Baby Boom Continues at Busch Gardens
A new Grevy’s zebra was born on Busch Gardens’ 65-acre Serengeti Plain on Friday, November 4. Within an hour after its birth, the female foal was running with the rest of the herd and nursing from its mother.
Just last week, Busch Gardens announced two other additions, a male Cape buffalo, and female Sable antelope.
The buffalo was born to mother Semara on Sept. 21. At the time of his birth, the calf weighed approximately 45 lbs. The playful and explorative youngster now weights 75 lbs. Once full grown, Cape buffalos can weigh up to 2,000 lbs. The Sable Antelope female took her first steps within a few minutes of birth. Though Sable Antelopes are shaky at first, newborns can run fast enough to keep up with the herd within 3-5 days.
Busch Gardens’ guests can view all of the new babies from Rhino Rally, the Skyride or Serengeti Express train ride. For an even closer look, the Serengeti Safari offers guests an open-bed truck tour Serengeti Plain, with opportunities to get up-close to antelope and rhinos and hand-feed giraffes.
Two New Babies On the Serengeti Plain
Busch Gardens’ newest addition, a female Cape buffalo, was born to mother Semara on Sept. 21. Cape buffalos are extremely social; members of the same group will stay in direct contact with each other and will often sleep with their heads resting on one another.
At the time of his birth, the calf weighed approximately 45 lbs. The playful and explorative youngster now weights 75 lbs. Once full grown, Cape buffalos can weigh up to 2,000 lbs.
Two days earlier, the park’s Sable Antelope herd welcomed the third new baby of the month, a female who took her first steps within a few minutes of birth. Though Sable Antelopes are shaky at first, newborns can run fast enough to keep up with the herd within 3-5 days.
Busch Gardens’ guests can view all of the new babies from Rhino Rally, the Skyride or Serengeti Express train ride. For an even closer look, the Serengeti Safari offers guests and open-bed truck tour of the 65-acre Serengeti Plain, with opportunities to get up-close to antelope and rhinos and hand-feed giraffes.
For details, visit www.buschgardens.com
Photos and Video by Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Orlando Couple Is One of 11 Chosen to Say “I Do” on 11-11-11 In Times Square
11-11-11.
This perfect calendar reading comes just once every one hundred years and promises a day filled with love and luck.
Eleven couples – including Orlando hometown couple, Bob and Liz– are ready to make it count!
The 11 pairs of sweethearts are preparing for the big day in Times Square and will be married by Master Matchmaker and star of VH1’s current hit “Tough Love,” Steve Ward.
The lucky 11 shared their stories with the nation and were selected from a field of almost 600 entries to say “I Do” on this historic date.
Bob and Liz met through their children. For nearly 20 years, they’d see each other at school events and on grocery store runs. Last year, they bumped into each other in the grocery store and said a casual “hello.” But Bob knew he couldn’t let her getaway and tracked her down in aisle 15.
Their love grew over the months, and they were engaged this past April. Now they can’t wait to get married in an “extraordinary” way.
Something New is in the Air at Old Town
Old Town, popular for its weekly car cruises, is introducing exciting changes to the Kissimmee adventure park that will bring visitors to new heights.
The new Pepsi AMPVenture Experience offers a 300-foot-long zip line, four-story ropes challenge course and 35-foot rock climbing wall.
The zip line, more than 45 feet above ground, takes adventurers zooming over rides, treetops and pedestrians, all within view of US Highway 192. The round-trip zip line experience offers 600 feet of flight. Test your strength, endurance and balance maneuvering the rope and obstacle course. Guests can individualize their experience as they choose a path to maneuver 20 challenging elements, reaching heights more than 40 feet above the ground.
Those wanting a real sense of adventure and accomplishment can also tackle the new rock climbing wall, which towers over the front midway section at Old Town.
The new adventure course brings a higher level of thrills to Old Town Adventure Park’s wide variety of 14 rides that include the Wind Storm Roller Coaster, Go Carts, Super Shot, and the recently added “Flying Dutchman,” as well as a number of popular fair rides for younger thrill-seekers.
After enjoying a meal at any of Old Town’s seven fine restaurants, visitors can browse the more than 80 specialty shops located throughout the park. New retailers are scheduled to open later this year.
Predators Show Support For Arnold Palmer Trauma Center
While coaches of the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators remain active in their pursuit of free agents for the 2012 season, the Preds front office staff has been busy assisting the local community.
On Friday the Preds joined local dignitaries, including Orange County Commissioner Lui Damiani, for a special fundraiser at Orlando Executive Airport in support of the Level One Trauma Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital.
The First Annual Gala Event, also sponsored by Professional Flight Training, Cessna Aircrafts, Orlando Harley Davidson and Aston Martin-Lotus Cars of Orlando, featured a silent auction, live auction and opportunities to make direct contributions to support the center on-site.
“We are extremely happy to support the Arnold Palmer Hospital in raising money to fund such a vital facility for the Central Florida community,” said Keith Recine, Orlando Predators Director of Gameday Operations.
“Having a Level One Trauma center in our community saves countless lives each year and we certainly support any effort to fund this critical operation.”
