Linda Mac's Orlando Adventures

Space Shuttle Atlantis provides Central Florida with a Spectacular View

Visitors and locals alike were treated to a very special Florida event on Friday night. The Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off as scheduled at 7:38 pm and could clearly be seen from all the themes parks and resorts in the area.

Since this was first launch of the year, I thought it would be fun hop in my car and head over in the direction of the launch. I had heard that some folks make a day of it by going over to Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral.

My plan was to drive about half way to the Cape. Sounds like a simple plan, right? Oh, I was going to do that about 2 and half hours before launch time. For anyone who has made the trek over to the coast for a shuttle launch, I will wait for you to pick yourselves up because I am sure you are rolling on the floor laughing. Apparently, half the population of Central Florida had the same idea.

I did have a little back up plan if the traffic was heavy. As it turned out, it probably passed my definition of heavy at about noon. But Plan “B” was to drive to Orlando Airport and go up to the top level of the parking garage. I headed up International Drive to take the 528 Beach Line, that’s where my simple little plan began to fall apart. As I reached SeaWorld, the traffic was moving very, very slow. What could this be? Is it traffic from the construction work at SeaWorld’s new water park, Aquatica. No, that’s not it. Maybe it’s a really big convention. That’s when the light bulb went on. Could all these people have the same idea as me? The answer was a simple YES. I could see the traffic on the overpass of 528 and it appeared to moving at about 15-20 MPH. Count me out of this mess!

Ok, now I need a plan “C”. This was the first launch of year so I wanted to do something a little special. Now I had 2 hours to fill before Atlantis was scheduled to take off. Since I was already on I-Drive, I headed up to the Universal Resort to watch the launch from the top floor of one of their parking garage. With time to spare, I stopped by Pat O’Brien’s in CityWalk to enjoy a Shrimp Po’Boy and pass some time.

I started to make my way back to the garage at 7:15 to scope out a spot. I did meet several other shuttle watchers on the 6th floor. A few people actually were able to get their vehicles up there.

As lift off time approached, other folks were relating exactly what was happening at the Cape via their car radios and cell phones. One of the best things to do when watching a shuttle take off is to listen to the NASA voice narrating the launch and giving info about its mission simultaneously. It always gives me chills and sometimes brings tears to my eyes. And this launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis was no exception.

My view was spectacular and I could actually see when the solid rocket boosters separated from the fuel tank. Wow!!! I hope anyone who was lucky enough to watch the shuttle on Friday night enjoyed it as much as I did.

Next time I have the opportunity to watch a launch, I think I will plan a few days at the beach and just keep my fingers crossed that lift-off goes as scheduled like Atlantis did.

This story was reported by our local ABC affliate WFTV in Orlando tonight.

SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens and other theme parks owned by Busch Entertainment Corp. are getting a new collective name and new ticket prices, owners of the parks said Friday.

The new pricing scheme is aimed at enticing people to visit more than one park, increasing savings the more parks a guest visits.

Read the complete story here.

I had the pleasure of attending the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center’s preview of ICE! earlier this week.

Now in its fifth season, ICE! is a unique winter experience in sunny Florida. It is advertised as Orlando's "Coolest" holiday attraction. When they say cool, they really mean cold - as in 9 degrees Fahrenheit.

Each year Gaylord Palms invites artists from Harbin, China to hand-carve nearly two million pounds of ice into larger-than-life, three-dimensional ice monuments and sculptures.

Here I am before entering ICE!

Groups of approximately 25 people enter ICE! at 10 minute increments. You first enter the "preshow" area where you watch 2 short videos featuring Santa Claus and Old Man Winter . The videos show the artists at work, how different types of ice are made for the show, and other useful information about the ICE! experience.

After the videos, you are given a long hooded winter parka and have your picture taken (which can later be purchased for $12.95 at the exit). The resort recommends you dress appropriately; closed toe shoes and long pants are required. The parka was great but I am also glad I brought along my scarf and gloves.

As a Floridian, I had never experienced ICE! until this visit.

When I first entered the display, it really WOWed me. The first room, Winter Wonderland was my favorite of all!

As I moved further into the display it definitely got much colder! Remember the 9 degrees temperature I mentioned in the beginning?

This year’s ICE! features several new or revised scenes, including a walk-through igloo and a towering gingerbread candy house, meticulously hand-craved from enormous blocks of colored ice.

It was so easy to get caught up in all the sculptures and details that at one point when I entered the Candy Land area, I was uncertain which way to go and thought I was at the end. Try not to let all the required Fire Safety EXIT signs confuse you.

This year the ICE! castle and slides, have been re-designed to reflect a South Pole theme with a colony of colorful penguins.

The slide I picked which was the intermediate one. I have my pride about not taking the beginners - kid's slide. So much for my pride as I had to be helped up because of the ice at the end of the slide.

The signature scene is a breathtaking life-size Nativity carved completely from crystal-clear ice with dramatic lighting and narration.

The North Pole Conclusion

A Central Florida attraction just would not be complete unless you exit through a gift shop. But I must say the ICE! House Gift Shop has an amazing collection of holiday items as well a hats and gloves.

I think ICE! is worth the price and I’m glad I finally experienced it. I recommend it for both Central Florida locals and visitors as a unique holiday experience!