Guests can purchase annual passes that include the attraction online at www.LEGOLAND.com and at AAA Auto Club South locations.  The Premium Pass includes unlimited admission to both LEGOLAND Florida and LEGOLAND Water Park, free parking and discounts within the park. The Premium Pass is $179 for adults and $149 for children 3-12 and seniors 60 and older.

One of my play-date friends was just buzzing about a new ice-show at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay that started yesterday, February 2nd. A cast of 20 will bring to life an all-new adventure filled with world-class skaters, more than 75 original costumes, amazing aerial performances, master puppetry and live animal stars, with shows daily in the Moroccan Palace.

Iceploration inspires audiences to “explore the world” on a 30-minute journey to the four corners of the earth. This multi-sensory story, told through theatrical skating and an all-new original score, is the collaboration of an award-winning creative team with Broadway credentials, including Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes (The Drowsy Chaperone, Best Costume Design Tony winner 2007; Legally Blonde the Musical, Best Costume Design Tony nominee 2007).

The adventure unfolds as they arrive in the African Serengeti. Here, larger-than-life puppets and spectacular set design bring elephants and other awe-inspiring animals to life at a watering hole. Solo and chorus skating performances accompanied by acrobatics tell an anecdote of an agile cheetah stalking graceful gazelles and meerkats.

If you’re not already a fan, “like” Busch Gardens Tampa Bay at facebook.com or check out the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com to get insider updates on Iceploration and all of the park’s happenings.

This news was provided to theMomBuzz as a press release. She found it buzzworthy enough to share with her audience.

FEATURED PERFORMANCES: TheMomBuzz had the opportunity to go last weekend, when it first opened. We had a chance to see a LazyTown concert, which was loads of fun for the little ones. Some children were even dressed like Sportacus for the occasion and 3 children were invited on stage to help energize the crowd!

You will want to get to the park as soon as it opens, though, since seating is limited at the featured concerts. The concerts are held in the Nautilus theater and they give out tickets (for free) to the performances in a booth in front of the theater. There are different times printed on the ticket so you know when to arrive and be seated. But tickets will run out fast, so if you get to the park late, chances are there will be no more tickets.

Other featured performances include: Max & Ruby, Doodlebops and Choo-Choo Soul.

SHAMU’S PARTY ZONE: We ended up arriving at Shamu’s Party Zone later in the day. It seemed less crowded mid-afternoon, compared to just before noon. Shamu’s Party Zone is located at Lakeside Patio. There you will find interactive games, sea-themed sand art creations, character meet and greets, bubbles, face painting and dancing to fun tunes spun by a kid-friendly DJ!

If you are interested in the sand art and face-painting, be sure to bring some extra cash since there is a small fee to participate in those two activities.

FREE PRESCHOOL PASS: Children 5 and younger can experience family adventure for free at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens with the new Preschool Pass! It is unlimited admission with no blackout dates through 2012. This pass is a great way to experience the Just for Kids Festival. Plus, it can also be used for other special events like SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular and festive holiday events at both parks!

You must register for the pass online, they are NOT AVAILABLE AT THE GATE! If your child turns 6 during the year, they still get in free as long as you register before their birthday. And these Preschool passes are only good for Florida residents. Click here to access the pass: FREE PRESCHOOL PASS FOR CHILDREN 5 and Younger

FUN CARD: And the best deal you can get at SeaWorld, besides the Free Preschool Pass, is the Fun Card! When you purchase a Fun Card, you simply pay for a day and can come back all year with no blackout dates! A great way to experience Just For Kids Festival, along with future special events at SeaWorld Orlando.

Just-For-Kids Concert Info at a Glance:

Concerts are included with park admission and seating will be limited.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. The Mom Buzz was invited to the all new festival to learn more about the Just For Kids event. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

After seeing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Fully Charged last year, I became a huge fan. Prior to that the only “circus” I ever attended was Cirque du Soleil – and I have to say the difference is HUGE. I love Cirque du Soleil and take my kids to the shows, but it is a more sophisticated event over all. Meanwhile, Ringling’s Fully Charged was never-know-where-to-look, so-much-going-on, jam-packed FUN! Hilarious clowns, crazy stunts and so many talented animals. The kids just ate it up!

So this year I had the opportunity to see Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Dragons on opening night at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, so that I can share my thoughts with you! And I’ll be going back again on Friday, because we going to see it again with my friends! So you can honestly say, I loved the show enough to see is twice.

I wasn’t sure if it would just be the same show, with a different theme. But the acts were all different and new to me. Even the animal performances were different. They didn’t just have tigers this time, trainer Alexander Lacey also brought in some gorgeous lions. You can tell he truly loved his big cats, as he would rustle the mane on his sole male lion every time her performed a trick. And their antics kept the guests on the edge of their seats as they demonstrated their agility and strength.

Along with the Big Cat performance, the smaller house cats, dogs, ponies and horses were not to be outdone. The dogs were all rescue dogs and you can just tell how happy they were to perform for the crowd. And the cats were purrfect as they used their natural talents to amaze the crowd. They also brought in Asian elephants, who were just magical to watch – especially the adorable baby elephant who would skip as he played a tamborine.

