the theme parks to be less crowded than usual, meaning you should be able to enjoy more rides and attractions per day. It is still a good idea to arrive when the park opens; or arrive late in the day to take advantage of evening hours, but even the middle parts of the day will be manageable at Sea World, Universal and Disney World.

Itinerary Tips: Plan to visit the Disney theme parks on days with Extra Magic Hours if you are staying on Disney property. Avoid the Extra Magic Hours park of the day if you are staying offsite; the park will be packed with onsite guests by the time you are allowed in.

Consider these tips as you pack and plan for your fall trip and you’ll be able to add plenty of seasonal fun onto your Orlando vacation.

Sea World Presents Halloween Spooktacular

DisneyMom — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:54:01 +0000

Sea World’s annual fun fall fun festival, the Halloween Spooktacular begins this week in Orlando. This sweet and not scary Halloween festival is ideal for families with small children and runs every weekend through Halloween nights.

The Halloween Spooktacular offers plenty to see and do and is the perfect place to spend a weekend afternoon if you have small children. Sea World offers plenty of whimsical strolling characters and a Halloween experience that is centered on fun, not scares. Choose this event if you want to enjoy the season without seeing a lot of scary or gory sites; the focus here is on fall and fun.

Guests visiting Sea World’s Halloween Spooktacular can expect to visit plenty of dedicated Trick or Treating stations featuring different kid friendly candies, including Airheads, Mentos and assorted chocolates. Arts and crafts, sand art and even caramel apple decorating stations are available at different Spoooktacular locations as well.

Part of the fun of visiting Sea World is seeing Shamu and his watery pals. October is a great time to visit Sea World, with fewer lines and great weather, so you’ll be able to spend plenty of time visiting with the park’s marine inhabitants while you explore the party.

Little ones will enjoy the Sesame Street themed Countdown to Halloween, featuring Count Von Count and the opportunity to meet Elmo and pals. Kids are welcome to show up in costume for this event.

The Halloween Spooktacular is included with your regular park admission; there is no additional charge for attending the Halloween events. Make the Halloween Spooktacular part of your fall Orlando vacation plans by visiting Sea World any weekend in October. The event runs on both Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month, and on Friday, October 28th as well.

Don’t forget to check out our great deals on Sea World vacation packages to Orlando. Right now, if you purchase a Sea World package deal complete with hotel, we will give you $20.00 off on your tickets as compared to the gate price. This offer is valid until December 31, 2011.

July events at Walt Disney World

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:57:01 +0000

If you’re planning to celebrate America’s independence with a trip to Walt Disney World, you’ll find plenty of events to keep your family entertained throughout your stay. Headline events at Walt Disney World Resort in July include several live concerts in each of Disney’s parks, including Disney’s “Celebrate America! concert, July 3 and 4 , at 9 p.m.;Epcot’s “Illumnations:Reflections of Earth” laser light show. Several shows continue throughout the month of July, such as the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade and the Electric Light parade, both at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. At Animal Kingdom, guests can watch a 15-minute,parade known as Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade, which loops through the various sections of the park—Africa, Discovery Island, Asia, and back to Africa.
Mickey’s Jammin Jungle Parade begins at 3:45 p.m.,daily and features elaborate animal puppets, spectacular stilt walkers, drummers, musical safari vehicles , wacky rickshaw taxis and 8-foot-tall Party Animals. Other popular parades in July include Disney Hollywood Studios Block Party Bash,featuring your child’s favorite Pixar characters, including characters from Monsters Inc, The Incredibles and Toy Story. Other attractions at the Block Party Bash include acrobats, trampolines and retro tunes. Like the electrical light parade, the Block Party was originally featured at Disney’s California Adventure Theme Park. Another popular show at Hollywood Studios in July is Fantasmic! Which features one million gallons of water and 50 costumed performers. Combining explosive pyrotechnics, shimmering laser lights and dazzling dancing water effects
A two week-long sporting event known as ESPN Rise Games highlights the third and fourth weeks of July at Walt Disney’s Wide World of Sports. ESPN Rise is a series of sports challenges for youth and high school sports teams in basketball, football, lacrosse and soccer, and youth baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, and track & field teams. If you don’t think your family can afford a week or long weekend at Walt Disney World, you should visit reputable discount Orlando vacation package sites. With hundreds of Disney-area hotels desperate to sell rooms during the economic depression, there’s never been a better time to find an incredible deal on lodging in the central Florida area.

