There is so much to see and do at Animal Kingdom, that it is hard to fit it all in, but one thing I would not want to miss is the wonderful and very spectacular ‘Festival of the Lion King,’ in Camp Minnie Mickey. We normally try to catch a performance later in the day, after we have visited most of the attractions. It is quite a long walk to the huge auditorium, but its well worth it, even if your feet are killing you by then. Try to arrive reasonably early as it gets pretty full and you can then choose where you sit.

The 1000 seat auditorium is now fully enclosed, and benefits from the addition of air conditioning. When we first visited Animal Kingdom it was open at the sides, and sometimes, during heavy showers or thunderstorms it was difficult to remain focused, because of the deafening noise of the rain and thunder. It could also be rather hot and humid, but now it is great.

The atmosphere is electric as the show starts, and the huge animatronic animals emerge from behind the curtains, accompanied by colourfully dressed cast members who sing and dance. Their tribal costumes are extravagant and stunning, with bold colours and vivid use of a variety of materials, and their typical African headdresses are very spectacular. There are 4 animatronic animals, Simba, who sits atop Pride Rock, a swaying giraffe, an elephant, and, in the jungle, Pumba and Timon. The theatre, which has 4 banks of seats, is then divided up so that each bank represents an animal – elephant, wart hog, lion and giraffe. The audience is encouraged to make appropriate noises for their allotted animal, and a member of the audience is coaxed down onto the floor to demonstrate their prowess at making animal noises. It is no problem for elephant or lion, but giraffe and warthog have a bit of a struggle. After a quick practice, this fast moving show is on the road.

There are acrobatic monkeys, in their startling orange striped costumes, who cavort and tumble on the trampoline that rolls out of the central area. They swing on the trapeze and provide a fast moving and intricate display of acrobatics. They tumble and twist and turn, whilst the song ‘Hakuna Matata’ plays.  There is a high speed finale, and then, almost in the bat of an eyelid the trampoline is folded away and disappears.

The mood changes dramatically and the auditorium is filled with pounding drums. The lights are lowered and in come the tribal warriors on stilts, their spectacular costumes, red and yellow striped, grass skirts, topped off with feathered tribal headdresses. There is a fire show, with plumes of flame rising out of the central stage area. The whole floor looks to be alight, and there are spinning torches, surrounded by colorful dancers – but there is an air of foreboding. Fire eaters make us gasp as they swallow flames.

The mood changes yet again, and all is calm and lightness. A turquoise and red bird dances in front of us, the female lifted high into the air, spinning and swooping. They perform to the sounds of that beautiful duet, and one of my favourite songs, ‘Can you feel the love tonight?’ which is sung with such feeling that it brings a lump to your throat. It is enchanting and romantic, and a spine tingling moment as you listen to the glorious harmonies. The female bird spins high in the sky, and as she circles above the audience there is orchestral music – a world in perfect harmony, connected in the circle of life. This wonderfully emotive song is sung with great power and emotion – the whole auditorium is simply transfixed by the beauty and emotion of it all.

Then it’s straight into the powerful, exciting and joyous ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ with its rhythmic chorus of ‘Whimoweh!’ and everyone joins in the singing and clapping, with a parade of eager children drawn into the centre of the auditorium.  More songs follow – Hakuna Matata – ‘no worries for the rest of your days’ – indeed your worries simply disappear in the magic of it all.  The birds return for another beautiful song, followed by the powerfully song ‘Be Prepared’ when an atmosphere of menace and evil emanates.

Simba reappears and sings ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King’ a happy, rhythmic song in which the whole audience participates.  ‘The Circle of Life’ brings the ‘tingle’ factor once more, and delicate birds are brought out on tall sticks, swooping and gliding high above the audience. The finale, itself, is truly spectacular, engulfing you in song and music and dancing, drawing us all together in the circle of life. All too soon it is over, and the huge animatronic animals glide silently backstage. If you are quick, you might just get a photograph before they disappear.

I always leave with a feeling of great calm, awe and wonder, after this truly memorable show, which although offering just a brief taste of the magical musical, The Lion King, brings a visit to Animal Kingdom to a remarkably beautiful end. It is one of Disney’s best shows, combining wonderful sound systems, superb singers and dancers, remarkable animatronics, fast action, suspense, romance, and beautiful songs, in a way that only Disney can do. Don’t miss it, whatever you do.

Submitted by "ellie" a vacation home owner, view her property here:
http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Epcot is a great day out, but for me, one of my favourite parts is in the Land pavilion, mainly because it houses one of my favourite rides – ‘Soarin.’ This pavilion explores how we can use the land for our benefit, but it also highlights the ways we can destroy it too. Future technologies are explored here and the land itself is celebrated.

One of the most interesting and educational places to visit, this huge pavilion covers six acres, and has a fast food court, a unique sit-down restaurant that moves, and three great attractions, including Soarin’. Don’t visit Epcot without taking the relaxing and highly informative boat ride which takes you on a 14 minute journey through Disney’s unique indoor growing area. There are four greenhouses and each one is different, plus the amazing ‘Aquacell.’

