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.

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.

It seems as though everyone is locking up their wallets tight these days and being a little more careful about where they spend their dimes. And though you might consider a trip to Universal Studios a frivolous expense that will take away all your dimes, a trip to this Orlando theme park doesn’t necessarily have to be a costly good time. Just follow the following tips and you’ll see that a trip to Universal Studios can be fun and inexpensive too.

One of the biggest expenditures during an Orlando vacation is food. Three meals a day can add up to a lot over the span of a trip, and if you happen to get hungry at the parks, you’ll often find that the fare is pricier than you’d like. Many people save by bringing their own snacks and drinks in a backpack – then you can camp outside your favorite attraction and nosh away.

However, Universal Orlando also offers a Universal Meal Deal ticket, which allows you to enjoy an unlimited amount of lunch and dinner at either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure for one low price. Good for one or two days, the meal deal is a bargain if you plan on spending the entire day at the parks, and it’s good at places like Mel’s Drive In, the Comic Strip Café, and Louie’s Italian Restaurant. Best yet, you can go through the lines as many times as you want really gorge. We advise skipping on the Meal Deal Souvenir Cup, though. Unless you plan to drink a lot of soda (not a good idea when you’re about to go on a roller coaster), it’s simply not worth it.

Another big expense during theme park trips is souvenirs, especially if you’re traveling with kids. One money-saving tip is to allow each child only one souvenir that they can pick during the beginning or end of their vacation. Help them choose their souvenir carefully so that they pick something that will be useful throughout the trip or for their next one, like an autograph book or a hat. Also, you can eliminate opportunities for spending money by coming prepared with your own camera; that way, you won’t have to pay for shots with Spiderman.

You can also save on the costs of a rental by staying at one of Universal Studios’ three resorts. Guests of the Royal Pacific Resort, the Hard Rock Hotel, or the Portofino Bay Hotel all benefit from complimentary on-site transportation. You can take the convenient water taxis along picturesque waterways or ride the shuttle bus directly to Universal Studios or CityWalk. You can also ride free to SeaWorld, Wet ‘n Wild, and even Walt Disney World.

Universal Studios resort guests are also privy to Universal Express Ride Access, which entitles them to special shorter lines at popular park attractions. Your room key doubles as your Access Pass, and by saving time at the park, you’ll likely save money. This neat benefit certainly makes staying at the resorts worth it.

And for those who can’t get enough of CityWalk, you may want to hold off your visits to this entertainment-filled park until after 6 pm. Unfortunately, Universal began charging for parking at CityWalk at the beginning of the year, but the fee is during the day and only at night.

Finally, the best way to save on a Universal Studios excursion is by getting discount Universal Studios tickets at DWTickets.com. So go ahead and treat yourself to a Universal Studios adventure – with all the ways that you can save, you won’t even feel guilty about it.

This spring will hold more than just warm weather in its forecast for Orlando, Florida. Two major theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Studios, will be unveiling two eagerly anticipated roller coasters that are sure to transform the Orlando skyline, bring new visitors to the parks, and thrill roller coaster lovers and adrenaline rush seekers of all ages. The time is slowly approaching when Orlando residents and vacationers will be able to experience Manta and the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit roller coasters!

Debuting first will be Manta, which SeaWorld recently revealed will open on May 22. We can’t wait for this particularly sweet attraction, which will be unique among Orlando roller coasters for several reasons. First, as opposed to normal upright seated roller coasters (yawn) or roller coasters where your feet dangle (been there, done that), Manta will position the rider practically face down. The idea is that you’ll feel like you’re soaring through the air, much like a Manta ray soars through the water.

In addition, once it’s completed, Manta will be the one of the longest, tallest, and fastest roller coasters in the world, with four inversions and a speed of at least 56 mph. The inversions will include a pretzel loop, an in-line twist, and two corkscrews. Moreover, the roller coaster cars will be designed to resemble manta rays, with wingspans of 12 feet. Reportedly, during one portion of the ride, the Manta car will pass extremely close to the water below, and its wings will skim the surface, creating a big splash for the riders.

Manta will also have an incredible queue area for guests to take in while they wait for their wild ride. The queue will pass through art-adorned underground caves with enormous Plexiglas tanks featuring over 300 rays, as well as thousands of fish and other mysterious marine creatures.

And while Manta is poised to become the most graceful flying roller coaster in the world, the Hollywood Rip, Ride, and Rockit (RRR) coaster at Universal Studios is set on being the most technologically advanced one. Set to open sometime this spring (mid-to-late June would be the latest), the RRR will feature fast-paced, high-flying excitement, all set to the tune of a customizable song you pick out before strapping in. Moreover, every second of your whirlwind ride will be on video, allowing guests to edit it and send it to their friends when it’s all over.

The RRR will reach a maximum of 65 mph and will soar up to 17 stories over Universal Studios, making it the tallest in the Orlando area and the largest ride of its kind in the world. Six near-miss moments will have riders’ hearts lurching into their throats, and a non-inverting loop nicknamed the “double take” will break records around the world. And the ride, which features colorful LED lights, will even blast through a building façade, making it a visually stunning aerial landmark weaving up and down, in and out of the park.

If you couldn’t think of a reason to visit SeaWorld or Universal Orlando before, now you have it – the two new roller coasters getting ready to whirl through our favorite Orlando theme parks this spring. Start planning your roller coaster adventure now with discount theme park tickets from DWTickets.com, and you’ll be ready for two wild rides.