It looks like it’s never to early to start promoting a Halloween event, which is fine by me. We just received this email from Busch Gardens Tampa: The graphic linked to a 2008 wrap-up of Howl-O-Scream here. I suppose with the holiday season ending, it’s a great time to start thinking about October!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LubG1vP118 Happy Holidays from Orlando Attractions Magazine. Thanks to freelance videographer Matthew Pezzula.

The opening of the new American Idol Experience attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been pushed back to mid-February with possible Walt Disney World Annual Passholder previews near the end of January. A sneak preview of the inside of the Idol theater and audition areas was offered to Passholders today (Dec. 14, 2008) during which [...]

Twenty episodes of the popular game show “Wheel of Fortune” are currently being taped at SeaWorld Orlando. Five episodes were taped each night on December 11 and 12, 2008 leaving ten more episodes to be taped on December 13 and 14. In attending the first night’s tapings, we chatted with host Pat Sajak, co-host Vanna [...]

On Saturday, December 6th, 2008, Mannheim Steamroller held two concerts inside the Universal Studios Orlando theme park, free for all park guests. Mannheim Steamroller had previously recorded the music for Universal’s annual Grinchmas Musical. During the recent concert, the group performed with the ‘uncostumed’ cast of the musical, including the Grinch, seen in the video [...]

SeaWorld construction crews put the last piece of track (adorned with balloons) into place today, finishing the structure of Manta, their new flying roller coaster. Manta will bring riders through underwater animal habitats, then soar them face-down, in a horizontal position, aboard a manta-inspired steel coaster. Manta is slated to open summer 2009.

We’ve just uploaded our photo gallery from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. There you can see pictures from Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, Holiday Wishes fireworks, Mickey’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas” show and the “Celebrate the Season” show. If you’d like to go, you’d better get your tickets soon, [...]

As part of Disney’s upcoming “What Will You Celebrate” promotion they’ve put together this neat customizable video showing how you can be the star at the Magic Kingdom. But you’ll have to settle for seeing it on video. I don’t think any amount of money would be able to buy a real sponsorship this awesome. [...]

GIVE THE GIFT OF ATTRACTIONS! We have added a handy (and timely) new feature to theOrlando Attractions Magazine web site. You can now purchase subscriptions, back issues, and t-shirts as gifts and create your own Attractions-themed gift note to print or e-mail. Just add the items to your shopping cart and look for the  icon when checking out. If you select that the [...]

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Rob Thomas visited Disney World during Thanksgiving weekend. Thomas, known for his solo hits as well as being the lead vocalist for the group “Matchbox Twenty,” vacations at Walt Disney World each Thanksgiving weekend with his wife Marisol and son Maison (age 10).

Silver Springs General Manager Terry Turner and Cypress Garden’s Co-Owner Rob Harper have announced that Cypress Garden’s season passholders will receive free admission to Silver Springs during their Festival of Lights. Silver Springs 16th annual Festival of Lights runs Dec. 5 and 6, 12 to 24, and 26 and 27. Cypress Gardens passholders, during the [...]

Blog entry by Deborah Brauser. Photos by Matt Roseboom Last week, more than 24,000 people from more than 100 countries descended upon the Orange County Convention Center for the 2008 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) expo. Owners and operators from theme parks, waterparks, zoos, aquariums, museums and resorts mingled with entertainment designers, [...]

Orlando Attractions Magazine will be at MouseFest, a gathering of Disney fans, on December 13 and 14, so come say hi! On December 13, we’ll have a table at the Mega Mouse Meet: Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Location: Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Convention Center (Grand Harbor Ballroom North) Disney guidebook authors, web [...]

Volume 2, Issue 1 of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for pre-order! You can flip through and preview the entire issue here before you buy it. Features included in this fun new issue are: • Chill out in Orlando with ICE! Holiday fun at the Gaylord Palms Resort. • 21st Century Christmas How Disney [...]

Here’s a sampling of what’s in store at the Walt Disney World Resort for the holidays. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights – As “snow” falls overhead, the Streets of America backlot cityscape at Disney’s Hollywood Studios comes alive with millions of holiday lights that dance to music, animating sparkling displays to create twirling [...]

The Polar Express Experience has rolled into SeaWorld this holiday season and will continuing through Jan. 4, 2009. SeaWorld’s Wild Arctic has been transformed into the fabled Santa Town taking guests on a magical trip to the North Pole. The Polar Express Experience is based on the Warner Bros. Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment film, inspired [...]

The ABC-SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend was held today and yesterday (Nov. 15-16, 2008) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Fans got a chance to see their favorite ABC soap stars up close during many different events. In addition to autograph signings, they also held celebrity motorcades down Hollywood Boulevard to the stage set up in front of [...]

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and Verizon are teaming up for a multi-year relationship designed to enhance the guest experience – before, during and after guests arrive at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This alignment allows guests to have a “personal tour guide” right in their wireless phones along with new services at the parks. [...]

An elaborate “Cinderellabration” topiary and an environmentally friendly Green Garden will bring fresh springtime flair to the 16th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 18 to May 31, 2009. Each year, Disney gardeners channel their creative energy into presenting an intricate topiary display against the backdrop of Spaceship Earth. This year, Cinderella and [...]

SeaWorld Orlando recently introduced a new theatrical performance, A’Lure, The Call of the Ocean, an aquatic tapestry combining athleticism, acrobats, and electronic visuals. Set to a musical score recorded by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the 30-minute production takes guests on an journey through the ocean’s depths and mysteries, telling the tale of Sea Sirens, …