Universal’s Horror Nights Open For Screams After Absence

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — After a pandemic-related absence of almost two years, Universal Orlando Resort’s celebration of all things scary has opened for screams.

Halloween Horror Nights kicked off at the Florida theme park resort for a 30th year of disturbing haunted houses, live entertainment and celebrations of pop-culture scares.

Each haunted house is a small, temporary attraction, elaborately designed and themed, built with studious attention to details and populated with “scare-actors” who chase but never touch the thousands of patrons passing through each night.

This year’s haunted houses are inspired by the movies, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Beetlejuice,” and “The Bride of Frankenstein.”

Halloween Horror Nights starts next week at Universal Studios Hollywood in California. The celebrations of all things scary will last through Oct. 31 at both theme park resorts.

Walt Disney World To Reduce Theme Park Hours, Starting September 8th

GREGG NEWTON/Gregg Newton/AFP via Getty Images

Visitors drive past a sign welcoming them to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Walt Disney World is reducing the operating hours at all four of its theme parks, following the phased reopening last month amid a surge of COVID-19 cases in Florida.

Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios will close an hour earlier than usual, while Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort and Disney's Animal Kingdom will be open for 2 less hours each day. The changes will begin Sept 8. and remain in place through October. 

After months of being shuttered due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Walt Disney World began a phased reopening in mid-July with masks being mandatory for guests and staff, and other safety measures in place such as guidelines for social distancing and increased sterilization and cleaning requirements. To be admitted to the park, guests would need to have a reservation and a ticket, as the capacity was capped at a certain number — which wasn't made public — but assumed to be around 30 percent. 

Last week, the Walt Disney Co. revealed the financial impact of its parks being shuttered, noting a fiscal third-quarter loss of $3.5 billion. "Parks, Experiences and Products revenues for the quarter decreased 85 percent to $1.0 billion, and segment operating results decreased $3.7 billion to a loss of $2.0 billion," Disney's quarterly report indicated on Tuesday. "Lower operating results for the quarter were due to decreases at both the domestic and international parks and experiences businesses and to a lesser extent, at our merchandise licensing and retail businesses."

Walt Disney world came under fire last month for a "Welcome Home" promotional video that was posted to its social media channels, featuring masked employees welcoming guests back to the park. Some users on Twitter and Instagram accused the park of putting their staff and visitors in danger by reopening too early, and encouraged them to consider closing. 

Any further updates or changes to operating schedules will be posted to the Walt Disney World website at: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/

Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/

Disney World’s Last Two Theme Parks Reopened To Visitors On July 15

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Days after reopening two theme parks amid a spike in coronavirus cases in Florida, Walt Disney World on Wednesday welcomed back visitors to two more theme parks that had been shuttered since March because of the new coronavirus.

The Florida theme park resort reopened Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, completing a rolling opening of Disney World’s theme parks that started last weekend with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom welcoming back visitors.

The parks were the last of Orlando’s major theme parks to reopen after being shuttered since March. Both Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando opened their doors last month.

All of the parks have new restrictions.

The number of visitors being allowed in has been capped to allow for social distancing. All visitors and employees must wear masks and get their temperature checked upon entering.

Disney is requiring reservations, and Disney employees won’t be allowed to take photos of visitors in front of Cinderella’s Castle since it involves touching the tourists’ cameras. Disney World posted on its website that “an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present.”

There will be no live shows at Disney World since the reopening has caused a labor dispute between Disney and its actors and singers.

The union that represents Disney World actors and singers has filed a grievance against Disney, saying their members faced retaliation for demanding coronavirus tests. The actors and singers initially were called back to work, but that invitation was rescinded after the union made public their concerns about the lack of testing for the actors and singers who can’t wear masks while performing, according to Actors’ Equity Association.

Despite the parks being reopened, not all of Disney World’s 77,000-member workforce has been called back to work because of the limits on attendance. A coalition of unions that represents about 43,000 workers says only about 20,000 members have been called back to work.

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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.

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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.

Universal Takes First Steps Reviving Orlando Theme Park Business, Open To General Public June 5th.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — With masks on their faces and temperature checks at entrances, Harry Potter fans and roller coaster lovers streamed back into Universal Orlando Resort  in one of the first major steps toward reviving Florida’s theme park industry, which was left temporarily moribund by closures to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Universal Orlando became the first of Orlando’s major theme park resorts to reopen by allowing annual pass-holders to return to its three parks Wednesday and Thursday. It will open to the general public Friday June 5 for the first time since mid-March.

