Not one, but four popular Central Florida Zoo's have been nominated as having the best zoo exhibit in North America. by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards asked a panel of zoo professionals and family travel experts to nominate their favorite animal exhibits in North America, and now the awards need you to choose a winner from the shortlist of exhibits from across the country. The Maharajah Jungle Trek in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Busch Gardens Animal Care Center, Myombe Reserve also at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Kayaking Tour at Brevard Zoo, and The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center at Zoo Tampa are all nominated in this year's awards. The overall winner from the shortlist will be determined by a public vote. Voting is open now and you can help your favourite by voting once per day through Monday, March 6 at all the links below. The winning exhibit will be announced on Friday, March 17 Maharajah Jungle Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom The Maharajah Jungle Trek in Disney's Animal Kingdom is a highlight of a Disney World vacation for many adventure lovers. It’s located in the Asia area of the theme park, and guests of all ages are allowed to wander the trails and try to spot Asian tigers, water buffalo, gibbons, blackbucks and Malayan flying foxes, among other animals. Visitors should keep an eye out for over 50 species of birds, too. You can help Disney's Animal Kingdom to win by voting here. Busch Gardens Animal Care Center While Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is most famously known as an amusement park filled with thrill rides, the Tampa location is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and offers abundant animal encounters as well. The Animal Care Center at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay allows visitors to observe and even participate in the animal care experience, from "nutrition to treatments, X-rays to surgeries." You can help Busch Gardens to win by voting here. Myombe Reserve at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay The Myombe Reserve exhibit at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay gives visitors a close-up glimpse into the behaviors and habits of gorillas and chimpanzees. Guests can observe these great apes and learn more about the traits they share with people. You can help Busch Gardens to win by voting here. Kayaking Tour at Brevard Zoo Brevard Zoo is the only one in the United States to offer a guided kayaking tour around an animal exhibit. Family members ages five and up can enjoy a guided trip on the Nyami Nyami River in the Brevard Zoo’s Expedition Africa exhibit, floating past giraffes, ostriches, impalas, lemurs, zebras and more. Take a self-guided kayak tour through the restored Wetlands area in the Wild Florida exhibit for a more adventurous trip. You can help Brevard Zoo to win by voting here. David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center The David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center at Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park has been helping manatees since it was founded in 1991. It was the first manatee critical care center ever built specifically to care manatees who are injured or ill. Guests can observe the rehabilitation process in the recovery pools of Manatee Mangrove, and the non-profit organization hopes to inspire young people to protect these creatures. You can help Zoo Tampa to win by voting here.

Today, Thursday, February 9, Florida lawmakers passed the 189 page bill, House Bill 9B which proposes for the State of Florida to effectively take over and rename Reedy Creek Improvement District has passed the Florida House of Representatives. The fast tracked bill passed 82-31. The bill will now move to the Florida Senate within the next 36 hours, and could quite possibly be on Gov DeSantis desk by the end of the week if it passes the chamber, when DeSantis is expected to sign it. Also, the amendments that were proposed by Rep. Eskamani and Rep. Harris, who were seeking to change the language of the bill to ultimately prevent too much power falling into the hands of Gov DeSantis failed. The189 page bill, House Bill 9B would see Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District re-named the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, a government-controlled district that would elect a board of supervisors, who would then be expected to propose a list of changes to the district’s power within one year. The bill states that all 5 board members would be personally approved by DeSantis, with confirmation from the senate. Plus, anyone who has been a theme park employee, officer or director in the past three years would be prohibited from serving on the board, along with their relatives, meaning DeSantis will have a large say in the future of Walt Disney World, via the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. In effect, Disney will lose control of the district upon the creation of the board of supervisors, whom are selected exclusively by DeSantis.

