Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Howl-O-Scream event is celebrating its 10th year of scares. The popular Halloween event is one of the only Halloween events within the Orlando theme parks that have activities specifically catered toward adults. There are sexy dance shows and “scareactors” in racy costumes. At this year’s event, guests can visit Club Envy. Hosted by Ms. Vayne and her vampire models, Club Envy is a 21+ dance club that will be serving alcohol, hors d’ oeuvres and will allow guests to meet with the different characters featured in the haunted houses. To get everyone in the mood for the Halloween event, Orlando Attractions Magazine picked two of its readers to be some of the first people to try out one of the houses at Howl-O-Scream.

Dannie Kleszczowski and Aurora Moore, both Orlando natives, visited Howl-O-Scream and were outfitted with scream cams. The scream cams are attached to backpacks that carry the rest of the equipment. Mounted on the victims’ chest, the scream cam captures every scream and jump the victims make as they go through the house. Dannie and Aurora were sent through the Delta Epsilon Delta (DED, get it?) sorority house with the scream cam.

Both girls were interviewed by Howl-O-Scream Creative Director Scott Swenson on their apprehensions about entering the haunted houses. Dannie admitted she had never attended a Halloween event of Howl-O-Scream’s caliber and admitted to being the kind of victim that talks to herself rather than screams. Dannie went through the DED house as sorority girls clawed at her and called her name. At one point she passed a tanning booth and turned down the DED girl’s request for a tan. “I like being pale,” she said comically.

Aurora Moore admitted to putting up a front when faced with a scary haunted house. Aurora admitted to Scott Swenson she was “75% 25%” on the apprehension versus excitement scale and then proceeded through the DED house, shouting “Go DED!” at the scareactors as she ran away to escape them. Both Aurora and Dannie gave fans a great preview of what’s to come at Howl-O-Scream. It’s obvious that Busch Gardens is stepping it up and ready to give guests some great scares this Halloween season!

Every fall the Orlando theme parks go into full swing Halloween mode. There is Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Walt Disney World Resort Magic Kingdom, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando and numerous other haunted house events. It’s always great to head to your favorite parks at night and get scared while taking in the incredible detail these Orlando attractions put into their Halloween events. Not only do you get the haunted house experience, but many parks will leave their most popular rides open for guests to go on and that’s a treat in and of itself. These events are usually a bigger draw for the adult crowd, as many of the attractions are too gory for children and alcohol is often served. But one of the hottest Halloween events in Central Florida has to be Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

This year will be Howl-O-Scream’s tenth year scaring Busch Gardens visitors. This year Busch Gardens turns to vampires and fashion with their theme: House of Vayne. Led by the lead vampiress Ms. Vayne and her horde of vampire models, the House of Vayne “women” will travel the parks scaring you at every corner of the massive Busch Gardens park. Before we get to the haunted houses, Busch Gardens features two shows guests can attend. With Fiends, “Dr. Freakenstein” and his sexy nurses (clad in hot pink nurse outfits) dance and perform to a variety of musical numbers. Magician Jason Byrne is also on hand for Full Moon Cabaret: The Magic of Jason Byrne, a dark-themed illusion show any magic fan would love.

As for the haunted houses, there are a number of ways to get your horror fix. If you’re into college slasher films, check out the “Delta Epsilon Delta: Pledge Week.” This house is all about a sorority gone wrong and the horrors that happen inside the DED house. Vampire fans will love” Taste of Blood” as vampires run wild in the sewers looking for fresh blood to feed on. Other haunted house themes include motorcycle gangs, death row and a nightmare toy factory.

Along with the haunted houses there are various scare zones across the park where freaky characters wander around trying to scare you. Werewolves, banshees and even a carnival of “Day of the Dead" - like characters roam around looking for unwilling victims - so watch your back! Howl-O-Scream runs from September 25th to October 31st.

How many of you remember learning to count with The Count and learning about the letter C with the Cookie Monster? Sesame Street has been a part of childhoods across the world since the show first began in 1969. The longest running children’s program on TV is often credited by immigrants for helping them learn English and it is a franchise still going strong thanks to newer characters like Elmo. Now, Orlando theme parks are about to get a dose of educational fun thanks to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

The Sesame Street additions to the Busch Gardens theme parks began back in April of 2009 with the Sesame Street Forest of Fun opening in Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA. This adorable little park features kid-friendly roller coasters, a “Dine with Elmo & Friends” dinner show and a number of other attractions like musical performances and log flume rides even parents can enjoy. So far this attraction has been a big hit with Sesame Street fans at Tampa Bay’s sister park. The Busch Entertainment Corp. also owns Sesame Place, a Sesame Street-themed park, near Philadelphia.

