Top Chefs Will Open 13th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Fest

The top “foodie” cities of the world will be highlighted at this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and the top chefs will be starting Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival with an international cuisine competition that is making its debut at the Disney theme park in September.

Some of the world’s best chefs will be cooking against each other in the Bocuse d’Or USA, a prestigious cooking competition during the opening weekend of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival on Sept. 26 and 27. The culinary stars that are participating include the likes of Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller and Jerome Bocuse, the man in charge at the Chefs de France restaurant located in Epcot’s France Pavilion.

Each chef will have one assistant, and is tasked with preparing sophisticated fish and meat dishes that will be judged by a panel of their peers. Each platter will be evaluated based upon the following specific criteria: creativity, presentation, taste and technical precision. This elaborate cooking contest will take place before a live audience of Epcot guests, and attendance is included with a Disney ticket. The winning chef moves on to compete in the international Bocuse d’Or cuisine contest in Lyon, France in January.

A few other highlights of the 13th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival are:

The Festival Welcome Center, which is the hub of all the Epcot Food & Wine Fest action. Here you will find a Champagne and Wine Bar along with a host of free wine seminars, book signings with your favorite chefs and festival merchandise like pins and the official cookbook.

Celebrity chefs and Disney chefs will be on hand for cooking demonstrations, hosting tasty tasting events and much more. So far, this year’s celeb chef list is shaping up nicely with the following already scheduled to appear:

• Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace
• Rock Harper of Hell’s Kitchen
• Tre Wilcox from Top Chef Season 3
• Cat Cora
• Jamie Deen
• Allen Suuer
• Jeff Henderson
• Gale Grand
• Robert Irvine
• Todd English
• Warren Brown

And of course there is the ever-popular Eat to the Beat! concert series, with live music to enhance the delicious treats that await Epcot guests throughout the Food & Wine Festival. All you need to treat your taste buds is a Disney ticket, so get yours today!

Disney News and Updates – September 2008

There is always tons of stuff going on at the Walt Disney World Resort, and the month of September is just the beginning of the busiest time of year at Walt Disney World. As summer ends, all of the best Disney special events start up, and we will be here to keep you up-to-date about what’s open, what’s closed and everything in between.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is the best kid-friendly Halloween party in Orlando, and it’s a great way to add a little Halloween fun to your Disney vacation. For 2008, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party takes place on select nights from Sept. 5 through Oct. 31.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separate Disney ticket event, and it is not included with your regular Disney ticket. Ticket prices are $42.95 for kids 3-9 and $48.95 for anyone over 10. Costumes are welcome!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Night of Joy
Disney’s annual Christian music event has moved from Disney’s Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year, and it features some of Christian music’s top artists. The dates for Night of Joy are Sept. 5 and 6.

Night of Joy is also a separate ticket event that is not included with regular Disney tickets. Night of Joy tickets are $44.95 for one night and $75.95 for two nights. (Day of tickets are $49.95.)

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
The 13th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival begins on Sept. 26, and it will be satisfying guests with tasty treats right up through Nov. 9. Most of the events of the Epcot Food & Wine Festival are included with your Disney ticket, even the spectacular Eat to the Beat concert series! Keep checking in for the latest on what’s coming up at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival each week.

Walt Disney World – Openings and Closings for September

• Disney’s Magic Kingdom:
  Country Bear Jamboree closed Sept. 28-30
  Liberty Square Riverboat closed Sept. 6-12
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
  Primeval Whirl closed Sept. 2-30
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
  Lights, Motor Action! Stunt Show closed Sept. 11-24
• Disney’s Blizzard Beach is closed for refurbishment Sept. 28-30.

