Archive for October, 2011

LEGOLAND® Florida opens on October 15, 2011

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

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LEGOLAND® Florida opens on October 15, 2011 and is a 150-acre family theme park located in Winter Haven, just 45 minutes southwest of the Orlando theme parks or downtown Tampa. The family theme park will offer interactive attractions, family rides, shows, restaurants, shopping and beautiful landscape specifically geared for families with children ages 2 to12. The park is open 10am to 5pm and ticket cost is $65 plus tax for adults and $55 plus tax for children 3-12 ( opening dates and time subject to change) – for more information call Legoland Florida at (877) 350-LEGO For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page

FHSAA Girls Volleyball Finals State Championship Tournament Nov 15, 2011 – Nov 19, 2011

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

FHSAA Girls Volleyball Finals State Championship Tournament
No Outside F & B, no re-entry

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Since 1974, the Florida High School Athletic Association Girls Volleyball has featured the top athletes from Florida’s high schools.  Throughout the year, teams strategize and play with only one hope…getting to the Finals.  Well, coming in November, the FHSAA Girls Volleyball Finals is coming to Osceola Heritage Park!  The 2011 FHSAA Girls Volleyball Finals will feature 32 of the top volleyball teams in the state in a single-elimination tournament as they compete for the prestigious State Championship Title in their respective classifications.  The tournament action begins with the semifinals as four teams compete to advance to the next day’s finals in hopes of being crowned one of the eight state champions.  Come out and watch these top athletes dig, set, and spike their way to FHSAA State Championship glory!

Schedule
http://www.fhsaa.org/calendar/2011/11/15/fhsaa-girls-volleyball-finals

Tickets
Tickets will be available the day of on Ticketmaster.com  Click Here
Admission – $9 and kids 5 and under get in free.

For More Information
www.fhsaa.org

For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page 

USSSA Fall State Oct 28, 2011 – Oct 30, 2011

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

 

 

USSSA Fall State
When: Oct 28, 2011 – Oct 30, 2011
Where: Osceola County Stadium – Kissimmee
Times
8 a.m.

Tickets
$5 Daily

For More Information
http://ftb.pickorange.com/

For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page 

 

 

2011 Longhorn Fall Classic Oct 22, 2011 – Oct 23, 2011

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

2011 Longhorn Fall Classic hosted by The Squeeze Center- Home of Flip & Twist Gymnastics


There is something truly incredible about the strength of the human body, and even more captivating…the way gymnasts master that strength and turn it into a competitive art form. The Squeeze Center – Home of Flip & Twist Gymnastics is hosting the 2011 Longhorn Fall Classic and you know this is bound to be an exciting event just by its name “Flip & Twist”!  This two-day event is for gymnasts in levels 2-6 and PO 7-10.  If you want to see exciting gymnastic action, join us as we celebrate gymnasts of all ages and skill levels for this “Flashy & Thrilling” experience.

NO OUTSIDE FOOD & BEVERAGE

Tickets (on sale – day of only)
$12.00 Adults (13 yrs. & up)
$6.00 Child (4 yrs – 12 yrs.)
Children 3 yrs. & under FREE!

2 DAY PASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE – PRICE TBD.

Location
Hall A & Kissimmee Rooms

Parking(CASH ONLY)
$5.00

General Info
The SQUEEZE CENTER – Home of Flip & Twist 407-498-3165
http://www.facebook.com/#!/ohpark
http://www.flipandtwist.com

For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page 

Biketoberfest® in Daytona Beach, FL set for October 13-16, 2011

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

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An international event that attracts motorcycle enthusiasts from throughout the U.S. and Canada to the Daytona Beach area. Festivities include motorcycle races, charity rides, street festivals and expos. Biketoberfest® is a family-oriented event that gives motorcycle enthusiasts that one last ride before storing their bike away for winter. The event takes place at various locations throughout the Daytona Beach area. Biketoberfest® was designated a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event for October 2001, 2003, 2005 & 2007. Admission: Varies. October 13 through October 16, 2011.www.biketoberfest.org.
For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page

USA Street Hockey Cup Thursday October 13 – Sunday October 16, 2011

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

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Thursday October 13 – Sunday October 16, 2011

