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Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney's Magic Kingdom Disney World's Annual Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Event Dates & Info

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a special event that is held each winter on select nights at Disney's Magic Kingdom that requires a seperate ticket to attend...This event is filled with a Holly Jolly Holiday Parade, Fireworks & Live Entertainment.

The event will be held from 7pm - 12am on the following dates in 2009:

November 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 29
December 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18

View all of our Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Vacation Packages and have a chance to see Magic Kingdom theme park all decked out for Christmas as you celebrate the yuletide magic with the ones you love, and join in a festive special event that is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party features:

  • The enchanted Castle Dream Lights at Cinderella's Castle
  • Mickey's Once Upon A Christmastime Parade, complete with a special appearance by Santa Claus himself.
  • An exclusive holiday fireworks extravaganza - Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season
  • Live entertainment featuring Disney Characters
  • Meet and greet opportunities throughout Magic Kingdom theme park with some of your favorite Disney Characters
  • Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa
  • A magical snow fall on Main Street, U.S.A.
  • Many of the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions

Tickets may be purchased in advance and the event can sell out. Standard Magic Kingdom theme park admission tickets will not allow Guests to attend Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

Click here for a couple of video's from last years Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade that we hope you enjoy!

Universal Holding Auditions for Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Open casting calls for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure

The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine

If you're looking forward to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening at Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010 and wish you could conjure up a way to be part of the magic, you will soon have your chance.

Thanks to a post on Orlando United, we've learned that Universal Orlando is holding open casting calls for atmosphere roles as part of the Wizarding World. They're looking for male and female actors who can speak with a British accent. More specifically, Universal is holding calls for male actors with strong improv and interaction skills who are able to portray an age range of mid-thiries to mid-forties. In addition, they're casting male and female actors who are youthful in appearance.

Casting is being held on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. in the Universal Orlando Human Resources Lobby at 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, Orlando, FL 32819.

Full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions are available. All actors should prepare a one-minute monologue for audition and candidates must be available for callbacks on Monday, Nov. 16 and rehearsals beginning in January.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been announced to be opening in Spring 2010 so it's good news that Universal has finally begun its casting process.

Still haven't got tickets or your Universal Orlando Vacation Package yet? Then check out our website for all your Universal needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com

Disney's Magic Kingdom Welcomes Princess Tiana

Princess Tiana makes her official Magic Kingdom debut at Disney World with a special welcome and Showboat Jubilee

Princess Tiana at Disney's Magic Kingdom

The following article & video's ar courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine

A host of Disney characters welcomed Princess Tiana this morning following her horse-drawn carriage ride to Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. Tiana is featured in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated film "The Princess and the Frog" which marks Disney's return to traditional 2-D hand-drawn animation.

 Princess Tiana at Disney's Magic Kingdom  Princess Tiana at Disney's Magic Kingdom 

Today's special welcome was a one-time event in honor of Disney's newest princess making her way to Walt Disney World's most magical theme park. Here's a video of the welcome ceremony:

 

Shortly thereafter, the official premiere performance of Tiana's Showboat Jubilee took place. Following a jazz-filled procession through Frontierland and Liberty Square, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Dr. Facilier, and Louis the alligator performed with dancers, musicians, and even park guests in a live musical production that takes place on board the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Belle riverboat.

Here's video of a complete show of Tiana's Showboat Jubilee, including the processional beforehand:

 

The processional leads characters onto the Liberty Belle which then paddlewheels her way from the dock in Liberty Square toward Frontierland, stopping by the bridge in front of Splash Mountain where a song-filled performance is delivered to watching guests. Nearly two dozen Disney dancers join 30 randomly-chosen park guests to be part of each show. Guests are not necessarily chosen near the riverboat but throughout the park.

 Princess Tiana at Disney's Magic Kingdom  Princess Tiana at Disney's Magic Kingdom 

Still haven't got tickets yet for Magic Kingdom or haven't got your Disney Vacation Package? Then check out our website for all your Disney Vacations needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com

Disney's Christmas Day Parade 2009

Sign up to attend the 2009 Disney World Christmas Day Parade

 

Disney World Christmas Day Parade
Following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine

It's a well-known "secret" that Disney's annual Christmas Day Parade is actually taped a few weeks before Christmas Day. This year, it's being taped at the Magic Kingdom on Dec. 3, 4, and 5 (Thursday - Saturday).

