Summer Nights Feature Universal 360 Cinesphere Spectacular

A day at Universal Studios deserves a grand finale, and this summer, the Universal 360 Cinesphere Spectacular returns for even more high-tech cinematic thrills. From just about anywhere around the waterfront, you'll experience cutting edge projection technology with lasers and pyrotechnics that bring the power of movies to life. The show begins at 9:45 p.m. nightly.

Whether you are enjoying the brand new Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios, absorbed in the 3-D interactive thrill of the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman ride or the high speed rush of the Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Islands of Adventure, there is plenty to do at the Universal Studios resort after the sun goes down. On the Fourth of July, there will be a special Universal 360 show and patriotic fireworks finale at Universal Studios (the fireworks will not be visible from CityWalk or Islands of Adventure).

At CityWalk, visitors can celebrate Independence Day with live music, street performers, and down home cooking (separate purchase) from 5:00 to 9:00pm. All CityWalk venues will be open throughout the day.

Clarion Hotel and Water Park

Old Houses in Cebu south province

Consider this as Gothic gate. What a mess...This old house can be found in Carcar City aloneGreen House they call, I said old house.It seems mexican or spanish styleContact me if you need the full size.Familiar? Well this is the entrance goingto Carcar Church and Municipal Office.Is this man Jose Rizal or Leon Kilat? You can find him in Carcar CityYou see how nice is the design of this building

Carcar City Old Houses

The Parish Pastoral Council Office of Carcar CityThe old and famous CarCar ChurchTis is the old health Center. Now being preserve through Philippine Historical Inst.Comment are very much Welcome

Port of Cebu

Bro, the otherside of Cebu. This is the dangerous Pasil taken from SRPThis is the Cebu International Pier where Princess of the Star usually anchor.Foggy Cebu because it was taken in the morning.About 6 AM onboard of Princess of the StarHere you will see the Cebu City from the sea

Princess ofthe Star in Memory

One of the best place in Princess of the Stars.Mezzanine as they call this area.Besides children playground of Princess of the StarsThis month is big due to the latest typhoon damaged.Imagine my favorite ship is now gone. Here you can find thepictures of the late Princess of the Star of Sulpicio Lines.The food of Princess of the Stars

Simala Pilgrimage

You can find pictures of Mama Mary and the Groto of Simala Sibonga Cebu

The Cebu CIty from the Top

This is the building of Club OptimaAyala center BaiUnsa man kaning lugar na ani. Murag lahug

Gaylord Palms Receives Top Honors

Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL recently received top honors from two well-respected business publications. In a recent issue of Orlando Business Journal, Gaylord Palms was been named the “Best Place to Work in Central Florida” in the “Mega Business” category. The Best Places to Work award is a unique honor because it allows employees of area companies to determine if and how their company will be ranked among Central Florida workplaces.
With a full slate of personalized and popular “family friendly” benefits, this isn’t the first time Gaylord Palms has been honored as a great place to work. Since the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center opened in 2002, the resort has been consistently ranked in the top 25 of Orlando Sentinel’s Top 100 Companies for Working Families.
Gaylord Palms Resort has also been awarded the elusive “Gold Platter Elite” award from Meetings and Conventions Magazine. The award, which is given to the top five convention properties in the nation, is based on strict criteria including: enthusiasm and professionalism of staff; quality of food presentation; creativity of menu; originality of theme-party concepts; helpfulness and budgeting considerations; excellence of staff service and ambiance of dining rooms.

Orlando Downtown Street Closures

Church Street from Hughey Avenue to Garland Avenue will be closed
beginning Monday, June 16th thru June 30th. A detour for this closure
will be posted. For more information on all street closures, please visit or
http://www.cityoforlando.net/transportation/transportationdept/
or call the City of Orlando’s Transportation Engineering Division at (407)
246-2372 for the latest information of all street closures. For
information associated with the I-4 / 408 Interchange, please visit
www.trans4mation.org

TV Show Auditions at Universal CityWalk

Does your family have GUTS? Universal Orlando will be the home for Nick at Nite’s reality-based game show, “My Family’s Got Guts.” Tryouts take place Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29 at Universal CityWalk. Participants must be pre-registered to qualify in order to audition—and having an athletic family will be a big plus.

