Hauntingly Happy Fun Is Happening at The Magic Kingdom

The Official Ticket Center Inc. ~ If the headless horseman is romping down Main Street, U.S.A. aboard his steed, ghostly apparitions are flitting among the buildings of Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle is draped in eerie hues and the night sky is being painted with bursts of orange and green fireworks, it can only mean one thing: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is back!
Following Magic Kingdom closing on select autumn evenings between Sept. 14 and Nov. 1, the park reopens for this special-ticket event featuring trick-or-treating throughout the park, “Happy HalloWishes” fireworks spectacular, “Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade” – including Disney characters and the stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction – and the opportunity to experience popular attractions including, of course, The Haunted Mansion.
Information about dates and tickets is available at http://www.officialticketcenter.com/Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary-Halloween-Party-Tickets.aspx.

The event will be held from 7pm-12am September- November, 2010*

Order tickets online now or by calling (407) 396-9020 or toll free at (877)406-4836. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Guests of all ages are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes. Even better, you can collect delicious candy as you trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom theme park.

In addition to many favorite Disney attractions, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is filled with special entertainment, including:

•Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade—including Disney Characters and the stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction. The parade begins with a spook-tacular ride by the Headless Horseman.
•Happy HalloWishes—a spectacular fireworks show where the Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky.
•Many favorite Disney Characters and Disney Villains in special Halloween costumes.
•Special lighting, music and theming effects transforms special areas of Magic Kingdom theme park into happy haunted hollows.

The tone of the event is, well, “Not-So-Scary”, and is appropriate for children of all ages.

Dates*:

•Tuesday, September 14, 2010
•Saturday, September 18, 2010
•Tuesday, September 21, 2010
•Thursday, September 23, 2010
•Saturday, September 25, 2010
•Tuesday, September 28, 2010
•Thursday, September 30, 2010
•Friday, October 1, 2010
•Sunday, October 3, 2010
•Thursday, October 7, 2010
•Friday, October 8, 2010
•Monday, October 11, 2010
•Tuesday, October 12, 2010
•Thursday, October 14, 2010
•Sunday, October 17, 2010
•Tuesday, October 19, 2010
•Thursday, October 21, 2010
•Friday, October 22, 2010
•Sunday, October 24, 2010
•Tuesday, October 26, 2010
•Thursday, October 28, 2010
•Friday, October 29, 2010
•Sunday, October 31, 2010
•Monday, November 1, 2010

Standard Magic Kingdom theme park admission tickets will not allow Guests to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, so please contact our office in advance to purchase your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween tickets.

Best Friends Pet Care Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista

The Official Ticket Center Inc. ~ Pet lovers visiting Walt Disney World Resort can now plan to board the family pet in fun, luxurious new accommodations. Reservations have started being accepted for pet boarding stays since August 27, 2010 for the new Best Friends Pet Care Resort. Word is that even if you are not staying at any of the resorts, you can still take part in this wonderful service. So locals are welcomed.

The one-of-a-kind resort comprises more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs and play areas, and an expansive private dog park exclusively for the use of pet resort clients and their dogs.

The facility will accommodate up to 270 dogs and 30 cats for both daytime and overnight boarding. A wide selection of suite choices for dogs includes air-conditioned indoor rooms, 48-square-foot indoor-outdoor suites, and four expansive VIP (very important pet) suites with television, raised bedding and private outdoor yards.
Feline guests will spend their visit in the separate “Kitty City” pavilion — away from the dogs — in two and four-room condos. All suites and condos are designed to provide comfort and privacy and will be cleaned daily with hospital-grade disinfectants.

“Best Friends has long been the industry leader for boarding, and this will be our crown jewel. We’ve taken the ‘best of breed’ in every category to create the perfect environment for pets,” said Dennis Dolan, President and CEO of Best Friends Pet Care. “Our goal is to ensure that pets staying with us have a fun, action-packed vacation – just like their families vacationing at Walt Disney World.”
The resort’s exclusive dog park features a fenced walking trail bordering the natural wetlands around the park. Inside the trail, guests can choose from a variety of different play areas, including a 3,300 square-foot area covered in artificial turf, a 4,500 square-foot area with shade trees, and a 1,300 square-foot “canines only” water park. There are several large areas for owners to sit, relax and watch their dogs play. The entire park is secured from outsiders and is illuminated for use after dark.