On, Monday, February 6, Florida lawmakers took part in special session to discuss the governments proposed takeover of Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District. A 189 page bill, House Bill 9B confirmed that the Reedy Creek Improvement District would not be dissolved on June 1 as previously announced. Instead, it will be re-named the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, a government-controlled district that would elect a board of supervisors, who would then be expected to propose a list of changes to the district’s power within one year. The bill states that all 5 board members would be personally approved by DeSantis, with confirmation from the senate. Plus, anyone who has been a theme park employee, officer or director in the past three years would be prohibited from serving on the board, along with their relatives, meaning DeSantis will have a large say in the future of Walt Disney World, via the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. In effect, Disney will lose control of the district upon the creation of the board of supervisors, whom are selected exclusively by DeSantis. The latest today, Wednesday, February 8 Ahead of a State Affairs Committee meeting that will take place at 2 pm today, various representatives have proposed a number of amendments to House Bill 9B – the bill detailing how the State of Florida seeks to take over the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The amendments are being proposed by Rep. Eskamani and Rep. Harris,who are seeking to change the language of the bill to ultimately prevent too much power falling into the hands of Gov DeSantis. One of the new proposed amendments expands the board from five to seven. Three members would be appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the Senate. The other seats would be for the mayor of Orange County, the mayor of Orlando, the mayor of Kissimmee, and the chair of the Osceola Board of Country Commissioners. Other proposed amendments further limit who can be appointed to the board of directors. They would not allow people who have previously contributed to a political committee affiliated with the governor or to the governor’s re-election campaign. Board members would not be allowed to have held elected office in the ten years preceding their appointment nor have been an elevated official in the past ten years. Another amendment also ensures the governor would not be able to appoint people based on bribes: The Governor, on his or her own behalf or on behalf of any other person, may not accept anything of value, including, but not limited to, campaign contributions or transportation free of charge on privately owned aircraft, from a vendor, contractor, company, or other person financially affiliated with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. After the details of the189 page bill, House Bill 9B were made public on Monday, Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle has issued a short statemen “We are monitoring the progression of the draft legislation, which is complex given the long history of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney works under a number of different models and jurisdictions around the world, and regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to providing the highest quality experience for the millions of guests who visit each year,” On face value, the statement appears to play down the impact of the proposed changes, and for now it's very much business as usual at Walt Disney World. The Reedy Creek Improvement District is a special purpose district created by state law in May 1967 that gives The Walt Disney Company governmental control over the land in and around its central Florida theme parks. At the time, the land Walt Disney wanted to build his Kingdom on was little more than uninhabited pasture and swamp, but Orange and Osceola Counties did not have the services or resources needed to bring the project to life, so the state legislature worked with Disney to establish the Reedy Creek Improvement District. This allowed Disney to get the money and resources needed to build Walt Disney World without constantly going through local governments, and turning the pastures and swamps into what we now know as Walt Disney World Resort. Through the act, landowners within the district, including Walt Disney World, are solely responsible for paying the cost of providing municipal services. That is, local taxpayers do not have to pay for these services. The district essentially acts as its own county government and encompasses the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista. Disney currently has responsibility for providing municipal services like power, water, roads and fire protection – but are freed from dealing with legal red tape or paying taxes for services that benefited the broader public.

MegaCon Orlando organizers have announced yet another big name that's coming to this years event at the Orange County Convention Center, and it's the chosen one! The most powerful Jedi, Anakin Skywalker will be bringing the Force to Orlando as Star Wars legend Hayden Christensen will be appearing at this year's event. Hayden first appeared in the prequel trilogy films, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005), and later reprised his role with a voice cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and as the main antagonist in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022). He will also reprise his role in the upcoming Disney+ series Ahsoka (2023). Keep scrolling for a full rundown on all the celebrities appearing at this year's MegaCon Orlando. Rosario Dawson, star of amazing shows & movies like Daredevil, Clerks 3, Rent, Sin City, and Unstoppable will also be at this year's MegaCon Orlando. Dawson is also known for her role as the fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano in season 2 of The Mandalorian, and will headline her own show later this year, Star Wars: Ahsoka. Another huge name heading to this year's MegaCon Orlando is Scottish actor and Hollywood superstar James McAvoy. McAvoy is currently starring in the HBO fantasy series His Dark Materials, and will be known to many as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series. Also confirmed for this year's event is familiar faces from Wes Craven slasher-horror classic Scream. Neve Campbell Campbell rose to international prominence for starring as Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven's slasher filmScream (1996), which emerged as a critical and commercial success—becoming the highest grossing slasher film for over 20 years—and obtained a cult following. The success of the film spawned the Scream franchise, for which she reprised the role in the series' second (1997), third (2000), fourth (2011) and fifth(2022) installments, playing the role for 25 years. Also announced from the Scream franchise are: Jamie Kennedy Jamie came to prominence in the late 1990s for playing Randy Meeks in the Scream film series Matthew Lillard Matthew is know for his role as Stu Macher in the horror film Scream. Skeet Ulrich iSkeet played the character Billy Loomis in Scream (1996), and then he reprised his Scream role in the sequel. Star of the comedy classic movie series National Lampoon, Chevy Chase is coming on a vacation to Orlando! Chase also been a staple of Saturday Night Live, where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a highlight of the show. Chase has earned three Primetime Emmy Awards out of five nominations and two Golden Globe Award nominations. Chase has starred in some of the best loved comedies of our generation, including portraying Clark W. Griswold in five National Lampoon's Vacation films including Vacation , European Vacation, Christmas Vacation, and Vegas Vacation. He also played Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in Fletch and its sequel Fletch Lives. He also starred in Caddyshack, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos!, and Hot Tub Time Machine. This year's MegaCon Orlando has a growing list of celebrities all coming to this year's event at the Orange County Convention Center. Charlie Hunnam is well known for his roles as Jackson "Jax" Teller in the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series is coming! He has also had roles include Green Street, Undeclared, the title role in Nicholas Nickleby, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, The Lost City of Z, and in the title role of Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Also announced for this year's MegaCon Orlando is Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy nominee Christina Ricci. Ricci is currently starring in Netflix hit Wednesday, and was seen in the Amazon original series Z: The Beginning of Everything, for which she also served as a producer. she also played the title