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A lot of choices for the Fourth of July

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Here’s what’s happening around the tourist areas of Central Florida for July 4 this year. Magic Kingdom “Celebrate America Fireworks” will fill the sky at 9 pm. July 4 (guests who’d like to begin the celebratory weekend a day early can enjoy the special fireworks on July 3 at 9 p.m.). After the fireworks, guests…

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SeaWorld helps two families beat the heat with cool chairs

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The Carpenter family, from Richmond, Va. and Green family from Durham, NC kick off the first day of summer on icy lounge chairs at Aquatica in Orlando.  Crafted from a solid block of ice and weighing more than 2,000 lbs each, the lounge chairs lasted for only a few hours in the Florida sun.  But…

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Summer 2009 Issue Now Available for Preview and Pre-Order

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The Summer 2009 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine is now available for preview and pre-order. It’s our first quarterly issue and the first of our new and improved editions featuring nearly 20% more pages, thicker paper, more high-quality photography, and more articles than ever before. Feature articles in this issue include: • COVER STORY: Hitch a…

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VIDEO: A ride on SeaWorld's Manta coaster starring the Orlando Attractions Magazine staff

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Today marked the official opening of Manta, SeaWorld’s newest roller coaster. As part of the opening festivities, we were invited to ride the thrilling attraction and have our trip recorded on the “MantaCam,” allowing us to bring you a first-person look at all of the twists and turns that can be found throughout. Prominently featured…

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SeaWorld AfterDark Returns this Summer

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Just two days following the official grand opening of its new Manta roller coaster, SeaWorld launches its nighttime entertainment series called AfterDark, running nightly from May 23 through September 7, 2009. Returning this year is the popular Shamu Rocks show, combining killer whales with a light show and upbeat music. Reflections offers guests exciting fireworks,…

Meet Hoover and Sawyer, tawny frogmouth chicks from SeaWorld

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Already showing the large, frog-like mouths that give the species its name, Hoover (left) and Sawyer are tawny frogmouth chicks that were hatched at SeaWorld in January, 2009. Until recently, the population of tawny frogmouths in North American zoos was facing extinction and breeding programs were largely unsuccessful. SeaWorld worked with the Association of Zoos…

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VIDEO: SeaWorld's Manta Views, Interviews, Aquarium, and Queue

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Yesterday, we posted pictures and a review/report from SeaWorld’s new roller coaster, Manta. Today, we have a video showing you the twists and turns of the attraction, including interviews with SeaWorld’s director of design and engineering Brian Morrow, director of park operations Tim Carrier, and director of aquariums Gary Violetta who share some insight into…