For those who love to garden or just enjoy looking at the flowers, you will be amazed at the displays featured at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival held each year in Orlando. Presented by HGTV, this festival will be a garden show like no other with Disney character topiaries and special presentations along with live music. Scheduled to be held next on March 7 to May 20, 2012, you can make your plans early to book your trip and ensure that you include this special event on your vacation agenda.

Top Designer Presentations - This exciting garden show features designer presentations by the country’s top designers to help you plan how to transform your back yard into the garden of your dreams. It features HGTV stars and gardening experts from Epcot who will discuss ideas on what to do to make your garden more interesting and appealing and enhance its features so that everything blooms when it should. This springtime event showcases the most colorful displays of gardens and flowers that will entice you to try your hand when you get back home.

Disney Character Topiaries - To help you become more interested in gardening you will see over 75 Disney character topiaries along with other types displayed throughout Epcot. These whimsical characters come to life in a floral display like no other and include Disney and Pixar characters such as Woody, Buzz and Lotso from Toy Story 3 along with Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars 2. All the exciting characters make the displays even more interesting and fun for the whole family – even if they don’t like to garden!

Flower Power Concert Series – Every weekend a different artist will be featured bringing you live music from the 1960’s and 1970’s at the America Gardens Theatre during the Flower Power Concert Series. These concerts give you an opportunity to sit back and enjoy the unforgettable tunes from that era and forget all your problems while you rest your feet and listen to the music!

Attendance at the International Flower & Garden Festival is included in the admission to Epcot. However, availability is limited at some of the events like the designer presentations or the music concerts so it is important to ensure that you get your tickets in advance so that you do not miss the opportunity to attend this wonderful garden festival that will be like no other you have ever seen.

Sea World Offers a World of Adventure for the Family

With something for everyone in the family, Sea World in Orlando offers a world of adventure that your family will enjoy immensely. There are entertaining shows, thrilling rides and special events along with places to dine and relax in between activities. Some attractions are seasonal so might not be available when you visit, but here are some ideas on what you can do at Sea World.

Shows
 A’Lure, The Call of the Ocean - Athletic performers, tumblers and artists tell a story.
 Believe - Shamu the killer whale will entertain you to music and choreography.
 Blue Horizons - Stunt actors, acrobatic dolphins and birds in a theatrical performance.
 Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island - Show with sea otters, sea lions and walrus.
 Elmo and Abby’s Treasure Hunt - The Sesame Street characters will entertain you.
 Pets Ahoy! - A show with animals: dogs, cats, birds, skunks and pigs and others.
 Reflections - This is a spectacular fireworks and fountain display.
 Shamu Rocks - A rock n’ roll concert starring killer whales.
 Christmas shows: Shamu Christmas Miracles and Clyde and Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas.

Rides
 Happy Harbor Rides includes five attractions: Shamu Express, Sea Carousel, Jazzy Jellies, Swishy Fishies and Pirate’s Nets, Ocean Commotion and The Flying Fiddler - all of these have a height requirement of 42 inches tall.
 Journey to Atlantis - This is a ride that combines water with roller coasters while you are on a Greek fishing boat. Yes, you will get wet!
 Kraken - This is a monster coaster without a floor that is tall, fast and fun. It has a height requirement of 54 inches tall.
 Manta - This will take you on a coaster ride that swoops and dives to experience flying. It has a height requirement of 54 inches tall.
 Skytower - This is a leisurely trip to the top of the 400 foot tall tower for a bird’s eye view of Orlando and surrounding area.
 Wild Arctic - This is a jet helicopter simulator ride that takes you into an arctic storm where you will see whales, polar bears and walrus along with a frozen wonderland.

Special Events
At Sea World there are special events that take place at various times throughout the year. Some are seasonal and return each year but some are special one-time events.

 Concerts - There are live concerts held with authentic arts and crafts and cuisine inspired by South America, Mexico or the Caribbean.
 Special Guests - Animal experts like Jack Hanna and others are special guests for shows about exotic animals or wildlife.
 Summer Nights - During the summer months there are often fireworks shows and special dining and shopping opportunities.
 Halloween Spooktacular - An underwater fantasy with costumed children in a special show in October.
 Christmas celebration - Special Christmas show during winter months.
 New Year’s Eve - Special celebration with musical show and fireworks display.

