Win an Opening Day Trip to Harry Potter’s Wizarding World!
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be opening soon!
Universal Orlando Resort is still keeping a tight lip on the official opening date of their new Harry Potter land, but judging by this new promotion it must be soon. Universal and NBC’s Today Show are teaming up (although, technically they’re already on the same team) to send a lucky class to opening day of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the Islands of Adventure theme park.
To enter the contest a teacher must fill out some forms, have the students’ parents sign a waiver and answer the question “Why is my class extraordinary?” in a video.
Speaking of videos:
The official rules, applications, minor release forms and all that jazz can be found at the Today Show website. The magic can be found in Orlando — soon.
Explore Nature at Wekiwa Springs State Park, Apopka, Florida
Designated as only one of two Federally Designated “Wild and Scenic Rivers,” Wekiva River in Wekiwa Springs State Park is a vast and incredible, nature-centered attraction. This central Florida park encompasses nearly every out-door activity in one location just outside Apopka, just 12 miles north of downtown Orlando. Guests are invited to canoe down the Wekiva River, hike through the natural park surroundings for an overnight adventure, and explore Wekiwa on horseback.
Wekiva River by Kayak, Florida
Crystal clear, 72ºF water, for which Wekiwa is famous, is ready to be explored with your snorkel, by canoe, or just wading in the River. Guests are able to rent canoes for the day or overnight from the park starting at just $35/day. Guided and self-guided tours begin at Canoe Beach Landing with many options depending on your party size or your length of visit. Overnight camping is available with or without all of your sleeping necessities provided.
If horseback riding is your idea of exploring nature, Rock Springs Riding Ranch provides horses and trail guides to assist you on your adventure. Kids of all ages are welcomed to experience riding horseback. Pony rides start at just $12 per child under 8, and 1-hour guided horseback rides start at $37/person.
Nature trails are open to walkers, hikers, runners, and bikers and reaches 9 miles of park viewing. Trail maps are available at the park. Some riders may find the course a challenge, the multi-use trail is available for guests to experience Florida’s nature.
Some of the best bird watching and wildlife spotting is available on the 1/8-mile long boardwalk over-looking the springs and through the swamps of the park. Bring your camera and binoculars to spot some of Central Florida’s greatest natural treasures.
History and nature buffs will surely appreciate the recently opened Nature Center which includes live native wildlife and opportunities to learn about local habitats. Visitors will learn how to better live off of the land and respect the Earth’s resources.
Locals and visitors can take advantage of some of the pavilions and meeting spaces found around the park. Recreation Hall and Dining Hall can be rented out together or separately to accommodate up to 150 people apiece for your gathering.
Florida state parks are open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.
$6.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.
$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle.
$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.
(More information on fees is available on the Florida State Parks website.)
1800 Wekiwa Circle Apopka, Florida 32712
(407) 884-2008
Photos courtesy: See Reeves
All Aboard the Hogwarts Express!
Last stop: Hogsmeade
How did the The Hogwarts Express and Hogsmeade Station get on the U.S. side of the Atlantic? Magic. Duh.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort will be opening soon (Spring 2010) and will feature themed attractions, shops and a restaurant. It should be downright magical.
For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.
Photo Credit: Kevin Kolczynski, Universal Orlando Resort
Spring Training 2010: Grapefruit League Ticket Info, Directions, Team Outlooks
Spring Training 2010: Grapefruit League stadium and ticket info, directions, team outlooks
Part 2: Disney World’s Hollywood Studios With Preschoolers
Mickey Mouse's Legendary Hat at Disney World's Hollywood Studios
If you’re visiting Disney World with a preschooler in tow, you’ll find that the Magic Kingdom park has the most to offer your younger vacationer. But chances are, if you’ve spent thousands of dollars on airfare and hotel, you’ve also ponied up for the park hopper pass and plan to hit the other three Disney World parks as well.
What can you do with your preschooler while the older kids are hitting Hollywood Studios’ Twilight Zone Tower of Terror? Check out these preschool friendly attractions at Disney World’s Hollywood Studios.
