Sunshine State of Mind

This week we keep the Halloween and haunted house theme alive, as we play some Haunted Mansion trivia!  How much do you know about one of the Magic Kingdom's most popular and iconic attractions?  You might learn some secrets and little known facts about this home for 999 happy haunts!

This show includes:

• Forever Florida closes without warning.

• https://www.patreon.com/sunshinestatepodcast

October is finally here!  And that means lots of scary events and haunts all around the state.  We list and discuss some of the most frightful events in Florida to get you ready for Halloween.

This show includes:

• Infiniti Falls will finally be opening this week at Sea World

• https://myoldtownusa.com/events/haunt-old-town

• https://www.apetrifiedforest.com

• https://www.orlandohauntedhouses.com/halloween/orlando-haunted-maze-fl.html

• https://www.screamageddon.com

• https://www.hauntnights.com

• https://www.houseofhorrorcarnival.com

• http://www.dementedhaunt.com

• https://www.tormentfactory.com

This Saturday was Museum Day, where many museums across the country open their doors for free.  So we checked out the Tampa Bay History Center in downtown Tampa, then on Sunday hit up another free event, the Tampa Bay Lightning Fan Fest.  

This show includes:

• We visted the the Tampa Bay Lightning Fan Fest on Sunday.

• https://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/

Our weekends planned boating trip was cancelled due to this summers especially nasty Gulf Coast red tide, so let's talk about a new roller coaster coming next year to Busch Gardens, attendance levels at Sea World, and a new addition to the world famous rocket garden at Kennedy Space Center.

This show includes:

• We caught a case of the Red Tide Blues this weekend. Here's a link to the latest information on which beaches are effected.

• http://myfwc.com/redtidestatus

• https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/amusement-parks/busch-gardens-tampa-bay-tallest-launch-roller-coaster

• https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/06/investing/seaworld-attendance-earnings/index.html

• https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/go-for-launch/os-delta-2-rocket-garden-20180916-story.html

The Florida State Park system introduces it's "Every Stamp is a Story" passport stamp collection game, and then we discuss all the new rumored Nintendo themed rides and attractions coming to Universal Studios.  Are you ready for some real life Mario Kart?  We are!

This show includes:

• Florida State Park system's "Every Stamp is a Story" passport challenge

• https://www.floridastateparks.org/every-stamp-story-program

• http://themeparkuniversity.com/universal/nintendos-zelda-slated-to-replace-lost-continent-at-islands-of-adventure/

• https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/theme-parks/2018/09/04/jurassic-park-ride-closing-last-ride/1197880002/

This show includes:

• Disney announces that the new Star Wars Galaxy's Edge will include the infamous cantina bar.

Shannon talks about her recent trip to Tallahasee and some hidden gems she discovered in Florida's capital.  Then we go through a list of more hidden gems all over the state and talk about our experiences at some of them.

This show includes:

• Shannon visits MoMo's Pizza and Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahasee

• https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Maclay-Gardens

• https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/florida/more-hidden-gems-fl/

Halloween events are already getting started around Florida.  Too soon?  A long running show at Universal's Islands of Adventures comes to an end.  Then we talk about and review our recent cruise aboard the Carnival Sensation out of Miami.

This show includes:

• Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween opens at the Magic Kingdom

• https://attractionsmagazine.com/sinbad-show-closing-universal-orlando/

This week we visited the newly opened Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios!  We talk about what we liked, what we didn't, and how we think this new themed area impacts the overall experience at Hollywood Studios.

This show includes:

• Review and discussion about Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios.

This week we take on the other side of the debate and look at Walt Disney World to talk about some the things we think makes Walt Disney World the better experience over Universal Studios.   

This show includes:

• What does Walt Disney World do better than Universal Studios discussion.