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Still comfortably ensconced at our Zleep Aarhus hotel, it was time to venture out to our first Sommerland, Djurs. 11: Hammer & Sword You never want to be late. So we're usually first. Which leads to arty photos of nerds milling around the entrance. Wild Asia is home to no animals. (I don't know, it just sounds like an area that would have animals. I think it's the "wild" part.) But. it is home to an Intamin family invert called DrageKongen, which means "Drag King." I'm sorry. "Drag on King." And it was fine, I guess? I dunno, it's been like 4 months now. I rode a lot of stuff. Some of the elements were kind of crunchy, I think? Does that help? The last two European trips had a lot of log flumes with reversing sections. That really wasn't a thing this time. Instead, there were a lot of log flumes that had two drops that crossed over each other and just went up and right back down. If you don't understand what I'm describing, I insist that it is your fault. My explanations are flawless. Bert and Big Mike enjoying their ride on Long Cun. I'll leave it to you to decided which dirty mispronunciation is funnier. If there was an award for "best themes" for a park's areas--and there is, surprise!--it has to go to Djurs Sommerland, which has areas themed to pirates, vikings, farm animals, and dinosaurs (among other things). Lunch was at the Dino Pizza buffet...which was a bit of a disaster, honestly. They opened at noon and were immediately overwhelmed. Of course, it was a busy Saturday. And I'm a firm believer that you're not stuck in traffic, you are traffic. Still, it's no fun to get to the front of the line to discover that there are no trays, no plates, and no pizza. But hey, at least there was salad, knives, and napkins. Make it work, man. Djurs does not have a proper dark ride. But it does have this long and highly enjoyable outdoor tracked ride with indoor sections and absolutely no reason for the mix of dig site excavation work and real actual dinosaurs and also King Kong for some reason and I love it. Oh, oh, oh! And! This is great. There are small seats up front for kids, and big seats in the back for adults. And at one point, the front seats get squirted with water, but the back seats don't. Which is brilliant, because kids love getting randomly squirted with water and adults usually don't. It's the little things, you know? He's guarding that oil! (Perhaps a relative?) Right next to the jeep ride, we have the powered T-RexFamily Coaster. (Hey, that's how it's written on the sign.) Both rides exit into the same gift shop, where your wife can buy goofy little dino stamps she can put all over your arms and legs for the rest of the day. SpinOsaurus. (Or, um, spine-osuarus?) My dog's name is Disco. Viking-land! Probably actually called something else! I'm too lazy to look it up! Where little vikings learn to be tough. Where adult vikings learn to drink goat piss beer. Thor's Hammer - the Gerstlauer bobsled coaster. Of course, in Norse mythology, Thor's hammer has a name (Mjölnir). But this is not called that. This is called Thor's Hammer. Quite a fun ride. Especially if you like stagnant water. Or Gerstlauer bobsled coasters. Which I do. The second one. Not the stagnant water. The ride's exit gift shop sells proper ice cream. So, yeah, best ride ever. Are we really calling these things "straddle coasters"? Because that's awful. As anyone who has even been to Mexico can tell you, the place is lousy with ATV's. It's fun. That's my review. "Straddle coaster." Jesus. Either this ride was called Quetzalcoatl or I just want it to have been. Um...what? This photo reminds me that the Djurs ride ops have area-specific themed uniforms. Which is odd because this photo does not show that. But I do have another one that does. You can't see it though. I don't have a joke here. Or even an informative opinion. Didn't ride it. The line was too long. I don't like lines. I have a poorly chosen hobby. Luckily, it's cheap. Wait. A game where you shoot real guns. Step aside, Danes, Mr. America is here. I'm just kidding. Why would I pay for something I can do for free at home? I think we can sneak past that guy. The "kill yo self" area of the park. This area is themed after George Orwell's 1945 romp, Animal Farm. I feel stalked. Muddy Pigs! Pirate Land is very cool. However, it is also a fairly long dead end in which bathrooms are only located at the front. I guess pirates just go in the water. Don't you try it though, or you'll find out just how un-pirate-y these posers really are. I haven't quite figured out if piranha are just called pirate fish in Dansk, or... Nope, I've figured it out. It's that. Baby log flume! Daniel, it's for BABIES. There were a couple of these on the trip. I must say that it looks like a rather dull trip back to the station. Some nice theming though. Pirates. It's themed to pirates. This is Daniel's favorite kind of flat ride. I'm not sure why this is all about Daniel all of a sudden. I mean, I guess it's always kind of all about Daniel. Would you like to hear the story of how it took both the world's hunkiest maintenance guy and the literal park owner to get my seatbelt to connect? No? Well, your loss. It's a pretty great story. Okay, who wants to pose with the sword for me before the game begins? Goddammit, Daniel. Best park of the trip to this point? Yes. Final Pirate Score: 9 Djurbloons Stay tuned for our next installment (if I ever get around to it) featuring the best coaster of the trip!1 point
