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Dewayne Bevil writes about Central Florida's big and small attractions in his Theme Park Ranger column. For more info check out orlandosenti ...
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New shoes dress up Disney's ornament line
June 13, 2013
Disney World is now selling shiny, fanciful collectibles that are shaped like shoes and inspired by beloved animated characters
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How to go on a pirate adventure at Disney
June 6, 2013
A new Magic Kingdom attraction adds more swashbuckling to Adventureland
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Fun Spot brings two new roller coasters to Orlando
May 30, 2013
White Lightning and Freedom Flyer are now open to guests and are part of Fun Spot America's $25-million expansion plan
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SeaWorld's Antarctica: Cool location designed for warm welcome
May 23, 2013
Antarctica ¿ Empire of the Penguin is the largest expansion in SeaWorld Orlando's 39-year history
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Getting into stormtrooper gear at Disney's Star Wars Weekends
May 16, 2013
Guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios can have their likenesses transformed into a stormtrooper figurine during this year's edition of Star Wars Weekends
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Theme parks with mommy issues
May 9, 2013
Fictional Moms are almost invisible at our theme parks
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The 411 on 4 attractions coming to Walt Disney World
May 2, 2013
There are plenty of projects in the works at Walt Disney World, but here are progress reports on four incoming attractions
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Epcot: Add fruit and flour to the flower festival
April 25, 2013
The marketplaces with edibles around World Showcase represent efforts to branch out the theme park's popular annual events
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Happy Birthday Quiz: 15 years of Disney's Animal Kingdom
April 18, 2013
Disney's Animal Kingdom marks its 15th year of existence on Monday. Fittingly, it has an Earth Day birthday. Take our quiz that looks back on the theme park's first decade and a half.
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Check the cool attractions at the theme parks before the heat hits
April 11, 2013
Here are five attractions to check out before heat and humidity become our constant companions
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Show goes on for trio of theme park parades
April 4, 2013
Parade lovers will have one less option at Orlando's theme parks soon
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Angry Birds nest at Kennedy Space Center
March 28, 2013
Kennedy Space Center has just opened Angry Birds Space Encounter, which brings the fowl characters from the digital-gaming world to real life in hopes of increasing young people's interest in science
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Disney springs forward with plan
March 21, 2013
Disney World answered a burning question last week: What's going on at Downtown Disney? If you missed the news, the company revealed a major expansion of its stores and eateries, the addition of two parking garages and a new name to reflect a new emphasis on its waterways — Disney Springs.
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Time for new and improved update for the theme parks
March 14, 2013
Spring is in the air, and so are new experiences at Orlando-area theme parks and attractions. Let's walk through a few fresh — or upcoming — opportunities.
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Art in the heart of family matter at new Epcot exhibit
March 7, 2013
It was a third-grade homework assignment that sparked the creation of a collection of African-American art and artifacts on exhibit at Epcot.
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Adding food and wine to Epcot's Flower & Garden fest
March 7, 2013
You can stop and smell the roses at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival this year … and then take a swig of blueberry wine. For the first time, Disney World is giving food and beverage quality time in the spotlight at the theme park's annual event.
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Dapper Dans hit boy-band land
February 28, 2013
Barbershop meets boy band in this week's edition of Limited Time Magic, the yearlong series of special events at Disney World.
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SeaWorld's new Antarctica attraction to feature cold and comfort
February 21, 2013
The official grand opening of SeaWorld's Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin will be May 24
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Authenticity is key ingredient to Universal's Mardi Gras
February 14, 2013
The theme park aims for authentic experiences by transferring the brightest elements of New Orleans' party here, including a flashy parade, trademark cuisine and music direct from Louisiana
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Romance is in the air — and the rides at Orlando's theme parks
February 7, 2013
February puts the spotlight on romance and that doesn't have to change just because you're surrounded by turkey legs
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Orlando History Center's exhibit lifts Universal's curtain
January 31, 2013
A new exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center flashes back to the early days of Universal Orlando and demonstrates the relentless churn of theme-park entertainment
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Grand entrances are in the making at the theme parks
January 24, 2013
The new non-turnstiles allows guests into the parks without pushing through those narrow booths with lap bars
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What's happening at Orlando Science Center's Otronicon
January 17, 2013
A conglomeration of robotics, virtual reality, video games can only mean one thing: It's Otronicon weekend at Orlando Science Center
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Going to town at the new Splitsville at Downtown Disney
January 10, 2013
Splitsville Luxury Lanes brings a spark of activity that's both retro and modern to the West End of the shopping and entertainment complex
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Best of the new — and renewed at Orlando theme parks
December 27, 2012
Here are my picks for the best happenings at theme parks and attractions for 2012
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Orlando Science Center has gone Hollywood
December 20, 2012
Orlando Science Center has opened its Digital Adventure Theater, which shows 3-D documentaries and second-run Hollywood films to guests.
