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

One of my favorite preschoolers and I attended a preview event at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay this morning, where they promised us a big announcement.

And it was big – for Florida parents of kids ages 5 and under: FREE admission.

To celebrate the opening of the Sesame Street Safari of Fun at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay this spring, the Tampa theme park is offering free admission for kids ages 5 and under for the rest of 2010!

Here’s how you can get in on the deal:

• Your child must be a Florida resident.
• The child must be 5 years old or younger when you register for the pass. If the child turns 6 during the year, he or she is still eligible for admission, as long as the registration was completed before his or her sixth birthday
• You must register online in advance; these free passes will not be issued at the park gate.
• Go to SesameStreetSafariofFun.com to register your child and print the e-Ticket.
• Bring the e-Ticket and a birth certificate or passport to Busch Gardens, and your preschooler gets in free through Dec. 31, 2010!

The Sesame Street Safari of Fun is a new children’s area that opens March 27. It will feature Sesame Street-themed rides, splash play areas and a brand-new junior roller coaster, Air Grover. Kids can see their favorite Sesame Street characters in a stage show at the Sunny Day Theater, get their picture made in a new character greeting area and dine with Elmo and his friends at character breakfasts and lunches.

I’ll have a sneak peek at the character dining options coming up tomorrow here on ThemeParkMom.com.

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One of the biggest questions in the theme park world right now is “When will the Wizarding World of Harry Potter open?”

We still don’t know the answer to that question, but a new vacation package offer released today confirms that it will be before Memorial Day weekend.

That’s because the 4-night Wizarding World of Harry Potter Vacation Package can be booked for stays starting May 28.

The package includes a hotel stay at one of Universal’s on-site hotels, 3-day tickets to Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter before the park opens to guests for the day, a commemorative ticket for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and a “traditional British breakfast” at the new Three Broomsticks restaurants.

Pricing starts at $648 per adult/$130 per child. That adds up to $1,548 for a family of four. Off-site hotels are also available at a substantial savings – $285 per adult/$130 per child. However, staying off-site means a lesser hotel and a loss of a great benefit – the ability to skip the lines at many of Universal Orlando’s attractions.

Universal officials are quick to say that the May 28th start for this package does not represent the opening date for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The official opening date remains “Spring 2010.”

So what I read into this is that it will open sometime before May 28. I continue to receive questions from readers about whether the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be open during the spring-break season. My best answer at this point is don’t count on it. Look for an opening sometime in May.

If you’re thinking about combining a Wizarding World of Harry Potter trip with a visit to Walt Disney World this summer, I highly recommend using a travel agent who specializes in travel to these resorts. The Magic Makers at Enchanted Destinations can book this Harry Potter vacation package and Walt Disney World resort packages, and help you work out all the logistics of your Orlando trip.

You’ve heard of Florida resident discounts at Walt Disney World, but this year there’s also a special discount for Louisiana residents.

To celebrate the New Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl win, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is offering Saints fans from Louisiana a free night’s stay when you book two nights at the standard price.

Here are the rules to get this free hotel night at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin:

• Travel must be booked by Feb. 28, 2010.
• Travel must be completed by Dec. 31, 2010.
• You must be a current resident of Louisiana. You will be asked for ID at check-in.
• Call 1-800-227-1500 and ask for promotion code SDBOWL.

The Swan and Dolphin resort is in the EPCOT Resort Area at Walt Disney World, within walking distance of Disney’s Boardwalk. And you get the same benefits as guests staying at other Walt Disney World resort hotels, including free transportation to Disney’s theme parks and Extra Magic hours.

Walt Disney World is offering 30% to 45% discounts on hotel rooms for Florida residents most nights this spring. These are some amazing deals, with prices under $60 per night for value resorts, under $100 per night for moderates and around $175 per night for some of the deluxe resorts.

Here are some examples:

• $53.30 per night for a room at All-Star Music Resort the last weekend of January
• $93.87 per night for a room at the Carribbean Beach Resort the third week of February.
• $174.00 per night for a room at Animal Kingdom Lodge the third week of April.

All of the details are available on Walt Disney World’s Web site. This is an especially great deal with the Disney Dream Pass, which offers Florida residents 4 days at the parks for just $99.

And if your family typically stays in values or moderates, here’s a chance to step up a category for about the same price (or less than) you are used to paying!

My family (which is 2 adults and 1 child) could do four nights at a value resort and the Disney Dream Pass for less than $500 (plus taxes). That is why I say these deals are truly amazing!

There are black-out dates for this discount, mainly centered around spring break. You have to book by June 10, 2010, but you will have the most availability if you book as early as possible, of  course.