SeaWorld Orlando announced on Tuesday, March 22, that it will expand its manatee critical care facility in Orlando to add more capacity in the state of Florida to care for manatees in need. The buildout will include a new three pool complex that adds 200,000 gallons of water for manatee response, and a new lift floor to an existing pool, that doubles the size of the critical care space at SeaWorld's rescue center in Orlando. Currently SeaWorld has 31 manatees in their care, once thee expansion is complete, SeaWorld will have the ability to care for 60 manatees in need, the largest capacity in the state of Florida and in the U.S. The expansion is necessary to care for the record number of manatees in crisis due to the Unusual Mortality Event (UME). "The crisis facing manatees is not letting up and we know that SeaWorld's existing rescue center infrastructure gives us the foundation upon which to quickly build and expand to care for animals in need," said Jon Peterson, VP of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando, Head of SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team, and Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership. "That larger space, together with our sizable, highly specialized and experienced manatee care team means that we are able to mobilize quickly and effectively to help save the lives of these animals and in doing so help save the species from extinction." The new tri-pool complex at SeaWorld's Orlando rescue center will consist of a large new round pool flanked by two slightly smaller oval pools. All three pools will be interconnected, and shade coverings will be built over the new pools to aid in the comfort of rehabilitating manatees. In addition to the new pools, a new critical care lift floor will be installed for an existing pool, essential to raise the animals safely to the water line to administer medical care and treatment and perform health checks. The existing decking structure around the current pools will also be modified to provide better access to the manatees by the animal care team. The enhancements will double the size of the manatee critical care space at SeaWorld's rescue center in Orlando. "Working closely with organizations like SeaWorld, the FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and all the other partners in conservation of manatees is vital to mitigating the impact of the emergency and ensuring the recovery of the species" said Leopoldo Miranda-Castro, Regional Director, South-Atlantic and Mississippi Basin Regions, US Fish & Wildlife Service. "SeaWorld is always on, 24/7, coming to the aid of animals in need and we know that this commitment along with their experience and exceptional animal care means those needing treatment have a fighting chance at survival in the wild." The expansion plans were announced today at a press conference on the important public / private partnership underway to save the manatee. It included speakers from various state and federal wildlife agencies and FloridaCongressman Darren Soto who co-introduced bipartisan legislation to grant manatees the highest level of federal protection available. "Our State's official marine animal – the manatee – has a special place in every Floridian's heart. I'd like to thank SeaWorld and other MRP partners for all they do to help rescue animals in need and provide the best care and rehabilitation possible to successfully get them back into coastal waters," said Florida Congressman Darren Soto. "I hear consistently from my constituents that helping manatees is an issue of high importance to them. Therefore, the Manatee Protection Act is yet another important way we can help by granting the manatee the highest level of federal protection possible." The new pools are being fabricated now and will be operational in July 2022. Other aspects of the buildout will be ongoing. All projects are expected to be completed by early 2023. SeaWorld Commitment to Saving the Manatee Since 1976, SeaWorld has helped ill, orphaned, and injured manatees with the Florida team alone having rescued and rehabilitated more than 800 manatees to date. SeaWorld's five-acre rescue center in Orlando is one of the largest spaces available and serves as one of only five critical care facilities in the U.S. for the treatment and care of injured, sick, and orphaned animals, including manatees. Last month it added five 40-foot temporary emergency pools to make space for more critical care animals. The temporary pools will be replaced by a new permanent three pool complex, doubling the capacity at SeaWorld's Orlandorescue center to care for up to 60 manatees at a time, giving it the largest capacity in the state of Florida and in the U.S. SeaWorld's rescue facilities have a wide range of critical care amenities including lifting floors, top-of-the-line therapeutic and diagnostic equipment, and expert veterinary and animal care staff. SeaWorld also is credited for life-saving innovations in animal care and treatment for manatees that includes developing a special baby manatee formula adaptable to meet each individual nursing calf's requirements and creating a hand-feeding baby bottle that imitates a mother manatee. SeaWorld pioneered manatee treatment techniques including ultrasound, anesthesia, X-rays, surgery, and thermography; SeaWorld veterinarians were also the first to put a cast on an injured manatee.

