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Hard to believe even now, but the last day of my Oktoberfest adventure with Theme Park Review had arrived. It was bittersweet to say the least. Another full day of fun planned at the incredible Phantasialand, but the end of that day would bring the end of the trip. I snuck out the bathroom window one more time to admire the view of Rookburgh during the daytime... The walk down from the hotel to the land through the property's exclusive park entrance is both convenient and immersive. The group was up bright and early to take in the steam and get our head start on lining up for the remaining attractions we hadn't ridden during the prior day. Crazy Bats (previously Temple of the Night Hawk and before that, Space Center) was a surprisingly long indoor coaster that now features VR headsets. Even nicer, the VR experience is included in your park admission and all riders get a headset to wear. The coaster has three light hills and lasts nearly four minutes, which gives the VR experience (themed to three bats in a frozen castle) plenty of time to take you through their story. I would've never expected it, but this ended up being the best VR experience I had across the entire trip! I was very excited to get the chance to explore the Deep in Africa: Adventure Trail, which had only opened a few years earlier. By once again squeezing another experience in and around others park elements, Phantasialand maximizes the space the park uses, while making the big attractions (like Black Mamba) feel even more deeply interwoven into the land. If you know where to look, the adventure trail offers some great vantage points of Black Mamba. Up close and personal. The Deep in Africa: Adventure Trail is also a great way to get soaked if you don't pay attention to where you're going and how you're trying to get there. Case in point. I got drenched. We had some sweet treats, like this trio of eclairs, along the course of the day. The Hotel Ling Bao towers over the Chinatown section of the park. And there are great options for food inside! Today was the day where we had planned to tackle at least one water ride... Ponchos engaged. I fell out of my seat on Mystery Quest trying to keep my shoes dry but it was worth it. This was quite a fun rapids ride. I was fairly confident I'd be leaving Phantasialand without having a chance to ride my much-anticipated Chiapas... But as luck would have it, with three hours left in the operating day, boats started to cycle for testing. About an hour later we were seated for our journey downriver... This is such a fun log flume! And the airtime hill is a great touch! We got wet, but I wouldn't say soaked. But it was great fun and a highlight of the visit! An acceptable amount of wetness! I went back to the room to change before our exclusive ride time and couldn't help but to take in more of the view. Just incredible. It is nearly impossible to articulate just how much this coaster weaves in and out of the other elements of the realm. Just incredible. And so ridiculously smooth. One of my favorite parts of F.L.Y. is how the second launch sends riders directly between two sides of cabins belong to the Hotel Charles Lindburgh. Pics or my visit didn't happen. I'm kind of a fan of this place... Kind of. One of my favorite photos I managed to grab of F.L.Y., not because it is the highest quality, but because this angle does a good job of showing just how much coaster (and other stuff) that is packed into a small section of the land. Overbanked turns on this kind of coaster are a joy. Dessert waffles for a snack. It was time for our final ERT of the trip... F.L.Y. elevates the flying coaster experience with its unique loading system, over-the-top-theming and its incredibly immersive environment. It was one of my favorite experiences of the trip and one of my favorite coasters I've ever been on (if only for the total package of it all). And it was an amazing final ride with which to round out the trip. One more dinner at Bar 1919... If you ever get the chance to visit, do yourself a favor and get the sliders... Trust me. Dessert was great too! The next morning we flew from Cologne to Munich... From Munich it was time for final farewells as we all flew in our own homeward directions... Naturally I had to choose Madame Web for my flight home. Many of us were anxious about getting home because flights back in the Southeast were being cancelled as airports announced their closure due to an impending hurricane. There was a very real chance I could have been spending a few days in Toronto. Fortunately enough, mine was the last flight to Orlando from Toronto to not be cancelled... I gave my thanks to the Saint of Good Travel, Tim Hortons... I had my first Western-ish meal in over two weeks before it was time to board the plane home. Much rainier skies were in my future but the last sixteen days would make it all worth it. It's taken some time to prepare and post all of these updates, but in recollecting the experiences I shared with so many friends on this trip, I'm eternally grateful to Robb, Elissa and so many others who made this trip what it was. I experienced several bucket list moments and went to places I was fairly confident I'd never have the chance to visit in my lifetime. I ate (and drank) well throughout and visited some of the best parks I've ever been to. It was an incredible trip and I cannot wait for the next chance to travel with TPR... It will surely be another incredible adventure!

