Two fun-loving Michigan natives have embarked on a 67-day adventure to experience 100 Orlando attractions. The Orlando and Orange County Visitors and Convention Bureau sponsored a contest to hire two "smile ambassadors" who would visit local Orlando attractions and blog, Twitter, and Facebook about their experiences. More than 300 people applied for the "job" and two childhood friends, Kyle Post and Stacey Doornbos were chosen.

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As if there weren't enough reasons to go to Orlando, add this one to your list: Pope Benedict XVI designated an Orlando area church as a basilica. Located about a mile and a half from Walt Disney World, the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe was named one of only 63 basilicas in the United States. Eight of the most important churches in Catholicism are considered major basilicas and most are located in Rome.

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Gatorland, the 110-acre theme park in Central Florida, has finally found a new name for its fourth white gator. Gatorland held a contest to see who could come up with the best name for the gator, and Alisa King of Orlando came up with the winning moniker, Trezo Je," which means "treasure's eye" in Cajun.

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Universal Orlando will play host to a Christian music festival on September 11 and 12. The festival, called Rock the Universe, will feature a variety of popular Christian music artists. At least fourteen artists will perform, including:

• Switchfoot
• David Crowder Band--MSN 2006 Artist of the Year
• Jeremy Camp
• Pillar
• Fireflight
• Remedy Drive
• Seven Stories Up
• Third Day--Three-time Grammy Award Winner
• Casting Crowns
• tobyMac
• Hawk Nelson
• The Afters
• Group 1 Crew
• New Method

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Guests visiting Disney World now through November expecting a trip through outer space may be disappointed--the Space Mountain attraction is closed for major refurbishment until November. The closure is noted on the park's Web site and also on the daily schedule posted at the front of the park, but there are still bound to be plenty of park guests caught off guard. There's also reportedly a sign board at the entrance to Tomorrowland, to keep guests from having to walk all the way to the attraction just to be turned away.

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The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Universal Orlando is in negotiations with Steven Spielberg whether or not his consulting contract with the theme park will be renewed.

Under Spielberg's current contract, he receives a flat fee along with a percentage of revenue surrounding television- and film-themed attractions at the park. In exchange, he advises the theme park on attractions.
Apparently there is no expiration date built into the agreement, but Spielberg has the option to end it in 2010. When and if he ends, he can receive a lump sum payment based on his interests.

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Universal Orlando will be doing Halloween 2009 in grand style this year, as they have done for the past several years. Every year, Universal attempts to outdo previous Halloween seasons in the park, and this year is no exception. Universal's Halloween Horror Nights should prove to be the most terrifying Halloween season at the park so far.

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As it has done for the past couple years, Disney World has instituted a price hike for tickets to the theme park. The price for a one-day, adult park ticket has been raised from $75 to $79, a 3.5 percent price hike. The price of a child's one-day ticket has also been raised, from $63 to $68, which represents a 7.5 percent hike. Prices have also been raised for multi-day tickets as well, anywhere from 2.6 to 4.7 percent.

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The 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival kicks off on September 25 and runs through November 8. This wildly popular event, sponsored by Vanity Fair, gives visitors the chance to sample culinary creations and wine pairings from all over the world. As anyone who has visited Epcot Center knows, the attraction is arranged by "country." During the Food and Wine Festival, more than twenty-five international market centers in the World Showcase will serve up regional food and beverage specialties.

Participants will have a chance to sample the following foods:
• Spanakopita from Greece

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Walt Disney World cast members gathered once again this week for the annual canoe race held onsite. The race has been officially held since 1973 but began unofficially in 1963. It starts at 6:30 am at the Rivers of America near the Country Bears Jamboree and passes by Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tom Sawyer's Island, and the Haunted Mansion. The race is called C.R.O.W., short for Canoe Races of the World.

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