If you’re interested in the Disney Marathon, you’re best bet is to head on over to the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend website. From there, you’ll be able to register for the various events (those that are still open) and get information on the activities that surround the big weekend. You’ll also be able to find contact information in case you’ve misplaced your confirmation info.

As of today (June 24th), the half-marathon and “Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge” have been closed, but the full marathon is still open for registration. There’s also a 5K race that you can still enter.

If you were really hoping to do a half-marathon at Disney, take a look at the Disney’s Princess Half Marathon in March. This race will be in its inagural running and should be a “magical” event for women (as designed by the race).

Popularity: 7% [?]

On rainy days like today, staying dry while out at the parks can be difficult. You can try an umbrella or a poncho, but the best bet is to find an indoor attraction and make the most of it. It’s one of the few chances to really enjoy a long line.

Sometimes, though, staying dry is not the ultimate goal. Plenty of rides require no rain at all to leave guests walking away soaked. One of my favorite rides that falls into this category is Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls at Islands of Adventure.

A log flume ride through a cartoon world, Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls culminates with a double-dip drop that can leave riders with a wet seat and maybe a wet shirt. It’s a lot of fun and would normally be no big deal for everyone in the park. It’s not until the ride’s almost over that things begin to get interesting.

Located on the bridge above the ride are the controls to water cannons pointed directly at the riders as they make their way to the off-ramp. For a mere quarter, non-riders can super-soak the people below with three shots of at least a couple gallons of water that can’t be avoided. It’s anything but fun if you’re on the ride. It’s pure fun if you’ve got a roll of quarters. I don’t recommend sticking around for too long, though. Some of your victims may come looking for you.

Popularity: 8% [?]

The Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves recently added two more restaurants to the growing list of options now available to western Orange County residents - Cracker Barrel and Panera Bread. This shopping / dining area is growing rapidly and there’s still plenty of space for more shops and restaurants in the future. I’m hoping that they’ll use some of the space for nighttime entertainment, since the current options in Winter Garden and Ocoee are growing a little old.

Some of the other restaurants in WGV include Chili’s, Mimi’s, Longhorn Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Macaroni Grill, UNO’s, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Urban Flats and many more. I never thought they’d be able to build a place with this much stuff and not create a traffic nightmare in the area. So far, the only issue seems to be parking around the restaurants.

I’m not sure how well the Dave & Buster’s franchises are doing, but that type of restaurant / entertainment establishment would be something I’d like to see. I’d also be excited to have a few locally-run restaurants find their way into the mix. The chain restaurants are reliable, but they rarely bring any local flavors to the table.

Popularity: 7% [?]

When we walked through the gates at Universal Studios this weekend, the wait time for “The Simpsons Ride” was listed at 5 minutes. Having come from Islands of Adventure and rides on Spider-man, Dueling Dragons, Jurassic Park and Poseidon’s Fury in under three hours, we figured a trip over to The Mummy (where the wait time was also 5 minutes) would be a good detour on our walk through the park. Short lines seemed to be the theme of the day.

Our first view of Krustyland was from across the water, just past the midway games and in view of my favorite ride at UO - Men in Black Alien Attack. From the bridge, the wait didn’t seem all that bad. The entrance through Krusty the Clown’s mouth was wide open. Nearly an hour later, we made our way into the air-conditioned waiting rooms and the newly re-branded simulation-ride through the cartoon world featuring Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie.

Overall, I’d give the ride a B-minus. It’s a definite upgrade from Back to the Future, but it’s not different enough to bring me back for more. My favorite parts were the simulated drops and the “4-D” effects that have been added in (think smells). The queue line “best of the Simpsons” clips weren’t bad, either. It seems that everyone laughs at the same stuff.

It’s also worth mentioning that the level of service at Universal Studios has improved noticeably over the past year. I’ve always though that Universal lagged way behind Disney and SeaWorld in guest service, but our experience on Saturday was enjoyable on all fronts. Whether we were just in the right place at the right time is hard to tell, but I didn’t have a single “I’m writing a letter” moment for the first time in a long time.

Finally, the “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is far from complete, but the steel structure that is erected predicts a very impressive new addition to the park when it opens in 2009.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Last month, my wife and I became the proud owners of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. Since then, we’ve been searching out things to do with our “little girl” that are both entertaining and helpful in getting her to become the perfect family pet.

Our first step was to enroll Chloe in PetSmart’s puppy class. Although it didn’t sound like much fun, puppy class is actually an entertaining hour where we get to learn good tips and tricks for training our dog. It’s also been a great way to meet a few people who are also new puppy owners and to share some stories about the naughty things our puppies are up to when not in class.

Another way we’re getting the puppy adjusted to being around people is to take her to pet-friendly restaurants in the area. It’s not something I’m a fan of doing all that often, but it enables us to get in a good meal and lets Chloe meet some unfamiliar faces. We also get to practice our puppy-class commands like sit and stay a lot. One of the better locations we’ve found in our neck of the woods is the new French pastry on Plant St. in Winter Garden. Their soups, salads and sandwiches are the perfect summer lunch and their pastries are to die for. Just give the chocolate eclairs a try and you’ll be hooked.

Finally, an option we’ve yet to try out is heading to one of the many dog parks in the Orlando area. These parks are fenced in and allow dogs to run around off-leash and misbehave (playfully) all they want. Orange County has a list of dog parks available on their website that includes addresses and phone numbers. Orlandodogparks.com offers similar information, along with a separate blog and articles on dog-related stories.

If you’ve got any other tips for a new puppy owner, please leave them in the comments. If you’re interested in the PetSmart puppy class, just stop by one of their stores or visit their website for more information.

Popularity: 11% [?]

This summer, send your kids to Leu Gardens for a week of hikes, activities, games, crafts and artwork centering on plants and insects. Designed for the young explorer who has completed fourth, fifth or sixth grade, the July 21-25 camp will allow kids to enjoy the outdoors and learn a little about their surroundings.

Preregistration and prepayment ($100, Garden Members - $90) are required. Healthy snacks and juices are provided, but kids should bring a sack lunch each day. Stop by Leu Gardens or call the Education Department at 407.246.3621.

Popularity: 8% [?]