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Dawn's Florida Travel Blog

By Dawn Henthorn, About.com Guide to Florida Travel since 2000

Saturday's Forecast: ICE!

Friday November 13, 2009

Gaylord Palms ICE! Entrance Igloo

While temperatures in Orlando are expected in the 80s tomorrow, inside the Gaylord Palms Resort they will be a chilly nine degrees for the opening of ICE! — one of the nation's coolest and most spectacular holiday displays. Hand-carved from nearly two-million pounds of ice, this year's chill-seekers will take a trip to the North Pole — a whimsical adventure featuring interactive environments and larger-than-life, three-dimensional ice monuments and sculptures that include an encounter with Old Man Winter and stepping inside a Christmas Carnival, complete with a life-sized carousel!

What a great way to enjoy the holidays with your family! Gaylord Palms' ICE! will be open to the public beginning tomorrow — Saturday, November 14, 2009 and will chill crowds through January 3, 2010. Tickets are available online now and are the cheapest when purchased in advance. | Details |

Photo of ICE! Entrance Igloo © Gaylord Palms Resort

Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Wednesday November 11, 2009

Osborne Family Lights

An amazing story of Christmas magic comes alive every year at Disney's Hollywood Studios as the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights sparkles throughout the backlot of the park. Beginning tonight and continuing through January 4, 2010, millions of tiny bulbs, miles of rope lights, over a hundred sparkling angels and snow machines are all in place and set to dazzle the thousands of visitors expected at the park this holiday season.

| Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights Photo Tour |

Plan your trip to Disney World:

Photo © The Walt Disney Company

FREE Wedding Package Giveaway

Friday November 6, 2009

MarinaVillage Resort

If you've always dreamed of a Florida wedding, but didn't think it would fit in your budget... think again. Celebrating its grand opening this month, The Resort at MarinaVillage is giving away a FREE wedding package for 60 guests that will include: the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, officiant, photographer, videographer, florals, DJ, reception, wedding cake and a three-night, four-day stay in a premium suite at the resort.

What do you have to do to win? Simply submit a video, before December 1, 2009, about you and your fiancé that includes how you met, the proposal and why you would like to get married at The Resort at MarinaVillage next November 2010. Find additional entry information and official rules at www.MarinaVillageResort.com/dreamwedding. The lucky couple will be announced December 31, 2009. Good luck!

If you're not getting married, but are in the market for a great deal on a getaway, The Resort at MarinaVillage, a SunStream property, located at Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral will be opening this month — just in time for a holiday or end-of-the-year getaway. A variety of grand opening rates are now available, along with the SunStream promise of no resort or parking fees. Pets are also welcome. The resort is the area's first full-service luxury resort, offering richly appointed accommodations in its studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom residences. Guest rooms combine hotel and residential condominium living with grand rooms, master suites, guest suites, dining terraces and access to amenity decks. Amenities from boat slips to waterfront dining and shopping and an Esterra Spa & Salon, SunStream's signature spa, will be among the resort's select offerings.

Photo © SunStream Hotels & Resorts

Price Hike for SeaWorld & Busch Gardens

Friday November 6, 2009

SeaWorld Kraken

While daily admission for SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay just got more expensive, the Florida resident Fun Card will remain the same price if purchased online. This will make it less than the cost of a single day's admission to either park. Check online pricing at each park for more information.

Regular one-day admission to SeaWorld Orlando is now $78.95 for adults and $68.95 for children ages 3-9. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay one-day admission is $74.95 for adults and $64.95 for children ages 3-9. The Fun Card for either one park is $69.95 for adults and children when purchased online (purchased at the front gate they are the same price as an adult single-day admission).

Other ticket combination options are available that include two or more parks for savings on multi-day visits.

SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken Photo © SeaWorld Orlando

Ponte Vedra Food & Wine Fest

Wednesday November 4, 2009

Wine

A three day celebration of food and wine will take place in Ponte Vedra Beach this weekend at the Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa. The 8th annual Ponte Vedra Food & Wine Fest will feature opportunities to savor dishes prepared by some of the area's finest chefs and restaurants and to taste hundreds of wines from around the world.

Three events highlight the weekend:

  • Friday, November 6 - Una Noche Especial, a celebration of Argentinean food, wine and specialties in a four-course tasting menu. A silent auction will include a trip to Argentina. Advance tickets are $95.00. Call 904-285-2004 for availability.
  • Saturday, November 7 - Grand Tasting, with over 145 international and domestic wine and champagnes plus samplings of signature dishes from ten area gourmet and specialty restaurants. A silent auction will feature exquisite wines paired with weekend getaways, gourmet dining and more. Advance tickets are $45.00 or $50.00 at the door.
  • Sunday, November 8 - A four-course Champagne Brunch accompanied by fine wines. Event is available by advance $65.00 purchase only.

