Last August, Disney announced their deal with Marvel Comics to acquire Marvel for $4 billion.  Marvel’s 5,000+ character lines included some of the best known superheroes in the world, such as Spider Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, X-Men, and the Incredible Hulk.

The reality of this acquisition is lately becoming more noticeable by consumers.  You will now find merchandise with your favorite Marvel superheroes in Downtown Disney stores.  You can also shop online for these items at the Disney Store website.

Disney’s Marvel Entertainment, LLC has also launched a free application for Apple’s iPad in the App store.  The app features more than 500 of Marvel’s most popular comic books, which users can purchase individually via iTunes.  It also features a user-friendly search engine, various viewing options for the ultimate viewing capabilities, and even free comics so fans can get a new, digital comic experience.  The comics have been optimized for the iPad through re-coloring and re-digitizing select content and also have a new ‘preview’ option.

My spidey-senses predict Disney will be very happy with their purchase, and we will be seeing a lot of new merchandise!

Hitting your ‘funny bone’ really isn’t all that funny. At least in my experience. Why that small nerve on your elbow is even called a funny bone is unknown to me. But what if there really were a funny bone, and it was actually fun to hit? Well, that is what the Improv soon will be. They are moving to a location that more folks can ‘hit,’ and hopefully by doing so, can create a little more laughter for everyone in Orlando.

The Improv Comedy Club and Dinner Theatre has locations all over the United States, and has been the career launching pad for dozens of familiar faces of television and film for 40 years. The new and improved Orlando Improv is moving from the old Church Street location to a bigger and better venue at Pointe Orlando. The downtown ‘nerve’ may sting for a bit, but once Orlando finds the new tickle spot, the Improv should have all of Orlando smiling.

Many of your favorite comedians got their start at the Improv, including David Spade, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Drew Carey, Robin Williams, and many more!  Bette Midler even got a big break there when she was working as a waitress at the Improv in New York, and she got the opportunity to sing.  The Improv continues to showcase up-and-coming performers and welcome the biggest names in comedy.  Like the old location, the new Orlando Improv will also continue to support local comedians and host private parties.

The big day for the Orlando Improv re-opening will be Thursday, July 29^th at the new location: 9101 International Drive – Suite 2310 – Pointe Orlando, Phone # 407-480-5233.  The hysterical, wacky, Harland Williams will be the headline act for the first shows from Thursday through Sunday.  You may remember him from several films including Something About Mary, Dumb and Dumber, The Whole Nine Yards, the cult classic Half-Baked, and more.  Check their website for the full calendar of upcoming comics and ‘hit’ your funny bone!

Also noteworthy: The inaugural 2010 Orlando Improv Festival is September 19-21, 2010, which features 40-minute shows for $5 – $7.

Race week, speed week and bike week may all be over for 2010, but there is still a lot of fun going on in Daytona. The world-famous beach is still a clear and ‘hot’ place to be. Lather on plenty of sunscreen and enjoy! And, when you want to cool off in some air-conditioning, check out Daytona USA, also known as the Daytona 500 Experience, the “Official attraction of NASCAR.” Here, you can experience what its like to be in the Daytona 500 race in the Dream Laps motion simulator. This motion simulator ride will bring up to 32 people for the ride of their lives, feeling like they are actually in the famous 500 race.

Or, maybe you’d like to see what goes under the hood of these super cars at the DuPont Technology of Speed? Here, you can see the inner workings of one of Hendrick Motorsports’ SPRINT Cup DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlos. Watch as the 3,400-lb. racing machine expands to reveal everything that puts these cars at the top of their game – roll cage, chassis, and engine.

You can also test your skills as a pit crew member in the Chevy 16-second pit crew challenge - strap on some gloves,  grab an air gun, and try to beat the clock in this fast-paced test of skill. See if you can beat the time of their pit crew in this lightning fast stop for gas and tires! Don’t be surprised if your husband is quicker at this than the time it takes to do one of his chores at home! It’s a lot of fun for the race enthusiast.

There are many more attractions here, including a speedway tour, Coca-Cola IMAX 3-D theatre, Acceleration Alley, and the exciting Richard Petty Driving Experience. For those thrill-seekers who have always wanted to race around Daytona International Speedway in a 600 horsepower race car, this is for you! There are several ‘experiences’ offered, whether you want to be a passenger, or be in the drivers seat at this legendary racetrack.

