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One question is drawing more speakers than any other to committee hearings this session in Tallahassee: Where am I supposed to go to the bathroom? View the full article

A Jacksonville police officer has been disciplined for allowing his girlfriend to drive his patrol car after someone complained they saw a plain-clothed woman driving the cruiser to Hooters. View the full article

Little ones share their favorite memory from Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World! http://di.sn/60042bci SUBSCRIBE: http://di.sn/q7h About Walt Disney World: At Walt Disney World,...From:Disney ParksViews:76539ratingsTime:01:08More inTravel & Events

One of the original Walt Disney World Monorail trains has hit the online auction block again. View the full article

This week at Disney Parks, some of the most compelling images were shot at Magic Kingdom Park, where on Thursday, March 19, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels performed two flyovers above Cinderella Castle. The six F/A-18 Hornet jets were traveling from Pensacola, FL, to a Florida air show. Traveling at more than 250 mph, the team thundered down Main Street, U.S.A., in the Delta Formation on their first pass, then returned to execute a Delta Break on their second pass. Don’t miss these amazing shots! This Week in Disney Parks Photos: U.S. Navy Blue Angels Amaze at Magic Kingdom Park by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Lisa Colagrossi was 'a straightforward reporter who told the truth, empathetic to the everyday citizens of the New York area, and demanding of those in power,' WABC said. View the full article

So, today we’ve got a SUPER cute cupcake from Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! Learn About: Contempo CafeDisney World RestaurantsThe restaurant, located on the Concourse in the Resort, is one of my favorite stops for delicious counter service eats. It’s just a monorail ride (or quick walk) away from Magic Kingdom, making it a great option if you need a break during a busy Park day. But they’ve also featured some truly decadent and beautiful Cupcakes throughout the years. I’m always anxious to pop in every time I’m in town to see what Chef Jeff Barnes and his creative team have come up with! And on a recent visit, I didn’t come up empty handed when I stopped by for an afternoon snack. The Hot Chocolate CupcakeWell, the very last thing that you want in Florida 11 1/2 months out of the year is a steaming cup of anything. So this is a fun nod to hot chocolate without getting any of the “hot!” It’s pretty great that you get so much description here on the sign…and it’s pretty irresistible, eh? Hot Chocolate Cupcake — In the Case, with Description I quickly opted to try this new-to-me cupcake, passing by the ever popular Frozen Cupcake and the classic Red Velvet Cupcake. It’s definitely super cute, with Toasted Marshmallows on top, a Striped Chocolate Straw, Red Sprinkles, and a mound of light Chocolate Buttercream. Hot Chocolate Cupcake — Up Close When I cut into it, I found what I’ve come to expect in a Contempo Cupcake: filling, with a cutaway piece of cake inverted so that it forms a base for piping the buttercream. The chocolate cake was also fairly standard — not dry, but nothing spectacular. Perfectly fine, in fact. The Filling, according to the description card, was Chocolate Marshmallow. Hot Chocolate Cupcake — Cross Section It definitely seemed to be different than the light and airy buttercream, but I didn’t get an overwhelming flavor of marshmallow. Still, I loved the looks of this one. I may not have it again and again, but I’m glad I tried it once. What do you think of the Hot Chocolate Cupcake? Will you be making a trip to the Contempo Cafe to seek it out? Weigh in below with your comments! 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: Snack Series: Mickey Cupcake at Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort Snack Series: “Frozen” Cupcake at Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort Snack Series: Contempo Cafe Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake View the full article

On March 21, 1975, six years after man first set foot on the moon, the Flight to the Moon attraction at Disneyland park was relaunched with a new destination. The new Mission to Mars attraction still featured a visit to Mission Control. I can still remember thinking what a cool job Mr. Johnson had. According to NASA, robotic missions to Mars currently take approximately eight months to travel to the red planet. So, when Mission to Mars completed its final journey on November 2, 1992, it would only have had time for 13 roundtrips from Earth were it not for a little Disney magic powered by imagination. A Look Back: Launching Mission to Mars at Disneyland Park by George Savvas: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