Dogs to Cause a Splash at Cypress Gardens

As you know, the summer months in Orlando can get quite hot. While us humans can just cool off with a nice dip in the pool or grab some ice cream to bring down our body temperature, the dogs are usually left inside to sit in the AC. Well, all of that is about to change! Give your dog a refreshing new break from the heat by heading over to Cypress Gardens on October 4th from 11 am to 3 pm for “Rusty’s Pool Party.” Cypress Gardens will be going to the dogs for one day only! Held at Cypress Garden’s Splash Island Waterpark, dogs will be allowed to be let off the leash and take a dip in the pool themselves! Reward your dog for a long summer spent in the AC with this invigorating change of pace!

Dogs can slip and slide throughout the water park and cool off from the summer heat at this ultimate canine pool party! Let your dog take a swim in the wave pool or climb up the Polynesian Adventure Water Fortress! And, treat your dog to a chicken-flavored snow-cone to cool off that panting tongue! There are plenty of activities for owners and guests, as well. There will be lots of fun games and even a canine bathing suit contest.

Cypress Gardens has paired up with the Polk County Humane Society for this unique event. For only $10 a dog and their owner can enter the pool party. Additional members to the party can enter the park for only $5 each. Children 9 and under are allowed in for FREE! All of the proceeds go towards the Polk County Humane Society. Spaces are limited, so we highly recommend that you participate in advanced registration! The application for your dog to participate can be found on the Polk County Humane Society website. Register today and spoil your four-legged friend at this special event!

Only one dog per human owner is allowed and dogs must have proof of current vaccinations. No child under the age of 16 will be allowed into the park without adult supervision.

A Fall Chill Is Moving In On Your Orlando Vacation

Nothing can cool off an Orlando vacation like a little bit of ice, and this fall, ICEBAR Orlando is plunging into Orlando’s hip entertainment scene with 50 tons of the stuff. ICEBAR Orlando is the first ever permanent all-ice exhibit to hit the Orlando vacation circuit, and it is sure to become an Orlando hotspot in no time.

ICEBAR Orlando is made entirely of ice – 50 tons of ice. The walls, tables, chairs, bars and sculptures are solid ice. And it’s cold. ICEBAR Orlando will maintain a temperature of below-freezing 27 degrees Fahrenheit. What could be more refreshing during your hot Orlando vacation?

At 1000 square feet, ICEBAR Orlando is the largest permanent ice bar in the whole country. It is the first of its kind anywhere in the southeast, and it should be a must see on all Orlando vacation lists.

Here’s how the ICEBAR Orlando experience works:

First, make a reservation for your 45-minute ICEBAR Orlando expedition. Arrive early so you can hang out in the super hip Chill Lounge, a brand new 4000 square foot Nordic style bar that serves as the fabulously unique entrance to ICEBAR Orlando.

When your ICEBAR Orlando reservation time rolls around, you will be provided with a designer cape, thermal for the utmost warmth, and gloves to keep you cozy during your 45-minute frozen treat. If you’re over 21 years old, a delicious premium vodka cocktail comes with admission, and it is delightfully served in an glass made of – you guessed it, ice. (Under agers get an icy drink too, just without the vodka.)

Once your drink is frozen in hand, you are free to explore this icy wonderland. Sit on an ice-chair, chill at an ice table and admire some spectacular ice sculptures. Your timed ICEBAR Orlando expedition will be the adventure of a lifetime, and when your time is up, you can enjoy a few more drinks and live entertainment at the Chill Lounge.

ICEBAR Orlando is located on International Drive. Formerly known as the Glo Lounge, the totally chill and completely renovated ICEBAR Orlando officially opens on October 1. Admission to ICEBAR Orlando starts at $35 per person, and don’t forget that includes a premium vodka drink for anyone over 21. Reservations are required. There is no admission charge or reservation required for the Chill Lounge.

Disney Vacation News – August and September, 2008

The Inside Disney Ticket on What’s Going Down at Disney World this Fall

Any time of year is a great time for a Disney vacation. Even though the summer season is quickly coming to a close, there is still tons of Disney fun coming up in the next few months. In fact, the last half of the year is one of the most event-packed times at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Here’s a list to give you the inside Disney ticket on the Disney vacation happenings this fall down at Disney:

Disney Vacation News – 13th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Epcot’s most popular annual event starts in less than a month and you need a Disney ticket to get in. This year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival begins on Friday, Sept. 26 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 9. The theme for the 13th annual Epcot Food & Wine Fest is “Great Foodie Cities of the World.” Disney tickets required for admission.