Other features of the resort include: a grooming salon, which will provide go-home-fresh baths and haircuts for pets; two 1,100 square-foot “camp rooms” for play group and doggy day camp, each opening onto an outdoor play-yard; and a special facility for the boarding of “pocket pets,” such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets.

Pet parents can choose from a wide range of a la carte activities for pet guests from one-on-one playtimes and social playgroup with other doggy guests, to cuddle time and bedtime stories with staff. Additional amenities and upgrades include Ice Cream Treats, Bottled Water and Premium/Orthopedic Bedding. Feline guests can also enjoy private playtimes, activity toys in their suites, and treats such as Cookies and Milk or Tuna on a Ritz.

The pet resort is located across from the Port Orleans Resort at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. Pricing and other details are available at wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com or by calling 877-4-WDW-PETS.

About Best Friend Pet Care:
Best Friends Pet Care Inc. (http://www.wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com/) is a long-time leader in the U.S. pet hospitality industry, providing high-quality boarding for dogs and cats as well as day care, grooming, training and related services. Founded in 1991, the Company redefined pet boarding in 1996 with the opening of its first full-service pet resort in Norwalk, Conn. Since that time, Best Friends has expanded to more than 40 pet care centers in 18 states, always innovating and providing new offerings based upon the needs of pets and feedback from clients. The company currently operates the five boarding kennels at Walt Disney World Resort, which will be phased out with the opening of the new pet resort.

 If you should need any assistance with your Disney tickets or with the planning of your trip, please call our office toll free at 1-877-406-4836 or just click here http://www.officialticketcenter.com/ .

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A SLICE OF ITALY: Via Napoli newest restaurant in the Italy pavilion at Epcot

The Official Ticket Center Inc. ~  Patina Restaurant Group has opened a new casual pizzeria, called Via Napoli, adjacent to Tutto Italia Ristorante, its restaurant in the Italy pavilion in Epcot World Showcase at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This becomes the first authentic Italian pizzeria to ever open in the park.  

Restaurateur and longtime Patina Restaurant Group CEO Nick Valenti created the Via Napoli concept, based upon his travels in Southern Italy and his time developing and overseeing the successful Naples 45 Ristorante e Pizzeria in New York which was awarded the coveted certification of “La Vera Pizza Napoletana.” While in Naples, Valenti spent time studying the art of dough, crust, sauce and oven temperatures at the famous pizzerias Da Michele and Trianon.  At Da Ettore, he discovered the art of pagnotiello, a folded round of pizza dough filled with mozzarella, ham and mushrooms.  

“I have always loved the beauty of a simple Neapolitan pizza,” Valenti says.  “It’s a perfect food, something beloved by both Italians and Americans. At Via Napoli we will make pizza the traditional Neapolitan way: with a textured, soft and charred crust. I look forward to bringing it to Walt Disney World, where it should be a welcome addition to guests visiting Epcot.”  

Via Napoli features a selection of classical Neapolitan pizzas, ranging from pizza bianca, quattro stagioni, piccante, ortolano and a traditional margherita. Famed Pizzaiolo Charlie Restivo serves as executive chef at Via Napoli, where he crafts the pies using simple and delicious Italian ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes, Caputo flour, handmade fresh mozzarella, Parma Cotto, crumbled sausage and water calibrated specifically to the pH found in Naples.  

“We’re excited to be working with the Patina Restaurant Group once again on this significant expansion project,” said Dan Cockerell, vice president of Epcot. “Via Napoli will certainly enhance the guest experience and the architectural landscape of World Showcase just in time for our 15th annual Epcot Food & Wine Festival.”  

A unique feature at Via Napoli is the wood-burning ovens, which are named after the three active volcanoes in Italy – Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli.  Each oven is sculpted with the “face of the volcano” — reflecting the gods whose mythology surrounds each volcano’s history.  

The architecture and design of the new pizzeria is based on a mix of traditional Italian styles, with the Florentine architect Stefano Nardini (of Magris & Partners) working in conjunction with Rick Swisher Architect to build it. 

If you are like me and can’t wait to try a slice of heaven, call our office toll free at 1-877-406-4836 to purchase your discount Epcot tickets or just click here to purchase http://www.officialticketcenter.com/epcot-tickets.aspx Happy eating everyone!!!

A Little Hidden Mickey Around Every Corner

 The Official Ticket Center Inc. ~ Do you know what a “Hidden Mickey” is? I figured it’s time to talk about the “Hidden Mickeys” right here at the Walt Disney World Resort.

