I know this is a few days old, but here a short photo update from Epcot last Friday.
The first place we headed was to the new StormStruck exhibit. Who knew we’d be in a real storm just a few days later. Although so far, all Tropical Storm Fay has done to Orlando is bring a lot of rain. (more…)
On Saturday I attended the 2008 Pokémon World Championships at the Hilton hotel near Downtown Disney. Although I’m not into Pokemon myself, I brought along my 9-year-old son, who is a big pokemon fan.
The day started with the opening ceremony where they showed a short video and talked about the 400-plus trading card game entrants from 25 different countries. As soon as the ceremony ended, the games began. Although people from every country could enter the trading card game championship, the video game challenge was between the U.S. and Japan. Everyone in the championship had won their spot by qualifying earlier this year.
In addition to rooms set up for the card championships and video game championships, they also had a free-play room available and a movie room showing Pokemon movies all day. There were also many pokemon banners, signs and walk-around and blow-up characters.
The movie is below. You can see the photo gallery here.
For more information and the full list of winners, visit go-pokemon.com/worlds.
The new Mona Lisa Suite Hotel on the outskirts of the town of Celebration and its Galerie Restaurant and Bar are now open and welcoming guests. The 240-room property is near the intersection of I-4 and U.S. 192.
The Mona Lisa Suite Hotel features 93 one-bedroom suites and 147 two-bedroom suites ranging in size from 704 to 1,267 square feet. The suites have fully equipped kitchens. Amenities include access to the nearby Celebration Day Spa and Celebration Golf Club, a 360-degree vanishing-edge pool, high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel and valet parking.
The Galerie Restaurant and Bar at Mona Lisa seats 150 guests. The main floor bistro serves three meals daily in a casual atmosphere. Led by Executive Chef Leon Teow, the Galerie menu offers guests an introduction to Eden Cuisine, a blending of traditional cooking methods, fresh ingredients and infused flavors.
As an opening special, the hotel is offering 30 percent off its best available rate through the end of 2008. Guests can use the hotel’s packaging service to customize their visit online, including: car rental, tee times, spa treatments, grocery shopping services, as well as tickets to local theme parks. Reservations can be made by calling 407-964-7000. More information is available regarding the hotel at www.monalisasuitehotel.com.
A two-story tall dinosaur was transported on a flatbed truck to Downtown Disney today. The dinosaur will be featured inside a new restaurant, currently under construction, called “T-Rex: a Prehistoric Family Adventure.” Developed by Schussler Creative and operated by Landry’s Restaurants, the 600-seat restaurant will feature dinosaurs, waterfalls, bubbling geysers and a fossil dig site.
T-Rex is set to open in mid-October.
Cypress Gardens has made the decision to only be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during September. They haven’t decided the operating schedule for October or beyond yet.
Cypress Gardens Public Relations Manager Haley Kish said the decision was made after evaluating last year’s attendance figures. “In 2007 Cypress Gardens launched “Garden Days” which was a reduced price ticket to visit the park during the fall,” she said. “The botanical gardens, various shows and animal exhibits were open for limited viewing while the rides and water park areas were closed. With attendance falling between 50 to 200 guests on these days, the park found that “Garden Days” was not well received and unsuccessful.”
She added that to have the park open during the slow days of September is just not economically feasible. “As of right now we are just doing this in September to see how it goes,” said Kish. “There will be a minor impact to employees in the retail and food service areas. There are no other changes being announced at this time.”
For more information and the updated schedule when released, visit www.cypressgardens.com.
The 2008 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships as well as the first-ever Pokémon Video Game Showdown will take place this weekend at the Hilton near Downtown Disney.
The Pokémon Video Game Showdown will feature 64 of the most talented players from the U.S. and Japan competing in two different age divisions. U.S. qualifiers were selected from two regional tournaments held in Los Angeles and New York on July 12 and July 19, respectively. More than 1,000 players from ages 6 to 43 came from all over the country to battle playing Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl for the opportunity to compete against the best players from Japan. Participants will strive for the chance to call themselves a champion and win a grand prize that includes a six-day vacation package for four to New York City, Honolulu, or Tokyo. Runners up will win custom Nintendo DS game systems and special Pokémon prize packs.
The 2008 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships follow a record-setting U.S. National Championships in June, which drew nearly 1,000 competitors. Hundreds of players from nearly 30 countries will compete in the invite-only event for the title of Pokémon TCG World Champion. The top 32 winners in each of the three age divisions will be awarded various Pokémon prizes and merchandise, including scholarship awards worth more than $100,000.