character in the television series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, for which she earned a SAG Award nomination. She has also starred in many films including Mermaids, The Addams Family, Casper, The Smurfs 2, Speed Racer and more. Another guest is Vincent D’Onofrio, well known for his roles in both film and television. His credits include Full Metal Jacket, Men in Black, The Cell, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Jurassic World. D’Onofrio is well know for his portrayal of Kingpin across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Henry Winkler is also attending this years MegaCon, Winkler is an American actor, comedian, author, executive producer, and director, although of course he is best known for his portrayal of Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the American television series Happy Days. Also announced is Harry Power star Matthew Lewis, best known for portraying Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, best know to fans of Saved by the Bell as Zack Morris will also be in attendance at this years convention. Gates McFadden best known for playing Dr. Beverly Crusher in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series and in the four subsequent films will also be attending this years MegaCon. Another big name coming to Orlando for MegaCon this year is Sean Gunn, best know for playing Kraglin Obfonteri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this role, he has been in the films Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder , the television film The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and the upcoming film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 . He also played Weasel and Calendar Man in the Warner Bros./DCEU film The Suicide Squad. Brec Bassinger has also announced for this years MegaCon! Bassinger is best know for playing the titular role in the series Stargirl from DC Universe and The CW. Legendary director Sam Raimi is also appearing at this year's MegaCon Orlando. Raimi is the man behind your fave films, known for directing the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007) and the Evil Dead franchise (1981–present). He also directed the 1990 superhero film Darkman, the 1995 revisionist western The Quick and the Dead, the 1998 neo-noir crime-thriller A Simple Plan, the 2000 supernatural thriller film The Gift, the 2009 supernatural horror film Drag Me to Hell, and the 2013 Disney fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful. Raimi has also produced several successful television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess. He founded the production company Renaissance Pictures in 1979 and Ghost House Pictures in 2002. His latest film, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, was released on May 6, 2022, becoming his highest grossing film at the box office. Also announced for this years convention is a bounty of six Star Wars legends. Carl Weathers (Greef Karga), Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon), Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan Kryze) and Emily Swallow (The Armorer) from The Mandalorian, Vivien Lyra Blair, who played young Princess Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ashley Eckstein, who played Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars animated series. MegaCon Orlando have also announced that the original and much loved host of Blues Clues, Steve Burns is heading to Orlando for this year's MegaCon. He is best known as the original host of the long-running children's preschool television program Blue's Clues from 1996 until 2002, for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2001. With tickets now on sale, Anson Mount (Captain Christopher Pike) and Ethan Peck (Spock) from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, are coming to this years MegaCon Orlando Anson Mount is an American actor known for his television roles as fictional character Cullen Bohannon in the AMC western drama series Hell on Wheels, Jim Steele on NBC series Conviction, the Marvel Comics superhero Black Bolt in Marvel's Inhumans, and Captain Christopher Pike in season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery. Ethan Peck is an American actor currently playing Spock in the second season of Star Trek: Discovery. He is the grandson of a Hollywood legend, Gregory Peck. More recently he accepted the role of Herman Ackermann on the series Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels. MEGACON Orlando is one of North America's largest largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event that attracts hundreds of thousands of people across four BIG days. Every year, MEGACON Orlando offers exciting family-friendly attractions, events, and world-renowned Celebrities! Everyone is a fan of something, and MEGACON Orlando is the place to celebrate all things pop culture. Get an autograph or a photo with your favorite guest, and then get the inside scoop about your favorite movies and TV shows at our celebrity panels! Watch professional comic artists battle it out in our popular Sketch Duels, learn from our “How To” workshops, and take photos with your favorite costumed characters! It’s also a great place to buy a unique gift (or treat yourself!) with a huge show floor for shopping madness. HIGHLIGHTS: CELEBRITY PHOTO OPS Don’t miss out on the chance of a lifetime to meet you favorite celebrity and have the moment captured by a professional photographer. This is the only way to get a beautiful 8x10 glossy photo of you with one of our guests in an intimate setting. AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS An autograph is the perfect opportunity to get that special something signed by your favorite celebrity. Be sure to check out the full schedule so you don’t miss out on any of your faves! ARTIST ALLEY Indie meets pro in this special area where you will find all your favorite pencillers, inkers and writers. This is a ”must experience" area for anyone interested in meeting rising stars and those who work the front lines of the industry! Here you’ll find it all – comics, graphic novels, limited edition prints and best of all, original art and sketches. You’ll also find crafters and makers, all with a nerdy slant to their designs and creations. COSPLAY RED CARPET Get ready for the Cosplay Red Carpet! There's no pre-registration, no competition & no stress! Walk the red carpet and show off your costume in front of adoring fans. Every participant will get a free photo taken by Jeff Jenkins Photography, MEGACON’s official Cosplay Red Carpet Photographer. OVER 400,000 SQ FT OF SHOPPING MADNESS! More than 1,000 retailers join MEGACON Orlando to make your experience an unforgettable one! Specializing in everything comics, anime, gaming, science fiction and horror, these retailers are guaranteed to have what you need. FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! Our event prides itself on having so many amazing activities and attractions that are family oriented. Spend the day with the whole family as you meet your favorite Superheroes, Princesses and voice actors. You can even enter the Cosplay Costume Contest as a family! COMMUNITY ZONE Whether you're a Whovian or Jedi, a cosplayer or crafter, the Community Zone is where you find people who share your fandom! Find out about local clubs, get up close to movie props, test your trivia, and snap photos galore with fans who are excited as you are to get together. PANELS, WORKSHOPS & SEMINAR From Celebrity Q&A’s, fan club presentations, hands-on workshops and screening rooms, there’s hundreds of hours of programming available for every fandom. The best part? It’s free with your admission ticket. Check the daily schedule to find out when and where the fun happens. COSTUMES! COSTUMES! COSTUMES! Fans dressing up in costumes (also known as cosplay) is a huge part of the show! Literally thousands of amazing costumes are available for your viewing pleasure throughout the weekend. Don’t be shy: ask for a photo with your favorite characters or come dressed up yourself. MEET LEGENDARY COMIC BOOK CREATORS Comics Legends, Professional Comic Book artists, and writers will be with us all weekend. Be sure to drop by the Artist Alley to meet them and see their amazing work! MEET YOUR FAVORITE VOICE ACTORS The actors that voice your favorite animated characters will be at our show to sign autographs, pose for photos and meet with their fans. They have developed a well-deserved reputation for being super-friendly and enthusiastic! COSPLAY PHOTO PARK Snap the best shot with the coolest background at our Photo Park. From outer space to enchanted lands, there’s a setting for everyone. COSPLAY MEET UPS Meet like-minded fans and get a picture to remember at a themed cosplay meet up. Watch for a schedule of specific fandom meet-ups closer to show time.

