Manta Joins SeaWorld

The SeaWorld franchise has expanded well beyond Budweiser Clydesdales and the Shamu Adventure show. Gone are the days where the park was viewed solely as an educational experience and marine research institute with a beautiful killer whale mascot. Over the years, the park has expanded and changed into a thrill-ride champion and competitor to other Orlando theme parks like Universal Studios and Walt Disney World.

With the addition of Kraken, SeaWorld’s first large-scale roller coaster, the park was launched into the coaster enthusiast spotlight. At the time of its grand opening in 2000, Kraken was the largest roller coaster in South Florida and the first floorless roller coaster in the Southern United States. Even though Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest has now taken Kraken’s longest coaster crown, SeaWorld took the proverbial ball and ran into a whole new world of marine related adventure.

The latest thrill ride experience at SeaWorld is the award-winning Manta coaster. Awarded the “Best New Attraction” title by ThemeParkInsider.com, Manta is the tallest and fastest “flying” roller coaster in the world. The manta ray-shaped coaster gets its “flying” title thanks to the position of riders on the ride. When SeaWorld engineers created the ride, they intended to mimic the gliding movement of rays in the water for their riders. So, once riders board their specific car, they will be tilted face down before beginning the 140-ft ascension up the coaster’s first hill.

If the tail whips, pretzel-loops and corkscrews of Manta are too much for you, the ride’s queue features an elaborate exhibit of ocean creatures. The queue at Manta is open to those riding the coaster and for those who are only curious as to what the exhibit has in store. Built to resemble a sea village, the Manta queue features ten aquariums with over 60 species of animals and 300 variations of the ride’s mascot: the ray. If you are waiting in line or just passing through, the aquarium will give you the feeling of being underwater as rays and tropical fish glide overhead.

With rides like Manta and Kraken, sales of SeaWorld tickets have greatly improved, with many SeaWorld execs attributing the increase in attendance to their water-themed coasters. Your best bet in experiencing these great rides as well as the beautiful aquariums, fireworks and live entertainment is to check out the deals DWTickets.com has to offer. Manta awaits!

Camps for Animal Adventurers

If you are tired of the every-day day-camps, sports camps, and sleepaway camps of summer, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens have a refreshing and adventurous change of pace in store for you! Adventure Camps by SeaWorld and Busch Gardens provide campers with the opportunity to care for, study, and interact with amazing animals at numerous sessions throughout the summer months.

At these interactive Adventure Camps, campers will get the opportunity of a life-time to work side-by-side with animal care specialists, trainers, and veterinary staff with some of the wildest animals on the planet. Beyond the fun on these experiences, the Adventure Camps act as inspiration for kids wanting a career path in animal sciences. With wildlife conservation and environmental awareness at the helm, this program gives campers not just animal experiences, but a true heightened awareness of the natural world around them and concrete ways about how they can make a difference in the world.

The Adventure Camps of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens go beyond just swimming with dolphins, diving with sharks, feeding giraffes, caring for rhinos, and petting penguins. Referred to as “camouflaged fun,” campers really learn through these amazing experiences. “Our parks become interactive classrooms,” says Judy Jenkins, SeaWorld Orlando’s Director of Education and Conservation. “We don’t just tell campers how much Shamu eats or how cold it is inside the Penguin Encounter. Campers actually have a change to help our animal trainers prepare fish buckets and step inside Penguin Encounter to feel just how chilly – and smelly – the exhibit really is.”

From these Adventure Camps, there is an amazing track record of over 150 former Adventure Campers who are now employed in the zoological departments of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens! This just goes to show how close to a real-life experience you get into the lives of working for these amazing animal parks.

Adventure Camps are available for campers from grades 5-12. From June to August there are five day camps (on select dates) that are available for paying campers, at both Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando. Campers can choose from a SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, or a combo-park experience. Housing, food, activities, and transportation are all included during the program. On top of that, campers also get the chance to take advantage of the amazing rides, shows, exhibits, and more at these parks.

These camps are a great experience for animal lovers, future animal trainers, and curious minds alike. More information on these Adventure Parks can be found at www.swbg-adventurecamps.com. However, if you are not one of the select few who get to try these amazing camps, don’t fret! You can join in on the animal fun with the option of seeing these animals at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with discount SeaWorld tickets and discount Busch Gardens tickets from DWTickets.com!

SeaWorld After Dark Rocks the Night with New Shows and Manta

It was eventful Memorial Day Weekend at SeaWorld with many more visitors enjoying the aquatic theme park then usual. And they has good reason to - not only did the highly anticipated new roller coaster Manta open on Friday, May 22, but the weekend ushered in another fun happening in the park: SeaWorld After Dark. Normally, SeaWorld closes at 7 pm, but beginning Saturday and continuing through the summer, the park stays open until 10 pm, adding on three new hours of shows, nighttime Manta fun, and an all-new fireworks spectacular.

You'll definitely want to stick around when the sun goes down for the great nighttime entertainment of SeaWorld After Dark, which will uplift you, make you tap your toes, and crack you up.

First up in the night's schedule is one of our personal favorites, Sea Lions Tonight. Featuring the park's comedia sea lion duo, Clyde and Seamore, this hilarious show will have you rolling in the aisles with its hilarious hijinks. WIth a little help from some otters and walruses, Clyde and Seamore parody other favorite SeaWorld shows, and their talent is truly amazing.