GUTS, which originally aired on Nickelodeon in the 1990’s, is being recreated for a new generation of families as Nick at Nite debuts “My Family’s Got GUTS.” This new competition TV series will bring families together where every member of the team – from the smallest to the strongest – plays a vital role and works together to complete each challenge. For additional information and for tryout rules, qualifications and to set up an appointment visit www.gutstryouts.com

Orlando Limo Service

USA Chauffeur offering the best Orlando Transportation service.

South Beach Orlando Luxury Suites

Enjoy beachfront luxury right in the middle of Central Florida at the South Beach Orlando Luxury Suites in Kissimmee, FL. The South Beach Orlando Luxury Suites are just minutes away from all of the main Orlando area attractions, with complimentary transportation available to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and the Lake Buena Vista Factory stores.

Located on Lake Cecile, guests at the South Beach Orlando Luxury Suites get to enjoy all of the benefits of a beachfront resort, with a private white sand beach, large heated pool, hot tub, sundeck, poolside tiki bar, outdoor grills, a sports court, playground, jet ski rentals and a fishing dock. Guests can also use the onsite laundry facilities and enjoy a free continental breakfast every morning.

The colorful villas and spacious rooms at the South Beach Orlando Luxury Suites make it possible for theme park visitors to take a holiday from their own vacation. In addition to cable TV and a direct phone line, each luxury suite has a full size refrigerator, stovetop with oven, microwave, dishwasher, coffeemaker and a full set of dining utensils and kitchen amenities.

For more information call the South Beach Orlando Luxury Suites at 407-997-2700.

Gaylord Palms Offers Summer Rates that Include Weekends

With savings of at least $50 per night, the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL is offering special rates through September—including weekends and the Fourth of July holiday. Guests will have the opportunity to experience all of the amenities of a top-rated resort hotel at nearly a third of the normal cost one would expect to pay at an exclusive resort and spa.

The $119 per night rate will be available for the following dates: June 14 -15, June 19 – 24, June 28 – July 8, July 13 – 15, July 23 – 26, August 7 – 16, August 19 – 21, August 24 – 27, September 1 – 4, and September 12 – 27.

Additionally, Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is offering an exclusive rate of $159 per night available for the following dates: June 6 – 10, June 18, June 28, July 9 – 12, July 16 – 22, July 27 – 28; July 30 – August 6, August 22 – 23, August 28, September 5 – 11, and September 28 – 30.

Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center is located just minutes away from the main gate of Walt Disney World, making it an ideal jumping off point for any Orlando vacation. With several restaurants, a water activities area, and the Canyon Ranch SpaClub®, Gaylord Palms has become a destination in its own right.

Orlando luxury hotels

Looking for a great Orlando luxury hotel ,The Worldquest Resort is located off International Drive in the Lake Buena Vista area of Orlando, Fla. Walt Disney World and Disney's Wide World of Sports are one mile from the resort. Epcot is three miles away, and SeaWorld is six miles from the resort. Golf is available four miles away at the Falcon's Fire Golf Course.

Orlando Disney hotels

Orlando Disney hotels are centrally located to all major Walt Disney World attractions.

USAChauffeur.com Offers Executive Sedan Service in Orlando Area

If business or vacation plans bring you to Orlando, USAChauffeur.com is prepared to handle all of your transportation needs. With more than 20 years of experience in the transportation business, USAChauffeur is a premier Orlando executive sedan service that provides outstanding transportation services in Orlando and the surrounding area. USAChauffeur.com’s fleet consists of the latest model luxury sedans, SUVs, limousines, motor coaches and much more, including the BMW flagship sedan, the 745Li.
Whether your transportation needs are for business meetings, a wedding event, a visit to the attractions or just a night out on the town, USAChauffeur will make every effort to provide you with excellent service and get you to your destination efficiently and safely. USAChauffeur is a reliable transportation resource for corporate travelers, destination management companies, event planners, leisure travelers, state agencies, travel agencies and tour operators.
To make travel arrangements, contact USAChauffeur.com at 407.239.1551 or toll free at 1.800.820.5705.