Osceola Heritage Park is proud to present the 2011 USA Street Hockey Cup! The USA Cup is an International DekHockey Tournament Association (IDTA) official event and this will be the fourth time the event is centered in Florida. The tournament will feature teams from Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Canada. We’re featuring two indoor regulation rinks with state-of-the-art MS3 Sportsurface and there is a three game guarantee for all participants. This tournament is for any and all age groups, so lace up and skate on over to be a part of this exhilarating experience! For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page

Disney Cup Fall Nationals BMX PRO Series OCT 21 – OCT 23, 2011

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

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Disney Cup Fall Nationals BMX PRO Series
OCT 21 – OCT 23
Website

Admission: $8.00
Friday-Race starts 3pm
Saturday-Race starts 11:30am
Sunday-Race starts 8am

Cheer on BMX riders as they earn points from each day of the Fall Nationals. The rider with the most points is the Disney Cup Champion in each age class.
For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page

Halloween Horror Nights – Universal Studios Orlando

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

2011 Halloween Horror Nights Overview 2010 Halloween Horror Nights Photos

You seek her… hoping she’ll be on your side. She appears…an enchanting seductress…and you decide to take a chance.

But the more chances you take, the more she craves…you. Her eyes grow cold. Her face contorts into…something that is not human. Her charming laugh turns to rabid growl. Your luck has run out. You have made your last choice.

For 25 nights beginning September 23, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights returns as the nation’s best and most intense Halloween event. Guests will confront extreme Halloween entertainment that cannot be experienced anywhere else. This year, they will scream as they become prey to fiendish creatures, panic as they come face-to-face with a horrifying “thing,” feel chills as they are haunted by deceased souls – and watch in paralyzing fear as Lady Luck transforms from a tempting seductress to a bloodthirsty beast.

Lady Luck is the force behind this year’s event, and she awaits those brave enough to challenge her and take a chance. Her main weapon is choice, and her desire is for you to make yours. But no matter what you decide, you can’t escape the terror she has in store at Halloween Horror Nights 21.

Halloween Horror Nights 21 Event Map
Halloween Horror Nights 21 Map

What is Halloween Horror Nights?
Halloween Horror Nights is Universal Orlando’s annual Halloween party, and it is one of the most popular events in Orlando. Especially if you’re a fan of horror films, this is a ‘don’t miss’ event for those looking for something a little edgier than Disney. For 25 nights this fall, Universal Studios Florida will be home to all-new haunted houses, inescapable scarezones, hundreds of frightening “scareactors” and live shows. Guests will be immersed in the horrors of years’ past and introduced to brand-new frights.

These are usually temporary structures set up specifically for the event (although, in the past, certain attractions have been converted into haunted houses for the event). Each of the houses is themed differently. As you walk thru the attraction, any number of things or people are likely to jump out at you. Don’t worry, they won’t ever touch you, but they come pretty close. In addition to the haunted houses, Universal has set up ‘scare zones’ around the park. These are usually dimly lit areas with a variety of special effects (dry ice, strobe lights), and again – any number of creatures chasing you down the street or lunging at you from behind corners wielding chainsaws.

Halloween Horror Nights 2010

2011 Event Pricing and Tickets

Advance ticket purchase:  $81.99 per person (plus tax). This is considered a ‘hard ticket’ event (meaning that it requires separate admission and is not included with your multi-day pass). Tickets can be purchased at the gate, but this event often sells out, so it is recommended to purchase them ahead of time. ORDER ONLINE HERE

Add-on options:  Guests who already have tickets to Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure may add Halloween Horror Nights admission at a discounted rate.

Saturday add-on:  $66.99 per person (plus tax)

Friday add-on: $51.99 per person (plus tax)

Sunday through Thursday add-on:  $36.99 per person (plus tax)

Florida resident advance ticket purchase: 

Sun–Thurs: $41.99
Friday: $51.99
Saturday: $66.99

Halloween Horror Nights Express

Skip the regular lines at all haunted houses, participating rides and attractions!

Sept. 23, 29, Oct. 2, 6, 19, 26 & 30: $39.99
Sept. 24, 30, Oct. 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 & 31: $59.99
October 1, 7, & 28: $69.99
October 8, 14, 21, & 29: $79.99
October 15 & 22: $89.99

These tickets are limited; advance purchase is recommended.  Express pass allows one entry per event night to each participating Express attraction, per guest.  Express pass only valid during Halloween Horror Nights event.