6 Things For Preschoolers To Do At Disney World’s Hollywood Studios
1. Toy Story Mania – ride
Arguably the most popular ride in Hollywood Studios, the fast passes for Toy Story Mania run out quickly. If you’re set on enjoying this (and you should be – it’s fun for the whole family), make this your first stop of the day. If you don’t get a fast pass, expect at least an hour long wait, which is actually pretty tolerable thanks to the ginormous animatronic Mr. Potato Head telling jokes in the waiting area. The ride itself features a series of interactive, carnival style video games. It’s a blast.
2. Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
This 25-minute, Broadway-style musical raised its curtains for the first time on the same day that the Beauty and the Beast movie hit theaters. Your little one (and, let’s face it, everyone else in your family) will love the costumes, singing and dancing. You can be seated up to 20 minutes before showtimes.
3. Muppet*Vision 3-D – 3-D show
More than a 3-D movie, this attraction features a 12-minute long “pre-show”, muppet animitronics, and – of course – the 17-minute long main event 3-D movie. Of course, chances are that you’re more familiar with the individual Muppets than your preschooler is.
4. Playhouse Disney — Live on Stage
This is one show that will probably bore and annoy your older children, but absolutely delight the preschoolers. It’s a great option for entertaining little ones while the big kids go on “big kid” rides. The show features a host of Playhouse Disney characters, including Mickey & Minnie, the Little Einsteins, and Handy Manny. It’s a fun, interactive show that encourages singing, clapping, and on-your-feet dancing along.
5. “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure – free play area
This is the granddaddy of all free play areas. It offers 11,000 square feet of oversized props, including a 52-foot long leaking water hose, 40-foot tall bumblebees, 30-foot tall blades of grass and slides made from oversized film strips.
6. Voyage of The Little Mermaid – live action show
This 15-minute musical attraction is also very popular, so you’ll want to pick up a Fast Pass here. What’s all the fuss about? Stunning puppetry and sweeping sets let you become part of Ariel’s world instead of mere audience members. And who doesn’t love every single song that came out of The Little Mermaid?
Aaaaand… yeah, that’s about it for preschool fun at Hollywood Studios. But you can actually pack a pretty full day between character greetings and the onslaught of shows available here. If you hit Disney during the winter holiday season, Hollywood Studios is also home to the best light display on earth, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.
If you’re headed to Orlando and Disney World to escape a colder season farther North, Hollywood Studios is a great option for a “half day at the park/half day relaxing in the hotel pool” – at least if you have preschoolers to keep entertained.
Photo by dawnzy58 on Flickr.
North America’s First Canopy Trail at Mayakka River State Park in Sarasota, Florida
Myakka State Park offers 57 acres of gorgeous scenery
Myakka River State Park, always a showcase for the wild and scenic Myakka River that flows through the park’s 57 square miles, now offers a different vantage from which to view its wetlands, prairies and woodlands. North America’s first canopy trail has been constructed at Myakka, providing visitors with unique views of the sub-tropical vegetation and treetop epiphytes in the park. The Canopy Walkway was the inspiration of scientist Dr. Margaret Lowman, who spent more than 20 years devising methods to study treetops in the forests of other continents before accepting the position of director of Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. She soon realized that Florida’s forests were as imperiled as many of the legendary rainforests and convinced officials of the need for a treetop trail at Myakka.
Canopy walkway leading to observation tower
Travelers can get a real feel for nature up in the canopy walking amongst the branches of ancient oaks and enjoying views looking out over more than three miles of Upper Myakka Lake. It takes It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to complete the canopy walkway loop at a very leisurely pace. If you prefer not to do the entire loop, walk five minutes to the spur trail and then to the walkway. There is parking at the trail head.
After trekking through the treetops, visitors can stop by the Myakka Outpost for their specialty – gator stew – before heading out on the world’s largest airboat, the “Gator Gal.” For the more adventurous, kayaks and canoes offer a gator’s eye view of the river, where it is common to spot rare wildlife in their natural habitat and alligators sunning on the banks.
Myakka River winds through the park
Myakka River State Park is located nine miles easy of I-75 at 13208 State Road 72, in Sarasota, Florida. Although many are day visitors, the park has camping areas and rental cabins. Reservations are always advised, especially for holiday weekends and from December through April. Call 800-326-3521 for information and to make reservations up to eleven months in advance for cabins or electric campsites or 941-361-6511 to reserve primitive group camp and backpack campsites.
Photo credit: LivingOnImpulse
Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels
Disney World With Preschoolers – Part One: Magic Kingdom
Are preschoolers the target audience for Disney World?