If you do indeed know what a “Hidden Mickey” is, then you’re smiling right now and probably proud of yourself that you’ve found a few or more. A “Hidden Mickey” is a Mickey Mouse shape that Walt Disney Imagineers have strategically placed throughout the Disney theme parks and Resorts. It comes in many forms, from a complete Mickey Mouse profile to the outline of his head and ears. They come in all sizes and they’re fun to “hunt.” They’re top secret too, like Area 51. Ask a Walt Disney Imagineer where the “Hidden Mickeys” are and he or she will say they don’t know what you mean. (They’ll say it with that Disney twinkle in their eye.)

My favorite “Hidden Mickey” is in Soarin’ Over California. As you “fly” over Palm Springs, look at the golf ball as it comes hurtling towards you. (Your instinct will be to shut your eyes, but keep them wide open or you’ll miss it!) There on the golf ball is a black “Hidden Mickey.”

What’s your favorite “Hidden Mickey?” Look at this video and try to guess where these little guys can be found. By the way, some people say there are nearly 200 “Hidden Mickeys” just at the Resorts. (I can neither confirm nor deny.) Have fun!

As always, thank you for reading our blog and if you need your Disney Tickets for your upcomming trip, please call us toll free at 1-877-406-4836 or just visit our site by clicking here http://www.officialticketcenter.com/disney-tickets.aspx Happy Hunting!!!

Full details for Halloween Horror Nights 2010 theme revealed by Universal Orlando including 8 haunted houses, 6 scare zones

After the sun had set and darkness filled the air, Universal Orlando tonight unveiled all the details surrounding Halloween Horror Nights 2010, the milestone twentieth year of the popular Halloween time event.

The event once again takes place at the Universal Studios theme park and will feature haunted houses, scare zones, and shows. Universal Orlando is promising this year’s event will bring in “a new era of darkness” with more scares than ever, all pulled together by a gruesome creature appropriately called Fear (pictured here). This Fear character is a departure from icons featured in recent Halloween Horror Nights years, moving away from a demented human character and offering close encounters of another kind. Since this character seems to be pulling the event together under the slogan, “This year the thing you most have to fear is Fear himself,” he/it seems to be a natural “icon” to represent the entirety of Halloween Horror Nights, though Universal this year is pulling together all the most popular characters from the past within its haunted houses and scare zones.

It is this Fear character that is being called “the Master of everything Halloween Horror Nights has ever been and will become.” As the story goes, he has been the controller of all of the regular Horror Nights icons of the past.

In the video below, Fear speaks to you:

Universal Orlando show director Mike Aiello talks about Halloween Horror Nights’ past and future:

Below are the full details about each of the 8 haunted houses, 6 scare zones, and 2 shows to be featured as part of the “twenty years of fear” celebration:

Haunted Houses

Eight haunted houses fill Halloween Horror Nights 2010, none of which are based on any particular movie or outside property:

Scare Zones

Five scare zones will be featured in the Halloween Horror Nights XX streets, two of which bring back characters and fear from past years:

Shows

Notably absent from the lineup this year is the Rocky Horror Picture Show tribute that was featured during Halloween Horror Nights during the past few years.

Halloween Horror Nights 2010 takes place over 25 nights in September and October on the following nights:

You can buy tickets now and find more information on www.officialticketcenter.com. Please click here to view our discount Universal Halloween Horror Nights tickets.

Harry Potter Butterbeer Mystery Solved: We had it tested

Islands of Adventure ~ Orlando, FL. ~ For the many thousands of muggles who’ve gulped down Butterbeer at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter without knowing what they were drinking, Consumer Ally has unlocked the closely-guarded secret of the magical drink’s nutritional content.

Neither the wizards at Hogwarts nor the folks at Universal Orlando have revealed the nutritional information. Uninformed and undaunted, tourists wait in long lines and fork over up to $11 a mug for the pleasure of consuming the concoction J.K. Rowling’s characters love to drink. The thirst for knowledge about this drink at the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter area at the Islands of Adventure theme park has spawned dozens of copycat recipes and plenty of chatter about what exactly park goers are drinking. WalletPop dispatched someone to the theme park to collect a sample of the popular drink and sent it to Kappa Laboratories in Miami, where it was analyzed so we could get down to the bottom of this nutritional conundrum. Here’s what Kappa found in a 14-ounce serving:

• Calories: 200
• Fat: 3.5 grams
• Carbohydrates: 42
• Sugar: 29 grams
• Protein: 0

It’s not exactly the most nutritious drink in the world nor is it close to being worst. It certainly isn’t good for you — but it’s hard to believe anyone would have thought that it was given that the concoction tastes like the Slurpee version of a butterscotch Life Saver.