Frequent Fear Pass

 

Frequent Fear Pass

Universal is offering a “Frequent Fear Pass” that offers 15 nights for the price of 1 – for $81.99 (plus tax).  Frequent Fear Pass Dates are every Wed, Thurs, and Sunday nights, as well as the event’s first weekend:

Sept. 23, 24, & 29

October 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, 30, & 31, 2011

Frequent Fear Plus Pass

Offers the benefits of the Frequent Fear Pass, plus admission every Friday for $96.99 (plus tax).

Sept. 23, 24, 29, & 30

October 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, & 31 2011

Frequent Fear Pass with Express Access

This pass gives you the benefits of the Frequent Fear Pass and lets you skip the regular lines at all haunted houses and participating rides and attractions. (tickets on sale soon)

Sept. 23, 24, & 29

October 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 19, 20, 23, 26, 27, 30, & 31, 2011

These tickets are limited; advance purchase is recommended.  Express pass allows one entry per event night to each participating Express attraction, per guest.

Frequent Fear Plus Pass with Express Access

This pass gives you the benefits of the Frequent Fear Plus Pass and lets you skip the regular lines at all haunted houses and participating rides and attractions. (tickets on sale soon)

Sept. 23, 24, 29, & 30

October 2, 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 30, & 31, 2011

These tickets are limited; advance purchase is recommended.  Express pass allows one entry per event night to each participating Express attraction, per guest.


*New for 2011 – Rush of Fear Pass

Rush of Fear Pass

Get admission to Halloween Horror Nights on ALL event nights during the first three weeks for $69.99 (plus tax). Rush of Fear Valid Dates:

Sept 23, 24, 29, & 30

October 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2011

Rush of Fear Pass with Express Access

This pass gives you the benefits of the Rush of Fear Pass and lets you skip the regular lines at all haunted houses and participating rides and attractions. (tickets on sale soon)


Annual passholder (Premier, Preferred & Power) discounts:


Tickets:

First 3 Weekend Offer!
Fridays (first 3 weekends) September 23, 30, or October 7: $36.99
Saturdays (first 3 weekends) September 24, October 1 or 8: $41.99

Sunday – Thursday: $36.99
Friday Oct. 14, 21 or 28: $51.99
Saturday Oct. 15, 22 or 29: $66.99

Frequent Fear Pass:

15 nights for the price of 1 – for $66.99 (plus tax).  Frequent Fear Pass Dates are every Wed, Thurs, and Sunday nights, as well as the event’s first weekend.

Frequent Fear Plus Pass:

Offers the benefits of the Frequent Fear Pass, plus admission every Friday for $81.99 (plus tax).

Frequent Fear Pass with Express Access

This pass gives you the benefits of the Frequent Fear Pass and lets you skip the regular lines at all haunted houses and participating rides and attractions. (tickets on sale soon)

Frequent Fear Plus Pass with Express Access:

This pass gives you the benefits of the Frequent Fear Plus Pass and lets you skip the regular lines at all haunted houses and participating rides and attractions. (tickets on sale soon)

Rush of Fear Pass:

Get admission to Halloween Horror Nights on ALL event nights during the first three weeks for $54.99 (plus tax). Rush of Fear Valid Dates:

Sept 23, 24, 29, & 30

October 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2011

Rush of Fear Pass with Express Access:

This pass gives you the benefits of the Rush of Fear Pass and lets you skip the regular lines at all haunted houses and participating rides and attractions. (tickets on sale soon)

2011 Haunted Houses

Nevermore: The Madness of Poe – The madness of Edgar Allen Poe’s greatest works has come to life. Step into the mind of the iconic writer, where every turn of the page takes you closer to the brink of insanity.

The Forsaken – Four ships began Columbus’s fateful voyage, only three became legend. Condemned to a watery grave, the mutinous and cursed crew of that 4th ship has returned with a vengeance. For within the walls of a Spanish fort, a maelstrom has brought from the depths….death itself.

H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: Holidays of Horror – Join creature feature host, H.R. Bloodengutz, in his final televised broadcast as he presents a SCARE-athon of holiday-based horror that is guaranteed to cleave you screaming for more.

The Thing – Paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers in an isolated Antarctic outpost as they are infected, one by one, by a horrifying creature from another planet. In a place where there is nothing, they found something.