Then, the spotlight falls on Shamu ROcks, a high-energy rock n' roll extravaganza starring everybody's favorit e killer whale. Combining awe-inspiring moves from Shamu with a stunning light show and music from some of the hottest rock stars in the industry, Shamu Rocks is a popular favorite at the park and is only performed during After Dark and holidays, so don't miss it!

Finally, SeaWorld AFter Dark comes to a close with Reflections, a spectacular celebration of soaring fountains and dazzling fireworks. Accompanied by thrilling and inspiration music from the park's most popular shows, Reflections will dazzle you as it lights up the Orlando sky. Best yet, new seating at Bayside Stadium will allow guests to enjoy the show in comfort.

While you're enjoying the park's new nighttime hours, you're bound to get hungry. Instead of skipping dinner, take advantage of the Makahiki Luau, an evening extravaganza providing incredible live entertainment and a satisfying Polynesian-style feast. Guests will nosh on tasty entrees like Hawaiian Chicken and Polynesian-styloe barbeque spareribs while they enjoy a breathtaking fire dance.

Meanwhile, in between shows and the luau, guests can still enjoy their favorite SeaWorld rides and attractions, especially the high-flying and glidining Manta. This newly-opened roller coaster is an intense and wild ride during the day, so we can only imagine how thrilling it must be at night! The ride offers an incredible view of Orlando, sp at the least, it will be amazing to soar over the park and see the bright city lights.

There's no extra fee to enjoy SeaWorld After Dark; guests will get three extra hours of fun at the park for the same price of regular admission. So, you'd have to be silly not to take advantage of it! Check out discount SeaWorld tickets on DWTickets.com to save even more on this great deal and begin enjoying cool summer nights at SeaWorld.

Shamu Joins the Twitter Community

It is the latest craze that has swallowed up your favorite actors, politicians, and John Mayer. And now, even a star of SeaWorld Orlando has jumped on the bandwagon known as Twitter. Shamu, the black and white orca making a daily splash at the Orlando theme park, began posting to the free social network/micro-blogging community last week, and he’s already attracted close to 1,000 followers. In addition to clicks, squeaks, whistles, and trills, it would seem that the killer whale can also communicate via tweets, and he’s done plenty of that on a variety of topics.

“It turns out Shamu has a lot to say,” said Joe Couceiro, Chief Marketing Officer for SeaWorld’s parent company, Busch Entertainment Corp. “We knew he was a very popular whale, but I’m not sure anyone knew just how many subjects he held opinions on.”

Writing under the handle “RealShamu,” Shamu has twittered on topics such as Moroccan tree goats, Brazilian soccer teams, pubs in the English countryside, and the paint scheme on Southwest Airlines planes. The killer whale also disseminates a healthy dose of information about whale life, in addition to geography, anatomy, architecture, current events, history, and even punctuation. Who knew Shamu was so smart?

The killer whale has also shown himself to have a quick wit, too, commenting frequently on the overratedness of dolphins – a species he characterizes as “all hat and no cattle.”

And how, you might wonder, can a massive 8,000-pound whale with no discernible fingers to speak of type and make posts on Twitter?

“I have assistants, as you would expect of a whale of my stature,” Shamu has said to the often-posed question. Shamu also added that saltwater was detrimental to computers and cellphones, making human assistants particularly necessary.

Since signing on to Twitter, the killer whale has received a variety of questions from SeaWorld fans. For example, when recently asked if he likes to eat lobsters, Shamu declined via Twitter and explained, “They’re pinchy.”

In addition to being a way for the voice of SeaWorld to communicate with fans, Twitter is an interactive and unique new form of marketing for the park. Couceiro states that the online network is even allowing SeaWorld to enhance guests’ experiences in the park. “We’ve had visitors tweet with suggestions, problems, questions, photos, video, even jokes for Shamu – while they’re inside SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, or Busch Gardens."

Still, Shamu doesn’t spend all his time on Twitter. When he’s not communicating with his online friends, Shamu can be seen daily in SeaWorld’s revolutionary production, “Believe.” Taking place on an elaborate 3-story set, “Believe” features Shamu and the entire SeaWorld family of majestic killer whales performing awe-inspiring choreography with an original musical score by the Prague National Symphony Orchestra.

Guests can also get up close and personal with Shamu during Dine With Shamu, a VIP experience where they can eat alongside killer whales, dine with Shamu trainers, ask questions, and observe training sessions in an exclusive themed area.

To read Shamu’s latest nugget of whale wisdom, check out Twitter.com/RealShamu. And don’t forget to purchase discount SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com to meet your favorite orca in person and witness his amazing talents. Just be careful not to mention dolphins to him.

Dolphins Make Amazing Bubble Art at SeaWorld

It’s common knowledge that dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals in the world; they can be trained to perform amazing tricks and tasks, and if size is any indicator, the simple fact that the adult bottlenose dolphin’s brain is 25% heavier than a human brain says a lot about how smart they are.

Since research on the dolphin mind is limited, though, scientists have never been able to make any conclusive claims about whether the animals are truly intelligent or not. However, the happy-go-lucky residents at SeaWorld Orlando are proving just how brainy they are with a new skill that they learned all on their own.

It’s been known for some time that dolphins are able to communicate with one another. However, what’s less commonly known is the fact that dolphins can apparently learn from one another; several of the dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando have demonstrated this ability by the fact that they now know how to blow beautiful underwater bubbles using their blowholes. And not only can they blow bubbles, but they can also manipulate and play with them. It’s an amazing and breathtaking thing to see, and the skill is getting a lot of attention from trainers, spectators, and media outlets alike.