“We missed the parks desperately!” said Donna Walters, who wore a pink scarf over her mouth and nose Wednesday after walking past a security checkpoint where a guard took her temperature with a thermometer gun.

If her temperature had been 100.4 degrees (38 degrees Celsius) or greater, she would have been barred from entry under new virus-related procedures adapted by Universal Orlando and the area’s other theme parks. The number of people allowed in was restricted to allow for social distancing, blue circles on the ground showed visitors where to stand to maintain 6-feet (2 meters) distance and a recording in English and Spanish played in a loop over loudspeakers at the entrance reminding park-goers to wear face masks and keep their distance.

Workers with spray bottles and cloths wiped down the hand rails of flat-escalators leading into the parks and Citywalk, the resort’s restaurant-entertainment complex that has been open for more than two weeks.

“We feel like all the precautions were up to snuff. We felt super safe to come here,” said Walters, who as a nurse is accustomed to wearing face masks. “Yeah, the masks. It’s Florida, so it’s hot. But it is what it is and it does protect other people.”

Crosstown rival SeaWorld Orlando is set to reopen next week, as are two other SeaWorld-owned parks in Tampa, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island.

Walt Disney World plans to welcome back visitors next month to its parks, and thousands of workers could start being recalled for work starting in mid-June, according to Unite Here Local 362.

Disney has not made any plans to reopen the water parks, and those workers can transfer temporarily into other departments. College students and international workers who staffed the country pavilions at Epcot’s World Showcase aren’t coming back anytime soon, so the positions formally staffed by international workers will be worked by U.S. employees, Eric Clinton, the local union’s president told members recently during an online meeting posted to Facebook.

Also disappearing for the time being will be parades, firework shows, “meet-and-greets” with performers dressed as Disney characters and the courtesy of using a guests’ phone to take their photo, Clinton said.

“Any scenario that could create large crowds ... the company isn’t going to do it,” Clinton said.

All of Florida’s theme parks temporarily closed this spring, and Floridians and theme parks fans across the U.S. were forced to stay home because of state and local lockdown orders meant to stop the virus’s spread. The smaller Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven, Florida, opened Monday.

As of Thursday, Florida had more than 60,000 total coronavirus cases and more than 2,600 related deaths, but the number of cases has been trending upward. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has increased by 151.6 cases, an increase of almost 21%, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Orlando’s theme park industry, and synergistic businesses like hotels and restaurants, were devastated by the coronavirus-related closures. Tens of thousands of workers were furloughed and the theme park resorts have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond on Wednesday reported that the county’s tax collections on hotels and vacation rentals in April dropped 97% from the same month in 2019 to a level not seen since 1980.

But Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he was confident tax collections will improve as the theme parks reopen.

“I believe that we will recover,” Demings said at a news conference.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that more than 206,000 Floridians filed jobless claims last week, up from 175,000 claims the prior week. More than 2 million Floridians have filed jobless claims since mid-March.

With the reopening of the parks, “thousands and thousands of employees have been put back to work,” said Tom Williams, CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts.

After arriving at Universal Orlando, Ashley Gonzalez tried to go on as many rides as possible, though wait times were longer than usual because of social distancing precautions. Some things felt odd, such as having only one person in a row on the rides and not being able to have personal contact with performers dressed up as characters such as Captain America.

“It’s refreshing to be out here because you spent so much time cooped up and in quarantine. It’s cool to be out in the open,” Gonzalez said. “You’re so used to high-five-ing people, and getting the character meet-and-greets. But you can’t do that now, obviously because of socially distancing.”

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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP.

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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.

Air Gondolas Join Disney World’s Transit System

Gondolas move to various locations at Walt Disney World on the Disney Skyliner aerial tram, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Disney Skyliner gondolas opening to visitors on Sunday are the latest addition to one of the largest private transportation systems in the U.S. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World on Friday introduced its newest way to get around the Florida resort: an aerial cable car system that whisks visitors from hotels to theme parks three stories above the ground while going 11 mph (18 kph).

The Disney Skyliner cable cars opening to visitors on Sunday are the latest addition to one of the largest private transportation systems in the U.S. The almost 300 enclosed cable cars join 423 buses, 61 mini-vans (appropriately named Minnie Vans), 30 parking lot trams, 29 watercraft and 12 monorail trains.