Registration is now open for anyone who wants to sign up to be part of the crowd and watch the taping. You can register by following this link.

On Dec. 3 and 4, guest star performances will be shot on Cinderella's Castle Stage and Main Street USA for the show. On Dec. 5, the parade itself will be shot featuring Disney Characters and guest star performances along Main Street USA. In the past, stars performing have included the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Jessica Simpson, Katherine McPhee, the cast of "Dancing with the Stars," and many more. The whole event has been hosted by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, though they are generally only present while shooting the parade down Main Street USA.

Here are a few more details about the taping:

Cost: Registration is free.

Online Registration Ends: December 2, 2009 12:00 AM Pacific Time

There is no age restriction on who can attend the taping. Up to 8 people are allowed to attend per family.Children 2 and under will not need a ticket and do not need to be included in the count.

The shoot will start as early as 7:30 a.m. but generally lasts throughout most of the day. Space is available on a first-come basis. If you arrive late on the day of the taping, you will not be guaranteed admission into the park. Word of warning: It can get very cramped in the reserved spaces.

If you decide to visit the Magic Kingdom that day without signing up for the taping, it is still possible to watch the show, but you will not be allowed into the special reserved areas and will be required to keep moving along the sidewalks.

Here's a brief video we shot during the 2007 Christmas Day parade taping:


Still haven't got tickets yet to visit Disney World or haven't got your Disney Vacation Package for Magic Kingdom? Then check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Disney Vacations needs.

Visit Real Life Harry Potter Wizarding World Locations

Can't wait for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Open? Visit Harry Potter Landmarks

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is coming to Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure next spring. But if you just can't wait that long to see a bit of the Wizarding World in person, travel Web sites Skyscanner & Orlando Attractions Magazine has released these top 12 real life locations for experiencing a bit of the Wizarding World.

1. Kings Cross Station (London, England, UK)

Wizarding World: The famed Platform 9 ¾ is where Harry and his wizarding pals hop aboard the steaming Hogwarts Express at the start of each term on their way to their magical school.

Muggle World: The actual platform used for filming was Platform 4 in London Kings Cross station, but Network Rail have erected a Platform 9 ¾ sign and a luggage trolley magically disappearing into the wall to honour the story, which has made Kings Cross station a must see for fans on the Potter circuit.

2. Goathland, North Yorkshire, (England, UK)

Wizarding World: Hogsmeade Station is the place where Harry and friends disembark the Hogwarts Express before making the onward journey to Hogwarts School.

Muggle World: Goathland station is a real station in North Yorkshire, England, that was used as the film set for Hogsmeade and Potter fans still flock to get their pictures taken at this now famous landmark. Unfortunately you won't see Hogwarts in the distance - it was created using special effects.

3. Alnwick Castle (England, UK)

Wizarding World: The grounds outside Hogwarts where Harry and his classmates have their first ever broomstick flying lesson.

Muggle World: The second largest inhabited castle in England after Windsor Castle, it was used in the filming of the exterior of Hogwarts for the flying lesson scene as well as when Harry crash lands the flying car. Several other locations were also used to film parts of Hogwarts including: Christ Church, Oxford, Durham Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral and Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire.

4. London Zoo (England, UK)

Wizarding World: The place where Harry realizes he is a Parselmouth - i.e. fluent in snake speak - during "Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone."

Muggle World: The reptile house in the London Zoo was used to film this slithery scene. Why not see if you can discuss the latest in reptilian fashion with a boa constrictor too?

5. Scotland (UK)

Wizarding World: Though never specifically mentioned in the books, JK Rowling has remarked in interviews that Scotland was the logical setting for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the place where the vast majority of Harry and company's adventures take place.

Muggle World: Scotland is well known for its castles, mansions and noble houses, all of which may have provided Rowling with inspiration for Hogwarts. Glen Nevis was used for some of the Quidditch scenes, and the West Highland Railway was used to film the journey of the Hogwarts Express which also takes in the incredible Glenfinnan Viaduct.