Hot on the heels of announcing that Hollywood superstar James McAvoy and the cast of Scream were heading to this year's MegaCon Orlando, organisers have revealed yet another huge name set to appear at this year's convention which is taking place, March 30 through until April 2, at the Orange County Convention Center. Rosario Dawson is the star of so many amazing shows and movies like Daredevil, Clerks 3, Rent, Sin City, and Unstoppable. Dawson is also known for her role as the fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano in season 2 of The Mandalorian, and will headline her own show later this year, Star Wars: Ahsoka. Another huge name heading to this year's MegaCon Orlando is Scottish actor and Hollywood superstar James McAvoy. McAvoy is currently starring in the HBO fantasy series His Dark Materials, and will be known to many as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men series. Also confirmed for this year's event is familiar faces from Wes Craven slasher-horror classic Scream. Neve Campbell Campbell rose to international prominence for starring as Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven's slasher filmScream (1996), which emerged as a critical and commercial success—becoming the highest grossing slasher film for over 20 years—and obtained a cult following. The success of the film spawned the Scream franchise, for which she reprised the role in the series' second (1997), third (2000), fourth (2011) and fifth(2022) installments, playing the role for 25 years. Also announced from the Scream franchise are: Jamie Kennedy Jamie came to prominence in the late 1990s for playing Randy Meeks in the Scream film series Matthew Lillard Matthew is know for his role as Stu Macher in the horror film Scream. Skeet Ulrich iSkeet played the character Billy Loomis in Scream (1996), and then he reprised his Scream role in the sequel. Star of the comedy classic movie series National Lampoon, Chevy Chase is coming on a vacation to Orlando! Chase also been a staple of Saturday Night Live, where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a highlight of the show. Chase has earned three Primetime Emmy Awards out of five nominations and two Golden Globe Award nominations. Chase has starred in some of the best loved comedies of our generation, including portraying Clark W. Griswold in five National Lampoon's Vacation films including Vacation , European Vacation, Christmas Vacation, and Vegas Vacation. He also played Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher in Fletch and its sequel Fletch Lives. He also starred in Caddyshack, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos!, and Hot Tub Time Machine. This year's MegaCon Orlando has a growing list of celebrities all coming to this year's event at the Orange County Convention Center. Charlie Hunnam is well known for his roles as Jackson "Jax" Teller in the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series is coming! He has also had roles include Green Street, Undeclared, the title role in Nicholas Nickleby, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, The Lost City of Z, and in the title role of Guy Ritchie's King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Also announced for this year's MegaCon Orlando is Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy nominee Christina Ricci. Ricci is currently starring in Netflix hit Wednesday, and was seen in the Amazon original series Z: The Beginning of Everything, for which she also served as a producer. she also played the title character in the television series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, for which she earned a SAG Award nomination. She has also starred in many films including Mermaids, The Addams Family, Casper, The Smurfs 2, Speed Racer and more. Another guest is Vincent D’Onofrio, well known for his roles in both film and television. His credits include Full Metal Jacket, Men in Black, The Cell, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Jurassic World. D’Onofrio is well know for his portrayal of Kingpin across the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Henry Winkler is also attending this years MegaCon, Winkler is an American actor, comedian, author, executive producer, and director, although of course he is best known for his portrayal of Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the American television series Happy Days. Also announced is Harry Power star Matthew Lewis, best known for portraying Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, best know to fans of Saved by the Bell as Zack Morris will also be in attendance at this years convention. Gates McFadden best known for playing Dr. Beverly Crusher in the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series and in the four subsequent films will also be attending this years MegaCon. Another big name coming to Orlando for MegaCon this year is Sean Gunn, best know for playing Kraglin Obfonteri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this role, he has been in the films Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder , the television film The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and the upcoming film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 . He also played Weasel and Calendar Man in the Warner Bros./DCEU film The Suicide Squad. Brec Bassinger has also announced for this years MegaCon! Bassinger is best know for playing the titular role in the series Stargirl from DC Universe and The CW. Legendary director Sam Raimi is also appearing at this year's MegaCon Orlando. Raimi is the man behind your fave films, known for directing the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007) and the Evil Dead franchise (1981–present). He also directed the 1990 superhero film Darkman, the 1995 revisionist western The Quick and the Dead, the 1998 neo-noir crime-thriller A Simple Plan, the 2000 supernatural thriller film The Gift, the 2009 supernatural horror film Drag Me to Hell, and the 2013 Disney fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful. Raimi has also produced several successful television series, including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess. He founded the production