Spooktacular at Sea World Orlando

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Halloween meets the sea during this park's "Spooktacular," a "Fantasea" that offers fun for the whole family on Oct. 4-5- 11-12, 18-19, 24-26 and 31. This annual event features the opportunity for costumed children to go trick-or-treating among friendly sea witches, mermaids, octopuses and pumpkin fish.

Celebrating Sea World's new partnership with Sesame Street, The Count joins in the fun with his own character breakfast.

Shamu's Happy Harbor area is transformed into an autumn festival, adorned with scarecrows and pumpkins. Strolling entertainment includes 35 fanciful sea creatures and at a Frozen Fun Zone an ice witch and DJ entertain with interactive activities. The Halloween festivities begin at 11 a.m. on the selected days and are included in regular admission to the park: $69.95 for adults; $59.95 for children ages 3 to 9.

[Grumpy]

Sara K. Clarke and Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writers September 29, 2008 SeaWorld (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/environmental-issues/bodies-of-water/seaworld-PLENT000232.topic) Orlando opens its annual, daytime Halloween (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/arts-culture/halloween-EVFES000167.topic) Spooktacular festivities this weekend, offering friendly fantasy sea characters and activities such as trick-or-treating for younger children.

Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends starting Saturday and continues through Halloween, dressing up the park's walkways with "fantaseas" zones filled with meet-and-greet stations for both new characters created for the festivities and familiar characters such as Sesame Street's "The Count."

The activities include a Halloween-themed breakfast, Halloween-themed music and trick-or-treat opportunities. Most of the activities are included in regular park admission

The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau teamed up with the University of Central Florida (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/education/colleges-universities/university-of-central-florida-OREDU0000150.topic)'s Rosen College of Hospitality Management to host the Fourth Annual Tourism Job Shadow Day this past Thursday. A total of 76 students were to participate in the event, nearly doubling last year's turnout.

The all-day program matched students with local employers such as the Orange County Convention Center (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/economy-business-finance/orange-county-convention-center-PLCUL000003.topic), Loews Hotels and Walt Disney World (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/travel/tourism-leisure/theme-park-vacations/walt-disney-world-resort-PLREC000087.topic). It was an opportunity for students to get an "up-close-and-personal look at the careers they may pursue after graduation," said Gary Sain, president and chief executive of the visitors bureau.


Sampling CityWalk (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/travel/tourism-leisure/hotels-accommodations/universal-citywalk-PLENT000248.topic)

Universal Orlando is asking those mourning the demise of Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island to give CityWalk a try.

The remaining six nightclubs in Disney's Pleasure Island entertainment district were closed this past weekend so the company can redevelop the area with more family-oriented restaurants and entertainment over the next couple of years.

Universal announced last week that Pleasure Island passholders could bring those passes to Universal and receive special CityWalk passes allowing free admission from now through March 31, 2009, to select CityWalk venues: Red Coconut Club, Bob Marley (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/entertainment/bob-marley-PECLB003121.topic)'s, Pat O'Brien's, Rising Star, the groove, Latin Quarter and Jimmy Buffett (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/entertainment/jimmy-buffett-PECLB000733.topic)'s Margaritaville.

Normally, a one-night, all-club access pass to CityWalk nightclubs costs $11.99 plus tax.


Experience Louisiana

Louisiana is the featured state invited this year, along with scores of countries, to exhibit regional cuisine and culture in Epcot during Walt Disney World's International Food & Wine Festival, which began this past weekend.

"The Louisiana Experience -- My Louisiana" features a food-and-beverage kiosk, an artisan area, cooking demonstrations, entertainment, children's activities and a merchandise-and-artisan shop modeled after New Orleans' French Market. The exhibit was custom-built by Walt Disney (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/entertainment/animation/walt-disney-PEHST002298.topic) Imagineering to offer visitors a sensory experience of Louisiana's unique culture and heritage.

"Louisiana is a state with such a strong heritage and an incredibly vibrant culture, and will serve as a great experience along with all the other festival offerings," Jim MacPhee, Disney World vice president for Epcot, stated in a news release.

Each week of the festival, the Louisiana Experience is highlighting food and culture themed to different regions of the state.

The festival continues through Nov. 9.


Something to talk about

Four Hawthorn Suites in Orlando have begun transitioning to Wyndham properties, as part of a June deal in which Wyndham Worldwide Corp. acquired the chain from a subsidiary of Global Hyatt Corp.

The Hawthorn Suites near Orlando International Airport (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/travel/transportation/air-transportation/orlando-international-airport-PLTRA0000145.topic) has begun taking Wyndham guests and is participating in its rewards program, said Vicky Dunn, the hotel's general manager.

The acquisition gives the hotel the referral power of a larger chain, Dunn said. When "you have people speaking for you everywhere, that's an incredible extra," she said. "Something to bring in more business."