The monthly periodical Amusement Today, featuring news, reviews and articles about the amusement park industry, gives out a set of annual amusement park awards called the Golden Ticket Awards, the first being awarded in 1998.

The awards are based on surveys from a panel of experienced park enthusiasts throughout the world who vote on 25 different categories, though there tends to be an emphasis towards North America even though the panels are split geographically.

Each summer, SeaWorld run their summertime Summer Nights at SeaWorld entertainment with a number of special evening events when the park stays open later.

You can ride the Manta Ray, watch Shamu Rocks, the spectacular rock ’n roll killer whale show, laugh with Clyde and Seamore in Sea Lions Tonite and see the special fireworks display, Reflections, each evening.

Each year, Universal Studios Orlando host the Rock the Universe Christian music festival.

For 2012, the two night Rock the Universe music festival will take place on September 7 and 8 from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Rock the Universe is a separately ticketed special event and tickets are now on sale. There are several ticket options plus deals for annual ticket holders.

Florida has some of the best beaches in the whole of the United States and its beaches regularly appear in top 10 polls. Because of Florida’s shape, being relatively long and thin, you are never more than 62 miles (100 km) from the coast. And with 1700 miles of spectacular beaches, you are spoilt for choice.

Florida’s East coast is renowned for its many wide flat beaches, particularly around Daytona where in the 1920s and 1930s, World Land Speed records were regularly broken. Whilst on the West coast, beautiful white sands compliment calm and idyllic emerald green seas.

According to statistics from VISIT FLORIDA Research, record numbers of visitors came to Florida in 2011 and 2012. There was an estimated 85.9 million in total, up 4.4% on 2010 though the increase for the last quarter was less than 0.5%.

These figures demonstrate that for the second year running, Florida is still the “Number One” US attraction for holidaymakers with year round appeal and that is has bounced back following the 2010 Gulf oil spill.

Each year in the Spring, the Collings Foundation take their Wings of Freedom Tour through Florida with their Boeing B–17 Fortress, Consolidated B–24 Liberator and two-seater North American TP–51C Mustang fighter. Their North American B–25 Mitchell also joins the tour at selected venues.

Disney on Ice Touring Shows in Florida

Disney in conjunction with Feld Entertainment produce a number of different family musical ice shows that are performed around the United States (and overseas). The shows called Disney on Ice, are ideally suited to young children.

In the fall of 2011, both Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream and Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic are being performed in Florida at a number of major venues. Prices typically range from $15 up to $50 for front row seats, though they may vary by venue/show. Sometimes there are two shows on a single day, a matinee and an evening performance.

In late January 2012, Universal Orlando Resort announced a slew of new attractions and events coming to Orlando in 2012 to coincide with 100 years of Universal Pictures.

As part of the Universal Pictures Centennial Anniversary Celebration, we can expect more events to be announced through out the year, no doubt including the plans for the now closed Jaws ride and Amity area. Some rumours point towards a new 3-D ride set in Gringotts Wizarding Bank, taken from the Harry Potter books.

Disney has announced another ticket price rise for the Walt Disney World Resort, effective June 12, 2011, less than one year after the previous rise in August 2010.

The one day base price ticket has risen a further $3 from $82 to $85 for an adult and by $5 for a child from $74 to $79.

Several Florida theme parks have announced special ticket deals for this summer, most ending around Labor Day on September 6. These include a Play & Dine ticket at Busch Gardens and a Twilight ticket at SeaWorld.