Nick Hotel Gives Back to National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Family-friendly Resort Makes Donation of more than $9,000 to Foundation
ORLANDO, Fla. (November 22, 2010) – Nickelodeon Suites Resort kicked off its 2nd annual Hero Appreciation program this spring raising $9,277.28 for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Community heroes enjoyed discounted rates, antique fire truck experiences, bucket brigade games, and the Resort pledged two percent of every room night booked through the program to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“We continue to show our appreciation of community heroes by giving back and are proud to deliver a check of more than $9,000 this year,” said Jim Struna, director of marketing and revenue management for Nickelodeon Suites Resort. “Nick Hotel is all about families and so it is extremely rewarding for us to be able to give back to a family-focused organization like the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.”
Continuing through 2011, the Resort is offering special rates to firefighters starting at $109 per night for a 2-bedroom family suite and other perks like a $20 resort credit and discounts on entertainment. The Resort will continue to donate 2% per room night to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to honor America’s fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the non-profit Foundation has developed and expanded programs that fulfill that mandate. Our mission is to honor and remember America’s fallen fire heroes and to provide resources to assist their survivors in rebuilding their lives.
For more information about the Nick Hotel or the Hero Program, call (877)-NICK-KID and mention the code HERO or visit www.NickHotel.com/hero more...
Today, two of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s world class theme parks announced all-new attractions to open in 2011. For those planning a trip to Central Florida next year and beyond, the announcements mean new thrills and up-close encounters with exotic animals at both Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Discovery Cove in Orlando.
To learn about both new attractions, go to www.CheetahHunt.com and www.DiscoveryCove.com
BuschGardens Tampa Bay
For more than five decades, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has found inspiration in its animals. Animal care experts have turned that inspiration into adventure with immersive natural habitats like the Serengeti Plain and Myombe Reserve. Engineers have also turned it into adrenaline, capturing the spirit of the animals in wood and steel with coasters like Kumba, Gwazi and SheiKra.
Now, the next generation of thrills emerges from the crossroads where up-close animal encounters and awe-inspiring rides come together. Spring 2011, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay introduces a mega-attraction that invites guests to feel the spirit and feel the speed of the cheetah.
Cheetah Hunt
The centerpiece of the new attraction is Cheetah Hunt, a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) Launch Coaster that uses the force of repelling magnets to launch riders from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds – not once, but three times.
The first launch propels the train out of its station and into the grasslands that surround the new area. Moments later, a second burst of speed accelerates riders to 60 mph and up into the ride’s signature tower element that climbs more than 10 stories above the African landscape before plunging 130 feet into a subterranean trench. At the far end of this three-quarter-mile path, a third burst of speed rockets the train back across the plain toward the station in a thrill-ride experience unlike anything Busch Gardens’ guests have ever experienced.
Cheetah Run
But this one-of-a-kind coaster experience is only a portion of the new realm. Building on Busch Gardens’ unrivaled ability to combine thrills with immersive animal encounters, Cheetah Run will set a new standard for bringing nature and humans together in a really unique way.
Located in the area that formerly housed the Budweiser Clydesdales, this expansive new habitat will give visitors the opportunity to get closer to cheetahs than ever before with elevated, glass-paneled viewing areas. Even more exciting will be the chance to witness the world’s fastest land animal in action. Busch Gardens’ trainers will conduct daily sprints with the cheetahs for an awesome opportunity to see one of nature’s true wonders in full form!
Families can also explore interactive touch screens to learn even more about these big cats and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s work on their behalf. Through the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, the adventure parks have been helping cheetahs in the wild since 2005.
Cheetah Hunt and the Cheetah Run open in spring 2011. Together, they form a unique experience – the kind you’ll only find at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Discovery Cove
In Orlando, Discovery Cove takes immersion to new depths when it opens an all-new area — The Grand Reef — in June 2011. The new reef features multiple levels of exploration, from shallow waters to deeper swimming adventures, from white sandy beaches and hammocks swaying in the breeze, to snorkeling among canyons inspired by reefs from around the world.
“The Grand Reef takes Discovery Cove’s world-class animal encounters to an all new level — several, actually,” said Stewart Clark, the park’s vice president. “It’s what our guests expect from us, unforgettable connections with the sea and making memories that will last forever. This could only be created by Discovery Cove.”
Visitors just need to get their feet wet to enjoy The Grand Reef, or they can choose to go deep. They can step into tranquil, shallow waters to discover a below-the-surface world teeming with sea life, or they can snorkel in deeper waters as thousands of exotic fish and graceful rays swim around them.
