Family, travel, mom blog | Theme Park Mom (Leigh Caldwell)

Wet ‘n Wild Water Park announces Latin Splash, a day-long event featuring Latin food, a live Rumba 100.3 DJ, plus music, dancing, contests and prizes.

The event is scheduled Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wet ‘n Wild on International Drive in Orlando.

You can get half-off admission by picking up a discount flyer at Rumba and Telemundo events. The flyer will also be available for download beginning Sept. 22 on the Telemundo and Rumba web sites.

Flyer is valid Saturday, September 25, 2010 only.

Wet ‘n Wild is located on International Drive, one block east of I-4 at exit 75A. For additional information, call (407) 351-1800 or (800) 992-9453 or visit on the web at www.wetnwildorlando.com.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is celebrating Zoe’s birthday on Sept. 25, with a special character dining lunch and dance party at 11:30 a.m.

The event includes a lunch served buffet-style and meet and greets with Zoe and some of her pals from Sesame Street.

One 6×8 photo including Zoe is included per family. Lunch is $23 for adults and $17 for children. Pass members receive a 10 percent discount. Admission to the park is required but not included.

To make your family’s reservation, visit SesameStreetSafariofFun.com and click on Dine With Elmo to book the Sept. 25 dine, or call 1-888-800-5447.

September 4 is a big day for one of my favorite people in the Disney online community – John Frost of The Disney Blog. It’s his birthday, and it’s also the day that his dream of publishing his book gets kickstarted.

John has been using the Web site Kickstarter to raise the funds to publish his short story collection Dispatch from Disneyland.

Here’s what he says about the book:

Back when LaughingPlace.com still had that new website smell, I was asked to pen a regular column. I decided to tell a story, my story, the story of my love for Disneyland. The goal was to share a little bit of the magic with those who couldn’t visit Walt Disney’s crown jewel theme park on a regular basis.

These stories connect with the emotions I feel when at Disneyland. Some focus on the little moments of magic while others have a broader scope. Together they tell the story of the park’s history, cast members, and possible futures.

Over the years, many readers suggested I turn my series into a book. Which, I must say, is a great idea. I’ve been polishing the Dispatches to a shine for over a year now and the goal is finally in sight. There are just a few hoops left to jump through and the final bits of show quality to check before it’s ready.

I know that many of you read and use all the Disney info that John has published in thousands of posts on The Disney Blog, and you’ll want to read this book that has been a dream of his for years! There are just a few days left to help him get it off the ground, so if you haven’t done it yet, go to Kickstarter today and make a pledge.

At Kickstarter, you can give as little as $1, or you can read about the rewards for the different pledge levels that John is offering. Your pledge will basically equate to you pre-ordering a copy (or multiple copies) of his book, but it will make a huge difference if you do it now.

John has met his initial fundraising goal to bring the book to publication, and every dollar that’s pledged now will help him make the book better. He’s hoping to hire an illustrator and even get some help with orchestrating and recording a song that he wrote to accompany one of the stories.

Do it for John’s birthday! Do it for me! Do it because you know you’ll want the book!

Disclosure notice: I was not paid, bribed, begged, cajoled or otherwise coerced into posting about John’s project. I just think HE’S AWESOME, and he deserves the support of everyone who reads Disney news online.

Six Flags America is selling season passes for 2011, and they have a great deal for families.

Through Oct. 31, 2010, the 2011 season passes are $49.99 each when you buy four. And if you buy four together this fall, you will also get a free season parking pass valid at Six Flags America for the whole 2011 season.

Individual season passes are also on sale for 2011. They are $59.99 if you buy them by Oct. 31.

Six Flags America is in Bowie, Maryland, near the Washington D.C. – Baltimore metro area. Here’s some more park info from the company:

Six Flags America features fun for the entire family with over 100 rides, shows and attractions including seven fast and phenomenal roller coasters, such as BATWING, Maryland’s first flying roller coaster, the classic wooden Wild One, and the 200-foot tall SUPERMAN: Ride of Steel. The park also features Hurricane Harbor water park, FREE with paid park admission or a season pass and two children’s areas, including the brand-new Thomas TownSM with rides and attractions based on the popular Thomas and Friends characters.