In any given 24 hours, 350,000 people — the population of a medium-size city — can be on Disney World property, which is the physical size of San Francisco. Disney transportation workers need to move them efficiently from parks to hotels to Disney World’s shopping and restaurant districts with as little friction as possible.

“There are a lot of benefits to being in the air,” said Alison Armor, vice president of transportation at Disney World. “People are off the roadways. They’re moving very smoothly and very seamlessly.”

In a given year, Disney World visitors take 100 million rides on its entire transit system, said Thomas Mazloum, a Disney senior vice president.

With the Skyliner air gondolas, visitors get neon-colored cars painted with the images of almost two dozen Disney characters taking them on the three lines to five stations where they can access nine resorts and two parks. Disney World has four theme parks and more than two dozen resorts.

No more than 10 people are allowed in each cable car. A car will arrive every 10 seconds, allowing the cabins to handle about 3,000 people an hour.

By MIKE SCHNEIDER

Discovery Cove Introduces Exclusive New Spa Cabana

It’s One More Way to Truly Relax at Orlando’s All-Inclusive Day Resort

Orlando, Florida  – Discovery Cove, Orlando’s all-inclusive day resort, has a reputation for providing the antidote for a busy vacation to one of America’s favorite destinations. Instead of the hustle and bustle you experience at other parks, Discovery Cove dials it back several notches, providing a serene, tropical environment in which to relax and enjoy nature. And things just got even more mellow, thanks to the introduction of the park’s new Relaxation Massages.

Guests of the new Oasis Spa enter a special spa cabana that overlooks the peaceful waters of the park’s Freshwater Oasis and indulge in a 25-minute massage performed by a licensed therapist.* The tranquil sounds of nature only add to the experience, and solo and couple’s massages are available to guests ages 18 and older. Spa sessions are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis as guests arrive at the park each morning. A 25-minute session starts at $59, but guests can reserve-back-to-back slots and upgrade to a 50-minute session if they prefer.

Massages here are done with a special jojoba oil that has a similar pH to human skin and which is non-allergenic. Best of all, though, jojoba oil is animal-friendly, which is essential at a park where the animal inhabitants greatly outnumber their human guests.

Those animals are the real draw at Discovery Cove, where guests can interact with more than 250 exotic birds in the Explorer’s Aviary, learn about small mammals like sloths and armadillos, feed rays, swim with sharks, or even hug a dolphin. The park limits its admission to just 1,300 guests each day, so there are no crowds and long lines.

Discovery Cove is a paradise of rocky lagoons, tropical reefs, winding rivers, and pristine white-sand beaches in a lushly landscaped park that feels more like a secluded island than an easily accessible attraction in America’s vacation capital. A day’s admission includes breakfast and lunch, unlimited beverages and snacks, lockers, animal-safe sunscreen, snorkel gear, and parking. In addition, guests get unlimited admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica for 14 consecutive days around their Discovery Cove reservation. Spa treatments and other exclusive opportunities can be booked at a separate cost.

For additional program and booking details, please visit www.discoverycove.com.

Now Open: Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando Resort's Third Theme Park

The park's first guests gathered today inside the new water theme park to enjoy an authentic, South Pacific dedication ceremony commemorating the opening of Volcano Bay. The ceremony featured special performances by an array of authentic Maori entertainment, ranging from water dancers to "Haka" war dancers. The moment culminated with an eruption from the mighty 200 ft. Krakatau volcano – the park's stunning icon.

Volcano Bay is Universal Orlando's third theme park and the next chapter in the award-winning vacation destination's evolution.  Universal Orlando is part of the NBCUniversal Comcast family, which has invested significantly in the destination's unprecedented growth.  In just seven years, 25 new experiences – entire themed areas, attractions, restaurants, and hotels – have been added across the destination.  Universal Orlando now has 5,600 rooms across its five (soon to be six) on-site hotels.

Volcano Bay was brought to life by Universal Creative – the same team responsible for bringing so many other groundbreaking experiences to life within Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure. Volcano Bay is a next-level water theme park - combining spectacular storytelling and incredibly immersive guest experiences with innovative technology exclusively designed for Universal to give visitors a fun-filled, hassle-free experience with their friends and family. 

"Universal's Volcano Bay sets a new standard on every level – from the attractions to how our guests experience them," said Tom Williams, Chairman & CEO – Universal Parks & Resorts. "Our new water theme park is the perfect complement to the rest of our incredible destination.  It provides our guests with spectacular entertainment experiences and innovative technology that helps them enjoy more of what matters most – connecting with each other and having an amazing time together."

