Are you looking for the ultimate thrill? The newest water slide at Aquatica Waterpark by Sea World is called Ihu’s Breakaway Falls. I am not sure it is the fact that the floor drops out from under you or the sound of a heart beat while you wait for the green light to go, but this waterslide will cause you to SCREAM! For thrill seekers, this is a must do during your Orlando vacation.

Brave the watery free-fall on the all-new drop slide, Ihu’s Breakaway Falls® – the tallest, steepest and only multi-drop tower of its kind in Orlando. Face your fear and each other. You never know who’s going to breakaway first, all you know is it’s going to be one wild ride.

The slide is named after Ihu, Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark™ Orlando’s colorful gecko, who searches for the biggest thrills, steepest hills and the coolest spills in the waterpark. This attraction opened May 9, 2014.

Ride Requirements

• Guests must be at least 48″ (1.22 m) tall to ride.
• Due to the mechanics of this attraction guests approaching or over 300lbs (136kg) may not ride.
• Appropriate swim attire required, cotton shorts or shirts, sport shorts, cover ups, loose fitting articles, or similar items are not permitted. Swim wear with buckles, rivets, or any sharp objects are not permitted.
• Footwear of any kind is not permitted.
• Loose articles such as jewelry, phones/ cameras or any other item that may damage the slide or cause harm to others are not permitted.
• At the discretion of Aquatica certain items may be held by the rider, however, we recommend you leave them with a non-rider. Aquatica assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged items
• Riders must be able to maintain proper riding position without assistance: feet first, lying on your back with legs firmly crossed at the ankles, and arms folded across the chest during the entire ride.

Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts POV

Get ready for unforgettable thrills when you enter Gringotts™ bank and find yourself swept into a breathtaking, mind-blowing, new, 3D multi-dimensional ride

Enter Gringotts™ bank beneath the massive fire-breathing dragon at the far end of Diagon Alley™. Inside Gringotts™ you’ll walk through the bank’s grand marble lobby and see goblins hard at work. Then, get ready to take a journey through cavernous passageways that lead deep underground as you climb aboard Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™.

This new, multi-dimensional 3D thrill ride puts you right in the middle of the action as you face the bank’s stringent security measures while navigating the perilous underground vaults. You’ll encounter Harry, Ron, and Hermione along the way, but you’ll have to evade the wrath of malicious villains Voldemort™ and Bellatrix as well as trolls and other creatures who stand between you and a safe return to Diagon Alley™.

Check out our Harry Potter and The Escape From Gringotts POV video below!

3DAt least 42″Best for Family

Universal’s Superstar Parade

Boogie down and rock out with Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants™, Dora & Diego; E.B. from the hit animated film Hop; and Gru, Agnes, Margo, Edith and the minions from Despicable Me.

The streets of Universal Studios® are transformed into a theme-park-wide performance stage in one of the largest interactive experiences ever created. With shows throughout the day, the parade features elaborately themed floats, hundreds of energetic street performers, and spectacular music.

Other fun features include:
*Six custom-built bubble machines
*Aerial stunt performers and tumblers
*Dazzling LED lighting and dynamic sound systems
*Live drum line, with E.B. playing lead drums!

The parade makes regular stops at Mel’s Drive-In and Battery Park, so you can meet and interact with your favorite characters.

What you see in the parade can change every time you view it, as the parade stops for an extended period.

Dates, times, and entertainment subject to change without notice and pending weather

Casual Eats in an Elegant Setting

As you stroll down the middle of Main Street U.S.A. at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park, right around the corner from the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is the Plaza Restaurant. The Plaza is a smaller table service restaurant that is often overlooked. However, it can be a great choice for a tasty lunch or dinner with reasonable prices.

