Al's Blog – Advice You Can't Refuse

Spectacular fireworks over Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee

Central Florida is a great place to be year-round; holidays are even better with Independence Day no exception.  There is so much to do, including:

Activities with no fireworks:

• Red, White and Zoo- July 3^rd and 4^th at the Central FL Zoo with music, face painting, kids crafts, magic, and animal zoo encounters.
• Independence Day Open House at Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park – free admission on the 3^rd and 4^th of July.
• Red, Rock, and Blue concert in the park at Lake Mary City Hall on July 3^rd.  Bring your blankets, chairs and picnics and enjoy a free concert from 6-9pm.
• Olde Fashioned July 4^th celebration in Downtown Winter Park- traditional hot dog eating contest, horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, games, and more.

Don’t forget – Capone’s Dinner & Show is a BLAST…without the loud fireworks…AND they are giving away a free gift to every guest on July 4^th!!

FREE fireworks displays:

• Star Spangled Sanford- Food and fun from 5-10pm on the Riverwalk featuring fireworks over Lake Monroe.
• A Flashback 4th of July at Celebration Town Center – All American Sock hop events start at 5:30 with fireworks at 9:30pm.
• The Avalon Park celebration features activities, bike parade, rides and more! Starting at 5:00pm and fireworks at 9pm.
• Festivities start at 4:00pm for Altamonte’s annual Red, Hot, and Boom on July 3^rd.  Live music, food, drinks, live broadcast from XL106.7FM, with a 25-minute fireworks display set to music.
• Orlando’s Fireworks at the Fountain at Lake Eola features live entertainment, along with a special kids area.  Festivities begin at 4pm, with the fireworks show at 9:30.
• St. Cloud is presenting an all-day celebration at the Lakefront beginning at noon with local bands, arts and crafts, contests, etc.  Fireworks will begin at 9:30.
• The Centennial Independence Day celebration in Mount Dora will feature food, live music, parades, and fireworks at dusk.
• A July 4^th celebration at Kissimmee’s Lakefront Park from 5 to 9pm will feature a free concert before the fireworks.

Then there are the MASTER PYROTECHNICS at our area theme parks, the granddaddies of them all!  ALL of the major theme parks have a special July 4^th lineup, in addition to their already spectacular summer shows:

SeaWorld AfterDark showcases a nighttime rock n’ roll extravaganza featuring live DJs, a hilarious Sea Lions Tonite, special evening shows, and a high-energy Shamu Rocks.   And on the 4^th, a special tribute performance by the13th Army Band, Florida National Guard who will be performing at the Bayside Stadium prior to the dazzling fireworks finale.

Universal 360: A Cinesphere Spectacular is a high-tech lagoon show at Universal Studios Florida featuring famous scenes from more than 100 Universal Pictures films. The show uses four-story-tall, 360-degree projection “cinespheres,” original music, outdoor speakers, lasers and pyrotechnic effects to place guests in the center of their favorite films. The Fourth of July Cinesphere show will also feature a special, high-tech, patriotic finale, complete with a dazzling fireworks display and live music from the O’Jays. The show begins at 10 p.m. and is included with Universal Studios park admission.

Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom’s Celebrate America Fireworks will fill the sky at 9 p.m. July 4 (guests can also enjoy the special fireworks on July 3 at 9 p.m.). After the fireworks, guests can enjoy Disney’s SpectroMagic Parade of lights, music and magic at 10 p.m. and midnight on July 4 (on July 3, the parade will be at 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 8 a.m.-1 a.m.

Special fireworks set to a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack will be presented at Disney’s Hollywood Studios 9:50 p.m. on July 4, providing guests with a bonus nighttime entertainment extravaganza to complement Fantasmac! (This will be at 9 and 10:30 p.m.). Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

At Epcot, the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth show becomes even more dynamic on July 4 as the normal show is supplemented with a patriotic finale.  The show features colorful lasers, brilliant fireworks, dazzling special effects, and fiery torches; all choreographed to a musical score. The performance begins at 10 p.m. Earlier in the day, guests will be treated to the Voices of Liberty 4th of July Concert – featuring an expanded cast of singers plus the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps and Disney characters – at 12:30, 1:45 and 3 p.m. on the America Gardens Theatre stage. Park hours on July 4 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can enjoy all the regular attractions and shows on July 4 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.  (In my experience, animals generally do not like fireworks; mine will all be hiding under my bed. )

Have a safe & festive Independence Day!