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To New Fantasyland — and beyond: What's new at Walt Disney World
December 13, 2012
Disney World's grand opening of New Fantasyland came with three days of facts, figures and flirtations about the future
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Finding new flair in old holiday favorites at Universal Orlando
December 6, 2012
Their holiday lineups contain no new major activities, relying on old favorites to draw folks through the turnstiles
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What you need to know about Disney's 'new' Fantasyland
November 29, 2012
Here's our guide to what's new, what's next and what's not going anywhere
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At home with the 'Peanuts' gang at the Orlando Regional History Center
November 22, 2012
The exhibit features more than 100 Schulz strips, including some oversized reproductions
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Gaylord Palms' annual ICE! attraction infuses color, merriment of 'Madagascar'
November 8, 2012
The annual way-below-freezing event at Gaylord Palms is utilizing 1,000 more ice blocks than usual this year to create scenes from "Merry Madagascar"
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New roller coasters may spice up Orlando's Fun Spot
November 1, 2012
Two new roller coasters and an additional high-flying attraction are key parts of a $25 million expansion next year at the Fun Spot location near International Drive.
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Tricks and treats of spooky season at Orlando theme parks
October 25, 2012
Universal, SeaWorld and Disney definitely have found their sweet spots for the Halloween season
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Odds and ends about Epcot
October 4, 2012
The park has bustled with the return of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, the marking of its 30th anniversary and the related D23 fan-club events
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Get your 'Peanuts' fix at Orange County Regional History Center
September 27, 2012
Nuts about "Peanuts"? The Orange County Regional History Center is now home to an exhibit that should appeal to devotees of Charlie Brown and the gang.
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'Walking Dead' will live it up at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights
September 13, 2012
Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and "The Walking Dead" go together like blood and guts
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Ways to say goodbye to space shuttle Endeavour
September 6, 2012
There's a lot of shuffling of space shuttles going on, and you can watch some of it in action through tours and other opportunities at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
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Fall forward with fresh attractions
August 30, 2012
September is such a cruel month for Floridians. In our hearts, we know the weather is getting cooler elsewhere in the U.S., but there's little evidence of that here. Plus, hurricanes — and breathless hurricane coverage on TV — continue to swirl. It's not relaxing.
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Celebrating the Big 3-0: Making Epcot's big day bigger
August 23, 2012
Celebration 30 is the eighth event from WDW Celebrations
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Quotations quiz: Who said that at the theme parks?
August 9, 2012
One of my guaranteed chuckles at our theme parks is during MuppetVision 3D at Disney's Hollywood Studios
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SeaWorld's Summer Nights a splash of happiness
August 2, 2012
Throughout my theme-park adventures, the most consistently upbeat crowds are the ones at Summer Nights at SeaWorld
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No sweat: Cool theme-park spots
July 26, 2012
Is it just me or are theme parks not as cool as they used to be?
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Discovery Cove's new triple play at Freshwater Oasis
July 19, 2012
Here's a quick guide to the three major parts of Discovery Cove's new Freshwater Oasis, which opened in late June.
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In honor of Friday the 13th, finding bad luck at the theme parks
July 12, 2012
Our theme parks are packed with unlucky characters, so in honor of Friday the 13th, here are 13 unfortunate souls living in Central Florida attractions
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Agent P on assignment at Epcot
July 5, 2012
Little girl crime fighters are out. Platypus crime fighters are in.
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Dumbo-struck: 'New' ride soars at Disney World
June 28, 2012
The beauty of the newest bit of the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom is the blending of old and new
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New tours go behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center
June 21, 2012
All my life, space travel has been mentally filed under "futuristic," but I'm learning to think of it in a historical context too.
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Million-minion march begins as Despicable Me opens at Universal Studios
June 14, 2012
Expect more sightings of little, yellow, goggled, banana-happy beings as Universal Studios has started showing off its new attraction to guests
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'Play' is the thing for education, fun at Orlando Science Center
May 31, 2012
A new exhibit at the Orlando Science Center that uses enormous game pieces such as dominoes and billiard balls to mix art, science and sociology
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What's new at Orlando attractions: Medieval Times and Wet 'n Wild
May 24, 2012
Two longtime Central Florida attractions are undergoing noticeable changes in the next few weeks
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Get a clue at new CSI attraction
May 17, 2012
When the CBS television series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" was in expansion mode, it was fun to think about a potential "CSI: Orlando." Surely, the writers could work up murder mysteries using distinctive elements of The City Beautiful, such as the Lake Eola swans, half-empty condo towers, roundabouts, curiously dressed tourists and Colonial Drive traffic.
