The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Orlando has announced their line-up for the Eat to the Beat Concert series. 

The full line-up for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series:

• 9/28-9/30: Night Ranger
• 10/1-10/3: Sugar Ray
• 10/4- 10/7: STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas
• 10/8-10/10: Boyz II Men
• 10/11-10/12: Smash Mouth
• 10/13-10/14: Javier Colon, winner of “The Voice”
• 10/15-10/17: Air Supply
• 10/18-10/19: Gin Blossoms
• 10/20-10/21: Survivor
• 10/22-10/23: Hanson
• 10/24-10/25: The Pointer Sisters
• 10/26-10/28: Sister Hazel
• 10/29-10/31: Billy Ocean
• 11/1-11/2: 38 Special
• 11/3-11/4: Howard Jones LIVE
• 11/5-11/6: Blues Traveler
• 11/7-11/8: Dennis DeYoung

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is scheduled for September 28-November 11, 2012. All concert are included with the purchase of Disney World tickets. 

Epcot is presenting an entirely new adventure for you this summer.  Disney’s Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure is based on the secret-agent alter ego of Perry the Platypus, faithful pet to the title characters of Phineas & Ferb.  Perry may seem like a simple pet to Phineas and Ferb, but he turns into Agent P each episode to help stop the misguided plans of his nemesis, Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

Guests who experience Agent P’s Showcase Adventure will transform into secret agents to help Agent P thwart some of Dr. Doofenschmirtz’s most dangerous plots.  Agents will use a high-tech secret agent device to receive clues for each case.  Solving the clues takes agents to different places throughout the seven world showcase countries at Epcot. 

Disney’s Phineas & Ferb: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure will replace Disney Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure.

SeaWorld has just opened TurtleTrek, a 3D 360 experience, and now more details have been released on their next project – Antarctica – Empire of the Penguin.

Antarctica is SeaWorld Orlando’s largest ever expansion.  Schedule to open in 2013, the attraction will surround guests with the sights and sounds found in Antarctica and take them on a one-of-a-kind ride.  The perspective will be through the eyes of a penguin and be highlighted by state-of-the-art technologies for adventures that are different every time.

Details revealed include:

• A first-of-its-kind family adventure ride that utilizes new technology for an experience that can change from visit to visit. Designers also revealed that guests will be able to choose the level of thrill they experience on the ride. Each car seats eight guests.

• Guests will be introduced to a new SeaWorld star – a young gentoo penguin. The young gentoo becomes the ride’s guide and leads guests on an exciting journey through the dangers and beauty of the Antarctic.

• Antarctica guests will get closer than ever – and out among – its colony of penguins including gentoos, rockhoppers, adelies and kings. How close has yet to be detailed, but designers consider the guests’ encounters with the penguins to be the first of their kind in any theme park or zoo in the world.

• Immersing guests in a colony of penguins means this will be the coldest theme park attraction in the world. Designers have declined comment on the engineering it will take to place SeaWorld guests among a colony of penguins whose habitat must stay in the low 30 degrees for comfort.

• The footprint for the new themed land is the biggest of any expansion at a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park. Antarctica’s scope will include the ride, penguin habitat, gift shop and restaurant.

Universal Orlando Resort has been unveiling new attractions all year long as part of their Year to be Here event.  The theme park recently debuted Universal’s Superstar Parade and Cinematic Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories and have even more planned for this summer.  Earlier this year, the revamped Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man opened as did a new Blue Man Group show. 

Opening Summer 2012:

• Join Gru and the Despicable Me Minions on the all-new 3D ride, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, only at Universal Studios.
• Treat yourself to dinner and a show at Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular Dining Experience.
• Splash into Universal’s water park – Wet ‘n Wild – for all-new thrills on the Blastaway Beach attraction.

Curious what the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride is like?  Here’s the scoop:

Guests will go on an unforgettable 3-D adventure with their favorite characters from the hit film – Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes and the mischievous minions. The experience begins when guests enter Gru’s home, where they learn that they’re being recruited to become minions and undergo “minion training.” Things don’t go as planned, and guests find themselves on a wildly hysterical journey with Gru and his daughters. Once guests make it through training, they join an interactive, minion-inspired dance party where they can show off their best moves.

Purchase Universal Studios Orlando tickets today to see why this is the Year To Be Here!

Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom is becoming bigger and better than ever before.  The expansion is the largest in Magic Kingdom history and once the project is complete, Fantasyland will nearly double in size.  The renovated theme park land will immerse guests in Disney stories and bring them to life a new, innovative ways.  Fantasyland will debut a new home for Ariel, from The Little Mermaid; feature new ways to interact with Disney princesses; a new family roller coaster; two flying Dumbo’s; the “Be Our Guest” Restaurant at Beast’s Castle and much, much more.

The Disney World Fantasyland project is being constructed in phases.  Here’s a quick update on when you can expect attractions to open:

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant has reopened at Fantasyland and will be joined by a second Flying Dumbo, which will fly counterclockwise, in July 2012.  This attraction will also have a new indoor interactive area, creating a queue that makes standing in line entertaining.
• At Storybook Circus the classic Barnstormer Goofy now features Goofy as the Great Goofini.  The ride takes families on a “coaster flight” above the circs and is now open.
• The Fantasyland Train Station , designed with a country cottage theme, is open, making Fantasyland once again a stop on the Walt Disney World Railroad.
• The Casey Jr. Splash ‘n Soak Station opens July 2012.

