Bitesize Orlando June 2023 – Issue 24

Welcome to the second anniversary of this newsletter! Now that I am back in the UK from my most recent visit to Florida I am back to my normal publishing time of the last day of the month.

I’ve got lots of new content in the works for you all to enjoy and to help you plan your perfect trip starting with another visual guide that should hopefully be ready soon. This time it is for Busch Gardens after my recent visit. I will let you know here when it is available.

There are lots of changes happening in and around Orlando at the minute not least with Universal’s newest theme park that has been under construction for a couple of years. I was fortunate to fly over the construction zone a couple of weeks back so I am looking at adding a page about Epic Universe after my Busch Gardens Visual guide goes live. Nothing more has been confirmed about Orlando’s biggest theme park, and the first new theme park gate to open in over 20 years, but I have been following the construction from a very early stage and have a pretty good idea of what you will find when it opens in summer 2025. Without further delay let’s get to the Bitesize Orlando June 2023 headlines.

Disney World News June 2023

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Reopens Early

Originally announced to be closed throughout the summer for a lengthy refurbishment, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith reopened at the end of May. Despite rumours about a retheme following allegations against Steven Tyler, the band’s singer, coupled with the licensing of the Aerosmith brand running out, they are still running those superstar limos, for now.

A new rumour has surfaced that a Muppets retheme of the attraction has been put forward but nothing has so far been greenlit. The refurbishment, which started on the 21st of February concentrated on general maintenance and upgrading the launch system that has been causing a lot of downtime recently after many years of service. Either way, it’s great to see one of Hollywood Studios’ marquee attractions back to thrilling guests.

2 More Offsite Hotels To Offer Early Entry

If you’re looking to save a little on the base cost of your trip offsite hotels are a popular option. Disney has some agreements with local hotels in the Lake Buena Vista area to extend the 30-minute early entry window to their guests.

The choice is about to increase with 2 more hotels signing up to the agreement that runs through the end of 2024. Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista have joined the growing list of hotels offering early entry that now numbers 42.

As a reminder every Disney hotel or DVC property, no matter what tier, will allow early theme park entry, now 30 minutes at any of the 4 standard theme parks (not water parks), not 1 hour in a chosen park per day. The offsite hotels offering this perk are currently:

• Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Hotel
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
• DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando
• Four Seasons Resort Orlando
• Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace
• Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista
• Holiday Inn Orlando
• Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort
• Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
• Wyndham Lake Buena Vista

If you are planning your 2024 trip its worth noting that the following hotels are currently only signed up until the end of 2023 but negotiations between the hotel operators and Disney are ongoing to be able to extend this perk for 2024 as well:

• B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista
• Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
• Waldorf Astoria Orlando
• Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista

New Christmas Event Announced For Hollywood Studios

Disney has announced a new Christmas event that will run on select nights at Hollywood Studios Jollywood Nights, is a separately ticketed event that will run on select nights from November 11th through to December 20th. The full list of event dates is as follows:

• Saturday, November 11
• Saturday, November 18
• Monday, November 20
• Monday, November 27
• Wednesday, November 29
• Monday, December 4
• Wednesday, December 6
• Saturday, December 16
• Monday, December 18
• Wednesday, December 20

The new event sees the return of the popular Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular as well as a jazz lounge at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant and bar. There is also a Latin street fair on Commissary Lane and the Theatre of The Stars has a holiday spectacular hosted by Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy.

The Hyperion Theatre hosts a “spirited singalong” based on, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. There will be different character meet and greets dotted around the park. For example, you can find Mickey in the Animation Courtyard, Powerline Max and Phineas & Ferb around Echo Lake or strike a pose with Edna Mode and her super friends in Pixar Place.

Some popular attractions will also be open late including Tower Of Terror, Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster and Star Wars: Rise Of The Resistance (you’ll still need to queue for this though virtually). Be aware though that the focus of Jollywood Nights is not the rides, it’s street entertainment and atmosphere so how long you will be queueing for the attractions that do remain open is uncertain.

One thing that may catch After Hours party enthusiasts off guard is Jollywood Nights is NOT being branded as an After Hours event. It is not expected to feature complimentary snacks and beverages like other After Hours events at other parks which offer unlimited ice cream novelties, popcorn and bottled beverages. Guests will be able to purchase speciality offerings designed just for the event.

