20 May 2013, 2:51 pm
Antarctica Empire of the Penguin Opens This Week at SeaWorld
It may be hard to imagine, but in just a few short days you’ll be able to experience the frozen climate of Antarctica in the middle of a hot spring day in Orlando.
On May 24, guests to SeaWorld Orlando will be whisked away to a land where penguins roam and ice surrounds in the highly anticipated attraction – Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.
It’s been more than a year since we first heard about the park’s possible venture into Antarctica. Since then Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin has become the largest and most impressive expansion in history, covering four-acres and featuring a trackless, high-tech track, an underground viewing area, a restaurant and a gift shop not to mention the largest artificial penguin habitat ever built!
Imagine a rock wall separating you from 250 real-life penguins. That’s exactly what you’ll encounter on the new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. Gentoo, King, Adelie and rockhopper penguins have taken up residency at the new attraction and are nearly within fingers reach. But before you try and touch the animals signs warn you against it, plus it’s 30 degrees inside the attraction so you might get chilly before you get brave enough to attempt to touch a penguin!
Prior to the ride, the queue will snake you around 50-foot glaciers and icicles. Once you get inside the ride area, you’ll start to feel the colder temps. Your first stop is the drying room that sucks out the humidity as you watch a two-minute movie about Puck the penguin, who you’ll be following in the ride.
The ride itself seats up to eight guests that glide along a trackless navigation system that makes you feel like you’re sliding over ice. There is no set route, making the ride different every time. You can even pick which intensity, low-or high you’d like to experience on your adventure.
SeaWorld Orlando did an excellent job creating a very real and life-like recreation of Antarctica and the penguin habitat that lives on the icy land. As you slide along you’ll be completely immersed in what it feels like to actually be in Antarctica with icebergs and hundreds of penguins walking around you.
After the three-minute ride, guests will step into a colony of 250 penguins of Antarctica who waddle through the snow around you. If that 30-degree weather gets a little too cold for you, you can check out the underwater viewing area nearby, where you’ll be able to watch the penguins swim and play behind a massive window.
Stay tuned for more details on Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin after its grand opening this week. In the meantime, you can experience the new attraction for yourself with discounted SeaWorld Orlando tickets right here on Orlando Fun Tickets.
17 May 2013, 3:21 pm
Ne Yo Tops the bands at Universal Orlando Summer Concert Series
Summer isn’t summer without concerts that’s why in just a few short weeks Universal Orlando will be kicking off its annual Summer Concert Series. And this year the singers and bands are more dynamic and more incredible than ever before. Let’s take a look at the Top bands during Universal Orlando’s Summer Concert Series:
Three-time Grammy Award winning R&B artist/record producer and actor Ne-Yo will kick off Universal Orlando’s Summer Concert Series with his eclectic vocal style and biggest hits like “Because of You,” “So Sick” and “Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself)”. After listening to him perform, you’ll understand why Universal chose Ne-Yo for the opening act.
Not only can they act but they can sing too and that’s exactly what they’ll be doing when Nickelodeon and Columbia Recording artists Big Time Rush “rush” the stage at Universal Orlando on Saturday, June 8. The four television stars and singers recently won the “Fan Armies” competition at the Kids’ Choice Awards and are currently wrapping their third album, with a release date sometime this summer. The band certainly has a lot to celebrate and we’re sure they’ll spread their love and their awesome voices during their concert on June 8. Plus, if you’re at the park on that day you’ll get to see them show off their acting skills too as Universal will hold a Big Time Rush episode viewing!
He has one of the most recognizable voices in the music industry today. His name is Gavin DeGraw and he’s brining his soulful melodies to the Universal Studios stage for a performance you won’t forget. You’d usually expect to find this kind of talent at a packed arena, not outside at Universal’s Plaza stage but the intimate and relaxing setting under the stars is the perfect venue for Gavin DeGraw’s hits like Not Over You” and “I Don’t Want to Be” among many others.
Other top bands to perform at Universal’s Summer Concert Series include Earth, Wind & Fire on June 22, Adam Lambert June 29 and Kip Moore July 6.
All Universal Orlando Summer Concert Series performances will take place once the sun goes down. In addition to the concerts, guests will be able to enjoy the thrill of Universal’s many rides and attractions under the stars!
To see and hear the top bands at Universal Orlando’s Summer Concert Series, look for discounted tickets right here on Orlando Fun Tickets. And don’t forget to head to the park June 20 for the opening of the highly anticipated ride Transformers: The Ride 3D.
15 May 2013, 4:07 pm
Magic Kingdom Pulls An All Nighter This Memorial Day Weekend
How would you like to pull an all-nighter at Walt Disney World ® and spend 24 hours playing in the park? Well, this Memorial Day Weekend at Walt Disney World’s ® Magic Kingdom ® and Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park will stay open from 6 a.m. May 24 to 6 a.m. May 25 to celebrate the start of the summer season! It’s all part of the Limited Time Magic “Monstrous Summer,” inspired by the upcoming Disney/Pixar movie “Monsters University.”
“This summer, Disney Parks are bursting with a monstrous lineup of new thrills, shows and happenings,” said Walt Disney World President George Kalogridis. “Guests can start Memorial Day Weekend with a 24-hour-marathon of memory-making as three parks stay open all day and all night to celebrate the bi-coastal kick-off of a Monstrous Summer at Disney Parks.”
The all-nighter will include Monster stars Mike and Sully as hosts of the event with the two serving as Grand Marshals of the Celebrate a Dream Come True day parade. The festivities will also feature other characters from the film in their pajamas at Town Square during the late night and early morning as well as special appearances at Tomorrowland throughout the day. And there will be late-night dance parties in and around the courtyard of Cinderella Castle.
Magic Kingdom ® will also feature limited-edition specialty merchandise and food and beverages, plus other surprises throughout the 24-hour party.
Walt Disney World ® is already preparing for the monstrous event with a huge image of the popular monster Mike Wazowski on one of Disney’s ® most famous landmarks. The big, round Spaceship Earth was recently turned into a 180-foot-tall Mike, whose one eye looks over the park. Although not as scary as Mike would probably like it to be, the image is pretty impressive and will certainly make you smile.
And while Magic Kingdom ® and Epcot ® will be featuring all things Monster this Memorial Day Weekend, Hollywood Studios ® will be taking guests to a galaxy far, far away during Star Wars Weekends. Beginning this Friday, May 17 through June 9 Star Wars fans will enjoy an intergalactic good time with their favorite characters from the movies and animated TV series, special shows, actual Star Wars celebrities, rides and so much more!
Stay tuned for more details on “Monstrous Summer” at Magic Kingdom®. In the meantime you can get into the monstrous spirit with the giant image of Mike Wazowski at Spaceship Earth with discounted Walt Disney World ® tickets right here on Orlando Fun Tickets.
