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American Idol Top 24 contestant was a Dream Ticket winner at Hollywood Studios

It looks like The American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has helped at least one person get noticed. Aaron Kelly was named one of the top 24 contestants this past week on the American Idol television show. He won the Dream Ticket at The American Idol Experience on Feb. 9, 2009 and was able…

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ESPN The Weekend to be held at Hollywood Studios and newly renamed sports complex

ESPN and Walt Disney World are again offering fans the opportunity to see and hear many ESPN personalities during ESPN The Weekend Feb. 25 to 28. This year’s event will be held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the newly re-imagined ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. ESPN personalities scheduled to appear are John Anderson, Tedy…

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Photo/Video update: Helicopter tour above Wizarding World of Harry Potter

For this February 2010 update, we take a peek above the construction walls – way above. Come fly with us to check out the progress of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. No, we didn’t use a magical broomstick. Thanks go to Air Florida Helicopter Charters on International Drive. You…

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Universal sales manager tells of frog choir, other details for Wizarding World of Harry Potter

The Lakeland Ledger newspaper covered a recent meeting of Central Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association. The guest speaker was Sarak Holt, sales coordinator at Universal Studios Orlando. In the meeting she reveled a few new facts about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. She told the group they were the first to hear about a…

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Wizarding World Potter package offers early admission, breakfast at Three Broomsticks

Universal is now offering a special Wizarding World of Harry Potter Vacation Package. For travel starting May 28, the package includes: • Early Park Admission to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. • A traditional British breakfast at the Three Broomsticks – one per person. • Commemorative Grand Opening ticket – one per person….

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Disney celebrates volunteers with a world record, special concert – Photos and Videos

Against the backdrop of a world-record sculpture of canned goods at Epcot last Thursday, Disney Parks officials announced a major milestone with its Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program. Since the program’s launch only six weeks ago, more than 600,000 people in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada have volunteered or signed…

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Video: Disney World's UK sister city honored at the Magic Kingdom

The city of Swindon, England was officially honored yesterday at Walt Disney World when a plaque marking the twinning of the Wiltshire town with the popular Florida resort was unveiled at the Magic Kingdom. The twinning ceremony was attended by Cllr David Wren, the mayor of Swindon; Angellica Bell, television presenter and competition judge; Duncan…

New Busch Gardens attraction lets you pretend to be a TV animal expert

Have you ever wondered how much concentration it takes for someone like Jack Hanna or Julie Scardina to do a television interview while holding a cute but squirmy animal? How do you focus on what you’re saying when you’ve got an owl monkey nuzzling your neck or a bush baby climbing on your head? The…

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Insider Top Tips: Avoiding International Drive and I-4 traffic

By Kevin Yee Welcome to Insider Top Tips. This column proposes to amalgamate some of the best “insider” tips for visiting Orlando and its world-famous attractions. Think of it as “tips from a local.” I’m a local now, of course, though like most Floridians, I was a transplant from somewhere else (in my case, from…

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Stars in the Parks video: Larry the Cable Guy visits SeaWorld

Larry the Cable Guy visits Penguin Encounter at SeaWorld OrlandoWatch this video on YouTube Comedian and actor Larry the Cable Guy recently stepped inside SeaWorld’s Penguin Encounter and gave a big thumbs-up to his new feathered friend “Git-R-Done,” a rockhopper penguin. Larry credits a previous visit to SeaWorld for being able to answer the $200,000…