last Day in Munich: at the fair for a final time. all packed up, shower and a quick nap taken, several of us met up in the lobby and headed back over to the Oktoberfest Faire for the final night (for us, the fair still ran I think for 2 more weekends?). a brewery we passed by every time we walked to the fair: as it was a weeknight, not as packed as we'd seen it. . but still the fairgrounds were pretty hopping. this is what they use for medical emergencies (or alcoholic emergencies: ie: pass-outs). they are to permit privacy, but these big, blue, coffins wheeling thru the crowds drew attention to them, I thought. this was my goal for tonight. . to get some pics from the ferris wheel at the back of the fair. so we headed that way. still pretty busy for a Tuesday night, I thought. we ended up sharing with a family who also wanted to take pics, so we took turns sitting in the end seat to grab pics as we cycled so colorful from above! a look down into the "older" section that had the separate entry. Loved that part of the Fairgrounds. and the beerhalls lining down one side of the main walkway Olympia Looping from the Ferris Wheel the ferris wheel off my list, there really was only one more thing I wanted to check out (and thanks to Erik for recommending it!) - one of the oldest rides at Oktoberfest! the Suspended Carousel. it was celebrating it's 100 years at the festival, and not only had a live band playing while it operated, but some daredevil operators, who jumped up onto the carriages as they swung around to take your ticket. it was amazing! the inner workings of the ride Erik even got on to ride it again with me. hidden way back on the complex, it wasn't packed tonight, but we weren't the only ones riding it. the live band - crammed into that little booth - that played while the ride was going. some signage celebrating the 100 years it' had been at the fair. I was actually starting a get a bit of munchies (having not really eaten today other than sharing that pizza).. so we started looking for a place to try that we hadn't had yet. LOL. .the sign ALMOST got me.. but I had flashbacks to those balls from night one.. and passed. Tho we stopped for a pic. no takes for the flume tonight. .even tho it was not raining I'm SURE this is 100% Disney approved, right? but since we were over here, and it was our last night? absolutely got some rides on Olympia Looping. this pic gives a good shot of the restraints. I don't care for them because as the coaster hits the loops, the pressure forces the shoulder harness down more and more..and you feel crushed by ride end. Fantastic coaster tho, and was able to knock it off my bucket list. luckily just out front of it was a place serving these wonderful things. Kinda like a Gyro, but on fry bread with more veggies inside. comes flat, but one folds it to eat like a taco. it was quite good. and met some folks who thought my jacket was as cool as their jackets, so they wanted to take a picture together. uh oh.. more of those "body boxes" things. . . stuff I hadn't seen in the prior 4 days, now suddenly a few times in one evening? and whom did we stumble upon? (and in a fantastic mood)? Jonathan, once again wearing his lederhosen. he joined us and we decided to check out Dr. Archibald - basically a ghost train, but with the gimmick that each rider gets VR goggles, and for the most part, all are watching different stories. honestly? I wasn't impressed at all with the VR. But the 'ghost train' aspects of it were fun (as was the exit funhouse), and it had some of the best lighting on the fairgrounds (purely to draw in customers - as once you had the VR on anyways, you couldn't see it. the ticket to get in. we're ready to be a-scared !! Jonathan really, REALLY wanted to try the toboggan again - as he was insisting that he had done well the night before. I worried he was wasting his $$, and that he was too far "gone" to have a chance, but he woudl not take no for an answer, so we all observed (and filmed for him at his insistence) as he gave it a go. whoopsie! but he made it to the top.. then kinda disappeared. he took his time coming down.. but eventually spotted him on the slide. where he sat giggling.. until staffers - who did NOT think it was funny - came and "helped him" out. but hey, it made fora *classic* short film clip HYWX4608.MOV after that fun, Jonahan wanted to go even deeper inoo the fair as possilby prior noted: Even tho it doesn't do anything TOO nuts. . but still, I think, it' possibly my favorite coaster at the fair. note: these pics were taken on the final brake run into the station - WITH PERMISSION from he ride operator. never pull out a phone for pics on a coaster, unless you get an ok from the folks who operate the ride! some "artsy" pics i have on my batch. . .and I think they are probably Andy's pics that he shared. finally managed to get the natural lame on Voodoo Jumper. and one final look back before we head out to go back to the hotel. Long day tomorrow with drive to Europa Parc it had been a fantastic visit to Oktoerfest, and still a few days to go on this trip. for now tho? off to rest. . .