Attend all three events with a combo ticket for $175.00. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. For more information visit www.PonteVedraWineFest.com.

Photo © Janis Christie/Getty Images

It's the Newest Ticket at Disney World

Tuesday November 3, 2009

Mickey Mouse

Florida residents can put a little magic into their weekdays with Disney World's newest ticket — the Disney Weekday Select Pass. Now Florida residents can visit all four Disney World theme parks on weekdays — Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — for less than a dollar a day. Additionally, Florida residents will be able to take advantage of special Passholder discounts, Passholder-only events and exclusive Passholder newsletters.

Prices for the Disney Weekday Select Pass are $169 (plus tax) for ages 10 and up and $149 (plus tax) for ages 3-9. Proof of Florida residency is required. Passes are not transferable and valid for one year from date of issuance. Block-out days apply — all Saturdays and Sundays; December 19, 2009 to January 1, 2010; March 27 to April 7, 2010; June 12 to August 19, 2010; and, December 18, 2010 to January 1, 2011.

| More Disney World Ticket Information |

Photo © The Walt Disney Company

Safety Harbor Wine Festival

Monday November 2, 2009

Food, wine and music will highlight the 8th Annual Safety Harbor Wine Festival this Saturday — November 7, 2009 — in Safety Harbor, a charming town nestled along the northernmost shores of Tampa Bay. The festival will take place on Main Street between Bayshore Boulevard and 8th Avenue from 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.

Included in the night's festivities are three stages of local Jazz, Rock, Blues and R&B bands; and, along Main Street, over 40 Fine Arts and Crafts vendors will be displaying their wares.

While admission and parking are free, wines will be $3 to $5 per glass. Beer will also be available. Proper ID is required. Proceeds will benefit local civic and charitable organizations. Safe Rides Home will be available to anyone interested all night.

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas at Disney World!

Sunday November 1, 2009

Holiday Decorating

Cecil Gordon of Walt Disney World Holiday Services is seen here touching up the face of a six-foot-tall angel tree-topper inside one of the vacation kingdom's holiday warehouses. The angel will eventually make its way to the top of the giant Christmas tree at Epcot during the holiday season. Behind-the-scenes at Disney World, Gordon and his colleagues are currently on round-the-clock schedules preparing 150 tractor-trailer truckloads of decorations for the 40-square-mile property that includes 24 resorts, four theme parks and Downtown Disney. That's more than 1,500 Christmas trees to be set in place, 15 miles of garland to be strung, 44 snow machines to be tested, at last count 1,314 wreaths to be hung, 10 miles of twinkling rope lights and 8.5-million lights to be strung... all before the holiday season begins next month.

Some of those holiday festivities begin as early as November 10, with tickets now on sale for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. Although no special ticket is required, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios will turn on the switch for its spectacular display the same date!

Let's take a peek at what's happening "around the world" this holiday:

And, find more Disney World holiday information — the dates of Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom and when you can meet Santa at Downtown Disney — within Disney World Holidays 2009.

Photo © The Walt Disney Company/Garth Vaughan, Photographer

It’s Time to “Fall Back” Florida

Saturday October 31, 2009

Small World ClockAfter use in both World Wars, Daylight Saving Time was formally established in the United Sates with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. In 1986, the Uniform Act was amended to begin Daylight Saving time on the first Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday of October. Two years ago, Daylight Saving Time began a month earlier — in March — and now ends a month later — in November.

Florida residents and visitors (except the extreme western tip of Florida's Panhandle) SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK AN HOUR to Standard Time at 2 a.m. Sunday — that's tomorrow — or before you go to bed this evening... and, enjoy that extra hour of sleep!

Photo of "It's A Small World" Clock © The Walt Disney Company

Jungle Island's Halloween Spooktacular

Thursday October 29, 2009

Orangutans

Do you think you have the most awesome superhero, princess, pirate, ghost or goblin costume? Whether you do or not, you'll want to be at Jungle Island this Friday and Saturday to celebrate at their annual Halloween Spooktacular. Kids of all ages will enjoy a fun-filled day — trick-or-treat through the Jungle, enter the Costume or Goblin Pie Eating Contests, enjoy live entertainment and spooky arts and crafts. Admission is just $13 for adults and kids (ages 3-10)... but, kids that come in costume will pay only $7!

  • What: Jungle Island Halloween Spooktacular
  • When: Friday & Sataurday, October 30 & 31, 2009
    Activities 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day

  • Where: Jungle Island - Miami

Photo © Jungle Island

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