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PGA TOUR thrillers have been the norm in this $4.7 million season-ending event on Disney’s Magnolia and Palm courses. Twelve of the most recent 16 editions of the pro golf event have been decided by one stroke or a playoff. A field of 128 players will tee off in the 41^st Classic October 20-23, 2011 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The 2010 winner was Robert Garrigus. More information: ChildrensMiracleNetworkClassic.com

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Contractors are working hard on Shanghai Disney in China and they’ve just revealed the concept art for their centerpiece…Storybook Castle.  And so it goes…another stunning castle joins the ranks of those at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

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Apricot Lane Boutique has opened a new store at Downtown Disney on Aug. 12, 2011. The new shop, which appeals to mothers and daughters alike, is in the Pleasure Island district of the 120-acre retail, dining and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World Resort.

Apricot Lane, a “Hot Concept” award winner by the International Council of Shopping Centers, carries branded fashion apparel, jewelry, handbags, and accessories to create the most-current looks at an affordable price. Brands carried include trend-setting lines such as Miss Me, Free People, Vintage Havana, Chaser and Good Works Make a Difference.

“Many of the designer labels found in Apricot Lane are worn by celebrities and seen in the pages of current fashion magazines,” said Founder and CEO Ken Petersen. “We are excited to give the millions of guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort a place where they can replicate those looks.”

A location of the boutique recently opened at Downtown Disney in Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., to “overnight success.” Disney guests in need of a fun dress for dinner or a quick outfit for a day at the resort have found Apricot Lane to be the solution for fashion-forward looks and trend-setting styles.

“We’re pleased to add Apricot Lane to our assortment of unique offerings at Downtown Disney,” said Keith Bradford, vice president of Downtown Disney. “This boutique is another example of our commitment to bring new and compelling experiences to life at Downtown Disney, and I’m confident that it will soon become a guest favorite.”

Since launching in 2007, Apricot Lane continuously appears in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Franchise List. With new items arriving almost daily, Apricot Lane is a perfect place to find one-of-a-kind outfits and unique gift items for women of all ages. The store carries a limited number of each item to ensure customers have a sense of individuality when making a purchase.

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On September 9 and 10, Rock the Universe 2011 – Florida’s biggest Christian music festival – will take place at Universal Orlando Resort.  Guests will enjoy a faith-filled weekend featuring performances by 17 hit artists, an all-new fan zone, inspiring guest speakers, nightly candlelighting ceremonies, access to some of the world’s best theme park experiences and more.

This year’s sensational lineup features some of the biggest names in Christian rock, laying claim to a combined total of 71 Dove awards and 39 No. 1 singles. More than a dozen hit bands will take the stage, including Switchfoot – who was named “Best Christian Band” by the 2009 Top in Rock awards; Grammy award-winning group and Daytona Beach natives Casting Crowns; rock group Relient K who have sold more than two million albums; and Third Day who have topped the Christian music charts with 14 No. 1 singles. The full lineup is below.

** Names in bold indicate headlining acts.

In honor of the 10^th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, this year’s event features guest speakers who survived the attacks that day.  Retired Navy Captain Tom Joyce, who survived the attack on the Pentagon, and Sujo John, who worked on the 81^st Floor of the North Tower in New York City, will share their inspirational stories about how their faith helped guide them through that tragic time.

Rock the Universe guests will also get to experience an all-new fan zone, featuring autograph sessions with performing acts, band merchandise, and a first-ever New Artists’ Stage where they can enjoy live performances by three emerging artists: former American Idol contestant Jason Castro, for King & Country and Dara Maclean.

Plus, guests can enjoy the thrilling attractions found only at Universal Studios. They can rock out to hit songs at 65 mph on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, laugh along with America’s favorite animated family on The Simpsons Ride and speed through darkness on the world’s first psychological thrill ride – Revenge of the Mummy.

There are a variety of ticket options for Rock the Universe 2011. The best value is the “Rock Your Weekend” ticket, which includes admission to both nights of the event and three days’ admission to both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.  This ticket is only available until Sept. 2 and will not be sold at the front gate.

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Imagine getting up close and personal in the water with Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion at Epcot invites guests on a three-hour, behind-the-scenes experience aimed at providing a keener understanding and heightened appreciation for these marvelous creatures. The 30-minute dolphin interaction takes place in waist-deep waters (maximum 8 guests per day) so guests don’t need to be SCUBA certified or even know how to swim. Signups for “Disney’s Dolphins in Depth” learn about how Disney cares for the dolphins each day, how researchers study and train them backstage, what issues are affecting marine life worldwide – and what we can do about it.  Cost is $194 per person.  Theme park admission is not required or included in this experience.

