FloridImagine.Com Blog

The Walt Disney Company has reached their goal of inspiring one million volunteers through their Give a Day, Get a Disney Day promotion.

Since the program started just 10 weeks ago, on Jan. 1, a million people already have volunteered or have committed to volunteer in their communities, according to Disney Parks and HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network and a facilitator of “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

To celebrate the good deeds of these individuals, Disney Parks offered each volunteer who completed an eligible project a free one-day admission to one theme park in Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or Disneyland Resort in California. Although registration is now closed and the program has ended, those who volunteered have until Dec. 15, 2010, to redeem their free park ticket (certain block-out dates apply).

I know I’m a bit behind with this, but the story is too good to ignore. I’ll be following the progress and reporting back to you.

I guess I’m just a big kid, but I am so excited about Legoland coming to Florida.

A front-loading tractor was positioned Thursday morning outside the Magnolia Mansion at Cypress Gardens. It wasn’t there to move any dirt.

Instead, a driver tilted down the scoop and dumped 100,000 Lego bricks onto a stage. That was a mere down payment, with 39.9 million more to follow when Legoland Florida opens by the end of next year.

Cypress Gardens is nearly in my front yard, less than a 15 minute drive. If pushed, I could practically walk there. It was a destination for travelers long before the mouse moved in.

The possibility of 1000 local jobs is great news for the area, but I am excited about being so close to 40 million Legos.

[Merlin Entertainments Group CEO Nick] Varney said Legoland Florida will be larger than any of the company’s four existing Legoland parks – one in California and three in Europe. He said the park will eventually become Legoland Florida Resort and will contain at least one hotel.

Legoland Florida will follow the same model with a central “Miniland” exhibiting elaborate Lego models depicting scenes from the area. He said the company’s designers are already at work designing Lego constructions for the Winter Haven attraction.

The Legoland parks are geared toward children 2 to 12 years old – and, of course, their parents. Varney, calling Lego one of the world’s best-known brands, said the parks are unique among tourist attractions in presenting children the opportunity for “playful learning,” as opposed to passive entertainment at other theme parks.

The projected opening is October, 2011. I’ll be there.

Photo Credit: SCOTT WHEELER | The Ledger

In spite of the very un-Florida like cold, teams from around the south are getting ready for Pig Fest.

The freezing temperatures didn’t stop barbecue teams from setting up Wednesday and Thursday at Firemen’s Field for the annual Central Florida BBQ Festival, or Pig Fest, which begins at 8 a.m. today and ends at about 7 p.m. on Saturday.

The event is more than BBQ. Attendees will also be able to enjoy a live blues concert, tractor and classic car parade, hog calling, and of course food. Brave the cold and head out to Fireman’s Field, located at the corner of Kenilworth Boulevard and the Sebring Parkway across for Sebring High School.

No confirmation, but I just heard a story on the radio that said Cypress Gardens and Splash Island Water Park will close as of today.

Searching I found this at the News Chief:

After months of rumor surrounding the possible sale or closing of Cypress Gardens, the owners announced this afternoon that Florida’s oldest theme park is closing effective today.

The following statement was released by Bob Morgan, the park’s director of sales and marketing:

“From the earliest moment that our firm purchased Cypress Gardens and Splash Island Waterpark, our highest priority has always been to maintain the park’s beauty and protect its proud traditions as a mainstay of the state’s history and natural treasures. It is with these ideals in mind that we must announce that the park will be closed for business as of Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.

“During the last two years, Land South Adventures LLC has explored numerous management frameworks and exhausted every possible approach to keep the park running in its traditional form. Now, we are in the process of negotiating with several potential purchasers and lessees for all or part of the property, and do not feel it is fair to our employees, the guests, or the public to continue operations heading into the fall with the future of the property in flux.

“We are optimistic that the outcome will be in the best interests of both the park and the residents of Polk County and the state of Florida.”

More on this when it becomes known.

Tropical storm Erika has formed in the Atlantic. Here’s what the National Hurricane Center had at 5am:

AT 500 AM AST…0900 UTC…THE POORLY-DEFINED CENTER OF TROPICAL
STORM ERIKA WAS ESTIMATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.0 NORTH…LONGITUDE 59.0
WEST OR ABOUT 280 MILES…455 KM…EAST-SOUTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN
LEEWARD ISLANDS.

ERIKA HAS BEEN MOVING GENERALLY WESTWARD NEAR 5 MPH…7 KM/HR…AND
A WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION AT A SLIGHTLY FASTER FORWARD SPEED IS
EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO. ON THE FORECAST TRACK THE
CENTER WILL PASS NEAR OR OVER THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS DURING
THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 50 MPH…85 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

The latest five day forecast track has the storm just north of the Bahamas by Sunday. We’ll be watching.

Good morning! Some of you may have wandered in from my post at bRight & Early. If you found us some other way, here is what I said over there:

I am looking for people who would like to write on Florida sports, events, news, people, and attractions. If you are a writer from here in the Sunshine State please let me know if you are interested in contributing.

It’s true. I’m looking for writers who would like to post on Florida people, places, news, and events. If you are interested in writing about these topics leave a comment with a valid email address (I’ll be able to see it, but it won’t be displayed for others), or send an email to blog at floridimagine dot com. Here’s what I’d like to cover:

• Florida Sports
• Florida Attractions
• Events, Entertainment, Night-Life
• Local News and Issues

I hope to hear from you soon.

Don’t forget, you can follow @FloridImagine on Twitter.

I was honored to participate in the 2,996 project remembering Neil Dollard in 2006. D.C. Roe, who organized the first blogburst, is coordinating the project once again.

There is a new website for the project: http://project2996.wordpress.com/

Please go by and sign up to honor one of the victims of that awful day. I encourage my fellow bloggers to please help spread the word as well.

Florida’s new primary seat belt law went into effect at midnight. They are serious about it, too.

The Florida Highway Patrol plans to strictly enforce the law that makes seat belt violations a primary offense. Police have been able to ticket unbelted motorists since 1986 but only if stopping them for another traffic violation such as speeding.

“We’ve always had a zero tolerance policy for some time and we’re gonna continue with that,” said Highway Patrol Lt. Chris Miller. “If we do stop you, you can expect a ticket. We won’t be giving any warnings.”

Troopers, though, will be passing out informational flyers to motorists on the road at their public offices to get the word out about the new law.

Motorists can be ticketed if either they or their front seat passengers fail to buckle up. All passengers under 18 also are required to wear seat belts regardless of where they are sitting.

The penalty is a $30 fine plus administrative and court costs.

I’m switching from “usually do” to “always do”.

Central Florida will be offering some of the best fireworks this weekends and several locations will be spectacular. Disney, of course, will put on a great show. Peggy Macdonald suggests some of the best viewing spots in the WDW complex, as well as some other tips for Disney firework viewing.

Don’t want to head to Disney? Alexa Crosby is counting down the July 4th in Central Florida; top 10 places to be for free or cheap.

There’s plenty to do, and plenty to see. Have a great Independence day!

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We now return to our regular programing.