Bitesize Orlando October 2021 – Issue 4

Things are starting to get back on track around the parks before the US begins welcoming international visitors once again in a few short days. Now that Halloween celebrations are nearly behind us it’s time to start looking forward to Christmas and beyond with this month’s collection of news tidbits.

Before we get to the local news, first some website news. The park overview sections now have all the attractions added. If you want to see exactly what attractions each park has scroll to the bottom of the park overview page and click on which type of attractions you are interested in. Attractions are split into 6 types for each park:

• Roller Coasters
• Thrill Rides
• Water Rides
• Dark Rides
• Childrens Rides
• Shows

If there are any of those attraction types in the park you will see them all listed on another page with vital stats like length, type and height restrictions. Not all parks have a certain type of attraction though and some attractions could be classed as more than one type but they are only listed the once.

Next up is to create a page for every main attraction in each park with detailed stats, interesting trivia, photos and videos. This is a huge undertaking and will take a lot of time. I am currently exploring the best way to achieve this.

If you have heard about Disney’s new planning service but are left a little perplexed by the complexity of it you’re not on your own. My complete Disney Genie & Lightning Lane guide has already had 3 updates and I am working on the 4th. If you want to know all about this new service, including how it can benefit you and how much it will cost this is the best page to bookmark.

There is a lot of news this month so I have redesigned the table of contents to be easier to read while taking up less space and I will use this format going forward for future newsletters. You will also see some small formatting changes starting this month to make the content easier for you to scan. As always hit the links below if you’re short on time or read from top to bottom.

Disney continues to progress slowly with construction in EPCOT whilst rolling out new experiences now that the official 50th Anniversary of the resort is underway for the next 17 months from when you read this article.

Magic Band 2.0 in 2022!

The first big news to break courtesy of Disney this month was a brand new Magic Band being released early next year with upgraded functionality. Just as the Magic Band craze was beginning to look over Disney has revived the line with a new look and new tech to keep Disneyana collectors clamouring for more.

The original Magic Band was introduced in 2013, back when NFT was yet to find its way into our phones. Their popularity and that of the designer straps took Disney a little by surprise. Not one to pass up a merchandising opportunity, Disney has expanded the Magic Band line into a category all its own in the years since.

Disney stopped providing free Magic Bands to resort guests in 2021 citing the popularity of the My Disney Experience app on mobile phones but they continue to be sold in parks for the modest sum of around $15. Disney even has the MagicMobile service that extends the features of your Magic Band to smart devices.

Magic Band 2.0, or Magic Band+, will expand the ways you can engage with Disney moments inside the parks. Magic Band+ will:

• Allow you to interact with “Disney Fab 50 Golden Character Collection” Statues dotted throughout the parks for the duration of the 50th-anniversary celebrations.
• Play like a bounty hunter in a galaxy far far away by finding virtual bounties throughout the Blackspire Outpost in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge section of Hollywood Studios theme park.
• Experience nighttime spectaculars in a new way when your Magic Band+ lights up in conjunction with the action happening around you during the “Harmonious” fireworks celebration at EPCOT and “Disney Enchantment” fireworks in the Magic Kingdom.

So, do you really need a Magic Band for your trip? No, but they do make things more convenient while you are there. If you stay in a Disney hotel you can use them to unlock your room and get into the parks. You can link your card and make payments throughout the resort with a flick of your wrist. Yes, Disney are so good at making us pay, we are even willing to pay for a device that makes it even easier to give Disney more of our cash?!

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Maiden Voyage

The long-delayed 2-day Galactic Starcruiser boutique hotel experience is now taking reservations for stays from 1st March 2022. Despite the eye-watering price of your 2-day trip the first “cruise” and many other dates are already sold out.

This was even before the general booking window opened on 28th October. Disney Imagineers recently sat down for a round table discussion about Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser which you can see below. If you want more information or would like to book a stay yourself you can do so now at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/star-wars-galactic-starcruiser/overview/.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Cosmic Rewind Confirmed in 2022

One of EPCOT’s mega-budget attractions has been confirmed to open in 2022 by Disney. Guardians Of The Galaxy Cosmic Rewind has been under construction in the former Univer Of Energy pavilion for the last couple of years. When it opens, Guardians Of The Galaxy Cosmic Rewind will be one of the largest enclosed roller coasters in the world. It will also introduce us to a new concept of roller coaster, the “storycoaster”.