Free Day in Munich: Part 1 oy.. seeing that Adam is actually on his last day of the TPR trip, reminded me that despite having so much going on, I've GOT to get back to my dual Trip Reports (both Oktoberfest, and the UK) - not only because I love doing them, but because I have to make time for myself to do the things I love doing. so after a lengthy wait, here's an update for day 5 in Munich - our "Free Day" to explore the city, go back to the Oktoberfest faire, or just do whatever we wanted to do. Andrew and I decided via chat before the trip (and at the suggestion of options from Elissa that she had sent out prior to the trip) that we would spend our free day at the Munich museum of Science and Technology (the "Deutsches Museum") and I had prebought tix for us. a quick cab ride from the hotel, and we had arrived. the Deutsches Museum is a HUGE and very interactive museum, and as we were here on a Tuesday, we knew there would likely be school groups here (there were, but they pretty much stuck together, and so we were able to avoid the large groups most of the time - but the place is SO big, that even if packed it probably wouldn't have felt very packed. a view across the lovely waterway that passes by the Museum. it doesn't look that big (that's what she said!), but the more you get into it, you realize there are levels below ground and farther back. and they are doing some massive construction near what would be the front entrance (the gift shop is on the left) to build, I believe, a Planetarium. so this is the current entrance, down the side of the building, under the large "Barometer tower" Munich truly is a very lovely city from the current entrance, one enters by one of the working scientific labs that suspended above a large conference area - where they were holding talks and shows that the public are welcome to join. you can join to work in in the lab with the scientists too. . . tho that's an upcharge and only during certain hours. another view of the lab from the coffee shop they had set up near this entrance. a most important stop to get to once we scanned in (and a potty break too) looking out the back window while sipping coffees.. yeah, the building goes way back, and there are even full size boats just out back that one could touch and go on. as the museum is so big, we decided to follow the extremely helpful map, and just go along the route it recommended. the first large room, was also where most of the school groups started too. So tho you can't see it in these pics, there were a LOT of kids in this first display area. once we moved on from this room tho, we didn't really interact with the school groups. they were mostly doing the audio tour - which we could have done - but chose instead to skip so we could spend more time on the things that interested us most, instead of going from case to case with the audio tour. the first exhibit hall was about the history (and future) of robotics - starting out with toys: a display about how a robot would "see" with thermal imaging CREEPY !!!! one of the first ever full size robots built with a human face the historical robotics stuff here was SO interesting. I could have spent way longer in this hall, but it was getting crowded. they even had a Golem. I was super impressed this guy played guitar. . down this next hall was the way to proceed into the main museum.. .and I snapped this pic to show Andrew how once we got out of this room, there was plenty of space and way less kids. i mean, it's GREAT there were school groups of kids at a museum. and it was GREAT they were all well behaved. but.. I mean. . kids (shudder) one last pic in the robotics room. . . and then quickly buypassing the next room (about trains and transportation) to get more ahead of the groups. it was a really impressive train set up tho. . . we went back later to catch it fully running. in the base of the "Barometer Tower" is a Foucault pendulum display. . . very interesting, even tho I'd seen a version of this at Tokyo DisneySea in the Michelangelo challenge area. the point is that it proves the Earth's rotation. the next exhibit hall on this floor was about Bridges/Tunnels/construction. i totally got why Elissa had described this as a "fun" museum. So interactive, with so many displays. I loved it, and think we spent over 6 hours here this day. yes, they actually have a