Do you love Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? We do – the goofy 3-D attraction featuring Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang was always one of our favorite attractions. It never ceases to amaze one how Jim Henson was able to create so many wonderful and funny characters. Don’t forget – Henson was also the mind behind Sesame Street icons like Bert and Ernie. If you’re a fan of these and other similar fun and wacky Henson characters, you may want to check out a new exhibit exploring the mind behind the Muppets at the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando.

A great attraction to explore during a break from Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, the History Center debuted a new exhibit early this month, Jim Henson’s Fantastic World. Until May 3, visitors can relish in the creative genius of the multitalented creator of The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock, and the leading force behind Sesame Street.

Henson, who was born in 1936, was a celebrated artist, puppeteer, film director, and producer who created entire worlds with unique characters, objects, environments, and even languages and cultures. Visitors to the exhibit will get to peek inside those worlds by viewing more than 100 works of art, photographs, documents, movie props, and yes, puppets, as well as original video productions and excerpts from Henson’s early career.

Particularly fascinating are the Fantastic World’s sketches, which Henson’s daughter Heather Henson (a resident of Orlando) refers to as the “blueprint” of many characters and productions. And seeing so many Muppets on display is heartwarming to anyone who grew up watching Jim Henson productions on TV; there’s even those memorable “Mah Na Mah Na” guys in a case.

Many people may not know that Henson, who is now survived by his three daughters, Lisa, Cheryl, and Heather, and son Brian, purchased a house in Orange County, Florida, in the 1980s.

“He loved what was going on in the [theme] parks and Walt Disney World,” Heather Henson told reporters. “He wanted to find a home to have his Muppet characters to continue to grow and flourish. He wanted his family of characters to go into the Walt Disney Co.”

Unfortunately, before those plans could be finalized, Henson died of Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome in 1990, not long after developing Muppet Vision 3D at Hollywood Studios. In 2004, however, Henson’s wish was finally realized as his sons and daughters sold the Muppets to Disney, along with the Big Bear in the Blue House properties. The Henson family still possesses all Jim’s other creations, including the world famous Jim Henson Creature Shop, which continues to supply Hollywood with creative and technologically advanced film creatures.

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World will make tour stops across the country. And on Saturdays and Sundays from March 7 through April 5, the exhibit will also host screenings of Henson’s rare and popular films, TV footage, and experimental work, along with documentaries and guest speakers like Heather Henson.

For a truly fascinating look into the mind behind some of TV and films most beloved creatures and characters, don’t miss Jim Henson’s Fantastic World exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center. It’ll give you a whole new appreciation for Henson’s legacy, not to mention one of the most entertaining attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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.

Walt Disney World has no shortage of incredible souvenirs. From Mickey ears that you can customize with your own signature color and decorations to an extensive variety of pins that you could spend your whole life collecting, the parks have been known for developing some of the coolest collectibles that make park-going even more fun. And in continuation of a tradition that’s endured at the parks for more than twenty years, Disney is debuting its 2009 series of Disney Dollars, the “official currency” of Walt Disney World Resort.

These colorful bills are released every year with a new design, and the 2009 series, which has just been issued, is perfectly matched to go with one of Walt Disney World’s newest promotions, “What Will You Celebrate?” “What Will You Celebrate?” encourages people to head to the parks to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, graduations, and other life triumphs.

The bills, which come in , , and denominations, all call attention to celebrating with their new designs. On the , Mickey Mouse and Pluto are seen celebrating with a cake, while Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse grace the in party hats. And on the , Goofy is joined by Donald Duck and Mickey as he blows out the candles on a cake, causing all its frosting to land on Mickey’s face. The reverse of each bill features Cinderella Castle in the clouds with the phrase, “There’s so Much in Life Worth Celebrating.”

Disney Dollars debuted in 1987 as a fun souvenir especially created for Disney-loving collectors. A man named Harry Brice, a silhouette cutter on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland, had the idea for the bills after going to a Disneyana show and seeing how much people loved Disney collectibles. Two series were created at first, one for Disneyland, and one for Walt Disney World, but additional series were added over the years for special celebrations, Disney stores, and other themes like Pirates of the Caribbean. Since their creation, new dollars have been produced every year except in 1992 and 2004.

Money can be exchanged for Disney Dollars at Guest Relations in any of the four parks, as well as at resort front desks. They can also be found at the Guest Relations at Downtown Disney Marketplace and at the information desk at the World of Disney shop. A fun way to teach kids the value of money while at the parks, Disney Dollars never expire and can be used for purchases throughout Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot, as well as on Disney’s Cruise Line, at the Disney stores, and more. However, whatever bills you don’t use can be kept as a unique collectible; like a real dollar, each bill is individually numbered.

Next time you hit the parks and are searching for a unique memento to remember your visit by, check out Disney Dollars. Better than a gift card, you’ll have fun spending or holding on to these little Disney treasures. And be sure to get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com, so you’ll have more money left over to convert into Disney Dollars.

Walt Disney World is without a doubt one of the most mysterious and magical places in the world. The four parks manage to create so many dream experiences and fun adventures that fans have often sought to uncover the science behind the magic. And though all the secrets can’t be revealed, there is a way that Disney fans can learn a bit more about how their favorite parks operate – through special Disney-offered tours.

For example, guests can opt to go on a Backstage Magic tour, a 7-hour adventure across Disney World that provides a detailed look at the workings of Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom. This fascinating tour provides an in-depth look at the parks’ creative and technical operations that bring to life your favorite special effects and attractions. You’ll get to see Disney’s massive Florist facilities (all those flowers didn’t just pop out of nowhere, you know) along with the incredibly designed North Service area. By the end of the tour, guests will have a better idea of just how much magic it takes to make the parks work.

And if you love Animal Kingdom, there’s a tour for you too – the Backstage Safari, which provides a 3-hour look at the ways that Disney Cast Members care for the park’s 1,700+ animal residents. On this behind-the-scenes walking tour, guest will get up close to a variety of incredible animals in their backstage habitats and talk to the folks that keep them happy and healthy in the Animal Nutrition Center. They’ll also visit Animal Kingdom’s state-of-the-art veterinary hospital and other facilities and learn interesting facts, like how three tons of food is prepared, distributed, and fed to the critters of Animal Kingdom every day.

Another naturally fabulous tour is Behind the Seeds at Epcot, which takes guests backstage on a one-hour indoor walking tour of the greenhouses seen at the Living with the Land pavilion. An actual working greenhouse, The Land grows delicious produce indoors, and guests will be able to learn all about the advanced and sometimes-experimental techniques it uses. Described as an extended version of the Living with the Land ride, the tour gives guests the chance to go alligator gazing, release ladybugs, and see the future of agriculture.

Around the World at Epcot is another great tour if you love the futuristic park and want to see all it has to offer without all the walking. This fun tour takes guests around the World Showcase while riding board a 2-wheel Segway Personal Transporter. For those who have never ridden one before, the first hour of the 2-hour tour consists of a fun training session so that you don’t fall flat on your face. Once you’re ready, you and your group will head out to the World (Showcase, that is), and visit each of the 11 international pavilions it consists of. Meanwhile, your guide will point out interesting details and facts about the design of each pavilion.

All of the tours can be booked through Disney, and all of them, with the exception of the Backstage Magic Tour, still require separate Disney admission. So if you’re burning to know some of the mystery behind the magic at your favorite Disney theme park, get your Walt Disney World tickets at DWTickets.com and then give Disney a call to schedule a fascinating and one-of-a-kind tour.