Telling a story on a roller coaster isn’t new. Universal has been doing it for nearly 20 years with Revenge Of The Mummy: The Ride, but the scale of this attraction is unlike anything else in the world right now. The concept is a 21st-century take on old Disney technology, the Omnimover ride system. You can find it in use at numerous attractions including the Haunted Mansion. The ride cars in Cosmic Rewind have the ability to rotate 360 degrees at any given time allowing Disney to direct our sightlines to parts of the ride they would like us to see. Being able to control which way a roller coaster cars at any given point is a first for any roller coaster. Until now spinning rollercoasters use speed, incline and gravity to make the cars spin freely on one axis. This ride is going to be epic in scale and popularity when it opens.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Cosmic Rewind is the same basic principle on roller coaster tracks. At set points within the ride, the cars will rotate to the action giving Disney the unique ability to tell a story on a high-speed thrill ride. The actual specifications of the ride are still unknown but Disney does say that it is a family orientated coaster. Ride car photos confirm there are no overhead restraints likely removing the chance of any inversions. But there will be a reverse launch section, the first instance on any Disney roller coaster worldwide.

As work progresses inside the massive show building, Guradians director James Gun. took to twitter to confirm that principle actors are filming segments for the new attraction at the moment.

Yep. That we HAVE started shooting. https://t.co/WLNQPr1YoU

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) October 19, 2021

The Universe Of Energy pavilion has officially been rechristened the Wonders Of Xandar pavilion, EPCOT’s first “other-world” pavilion. Guests will be able to take off on an intergalactic chase through space and time when the attraction opens next year.

More Disney Entertainment Returns!

Disney has confirmed that fan favourite meet and greets will be returning soon almost 2 years since COVID forced Disney to stop offering them.

There are still some changes that you need to be aware of though! Autographs are still not permitted. You will, however, have the opportunity to get a photo with your favourite character in a themed setting while maintaining a healthy 2-meter distance. It’s not quite the Disney meet-and-greet experience we were all hoping would return but it’s nice Disney has found a way to bring more magic back to the resorts.

There is still no official word on when Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios will return, but fan-favourite Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular will finally return on 19th December. The epic stunt show also joins numerous smaller, but no less important, presentations and experiences returning to the resort from November.

Princesses are returning to Princess Fairy Tale Hall while Mickey Mouse once again hangs out backstage at the Town Square Theatre in his new EARidescent look. Minnie Mouse rejoins “Red Carpet Dreams” and Disney Junior stars return to Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios. Performers have also returned to the waterfront at the Boardwalk Resort and numerous spots in EPCOT and Animal Kingdom.

It may still be Disney-lite, but these small additions mean that normality is gradually, very gradually, returning to the resort.

Disney Genie And Lightning Lane Now Live

By the time you read this Disney’s controversial new day planning service will have been live for 10 days so what are some of the takeaways about this new service?

Genie+ costs $15 per day (plus state tax taking it to $15.98) and that cost is best translated into value within the Magic Kingdom that can have some of the longest wait times. It also has the most Genie+ attractions available to select from any Disney Park spreading out the crowds wanting to use the service.

Popular rides at any park get booked up quickly meaning you need to be on the app from 7 am for the most popular to be in with a chance of snagging that pass. Don’t forget that rides that may have sold out of passes earlier in the day may get extra availability later on so you need to keep checking the app. Star Wars: Rise Of The Resistance remains the single most popular attraction. It is regularly selling out of Individual Lightning Lane passes within the first hour of Hollywood Studios opening.

Remember, if you are planning on using this new service you will get more out of it if you spend a little time telling it what you are interested in doing. It takes these preferences into account when building your day.

New System Glitches & Workarounds

There’s no doubt that Genie is smart but its not without it’s quirks. It doesn’t remember what you have already ridden and can suggest the same attraction over and over. You can, of course, manually get rid of that but it would be nice to be able to tell the system you’ve already ridden it to stop these suggestions.

If you want to book an individual Lightning Lane in another park using the park hopper feature you have to search for the attraction first. It won’t show up on your tip or my day boards. Hopefully, Disney is already at work ironing out these minor glitches.

Although not official, it is possible to hold more than one Genie+ reservation at once. Your first reservation can be made at 7am without being in the park. You are able to make another reservation 2 hours after the park opens no matter the return time for the first attraction reservation. Once you get in the queue for your first you can make another reservation immediately so it pays to try and get an early return time reservation for your first attraction. If you aren’t lucky enough to snag an early reservation, Genie+ is currently letting you make another reservation 2 hours after you made your last reservation as long as the return windows aren’t identical for each reservation. Whether this will be ironed out in future updates or if Disney will keep it in its current form remains to be seen. Despite what you read it is currently possible to hold more than one Genie+ reservation at once.