company Renaissance Pictures in 1979 and Ghost House Pictures in 2002. His latest film, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, was released on May 6, 2022, becoming his highest grossing film at the box office. Also announced for this years convention is a bounty of six Star Wars legends. Carl Weathers (Greef Karga), Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon), Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan Kryze) and Emily Swallow (The Armorer) from The Mandalorian, Vivien Lyra Blair, who played young Princess Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ashley Eckstein, who played Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars animated series. MegaCon Orlando have also announced that the original and much loved host of Blues Clues, Steve Burns is heading to Orlando for this year's MegaCon. He is best known as the original host of the long-running children's preschool television program Blue's Clues from 1996 until 2002, for which he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2001. With tickets now on sale, Anson Mount (Captain Christopher Pike) and Ethan Peck (Spock) from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, are coming to this years MegaCon Orlando Anson Mount is an American actor known for his television roles as fictional character Cullen Bohannon in the AMC western drama series Hell on Wheels, Jim Steele on NBC series Conviction, the Marvel Comics superhero Black Bolt in Marvel's Inhumans, and Captain Christopher Pike in season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery. Ethan Peck is an American actor currently playing Spock in the second season of Star Trek: Discovery. He is the grandson of a Hollywood legend, Gregory Peck. More recently he accepted the role of Herman Ackermann on the series Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels. MEGACON Orlando is one of North America's largest largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event that attracts hundreds of thousands of people across four BIG days. Every year, MEGACON Orlando offers exciting family-friendly attractions, events, and world-renowned Celebrities! Everyone is a fan of something, and MEGACON Orlando is the place to celebrate all things pop culture. Get an autograph or a photo with your favorite guest, and then get the inside scoop about your favorite movies and TV shows at our celebrity panels! Watch professional comic artists battle it out in our popular Sketch Duels, learn from our “How To” workshops, and take photos with your favorite costumed characters! It’s also a great place to buy a unique gift (or treat yourself!) with a huge show floor for shopping madness. HIGHLIGHTS: CELEBRITY PHOTO OPS Don’t miss out on the chance of a lifetime to meet you favorite celebrity and have the moment captured by a professional photographer. This is the only way to get a beautiful 8x10 glossy photo of you with one of our guests in an intimate setting. AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS An autograph is the perfect opportunity to get that special something signed by your favorite celebrity. Be sure to check out the full schedule so you don’t miss out on any of your faves! ARTIST ALLEY Indie meets pro in this special area where you will find all your favorite pencillers, inkers and writers. This is a ”must experience" area for anyone interested in meeting rising stars and those who work the front lines of the industry! Here you’ll find it all – comics, graphic novels, limited edition prints and best of all, original art and sketches. You’ll also find crafters and makers, all with a nerdy slant to their designs and creations. COSPLAY RED CARPET Get ready for the Cosplay Red Carpet! There's no pre-registration, no competition & no stress! Walk the red carpet and show off your costume in front of adoring fans. Every participant will get a free photo taken by Jeff Jenkins Photography, MEGACON’s official Cosplay Red Carpet Photographer. OVER 400,000 SQ FT OF SHOPPING MADNESS! More than 1,000 retailers join MEGACON Orlando to make your experience an unforgettable one! Specializing in everything comics, anime, gaming, science fiction and horror, these retailers are guaranteed to have what you need. FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! Our event prides itself on having so many amazing activities and attractions that are family oriented. Spend the day with the whole family as you meet your favorite Superheroes, Princesses and voice actors. You can even enter the Cosplay Costume Contest as a family! COMMUNITY ZONE Whether you're a Whovian or Jedi, a cosplayer or crafter, the Community Zone is where you find people who share your fandom! Find out about local clubs, get up close to movie props, test your trivia, and snap photos galore with fans who are excited as you are to get together. PANELS, WORKSHOPS & SEMINAR From Celebrity Q&A’s, fan club presentations, hands-on workshops and screening rooms, there’s hundreds of hours of programming available for every fandom. The best part? It’s free with your admission ticket. Check the daily schedule to find out when and where the fun happens. COSTUMES! COSTUMES! COSTUMES! Fans dressing up in costumes (also known as cosplay) is a huge part of the show! Literally thousands of amazing costumes are available for your viewing pleasure throughout the weekend. Don’t be shy: ask for a photo with your favorite characters or come dressed up yourself. MEET LEGENDARY COMIC BOOK CREATORS Comics Legends, Professional Comic Book artists, and writers will be with us all weekend. Be sure to drop by the Artist Alley to meet them and see their amazing work! MEET YOUR FAVORITE VOICE ACTORS The actors that voice your favorite animated characters will be at our show to sign autographs, pose for photos and meet with their fans. They have developed a well-deserved reputation for being super-friendly and enthusiastic! COSPLAY PHOTO PARK Snap the best shot with the coolest background at our Photo Park. From outer space to enchanted lands, there’s a setting for everyone. COSPLAY MEET UPS Meet like-minded fans and get a picture to remember at a themed cosplay meet up. Watch for a schedule of specific fandom meet-ups closer to show time.