Note: The Daytona track is currently closed for re-paving, so if you really want to race around a track, you can go to the Experience at the Walt Disney World Speedway until January 2011 after which the Daytona track will be freshly paved and ready for YOUR life in the fast lane!

Daytona USA is approximately 60 miles from the Orlando area.

You can now see these baby reticulated giraffes at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay. (The term “reticulated” refers to the giraffe’s net-like pattern of spots.) They are about 3 months old now, both born in April, but they have been kept private so they can be monitored to make sure they are healthy and growing properly.  Moms Chloe and Tesa, and Sterling, the proud dad of both babies, will have some help from the rest of the herd now that they are all together, bringing the total number of  giraffes to 17.

The calves are 6 foot tall already!  Baby giraffes can grow 9 inches during the first month, and continue to grow at enormous rates during the first year.  They were around 147 pounds when born and will grow to be between 15-18 feet tall and 2,600-4,000 pounds!

Check out this cute video posted by Sea World Parks and Entertainment (previously Worlds of Discovery) on YouTube of a young giraffe playing with an ostrich.   And, see them in person at Busch Gardens’ 65-acre Serengeti Plain, a naturalistic habitat featuring a diverse population of free-roaming African animals like zebras, white rhinos and more!

And, don’t forget about those other little ones born earlier this year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. That rare baby Gorilla, white-cheeked Gibbon, and white rhino are sure to have grown a lot now that they’re a few months old, it would be great to get to see them romping and playing!

It’s a little early for this, but since it is a first come first serve event, you might want to mark your calendar, take down this information, or even order your tickets now!

November 5-7, the Kennedy Space Center will host the third annual Astronaut Autograph & Memorabilia Show Weekend.   This is your chance to check out all the attractions at the Kennedy Space Center, meet and get photos of the astronauts, and help a good cause.  This family-friendly weekend offers autograph sessions, photo opportunities, lectures from Legends, a unique space auction and more! More than 30 astronauts are scheduled for the show, including Mercury 7 astronaut Scott Carpenter and Apollo 13 astronaut Jim Lovell.

All proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.  This foundation, created by astronauts, aids the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology by providing scholarships to exceptional college students pursuing degrees in these fields. Nowhere else on Earth can you enjoy sun, surf and space with some of history’s greatest astronauts! Don’t delay in securing your SPACE today; remember, tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.  Tickets and more information are available at www.astronautscholarship.org/aams

The fight to keep the Constellation program alive ended this week, as most of us knew was inevitable. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 is essentially a cancellation of the ‘return to the moon’ program.  It is the beginning of investment in commercial companies to manufacture rockets for low Earth orbit and it also speeds up the development of heavy-lift rockets for farther missions. This accelerated schedule should help Florida and space manufacturers a little even though the bill dictates NASA must use as many shuttle and Constellation parts as possible (we all need to do our part recycling). It also budgets more than $11 billion to keep the development of the Orion crew capsule going, as well as the design of a new rocket.  The new rocket is hoped to carry Orion to the International Space Station before 2016. Much sooner than Obama’s plan for a rocket that would fly to an asteroid by 2025.

So while the news isn’t good for the Constellation program, some good news did come out of this. We’ll have one more (last?) shuttle launch next year and 2,500 Central Floridians will keep their jobs for 4 – 6 more months. Other jobs will be created by the new rocket’s development (most likely won’t replace the estimated 9,000 job losses expected next year, but…). Commercial companies can continue their programs for the next 3 years with the $1.6 billion already allocated for them; surely Florida will benefit some from these commercial flights. And who knows, maybe one of those missions will end up sending Americans back to the moon.

Although this bill is not guaranteed to become law, it shows us how the funding for NASA is headed and that the shuttle program is nearing an end. Be sure to mark your calendars for the launches targeted for November 1, 2010 and February 26, 2011. Without knowing what the future holds, we can at least experience our Nation’s greatness through these remaining launches.

On a personal note of opinion: I hope the State of Florida can rise to the occasion of this new technology-based future instead of pouting over the past. We need to get back into “competition” mode and do whatever we can to encourage local technologies and business. It doesn’t matter if we’re reaching for the moon or an asteroid, if we’re not doing everything possible to extend our own arm.