There were dueling acrobatics, with the Russian Bar Renegades and Teeterboard Titans, so you never really knew where to look as they each did amazing flips, twists and vaults. They would stack on top of each other, flip using stilts and launch each other from teeterboards. Just crazy stuff that I knew my 4-year old was hoping to try in his next gymnastics class.

And one of my favorite stunts was from the Torres Family in the The Globe of Steel. It is a 16-foot steel globe and the riders use specialized motorcycles to orbit within the globe at 65 miles per hour. How they don’t’ crash is just amazing. I feel like I would run into myself even if I was the only one in the globe! And that stunt had my youngest just staring in awe.

The boys watching Dragons in their Cotton Candy Circus Hats

There were enough acts to fill 2 hours with one intermission. Be sure to bring extra money on hand, because there were all sorts of snacks, toys, and tees to buy as souveneirs. My favorite purchase is the $12 Cotton Candy, because it includes a ringmaster/clown hat. We bought one last year and the boys have kept it for pretend play, of course. So we bought another one this year so that each boy can have one. And the hats match the theme of the show. So last year’s hat had lightening bolts on it for Fully Charged, and this new one had dragons on it.

SHOWTIMES for Tampa Bay Times Forum, Jan. 4-8, 2012.:

• Wed, Jan 4 – 7:30PM
• Thu, Jan 5 – 7:30PM
• Fri, Jan 6 – 7:30PM
• Sat, Jan 7 – 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
• Sun, Jan 8 -  1:00PM, 5:00PM

PRICING:

Tickets are $85 (Circus Celebrity), $55 (VIP), $35, $28, $22, and $16. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. For group rates and information, call 1.866.248.8740.

DISCOUNT:

Mom Buzz readers can save with an exclusive $12 ticket! The following performances are included: Jan, 5 at 7:30pm, Jan. 6 at 7:30pm, Jan. 7 at 11:30am and 7:30pm, Jan. 8 at 5pm. This discount is available for the $28, $22 and $16 tickets. Discount Not valid day of show. To get your discount use promo code MOM12 at ticketmaster.com

For more information, visit www.Ringling.com or visit us on Facebook.

PAST CIRCUS REVIEW:

• Fully Charged

CIRCUS TOUR INFORMATION:

• Dragons
• Fully Charged

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. The Mom Buzz was provided with complimentary tickets for the review. People may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents DRAGONS! They will be coming to the Tampa Bay area to play at the St. Pete Times Forum from January 4-8, 2012. What a way to start the New Year!

About Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents DRAGONS
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents DRAGONS is a once in a millennium event that honors The Year of the Dragon. Circus performers from the farthest reaches of the earth have assembled for Ringling Bros. Presents DRAGONS to showcase their astounding acts of bravery and astonishing athleticism. Ringling Bros.® Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson presides over this fantastical celebratory tournament of circus champions that brings together mystic dragon lore with authentic circus feats. DRAGONS is a never-before-seen blend of renowned spiritual and real life legends and is coming to the St. Pete Times Forum, Jan. 4-8, 2012.

SHOWTIMES:

• Wed, Jan 4 – 7:30PM
• Thu, Jan 5 – 7:30PM
• Fri, Jan 6 – 7:30PM
• Sat, Jan 7 – 11:30AM, 3:30PM, 7:30PM
• Sun, Jan 8 -  1:00PM, 5:00PM

PRICING:

Tickets are $85 (Circus Celebrity), $55 (VIP), $35, $28, $22, and $16. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. For group rates and information, call 1.866.248.8740.

DISCOUNT:

Mom Buzz readers can save with an exclusive $12 ticket! The following performances are included: Jan, 5 at 7:30pm, Jan. 6 at 7:30pm, Jan. 7 at 11:30am and 7:30pm, Jan. 8 at 5pm. This discount is available for the $28, $22 and $16 tickets. Discount Not valid day of show. To get your discount use promo code MOM12 at ticketmaster.com

For more information, visit www.Ringling.com or visit us on Facebook.

PAST CIRCUS REVIEW:

Fully Charged

The Winner will receive 4 vouchers to redeem for Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Presents DRAGONS (Jan. 4 – 8, 2012)

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per DAY is allowed.)

• Share this contest link with friends via Facebook, Forums, or other Contest Link Site. (1 entry for every way shared. CAn be done daily.)

Contest ends 12.24.11. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz will be attending a show, free of charge, for review. A representative is handling prize fulfillment. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration started on November 25th. You can still visit it December 9th, 10th and 11th from 5pm to 11pm. And then it will be open every night from December 16th to the 31st, from 5pm to 11pm.

One of my favorite parts of the night was Santa’s Fireside Feast. You get to have a holiday meal buffet style – and there are chicken fingers and fries for picky eaters – while Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves read a story and lead songs. At the end, Mrs. Claus will bring out cookies for everyone and families can have photos taken with Santa Claus. Throughout the event elves are walking around keeping children entertained as they wait for the show to begin or for their turn with Santa. Dinner is $29.99 for adults and $19.99 for the children.