As for Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, construction for their Sesame Street section is already underway. The theme park plans to have this new addition completed in 2010. So where will this adorable play land be? Officials are saying that Busch Gardens will transform its 14-year-old Land of the Dragons section into the new Sesame Street attraction. Official details, including ride names, will be announced later on this summer. OrlandoFunTickets.com can tell you that permits four buildings and a small coaster have been secured for this new addition and you can check back with us for full details on the Sesame Street attraction as they are revealed to the public.

If you’re traveling to the Orlando theme parks in the near future and are looking for a Sesame Street fix, you can find one right over at SeaWorld Orlando. As part of the Busch Entertainment family, you can find favorites like Elmo and Cookie monster in the SeaWorld parks as well. If you’re visiting during the summer or holiday seasons, you can catch a glimpse of Elmo and Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Hunt. This cute seasonal show features Elmo and Abby along with the Cookie Monster, Rosita and Grover looking for a magical treasure box that leads them on an adventure that uses their imagination and yours. Make sure you pick up a schedule the next time you visit SeaWorld to see if Elmo and Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Hunt is playing and enjoy the show until Busch Gardens opens their Sesame Street attraction in 2010.

Believe it or not, it has been 50 years since Busch Gardens first opened as an admission-free hospitality center for the nearby Anheuser-Busch manufacturing plant. But you’d never know the park is half-a-century old from all the exciting attractions and shows it offers, from the exhilarating Sheikra to the side-splitting Critter Castaways. And in celebration of being fifty and still fabulous, the park will be partying all season long with Summer Nights at Busch Gardens, an opportunity for guests to enjoy special entertainment, festive food and drink, and extended nighttime hours.

Every night from June 6 through August 16, Busch Gardens will put on its dancing shoes and lead park guests in celebration – literally. An infectious dance choreographed especially for park guests will amp up the energy during summer nights, and DJs from four different spots throughout the park will spin party hits all night long.

Meanwhile, special entertainment and performers will kick off the festivities after dark, starting with Darren Romeo, presented by master magicians Siegfried and Roy. The voice of magic, Romeo returns to Busch Gardens with his captivating mix of magic and music in the Moroccan Palace. Following him is Jeff Civilico, who will present his amazing blend of comedy, juggling, balancing, athleticism, and audience participation in the Marrakesh Theater.

Summer Nights at Busch Gardens will start with a bang this Saturday, June 6, when a live concert featuring hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and 70’s performed by the original artists takes over Gwazi Park. The concert will be capped with a fireworks display lighting up the night sky.

Then, guests will want to come back on July 3, when the Independence Day festivities start early and David Cassidy performs live in concert. The next day, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas will rock the stages followed by another breathtaking fireworks spectacular.

Park hours during Summer Nights at Busch Gardens will be extended until 9 pm Sundays through Thursdays and until 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s a great opportunity to ride your favorite coasters in the dark and pack in even more fun at a regular day at Busch Gardens. In addition, guests can check out the new exhibit honoring the park’s 50 years of fun; located near the Crown Colony House Restaurant and the Clydesdale Hamlet, it features hundreds of photos, souvenirs and artifacts from the park’s history on display, including a 70-foot timeline.

The best part of Summer Nights, however, is that it’s included with regular admission to Busch Gardens. So all you have to do is get your discount Busch Gardens tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com and you’ll be all set to celebrate the park’s birthday and dance, ride, and party through the night this summer.

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.

As thousands of people descend on Tampa, Florida, this weekend for Super Bowl XLIII, most will not realize that a piece of Tampa has always had a connection to the biggest of football games. At Busch Gardens, the iconic Clydesdales have been a staple in Anheuser-Busch Super Bowl commercials for over 40 years.

The Budweiser Clydesdales are a group of Clydesdale horses that were first presented to August Anheuser Busch, Sr. on April 7, 1933, by his son, August A. Busch, Jr., as a gift to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition. Known for the long white hairs that cover their hooves, the horses, which includes six “hitches” (teams) dispersed through the US, have appeared in various commercials and events nationwide. However, they’ve become most famous for their acting in Budweiser Super Bowl ads.

The Clydesdales first made their Super Bowl premiere in 1967 with an ad that showed the horses marching with their famous red, white, and gold beer wagon to the tune of a cheerful jingle. Over the years, the commercials have taken on serious and funny tones, with the horses engaging in snowball fights and looking on while a zebra referee tries to make a game call.