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What’s more enjoyable or relaxing than a luxurious spa treatment?

Imagine sharing it with that special someone.

Did you know the Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club, in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, features a “couples room” where guests can enjoy specialized spa treatments – such as massages and facials – with the one they love?

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The Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Speedway is the place of dreams, offering race fans and adventure-seekers the ultimate thrill of riding in or driving a race car around the one-mile tri-oval Walt Disney World Speedway. Guests are offered several ride and drive experiences as they follow their dream of leaving the grandstands and climbing into a racecar, just like The King himself.

• Ride-Along Program: A 3-lap thrill ride as a passenger at a top speed of 145 mph.
• Rookie Experience: A 3-hour program that includes eight laps of driving thrills.
• King’s Experience: Features 16 laps of driving divided into two 8-lap sessions.

Beyond these core options available to Walt Disney World guests, riders with an insatiable “need for speed” can turn up the thrills with these premium experiences:

• Experience of a Lifetime. Talk about pulse-pumping, thrill-seekers choosing this Petty track will experience 30 laps of white-knuckle, heart-pounding speed in a NASCAR race car. The “Experience” is divided into three 10-lap driving segments and between each session, drivers will receive one-on-one feedback from the Pit Road instructor Priced from $1,299 per person.
• Speedway Challenge. Imagine the high-octane rush of this one-of-a-kind driving program. This 50-lap program consists of five 10-lap sessions as well as a Ride-Along, shop tour with tech talk and lunch with the instructor and crew chief. Priced at $2,099 per person.

The sessions at Walt Disney World Speedway run daily. Driving experiences are available for those at least 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a vehicle equipped with a standard transmission. Fans at least 14 years of age can participate in the Ride-Along Program with proof of identification.

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The hundreds of people who are building Disney’s Art of Animation Resort from the ground up gathered to mark the project’s “topping out.”

The “topping out” is a special moment that typically occurs in the construction and engineering industry when the highest piece of structure, either steel or concrete, is placed on the building’s frame. The tradition dates back to the Vikings, who would place an evergreen tree on the top of a building to celebrate and bring good luck.

At the construction site for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a crane helped lift the traditional evergreen to the roof of a building that will soon be part of the Lion King wing of the resort hotel.

“The hundreds of people we have working on Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are doing an amazing job helping us build a resort hotel that will really delight our guests,” said Gary Hoffmann, senior project manager for Walt Disney Imagineering. “The traditional topping out is an important milestone on a project that continues to run on schedule for an opening just ten months from now.”

In size and scope the construction of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a major project at Walt Disney World Resort, creating upwards of 800 construction jobs. Once open in 2012, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will also create 750 permanent resort hotel jobs.

Walt Disney World Resort features 25 uniquely themed, Disney owned-and-operated resort hotels with more than 26,000 guest rooms – something for every taste and budget. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will likewise be unique, with themed building exteriors and room interiors that bring to life The Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo and The Little Mermaid.

Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King buildings will be entirely family suites, with 1,120 suites between them. The Little Mermaid buildings will feature 864 rooms in the “value” room category.

The construction of family suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is an innovative approach to a changing marketplace. Today more and more multi-generational families are traveling together for various celebrations, including family reunions. These families not only want to play together, they want to stay together, which has created tremendous demand for family suites.

The first wing of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Finding Nemo, is scheduled to open in May 2012.

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Famed teen singer and actress Selena Gomez visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort with family and friends on Friday, July 29th, stopping at the Hogwarts Express to meet the Conductor in Hogsmeade.

Hosted by Universal Orlando, Gomez and her band mates (from left to right) Ashley Cook, Lindsey Harper and Katelyn Clampett also sipped on Butterbeer in Hog’s Head pub, rode the Hungarian Horntail coaster on Dragon Challenge and spent the day enjoying both Universal Orlando’s theme parks. Gomez was in Orlando after kicking off her “We Own The Night” tour on July 28th in Boca Raton, Florida.

Photo Universal Orlando
HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.
(s11) © 2011 Universal Orlando Resort. All rights reserved.

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Donning pirate garb, kids venture on foot and by sea in search of buried treasure during Disney’s Pirate Adventure, which departs from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa marina and sails the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. Young and eager adventurers visit many exotic “ports of call,” following clues to help lead them to the treasure. During the voyage, children (ages 4-12) enjoy a reading of “The Legend of Gasparilla” (a real Florida pirate), lunch and other surprises. The Pirate Adventure happens Mondays through Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cost is $34.00 per child.

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