Orlando Hotels

The Peabody Orlando in Orlando, Fla., is located on famed International Drive within the Orange County Convention Center complex. The hotel is adjacent to Pointe Orlando shopping, two miles from SeaWorld and within four miles of the Universal Universal Studios theme parks.

The Peabody is one of great Orlando Hotels

Pixar Block Party Bash Parade Opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the “must-see” theme park for fans of Disney-Pixar movies. In addition to the brand new 4-D Toy Story Mania attraction, Disney’s Hollywood Studios now regularly features over 20 Disney-Pixar characters in the Block Party Bash parade, which has recently replaced the Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade at the theme park.

Led by Toy Story’s toy soldier Sergeant, this highly interactive parade includes Toy Story favorites Woody. Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, and Bo Peep; as well as instantly recognizable characters from Monsters, Inc., A Bug’s Life, and The Incredibles. Kids are encouraged to join in the fun and dance with parade cast members as the parade rocks its way through Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

This high energy parade through the heart of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is guaranteed to get visitors excited about the Toy Story Mania ride, as well as the Toy Story 3 movie that is scheduled for release in 2010.

Red Hot & Boom Returns to Cranes Roost Park

Uptown Altamonte Hosts Largest Fireworks Show in Central Florida

Uptown Altamonte, Central Florida’s premier destination for shopping, dining and entertainment, once again hosts the area’s most highly-anticipated Independence Day celebration, Red Hot & Boom, on July 3.

In partnership with XL 106.7 FM, the free, family-friendly celebration will be headlined by the internationally-known band, Simple Plan.

Other nationally-recognized acts featured at Red Hot & Boom include:
• Kate Voegele – featured artist on the CW’s hit tv series One Tree Hill
• Ace Young – finalist on Season 5 of American Idol
• Graham Colton – current hit song “Best Days”
• Ryan Cabrera – new single “Say”
• Kevin Michael – current hit single “It Don’t Make Any Difference To Me (One Love)” featuring Wyclef Jean

The celebration will also include Central Florida favorites, A-Lure and Mark & James, as they perfom live on the floating stage atop Cranes Roost Lake. Following the concerts, Uptown Altamonte will showcase the largest fireworks display in Central Florida at 9:30 p.m.

Fast Facts
• Free Independence Day Celebration - Outdoor Concerts and Fireworks Display
• Thursday, July 3, 2008 / 4 to 11 p.m.
• Cranes Roost Park at Uptown Altamonte / I-4 and SR 436
• Food, beverages and novelties available for purchase
• No coolers or personal fireworks, please.
• Pets are prohibited during events with street closures.
• Traffic close to the event may be congested, so please arrive early to avoid delays. Those who live close by are encouraged to walk to the event.

For more information on events at Uptown Altamonte visit www.UptownAltamonte.com or call 407-571-8863.

Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel

Orlando’s AAA rated Four Diamond Rosen Shingle Creek hotel and the championship Shingle Creek Golf Club are proud to welcome back for the third time “Shaq’s Mama Said Knock You Out” charity golf tournament and gala September 11-12, 2008 in Orlando, hosted by Shaquille O’Neal’s mama, Lucille O’Neal and her son Shaquille.

Though Shaquille, or Shaq, is now the center starter for the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns, he has a special place in his heart for Orlando, where he got his NBA start playing for the Orlando Magic in 1992 and where his mother Lucille resides. Shaq and his mother will be joined by friends including NBA legends named among the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History – Charles Barkley and Julius “Dr. J” Erving -- as well as former Orlando Magic star and Atlanta Hawks radio announcer Dennis Scott. Other shining luminaries include Alonzo Mourning, Shaq’s teammate on the 2006 NBA Champion Miami Heat; Matt Geiger, former Philadelphia 76er NBA Star; Andia Winslow, LPGA Golfer; and Sam Jones and Jamal Wilkes, both retired NBA stars. Rosen Hotels Reservations