The Pokémon animated series is broadcast in more than 30 countries in over 25 languages. Nintendo’s Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl games sold more than one million copies in the first five days and more than 14 million copies since their launch. The Pokémon Trading Card Game is the number one collectible trading card game and boasts more than 80,000 organized play members.
Here’s a look at the qualifying round in L.A.
For more information, visit: www.go-pokemon.com.
Squeeze in one more “summer” getaway without breaking the bank through Orlando’s second annual Endless Summer promotion. Running from Aug. 15 through Nov. 15, the program offers more than 80 “Get One Free” offers.
Created by the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau for the long-weekend getaway traveler, Endless Summer provides such deals as “Stay 2 Nights, Get the 3rd Night Free,” “Stay 3 Nights, Get the 4th Night Free,” “Buy 1 Ticket, Get the 2nd Free” and “Purchase 1 Round of Golf, Get the 2nd Round Free,” with more offers available as the kick-off date approaches.
“Get One Free” offers are available at a wide range of accommodations from value to luxury including: JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes; Orlando World Center Marriott; The Point Orlando Resort; Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort and Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort; Crowne Plaza Orlando Universal; Quality Inn Plaza and Radisson World Gate, to name a few.
“Free Ticket” offers include popular local attractions such as Gatorland, Fun Spot, Magical Midway, SkyVenture and Dinosaur World. A “Purchase 1 Round of Golf, Get the 2nd Round Free” offer is available at Falcon’s Fire Golf Club.
“No matter your age, summer evokes feelings of fun, whimsy and a carefree attitude. And while the calendar may say that it’s fall, we can still embrace the opportunity to hold on to those summer feelings a little longer through a quick-break getaway,” said Gary C. Sain, president and CEO of the Orlando CVB. “Whether you want to take the grandkids to world-class attractions, hit the road with the guys for a golf-filled weekend, take that long overdue romantic getaway or relax in a spa with your best friends, Endless Summer in Orlando appeals to all and puts a little money back in your wallet in the process.”
More information on all Endless Summer “Get One Free” offers, participating establishments and special events is available at www.orlandoinfo.com/endlesssummer or by calling 1-888-ORL4-FUN (888-675-4386). While in Orlando, visitors can stop by the Official Visitor Center located at 8723 International Drive, at the southeast corner of International Drive and Austrian Row. The Visitors Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (closes at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 and is closed Dec. 25).
I was at Universal Studios and noticed some signs for the upcoming Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit roller coaster around a construction wall just around the corner from The Revenge of The Mummy attraction. The signs are in the style of concert posters.
Today marks the beginning of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, so in honor of that, here’s a photo update from around Epcot’s World Showcase, including several snapshots from the China Pavillion. These photos were actually taken yesterday, on 8/7/08, but I felt that it was more appropriate to post them today in honor of the 2008 Summer Olympics!
Posing for photos in front of the China Pavillion is a very common occurrence.
Fans of the Olympics can find a wide variety of merchandise in the store in the China Pavillion, including hats, shirts, plush versions of the 2008 Olympic Mascots (Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini), and even a few items made of precious metals that cost up to $660!
Chinese acrobats regularly perform at the entrance of the pavillion. While they may not be taking part in an Olympic event, their performance is equally as impressive.
China’s Nine Dragons restaurant is closed for refurbishment.
Donald Duck was out signing autographs for his fans in the Mexico Pavillion, where he stars in the Gran Fiesta Tour attraction.
The line to meet Donald was quite long.
This band was playing at the Norway Pavillion. There’s a lot of outdoor entertainment midday at Epcot during the summer months.
The Japan Pavillion often features these talented drummers.
About one-third around the World Showcase (clockwise), you’ll find a booth for Disney’s Vacation Club, specifically promoting the upcoming Kidani Village addition to Animal Kingdom Lodge.
That’s all for today!
A new exhibit has opened into a “test and adjust” phase at Innoventions in Disney’s Epcot theme park. This new attraction depicts what happens to a typical Florida neighborhood during a hurricane via a computer-generated 3D film. Following the film, guests have the opportunity to make choices on how to build and prepare a house for a large storm, including what style of roof and whether or not to leave the windows open or closed during the storm.
Here are a few photos of the exhibit:
This wild house is the entrance to StormStruck.
3D glasses are provided for every guest.
A light flickers outside the entrance.
Guests look out “windows” of a house into the surrounding neighborhood. The 3D projections, along with surrounding sounds and a few in-theater effects provide a realistic view of what goes on during a hurricane.
Following the storm, guests make choices via two buttons underneath LCD screens in front of their seats to determine the best way to ready a house for a large storm.
The post-show area was closed off today as Disney was filming there.