glass suspension bridge build across the area! pretty cool to walk over and look down to displays you'd get to later in this hall. most of these models are working - you push a button and they show how they operate. honestly, the history of construction materials and types was WAY more interesting than I ever thought it would be! we spent so much time in this room the groups started to catch up with us. and the area about water, and how it's utilized to generate power to move the machinery is really cool too.. tho the sound over here did make me have to pee as noted. . some really impressive models in this museum Andrew and I posing in front of a cross section of a cable that supports a Suspension Bridge. LOL.. in this pic you can see the groups starting to filter in so we moved into the next connected hall, which was all about machinery and how it's powered and what energy is required, and what energy is produced and just off the hall from this is a huge, 4 story area, that all about aviation and space. this just shocked me. . suddenly was in a space that was just as large as the Air and Space Museum main exhibit hall at the Smithsonian! full size planes on display, and hanging from the open area ceilings. Andrew actually chatted with another tourist that was a fan of flying and they stood and talked aviation for a good 20 minutes over here. I found a lot of it interesting too , tho of course I found the display with the Stewardess Barbie. and no, putting Ken's Pilot hat on Barbie doesn't make her the pilot museum folks ha! a Playmobil TSA set. peeking out the windows over here, at what I think is a nearby cathedral ? the hall is so big, they even talk about commercial airlines, including a cross sectioned plane so you can see how the food, luggage are stored. up the stairs to level 2 of the museum - tho still sticking with the Aviation atrium area where they have a 360 flight simulator and they begin to talk about missiles, rockets, and space tee-hee another view out the window from the 2nd floor now. looked like it was gonna rain today, but for the most part, the weather held out full size walk thru of classic planes - inside a museum! finally found a direction board . . and I was wrong, thought we were on level 2, but we were now on level 1, as we had come in on level 0 as you can tell. . still LOTS to do. into the Space section, and a nice model of the shuttle and skylab not as much on display as they have at the Johnson Space Center outside of Houston. . but for a museum across the world? I was really impressed by how much they do have on display. didn't seem to take many pictures in the "Science" hall.. .but I think that's because there was so much interactive stuff to do, that I just didn't even think to take many pics. thought these tubes/thermometers were pretty dang kewl tho. and who DOESN'T want a "Gilbert Nuclear Physics Atomic Energy Lab" playset???? to be continued . . .

Interested to know more about the enchanted rum bottle.

Clementon Park and Splash World has announced that Hellcat is receiving new track courtesy of Rocky Mountain Construction! 42% of the coaster's layout will be enhanced when the coaster reopens. (Hellcat image courtesy of Clementon Park & Splash World) https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1457613872280496&rdid=ixWFc9gtZVaSqIri Attention Coaster Enthusiasts: Hellcat Reimagined-Smoother. Faster. Fiercer. Big news from Clementon Park & Splash World—our iconic wooden coaster, Hellcat, is undergoing a major transformation, and it’s all thanks to the world-renowned team at Rocky Mountain Construction! We’re retracking 1,090 feet of the ride using precision-engineered steel track, enhancing 42% of the layout to deliver a smoother, faster, and more intense experience—while preserving the classic wood coaster character that thrill-seekers love. Details: 890 feet of new steel track from the pullout of the first drop through the helix entrance. 200 feet of steel retrack from the helix exit to the airtime hill before the final curve. An additional 5% of wooden track is also being replaced for added smoothness and reliability. We're using weathered steel to maintain that authentic vintage aesthetic, and yes—the legendary Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) trains will continue to race down the track! Follow us this summer for updates!