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Disney has announced that Zootopia will be opening on December 20th, 2023! https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2023/10/zootopia-opening-dec-20-2023-at-shanghai-disney-resort/ We are so excited to share that Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort will be opening on Dec. 20, 2023! Mammals big and small are invited to come experience the incredible land and all the details that make the beloved film come to life. Each element of the new land – from food and beverage, entertainment, merchandise and more – has been specially designed to immerse you in the mammalian metropolis. Let’s go wild and explore six ways to step right into the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “Zootopia,” at Shanghai Disney Resort. 1. Immersive Zootopia Stories Around Every Corner Prepare to step into the vibrant city atmosphere of Zootopia like never before with storefronts along the streets that tell a unique story. Stroll by the Beaver Dentist, where you can listen to the sounds of patients having their teeth worked on through the window. At the Hibernation Hotel, a modern “pod” style hotel where Zootopia’s bears and other residents hibernate, you can even hear them snoring from their cavernous rooms. Don’t miss the Arctic Spa, specially designed for the polar bears, where you might overhear Mr. Big’s henchmen humorously discussing their plans to attend tonight’s Zootopia Day Concert. 2. Innovative New Attraction to Ride at Zootopia In Zootopia: Hot Pursuit you will be greeted by Officer Clawhauser. The boisterous cheetah frequently pauses to talk to the newest rookie police officers or rave about Gazelle and the big concert tonight. Chief Bogo then orders his new rookies to board cruisers to back up Officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde and from there the adventure begins! From sliding across the ice of Tundratown to flying off the track onto the busy streets of Sahara Square, enjoy thrilling turns, spins, slides, and “drops” in this family-friendly attraction on a mission to rescue Gazelle from her kidnapper, Bellwether. This experience will surprise and delight your wild side as you have your very own experience in this sequel to the movie! 3. Land Details Found Around Zootopia Your journey begins the moment you step foot (or hoof or paw) on Mane Street. This street is lined with a variety of storefronts perfect for any sized animal that might find themselves perusing the streets. You will then be led to the civic plaza, Savannah Central, exactly where Judy Hopps once found herself when embarking on her great Zootopia adventure! Savannah Central’s fun, colorful, and animated advertisements are played on the large Zootopitron screen, showcasing the energy and vitality of this modern city. Behind this is the stunning skyline of Zootopia, which was originally inspired by a variety of city skylines in the animated film. At Zootopia Central Station, a large metro train can be seen passing behind an upper-level decorative stained-glass window. The train comes and goes as it picks up and drops off animal commuters, just as it did in the film. If you pay attention, you’ll even spot animal-inspired street modifications like “Cubs at Play” warning signs and vehicle height clearance signs to remind long-necked citizens, like giraffes, to be aware of their height when entering tunnels and underpasses, along with roads and streets that are accommodating of all animals of all sizes. 4. Zootopia Merchandise to Dress from Head to Paw In Zootopia, you can discover a wide array of unique merchandise upon the opening of the land, including the Disney Zootopia Cute collection, which will offer even more enchanting items and options. Fashions by Fru Fru, owned by Zootopia’s favorite fashionista and Mr. Big’s daughter, features vibrant colors and flourishes that match Fru Fru’s outgoing personality. Inside, you’ll find two special areas themed after Yax and Duke Weaselton, bringing more characters from the film to life. You will also discover over 200 products, many designed exclusively for the new themed land, including headwear, apparel, accessories, and much more, allowing you to dress up from head to paw! Collections will feature beloved characters like Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, Flash, Clawhauser, and more, with careful consideration of each character’s species, personality, appearance, and story. You’ll also find items themed after iconic scenes in the film, such as Fashions by Fru Fru Toy Bricks and Tundratown Building Toy Bricks, making them perfect souvenirs or gifts for friends and family. 5. Unique Food and Dining Experiences From Zootopia-themed desserts to snacks, drinks and more, there is a sweet and savory safari right at your fingertips! Take a visit to Jumbeaux’s Café which is adapted to welcome animals of all sizes! It has even made accommodations like a lower take-out window for smaller customers, fashioned directly into the façade’s original elephant-sized door. Sink your teeth into a paw-shaped popsicle inspired by the ones made by Nick Wilde in the film! There’s also the Chocolate Marshmallow, which mimics the size and look of the Jumbo-pop that Nick tricks Judy into buying, but re-imagined as a raspberry-flavored marshmallow. If you’re looking for something on the smaller side, there’s the Mini Chocolate with the same look. What’s more, Officer Clawhauser’s favorite donuts will be provided in two different sizes, meeting the needs of all animals, big or small. Upon opening, there will even be offerings right out of the film, such as the Disney Zootopia Blueberry Pie created by Gideon Grey, the fox; the Carrot Shaped Lollipop that will remind everyone of Bunnyburrow, and more treats to come. 6. Characters Brought to Life in New Atmosphere Show Not only does Zootopia have attractions, food, and so much more, unique entertainment is on the way too! Imagine walking down the street and hearing the residents chatting with one another from their windows. You may even strike up a conversation with Flash the sloth or the Hopps family! This atmosphere show will bring the characters from the film to life in an innovative way that you can only find at Shanghai Disney Resort. Get ready to embark on this exciting journey into the world of “Zootopia” at Shanghai Disneyland, where adventure and fun await beginning on Dec. 20, 2023!1 point