The store is in the WoodyWoodpecker’s KidZone area, just before the longstanding E.T. Adventure ride.  The store sports a nautical theme, complete with giant anchor outside (with a sign that warns “Do not climb! Don’t even think about it, ya’ Scallywag!”)

Humorous signage and faux price tags dot the interior.

And the nautical theme continues upward.

Merchandise is predictably yellow and spongy but comes in many forms, including T-shirts, mugs, hats, flip-flops, banks, pins, plushes and other apparel.

Pineapple is plopped in the middle. Stand inside and hear dance music.

Near one check-out counter is a portrait of the employee of the month.

Or see the “real” thing in the meet-and-greet area in the front of the store.

Universal is prepped for a long line to meet SpongeBob.

Meanwhile, near the front of the park is a store called Super Silly Stuff, connected with the upcoming Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction that is scheduled to open this summer.

Above the door, a neon unicorn.

More yellow merch.

There’s also a selection of T’s and other items related to Gru from “Despicable Me,” including a scarf. Hey, it worked at Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Gated off still is the area that we’ll assume connects to the Mayhem attraction, where folks will disco dance with minions before, in grand theme-park tradition, exiting into the gift shop.

Minion stroller parking is ready and in use.

More minions have been added to the signage at the attraction’s entrance.

Moving back to the back of the park, it’s still jarring to see where Jaws and Amity once stood.  That section of the park is currently blocked off to guests, with dead ends on both the Disaster side and the Fear Factor Live / Men in Black side.  The structure in the foreground is one of three that supports the water curtains in the new nighttime show “Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular.”

Upon closer inspection, construction workers (and a diver, down by the yellow divider) were near the waterside on a recent visit.

The Jaws ride closed Jan. 2, and Universal has not announced what it’s planning for the space. In December, Universal Orlando announced that it would expand its Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction, but it did not say where, when or what would be involved. But staring over the water at the construction definitely gave me a flashback to the construction fo Three Broomsticks. Wizarding Worlds are now being planned for Universal parks in California and Japan.

+ On Thursday, Starship performs at the monthly Velvet Sessions at Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel. More info: www.velvetsessions.com.

+ Thursday is the final day for Snow White’s Scary Adventures at Magic Kingdom. The attraction, a part of Disney World’s opening day in 1971, will be transformed into a meet-and-greet area for assorted princesses next year.  Click here for more about Snow White’s Scary Adventures.

+ Star Wars Weekends continues at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This weekend’s visiting stars include Jake Lloyd (Anakin Skywalker, “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace), Silas Carson (Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi, “Phantom Menace”) and Catherine Taber (voice of Padme Amidala, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” animated TV series). More info: www.disneyworld.com/starwarsweekends.

+ Retro Game Night returns to the Orange County Regional History Center on Friday. Participants can play Battleship, Candy Land, Twister and more. Hours: 7 p.m.-11:59 p.m. for ages 18 and up. Admission is free for history center members, $5 for others. More info: www.thehistorycenter.org or 407-836-7010.

+ And Car Masters Weekend returns at Downtown Disney on Saturday and Sunday. On hand: More than 100 classic, muscle and exotic cars plus lots of “Cars” related elements, including topiaries. Visitors can buy tickets for an all-day “Cars” and “Cars 2″ marathon at the AMC Downtown Disney 24 theaters, and there will be guest appearances by auto designer Chip Foose and Disney-Pixar filmmaker Jay Ward.  More info: www.disneyworld.com/downtowndisney.

+  As part of Astronomy Month, NASA engineer Richard Johanboeke will speak about the Mars Science Laboratory at the Orlando Science Center at 2 p.m. Saturday.  At 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the science center will have a SunWatch,  which is a safe observation of our closest star. More info: www.osc.org or call 407-514-2000.

Universal’s Superstar Parade will wind through the streets of the Studios at 5 p.m. daily. The parade features floats dedicated to films and TV shows such as “Despicable Me,” “Hop,” “SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Dora the Explorer.”

Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular will start at 9 p.m. nightly, with some exceptions.  Universal says there will be no shows on June 2, Sept. 6-8, Nov. 10-11 and Nov. 15.

The show projects film clips from the past century of Universal films on high-tech water curtails flanked by fountain tricks and fireworks.

Returning for the summer at Universal Studios is Fear Factor Live with daily shows at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., according the Universal’s website.

Click here to check on showtimes at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, including the Blues Brothers show, Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, the Eighth Voyage of Sindbad stunt show and more.

College students, staff and faculty members can visit Aquatica one time — with up to six guests — for $29.99 per person. A valid college ID must be presented at time of purchase.

This offer is available at the front gate box office of Aquatica and only good on the day of purchase.

Regular price for a day at Aquatica is $49.99, although Florida residents can currently get deals at the water park’s website for $39.99,

For more information, go to www.aquaticabyseaworld.com.

All three types of Universal’s annual passes are eligible, ranging from $164.99 to $349.99. (Note: The least-expensive passes come with black-out dates.)

The offer much be purchased and activated by Aug. 31.

Universal recently added or upgraded some key attractions. At Islands of Adventure, the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride is now presented in high definition, and Universal Studios theme park now features Universal’s Superstar Parade and Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular, an end-of-night lagoon show with fireworks, fountain-based effects and movie clips.