If you change your mind about a reservation or your plans change you cannot edit a Genie+ reservation but you can cancel it and rebook depending on availability. Individual Lightning Lane passes cannot be cancelled or refunded once purchased.

Improvements

The app now lets you see forecasted wait times for attractions, it uses this information in planning your day. You can also see how long the virtual line is for attractions that have one. One disappointment over Fastpass+ is that you no longer have the ability to pick the time of your Genie+ selection. Once you click reserve you are given the next available time slot. Fastpass+ let you pick a time slot depending on availability. It would be nice if this feature could be somehow incorporated into Genie+.

The dining section is also an improvement. All eateries in your park are now listed in one place and you have an option to mobile order if it’s available. A great time saver if you want to eat at the usual times. You can also see and make dining reservations plus get an idea of how long it will take with estimated wait times.

Live Genie Observations

There is no doubt that, as a first iteration, this service has been impressively planned out. Clearly, an awful lot of work has gone into it and no other park app even comes close to what Disney has achieved with Genie.

I am all for making your day easier, but with recommendations being constantly updated the need to keep checking your phone could become more of a hindrance. Disneyland was built on the premise that it is for everyone but, extra costs aside, Genie could keep us more disconnected than ever. Thousands of us will be glued to our phone screens in the hopes of saving a few minutes instead of being able to be in the moment and enjoy what is right in front of us and that is a shame.

If you want to use Genie, and thousands of us will on a daily basis, please be my guest. Just don’t forget to keep a bit of spontaneity in your day because that is when we really appreciate how magical a place like Disney can be.

Universal Studios may have been gripped by Halloween Horror Nights terror for the last month but Universal is looking to the future with not one but 2 attraction closures announcements and a major refurbishment coming to the resort shortly after Christmas.

Shrek 4D To Close Permanently

It’s been entertaining families for the last 18 years but Shrek 4D will permanently close on 10th January 2022.

The announcement may have been sudden but the writing has been on the wall for a while. It’s been over a decade since Shrek’s last big-screen foray. Although rumours of a fifth instalment surfaced in 2017 for a reputed 2020 release, nothing has been heard since.

Shred 4D is a 3D theatre attraction with some 4D elements. A Secret Life Of Pets attraction sounds ideal for Orlando but the space needed for this attraction likely wouldn’t fit into the area that Shrek 4D currently resides in.

Noted Orlando blogger Alicia Stella of Orlando Parkstop counters these fan hopes with rumours of a companion attraction to Despicable Me Minion mayhem opposite.

If the rumours do come true we could see an interactive exhibit based around the Villian-Con convention in the move take over the former Shrek 4D show building. First, we will have to wait for an official announcement from Universal about a permanent replacement for Shrek 4D.

Fear Factor Live Finally Retired

Never quite living up to the popularity of the previous stunt show, The Wild, Wild, Wild West Stunt Show, Fear Factor Live debuted to audiences in 2005. The show format was taken from the popular but short-lived TV series of the same name. The show has remained closed since the initial COVID outbreak in 2020.

In between sporadic performances, the theatre has largely been used for storage. Rumours, again surfaced by Alicia, point to this area being swallowed up by an extension of the Wizarding World next door. Possibly adding a VR Broomstick attraction originally slated for the now delayed Epic Universe. If this rumour is true what will the E-Ticket attraction be in the rumoured Fantastic Beasts area of the new park?

Revenge Of The Mummy: The Ride Refurbishment

After nearly 20 years of faithful service, it is time for Revenge Of The Mummy: The Ride to receive some TLC. This will likely be in the same vein as the Incredible Hulk. The attraction debuted in May 2004 to great acclaim. Even to this day, in my opinion, it is one of the finest family roller coasters around.

Mardi Gras 2022 Dates Announced

Universal has confirmed that the popular Mardi Gras celebrations will be returning to Universal Studios Florida on select nights this coming February, March & April.

Mardi Gras remains included in your normal park admission meaning you get longer days in the parks and the celebrated nighttime parade and live concerts (guests still to be announced). The park and resort hotels also have authentic Cajun-style cuisine and food inspired by flavours from around the world.

This is one parade that actually outdoes Disney. Vibrant colours and music fill the air, the party atmosphere is electric and this family-friendly event is always popular. If you plan on visiting around the time it is on you really should try and make one visit to the parade. It is the next most popular time to visit Universal outside of Christmas and Halloween.