“If you had a balloon at home and you flex and play with the end of it to make different sounds – [the dolphins] can do that with their blowhole…They angle their heads so that it comes up perfectly straight to create a ring,” said SeaWorld’s dolphin trainers.

What makes it all even more amazing is that a few years ago, only one dolphin had this bubble-making capability; apparently, however, that dolphin taught the others. Three months ago, the trainers noticed that many more of the animals had picked up the skill, and today, they can be seen blowing bubbles, elongating them or making them smaller, and even spinning them and swimming through them.

“It’s like a little halo at first and then they just push it and it gets smaller,” said a trainer. “They either take their rostrum or head and move it in a circle to make [the bubble] bigger.”

The dolphins even try to “steal” bubbles from one another, and one dolphin will pop his bubble creation if another dolphin tries to take it away – as if to say, “No, that’s my toy, you can’t take it.”

This amazing story has been featured on ABC News, and in response to the interest, SeaWorld even put out a new blog to keep up with dolphin news. But park fans and dolphin lovers can go in person and see the animals’ amazing talent for themselves at SeaWorld. There, in Dolphin Cove, the animals can be seen frolicking, blowing bubbles, and playing with them in the underwater viewing area.

So if you haven’t been to SeaWorld in a while, you’ll want to get your SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com in order to see this amazing dolphin skill. It’s an incredible sight to see, and who knows? You might even discover the secret of how they do it!

SeaWorld Manta Update

One thing to look forward to in 2009 is definitely the opening of the new SeaWorld Orlando attraction, Manta. Said to be the biggest single investment in the history of any SeaWorld park, this mega-ride will give guests the unique sensation of being a Manta ray as it swoops over sea and sky on a manta-inspired flying roller coaster.

As the ride is coming along, construction-wise, we can tell you that Manta already looks super-cool. The loading station is beginning to take shape, an area that will eventually sit at the center of the park. The highest point of the coaster was added in late October, a bright two-toned sky blue and royal blue track that swirls up to a maximum height of 140 feet and drops to a maximum of 113 feet. According to SeaWorld, everything is on schedule for a Summer 2009 opening.

Following in the tradition of animal-ride combinations over at Aquatica, Manta will begin with an incredible 184,000 gallon underwater animal habitat. Guests will be able to see 3,000 animals in ten different aquariums, featuring rays, sea dragons, sea horses, and over 2,500 fish. The aquariums will offer floor-to-ceiling, 9 foot tall views, as well as an overhead viewing panels so that visitors can see schools of rays swimming above their heads.

After feeling inspired by the rays’ incredible underwater habits, guests will then transition into the Manta ride, which will take them on a wild ride underneath the belly of a coaster train shaped like a giant manta. Guests will fly face-down, in a horizontal position, as the manta glides, swoops, and dives up to nearly 60 mph. The ride will include four inversions on 3,359 feet of track and will swoop through the sky and over the sea, getting so close to the water that the Manta’s 12-foot wings barely skim the waves.

If you’re not a fan of rollercoaster’s and Manta sounds more like madness to you than a
good time, SeaWorld assures us that the aquarium and queue will be an attraction in itself. Upon entering Manta’s queue, visitors will feel as though they’re in a seaside village. As guests wind through the mythical village, they’ll enjoy artisan-created engravings and artwork that celebrate ray legend and lore. Anticipation to the ride will build as they continue winding through caverns adorned with ray-inspired hand-crafted art in marble, jewels, and mosaics.

Manta will be SeaWorld Orlando’s second major roller coaster – the other is Kraken. Manta is being constructed by Swiss design company Bolliger & Mabillard, who are also responsible for the creation of Kraken as well as the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The 7-acre Manta ride will be located inside the main entrance to SeaWorld and will tower over the park’s 200 acres.

We can’t wait until Manta is finished, and you can bet that when this unique, new ride opens next year, DWTickets.com will be there to give you all the awesome details. Until then, Orlando theme park-goers will have to satisfy themselves with the normal array of SeaWorld fun, which is none too shabby either. The park is even more fun when you score your discount SeaWorld tickets here at DWTickets.com. See you at SeaWorld!

Jack Hanna to be at SeaWorld

One of SeaWorld Orlando’s most popular and beloved guests is returning to the park this November: celebrity animal expert Jack Hanna. Hanna, who was a guest at SeaWorld last year, is coming to the park for a special Jack Hanna Weekend on November 8th and 9th. Don’t miss Jack as he brings some of his exotic feathered, furry, and scaly friends from all over the world.

Hanna has been a valued guest at Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks for some time, and has made several television appearances with animals from both Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. Hanna first got his start working in a veterinarian’s office, where his love of animals led him to opening a pet shop, and then, eventually, directing the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, Florida. Five years later, Hanna was named director of the zoo in Columbus, Ohio. While bringing the Columbus Zoo to new heights and increasing attendance with new programs and events, Hanna was invited to appear on Good Morning America and eventually The Late Show with David Letterman. It wasn’t long before he became a celebrated animal expert and wildlife correspondent, and his media appearances took up too much time from his director position at the zoo. He was appointed to Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo in 1992, and in 1993, he became host of Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures, a nationally syndicated television series. After ten years of success with this program, Hanna decided to start a new unscripted show, Into the Wild, where he and his family travel all over the world in search of interesting animals and cultures. Into the Wild recently won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Series.