6. Bulgaria

Wizarding World: Bulgaria is home to Durmstrang Institute's wizarding student and international Quidditch champion, Viktor Krum.

Muggle World: Bulgaria's White Brotherhood - a group who believe in supernatural beings of great power, collect in the Seven Lakes region of the Rila Mountains to perform a spiritual dance every year. Here, over a thousand people dressed in white robes move slowly around in huge concentric circles. The spectacle is so impressive that Monty Python star and world traveler, Michael Palin, visited to area to film it for his BBC documentary series, New Europe.

7. Ireland

Wizarding World: The Emerald Isle is home to many magical creatures in the Potter Universe including Imps, (small mischievous creatures), Porlocks, (horse guardians from southern Ireland) and Kelpies (water demons). Ireland is also well known in the wizarding world for being the proud winners of the 1994 Quidditch World Cup.

Muggle World: Catch a hurling match, which is about as close as a Muggles can get to the sport of Quidditch. A hugely popular sport in Ireland, most towns have a hurling field and team.

8. Wales (UK)

Wizarding World: Home to the "Welsh Green" dragon, this species prefers to nest in high mountain regions. It mainly hunts sheep and small mammals but tends to avoid human contact.

Muggle World: Climb Wales' highest and most famous mountain, Snowdon. A typical climbing party takes around five to six hours to reach the summit and come down again, and if you keep your eyes peeled, you may just catch a glance of a Welsh Green. Pembrokeshire in Wales is also the film location for Shell Cottage, home of married couple Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour which will be featured in the "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows" film.

9. Norway

Wizarding World: Home to the native Norwegian Ridgeback dragon which inhabits the northern mountains, this beast has venomous fangs and feeds on large animals and sometimes aquatic mammals. Hagrid succeeds in hatching a Norwegian Ridgeback egg but eventually gives it to Charlie Weasley who takes the dragon to the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary.

Muggle World: Norway's mountains and fjords are a paradise for wildlife; we don't know about dragons, but trolls are a strong part of Norse mythology, said to be devious and fearsome creatures living underground in hills, caves or mountains.

10. Romania

Wizarding World: this eastern European country is home to the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, a preservation area created for the protection and study of dragons. The largest dragon sanctuary in the Potter universe, it was the preferred supplier of dragons for the Triwizard Tournament.

Muggle World: Transylvania in Romania is well known for its spooky, reputedly haunted castles. Ever since Bram Stoker used it as the setting for his Dracula novel, the region has been shrouded in supernatural folklore and associated with vampires, who also form part of the wizarding world in the Potter series.

11. Wollongong (Australia)

Wizarding World: Home to the Woollongong Warriors, one of the strongest Quidditch teams in the Harry Potter Universe and dominators of the Australian Quidditch league, their rivalry with the Thundelarra Thunderers is legendary amongst the Australian magical community as documented in JK's book: Quidditch Through the Ages.

Muggle World: Woollongong is an obvious reference to very similar sounding Wollongong, a city in New South Wales, Australia, noted for its numerous surfing beaches, scenery and botanic gardens, so no doubt an ideal place for wizards to obtain essential ingredients for their potions.

12. Edinburgh (Scotland, UK)

No Harry Potter fan can omit Edinburgh as part of their tour. It was in this fine city (which is also home of Skyscanner) that JK Rowling completed the first book in her series - "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" - reputedly doing much of the writing in cafes around the city. To the dismay of Potter fans, one of her favourite spots, Nicolson's Café, has since turned into an all-you-can eat Chinese restaurant. However, another one of JK's haunts, The Elephant House still stands and a coffee with a bagel here is a must for any Potter Fan.

Other Venues in the Potter Universe
Numerous other buildings were used for film locations including Bodleian Library, Oxford (Hogwarts interiors), Australia House, The Strand London (Gringott's Bank), Martins Heron, Berkshire (Privet Drive) and Leadenhall Market, London (Diagon Alley).

Still haven't got tickets yet to visit Harry Potter and the Wizarding World or your Vacation Package for next year? Visit our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com to book your Universal Orlando Vacation Package.

The Sum of all Thrills at Disney's Epcot

The Sum of all Thrills at Disney's Epcot

New Attraction & Ride Opened Yesterday at Disney's Epcot "The Sum of all Thrills"

The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine.

