Character breakfasts are always a fun experience at the Orlando theme parks. All of the walking around the parks works up an appetite. If you are travelling with little ones you may miss some of their favorite characters while walking from one end of the park to the other. During the summertime, when the heat in Florida is completely unforgiving, being able to continue the park experience inside climate-controlled environment is the best feeling. One park many people may not think of when looking for character dining experiences is SeaWorld. But this beautiful marine life park has some great character dining experiences featuring the characters of Sesame Street.

The character dining experiences are at breakfast time, so no sleeping in if you want to meet characters like Elmo and friends! The dining experiences are private buffets two times a day. The first sitting is at 8:30 and the last is at 10:30. All of the experiences are held at the SeaFire Inn at the Waterfront. Park admission is required but not included with the special dining experience, so make sure you get your discount SeaWorld tickets before booking your experience. The buffet meals usually consist of French Toast, bacon, eggs, bagels, seasonal fresh fruit, yogurt, biscuits, gravy and Chef-carved ham. Various juices and coffee are available to drink. If you have any specific food allergies, you can ask a manager at the restaurant to prepare the appropriate food for you.

Throughout the year you can attend the Breakfast with Elmo and Friends dining experience. Make sure to bring your camera because you won’t want to miss an adorable moment with Elmo and your little ones. For Halloween there’s a special dining event with Count von Count. If you’re visiting SeaWorld during October you can check out Count von Count’s Halloween Spooktacular breakfast. Enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet alongside Count von Count, Elmo and other Sesame Street characters as they pose with you for photo opportunities. SeaWorld is currently holding their Halloween Spooktacular, which is a great kid-friendly Halloween event everyone can enjoy without worrying about gore or inappropriate subject matter. The next time you’re in SeaWorld Orlando check out these great dining experiences!

Disney theme parks are incredibly fun, but they are also incredibly big! The Walt Disney World Resort parks are huge and can take up an entire day if you plan to see every attraction possible. But the size of these theme parks can create many safety issues that can affect the entire family. So we’re here to bring you some tips to keep the entire family safe while on your visit to the Orlando theme parks whether you visit Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld or any other attraction.

One of the best things to do once you enter the park is pick up a map. Take some time with your group to get oriented on where everything is and pick a spot where you can meet up in case the group becomes separated. Nowadays it’s easier to find each other thanks to technology like cellphones, but for children that don’t have these tools picking a meet up spot is important. If your child is very young, you can put a sticker on the meetup place and instruct the child to tell a cast member their parents are waiting for them at that spot in case they get lost.

When you are entering busy lines try to keep your family together. It’s easy to separate while everyone is making the rush toward the ride entrance. A lot of this has to do with being polite. A simple “excuse me” or asking someone to let your group enter in an orderly fashion goes a long way. If there is a taller member of the group or you are traveling in a family unit, have one person assume the responsibility of letting the younger ones in first before entering the line and as always, thank the people around you.

Thanks to modern technology, strollers have become an even safer option to transport your kids within the park. Big Leap GPS has partnered with Orlando Stroller Rentals to provide you with the ultimate experience in safety technology. If anything were to happen to your stroller you would be able to utilize the GPS tracking system to locate it. But technology can only do so much.

Common sense plays a big part in park safety. Don’t leave small children unattended. Make sure you pay attention to all safety regulations provided by the parks before going on a ride. If you have health conditions or you are pregnant, getting on thrill rides is the worst possible thing you can do! To make sure your trip to the Orlando theme parks is fun, follow the rules and stay together—that’s the best safety tip of all.

If you have ever wished you can get up close and personal with the beautiful animals of the SeaWorld Orlando attraction, then you will love the park’s newest tour; the Animal Shows and Photo Experience. This tour will give your group the opportunity to experience the best of SeaWorld’s shows and exhibits with your own personal tour guide and a slew of perks that only those participating in the tour will receive.

The tour is 4.5 hours long and open to visitors of all ages. You will get priority seating for the best shows SeaWorld has to offer including Shamu’s Believe, the Blue Horizons dolphin show and the comedy favorite Clyde and Seamore. If you’ve never been to the gorgeous marine life attraction, here are some of the shows you’ll get to see from the best seat in the house.