Opening this summer at the Studios — Universal has not announced a more exact date yet – will be Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, a 3-D experience in which guests will undergo “minion training” and attend a dance party with the yellow, goggled creatures from the 2010 film.

For more information or to purchase annual passes, go to www.universalorlando.com.

But I did get the lay of the land and learn a little more about WhirlyBall.

WhirlyDome is located at 6464 International Drive, former site of Sports Dominator. It has a new color scheme, but the giant athlete still dominates the exterior. (Those are Magical Midway rides in the background.)

Almost immediately inside the front door is the WhirlyBall court. A game typically is two, five-member teams in “WhirlyBugs,” a sort of bumper car. More than a dozen windows surround the court, so spectators can see in. (The windows pictured here connect with the WhirlyDome’s Bloodhound Brew Pub & Eatery.)

There are red and yellow WhirlyBugs. Note the padded bumpers against the wall.

The scoop/racket for the game reminds me of a jai alai basket.

Bloodhound Brew Pub, on the south side of the ground floor, features a full bar, several televisions and lots of natural light.

On the north side of the ground floor is a virtual bowling alley, plus a Laser Frenzy game and a Formula One racing simulator.

Upstairs is another WhirlyBall court with a domed/sunlight feature. Umpires, which are provided by the attraction, are located up in a mezzanine (upper right corner of the photo).

Signage revealed some details about WhirlyBall. I liked this line: “The game of WhirlyBall is inherently dangerous and injury is possible even if all rules are followed.” Hooray for not sugar-coating it! For sure, there are several safety rules such as the seat belt must be fastened at all times, players are not allowed to use their hands to pick the ball off of the floor, one hand must always be on steering column and “do not drive full speed into the wall or other WhirlyBug.”  Breaking rules can result in points awarded to the other team.

Two points are normally scored by getting the ball throw the hole … Tosses from past half-court are awarded three points.

Click here for more information about WhirlyDome and WhirlyBall prices, hours of operation and more.

Folks wanting to participate must be at Legoland Florida’s main entrance at 9 a.m. Thursday. The first 400 guests will receive free admission  plus a free T-shirt and beach ball. The park, which opened in Winter Haven in October, will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “most beach balls in the air at one time.” The current mark is 400.

Participants will be allowed to stay in the water park and the rest of Legoland for the entire day. Note: No free admissions will be allowed after 9:30 a.m.

The water park — featuring a lazy river, slides, water playground and such — will be an area within Legoland Florida. Guests will pay an upcharge to enter. There will be no water-park-only ticket option.

Click here for more info about the Legoland Florida water park.

Skillet is one of the headlining acts of the Friday session of Rock the Universe at Universal Studios in September.

Tickets for Rock the Universe, the two-night Christian music festival at Universal Studios theme park, are now on sale. The event, which runs Sept. 7 and 8, offers several ticket options.

A one-night ticket costs $52.99 per person when purchased in advance, $60.99 when purchased day-of.

A two-night ticket runs $85.99 (advance and day-of).

The “Rock Your Weekend” ticket costs $109.99 and includes both nights of the event, access to the Sunday-morning worship service and all-day admission to Universal  Studios and Islands of Adventure for three days: Sept. 7-9. This option must be purchased by Aug. 31.

There are discounts available for annual passholders and groups.

Performers set for Friday, Sept. 7, are Skillet, Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, For King & Country, Family Force 5, Robert Pierre, Group 1 Crew, We As Human and Everfound.

The Saturday, Sept. 8, lineup includes Switchfoot, tobyMac, Relient K, Britt Nicole, Tenth Avenue North, Rhett Walker Band and Jason Castro plus Friday performers Group 1 Crew, We As Human and Everfound.

For tickets or more information, go to www.rocktheuniverse.com or call 1-866-788-4636.

Previously, guests had to choose between SeaWorld or Aquatica.

Amenities within Discovery Cove include full-day access to the Grand Reef’s snorkeling with rays and fish, 30-minute dolphin interactions, calm beaches and exotic birds plus two meals, snacks and beverages throughout the experience.

The attraction will add Freshwater Oasis, which will feature face-to-face encounters with otters and marmosets, at some point this summer.

A day at Discovery Cove costs between $319 and $359, depending on availability. A Florida resident discount offer kicks in Aug. 23, according to the website, providing Discovery Cove admission for $199.

For reservations or more information, go to www.discoverycove.com or call 1-877-434-7268.

Florida’s first WhirlyBall venue is now open to customers on International Drive. The WhirlyDome is in the renovated — and now two-story — Sports Dominator outlet.

WhirlyBall combines bumper cars, basketball and jai alai. It’s usually played with two five-member teams in WhirlyBugs. Organizers say it’s the “world’s first totally mechanized team sport.”

Pricing for WhirlyBall is $10 per player for 15 minutes, $20 for 30 minutes and $30 for 60 minutes. A court can be reserved for $250 for 60 minutes.

Folks without a full team can check in with an attendant, who fill games when enough players are on hand.

Umpires are provided. Players must be at least 12 years old and at least 54 inches tall.

Other activities within the 25,000-square-foot WhirlyDome building are laser tag, a Formula One racing simulator, billiards and arcade. There is no general admission fee. Guests pay for what they use. WhirlyDome is also home to Bloodhound Brew Pub & Eatery, a full-service restaurant and bar.

WhirlyDome is at 6464 International Drive and is open 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. Reservations can be made by calling 407-212-3030 or at the website (www.whirlydome.com)