Butterbeer has more calories than a Coke, but less sugar. It has just slightly less carbs than a bagel. But stack up Butterbeer next to a kid’s size McDonald’s shake and it’s not even a fair fight. The McDonald’s shake has more than double the calories, triple the fat and double the sugar.

So, if it’s any consolation, if you pay $11 for authentic Butterbeer, which can only be purchased within the 20 acres of Wizarding World, it’s a lot less bad for you than a McDonald’s shake, which you can buy almost anywhere in the developed world.

And for those of you who have pounded Pumpkin Juice, here’s the score on that per 8-ounces (double that if you drink one of the 16-ounce containers, which unlike Butterbeer are labeled with nutrition facts):

• Calories: 100
• Total fat: 0 grams
• Carbs: 24 grams
• Sugars: 24 grams
• Protein: 0 grams

Many thanks to the people over at Walletpop for this outstanding report! Remember to stay up to date on all things Harry Potter by reading our blog. Purchase your discount Islands of Adventure tickets in order to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which is located inside Islands of Adventure.

Cold Treats And Staying Cool On A Hot Disney Day

 The Official Ticket Center ~ Orlando, FL. ~ Scorching Walt Disney World summer days seem a lot more bearable when we mist and fan and cool off – and we’ve been known to ride Pirates of the Caribbean multiple times, sip most of the flavors at Club Cool at Epcot, aimlessly browse in the Animation Gallery at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or hope to get extra wet at Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Soaring temperatures are the perfect excuse for cold treats. Really cold treats. And all four theme parks have plenty, but we have a favorite in each park.

What is your favorite sweet treat to cool off?

Our picks:

Magic Kingdom. Hands down, the Pineapple Float with pineapple Dole Whip and pineapple juice at Aloha Isle in Adventureland. Maybe a tart, juicy pineapple spear on the side just for good measure (and a healthy dose of Vitamin C). Find a shady spot and enjoy a taste of childhood.

Epcot. A toss-up between a brain-freezing shaved ice with fruit syrup (tangerine is our favorite) at the Kaki Gori kiosk at the Japan Pavilion or a mango margarita and a Churro from the kiosk at the Mexico Pavilion. This little bit of info is comming from a good friend of mine named John who gave me heck for not mentioning this little stop in my last post. He has a very informative Disney web site here at www.intercot.com . Also a perfect spot for cooling off is the “Spirited Beats” exhibit in the tiny museum at the back of the Japan Pavilion that explores the anime (Japanese animation) mania. Cool and quiet.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Peanut-butter-and-jelly milkshake. Need we say more? Ever since the 50’s Prime Time Cafe opened, we dream of this calorie and carb-laden delight. Late afternoon, slip into the adjacent Tune-In Lounge, take a seat at the bar and order your shake. It’s an oasis of sweet sanity on a hot day. The calories may force you to skip dinner.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom. For grown-ups a cold Safari Amber Beer under the thatched roof at Dawa Bar in Africa with live African music is a delightful way to forget the heat. Or a frozen cappuccino from Royal Anadapur Tea Company in Asia . . . either way, you can cool off more at Kali River Rapids or just hang out in the gorilla area of the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail – we can spend hours watching these marvelous creatures in the lush vegetation. Remember to contact our office to purchase your discount Disney tickets and to stay up to date on all things new at the Disney theme parks by clicking here http://www.officialticketcenter.com/ 

Tell us your favorite way to beat the heat!