If you’re a fan of pirates and adventures on the high seas, then Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island will be right up your alley. The comedy duo show revolves around Clyde and Seamore, two pirates searching for buried treasure after their pirate ship is left stranded on an island. The real hijinx start when SeaWorld’s loveable walrus, sea lions and otters join in on the fun for laughs the whole family will enjoy.

The Blue Horizons dolphin show is a gorgeous, Cirque du Soleil-like experience that is a must during your day at SeaWorld. Gorgeous dolphins and false killer whales swim and jump along to a soundtrack of beautiful music as macaws and sun conures soar through the sky. Stunt actors dressed in costumes evoking the spirit of mythological animals join in with stunning wire-work performances.

SeaWorld’s mascot, Shamu, stars in the wonderful adventure Shamu’s Believe. Join the beautiful killer whale and her SeaWorld trainers as they show the incredible abilities this famous orca has learned over the years. You will be amazed to see the relationship between this enormous animal and her human trainers during this emotional, classic show.

The Animal Shows and Photo Experience will give you reserved seating to all of the above performances. But the best part is, afterwards a SeaWorld guide will take professional photos of you and your guests with the animal stars of the shows. You’ll also get to head over to the Penguin Encounter exhibit for a personal interaction with one of the cute penguins, and later on head over to the Clydesdale Hamlet for a photo op with the unofficial mascot of the SeaWorld family; the elegant Clydesdale horse.

At the end of the tour, all of your photos will be handed to you on a photo CD so you can take your memories home with you. This tour is sure to be a big hit with the SeaWorld theme park, so make sure you check out OrlandoFunTickets.com’s Sea World deals to get in on the action.

Eating on the run is something many of us do way too often. We grab something quick on the way home from work for dinner, or on the way to work for breakfast. Where is the fun in that? Leave it to Orlando to take something as basic as eating and make it into an event worthy of buying Orlando dinner show tickets! Dinner theatre is no stranger to the Orlando area. There are various themed restaurants all over the city with themes to suit every preference.

There are a few constants in these Orlando dinner shows. The entrees usually consist of a beef, poultry or vegetarian option. If you have special dietary requests, it is recommended you call the show before you arrive to pre-plan your meal options, most places are happy to accommodate their guests! Unlimited non-alcoholic beverages are also included in the price of your dinner, and some shows will include basic alcoholic beverages like beer and wine with that unlimited option.

Those looking for some laughs can check out the Sleuths Mystery Dinner show, voted the best show in 2008 by readers of the Orlando Sentinel. You and your party will sit down with other guests to a “whodunit” show like no other. With 13 different comedy shows to offer, the Sleuths Mystey Dinner show is different every night. As for the food, you have the choice of a Cornish hen, prime rib or lasagna with unlimited soft drinks, juice, tea, wine and beer as well as a “mystery” dessert. Try not to get lost in your meal or you might just miss the most important clue of the night.

If you’re looking to get a taste of a faraway place while in Orlando, why not check out the Makahiki Luau at SeaWorld! This luau will take you to the beautiful islands of Polynesia as you feast on mahi mahi, sweet and sour chicken or BBQ spare ribs. Fire-dancers and hula girls dance around the theatre in honor of the Great Kahuna that oversees the show of the night.

Horse lovers and those wanting to immerse themselves in the greatest desert fairytale of all will enjoy Arabian Nights Orlando. USDA Sirloin steaks, chicken breast or a pasta bowl are on the menu of this location as the crowd enjoys the classic Arabian Nights love story complete with belly dancers. A dinner salad and dessert are also included, but the main attraction of Arabian Nights is its beautiful horses, including the famous Black Stallion from the classic movie.

No dinner theatre article can end without mentioning the classic Medieval Times Orlando. Cheer on your section’s knight in a joust as King Philippe and Princess Leonore watch over their crowd of royal guests. Dine on herb-roasted chicken, spare ribs or tomato bisque soup as the tournament goes on in the arena below. And yes, it is true you have to eat with your hands!

Whatever dinner show you decide to choose, OrlandoFunTickets.com has the best price on the net for you. Just check out the links on the left-hand side of the page and choose your dinner adventure today!

Mickey shaped ice cream bars, Shamu slushees, Jurassic Park cheeseburgers, French fries, and soda galore - Ahh, the joys of theme park food! It is all delicious and fun, until your guilty weight-and-health conscious mind steps into the picture. But, dining at the Orlando theme parks does not need to be this way, thanks to newer and healthier in-park dining options!

