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Florida theme parks get in the Halloween spirit
Christopher Boyd | Beth Kassab and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted September 25, 2006
The second, and largest, of Florida's annual theme park Halloween festivals begins Friday night as Universal Studios resurrects old characters such as The Storyteller and old haunted houses for Halloween Horror Nights Sweet 16.
The hard-ticket, after-hours event runs Friday and Saturday night this weekend, then for three or four nights a week through the end of October. Tickets retail for $59.95, though discounts are available, particularly for Florida residents and people who buy passes in advance.
In addition to The Storyteller, this year's Horror Nights festival, the 16th, brings back previous show hosts The Director, The Caretaker and Jack, as well as seven haunted houses that were popular during previous horror nights, with new twists. They are Dungeon of Terror -- Retold; Run: Hostile Territory; Psychoscareapy -- Maximum Madness; All Nite Die In -- Take 2; Scream House -- The Resurrection; Psycho Path: The Return of Norman Bates; and People Under The Stairs: Under Construction.
Horror Nights also will feature a new version of Universal's summer night show, Universal 360. Intense moments from Universal Pictures' horror film history will be shown on the four 30-foot-tall projection globes floating in Universal Studios' lagoon.
Walt Disney World's Halloween event, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, began last week and continues at Magic Kingdom. Howl-O-Scream 2006 begins Oct. 5 at Busch Gardens in Tampa, and SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular begins Oct. 7.
Festival at Epcot
The beer, wine, food samples and nostalgic music start flowing at Epcot Friday with the opening of that park's 11th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
More than 100 wineries and 250 Disney and guest chefs will be serving up food and sprits from 25 international marketplaces that add such countries as South Africa, Poland and Thailand to those already showcased in Epcot's World Showcase.
The festival runs through Nov. 12, with extended park hours.
In addition to the usual Epcot attractions, special exhibits and entertainment will be provided with concerts at the America Gardens Theatre, starting with '80s rock band Survivor this Friday and Saturday night. Future acts range from the FamilyStoneExperience to Three Dog Night to Gloria Gaynor to Southside Johnny.
While the festival is open to all who enter Epcot, and free samples are available from some stations, much of the food and spirits being served up by 250 Disney and guests chefs come with charges. Appetizer portions range from $1.50 to $4.50.
Disney giveaway
Visitors to Walt Disney World may see prize giveaways and surprise appearances of characters as that resort and other Disney theme parks around the world kick off their "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration Sunday.
The campaign succeeds Disney's "Happiest Celebration on Earth" campaign that began in 2005, and runs through the end of 2007.
Disneyana convention
The World Convention of NFFC, the club for Disneyana enthusiasts, will be held Thursday through Sunday at the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Walt Disney World.
The convention, which will draw hundreds of fans of Disney merchandise and memorabilia, will feature a public show and sale Saturday.
Swan and Dolphin
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is close to completing a renovation project that includes redesign of the twin hotels' lobbies and public spaces.
The visually striking 16-year-old hotels, designed by architect Michael Graves, are topped with giant dolphin and swan sculptures. The makeover includes a $500,000 contemporary art program.
In addition, all the hotels' meeting rooms were renovated. Remodeling is also planned for upper guestrooms and hospitality suites.
The $60 million redesign program will also include upgrades to the hotels' presidential and executive suites at a cost of $350,000 to $400,000 per suite.
Design work
The Carroll Adams Group, an Orlando interior design contracting company, is providing purchasing services for all furniture, fixtures and equipment installed in the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. Construction began on the $170 million hotel last month, with completion scheduled for late 2008. The hotel will contain 604 guestrooms, 97 condominiums, a spa and restaurants.
OIA parking contract
Orlando International Airport decided last week to extend by three months the contract with AMPCO System Parking.
AMPCO, which has overseen the airport's 22,000 parking spaces for the past five years, is appealing an airport decision to drop the company's contract in favor of Central Parking System of Florida.
Airport Executive Director Steve Gardner has not yet made a decision on the appeal, but wanted to keep the continuity of the same parking company through the upcoming busy holiday season, an airport spokeswoman said.