New this year was O Wondrous Night – the Greatest Story Never Told. My whole family loved it. It features a comedic puppet show with a sheep, dove and donkey talking about their part in helping Mary and Joseph on the night Jesus was born. Each story entwines with spectacular chorus singing and dancing from the talented actors/singers. And at the end of the show, the puppets are seamlessly replaced with real animals. I have to say, those camels were just AMAZING!

The park was beautifully decorated and the night started off with the Sea of Trees. Out in the water there are trees covered with lights. And when the Christmas music plays, the trees will light up in beautiful arrangements to complement the music. My boys were so excited – they just love Christmas Music and Lights! And my dad and I were spellbound as well.

Of course, you can’t miss The Polar Express attraction. You can either go in as a motion-ride or you can do the “still” version. I don’t like a lot of motion, so I was happy my boys didn’t meet the height requirement yet. We just walked into the movie-area, watched the shortened version of The Polar Express and then we were able to see some icy friends in the walk-through portion – polar bears, walruses and whales. And you can even visit Santa Claus next to his giant sled. Photos can be fulfilled within the attraction.

The last show we were able to fit in was the ice show, Winter Wonderland on Ice. By this point it was pretty late, so both my boys fell asleep on me and my dad. But my dad loves watching ice skating. And it was fun to watch the talented crew skate to fun music and do amazing twists and turns without falling into each other! And at the end of the show, we remained seated and were able to watch the Firework and Fountain Finale over the water. (And would you believe, my boys slept through that, as well!)

It’s amazing how fast time flew during our Christmas Celebration with SeaWorld. We never are able to do everything we want to fit in! There is just so much to choose from and do! Attractions you may also be interested in include:

• Clyde and Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas: We saw this last year and it was HILARIOUS.
• A Sesame Street Christmas: I don’t think we’ve caught this one yet. But their Halloween show was a smash with my boys, so I think my youngest would have been THRILLED with this show.
• Shamu Christmas – Miracles: Another show that we weren’t able to fit in this year and my oldest was so disappointed. But we had to choose between this and the penguins and he really wanted to see the penguins before they were gone. They are going to be shutting down the penguin exhibit next year for renovations.

All of those shows are included with park admission. You can also purchase tickets to see the Makahiki Christmas Luau.

If you are visiting for the day, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is included in the cost. You do not have to pay additional for this event. This is great for annual passholders! You can also make use of a current SeaWorld promotion, Kids Free. Kids Free allows free admission for kids with each full-paid adult admission. This offer includes a second visit free, and is available Nov. 1 – Dec. 25, 2011. This deal is only valid for advanced purchase only; tickets can be purchased online or through the Contact Center. You may also want to consider a Fun Card. The Fun Card includes unlimited visits to SeaWorld through 2012, all for the price of a single-day’s admission.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. The Mom Buzz was invited to Media Night to learn more about SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

For the Hill children – 6-year-old Chrislyn, 4-year-old Christopher and 1-year-old Christian – the “A is for Africa” show at Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun recently featured a surprise ending that was many months in the making.

The children’s father, Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Hill, had been deployed to Zabul Providence, Afghanistan since early 2011. After more than 7 months away from his family, SSgt Hill and his wife, Frances, wanted the perfect surprise homecoming to reunite him with his children – the youngest of whom started walking while he was away.

At the finale of the family-friendly show featuring the Sesame Street characters, the stage attendant announced that they had a special guest to introduce, but that they would need special help from the audience (and a wave of Abby’s magic wand) to bring him all the way back from Afghanistan.

After a tearful reunion, the family posed for photos with their Sesame Street friends onstage, and 4-year-old Christopher thanked Elmo for bringing his father home.

- Thank you Busch Gardens for sharing this news with theMomBuzz and our readers.

The day I’ve been buzzing about for almost years finally came – LEGOLand opened in Florida!

LEGOLand is located south of Orlando, in Winter Haven, where Cypress Gardens used to be located. They actually built on the old Cypress Gardens grounds, refurbished some of the rides, maintained a lot of the beautiful gardens and trees (so expect a lot of green) and even incorporated water/ski shows – that was what Cypress Gardens was also known for around 60 years ago.

The park exceeded all expectations. The OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING was simply WOW.

We got to the park just before opening, to set up, take photos and see the Grand Opening. A huge LEGO Minifigure was getting the crowd all excited, as he bounced and danced on giant bricks to get the crowd’s excitement up. Then the General Manager came out, said a few words and with the push of a lever set the confetti off and the crowds started moving to the entrance.

We walked in the gates with my boys clutching their Buddy Lego Minifigure Plush Dolls and immediately took in the appearance of a life-size Stormer from Hero Factory. My boys eyes opened in amazement and I asked permission to get a photo taken with one of their favorite LEGO action figure dolls. The only thing that would have made it complete is if Furno was there too! But we got the shot of the two boys with Stormer. Awesome.

The park smelled new and was so clean. Employees were outside clapping and welcoming guests as we started walking through the streets. My sons and I had our maps, which are recyclable at the entrance, and my husband had downloaded the LEGO map on his iPhone (which he says is one of the best theme park map apps). But when I looked up I saw Castle Hill and we trucked past everything to get there. It’s just a huge landmark and hard to miss. I definitely suggest hitting that area first.

