Things To Do In SW Florida

Q: I helped my father sell his condo in 2017 and have been storing the paperwork from when he originally purchased it to when he sold it. I want to shred the papers, but I was wondering if I need to hold on to them for a certain length of time. How long should I keep the paperwork? — Lois

A: Good record-keeping can make a big difference should a problem arise. That said, with the deluge of paperwork that comes with living in the modern world, I certainly understand your desire to get rid of some clutter.

The length of time you are required to hold on to the documents will vary depending on the type of paperwork and where you live. This is further complicated by Murphy’s Law of Decluttering, which states that you will not need something until shortly after you throw it away.

Digitally scanning important papers before you shred them is a great way to reduce clutter, but it can be time-consuming.

Generally, you should keep contracts and other financial documents as long as the statute of limitations for where you live, which would begin when the contract is no longer active. read more

When the smoke cleared after the recent D23 announcements, Walt Disney World ended up with several notable developments. Orlando’s parks eventually will gain a villains land, two “Cars” attractions, a “Monsters, Inc.” land, rides based on “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones” scenarios, a “Mandalorian” update for a “Star Wars” ride, a nighttime parade and more.

Not too shabby, but it takes steam away from those folks who cry, “Be fair to Florida.” I’ll admit that when Disney execs started talking about the “Monsters” land, I assumed it would be in a far-flung theme park, perhaps Paris or Shanghai.

One item that local park watchers might be envious of is the full-size animatronic figure of Walt Disney that will be installed at Disneyland for a new show titled “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” It debuts in 2025, Disney says.

“It’s like that light-bulb moment,” said Simon Veness, a travel writer and guidebook author. “Of course, there should be a Walt animatronic that needs to be in every Magic Kingdom park in the world tomorrow.” read more

Elvis is leaving the building. So are Cher, Colonel Sanders, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Mr. T.
But before they go, there’s going to be one final blowout: The Sunburst Convention of celebrity impersonators will celebrate its 20th installment Sept. 4-8 in south Orlando. Founder Greg Thompson says it also will be the last.

“It’s going to be a big family reunion,” he says. “This has become the hub of the celebrity-tribute industry.”

And the convention has become an annual source of entertainment to Central Floridians and visitors who enjoy performances and photos with famous-face lookalikes at the event’s public “Legends in Revue” showcases.

Thompson estimates more than 800 performers have attended over the years, with many returning time and time again. He can think of seven who have been to 18 out of the 20 conventions and says about 75 have been to 10 or more.

That family reunion vibe is enhanced by the shared attitude of the impersonators, who work in a unique niche of the entertainment industry. read more