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    SeaWorld Orlando: Winterwonderland on Ice in the works

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    As if the carols blaring everywhere weren't enough of a clue that the holidays are coming, here's further evidence at SeaWorld Orlando. The stage at Bayside Stadium is being prepped for a new ice-skating show called Winter Wonderland on Ice. From the wooden walkway on Sunday, we could see two types of trees (green, white), a bridge and what appeared to be a covering for the alleged ice. Am told it will be real ice, no synthetics.

    Winter Wonderland debuts on Dec. 27 -- the day after Thanksgiving -- and run through select nights at SeaWorld. Two other new shows -- "Clyde and Seamore's Countdown to Christmas" plus "A Sesame Street Christmas" -- debut that day, plus the return of "Shamu Christmas ... Miracles."

    Already geared up and running is the Polar Express Experience, the seasonal overlay of the park's Wild Arctic attraction. There must be a hunger for this: We waited about 30 minutes for Polar, and only about 10 for Manta on Sunday.

    The Polar version doesn't feel quite as wild as Wild Arctic, but it definitely has high moments. Be aware that you can't really get out of there fast. The usual icy animal post-show remains in place, but now there's a giant Christmas tree and photo ops with Santa down there, which creates a lovely distraction but also a bottleneck. Take a deep breath and enjoy the holiday.



    Exploring 'Magical Moments' at Disney World

    Did we win the overnight stay in Cinderella Castle? Did we get VIP treatment for the day? Find out on A Mom and The Mouse at TheDailyDisney.com.


    Flat Stanley contest to award 3 Adventures by Disney vacations

    Find out how your child can enter the Flat Stanley contest at A Mom and The Mouse at TheDailyDisney.com.


    Universal CityWalk: Temptations, Four Tops set for New Year's Eve

    Temptations

    It's not too early to daydream about New Year's Eve, is it? Universal CityWalk has announced its plans for the night we roll over into 2010. The entertainers will be the Temptations (pictured, with hits "My Girl," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg") and the Four Tops ("Baby, I Need Your Loving," "I Can't Help Myself [Sugar Pie Honey Bunch]").

    The evening includes entertainment within CityWalk's Rising Star, Red Coconut Club and Pat O'Brien's and a street party -- plus a bottomless "gourmet buffet." Midnight activities include a champage toast, party favors and confetti bursts.

    Cost is $119.99 per person through Dec. 27. On Dec. 28, the price goes up to $129.99. Universal's annual passholders may buy in advance for $99. (The passholder cost as of Dec. 28 has not been determined, the passholder hotline just told me.)


    2009 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade tapes at Disneyland

    Get a sneak peek at the performers and celebrities who taped their spots at Disneyland for the 2009 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade at A Mom and The Mouse at TheDailyDisney.com.


    Busch Gardens welcomes single white rhino female

    Baby Rhino1

    Busch Gardens announces the birth of a white rhino in the night quarters near the Tampa theme park's Serengheti Plain on Wednesday. The female -- still unnamed -- weighed  in at 100 pounds at birth, and she's the third calf born to mother Mlaleni and father Tambo.

    Mlaleni and Tambo were airlifted out of South Africa in 2001, Busch Gardens says.

    The park now has 12 rhinos living there -- nine are white and three black. According to the International Rhino Foundation, about 14,500 white rhinos remain in the wild. Fewer than 170 live in zoological facilities in North America. 


    Orange County Regional History Center: Hit the holiday lights on Dec. 2 with Mayor Crotty, Santa Claus, free admission

    Let's continue our theme of planning for Christmas events before Thanksgiving even arrives. Mark Dec. 2 on your calendars for a celebration outside the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando.

    On that Wednesday, starting at 5:30 p.m., there will be live entertainment in Heritage Square. At about 6 p.m., Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty will flip the switch onto the history center's holiday lighting. (Am told the square will go from dark to light at that moment. Sounds dramatic.)

    After the lighting there will be musical performances, family crafts and activities plus Santa Claus.

    And finally, a gift to us all: free admission to the history center after the lights go on.


    Epcot's Lights of Winter retired from Disney World holiday lineup

    Walt Disney World officially announced late Wednesday it is retiring the Lights of Winter holiday arches at Epcot. Guests, passholders and cast members were so upset they generated more than 46 pages of complaints on a fan forum. Read about it on A Mom and The Mouse at TheDailyDisney.com.


    > Photos: preview of Verizon's 'Mobile Magic' at Disney

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    During Tuesday's sneak preview at the Magic Kingdom, the team from Verizon and Disney Digital Marketing unveiled the new application that will allow Verizon customers to use their cellphones to track live park information, such as ride wait times, character meet-n-greet locations and updated restaurant info.


    Click here for more photos from Tuesday's 'Mobile Magic' preview at the Magic Kingdom.

    Click here for the story on the Sentinel's DailyDisney.com



    LEFT:  Fireworks blast off from that top of Cinderella Castle during the 'Mobile Magic'  demonstration at the Magic Kingdom, Tuesday.

     
    (PHOTOS by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)











    Continue reading "> Photos: preview of Verizon's 'Mobile Magic' at Disney" »


    Disney World: HGTV's David Bromstad back, behind the scenes for holiday TV special

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    A bunch of you remember David Bromstad from his days in Orlando. He worked as a cast member for a while and then did contract work with Disney World for a bit before reaching fame as the first winner of HGTV's Design Star. Now he's the host of Color Splash and last week he was back in town working on a behind-the-scenes special about Disney at the holidays. Read my chat with him over at The Daily Disney.