BRICK TIP ONE: Read the ride entrance signs! There are many requirements for all of the rides. Minimum heights and ages and maximum heights and ages may apply. The rides are tight fits for bigger adults, my husband was usually crushed with a body-builder physique. If restrictions apply, they check heights twice on each line, when you first enter and when you are about to board.

LEGO Kingdoms had The Dragon coaster, where the minimum height requirement is 40″. You have to be 48″ to ride without an adult. Under 48″ and you have to ride with an adult 48″ or taller. It’s a “slower” coaster and a fun first coaster for young riders. It doesn’t just speed off, but begins with a tour of the castle, where you can see Dragons, Wizards, Knights and more. Some of them are animatronic and move as you go by. This was my 5-year old’s favorite ride.

While at LEGO Kingdoms, we also rode Merlin’s Challenge. This was a tipsy, circular train ride. Minimum height to ride is 36″. Riders under 48″ must be accompanied by a rider 48″ or taller. It was fun for the kids, but anything that loops in a tight circle is enough to make me a little woozy. So any one who is susceptible of motion sickness might need to be wary of this challenge!

And you have to get your young children on The Joust. It is just too cute to see your little ones riding LEGO horses around a track. Only three horses move at a time – and they move slowly on the track in a bouncing motion. Children have to be between the ages of 4 – 12 to ride and at least 36″ tall. They do seatbelt your child on and only an employee can undo the seatbelt at the exit. Since the ride is slow moving, the wait is deceptive. What appears to be a short line can be 45-minutes, so double check the entrance sign as you go on the line.

There is also a Forestman Hide-Out climbing attraction. We did pass this attraction since there were lots of older kids in there and I didn’t want to lose track of my young boys.

BRICK TIP 2: This park is said to be designed for ages 2 – 12. I would probably say it’s best-suited for children ages 4 – 9. Otherwise height restrictions (mostly 36″) will keep little ones off the rides and older children will prefer more wild rides and want to stay in LEGO Technic all day. So if you are planning a trip, remember it’s built for children – not adults, toddlers, babies, tweens or teens.

From LEGO Kingdoms, we headed straight to Land of Adventures. I was keeping my group moving since I knew lines would start growing as more people entered the park throughout the day. At Land of Adventures we were immediately talked into going on Beetle Bounce by some smiling employees. Only one adult is allowed on at a time, and minimum height requirement is 36″. The adult has to sit in the center, so my husband had one of our boys on each side. It bounced them 15 feet in the air and would waver up and down. My youngest (4) thought it was very cool. So they rode it twice since there was no line waiting.

Then I brought them immediately to the right, where there is Lost Kingdom Adventure. That was a hoot. You sit down in one of the people movers, 4 people to a car. Each person has a gun and an electronic point meter in front of them. As you go through the ride, you see all sorts of ancient artifacts and there is a little light that is usually under or above the artifact. Aim for these lights to cause things to pop up, go down, move, blow air and more. The more you shoot, the more the ride does. My 4 year old LOVED this ride. We ended up riding it twice. Minimum height requirement is 34″. If you are 42″ or under, you have to ride with someone 42″ or taller.

From there, we gave the boys a chance to play in a little play area called Pharoah’s Revenge, where there were two stories with lots of climbing and shooting opportunities. There were three employees watching the children and I felt secure with them playing. None of the kids inside were rude, pushing or running. I was happily surprised.

After a few minutes we headed to Safari Trek. This is a small car ride, where two riders at a time board a zebra-striped safari vehicle to explore the LEGO Serengeti. You get to see LEGO zebras, meer cats, elephants, antelopes and lions. The elephants sprayed water on my husband and youngest’s car. And the lions growled. I was just amazed at the life-size LEGO models of these animals. Minimum rider height is 34″.  Riders less than 48″ must be accompanied by someone 48″ in height or taller.

And then we headed to Coastersaurus. It looked to be a wooden coaster, but it offered a smooth ride. There are no upside turns, but it is a lot faster than The Dragon in LEGO Kingdoms. There is barely a chance to look around as you zoom on the track. But if you do keep your eyes open, you’ll spot some Dino Lego designs next to the track. Children had to be seatbelted and use the lap bar. No loose articles are allowed on the coaster. You hand it to an associate. Since there is only one coaster on the track, you are the only riders who get off so your articles are safe with the associates. Riders have to be at least 36″ tall. If you are under 48″, you have to ride with someone 48″ or taller.

By Coastersaurus

BRICK TIP 3: Get to the park EARLY. Parking opens around 9:00. The park opens at 10. Getting there early will let you be at the front of the line, so you can get first dibs on some of the most popular LEGO sections ( think Technic).

At this point we ended up going to LEGO City, where there is Driving School, Boating School and Flying School. My boys were too small for Flying School, where the minimum height requirement is 44″. And the Boating School was having technical difficulties and when it opened the crowd waiting was a little too intense for us. So we just went straight to the Driving School. There are two driving schools, one for drivers 3 – 5 and the other for drivers 6 to 13. At 4 and 5, both boys went to the younger driving school. It was a small track, but cute to see them scooting around in their LEGO Cars. Pros already, they scooted around the track and avoided accidents with ease. And at the end they received a paper license.