According to the National Confectioners Association (NCA), 92% of Americans plan to gift chocolate and candy to those they love next week for Valentine's Day - and in even better news, 93% of people polled said they would like that gift! The NCA projects 5% growth for the 2023 Valentine's Day season and, in all, the love holiday represents about $4 billion in confectionery sales annually. Locally, Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park offers the full gamut of specialty chocolate - chocolate hearts stuffed with chocolate covered popcorn, hand dipped chocolate covered strawberries, to baskets and samplers, and even custom gifts like wine bottles dipped in chocolate. Especially for Valentine's Day, Peterbrooke Chocolatier has released a variety of superbly delicious chocolates to celebrate every kind of love – from newlyweds to lovebirds, first crushes, friends, family, and even a favorite coworker. This year’s Valentine’s Day lineup includes everything from iconic chocolate covered strawberries to chocolate roses, silky chocolate hearts stuffed with chocolate covered popcorn, decadent truffles, artfully crafted boxes and baskets, and whimsical heart shaped treats as Peterbrooke celebrates love in all its forms. Wine or champagne bottles can also be custom dipped in chocolate so you can eat chocolate and drink together. “Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate friends and loved ones by showering them with love and their favorite Peterbrooke chocolates to show them how much you care,” said Francie Bey, Peterbrooke Chocolatier’s director of marketing. “Love comes in all shapes and sizes and we are thrilled to help guests share their love for others on Valentine’s Day through classic treats such as our chocolate dipped strawberries or through our signature and fully customizable chocolate dipped wine bottles.” Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park is located at 300 S. Park Ave. Winter Park. You can phone the store at 407-644-3200 or contact them by email at winterpark@peterbrooke.com.

Celebrate Galentine's Day with your gal pals for an evening of fun, food, drinks, and prizes at the 2nd Annual Galantine's Event Lake Nona: Barbie Core! This Saturday, February 11 from 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm, enjoy a not to be missed girls nite out at Dockside Lake Nona. For this ear's event, organizers wanted to do something a little different for the second annual Galantine’s women’s event, so instead of brunch, they have organised a cocktail-style event with a Barbie theme at Dockside. There will be food & drinks, raffles & prizes, and a mini fashion show along with fun music, the perfect opportunity for a girls nite or to mingle with women in the Lake Nona community. For more information, and to purchase tickets, click here.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have revealed this morning, Thursday, February 9, that the parks water park Adventure island will reopen for the 2023 season on March 4. They also revealed that a brand new kid-friendly area with interactive elements to engage and entertain the park’s youngest guests is currently being added to the popular water park for the 2023 season. The park’s newest addition, Shaka-Laka Shores is a new splash and play zone, which will be located near the entrance of Adventure Island. The new attraction will feature an area with 25 individual elements and a central kid-friendly play structure bound to entertain and engage even the youngest of guests. The newest addition will have more than two dozen playful elements, a variety of interactive aquatic components, all within a zero-depth area – ideal for smaller kids – as well as additional shaded areas. The newly constructed area will also house three new private cabanas featuring convenient access to the new area. Shaka-Laka Shores joins a comprehensive list of exciting water slides, Endless Surf’s 17,000-square-foot wave pool, an additional kid-friendly option in Splash Attack and more. The opening of Shaka-Laka Shores, along with recently opened attractions, Rapids Racer and Wahoo Remix, is part of the waterpark’s largest expansion in more than four decades. Guests are quickly immersed in a revitalized and vibrant theme from a newly designed front entrance and carried over into the park with new lounging areas, additional cabanas, and even new refreshment locations, such as the full-service.