We often do this boat tour late in the afternoon when there are fewer queues. You will sit in a boat with bench seats, and the seats at the front will give you the best view. The tour starts with a slow boat ride in the dark, and at one time there was a Cast member to give you a live narration. They have now been replaced by a recording. You sail slowly through a deciduous forest in the middle of a rainstorm, and then on through a tropical rainforest, a desert and the American prairie. Look out for the audio-animatronic figures which were originally created for an attraction which never came to fruition – ‘Western River Expedition.’ Of course there are special effects, including wind, heat and mist. The question is, how do we feed a growing world population whilst not destroying the very earth we live on, and what environmental issues should we take into consideration?

The part I enjoy the most is the tour through the greenhouses and laboratories where we learn about the latest farming techniques, including aquaculture, hydroponics, aeroponics, nutrient film techniques and desert farming. We always find this fascinating, as you see how it is possible to grow crops in the most unlikely of conditions. Plants are grown in a variety of mediums including rockwool, sand, coconut coir and perlite.

The Tropics Greenhouse has a 60ft dome where crops from the tropics are grown, including bananas, peanuts, rice, sugar cane, jackfruit, peach palm, dragon fruit, java apple, vanilla, pineapple papaya and cacao.

The Temperate Greenhouse features such technologies as integrated pest management, sustainable agriculture and specialized irrigation systems, which are designed to increase crop production and decrease waste. Here you can see huge crops such as Atlantic Giant pumpkins, winter melons and Nine Pound Lemon. As well as these giant crops you will see cotton, turnip, sunflowers, millet and beets.

The Production Greenhouse, now known as the String Greenhouse, is where tons of vegetables are grown for the Land’s Garden Grill Restaurant. Innovative high density techniques are used including vertical growing techniques, in which plants are grown on special trellises. These encourage plants to grow in the shape of trees. One of the most amazing plants grown by this method is the tomato tree which produced over 32,000 tomatoes over a 16 month period. Here you will see peppers, lettuce, eggplant, snake gourd, tomatoes and other vegetables. You will even see some amusing cucumbers and pumpkins grown in the shape of Mickey Mouse. They use growing systems which are kind to the environment, and over a year this greenhouse yields over 30 tons of produce.

But the most fascinating green house has to be the ‘Creative Greenhouse’ where plants are grown without soil – some just hang from the ceiling, most are gown via aeroponics, in which a fine mist of nutrients and water is sprayed onto the roots of the plants which dangle in the air. You can also see the hydroponic growing units which were developed by NASA for growing food on long space journeys. Look out for Swiss chard, super-dwarf wheat, rosemary, squash, lettuce, basil, cabbage, marigolds and snapdragons.

Fish are also farmed, and the boat also takes you past through the ‘Aquacell ‘where you will see many high-density tanks as well as low density display tanks and tubes. Some of the fish which are farmed here are used in the Coral Reef Restaurant in the ‘Seas With Nemo and Friends’ pavilion. You will see shrimp, catfish, eels, sturgeon, tilapia, bass and even American alligators.

The plants themselves are labelled to help you recognise them, and it is fascinating to see the innovative ways in which plants can be grown. If you want a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes then you can take a ‘Behind the Seeds’ greenhouse tour. For just $16 for adults and $12 for children, aged 3-9 you can see the latest innovations, taste some of the produce which has been grown, and feed the fish. Although you can make reservations at the tour desk to the left of Soarin’ you can also book up to 90 days in advance by calling 407 939 8687.

This is not something I would recommend if you have young children, but older children would probably find it fascinating. Its also great if you are feeling a little hot and weary!

Submitted by "ellie" view her property here:  http://www.perfectfloridavillas.com/main/prop.aspx?pID=183

Sea World have announced a new tour that gives you admission with preferred seating to the Shamu show, “Believe” the dolphin show, Blue Horizons” and the Clyde and Seamore show and, gives you a photo opportunity immediately following the shows. It’s called Animal Shows and Photo Experience.

You also get to interact with a Penguin and a Clydesdale. The tour will run with groups of around 12 at a time and is a walking tour that lasts around 5 hours. At the conclusion of the tour you receive a photo cd of your days adventures.

The cost is from $125 for adults and from $100 for children. This is on top of the regular admission price.

Diana – The people’s princess the new exhibit is now open. It occupies the old Virgin Mega store in the West Side part of Downtown Disney. There are many artefacts on display along with some of her dresses. The exhibit covers the whole of the downstairs part of the building. It charts her life from child to icon.

Admission is $14.50 (ages 10 and above), $5 for ages 3-9. Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily. The exhibit will be at Downtown Disney through Nov. 30, 2009.

During these days of some pretty high temperatures Aquatica provided some relief for some of it’s visitors. Albeit for a few hours, these ice seats were a hit with this family. Each section of seating weighed over a ton.

(Photo by Sea World)

President Obama has now joined the revamped Hall of Presidents in Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom. The show is to reopen on the 4th July.

There have also been some new speeches added A film narrated by Morgan Freeman with video of presidents speaking during turbulent times, including Lyndon Johnson after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing and George W. Bush encouraging citizens at ground zero after 9-11. Midway through the film, a screen lifts to reveal the animatronic Abraham Lincoln, alone on the stage. He now delivers the full Gettysburg Address.