Surprises abound. Families can seek discoveries along the water’s edge or cross a bridge to see sharks swimming below. They’ll play hide-and-seek with thousands of beautiful fish, from small colorful wrasses to large spotted eagle rays. Further out in the reef, stunning habitats create the feeling of swimming right alongside venomous lionfish and sharp-toothed reef sharks, each safely behind glass. Guests can take paths and bridges to the reef’s islands and hidden grottos as they delve into the reef from above, around and below.
Those looking for an even more exhilarating adventure can take part in The Grand Reef’s innovative experience, SeaVenture, an underwater walking tour. Wearing dive helmets, guests find up-close excitement around every corner, each step yielding a new discovery.
They’ll come across lionfish and sharks (safely behind massive panoramic windows), one-on-one touches with unique animals and schools of fish and gentle rays swimming by. SeaVenture is a once-in-a-lifetime, undersea experience available for a nominal fee.
The Grand Reef is the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation, a fully immersive tropical escape, new to discover in Orlando in 2011. There’s more to learn at www.DiscoveryCove.com more...
In honor of all U.S. military members’ service to the country, Nickelodeon Suites Resort is giving thanks this November with a special “Military Appreciation” program and a mix of patriotic events. The resort will feature a World War II artifact exhibit, military vehicle tour, poolside parties, daily pie brigade and more.
Military Appreciation Month activities for Nickelodeon Suites Resort guests include:
Appreciation Kick Off
November 6, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Help us kick off the 2nd Annual Military Appreciation Month at the Lagoon Pool with a show by the Marine’s Color Guard. Plus, you’ll get to meet them after their performance!
Hero Splash Bash
November 5 and 12, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Slide down to the Lagoon Pool for a Hero Splash Bash featuring a patriotic mix of whacky entertainment. Enjoy music, join in poolside activities and most importantly…GET SLIMED! Our 400-gallon dump tank will soak your family in green SLIME for one messy finale – giving you a chance to create new family memories the Nickelodeon way.
Boat Regatta
November 27 and 28, 2 p.m.
Watch the Air Force squadrons compete for first place at the Lagoon Pool. Everyone will receive a red, white and blue popsicle. Event supported by Hurlburt Field Air Force Base.
Military Vehicle Tour
November 20 and 21, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Get up-close-and-personal with real life war vehicles from WWII, the Korean War and other historical battles. The tour will highlight preserved military vehicles ranging from a M38 Korean War vintage Jeep to a 1942 GMC CCKW. Supported by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, an organization dedicated to the collection and restoration of historic military vehicles.
Pie Brigade
Daily
We’re cooking up a recipe for entertainment during Military Appreciation Month. One part whipped cream and one part mess, courtesy of the Nick Hotel! Our heroes will get the chance to pie their unsuspecting kids at the Pie Brigade.
Family of the Day
Every day we will honor one lucky military family with free Character Breakfast with SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and friends.
WWII Living History Exhibit
November 13 and 14, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Genuine artifacts will transport you into a historical experience at this special exhibit. Discover how soldiers lived, what they ate and what they wore during battle. Learn from viewing a large collection of artifacts including uniforms, photographs, weapons and field gear. Supported by the Central Florida WWII Museum. Located in the Mall Rotunda.
Postcards from Home
Daily
Send a message to a hero. Design and create your own postcard in Nicktoons Café during dinner. The postcard and postage is courtesy of the Nick Hotel and will benefit Any Soldier®.
Dora the Explorer delivered special backpacks and read a story to children at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in celebration of her 10th anniversary on August 14th. The backpacks have been specially designed for Nickelodeon’s Beyond the Backpack Campaign, an initiative aimed at teaching parents all about the importance of preparing their children for kindergarten.
Dora the Explorer makes her Orlando home at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort, the only hotel of its kind in the world. To celebrate her 10th Anniversary, Dora the Explorer will visit the children, sign autographs, read and deliver backpacks to children at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. In addition to the celebratory visit to the hospital, Dora will also receive a special gift from the City of Orlando. A proclamation will be given to Dora the Explorer declaring August 14th Dora the Explorer Day in the City of Orlando.
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is a sanctuary of hope and healing. The most advanced technology, coupled with compassion and dedication have made Arnold Palmer Hospital one of the most trusted names in children’s healthcare worldwide. Careful attention has been paid to creating a cheerful, comforting environment to minimize stress and generate smiles. Arnold Palmer Hospital is a 158-bed pediatric hospital facility located in Orlando, Florida, United States
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