Walt Disney World is notorious for delicious in-park food options. Disney understands that people are becoming more health conscious and have begun implementing numerous healthy dining and snacking options for those who visit their four Disney theme parks. As you walk around the parks, each park has at least one fresh fruit stand. Also, look to grab fast options such as Dole whips, turkey legs, a cup of chili, or fresh fruit bars to keep fat and calories at bay! When going to a quick-dining option in the parks, look for Disney’s newest side items, for kids and adults alike, such as low-fat milk, 100% fruit juice, unsweetened applesauce, baby carrots, or fresh fruit – in replacement of the fatty French fries and soda. When at Disney sit-down restaurants, don’t be afraid to speak up! They are more than willing to accept your special dietary needs requests. Ask if you can substitute for a healthier side item, put dressings on the side, or for sugar-free or fat-free dessert options.

Universal Studios Orlando has been put on the map recently for their break-through dining options of trans-fat-free in-park dining options! Many of the in-park restaurants and food locations at Universal Orlando offer cooking in trans-fat free oil or heart-healthier options. Kid’s meals now come with the option of fruit or trans-fat-free French fries, while adults have the choice of a side salad or trans-fat-free French fries.

SeaWorld Orlando has been doing its part in conservation for the animals and the environment over the years, but now they are doing their best to conserve one of the top animals on the planet – humans. With healthy food stops, SeaWorld Orlando has some of the most heart-healthy options out of all of the theme parks. At Mama’s Kitchen Healthy Alternatives, guests can get quick-service options that are prepared with fresh ingredients and lower-fat items. Diners can visit any restaurant throughout the park and see low-fat, low-carb, sugar-free, and vegetarian options. If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth without sacrificing your diet, SeaWorld Orlando can help you out with their sugar-free options at Polar Parlor ice cream shop, Sweet Sailin’ Candy Shop, and the Cypress Bakery.

All of the Orlando theme parks are jumping onto the health band-wagon, to make Orlando vacations healthier and happier than ever! So, make your diet and wallet happier. With the help of OrlandoFunTickets.com, you can save money on your discount theme park tickets while getting the scoop on these great healthy dining options.

Aside from bringing warmer temperatures, bigger crowds of tourists, and new roller coasters and attractions, summertime in Orlando also means extended theme park hours, particularly at SeaWorld. However, the extra hours are just one of the reasons why it’s currently one of the best times in the year to visit the aquatic theme park. From now through September 7, SeaWorld kicks up the fun a few notches every night with SeaWorld After Dark, consisting of special attractions and shows, an all-new fireworks spectacular, and other nighttime fun.

Rides, shows, dining, you name it – everything seems to get better when the sun goes down at SeaWorld. Normally, SeaWorld closes at 6 pm every evening, but now, the park will stay open until 10 pm with your favorite attractions staying open as well. And in addition to tried and true favorites like Kraken and the Shark Encounter, SeaWorld will feature new attractions at night.

Among them is Shamu Rocks, a spectacular rock n’ roll featuring everyone’s favorite killer whale at Shamu Stadium. A high-energy concert of unprecedented proportions, Shamu Rocks combines amazing moves from Shamu with a stunning light show and music from some of the hottest rock stars in the industry.

Up next is Sea Lions Tonight, featuring the park’s own comedic sea lion duo, Clyde and Seamore. These two will have you laughing into the night with their hilarious hijinks, which include recruiting SeaWorld’s talented sea lions, otters, and walruses to parody other favorite shows at the park. Clyde and Seamore perform twice nightly at the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium.

Finally, closing down SeaWorld After Dark each night at 9:50 pm is Reflections, a spectacular celebration of soaring fountains and dazzling fireworks. All other fountain shows are put to shame by this display of wonder, accompanied by the thrilling and inspirational music of SeaWorld’s most popular shows. Best yet, park guests will now be able to enjoy the show from front-row, comfortable seats at Bayside Stadium.

One of the best features of SeaWorld After Dark this year is also getting to ride Manta, the park’s newest roller coaster, in the dark. Though the ride is lit, of course, there’s a unique thrill in diving and looping through the nighttime sky headfirst. If you’ve experienced the ride over and over again during the day, we definitely recommend trying it with this fun twist.