The inside of Plaza is decorated with Victorian touches with an Art Nouveau theme and comfortable seating. It is crisp, clean, cool and relaxing….a nice place to sit back and enjoy a break from the hustle and bustle of your day at the park.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and the menu consists mainly of deli-style sandwiches and burgers. You can also select a delicious Strawberry Chicken Salad or a Meatloaf Meal, complete with garlic mashed potatoes, gravy and corn. They also have a wonderful Vegetarian Sandwich made with fresh mozzarella, hummus and veggies. While the dessert menu features sundaes and ice cream, I would strongly suggest a slice of New York Style Cheesecake served with strawberries. Yum! The Kids’ Meals are pretty standard with Chicken Strips, Cheeseburgers, and Grilled Cheese but the drink and dessert is included.

The Plaza is a very good choice when paying out-of-pocket for a table service meal but may not be the best selection if you are on a Disney Dining Plan since the prices are so reasonable. The prices for sandwiches and burgers are not much more than what you would pay at a counter service dining location.

Consider making a reservation at the family-friendly Plaza Restaurant during your next Disney World vacation. You will enjoy a delightful meal in pleasant surroundings with a view of Cinderella’s Castle. You might even get a visit from the Mayor of Main Street U.S.A.! Who could ask for anything more?

Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris”   Sheri is a proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail. She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel.  Book your next vacation with Sheri at 804 405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.

Refurbished Rooms at Disney Beach Club Resort (2015)

Disney’s Beach Club Resort is going through a room renovations.  The newly refurbished rooms are amazing!  We were lucky enough to get a tour of the new decor and features. Take a look at the photos and video tour below!

They are currently on the 3rd floor and expected to finish Disney’s Beach Club rooms by the end of May 2015. They will then move onto the Beach Club Villas and then over to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. Take a look at the incredible new rooms below.

More about Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Discover the casual elegance of this charming, New England-style Resort hotel. Savor exquisite dining, and explore the pools, lagoons and spas of Stormalong Bay. Sail around Crescent Lake on a rented mini-powerboat, and experience the luxurious comfort of a Club Level Suite. Sharing many amenities with its more formal sister, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort is walking distance to Epcot and a convenient boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Beachside Water Recreation Area

Fans of the Big and Small Screens Find Exciting Attractions in Orlando

Is the love story of Rose and Jack on the world’s most famous ocean liner one of your favorites? Do you long to solve a case like Grissom? How would you like to have a photo op with one of your favorite stars? No need to travel to California to be immersed in the glitz and glam of Hollywood. Your dreams can come true right in the heart of Orlando, Florida.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition

Be transported back over 100 years to April 14, 1912 as you stroll through Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. Actors, dressed in period customs will take you on a guided tour of full-scale Titanic recreations such as the Grand Staircase, a First Class Cabin and the Boiler. You are able to view over 400 artifacts, including “Little Big Piece” (the second largest piece of Titanic ever recovered). If that isn’t enough, you can reserve your seat at the Titanic Gala Dinner. Each Friday and Saturday night, guests can enjoy a scrumptious dinner as “Molly Brown”, Captain Smith and other passengers reenact the legendary ship and the night of it’s tragic demise. Call 407-248-1166 for tickets and reservations.

©Titanic: the Artifact Exhibition

CSI: The Experience

Is the drama of the lab and crime scene investigation more your style? Then head over to CSI: The Experience. This unique attraction, based on the “CSI” television shows, allows guests the chance to test their sleuthing and lab skills. You begin your investigation in one of three crime scenes. After you leave the crime scene you’ll visit the medical examiner and inspect evidence in the lab. Along the way you’ll be guided by videos featuring forensic scientists and TV show cast members. To complete the investigation you’ll be asked to submit a report on your findings. Your hard work will pay off in the end, you’ll be rewarded with a diploma.  Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 407-226-7220.

©CSI Experience

Madame Tussauds Orlando

For the ultimate celebrity experience, you won’t want to miss a visit to Madam Tussauds (opens May 4, 2015). Come meet the stars! Everyone from historical figures and famous scientists, to today’s top celebrities of music, sports, tv and film. Okay, you’re not meeting the actual celebrities; Madam Tussauds showcases a brilliant collection of wax figures.  The detailed artistry that goes into creating these figures is amazing. So detailed in fact, that when you show that selfie you took with your favorite star, you’ll be the trending topic on social media!  Tickets can be purchased as part of an Orlando ticket package or standard tickets are sold as well.