https://disneyparksblog.com/disney-experiences/the-mandalorian-grogu-and-new-crew-controls-coming-to-smugglers-run/ Bright Suns from Star Wars Celebration Japan! We just wrapped our Walt Disney Imagineering panel where I was joined by Imagineers Anisha Deshmane and Michael Serna as well as Matt Martin from Lucasfilm to talk about the creative development behind current and future Star Wars projects at Disney parks and resorts around the world. In the panel, we shared some exciting news that expands on some of the updates discussed at SXSW, and I can’t wait to share what we talked about! Take Control with New Powers for the Crew Starting May 22, 2026 at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will allow guests to control the iconic ship like never before. For the first time ever, the crew will be in control of their own destination, leading to potential adventures on Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star around Endor, or the just-announced bustling city-planet, Coruscant. Another new gameplay addition allows the engineer positions to communicate with Grogu during the mission. Mando and Grogu Join the Adventure We’re so excited that these updates debut on the same day as Lucasfilm’s upcoming title, The Mandalorian and Grogu, however, the attraction’s storyline will follow a different path. In this new thrilling storyline, Hondo Ohnaka has gotten wind of a deal going down on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and a band of pirates. There’s a generous bounty for their capture, so you’ll borrow the iconic ship and team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and explore the galaxy. None of this would be possible without our partnership with Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). With their help, you are in control of your own destiny on the attraction. This technology is all built on Unreal Engine 5 by Epic Games which are the same tools ILM uses on the Disney+ show, The Mandalorian. To finish off our panel, the ever-popular BDX Droids made a pit stop! They’re now at Tokyo Disney Resort but will also make appearances at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris for a limited time very soon. Be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog and @DisneyParks socials for the latest news on all things Star Wars coming to Disney Experiences. May the Force Be With You, Always

Disneyland Paris has released a ton of new information regarding updated projects and additions across the resort! https://disneyparksblog.com/dlp/disneyland-paris-releases-construction-updates-disney-adventure-world-and-more/ Coming Soon to Disneyland Paris! A new family-friendly attraction themed to the Pixar Animation Studios film “Up” will open in Adventure Way as part of Disney Adventure World World Premiere will open on May 15, 2025, ushering in the first major milestone of Disney Adventure World Disney Sequioa Lodge to receive large scale transformation, following the reimagining of Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel and Disneyland Hotel Delighting guests around the world for 33 years, Disneyland Paris has been undergoing its biggest transformation yet! Since 2018, we’ve celebrated many milestones since then, from the reimagining of Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel and Disneyland Hotel to the opening of Avengers Campus and even a new look for Disney Village. There’s still much on the horizon in Paris, including the opening of Disney Adventure World in 2026, which will also mark the debut of the much anticipated World of Frozen. We have more news than ever to share as Disneyland Paris nears the completion of its grand transformation. In fact, the first taste of Disney Adventure World is right around the corner! World Premiere Opening Date Announced We’re excited to announce that World Premiere will open on May 15, 2025, ushering in the latest major milestone of Disney Adventure World. This brand-new park entrance will feature a reimagined interior with new décor, refurbished spaces and a new storyline. And it gets better, we have a first look to share with you! When guests step foot into this impressive building, they’ll be invited to a glamorous premiere in the heart of Hollywood. Here you’ll discover the new quick service dining location, The Hollywood Gardens Restaurant, Searchlight Kiosk for all your snacking needs and the must-visit Mickey’s of Hollywood Boutique. After you’re done exploring World Premiere, you’ll arrive in the heart of World Premiere Plaza. Inspired by Broadway and the West End district, this vibrant area brings together several theaters celebrating Disney Animation and Pixar stories, such as TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure, Mickey and the Magician and Frozen: A Musical Invitation. Disney Imagineers are currently hard at work reimagining pathways, creating colorful murals and introducing new landscaped areas, as well as new Art Deco-inspired street furniture. The transformation work at World Premiere Plaza, which is being carried out in phases to minimize the impact on the guest experience, will be completed before the opening of Disney Adventure World in 2026. New “UP” Ride Coming to Adventure Way There’s