April 1, 2015
The Walt Disney World admissions system is highly complex. Besides making a brand-new purchase, you can also upgrade your current tickets or even exchange older passes for new RFID-enabled plastic cards. These transactions are complicated and, depending on the type of ticket you have, you might be unable to verify how many days of admission ...
March 22, 2015
Orlando, Florida, is home to a dizzying array of dinner shows. Whether you want to solve a murder mystery, join singing and dancing gangsters at a speakeasy, or take in a Hawaiian luau, the area offers something for everyone. A friend and I have birthdays three days apart, and are both big fans of everything ...
March 7, 2015
In 2005, Disney completely dismantled its previous ticket structure in favor of a new program called Magic Your Way. Although a few things have changed since then, the essence of the program remains the same. The more days you buy, the cheaper your per-day price. Special add-ons allow you to further customize your vacation. Decoding ...
February 22, 2015
As one of the tourism capitals of the world, Orlando, Florida, is teeming with attractions of every description. Dinner shows, like most attractions, come and go with surprising regularity. But the best remain, changing things up as needed to stay relevant in a very fickle marketplace. With more than 20 years under its belt, Capone’s ...
February 1, 2015
Universal Orlando is well known for its thrills and chills, especially the frighteningly intense Halloween Horror Nights. Yet the two gated theme parks are packed with opportunities for families to have fun together. For parades, bands, food and fun, check out Universal’s version of Mardi Gras, held every spring inside Universal Studios. What ...
January 2, 2015
In the Orlando area, things change rapidly. The theme parks are constantly updating their attractions rosters, pulling the plug on old favorites in exchange for newer, faster and more thrilling experiences. Hotels change ownership at a dizzying pace, and that roadside attraction you loved on your last visit might be a condo complex when you ...
October 27, 2014
Central Florida is well known as the theme park center of the world. The crowded landscape ensures healthy competition as each park fights for its share of the tourist dollar. With Halloween now a multi-billion dollar industry, second only to Christmas in consumer holiday spending, the parks have turned their attention to putting on ever ...
October 8, 2014
I was raised in the sleepy small town of Lakeland, Florida, about halfway between Tampa and Orlando. When I left for New Orleans in 2001, Lakeland was growing rapidly, but it still maintained its small town feel. Conservative and quiet, Lakeland seemed to enjoy being quaint. So imagine my surprise when I returned to discover ...
October 3, 2014
While Central Florida is well-known for its major theme park haunts, including Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights and Busch Gardens Tampa’s Howl-O-Scream, as well as the permanent Legends: A Haunting at Old Town, what is less widely advertised is the area’s plethora of smaller local haunts. From tiny backyard walkthroughs to fully realized haunted houses ...
September 15, 2014
At one time a minor holiday best known for trick-or-treating and costume parties, Halloween has become big business in the United States. From tiny home-based haunts through elaborate high-dollar events, Halloween is now a season packed with the opportunity to go out and get scared. With a 100-year legacy of horror, Universal Studios is among ...
