Things To Do In SW Florida

Visit Florida picked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ communications director Friday to lead the state’s tourism marketing efforts.

The organization’s board of directors voted to hire Bryan Griffin with an annual salary not to exceed $215,000. The decision came on the same day DeSantis publicly backed his ally for the CEO job at Visit Florida.

Griffin, a Tampa native, touted his Florida roots and deep Capitol relationships while asking for the board’s support.

“We will promote the shared values and unique features of Florida, including our world-class amenities, unique natural and historical sites and our commitment to public safety and order for all who visit,” he said.

Griffin succeeds Dana Young, who announced her retirement in December.

Visit Florida leader who survived House efforts to kill agency stepping down after 6 years

In his new role, he’ll be responsible for building the state’s tourism brand. A public-private partnership, Visit Florida works to attract tourists and conventions through marketing campaigns and public relations. read more

The long-awaited nighttime parade for Magic Kingdom has hit the streets. Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is now regularly scheduled for two runnings per night at the theme park.

Lately, new Orlando park offerings have been just as advertised. Sure enough, Epic Universe boasts distinct, immersive worlds. SeaWorld Orlando’s Expedition Odyssey is, indeed, a picturesque virtual tour of the Arctic.

And Walt Disney World’s lead-up to Starlight was spot-on, with a drip-drip-drip release of float designs, music details, expected characters and back story.

But there’s nothing like the real thing, right before our eyes. Here are some musings I had after seeing Disney Starlight three times over two days.

It’s lit

The pre-opening renderings of the floats were accurate and representative, yet they don’t capture the intensity of the elaborate lighting in motion. It’s more active than I anticipated.

That includes the digital screen work, with pixels galore and changing imagery. For instance, the centerpiece candle aboard the “Encanto” float morphs into a new visual that gives it an even more glowing sort of “wow!” factor. read more

At the grand opening of Carnival Cruise Line’s Celebration Key, Shaquille O’Neal was seemingly omnipresent, and not just because at 7-foot-1, he towered above everyone.

The former NBA star and Carnival’s “Chief Fun Officer” waved at ship passengers on the Carnival Vista before they disembarked to enjoy the new exclusive destination. He joined company leaders to ceremoniously unlock the sandcastle gates, officially opening Celebration Key, then took a few selfies at the behest of fans before handlers whisked him away.

Carnival’s Celebration Key opens on Grand Bahama with Shaq sightings, colorful fanfare

He went on to high-five the first kids to race down the sandcastle’s waterslides, tossed the first shot at the basketball court, had his giant handprints encased in sand and raised a champagne glass in a toast at Pearl Cove Beach Club.

How did the 19-year career basketball player and four-time NBA champion — who played for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics — wind up intertwined with Carnival Cruise Line? read more

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal regulators on Thursday approved Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance, clearing the way to close a deal that combined Hollywood glitz with political intrigue.

The stamp of approval from the Federal Communications Commission comes after months of turmoil revolving around President Donald Trump’s legal battle with “60 Minutes,” the crown jewel of Paramount-owned broadcast network CBS. With the specter of the Trump administration potentially blocking the hard-fought deal with Skydance, Paramount earlier this month agreed to pay a $16 million settlement with the president.

Critics of the settlement lambasted it as a veiled bribe to appease Trump, amid rising alarm over editorial independence overall. Further outrage also emerged after CBS said it was canceling Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” just days after the comedian sharply criticized the parent company’s settlement on air. Paramount cited financial reasons, but big names both within and outside the company have questioned those motives. read more

NEW YORK (AP) — About 3.6 million hoses are under recall across the U.S. because hundreds have burst while being used, resulting in at least 29 injuries, including reports of temporarily impaired hearing.

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The recall covers a range of HydroTech-branded, 5/8-inch “Expandable Burst-Proof Hoses” that were sold at major retailers — including, Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and Target — for garden, lawn care, car washing and other uses between January 2021 and April 2025.

The company said the hoses can burst if the interior, plastic strain relief “breaks or becomes fully unthreaded.” read more