General sale tickets for the new event range from $159 to $179 (plus tax) and go on sale on the 6th of July. Select Disney World Hotel guests (deluxe level) and Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin hotel guests can already purchase tickets.

The event will be starting at 8:30 but guests with tickets will be allowed in from 7 pm. Disney hasn’t announced when the park will close to non-ticket holders but it is expected to close around 7 or 7:30. If Fantasmic is a priority for you on your visit and if your visit falls on an even day you may want to think about rescheduling because only one showing of Fantasmic may be available with it will hit capacity very quickly.

BIG Change To Genie+ Pricing Now Live At Disney World

Genie+ has always been a polarising product. Previously called Fastpass+ it allows visitors to bypass the standard queue lines and enter a faster-moving line to visit attractions quicker and get more out of their day at Disney World’s 4 theme parks. Where Fastpass+ was a free service, Genie+ is chargeable.

It is currently only available on the day of your visit and prices are not released ahead of time making budgeting for your trip a challenge. Disney has previously shared that they are working on a way for guests to reserve some attractions ahead of their visit so that they can enjoy more of their day but on the 27th of June Disney quietly released another update to the service. A change that will likely not endear it to many of the visitors that feel forced to use it to make the most of their day.

Up until now pricing has been set across the board but fluctuated depending only on the day of your visit, no matter which park you want to visit. Let’s start with a paragraph from the official press release about Genie+’s latest update:

Beginning June 27, Guests at Walt Disney World will now purchase Disney Genie+ service based on how they want to visit. Guests will be able to select either a single-park option or a multiple-parks option, subject to availability.

Disney’s announcement of demand based pricing update to Genie+

Yes, you read that right. Disney is now charging Genie+ based not only on the date you visit but also now the park you want to visit. If you want to visit multiple parks on the same day you will pay more for the privilege. Below is a screenshot from the modified My Disney Experience app showing what the new pricing model will look like in practice.

The best use of Genie+ has always been Magic Kingdom as it has the largest selection of attractions but is also the busiest theme park in the world. Animal Kingdom and EPCOT don’t have as many attractions to choose from so the value of Genie+ in these parks is far less because attractions get reserved quicker and the new pricing structure will reflect this.

Expect that Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios will almost always be at a higher price than Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. The multiple parks option looks to match the highest price park but as we head into the busy summer period in Orlando you should expect that price to slowly creep up. I fully expect for Disney to charge more to visit multiple parks just like the price for Genie+ will likely creep above the current high of $35 per person per day on the busiest occasions.

Don’t be swayed by Disney’s marketing speak that this new change to Genie+ pricing will give flexibility and ultimately allow guests to customise their Disney World visit as they see fit. This is a Genie+ price increase in disguise. Genie+ is a hugely important metric for Disney’s financial reports as it increases the all-important metric of per-guest spending. This has nothing to do about offering you flexibility. It is all about increasing Disney’s bottom line while the perception (in EPCOT and especially Animal Kingdom) will be better value. There is also a degree of crowd redistribution to this decision. In lieu of any meaningful capacity increases (read new attractions) Disney has got to do something to increase attendance at Animal Kingdom and EPCOT at the expense of Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios which have both been creaking under the pressure of visitors.

Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party Dates Revealed For 2023

It seems as though people have been clamouring for details and dates for Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party since the event sold out last year. We now have those details.

In 2023 Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party will run on 25 select nights at Magic Kingdom:

• November 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30
• December: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22

If you are not going to be purchasing tickets to the event but are visiting during these dates please bear in mind that Magic Kingdom will close early on event days without a fireworks finale so you may need to amend your plans if fireworks are on your must-do list. If not, event days can actually be a little quieter in the Magic Kingdom making it a savvy choice to visit for shorter lines than usual.

If you are one of the many thousands of people that have been waiting for tickets to be released, your wait is almost over!

Prices for 2023 will range from $159 to $199 per adult and $149 to $189 per child (ages 3-9). If you are staying in a deluxe-level hotel or Walt Disney World Swan or Dolphin resorts you can purchase tickets now. General sale tickets will be live from the 6th of July.

Your ticket gains you late-night access to Magic Kingdom Park plus a selection of festive entertainment including:

• Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks
• Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
• Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show at the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland
• Disney Junior Jungle Jam in Storybook Circus
• Plus complimentary cookies and hot cocoa throughout the park

2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Attraction Lineup

Be under no illusion that despite the high price point these tickets are likely to sell out as it did in 2022 so if you want to visit Magic Kingdom in its full Christmas getup you will be best advised to book tickets as soon as you can to guarantee your entry after many people were left unhappy last year when the event sold out.