Star Wars Weekends Returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

If the force is with you while you are in Orlando, it may move you to attend Star Wars weekends on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June 6 – June 29 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is home of the Star Tours attraction and offers plenty of intergalactic excitement for Jedi knights of all ages.
During the Star Wars weekends, visitors will have the opportunity to encounter over 50 Star Wars™ characters from the entire six episode saga. Meet and greet your favorite Star Wars™ celebrities, snap a picture of the Legends of the Force celebrity motorcade, and discover the stories behind the movies during the eye-opening Stars of the Saga – Talk Show and Q & A.
During all four weekends, the celebrity host is scheduled to be Warwick Davis, who played Wicket the Ewok in Episode IV: Return of the Jedi. Other Star Wars celebrities who are expected to appear include:

Weekend 1 (June 6-8)
Jeremy Bulloch ("Boba Fett")
Daniel Logan ("Young Boba Fett")
Weekend 2 (June 13-15)
Peter Mayhew ("Chewbacca")
David Prowse ("Darth Vader")

Weekend 3 (June 20-22)
Amy Allen ("Aayla Secura")
Matthew Wood ("General Grievous")

Weekend 4 (June 27-29)
Dave Filoni (Director of the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
Jake Lloyd ("Young Anakin")

There are plenty of photo opportunities throughout each weekend, and activities that include a Jedi Training Academy and a behind the scenes look at the animated adventure, The Clone Wars. More than 30 years since the release of the first Star Wars film, the saga continues to fascinate moviegoers and visitors at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Star Wars Weekends 2008 comes to Disney's Hollywood Studios' galaxy

SMILING STORMTROOPER: Samantha Henningfield, 15, from Knoxville, Tenn., stands behind a photo display of "stormtrooper" characters from the Star Wars films June 7, 2008 at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Henningfield and her family were attending the theme park's annual "Star Wars Weekends" event. The month-long festival event opened June 6 and will take place each weekend in June. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Gatorland Kicks Off Summer with Grand Reopening

Gatorland’s iconic gator mouth statue was flashing a freshly painted set of pearly whites this Memorial Day Weekend as part of Gatorland’s grand reopening. Although the park never officially closed after a fire in 2006 destroyed the gift shop and other structures in the main entrance, the new gift shop and entryway were a cause for celebration. An Orlando tourist attraction since 1949, Gatorland had a packed parking lot as tourists from around the state and around the globe came to watch gator wrestling, gator feeding—and for a small fee—pose for a picture while sitting astride a live alligator.

In addition to dozens of alligators, there are plenty of snakes, turtles, waterfowl, and exotic birds at Gatorland to delight visitors of all ages. Children especially enjoy the Allie’s Barnyard petting zoo, and the Gator Gully Splash Park is very popular in the mid-afternoon when the Florida sun is at its peak. In classic “Old Florida” fashion,Gator Gully Splash Park includes a row of giant egrets spilling water from their beaks; dueling water guns mounted on the backs of two giant gators, and a large water bucket guaranteed to soak anyone who stands under it.

For more information about this timeless Orlando attraction.

Sonic Boom Will Announce Shuttle’s Return to Space Coast

Weather permitting, the Discovery space shuttle will land at the Kennedy Space Center on (June 14?) after a (14?) day mission to the International Space Station. Orlando residents usually hear a double sonic boom as the shuttle re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, which can rattle the windows on nearby homes as the shuttle makes its way to the Space Coast.

According to the NASA Web site, “A sonic boom is a loud noise caused by an object -- usually an airplane -- that is moving faster than the speed of sound. To a person on the ground, a sonic boom may sound like a clap of thunder. The noise comes from a shock wave produced by the object. A shock wave is a change in air pressure that builds up around the edges of an object that is moving faster than the speed of sound.”

