The term “dark rides” doesn’t seem to fit in well with the happy imagery of the Disney theme parks…

But what you’ll find is that many “dark rides” aren’t that scary at all…

The Magic Kingdom has the most amount of dark rides out of the Disney theme parks, the majority of which are concentrated in the Fantasyland area…

While Orlando theme parks attract a lot of coaster enthusiasts, there are people that can’t enjoy such jarring attractions. Women that are pregnant, small children or those that generally get motion sickness can’t enjoy rides like

The Hulk at Universal Studios Orlando or the Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They are simply too intense for their physical condition. But just because you can’t enjoy those rides doesn’t mean you have to sit back on your hands—just check out a dark ride!

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is an adorable journey through the Hundred Acre Wood. Narrated by Winnie the Pooh and friends, you get to follow the adventures of Christopher Robin as you ride in a “hunny” pot. While some dark rides spin and turn, the motion is never too much for you to handle—unless you’re very sensitive.

Peter Pan’s Flight is another great attraction in Disney World. You hop aboard a pirate ship as you sail over London and follow Peter, Wendy Darling and her brothers to Neverland where you come face-to-face with animatronics of Captain Hook and the classic crocodile.

Right across from Peter Pan you will find It’s A Small World. While not a “dark” ride, the leisurely cruise through the various cultures of the world is a Disney classic in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World . This attraction is a fan favorite, especially with the little ones.

But the scariest of the dark rides features the first Disney Princess: Snow White.

In Snow White’s Scary Adventures you are immersed in the world of Snow White and the Evil Queen that tricks her into taking a bite of the poison apple. The witch is regarded as one of the scariest (and classic) Disney villains of all time, and despite this being a ride for young kids she can be pretty creepy. As with every Disney movie you get a happy ending where Snow White goes off to her castle with Prince Charming and you head back out into the park. It’s a great way to enjoy the Disney magic without worrying about coasters.

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Halloween is right around the corner and Orlando theme parks are gearing up to make sure their guests get plenty of tricks and treats this season…

If you’re looking for some fun in the House of Mouse, check out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This family-friendly Halloween event converts the Magic Kingdom into an adorable Halloween wonderland complete with Mickey jack-o-lanterns and special Halloween-themed events. ..

The theme of the nightly fireworks show changes from “Wishes” to “Happy HalloWishes” as the Magic Kingdom pays tribute to the Disney Villains in this special show…

Don’t forget to check out the “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade featuring your favorite characters from The Haunted Mansion attraction.

If you’re ready for some real scares, check out Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. This year’s great theme is “Ripped from the Silver Screen,” where all of your favorite horror movie icons come to life. Haunted houses will bring you face-to-face with Chucky, Jigsaw, Frankenstein, Dracula and Wolfman as you run for your life in Scare Zones featuring WW2 zombies and mutated cannibals.

But make sure you’re on your best behavior, this year’s mascot, The Usher, will be watching you from all corners of the park.

If you want to spice up your Halloween, head to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for their sexy Howl-O-Scream event.

This Halloween event is a bit racier and gears more towards adults. With their “House of Vayne” theme, you’ll have to make sure you aren’t taken away to be turned into a vampire by Ms. Vayne and her horde of hot model vampires. Howl-O-Scream features musical revues with edgier themes that adults will surely enjoy, especially if they want to have a wild Halloween.

Last but not least, how about a Halloween under the sea? Over at SeaWorld Orlando , this great park will be hosting their SeaWorld Spooktacular. Come visit to go trick or treating, watch the Count Von Count and Elmo kick off Halloween or go to Shamu’s Happy Harbor and wander through their pumpkin patch as scarecrows carefully keep watch.

There is plenty to do at the Orlando theme parks during the Halloween season. Make sure you plan your trip and get your discount theme park tickets before you head to the parks for your very own Halloween adventure.

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In a city filled with theme parks and childhood dream lands, people may come to think that Orlando is primarily designed for JUST children.

This has been proven to be far from the truth!

Orlando can be just as big of a playground for adults as it is for children! With the entertainment venues of Disney World, Universal Orlando , SeaWorld Orlando, and the city of Orlando, in itself, there is sure to be something to suit every adults’ fancy.