Yesterday at Disney's earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted at park expansion, which sound kinda exciting, but at the same time the company announced $700 million in cuts, which instantly dulls the enthusiasm sadly. During the call, Iger said that “I’m very, very bullish on the theme parks and not just because of the COVID recovery”. Iger said that demand on the theme parks is “extraordinary” right now. Iger said that they could increase park capacity or even increase prices, but that “we don’t think either would be smart”. Instead, Iger talked about expanding the theme parks, which would expand capacity without reducing the guest experience from overcrowding. This sounds amazing, the perfect strategy for the company moving forward, especially here in Orlando, where Walt Disney World is in danger of falling behind Universal Orlando, something that was previously unimaginable. So what at the same time is Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy announcing that capital expenditures, which include the costs for building and maintaining physical properties, will be reduced by $700 million across Disney Parks within the United States. McCarthy did not elaborate on which projects might be affected by the budget cut, but said that the company will spend less than what they had originally forecasted. So will we see already announced attractions cancelled, or currently under construction attractions seriously delayed? Yes, its very possible this will happen, especially with Disney's history of doing just this! While we don't expect delays on the retheming of Splash Mountain, just look at the delays with Tron at Magic Kingdom, or the much hyped Main Street Theater, which actually broke ground before being quietly cancelled. We could go on... Play pavilion at EPCOT, the Mary Poppins ride also at EPCOT, yeah, you get the picture. So yes, while it's great news that Bob Iger is hyping up park expansion, talk is cheap, and with Universal breathing down Disney's necks, what with new attractions in its parks, building EPIC Universe here in Orlando, plus the announcement of a new family friendly park in Texas, and a Halloween Horror Nights attraction in Vegas, Disney is in serious danger of falling behind Disney, which even a few ago was unthinkable! Disney need to start investing seriously in in parks, yes we adore Walt Disney World BUT so much is wrong with the parks, there is a list of attractions needing serious attention, be it refurbishment or replacement. YES, ultimately Disney desperately need to announce a new park for Orlando, but there is so much needing done before that can happen, from new countries around World Showcase at EPCOT to the talked about new land beyond Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom. Not to mention the poor Figment ride at EPCOT, can you please show some love here Disney? Forget about the endless new line of merchandise, or the latest insta worthy cupcake, just announce expansion already, Disney need to act now, or Universal will 100% come out on top sooner rather than later.

The beautiful Mead Botanical Garden in Winter Park has been nominated as the best botanical garden in North America. by USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Mead Botanical Garden is in a shortlist of 20 of the leading botanical gardens across the country, which was decided by a panel of experts working with 10Best’s editorial team. The overall winner of this year's best botanical garden will be determined by a public vote. Voting is open now and you can help Mead Botanical Garden to win by voting once per day through Monday, March 6 by voting here. Mead Botanical Garden is a 47.6-acre park that offers a variety of facilities including an amphitheater, butterfly garden, boardwalk, and a bike trail. The park is large enough to encompass several different ecosystems and is an ideal place for nature lovers. The 47.6 acre garden is listed on the “Great Florida Birding Trail.” Amenities include Picnic tables, an amphitheater, community garden, and a bike trail.

Yelpers are always looking for their next great meal, and the hungry community has discovered the best places to eat them, then reviewed their experiences for the rest of us. So, on this 10th anniversary of Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants list, we’re excited to reveal that three Orlando restaurants have been named in this year’s most popular and highly rated restaurants, according to Yelp's users. The first Orlando restaurant actually makes the Top 10, congratulations to Selam Ethiopian and Eritrean Cuisine. Kadence in Audubon Park, which earned its first Michelin star last year (along with a place on Yelp’s Top Florida Restaurants list) has made in into 30th spot in this years list. The Audubon Park restaurant is known for it's Japanese sushi and sakes. The third and final Orlando restaurant to make the top 100 restaurant in the country is Hungry Pants on S Orange Avenue, which comes in at number 42. Hungry Pants is billed as a “plant-curious, fast-fine eatery” Congratulations to all three local restaurants on being named in they years tops 100 list! Selam Ethiopian and Eritrean Cuisine is located in the Williamsburg Downs Shopping Center at 5494 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando. Not for the first time the restaurant has made Yelp’s top-restaurant lists for the US and Florida. Huge, colorful platters dot nearly every table at this family-style spot, located in a bustling shopping center. Diners scoop up spiced-just-right stewed meats and pureed veggies with injera (the spongy, fermented bread served with Ethiopian and Eritrean food), while Ethiopian music and music videos play in the background. Don’t miss the Ethiopian coffee ceremony after dinner, which includes a brief explanation of the tradition. A slice of flaky baklava in honey sauce is the perfect finish to this savory meal. Popular dishes include shareable meat and veggie (or vegetarian-only) combos, with a handful of small side dishes and fluffy injera, clay pots filled with traditionally spiced chunks of beef or lamb sauteed in butter, onions, peppers, and tomatoes, and fried triangular samosas; and kitfo, which is herbed, buttery minced steak with a house-made soft cheese. Kadence, is a tiny Audubon Park space that is hard to snage booking, it typically accommodates 2 seatings of 9 guests nightly. Once there, you’ll watch husband-and-wife chef-owners Mark and Jennifer Berdin—University of Florida grads who trained in high-end New York and London hotspots—prepare photoworthy multi-course meals from across the counter. Updated versions of traditional Japanese sushi and unusual sakes are served in a variety