The Garden Rocks Concert Series at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival has a few newbies this year, including this weekend’s group – En Vogue. I own a couple of their CD’s, and have sung along with their hits including “Free Your Mind”, “Don’t Let Go” and “My Lovin”. The trio has a new album coming out later this year. I had a chance to chat with Rhona Bennett about their festival debut – it’s a homecoming, of sorts, for her! Victoria: Welcome to Walt Disney World Resort, and your first Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival! Rhona: I haven’t attended the festival before, so I’m looking forward to this. Disney has a knack for creating enchanting environments. Victoria: You’re already kind of part of the family – I read you were on the “The All-New Mickey Mouse Club”. What can you tell us about that time? Rhona: I gained so much from my experience at Disney … I had a great time exploring the fine arts (dancing/singing/acting/interviewing/recording/etc..) on such a platform and with such a talented group of kids. And … I frequented Space Mountain, ‘The World’ at Epcot and the splendor of the night lights at the Magic Kingdom [Park]. Victoria: What can you share with us about the new album coming out? Any flowers or garden themes in it (smile)? Rhona: We’re all pretty silly, so we had a good time being creative and recording the forthcoming album. There were funny writer’s block moments where we would break out into song and dance while passing the time … And, although we don’t have any songs with a flowers or garden theme, we do have a song called, ‘Blue Skies’, that could compliment them. Victoria: What attractions, characters, food or experiences are “must do’s” during your time with us? Rhona: I would love to visit Downtown Disney again. I heard that it has continued to expand with greater attractions and places to eat. I will definitely take another stroll through ‘The World’ at Epcot. And, I wonder what’s in place of ‘Horizons in Future World’. I used to love that ride! I sure hope Rhona isn’t disappointed Horizons was closed back in the late 1990s! Maybe she should take a spin on Test Track Presented by Chevrolet or Mission: SPACE instead! What attraction would you recommend for her first time back in a while? You can catch her with En Vogue this Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of the Garden Rocks Concert Ceries at 5:30, 6:45 and 8:00 p.m. En Vogue To Appear at the Garden Rocks Concert Series at Epcot March 20-22 by Victoria Lim: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

We have shared some details about how Walt Disney World Resort will be the coolest place for an unforgettable family getaway this summer, and as a mom of preschoolers, I was thrilled to see how much there is for my little ones to do! With Olaf as the host for “Coolest Summer Ever,” of course there will be lots of Frozen-inspired fun, but there is also so much more. Here are some highlights of just some of the activities that little ones will enjoy: Cool Characters From hugs from favorite Disney Jr. characters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and royal meet & greets at Princess Fairytale Hall at Magic Kingdom Park, and of course the chance to cozy up to Mickey Mouse and pals at all four theme parks, kids will delight in hanging out with their favorites this summer. Frozen Summer Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios From June 17 – September 7, little ones’ Frozen dreams will come true at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Where else but the magical “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” can they belt out the lyrics to all of their favorite songs from the film in a room full of other kids?Kids get to feel like they’re part of the show during the daily Frozen procession, where Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and friends parade through the park and greet the citizens of “Hollywoodland.”It’s worth taking a nap in order to stay up for the special Frozen Fireworks, featuring Elsa and Anna, and a dazzling fireworks display set to the music from the film.Frozen encounters at Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom is a favorite for my family. There is so much to see and do, and now with FastPass+, you can reserve seating to ensure you won’t miss a moment! Even the youngest guests will marvel at the daily Festival of Fantasy Parade, which features dancing, singing and you guessed it – Elsa and Anna!Be sure not to miss the incredible projection show on Cinderella Castle, followed by Wishes Nighttime Spectacular.Looking for a cool thrill? Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the new rollicking rollercoaster for the whole family.Cool Off at Two Water Parks The two water parks at Walt Disney World Resort are an ideal way for the entire family to chill out this summer. At Disney’s Blizzard Beach, young children will enjoy Tike’s Peak, a play area with kid-sized versions of the attractions including slower-moving, scaled-down thrills for small fries 48 inches and under.Over at Typhoon Lagoon, Ketchakiddee Creek is a play area featuring 10 different aquatic activities just for preschoolers and little kids.#DisneyKids: Cool Summer Thrills for Little Guests at the Walt Disney World Resort by Jamie Langdon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

A 3-year-old boy whose body was found in his father's Hollywood home Thursday night will be buried at the Big Cypress Seminole Indian reservation in Clewiston once it is released by the Broward Medical Examiner's Office, a family member said. View the full article