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Orange you glad that Bird is back at Disney?
May 10, 2012
Ramblings and a semi-rant of a Theme Park Ranger:
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Universal set to serve up daily doses of parade, lagoon show
May 3, 2012
Universal Studios is adding two events to its daily schedule that may encourage guests to stay into the night at the theme park
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SeaWorld Orlando's TurtleTrek: Keeping it hyper-real
April 26, 2012
It's like standing inside a sawed-off golf ball and watching a 3-D movie projected onto its interior walls. Or something like that.
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Rolling with the Rattlesnake: Zip line roller coaster headlines new lineup at Florida EcoSafaris
April 12, 2012
Folks now can board the Rattlesnake, the nation's only zip-line roller coaster at Florida EcoSafaris in Osceola County
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Shop values of Downtown Disney
March 29, 2012
Like many retail outlets, Downtown Disney has been in flux in recent years
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Gaylord into sports — in a big way
March 22, 2012
Walking into Wreckers, the new sports bar at Gaylord Palms resort, can be mesmerizing
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Miniature golf joins Universal club
March 15, 2012
What was once the grassy underbelly of Universal CityWalk is now Hollywood Drive-In Golf, two 18-hole courses of miniature golf themed to classic movie genres
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Blue Man Group embraces change at Universal Orlando
February 23, 2012
Taking a cue from the ever-changing, ever-updating world of technology, the Blue Man Group show at Universal Orlando has been rebooted
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Relics add to Titanic attraction on International Drive in Orlando
February 16, 2012
About 100 pieces of history -- some never exhibited before -- have been incorporated into the attraction, which previously featured many period pieces and memorabilia but nothing that went down with the ship
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Universal puts a shine on new Mardi Gras floats
February 9, 2012
This year's newbies salute elements of the Earth and are called Polar, Swamps and Bayous, Rain Forest and Deep Blue Sea.
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Talking turkey at the theme parks: The legs, the legend
February 2, 2012
snack on something fowl. They tore into the meat, chewing down to the bone, maneuvering around cartilage to get at every morsel.
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New ice show a blitz of sensations at Busch Gardens
February 2, 2012
There's no kitchen sink in "Iceploration," the new ice-skating show at Busch Gardens in Tampa, but it wouldn't be that surprising. The show throws a lot at you.
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Legoland: Just add water (park)
January 26, 2012
Legoland Florida is in the process of turning Splash Island, the old Cypress Gardens water park, into a happy place again
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On deck: Clemente's life story at Orange County Regional History Center
January 19, 2012
The story of baseball star Roberto Clemente are told in the "Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente" exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center
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Get your tech on with Otronicon at Orlando Science Center
January 12, 2012
Otronicon is back and again filling Orlando Science Center with all manner of technology
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New year brings new theme park options
January 5, 2012
Big deals are coming to Central Florida's theme parks and attractions
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Theme parks in 2011: Think Legos, light sabers and lots of zip lines
December 29, 2011
Welcome to random ramblings about the year in theme parks and attractions.
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Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Studios: A little New York, big time
December 15, 2011
Pieces of the Big Apple are scattered among the floats and balloons of the Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal, now in its 10th year at the theme park
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Jaws joining lineup of lost attractions
December 8, 2011
After Universal Orlando revealed that it would be closing its iconic Jaws ride at Universal Studios forever as of Jan. 2, there was social-media outcry last week.
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SeaWorld's new holiday offering a show of biblical proportions
December 1, 2011
SeaWorld Orlando has rolled out gospel singers, a morphing manger, a mulish donkey puppet, rolling hay bales, a shining star, "Dancing With the Stars" moments, tambourines, a trio of live camels and a heavenly host of characters for its new holiday presentation, "O Wondrous Night — The Greatest Story Never Told."
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Theme parks wrap up year, put bow on it
November 24, 2011
Central Florida's theme parks are revving up their holiday celebrations with seasonal favorites and a sprinkling of new yuletide options. Here are many ways to make merry at the attractions.
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Shrek stars in ICE! escapade at Gaylord Palms
November 24, 2011
Gaylord Palms is giving new meaning to "going green."
