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A 51-year-old Texas man is facing federal charges after he made plans to meet what he thought was a 10-year-old girl and her father for sex at a Central Florida hotel, records show. View the full article

When it comes to online dating profiles, Floridians aren't afraid to play the Disney card. View the full article

Congressman John Mica of Winter Park met with more than three dozen Metro Orlando leaders Monday to drum up support for speeding the addition of tolls lanes to Interstate 4 outside the 21-mile confines of the Ultimate makeover now underway. View the full article

Orange County school and government leaders are to meet this afternoon with the developer of Avalon Park on his ideas for relieving crowding at Avalon Middle School. The school district wants to solve the problem by building a new middle school on a site zoned for an elementary school. The county,... View the full article

Of all the photos we’ve featured in our “morning” series, I have to say that this is my favorite shot so far. The morning sunshine hits the pond, lilypads and temple at the China Pavilion just perfectly. Such a peaceful sight! Now who is ready to explore World Showcase for the day? For more from the “Good Morning” series, visit the posts below: Good Morning From Pirates’ Beach & Skull Rock at Disneyland Park ParisGood Morning from Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak StationAll Aboard For A Morning Train Ride at Disneyland Resort ParisCarrousel Horses Ready for the Day at Magic Kingdom ParkIt’s a Peaceful Morning at the China Pavilion at Epcot by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

The collectible souvenir mugs are in at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and the doors officially open today. Those coveted cups include the Uh-Oa!, Krakatoa Punch, Nautilus, Polynesian Pearl, HippopotoMai-Tai, Rum Flight shot glasses in the three colors and the Shrunken Zombie Head – all available only at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. It’s a pretty popular spot, with waits some evenings up to two hours at peak times as guests ooh and ah over more than 1,200 pieces of memorabilia and have a good time with the staff. The handcrafted cocktails are delicious, and just order an Uh-Oa! and see what happens with the special effects. If you want a table and there’s a wait, Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace is almost as cool as the lounge, with a lava rock waterfall and live Hawai’ian-themed entertainment every night with the gorgeous backdrop of Seven Seas Lagoon and a seat for the Magic Kingdom Park fireworks. Walt Disney Parks & Resorts recently won a VIBE VISTA Award in the category of “Best Spirits Program in Hotels.” The award represents “exemplary creativity, execution and results in an extremely competitive field,” as judged by the faculty at Johnson & Wales University. And Trader Sam’s helped land the prestigious award. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Officially Opens Today at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort by Pam Brandon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Are you planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation? Then we may have just made your day by announcing that our Free Dine offer is back! You may now get a free dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted 6-night/7-day Magic Your Way package that includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel and tickets with Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More option. The offer is valid for arrival dates between August 28-October 2; October 25-31; November 8-19; or December 15-21, 2015. If you’re not familiar with our dining plans, the Disney Dining Plan is offered with vacation packages at select Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts and is honored at more than 100 select Walt Disney World Resort restaurants. The Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan,offered with vacation packages at our Value Resorts, includes meals and snacks at more than 50 dining locations. For full details, visit this link. You also may be interested in learning how you can save up to 30% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels for vacations taking place between August 15-October 3, 2015. This offer must be booked by August 7, 2015, and additional info can be found here. Book Fall Walt Disney World Resort Vacations Now for Free Dine Offer by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Today is THE day many of you have been waiting for… Walt Disney World’s Free Dining Offer will be offered to guests for select dates in late August, September, October, November, and December 2015! Travel DatesFree Dining is being offered to guests ARRIVING during the dates listed below. A minimum stay of 3 nights is required and your package may not be booked for longer than 14 nights. August 28 – October 2, 2015 October 25 – October 31, 2015 November 8 – November 19, 2015 December 15 – December 21, 2015 You must book by July 10th to get the offer. (Please note that Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside is excluded from the offer from October 25 – December 21. The offer excludes campsites and 3-bedroom villas at all times.) Disney ResortsIf you stay at a Value Resort, you’ll receive the Quick Service Dining plan for FREE. (Note that you can upgrade to the standard or deluxe dining plans by paying the difference in cost per night.) If you reserve a Moderate, Deluxe, or Deluxe Villa Resort, you will receive the standard Dining plan for FREE. (You can upgrade to the deluxe dining plan by paying the difference in cost per night). TicketsIn addition to booking a minimum stay of 3 nights at one of the above Disney resorts, you’ll also need to purchase AT LEAST a 2-day Magic Your Way Disney World ticket with a Park Hopper OR Water Park Fun & More Option. Is the Free Dining Offer Right for Your Family? Since Disney World’s free dining offer generally can’t be combined with other discounts, it’s often difficult to determine whether or not your family will save more money with a Disney World hotel room discount or with the free dining offer. We break down and compare the costs and options for several Disney World discounts, including the free dining offer, in our fully updated DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book to help you save the most money possible. Along with 490 pages of great Disney World dining advice, photos, and details, this book is a great deal. Get yours here, and speaking of saving money — use code “2015” to get $4 off today! Are you excited for Free Dining? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! 2013 Disney World Free Dining Offer News! 2014 Disney World Free Dining Offer Details 2014 Disney World Free Dining Offer Now Available for General Public Reservations View the full article