This summer, we’re setting sail once again to destinations around the Baltic Sea! Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia are two of the locales you can explore on our Northern European cruises, and we have fantastic Port Adventure options for your family to make the most of your time in these historic cities. Helsinki, Finland is known for its historic architecture, lively squares and beautiful green spaces. Our Helsinki Highlights and Finnish Food-Tasting tour takes you to see some of the city’s most popular sights, such as Senate Square, and taste delicious local food, including smoked Finnish delicacies and typical Finnish desserts. The unique Temppeliaukio Rock Church is one of my favorite stops on this tour, as this impressive venue, located in the heart of Helsinki, was built directly into solid rock! Our Helsinki, Porvoo and Countryside Port Adventure takes you to Temppeliaukio Rock Church and Senate Square, too, and this full-day tour also includes a visit to the historic town of Porvoo and the Finnish countryside. In Porvoo, you can explore Old Town, with its narrow lanes and 16th century wooden houses, and the small handicraft shops. Next up is a visit to the charming Savijärvi Farm, a local family’s home, as well as a Finnish horse-breeding farm and riding school. After meeting the family and eating a three-course meal in their 19th century manor house, you’ll also have the chance to see some of the horses and learn more about the family’s way of life on the farm. Tallinn, Estonia is another destination on our Baltic cruises brimming with beautiful architecture and rich history. On our Port Adventure, Best of Tallinn with Concert and Lunch, you’ll get an up-close look at many of the city’s historic landmarks, including the Gothic Town Hall, domed churches and the baroque palace that once was a summer residence of Russian czars and now houses the Museum of European Art. A highlight of this excursion is the walking tour through the cobblestone streets of the old town, followed by a three-course lunch at a neighborhood restaurant and a concert of medieval music in St. Nicholas Church. A different Port Adventure that celebrates the area’s architecture and art is Estonian Architecture and Art for Families, created exclusively for Disney cruisers. Following a sightseeing tour, a visit to the Museum of European Art gives adults the chance to have a guided tour while the kids join Disney Cruise Line youth counselors in a fun art project. First, the costumed Dame of the Palace will welcome you and take the children on a short tour of the palace to exhibitions geared for kids. Then, the children will enjoy a drawing workshop where they can draw their impressions of the palace to take home as a souvenir. Up next, I’ll tell you about adventures in St Petersburg, Russia and Stockholm, Sweden. Who’s sailing the Baltic with us this summer? Adventures in Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia with Disney Cruise Line by Arnaldo Zanonato: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Two Florida Hospital employees printed portions of medical records of as many as 9,000 patients from January 2012 to May 2014, the hospital announced on Friday. View the full article

Crowds are growing and could get worse on the SunRail commuter train today as more and more people show up at the Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival. View the full article

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper is under review after a Youtube video of a trooper pulling over a motorcyclist went viral Thursday. View the full article

Gov. Rick Scott declined to say Friday whether he supported using state funds to build University of Central Florida's proposed downtown Orlando campus. View the full article

