Bitesize Orlando July 2022 – Issue 13

Welcome to your slightly early Bitesize Orlando for July 2022. I have a good reason for being slightly early with the update this month. As you read this I will be on my way to Orlando for my first visit since COVID shut Orlando and the world down. It is going to be great to see how the parks have adapted to the new normal, watch some new shows and experience several new attractions that were still being built on my last visit.

Website Updates

After a big project such as the website redesign that has consumed almost every spare moment for the first half of this year, it’s good to take a step back to regroup. I do have a plan for which articles to write while I am away which you will start to see over the coming months on the blog.

I have basic outlines for queue upgrade pages for Seaworld Parks and Legoland but most of this past month was taken up with refreshing my travel blog, Ytravelthere, which is now live. If you like a little adventure in your life why not check out some of my favourite places in the world when i’m not visiting Orlando. But that’s enough procrastinating, let’s get on with this month’s news.

Bitesize Orlando July 2022 Contents

Disney World News July 2022

Magnolia Golf Course Closed For Refurbishment

Disney’s popular 18-hole Magnolia Golf Course is now closed until later this year while upgrades are made to holes 14 through 17.

The holes are being redesigned in collaboration with Arnold Palmer Golf Management. The work is the most extensive taken out since the course opened and the first major renovation since 2015 when bunkers and cart paths were upgraded.

In addition to the extensive landscaping on holes 14 through 17 all the course’s 18 greens will be upgraded to provide a better putting experience.

“It will be amazing. The 15th (becoming) a big par 5; 16 is a long par 4 and they’ve brought in water perfectly,’’

2019 US Open Champion Gary Woodland on the Magnolia Course Reimagining

Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course is set to open later this year. No official opening date has been announced but when it is you will hear it here first.

Splash Mountain Reimagining Will Open In Late 2024

We still don’t know exactly when Splash mountain in either Magic Kingdom or Disneyland will close but Disney has confirmed that they will both reopen sometime in late 2024 as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It will be the first attraction based on, “The Princess And The Frog”.

Splash Mountain is a beloved ride by anyone that has ridden it but the problematic theming and links to Song Of The South, a Disney movie made at a different time for a different audience has caused problems for Disney. Good luck even trying to find an official stream of, “Song Of The South” since Disney has effectively disowned the movie.

The ride system will remain identical but the existing sets will be ripped out of the assive show building, replaced and likely upgraded. The reimagining was first announced in 2020 but Imagineers have been working on it since 2019.

We know that the attraction will pick up after the events of the movie, released in 2009, as we follow Princess Tiana, Naveen and Louis the Alligator on a musical adventure as they prepare for their first ever Mardi Gras performance.

With a late 2024 opening now confirmed, your time to ride the original iteration is fast running out. Work on Tron is ongoing in Magic Kingdom while Disneyland is putting the finishing touches to its own clone of Mickey And Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction, 2022 likely looks safe. Once these 2 headline attractions open expect Splash Mountain to close soon after for the reimaging to begin.

Disney Completes Lineup for 2022 Eat To The Beat Concert Series

We now have a complete list of bands for EPCOT’s Eat To The Beat Concert Series. The complete lineup is below. If you are in the area and want to book a spot head over to the TaseEPCOT website to book your dining package.

A Frozen Singalong Celebration Closing For Refurb

Between 22nd August and 16th September, “For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Singalong Celebration at Hollywood Studios will be closed for refurbishment with performances resuming on the 17th of September.

On a side note, if you are visiting Hollywood Studios this Christmas, Disney has separately confirmed that Olaf will bring back his special holiday finale for the first time since the parks reopened from their enforced COVID shutdowns.

Magic Band+ Now Available In Disney World

Magic Band+ devices are now available to purchase throughout Dinsey World resort after being released on the 27th of July.

If you’re interested in owning one head to one of the following locations to pick one up:

• Magic Kingdom Park: Emporium  
• EPCOT: Pin Traders – Camera Center  
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Celebrity 5 & 10 and Tatooine Traders 
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Discovery Trading Company  
• Disney Springs: Disney’s Pin Traders  

Bands are also available in select retailers throughout Disney World’s Resort Hotels.

Find My Car Feature Added To My Disney Experience

Many first time visitors will feel the pain of not remembering where they parked their car after a busy day in Disney World’s parks.

Disney is combating this recurring problem by releasing an update to the My Disney Experience App that allows you to make a note of where you parked your car. To make use of this new location service you will need to make sure that you have enabled location, Bluetooth and notifications in your phone and app settings.

This handy service is available now (make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the My Disney Experience App) throughout Disney World.

Universal Orlando News July 2022

Wantilan Luau Returns To Universal Orlando

Popular dinner show, Wantilan Luau, has returned to the covered outdoor pavilion at Loews Royal Pacific Resort inside Universal Orlando Resort. It is the first time the show has returned to schedules following the enforced COVID shutdown.

The island-style party welcomes guests with pounding drum beats , traditional chants and live performances alongside a delicious Polynesian-inspired buffet including traditional pit roasted suckling pig, Hawaiian chicken teryiaki, catch of the day, lomi lomi chicken salad and a number of vegan and vegetarian dishes. The children’s menu includes pizza, chicken fingers, mac ‘n’ cheese, salad and fruit.

Tickets start at $89 ($39 for children age 3 to 9). If this sounds right up your alley, shows are presented every Saturday night at 6pm. You can book your tickets using this link.