Then my youngest was hungry. We weren’t sure where to go, so we headed for the nearby Lakeside Sandwich Shop. It had ham, tuna and smoked turkey sandwiches, drinks, muffins, grapes, apples, pretzels, chips and cookies.

Since we were in the Technic area, we checked the height restrictions and saw the crowds. This was definitely the most crowded area of the park. Test Tracks minimum height was 42″. Aquazone’s minimum height restriction was 40″, but you have to ride with someone 52″ or taller. I couldn’t see where you put your loose articles, so we decided to pass this zany- spinning water spraying ride. And there was also Technicycle, which you only had to be 36″ for, but the line looked too long. It was an exciting area, but the crowds were too much for my boys. Plus, my 4-year old was clamoring to check out the Fire Trucks back in LEGO City.

There is a fun Rescue Academy, where 4 families/groups race in rescue vehicles, pump water to put out a fire or stop a criminal and then race their vehicle back to the starting point. It’s easier for adults to pump and aim, but everyone has fun in this race. My husband and I enjoyed it more than we thought we would, considering the “work” involved in this “ride”.

We caught some shows around this time.

The first show was Pirate’s Cove Live Water Ski Show. This is a live-action, water-stunt show. It’s a mix of “real people” and costumed minifigure people dressed as soldiers and Captain Brickbead. Minifigures and live-actors alike do stunts on water skis, boats and jet skis. There’s humor and the first three rows get wet. They also choose three audience members to help defend the cove.

The second show we caught was The Big Test. A group of volunteer firefighters learn about different fires and how to put them out. But the whole lessons is extra fun and memorable amidst a mix of acrobatics, pratfalls and … more water. The first 3 rows will get wet.

BRICK TIP 4: FOOD! As I walked around the park at this point, I started getting a better bearing on where the food was. And I could hear parents asking about chicken fingers and hot dogs. So here you go. If you want Hot Dogs – they are in LEGO City at the City Stage Snack Bar. If you want Pizza, its in Funtown at the Pizza Pasta Buffet. For Hamburgers and French Fries, look for Pirate’s Cove at Cap’n Brickbeards. I never found Chicken Fingers. But you have to try the Apple Fries (dessert) served with Whip Cream in Funtown. A yum and different treat!

By now, the boys were slowing down (we didn’t bring a stroller) so we headed to towards MiniLand USA to check out the models of Vegas, Florida, New York and more. It’s amazing, how when I look back at my photos I think I am looking at real buildings. It was a great time to slow down. And the boys really were taking in the scenes, probably imagining how they can build something similar at home. Pure inspiration.

We tried some of the rides in Duplo Village, Big Rig Rally and Granny’s Jalopies. These are very slow rides, with a minimum height requirement of 36″. I did find it odd that if you were under 48″ you had to ride with a rider 48″ or above, since the rides were seatbelted and made for much younger children. My boys, 40″ each, could have gone on this by themselves, if it were a parental decision. The Junior Fire Academy ride wasn’t running. Overall, this section was not at all crowded and there were no line waits. But the most fun was the outside and inside playgrounds. The kids could have stayed hours there.

BRICKTOP 5: Expect to spend all day at the park. The park is open from 10am -  5pm.

We also headed out to the Imagination Zone, but the Build & Test area was overcrowded. This is when parents were probably too tired to really watch the behavior of older children around younger children. Overall, I would have appreciated more employee-monitoring since my children wanted to play, but bigger, pushier kids kept me from enjoying our time in this area.

The one attraction we missed this time was the 4-D theater. I so badly wanted to see a 12-minute Clutch Powers movie, but our schedule wasn’t coinciding with the posted schedule. So we figure we’ll see it next time we head to LEGOLand for my son’s birthday.

And finally, there are a few LEGO Stores for souvenirs. There is usually no way we could go in a store and out without overspending, so we decided to go into the MiniFigure Store where we can put together a 3-pack of minifigs. I wish it was larger and that the area to build minifigures was more open. Once again, shorties like mine get crowded out by larger kids. And the selection of minifigure parts to choose from wasn’t as large as we’re used to at the LEGO Store in Orlando. We’re hoping for more diversity next time we visit. My youngest ended up building 3 mimes for his Lego Minifigure Pack. While my oldest felt limited with his only options to build a Disco Man, Mime and Witch. He wanted to build the vampire, but there weren’t any vampire heads or black pants. There has to be a more organized way to handle minifigure building, similar to how Disney does Lightsaber building at their Hollywood Studios Store.

Overall, we loved LEGOLand. It was very well-suited for my boys ages and heights. My boys are 4 and 5 and are 40″ tall. Remember to check all height and age restrictions at LEGOLAND.COM before going. It will also help you plan your day regarding what attractions to try first. And consider purchasing LEGOLand tickets online, as well.

OTHER HELPFUL LINKS:

LEGOLAND Florida on Twitter

LEGOLAND Florida on Facebook

ANY QUESTIONS? JUST ASK BELOW AND I’LL LOVE TO HELP YOU OUT!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz attended the park as media.

My sister bought annual passes to SeaWorld over the summer. I told her how fab it was, since I’ve been a few times throughout the year. One of my favorite parts about the annual pass is that you get discounts off food and items you purchase at the park when you show it, you get free parking and it gives you access to the park whenever it is open. In other words, you don’t have to pay extra to see special events or decorations during SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular or Christmas Celebration.