Spanning 25 fully immersive acres and featuring something for everyone – from perfected relaxation to incredible thrills – Volcano Bay is unlike any other water park in world.  It offers an immersive environment filled with unbelievable detail and innovative technology to enhance fun and remove hassles. Volcano Bay features:

• More than 30 experiences including 18 unique attractions such as a multi-directional wave pool with sandy beaches, a peaceful winding river, twisting multi-rider raft rides, speeding body slides that drop from the top of the volcano into the waters below and more.
• The TapuTapu wearable – included with guest admission and specifically designed for use within Universal's Volcano Bay. Features of TapuTapu include:
• Virtual Line Access: TapuTapu allows guests to virtually wait in line for rides while enjoying other areas of the park. Their wearable will simply alert them when it's time for their ride.
• TapTu Play: Guests can enjoy many TapTu Play experiences throughout the park - like controlling streams of water spurting from whales in Tot Tiki Reef, shooting water cannons at guests snaking down Kopiko Wai Winding River, illuminating images in the volcano's hidden caves and more.
• TapTu Pay: Guests can make purchases throughout the entire park with their TapuTapu wearable, eliminating the need to carry cash, credit cards or a wallet throughout the park. 
• TapTu Snap/My Universal Photo Access:  Guests can take advantage of special interactive photo opportunities and selfie-spots throughout the park as well as photo opportunities on Volcano Bay's attractions.  Their wearable will automatically link those photos to their account so that guests can view, share and purchase them at their convenience.
• Locker Access: After renting their lockers, guests will be able to access them with a touch of their TapuTapu wearable.
• Beautifully-themed dining locations featuring more than 60 delicious, South Pacific-inspired dishes – ranging from jerk mahi sandwiches to fresh island chicken salad to decadent chocolate pineapple upside down cake. 

For more information about Universal's Volcano Bay, visit www.universalorlando.com.

SeaWorld Entertainment Unveils Major New Attractions For 2017

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS), a leading theme park and entertainment company with 12 destination and regional theme parks, today announced its extensive line-up of new attractions, shows and events for 2017. The announcement includes major new ride additions at three of its theme parks; a virtual reality experience in Orlando, a new orca presentation in San Diego, and new shows and events at many other park locations. All totaled, the company will invest approximately $175 million in capital spending, one of the largest new attraction years in its more than 50 year history.

"We are extremely excited with the scope and depth of the new attractions and events coming to our SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks in 2017," said Joel Manby, President and Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. "In developing new experiences we want guests to have fun, but also be inspired, and our parks are uniquely suited to create meaningful and fun vacations." He added, "We want our guests to share experiences that matter, and our 2017 additions truly reinforce that mission."

Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster™, SeaWorld® San Antonio - Summer 2017
A new generation of coaster, the first of its kind in North America, combining the thrill of the sea, the adrenaline rush of a multi-launch roller coaster and the inspiration of animal rescue is coming to SeaWorld San Antonio.

Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster boasts variety of features inspired by the reality of jet skiing across a body of water. The unique jet ski-style car design is the first such coaster design in North America and engages riders in a straddled seating position. The design will allow riders to lean into a series of banked and serpentine turns, and grip the handle bars as they race over hills designed for maximum airtime, and a pair of high acceleration launches. Inspired by the Emmy® award-winning program, Sea Rescue®, the coaster enables riders to feel what it's like to race alongside SeaWorld's heroic animal care team and veterinarians as they spring into action at a moment's notice to help rescue animals in distress.

Reaching heights of up to 61 feet, the majority of the coaster's 2,600-foot track will be directly over water, creating the sensation that riders are surging across the park's Ski Lake. With a minimum height requirement of 48 inches, Wave Breaker promises to be a dynamic coaster experience for the whole family.

The new coaster is unique to SeaWorld's mission. The coaster is sure to thrill, but also brings awareness to the brave efforts of the SeaWorld animal teams as they join forces with organizations around the world to help ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned animals, like dolphins and sea turtles. The queue line experience will tell the story of rescue missions, and invite guests to become involved in SeaWorld's efforts to protect animals.

With the addition of Wave Breaker, guests can experience four coasters in San Antonio, spanning a range of ages and thrills. Wave Breaker joins The Great White®, a floorless steel rollercoaster that challenges riders to 360-degree flips, breathtaking loops, corkscrews and thrilling curves at speeds of up to 50 mph; Steel Eel®, a true hypercoaster featuring a 15-story vertical drop, followed by a series of camelbacks that provide periods of weightlessness and Shamu Express®, a junior-sized coaster perfect for families with younger children.

