What a busy month March has been for the parks with multiple openings of long finished attractions and sell-out Spring Break crowds. All Disney World main parks were completely reserved for the week of 14-19 March. If you didn’t have a reservation in advance you couldn’t just walk up and gain entry even if you had a theme park ticket.
Apologies for the lack of a table of contents this month. I will look to get one added as soon as I can fix some minor technical problems.
Disney World March 2022 News
In a small change to the restrictions, Disney now says that masks must be worn only while on Disney transportation such as buses and Monorail. This is in line with the federal face-covering policy and will likely remain in place until it is removed.
Minnie Vans Returning This Summer
Disney’s ride-sharing partnership with Lyft, the Minnie Vans, are being brought back into service soon.
The service competes with rideshare systems such as Uber and offers guests a Disney way of getting around the magic if you don’t want to wait for a bus or the Skyliner is rammed.
Minnie Vans can get you around Disney World quicker than other types of Disney transport but past complaints said they were as hard to come by as a walk on bus service at popular times such as park opening and closing.
Guardians Of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Preview
Disney shared another short video of the Guardians Of The Galaxy Cosmic Rewind attraction. Our presenter for this Instagram video is Liz Diaz, Senior Ride Development Engineer for the brand new attraction.
The video gives little away about the ride but we do get our first actual look at the load station with ride cars moving in the background.
We can also see that the theming of the attraction’s load area is consistent with images released during its early development with the team going for a gritty industrial vibe.
When it opens in a few short weeks Guardians Of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the longest enclosed roller coaster in the world with a rumoured 1600 feet, or roughly 1 mile, of track. Disney confirmed in a separate post that the height restriction for this new attraction will be 42″ putting it between Thunder Mountain (40″) and Expedition Everest (44″).
Character Meet & Greets Will Return
During Morgan Stanley’s 2022 Technology Media & Telecom Conference, Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy confirmed that traditional character meet & greet interactions would be returning to Disney World and Disneyland “soon”.
Since the parks reopened after the initial COVID shutdown character meet & greets have been renamed Character Sightings. The experience has gradually been returning to normal. You can get photos with your favourite characters but autographs and up-close interactions have been banned since the parks reopened.
Now that fireworks have returned to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT plus Magic Kingdom has its daytime parade back on the schedule, traditional character meet & greet opportunities are the one gaping hole left that people expect from a Disney holiday.
Disney Announces Full Capacity Will Never Return
At the same Morgan Stanley Technology Conference, Christine McCarthy also stated that Disney is now looking more at the guest experience than their bottom line. She was quoted as saying that Disney Park’s capacities will never return to pre-pandemic levels as they do “not want to have the parks bursting at the seams”. Tell that to recent capacity crowds waiting in line over 3 hours for their favourite attractions.
On the face of it, this may be good news but you need to remember that Disney’s capacities and that of theme parks closer to us are vastly different. Disney never releases actual attendance levels but it is estimated that Magic Kingdom alone has a daily capacity of between 85,000 and 100,000 guests. For a 142 acre park that’s a staggering number of people on any given day.
What this does highlight is the importance of getting your park reservations in as early as possible. Disney recommends you do it as soon as you receive your tickets and activate them on your My Disney Experience account.
Park reservations are one of the more controversial hangovers from COVID but Disney clearly sees the benefits outweigh guest dissatisfaction with the service as it allows them to move operating budgets to where they are most needed. Park reservations are currently active until 2024 but I think you will see park reservations here to stay for the longer term. You may just need to adjust to the fact that a little spontaneity may have to be sacrificed on your next Disney World trip.
Disney Shares Tron Lightcycle Run Updates
Disney Imagineering has shared 2 brief looks at the construction progress of the Tron Lightcycle Run roller coaster in Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Work has been progressing slowly on the canopy exterior for months now. Assistant Construction Manager Angela Wu takes us on a brief walk around the exterior of the Tron construction area.
Work has likely progressed more quickly on the outside portion of the attraction than inside which reportedly still has quite a way to go. The exterior section has necessitated the closure of the popular Walt Disney Railroad which has been shut since December 2018.
In a separate post, Executive Ride Engineer Jerold Kaplan shares a look inside the maintenance bay as the trains are put together. He also explains the project is now moving onto phase 2. Over the next few months, visitors to the park will notice testing of the ride system going on as Disney gets ready to finally open this exciting attraction to the public.
Although Disney has yet to share an official opening date for Tron Lightcycle Run in the Magic Kingdom (spoiler; 2022 could be a push), Disney could be gearing up to get the Walt Disney Railroad back open for the busy summer period after an extended 3+ year closure. Watch this space for more info.
Mary Poppins Attraction On Hold Not Cancelled
According to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, EPCOT’S problematic and long in development Mary Poppins attraction for the UK pavilion is on hold and not cancelled.
