Have you ever tried out for American Idol at Hollywood Studios? No?

Well it may be that this theme park attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is an accurate predictor of singing talent!

Aaron Kelly, who is in the top 12 of the current series, is a past winner of the American Idol Dream Ticket.

The Dream Ticket, gives daily winners at the attraction the chance to get “front of line” at the real audtions as they go round the US.

So it seems that winners of the show may actually have some talent, and Aaron’s progression through the auditions to the live show, means there may be some actual talent in the daily winners of the show.

Or is it that winning the Dream ticket, vindicated Aaron’s belief in his talent and meant that he decided to try out for real?
Would he have entered if he had not won the Dream ticket?

This great annual event begins May 21 – which is coincidentally the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back – and continues on four weekends, ending June 13th.

The Star Wars weekends give people the chance to mingle with celebrity guests and costumed characters, autograph sessions, meet & greet opportunities, and the chance for attendees – some of whom dress as characters for the events – to enjoy a series of games and activities.

More details on the Star Wars Weekends 2010 guest list
Guests at this year’s event includes actors and designers involved with all 6 movies from the Star Wars saga and the animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The celebrity hosts for each weekend will be Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) and Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka, Clone Wars)

May 21-23: Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett), Daniel Logan (Boba Fett, Attack of the Clones) and Dee Bradley Baker (Clone Wars)

May 28-30: Matthew Wood (Sound Editor/Designer, The Phantom Menance, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, and Clone Wars), Lorne Peterson (ILM Model Maker, all films) and Tom Kane (Voice actor for Yoda, Clone Wars)

June 4-6: Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Ray Park (Darth Maul) and Dave Filoni (Clone Wars)

June 11-13: Ray Park (Darth Maul), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and James Arnold Taylor (Voice actor for Obi-wan Kenobi, Clone Wars)

Entry to Star Wars Weekends is included with regular theme-park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and is open to Walt Disney World guests. Some events have limited availability.

Universal have released this new image of the Hogwart’s Express train from Harry Potters Wizarding World at Universal Resort Orlando.

Some sources are setting the opening date for the brand new Wizarding World at May 28th. But this has yet to be confirmed by Universal, but seems a likely date as it coincides with the release of some package deals to the resort

But anyway it seems that it’s “full steam ahead” for the opening around late Spring/early Summer

Global Disney Pinvestigation has an amazing look at the newly revealed model for the Fantasyland Expansion at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Some great inside info on what potentially will be coming with the makeover.

Read more

A date has now been set for the opening of the new Sesame Street Safari of Fun at Busch Gardens Tampa.

The new attraction will include a new junior roller coaster designed for parents and children to ride together. “Air Grover” is full of mini-dives and twisty turns as families soar through the Sahara.

Other kid-sized rides include “Zoe-Patra & the Hippos of the Nile,” a splashy flume ride through the famed river; “Rosita’s Djembe Fly-Away,” a swing ride that sends kids whirling above the African canopy; “Elmo’s Safari Go-Round,” a tribal-inspired carousel with Elmo and his friends; and more.

“Oscar’s Swamp Stomp” provides cool water fun, and “Bert & Ernie’s Water Hole” is a wet adventure filled with bubblers, geysers, jets, dumping buckets and more. A photography studio gives kids the chance to share a hug and a smile with Sesame Street friends, and musical performances bring tales of adventure to life.

In addition to the rides and play areas, families also will be able to watch their favorite characters on the big screen. “Sesame Street presents Lights, Camera, Imagination!” will run in the park’s 4-D theater, located in Timbuktu. And families can share breakfast and lunch with Elmo and the rest of the characters on select days at an outdoor dining facility adjacent to Sesame Street Safari of Fun.

I’m sure you’ve been reading about the new Legoland Florida park, coming to the Old Cypress Gardens park.

If not here’s some more details

Well Legoland has now launched their new website in anticipation of an Autumn 2011 opening. I can feel the hype starting already.

The website will allow future guests and potential employees to follow the progress of the new Legoland planned for Polk County. The park, due to open at the end of 2011, is being built on the site of the former Cypress Gardens, a historic attraction in Winter Haven.

Now I was a big fan of the old Cypress Gardens, so it will be interesting to see how the plans for the new parks develop and how much of the old gardens and shows will be kept.

Check out the website

The new combined theme park pass from holiday2florida, the Orlando Mega Pass. For a limited time get fantastic value on this all inclusive ticket.

The new pass gives access to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida AND Universal Orlando Resort for 14 days.
The ticket includes admission to Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park as well as Universal Studios, Universal’s Island of Adventure and Universal CityWalk.
The Orlando Mega Park Pass is available from £299 per adult and £269 per child (ages 3 -9) and is available to book until 31 March 2010 for use by 31 December 2010.

Plus, back by popular demand is Disney’s Ultimate Ticket 14 Days for the Price of 7. Fourteen days of admission for the price of 7, is your passport to an unlimited holiday at Disney World allowing you to experience all there is to see and do. Disney’s Ultimate Ticket gives unlimited access to Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Parks, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex and DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park. The Ultimate Ticket is available from £218 per adult and £190 per child (ages 3-9) and is available to book up until 31 March 2010 for use by 31 December 2010.

Purchase your tickets at our online store