Ocean Explorer, SeaWorld San Diego - Summer 2017
SeaWorld San Diego will unveil Ocean Explorer, a new 3-acre realm combining multiple aquariums, exciting rides and digital technologies. The area is designed to engage park guests in an experience centered on exploration and adventure, inspiring them to protect the wonders of our oceans.

In the signature attraction for the realm, called Submarine Quest, guests will be adventurers on a global expedition of scientific exploration, travelling aboard submarines to see Ocean Explorer's remarkable undersea animals. Embarking on these mini submarines, visitors will become researchers on a mission to collect data and learn how they can help protect animals. This three-minute experience will include an onboard digital navigation dashboard, as well as a few other surprises along the journey, enhancing the riders' understanding of our fragile ocean ecosystem.

The heart and destination of Ocean Explorer will be a series of undersea research bases housing specially-designed aquariums and interactive displays that showcase unique and elusive ocean animals like giant octopuses and dozens of moray eels, as well as huge spider crabs and spiny king crabs. Both crab species will be new to SeaWorld San Diego.

The Ocean Explorer realm will feature five new family-friendly rides in total, including an exhilarating wave swing ride where guests will fly through thousands of real bubbles in chairs suspended from the tentacles of a giant jellyfish.

New Orca Encounter, SeaWorld San Diego - Summer 2017
SeaWorld San Diego will introduce new, inspiring, educational orca encounters, rather than theatrical shows, as part of its ongoing commitment to education, marine science research, and rescue of marine animals. These live documentaries will focus on orca enrichment, exercise, and overall health. This change will start in its San Diego park next year, followed by Orlando and then San Antonio by 2019.

The new Orca Encounter will be based on orca behavior in the wild: what they eat, how they hunt, how they navigate and how they communicate, helping guests gain a deeper appreciation and respect for the orcas and empowering them a sense of determination and purpose to help preserve the future of these majestic animals. This new encounter will look at broader themes such as research, rescue, conservation, habitats and distribution, husbandry and care, and social structures.

The new behavioral-based orca experience, will inspire as well as educate guests about the majesty of these complex animals, and reinforces the company's commitment to provide educational experiences with the park's resident orcas.

Electric Ocean, SeaWorld Orlando and San Diego - Summer 2017
Electric Ocean will debut next summer at SeaWorld parks in Orlando and San Diego as a brand new, end-of-day spectacle event. As the sun goes down, the lights and energy go up, offering guests a different kind of fun after dark. The ocean comes to life with bioluminescent lighting, music and pathway entertainment, immersing guests in a glowing sea of wonder.

Kraken® Virtual Reality (VR) Roller Coaster, SeaWorld Orlando - Summer 2017
SeaWorld will debut its first digitally enhanced ride experience as the legendary Kraken roller coaster is transformed into a virtual reality (VR) roller coaster experience. This thrill ride will be the only VR coaster experience in Florida.

Guests will embark on a deep sea mission alongside sea creatures inspired by extinct and legendary animals of the past, including the mighty Kraken. A custom digital overlay with uniquely designed headsets, fully integrated both mechanically and electronically into the coaster train, delivers a new one-of-a-kind adventure. The addition of VR to this fan-favorite brings a new level of excitement and interest in Kraken, for both new and returning guests.

Dolphin Nursery, SeaWorld Orlando - Summer 2017
SeaWorld Orlando's Dolphin Nursery will become more interactive in 2017, giving guests the opportunity to see mother and baby dolphins up close like never before. Large-scale acrylic windows will be created offering better guest viewing, including multiple levels to provide children a face-to-face perspective with baby dolphins. New slide out areas and a lifting floor will allow for easier access to mom and baby for the veterinary and animal care teams.

The next generation of multi-purpose digital displays will allow SeaWorld educators to share information about dolphin behavior, biology and conservation with guests in new ways by interacting with education and animal care video content.

InvadR™, Busch Gardens® Williamsburg – Spring 2017
A new wooden roller coaster, InvadR, will join Busch Gardens Williamsburg's collection of world-class thrill rides. The family thriller will be the park's first wooden coaster and eighth roller coaster in total. A minimum height requirement of 46 inches make it an ideal ride for adults and children to share together, but the coaster will still feature exciting ride elements, including a more than 70 foot drop, and nine airtime hills. Located in the New France village of Busch Gardens, guests will travel more than 2,100 feet through a wooded terrain and underground through a tunnel.