To listen to the sonic boom, follow the local news reports to find out the exact time that the shuttle is landing. In Orlando, the sonic boom usually occurs within four minutes of the actual touchdown if the shuttle ends up passing over the I-4 corridor. If you do not hear the double sonic boom, the shuttle might be taking a different route over the Florida peninsula, or bad weather conditions may have redirected the shuttle to an alternate landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Prime Outlets International has Grand Opening

Memorial Day weekend marks the grand opening of Prime Outlets International in Orlando on the northernmost end of International Drive. Orlando area residents and previous visitors might remember this shopping center as the location for the Belz Outlets, but the outlet mall has had an upscale extreme makeover, with plenty of pedestrian walkways and a lot more parking than the outlet mall’s previous incarnation.

Prime Outlets International in Orlando has over 175 stores, including top brand names such as DKNY Jeans, Juicy Couture, Calvin Klein, Eddie Bauer, Liz Claiborne, Saks Fifth Avenue and many more. Dining options include quick meals at Japan Cafe & Grill or Chicken now to more leisurely dining at Texas De Brazil and the The Gourmet Dippin Bread Café. For a full listing of stores and hours, visit the Prime Outlets Web site at Orlando Shopping

Food and Wine in New Zealand

Auckland is foodie heaven. This harbour-hugging region boasts more restaurants per head of population than Sydney or Melbourne.

Mediterranean food is big news, and many dishes also borrow ideas from Asia. The result had been called Pacific Rim cuisine, and Auckland chefs do it better than anybody. They also make good use of local ingredients. Kumara, a local sweet potato that has sacred significance to maori people, is a restaurant regular, as are our unique shellfish, greenshell mussels, pipis and tua-tua. New Zealand's excellent honey, often based on the blossoms of the native manuka plant, also makes frequent appearances, and not only on the desert list.

Most restaurants and cafés have a good selection of wines by the glass - a particularly sensible move given the dangers of drinking and driving.

Some establishments will also allow you to take your own wine. Look for the symbol 'BYO' (Bring Your Own) in restaurants. You will only have to pay a small corkage fee.

Local food is best enjoyed with local white or red wine to accompany the food. Watch for New Zealand's internationally famous Sauvignon Blancs - aggressively aromatic wines that smell like freshly mown grass, and cut capsicums. The New Zeland Sauvignon Blancs are renowned interntionally as being one of the best, attracting wine lovers from around the world to the vineyards in NZ.

But New Zealand is no one grape wonder. Enlist the restaurant or wine shop's help to choose Gisborne or Marlborough Chardonnay, Marlborough, Canterbury or Hawke's Bay Riesling, Waiheke Island or Hawke's Bay Cabernet Sauvignon, Martinborough or Central Otago Pinot Noir, as well as sparkling and dessert wines from various parts of the country.

Many of the Auckland restaurants are likely to place an emphasis on the city's own wines. Industry giants such as Montana, Corbans, Villa Maria and Nobilo are all based in Auckland, but make some of their wines from grapes grown in other parts of the country. Kumeu River uses exclusively Auckland fruit, and Collards, Matua and St Jerome are among several producers that place a major emphasis on local crops. A good wine waiter should be able to guide you in the right direction as they are knowledgable about what wines and foods are a good match.

If you are thinking about going on a Food and Wine holiday in New Zealand, March through May is a good time to go out of season to save a few dollars. Accommodation in New Zealand can be booked online through Kiwiaccommodation.com

Direct Flights from Frankfurt Bringing More German Tourists to Orlando

The Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau and the local community recently hosted the European Championship sliding competition, capitalizing on the growing visitation from the German market to Orlando. Since Lufthansa began new nonstop service to Frankfurt in October 2007, the Orlando CVB has been promoting the area through a consumer advertising campaign with Lufthansa, trade activities, as well as through a variety of promotions and public relations initiatives. Beginning in October of this year, Lufthansa will be increasing their service to provide daily flights between Frankfurt and Orlando.
German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag, teamed up with tour operator, Neckermann Reisen, to bring the final of their European Championship sliding competition to Orlando April 25-28. The 200 participants traveled to Orlando for a competition that took place at AquaticaTM – SeaWorld's Waterpark on April 25. The sliding participants were divided by weight groups and were cheered on by accompanied family members. The participant who came in 1st place received a travel voucher worth € 10,000 (more than $15,500 U.S. Dollars). The visitors also enjoyed admission to SeaWorld® Orlando and complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner from several local Orlando CVB members.