even more coming to the resort’s second park when Adventure Way opens as part of Disney Adventure World! Just today, Disneyland Paris announced an all-new, family-friendly attraction that will complete the lush landscape of Adventure Way in the future, located right across from the previously announced Raiponce Tangled Spin. Blending the charm of family attractions with the colorful and adventure-packed world of Pixar’s “Up,” this spinning carousel will offer a bird’s-eye view of the park’s stunning scenery. Construction on the first attraction at a Disney park themed after the beloved movie will begin by the end of 2025. World of Frozen and Adventure Way Begin Taking Shape Speaking of construction, Imagineers are putting the finishing touches on the North Mountain as World of Frozen gradually comes into view. Nearly 400 tons of metal were required to build its structure, which was then covered with sculpted concrete and painted by hand. And right now, they’re also putting together décor and programming state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics characters inside the Frozen Ever After attraction. Adventure Way’s themed gardens are taking shape with more than 1,000 trees, 100,000 shrubs, as well as oversized statues of Woody and Jessie in Toy Story Garden. Over at Raiponce Tangled Spin, ride vehicles inspired by the boats in the floating lantern scene in the Disney Animation movie “Tangled” have arrived. We’re also excited to share that the iconic Mandy Moore, the original voice actor for Rapunzel in “Tangled,” will reprise her role in a variety of recorded announcements for the attraction. Be Prepared for More “The Lion King” Updates The future of Disney Adventure World doesn’t just stop there! During D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disneyland Paris announced the construction of the first-ever immersive area entirely dedicated to the Disney Animation film “The Lion King.” We’re excited to share construction is set to begin in fall 2025! Get updates on the new “The Lion King” ride coming to this brand-new area of the park, right here on the Disney Parks Blog. Scale Model of Display at Animation Celebration There’s just so much to look forward to at Disney Adventure World! From April 19, if you’re visiting Animation Celebration, located in the resort’s second park, be sure to stop by and have a look at a scale model showcasing the future of the park. With a footprint that will roughly double after the opening of Disney Adventure World, this miniature replica is the perfect opportunity to truly grasp the extent of this expansion project. A Transformation is Coming to Disney Sequoia Lodge In just the last four years, both Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel and Disneyland Hotel have received stunning transformations. Today, Disneyland Paris also revealed that Disney Sequoia Lodge will be the next hotel to embark on an ambitious refurbishment. Work will begin in 2026, enhancing and elevating the experience while preserving its wooden décor and warm atmosphere. From floor to ceiling, the structure will receive a brand-new design that pays homage to the beauty of nature while its theming will add nods to both classic and recent Disney characters who call the forest home. The gradual replacement of the bungalows at Disney Davy Crockett Ranch also continues, where the new interior spaces will be inspired by the adventures of beloved Disney Characters such as Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, together with the Junior Woodchucks. The first set of new bungalows will be available for booking starting June 12, for stays beginning after the 2025 summer vacation. New Stores and Restaurants Opening at Disney Village As Disney Village continues to unveil its new look, Disney Glamour and Disney Style recently opened their doors, offering a reimagined fashion and lifestyle shopping experience. The opening of a LEGO store and Deco by Disney, a shop dedicated to homeware, interior decoration and Disney collectible items, will take place on April 19. Adding a warm and modern experience infused with touches of Disney, these new shops will further enhance the shopping experiences for those visiting the resort. During fall 2025, Disney Store will close its doors to later become Disney Wonders, a reimagined shop that will welcome all major Disney franchises under one roof. Not only are the shopping options expanding, but there’s also quite a bit in store for dining too! Following the opening of Brasserie Rosalie in 2023, the restaurant will expand to offer a terrace called Petite Rosalie. Sports Bar & Lounge will also reopen with an all-new design, as well as additional seating and a new menu, while 2026 will mark the opening of a state-of-the-art McDonald’s restaurant, in addition to a two-story Italian restaurant, Casa Giulia. New Entertainment at Disneyland Paris For those visiting Disneyland Paris this year, there’s all-new entertainment you won’t want to miss! Launched at the beginning of this year, Disney Tales of Magic continues to amaze every night with its stunning projections, mesmerizing pyrotechnics and towering fountain displays and a touching story showcasing the universal emotions we experience. From