Saturday, August 7, 2010

Aloha Friday It's time to kick back



TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Aloha Friday - September 3 at 6:30pm

Slow down, the work week is over! It's time to kick back in our tropical paradise at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando and celebrate the weekend. Put on your favorite Hawaiian shirt or dress and join the fun. Enjoy fresh and flavorful food, made with locally-grown ingredients and meet the farmers and purveyors who partner with us.

Your ticket includes an all-you-care-to-eat taste of the islands from Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Emeril's Tchoup Chop, tropical drinks, beer & wine, lei greeting, live music performed by Simulcast and more!

Click here to view our Aloha Friday menu

CLICK HERE TO GET TICKETS Tickets: $35* on-line or $45 at the door Limited VIP** tickets available on-line only: $50*

*Ticketing fees apply. **Includes reserved seating and early entry, plus a VIP reception at 5:30pm outside the Pacifica Ballroom

Friday, August 6, 2010

Orlando weather in August: How to stay cool

Orlando weather in August can best be summed up in three words: hot, hot, hot. Of course, that doesn’t stop millions of travelers from enjoying the Orlando theme parks before the end of summer vacation. Best of all, Orlando has four water parks to choose from, and a number of hotels with their own water park facilities, so there is always a way to stay cool.

Expect temperatures in the mid to upper 90s during the day, punctuated by brief but powerful thunderstorms in the late afternoon. The waterparks will shut down temporarily if there is lightning spotted nearby. Walt Disney World has two waterparks—Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, both of which have wave pools, body slides, raft rides, kids’ areas, and lazy rivers that encircle the entire park. Wet n Wild waterpark has been a fixture on International Drive since 1977, and the “new kid on the block” is Aquatica, located across from SeaWorld.

The CoCo Key Water Resort recently opened on I-Drive, featuring Orlando’s largest canopy covered and outdoor water resort. Another favorite resort in the Orlando area is the Nickelodeon Suites Resort (pictured), where guests can get “slimed” at the resort’s waterpark. In Kissimmee, the Clarion Resort and Waterpark has three slides, a zero-depth entry pool and a lazy river for guests to enjoy.

Inclement tropical weather is always a possibility this time of year, but Orlando hotels and resorts are prepared to accommodate any last minute change of plans due to a tropical storm or hurricane. Just like the August, the potential for storms isn’t enough to keep tourists away from enjoying everything that Orlando has to offer during the summer.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Harbor Piazza at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel


MUSICA DELLA NOTTE Music of the Night

Enjoy a complimentary musical celebration with live opera each night at 8:30pm on the Harbor Piazza at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando.

Every Sunday and Wednesday, immediately following Musica della Notte, join us on the Mama Della's Ristorante patio with scenic views of the Harbor Piazza for dinner and a video concert featuring Italian opera.

Click here to view Mama Della's menu

CALL 407-503-DINE (3463) FOR RESERVATIONS

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Disney Parks mobile website

Ever wish that you had wait times for Disney World rides and restaurants right at your fingertips while you were in the park? The Disney Parks mobile application allows users to access select park information for Walt Disney World and Disneyland on any browser-enabled mobile phone—as long as Verizon is their carrier, which means that iPhone users will have to wait until Disney signs a contract with AT&T, or Verizon signs a contract with Apple.

For Verizon users who choose to download the Disney Parks mobile website on their phone, they can look up attraction information, which includes wait times and Fast Pass available; dining information on all of the restaurants throughout the theme parks; park hours; character information and meet and greet schedules; entertainment and show schedules; and the current and projected weather forecasts.

Since the mobile maps are GPS-enabled, the user’s location will be indicated by a white circle, so you can find your next destination within the theme park via a “getting there” option. For mobile phone users who are not Verizon Wireless subscribers, you can still use your mobile phone to access select information via text and on the Disney Parks Mobile Web site. Frequently Asked Questions are available on the Disney Parks website.

Monday, August 2, 2010

General Manager Announced for LEGOLAND Florida

LEGOLAND® Florida continues to build its team at a rapid pace in order to open in fall 2011 and today announced Adrian Jones has been appointed as General Manager with his duties beginning immediately.

Jones has had a fantastic career within Merlin Entertainments. Most recently, Jones served as Divisional Director of Midway Attractions in the Western United States, responsible for LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas and Madame Tussauds Hollywood -- which was the first Madame Tussauds attraction ever to be built from the ground up in 200 years. Jones has worked in leisure attractions for more than 20 years and has done everything from selling ice cream to being a General Manager that has driven attendance and visitor satisfaction in his attractions. His experience will prove to be a tremendous force in guiding LEGOLAND Florida into being one of the best theme parks in the world.

During the construction phase of LEGOLAND Florida, Jones will work closely with John Ussher, Merlin Entertainments’ General Manager of Development for LEGOLAND. “Adrian is a talented manager and we are thrilled that he has accepted the opportunity to run Florida’s newest full-day theme park,” said Ussher.

“Having worked for Merlin all over the world, I know the quality expected and I’m excited to bring a LEGOLAND park to Florida. I can’t wait to see the expressions on visitors’ faces when they see what we have in store for them,” said Jones. “Merlin is a major global attraction operator with proven expertise at running theme parks. It is a compelling brand with a huge emphasis on guest satisfaction that is unparallel in this day and age.”

Opening in fall 2011, LEGOLAND Florida will be a 145-acre family theme park geared specifically for children ages 2 to 12. There will be more than 50 interactive rides, shows and attractions including amazing LEGO® models making it unlike any other attraction in Florida.

Jones is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom and is moving to Polk County with his wife Sarah who is a certified nurse and midwife.

LEGOLAND Florida opens in fall 2011 and will be a 145-acre interactive theme park dedicated to families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. With more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, LEGOLAND is geared towards family fun! There are currently four other LEGOLAND Parks in the world – LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark, LEGOLAND Deutschland near Günzburg, Germany and LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London. The LEGOLAND theme parks are a part of Merlin Entertainments Group, the second largest attractions operator in the world. For the most current information, log on to www.LEGOLANDFloridaResort.com.

Star Wars Celebration V at Orange County Convention Center

Mark Hamill, better known as Luke Skywalker from the original trilogy of Star Wars movies, will be making his first appearance at a US Star Wars Celebration as part of Star Wars Celebration V at the Orange County Convention Center August 12 – 15, 2010.

The Star Wars V will commemorate the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back (now known as Episode 5) and feature highlights from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. As the official Lucasfilm event made for fans by fans of all things Star Wars, participants will also get a sneak preview of upcoming projects based in a galaxy far, far away.

The event times are Thursday, August 12 – Saturday, August 14 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 15 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Star Wars Celebration's Exhibition Hall and other exhibits close nightly at 7 PM (and 5 PM on Sunday), but panels, screenings, and special events could go on later. Ticket prices are available at the Star Wars Celebration V website.

There will also be a special event open to Star Wars Celebration V participants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday, August 14 from 8:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. The event gives fans a chance to take a “Last Tour to Endor” on the Star Tours ride before it is shut down and re-imagined for its reopening next year. Other activities include themed party zones, Star Wars shows, Death Star disco, fireworks, and much more for $75 per person. To purchase tickets, visit the Disney World website.