This year’s Super Bowl will be a particularly big one for the Clydesdales. Though there’s no way to tell for sure how many commercials they’ll appear in during Super Bowl XLIII, AB In-Bev executives told reporters that this year’s ads will have more Clydesdales than any other Budweiser commercial of the past. The commercials will feature the horses in several situations: a romance with a circus horse, a particularly competitive game of fetch, and a portrayal of the history of the Clydesdales. One ad will also feature comedian Conan O’Brien.

When they’re not touring the country or starring in ads, you can see these magnificent horses at the Clydesdale Hamlet at Busch Gardens. There, you can also meet Sprint the Donkey, whose dream of being a world-famous Budweiser Clydesdale made him famous in a series of his own Super Bowl TV ads. The Clydesdales also have a stable where guests can visit them at SeaWorld Orlando.

To see some of the Clydesdales’ greatest Super Bowl commercials, tune into the CBS special Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials on January 31 at 8 pm. Hosted by TV personality and model Daisy Fuentes and sports announcer Jim Nantz, the special includes a tribute to the Clydesdales that was shot earlier this week at Busch Gardens.

The Budweiser Clydesdales will also be making an appearance near Tampa’s Northdale Plaza (at the corner of North Dale Mabry Avenue and North Dale Boulevard) on Thursday, January 29, from 3 to 6 pm to promote their starring role in the Super Bowl commercials.

And this weekend, be sure to stop by the park for some theme park amusements when you’re not completely preoccupied by football festivities. From the Clydesdales to the tigers at Jungala, everyone in Tampa is excited to host Super Bowl XLIII. Score your discount Busch Gardens tickets now at OrlandoFunTickets.com, and you’ll ensure the fun’s not over when the game ends.

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.

It is official; as of Tuesday, November 18th, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. is now Anheuser-Busch InBev, as the company has been purchased by Belgian beer maker InBev for $52 billion dollars. Shareholders of Anheuser-Busch approved the deal on Wednesday, making Anheuser-Busch InBev the world’s largest beer manufacturer and holder of a 49% share of US Beer sales.

Anheuser-Busch (AB) will now be a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, retaining its headquarters in St. Louis, which also will become the North American office for the new company. Taking over as President will be Dave Peacock, AB’s vice-president of marketing, while the former president and CEO of AB, August Busch IV, will become a director on the board of AB InBev along with InBev’s current board members.

Based in Leuven, Belgium, InBev produces Stella Artois and Beck, among others. It will now extend its beer portfolio to include American brands Budweiser, Bud Light, Busch, and Michelob, and it will take over AB’s 50% share in Mexico’s leading brewer Grupo Modelo and 27% share in China brewer Tsingtao. InBev has announced that it will not be closing down any American breweries and will be retaining most of AB’s executives.

Though the merger of Anheuser-Busch and InBev is certainly newsworthy enough in itself, theme park fans are most interested in what the merger will mean for Busch Entertainment’s several theme parks. Busch Entertainment Corp., which is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch, is one of the largest theme park operators in the US. With the merger becoming official, what will happen to the company and its parks is now ultimately up to InBev, and since the parks are “non-core assets,” it seems likely that InBev will decide to sell them.

Rumors have been swirling that several companies, including the Anheuser family themselves, are preparing to make bids for Busch Entertainment and its parks, which include SeaWorld in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Williamsburg, Sesame Place, Adventure Island, and Water Country USA. Some of the suitors interested in Busch Entertainment include US private equity firm Blackstone, which is a co-owner of Universal Studios and a major shareholder of England-based Merlin Entertainment, and Spain-based Parques Reunidos.

There have also been unconfirmed reports and speculation that Disney will make an offer, as the company is supposedly very interested in the SeaWorld parks. Disney, who has never bought a separate theme park before, has not confirmed any plans to purchase Busch Entertainment, and some suggest that this rumor is being spread by InBev to heighten interest and start a bidding war. Analysts predict that a Disney purchase is unlikely, as Disney does not typically try to grow by purchasing other companies, and it already owns several parks and properties in Orlando.

Since InBev has made no official announcement of its plans with Busch Entertainment, everything is purely speculative at this point. Even animal rights group PETA has announced that it has a secret donor who wanted to buy SeaWorld and release all its animals into the wild. No one, however, expects this to actually occur. Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see what happens to Busch Entertainment’s beloved theme parks. We’ll continue to keep you posted on this developing and important story, and in the meantime, you can still enjoy the parks with discount Orlando theme park tickets from OrlandoFunTickets.com.