The Sum of all Thrills, a new attraction and ride sponsored by Raytheon, opened today at Disney World's Innoventions East at Epcot.

The Sum of all Thrills lets guests create their own ride experience by choosing a ride theme: a roller coaster, bobsled or jet plane. Using multi-touch object recognition tables, guests use math and engineering-based tools to design and customize their ride by adding corkscrews, inversions or steep hills. In the process, guests can learn a little bit about mathematical and engineering principles to determine how much energy is needed for a jet to take off or for a roller coaster or bobsled to make it up its first climb.

When the design of the ride is complete, it is saved on a personal card with a unique bar code. The card is then used to allow each guest to experience his or her custom ride from beginning to end on the robotic KUKA RoboSim 4-D simulator.

Disney previously utilized KUKA robotic arms in their "Rockin' Robots" exhibit also within Innoventions. This particular KUKA RoboSim arm is currently in use in one other United States theme park, this is the first installation combining the robot arm technology with the video simulator and hood. It has also been widely-rumored that Universal Orlando will be using a KUKA robotic arm in its upcoming Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction, though KUKA representatives would not comment on that today.

Inside the simulator, guests experience their ride on high definition video with stereo sound and a fan to simulate wind.

Before reading thoughts on the Sum of All Thrills experience, learn more about the new attraction and the KUKA RoboSim ride system in the following video featuring show producer for Walt Disney Imagineering Eric Goodman, concept designer for Walt Disney Imagineering Brent Strong, director of new market development for KUKA Robotics Michael Beaupre, and vice president of corporate communications for Raytheon Pam Wickham:

There are eight design tables and four robotic arms which each hold two people. Up to three people can experience the same designed ride (utilizing two arms simultaneously). If you're happy with your design, you can keep your card and return to reride the same ride for up to six months.

 The Summ of all Thrills at Disney World's Epcot The Sum of all Thrills at Disney World's Epcot

The ride experience and viewing screen graphics are similar to CyberSpace Mountain at DisneyQuest. Don't expect photo-realism here. Instead, the graphics are more cartoon-like, as shown in the image above.

We rode the Sum of All Thrills five times this morning with varying thrill levels. At the end of each ride, you are literally presented with a "sum of all thrills" in numerical form, rating the various elements you rode. If you don't select any inversions and pick the most basic track elements, your "sum" will likely be in the 200s and your ride will be rather tame, though still somewhat entertaining. The maximum "sum" we received was in the 1,200s for a jet plane ride that included six inversions and a number of thrilling maneuvers. A ride in the 200s feels less thrilling than Big Thunder Mountain, so almost anyone meeting the height and safety requirements should be able to enjoy this experience.Guests must be 48 inches or taller to ride, 54 inches or taller if the designed ride includes inversions. The seats don't fit all body types. Outside of the attraction are two sample seats for guests to try. The hood and screen must come down to a certain point before guests will be able to ride so larger guests may not be able to experience The Sum of All Thrills.

Since the ride system's visually separates riders from the world around them, the feeling of being moved around on the end of a giant robot arm is minimal. Instead, you feel like you're safely seated in a chair that's rolling, pitching, and flipping you upside down. The ride looks more intense from the outside than it feels once you're experiencing it. But that's not to say that six inversions won't make the blood rush to your head.

Overall, The Sum of All Thrills is better than most (if not all) Innoventions exhibits but not quite up there with Epcot's best rides and attractions. The screen inside the hood is smaller than we would have liked. It seems to only be somewhere around a 15-20″ screen, which isn't large enough for a totally immersive experience. But as Innoventions' first ride, it serves its purpose of being entertaining, exciting, and even teaches guests a little something about math. And given the popularity of DisneyQuest's CyberSpace Mountain, The Sum of All Thrills will likely prove to be a winner, especially with the teenage crowd.

In addition to the attraction at Epcot, Raytheon also unveiled a virtual Sum of all Thrills experience online at MathMovesU.com. The Sum of all Thrills world, aimed at middle school students, combines the three ride elements of the theme park experience into one multidimensional ride. Students answer math-related questions to unlock elements that enable them to build their own ride online.