©Madame Tussauds

Be sure to include one or all of these experiences during your next visit to Orlando. With this much star power, you’ll be signing autographs before you know it!

Written by Kelly Barnes – As a travel agent Kelly combines her love of travel with her strengths in planning and organizing towards helping others. She specializes in Disney and Florida family vacations. As your dedicated vacation planner, Kelly will not only help you plan your vacation, but will help you create memories to last a lifetime. Book your next vacation with Kelly at 980-429-4499 or kellyb@destinationsinflorida.com

If you are looking for thrills and chills during your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World, Dinosaur may just be the perfect fit! You will find Dinosaur in the DinoLand U.S.A section of the park. It is a loud, frightening indoor attraction and riders must be at least 40 inches tall to ride.

As you enter The Dino Institute, you will find real fossils that date back to the Dinosaur age. There are exhibits with narration by Bill Nye (the Science Guy) and a huge skeleton of a Carnotaurus, one of the carnivorous dinosaurs. It’s a nice, cool place to cool off and let younger children and the faint of heart wait while the adventurous experience the scary attraction, Dinosaur!

After a brief introductory video, you will board the 12 seat CTX Time Rover which is your vehicle for the trip back in time to the Dinosaur Age.  As the story goes, you are recruited to rescue an Iguanodon dinosaur from extinction and return back to present time. The quest is to find the Iguanodon and return back to the present time before a giant meteor hits the earth.

Your Time Rover travels through a dark forest in search of the dinosaur. The ride is rough and bumpy with twists and hairpin turns along the way, not to mention the scary creatures around every corner! You might find yourself hiding your eyes as you speed by a creepy Alioramus, a frightful Velociraptor hunting for food and a Styracosaurus. Look out for the Cearadactylus looming overhead! Meteors are crashing about and the end of your mission is near. Hang on to your hat!

Dinosaur is not for anyone with back problems or those afraid of the dark but it is the ultimate blast to the past joyride for thrill-seekers. Will you dare to ride it during your next vacation to Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris”   Sheri is a proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail. She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel.  Book your next vacation with Sheri at 804 405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.

Disney Character Mousestaches

Kids love the Disney Characters and posing for pictures with them at the Disney Theme Parks.  Our agency owners decided to combine the two with these new fun Disney Characters Mousetaches!  They are super simple to make in just a couple minutes and make for really fun souvenir.  Make those photos even more fun with these Disney Characters Mousetaches!

You can download the april-fools-mousetaches-template and get started right away! Enjoy!

Disney’s Magic Kingdom Theme Park is filled with shows and attractions for the entire family. One of my favorite shows is Mickey’s PhilharMagic, located in Fantasyland. This 12 minute attraction features a lively 3D movie on a 150 foot wraparound screen that is filled with laughter, music and surprises!

Pick up a pair of “opera glasses” as you walk into the 486-seat theater and put them on when the lights go down.  The show begins with Donald Duck sleeping. Mickey Mouse wakes Donald and rushes offstage to get ready for the show. Donald Duck picks up the conductor’s baton and puts on Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat. Things start to get out of control and Donald goes into a 3D dream sequence filled with a host of Disney animated characters from popular films.

Donald Duck’s dreams take you into a world of fantasy with music from classic Disney movies such as:

• “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast
• “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid
• “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” from The Lion King
• “You Can Fly” from Peter Pan
• “A Whole New World” from Aladdin

Children (and adults!) will enjoy reaching out for the objects that “pop out” from the screen with the 3D technology. Fun, special effects such as sprinkles of water and sweet aromas are added to immerse you in the settings.  Be sure to look behind you at the end to see what happens to Donald Duck!

The theater is air-conditioned with comfortable seats. It’s a great place to retreat from the afternoon heat or thundershower. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a delightful concert for everyone that is not to be missed on your next visit to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Written by Sheri Morris, “Main Street Morris”   Sheri is a proud grandmother with a keen eye for detail. She specializes in Disney Travel for adults and RV travel.  Book your next vacation with Sheri at 804 405 5005 or at sheri@destinationsinflorida.com.