Saws N’ Steam: Into the Machine – Spinning blades and massive, crushing pistons await you around every corner as you are forced deeper into the bowels of a mechanical nightmare. Give yourself to “The Machine.”

The In-Between – An ominous portal reveals a 3rd dimension where all is not what it seems: a realm where our world and another collide. Surrounded by fiendish creatures, your eyes will deceive you with every step through this phantasm of terror.

Winter’s Night: The Haunting of Hawthorn Cemetery – As snow falls on this normally serene gothic cemetery, the deceased souls that occupy its confines have their sights set upon you, insuring that the chill you feel up your spine is more than just the cold of night.

Nightingales: Blood Prey – Within every war, the Nightingales have appeared. Able to transform themselves to fit any setting, these savage banshees feed on the weak and the helpless. Patrolling WWI era trenches, you discover that you are more than just at war…you’re being hunted.

2011 Inescapable Scarezones

Acid Assault – For decades now the city has been degrading from the effects of Acid Rain that still falls today, caused by factories which sprung up on the city’s edges during the 20th century. Those that have lived and survived the blistering decay are all alone in the city. Survivors have stripped the city of all life to sustain their own…dare to enter the ACID ASSAULT.

Canyon of Dark Souls
– Upon entering into the Canyon of Dark Souls, you will feel like a small spec of humanity as the overwhelming sense of death surrounds you. Creatures that dwell within the Canyon are not welcoming so walk slowly as to not disturb them.

Grown Evil
– Enter, if you dare, into our garden where Evil grows. Nature has taken this once well manicured sanctuary back from the humans who once kept it. Now the creatures that inhabit the garden are making any human that enters their prey.

NightMaze
– Journey through the ever changing maze of darkness. This all black maze will morph and change as you walk through it. You will not be scared the same way twice.

7
– As daylight shines upon our Temptresses, their appearance, though evil, allows you the spectacle of beauty. As night falls, these 7 temptresses will show their true colors and take on their true Fatal Evil forms. Beware of your own temptations.

Your Luck Has Run Out – Enter if you dare into the lair of the LUCKY! Your choices will determine if you make it out alive. Witness lucks deadly wrath, will she choose you to be her next victim?

2011 Live Shows:

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure – A MUST SEE! Party on as those two most excellent dudes return to skewer the biggest names in entertainment and pop culture.

Death Drums – A seductive, hard-hitting and raw extreme drumming experience.

Who should attend Halloween Horror Nights:

This event is geared more towards teens and adults. The theme and tone of the party is modeled after horror films, and some of the ‘players’ you’re likely to encounter will be very scary – some bordering on disturbing. If you’re comfortable watching a horror film without getting nightmares, then it’s a safe bet you’ll enjoy Halloween Horror Nights. This is definitely NOT an event that small children should attend. No costumes are allowed to be worn at Halloween Horror Nights

Halloween Horror Nights extras:
Express pass:  You can purchase an express pass to by-pass the lines on the haunted houses – but you’ll pay for it. Keep in mind that on busier nights an express pass is the difference between seeing one or two of the haunted houses or all of them. (Price varies depending on the date.)

R.I.P. Tours:  Enjoy a guided walking tour through the haunted houses and get reserved seating for Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure.  With this tour, you won’t have to wait in any lines for the haunted houses!

TIP: While the haunted houses are a blast, the lines for them aren’t. Saturday nights are by far the worst, with the average wait per house easily reaching 2 hours long. Sunday – Thurs is much less crowded, and lines early in the evening are much more manageable 15-30 minutes (on average).

For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page 

2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Thursday, October 6th, 2011

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16th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: A Passport to a World of Flavors Sept. 30-Nov. 13

Paradise Found: Tastes of Hawaii and Caribbean now on the Menu

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Exotic cocktails will pair like a tropical daydream with fresh new tastes from more than one island paradise at the 16th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 30-Nov. 13, 2011, at Walt Disney World Resort. The one-of-a-kind 45-day festival serves up international cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents, with more than 25 international marketplaces featuring tapas-sized portions paired with beer, wine and inventive new cocktails.