While SeaWorld Orlando already features a host of fun and exciting animals such as sea lions, dolphins, polar bears, walruses, whales, manatees, and orcas (including the famous Shamu), Jack Hanna’s visit to the park is a great opportunity to see some new animals, especially those that aren’t necessarily aquatic. Hanna has been known to appear with animals such as bald eagles, tigers and leopards, alligators and crocodiles, hyenas, armadillos, and more. Hanna often brings animals that are endangered species in order to educate people about the problems they face, such as over-hunting and habitat destruction.

Jack Hanna will be returning to SeaWorld again in late February with the Jack Hanna Animal Adventures. It will be a different show with all-new animals, so don’t miss Hanna this November if you can help it. The show is included in the ticket price, so there’s no reason not to get your discount Sea World tickets at DWTickets.com right now! Whether it’s with Jack Hanna’s November or February visit, all his fun and interesting animals will have you roaring with excitement!

Brewmaster’s at SeaWorld

In a theme park town, it can sometimes be difficult to find something directly targeted at adults. But, SeaWorld Orlando has been able to corner the adult niche market with their Brewmaster’s attraction. Free with your SeaWorld Orlando ticket, guests 21 and over are invited to take Brewmaster’s, a unique learning experience where you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the Anheuser-Busch products.

Having been the U.S. leader in American brewing since 1957, Anheuser-Busch has developed over 100 brands of beer and runs 12 American breweries. Famous for their acclaimed Budweiser, Michelob, and Specialty brand beers, you can now learn everything about these renowned brands. The Brewmaster’s experience requires booking in advance. Reservations can be made either at the Information Desk at the front of the park or at the host stand at the Hospitality Center. We recommend making reservations EARLY in the day because classes tend to fill up fast! Guests must be 21 years of age or older and must present an ID upon entering the Brewmaster’s Club.

Once at Brewmaster’s, you are set-up with a Brewmaster who will give you a 30 minute experience teaching you all about the Busch brand beers. Presented with a large menu, you will get to sample up to four different Anheuser-Busch signature products. Try any of their presented stouts, lagers, malts, and more. Along your tasting journey, your Brewmaster will recommend different foods to be paired with the beverages, based on their taste, color, consistency, and more. Who would have thought that chocolate, cheese, and fruit go with beer?! Your Brewmaster will also tell you all about the history of the drinks, how they are made, and how to enhance your overall drinking experience. It really is a great class and you will be amazed by how much information about beer that you can learn in a 30 minute time frame. Those under age 21 are welcome to wait in the assigned waiting area until their party finishes the class. Class times are subject to change.

To top off your Brewmaster experience, make sure to check out the animals that have made Budweiser beer famous, the Budweiser Clydesdales, at the Clydesdale Hamlet. At the Hamlet you will be able to pet the horses, have your picture taken with the horses, and learn all about their history with the Budweiser brand. Make sure to take advantage of all of these great experiences! They are all included with your SeaWorld Orlando ticket.

Best Orlando Souvenirs

When you vacation in Central Florida at one of the many theme parks in the area, you are surely going to want to take in all of the best attractions during your time in the parks. Likewise, when you leave the parks, you will likely want to take a little piece of your stay home with you to keep the memories alive, whether that be in the form of photos that you will turn into a scrapbook or memorabilia from the parks that you and your family can cherish for a lifetime. We at DWTickets.com have scoured the three major theme park destinations in Central Florida to help you decide what the best souvenirs are in Orlando and the best way to attain them – to find what they are, and how to get them, all you have to do is keep reading below!

While DWTickets.com is one of the top places on the Internet to find inside information about all of the theme parks in Central Florida, we are also famous for helping you out in another way – by providing discounted tickets to all of the top Central Florida tourist destinations! In fact, DWTickets.com is the largest ticket store in all of Orlando, providing you with deep discounts to the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World, Discovery Cove and Sea World’s new water park, Aquatica, along with other attractions and even local dinner shows! An entire vacation’s worth of fun – and discounts – are all within your reach by simply clicking here to get started now!

At the Walt Disney World Resort, the top selling and most coveted souvenir at the parks is undoubtedly Mickey Mouse ears! While you can pick these up at multiple stores in all of the parks, the best place to purchase your own set of mouse ears (along with any other Disney hat you can think of) is at The Chapeau on Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom Park. The Chapeau is the only place on Disney property where you can get your name engraved for free on the back of your hat, although we do highly suggest making this purchase early in the day, as this service understandably gets backed up throughout the day and you will have to wait several hours to get yours back (and perhaps not be able to do it at all if you wait until later in the day). Alao at the Magic Kingdom Park, The Emporium located on Main Street is also another great souvenir store with loads of classic Disney merchandise such as stuffed animals, clothes and T-shirts, princess dresses, hats and more.

If you are not at the Magic Kingdom Park but would still like to get your name engraved on your Mickey ears, just bring them with you on your trip to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Edith & Adrian’s Head to Toe shop on Hollywood Boulevard has an array of merchandise available for personalization, and they will also engrave your Mickey ears here as well for a small fee. Once you have hit up all of the gift shops in the theme parks, you have one more spot to visit for any and everything you missed in the theme parks – the World of Disney at the Downtown Disney Marketplace. This store is one of the largest in the world, with room after room full of Disney merchandise, scrapbook materials and souvenirs. Chances are, if you can’t find it here, or at one of the other shops at the Marketplace, you won’t be able to find it anywhere at Disney!

