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Merlin buys Cypress Gardens. Can Legoland be far behind?

Merlin Entertainment Group, a division of Blackstone Group (owner of SeaWorld and co-owner of Universal Orlando), was just uncovered by Screamscape as the purchases of Cypress Gardens. Merlin Entertainment owns the Legoland theme park brand and it has been rumored to be considering the Winter Haven historical park for some time, even before it closed last year.

I really hope that this works out. The park’s location has a lot of problems. But Legoland has made stand alone theme parks work before and Cypress Gardens does have a lot going for it that makes it a good prospect for a Legoland.

Read more about the deal at the Orlando Sentinel and the Motley Fool.

Below the jump I’ve placed a few ideas on what sort of change I think the property needs to work going forward, no matter what is built there.

Read More »Merlin buys Cypress Gardens. Can Legoland be far behind?

New Tables in Wonderland Options Announced

Tables in Wonderland, formerly the Disney Dining Experience, is a program available to Florida residents and annual passholders that gives a 20% discount on dining locations around the resort. We used to belong, but quit because our favorite location was no longer included. Looks like they’ve just added that location back along with a number of others.

New as of January 2010!

Epcot®: Tokyo Dining Location Only (Not Teppan Edo)
Disney’s BoardWalk Resort: Kouzzina by Cat Cora (formerly Spoodles)
Disney’s Wide World of Sports: ESPN® Sports Cafe
DOWNTOWN DISNEY® Marketplace: Fulton’s Crab House
DOWNTOWN DISNEY® Pleasure Island: Portobello
DOWNTOWN DISNEY® West Side: House of Blues®, Wolfgang Puck® Cafe
Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort: Il Mulino New York Trattoria, Kimonos, Shula’s Steak House, Todd English’s bluezoo

If you plan on dining out at WDW sit down restaurants (keep in mind that DAK has three counter service locations on the plan, plus a buffet) and spending more than $550 over the course of the year on food and drinks at those locations, then the Tables in Wonderland card makes sense for you. For some locations (Jiko, California Grill) that’s just a couple of meals if you include a wine flight.

Tables in Wonderland List of ALL participating locations below the jump:

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Wednesday Morning Roundup – Disney News and Links

You may not know, but Walt Disney World recruits many cast members from Haiti. So please keep them and their friends and family in your thoughts today. If you want to make an immediate impact, please donate to the International Red Cross. I’ve put out… Read More »Wednesday Morning Roundup – Disney News and Links

Universal Orlando revamps Pricing Structure Ahead of Harry Potter

Central Florida’s second largest theme park resort is preparing to welcome the Magic. No, not Disney Magic… Wizard Magic. Universal Studios hopes the Wizard known as Harry Potter will conjure up some better attendance figures when his legion of fans arrive in Orlando for the… Read More »Universal Orlando revamps Pricing Structure Ahead of Harry Potter

Give A Day, Get A Disney Day Muppet Promo

Beginning this Friday (Jan. 8), Kermit, Miss Piggy and Sweetums will be featured in a pre-parade celebration at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and at Disneyland in California. Muppets characters and parade dancers will join to celebrate volunteerism and honorary VoluntEARS, in theory guests who at… Read More »Give A Day, Get A Disney Day Muppet Promo

Welcome Disney World Moms

Today marks the third crop of Disney World Moms debut into the world of answering the questions of other theme park guests and vacation planners. If they’re anything like the first two it should be another bang up year. I like when Disney uses social media in new and interesting ways and this certainly qualifies. Especially when the wdw moms take it to other channels (like twitter and facebook).

One thing Disney has done differently this year, however, is to have some of the moms on a part time basis. That means they currently have around 40 people answering questions now, including more men than ever before (I count 5 on the list).

Of course, The Disney Blog’s own Oh Amanda is on the panel this year. Hopefully we’ll hear reports on her experience from time to time/

The full press release is below the jump:

Read More »Welcome Disney World Moms

Disneyland Year In Review Video

From the Disney Parks blog we get Disneyland’s official look at the past year. See if you can spot, a reopened “it’s a small world”, “Celebrate! A Street Party,” Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Fantasyland, the fourth annual Food and Wine Festival, Summer… Read More »Disneyland Year In Review Video

Bus Crash at Magic Kingdom with reported injuries

WFTV is reporting on a Walt Disney World resort bus that crashed near the gates to the Magic Kingdom last night. Injuries were reported, but no word on their severity. Video shows that the accident was nothing serious. This is yet another accident in a… Read More »Bus Crash at Magic Kingdom with reported injuries