TALLAHASSEE – Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, the fiercest opponent of Medicaid expansion in the House and the next in line to become House Speaker in 2016, defended his position in a series of tweets over the weekend . View the full article

Shelter, fuel, food, medicine, power, news, workers — Nepal's earthquake-hit capital was short on everything Monday as its people searched for lost loved ones, sorted through rubble for their belongings and struggled to provide for their families' needs. In much of the countryside, it was worse,... View the full article

A 25-year-old man is recovering after being shot Sunday night behind a gas station in south Orange County. View the full article

It wasn’t too long ago that Starbucks didn’t exist in the Disney Universe. Learn About: Starbucks at Downtown Disney West SideDowntown Disney Disney World RestaurantsBut although the coffee giant’s presence in Disney Parks has caused quite a bit of heated debate, their popularity is undeniable. And recently, the company has begun piloting a new evening menu, which is meant to appeal to those who are looking for a place to gather after 4PM. Not only does the menu include a select list of Wine and Beer, but there are also Small Plates available — perfect for sharing. I say “piloting” because the concept is only available in about 30 stores in the US, primarily in large metropolitan areas. More locations are expected to be announced. And if you are a Starbucks and Disney lover, then you’re in luck, because the Downtown Disney Orlando West Side location is one of the stores that offer the evening menu! I was intrigued by the whole concept of getting a glass of wine and a snack at a spot that’s normally reserved for meeting my tea and (very rarely) coffee needs. So on a recent trip to Disney World, I decided that I had to check it out. AtmosphereAnd there it is! Starbucks. Complete with a hole in its roof for a palm tree to grow through! Starbucks Entrance You walk into a familiar site — a rope set up for the typical queue. That queue is usually pretty full, too. Queue for the ordering counter Not only is this a massive Starbucks location, but it’s also a Reserve Location, which means you can enjoy rare, small batch offerings of some of the world’s rarest beans. Definitely check it out if you’re a coffee lover. Wendy shared her experience in our full review here. Reserve Coffee Counter Looking for a place to sit for a spell? You have plenty of options. From communal seating, to cozy tables for two, you’re likely to find a spot, even at busy times. Seating at the Reserve Coffee Counter Indoor seating Large table Don’t you love the bench seating against this picture window? It’s one of my favorite spots. Indoor seating Murals that look like chalk drawings depict coffee growing regions across the globe. Mural Be sure to stop by the interactive screen and check out the action at the Starbucks in Downtown Disney in Anaheim! Interactive Screen There are also really beautiful water views from the inside seating area and the shaded patio area. Window wall But the outside area also has another great focal point — a “live” wall and a glassed-in fireplace. Outdoor seating Fireplace Now that we’ve looked around a bit, let’s head back in and take a closer look at the Starbucks Evenings menu. EatsWanting to sample the Evenings menu? Head to Downtown Disney West Side at 4:00PM, when service expands to include Wine, Beer, and Small Plates. Starbucks Evenings Menu — Click to Enlarge While the wine list isn’t extensive, there is something for every taste. Wines range from light and sparkling, to medium bodied, and onto reds. Starbucks Evenings Wine Menu — Click to Enlarge Space above counters has been given over to creative storage of wine and glasses. Wine Storage and Glassware On this visit, however, we decided to stick with sampling the eats. Now, I will say right up front — it was definitely pretty obvious that this was a new offering, and that we also managed to find ourselves with a new employee helping us. I made my selections from the overhead menu. I was intrigued by the Truffle Popcorn and decided to try it first. The employee who was helping me told me to just grab a bag off the shelf. I was confused, but went ahead and did it. Packaged Butter Popcorn Packaged Buttered Popcorn — Nutritional Info Buttered Popcorn — Out of the Bag Turns out she was wrong, and didn’t realize that there were two kinds of popcorn on offer — one in the bag, and one freshly prepared. Luckily I was spotted by one of the managers, who ended up assuring me that not all of the eats had to be ordered “to go,” as my barista had originally told me. In fact, they can be very nicely plated and brought to your table. Anyway, while the bagged popcorn was just, well, meh, the fresh Truffle Popcorn was absolutely awesome! I could have eaten a lot more of this. Epcot — are you listening?? We have a new flavored popcorn for you to offer! Truffle Popcorn I also decided to sample the Grilled Veggie Plate. A variety of Grilled Peppers, Zucchini Spears, and Artichoke Hearts are served warm with a Lemon Aioli for dipping. While it was pretty (we actually got compliments on it!), the flavor fell flat. Grilled Veggie Plate But next, I’ll go ahead and share my favorite dish of the evening — the Truffle Mac and Cheese! Truffle Mac and Cheese I enjoyed the rich flavor of the Cheese Sauce, and the Truffle flavor was nicely balanced, and not overpowering. The crunchy topping of Herbed Parmesan Breadcrumbs provided a nice texture contrast. Truffle Mac and Cheese — Inside We were pretty underwhelmed, however, by the Parmesan Crusted Chicken Skewers. The Honey Dijon Dipping Sauce was a tasty condiment, but overall, these seemed merely reheated, and like they were a bit of an afterthought. Parmesan Crusted Chicken Skewers Finally, we tried one of the two Flatbreads that were offered…but I think we got the wrong one. We ordered the Chicken Sausage and Mushroom Flatbread, but I’m pretty sure we ended up with the Artichoke and Goat Cheese Flatbread. Um, I think. Artichoke and Goat Cheese Flatbread It was fine. But for sure, that Mac and Cheese won the day. OverallWell. Let’s start with what didn’t go perfectly. As I mentioned, the new cast member who rang up my order was pretty clueless about the new menu line. Had I not stepped up and asked a bunch of questions when I saw the manager, I would have had to take a huge bag of these items in cardboard boxes “to go.” I also never would have actually gotten the popcorn I paid for. (As it was, I didn’t get the flatbread I paid for.) So. My impressions…I think this is a great concept. It’s sort of like having a counter service tapas spot. If you’re looking for a cozy evening hangout, and a bar or lounge doesn’t necessarily fit the bill, this just may be a good fit for you. And if the next question out of your mouth is, “But AJ, can I still get all of my other favorite Starbucks beverages and foods?” Yep, you sure can. The Starbucks Evenings menu is meant to enhance your experience at the popular java spot; it isn’t meant to take the place of your go-to coffee stop. Time will tell if the offering gains traction; with so much new to experience at Downtown Disney, I’m not sure when I’ll make it back. But I’d love to hear from you guys! Are you excited to sip wine or have a beer and enjoy a small plate at Starbucks? Leave a comment and tell us your thoughts! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! Downtown Disney West Side Starbucks Now Offering Starbucks Evening Menu with Beer and Wine News! STK Comes to Disney Springs and Animal Kingdom Starbucks Locale Suspected Review: Main Street Bakery Starbucks in Walt Disney World View the full article