In between seeing all the great shows and riding all the great coasters during SeaWorld After Dark, don’t forget to grab some dinner. The Makahiki Luau Dinner and Show is a particularly great option as guests will get to enjoy a Polynesian festival while they enjoy Pacific Isle cuisine. The park’s Seafire Inn becomes a tropical haven during the Luau, which serves up family-style entrees while entertaining with breathtaking fire dances and astounding costumes.

SeaWorld After Dark is definitely a great time to visit SeaWorld if you never have before, as you can get in squeeze in even more fun than you could on a regular park day. And there’s no extra fee for the extra hours and shows, so it’s an especially awesome deal. Check out discount SeaWorld tickets today to take advantage of it and enjoy some nighttime fun at SeaWorld.

Roller coaster lovers have been waiting all summer, and the day is finally here - the new high-flying, gliding attraction Manta has finally opened at SeaWorld! And if the long lines of peple waiting to ride the flying ray are any indication, then it's clear that Manta is already the must-experience ride of the summer.

The only flying roller coaster of its kind in the world, Manta is unique in that riders climb into what appear to be traditional seats and harnesses only to be rotated forward into a face-down position. Each coaster car is designed to look like a manta ray with a 12-foot wing span, so riders will literally ride on a manta's belly as it twists and soars above the ocean.

You'll want to hold on tight - and maybe say a prayer if you've recently eaten lunch - for Manta, which offers an intense ride in the first half and a smooth ride with breathtaking views in the second half. Though the coaster looks rather tame from the ground, riders will soar head-first at 56 mph through a track-twisting pretzel loop, in-line spins, and a close call with a waterfall that'll make you gasp. One of the most fun parts of the ride is the wing dip, where the coaster car flies sideways and seems to skim the water, sending up a spray.

As is the ride itself wasn't well-designed enough, it seamlessly blends with an awe-inspiring que area filled with up-close animal encounters. As they wait in line, guests will get to peer into ten aquariums filled with nearly 250,000 gallons of water and more than 3,000 marine animals.

For guests who might be too young or not thrill-loving enough to ride Manta, do check the now-open non-rider side of the aquarium, where guests can stick their heads into a 'pop-up' aquarium and come face-to-face with nearly 300 clownfish and mysterious sea anemones. Another highlight of the aquariums is a giant Pacific octopus, who slinks back and forth between habitats through an underwater tube.

On a funny side note, one of our staffers, Taylor Scott, got to ride Manta last evening as part of the media previews. He described to us the thrill of being strapped in and switched into horizontal position before the ride took off. To his dismay, however as the ride swoooped down into his first loop, his keys fell out of his pocket! He immediately began freaking out and couldn't even enjoy the rest of the ride, but as soon as he alerted Sea World employees, they immediately returned his keys to him.

Surprised, he queried them, "How'd you find it so fast?"

"Magic," they simply responded. "This isn't Walt Disney World, but we've got a little magic of our own here at Sea World."

When guests are soaring over the park in an experience that's probably the closest they'll ever come to flying - we'd say there's definitely something magical about that. Still, if you plan on riding Manta in the near future, you might want to use the lockers!

If you've ever dreamt of soaring through the air like a bird - or a manta ray - then you'll definitely want to check out Manta! Take a look at discount SeaWorld tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com to begin a flight you'll never forget.

Only one roller coaster in Orlando allows you to spin, glide, skim, and fly like a manta ray - face down! And that is Manta, the sick (we mean that in a good way) new attraction at SeaWorld Orlando. Though the official opening of the coaster is May 22, Manta has been open in sneak preview form all week to riders, and the reviews are in - Manta is one of the most exciting, unique, and fun experiences to come to Orlando in a long time.

Though not all the sea life is in place and final tweaks still have yet to be made to the ride before it’s officially unveiled at the end of the month, guests who have ridden Manta so far say it’s an intense but fun experience. From the ground, the ride looks smooth and tame, even, but riding the ray is a completely different experience.

Upon first getting onto the ride, everything seems normal - at first. Riders sit down in the vehicle normally (four across) and get strapped in snugly across the chest and legs. But as the ride begins its machinations, the entire vehicle swings forward, placing riders at a horizontal, face-down position. But still, so far so good as the ride gets off to a slow climb.