Tickets can be purchased direct from Disney or UK-based ticket agents with pricing in sterling.

Disney Dining Plan Costs & Overview

The popular Disney Dining Plan has finally made a return to Disneyworld but, unlike previous years, it is not part of the early booking promotion for 2024 holidays which still has Disney Dining Credit.

Despite my personal feeling about Dining Plan, it is a very popular pre-travel way for people to budget for food during their trip. Instead of a credit to be used as and when Disney Dining Plan allows either quick service or table service dining credits. They can be used at any time during your stay and in conjunction with the Dinsey Dining Credit promotion Disney has been running for new bookings for the past few months. I covered what’s changed with Disney Dining Plans in last month’s update but here is a quick overview of costs.

That’s a pretty serious price hike, especially for the standard dining package for an inferior product. Remember that both plans now only include 1 snack/beverage whereas there used to be 2 per day.

You can probably tell I am no fan of DDP but I do get that people want to pre-budget as much as possible and DDP provides convenience above all else, it certainly doesn’t provide value for money! Even 1 quick service meal per day is enough for me because the quality has reduced and there are only so many burgers and salads I can eat in a day.

Remember that Signature Fine DIning locations require 2 reservations, effectively doubling the cost. There is also a change to some Disney Character Dining locations. Previously only Cinderella’s Royal Table required 2 table service credits per person but that has been extended to Akershus and Storybook Dining meaning if you want to dine with Disney Princesses it’s now going to cost you two table service credits per person.

If you want to budget but baulk at the costs above set aside around $70 per day in a separate ‘pot’ on your travel money card. Many cards offer this service. Transfer the money over as and when needed for food, beverages and snacks/treats. You can eat what you want when you want and not feel pressured into eating to get value for your money.

Universal Orlando News June 2023

Illumination Avenue soft opens

Just after I returned home from my trip the construction walls that have been surrounding much of the facades along Production Avenue have been taken down giving us our first look at Illumination Avenue. The headline attraction, “Illumination’s Villain Con Minion Blast” is still being worked on but the “Evil Shop” gift shop is open.

Seaworld Orlando News June 2023

Seaworld Launches Ultimate VIP Tour

If you want to maximise your day at Seaworld they have just launched the Ultimate VIP private tour.

The 7-hour tour includes preferred parking, food and drink, reserved seating at all Seaworld’s shows and several unforgettable animal encounters. PhotoKey downloads are also included so Seaworld photographers will be on hand to snap pictures of your day.

Every tour is unique, tailored to what you want. Before you start you’ll head to the VIP concierge where you fine-tune your itinerary for the day.

The tour isn’t cheap. Prices start at $600 and don’t include park tickets but you will get an encounter with dolphins, sea lions and penguins plus a photo opportunity with a killer whale. Quick service lunch is included at a location of your choice and a dinner table will be reserved at Shark’s Underwater Grill. Unlimited non-alcoholic drinks are included throughout the day. You also get front-of-line access to all of Seaworld’s popular attractions to maximise your time.

To learn more and book your space head over the the Seaworld Orlando VIP Tour page.

Howl-O-Scream Dates & Prices Released For 2023

Like previous years the event will run on select nights from September 8th through to October 31st. It is a separately ticketed event so booking is advised if you would like to visit. The event runs from 7 pm until midnight.

In September the event runs Friday through Sunday nights. October adds in some Thursday nights as well as the Monday and Tuesday of Halloween week. The full dates of the event are.

• September: 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30
• October: 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

Ticket prices range from $37.99 (plus tax) up to $64.99 (plus tax) depending on the night you want to visit. Saturday nights are the most expensive but the event is still very competitively priced compared to Halloween Horror Nights up the road at Universal Studios.

Full details of the event will be released soon. To book tickets head to the Howl-O-Scream website or check with your UK ticket broker. I list many UK ticket brokers on my ticketing page.

Busch Gardens News 2023

New Scare Zone Announced For Howl-O-Scream

Over at Seaworld’s sister park, Busch Gardens in Tampa, their Howl-O-Scream event has just announced a new scare zone.