Discovery Cove is a perfect retreat for adults and young children, alike. Swim along with dolphins, beautifully flying sting rays, and colorful fish among the secluded bays and reefs. Guests can sign up for the Trainer for a Day program, where they can work with dolphin trainers and swim and play with these magnificent creatures. Guests to the park can, even, rent cabanas to retreat out of the scorching Florida summertime heat. Tucked back away from the theme parks of Orlando, Discovery Cove offers the perfect oasis for adults on vacation.

Within the Orlando theme parks, the shows may seem to be completely created for children. But, there are numerous shows outside of the parks that are the perfect entertainment option for adults. La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil at Downtown Disney brings the whimsical world of Cirque du Soleil to Orlando. This Vegas and Broadway style show presents the perfect escape that children and adults can enjoy together.

Across the way, at Universal Orlando, adults can enjoy the funny, unique, and, even, odd-ball entertainment of the world-renowned Blue Man Group. Performing from the Sharp Aquos theater nearly every night, the Blue Man Group are a perfect date night for adults or a family outing that the entire party can enjoy.

For true adult entertainment options, older guests to the Orlando area can head to Universal CityWalk and Downtown Disney restaurants. Universal CityWalk offers an adult playground of bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, shops, and world-class restaurants. Guests can jam along at Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom Bar, enjoy American-Idol-style karaoke at Rising Star nightclub, or enjoy the calming ocean-setting of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Or, guests can kick back and relax at the enormous 20 screen movie theater. Downtown Disney offers some of the best restaurants that Orlando has to offer. Enjoy the delicious bites of world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck or relax at the new Paradiso 37. Guests can also see some of the hottest acts in music today at House of Blues, offering up an eclectic mix of popular music acts, delicious beverages, and scrumptious food.
There is tons of fun to be had in Orlando! As a city seen as just a child’s playground, Orlando has hidden gems that shine as perfect retreats for adults, couples, and those wanting to have fun!

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Most travelers know Orlando as a place where you can meet your favorite characters, ride on thrilling roller coasters, dine at incredible restaurants, and stay at luxurious hotels.
But this summer, Orlando just might become known for something else – great music.

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando will be playing host to two incredible summer concert series. And what’s more, Universal will be unveiling its newest roller coaster, an adrenaline-rushing experience combining never-before-done maneuvers and a rockin’ soundtrack.

First, at Epcot, legendary music will fill the air with the Sounds Like Summer concerts at the America Gardens Theatre from June 15 through August 9. Families will love hearing classic hits from musical icons during this talent-packed concert series, which features seven tribute bands celebrating the music of some of the world’s greatest recording artists. The Bee Gees, Eagles, Bon Jovi, Abba, the Supremes, U2, and Tom Petty – you’ll swear they’re all on stage and performing their best songs for you during the Sounds of Summer, which is included in regular Epcot admission.

Then, at Universal Studios , the brand new Music Plaza will get a thorough breaking-in when the first-ever Summer Concert Series heats up nights at the park. If the acts at Epcot’s Sounds Like Summer concerts sound a little too old for you or your teenager to appreciate, then you’ll love Universal’s Summer Concert Series, which features a more contemporary line-up of hit-makers

Beginning June 13 through July 4, four Grammy Award nominees and winners will tear up the park’s stage: American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, hip-hop icon LL Cool J, British songstress Natasha Bedingfield, and Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famers The O’Jays. The nighttime concerts will be a great way to wrap up a day at Universal and Islands of Adventure , and best yet, the Summer Concert Series is also free with regular park admission.

Each performance in the Summer Concert Series will take place on the brand-new Music Plaza, which is located, incidentally, under the even newer Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Roller Coaster. Opening this summer, the coaster is a perfect companion to a season filled with music. Not only will guests be hurtled through a series of never-before-attempted maneuvers at speeds of up to 65 mph, but they’ll get to choose a song to rock out to while they ride. Hip hop/rap, country, classic rock/metal, pop/disco, or club/electronic music will provide the soundtrack during the ride’s wild 90-degree lift, huge non-inverted loop, spiraling negative-gravity move, and more.