Florida Manatee are federally protected.

We spent Father’s Day fishing off the shores of New Smyrna Beach. I couldn’t remember a time when the water was so clear! The waves were calm, so we thought the fishing would be good. Turns out we got a late start and with the water so clear, I think the fish could see us…only caught one fish. Yet the day reconfirmed that an unproductive day of fishing is still better than a productive day at work!

We did see several large manta rays gliding through the shallow waters, and then 3 large dark blobs headed our way. As they slowly approached, the creatures created quite an audience with beach-goers following them along the shore. 3 young manatee out for a swim in the shallow ocean waters. What odd, yet beautiful, creatures. Florida has the largest population of these endangered mammals – around 3,000.

When I learned that a manatee had to be rescued by SeaWorld just 4 days later, not far from where we fished, I wondered if it was one of the cows we had spotted that day. While the manatee we saw were all doing fine, it takes just one boater, or jet ski operator to change that.  Lucky for the manatee, SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Team is now caring for her with antibiotics and wonderful care. Hopefully soon she will return to her natural habitat.

There appear to be a lot of out-of-state boaters in the area, as well as a number of new boat rental business for tourists and vacationers that want to spend some time on our outstanding waters. This is great for Florida fishing; not so great for manatee. The leading known cause of death for them is by boat strikes; propellers and hulls inflicting serious or mortal wounds.

Did you know? The lifespan of a manatee in the wild is 50-60 years.

If you are boating in an area that you are unfamiliar with, take notice of the manatee zone signs. They are posted where manatee are known to be – in the warm waters of shallow rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal waters. However, with the waters so warm everywhere in Florida this time of the year, boaters should be overly cautious in shallow waters. If you spot a sick, injured, or orphaned manatee, you should immediately call the FWC at  1-888-404-FWCC (3922), *FWC or #FWC on your cellular phone, or use VHF Channel 16 on your marine radio.

SeaWorld’s rescue team will be busy this year. This particular manatee has recently been joined with nine Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles impacted by the oil spill. More animals are sure to come. Many thanks to their wonderful team!! For more information about SeaWorld’s animal education programs, visit their Animal Conservation site.

If you’d like to help, or would like to make a positive impact on Florida’s manatee this summer, why not adopt one! Learn more about these creatures by visiting Save the Manatee.

See the manatee while you are visiting and enjoy your time on the water.

The 2010 bay scallop harvesting season has opened 12 days early this year, moved from July 1^st to June 19^th.  Governor Charlie Crist is making this allowance since it is unknown if, when, and where the oil may reach more coastal areas.  (Get ‘em while the gettin’ is good!)

This is great news for those who harvest the scallops, as well as the area restaurants that keep business booming with these great-tasting delicacies.  The water in Steinhatchee, a fisherman’s paradise and one of the most popular areas, is as clear as ever and the snorkelers are having great luck getting bags and bags of scallops. Closer to Central Florida the nearest legal harvest area is off the shores of Hernando County, including Crystal River and Homosassa Bay.  Remember there are rules, which include: a daily limit of two gallons of whole scallops, or one pint of meat per person, and no more than 10 gallons whole or a half-gallon of meat per boat.  You must also have a saltwater fishing license and harvest only in certain areas.

Hopefully this early start will help yield more scallops and keep prices from rising any more than they already have.  The only Florida beaches that have been affected by the oil spill are NW Florida around the Pensacola area, and there are cleanup crews on site.  At this time, there continue to be NO beach closures and the majority of Florida’s state waters remain open to recreational fishing.

