Welcome to a new monthly update about everything that has been happening in the theme parks in Orlando – collectively titled Bitesize Orlando.
My objective with this website is to not bog you down with too much information you may not necessarily want nor need. Keeping up to date with certain news tidbits makes your planning easier so each month Bitesize Orlando collects news from all over the web and condenses it into bite-size chunks for you to digest easily. Please feel free to read from start to finish or click a link below to be taken to your chosen article.
In the news this month:
- Latest Face Covering Guidelines
- Still No Fastpass+ Return At Disney World
- But Park Hopping Is Back!
- Fireworks Return
- Water Park News
- Epic Universe Back On Track
- Universal Looking To Stop Motion Sickness
- Universal Begins Rolling Out New Virtual Queue System
- Universal Dining Plan Discontinued
- Aquatica Takes Top Water Park Award
- Iron Gwazi Nearly Ready To Roar!
- Reservation Free Entry To Seaworld Parks
Latest Face Covering Guidelines
The situation in Florida is changing rapidly. After a month without mandatory face coverings inside buildings, the rules changed just as this issue was published. The CDC changed its advice regarding face coverings to fight record numbers of cases and hospitalisations in Florida over the weekend. These are the current guidelines for all parks in Orlando
Disney World – Face coverings are mandatory on Disney transport and while inside buildings no matter your vaccination status
Universal Orlando – Face coverings are encouraged indoors for all guests.
Seaworld Parks including Busch Gardens – Face coverings are once again recommended indoors for all guests.
Legoland Florida Resort – Face coverings no longer required for fully vaccinated guests
You are not required to provide proof of vaccination but you are expected to adhere to the restrictions in place. Of course, if you wish you can continue to wear face coverings wherever you want. Positive COVID cases in Florida are surging currently so these rules are subject to change at a moments notice.
Walt Disney World News July 2021
Disney has been slowly returning to normal this month. Along with increases in park capacity announcements at other Disney parks around the globe could have reverberating effects at Disney World in the near future.
Still No Fastpass+ Return
The glaring hole in Disney World’s lineup as parks gradually return to normal levels, is the absence of Fastpass+, Disney’s free queueing alternative.
Many a word has been spread about the positives and negatives of this near decade-old system. The fact it remains free leaves Disney World as a lone star now that most other Disney parks have adopted paid-for alternatives.
The latest to announce a paid-for alternative is Disneyland Paris which is replacing their Fastpass system with a new two-tier system. Disneyland Paris Standby Pass and Disney Premier Access.
Why should visitors care what system Disneyland Paris adopts?
The new system adopted by Disneyland Paris is the clearest indicator of the type of system that has been rumoured to be in the works for Disney World for many months.
Why should we accept the Disneyland Paris version as a direct replacement? Because it gives Disney World the best balance between the system they have been offering while also monetising it.
Key differences between Disney Premier Access and current Fastpass+
A standby queue would only be activated when the physical queue time reaches a certain milestone. The physical queue would close and access would only be available by getting a standby pass through the app or at a stall in the park. Currently, physical queues do not close. The standby pass doesn’t allow quicker access to the attraction, only access to the normal queue.
To gain faster access to the attraction requires the top tier, Premier Access, which could work much like the current Fastpass+ system granting access within a certain window to a quicker queue. Premier Access tickets are first-come, first-served. They are not pre-bookable. Only one pass will be given at a time once you are in the park ensuring fair availability.
Until an official announcement is made, I won’t speculate any further. Many people are taking the delayed return as a sure sign that a replacement is finally on the way but until Disney makes an announcement everything is up in the air.
But Park Hopping Is Back!
With a couple of caveats! If you have booked a ticket that includes park hopping (remember all UK tickets have this perk) you will be allowed in another park from 2pm. Here are a couple of pointers if you will be visiting Disney World Soon.
- You do not need to make a park pass reservation for the second park
- But you MUST first enter the park you do have a reservation for
- Park hopper availability is changing on a daily basis
- If you choose Hollywood Studios as your second park you cannot request virtual line access to Rise Of The Resistance
- Reservations for Dining Experiences or upcharge experiences do not guarantee entry to the park
- Keep a check on the Disney Parks App for park hopping capacity limits on the day of your visit
More Entertainment Returns
A post on the Disney World blog has confirmed that more indoor entertainment will return to the parks in August. This includes Monsters Inc Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom and Turtle Talk With Crush at EPCOT.
Fireworks Return
Visitors rejoice! After over a full year of absences, the iconic fireworks have returned to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. An official announcement on the Disney Parks Blog confirmed the return would happen in July along with expected bumps in all Disney World park’s capacities. One glaring omission from the list is the equally popular Fantasmic show set at Hollywood Studios still sitting empty. Could Disney be using this as a chance to upgrade Fantasmic to more closely resemble the west coast version? There is currently no official word on when Fantasmic will return.