Other Attractions/Exhibits
 Arcade and Games Area - All types of video and skill games for all ages.
 Beluga Interaction Program - Limited to only a few each day, guests can get in the water along with the whales for an up close and personal encounter. Available to age 10 and up.
 Manatee Rescue - Enjoy the gentle giants of the sea in a habitat designed for them.
 Manta Aquarium - Floor to ceiling aquariums are filled with tropical fish and rays.
 Marine Mammal Keeper Experience - Work with marine experts to see feeding and behavior patterns with dolphins, sea lions and beluga whales. Available to age 13 and up.
 Penguin Encounter - Observe penguins in their own environment while they play.
 Sharks Deep Dive - A 90 minute encounter via a steel cage you will wear a special underwater helmet to observe sharks up close. Available to age 10 and up.
 The Waterfront - A quaint village of shops and restaurants. There is a place where you can open oysters to find cultured pearls inside - that can be made into pieces of jewelry.
 Turtle Point - Visit the Key West area of park to see hundreds of endangered turtles.
 Wild Arctic - Visit polar bears, beluga whales, walruses in a multi-level ecosystem.

Restaurants and Dining
 Antarctic Market - You can eat a sandwich on the patio or grab something to go.
 Captain Pete’s Island Eats - For a snack of hot dogs or fresh funnel cakes, this is a casual place that everyone will love.
 Mango Joe’s - Famed for their fajitas sandwiches this is a casual place for tropical fare under ceiling fans.
 Seafire Inn - With fish n’ chips along with sandwiches and salads or chicken parmigiana you can enjoy a meal and there is a kids’ menu too.
 Seaport Pizza - Pizza for everyone along with salad and dessert and a child’s menu too.
 Sharks Underwater Grill - Enjoy a meal while gazing at the spectacular aquarium of fish that float by your table.
 Spice Mill - All American fare like burgers or chicken sandwiches on the patio or inside. They also have a children’s menu.
 The Terrace Café - For a sandwich on freshly baked bread this casual place has deli sandwiches that everyone will like.
 Voyager’s Smokehouse - If you are looking for BBQ then you will love this restaurant that specializes in ribs and chicken slow smoked on the grill.

Shopping
The Waterfront has a wide array of shops and gift emporiums to entice you with their wares. There are many other stores to choose from including gifts for family and friends or items you might need for the day such as a bathing suit, sandals or sundry items. It is certain that if you need it, you will find it here at Sea World.

It is certain that your Sea World adventure will be all that you and your family are expecting and more. There is definitely something for everyone to see and enjoy and probably keep you occupied for more than a day.

Dont forget to look at Orlandos many other attractions on offer.

Not because I am a fast roller coaster fanatic but I love the attention to detail that Disney provides. Customer focus is obviously a high priority and starts from the minute you park your car and step onto the tram taking you to the ticketing centre.  I can hear the words now “ for guest joining us today your car is parked in car park Goofy, my name is….., keep your hands in the vehicle….. have a magical day …..”

Every which way you turn the plants and landscaping is both well designed and fit with the theme of the locality, such as at Magic Kingdom where many of the plants are shaped into instantly recognisable cartoon characters.

I also enjoy the smile on the staff faces and their energy. They actually do seem to enjoy their roles and their enthusiasm passes on to the visitors to give all a memorable visit.

Magic Kingdom is a delight for first time visitors particularly the parades which just cannot be equalled. The Spectro Magic parade is just magical, but I think I enjoy Epcot the most. My favourite rides there are Test Track and Soaring. Again I love the detail and atmosphere around the World Showcase. In particular I love to watch the enormous fountain just prior to the entrance to World Showcase. Periodically the water is synchronised with music, it falls and rises to the volume and beat of the music.

I also like the fact that with Disney all visitors have equal access to use the fast pass facility without an extra charge being incurred.  After visiting some of the other competitors it really frustrates me having paid a few hundred pounds not to be able to actually get on any rides without a queue of around 90 minutes at times, unless I pay more!

I particularly enjoy the water parks at Disney, Typhoon Lagoon being a firm family favourite but Blizzard beach is a close second. The Crush “n” Gusher water ride at Typhoon is a great, the force of the water as it pushes you along in an inflatable is amazing.  The family ride at Blizzard beach is well worth the climb up the mountain and is suitable for all members of the family across the age spectrum. We also like the ice cream in a bucket! Lots of layers of ice cream, fruit sauces etc and topped with sprinkles and cherry. Delicious!