You’ve probably seen the television commercial that shows three blue-headed men stomping on a globe to the beat of tribal drums, their black clothes strung with colored blinking lights. Kind of like a cross between the Smurfs and the Broadway show “Stomp” with Christmas decorations added.

Their commercial captured my attention more than a few times, and I saw the group on“Live with Regis and Kathie Lee” (or was it with Kelly?), but I still wasn’t quite sure what the show was all about. So, on a warm night earlier this year, my sister and I took a drive to Universal CityWalk at Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando to catch a performance at the Sharp AQUOS Theatre.... Read More

Read Part 1: Islands of Adventure and Part 2: Universal Studios

Universal’s three on-site hotels (all AAA Four Diamond rated) provide an atmosphere for guests to enjoy their vacation, no matter how they define the word relax …... Read More

SeaWorld’s new whale show, “One Ocean,” features majestic killer whales as ambassadors of the sea and the ocean as the center of our natural world. The show connects visitors with these remarkable animals and immerses them in vivid underwater colors and sensations. At the core is the message that animals and humans are part of one world with one ocean that is in our hands to cherish and protect.

“One Ocean” is now open at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego. It will debut at SeaWorld San Antonio this month. AAA members save up to 15 percent on park admission tickets at AAA.com/seaworld. ... Read More

As I emerged from The Hulk after my first-ever experience being upside-down on a roller coaster, I asked myself, “Why didn’t I do this before? It’s so awesome!”

That thrilling feeling was palpable during my entire four-day trip to the Universal Orlando Resort, one of the best trips I’ve ever had. Universal taps into my inner-child sense of wonder, but it also has a side that appeals to more sophisticated, grown-up sensibilities. Everything at Universal is elevated – it’s a resort anyone can enjoy.... Read More

After Sea World, my Central Florida experience continued with visits to Discovery Cove, an all-inclusive day resort that features swimming with dolphins, and Aquatica, a high-energy water park that opened in 2008.

Aquatica is North America's first water park to feature side-by-side wave pools, which are adjoined to a man-made white-sand beach covering over 80,000 square feet. ... Read More

Orlando may have been made famous by a mouse and may be under the spell of a certain boy wizard for the moment, but there’s another group of parks that should figure into the plans of any Central Florida traveler – SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando and Busch Gardens in Tampa.

SeaWorld draws nearly six million... Read More

All aboard the Hogwarts Express!  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened on June 18 to great fanfare and much excitement, complete with a celebrity-filled grand opening and tons of media coverage. If you’ve ever imagined or hoped that you could wave a wand and do magical things, a trip to The Wizarding World is probably the closest you’ll come to the real thing.... Read More

 
This post was written by Anthony J. Adubato from AAA Mid-Atlantic.

It's been a long time in the making, but the Wizarding World of Harry Potter celebrated its grand opening June 18.  If you haven't heard about it, I don't know where you've been hiding, but I'll do my best to catch you up.  I was lucky enough to be one of the first visitors to the Universal Orlando Resort attraction and I have to say I was in awe of what they've managed to create. ... Read More

 If Orlando's in your travel plans, take the advice of these three bloggers and have a great meal in a Florida setting that's a little different than the theme parks.

The Old Spanish Sugar Mill, DeLeon Springs
Recommended by Alison Lockwood
When I first heard about a restaurant where you cook your own pancakes, I had to laugh—the whole point of going out to eat is letting somebody else do the cooking. ... Read More

A week at a Disney resort is a week away from the ordinary, even if it is ‘part of the job.’ In this three-part series, blogger Tony Mayer, a travel counselor for AAA Washington, shares the knowledge gained after a familiarization trip to Disney World in Florida.

Walt Disney’s enduring love for animals and their protection was finally and spectacularly made manifest with the 1998 opening of Disney World's Animal Kingdom. This jewel of a theme park, Disney’s largest single park worldwide, is now my favorite of the four in Florida for several reasons.... Read More