Maybe your trip to Florida didn’t originally call for a day of harvesting scallops, but since the season has opened early, why not give it a try? In a couple hours drive, you could be hoisting up your divers-down flag and harvesting a great appetizer or an entire dinner!

Happy Harvesting!

Did you know?
Vessels should maintain a distance of 300 ft. from divers-down flags.

Walt Disney World is in the midst of the biggest expansion in its history, expanding the Fantasyland section of the Magic Kingdom.  They have recently obtained permits for projects with a combined construction value of $23.2 million.   $15 million of this is the building permit to construct the Journey of the Little Mermaid ride, which will be the center of the Fantasyland expansion.  This will be an enclosed ride that will use an Omnimover system (similar to that of the Haunted Mansion).  Guests will be carried through Ariel’s underwater world featuring characters and songs from the 1989 movie.

Disney will also have areas where guests can interact with their favorite princess:   Dancing with Cinderella, or celebrating with the Good Fairies for Aurora‘s birthday. Since there will obviously be some limited appeal in terms of gender and age, the goal is to make the company’s iconic princesses appealing to a wider demographic. For example, some villains from the princesses’ movies will also be incorporated to help the area be more appealing to boys. Beyond princesses, the plans call for relocating and doubling the size of Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  The new “circus grounds” will include an interactive queue under a big-top tent to entertain children waiting in line.

In addition, Disney said it plans to update Star Tours, the Star Wars-themed simulator ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with new 3-D effects. The refurbished Star Tours will debut in 2011. The Fantasyland overhaul will be opening in phases, starting in 2012 and complete by 2013.

So while many tourists visit the new Universal’s Wizarding World over the coming months, visitors to Orlando’s theme parks have a lot to look forward to in the coming years!

Today is the big day, the Grand Opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  This 20-acre, $200 Million+ attraction is considered to be the biggest event at Universal since the opening of the Islands of Adventure park in 1999.  It’s like a theme park inside a theme park.

You are fully immersed in Potter’s World right from the beginning when entering the magical Hogwarts castle.  Even while you are waiting for its premier ride, you will be entertained in the elaborate queue that includes the Mirror of Erised, living portraits, the Dark Arts classroom, levitating candles, Dumbledore’s office and more!  The ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride’ is already getting rave reviews.  Riders travel via moving Kuka robot arms, mounted on a track, along with great animatronics and dome screens. Basically, you fly around the castle and through the Hogwarts grounds, in front of a large screen that makes you feel as if you are flying with Harry Potter.  You see spiders in the Forbidden Forest, fly over the castle, through a Quidditch game, and get chased by a dragon.  There’s even an effect in which it looks like your face is being sucked away by a Dementor!

While this ride is being dubbed as “awesome,” it may be scary for some children, so please use your discretion. Of course, the kids will love all the merchandise and the butterbeer! They can get their very own magic wand at Oleanders’ Wand Shop. If you get hungry, the Three Broomsticks restaurant features authentic British fare, including rotisserie chicken. Oh yea, and even if you don’t have to “go,” you’ll have to check out the restroom. You may hear Moaning Myrtle, the ghost of a former Hogwarts student; she tends to haunt her favorite location.  Creepy fun!

Congratulations to Universal Studios for their opening of this spectacular addition to Central Florida Theme Parks!

Don't miss the Rock n Roll Laser Light Show!

Looking for the perfect indoor activity to beat the heat or to stay dry on a rainy day?  Look no further!  The Orlando Science Center has spent over 50 years creating fun, interactive, educational activities the whole family can enjoy.  The Science Center features four floors of exciting exhibits, along with giant screen movies and live programming. The exhibits include Science On a Sphere, Kids Town, Dr. Dare’s Lab, Nature Works, the new Frogs exhibit, and many more!

Premiering June 19^th on the giant screen will be the new “Ultimate Wave: Tahiti” – a documentary film featuring nine-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater.  Viewers will get to see first-hand how waves are formed, as well as the cultural aspects of waves and wave making, plus the history of surfers in Tahiti.  Currently playing are films “Sharks” and “Amazon.”  These educational films are awesome to see on the 8,000 square foot giant screen!