Disney Vacation News – Night of Joy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This popular Christian music event has been a part of Disney vacations since 1983. The dates for 2008 are Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6. This year’s lineup features 16 of your favorite Christian artists, including tobyMac, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Brandon Heath, MercyMe, Rebecca St. James and more.

Night of Joy is switching venues this year, and the Christian music gala will be held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first time ever. Night of Joy 2008 promises to be an exciting and inspirational weekend, and it is a separate ticket event that is not included with your regular Disney tickets.

Disney Vacation News – Disney Step Classic
This inaugural event, where high school and college step teams will compete, takes place at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex on the weekend of Aug. 29 and 30. This is the first time the step competition will be held at Walt Disney World, and it is open to the public. Tickets are available for purchase, and the Disney Step Classic is not included with a regular Disney ticket.

Disney Vacation News – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
A little further off is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, scheduled for select dates throughout September and October. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separate ticket event held at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park, and admission is not included with a regular Disney ticket.

How to Take a Cheap Disney Vacation This Year

Hearing the words cheap Disney in the same sentence is like music to the ears. Learning how to take a cheap Disney vacation is like an entire symphony. It is possible. Honest. Even in this slow economy, you can treat your family to a Disney vacation. Here’s how:

Cheap Disney Vacation Deal #1 – Discount Disney Tickets
OrlandoFunTickets.com has the best discount Disney tickets in town, including package deals that can get you into all of your favorite Disney theme parks. Our discount Disney ticket bargains will help make your Disney dream vacation a reality without breaking the bank. With Disney park hopper tickets, Disney water park tickets and everything in between, you can afford as many Disney days as you want for your Disney vacation.

Cheap Disney Vacation Deal #2 – Cheap Disney Water Park Tickets
A day at a Disney water park is a wonderful way to beat the summer Orlando heat, especially if you get your cheap Disney water park tickets at OrlandoFunTickets.com. Our cheap Disney ticket deals include add-on Disney tickets that let you enjoy your choice of Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon along with all of the other Disney theme parks.

Cheap Disney Vacation Deal #3 – Affordable Disney Resort Hotels
You may be surprised to know that staying right on the Walt Disney World property is affordable for anyone. The Walt Disney World Resort value hotels offer prices that can’t be beat, starting at just $82 per night. Even the slightly higher priced moderate Disney resort hotels are extremely affordable, starting at only $149 per night.

The best thing about staying at a Walt Disney Resort hotel is that Disney provides free transportation all over the Walt Disney World Resort. Add to that a free Disney ride from the airport and you can probably eliminate the cost of a rental car.

Cheap Disney Vacation Deal #4 – A Few Free Disney Attractions
Besides all that, there are still a few free Disney destinations to be enjoyed as part of your cheap Disney vacation. Disney’s Boardwalk is great place for an evening stroll, and it’s just a boat ride away from Epcot and the Disney Hollywood Studios. Downtown Disney is yet another free Disney destination that features dining, shopping and Disney entertainment venues to enjoy any time of day or night.

So you see, a cheap Disney vacation is possible after all!

Top 5 Ways to Keep Your Orlando Vacation Cool

Taking a summertime Orlando vacation can be hot, and we don’t mean that in a good way. The average summer day in Orlando heats up to around 95 degrees, and the humidity is about as high. Those conditions can make any Orlando vacationer want to find a way to keep cool. Well, we’ve got five:

Orlando Vacation Cool #1 – Splash and slide through a water park.
Orlando is home to four major water parks, and all of them are great places to cool off on your Orlando vacation. Check out one of these Orlando water parks, or be really cool and visit them all!

Walt Disney World is home to two Orlando water parks: Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. Both parks require a Disney ticket for admission. and they can easily be added to any multi-day Disney ticket.