At that point, riders will have a chance to enjoy a unique perspective of Orlando - face down, with no obstructions in the way. It’s the kind of moment where you can say, “Hey, I can see my house from here,” and it’s actually quite nice until the ride jolts into high gear - and then, we’ll just say that the ‘slow’ part of the ride is definitely over.

From the front row, Manta can be a genuinely scary experience, since no other vehicle is in front, making the whole face-down aspect even more thrilling. But from the back rows, riders report that Manta is genuinely intense and almost jarring, with G forces being felt much more significantly than on the other rows. The consensus is that the back rows are best reserved for the hardcore roller coaster rider, while those looking for a less rocky thrill will be happy with the front row – if they can handle the more psychologically scary view! No matter what row you’re in though, you’ll definitely feel like you’re flying like a manta while riding the coaster.

Meanwhile, the experience of waiting to ride Manta is almost as entertaining as the ride itself – the queue area has been beautifully designed with waterfalls and several aquariums filled with tropical fish, sea dragons, and manta rays. Guests will wait comfortably inside the mostly covered and climate controlled area while they watch rays soaring mesmerizingly overhead. In these early weeks, all the tanks’ inhabitants haven’t yet been added – but keep an eye out for the home-grown coral, the giant 12-pound pacific octopus, who can reportedly put together puzzles, and plenty of weedy and leafy sea dragons.

For those who don’t think they can handle Manta’s exhilarating flight, the attraction also offers a separate aquarium especially for non-riders. So if you’re traveling with a group of friends slightly braver than you, you won’t be bored while you wait for them to get off the ride.

If you can’t wait until May 22 to experience Manta, head on down to SeaWorld and join the others who decided they couldn’t wait either – just get ready to wait on line, since this is one thrill that’s already very popular. Check out discount SeaWorld tickets on OrlandoFunTickets.com to begin your Manta flight.

David Letterman has learned to be wary of Jack Hanna, because whenever the zoo keeper and animal expert comes around, one never knows who - or what - will be traveling with him. From really big snakes to furry baby cougars, Hanna is known for introducing people to all kinds of animals and possessing a deep knowledge of those animals. And now, “Jungle Jack” will be paying a visit to SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to share some of his animal wisdom with park guests.

At Busch Gardens in Tampa, Hanna will visit the park for a few events in late April and early May. It all starts with the Meet Jack Hanna show, which will be held on April 26 and May 3. During the show, Hanna will bring out some of his scaly, feathery, and furry friends and share a little information about each one. Shows will take place at 11:30 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm in the Stanleyville Theater.

Hanna will also join in on the fun during special Family Sleepovers on April 25 and May 2, as well as during a special Serengeti Night Safari on April 26.

A night of family fun at Busch Gardens, the Jack Hanna Family Sleepover will provide the whole family with behinds the scenes access, encounters with animal nightlife, and a tasty dinner. Guests will spend the night at the park and wake up to meet tigers in Jungala, enjoy a continental breakfast, and hang out with Hanna. The sleepovers run from 6 pm to 9 am and require a separate ticket; Busch Gardens admission isn’t required or included.

Admission to the park also isn’t included or required for the Serengeti Night Safari with Jack Hanna, which offers a night to remember with the animal expert. This two-hour long nighttime experience begins in the exclusive Safari Club with a few tasty treats. Then, guests will travel under moonlight to explore the nighttime mysteries of hippos, lions, and hyenas before proceeding on a guided safari expedition, complete with night vision monoculars. The Night Safari will wrap up with fun around the bonfire with Hanna, who’ll regale guests with tales of African lore.

During both days of Hanna’s shows at Busch Gardens, the park will also offer a special breakfast with “Jungle Jack.” An experience not to be missed, this fun-filled breakfast offers guests the opportunity to query Hanna all about your favorite creatures. It also includes a delicious buffet, some ‘wild’ entertainment, and special reserved seats at his first show. The Exclusive Breakfast with Jack Hanna requires additional tickets along with the usual Busch Gardens admission, which is not included.

Meanwhile, over at SeaWorld in Orlando, Hanna will sharing his enthusiasm and seemingly limitless knowledge of the animal world on May 1 and 2 during shows at 1:15 pm and 3:30 at the Nautilus Theater on May 1. The park will also host breakfast with the animal expert on those mornings. Guests will get to feast on Chef-carved ham, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, biscuits and gravy, smoked bacon, sausage, French toast sticks, seasonal fresh fruits, breakfast pastries, bagels, and yogurt.

