Sea World Stories, #1
Seeing blog posts and tweets from various and sundry bloggers that seem to have gathered for a trip to Sea World – Orlando brought back memories of my time working there one summer in college. Normally, I was assigned to the Fantasy Theatre, working the Under the Sea show as an usher, or Dr. Lovecraft’s Night Magic Show (this was a veeeerrrrryyyyy long time ago!). One day, I was assigned to cover the Shark Encounter for whatever reason. While there, I noticed a dead grouper on the bottom of the tank.
The special in the employee cafeteria the following day: Grouper Bits.
Stay tuned, I have a million of ‘em… 
AAA discount for Sea World
My handy-dandy AAA newsletter delivered more than just discounts to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. There was also discounts at SeaWorld. I worked at SeaWorld one summer in college and always enjoy going back with my kids. Here’s the skinny:
1. AAA members can visit Aquatica from May 1-9, 2008 for $30.95.
2. AAA members pay the child price for a one-day adult ticket.
Be among the first to experience SeaWorld’s new Aquatica water park at a very special price. A limited number of tickets still remain for AAA’s Member Appreciation Days—visit any one day, May 1-9, 2008, for only $30.95—a savings of $8 per ticket.
Designed in a way that could only be done by SeaWorld, Aquatica features distinct attractions that will zoom, float and splash you through amazing animal habitats and undersea adventures. The park’s signature attraction plunges riders in clear tubes through a crystal-blue lagoon with black-and-white Commerson`s dolphins. Guests feel as if they are flying beneath the sea among these beautiful animals. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind experience.
Savings at SeaWorld
AAA Members can “Be A Kid Again” and pay the child price for a one-day ticket—a savings of $10! Want unlimited visits to Shamu and friends? The SeaWorld 2008 FUN CARD offers unlimited visits to SeaWorld through Dec. 31, 2008, for about the same price as a regular one-day ticket. Fun Cards are only available at AAA branch locations or AAA.com/Fun.
More AAA discounts for Universal Studios
Digging through AAA’s website, I’m finding more discounts for Florida attractions. Yesterday, I posted about a couple discounts for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Here is a couple more for Universal:
1-Day, 1-Park with 2nd Day & 2nd Park Free* (Florida Resident Special Offer)
“2 Days for the Price of 1!” Now through August 31, 2008. – Save $45.001 Day 2 Park Special Offer*
Special Price through December 31, 2008 – Save up to $20.002 Park 12-Month Power Pass*
Limited Time Offer — Now through April 30, 2008 — Special AAA Member Price $97.95 – Save $32.00
More information here.
AAA discount for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
Just got my handy-dandy AAA newsletter in the inbox last night, and found some cool offers for discounts at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure:
1. Florida AAA members can get one-day, one-park tickets for $49.95.
2. All AAA who purchase a two park annual pass receive an additional 6 months free.
Here’s the details:
For a limited time, Florida AAA members can enjoy exclusive savings on a one-day, one-park ticket to fun at the Universal Orlando Resort. AAA members who can show proof of residency will save more than $21 off the gate price to Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, at a special member-only price of $49.95
In addition, beginning May 1, all AAA members who purchase a two-park preferred annual pass for $184.95 receive an additional six months free if purchased by Aug. 31, 2008, and redeemed by Sept. 30, 2008. That’s 18 months of Universal Orlando for the price of 12.
Tickets must be purchased at a AAA branch office to receive the special price. Click here or a AAA branch office near you.
Hacking at Disney World
I took the family to the petri dish that is Dismal Disney World last Friday. The thing that stood out on this visit was how many people were sick, and how many of these sick people did not cover up when they sneezed or coughed.
I think it was “Canadians-get-in-free” day. Those people are animals. Remember SARS?
Seriously though, there is no excuse for that. I’m no germ-o-phobe, but it was really out of hand. One guy literally sneezed in my face as I was walking past. Standing in a short line for a ride, another woman hacked up a lung right next to my kids. This wasn’t a surprise cough or anything, where she couldn’t get her arm up in time. It built. She knew it was coming.
The topper of the night was when I was in the restroom. It was late in the evening, just me, the janitor, and one other dude, taking a leak. No, this isn’t the start of a gay penthouse forum story. I’m just making the point that it was not busy. I finished my business, stepped to the sink and washed up. The other guy looked at the sink and I could see him make the decision, “Nah, I think I’ll skip washing this time”.
What the hell? I mean, it wasn’t like he just pissed and walked out. He stopped and THOUGHT ABOUT IT and walked out without washing.
Later today, or maybe tomorrow, I’ll have a bit more along the lines of a “Disney/Orlando tips” post, if I haven’t turned you off from going yet. But the first tip is: Bring anti-bacterial soap. And a surgical mask.
Vacation Tip: Use discount card to save money in Orlando like the locals
Well, we’re going to Dismal Disney World in mid-December for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas. We do this trip almost every year – we get there in the afternoon, check in at the hotel, then hit the park at sunset. Rides, parades, hot chocolate, cocoa, then Dad gets a sore back carrying children who have passed out to the parking lot. Most years, I can still walk the next morning, so we like to schedule some other cool activity – another park, shopping at Disney Village, something off Disney property.
