If you love daytime soaps, yearn to be part of some Hollywood magic, or simply need an excuse to go to an Orlando theme park, you’ll be interested to know that CBS daytime drama Guiding Light will be filming at Universal Orlando all week long. Our fair city is no stranger to the spotlights of TV – SeaWorld Orlando recently played host to tapings of Wheel of Fortune – and the Universal parks will join the queue of parks that have held tapings this year with TV shoots running through Friday, March 20.

Guiding Light, which is the longest-running drama on television with an eight-decade run, will be shooting at various spots at Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Universal CityWalk, and other spots within the park. Fans will be able to see the footage in multiple episodes airing from April 24 through May 4, but they’ll also be able to watch from behind the set at Universal while shooting is underway this week. Crew members, of course, will prevent anyone from getting too close, but park guests will be seen in the background of various shots. So if you’re well-placed and oblivious enough, you could be on the show!

The taping begins each day before the park opens, and shooting is fast-paced, with the cast and crew moving from location to location quite a few times in one day. Many residents of Orlando were cast as extras for the episodes in an open casting call that took place earlier in the month at CityWalk’s Groove nightclub.

Universal Orlando stars as itself in the episodes’ scripts, which mainly involve Bill (played by Daniel Cosgrove) whisking Lizzie (played by Marcy Rylan) away to the park to rekindle their love. Bill wants to give Lizzie the childhood she never had as a Spaulding, but Lizzie’s family and friends are never far behind.

If you can’t stop by Universal this week to watch the shoots, don’t fret – when filming wraps on Friday, the cast of Guiding Light will continue to stick around for Mardi Gras and a day of autograph sessions with fans in front of Fear Factor Live. On Saturday, March 21, the cast will be signing autographs from 10 am to 5 pm, starting with a full cast session and Q&A exclusive to annual passholders from 10 am to 11 am and followed by one hour sessions with select cast members through the rest of the day.

Then at Mardi Gras on Saturday night, the entire cast will appear in the evening’s parade at 8 pm. Several actors will be throwing beads to fans, and Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman (who play Reva and Josh, respectively), will be the king and queen of the parade.

There’s no extra cost to watch the filming, attend a signing, or catch the Mardi Gras fun at Universal; only regular admission is needed. So if you’re an avid fan of the show, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet the cast and watch them in action. Score your Universal Orlando tickets here at DWTickets.com and you’ll be ready for your close-up with Guiding Light.

In addition to a beautiful assembly of fantastic foliage and whimsical topiaries, fun activities for big green thumbs and little ones, the International Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World will feature appearances from an array of gardening professionals. From March 20 to May 31, guests visiting Epcot can take in the sights and scents of spring and learn how they can foster them in their own backyard from the experts themselves as part of the Great American Gardeners series.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the 16th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, some of the most respected gardeners and nature experts will reveal tips and share entertaining stories at noon and 3 pm. The presentations are open to all and will kick off from March 20 to March 22 with author Jon Carloftis, who’ll share insightful tips on how to integrate plants and nature in every aspect of life, from interior spaces to urban scapes.

Shirley Bovshow will then take over from March 27 to March 29; the garden designer and TV host will present gorgeous edible gardens that provide food as well as style and function in the garden. Susan Belsinger will then appear from April 3 through April 5, informing about the magic of herbs from garden to kitchen, and renowned horticulturist, NPR host, and author Felder Rushing will share practical tips for maintaining a garden’s beauty all year long using tough shrubs, flowers, herbs, and even “designer” veggies.

Then from April 17 through April 19, author, gardening expert, and famed TV host of PBS’s GardenSMART Joe Lamp’l (otherwise known as Joe Gardener) will talk about some of the best gardening tools and accessories available today. Following Lamp’l will be America’s longest running garden columnist Jeff Lowenfels from April 24 through April 26, who’ll explain organic gardening and some of its practical applications, and TV host Joe Washington from May 1 through May 3, who’ll talk about landscaping and water-smart designs. From May 8 through May 10, guests will be able to hear Florida garden writer Tom MacCubbin discuss growing edible foods and perfume expert Raymond Western speak on the history of fragrance and its relationship with plants.

The Gardener series will wrap up in May with TV host and gardening expert Melinda Myers, who’ll share simple money and energy saving ideas for a beautiful landscape from May 15 through May 17; author and Harry P. Leu Gardens director Robert Bowden, who’ll discuss unusual plants for landscaping from May 22 through May 24; and speaker and plant collector Rita Randolph, who’ll demonstrate eye-opening plant combinations from May 29 through May 31.

The eleven experts will be making their presentations at Garden Town in Future World East next to Universe of Energy. There’s no extra cost to hear these all-stars of gardening speak; regular admission to Epcot is all you need. So nab your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com today and ensure that your garden will be the most beautiful one on the block this season.

