Universal's theme parks have made a big success of Butterbeer, so next up: Duff Beer! Universal Orlando confirmed Thursday that the theme park is building a Simpsons-themed Springfield street to open this summer at Universal Studios Florida. You'll be able to walk the streets of Springfield, grab a Krusty Burger, eat …

By Robbyn Mitchell
Times Staff Writer
Prepare to get very wet in the pursuit of the all-powerful Chi energy source at Legoland Florida.

BY SUSAN THURSTON
Times Staff Writer
TITUSVILLE — Don't tell employees at the Kennedy Space Center the U.S. space program is grounded. Quite the contrary, they say, pointing to the latest rocket launches and deep-space missions.

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Times Staff Writer
The hugely popular Transformers 3D ride that makes passengers feel like they've been dropped into a movie chase scene is opening June 20 at Universal Studios Orlando — and so is a record-breaking price increase.

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Times Staff Writer
Walt Disney World's theme parks in Orlando are not offering much new this summer besides some interactive games, but they don't have to. Magic Kingdom is still enjoying the buzz created from the first wave of attractions in its 21-acre Fantasyland …

By Jay Cridlin
Times Staff Writer
Danielle Lucas cautions Gatorland visitors to temper their expectations when visiting the park's new 2,000-square-foot habitat Panther Springs habitat.


HUDSON
Concealed, the thieves bide their time. They know Bob Waldo's habits, they recognize his daughter, Nina Lewis, as she moves along the tidy rows in a bikini top and faded cutoffs. As one, the cedar waxwings take flight, dive bombing and knocking ripe blueberries off dozens of bushes.

The cost of a one-day, one-park ticket to Universal Orlando has gone up three bucks to $92, plus tax. The increase made over the weekend makes Universal the first Orlando theme park to top the $90 threshold. Tickets for children ages 3 to 9 jumped to $86, plus tax. This is the second year in a row that Universal has …

By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Times Staff Writer
The largest expansion in SeaWorld's history opens Friday, taking visitors on a high-tech ride across an ice floe, then sending them into a chilly colony of 250 penguins playing just inches away behind a low rock wall — no glass partition.