Brought back by popular demand are the full-color Rock ‘n Roll laser light shows. They will run every Saturday night through August 21^st.  There are kid-friendly shows, as well as a new 1980s show, which includes music by Michael Jackson, Guns N’ Roses and U2.  Don’t miss the Classic Rock a GoGo which includes classic rock music from Bob Seger and The Doors.  At 9pm, the feature is The Beatles, and at 10pm, Pink Floyd.  (June 19^th there will only be the 10pm show due to the premiere of “Ultimate Wave: Tahiti.”)  You will not want to miss this sensory experience of bright lights, intense graphics, and great music!

This indoor attraction combines fun and knowledge under one roof and is approximately 12 miles from the Orlando tourist area.  Check the Orlando Science Center website for show times and pricing.  Even if you’re not trying to beat the heat or find an indoor activity, you will not want to miss these waves and laser lights!

Do you like roller coasters? If so, you may have already tried SeaWorld’s newest, but if you haven’t, you’ll have to try The Manta – “where under water creatures are at your fingertips.” This is SeaWorld’s newest ride, which opened May 2009 and it is a great addition to Kraken and Journey to Atlantis. Unlike other roller coasters, Manta will give you the sensation of soaring, like a stingray gliding through the open sea. Don’t just take my word for it; you’re going to have to go on this journey yourself, and believe me, you will not be disappointed.

At first you might think that Manta is like every other roller coaster, but just wait. Once you are strapped into your harness, prepare yourself, because the ride puts you in a horizontal position, looking downward, head-first.  When the coaster begins to move, the sensation of becoming one with the coaster overtook me; I felt as if I were a real stingray. I was enthralled. Then, all of a sudden, the ride flips you on your back moving at speeds up to 60 mph. Gliding, swooping and skimming waves, the Manta will take you through four inversions on a 3,359 ft. track in a little over 2 minutes. Once Manta has made its round trip back to the loading bay, without a second thought, you’ll be back in line ready to ride again!

As with all rides there comes a height requirement and this one’s no different.  Those who are 54” (137 cm) or taller will be able to cruise on.  You’ll also be required to leave your personal belongings in a locker or with a guest who may not be going on the ride.  Luckily I remembered my sunglasses just in time and grabbed them off my head. Lockers are conveniently placed around each of the rides at a cost of fifty cents. My glasses did not go with me the second or third time on the Manta!

SeaWorld offers a Fun Card for Florida and Georgia residents and also offers other guests a multi-park ticket to enjoy Aquatica, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens. You also get your 2^nd visit free with a single-day ticket. With such great deals and an awesome ride, it’s hard to pass up this Manta experience. Roller coaster lovers everywhere should definitely glide in for this one. I’ll be going again, and again, and again…

If you would like to attend the inaugural Kissimmee Bike Fest on June 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th, much of the pertinent information is noted here or at the link provided.  If you are not planning to attend, you may want to avoid the Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort area on these days since they are anticipating a large turnout of bikers.  (192 between I-4 and Parkway Blvd., about 1.5 miles East of Disney.) As always, watch out for motorcycles.

The 3-day festival will feature the Orlando Harley Drill Team. If you’ve never watched the drill team, the precision riding is definitely something to see and admire. This festival will also feature the Purrfect Angelz dance troupe, food, fun, and plenty of music.

The music lineup includes original artists Pat Travers, Point Blank, Brian Howe of Bad Company, Ferrel Webber, and the Kentucky Head Hunters.  And, there will also be some great tribute bands:

• 7 Bridges Road- Tribute to the Eagles
• Silver Bullet – Tribute to Bob Seger
• Dead or Alive – Tribute to Bon Jovi
• Paradise City – Tribute to Guns N’ Roses
• Houses of the Holy – Tribute to Led Zeppelin

There IS a cost for this event, so I’m not sure how well this will be received. Most of the other annual biker events are FREE.