Aquatica by SeaWorld is the newest Orlando water park and it’s a must see for every Orlando vacation this year. You can get your Aquatica tickets today along with your SeaWorld tickets and Busch Gardens tickets too!

Over at the Universal Orlando Resort, the coolest place to hang this summer is Wet ‘n Wild.

Orlando Vacation Cool #2 – Take a refreshing dip in the pool.
Make sure home base on your Orlando vacation has a place to cool down on those hot summer afternoons. Some Orlando hotels are known for their amazing pools, and they can seem like an entire Orlando theme park unto themselves.

Orlando Vacation Cool #3 – Hit the beach.
Ok, we know what you’re thinking: “But there is no beach in Orlando!” Technically that’s true, but there are many, many beaches very close by. Orlando is centrally located just an hour or so from some of the best Florida beaches.

An hour or so to the west brings you to Clearwater and the delights of Florida’s Gulf Coast. And Cocoa Beach is an even shorter drive to the east. So you see, the beach is definitely a possibility for your Orlando vacation.

Orlando Vacation Cool #4 – Stay hydrated.
The best way to stay cool when your cruising the theme parks on your Orlando vacation is to drink a ton of water. It’s refreshing, it keeps you fresh, it’s perfect really.

Orlando Vacation Cool #5 – Don’t forget your sunscreen.
The only thing worse than walking around outside when the temperature is 95 degrees is walking around in those conditions with a sunburn. Protecting your skin is the coolest thing to do on your Orlando vacation.

Splashing Into Summer at the Universal Orlando Resort

Summer is here. It’s time for an Orlando vacation, and one of the coolest places to hang out on your Orlando vacation is the Universal Orlando Resort. With two theme parks – Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure – amazing on-site hotels and a Wet ‘n Wild water park, the Universal Orlando Resort is packed with splashing summer fun!

Get Wet ‘n Wild at Universal Orlando
The Universal Orlando Resort has its very own water park, and there are soaking great times for everyone at Wet ‘n Wild. A summer Orlando vacation can get hot, and Wet ‘n Wild is the best place for a refreshing cool down. With slippery slides, wild water rides, a Lazy River and a splashing kids’ park, the whole family will be chillin’ the day away.

A separate Wet ‘n Wild ticket is required for admission. This water park is not covered by your Universal ticket.

Splash Down at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Universal’s Islands of Adventure is jam-packed with thrill rides and kiddie fun, and when the afternoon starts heating up you want to head to the wettest rides in the park:

• The Jurassic Park River Adventure takes brave explorers through the age of the dinosaurs all the way to an 85-foot plummet that will leave you soaked but not so hot anymore. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall.
• Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls is another great place for a refreshing plunge, with its 75-foot drop that actually takes you below the water level. This one has a height minimum of 44 inches.

All Islands of Adventure rides and attractions require a Universal ticket.

New Summer Stars at Universal Studios Florida
One of the biggest treats on every Orlando vacation this summer is the chance to hang out with the Simpson’s at Universal Studios Florida. America’s favorite funny family just arrived at their awesome new attraction – The Simpsons Ride, and now is the time to check it out. Ok, so it’s not a water ride, but it’s definitely cool.

A Universal ticket is required for admission to Universal Studios.

Universal Orlando Resort’s on-site Loews Hotels
There are three hotels right on-site at the Universal Orlando Resort, and all of them offer some splashing summertime fun. Book a room and you can spend those hot afternoons relaxing poolside at one of these special Universal Orlando Resort pools:

• The Beach Pool at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
• The Sandy Beach Pool at the Hard Rock Hotel
• The Lagoon Pool at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort

Rock the Universe at Universal Studios

This September 5th and 6th Universal Studios where people ride the movies will be transformed to a place where people praise and celebrate their faith!

Every year since 1999 the Universal Studios Resort has hosted Rock the Universe, at the Universal Studios Park. With the top names in Christian Rock bands, celebrity speakers, candle light worship sessions, Rock the Universe is an event that the whole family can enjoy!