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New park on the block: Legoland
October 13, 2011
Legoland Florida opens its doors to the public in the crowded theme-park market that is Central Florida on Saturday. Here are a few of the ways, big and small, that the Winter Haven attraction is designed to stand out.
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Disney attractions going strong at 40
September 29, 2011
Forty years have passed since the first theme-park guests walked up Main Street U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
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Go all-in at Discovery Cove's new SeaVenture attraction
September 22, 2011
While underwater, don't hold your breath.
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The ups and downs of carousels at the theme parks
September 8, 2011
If simple pleasures are, indeed, the best, then merry-go-rounds might be the best of the best at theme parks
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Jump into Orlando's world of water parks
August 4, 2011
Nothing brings relief to the dog days of summer like a thorough drenching at a water park. Orlando's all-wet attractions share certain characteristics: lazy rivers, raft rides, wave pools, upscale cabanas and combo-ticket ties to theme parks. Today we dive into distinctive elements of our four full-blown, stand-alone water parks.
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Florida EcoSafaris goes out on a limb with Cypress Canopy Cycle
August 4, 2011
Central Florida's newest attraction wants you to slow down up in the air. The Cypress Canopy Cycle is now open at Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida, an ecotourism site in Osceola County.
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There's more zip to Gatorland
June 16, 2011
Gatorland is flying high with its Screamin' Gator Zip Line, an aerial cable course that skirts the edges — and flies over animal habitats — of the theme park. Before the park's official opening Thursday, I was part of a preview group that dangled over alligators and crocodiles and zoomed through the treetops of the park, an Orlando mainstay on South Orange Blossom Trail since 1949.
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Bottom line: Here's the top attractions at Orlando theme parks
June 9, 2011
Now that there's a lull in our grand openings for theme park attractions, it's a good time to update my list of Top 50 attractions at Orlando's theme parks. It's a project I haven't updated since Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened, yikes, almost a year ago. Shame on me.
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Run! Cheetah Hunt open at Busch Gardens
June 2, 2011
The newest roller coaster in Florida isn't a ferocious, man-eating tiger — but it's no pussycat either.
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Beyond the wall around Fantasyland
May 27, 2011
I had a peek behind the construction wall for the Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom -- without sneaking in an extension ladder -- last week.
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What are the most underrated rides at Orlando theme parks?
May 12, 2011
A few days ago, I was zipping through Epcot and took a shortcut through Innoventions, the corporate-backed technology showcase. I passed a couple of the exhibits and had flashbacks of experiencing — and enjoying — them.
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Five unique things about Busch Gardens
March 31, 2011
I'm not anti- Busch Gardens, honest. It's just not very convenient to my Orlando-based life. The bottom line is, I would have to pass Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom in order to reach Busch Gardens.
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Line up for Disney's Haunted Mansion and other queues to love
March 25, 2011
Walt Disney World is extending, enhancing and invigorating the Haunted Mansion queue at Magic Kingdom.
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It's an odd lot at I-Drive Ripley's Believe It or Not
February 24, 2011
For nearly two decades, the Ripley's museum on International Drive and I have co-existed. But until recently, I had not darkened the door of the Odditorium — believe it or not.
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Disney's Fantasyland plan leaves Snow White ride out in cold
February 3, 2011
The Fantasyland expansion at Magic Kingdom will produce several new attractions at Walt Disney World, including the dark ride Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, the Be Our Guest restaurant and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster.
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Disney up to new tricks with castle show
January 28, 2011
Naysayers underestimated Disney World this time. Granted, when the company announced plans in September to project photographs of theme-park guests onto Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, details were sparse.
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Disney sheds little light on Pleasure Island
November 25, 2010
Sure, Pleasure Island has resembled a ghost town for two years, but now it's officially dead. Walt Disney World announced last week its plans to rename and reinvent the area, the center segment of Downtown Disney.
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New terrors and twists as Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights turns 20
September 23, 2010
It wouldn't have been shocking for Universal Orlando to turn its Halloween Horror Nights event into a "greatest hits" package this year. Like a hungry vampire lurking around a darkened corner, many fans expected a "best of" theme to swoop in and mark a milestone — the theme park's 20th edition.
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Getting high on International Drive
September 17, 2010
From the highway, the StarFlyer looks like a peaceful — if high-flying — throwback to earlier times, to playful schoolyard moments, to carefree defying of gravity.
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Go with the float along the lazy rivers of Orlando water parks
August 13, 2010
Lazy summer days are perfect for lazy rivers, water-park attractions where guests kick back in an inner tube and just go with the built-in flow.