Whaaaaa??? There’s more to Orlando than Disney?
Um, yeah!
Having lived in Orlando and worked for both Sea World and Disney World, I learned a few tricks. Yes, having an employee pass is great, except the last place you want to be on your day off is back at the park. With the benefit if time and distance, though, I’ve regained my enthusiasm for the attractions. Locals know all the ins-and-outs of saving money at the parks and attractions. One of those methods is using discount cards. For instance, the Go Orlando Card includes 50 Orlando Attractions, Tours, & Shows for 1 Low Price. You can go to as many Florida attractions as you like, once per day on your card. Depending on how many days your card is valid (1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days), you may use it on any day, up to the total number of days you have purchased, within a 14-day period.
Even better, though, is that you can get a discount on your discount card: Go Orlando Card – Save 20% Now!
Are these kind of tips a good thing? Let me know in comments, I have more where this came from.
Blogger poker championship
Filed under: Florida Vacation, Gambling, Great Blogs, Orlando, Theme Parks
So, I played in the World Blogger Championship of Online Poker yesterday. If you’re interested in poker, you can check out my posts about it over at my poker blog. If not, just know that I played against 1,337 of my closest friends, lasted 6.5 hrs and about 500 hands (it takes about 24 hrs to play 500 hands in real life), and finished 16th because I was stupid. I won an xBox Elite for my trouble, which I’ll be selling so I can take my kids to Disney World for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas. I’ve done better in bigger tournaments, but this was a tough tournament with big stakes and it’s taken a toll on me mentally and physically that I wasn’t prepared for. Holding that level of concentration for so long has fried my brain.
While I’m disappointed about the way I finished, I have to admit that I’m pleased to have played so well and finished so high. I have high expectations when I play because I know the game I’m capable of playing, and while it hurt not to take it down after lasting so long, I know it was a hell of an accomplishment regardless. I don’t play much poker anymore, so when I play I tend to concentrate better than I used to when I played every day. But, given the toll this took on me, I think it will be a while before I play again.
I had a couple railbirds late in the tournament. Mr. Fab said he’d let people know to stop by and give me a little support, so if you were one of his flock, I thank you for the support. Each time my energy waned, someone popped in and gave me a shout-out and it gave me boost – and thanks to you, Fab.
The gayest post I’ve ever written
And that’s saying something, considering that I’ve written about American Idol on other blogs.
So, I was sitting in church Sunday morning.
Yes, I go to church. No, I don’t want to talk about heaven, hell, God, Jesus, life, death, atheism, agnostics, christians, jews. If you do, go to blogger and get yourself a blog and write all about it on your own time. I pay for this space.
So, I’m in church. There’s a row with a half-dozen or so teenage boys in front of me.
Don’t start.
So, there’s a row of teenage boys, and everyone of them has the same haircut. I’m sure you’ve seen it, it’s been very popular since the first High School Musical broadcast. I call it the "Zac Efron-do".
It’s the "in" ‘do this year, I guess. Whatever, but I don’t understand how come it’s the ‘Zac and not the ‘Bleu.
Now THAT’s a ‘do! It takes a commitment to grow that mop out. It tells those 16 year old girls that you CARE about your looks, that you’re hip, you got it going on, AND you’ve got good hair!
I mean, ANYONE can grow the ‘Zac. Takes about 6-8 weeks to get it over the tops of your ears, 3-4 months to fill out.
The ‘Bleu, on the other hand, takes commitment. That’s a year, at least, that you’re looking at in that picture, folks. I know, I’ve got curly hair, it takes a long time to grow to that kind of length because it’s springy and shrinks up when it curls.
So, boys, be a man, get the ‘Bleu.
PS for Fab: The soundtrack to High School Musical 2 has a song by Ashley Tisdale titled "Fabulous". Great bumper music for the radio show, if you haven’t picked it up already. I have 2 daughters, I can’t help knowing things like this.
Shuttle Launch TONIGHT!
Just a reminder for folks in Florida, the shuttle Atlantis blasts off at 7:38 pm. Weather looks good, and the time of day (dusk) should make for fantastic viewing! I think we’re taking the kids out to the beach to watch from up the coast a ways.
If you’ve never seen a launch, you’re missing out. It’s overwhelming, and every time I experience it live I can’t help but think about how man is capable of mastering his environment when he puts his mind to it.
Awesome, just awesome.
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New Harry Potter Theme Park In The Works
Have you ever been to Orlando and said, “Hey, what this place needs is another theme park?”
J.K Rowling, who became the world’s first billion dollar author on the back of Harry Potter’s success, has given the go-ahead for the creation of a Florida theme park dedicated to the schoolboy wizard.”The plans I have seen look incredibly exciting and I don’t think fans of the books or films will be disappointed,” Rowling said of the Orlando park that is scheduled to open in 2009…
…In a statement rich in entertainment hyperbole, the builders of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” said they planned to “create the world’s first immersive Harry Potter themed environment.”
Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment, said: “Over the years we’ve received thousands of letters from fans around the world wishing they could visit Hogwarts (School) and the wonderful locations described in each of J.K. Rowling’s beloved stories.”
I’m sure my wife will keep us all abreast of the progress and details.
Me?
…Eh… whaddayagonnadoboutit?
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