Popular thinking is that a Disney vacation is perfect for families with kids, right?
Well, kind of. Disney World is perfect for school aged kids, but there is that delicate age between three and five when your children will be thrilled at the idea of Disney, and absolutely terrified (or too small) for many of the attractions.
Take, for example, Snow White’s Scary Adventures. While the Disney website lists this slow trek through dark corridors as “Fun For Little Ones” and appropriate for “Pre-schoolers”, almost every parent I know who has tried to coax a three year old onto this ride will tell you stories of wailing and crying and gnashing of teeth and leaving through the emergency exit. It’s dark. And scary. And has lightening and cackling witches. My three year old promptly declared that she “HATED MICKEY MOUSE’S HOUSE!” after her first run in with this ride.
If you have a preschooler who is afraid of the dark and too short for dang near everything else, allow me to point out to you all of the tried and true and actually appropriate for real preschoolers attractions at Disney World. I’ve broken the parks and all the preschool activities up into a four part blog series.
We’ll start with the most preschool friendly of Walt Disney World’s parks, Magic Kingdom.
20 Things For Preschoolers To Do At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
1. “It’s A Small World” – ride
While technically, most of this ride takes place in the dark, it’s not the same ominous darkness of the Snow White ride. It’s A Small World is a gentle, easy ride through hundreds of costumed dolls singing along to that song you will have in your head for the rest of the trip. Expect a long wait for this classic Disney ride.
2. “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad” – ride
Disney does not list this roller coaster as a “pre-schooler attraction”, but I disagree. This was the very first “big girl ride” my daughter went on as a 4 year old, and she loved it. You do have to be 40 inches to ride – but my kid is pretty short for her age and met the requirements. This truly is a “fun for the whole family” coaster.
3. “Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel – ride
Cinderella's Carrousel - Perfect For Preschoolers
The carousel is located right between Scary Snow White and Scary Peter Pan, according to my preschooler. You’re no doubt familiar with the way a carousel works (horses go round and round and up and down), and this is no exception. It’s simple and fun and a welcome relief if you didn’t believe me and have a hysterical preschooler on your hands after a run in with the scary witch.
4. “Dumbo The Flying Elephant” – ride
Round and round and up and down, this time inside a Dumbo cart. My daughter will not go on this ride alone because it goes “very high”, but she loves going on it with someone else. Again, expect a very long line at this popular attraction.
5. “Country Bear Jamboree” – show
This is a musical revue in Frontierland that I have never, personally, seen. But you can’t possibly go wrong with 17 minutes of 18 dancing bears, right?
6. “Donald’s Boat” – free play area
Do you want to just sit still for a minute? Here’s a perfect place for you to take a break while your kids just run around and be kids. They can spin the Captain’s Wheel, pull the ship’s whistle to trigger the water spouts on deck and clang the ship’s bell. You will, however, be responsible for convincing them to disembark once you’re ready to move on.
7. “Jungle Cruise” – ride
Take a guided tour through the jungles of Asia, Africa and South America on one of the tramp-steamer boats. It’s a lot of sitting and looking at things your kids wouldn’t otherwise get a chance to see, while the tour guide weaves an exciting tale for you and your fellow passengers. This is a big hit for kids who are crazy about animals (or watch a lot of Go, Diego, Go!)
8. “Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor” – show
This attraction is like an extremely kid friendly comedy club. There’s an interactive portion that allows viewers to submit their own jokes while waiting in line. The theater is dark, but the animated cast of Monsters Inc. quickly settles any nerves and encourages young audience participation Also? They manage to be kid-friendly funny without being lame, so your older kids shouldn’t be too embarrassed to laugh along.
9. “Pooh’s Playful Spot” – free play area
Another resting spot for parents and playground area for children. You will, inevitably, wonder why you spent so much money on a Disney vacation when your kids are this happy about a slide.
10. “The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm” – ride
Confession of a horrible mother and travel reviewer: I haven’t been on this attraction either. Yet. But the height requirements are even lower (35 inches) than the perfectly docile “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad”, so I’m adding it to the list of preschool friendly Disney World attractions with confidence.
11. “The Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management” – show
If you find yourself at Disney World in the middle of a typical Florida afternoon rainstorm, make your way over to the Tiki Room for the “singing bird show”, as my daughter fondly calls it.