If primates are your favorite animals in the whole world, you might have a new reason to visit Walt Disney World this season. Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently welcomed a black and white colobus monkey – the first of its species born at the park – among its animal ranks. This cute little fella was born February 17 after a six-month gestation and can be now seen along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail with a group of five other colobus monkeys.
Though the weight, size, and gender of the monkey are still unknown, the baby monkey is being well-cared-for by first-time mother Kabibi.

“The baby was born looking healthy and vigorous,” said Rebecca Phillips, a primate manager at Animal Kingdom. “We’re encouraged that the mother and baby seem to be adapting well.”

As we’ve mentioned before, in addition to being a great Orlando theme park, Animal Kingdom is dedicated to animal conservation and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The baby colobus monkey’s mother came to Animal Kingdom in 2008 as part of the AZA Species Survival Plan, which manages genetic diversity among species through detailed records of individual animals. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also participates in AZA Species Survival Plans for several other animals, including elephants, cotton-top tamarins, and okapi.

Here are some more fun colobus monkey facts: at birth, the monkeys are covered in white fur that’s gradually replaced with black hair as they grow older. The monkeys are distinguished by their black body and white shoulders, backs, and beards, and they stand 18 to 27 inches tall, weighing between 12 to 32 pounds. Unlike most primates, the colobus monkey doesn’t have thumbs, but they do have long tails that help them navigate the forest quickly. Currently, about 65 colobus monkeys exist in AZA-accredited facilities around the US.

In addition to the colobus monkeys, the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail is also home to a group of Lowland gorillas, whose DNA is 98% identical to that of humans. There’s also a majestic silverback gorilla and his family, in addition to other animals like hippos, okapi, naked mole rats, meerkats, and many species of exotic birds. And if you didn’t get enough primate sightings there, the Habitat Habit! Trail in Rafiki’s Planet Watch area features some of the most endangered primates in the world, the cotton-top tamarins. Native to South America, these small animals are named for their long, flowing white hair.

With so many animal encounters that you’d have to travel the world to experience otherwise, Animal Kingdom is a must-see theme park in Orlando. So go pay a visit to the adorable baby colobus monkey and check out all the wonders of the animal world; no passport is needed, just a Walt Disney World ticket from DWTickets.com.

If you’re looking for a festive celebration, you’ll definitely find it this time of year in Orlando; Universal Orlando is kicking up the fun a couple notches with its Mardi Gras celebrations, and Busch Gardens recently had their own version of the festival with the Bud & BBQ event. But the Worlds of Discovery parks aren’t stopping there; as springtime begins to heat up the Orlando air this month, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens will also be turning the temperature up a few degrees with its Viva La Musica Festival, taking place on Saturdays and Sundays from March 7 through March 29.

A great event celebrating Hispanic culture at its best, Viva La Musica will spice up the usual fare at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens with live performances from a different award-winning Latin artist each day. In addition, guests will be able to enjoy the flavor of the heritage with popular Hispanic food as well as authentic arts and crafts. The fun starts on Saturdays at SeaWorld and Sundays at Busch Gardens, with the festival starting at 11 am and the concert beginning each day at 4 pm.

At SeaWorld, the Viva La Musica Festival will kick off this weekend with a performance from El Gran Combo on March 7, who will thrill the crowds with their legendary Puerto-Rican flavored salsa. On March 14, Tito El Bambino will take the stage with his reggaeton hits. On March 21, the world renowned “Princess of Salsa,” La India, will perform salsa hits from her Grammy-award winning career. And on March 28, the festival will wrap up at SeaWorld with a concert from Fonseca. At Busch Gardens, El Gran Combo will return to launch the concert series on March 8. On March 15, Puerto Rican reggaeton duo and 2008 Viva La Musica Festival performers RKM & Ken-Y will take the stage. On March 22, the popular meringue group Grupomanía will perform. And the festival will conclude on March 29 with Columbian band Guayacan, who’ll perform exhilarating salsa songs.

And to cater to the parks’ Hispanic guests, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld will be offering exclusive Spanish Language tours on the days of Viva La Musica. At SeaWorld, guests will be able to experience the Viva Behind the Scenes Tour, a 90-minute tour of the park that includes animal interactions and a behind the scenes look at animal habitats. Busch Gardens will offer two Spanish tours, the Viva La Musica Serengeti Safari, a 30-minute Serengeti Safari, and the Viva La Musica VIP Experience, a 5-hour group tour hosted by a Spanish-speaking tour guide. The Experience will include reserved seating for the day’s concert, a complimentary Latin lunch, front of the line access to most major rides, and a Serengeti Safari.

The tours cost extra, but admission to the Viva La Musica festival is free with a regular Busch Gardens ticket or SeaWorld ticket. So sign on for an amazing cultural celebration by getting your tickets today at DWTickets.com. Whether you’re Hispanic or not, you’ll be sure to enjoy the fiery beats and tasty Latin fare, along with all the usual rides, attractions, and shows of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.