"Sum of all Thrills is an example of how Raytheon is using innovation to encourage students to develop and sustain an interest in math and science," said William H. Swanson, chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company. "By experiencing the ‘thrill' of math in this environment, students have the opportunity first hand to feel the excitement and possibilities of careers that are possible with math and science. We hope young people and adults alike will enjoy this innovative experience."

Still haven't got tickets or a Disney Vacation Package to Epcot yet? Then check out our website for all your Disney World needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com

Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter Update

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Construction Update at Universal's Islands of Adventure, Video and Photos

The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine

It's time again for an update on the construction of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure. There's a lot more to see since our last update as Hogwart's Castle is starting to really look like a castle. The new area of the park is set to open next spring.

Let's start with our first video update, then some photos for a more detailed look, then we'll end with a video from the land's designers walking us through the whole area.

This building, seen from the bridge from The Lost Continent to Jurassic Park, will be the Three Broomsticks restaurant. To the right is Zonko's joke shop, which will be on your left as you enter the Wizarding World.

 Wizarding World of Harry Potter  Wizarding World of Harry Potter 

The best view of the castle is as you're leaving Dueling Dragons. But this view will eventually be going away when they close the ride to start converting it to Dragon Challenge.

 Wizarding World of Harry Potter Wizarding World of Harry Potter
  
 

You can also see the queue area for the already closed Flying Unicorn ride from the Dueling Dragons queue. Flying Unicorn will become Flight of the Hippogriff.

 Wizarding World of Harry Potter  Wizarding World of Harry Potter

So, there you have it...The latest update for Harry Potter and the Wizarding World at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure set to open next year....

Still haven't got tickets yet or a vacation package to Universal Studios? Then check out our web site for all your Universal Studios Orlando needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com

SeaWorld Orlando Theme Park Being Sold

Blackstone Group to Purchase SeaWorld Orlando for up to $2.7 Billion

SeaWorld Orlando & Shamu
The Following Article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine

Anheuser-Busch InBev and The Blackstone Group announced today that Anheuser-Busch InBev will sell its entertainment business to Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P. for up to $2.7 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Blackstone will acquire Anheuser-Busch InBev's wholly owned subsidiary, Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC), the second largest entertainment park operator in the United States with approximately 25 million annual visitors

The purchase includes:

* SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida
* Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa Bay, Florida
* Two more SeaWorld parks in San Antonio, Texas and San Diego, California
* Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia
* Other Busch/InBev-owned family entertainment attractions in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

In addition to the new purchase, Blackstone also currently owns 50 percent of the Universal Orlando theme parks. The firm also owns Merlin Entertainments Group, which owns Legoland theme parks, Madame Tussauds Wax Museums, The London Eye and more.

Worlds of Discovery President Jim Atchison made this statement:

"A short time ago, Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P., an investor fund advised by The Blackstone Group, announced that it had reached agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev to purchase the company's entertainment park division, Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC). While you may have never heard of BEC, if you are reading these words you know who we are.

"BEC operates 10 Worlds of Discovery - SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Discovery Cove, Aquatica, Sesame Place, Adventure Island and Water Country USA - some of the best-known and most-loved entertainment parks in the world today. More than 25,000 men and women make up our team. Each is dedicated to providing you the very finest family entertainment experiences and service anywhere.

"For all of us at Worlds of Discovery, this is an exciting development. This new phase in our history is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the principles that have guided us for the last 50 years. This is also our opportunity to make a promise to you. We pledge to deliver an experience that exceeds your expectations; an experience that brings you closer to those you love; an experience that is as enriching as it is thrilling and fun.

"Visit a Worlds of Discovery park. If it isn't everything you hoped it would be, contact us. We'll refund your admission. On behalf of the Worlds of Discovery team, thank you for your interest in our great parks. We hope to see you soon in one of our Worlds of Discovery."

