Things To Do In SW Florida

Kissimmee City Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to begin negotiations with local firm CapStrata for the proposed $272 million redevelopment of the city’s blighted Kmart site.

“I’d like to highlight the great opportunity this is for our city,” Mayor Jackie Espinosa said, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. “When we drive through there and see that area, we certainly are all excited about what’s coming.”

The city bought the 22-acre lot last year to spur development in the Vine Street area, then solicited proposals from developers.

Led by Capstack CEO Veronica Malolos and apartment developer Burk Hedrick, the winning team proposed a mixed-use district called Edon Park over five years with 630 mixed-income housing units, about 80,000 square feet of retail, office and dining, a large event lawn, and an indoor sportsplex. The master plan shows a large pond with fountains in the center of the project, flanked by the apartment communities and a park with a bandstand.

CapStrata was one of three proposals the city received for the redevelopment site, dubbed the “NoVi District” for North of Vine. A selection committee comprising city staff and outside experts ranked CapStrata’s Edon Park concept above the proposals from Skyview Companies and Wendover Housing Partners. read more

As Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship prepares for its Florida debut, guests can anticipate new Marvel-themed entertainment options on board, the company shared earlier this month.

The Wish-class Disney Destiny, which will sail out of Fort Lauderdale beginning in November, features a heroes and villains theme that plays into the ship’s live shows and dining venues. The Black Panther-inspired Grand Hall plays host to the “Sounds of Wakanda” musical celebration and two traveling storytellers, Zayah and Gamble, who tell tales of classic Disney villains.

The same duo will host a variety of experiences throughout each voyage, including “With Great Power: A Marvel Comedy Show.” The adults-only show takes guests on a journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe using sketch comedy.

“Disney Hercules” brings larger-than-life characters to a live musical stage show that’s exclusive to the Disney Destiny. Guests of all ages can enjoy “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular,” which puts a fresh spin on the familiar tale of Anna, Elsa and Olaf. “Disney Seas the Adventure” stars popular Disney and Pixar characters in an original production. read more

Aliens, big ol’ bugs and a creepy capybara have joined the lineup of Gators, Ghosts and Goblins, the Halloween proceedings that start Saturday at Gatorland.

It’s the seventh year for the family-friendly spookiness event, which has become increasingly elaborate. Character interactions are flanked with effects created with 3D printing and 3D bit mapping, pretty modern stuff for an old-school Florida attraction.

“You’re definitely going to notice some more animations going on,” Brandon Fisher, director of media relations, said during a preview of the event.

“New this year, we have big, giant bugs overtaking Gatorland,” he said, standing near an elaborate webbed stage and dangling (artificial) arachnids, which all play into a storyline involving competing exterminators, including Bubba’s Bug-B-Gone.

Skunk Ape emerges from the swamp at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Cyrus the Gravedigger causes pause during a preview of Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins, . The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by a ghoul during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls and gators during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Cyrus the Gravedigger unveils scary characters during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A costumed trainer feeds pumpkins to the alligators at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A scary pirate growls at a guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) An alien invader surprises guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A pirate zombie steers the ship at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Creepy exterminators run through the park at Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Cyrus the Gravedigger unveils Frankenstein during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A scene from the tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are welcomed during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Alien invaders surprise guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A movie poster welcomes guests at an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are surprised by ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Alien invaders surprise guests at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Scenes from Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights event runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Guests are welcomed to an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins event during a preview, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) A new costumed capybara character greets young guests at Gatorland. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Park CEO Mark McHugh keeps on eye on his ghouls during a tour of an abandoned movie theater at Gatorland’s 7th Annual Gators, Ghosts and Goblins preview event Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. The family-friendly, fun-and-frights celebration runs from Oct. 11 to Oct. 26 and features spooky scenes, chilling characters, a haunted theater, children’s Halloween activities and animal meet-n-greets. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)