Seasons 52 Restaurant an Orlando Original

Although Orlando-based Darden Restaurants is best known for its Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains, its Seasons 52 restaurants offer an upscale and refreshingly healthy alternative to standard casual dining fare. The first Seasons 52 opened in Orlando in 2003 with an innovative concept: fresh, seasonal foods with a constantly changing menu and an extensive wine list.

Simply put, Seasons 52 serves up seafood, vegetables and lean meats in season, and keeps the flavors fresh by preparing them without the deep frying, butter sautéing, and heavy sauces that weigh down most restaurant meals. Meals are nutritionally balanced and portion controlled, and no item on the menu contains more than 475 calories. Even the desserts are low calorie, but not because the pastry chefs skimp on flavor—the rich desserts, such as German chocolate cake, key lime pie, and red velvet cake, are served in distinctive shot glasses.

The two Orlando area Seasons 52 restaurants are in Orlando on Sand Lake Road and Altamonte Springs near the Altamonte Mall. Reservations are highly recommended well in advance. For more information, visit Orlando Restaurants

Orlando Science Center Hosts Titanic: The Experience

Titanic: The Experience used to be a staple on International Drive, but the “Ship of Dreams” was in need of another place to dock when the lease ended on the original location several months ago. For the next year, however, history buffs still have a chance to view actual artifacts from the doomed vessel as Titanic: The Experience begins a limited engagement at the Orlando Science Center (www.osc.org).

In addition to presenting the historical elements of Titanic’s tragic maiden voyage, the OSC exhibit emphasizes ocean exploration, plus the result of exploratory dives in the North Atlantic that continue today. The discoveries made by D. Michael Harris, president of Titanic: The Experience, and his father have uncovered many of the mysteries behind the sinking of Titanic on April 14, 1912.

Florida Resident Discount for Cirque du Soleil’s La Nouba

For Florida residents who have always wanted to see Cirque du Soleil but just haven’t gotten around to it—now is the time.
Florida residents can now see La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil for a very special low price of $64.80 plus tax on select seats from May 1 – June 28, 2008—a savings of 20% off the regular ticket price—through Ticketmaster.com. Downtown Disney’s West Side is the only place in Florida featuring an ongoing production of the daring acts, live music and dazzling choreography of the famed Cirque du Soleil performers.
The show name La Nouba originates from the French phrase "faire la nouba," which means to party, to live it up. La Nouba has been running in Orlando since 1998 and has become a mainstay of Downtown Disney’s entertainment offerings.Orlando Attraction tickets

Orlando Hot Air Balloon Rides

Have you ever wanted to take a Hot Air Balloon Ride? The feeling of flying over the treetops, sometimes so close you could reach out and touch them. We finally did it! What a joy to see a raccoon washing his fish at the edge of a lake before he eats it and on the other side of the lake is a man fishing alone early in the morning. That is what it is all about!
We were picked up at the Galleria Palms Orlando by a van and shuttled to the site where the balloons were staged to go up into the sky. Everyone pitched in to spread out the balloons so they could fill with the hot air. We climbed into a basket and started to ascend! There were 3 balloons aloft that day with about 38 total passengers and 3 pilots.
All the pilots were certified and licensed which made the trip very safe for all of us.
So many memorable things happened that day: Luke Foster proposed to Nicola Shannon while flying high up in the sky. They were both from Essex, England. A young couple getting married that day started their wedding day by experiencing a balloon ride, We made new friends with people from all over the world and we all shared the same awe inspiring serene feeling.
We were in the air about an hour to an hour and a half when we started to descend into a farmers’ field where the vans found us, fed us champagne toasts and orange juice and brought us back to a lovely breakfast. This is an experience not to be missed when in Orlando! You even receive a flight certificate as a souvenir!
Check out the pictures…..then book the package on Galleria Palms Orlando