Holidays 2012 will see the opening of:

• Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Enchanted Tales with Belle
• Be Our Guest Restaurant
• Gaston’s Tavern
• Ariel’s Grotto

In 2014, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will open.

Image copyright: Disney/Pixar

Rev up your engines Cars fans as Car Masters Weekend returns to Disney World Orlando June 2-3, 2012.  The Downtown Disney event celebrates everything Cars.  Meet and greets with Lightning McQueen, Mater and Finn McMissile are planned, as well as a movie marathon at AMC Downtown Disney with showings of Cars and Cars 2.

Fans can test drive Ridemakerz model cars and enjoy a car show presented by Hess that will feature more than 100 classic, muscle and exotic cars.  GM will also have their newest cars on display.  This year’s Car Masters Weekend will include an appearance by automotive designer Chip Foose, a LEGO interactive zone, Cars-themed topiaries, a DJ and food trucks.

Come out to Downtown Disney for a winning weekend of Cars. 

Walt Disney World is hosting a special summer version of The Magic, The Memories and You! 

Starting May 25, Disney Channel stars Phineas and Ferb will kick off a summer celebration featuring the beach, the jungle and a visit under the sea.  And, all of it plays out on Cinderella’s Castle.  This is the newest version of the award-winning The Magic, The Memories and You!, a projection show that has wowed audiences again and again since opening over a year ago.

The nighttime display is 10 minutes in length and is made even more special as it features photos of guests captured in the park that very day.  Projected on the spires and towers of Cinderella’s Castle, the dazzling spectacle is a great way to end your memory-making day at Disney World.

Purchase your discount Disney tickets today to enjoy this show and more!

Experience Summer Nights at SeaWorld Orlando for spectacular fun when the sun sets.  The park is hosting Summer Nights June 23 through August 12, 2012.

This nighttime festivities will feature three amazing shows:

Shamu Rocks – Rock the Night away with Shamu.  More splashing and more flash add to this dazzling show with a rock concert theme. 

Sea Lions Tonite – Sea Lions Tonite features the uproarious sea lion and otter duo Clyde and Seamore.

Reflections – A grand finale fireworks and fountain show you watch along the Waterfront Village or seated at Bayside Stadium. 

All three are sure to be the perfect end to your day at SeaWorld.

Manta, SeaWorld’s signature roller coaster, will also be open for rides under the stars. You’ll be able to experience this one-of-a-kind roller coaster under the stars.

Purchase your SeaWorld tickets today to reserve your family fun. Save $10 off adult and kids’ SeaWorld tickets, plus with your ticket purchase you get two days for the price of one!

Photo credit: Discovery Cove

SeaWorld Orlando’s Discovery Cove is a limited admission tropical resort where guests can swim with dolphins, hand feed tropical birds, snorkel among colorful fish and rays and relax on sandy beaches.  Soon, they will be opening Freshwater Oasis, an all-new attraction featuring swimming and wading adventures and face-to-face encounters with Asian otters and marmosets.  


The unique design of the Freshwater Oasis combines a rainforest canopy and sparkling springs where guests can relax and explore.  They can wade through a rain-forest spring as small marmoset monkey’s play in the canopy above them.  There will be no glass separating the monkeys from guests, giving a true look into their world.  Most of the water in the springs is waist-deep or shallower, perfect for families.  The Asian otters play their way around Freshwater Oasis and you can experience their lively energy up-close and personal without ever having to leave the water.  Visitors can also enter a faux sinkhole and swim alongside Asian river otters. The area will include secluded, private beaches and a swim-up lounge named Flooded Terrace.

Limited to only 1,000 guests per day, Discovery Cove requires advance reservation.  Find more information at Discover Cove’s website.  Create an Orlando vacation by adding SeaWorld tickets to your day at Discovery Cove.  Right now, you can save $10 on adults and kids’ SeaWorld tickets.  Plus, the second day is FREE!

SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction – TurtleTrek – has officially opened.  Immersive in design, the attraction features the world’s first 3D 360 degree dome theater experience, plus dozens of live sea turtles and manatees in naturalistic habitats.  The unique blend of up-close encounters and state-of-the-art entertainment has created one of Orlando’s must-see summer attractions.

The TurtleTrek experience at SeaWorld starts with a visit to two natural habitats highlighting manatees and sea turtles.  After observing the animals and learning about why each is so important, guests enter the 3D dome.  Surrounded by a hyper-realistic, 3D 360 degree film visitors are taken on a journey of special sea turtle named Nyah.  The completely immersive film gives a turtle’s eye view of the ocean’s wonders, creating an epic adventure for all.

An important message is also included.  “Do a little, do a lot, but join us and do something to help the world and its animals.” 

SeaWorld tickets give you access to this attraction and more than 200 acres of animal encounters along with exciting attractions and lavish shows not available anywhere else.