If you love animals, then you definitely won’t want to miss meeting one of the world’s most renowned animal experts and zookeepers. Hanna will wow you with his amazing connection with all animals, and you’re sure to learn plenty during any one of SeaWorld or Busch Gardens’ Hanna encounters. Check out Busch Gardens tickets or SeaWorld tickets here on OrlandoFunTickets.com and start planning your meeting with the one and only “Jungle Jack.”

When Manta opens next month, one lucky person will get to be one of the first people to ride it - and for a good cause, at that. Earth Day is coming up next Wednesday, April 22, and SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens are inviting guests to celebrate it all month long with special events at both parks and a global online auction - which is auctioning off, among other things, first rides on the new roller coaster at SeaWorld.

By visiting auctionwire.com/savewildlife from now through April 30, guests will be able to find some wild deals and help wildlife at the same time. The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund along with American Express is sponsoring a global online auction to raise funds for animal rescue, habitat protection, and conservation education in the US around the world. Every dollar raised during this eco-friendly shopping event directly benefits wildlife and habitats.

Among the special experiences and gifts up for bid are one-of-a-kind paintings by Busch Gardens’ gorillas and orangutans, exotic animal meet and greets, a private lunch for two with Jack Hanna at SeaWorld, and various other items, such as travel packages, tickets to entertainment and sporting events, celebrity memorabilia, and much more. There’s even the opportunity to star in your own reality vacation show filmed by Spectrum Productions.

“Earth Month is a great time to raise awareness of animals, conservation and how we’re all connected,” said Ginny Busch, president of the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. “We hope during this time, guests will discover that even the smallest, everyday efforts can have a huge impact on the world we share.”

In addition, for every donation of $100 or more to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, the parks will match it dollar for dollar. Guests can make donations online or in person at the parks, where they’ll receive a complimentary eco-friendly tote bag as a thank you.

“With the current economy, all of us tighten our belts. But it’s still incredibly critical to keep protecting at-risk animals, people and places for the health of our environment and planet,” said Jim Atchison, president of Busch Entertainment Corporation. “We’re committed to contributing to conservation and invite our guests and the public to join us this Earth Month.”

As part of the Earth month celebrations, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens will also host fun and activities and events at both parks throughout April. There’ll be new up-close animal encounters, kid-friendly activities, special shows, and more. Wildlife experts Jack Hanna and Julie Scardina will also be making appearances; Hanna arrives at the park on April 26 and May 3.

So if you love the animals at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, make a positive contribution to creatures like them in the wild by bidding on one of the cool park items at the global auction or donating when you visit your favorite Busch Entertainment park. And don’t forget to check out the green fun happening all month long at the parks with SeaWorld tickets and Busch Gardens tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com.

The days are narrowing down to the moment when Orlando roller coaster fans will be able to soar over sea and water in one exhilarating, face-down ride. Manta, the newest attraction coming soon to SeaWorld Orlando, is officially opening May 22, and we’re here with the latest details on how the coolest ride of the summer is coming along.

Though the ride is still barricaded from the rest of the park, fans can’t help but sneak a peek through the cracks at Manta. Nevertheless, the most interesting sights are already visible; Manta’s rails are all completely in place, a collection of bright blue tubes gently curving and twisting over the park. The ride is so far along that Manta recently experienced its first test flights, an exciting moment that had park guests whipping out their cameras and rushing home to post the moment on YouTube. As a matter of fact, SeaWorld has a YouTube account, and they have video of the first test ride up and available for viewing now.

The video, though short, is a great first look at the ride. From what can be seen of it, Manta is surprisingly smooth and quiet, and the way it glides up and down and twirls through the air really does resemble the movements of a Manta ray swimming through the water. In the video, it doesn’t look as though Manta will be too intense, but seeing the ride and actually experiencing it are two entirely different things.

In addition to fine tuning the ride – sources say the first few test runs had some issues of stopping and starting – Manta engineers are still working on the ride’s queue and aquarium areas to get it ready for its big debut in May. They’re also still working on the pond, which is why glimpses past the barricades will yield views of big piles of dirt and construction equipment. With the rails completed and the ride in testing, it’s likely that more of the work will focus on aesthetics now, such as landscaping.