I was going to SeaWorld to see what’s fab and new for the 2011 Spooktacular, so I told my sister she MUST come along. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place every weekend in October: 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, and 28-30. So at the time of this buzz, you can still attend for October 22 – 23 and October 28 – 30.

My sis has two kids, ages 6 and 8. So I thought her kids and my kids (ages almost 4 and 5) could hit up the usual no-so-spooky kid’s events that take place through the park.What you usually can expect during a typical visit to SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular are:

• Trick or Treat Spots on a special pathway
• Employees dressed in fun and unique costumes will mingle with the crowd
• Photo ops with beautifully costumed employees
• Kids can play small games to win prizes
• Stations where the kids can make goodies to take home with them. This time it should have been sand art.

Unfortunately, Florida weather can be INSANE. And it was a torrential downpour the 8th and 9th. We decided to forge ahead to Orlando, since you never know how the weather might change. We got to the park at 12:30 and by the time we were settled inside with our strollers, ponchos, raincoats and a clear bathroom shower curtain (for the double stroller to keep the kids dry) – it was mostly misty. But due to concerns about the weather, the spooky trick or treating and photo ops just weren’t going on.

I was concerned, since I talked this up to my sister. My sister was concerned, because her kids wanted to do some trick-or-treating. And we just forged ahead through the path. We took some photos at the empty photo op stations and then we saw a sign. Seriously. It said “Penelope’s Party Zone”. I wasn’t sure if it was a private party, so I asked an employee who was standing nearby. He described it as,”There is music, dancing, games, food and trick or treating.”

Well, there you go! Exactly the kind of fun we were looking for. So we went in. The room was huge with lots of lights and music. Characters were encouraging all guests to mix, mingle and boogie. My niece grabbed a hula hoop and joined the crowd. My nephew loved this zany television that was catching the movements of the crowd. And my boys were a little overwhelmed by the lights and music. Ha. So I took them to the side of the room where people were taking pictures with Halloween Shamu. Unfortunately, when we stood in line there was a character change. Fortunately, it was a vampire and witch penguin. I remember meeting up with them 2 years ago in 2009 with my boys! So I had a picture taken of the boys with them. Then some trick or treating barrels opened up, so the kids hit three of those.

After that, we decided to check out the outside area around the party. My nephew flirted with some of the “sea witches”, I harassed the kids to take pictures with all the cool characters. And we got to meet a parrot that imitated other birds (like a turkey) and a cool albino milk snake. The kids loved petting that one. My husband made a candied apple – loved it. And we bought hot dogs and chicken fingers for the kids and ourselves. I would say the chicken fingers tasted better than the hot dogs this time around.

We relaxed, regrouped, and watched nearby ducks and swans swim – then headed back out to the park. We turned right and saw some trick-or-treat spots were now open. They even passed out mini bananas and nuts as an alternative to candy.

Since I still wanted more “Halloween”, we decided to watch Sesame’s Street Countdown to Halloween. It is a musical show, featuring Telly, the Count, Elmo and Abby Cadabby. They “read” a story about how the Count was alone on Halloween and how Elmo and friends helped him have a fabulous night with friends. My sister told me the songs they sing are from the movie Sesame Street – Elmo Says Boo. It was a fun show and as you sit and wait before the show, the one “human” on stage keeps the crowd and kids entertained with singing and dance moves they can join in with. During the show, our favorite part was the dancing skeletons. They were so cool!

We also visited Happy Harbor. Now, there was nothing spookified about the rides – but they were playing fun Halloween music in the area, which helped keep the Halloween spirit alive.

Finally, we hit other rides since the whole park is still open throughout their Spooktacular. We saw Shamu in One Ocean. My son was “dieing” to go, doing a dance throughout the park and singing, “Shamu-Shamu.” This One Ocean show is relatively new and it was ACTION-PACKED, really showing off what the whales can do. My oldest son, my nephew and my neice all sat in the splash zone. My son and my niece wore their raincoats to help keep their clothes somewhat dry. My brother-in-law would go between them and sitting by my sister. My sister, husband, my youngest son and I were still in the splash zone – but higher up. My husband and I had ponchos on and my youngest had his raincoat on. This show is the “splashiest” I’ve seen in a while – it was spectacular! Loved it! My 5 year old told me at the end of the night that Shamu was his favorite part. So no matter what, don’t miss it.

We also did the Penguin Encounter, Shark exhibit and fed the seals. My sister’s family did the Arctic ride, where it’s a 3-D simulation ride where you feel like you are on a helicopter ride over the arctic. My boys were too short to go with them, so we simply skipped the ride and did the walk-through to see the animals. I love the Walrus. You also see a Polar Bear and porpoises. The porpoises and walruses were so ACTIVE, swimming and doing flips. The polar bear was sleeping.

That was our family-fun, spooktacular day. My sister is still going to go back to ride the coasters. There is so much to do every time she goes, she still hasn’t had the opportunity to ride them all. SeaWorld is that full of activities for the whole family, for a whole day.