With all the sounds that summer has to offer in Orlando, who needs concert tickets? Your only must-have tickets this season are to Orlando theme parks , and you won’t even have to wait hours in line for them; simply check out OrlandoFunTickets.com to get your front-row seats to the hottest performances of the season.By Allison Dieppa

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Summertime means vacation season for most, and no city has vacations mastered quite like Orlando, Florida.

With so many theme parks and great hotels conveniently located close to each other, Orlando is naturally equipped for making memorable, magical, and exciting summer getaways. And this season, it’ll be easy to plan a trip that’s all those things in excess with fun events and new ride openings at your favorite Orlando theme parks.

At Walt Disney World , summer fun is just a ticket away with new attractions and events at all four parks all season long. For example, at Magic Kingdom, a brand new music video dance party will keep the beats pumping with everyone’s favorite alien, Stitch. Stitch’s Supersonic Celebration opens in May and features an interactive dance troupe and a DJ host, who’ll be inviting all to come dance and celebrate.

And every weekend from May 22 through June 14, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be the place to be when Star Wars Weekends rolls into the park. Out of this world characters, from Wookies to Jedi to Ewoks, will congregate at Hollywood Studios for meet and greets, special parades, and other fun events, including an interactive Jedi Training Academy.

Over at SeaWorld Orlando, the aquatic park isn’t to be outdone and will be kicking off the summer with a bang when they open Manta on May 22. The wild ride, inspired by the undersea movements of the manta ray, takes riders in a near horizontal position through a series of loops through the air – and almost under the water!

SeaWorld will also be livening up summer nights with SeaWorld After Dark. Guests will be able to enjoy shopping, dining, and all-new shows taking place only at night at the park. Flames, fireworks, and fountains will light up the evening as guests stroll along the Waterfront and take in festive street entertainment.

Finally, at Universal Studios Orlando, vacationers will be able to really let loose on another new coaster called the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit. This new high-tech coaster features lots of flash and fun with a special audio component that lets guests pick out what song they’d like to rock out to while riding it. In addition, a video component tapes guests’ wild ride, making for a fun video they can customize, send to their friends, or even post online. By Allison Dieppa

Pointswizard Spin: And don’t forget to cool off in the summer heat at great Orlando water parks. Aquatica, Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon , and Wet ‘n Wild are all open and ready to help you make a splash or a high-speed high dive.

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-One additional complimentary night at Sheraton Vistana Villages or 5,000 Starpoints® from the Starwood Preferred Guest® program when you travel before June 30, 2009

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As the temperatures cool down and the holiday season rolls around, be sure to drop by Orlando this winter for all the fun seasonal attractions at Orlando theme parks .

This city has got all others beat when it comes to gearing up for the holidays, and with Walt Disney World , Universal Studios, and SeaWorld all within easy driving distance, the only hard part is deciding which park to go to!

At the Disney parks , Christmas is hands-down the most magical time of the year. The highlight of the season is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which lights up the Magic Kingdom with beautiful decorations, holiday parades, and an awe-inspiring fireworks spectacular. As snow falls on Main Street USA and the Cinderella Castle lights up with 200,000 icicle-like lights, you won’t help but be filled with holiday cheer. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies to the sounds of Christmas carols, and catch one-of-a-kind holiday shows with your favorite Disney characters for a party that will leave you feeling very merry indeed.

From November 28th through December 30th, visitors can enjoy the season with a little international flair when the Holidays Around the World comes to Disney’s Epcot. In this incredible holiday celebration, the World Showcase comes alive with food, fun, and entertainment from around the world. Listen to the wonder of the Candlelight Processional, as celebrity narrators, an orchestra, and a mass choir put a special spin on the Christmas story. And at nighttime, the sky comes alive with a special holiday edition of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.

And that’s not all; be sure to catch the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From November 28th through January 4th, the Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights brings its holiday symphony of blinking lights, sparkling snowflakes, and twirling carousels. And from November 28th through January 4th, catch Mickey and his friends in their holiday safari costumes as they parade to the sounds, sights, and smells of the holiday season. Though Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party requires a separate Disney ticket, all these other Disney attractions can be enjoyed with regular admission.