Here are a few Manta facts: when completed, the ride will seat four people who board it seated normally and then are switched into a horizontal, face-down position. The ride will fly through the sky and over a lagoon, reaching a height of 140 feet and dropping down a maximum of 113 feet. All this soaring happens at speeds of up to 56 miles per hour, with four inversions thrown into its 3,359 feet of track.

One of the coolest elements about Manta will be its trains, which are shaped like Mantas with wings spanning 12 feet. At some point in the ride, it’s said there’ll be a splash effect where one of the wings touches the water. Interestingly, when Manta’s fully operational, there’ll be three trains on the track with 32 people on each train, meaning the ride will have 1,500 people soaring over SeaWorld every hour.

And for those who wouldn’t dare brave Manta’s rays but like to wait on line with their friends, Manta’s queue area will boast amazing floor-to-ceiling views into an 184,000 gallon aquarium. There’ll even be a 220 square-foot overhead viewing panel through which guests can see schools of rays swimming above.

With Manta just two months away from its big debut, you might want to go ahead and get your discount SeaWorld tickets now from OrlandoFunTickets.com now so you can be first in line when the ride opens. Manta is set to become the biggest attraction at SeaWorld, and a thrilling experience that any park lover will just have to try.

When the weather starts to warm up here in Florida, so does the entertainment at Orlando theme parks. Over at Universal Studios Orlando, the park is gearing up with its Mardi Gras: Let the Music Move You celebration, which is sure to offer three months of fun with a rockin’ lineup of star performers. However, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay aren’t content to be left behind – they’re putting on a Rockin’, Smokin’, Saucy, and Sweet party of their own with the 2009 Bud & BBQ at both parks. And we’ve got a special sneak peek on the entertainment for this event, which is sure to be an amazing rival to Universal Studios’ Mardi Gras as well as an additional fun option for vacationers.

Bud & BBQ will take over SeaWorld and Busch Gardens each weekend from February 7th through March 1st. The event will present a zesty lineup of live performances by award-winning country and classic rock artists, with concerts every Saturday at SeaWorld and concerts every Sunday at Busch Gardens.

At SeaWorld Orlando, the Bud & BBQ will kick off with a concert from Blake Shelton on February 7. Kenny Rogers will perform his classic hits on February 14 for a romantic and fun Valentine’s Day. Darryl Hall and John Oates will hit the stages on February 21, and Jason Aldean will perform on February 28.

At Busch Gardens Tampa, guests will enjoy the stylings of Phil Vassar with opening act Josh Gracin on February 8, Gretchen Wilson on February 15, Miranda Lambert on February 22, and Greg Allman on March 1.

In addition to great, live music, both 2009 Bud & BBQ’s will feature plenty of blazing barbecue and ice-cold Budweiser beer. It might also be one of the last times guests will be able to enjoy refreshing brews like Budweiser and Bud Light at the parks. The new owner of Busch Entertainment, AB In-Bev, is looking to sell off the theme park division of the company, separating it from its long-time association with the American beer producer, Anheuser-Busch. Therefore, this year’s Bud & BBQ will be a particularly special, can’t-miss event.

So get ready for smokin’ hot food and fired-up music during the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens’ Bud & BBQ. It’s a great way to enjoy your favorite theme parks thrills, exhibits, and attractions along with some sizzling fun. Best yet, each concert is included with admission to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens, so there’s no excuse for missing out. Start planning your spicy theme park adventure by scoring discount SeaWorld and Busch Gardens tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com.

As part of one of the longest-standing traditions at the park, guests of SeaWorld Orlando have almost always been able to enjoy a free brew at the Hospitality House. A result of being owned by the makers of Budweiser, Michelob, Busch, and other beers, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have offered free tastings of the American beers for years. Sadly, that tradition will soon come to an end in February when the Hospitality House, in addition to other “brewmaster clubs” and hospitality centers at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, will close.

According to a recent announcement, Busch Entertainment (the division of Anheuser-Busch InBev that operates SeaWorld and Busch Gardens) will be closing down the hospitality centers on February 1st and converting them into new facilities. The timing of their reopening will vary from park to park, but Busch Garden’s Hospitality House will close briefly and reopen with a new café-style menu. The Hospitality House at SeaWorld, meanwhile, will be closed for a longer period of time while it’s converted into a restaurant.