If you are looking to take home more photos than souvenirs, you may want to think about a couple things. First, look for the Kodak picture spots at all of the theme parks, as those are the places that Disney most recommends for picture taking with your personal camera. And, you might also want to think about taking your photograph with one of the professional photographers that are littered throughout the parks. You no longer have to purchase your pictures right there at the theme parks (although each park has a store with that option), because this service now allows you to take a card with you that each photographer who takes a picture of you will scan. Then, once you get home from your vacation, you can go to the web site on the back of the card to look at your pictures and order them directly online! These are perfect additions to the Disney photo album or Disney scrapbook from your vacation.

The Walt Disney World Resort isn’t the only place to grab your vacation souvenirs, however. The Universal Orlando Resort is known for having specialty merchandise shops, meaning that each shop has its own theme rather than generic Universal apparel and gifts. But, your best bet for finding the best souvenirs from Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure are in the Universal Studios Store and Islands of Adventure Trading Store, respectively, as both of these offer the best merchandise from all over the parks.

Sea World also has a plethora of shops to choose from as well, beginning with The Waterfront, a five acre dining and shopping area with stores featuring souvenirs from all over the world. But, if you are after a classic Sea World souvenir, there is only one place for you to visit – Shamu’s Emporium. One of the largest in the entire park, this store is devoted to Sea World’s biggest attraction, Shamu, with a wide range of merchandise available, including T-shirts to toys and even plush Shamus to take home with you!

Where to Get the Most Out of Your Orlando Vacation

Gas prices are up, food prices are up, airfare is soaring. It seems we are paying more for everything, and now you are left wondering how you can afford an Orlando vacation this summer. Well, we have good news for you!

DWTickets.com offers the best discounts on Orlando theme park tickets, and we also dish up great advice on how to spend your time – and money – once your Orlando vacation begins. If you want to visit Disney, we have the Disney tickets you need. If SeaWorld is your goal, we have the Sea World tickets you need. And if you can’t wait to check out the new Simpsons Ride at the Universal Orlando Resort, we have Universal tickets for you too!

Save Time and Money on Your Orlando Vacation
There’s no better way to save time when planning your Orlando vacation than to buy all of your Orlando theme park tickets in one place. DWTickets.com has all of the Disney tickets, SeaWorld tickets and Universal tickets you need for a great Orlando vacation.

Where to Stay and Save During Your Orlando Vacation
There are literally thousands of hotels to choose from when planning an Orlando vacation. Since money may be tight this year, you might be looking for a good deal on your hotel accommodations. Surprisingly, you may just find that deal right at the Walt Disney World Resort.

During Disney’s “Value Season,” staying at a Walt Disney World Value Resort can cost as little as $82 during the value season, and a night at a Disney Moderate Resort starts at $149. Value Season dates are August 30-October 1 and November 30-December 18.
During the upcoming “Summer Season” – May 22-August 2 – Disney Value Resorts start at $109 per night and Disney Moderate Resorts go for $179 per night.

Another way to save money on Orlando vacation accommodations is to stay in a villa or suite hotel. There are some villa resorts in Lake Buena Vista where you can sleep 8-10 people for around $150 a night. There are also many time-share resorts that offer great rates and plenty of space, not to mention a kitchen so you save money on dining out.

No matter where you stay on your Orlando vacation, you will always save money if you get all of your Orlando theme park tickets at DWTickets.com!

What’s New at Universal Orlando

The theme parks in Central Florida are always trying to re-invent themselves for their guests, offering new attractions, shows, restaurants and yearly celebrations to encourage guests to come back year after year – and to give them something to look forward to! Universal Orlando is no different – over the past year, and in the upcoming year, Universal has several new experiences that have either already opened or are on the horizon for every guest at the Universal Orlando Resort.

Perhaps the most anticipated and newest attraction to open at Universal is The Simpsons RIDE. Having just opened at Universal Studios Florida, guests follow their beloved characters from the hit TV show as they visit Krustyland, a low-budget theme park made by none other than Krusty the Clown! Join Homer, Marge and the gang as you travel through Krustyland for the ride of a lifetime, crashing through Krustyland’s attractions, stunt shows and rides. All of this takes place in vehicles that are before a large IMAX theater screen, as each vehicle creates the simulation of motion, speed and flight for a ride experience like none other!

Another unique experience at Universal is just outside the theme parks’ gates at CityWalk. Here, you can see Blue Man Group, a worldwide phenomenon that opened at Universal Orlando in June of 2007. Thought it may be reaching its one-year anniversary, this show is still making waves in Central Florida, as it combines a unique blend of music, comedy and theatrics that has brought a brand new entertainment option to the entire Orlando area for locals and tourists alike. If you go, plan on seeing a one-hour, 45-minute live stage show that brings an eclectic mix of live music, percussion instruments and humor that amazes and engages its audience with new and unique creativity never seen before. Whether you are seeing it for the first time or are a repeat guest, Blue Man Group should definitely be on your Universal Orlando itinerary!

Speaking of CityWalk, Universal’s newest restaurant is now open right here in this entertainment district. The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Restaurant & Market is fun for the entire family, with mouth-watering entrees of what else – shrimp – along with other menu selections like seafood, steaks, sandwiches and desserts. And before you can say “Run, Forrest, Run!,” be sure to check out all of the memorabilia throughout the restaurant from the famous Oscar-winning film, “Forrest Gump.”