Water Park News
Blizzard Beach re-opened in Early March after an enforced almost year-long closure. The situation at Typhoon Lagoon remains unclear. As you can see from the aerial shot below from late June, the massive wave pool remains drained. There is no official word from Disney about what is happening at Typhoon Lagoon nor when it will reopen.
Universal Orlando News July 2021
Universal was one of the first parks to open post-pandemic closure and attendance at the parks appears to have remained strong.
Epic Universe Back On Track
The on-again/off-again of Universal third main gate, titled Epic Universe is once again back on with Universal’s parent company, NBCUniversal, committing significant resources to bring this next-generation park to life over the next few years.
There is still little vertical work going on but ground preparation is back in full swing as you can see from the above tweet from @bioreconstruct. When will we now be able to visit? There won’t be a clear opening date from NBCUniversal until the project is much closer to completion. If you want to be one of the first to visit you should probably plan to aim your trip around 2025 or 2026.
I will be following the construction of Universal’s largest theme park to date as the opening draws nearer so you won’t miss a thing.
Universal Looking To Stop Motion Sickness
A quirky bit of news direct from Universal Creative who filed a new patent that aims to stop motion sickness. According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel, Universal aims to counter the effects of motion sickness by using a forced-air system built directly into the ride restraints. Sadly, since GDPR became law here in the UK, you can only read the article if you change your geographic position.
Patents are nothing new in the theme park business. Disney and Universal file dozens of patents for ideas for new attractions and technology yearly. Just because the patent has been filed doesn’t necessarily mean we will see a working example. But looking at patent filings does give us a glimpse of what could be coming our way over the next few years. At the very least it does give us theme park fans something to talk about over our morning coffees.
As new rides like Velocicoaster above push boundaries, Universal is looking at making the riding experience pleasant for everyone with a patented system to counter the effects of motion sickness. Image credit: Universal Parks
Universal Begins Rolling Out New Virtual Line System
Disney’s Fastpass+ system may be on hiatus still but Universal has begun rolling out a new virtual line to a very select few attractions in Universal Studios and Islands Of Adventure. Universal has clearly seen the benefits of virtual queueing when Volcano Bay opened as the worlds first 100% virtual queue water park.
The new virtual queue system runs in conjunction with the Universal Orlando App. Again, it’s not available for every attraction yet, just a select few, while Universal iron out the bugs with this brand new way of queueing.
While it may only be available on a couple of attractions at the minute, It’s a very promising start. If you are looking to get on some of Universal’s more popular attractions this is definitely something you will want to become familiar with.
Universal Dining Plan Discontinued
Universal has abruptly stopped selling all versions of their Universal Dining Plan from July 2nd. This includes Full Service (if staying in a Universal Orlando Hotel) and Quick Service/Quick Service+ plans that could be purchased in the parks on the day.
It was never great value for money but it did allow people to pre-budget if you absolutely had to. No replacement has yet been announced.
Seaworld & Busch Gardens News July 2021
The rough seas that have surrounded Seaworld Parks And Entertainment of late are beginning to calm down as one of their parks is named the best in the USA.
Aquatica Takes Top Water Park Award
Seaworld’s water park, Aquatica, has been voted the best outdoor water park in the entire US according to readers of USA Today. This is as well as being top of the Orlando Sentinel poll for two straight years in 2018 and 2019. 2020 obviously had some drawbacks for everyone!
Iron Gwazi Nearly Ready To Roar!
Over at Busch Gardens the beastly looking Iron Gwazi is nearly ready to open for general ticket holders. This monstrously entertaining steel/wood hybrid coaster is born from the remnants of the park’s former racing wooden coaster, Gwazi, that opened in 1999 but saw a lot of complaints about rough rides.
Iron Gwazi will give you a silky-smooth ride atop steel beams on wooden supports. If you would like a preview of this amazing looking roller coaster, Busch Gardens already have you covered. An official front row POV (point of view) was released by the park during Iron Gwazi’s testing phase. You can watch the full ride experience below.
Reservation Free Entry To Seaworld Parks
Seaworld parks have abolished the need to make a park reservation as well as hold your entry ticket before you arrive. You are now free to turn up at the gates with a valid ticket or purchase one on the gate. I always recommend that you get your tickets before you leave the UK though for the best price.
The Seaworld Parks division encompasses the main Seaworld park and Aquatica by Seaworld in Orlando. It also includes Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island in Tampa. You will still need to reserve your day ahead of your visit to Discovery Cove which tightly controls the number of daily visitors.
Universal Orlando has never required visitors to reserve their days ahead of their visit but it has led to the parks shutting early to new entrants on busy days. Disney World still requires visitors to add a park pass reservation for your first chosen park for every day you choose to visit.
That about wraps up this months news. Come back at the end of August for the next exciting round up.