But Disney isn’t the only place for holiday fun; there are also great Orlando attractions during the holidays at SeaWorld Orlando . Don’t miss Shamu’s Christmas Miracles, a merry holiday show with your favorite Orca and live musical performances. There’s also The Polar Express Experience, which takes its riders on an incredible journey into the North Pole. And to top off your day at SeaWorld, check out the Makahiki Christmas Luau, a South Seas holiday celebration filled with Polynesian cuisine and ancient holiday traditions of the Pacific Islands. Best yet, all of these attractions can be enjoyed with a regular SeaWorld ticket.

Finally, let’s not forget about all the holiday parades and shows at Universal Studios Orlando. From December 6th through January 1st, enjoy Holiday Cheer You Can Only Hear Here, a holiday celebration featuring the wintry wonderland of Grinchmas along with a live musical version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at Universal Islands of Adventure . There’s also the annual Macy’s Holiday Parade, which fills the streets of Universal with balloons, floats, marching bands, colorful performers, and more. And with the Mannheim Steamroller live in concert on December 6th, you’ll be kicking off the season with great tunes. Everything is included with a regular Universal Studios ticket – no extra spending needed!

To enjoy all the seasonal attractions of these parks and more, it’s easy – just visit OrlandoFunTickets.com for all your discount theme park tickets, and you’ll be on your way to a heaping helping of holiday fun.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Thanks to OrlandoFunTickets.com for the info

Click on any of the red links to get more info.

The summer crowds are gone and the weather is starting to cool down! What better time to visit Orlando, Florida! With Halloween right around the corner, all of the Orlando theme parks are getting into the Halloween spirit with tons of activities and events for the entire family.

Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa are all getting into the mix with their Halloween events, getting you in the mood for fall! Whether you are looking for a good haunt or a fun-time for the entire family together, Orlando has something for you!

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Orlando is THE place to be for Halloween haunts! Moving into its 18th year, Halloween Horror Nights is promising to be at its scariest this year with their main theme, Bloody Mary. Everyone grew up with the myth of Bloody Mary that if you stood in front of a mirror and said her name three times she would appear. Most of us chickened out by the second time of name calling came around, but Universal Studios is here to show you what may happen if you say her name the third time around…BEWARE!

The entire park will be playing off of the theme of wicked fairy tales, myths, fables, and more, awakening all of your childhood fears! There are more haunted houses, more scare zones, and more haunts than ever before! And, there is no place to hide this year, with very little to no “safe zones.” Universal fully immerses you in terror. The event runs from September 26-27; October 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 22-26, 29-31; and November 1. Halloween Horror Nights tickets must be purchased separately from park admission tickets. Make sure to get them ahead of time, because popular nights tend to run out quickly!

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens in Tampa is just around the corner from Orlando. A quick hour to hour-and-half drive and you are there! And, this year is proving to be scarier than ever with their theme of the Raven Twins. The myth goes that the Raven Twins were conjoined twins by the head. They were constantly teased by everyone in town, including their biggest crush. Taking matters into their own hands, the twins forcefully separated themselves, deforming their faces forever. They now are looking to gain revenge on all of those who made fun of them, including YOU.

With six haunted houses, three scare zones, three shows, and the great rides of Busch Gardens, you will not want to miss it. The event runs September 26-27 and October 2 – November 1 on 17 select nights. Make sure to get your Howl-O-Scream tickets ahead of time! These tickets are separate from Busch Gardens admission tickets. They will sell out!

Looking for a “Not So Scary” option? Then head to Disney’s Magic Kingdom with the entire family for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! Running September 5 – October 31 on select nights, families can join Mickey and all of his friends for a Halloween party you will never forget. Wear your favorite costumes and trick-or-treat throughout the park with all of your favorite characters.

Also enjoy the “Boo-to-You” Halloween parade, the HalloWishes firework display, all of the great Magic Kingdom rides, and other special entertainment & activities. Your children will love it! Make sure to buy your tickets ahead of time! Tickets are separate from admission to the Magic Kingdom and popular nights sell-out quickly!

SeaWorld Orlando also offers a great event for the entire family for Halloween, and the best part is that it is free with admission to the park! Running October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 24-26, & 31 you can experience SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular.

This underwater “fantaSEA” is something you will never forget. Wear your favorite costume to the park and trick-or-treat with friendly sea witches, pumpkin fish, mermaids, and more. There are over 15 treasure candy stations, interactive games & activities, and specialty shows. And, not to mention some of the coolest rides, shows, and attractions in all of Orlando! Join Shamu and all of his friends for a great time!