12. “The Magic Carpets of Aladdin” – ride
This ride is similar to the Dumbo ride – up, down, round and round. However, the Magic Carpet seats four people and you can control the up, down and tilt of your own carpet with the joy stick. This is especially nice if you have a little one who is freaked out at the idea of going too high.
13. “Tom Sawyer Island” – free play area
This is one of the coolest and most underrated parts of Magic Kingdom. Hop on a river raft and visit Tom Sawyer’s island – exactly what you imagine a child’s dream adventure island to be like, complete with elaborate forts and underground caves. They’ll run, jump, climb and laugh. This is an excellent attraction if you have children of a variety of ages, because you’ll find them actually playing together. Sweet, sweet, parental bliss.
14. “Tomorrowland® Speedway” – ride
Proud Preschooler at Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland Speedway
This is, hand’s down, both of my children’s favorite ride in all of Disney World. They get to drive a car. Period. Your preschooler may have to be accompanied by an adult, but even the little ones are allowed to control the steering wheel with proper supervision (you sitting beside them). The last time we hit up this ride, my daughter came away with an official “Tomorrowland Speedway Driver’s License”.
15. Daily parades
When you first get to the Magic Kingdom, it’s a good idea to find out the parade schedule for the day. Your park map will show the route so you can plan when to be where for a great seat. Pro tip: watching the parades from Frontierland provides a much less crowded view and you’re the first ones to get out and back in line after the parades are over.
16. Character greetings
Character greetings at Disney World's Magic Kingdom - she doesn't "do" princesses.
The idea of having your preschooler meet their Disney idols is appealing to any parent – until you see the lines necessary for a quick hello. But let me assure you – it’s totally worth waiting in line. Send the rest of the family and older kids off on a “big kid ride” while you wait. Chances are, you’re preschooler will be just as happy with their brief meet and greet and autograph as everyone else is after a 30 second coaster thrill.
17. Shows at Cinderella’s castle
Again, check for the day’s show times when you get to the park. Then grab a snack or your lunch and set yourself up in front of the castle about 30 minutes before the scheduled start.
18. “Storytime with Belle” – character greeting and show
In the Fairytale Garden next to Cinderella’s Castle, Belle retells the story of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. A few lucky audience members are picked to play characters in the show. There’s a meet and greet with Belle after the show as well.
19. “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique” – special experience
Yet another confession: I am too cheap to have paid for this. Also, my daughter would not speak to me for a week if I made her wear a princess costume. If, however, you’ve got an extra $50 of vacation cash to spend and a little girl who loves the idea of a make over, than you might want to schedule some “salon” time for her.
20. “The Pirates League” – special experience
Similar to the Bibbidi Bobbidi experience, but with less pink, this “special experience” transforms kids 3 and older into pirates. There’s make up and eye patches and booty! Like the princess makeover, The Pirate League requests reservations and at least $50.
In addition to knowing about which attractions are best suited for your preschool, it’s a good idea to keep the limitations of a small child in mind when planning the rest of your vacation. For example, you may want to choose a Disney property hotel that allows for easy access for naps or afternoon breaks.
Stay tuned for the rest of the “Taking Preschoolers To Disney World” series, coming soon!
All photos by Britt Reints.
The Great American Race: The Daytona 500
You didn’t forget, did you? I mean, it’s only NASCAR’s biggest, richest, most prestigious race.
I’m talking about the Daytona 500, of course! “The Great American Race” – as it has been dubbed – is about to roar into town on Feb. 14, 2010. …
Everglades Day Trip - a Family Must-See
We filmed our first video of the year yesterday on the many different ways to explore the Everglades with your family. My boys and I had so much fun (dad had to work - again - sorry, honey)! Yes, we played hooky from school to go trek through the Everglades on trails, on an airboat, and even on an eco-tour via a pontoon boat.
The video should be up hopefully within a month and I can’t for you to see how big my boys are getting. …
February Events at Naples Rookery Bay Reserve
Good things are going on at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Naples! They have recently installed a pedestrian bridge at the Environmental Learning Center that leads to an interpretive trail, which was put in place just in time for their recent nature festival. Rookery Bay Reserve is one of those great "do it all" places in Florida . You can hike, camp, paddle, go birding, and learn. …