If you are looking for another new dining adventure at Universal, be sure to also check out Islands of Adventure’s all-new character breakfast. Join a host of animated characters each Thursday through Sunday morning from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Confisco Grille for the most important – and fun – meal of the day! Reservations are required for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (call 407-224-4012), and meal prices are $15.95 for adults and $9.95 for children.

Finally, if you are a wrestling fan, you won’t want to miss Total Nonstop Action Wrestling live at Universal Studios. Universal Studios day guests can be a part of the Spike TV show’s tapings and Pay Per View events for free at Universal Studios’ Soundstage 21 at the park. Tapings are held on select dates (the current schedule goes through May 27, 2008), and all seats are first-come, first served. Even non-Universal guests can enjoy these tapings for free – simply proceed to the SHARP Aquos Theatre at CityWalk, head to the right and follow the signs for the taping. For the most up-to-date information on the show, call 407-224-6000.

If any of the above shows or attractions interest you, all you have to do is one thing – come visit the Universal Orlando Resort today! And for an inexpensive way to see everything at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, including Blue Man Group, you have come to the right place. DWtickets.com is your No. 1 online source for discounted theme park tickets, so be sure to click here to save your family precious money on your next vacation. And, while you are here, check out our discounted ticket options for the other top attractions in Central Florida, including Disney, Sea World and local dinner shows, among others. We hope to see you real soon!

SeaWorld Announces Major Expansion

SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove and even Aquatica are in for a major expansion, according to officials from Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of all four parks. Where are they traveling to next? Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, that’s where. Luckily, you can visit those same parks right here in Central Florida, and you can get all of the SeaWorld tickets you need at DWTickets.com! We also have the best discounts on Busch Gardens tickets, Discovery Cove tickets and Aquatica tickets!

Much ado is being made of late about the City of Dubai, which rests along the coast of the Persian Gulf. It is being touted as the new Orlando with one big difference…you have to travel halfway across the world to get there. Oh, and you need a passport too.

The only thing you need to visit the “World of Discovery” parks in Florida is admission, and here at DWTickets we have your Sea World tickets, Busch Gardens tickets. Discovery Cove tickets and Aquatica tickets with the best discounts in town!

All Anheuser-Busch theme parks offer unique animal interactions and they each have their own area of expertise:

SeaWorld Orlando has a great combination of marine mammals, exotic and interesting birds, superb live shows, and awesome rides. Most widely know as home to Shamu, the killer whale, SeaWorld also has one of the world’s craziest roller coasters, Kraken.

Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay also combines animal interaction with amazing ride and show experiences. Here you can explore an African savannah, ride the rapids, and challenge five different roller coasters – a few of them rides you won’t experience anyplace else. And don’t forget Jungala will be opening soon!

Discovery Cove offers animal interactions that are rarely available anywhere in the world. If dolphins are on your favorite mammals list, this is an absolute must for your Orlando vacation. Reservations are required, but you can get your Discovery Cove tickets right here!

Aquatica is the newest addition to the Orlando theme park horizon, and it is an animal park and water park all rolled into one. They just opened on March 1, so get your Aquatica tickets now and be one of the first to start enjoying the splashing good fun!

It’s great that Anheuser-Busch is expanding their entertainment empire to distant shores. What’s better is that all of those parks are already right here in Florida!

Go Green On Your Orlando Vacation With a Trip To SeaWorld and Busch Gardens

We recently celebrated Earth Day, and your favorite Orlando theme parks and Orlando attractions are doing what they can to hop on the green bandwagon and start taking care of the world we inhabit. SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens and Aquatica at Sea World – all Anheuser-Busch theme parks – are on the cutting edge of conservation with innovative programs in place to help you stay green during your Orlando vacation.

And since saving is on your mind, make sure you save money too by getting all of your Orlando theme park tickets – that means Sea World tickets, Discovery Cove tickets, Busch Gardens tickets, and tickets for Aquatica at SeaWorld – right here and now at DWTickets.com. We are the best source in O-town for cheap SeaWorld tickets. That goes for Busch Gardens tickets, and Aquatica tickets too!

Jungala at Busch Gardens is New and Green
Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay just unveiled their newest addition: Jungala, and from its inception to its opening, Jungala is not just green as in jungle. Jungala is crazy for conservation!

Busch Gardens paid special attention to conservation as Jungala grew into the amazing animal habitat that it is today. All of the lumber used in building Jungala came from reforested areas. The steel structures in this new land also came from recycled context, and slate and natural materials were used to reduce the need for manufactured products.

The new Vivi Restaurant was totally restored instead of destroying the already existing building and erecting a brand new structure. This step played a large part in reducing waste produced by the refurbishment.

The open air design incorporated in Jungala’s layout allows for maximum use of natural resources. Using natural light and taking advantage of normal air flow patterns reduces the need for outside power sources required to operate the attractions in Jungala.

Anheuser-Busch has long been committed to conserving the environment, illustrated by its uncompromising attitude toward rescuing animals and their habitats. If you want to stay green while you take some time off on your Orlando vacation, you can feel good about heading over to Busch Gardens to check out their newest addition, Jungala.

And when it comes to saving, one of the best ways to save money is by getting your Busch Gardens tickets right here today!

What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios (formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios) has more than just a new name in 2008. This park, which transports guests right into the movies with an array of attractions and shows, has a new daily afternoon parade and a few new attractions that are either already entertaining guests or will be in the coming months! To experience all of them for yourself, however, you have to have tickets to get into the theme park, and we have just the way for you to do it! DWTickets.com is your one-stop shop for discounted tickets to the Walt Disney World Resort and all of the other top attractions in Central Florida, from local dinner shows to Universal Orlando and all of the Sea World parks, including Sea World’s brand new water park, Aquatica! For tickets to everything above, simply click here to get started by perusing our discounted theme park tickets to Walt Disney World!