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Beat the heat on theme park water rides
July 30, 2010
When the heat is on, one sure-fire way to cool off is with theme park water rides. A good drenching or light spritzing is effective against the Florida sun this time of year.
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Our guide to 'Captain EO'
June 30, 2010
It has been 16 years since Captain EO played at Epcot. We don't want to print spoilers, but here are a few elements of the production that might spark memories.
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Old is new again: 'Captain EO' back at Epcot
June 30, 2010
Walt Disney World continues its wave of nostalgia with the rebirth of Captain EO — a 3-D sci-fi movie featuring Michael Jackson and a crew of fuzzy space explorers — at Epcot.
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10 ways to remember Wizarding World of Harry Potter
June 24, 2010
What you can't buy at Islands of Adventure: Clothing that reads "My grandma went to Wizarding World of Harry Potter and all I got was this lousy T-shirt."
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A guided tour of Hogwarts at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
June 18, 2010
Towering above the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Hogwarts, the signature structure of the new Universal Orlando attraction at Islands of Adventure. In the Potter books and films, the castle is home to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but the Orlando version houses the rollicking new ride called Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
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Review: CoCo Key Water Resort slides just a little bit cuckoo
May 13, 2010
If nothing else, Orlando's newest water-based attraction is eye-catching.
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Review: Aquatica's new Omaka Rocka slide -- all wet in a good way
April 15, 2010
A new water slide adds speed and maneuvers inspired by extreme sports to Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park.
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How to get to Sesame Street? West on I-4 at Busch Gardens
April 8, 2010
Muppets make your day brighter. Go ahead, try to deny it.
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Embarking on a Wizarding World of Harry Potter tour at Universal Orlando
April 2, 2010
For months, I have skulked around the edges of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, peeking over fences, peering through cracks in the construction walls, standing on ledges to get better camera angles, slithering up the exit of Dueling Dragons and watching for slight changes in Hogsmeade architecture.
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Sesame Street bound for Busch Gardens
January 21, 2010
The Muppets are preparing to move in at Busch Gardens. The Tampa theme park plans to open its Sesame Street Safari of Fun area with a small roller coaster, water elements, playground and photo ops in March.
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C'mon, all y'all — just Hoop-Dee-Doo it
December 15, 2009
I say go with it, man. That's my best advice. Remember, a pun can't kill you. Not even a bunch of puns can gang up on you, although you might want to die from groaning.
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Some thrills in Sum of All Thrills at Epcot
October 23, 2009
You can ride a roller coaster without messing up your hair — well, virtually — at the newest installation at Epcot's Innoventions.
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I was a member of the Chainsaw Drill Team (for a night)
October 16, 2009
The trademark sound of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights isn't a blood-letting scream or a roar from Dr. Frankenstein's monster.
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Review: It's still the Fantasyland you love, for now
September 18, 2009
When blueprints for an expanded Fantasyland for Magic Kingdom were bounding about the Internet earlier this summer, I wondered and worried about the status of current occupants — would they become Lower Fantasyland in the midst of all that princess-driven finery?
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Top notches: Where new attractions rank
September 4, 2009
Now that both of Orlando's new roller coasters are open for business, it's time to update our Top 50 Orlando theme park attractions list.
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Saving on theme-park eats
July 31, 2009
A day in a theme park isn't usually a bargain. Frugal visitors may find admission deals or resist souvenir stands, but we've gotta eat, right? When a soft drink price is twice what you'd pay at a 7-Eleven, you've got to swallow hard.
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SeaWorld's mimes — silent but silly fun
July 3, 2009
SeaWorld Orlando features whales, dolphins, stingrays, penguins, sharks, Clydesdales and more.
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How to fly high above (and beyond) I-Drive
June 19, 2009
Nowhere are there more daydreams about air travel than on a congested highway. So where better to put signage that touts helicopter rides "from $20" than Interstate 4?
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Review: SeaWorld Orlando's Manta roller coaster a whale of a ride
May 5, 2009
I was lucky enough to ride Manta, SeaWorld's new roller coaster, Sunday. The attraction, which will have a sneak preview beginning Tuesday leading up to its official opening on May 22, was in private-party mode when my friend Tim and I arrived. But later in the day, it was available to anyone willing to stand in line. We did.
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Downtown Disney debuts balloon attraction
April 24, 2009
True confession: The first time I spied the Characters in Flight attraction peeking over the top of the Downtown Disney skyline, my hard, been-there-ridden-that heart skipped a little.
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Central Florida's Zipline Safari takes riders atop the trees
January 14, 2009
Zipping through the treetops is no longer just for the birds.