🌱 Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Reopening + New ICON Park Attractions Open + Blue-Green Algae

Welcome back, Orlando! It's Wednesday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in Orlando.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 82 Low: 64.

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Here are the top five stories in Orlando today:

1. Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will reopen on Sunday, January 2nd. The water park closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19. The reopening comes as Disney World celebrates its 50th Anniversary. (ABC Action News)

2. Two new thrill-seeking attractions, Orlando Slingshot and Orlando Free Fall, opened at ICON Park near International Drive on Tuesday. Tickets for Orlando Slingshot will be $30, while tickets for Orlando Free Fall will be $12. (Spectrum News 13)

3. Central Florida health officials issued a blue-green algae bloom alert in Orlando's Lake Estelle on Tuesday. Residents should not drink, swim, or enter the water where there is a visible bloom. Pets should also be kept away from the water. (WESH)

4. A local police officer in Brevard County was killed in a motorcycle crash early Monday, the Indian Harbour Beach Police Department said. 24-year-old Officer Madison Merritt struck a concrete barrier wall and was ejected from her motorcycle. (WFTV)

5. Florida has seen a 127.8% increase in hospitalizations of children with COVID-19 week-over-week, according to the CDC. Pediatric hospitalizations for COVID are increasing nationwide. There's a higher increase in hospitalizations of children in Florida compared to other age groups. (Florida Patch)

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Today in Orlando:

• CHEEZ-IT® Bowl Parade of Bands at Camping World Stadium. (11:00 AM)
• Ivey Lane Neighborhood Center Mobile COVID-19 Vaccine Site. (3:00 PM)
• Kids Yoga at Maitland Community Park. (3:30 PM)
• Festive Films: Snow Dogs at Boxi Park Lake Nona. (6:00 PM)
• Game Night at Rock Pit Brewing. (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Dragons & Fairies is coming soon to Harry P. Leu Gardens. Guests will be lead by a fanciful fairy through the gardens, to experience forest creatures and life-size dragons. (Facebook)
• City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is encouraging residents to get their booster shots for COVID-19 if they haven't done so yet. (Twitter)
• Orange County leaders say demand for COVID tests is outstripping supply as record numbers of cases caused by the Omicron variant collide with holiday gatherings. The county will open more testing sites in response. (WMFE)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Carlos Hernandez

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.