Sin City Zombies joins the park’s burgeoning list of scare zones and Haunted Houses at its popular Howl-O-Scream event. No haunted houses have so far been announced for this year but Sin City Zombies joins the previously announced “D.H. Bagger’s Circus of Fear” show that promises some terrifying circus characters.

Sand Serpent To Be Retired Permanently

After many years of service, Busch Gardens Sand Serpent (a wild maus-style coaster) will be retired very shortly. Its last day of operation will be Sunday the 9th of July next weekend.

Its retirement is part of the park’s plans for an expansion of the Pantopia area but nothing has been officially announced. Unlike Disney, Busch Gardens has a very speedy construction schedule so we could know a lot more about its replacement before the end of the year.

It’s always sad to see a ride be retired but Sand Serpent always seemed a temporary addition to the Pantopia area. Nothing particularly unique made it stand out amongst the crowd of the park’s 10 roller coasters. You could have ridden many roller coasters like it at other parks or seaside amusement parks around the world or even here in the UK. Hopefully, Busch Gardens is working on something fun and memorable to replace it.

Legoland Florida News June 2023

Legoland Florida Introduces First Ever Summer Block Party Event

Legoland’s summer celebrations start in earnest next week. From July the 2nd Legoland’s bricktastic fireworks return to end your day at Legoland with a bang.

From July the 5th until August the 13th they are joined by Legoland Florida’s new Summer Block Party event, included at no extra cost with your admission to the park.

The Summer Block Party kicks off the day with a brand-new opening celebration featuring performers and live music. Guests can participate in a giant American Lego brick flag build and a themed scavenger hunt throughout Miniland USA. A DJ Dance party kicks things up a notch in the afternoon.

During the event, there will be limited-time food and beverage options including the All-American Dog topped with pulled pork or a Backyard BBQ Brisket Sandwich complimented by a Star-Spangled Soft Serve dessert with Cherry Dole Soft Serve in a blue corn gluten-free cone with popping candy. Adults can also indulge in some beer or The Firework cocktail while the Sparkler mocktail is for everyone to enjoy.

The fireworks take place at 9 pm nightly on the shores of Lake Eloise. Don’t forget to grab a pair of viewing glasses to see the sky explode in colour and 3D Lego bricks! That’s something you don’t see at Disney!

Tickets to Legoland Florida can be purchased directly from the Legoland Florida website or by any number of authorised ticket agents in the UK before you head stateside. For a list of recommended ticket agents in the UK please visit my ticketing page.

Orlando Area News June 2023

Pirates Dinner Adventure Debuts New Limited Time Event

Pirates Dinner Adventure, now one of the longest-running dinner shows in Orlando has introduced a new limited-time “twist” to its popular flagship dinner experience.

Between now and the 4th of September the search for “The Lost Ruby” follows Mate Magee as he sets out on a worldwide quest to retrieve an heirloom of Captain Sebastian’s taking in Mexico, Brazil, China and Africa.

He has to hide it in the Pirates Marketplace where young adventurers can get in on the action by panning for the lost ruby to win a prize. During the event, the Pirates Dinner Adventure bar will also serve “ruby” elixir cocktails and mocktails.

If you’ve never visited Pirates Dinner Adventure it is situated on Carrier Drive, not far from Universal Orlando Resort. You won’t be able to miss the domed show building. Your ticket includes a 3-course meal including a choice of soup or salad to start. Entree is a choice of roasted chicken, pork loin, penne pasta, or chicken nuggets finished off with a chocolate brownie and unlimited soft drinks and coffee. Appetisers, alcoholic beverages and an upgraded entree menu choice are available at an extra cost.

The experience lasts around 90 minutes and it’s recommended you arrive 60-90 minutes prior to showtime to enjoy the marketplace and perhaps even become part of the show. Stick around for the Buccaneer Bash post-show for some dancing a meeting the characters.

That’s it for this month. Keep a look on the website for the Busch Gardens visual guide. My next visual guide with be “Orlando Paks From The Air” following my recent helicopter tour over Orlando. You won’t want to miss seeing the parks from the air, it gives you a whole new appreciation of how big Orlando’s theme parks are.

A little further ahead I will be doing a write-up on Universal Orlando’s newest gate, Epic Universe which is still on schedule to open in 2025. If you are just starting to plan your 2025 holiday you are not going to want to miss Epic Universe which is shaping up to be everything you would expect in the name. See you next month!