If you want to keep up to date, Universal has updated their Mardi Gras section with 2022 details.

Top Tip When Visiting During Mardi Gras

With extended opening hours and attractions running into the night, park opening to early afternoon is often a quiet time to visit on parade days. If you are staying near you could make the most of this for maximum ride time before heading back to the hotel for a couple of hours, returning for dinner and evening festivities.

Seaworld’s inaugural “Howl-O-Scream” Halloween event, ported from sister park Busch Gardens, has proved so popular it is already confirmed to be returning in 2022.

Fear not, Howl O Scream at Seaworld looks set to become a permanent fixture on the already packed Orlando Halloween calendar. This year’s modest 6 haunts and 4 scare zones will likely be improved and added to for next year.

There wasn’t much point in covering Halloween news this year seeing as UK visitors are barred from entering the US until after this years events all ended. With travel opening up once more I will be covering a lot more of the Halloween news as it is released so you won’t miss out on any important information ahead of 2022’s events at Seaworld and Universal as well as more light-hearted affairs in Disney World and Legoland.

Aquatica Re-Themes An Old Favourite Attraction

The former headline attraction at Aquatica, Dolphin Plunge will open in March as Reef Plunge. As well as a dynamic new habitat the slides will have a faster ending and a redesigned exit area.

Aquatica is also adding 1000 new sun loungers and chairs around the park and increasing the shade. They have also announced updates to 2 other slides, Omaka Rocka and KareKare Curl in the near future.

Adventure Island Opens New Thrill Slides In 2022

Busch Gardens water park, Adveture Island opposite the main park in Tampa Bay has announced 2 new slides opening in March 2022.

Rapids Racer uses 2 person rafts and low walls throughout 600ft of water fun as you race to beat your opponents to the bottom. Along the way race through high-speed tunnels and tight turns into the world’s first duelling saucers section before a thrilling splashdown.

Wahoo Remix, formerly Wahoo Run, adds synchronised light and sound elements to the already popular family raft slide experience. Through 600ft of slide once dark enclosed tunnels will now pulse with light.

“The all-new Rapids Racer and new enhancements to another fan-favorite attraction with Wahoo Remix will elevate the Adventure Island guest experience in an unprecedented way in 2022,”

Neal Thurman, Park President – Busch Gardens & Adventure Island

Halloween is more subdued at Legoland than at the other Orlando parks. With Halloween now behind us Legoland and other parks are looking towards Christmas but always with an eye on enticing us back next year.

Peppa Pig World Sets Opening Date

Work on the small Peppa Pig World has been progressing steadily throughout the pandemic. Legoland has set an opening date of 24th February 2022. You can already purchase tickets to the new gate.

New Attraction For 2022!

Set sail in 2022 with a crew of Lego pirates on captain’s orders to explore murky waters and bring back the treasure stolen by a group of mischievous monkeys.

The canals of Cypress Gardens used to be a huge draw. They opened in 1938 as the Electric Boats running up until Cypress Gardens eventually closed its doors for good in 2003. The new attraction will once again use the man-made canals of Cypress Gardens introducing a new generation to the beauty of the gardens.

This attraction is an important step in connecting the two disparate sections of Legoland. Legoland’s focus since it opened was to up the attraction count and draw more guests. The historic gardens have been maintained but not added to. Maintaining the gardens is part of Merlin’s agreement with the State of Florida that had purchased the Cypress Gardens land when the park shut in order to build Legoland in the first place. This attraction marks the first attempt to draw visitors to the historic section with a new story while clearing the canals that had seen decades of vegetation growth clog the once beautiful channels.

International Drive News

ICON park on International Drive, about 10 minutes from Universal Orlando has topped off what will be the worlds tallest drop tower. This thrilling addition will add a 430-foot free-fall tower with the ride cars tilting 30 degrees down before plummeting at up to 75mph.

Sister attraction, Orlando Slingshot is being constructed right next door. Twin 300-foot tall towers will launch riders 450 feet into the air. The two new attractions at ICON Park join Sea Life Centre Orlando, Madame Tussauds Orlando, the 400-foot tall Orlando Wheel and The StarFlyer. The complex has several restaurants and these new additions further cement ICON park as one of the leading entertainment districts along International Drive.

That about wraps up this months bumper news edition. I will be back next month with another news update but in the meantime keep an eye on the website for new additions.