The Preds participated in the organizing of the event and provided an autographed helmet and game-worn jersey to be auctioned off. Prowler Dancers Morgan C. and Amanda S. served as hostesses for the event.
Recine was also accompanied at the event by Predators Director of Community Relations Juan Aguilera, Preds linebacker Marlon Moye-Moore, AFL Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Bennett and Preds mascot Klaw.
Event organizers estimate that over $80,000 will be raised through the event and subsequent auctioning of items on the internet over the next month… Continue reading
VAMPIRE DIARIES ACTOR MICHAEL ROARK AT HOWL-O-SCREAM
Actor Michael Roark, who was featured in the recurring role of Frank on TV’s The Vampire Diaries, faces a sin-city clan of bloodsuckers in the new Ultimate Gamble: Vampire Casino haunted house at Howl-O-Scream.
The actor, who also a graduated law school at the University of Florida, visited Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream on Thursday night with friends.
He is also known for his recent role as Donovan Peck in Dolphin Tale and his upcoming role as Ryan in Magic Mike that was partially filmed in Tampa.
DreamWorks 3D Theater Experience @ Gaylord Palms
It’s the Hollywood premiere of Puss In Boots’ new 3D movie and YOU are his personal guest of honor! Walk the red carpet lined with paparazzi and have your picture taken with Puss in Boots himself. Enjoy gourmet theater food and beverages in the pre-function area, while rubbing shoulders with other beloved DreamWorks stars such as Shrek and Princess Fiona there to support Puss in Boots for his big night! Bring your appetite for great food and hair-raising adventure, because you’ve never seen Puss like this before!
Price of admission includes:
- Ticket to 3D theater to see Puss In Boots movie
- Gourmet theater snack food and soda
- Souvenir picture with Puss in Boots himself (one photograph per family group)
- Puss In Boots Movie collectible
This is a separate ticketed event. DreamWorks package guests who purchase tickets will receive PREMIUM seating for this event!
Opens: November 16, 2011
Ends: January 2, 2012
Location: ICE! pre-function area
Pricing: $24.95 Adults* | $21.95 Children*
*Subject to tax and ticket handling fees.
Infamous Cheetah/Puppy Duo Explore Their First Halloween Pumpkins
Actually, cheetahs are strict carnivores, but the residents of Busch Gardens’ Cheetah Run were curious to explore the new smells and textures that three oversized pumpkins provided.
Busch Gardens’ zookeepers introduced the pumpkins to the cheetah habitat on Tuesday for some special Halloween-themed enrichment for Kasi and Mtani, and Cheetah Run’s adolescent female cheetahs.
Enrichment can take many forms and is usually something different, unusual and challenging that stimulates the animals. Food and toys are used daily by zookeepers at Busch Gardens to keep the animals engaged and stimulated, both mentally and physically.
Project Exotic – An all-new track driving experience
An all-new track driving experience, featuring some of the world’s fastest and most exotic supercars, is coming to Orlando in January, 2012.
This heart-pounding exotic car driving experience is being designed by Petty Holdings LLC, best known for the Richard Petty Driving Experience, the undisputed leader in automotive ride and drive entertainment in the U.S.
Over at ProjectExotic.com, you’ll find the latest news from the exotic car driving experience industry and updates as they close in on the opening date of this sure-to-be-exhilarating exotics track experience in Orlando.
ProjectExotic.com will also provide a forum for input from exotic car enthusiasts. They want to hear first-hand from people who know – or are ready to discover – the adrenaline rush you can only get with your hands on the wheel and your foot on the floor of a world-class supercar.
Check out the list you can be driving around in…
- Ferrari 458 Italia
- Ferrari F430
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4
- Porsche 911 GT3 RS 997
- Audi R8
- Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Check out their homepage to sign up for updates
Gimme Five – food drive to fight hunger!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is launching a campaign to combat hunger in all the cities where it has Believe It or Not! Odditoriums. Ripley’s Gimme Five Food Drive will take place from Sunday, November 6 through Thursday, November 10.Here’s how it works: guests who bring a donation of five non-perishable food items can get a ticket to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium for just $5 (regular adult ticket prices range from $10.99 to $29.95). All the food collected will go to local food banks in each community.
Donate 5 cans of food and get a ticket to a Ripley’s Odditorium for only $5 from November 6-10
“We’re in the business of ‘unbelievable’, and the number of families needing help putting food on the table is truly unbelievable,” said Jim Pattison Jr., President of Ripley Entertainment Inc. “That’s why we started this national effort to help food banks across the country.”
One in six Americans is fighting hunger.
Suggested donations include juice, soup, beans, tuna, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, tomato sauce and baby food.
Participating Ripley’s Odditoriums include Atlantic City, Branson, Gatlinburg, Grand Prairie (Texas), Jackson Hole, Key West, Myrtle Beach, Newport (Ore.), Niagara Falls Canada, New York City, Ocean City, Orlando, Panama City Beach, San Antonio, San Francisco, St. Augustine, Williamsburg and Wisconsin Dells.
For more information on Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium locations, please visit http://www.ripleys.com/attractions/.
Ripley’s “Gimme Five” promotion may not be combined with any other offers. One discount ticket… Continue reading
Follow Us!