MORE ABOUT THE SEAWORLD SPOOKTACULAR:
This is a kid-centric event. Trick or Treat Bags are provided, but you can bring your own. Costumes are welcome, but you don’t have to wear them to receive treats. Games and activities do cost a small fee for participation, but the trick or treating is free for all SeaWorld guests. You do not need to pay extra for the SeaWorld Spooktacular. Learn more and get pricing at SeaWorld’s Spooktacular page: SeaWorld Spooktacular

PAST SPOOKTACULARS:

SeaWorld Spooktacular 2010 and SeaWorld Spooktacular 2009

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• Hall-o-Scream at Busch Gardens Tips for 2011

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz attended the park as media.

I haven’t been to a Halloween Event for adults for almost a decade. Crazy, right? In the past I’d go to Howl-0-Scream or similar events with friends from college, coworkers and, of course, family. But since having kids, you were more likely to see me at the kid-friendly SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular instead of screaming my head off at Howl-o-Scream.

But I loved the advertising campaign this year, with the Zombie Woman lying on a bed of roses with eyeballs, for the Dark Side of the Gardens. So I sent an ad to my sister via Facebook, and she took the opportunity to say we should go. Next thing you know, we are phone calling/texting/Facebooking back dates we should go, what we will wear and who is watching our kids. And since I went early, I can share tips and thoughts with my Mom Buzz readers!

TIP 1: CHOOSE AN EARLY DATE

I know, some people might not feel like it’s close enough to Halloween to go those early dates in September. But if most people feel that way, you can expect the park to be less crowded. We went the second weekend it was open and I was amazed at how much walking room the park had. No bumping into crowds all headed in the same direction. The event runs Thursday through Saturday nights. The dates that are still available for Howl-o-Scream 2011 are Oct. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29.

TIP 2: GET THERE EARLY

Okay, I was a little overly excited about going. And I don’t like crowds or running late. So when I looked at the back of my ticket I saw that although the event runs from 7:30 pm – 1 am, park admittance with a Howl-o-Scream ticket is 5:00pm. So I rushed my sister and brother-in-law and we managed to get to the park around 6pm. Since most attendees come when the event starts, we were able to get to the start of a lot of the Haunted Houses without a wait or minimal wait while incoming guests were still on the tram. And let me tell you, even my brother-in-law – not one for compliments – said it was a good idea to get there early when we ended up waiting 15 minutes for the last Haunted House we went on since the park was fuller.

TIP 3: START IN THE BACK

When you first walk into the park, the first house you’ll see is NightShade Toys. If you are not the first “group” in the park and you see the line is long – skip it. Head straight for the back. Those Haunted Houses were empty of guests early in the night, while the ones up front were overly crowded. It means the difference of practically going alone through a house with your “private group” to being herded through like cattle with strange people clutching your back. One of the more crowded Haunted Houses – which was NightShade Toys – my sister had two girls doing that to her and she was so annoyed that she chose a path that led straight to a zombie-toy just to shake them off. And in Deconstruction, that’s where it was just one long line of people going through the house, so in that instance it’s hard to be scared if you know what just scared the person 5 people ahead of you. So do what you can to enjoy the houses with the least amount of crowds first.

TIP 4: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COASTERS

Okay, I am NOT a huge roller coaster fan. I get motion sickness, so I’ll try most coasters once to say I did it and then sit the rest out. My sister, brother-in-law and husband love coasters. So since we go there early, before the Haunted Houses opened at 7:30, we managed to get a front spot on the new Cheetah Hunt, which is really amazing as it accellerates throughout the ride, giving you a rush of speed and adrenalin. And then the rest of the group went on Sheikra as I read the map. Once we did all the houses, the lines on the coasters were STILL short, because the majority of the people are scared senseless in the Haunted Houses. So my family went on two more coasters, getting front seats. They rode Cheetah Hunt again and Montu.

HAUNTED HOUSES for HOWL-O-SCREAM

NEW! Nevermore: Beating hearts, swinging pendulums and a raven’s cries haunt the manor of Lenore, creating a demented and twisted nightmare. Step inside to experience the gothic terror that maddens the lord of the house and feel delusion overcome reality. Find your way out of this horror story before paranoia authors your final chapter. MY THOUGHTS: This was the best haunted house of the night. Our whole group agreed. They let small groups in at a time, so you never saw the people in front of you or the people behind you as you went through the house, making you feel alone. The scare tactics were … scary. There was one section of the house that you were squeezed through a tight, inflatable tunnel – practically separating you from your group. Although, I clinged to my husband’s back and tried to keep my eyes shut most of the time. But that didn’t stop the spooks from cat-calling different ways that they might find me in my demise. I liked how they made it “personal”, so that you feel like they are really after you.

NEW! Vampire Casino – Ultimate Gamble: Fanged fiends entice you to test your luck in this sultry hangout straight from Sin City. The seductive games and high-stake thrills at Reviver Casino are sure to get your blood pumping, but will you escape before your luck gets drained? Just stay away from the killer All-THEY-Can-Eat buffet. My thoughts: The vampire who entices you in is wonderful for commentary and was fun. Inside we met up with a bosomy Vampire Bar Maid, who I think sprayed us with blood/seltzer/some liquid. I am not one who enjoys being sprayed with random liquid. But there were so many mannequins in this house, you never knew when someone might be real and scare you. And vampires were everywhere – on the ceiling, behind walls, behind machines – you never knew when one might come out and get you. It was good fun!