The attraction's theme will invite riders to choose their ride, in a battle between a band of invading Vikings and the villagers. In an unusual industry move, fans will help decide the ride elements including opportunities to vote on attraction details and theming.

The Wildlife Docs™: Live, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - May 2017
A live version of the great stories from the Emmy nominated weekly show, featuring live animals, video production, live ambassador presenters and performers in the park's Stanleyville Theater. The show is directed by acclaimed Broadway director and choreographer Jeff Whiting.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer & Friends, SeaWorld Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Williamsburg - 2016 Christmas events, continuing in 2017
Beloved Christmas character Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and friends, including Clarice, Bumble, the Abominable Snow Monster and Yukon Cornelius, and Rudolph themed attractions will be making their debut as part of the 2016 Christmas Celebration™ events at SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla., San Antonio and San Diego, and Christmas Town™ at Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va.

Rudolph & Friends will return for the 2017 season, with additional Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-themed experiences for families to enjoy the Christmas spirit even more.

2017 Events
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens deliver year-round fun with special events at each park. Seven Seas Food Festival, a popular music and food event at SeaWorld in San Diego and San Antonio, is now coming to Orlando in 2017. SeaWorld Orlando's popular music and food events will expand to a total of 14 weekends and roll-up under the Seven Seas brand. Other park events include: Lunar New Year and Wild Days at SeaWorld San Diego; Just for Kids and Summer Nights at SeaWorld San Antonio; Food & Wine Festival and Bier Fest at Bush Gardens Williamsburg, and the Red Carpet Series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Travelore News: Dates Announced For 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, September 14th Through November 14th

Contributed by Victoria Lim, Managing Editor, Walt Disney World 

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My taste buds are already doing a happy dance: the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off September 14 and runs through November 14 this fall. That means almost two additional weeks – from 53 days to 62 – of deliciousness, foodie fun, culinary events, celebrity chefs, seminars, music concerts and more.

Keep reading the Disney Parks Blog for more details – we look forward to sharing what we’ll be serving up in 2016 soon.

Universal Orlando Raises Ticket Prices For Single Day, Park-To-Park Tickets

Photo courtesy Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort confirmed reports Thursday that the amusement park would be raising its single-day ticket prices.

According to WFTV.com, officials from the theme park acknowledged that the cost of single-day passes jumped from $102 to $105 on Wednesday. As for the park-to-park ticket prices, they also increased, climbing from $147 to $155.

Annual passes will remain at $215.

Officials from Universal released a statement to FoxNews.com, saying, “We set our prices to reflect the value of the experience we provide our guests. And we provide the greatest value where our guests tell us it matters most – with our popular multi-day tickets and vacation packages. Guests who use multi-day tickets or packages can save as much as $40 off our single day ticket price.”

Universal Studios raised its single-day ticket prices to $102 in early 2015, around the same time Walt Disney World also increased the cost of its passes, according to FoxNews.com. Tickets for Disney's Magic Kingdom are currently $105.

Source: www.travelpulse.com, DONALD WOOD 

Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival’ Debuts At Epcot

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 by Jennifer Fickley-Baker, Editorial Content Manager

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We recently shared plans for a new “Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival” experience to open in Future World at Epcot, and we’re happy to announce that this new offering will officially open its doors today.

This new experience will feature a look into the visionary minds behind some of the world’s most iconic animated films today. Once inside the theater, guests can put on their 3D glasses and enter the imaginative worlds of three animated shorts – “Get A Horse,” “For The Birds” and “La Luna” – which will burst to life on the big screen (and in the theater) like never before.

“Get a Horse” stars Mickey Mouse and features Walt Disney himself as the voice of the iconic character. This black-and-white, hand-drawn short follows Mickey, his favorite gal pal Minnie Mouse and their friends Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow as they delight in a musical wagon ride — until Peg-Leg Pete shows up and tries to run them off the road.

“For The Birds” opens to show one by one, a flock of small birds perch on a telephone wire. Sitting close together has problems enough, and then along comes a large dopey bird that tries to join them. The birds of a feather can’t help but make fun of him—and their clique mentality proves embarrassing in the end.

And lastly, “La Luna” is the timeless fable of a young boy coming of age in the most peculiar circumstances. Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row far out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the little boy as he discovers his family’s most unusual line of work. Should he follow the example of his Papa or his Grandpa? Will he be able to find his own way amidst their conflicting opinions and timeworn traditions?