Carlos Brito, Chief Executive Officer of Anheuser-Busch InBev, said:

"Busch Entertainment Corporation is a high performing asset with a world-class management team, but not a core business for Anheuser-Busch InBev. We are pleased to have reached an agreement with a buyer who understands the industry and has a strategic vision for the business. The sale of BEC represents another important milestone in our commitment to de-leverage the company and will also allow us to continue to focus on our core brewing business. "The Blackstone Group is a preeminent private equity firm and we are very happy to have reached an agreement with Blackstone. We have great respect for BEC's management and employees and know they will continue to prosper under Blackstone's ownership."

Joseph Baratta, Senior Managing Director of The Blackstone Group, said:

"We have long admired the Busch Entertainment Corporation parks. They are the premier collection of entertainment parks in the United States and offer a unique family experience. We are pleased to have the opportunity to acquire this business. We have deep sector experience and look forward to working with the excellent BEC management team to continue to invest in and grow the company."

Still haven't got tickets yet to visit SeaWorld Orlando? Then check out our website for all your SeaWorld Vacations & Ticket needs at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com


Disney World "Give A Day - Get A Disney Day"

Disney World 2010 Promotion Offers Volunteers a Free Day

 

Disney World Volunteer Photo

 

 

The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine

Today Disney announced a new program that celebrates the spirit of volunteer service with a simple proposition: "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day."

Disney World hopes to inspire families to volunteer in their communities during 2010 through this first-of-its-kind program. One million people who perform volunteer service for a participating organization will receive a free one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park.

While the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program kicks off Jan. 1, 2010, you can learn more about the program and how to get your free one-day admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme park by visiting www.DisneyParks.com or www.DisneyParks.ca (Canada).

This year, guests were given one free allowed into Disney World for free on their birthday as part of the "What Will You Celebrate?" campaign.

"In 2010, we want to recognize and add one more reason for celebration: the contributions people make to their communities every day," said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "We want to inspire one million volunteers - people who will invest time and energy to make their own communities and neighborhoods a better place."

To enable people to sign up for an eligible volunteer project, Disney is working with HandsOn Network, the nation's largest volunteer network. Part of Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network has 250 on-the-ground volunteer action centers across the country and connects volunteers to more than 70,000 nonprofit agencies that need their help.

Starting Jan. 1, 2010, guests can go visit the Disney Parks Web site to search for volunteer opportunities available in their area through HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects that entire families can participate in together.

If annual passholders would like to participate, they'll be offered one of three choices instead of the free ticket:
• Special Fastpass cards for certain attractions for up to six people.
• A collectible Ear Hat figurine with exclusive trading pins.
• Donate the free ticket to a non-profit organization designated by Disney.

The free tickets will not be valid at Walt Disney World between March 29 and April 8 or on July 4, 2010.

Ticket quantities are limited. The program begins January 1, 2010 and continues until all tickets are distributed or Dec. 15, 2010, whichever occurs first.

Still haven't got your Disney Vacation Package yet? Then check out our website at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com for all your Disney Vacations needs.

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights 19 Opened Yesterday

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Kicked Off Last Night

 

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights

 

The following article courtesy of Orlando Attractions Magazine

Yesterday was the first night of Halloween Horror Nights 19 at Universal Studios. Below is a quick rundown of the haunted houses, scare zones, and shows you can expect to see at the event. We'll be posting photos and video during our trips to Halloween Horror Nights.

Haunted Houses

SAW - For years you have come to celebrate Halloween and to witness the weakness of others. The only way to gain redemption for this voyeuristic obsession is to truly know what it means to bleed, to feel weak; to experience pain. Jigsaw will give you this experience. Happy Halloween. Let the games begin.

The Wolfman - Pure. Animalistic. Rage. Take a journey through England's countryside and come face to fangs with one of the most terrifying creatures to ever explode from the silver screen. Forget everything you thought you knew, and prepare yourself for the sights and sounds of the newest addition to Universal Pictures' legacy of horror.

Chucky: Friends to the End - Ever wonder what happens when good toys go bad? Chucky has been hard at work, tinkering with your favorite childhood playthings. Nothing is what it seems as you step inside and experience what its like to live in Chucky's world. This is no Child's Play.

Dracula: Legacy of Blood - Welcome to Castle Dracula on the night of "The Calling." Vlad Dracul bids you welcome - be you one of the chosen women who has been called or merely a mortal man. Those who have been chosen must decide whether to join the Dark Prince in everlasting life as his brides, or reject his offer and suffer for all eternity. The blood must be renewed. The fate of the legacy hangs in the balance - Dracula's legacy of blood.

