Bitesize Orlando June 2022 – Issue 12

Welcome to the 1st anniversary of Bitesize Orlando. A lot has happened in the theme parks over the last 12 months. Gradually the world is returning to normal and the theme parks in Orlando are starting to become more recognisable with most experiences returned.

Work is still feverishly underway on EPCOT’s transformation project. Over at the Epic Universe construction site, Universal’s new third gate opening in 2025, things are starting to go vertical. I haven’t covered much of the construction for either up until now because there wasn’t an awful lot to see beyond big holes and an awful lot of mud being pushed around. As we speed our way through 2022 you may be starting to look towards planning your next Orlando holiday and these 2 big projects are going to possibly form part of your plans. Expect to see more updates on these exciting projects as they progress over the next few months.

We are definitely entering the busy summer period. The parks are very busy and have extended their opening schedules. Disney’s Park Pass Reservations are starting to fill for July. If you are heading to Disney World over the next few weeks and you haven’t yet organised your Park Pass Reservations please do so urgently to avoid missing out.

Disney has revamped the scheduling on the Park Pass Reservation website now making it easier to see which park has availability on which days.

Website Updates

If you haven’t visited my website over the last week or so or missed my Facebook announcement last week you won’t have noticed that the redesign is now live. Hopefully, you like the more visual style and find it easier to read and navigate with the new menu structure.

You may also have noticed that links to external websites now open in a preview window which you can expand and then close without leaving the page you were on. This is a new integration I am testing out but it seems to be functioning well so should be here to stay. If you find this more of a distraction please let me know.

With the update live my time can now be spent creating content that makes your trips easier. I can also help you plan your perfect Orlando trip. Check out the new OPG Premium page for more information.

This update has already introduced 2 new pages for Seaworld Parks. You can find overviews of Aquatica, Seaworld’s water park and Discovery Cove, Seaworld’s all-inclusive day retreat.

The next pages to look out for are overview pages for Disney’s water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach which I will be working on over the next couple of months. I also want to get guides up about the Seaworld Parks Quick Queue option and Legoland’s limited Fastrack option. Look out for these in the coming weeks.

For now, let’s get on with the news…

Travel Advisory Update

For the past few weeks, the 2 counties that are home to Disney World, Orange County and Osceola County in Central Florida have been listed as in the low-risk COVID category.

Cases recently have spiked meaning the CDC has changed both counties grading to high-risk after a brief stint in the medium category.

In high category areas, people are advised to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status. No parks in Orlando are enforcing this rule though and it remains guidance. If you would like to be as prepared as possible for your trip, plus save some money on having to buy branded gear in the parks, you may want to pack some face masks just in case.

Bitesize Orlando News Headlines June 2022

“Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond” Now Open

We knew it was going to be opening soon but the premier of the reimagining of Animal Kingdom’s Finding Nemo The Musical show happened on 13th June. This new version of the show has also cut the running time from around 40 minutes to 25 minutes.

“Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond”, is now playing daily in the Theatre In The Wild in the Dinoland area of Animal Kingdom. You can also select a performance through Disney’s Genie+ service to avoid standing in a queue. Disney is listing 6 shows per day but from day 2 the first and last performances have been cancelled last minute. So far the show is listed as playing at the following times daily through mid-August:

• 10:30
• 11:30
• 12:30
• 14:30
• 15:30
• 16:30

Rumours about the cancellations range from poor attendance to sickness in the cast and crew. Disney has made no official announcement on the shortened schedule. For now, if you want to see this show make sure you don’t wait for the last show of the day, just in case.

Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond isn’t the only new experience at Animal Kingdom. Starting from 19th June The Adventurers Outpost is back open offering guests a chance to meet and greet some of their favourite Disney Pals. This is the first time this experience has been open since the pandemic. It used to host Mickey and Minnie but the announcement could mean more options are coming to this area.

If getting an autograph is high on your priorities this experience has also been added back into the Disney Genie+ service. It’s a popular area so, if you have Genie+ I would recommend you book a slot here when you know who is appearing as it can change daily.

Pirate Rooms Phased Out At Caribbean Beach Resort

Starting next year one of the more quirky features of a stay in Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be no more.

Disney has confirmed that the pirate rooms are being phased out from 2023. The rooms come adorned with nautical-themed furniture and carpets. Disney is yet to confirm an official date by which all the rooms will be phased out, nor what will replace them.

Splash Mountain Retheme To Open In 2024

It’s been many months since Disney announced a retheme of Magic Kingdom and Disneyland’s popular Splash Mountain flume attractions.

Thanks to an interview by the lead Imagineer on the project, Charita Carter with Essence we now know the retheme will open in 2024 although no closing date has been set.