Get ready for the thunder Central Florida, The Sunshine State’s hottest fall party of ‘22 is happening October 21 – 23, 2022 at the Osceola Heritage Center in Kissimmee, and it’s going to be a weekend you just can't afford to miss! Headlining this year's festival is three genuine showstoppers, first up is one of country music’s hottest new superstars Morgan Wallen, then we have one of the biggest-selling artists in country music history Jason Aldean, along with country music's nonstop hit machine Chris Young! “Country Thunder Florida has become the biggest country music event in Central Florida and we have these fans to thank,” says Country Thunder Music Festivals CEO, Troy Vollhoffer. “We had an amazing festival last fall with Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and Old Dominion. We knew we had to up the ante and deliver the biggest and best artist roster possible. This is the line-up those fans have asked for, and we’re thrilled to give it to them.” As if all that wasn’t enough, sharing the stage is red-hot country stars Ashley McBryde, Chase Rice, Granger Smith feat. Earl Dibbles, Jr., and Tracy Lawrence. The stellar lineup continues with Laney Wilson, James Barker Band, Lindsay Ell, Kameron Marlowe, Clay Walker, and many more will fill out this incredibly stacked lineup! Single-day tickets, three-day passes, reserved seating, platinum, camping and all the extras are available now! For more details, and to purchase tickets head to the official website. www.countrythunder.com/FL

Great news! In a sign that The Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction is opening soon, the ride has been added to the My Disney Experience digital map on both the app and on the Walt Disney World website. The addition of the attraction comes approximately two months before the expected official opening in time for Memorial Day Weekend, although soft openings are likely in early May, if not sooner! We cannot wait!

Great news for fans of Blink-182, the rock groups hit songs ‘All The Small Things’ and ‘What’s My Age Again’ are now both now available as secret song selections on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida. Initially, Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus revealed on Twitter that the songs would only be available as secret selections for two days only. (posted on the 19th March) “BLINK-182 SONGS ARE NOW ON THE SECRET MENU OF THE HOLLYWOOD RIP RIDE ROCKET [ROCKIT] AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO TODAY AND TOMORROW. ASK FOR US BY NAME!” Mark Hoppus The next day on the 20th March, Hoppus tweeted that the two songs had become permanent secret selections. "WHAT’S MY AGE AGAIN AND ALL THE SMALL THINGS ARE IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION OF THE RIP RIDE ROCKIT AT UNIVERSAL FLORIDA!!!” Mark Hoppus Just a reminder that guests on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit can select a song to play as the soundtrack for their ride. There are approximately 30 songs on the regular selection list, but there are several secret tracks that guests need a three-digit code to access. Here is the codes for the newly added Blink-182 songs: 182 – ‘All The Small Things’ 183 – ‘What’s My Age Again'

The Target store at 11619 Daryl Carter Parkway has filed site plans to expand to nearly double its size. The expansion would add an additional 52,460 square feet to the 66,983-square-foot store at Vineland Pointe. The store opened as the first-ever small-format Target in August 2020. The store currently features: Apparel and accessories for the whole family Home décor and essentials An assortment of health, personal care, and beauty products Grab-and-go groceries and fresh produce Adult beverage assortment Starbucks CVS Pharmacy Order pickup and drive up

Walt Disney World has updated its online calendar with all four theme parks have receiving extended park hours in early April. Here is the latest changes: Magic Kingdom April 3-9: Park hours extended 9am to 11pm (previously 9am to 9pm) EPCOT April 4-9: Park hours extended 8:30am to 9pm (previously 10am to 9pm) Disney’s Hollywood Studios April 3: Park hours extended 8:30am to 9pm (previously 9am to 9pm) April 4-5, 7-9: Park hours extended 8am to 9pm (previously 9am to 9pm) April 6: Park hours extended 8am to 5pm (previously 9am to 5pm) (DHS closing early) Disney’s Animal Kingdom April 3-9: Park hours extended 7:30am to 8:30pm (previously 9am to 7pm)

