A new dinosaur themed restaurant recently debuted at Downtown Disney in Orlando.   The T-Rex Restaurant features several fun-filled environments, including a geothermal region with a “Kitchen of Fire” and a 26-foot-high lava wall oozing over “ancient geological formations.”  In an ice cave room, a woolly mammoth and her baby help greet visitors. And in an aquatic region, look for a 45-foot giant octopus with animated tentacles.

The exterior features a full-size Tyrannosaurus Rex and another massive dinosaur measuring 28 feet tall and 122 feet wide.

T-Rex features a fun combination of dining and shopping in an interactive, prehistoric environment. The concept is designed around water, fire and ice as guests visiting T-Rex will be greeted with life size animatronics dinosaurs that live among cascading waterfalls, bubbling geysers, a fossil dig site and more.

The Polar Express is returning to SeaWorld Orlando for the holiday season.   Originally introduced last year, the popular Polar Express ride is returning to SeaWorld Orlando from Nov. 14, 2008 thru Jan. 4, 2009.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Iwerks Entertainment reprogrammed the theme park’s Wild Arctic ride, transforming it into a simulated train ride to “Santa Town,” based on Chris Van Allsburg’s children’s book The Polar Express and the 2004 animated movie of the same name. 

The ride uses motion technology and big-screen video to simulate a wild, fast-moving trip. Normally, it offers visitors a simulated helicopter flight to an Arctic animal-research station, complete with swooping maneuvers to spy various animals and to avoid danger. Under The Polar Express format, the ride simulates a train excursion powered by a massive steam-locomotive.

Guests will ride the train up snow-cloaked mountains, across frozen lakes and along perilous, icy passes.  SeaWorld’s exhibit of polar bears, beluga whales, walruses and other Arctic animals also remains part of the attraction, although the exhibit area will resemble a winter wonderland.

Central Florida was well represented among the 2008 Golden Ticket Award winners in an annual vote of amusement park aficionados polled by Amusement Today magazine.  The poll gauges the best of the best among all of the nation’s theme parks.

Here’s how Orlando’s theme parks fared in the voting by category:

Best Overall Park

#5      Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Best Waterpark

#3      Disney’s Blizzard Beach

#5      Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon

Best Marine Park

#1      SeaWorld Orlando

#4      SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove

Cleanest Park

#4      Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park

Best Shows

#3      Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Best Food

#3      Epcot

Best Water Ride in Theme Park

#1      Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

#3      Splash Mountain at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park

#4      Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-rat Barges at Universal’s  Islands of Adventure

#5      Journey to Atlantis at SeaWorld Orlando

Best Kid’s Area

#2      Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Best Landscaping

#5      Epcot

Best Outdoor Show Production

#1      Epcot

#5      Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Best Dark Ride

#1      Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

#2      Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

#5      Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Best Halloween Event

#1      Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida

Best Christmas Event

#2      Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park

Best Carousel

#4      Universal’s Islands of Adventure

Best Indoor Coaster

#1      Revenge of the Mummy at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

#2 Rock ‘N Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

 The Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort welcomes Eddie Money as the featured performer in the hotel’s monthly rock n’ roll cocktail party, Velvet Sessions. 

The Velvet Sessions party is held the last Thursday of every month and combines creative cocktails with live music from some of the world’s hottest rock bands and performers.

Eddie Money is best known for hits like, Two Tickets to Paradise, Shakin’, Take Me Home Tonight, Walk On Water, Think I’m In Love, Baby Hold On, and I Wanna Go Back.

Admission for Velvet Sessions with Eddie Money is $50 and includes FREE drinks, hors de oeuvres, and warm up tunes from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. There will be a cash bar and additional rock music from 8:30 pm on.

To attend a Velvet Sessions event, you must request an invitation online at http://www.universalorlando.com/.  Please note that Velvet Sessions is restricted to those age 21 and older.

Get set for the 15^th and final edition of ABC’s Super Soap Weekend at Disney’s Hollywood Studios - slated for Nov. 15-16, 2008.

The Disney theme park will play host to approximately 30 daytime drama characters during this year’s event, which is being discontinued by Disney-ABC Television Group after a 15-year run.  The group plans to send its soap stars out on a national promotional tour next year, rather than sponsor a single weekend at Disney World.
This highly popular soap event allows Hollywood Studios guests an opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite ABC Daytime stars. The stars will answer questions, sign autographs and entertain with their unscripted and lively conversation.  The Daytime TV luminaries will also be featured in special motorcades and live music sessions during the two-day event.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the event, guests are usually allowed to gather on Hollywood Boulevard about 30 minutes prior to official Park opening.