Reportedly, the facilities will be redesigned to expand their appeal across age groups, though guests of drinking age will still be able to purchase beer at these locations when they reopen. According to AB InBev, all employees affected by the closures will remain with the company.

The move to end free beer tasting comes as a result of Anheusher Busch’s recent merge with Belgian brewer InBev, forming the new mega-brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev. The consensus is that AB InBev ended the tastings in order to make the Orlando-based theme-park division easier to sell, since any buyer of the parks would likely have little interesting in continuing to promote the beers. In addition, closing the hospitality centers now would ensure that a new buyer wouldn’t have to take that step, which has certainly been unwelcome by park fans. The one hope among SeaWorld and Busch Gardens lovers is that current economic conditions will undoubtedly continue to make it difficult for AB InBev to find a buyer.

At the Hospitality House at SeaWorld, guests can sample a few of the signature beverages while feasting on food pairings at the Brewmaster’s Club. The center is also a place where visitors could explore the history of Anheuser Busch through a century’s worth of memorabilia, tracing the company’s roots from a small Midwestern brewery to the biggest brewery in the world. The SeaWorld Hospitality House opened on March 1st, 1992, three years after Anheuser-Busch bought the park. Busch Garden’s center has an even longer history, having been opened along with the park in 1959.

Given this latest news, there’s certainly no better time than the present to visit SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and experience a park tradition before it closes. The beer will taste even better when you save on discount SeaWorld tickets and discount Busch Gardens tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com.

With all the incredible holiday attractions to choose from at Orlando theme parks, the decision of where to spend your Orlando vacation can be a hard one. We at OrlandoFunTickets.com are committed to making your decision just a teeny bit harder with every blog as we continue premiering all the hottest holiday events and celebrations. In that spirit, here are some more holiday hot spots that we think are particularly neat and a fun treat for your family this season.

Over at SeaWorld Orlando, the park will soon be holding one of their frequent sleepover events, during which the whole family can learn about marine wildlife while snuggling up in the actual animal exhibits. With the Frosty Friends Sleepover, your family will specifically be getting cozy with animals from the Arctic and Antartic, and you’ll all be camping out on sleeping bags in the Penguin Encounter area.

This cool overnight adventure includes seasonal games and activities, animal interaction, a pizza dinner, and a continental breakfast. This overnight adventure will take place from December 4th into December 5th, and the sleepover can be packaged with next-day entry into SeaWorld for extra fun and savings. Be sure to reserve the sleepover early, as this event happens only a few times a year at SeaWorld and is an experience to remember.

And over at Walt Disney World, we’ve gotten word that the taping of the Christmas Day Parade at Magic Kingdom will be open to all visitors of the park this year. In past years, tickets for reserved sections of Main Street, USA and the areas in front of the castle were released in the beginning of November and scooped up immediately by eager fans. This year, the parade will reportedly take place on December 5th and 6th, and the word is that anyone with a regular admission ticket to the park will be able to be a bystander in the parade and watch amid the insanely crowded Main Street, space permitting.

The first day of taping will likely take place in front of Cinderella Castle, while the second day will probably film on Main Street. Though it’s fun to see, be warned that the taping is a lengthy process, since the parade/shows are often stopped and restarted in order for cameras to get all the material and angles that they need. Kids who aren’t patient enough to wait should probably pass up on this one. Nevertheless, the parade is an incredible annual special that includes appearances from all your favorite Disney characters, along with floats carrying celebrities, musical performances, marching bands from various schools and communities all over the country, and previews of shows and attractions at Disney theme parks.

This year, the two-hour television special will feature performances by Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray Cyrus, High School Musical’s Corbin Bleu, American Idol winner David Cook, the cast of Broadway’s Mary Poppins, Sarah Brightman, the stars of Playhouse Disney’s Imagination Movers, and more. The Jonas Brothers will also appear in the Christmas Day Parade, but their segment was already taped in Disneyland Resort in California. This year’s special will celebrate its 25th anniversary, and Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa will reprise their role as hosts.

In order to catch all the holiday fun, be sure to get your discount SeaWorld tickets and discount Disney tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com. We won’t tell you which fun holiday activity to choose – only that no matter which one it is, you’re bound to have a great time.