Space 220 Restaurant at EPCOT, Walt Disney World Resorts out-of-this-world dining experience has an updated menu for the spring which includes some delicious new menu items. There are new menu items at the Space 220 Restaurant in EPCOT. Here’s a rundown! Steak Salad Marinated Filet Tips, Iceberg Wedges, Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes, Chives, Blue Cheese Crumble and Horseradish Dressing. Available as a Star Course (Entrée) option for lunch only. Quinoa Burger Quinoa-Vegetable Burger, Baby Arugula, Tomato, Yellow Beet Citrus and Mayonnaise. Available as a Star Course (Entrée) option for lunch only. Short Cake Matcha Air Cake, Mascarpone Mousse and Strawberries. Available as a Supernova Sweets (dessert) option for three-course prix fixe dinner, or $14 add-on to two-course prix fixe lunch. Shrimp Cocktail U 10 Shrimp and Classic Horseradish Cocktail Sauce. Available on the Flight Bites lounge menu. Space Glazed Duck Breast Fried Jasmine Rice, Asparagus, Pineapple and Orange Hoisin Sauce. Available as a Star Course (Entrée) option for dinner only. In addition to brand new items, some favorite dishes have been given upgrades, with new flavors and ingredients: Florida Red Snapper Pan Seared Red Snapper, Fennel Barigoule and Potato Stew. Available as a Star Course (Entrée) option for dinner only. Space Greens Dressing made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Cointreau, Thyme Simple Syrup, Strawberry and Fresh Lemon Juice. Available as a Lift-Off (appetizer) option for lunch and dinner. Supreme Chicken Breast Seared Chicken Breast, Polenta Parmesan Cake, Petite Balsamic Lentils and Basil Oil. Available as a Star Course (Entrée) option for lunch and dinner. The following items have been removed from the menu: Bluehouse salmon, flat iron steak, roasted free-range chicken, baked maccheroni, galactic lobster globe, and Brussels sprouts. New Cocktails New cocktails include the Celestian Cosmopolitan, Orion Old Fashion, Stratosphere Strawberry Lemonade, The Big Tang, The Nebula, and Atmospritz. Chardonnay Rombauer Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc Duckhorn, and Tempranillo Camp Viejo have been added to the wines list.

Disney has announced an exciting milestone for their White Rhino siblings Ranger, Mylo and Logan at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The park's team of animal care experts have now introduced four month old Logan to the savanna at Kilimanjaro Safaris. The magical moment was extra special, as it was the first time rhino siblings Ranger, Mylo and Logan were out together, and guests in the park were able to see this adorable trio in action. Ranger marked the first white rhino birth at Walt Disney World Resort in five years in October 2020, with Mylo joining the crash (herd) in September 2021. Logan, born in November 2021 and aptly named after her mom Lola and dad Dugan, is the youngest of the three southern white rhinos born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. These successful rhino births are a major achievement for Animal kingdom's team and the rhino population in managed care. All three rhinos allow them to learn more about this incredible species, and these learnings can be shared to benefit rhinos worldwide. A Disney spokesperson commented "It takes a lot of teamwork to bring one rhino to the savanna – let alone three for the first time in the park’s history! As incredible as it is to see three rhino calves roaming around together, what is truly amazing is our Animals, Science and Environment team that helped make it a reality starting more than two years ago. The coordination of our scientists, veterinarians, animal keepers and so many other cast members was crucial to this success story." The team of animal care experts at Disney's Animal Kingdom have explained the teamwork that goes into the process: Selection through the Species Survival Plan The process begins with lots of planning and logistical preparation. Many factors influence the pairing of rhinos through the Species Survival Plan overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to ensure the responsible breeding of endangered and threatened species in managed care. The genetic diversity of the rhinos selected is one of the most important factors, and pairing genetically unrelated individuals helps ensure a healthy animal population for generations. Animal Nutrition Our team of animal nutritionists monitor the diets of all animals in our care to ensure they receive the nutrients they need. Once the rhinos are paired, their diets can be further adjusted as needed for pregnancy, lactation and growth. Endocrinology Before any introductions are made, our team of animal endocrinologists monitor specific hormone patterns that change after ovulation and throughout the rhinos’ pregnancy. This tracking is possible because the rhinos are trained to voluntarily participate in their own care, allowing our team to collect blood samples and feces to monitor hormones related to ovulation and pregnancy. Once the appropriate timing is determined, breeding can begin through a carefully controlled process. Veterinary Care Our animal health team works with endocrinologists and animal keepers to monitor the animals throughout their long pregnancies. Quick fact – rhinos have one of the longest gestation periods of any animal! During this approximately 16 to 18 months, the health of the mom and baby are monitored through regular checkups and ultrasounds. Through these ultrasounds, the team was able to watch Logan grow from a ball of cells to the 160 pounds she weighed at birth. Animal Care and Training Through training sessions, our animal care experts work with each mom individually to participate in regular checkups throughout her pregnancy. This helps ensure the health of mom and baby. Once the rhino calf is born, mom and baby will spend months backstage bonding. During this crucial time, the keepers will ensure the calf is nursing and growing. This time also allows keepers to focus on each animal and teach important training behaviors so the baby rhino is set up for success and social life on the savanna. Once the calf is ready, keepers work with the rhino calves to slowly introduce them to the rhino crash and the many other animals on the savanna. Rhino Conservation White rhinos are a very social species, and they’re constantly learning from each other. Just as they pass along important behaviors like sparring and wallowing in the mud, with each successful rhino birth our team is able to better understand and share vital information on the many dynamics of rhino fertility. These learning experiences lead to an even higher quality of care for this special species and can be put into practice to help future rhinos born in managed care as well as their counterparts found in their range countries.

