BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA WELCOMES BABY THOMSON’S GAZELLE

Young Calf is Gaining Weight in Response to Care

Wednesday, March 30, 2011 (Tampa, FL) – Busch Gardens’ hoof-stock care team is currently hand raising a baby female Thomson’s gazelle. The baby weighed just over four pounds at birth on February 25.

When the calf refused to take milk from its mother, the park’s animal care team started bottle-feeding the baby.  She is now receiving five bottle feedings each day and is weighed daily to monitor her health.  At  about four weeks old, she has already gained more than two pounds.

Thomson’s gazelles, also called “tommies,” are one of three migratory species that make up the vast Serengeti migration. Like the zebra and the wildebeest, the Tommie population can reach more than 500,000 per migration.

This baby will remain in the park’s back area until she is healthy enough to join the herd of Thomson’s gazelles on the 65-acre Serengeti Plain. Guests can view the herd from Nairobi Walkway and get close-up views of the animals on the Serengeti Express Railway.

PRO ATHLETES AMP UP BUSCH GARDENS AT TAMPA’S FIRST RAMP JAM

Guests Can Pay For a Day, Come Back All Year For Exciting Entertainment and Non-Stop Thrills

TAMPA, Fla. (MARCH 2011) – This April, the ASA Action Sports World Tour amps up the excitement at Busch Gardens with the world’s best pro skateboarders, BMX riders and inline skaters “shreddin” a 14’ tall half-pipe. Live local bands, great food, the latest surf and skate gear complete the festival April 9-10 and 16-17.

This year’s event runs from noon to 6:30 p.m. in Gwazi Field and will feature jaw-dropping demonstrations by the sports’ top talent:

As a five-time X Games gold medalist and two-time Dew Tour Overall Champion Pierre Luc Gagnon has earned recognition as the No. 1 vertical skateboarder in the world. He is also currently starring on VH1’s “The X-Life.”

BMX vertical legend and Denver Big-Air star, Kevin Robinson has nine X Games medals and is best known for successfully performing the first-ever double-flair, a double back flip with a 180-degree rotation. He holds the world record for the highest BMX jump at 27 feet.

Simon Tabron has consistently been in the top three extreme athletes in the world for the past decade and is best known for always riding brakeless. He is an eight-time X Games medalist and has won more than 30 major contests around the world.

Eito Yasutoko is a three-time World Champion and is ranked No. 1 in the world as a vertical skater. Yasutoko has landed a place on the podium at every inline vertical competition he has competed in, earning him countless medals. His signature tricks include 1080 California Roll and the double back flip that he performs at explosive heights.

Anthony Furlong is a 13-year vertical skating veteran known for his consistency in competition and a three-time champion on the Action Sports World Tour. Furlong was born and spent most of his childhood in Tampa, Fla.

Jimmy Walker has been a top 10 BMX rider for the past 15 years. Walker’s fans enjoy how he utilizes the entire ramp with multiple variation tricks and pulls off extremely technical “runs” at great height.

Busch Gardens is keeping the adrenaline-pumping thrills coming all summer long with the all new mega-attraction, Cheetah Hunt. Florida’s first triple launch coaster brings guests face-to-face with the world’s fastest land animals, and then invites them to race across the Serengeti.

Catch both weekends of Ramp Jam and Cheetah Hunt’s opening with a 2011 Busch Gardens Fun Card. Just pay for a day and come back all year to catch all the excitement! It’s the best value for again-and-again access to all of the amazing animal encounters, world-class thrill rides, exciting big-name entertainment and family adventure Busch Gardens has to offer.

The 2011 Busch Gardens Fun Card is valid from the date of purchase through Dec. 31, 2011 and is available at the Busch Gardens’ front gate, online or by calling (888) 800-5447. Event dates, times and talent are subject to change. Performances are included with any daily admission or annual pass. Visit BuschGardens.com for more information.

Rap and Pop Superstars Sean Kingston and Ne-Yo to Own The Stage This Weekend at Universal Orlando Resort's Mardi Gras

RAP AND POP SUPERSTARS SEAN KINGSTON AND NE-YO TO OWN THE STAGE THIS WEEKEND AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT’S MARDI GRAS

The Party Continues Friday & Saturday, April 1 & 2

While Fat Tuesday may have come and gone in New Orleans , the biggest, best Mardi Gras party outside of The Big Easy continues at Universal Orlando Resort.

On Friday, Jamaican singer and rapper Sean Kingston will bring excitement to Universal Studios with his up-tempo, tropical-infused pop-rap sounds. Kingston – who has sold more than three million digital singles – is known for hit songs, “Beautiful Girls,” “Me Love,” “Take You There,” “Fire Burning,” and for co-writing Jason Derulo’s “Whatcha Say,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2009.

Continuing the fun on Saturday, three-time Grammy award-winning singer Ne-Yo will entertain Mardi Gras guests with his smooth and unique musical style – combining R&B, pop, dance, soul and hip hop. Ne-Yo has several hits, including “Because of You,” “Closer” and “Miss Independent.” As a songwriter, he has also penned top songs for other artists, such as  Beyonce Knowles’ “Irreplaceable,” Rihanna’s “Take A Bow,” and “Russian Roulette,” and he has acted in roles for the hit TV series “CSI: NY” and the action film “Battle: Los Angeles.”

This year’s Mardi Gras concert line-up features some of the biggest names in Rock, Country, Pop and R&B. Together, the headliners have had more than 100 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and more than 20 Grammy nominations.

