Kill Refurb Marry .... Live Performances

Mrs. Banks is experiencing THAT time of the month again.

 It's time address the challenge laid out for us by This Happy Place and Mouse on the Mind!

As I have promised you before - this monthly challenge is the only way you will get your park content - unless you read one of the other 546 blogs which covers the parks.

But you don't!!

You read ONLY Mrs. Banks!!

KILL KILL

see how I spared you the versions with giant bosoms - you're welcome

Movie based musical/theatre acts.  Most of them. The Little Mermaid - gone. Beauty and the Beast - time to vacate the theatre. Finding Nemo puppe....fjgdsklaffff OH OH I am sorry - I just drifted off there for a moment thinking about the Finding Nresffffdklj - OOPS - did I snore??

I saw this show during my first visit to WDW in 1993 - and it is still going.

Then there is the Indiana Jones Stunt show (also viewed during my 1993 visit) and the Lights Motors Action car stunt show - KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL.

These things are REALLY lame and/or really OLD. That time trick of "oh no - there's a problem!" is deployed but suddenly "time's up! all resolved! everyone sing "under the big blue ocean" again and all be happy. clap clap clap. Some dangerous people in world history were revisionists too, you know Disney. just saying ....

Disney have been pumping out new movies for years - especially since they 'integrated' Pixar. PLEASE can we have new theatre shows?

Whilst I am here, have I spoken to you about the Castle Show? that's pretty bad - 'believe in the power of dreams and all your wishes will come true!' Just setting up the kiddies with poor expectations for real life. Oh Phooey!

Oh how much can a koala bear?

REFURB

Because I basically ignore almost all live entertainment in the parks - I suppose what could be refurbished is some of the parades. Fortunately, over the past 3 years WDW has been doing just that. We can all thank the power of the universe and Tom Staggs for putting the 5,4,3,2,1, Pixar Fun parade to eternal sleep. And Disney are on the verge of releasing their brand spanking new day parade - Festival of Fantasy

Keep it up Disney - you can bring all the parades in each of the parks up to speed.

MARRY

These chaps from Hollywood Studios Park:

Stone Granite and Bo Wrangler from the Citizens of Hollywood

I've seen these guys three times now - I really love how they interact with the kids. The way they deliver their jokes, their lines from the '99' series and their general all round banter and characters. All of these Citizens are great and really add to atmosphere of the park - I can listen to them all day.

Now go and read the other links that will slowly populate below over the next day and check out all the entertainment you can enjoy at the Parks.

2014 Zonta International Convention - Closing Banquet revealed!

Oh Zonta International - you are teasing with us.

Drip feeding bits out slowly - we wonder what is coming next?!

This week we have seen the announcement of Day Tours and the Closing Banquet!

Cirque de Soleil have a permanent theatre at Downtown Disney with a show, La Nouba, they have been performing for years.

Bendy Wendy - more flexible than the ethics of a Wall St. Banker

Tickets for La Nouba can be purchased from 6 months in advance, and currently sell from USD $61 to $144 (plus tax). Tickets for the Closing Banquet are not yet on sale.

Most people have come across a Cirque show and understand the combination of abstract, obscure, eye catching, athletic, gymnastic, and basically astonishing feats of physical daring!  I visited La Nouba in 2011 and did a short review. Go! Now! Look!

...and then look at the acts listed in the Zonta Closing Banquet advertisement.

Did you spot the difference?

La Nouba does not contain Spinning Cube, Rola Bola and Power Skips. This means these acts will be exclusively for our banquet - you will not be able to see this performance otherwise.

Closing Banquet is also were we acknowledge the generosity and contributions Zontians from around the world have made at International and District levels, with the Change over Ceremony.

Start saving now. Attend Closing Banquet for a spectacular time with your friends and enjoy spectacular entertainment.

Orlando Link Festival - Part 3 and our ending

I've been too busy to post - going to some really interesting events that I'll type up for you all shortly.

So I am motivated to wrap up our link festival of all the things you can do in Orlando to fill your days.

You'll remember we are working through this video .....

... which set you off before dawn kayaking or golfing. We then spent our day in the theme parks and out shopping ... and so now the sun is setting and it is time to have a squiz at all the things you can do in the evening (if you haven't collapsed with exhaustion yet)

22. Richard Petty Exotic Car Racing has been inserted here

23. Random people eating - Regular readers would know by now that Orlando has everything from the simpliest donut, the stupidest junkfood through to world class, award winning cuisine. Keep reading! More food porn to come!

24. Amway Centre - This whopping huge indoors stadium facility hosts all kinds of events. It hosts those Disney on Ice shows, pop stars shows, convention type events and is also the home for some major league sports teams including the Orlando Magic basketball team and the Orlando Predators AFL team. So if you want that typical American sports experience of cheerleaders, hot dogs, huge shouting crowds - this is the place for you! Keep your eyes on their events calendar. Oh - and yes you can land your helicopter on their roof.

25. Cobb Plaza Cinema Cafe - catch up on the latest movies whilst enjoying your dinner. Yep - this is one of those complexes that is a full restaurant.

26. Random nightclub - Sorry ladies - I'm not a night club person so I have no idea about this one. Google 'nightclubs in Orlando' and a huge list comes up.

27. Ballet! You want ballet? Orlando has just as much ballet as horse-riding! And if you think Orlando is  just for red neck theme parks you need to go see the Orlando Ballet Company with its accompanying School. The school has been awarded as the best in the USA, and is world class. There is also the Central Florida Ballet Company, and the Russian Ballet of Orlando, who perform the Russian classics such as Sleeping Beauty & The Nutcracker.

28. Theatre - There is tons of theatre in Orlando and the best place to track what's on is through the Orlando Sentinel. There is a Shakespeare theatre, Repertory Theatre, a Performing Arts Centre - even the Mad Cow Theatre. Between them they cover every style for any taste.


29. Blue Man Group. In 1997, 3 chaps based in New York painted themselves blue, designed an avant garde, experimental, piece of performance art and being anonymous, quickly franchised themselves out across the world. The show is a bit hard to describe - it is loud, flashy, electronic, active, colourful and is an audience immersive experience. Universal Citywalk host the Blue Man Group Theatre - have a look at their website where there is a short video giving an example of a show where you celebrate the joy of life!

30.  Some kind of horsey show and/or circusy thing inserted here

31. Cirque de Soleil - La Nouba: Mirroring Universal's hosting of those blue chaps, Disney hosts a permanent Cirque show. Due to frequent touring, Australians would be familiar with the Cirque format - a collection of amazing "circus" type performers with live music and wacky costumes. This Cirque show is as fascinating as the others and highly recommended.

32. Fireworks - unidentified fireworks but the biggest fireworks shows are on at WDW every single night of the year. And they come with dessert!

I have finally finished this link festival! And yet this video didn't include segway tours, swimming with the manatees or even the Tupperware Museum!

I'm hoping this festival has shown there is more to Orlando than concrete and kiddies theme parks - there are options for thrill seekers, back to nature lovers, luxury indulgers and supporters of the arts.

When 2014 comes around, perhaps we can organise a bulk booking?