Christopher Boyd | Beth Kassab and Scott Powers, Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted September 25, 2006
The second, and largest, of Florida's annual theme park Halloween festivals begins Friday night as Universal Studios resurrects old characters such as The Storyteller and old haunted houses for Halloween Horror Nights Sweet 16.
The hard-ticket, after-hours event runs Friday and Saturday night this weekend, then for three or four nights a week through the end of October. Tickets retail for $59.95, though discounts are available, particularly for Florida residents and people who buy passes in advance.
In addition to The Storyteller, this year's Horror Nights festival, the 16th, brings back previous show hosts The Director, The Caretaker and Jack, as well as seven haunted houses that were popular during previous horror nights, with new twists. They are Dungeon of Terror -- Retold; Run: Hostile Territory; Psychoscareapy -- Maximum Madness; All Nite Die In -- Take 2; Scream House -- The Resurrection; Psycho Path: The Return of Norman Bates; and People Under The Stairs: Under Construction.
Horror Nights also will feature a new version of Universal's summer night show, Universal 360. Intense moments from Universal Pictures' horror film history will be shown on the four 30-foot-tall projection globes floating in Universal Studios' lagoon.
Walt Disney World's Halloween event, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, began last week and continues at Magic Kingdom. Howl-O-Scream 2006 begins Oct. 5 at Busch Gardens in Tampa, and SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular begins Oct. 7.
Festival at Epcot
The beer, wine, food samples and nostalgic music start flowing at Epcot Friday with the opening of that park's 11th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
More than 100 wineries and 250 Disney and guest chefs will be serving up food and sprits from 25 international marketplaces that add such countries as South Africa, Poland and Thailand to those already showcased in Epcot's World Showcase.
The festival runs through Nov. 12, with extended park hours.
In addition to the usual Epcot attractions, special exhibits and entertainment will be provided with concerts at the America Gardens Theatre, starting with '80s rock band Survivor this Friday and Saturday night. Future acts range from the FamilyStoneExperience to Three Dog Night to Gloria Gaynor to Southside Johnny.
While the festival is open to all who enter Epcot, and free samples are available from some stations, much of the food and spirits being served up by 250 Disney and guests chefs come with charges. Appetizer portions range from $1.50 to $4.50.
Disney giveaway
Visitors to Walt Disney World may see prize giveaways and surprise appearances of characters as that resort and other Disney theme parks around the world kick off their "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration Sunday.
The campaign succeeds Disney's "Happiest Celebration on Earth" campaign that began in 2005, and runs through the end of 2007.
Disneyana convention
The World Convention of NFFC, the club for Disneyana enthusiasts, will be held Thursday through Sunday at the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Walt Disney World.
The convention, which will draw hundreds of fans of Disney merchandise and memorabilia, will feature a public show and sale Saturday.
Swan and Dolphin
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is close to completing a renovation project that includes redesign of the twin hotels' lobbies and public spaces.
The visually striking 16-year-old hotels, designed by architect Michael Graves, are topped with giant dolphin and swan sculptures. The makeover includes a $500,000 contemporary art program.
In addition, all the hotels' meeting rooms were renovated. Remodeling is also planned for upper guestrooms and hospitality suites.
The $60 million redesign program will also include upgrades to the hotels' presidential and executive suites at a cost of $350,000 to $400,000 per suite.
Design work
The Carroll Adams Group, an Orlando interior design contracting company, is providing purchasing services for all furniture, fixtures and equipment installed in the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. Construction began on the $170 million hotel last month, with completion scheduled for late 2008. The hotel will contain 604 guestrooms, 97 condominiums, a spa and restaurants.
OIA parking contract
Orlando International Airport decided last week to extend by three months the contract with AMPCO System Parking.
AMPCO, which has overseen the airport's 22,000 parking spaces for the past five years, is appealing an airport decision to drop the company's contract in favor of Central Parking System of Florida.
Airport Executive Director Steve Gardner has not yet made a decision on the appeal, but wanted to keep the continuity of the same parking company through the upcoming busy holiday season, an airport spokeswoman said.