2011 MARDI GRAS TALENT LINE-UP

Mardi Gras Event Dates
Headliners (performing in the Music Plaza )

Friday, April 1
Sean Kingston

Saturday, April 2
Ne-Yo

Saturday, April 9
Lifehouse

Saturday, April 16
The Beach Boys

Saturday, April 23
Thirty Seconds To Mars

At Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras, nationally renowned musical acts combine with an authentic Mardi Gras parade, dozens of colorfully costumed performers, authentic Cajun cooking, and hand-picked New Orleans bands to capture the look, feel and fun of New Orleans – all inside Universal Studios Florida. This year’s ultimate street party runs every Saturday and other select nights through April 23, and is included in regular admission to Universal Studios Florida. For more information, visit www.universalorlando.com/mardigras.

WHEN: Friday, April 1 & April 2, 2011

WHERE: Universal Studios Florida

MARDI GRAS: Friday, April 1, 2011

SCHEDULE:
5 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Lil Brian & The Zydeco Travelers ( New Orleans Band)
7:30 p.m.: Mardi Gras Parade Starts
8:30 p.m.: Sean Kingston

Saturday, April 2, 2011

5 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Lil Brian & The Zydeco Travelers ( New Orleans Band)

7:30 p.m.: Mardi Gras Parade Starts

8:30 p.m.: Ne-Yo

INFORMATION:  Mardi Gras Site: http://www.universalorlando.com/mardigras/

New Photos of Busch Gardens' Baby Cheetah

Busch Gardens’ newest resident is five weeks old! Here are his newest photos.

Universal Orlando Resort Reveals Big-Time News: Nickelodeon's Hottest Music Group, Big Time Rush, To Perform Live at Universal Studios Florida on May 14

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT REVEALS BIG-TIME NEWS: NICKELODEON’S HOTTEST MUSIC GROUP, BIG TIME RUSH, TO PERFORM LIVE AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA ON MAY 14

Guests Can Also Enjoy a Sneak Preview of a Never-Before-Seen Episode of the Hit TV Series, “Big Time Rush”

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 28, 2011) – On May 14, Universal Orlando guests are in for a big-time treat – Nickelodeon stars Big Time Rush will perform live at Universal Studios Florida’s Music Plaza stage.

With millions of fans all over the world, Big Time Rush is one of today’s hottest names in music and entertainment.  Nickelodeon’s hit series “Big Time Rush,” produced in partnership with Sony Music, stars Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan, as four best friends who move to Los Angeles for a chance at music superstardom.  Currently in its second season, “Big Time Rush” had the highest-rated and most-watched live-action series premiere with kids, tweens and total viewers in the history of the network.  In addition, Big Time Rush will be performing at the “Nickelodeon 2011 Kids’ Choice Awards,” where they are nominated for Favorite Music Group and Favorite TV Show.  Their debut album “BTR,” which consists of original songs from the hit series, debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart and has since sold over 400,000 copies.  The group has also sold 1.7 million combined digital tracks to date, including their current single, “Boyfriend,” featuring Snoop Dogg.

Fans at Universal Orlando will also have the exclusive opportunity to watch a never-before-seen episode of “Big Time Rush.”  In the episode, “Big Time Prom,” everyone at the Palm Woods is preparing for the big night, especially Kendall, James, Carlos and Logan, who are all determined to win the title of prom king.  Episode viewings will be held throughout the day at the Animal Actors on Location! theater.

Guests can enjoy Big Time Rush’s performance, the viewing of the never-before-seen episode of the show and the thrilling rides and attractions of Universal Studios for the price of regular admission to the theme park.  For more information, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com/Events/SpecialEvent/Big_Time_Rush.aspx#.

SPRING INTO FUN AT ADVENTURE ISLAND

TAMPA, Fla. (March 28, 2011) — Adventure Island is now open for the 2011 season, and Busch Gardens’ water park is the go-to destination this spring break.

The best way to join in on the fun is with an Adventure Island Weekday Pass, where you Pay For a Day and Play WEEKDAYS All Season. With a weekday pass, you pay the price of single-day admission and can come back all season long, Monday through Friday, with no blackout dates. The cost of the Weekday Pass is $42.99 for both children and adults, and it is valid any WEEKDAY, Monday through Friday, through Sept. 5, 2011.

For $10 off a single day admission to Adventure Island, visit Domino’s through May 15, 2011, in Tampa, Fort Myers and Orlando to receive a promotion code. Then redeem the promotion code at AdventureIsland.com by May 15, 2011.

CABANAS Rent a cabana at Adventure Island and enjoy a place for your family and friends to relax all day long. Each cabana includes four chaise lounges, a locker, a mini-fridge with assorted drinks and four souvenir towels. Daily rental prices range from $99.99 to $179.99, based on the time of year.

ADVENTURE ISLAND
From the moment guests enter Adventure Island, they are immersed in a Key West-themed paradise. The 30-acre water park features thrilling slides and tube rides including Riptide, Wahoo Run, Key West Rapids, Runaway Rapids, Everglides, Calypso Coaster, Aruba Tuba, Caribbean Corkscrew, Water Moccasin and Gulf Scream. Guests can also kick back on the beach or in the 17,000-square-foot wave pool, play on professional sand volleyball courts, breeze through tropical gift shops or let the current sweep them through a half-mile of lush landscapes and tropical waterfalls on the Rambling Bayou.

Visit AdventureIsland.com for extended hour schedules during Spring Break and summer. Single-day admission tickets for Adventure Island are $42.99 for adults and $38.99 for children. Children ages 2 and younger are free, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. All prices are per person, plus tax. Park hours are subject to change. Visit www.adventureisland.com for more information.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson Visits Universal Orlando Resort

Actor and star of the hit TV series, “Modern Family,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson joked around with Woody Woodpecker while being hosted with boyfriend Justin Mikita at Universal Orlando Resort on March 25, 2011. The couple experienced both of Universal Orlando’s theme parks while on vacation, stopping to ride the Incredible Hulk coaster and enjoy lunch at Three Broomsticks at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.