There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes about getting the story and theme just right. As well as being themed to the Princess And The Frog, the new version of Splash Mountain will be a love letter to New Orleans where the movie is based.

It’s hard work. And yes, I am nervous because I feel every day the weight of what it is that we are doing. But we have put together an amazing team of people. We are working with so many consultants and just really encouraging everybody who is touching this attraction to be curious and to be humble and be open to learning, expanding on ways that we can tell this story.

Lead Imagineer Charita Carter on bringing Princess Tiana to life in Disney’s Parks

Not many details of the story have been released but we do now know that it will be set after the events of the movie. More information is due to be released in the next couple of weeks so I should have more information to share next month.

The Splash Mountain ride is contained mostly in a cavernous show building backstage. What you can see “on-show” is only a tiny proportion of the ride. Although the ride system will not be getting replaced there is still a huge amount of work to bring Tiana to life once the current elements of Song Of The South are removed.

Now we know that 2024 is the targeted opening you should expect that for a large part of 2023 into 2024 you won’t be able to experience Splash Mountain in either Magic Kingdom or Disneyland.

Disney Minnie Van Service Now Back

29th June saw the return of Disney’s Minnie Vans. The service, operated by Disney but powered by Lyft, is designed as a replacement for the popular Uber ride-sharing app that a lot of people, including myself, use to get around Disney World.

Disney Minnie Vans are staffed by Disney Cast Members. The cost of your trip depends on the distance. Currently, they are only serving destinations within Disney World itself, no airport pickup is available despite it being there before Disney shuttered the service through the pandemic. Expect airport pickups to be reintroduced at some point.

If you would like to use Minnie Vans you need to download the Lyft app to your smartphone. The service operates from 0630 until 0030 daily but is subject to change. Each Minnie Van is equipped with 2 child seats making them perfect for families with small children. Each vehicle can accommodate up to 6 people.

If you have never used Lyft I recommend at least downloading the app before you leave the UK. When I am looking to get around Orlando, not just Disney World I always compare the cost of a ride with Uber and Lyft. Quite often in peak periods, you will find Lyft is just a shade cheaper than an Uber ride. As it’s not as popular as Uber you may also find you won’t have to wait as long for a pickup.

Disney Enchantment To Be Present Twice Nightly

For a very limited run from 14th July until 24th July, the Disney Enchantment fireworks extravaganza in Magic Kingdom will be presented twice. The first showing will be at 9 pm with a second presentation at 11 pm.

This coincides with peak summer footfall in Magic Kingdom before the US schools start returning to class for the Autumn term in August. If you are visiting Magic Kingdom between these dates you will have two chances to watch the show. Outside these dates, Disney Enchantment reverts back to one presentation nightly at 920 pm through July and August.

Terralina Offering Kids Cooking Classes This Summer

If you have any budding chefs popular Italian eatery Terralina Crafted Italian Kitchen in Disney Springs is offering a limited season of cooking classes showing kids 5 to 12 how to cook some of their favourite Italian dishes.

Places are limited and need to be booked in advance. The first session for pizza has already taken place. The next session covers ravioli while there is another opportunity for your budding chefs to try their hand at pizza-making on 21st August.

Each session costs a modest $30 per child who also receives a drink and a sundae to enjoy as well as a mini gift bag with an apron and chef’s hat to commemorate the start of their budding culinary career.

Tickets for ravioli making on 30th July can be booked using this link

Tickets for pizza making on 21st August can be booked using this link

Universal Orlando News June 2022

2 More Mazes Confirmed For Halloween Horror Nights!

It seems that barely a week goes by without some announcement or confirmation of Halloween Horror Nights appearing online. This month we have 2 official confirmations for the Houses. The first sees the return of Michael Myers – “the most-feared antagonist in horror movie history” who is returning to Halloween Horror nights on both US coasts later this year. For this year’s Halloween maze guests will be transported back to where it all started in Haddonfield, Illinois to relive the most chilling moments from the original Halloween film. I have embedded the short announcement video below.

Could it be a coincidence that the conclusion to the latest Halloween film trilogy is released in US theatres on the 14th of October? I think not!

Separately, Universal has also confirmed The Horrors Of Blumhouse maze featuring characters from “Freaky” and “The Black Phone”. The maze is currently under construction in the Fast And Furious: Supercharged queue building that remains partly closed. View the announcement video below.

These 2 mazes join the already confirmed Universal Monsters: Legends Collide house.

2 Brand New Escape Rooms Opening At Universal Citywalk

Universal has finally officially confirmed what has been speculated for the past few months. The site of the former Groove nightclub in Citywalk has been a hive of construction activity.

In a bid to appeal to more families, Citywalk is transitioning some former clubbing locations into more family-friendly entertainment. When construction walls suddenly appeared around The Groove in November 2021 it came as a bit of a surprise as it was one of the most popular nightspots in Citywalk prior to the pandemic.

