Pictures: Legoland Galacticoaster exclusive preview
An upsided minifigure is one of the aliens that greets Legoland Florida visitors to Lego Galaxy area and Galacticoaster. The new indoor roller coaster opens Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
The exterior of Galacticoaster includes a re-creationg of actual Lego playsets with space themes. The coaster opens at Legoland Florida on Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
The exterior of Galacticoaster includes a re-creationg of actual Lego playsets with space themes. The coaster opens at Legoland Florida on Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
Legoland Florida is preparing to unwrap an indoor roller coaster. Its entrance includes upsized Lego minifigures and structures based on toy sets. Galacticoaster opens to the public Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
A Lego space flower appears to blossom in the play area of Galacticoaster, an indoor coaster opening at Legoland Florida theme park on Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
Alien Tourist, an upsided minifigure, stands in the courtyard as a photo opportunity for Legoland Florida visitors. The park’s Galacticoaster is scheduled to open to the public on Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
Biff Dipper, a next-generation animatronic for Legoland Florida, greets theme park visitors as part of the queue for the new Galacticoaster. The ride opens to the public Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
Rosie Brailsford, senior project director for Merlin Magic Making, tours visitors through the queue for Galacticoaster, an indoor coaster opening at Legoland Florida on Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
Posters in one room of the queue for the new Galacticoaster show off digital options for the ride vehicle. The attraction opens to the public Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
The first lobby of the new Galacticoaster includes Lego spaceship models, some of which are discontinued and difficult to find. The indoor roller coaster opens to the public Feb. 27. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
The spinning ride vehicles for Galacticoaster include a lap bar that comes down over passenger heads. Visitors access the cars via a moving sidewalk. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)
First look: Galacticoaster at Legoland Florida, inside and outer space
WINTER HAVEN – Final preparations are being made inside and outside Galacticoaster, Florida’s newest roller coaster, which is set to open at Legoland Florida theme park this month.
Space-themed Lego models — rotating ride vehicles that are customized by passengers and a next-generation animatronic named Biff Dipper — are prominent parts of the indoor coaster.
Near the entrance is a brick-by-brick and way-bigger-than-life model of Lego set 918, a spaceship introduced in 1979.
It’s “a classic ship, but it’s got some extra flourishes that you only really find in the Legoland park,” says Rosie Brailsford, senior project director for Merlin Magic Making, the creative arm of Merlin Entertainments.
About four years ago, Brailsford was instructed to work with Lego Group to develop an attraction that would work on a global platform, she says.
“They have a line, kind of from the ’70s and various different iterations of that, which is what you will find in Lego Galaxy,” she says. “So, it’s kind of a merge of past and present and opportunity for future iterations as well.”
Wall Street loses ground as tech stocks sink again
By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is losing ground Wednesday under the weight of sinking technology stocks.
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My quest for an affordable summer camp without sacrificing my savings
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The year has barely started, and my kindergarten parents group chat is already buzzing with summer camp anxiety. Registrations are opening and spots fill fast.
I’ve been doing research and here’s what I’ve learned: Camps aren’t cheap. But there are creative ways to work camp into your spending plan, this year and next.
The cost of summer camp
For many families with school-aged kids like mine, summer camps are a necessity. Schools are out and many parents work full-time. Summer camps fill an important child care gap.
But even for parents who are high earners, paying for camps can be a shocking expense. If you have more than one kid, paying for camp can seem almost impossible.
Affordable options do exist, says Henry DeHart, CEO of the American Camp Association, which oversees a national accreditation program for camp health and safety.
Which Bahama Breeze restaurants are closing? Converting? Here’s a list
Orlando-based Darden Restaurants will be closing all of its remaining Bahama Breeze locations nationwide, ending the brand after 30 years.
Half of the 28 Bahama Breeze locations across the country will be converted into Darden’s other restaurant brands over the next 12 to 18 months and are expected to continue operating until any temporary closures are needed to convert them, the company said. The other 14 will be permanently closed as of April 5.
Here is a list of Bahama Breeze locations planned for closing and conversion. The company has not announced specific plans for the converted restaurants.
CLOSING RESTAURANT LOCATIONS
500 Center Blvd., Newark, DE
3590 Breckenridge Blvd., Duluth, GA
12395 SW 88th St., Miami, FL
10205 Rivercoast Drive, Jacksonville, FL
1251 West Osceola Pkwy., Kissimmee, FL
11000 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, FL
1540 Rinehart Road, Sanford, FL
19600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, MI
2000 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ
3309 Wake Forest Drive, Raleigh, NC
320 Goddard Blvd., King of Prussia, PA
6100 Robinson Center Drive, Pittsburgh, PA