When you visit the UK pavilion at EPCOT you get a sense of how small it is compared to other country showcases and there is a reason for that. Mary Poppins has been slated to appear here for years but the attraction in its many guises has never materialised. The space behind the UK pavilion is currently a corporate function area if/until Mary Poppins and the Cherry Tree Lane expansion finally gets the green light,
“Certainly, the Poppins project, which I was very excited about, has had to be put on hold for a while
Disney CEO, Bob Chapek
The current incarnation of the attraction was announced at the 2019 D23 EXPO and then promptly cancelled by Disney in July 2020 once the full impact of the COVID pandemic was becoming evident.
Whether we actually see the Mary Poppins attraction come to life or remain a fantasy in the minds of the Imagineers remains to be seen but Bob Chapek’s comments have left us with a grain of hope it could one day see the light of day.
“But you know, those are projects that we’ve got sort of in a holding pattern right now, and as our cash situation becomes a bit more robust and a little bit back to normal, in terms of our liquidity, we look forward to hopefully refunding those projects in the future.”
Disney CEO Bob Chapek answering questions on a Disney shareholders call, 9th March 2022
Disney Boardward Set for Multi-Year Enhancement Program
Disney has announced that the popular Deluxe level Boardward Inn and adjoining entertainment district are set for a multi-year overhaul that will bring new experiences and reinvigorate the area.
Disney’s Boardwalk is a turn of the century themed entertainment district in the EPCOT neighbourhood of Disney World. You don’t have to be staying at the adjoining Boardwalk Inn to enjoy the quarter-mile-long entertainment district. It’s easily walkable from EPCOT. Disney will be adding a new bakery and table service restaurant, The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers in 2023. An existing bakery will be turned into a sandwich shop and the Boardwalk Inn Resort will be getting a new lobby design and coffee shop as well as refreshed guest rooms.
If you are looking at staying at Disney’s Boardwalk please bear in mind that construction work may be noticeable during the day and some parts of the resort may be closed over the next couple of years as Disney works its magic.
Universal Orlando March 2022 News
Universal Increases Parking Charges
Currently, standard parking at Universal Orlando Resort is $27 per car per day. There is more than one option for how you park your car, though. Universal offers Prime Parking and Valet Parking options for higher prices.
Prime parking has increased from $50 to $60 per car per day. Prime Parking gets you a spot in the garage as close as possible to the Citywalk entrance, the closest you can actually get to the theme parks.
$60 may seem an awful lot just to park your car for the day but there are some pretty epic queues of cars trying to exit the garages come park closing times so some people see the price as worth paying.
Whenever I go I stay close to Universal and grab an Uber or Lyft but if you are looking to drive on your next Orlando trip Prime Parking may be something you would be willing to budget for.
Valet Parking and standard parking prices are remaining the same, it is only Prime Parking that has increased.
Universal Launches Discover Universal Trip Planning Hub
Universal Orlando has rebranded its blog Discover Universal. Universal is going big with digital content this year. As well as standard articles you expect to find on a theme park blog, through Discover Universal you can also find exclusive podcasts about what you can expect in the parks and resorts.
Already live is the “Ride Guys” podcast that delves into the attractions you can find throughout Universal Orlando. The “Discover Universal” podcast is a collection of tips, tricks and must-know information to get the best out of your stay.
There are 2 new podcasts starting in May. “Dine And Ride” will highlight the food and beverage options you can find throughout the resort while “Checked In” will take you on a tour of the resort’s 8 themed hotel lobbies, pools and amenities with a new hotel featuring every week.
Obviously, everything here is going to look amazing because it’s being paid for by Universal so keep an eye on my website for a more balanced view of all things Orlando, including Universal Orlando Resort.
Poseidon’s Fury Back Open
After an 18-month long closure, Poseidon’s Fury at Islands Of Adventure is once again back open. The special effects-laden walk through attraction is one of the more underrated attractions, in my opinion, especially for younger visitors.
Once the anchor of The Lost Continent, much of the land has been repurposed for Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. With Poseidon’s Fury sitting dormant and the Sinbad Stunt Show now lost forever, this area of the park was decidedly quiet save one of the best theme park restaurants anywhere in the world, Mythos.
On your next visit do yourself a favour and dare to set foot in the mysterious temple. You won’t be disappointed!
Halloween Horror Nights Dates & Prices Announced
We may only be in the early throws of spring but if you’re planning on visiting Universal for the world-famous Halloween horror nights later this year you may want to mark the following dates in your calendar.
- September: 2-4, 7-11, 15-18, 21-25, 28-30
- October: 1&2, 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-31
If you’re not planning on going to Horror Nights you may want to avoid these days the park hosting it will be closing probably around 5 pm or 6 pm giving you a shorter day in them.