Walt Disney World Quick Bite and Where To Get Them

We recently posted Top 10 favorite Walt Disney World restaurants and a reader asked for favorite quick-service restaurants. With four theme parks it’s not easy but we’re still sticking to Top 10. Forget hot dogs and hamburgers, here goes:
Sweet Potato Cart, Frontierland, Magic Kingdom. Vegans, vegetarians and carnivores love this filling snack that’s low fat and full of vitamins – and you can eat on the run. Sweet potatoes are seasonal, so if we don’t find them, we head to Columbia Harbour House for the Lighthouse Sandwich – hummus, broccoli slaw and tomatoes on whole-grain bread. Or we throw caution to the wind and order the restaurant’s fried shrimp platter.
Ditto for the veggie egg roll from the Egg Roll Wagon in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. Low fat, not so much. But satisfying and easy to eat when you’re dashing through the park.
Taco Salad, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, Frontierland, Magic Kingdom. Better than a burger and you can load up with jalapeños at the toppings bar.
Half slab of St. Louis Ribs, Flame Tree Barbecue, Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We’ve peeked in the kitchen to watch the chefs grill these tasty favorites – finger-lickin’ good.
Kung Pao Beef, Yak & Yeti counter service, Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Grab some chopsticks and dig in.
Pressed Tuscan deli sandwich with shaved smoked ham, smoked breast of turkey, provolone, Caesar dressing and Pesto marinated tomatoes on a Tuscan roll, served with apple slices or French fries at Studio Catering Company, Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Go for the fries.
Southwest salad with chicken, tortillas, black bean relish, avocado, and cilantro vinaigrette at Backlot Express, Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And since it’s relatively healthful, sometimes we sneak in a late-afternoon peanut butter and jelly shake at the bar at 50’s Prime Time Cafe.
Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese Salad with honey sherry dressing at Sunshine Seasons, The Land pavilion, Epcot. Plain delicious if you love beets. If not, go for the seared tuna salad with sesame-rice wine dressing.
Does a chocolate crepe count as a meal? We think so. Stop at the Crepes des Chefs de France kiosk in Epcot World Showcase.
Sit at the outdoor tables and people watch while you share a shawarma platter at Tangierine Cafe at the Morocco pavilion in Epcot World Showcase. Generous tastes of hummus, tabouleh, couscous salad and Moroccan bread. We suggest the chicken and lamb combo.

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Event At Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom 2010

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a Halloween-themed special event held on select dates in Magic Kingdom theme park that requires a separate ticket to attend.

The event will be held from 7pm-12am September- November, 2010*

Order tickets online now or by calling (407)396-9020 or 1(877) 406-4836. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.

During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Guests of all ages are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes. Even better, you can collect delicious candy as you trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom theme park.

In addition to many favorite Disney attractions, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is filled with special entertainment, including:

• Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade—including Disney Characters and the stars of the Haunted Mansion attraction. The parade begins with a spook-tacular ride by the Headless Horseman.
• Happy HalloWishes—a spectacular fireworks show where the Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky.
• Many favorite Disney Characters and Disney Villians in special Halloween costumes.
• Special lighting, music and theming effects transforms special areas of Magic Kingdom theme park into happy haunted hollows.

The tone of the event is, well, “Not-So-Scary”, and is appropriate for children of all ages.

Dates*:

• Tuesday, September 14, 2010
• Saturday, September 18, 2010
• Tuesday, September 21, 2010
• Thursday, September 23, 2010
• Saturday, September 25, 2010
• Tuesday, September 28, 2010
• Thursday, September 30, 2010
• Friday, October 1, 2010
• Sunday, October 3, 2010
• Thursday, October 7, 2010
• Friday, October 8, 2010
• Monday, October 11, 2010
• Tuesday, October 12, 2010
• Thursday, October 14, 2010
• Sunday, October 17, 2010
• Tuesday, October 19, 2010
• Thursday, October 21, 2010
• Friday, October 22, 2010
• Sunday, October 24, 2010
• Tuesday, October 26, 2010
• Thursday, October 28, 2010
• Friday, October 29, 2010
• Sunday, October 31, 2010
• Monday, November 1, 2010

 Standard Magic Kingdom theme park admission tickets will not allow Guests to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Please call our office  at 1-877-406-4836 prior to this event and get your discount Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets and avoid the lines. Remember to follow our blog and stay up to date with all of the Halloween events taking place at the theme parks! http://www.officialticketcenter.com/Mickey’s-Not-So-Scary-Halloween-Party-tickets.aspx

Actor Brendan Fraser was one of 1 Million riders to experience Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey

According to the Universal Orlando Resort Facebook page, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has reached 1 million riders in record time.  The newest attraction at Islands of Adventure’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter introduces new robotic arm technology and has guests flying with Harry through elaborate life-like scenes from the famous book series.

Check out this video released by Universal:

Popular blog site, Inside the Magic offers this insider look at Hogwarts Castle and the incredibly detailed queue line for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is included with general park admission to Islands of Adventure, and with your purchase of Discount Islands of Adventure Tickets.  For more information on Universal Orlando Resort or to purchase Discount Universal Tickets, please visit our website or Kissimmee Location, The Official Ticket Center.  You may also call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.