As we mentioned earlier, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a brand new afternoon parade that has already debuted at the park, and this performance is more of a mobile stage show than a traditional parade that guests may be used to. The Block Party Bash originated in 2005 in Disney’s California Adventure Park, but moved over to Walt Disney World in mid-March, replacing the former Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade. This new daily spectacle combines almost 30 Disney Pixar characters, incredible floats, trampoline units, aerial acrobatics and upbeat music for a parade experience like no other! Disney’s Block Party Bash also doubles as an interactive street party, with choreographed performance stops along the route where dancers, acrobats, jumping stilts, electric scooters and your favorite Disney Pixar characters from films like “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles” and “Monsters, Inc.” mesmerize the crowd. If your vacation plans include a stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, don’t miss this mid-afternoon parade that is sure to knock your socks off!

In addition to the Block Party Bash, Disney’s Hollywood Studios also has a few attractions that have recently been added and a couple more that are on the way! The High School Musical Pep Rally, a stage show that takes place in front of Mickey’s sorcerer hat, transports guests into the halls and onto the basketball court of East Side High School. In addition to performances from all of your favorite songs from the popular Disney Channel movies, you can learn new dance moves and cheer along with your favorite characters at this one-of-a-kind pep rally! Another new show at the Studios is Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! This live musical has recently changed casts and now features a 20-minute performance with characters from the Disney Channel shows “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Handy Manny” and “Little Einsteins.”

Even more fun is on the way to Disney’s Hollwood Studios in 2008! Projected to open in May 2008, Toy Story Mania will be similar to the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom Park, except more high-tech. Billed as a “4-D” ride, guests will put on 3-D glasses that will instantly shrink you to toy size, and then you will wind your way through a midway to play games and see characters from the “Toy Story” films! Each guest will be armed with a toy cannon to play all of these games, and each target that you hit will be worth a certain amount of points, while some special targets will bring you even more fun surprises!

Finally, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has partnered with Simon Fuller’s 19 Entertainment and FreMantleMedia for the opening of an “American Idol” attraction that is slated to open in late 2008. Guests who enter the park and register will be able to audition in front of a producer. From there, the best performers will then perform in front of a panel of judges and a live audience of park guests, with the winners (whoever receives the most amount of votes) from each show advancing on to that evening’s Grand Finale performance. The winner of this daily event is then given a pass to use at a future American Idol audition to bypass the lines and sing immediately in front of producers of the show at one of these regional competitions. While this does not ensure that the winners will then advance to sing in front of the show’s actual judges, it does eliminate the waiting process! Since “American Idol” is only open to participants from 16-28 years old, daily winners who are not in that age group can transfer their pass to a friend of family member, or in the case of someone under the age of 16, they can save their pass for a future competition.

To experience all of these shows, parades and attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be sure to go ahead and purchase your advance, discounted theme park tickets right here at DWTickets.com!

Orlando Theme Park Vacations for Couples

Orlando vacations used to equal Walt Disney World and Mickey Mouse that is so not the case anymore. Orlando is a the theme park Mecca of the world, and you can get discount Orlando attraction tickets right now that will make your Orlando vacation more memorable than ever.

Orlando vacations aren’t just about Disney World anymore
Although you can have a great time at the Walt Disney World Resort as a couple, there are other Orlando attractions that don’t envelop you in walking, talking birth control. There will almost always be kids around, but you can shape your Orlando theme park vacation around your needs and leave the little ones to their parents.

Universal Orlando Resort caters to adults while staying young at heart
The Universal Orlando Resort has two separate theme parks: Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Both parks offer unique ride experiences, great entertainment and superb couple memories.

• Universal Studios Orlando is the place on your Orlando vacation where you can “Ride the Movies.” Here you will walk into your favorite films and stroll around in live action movie and TV sets.
• Islands of Adventure has themed lands like Seuss Landing and the Lost Continent that bring your imagination to life and the rides follow along.

Orlando’s Worlds of Discovery offer furry and flippered fun
SeaWorld and Discovery Cove both have interactive animal experiences that are fun for all ages and cozy for couples.

• Discovery Cove is your best choice if you actually want to relax on your Orlando vacation. Swim with tropical fish, hand feed exotic birds, work on your tan on a white sandy beach, eat a gourmet lunch, and – oh yeah – swim with a dolphin or two. Sound like your idea of vacation? Then get your Discovery Cove tickets today!
• SeaWorld also has its share of fun for two. There are great shows to share, a couple crazy coasters, and of course, those cute and cuddly animals to play with. Great honeymoon photos abound at Sea World, and cheap SeaWorld tickets can be found right here!

And this just barely scratches the surface of Orlando vacation fun for couples. Orlando is a major theme park vacation destination, and the Orlando attractions have something for everyone to enjoy.

Orlando Attraction Coasting for Kids

Roller coasters for the little ones and the cheap Orlando attraction tickets to ride them

We recently told you about all the great roller coasters at your favorite Orlando attractions. Some are pretty wild and definitely not appropriate for the young ones. So here is the scoop on where you can take the kids for some wild rides of their own.