Rock The Universe Confirmed For 2023

If you are looking to head to Universal Orlando early next year you may want to note that Rock The Universe, a popular Christian Rock Music Festival will be taking place on Music Plaza Stage and Hollywood Stage from the 27th – 29th of January.

On the event days, you should expect Universal Studios to close early before the separately ticketed event kicks off at 4 pm running right through until 1 am so fans can rock, ride and rejoice. If you are not interested in this event I would highly suggest that you avoid Universal Studios Florida park for this weekend.

As well as performances from some of Christian Rocks most notable names there will be a special ceremony on the 28th of January and a Sunday morning worship service as well as a dedicated fan zone hosted by Coca-Cola.

If this sound like a lot of fun keep an eye on RocktheUniverse.com for tickets and band info when they are released later this year.

Busch Gardens News July 2022

Busch Gardens Confirms First Howl-O-Scream Maze For 2022

Not all Halloween festivities happen at Universal Orlando. Busch Gardens has confirmed their first maze for 2022 will be a returning favourite. Witch Of The Woods haunted house dares visitors to venture into a dark forest where “bone-chilling stories and dying screams” are the only things that make it out, will be returning in 2022. Check out the short promo below.

Originally one of 3 new mazes announced for Busch Gardens’ popular Howl-O-Scream celebration last year, Witch Of The Woods is the first confirmed maze this year.

Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event running on select nights from 9th September to 31st October 2022. Keep an eye on my blog fo rmore Howl-O-Scream information as it is released.

Legoland Florida News July 2022

Pirate River Quest Opening 2nd November

Legoland Florida has announced that the Pirate River Quest is scheduled to open on 2nd November bringing to life an old area of Cypress Gardens’ waterways. As well as providing a new attraction for visitors, Pirate River Quest helps Legoland fulfil its commitment as part of its land lease, to reinvigorate and protect historic areas of former Cypress Gardens groves and waterways.

Pirate River Quest promises to sprinkle humour and more than a little adventure along the way with a rowdy lego pirate crew telling tales as you all embark on a quest to find long-lost hidden treasure.

Keep a look out for more “behind the brick” moments about the creation of this new attraction as we edge closer to the opening date. I have re-embedded the official trailer below in case you missed it the first time around.

Orlando Area news July 2022

Brightline Revises Routing Of New Central Florida Rail Extension

In a surprise bit of news, Intercity rail operator Brightline’s anticipated rail extension through Disney World has effectively been scrapped now a revised route has been worked out that rules a station on Disney property out of contention.

The newly revised route better serves the whole tourist corridor of International Drive, not just Disney so this is not all bad news.

The Orlando Business Journal broke the story on 27th June which was soon picked up by local media prompting a response from Disney.

“As many people who are involved in this project are aware, the new route configuration does not support a Disney Springs station, and as a result, we don’t anticipate being part of this project.”

Disney Spokesperson Avery Maehrer

The news of the redesigned route along 528 Beachline Expressway was welcomed by other area operators that were frustrated that the original route included Disney but didn’t allow for other local businesses to benefit.

Although Disney has effectively ruled themselves out of the running for the revised extension there will still be a station near Disney Springs, just not on land owned by Disney World. Another station will be placed near the Orlando Convention Centre close to the heart of the International Drive corridor. The three integrated stations (remember another will be at the Orlando International Airport) will serve the largest economic and employment centres in central Florida.

Crucially, the redesign has gained the approval of Universal Orlando Resort which is busy building its third main gate, Epic Universe, just north of the new Convention Center Terminal, which is due to open in 2025.

This revision has pushed the timeline of the project back as work will not now begin until 2024 at the earliest. Brightline estimates that the initial OIA to International Drive extension will start work in the first quarter of 2024 while the remaining 85 miles on to Tampa should begin in the second quarter of 2024.

OIA Terminal C Airlines Announced

As we edge closer to Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C entering operation more snippets of information are dripping out. This month the airport released the initial 11 airlines that will be moving into the new terminal when it finally opens.

British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iceland Air and Jet Blue have been announced along with several other carriers that won’t serve British routes into Orlando’s new gateway terminal.

If you fly one of these airlines over the coming months you can expect them to move into their new home in September when Terminal C officially opens to the public.

ICON Park Closes New Bullseye Blast Game After Backlash

Its been open barely a month but ICON Park has chosen to withdraw the Bullseye Blast interactive target game following a backlash around similarities of the game to recent and historic deadly incidents involving guns.

Target-based interactive games are not uncommon but you are usually aiming at inanimate targets in a scene. ICON Park’s version had visitors pointing gun-like shooting devices down towards non-players on the ground from the giant observation wheel pods while they were searching for targets dotted throughout the area. It is this that many see as insensitive in an area that has seen numerous deadly shootings in the past.

Bullseye Blast cost $5.95 + tax on top of the general admission to The Wheel. It was the first interactive game to be installed on a giant observation wheel anywhere in the world. The game will remain on pause until ICON park and their vendor for this experience can come up with a shooting device that doesn’t offend but offers the same level of enjoyment the original game had.

That’s it for this month’s news bites. I need to dash as I have a flight to catch and a date with some new Disney, Universal and Seaworld rides

Keep a look out on my Facebook page and be sure to add my brand new Instagram page to your favourites. I will be posting some of my favourite photos over the next 2 weeks on both pages.