We recently told you about the new expansion of Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure park, and today we’re excited to open the all-new Smokejumpers Grill. This new quick-service location is the first phase of the Grizzly Peak Airfield addition to this land, in the space formerly known as Condor Flats. As you can see in these photos, Smokejumpers Grill honors the brave men and women who fight wildfires in our California forests. Take a closer look in the gallery below. GallerySmokejumpers Grill Opens Today at Disney California Adventure Park view allThe location will also feature an updated menu with tasty items like a Bacon Cheddar Burger, Grilled Chicken & Jack Sandwich and Chili Cheeseburger, so stop in during your next visit! Smokejumpers Grill Opens Today at Disney California Adventure Park by Erin Glover: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Here we goooooooooo! Learn About: Be Our Guest Restaurant -- LunchMagic Kingdom Disney World RestaurantsAfter months of waiting, it’s finally here. The first day of Breakfast at Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant is on the books, and it was a great one! After opening in 2012, Be Our Guest Restaurant was an instant sensation for disney-goers, and it has since become THE reservation to get when you’re planning a trip to the World. BOG has a long history of “firsts.” The table-service dinner at the French, Beauty and the Beast-inspired restaurant features alcohol in the Magic Kingdom for the first time ever, the lunch meal became the first to offer dining FastPass+ bookings (no longer offered), and subsequently lunch just became the first counter-service restaurant to require reservations to dine. Now, Be Our Guest’s counter-service breakfast is also taking Advance Dining Reservations! And today we’ve got a fun FIRST LOOK at all of the food for you. We’ll have a full review on Monday with our fancy camera pics, but I couldn’t wait to share a few phone pics with you this morning! AtmosphereThere’s nothing like an early morning romp through the Magic Kingdom — especially when the park is totally empty (well, almost)! Cinderella Castle in the early morning light And that’s one of the many benefits of booking a “before-the-park-opens” meal at one of Magic Kingdom’s breakfast restaurants. Not only do you get some great photo ops, but you’re also done with breakfast and ALREADY IN THE PARK just in time to get to the front of the line at your favorite rides as soon as they open. Morning at Magic Kingdom But, our favorite attractions are always the restaurants, so we couldn’t wait to cross that bridge over to the Beast’s Castle and enjoy breakfast at Be Our Guest for the first time ever. Be Our Guest Restaurant Check-in was at two umbrella’d tables in front of the main bridge to the restaurant. We’ll have a full run-down of tips and tricks for arriving and checking in in our Monday post. Be Our Guest Restaurant breakfast check-in Once we got inside, we were greeted with the same gorgeous castle atmosphere that we find on every visit. It’s always overwhelming! Whispering Suits of Armour Ballroom Ceiling This morning, we sat in the Rose Gallery. This isn’t a room that was featured in the film, but it does offer some lovely wall hangings depicting scenes from the lives of the characters. It also features the gorgeous music box that Belle’s father created for Belle and the Beast for their wedding. Rose Gallery Music Box EatsBut you’ll hear more about all that on Monday. It’s time to showcase a few of the goodies we tried today! The ordering process is the same as it is for lunch — guests will order via cast members or kiosks once they get into the restaurant, and then they’ll head off with their “magic rose” or Disney World magic band to find a table they like. Their food will magically (seeing a theme here?) find THEM wherever they are! Again, we’ll give you a further run-down of that process on Monday, but you can read any of our Disney Food Blog lunch reviews and see the details there as well. Note that pre-ordering your meals should become an option for breakfast as it is for lunch; we’re just not sure of the roll-out for that option. So, here’s how it all works! The price for breakfast at BOG is set — $19.99 for adults, $11.99 for guests aged 9 and under. Sounds expensive, right? Especially for counter-service? But here’s the run-down: 1.) Be Our Guest is pretty pricey as it is for its other two meals, so you’re starting high, 2.) Everyone gets a bunch of breakfast pastries and non-alcoholic drinks included in the cost. So, yes, it’s expensive, but you may find that it’s worth it for your family. Be Our Guest Restaurant Breakfast Menu There are six entrees that you can choose from on the adult menu, and five entrees on the kids’ menu. We, of course, ordered everything on the adult menu, and also ordered one intriguing item from the kids’ menu just to check out the level of value there. Here are pics and mini-descriptions of some of our favorites! We’ll have ALL of the pics for you on Monday! Open-Face Bacon and Egg SandwichThis was a must-order for us, since we figured it’d be very popular with Disney guests. And we loved it! It was a table favorite. Open-Face Bacon and Egg Sandwich with poached eggs, applewood bacon, and brie cheese on a toasted baguette served with fresh fruit Croissant DoughnutAnother must-have — at least for me — was this Croissant Donut (cronut) served with some truly ah-mazing caramel banana sauce! This is suuuuuper sweet, but suuuuuper awesome! Croissant Doughnut topped with banana caramel sauce, pastry creme, and chocolate ganache Assorted Cured Meats and CheeseAnother intriguing option was this charcuterie and cheese platter. Definitely a departure from your typical American breakfast menu, and truly delicious. Assorted Cured Meats and Cheeses — alpine-smoked ham, serrano ham, sopressata, and cheese served with marmalade, fresh fruit, and toasted baguette We ordered everything else as well (for the vegetarians, the quiche is the same one that’s served at lunch), and we’ll have more pics for you on Monday! Crepes de CogsworthFor the kiddos, the Crepes de Cogsworth curried the most interest among our group. This French-inspired dish is a Mickey Check meal, and it included yogurt, berries, and even a wildberry “foam.” Fun! Crepes de Cogsworth — stuffed with Yogurt, fresh berries, and wildberry foam OverallOK, we’ll have more for you on Monday (as I’ve said a jillion times), and can’t wait to share our full review! In the meantime, let us know your thoughts about Breakfast at Be Our Guest! Are you going? What will you be ordering? What’s your must-have at Be Our Guest Breakfast? Let us know in the comments below! 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: Be Our Guest Restaurant To Offer Table Service Breakfast? We Think So… News! Be Our Guest Restaurant Breakfast Menus and Reservation Booking Details News! Lunch FastPass Testing to End at Be Our Guest Restaurant View the full article