This year the bands are bigger, and all of Universal Studios top attraction will be open until 1 am! While you rock out make sure you experience, Revenge of the Mummy, Shrek 4-D, Men In Black Alien Attack, Terminator 2 3-D, E.T. Adventure, and the brand new Simpson’s Ride!

When you aren’t busy experiencing Universal’s world class attractions gather around the different stages set up throughout the park and rock out with your favorite Christian Rock bands! As you walk through the front lot, stop by Shrek 4-D then jam out to Switchfoot on the main stage while you make your way over to Revenge of the Mummy! After you have experienced some old testament fun, make your way towards Terminator 2 3-D and listen to New Method on Mels’ Diner Stage. After you fight the future with John Connor make your way towards the all new Simpson’s Ride while listening to the thumping of the Christian beats in the air, then take a moment to watch the color changing globes on the lagoon!

Rock The Universe is proud to present an all-star line up of talent-

Friday, September 5th

• Switchfoot
• Relient K
• Newsboys
• Group 1 Crew
• Skillet
• GRITS
• New Method

Saturday, September 6th

• Third Day
• Jeremy Camp
• Jars of Clay
• Stellar Kart
• Leeland
• This Beautiful Republic
• Special D

Make sure you checkout the celebrity guest speakers! Friday night AJ Styles of TNA Wrestling will speak about being a young superstar and over coming temptation and staying grounded! Then Saturday night HEAD formly of Korn will speak about his conversion, how he found God, quite the band, kicked drugs and lived to tell his tale!

Saturday night only there is a special candlelight service where you can join in with thousands of others to sing inspirational songs in an inspiring service let by Dr Jay Strack.

Rock The Universe is a special ticketed event and requires a date specific ticket in order to gain admission.

Chilling at Orlando’s Wildest Water Parks

If there is one thing you want to do on your summer Orlando vacation, it’s cool off. It’s hot down here all summer long, and the best way to beat the heat is to splash into the Orlando water parks.

Orlando Water Parks – Aquatica by SeaWorld
Aquatica by SeaWorld is the newest Orlando water park, so you definitely want to put this splash-tacular adventure on your list of places to visit during your Orlando vacation. After a year-long wait, Aquatica opened its watery gates and wavy attractions in March, and the flood of excitement hasn’t stopped since.

Aquatica is the most innovative Orlando water park, combining everything that makes a water park spectacular – water slides, wave pools, beaches – with what SeaWorld does best: animal interactions. Aquatica offers the best of both worlds, and all you need to get in on the freshest, wettest fun in Orlando theme parks is an Aquatica ticket.

Orlando Water Parks – Disney’s Blizzard Beach
You don’t often associate the word blizzard with Disney World or an Orlando vacation, but Disney pulls it off in its wintery water park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach. A Disney ticket gives you access to water slides as high as ski slopes, one of the world’s longest family raft rides, the famed Mount Gushmore and Toboggan Racers. It’s a watery winter wonderland smack in the middle of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Orlando Water Parks – Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is the original Disney water park, and it is a perfect place to cool down on a hot Orlando summer day. At Typhoon Lagoon the wave pool has surfing too, or you can take a scary snorkel trip through Shark Reef.

For some of the wildest Disney water park fun, take the 214-foot plunge on Humunga Kowabunga. Admission to Typhoon Lagoon requires a Disney ticket, so be sure and add a Disney water park onto your Disney ticket package!

Orlando Water Parks – Wet ‘n Wild at Universal Orlando
More wild water park fun is waiting at Universal Orlando’s Wet ‘n Wild water adventure park. Wet ‘n Wild is one of the most popular Orlando water parks, and for good reason. What better way to cool of than by splashing into the 70s in Wet ‘n Wild’s enclosed aqua disco, Disco H2O. And if it’s crazy thrills you want, see how you hold up against The Storm and Brain Wash.

There is no better way to beat the summer heat on your Orlando vacation than to get wet at a wild Orlando water park.