This week, Universal confirmed the former nightclub will be home to 2 new escape rooms based on classic Universal movies; “Back To The Future” and “Jurassic World”, collectively they will be called Universal’s Great Movie Escape.

Universal also confirmed that the escape rooms are being designed by the same minds at Universal Creative that design the immersive haunted houses for their popular Haloween Horror Nights Celebrations.

Construction is ongoing and the rooms are scheduled to open sometime this autumn. Will you be able to escape a “multi-sensory room like no other”? You won’t have long to wait to find out.

Seaworld Orlando News July 2022

Free Beer Returns To Seaworld This Summer

Until 4th August any guest 21 years and over can enjoy one complimentary 7oz beer courtesy of the park.

Free beer is part of Seaworld And Busch Gardens’ history since their previous owner Anheuser Busch used to offer every visitor a free Anheuser Busch beer as a way of expanding the brand reach. It was a favourite part of my early Florida holidays.

Many people miss this little perk since Inbev took over Anheuser Busch and became ABInbev who then, eventually, sold the parks division which included Busch Gardens and Seaworld to Merlin Entertainments, owners of Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Legoland, Sea Life Centres and Madame Tussauds in the UK.

Anyone wanting a free sample please remember that licensing laws in the US are strict. Each state sets their official age for drinking. In Florida, the legal age is 21. No matter your age, if you want to buy alcohol, whether inside a theme park or elsewhere please remember to take a government-issued ID with you wherever you go. You will get asked at some point!

Free beer will be available from 1030am at the Waterway Grill Bar near Infinity Falls. Seaworld has also confirmed domestic and international beer will be rotated throughout the summer with beers including but not limited to the following breweries.

• Anheuser-Busch InBev
• Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co.
• JDUBS Brewery
• Sweetwater Cove

Seaworld Confirms its 7th Roller Coaster To Open In 2023

Not even a full month on from a teasing tweet Seaworld has officially confirmed that a 7th roller coaster is heading to the park in 2023 with the hashtag #HighSurfAdvisory.

Seaworld is now promoting itself as the “coaster capital of Orlando”. It has a way to go to beat sister park Busch Gardens to the Florida State title as Busch Gardens currently operates a whopping 10 roller coasters.

For any budding statistics fans out there, Disney World currently operates 8 roller coasters across 4 theme parks while Universal Orlando operates 9 across its 2 parks. No other single park in Orlando has as many roller coasters as Seaworld.

“Guests are invited to get ready to feel the power of the pacific right here in Florida, letting the waves propel them into a one-of-a-kind ocean adventure,”

Seaworld Press Release

Looking at the concept image released by Seaworld below and also this short promotional video it appears Seaworld is working with Bollinger And Mallibard once again, this time on a stand-up roller coaster.

In 2020 B&M filed a patent for a new restraint on a stand-up roller coaster. Expect the marketing for this new roller coaster to go into overdrive come spring. It’s been many years since a new stand-up roller coaster opened. Historically, stand-up roller coasters have not been known for their comfort compared to other B&M roller coasters.

You won’t have to wait for this new roller coaster to open to find out. Drayton Manor in Staffordshire operates “Shockwave”, Europe’s first stand-up roller coaster by B&M and one of only 2 such roller coasters still operating in Europe. The ride opened in 1994. I can’t say it’s my favourite roller coaster but the sensation you get riding a roller coaster while standing up is intriguing. If the new restraint system B&M has designed is a success could we see Shockwave cars retrofitted with the new restraints? Only time will tell.

Shockwave is a standard roller coaster design with stand-up restraints. The promotional video above quite clearly shows the coaster car being launched as well as the slogans “First Of Its Kind”, and “Let The Waves Propel You”, making Seaworld’s 7th roller coaster the world’s first launched stand-up roller coaster.

Orlando Area News July 2022

ICON Park Opens New Carousel

The Carousel on The Promenade recently opened featuring 30 figurines including horses, deer, zebra, sea dragons and more.

The carousel is the second attraction owned and operated by the ICON Park with the other one being the massive observation wheel. Other attractions at the site are owned and operated by outside companies. These include Sea Life Center and Museum Of Illusions plus Orlando Slingshot and Orlando Freefall thrill attractions.

Orland Freefall remains closed indefinitely after a teenager died after falling from the new attraction in March 2022. An investigation into the incident has highlighted manual changes that the ride owner, The SlingShot Group, made to the attraction after installation potentially making the ride unsafe.

The attraction will remain closed until the investigation reveals its findings and offers recommendations on how the attraction can operate safely. These will need to be implemented and the attraction will need to undergo another certification test before it will be able to open to the public again.

That’s it for another month. Have a great summer. I will be back at the end of August with another update.