Events at Universal Studios for July

admin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:44:52 +0000

July 4th celebrations are only one of several headline events at Universal Orlando this summer. Music fans will flock to see some of the world’s most popular bands at Hard Rock Live’s Summer Concert Series. Notable bands include Counting Crows, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benetar, on July 3, Rob Thomas,on July 10 and Counting Crows on July 17. Pat Benetar is a four-time Grammy Award winning artist, REO Speedwagon produced platinum selling Albums, Rob Thomas has sold more than 80 million albums and the Counting Crows were one of the most popular bands of the 90s, with 20 million albums sold worldwide.
Friday, July 2 at the Portofino Hotel and Resort, guests can enjoy gourmet food samples and sparkling wine, at Harbor Nights, a jazz and wine tasting events and jazz event, with complimentary hand-rolled cigars.
If you’re in Universal Studios on July 4th, you can rock out to live music from the O’Jays at the Celebrate Independence Day festival. Other events on the July 4 weekend include Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular,which features, lasers and pyrotechnic effects that display scenes from classic films in cinema history. Of course, you can’t call it a fourth of July celebration without a fireworks show. At 10 p.m., a fireworks show begins. Throughout July, Universal will host Mat Hoffman’s Aggro-Circus, an extreme sports event showcasing the world’s most talented skaters, BMX, in-line, and motocross athletes,who will perform daily at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
Other Universal Orlando events in July include Velvet Sessions at Hard Rock Live, where music fans can enjoy two hours of complimentary drinks and hour dourves while they listen to bands such as Everclear, in a casual and intimate setting. Tickets for Velvet Sessions are $25.
If you can’t make it to Velvet Sessions or the July 4 celebrations, you can find plenty of entertainment at the various nightclubs that line Universal Citywalk. Popular nightclubs at City Walk include the Red Coconut, Pat O’Brien’s, Rising Star karaoke and the Groove.
If you are looking to visit in July don’t miss the chance to check out our Universal Studios Orlando package deals.

Disney World Events in June 2010

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:36:10 +0000

Central Florida nights heat up in June at Walt Disney World during the nightly celebration known as “Summer Nightastic.” Park visitors can enjoy the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios during extended hours.

Light up your summer at Walt Disney World Resort with Summer Nightastic! from June 6 through August 14, 2010. The highlight of the night is Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade. For decades, millions of Disney fans have flocked to see the animated floats featuring the characters from their favorite Disney Classics, including Tinker Bell from Peter Pan, Pinocchio and Snow White.

Other parks at Walt Disney World are enhancing the daily experience for park visitors. At Hollywood Studios, thrill-seekers are sure to love the new effects added to the park’s most popular ride: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Music lovers can watch tribute bands pay tribute to the most popular bands of all time at the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, an annual live event that rocks Epcot theme park. From June 12 to June 19, fans of the 70′s disco band, the Bee Gees, can hear the Bee Gees tribute: Stayin’ Alive. From June 20 to June 26, Hotel California, a tribute to the legendary rock band known as “The Eagles”, will perform nightly at Epcot.

Summertime also marks more events for nature lovers at Animal Kingdom, including Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest and the daily shows. Kilimanjaro Safaris give riders an up-close and personal encounter with giraffes, zebras and other wildlife, with open-sided safari vehicles. The expedition ventures across rivers and open fields, to give riders a unique look at wildlife in an open habitat.