When Toronto FC striker Jozy Altidore bullied his second shot into the net late Sunday night, the reality of yet another loss at the Citrus Bowl settled in for what had been another raucous home crowd. View the full article

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said late Sunday that it now has learned that a missing 12-year-old Kissimmee girl is alone and no longer in the company of an unknown adult. View the full article

Toronto FC striker Jozy Altidore became the latest visitor to deliver a crushing blow in the Citrus Bowl and keep Orlando City searching for its first win at home in MLS. View the full article

Orlando City's matchup against Toronto FC has the feel a must-win game. The Lions are chasing their first home victory and looking to bounce back from a brutal 3-0 loss at Columbus. View the full article

Between rising home costs and a sharp increase in middle-age divorce rates, will Central Florida's older adults embrace the notion of roomies? View the full article

Jameis Winston compares more to past busts like David Carr and Tim Couch than he does to star signal callers like Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck, at least according to one statistic-based formula. View the full article

Orlando City's matchup against Toronto FC has the feel a must-win game. View the full article

Shell-shocked and sleeping in the streets, tens of thousands of Nepalis braced against terrifying aftershocks Sunday while digging for survivors of the massive earthquake that ripped across this Himalayan nation a day earlier, killing more than 2,500 people. View the full article

Although it reportedly struck a truck on the tarmac Sunday afternoon, a Southwest jet aircraft was able to take off for Atlanta as planned. View the full article

If you pay for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, you're supporting domestic violence If you pay for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, you're supporting domestic violence View the full article

There is crying in baseball. If you are 10 and the coach, who is your father, chews you out for not being ready to take the field because your shoes are not laced, there is crying in the dugout at Bill Keller Park in DeBary. View the full article

It started in 2008 with two people, some band posters and a few wedding invitations. View the full article

In an Altamonte Springs movie theater, several hundred members of black and white churches gathered together to watch the movie "Selma." Afterward, pastors led a discussion of the movie. View the full article