NEW! Zombie Mortuary: No one remembers how the epidemic started, but now, zombies live here. The undead that infest this small town funeral home feed on the fresh flesh and brains of mortuary mourners to satisfy their insatiable hunger. Avoid the walking dead or you may find yourself deeper than six feet under. My thoughts: Another good, scary house. The walk to the house was the one thing that freaked out my husband, since there were decomposing clowns. And my sister is freaked out by Zombies, so I had her go through the house first. I think I was so scared, personally, that I don’t remember much else about the house other than it being super scary!

Death Row Vengeance: Fear the Dead – The inmates of Grey Echo Penitentiary are slated for execution. But as a zombie plague infests the crumbling cells, those prisoners left alive must decide which is worst: facing the firing squad, death by electric chair or an eternity of torture at the hands of their undead captors. My thoughts: The last time I was at Howl-o-Scream was almost a decade ago, so I think although this house isn’t “new” this year, it’s still new-to-me. At this point I was trying to be brave and keep  my eyes open so I can remember more than the back of my eyelids. It was kind of working … until I realized that nothing will hold the prisoners back … nothing. If you think you are safe, you are wrong. Mwa-ha-ha.

Nightshade Toy Factory – By day, the old Nightshade Toy Factory appears abandoned. But as night falls, the mysterious manufacturing plant glows and hums as it creates the diabolical dolls, terrible teddy bears and possessed playthings of your childhood nightmares. These twisted toys are alive…and they are coming after the adults who have forgotten them. My thoughts: These are toys I wouldn’t want to write about on theMomBuzz! Freaky fangs, zombie dolls, dead teddy bears. And then inside there seems to be a mix of toys that have come alive and zombie “dolls” who don’t want you to touch their toys. (Well, at least I got “yelled” at for touching a teddy bear that was hanging from a noose. LOL.) This was the longest line we had to stand on, but they did a very good job setting a pace for people inside the house. This is also the house that they tagged two annoying girls to our group that kept hanging on my sister…. like she would protect them. Ha! My favorite part of this haunted house was the double tunnels that seemed to be moving and you never knew which tunnel would have the Possessed Toys in it.

Deconstruction: The Doctor Is Out of Control – Dr. Edger VonAngst has the skill and technology to make you over…but what will you become? This mad reconstructive surgeon has fallen one notch deeper into insanity and is putting human parts back together with mechanical pieces, combining flesh, bone and steel in the most hideous ways. My thoughts: This was not the longest line for us, NightShade Toys was. But the line was probably quicker than that house because they were just letting people through in a line. So we could see the group ahead of us and the group behind us. That meant if the group ahead of us got stalled by a psycho doctor or patient, we would get stuck randomly in the house and then the group behind us would run into us. I would say I wish they spaced us more, but if we wanted a house with better spacing we just needed to get tickets to ALONE. Right? So not a complaint, just a heads-up and my reason for telling you to reread those tips I provided above.

Alone… (A personal experience in horror) – The deranged Master Alexander Daedal us opened Minotaur Storage to house his vast collection of “cultural” remains. But now his sinister obsession with hoarding has expanded to stockpiling people. Escape this lunatic’s labyrinth or you will become part of his collection. Can you make it out ALONE? Alone is a unique, all-alone experience through the haunted house. Admission is $40.00 per reservation, and each reservation can accommodate you and up to 3 additional victims. Pass member discount does not apply. Not included with any other VIP tour or upgrade product. Howl-O-Scream admission is required, but not included. My Thoughts: We didn’t purchase the pass for ALONE but my husband and sister both wished they did for a more intimate experience of horror. 

OTHER SHOWS, STOPS & SOUVENIERS

I love how Zombies are loose in the park. Some areas were “known” to be busy with zombies, like around the NightShade Toy Factory. But other times you are walking through a pitch black walkway, see black figures coming towards you, and next thing you know you are in the middle 20+ zombies, all sniffing and grunting at you. It was freaky fun!

Now, at 9:30 we started slowing down. We got drinks, my family rode coasters and we saw a little bit of Fiends. Fiends is performed at the Stanleyville Theater. “Is there a doctor in the house? These captivating creatures of the night will infect you with dance fever and keep your pulse pounding with their deranged dance party. But when Dr. Freakenstein’s naughty nurses start operating, the diagnosis is always code pink.”

And before leaving, we walked through Howl-O-Scream Shop of Horrors. It is a small shop with necklaces, t-shirts and strange teddy bears. There was even a machine to win Skelanimals.

Finally, as we were leaving we saw the Dark Side of the Gardens photo op that was very cool, with a gothic merry-go-round horse and a statue that was alive.

Overall, my husband and brother-in-law have been bitten … by the Halloween bug. They are ready to check out more Halloween events and houses to see how scared they can get. It was a great way to hang out with my sister and husband. And the prices were very do-able, especially if you buy discounted early tickets and/or use pass holder discounts. My sister managed to get tickets for her and her husband for approximately $50 total. So that was $25 each for a memorable “date-night”.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received two tickets to attend the event for review.