Frankenstein: Creation of the Damned - It has been a fortnight since his creation caused the castle to be engulfed in flames. Doctor Frankenstein now continues his work to perfect the art of resurrection and regeneration, surrounded by his creations. The Creature has also returned, to make the Doctor pay for the pain and suffering he has had to endure. The Creature will destroy everything in his path to gain redemption, and you are now caught in the middle of this epic battle.

The Spawning - Something "different" has moved in among the sewers of Wyandot County, Ohio. The locals claim that these creatures, these "Sculders," are two feet tall, with the body of a snake. As a volunteer member of the local water district, it is your civic duty to venture into these pipes and restore the flow. But beware, the locals are wrong about the "Sculders" and the only thing that will be flowing is your blood as it leaves your lifeless body.

Leave it to Cleaver - Samuel Meetz works for the people of Carey, Ohio as a butcher, bringing them the freshest meat possible. With a steady livestock of transients and town lawbreakers with which to serve, and a staff of volunteers who will preserve their towns deadly secret by any means necessary, there is truly no end in sight for Samuel or his family business. As Sam always says: Meet Me at Meetz...The Z stands for cannibal.

Silver Screams - Julian Browning has been the usher in the Universal Palace since it opened in 1922, of course, he's been dead since 1940, but he still commands respect for his most beloved films from every patron. Buy a ticket to the Universal Palace, and let Julian usher you into a realm where the horror on the screen is ripped away to reveal a world that is truly terrifying. Features "Shaun of the Dead," "The Phantom of the Opera," "My Bloody Valentine 3D" and other popular horror films.

Scare Zones

Lights, Camera, Hacktion!!! - Hollywood Boulevard is being used as a location for the filming of the next big horror movie to be released in October 2010: The CHAINSAW DRILL TEAM MASSACRE in 3-D. Lights, Camera, Hacktion! Our director, Mas Imair, noted horror film aficionado, is bringing the massacre to life in blood-red terrorcolor. But the actors seem to be taking their direction literally and are "hacking" through the cast and crew. It's a close encounter of the worst kind as the backlot becomes a hacklot and the streets run red with blood. Are you ready for your close-up?

Cirque Du Freak - Inspired by Universal Pictures' upcoming film "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant," which tells the fantasy-adventure tale of a boy who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares. "Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant" will be in theaters on October 23.

Horrorwood Die-In - The Hollywood Drive-in has been closed for years, and some say the abandoned grounds are haunted, where late at night the dim flickering images of carnage and chaos, monsters and madmen leave the screen and enter the real world looking for fresh victims to star in their latest horrors.

Apocalypse: City of Cannibals - A whole civilization of war-like carnivorous humanoids emerges from the sewers and underground tunnels of New York, looking for fresh food. Half-humanoid, half-beast and ravenous, these tribal cannibals invade the streets of Manhattan. No one is safe!

Containment - When an experimental bio-nerve gas is accidentally released into the atmosphere, the streets are filled with a toxic green mist that turns anyone that comes in contact with it into an infected, melting glob of flesh and blood.

War of the Living Dead - On a remote island in the Pacific during the last days of World War II, German military attempted to create the unthinkable - a new breed of super-soldier made from the reanimated corpses of the dead. American forces quickly seized the island compound, but not before the reanimate agent was released. The island was quarantined and has remained a secret until now. Fifty years later, the two opposing dead forces are still locked in immortal combat with you caught in the cross hairs.

Live Shows

The Rocky Horror Picture Show: A Tribute - Mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Rocky Horror and other famous Rocky Horror Picture Show characters return, bringing the musical mayhem of the classic horror spoof to life on-screen and on-stage with live performers singing and dancing in outrageous costumes. The tribute will be interactive with audience participation and on-stage guest involvement.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure - Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan return with an all new, especially excellent Halloween adventure featuring a who's who of notorious celebrity guests stars.

Still haven't got tickets yet to Halloween Horror Nights? Then check out our Universal's Halloween Horror Nights Vacation Package at www.orlandodiscountticketsusa.com

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