Marketplace tasting menus offer variety and adventure for guests on a mission to tantalize their taste buds during a scenic stroll around the 40-acre World Showcase Lagoon. The adventure can take them to the festival’s first Hawaii marketplace, which will cook up Kalua pork sliders and tuna poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips to team with a refreshing Seven Tiki Mai Tai or a Kona Longboard or Pipeline beer. A new Caribbean Islands marketplace will serve ropa vieja with rice and jerk-spiced chicken with mango salsa. A beverage menu featuring a frozen Dragon Berry Colada and frozen Rock Coconut Mojito is sure to conjure steel-drum fantasies.

With a swing across the Atlantic, guests will be transported to the new Portugal marketplace, where the Portugal Wine Bar will offer best sips to pair with calamari salad with olives and smoked paprika. The Scandinavia marketplace will return after a hiatus with a fresh new Xante Sunshine cocktail made from Xante pear and cognac liquer. And the Canada marketplace will introduce a sweet treat: apple ice wine.

Disney and celebrity chefs will team with winemakers and brew masters from around the world to get the party started Sept. 30. During the six-week festival, guests will discover:

  • Three new tasting marketplaces — Hawaii, Caribbean Islands and Portugal — plus new menu offerings at popular returning marketplaces
  • Celebrity chef appearances starring top culinarians like Jeff Henderson, Cat Cora, Alan Wong, Gale Gand, Suvir Saran, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Celina Tio, Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro, Warren Brown, Art Smith, Keegan Gerhard and more.
  • First-ever HGTV home entertaining seminars each Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
  • The Cranberry Bog display by Craisins telling the story behind the venerable cranberry’s rich agricultural heritage.
  • Daily wine seminars, bottle signings, author events and culinary demonstrations at the Festival Welcome Center.
  • Eat to the Beat! concerts three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre.

New Sips, Fresh Bites

Festival guests can make a day of circumnavigating the World Showcase Promenade, grazing and sipping as they go. Tapas-sized portions of regional specialties run $3 to $8 each, and recommended wines, cocktails and beers make perfect pairings at each marketplace. For quicker marketplace visits, guests can purchase a festival-themed mini-Disney Gift Card that can be worn on a wristband and loaded and reloaded at several park locations.

Live daily entertainment showcases many cultures with music, acrobatics and improv performances along the promenade. Evening Eat to the Beat! concerts at America Gardens Theatre feature acts from many musical genres. Appearing for the first time on the Eat to the Beat! stage are The Pointer Sisters, The Orchestra starring former members of ELO and Gin Blossoms. Fan favorite Taylor Dayne kicks off the festival Sept. 30-Oct. 2, and crowd pleaser Big Bad Voodoo Daddy wraps the event Nov. 11-13.

The festival attracts a diverse audience — from wine connoisseurs and epicures to novices wishing to boost their culinary IQs. Special culinary programs showcase a lineup of renowned winemakers, guest chefs and speakers participating in elegant dinners, luncheons, seminars and wine schools.

Festival highlights include:

  • The Festival Welcome Center, with a Wine Bar, Authentic Taste Seminars, Authors Without Borders weekend conversations and more.
  • More than 270 chefs including Disney chefs and culinary stars from across the country conducting culinary demonstrations and hosting dinners and tasting events.
  • A complimentary Marketplace Discovery Passport to be stamped at each international marketplace visited for the perfect scrapbook souvenir.
  • Popular returning events that include First Bites Opening Reception on Sept. 29; Kitchen Memories (formerly Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen); Mixology Seminar; and “3D” Disney Dessert Discovery.
  • The weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting event beginning Oct. 8 and with a new Saturday evening time of 7:30-10 p.m. featuring tempting bites from eminent chefs, more than 50 wines and beers and live entertainment presented by Cirque du Soleil.

Festival guests can enjoy fresh Epcot experiences including the latest Future World high-tech fun at Innoventions and the celebrated return of “Captain EO,” the classic musical 3-D production starring Michael Jackson in a rare big-screen performance. In World Showcase, new and recently updated restaurants welcome guests at the Italy, Japan, Mexico and China pavilions.

What’s Included with Epcot Admission:

Authentic Taste seminars and Authors Without Borders programs with special book signings at the Festival Center, Eat to the Beat! concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Special Programming by Reservation:

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) to make reservations. Information and reservations for select events and programs are available at disneyworld.com/foodandwine.

For Great Savings on Accommodations please visit our Specials page