As always, the first stop on your journey has to be at DWTickets.com, where you can get all of your cheap Orlando attraction tickets in one place. Then we’re off on a kiddie coaster cruise:

SeaWorld Orlando

• The Shamu Express in Shamu’s Happy Harbor is a fantastic first coaster experience!
  Must be at least 38” to ride.

Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay

• Cheetah Chase can be hunted down in the heart of Timbuktu. Features 5 stories of family coaster coolness. Riders must be 46” or taller and at least 6 years old.

Big and little kids are crazy for these mini-coasters, and big kids are crazy for the cheap Sea World tickets and bargain Busch Gardens tickets at DWTickets.com!

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

• The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm is in Mickey’s Toontown® Fair.
  Tiny crop-dusters have to be at least 35” tall.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• The Primeval Whirl® in Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama spins into prehistory.
  Little tikes over 48” tall will think this swirling spinner is swell.
  
  The only thing you need to enjoy these terrific tiny thrillers is a ticket, and you will get a giant thrill over the cheap Disney tickets you will find right here at DWTickets.com!

Universal’s Islands of Adventure

• The illusive Flying Unicorn can be found in The Lost Continent.
  Little ones must be at least 36” tall to ride, and anyone under 48” needs to bring along a grown up.

Universal Studios Orlando

• Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster takes a wild ride through Woody’s very own nut factory in Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone®.

You and your kids will go nuts over these two kid-errific coasters at the Universal Orlando Resort. You will also be nuts about the discount Universal tickets at DWTickets.com. Get yours today and start those kids on some coaster craziness!

Celebrating Your Love in Orlando

Ok so its likely that thoughts of Mickey Mouse and Shamu swarm your mind when you ponder an Orlando vacation but Central Florida has its share of romantic escapes too. If you’re looking for a way to rekindle that old flame this Valentine’s Day, DWTickets.com has what you need: discount tickets to whichever theme park may be your heart’s desire.

A day spent at Discovery Cove is just the thing to spark the romance in any relationship. The bottlenose dolphins at this hidden oasis are excellent at helping you propose marriage, and with three Valentine’s Day packages available through February 29, they will delightfully swim over to drop off your notes of adoration and special gifts too.

The Valentine Honey Package includes a personalized love message on a keepsake buoy, a souvenir photo with frame and decadent chocolate treats. The Valentine Sweetheart Package adds in a personal beach cabana fronting Dolphin Lagoon and a champagne toast for two.

The Valentine Romance Package pulls out all the stops. It combines the Honey and Sweetheart Packages and enhances them with a dozen red roses and a keepsake DVD to look back on your amazing day! All special occasion package costs are in addition to Discovery Cove admission, which you can find discounted right here at your one-stop ticket shop, DWTickets.com!

If the beach isn’t your thing, Cypress Gardens invites you to express your love at the Bows and Arrows Valentine Festival the weekend of February 14-17. Couples celebrating here can renew their wedding vows in a special ceremony while shrouded in the beauty of the park’s Topiary Gardens. A special package includes the renewal ceremony, a commemorative certificate and a souvenir photograph to remind you of your love and this extraordinary day. After you retake that plunge, enjoy a magical ride around the park on a horse-drawn carriage or a dreamy stroll through the exquisite botanical gardens with nothing on your mind but each other. Later, enjoy an amorous dinner and champagne toast on the patio at Aunt Julie’s.

Kids need love too, so on the less romantic side, the young ones can stop by the Valentine Headquarters and create a unique – if not so lovey-dovey – one-of-a-kind Cypress Gardens Valentine.

It doesn’t matter what theme park you choose for your heartfelt celebration, you will love the cheap theme park tickets available at DWTickets.com.

Busch Parks Openings Are On The Horizon

The Anheuser Busch theme parks in Central Florida are prepping for an exciting spring season with the opening of a brand new water park in Orlando and the introduction of an innovative and fresh animal habitat at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Lucky for you, DWTickets.com can hook you up with tickets to be one of the premier visitors to these great new additions to the Central Florida vacation scene. We are your number one source for cheap theme park tickets to great Anheuser Busch parks like Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Discovery Cove.
Add to that already impressive list of great attractions Aquatica, an innovative water park that combines the two things SeaWorld does best: water and animals. Aquatica is the first full-sized theme park to open in Orlando since Discovery Cove starting serving guests back in 2000. It is also the first water park to come along since Blizzard Beach opening at the Walt Disney World Resort. But Aquatica is far from being your average water park.

Of course Aquatica has all of the adventurous attractions you would expect to find in a modern water playground: wave pools, tube rides, and 36 different water slides! In true SeaWorld fashion, however, this new-fangled aquatic extravaganza dishes out unique animal interactions in a tropical South-Pacific atmosphere with personalized service in private cabanas on an 80,000 square foot beach. It’s the crazy fun of a water park combined with the relaxation of a tropical island resort. See why we can’t wait for the public soft opening on March 1?

Across the state at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, they are getting ready to unveil their newest adventure, the long-awaited Jungala. This four-acre addition to the Congo area of the park will completely immerse guests in a dense jungle atmosphere while leading adventurers down woody paths past waterfalls and towering trees to the hidden habitats of Bengal tigers, orangutans and other exotic creatures.

The grand opening of Jungala is scheduled for April 5. The night before, Busch Gardens will host the “Jungala Gala.” Guests at this annual benefit can be the first to explore “the only jungle world that plays with you” while raising money for the nonprofit Sea World & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

If you were not already planning an Orlando vacation this spring, you now have two great reasons to start arranging one. And DWTickets.com is the only place to get all of the discount theme park tickets you will need.