The cost is:

$25.00/person/day for single day passes (no T-shirt) or
Three-day VIP pass for $45.00/person (includes a T-shirt)
Since this charge must be a “cover fee” for all the bands…they’d better be good!

Hopefully this event will be a success. With the scare of the oil spill and the Harry Potter theme park not yet open to the public, Florida sure could use more business. That is one great thing about bikers, they are usually very generous with their money.

With the Florida’s panhandle beaches showing signs of the oil spill and the west coast beaches preparing for the worst, it is necessary to educate tourists that the Orlando area could very well be the BEST place to vacation this summer! We are located inland, almost exactly half way between the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean and the west coast of the Gulf of Mexico. So – no oil ingredient found in our  ‘beach’ vacation!

Ah, but you say, where is the sand? Where are the waves; the fruity drinks with the little umbrellas; the sand castles? These are some of the ingredients many tourists feel are necessary for a great Florida vacation – even if their plans call for only one day at the beach. Well, just because Central Florida doesn’t have an ocean, it certainly doesn’t mean it doesn’t offer a “beach-style” vacation.

You can find every ingredient right here in Orlando. In fact, it may taste so good, you’ll never even know your vacation didn’t include the beach! Here is my recipe. Feel free to adjust it according to your taste.

• 2 – 3 day pass at a primary theme park (Disney, Universal or SeaWorld)
• Stir in 1 day at a secondary park or adventure (Gatorland, Fun Spot or Ripley’s Believe it or Not)
• Depending upon your budget, add a pinch (Theatre Downtown) or a pound (Cirque du Soleil – La Nouba) of sit-down entertainment
• Add 1 day at a water park (Blizzard Beach, Aquatica, Wet ‘n’ Wild or Typhoon Lagoon) for a good dose of waves and sand
• Mix in a ½ day education by visiting one of our fine museums, art/science centers gardens or zoos
• Combine ½ to 1 day at one of our beautiful lakes on either an airboat ride or scenic/fishing boating excursion
• Top it off with accommodations at a hotel with a swimming pool and pool bar (for more water and those drinks with umbrellas)
  
• Set aside my secret ingredient: Save 1 fabulous evening for eating and drinking (all you can) while enjoying Capone’s Dinner & Show, my favorite of all dinner shows

Depending upon how much ‘beach’ you want to include in your Florida vacation, you may want to check out the newly opened CoCo Key hotel/waterpark. If you don’t stay there but still want to increase the taste of ‘beach’ in your Florida Vacation Recipe, they offer day passes as low as $14.95.

As with any disaster, the oil spill will bring out the best in Florida. Orlando is ready. We’ll prove our recipe tastes great to our visitors WITHOUT the worry of oil. Whatever you do, don’t cancel your Florida vacation just because of the oil spill. The great taste of an Orlando Vacation will have you coming back for seconds!

With summer quickly approaching, things in Central Florida are really heating up – including the nightly entertainment at Walt Disney World Resort! With so many visitors seeking relief from the daytime heat and humidity, Orlando’s summer nights are a perfect opportunity to plan some additional fun.

From June 6^th through August 14^th, experience Walt Disney World Resort’s Nightastic spectacular.  At the Magic Kingdom, enjoy the Main Street Electrical Parade.  There will be some new things this year, including festive new floats inspired by Snow White and Pinocchio.  Be sure to catch the Summer Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be rockin’ with their Rock ‘n’ Glow Dance Party with “Glow Glow” dancers, live music and florescent face paint.  Don’t miss the new Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.  This already thrilling ride will give you the creeps with their new special effects.

Disney’s Epcot will feature the Sounds like Summer Concert Series. Check out live concerts featuring great tribute bands from June 12 through July 31.  They will be rocking you with classic hits from legendary music icons.

With summer time park hours extended, scheduling Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and other exciting shows while visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park should be no sweat.

Sleep in… you’re on vacation after all! Go out later when it is a little cooler.  Experience all of the nightastic events WDW has planned. This summer is sure to be a hot one, enjoy!!