There is no better place to celebrate fall and Halloween than in Orlando, Florida. There are tons of great Orlando attractions for the entire family! So, pack your bags, get the plane tickets, and plan on celebrating Halloween in Orlando this fall! You will not regret it!

Pointswizard.com Spin: Thanks to Orlandofuntickets.com for the info.

Enter anytime between now and July 31, 2008 for your chance to win a trip for four (4).
Trip includes:

* Roundtrip, coach-class airfare for four (4) from major airport nearest winner’s home to Orlando International Airport
* Ground transportation for four (4) between airport and Universal Orlando Resort hotel
* 4-Day, 3-Night stay for four (4) at one of Universal Orlando Resort’s onsite hotels
* Four (4) 3-Day/2-Park tickets valid for admission to Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure theme parks, as well as all-club access to Universal’s CityWalk
* One (1) 1-Day/2-Park Non-Exclusive VIP Tour for four (4)
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“Only in a real city will you find, in an art museum, a painting with a title like this: “In the beginning there was borscht, and then came the thought of liver.” Done partly in beet juice.
Here are some of the joys of this city—downtown and in the neighborhoods—that are particularly suited for grown-ups and particularly for grown-ups weary of being blocked by convoys of baby-strollers from getting to, say, Universal’s incomparable “Spider-Man” thrill ride.

Loch Haven Park
Not only a park (and a loch), but home to a bevy of cultural and educational venues, including the Orlando Science Center, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Repertory Theatre and the Mennello Museum of American Art.

The Science Center is your basic kids museum, so skip that, unless you absolutely must see a dinosaur, need to press buttons or are one of the eight people left in American who hasn’t experienced some variation of “Titanic: The Experience.” The Rep’s rep is primarily “family” shows (“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Go, Dog! Go!”), not that there’s anything wrong with that.

It’s the Big Art Museum that’s the star here. As with many regional museums, the collection isn’t vast—but unlike the others, what’s here is very, very good. Its O’Keeffe (“Datura and Pedernal”) is quintessential Georgia (flower, New Mexico); also here is fine work by John Singer Sargent and landscapists Thomas Moran and Herman Herzog. You just missed a delightful exhibition justly called “Audacity in Art”—the “borscht” work, by a Vietnamese artist, was a highlight—but there’s a Rockwell show on through Memorial Day. Also, an excellent “Ancient Americas” collection, if you’re into that—and, of course, a Chihuly. Not talking the MoMA here, but better than you’d imagine . . .

Orange County Regional History Center
Look for the statue of the guy wrangling an alligator in the heart of downtown, and you’ll find this museum beside him, fashioned from the former county courthouse. Among the exhibits is a series of photos of a sinkhole that almost swallowed Winter Park in 1981 (and, of course, became a major tourist attraction for a while), much information on the local Seminoles (the real ones, not Bobby Bowden’s Florida State teams), and chilling material on the African-American experience in the area. (The Groveland story will leave you shaking your head.)

Also intriguing: a courtroom, left whole.

“The Bundy trial was here,” said the center’s Sherry Lewis. “We can’t give eye-witness confirmation that he was the one who carved his name into the desk, but . . . ”

In 1980, Ted Bundy was convicted here in the 1978 rape-murder of a 12-year-old Florida girl, Kimberly Leach. She would be his 29th, and last, victim.

Someone left a carving.

Winter Park
The train carrying the cold and wealthy from up north stopped here in winter, they built grand houses, and there you are. The in-town suburb is home to Rollins College, cute restaurants (some open for lunch, with sidewalk seating), the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (which, befitting a museum with a name that long, gets its own section later in this essay) and, of course, the Scenic Boat Tour.

The Scenic Boat Tour has been plying the mossy-tree- and mansion-lined lakes and canals of Winter Park since the Great Depression. It’s evidently an “essential” for visitors here, at least in part because it beats walking around in the heat—but the vegetation is lush, the narration is amusing, the price is right ($10, $5 for kids, who will be bored 10 minutes into it) and what better way to see, on the same tour, homes lived in by the likes of Mamie Eisenhower and Horace Grant?”

(via chicagotribune.com )

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