With the difficult economy, area theme parks have been trying to find innovative ways to lure visitors.  Busch Gardens Tampa has recently introduced a new program that includes an all-you-can-eat ticket.  From now through Labor Day (9/6/10), you can purchase a single-day admission ticket that includes unlimited access at 6 participating restaurants.  Get up to 1 entrée, 1 side item or dessert, and 1 non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line.  This deal is for online ticket orders only and is good at these restaurants:

• Zagora Café
• Crown Colony Pizza
• Bengal Bistro
• Garden Gate Café
• Zambia Smokehouse (Excludes Baby Back Ribs)
• Desert Grill (Excludes Baby Back Ribs)

Tickets are $74.95 for adults and $64.95 for children ages 3-9 (Child tickets include kids meals only).  Tickets must be redeemed by September 30.  Now, you can have your theme park, and eat well too!

Get in touch with the Wild Side at Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida.  Experience a wild, natural Florida that most people do not get to see.  You can choose your own fully-guided adventure from the Coach Safari, Horseback Safari, and the adventurous Zip line Safari.  This special attraction boasts 9 Florida Ecosystems!  This wildlife conservation area is home to many native plants, flowers and animals, including white-tail deer, black bears, alligators, and the endangered Florida Panther in their natural habitat.

The Coach Safari is an open air coach that brings you on a 2-hour tour through the beautiful 4,700 acre Forever Florida wildlife conservation area.  Midway through your adventure, you’ll get a chance to walk the boardwalk that winds through 500 year old cypress trees and takes you over the Bull Creek floodplain.

Or, feel like you are going back in time on the Horseback Safari, where you can ride the historic trails the native Americans used back in the 1500s.  Choose between a 1, 2, or 3 hour ride through the wildlife conservation area.  Horses are individually picked for each rider, and the tour is fully guided, so no need to worry if you aren’t an experienced rider.

For those ready for an aerial view, zipping up to 25 miles an hour, the Zipline Safari is for you! Your guided tour will let you soar through the tree tops 55 feet off the ground along runs spanning up to 750′ in length and make your way across two sky-bridges!  What a great way to enjoy Florida’s natural flowers and wildlife!   (That is if you can keep your eyes open- what an adventure!)

Florida EcoSafaris allow you to see a side of Florida that has been preserved as nature intended.  (Approximately 50 miles from the Orlando area.)  And is one of the attractions you can go to for free with your Go Orlando Card, which is a discount card for area attractions.

If you are a Disney Vacation Club Member, a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder or Season Passholder, you are invited to a special sale.  It happens July 24^th at Downtown Disney at the World of Disney.  The first 1,000 guests receive a free gift, and the specials include 50% off select merchandise, surprise markdowns, and doorbuster deals.  This is a good time to purchase gifts for the Disney fanatics in your life. Rarely does Disney discount their merchandise. The challenge will be to hide (or keep quiet about) your purchases until the holidays arrive so you can surprise everyone with your gifts!

You must show your Disney Pass or Vacation Club member card to enter the store and get the deals.  Oh, did I mention that you’d better be an Early Bird?  The special sale is from 6:30am to 9am.  Happy Shopping!

The Orlando Sentinel reported that Orlando police officer Wendell Robey, his wife and two Universal Orlando Hard Rock Hotel employees were involved in the scam. Non transferable employee tickets and perks afforded guests at the Hard Rock Hotel were a part of the ticketing scheme. The group used Craigs List ads and also targeted tourist areas to sell the illegal tickets.

Unfortunatly it is not uncommon amongst ticket resellers that offer to buy back unused tickets that they are selling  illegal tickets. My advice is never buy tickets from a dealer who offers to buy unused days or are offering deals to good to be true at Orlando’s major theme parks. Most times buyers will not have issues with these tickets however if you are caught your day is pretty much ruined. Buyer beware when it comes to purchasing tickets do your research make sure who you are dealing with is a legitimate reseller.

Legitimate ticket resellers can save you alot of money over gate admissions on secondary attractions and some of the Orlando area dinner shows. It can also be very time saving purchasing the majority of your tickets from one source and save time in line at the major theme parks in Orlando.