Journey To Atlantis has reopened at SeaWorld Orlando after a major refurbishment that saw the ride closed to guests for more than one month. The ride is looking great now that it's back up and running again. During its refurbishment, Journey To Atlantis received some much needed love and attention, including a track refresh, with new track! We cant wait to ride again soon!

Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared more details about the upcoming Connections Cafe and Eatery on his Instagram account, including that Connections will be the future home of Starbucks at EPCOT. Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared a new piece of concept art giving us another look inside the soon-to-open Connections Café in World Celebration at EPCOT. Along with sharing the new art, it has also been confirmed that EPCOT's new Starbucks will be located inside Connections Café. This is the first time that Disney has made mention of the new Starbucks, and that it will not be a stand-alone store within the park.

Getting your Shake Shack burger fix here in Orlando is gonna get a lot more convenient! Shake Shack is opening its first drive-thru location in Florida right here in Orlando, and it's only the fourth drive-thru location for the company in the country. The new location will open on Thursday, March 22 at 11637 Daryl Carter Parkway, part of the Vineland Pointe shopping and entertainment center. Daily hours will be Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. The restaurant will feature a digital menu board, a two-lane ordering system and a separate pick-up window and kitchen for drive-thru orders. Guests will be able to order directly in the drive-thru lanes or order ahead via its mobile app or website. This will be the fifth Shake Shack to open in the Orlando area and will feature a split kitchen, one for dine-in and one dedicated to drive-thru customers. The company debuted its first drive-thru location in Minnesota in December 2021. Shake Shack said it plans to open at least 10 more drive-thru locations in 2022 among the 45 to 50 new stores it hopes to open this year.

We are so excited! The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announced its latest lineup for the Broadway in Orlando 2022/2023 season, and what an amazing lineup it is! The season will bring the best of Broadway to the Walt Disney Theater, include eight new and two previously announced shows, including Hamilton, SIX, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Pretty Woman: The Musical, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Chicago, My Fair Lady and Beetlejuice. Plus, The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts said current subscribers will also have first access to “Wicked” and “Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show” as season options. Broadway in Orlando subscribers must renew by Friday, April 15. New subscriptions will go on sale later this spring. Anyone interested can join the waitlist at BroadwayInOrlando.com to be among the first in line for new subscriptions. The 2022/2023 series will be presented by Dr. Phillips Center in partnership with Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America, organizers said. “We are thrilled to be bringing more Broadway shows than ever to Orlando this upcoming season. We appreciate the support and loyalty from our subscribers and look forward to welcoming new audiences to the Dr. Phillips Center,” said Susie Krajsa, president of Broadway Across America. 2022/2023 Schedule: SIX: October 4-9, 2022 Hamilton: October 26-November 20, 2022 Tina – The Tina Turner Musical : January 10-15, 2023 Riverdance: 25th Anniversary Show: January 20-22, 2023 (season option) Wicked: January 25-February 12, 2023 (season option) Pretty Woman: The Musical: February 28-March 5, 2023 Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: March 21-26, 2023 Chicago: April 18-23, 2023 My Fair Lady : May 9-14, 2023 Beetlejuice: June 27-July 2, 2023