This year’s event will feature 10 new houses, 5 scare zones and 2 shows. Prices range from $73.99 to $104.99 (plus tax) depending on the date you choose. Book your tickets on the Universal Orlando website.
Seaworld Parks March 2022 News
Reef Plunge Now Open At Seaworld Aquatica
March 13th marked the opening of the refreshed Dolphin Plunge headline attraction at Seaworld’s Aquatica water park, now called Reef Plunge.
As guests twist through 330 feet of new fibreglass tubing, some of it the latest in translucent flume technology, you will be surrounded by a vibrant array of marine life including Commerson’s Dolphins and Leopard Sharks as well as other cold-water fish.
The Reef Plunge update kicks off a great year for Aquatica, voted the US’s no 1 water park according to USA Today 10 Best Readers Poll.
Park President, Kyle Miller, announced the park will be getting numerous upgrades this year with multiple slides seeing minor updates, the addition of 1000 sun loungers and chairs and increased shade. There is also a new quick-service pizza delivery shack opening along with a new beach bar while the popular Banana Beach Cookout will receive an update.
Iron Gwazi Now Open At Busch Gardens
It’s been sitting idle but complete for months but Iron Gwazi has finally roared into life at Busch Gardens. Iron Gwazi ticks all the boxes you could want in a hybrid coaster. It is also one of the tallest and fastest hybrid coasters anywhere in the world.
Universal praise has been given to RMC, the specialists behind the rebuild of Gwazi. Some people even prefer it to Universal’s new Velocicoaster launched roller coaster.
After years of neglect, it’s fantastic to see Gwazi come back to life once more in this world-class coaster. If you’ve never had the opportunity to ride a hybrid roller coaster you’re in for a real treat next time you visit Busch Gardens.
Orlando Area March 2022 News
Orlando Airport Shines A Light On New Technology
I mentioned briefly the new Terminal C in my December update. Now new details have been shared by GOAA (Greater Orlando Aviation Authority) about the $2.8 billion, 1.6 million square foot building. Orlando International Airport consistently ranks among the US’ best airports for customer service. Terminal C takes customers journeys to the heart of its design and features a raft of new technology that will make passengers’ journey through the airport easier. Highlights of the new terminal include:
- Seamless low-touch environment
- Interactive touch screen displays in ticket halls
- Bluetooth wayfinding beacons that connect to smartphones for navigation and travel updates
- Several indoor spaces promoting sustainability
- An innovative skylight that produces dappled light
- Baggage carousels on the same level as arrival (I’m looking at you LAX!)
- The carousel has the ability to lift each piece of luggage
- Early bag robotic storage system with a capacity of 1800 bags
- Automated lanes for arrivals and departures
- Face recognition e-gates for boarding to streamline the boarding process
- RFID Tote Baggage Handling System that eliminated down time ith 100% bag tracking capability
Check out 2 new images below courtesy of Orlando International Airport to see how construction is on track.
“Some terminals are designed for airlines or aircraft. Orlando International Airport’s new Terminal C is designed for people,”
Bill Brooks, Senior Program Director Fentress Architects
AREA15 Coming To Orlando In 2024
The award-winning immersive themed attraction AREA15 has announced plans to expand with its second property opening in Orlando in 2024.
The highly themed sci-fi entertainment and retail destination opened its first location in Las Vegas in September 2020. In its first year of operation, the destination welcomed over 2 million visitors, not bad considering it is 1 mile from the world-renowned Strip.
The Orlando site will be just off I-4 south of Seaworld on a 17-acre plot of land. The building will encompass 300,000 square feet with 150,000 square feet of retail space alongside interactive art installations.
AREA15 is very difficult to describe so, if you’re interested, have a look at this Omega Mart video. Omega Mart is an interactive walkthrough art installation from interactive multimedia specialists, Meow Wolf, Las Vegas site’s anchor tenant. The video sums up the quirkiness of AREA15 that will instantly appeal to Orlando area visitors and will allow it to compete with some very large neighbours.
The Vegas Location has expanded quickly since opening and now offers 20 attractions and numerous retail experiences including Lost Spirits, a distillery set within a dreamlike collection of rooms. Journalists have described the new experience as “Willy Wonka for adults”.
With different vendors, you can expect Area15 Orlando to offer a different experience to the Las Vegas original and I can’t wait to see what they do with this unused plot of land.
“Sophisticated consumers are gravitating toward artful new forms of entertainment where the lines between commerce and the experience economy blur.”
Winston Fisher, Area 15 CEO
That’s it for another busy month of news updates. See you next month but in the meantime keep an eye out for my article about the various ways you can queue in Orlando’s theme parks. It is very close to going live.