Summers at Disney World also mark the start of a special time for star wars fans: Star Wars weekends. Hosted by Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars weekends include light saber demons,special shows and presentations. Star Wars Weekends events are included with admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney Hotel Events for Spring 2010

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:27:43 +0000

For of a night movie watching under the stars with family, friends or your loved one, check this list of movies, times and locations at various Disney World hotels.

Disney Fort Wildernes: Outdoor movies and times
April 26 – Princess Diaries 2
April 27 – G-Force
April 28 – The Sword and the Stone
April 29 – The Love Bug
April 30 – Old Dogs

Poolside movies at Disney’s All Star Resorts poolside Movies start around 9 p.m.

Sundays: Meet the Robinsons

Mondays: Bolt

Tuesdays: Vote for Enchancted, 101 Dalmations or Bedtime Stories

Wednesdays: Vote for Ratatouiile, Finding Nemo or Wall-E

Thursdays: Vote for Robin Hood, The Sword & The Stone or Rescuers

Fridays:UP

Saturdays: The Princess and the frog

Disney’s Beach Club Resorts: (Yacht Club, Disney’s Boardwalk, Disney’s Swan & Dolphin)
Beach movie schedule
Sunday: Alice in Wonderland
Monday: Toy Story
Tuesday: Toy Story 2
Wednesday: U
Thursday: The Great Mouse Detective
Friday:Old Dogs
Saturday:Princess and the Frog
and outdoor movie schedule
The Grand Floridian Resort’s campfire and dance party starts at 7pm and the movie starts at 9:00pm.
Currently, the Grand Floridian’s movie schedule is:
UP on Sundays, Bolt on Monday nights, G-Force on Thursday nights, Old Dogs on Friday Nights and on Saturdays, they show The Princess and the Frog.
At Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, the movie schedule is High School Musical on April 26, High School Musical 2 on April 27, High School Musical 3 on April 28, National Treasure 2 on April 29 and UP on April 30.

At Disney’s Contemporary resort, you can checkout a nightly movie on large portable screen near the feature pool. Movies for the remainder of April include:
April 26 Camp Rock , April 27 Enchanted, April 28

Events at Disney for May 2010

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:57:40 +0000

At Walt Disney World Resort, the month of May will is already shaping up to be a transitional period for the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney. Earlier this month, Disney opened D-Street in downtown Disney west side, which will sell custom, user created vinyls and other unique art. Other parts of Disney will be undergoing major renovations and facelifts, including EPCOT’s Cantina de San Angel, a counter service restaurant, which will receive major renovations in May, June and July, before reopening in the fall of 2010.
Sci-Fi fans will be happy to hear of the return of Star Wars weekends, which return to Hollywood Studios on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from May 21 to June 13. During Star Wars weekends, Hollywood studios fills with characters from the popular sci fi series and tourists can test their light saber skills one-on-one with Darth Vader himself at the Jedi Training Academy. Fans can also participate in trivia contests with prize giveaways and ride the popular simulator ride… Star Tours

Fans of Toy Story will be thrilled to see a sneak peak of one of the series’ newest characters’, Lotso, who will appear appear at The Magic of Disney Animation for meets and greets. Lotso will also be available at the Block Party Bash.

Animal Kindgom will be offering a fastpass for fans to experience the wildlife park’s most popular shows, including Festival of the Lion King, Flights of Wonder and FindingNemo-the Musical. Animal Kindgom’s fastpass for these shows is expected to run through May 29, 2010.

Other popular news for Disney fans includes the extension of Fantasmic dining packages, which will now be offered at lunch in addition to dinner.
Fantasmic dining packages at Mama Melrose’s and The Brown Derby provide designated seating for Fantasmic, the nightly visual spectacle show.
Casey’s Corner on Main Street USA has begun it’s exterior refurbishment. The restaurant remains open as usual during the work.

Don’t forget to book your Disney World vacation package today to see these great events.