Full Sail University on Friday announced a collaboration with Maker Studios to produce premium programming at a digital studio on the university campus near Winter Park. View the full article

Little ones share their favorite memory from the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World! http://di.sn/60072bcl SUBSCRIBE: http://di.sn/q7h About Walt Disney World: At...From:Disney ParksViews:30122ratingsTime:00:55More inTravel & Events

The Innoventions West attraction at Epcot will be undergoing changes this spring, Walt Disney World has confirmed. View the full article

TAVARES — A 20-year-old Tavares High School student was arrested Friday morning after a handgun was found in his vehicle on campus, according to a Lake County Sheriff's official. View the full article

I’m beyond excited to give you a first look at some new merchandise coming this year to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. I’ve been looking forward to this story for months as my entire apartment is decorated like a Polynesian paradise. You may remember the sneak preview I shared this past January of the Tiki figurine shown above. I recently visited the resort to capture an image of that same figurine in a lush, tropical setting. I also found a few other things that I’m sure you’ll enjoy! Disney Design Group artists created a comprehensive style guide for this resort logo program. This guide contained Disney character sketches, patterns, backgrounds and more that were applied to a variety of items. The adult and kids shirts pictured above utilize some of those style guide elements. The Minnie Mouse image from the T-shirt was also used on a long-sleeved hoodie (I love the resort logo name on the sleeve). I was delighted to see new Aloha shirts for adults and kids (now my son and I can match while enjoying Dole Whips from the Pineapple Lanai). Those shirts combine character sketches from the T-shirts along with the Tiki figurine. The tote bag also contains an image of that Tiki figurine and it’s perfect! Other souvenir items will include a key chain, a decorative frame, and window decals. The resort will have an open edition logo pin. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto will have an open edition logo pin and a limited edition pin for the grand opening. Some of my favorite items, however, are the amazing Tiki mugs that are coming to the resort. There will be two different mugs, each with the resort’s logo found on the back side. The first two colors for these mugs are shown in the image above. Look for three additional color variations for each mug to be released throughout this year at the resort’s merchandise shops. Besides the Tiki mugs, I can’t wait to get my hands on the Aloha shirt inspired by Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. The shirt’s colors were inspired by colorful tile once used inside Great Ceremonial House. As you can tell from this image, I’m already waiting to enjoy this happy hideaway that is soon to become my second home away from home. These items will be released at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort this year; we will not be carrying them on our Disney Parks online store. Preview of New Merchandise Coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World Resort by Steven Miller: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

The 73-year-old man who disappeared a week ago is enjoying a morning with his family today. View the full article

Just a few weeks ago, as the sun started to rise on a cool day in late February, Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed its second white rhino calf of 2015 into the herd! This one’s a girl and it’s the tenth white rhino baby to be born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! As we welcome this newest baby and work to deliver uncompromising excellence in animal care for the animals here at the park and across The Walt Disney Company, we haven’t forgotten about their relatives in the wild. Last year, rhinos faced the worst poaching in history, so we continue to support conservation efforts for this and many other vulnerable species around the world. Much long term work to save this species is needed in the wild, but it’s important to celebrate small victories and our animal care team definitely has much to celebrate with seemingly back-to-back white rhino calves born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this year. While our newest mom and calf won’t make their debut out on the savannas of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve for a couple of months, our newest calf needs a name and this time the choice is yours! The animal care team narrowed it down to four options, so please help us choose which name you like best for her. Take a look at the heart-warming pictures in the photo gallery and choose your favorite name below. Be sure to rally your friends to make sure your favorite name wins! Vote to Name a New Baby Rhino Girl at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!GallerySpecial Edition Wildlife Friday: Vote to Name a New Baby Rhino Girl at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! view allVoting will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, March 26. We’ll reveal the winning name soon after that! Tell us which name you voted for and why in the comments below. Special Edition Wildlife Friday: Vote to Name a New Baby Rhino Girl at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! by Karen Jasmin: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article