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Large photo leaked of tabletop model for Fantasyland's makeover

Click on the photo to see the full size version. This photo of a large model of the expanded part of Fantasyland has been appearing around the Internet this past week. It’s a bit different from the originally leaked blueprints of the redone Fantasyland at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. The Pixie Hollow area has been moved…

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Large photo released of Hogwarts Castle at Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Click on the photo to see it full size. The magical transformation continues. Although still very much a work in progress, the magnificence of Hogwarts castle is beginning to take shape above Hogsmeade as work continues on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Hogwarts will be the home of a…

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Videos: The perfect commute – roller coaster to work and water slide home

What better way to get pumped up for the day than a roller coaster ride through the city to work. And after a hard day at work, wouldn’t it be great to water slide all the way home? That the premise behind these two ads for Barclaycard in the U.K. You may have seen the…

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Augmented reality map of Wizarding World of Harry Potter available in 'USA Today'

Harry Potter fans will want to buy the “USA Today” newspaper next Thursday, Jan. 28. An ad in the newspaper will seemingly come to life on your computer screen when you hold it up to a webcam. The first-ever augmented reality map of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will allow you to rotate the…

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Details on Legoland Florida, coming in late 2011

Today Merlin Entertainments announced a multi-million dollar investment for its biggest family tourist center in the world with the planned opening of Legoland Florida. Merlin purchased the historical Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fla. from property investment company Land South Group and will open Legoland Florida on the site at the end of 2011. The…

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Public record e-mail says Legoland is coming to Cypress Gardens

It seems the cat may have gotten out of the bag. The Lakeland Ledger has obtained an e-mail sent to Polk County Commissioner Randy Wilkinson that says Legoland is coming to Cypress Gardens. All e-mails sent to public official’s business e-mail accounts are public record. But the e-mail wasn’t sent from Merlin Entertainments Group officials…

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Photos/video: Details emerging onsite at Wizarding World of Harry Potter

As you’ll see in the video and photos below, most of the scaffolding has come down in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and many of the small details are starting to appear. First let’s take a video tour, then we’ll get into some detailed photos. Wizarding World of Harry…

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Stars in the Parks: Daytona 500 champion takes on a tiger at Busch Gardens

The 2009 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth visited Busch Gardens Tampa Bay recently to test his strength in a tug-of-war with a bengal tiger and hand-feed giraffes on the parks Serengeti Plain. Kenseth drives the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford for Roush Fenway Racing and is getting ready to defend his victory in NASCARs most…

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Cypress Gardens sold to Merlin Entertainments Group

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Merlin Entertainments Group has purchased Cypress Gardens. From blogs.orlandosentinel.com: A spokeswoman for Merlin said the purchase includes the current Cypress Gardens theme park, the Splash Island water park and the adjacent botanical gardens. The company did not disclose the sales price. Merlin is the second busiest amusement operator in…

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CoCo Key Water Resort opening on International Drive in March

CoCo Key Water Resorts are adding Orlando to their portfolio of water resorts and hotels. Set to open in March at 7400 International Drive (near the convention center) [Editor’s Note: It’s actually not that close to the Convention Center. It’s closer to Sand Lake Road.], the 58,000 square-foot canopy covered water park will be the…