Things To Do In SW Florida

Sure, the calendar indicates there are 11 weeks until Halloween. But Florida’s theme parks say it’s about to get spooky in these parts.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the after-hours, extra-ticket event at Magic Kingdom, kicks off Friday night. And while that may seem scary early, demand is here. Five of the first seven Not-So-Scary nights — all in August — are sold out, including opening night.

There’s still time to get tickets and your act together. This one-stop list covers the big Halloween events at Orlando-area theme parks — the when, the where and the howl.

Main Street treats

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights between Aug. 15 and Oct. 31. The event starts after the park closes to regular day guests, and it requires its own admission ticket.

The evenings are filled with returning favorites such as Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade; “Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular,” a fireworks and lasers presentation; and “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular,” a Sanderson Sisters stage show at the foot of Cinderella Castle. read more

It’s almost time for the last dance for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. The final chance to board Universal Studios theme park’s 16-year-old roller coaster will be Sunday.

Work on a successor attraction is evident in the space bounded by the Rockit, Universal CityWalk, Hard Rock Cafe and the building that was once home to Blue Man Group. There’s a construction wall, a pile of dirt and somewhat heavy machinery. Universal Orlando has not announced a new attraction yet.

Although rides have a limited life span, there haven’t been too many just plain ol’ removed from Orlando’s parks in the past five decades. There have been maintenance and upgrades along with retheming, such as Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster becoming Trollercoaster. And there have been complete track replacements at Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain and for the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Islands of Adventure over the years.

We had to travel, figuratively, down Interstate 4 to come up with a decent list of bygone coasters. At the risk of becoming too sentimental, throw your hands up in the air for these thrill rides of yesteryear. read more

Five Central Florida restaurants shut down the week of Aug. 3-9, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange

Okayama Sushi and Hibachi at 2320 S. Kirkman Road in Orlando shut down on Aug. 7. Inspectors found 36 violations, 12 of which were high priorities. Those violations included rodent and roach activity, an employee failing to wash their hands before touching food, a stop-sale on food due to it not being in a wholesome condition and a missing vacuum breaker.

Inspectors returned twice on Aug. 8 keeping the restaurant closed on the first visit with 13 violations still, including two deemed high priority, but allowing it to reopen on the second and final visit, but still with 11 violations including time extensions given on two high priority violations involving the missing vacuum breaker and a sink spray hose that was too long.

Thai Cuisine at 5325 Edgewater Dr. in Orlando shut down on Aug. 6. Inspectors found 13 violations, two of which were high priorities for roach activity and operating without a business license. A second inspection occurred on Aug. 7. Inspectors found one violation, but it wasn’t a high priority. The restaurant met inspection standards. read more

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

NEW YORK (AP) — South Korean cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon pleaded guilty on Tuesday to two fraud charges arising from the $40 billion collapse of a cryptocurrency ecosystem that had promised investors their money was safe.

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Kwon, 33, dubbed by some as “the cryptocurrency king,” entered the plea in Manhattan federal court.

According to a plea agreement signed by Kwon and prosecutors, the government said it will not seek a prison term of more than 12 years as long as Kwon complies with the deal’s terms, even though federal sentencing guidelines would have recommended a prison term of about 25 years. Sentencing is set for Dec. 11. read more

CAPE CANAVERAL — United Launch Alliance punched out its first Vulcan Centaur launch of the year Tuesday night, and its first ever for the Space Force.

The company’s new workhorse rocket lifted off on the USSF-106 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 at 8:56 p.m. under clear skies except for a passing meteor that lit up the Space Coast about 10 minutes before launch.

The rumble of the engines set off car alarms in the distance as ULA opened up its national security account for Vulcan, making only its third ever launch after flying two certification flights in 2024.

A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance) A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur launches on the USSF-106 mission for the Space Force from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 41 on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (Courtesy/United Launch Alliance)