of formats—including artfully composed single-bite dishes, such as smoky Japanese striped jack paired with diced citrus, or creamy chunks of foie gras in a foie gras broth. Kadence periodically offers advance-order takeout menus that may feature sushi rolls or chirashi bowls (rice topped with several types of sliced raw fish). The restaurant is best known for its raw fish preparations served kaiseki-style, in which each course is predetermined by the chef based on ingredient availability (as opposed to omakase, which has more flexibility). The menu may include cooked dishes, such as chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) filled with premium uni or foie gras. Hungry Plants serves inventive comfort food for vegans and carnivores alike. Here, diners indulge in “guilt-free, healthy, but OH SO TASTY” dishes designed by the cheerful duo behind Orlando’s beloved Yum Yum Cupcake Truck. While their former hotspot is now shuttered, they brought the same playful spirit to this counter-service diner, which sparkles with baby-pink walls, a whimsical mural, and artfully framed pairs of pants. Yelpers give thumbs-up to traditional diner items, like the thick grass-fed cheeseburger—but veggies are the stars of the show, with veggie/vegan substitutes for almost every dish. For example, the Belgian waffle, which features “the perfect balance of crispy edges and soft insides,” is topped with vegan butter, a fresh-made fruit compote, and maple syrup. Or try crispy cauliflower-sweet potato tots with chipotle ranch dipping sauce. Yelpers love to wash it down with one of the sake-based cocktails, lavender oat milk, or refreshing sodas like ginger-cucumber. Still craving the sauces after your meal? You can now buy them to take home. Popular dishes include the Saucy Brussels in sweet and spicy chili sauce or the MDP (Most Delicious Potatoes) roasted sweet potatoes with yogurt and almond gremolata or a vegan cilantro aioli. Don’t miss luscious slices of top-selling pies either, like Sour Orange on South (a “game changer” reminiscent of key lime pie) and vegan Chocolate Silk.

Get on you bike, because Orlando is a great place to cycle according to the League of American Bicyclists. The atonal organisation has recognized the City of Orlando with a Gold Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award, earning it a place alongside more than 1,500 businesses across the country contributing to the movement to build a more Bicycle Friendly America. The City was recognized for its investments in biking infrastructure and amenities at Orlando City Hall, including safe bike parking, bike repair stations, bike safety trainings, a bike share program, employee showers and incentives such as bike commuter benefits. “Orlando has been hard at work transforming the City Beautiful into the City Bikeable — a world-class, economically vibrant, sustainable city with multi-modal transportation options for residents and visitors alike,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The Bicycle Friendly Business program highlights the partnerships needed to make such a city a reality. We’re proud that Orlando can lead by example and delighted to be one of the hundreds of cities across the U.S. making infrastructure investments at the municipal level, supported by local businesses that welcome and celebrate their employees and patrons that arrive by bike.” The City also worked with local Main Street, the Milk District, to help eight businesses also receive awards through the BFB program for a total of 13 winning local businesses: Bike/Walk Central Florida, Platinum Certification Kyle’s Bike Shop, Gold Certification HDR Inc., Silver Certification Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., Silver Certification VHB, Silver Certification À La Cart, Bronze Certification Alchemy Salon, Bronze Certification Barley & Vine Biergarten, Bronze Certification Inwood Consulting Engineers, Inc., Bronze Certification Juice Bar, Bronze Certification Sideward Brewing Co., Bronze Certification The Nook on Robinson, Bronze Certification Whippoorwill Beer House and Package Store, Bronze Certification As part of the BFB network, the City of Orlando and these businesses will have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more welcoming to people who bike. As studies show, when people bike, they experience improved physical and mental health, decreased carbon footprint, easy and quick parking options and an opportunity to enjoy the surrounding beauty of the City Beautiful. “Orlando is ready to ride and creating a solid mobility foundation for all users is paramount within our transportation department. Each business that becomes bike friendly brings us one ride closer to a network that is connected, accessible and innovative,” said Tanya Wilder, director of the Transportation Department at the City of Orlando. The City of Orlando bicycle network consists of over 45 miles of off-street trails, over 50 miles of signed routes and over 265 miles of bicycle lanes. In Orlando’s urban core, the city’s Transportation Department is working toward making Downtown a more walkable, bike-friendly destination with two-waying streets, widening sidewalks and creating a well-connected urban trail system. In 2023, portions of the Downtown Loop, including the North Quarter Urban Trail Gap and the Downtown Connector Trail Gap, will be completed to help further the 8.5-mile trail through the greater downtown Orlando area to provide residents with a car-free option to access shopping, dining, entertainment, parks, offices and services, with the entire Loop expected to be complete in summer 2025. “This round of awardees features shining examples of current and aspiring Bicycle Friendly Businesses working in tandem to boost the number of places in their community where traveling by bike is not only possible but encouraged,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “Orlando City Hall and the Mik District businesses highlighted recognize this and are putting in the work to make bicycling a real transportation and recreation option for all.” The City of Orlando encourages local businesses to apply for the Bicycle Friendly America program, which awards designations based on the five qualities of engineering, education, encouragement, evaluation, and equality and accessibility. Examples of bicycle friendliness include hosting events that support bicyclists, encouraging customers and/or employees to arrive by bike and providing facilities that make bicycling to their establishments easier, such as bike parking. Businesses are encouraged to contact the city's transportation department for assistance in applying. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2023.