April 19 to September 7, 2025, Disneyland Park will turn into a giant dance floor during Disney Music Festival! You’ll be able to jam out to the biggest Disney hits at the 12 activations across the park’s five lands. It’s going to be a musical extravaganza, from Goofy’s Imaginary Orchestra to Mary Poppins and the Pearly Band, Timon’s Matadance and more! We just can’t wait for all that’s in store at Disneyland Paris! Stay tuned as we continue to share more on the resort’s ongoing transformation. https://disneyparksblog.com/dlp/new-details-for-lion-king-ride-coming-to-disneyland-paris/ We Just Can't Wait! Construction is set to begin in fall 2025 on the first-ever immersive world themed to Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Lion King” at Disney Adventure World An all-new major attraction will delight guests with iconic moments and songs from the 1994 animated film Audio-Animatronics figures, special effects and three exciting slopes will bring the story of the film to life Have you been looking for even more details about the brand-new attraction themed around Simba and the rest of the animal kingdom coming to Disneyland Paris? Hakuna matata; it’s our problem-free philosophy and we’ve got you covered! Lion King Ride to Feature Iconic Songs and Scenes When the sun rises on the realm after the grand opening of World of Frozen in 2026, an all-new water attraction will plunge guests deep into the heart of the Pride Lands at Disney Adventure World, where Simba will await them for an unforgettable adventure complete with iconic songs from Disney Animation’s 1994 masterpiece, “The Lion King.” After making their way to the caves beneath the 120-foot-high Pride Rock, guests will take their own place in the Circle of Life when they embark on a sensational and musical adventure, moving through iconic scenes and sceneries from the beloved animated movie. Brought to life through state-of-the-art special effects and advanced Audio-Animatronics technology, this new attraction will be one of the biggest at Disneyland Paris, featuring three exciting slopes – including an impressive 52-foot-high descent! Once this attraction roars to life, it will be featured in an all-new immersive world dedicated to the characters and stories from the film, with plenty of dining, shopping and opportunities to meet some favorite characters. Disney Adventure World Reimagining Continues Construction begins in fall 2025 as part of the reimagining of Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World. Following the opening of World of Frozen at the park, this new attraction and area of the park will be a major piece of the creative vision that will reimagine more than 90% of its offerings and nearly double the park’s current footprint. For even more information on the full lineup of upcoming new experiences coming to Disneyland Paris, check out the latest updates on the Disney Parks Blog, including the construction of an all-new family attraction inspired by the Pixar Animation Studios’ film “Up.” Watch out for even more updates in the future and remember… remember… remember to follow along on the Disney Parks Blog for more!

Walt Disney World has revealed new details regarding the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern coming to Magic Kingdom Park, The Beak and Barrel. https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/the-beak-and-barrel-new-details-from-pirates-of-the-caribbean-tavern/ It’s time to raise a glass and let out a hearty shout – The Beak and Barrel opens later this year in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park! Established by the legendary pirate rumrunner, Captain Meridian “Merry” Goldwyn, and her talkative first mate, Rummy (more on them below), this lively pirate pub will soon welcome swashbucklers, scoundrels, bandits and buccaneers of all ages from every corner of the seven seas.  Meet Rummy As Merry’s trusted companion and first mate, Rummy serves as the tavern’s quartermaster keeping an eye on the place from his roost high atop the bar. Although retired from seafaring life, Rummy is a dutiful crewman to his beloved Merry, ensuring everything is ship-shape, sharing tales of piracy and leading the bar in a rousing toast or two.   Eagle-eyed Disney fans may notice that Rummy bears a striking resemblance to the original Barker Bird that previously sat at the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean but flew the coop some time ago.  The Mess The largest and central space at The Beak and Barrel was once the mess hall for Spanish soldiers and is now known appropriately as “The Mess.” Long tables span the room, allowing for pirates to gather ‘round and tell their own tales, while an imposing anchor covered in candles and dripping wax hangs high above.   A large bar anchors one side of the room, cobbled together from salvaged portions of a cursed shipwreck. At its center, the skull-shaped stern holds an impressive collection of grogs and brew. Guests may also spot the Enchanted Rum Bottle, which was gifted to Merry by the enchantress Tia Dalma and seemingly serves as the source of the tavern’s specialty brews, or Rummy hobbling along the bar’s ledge, greeting the patrons and keeping a close eye on the crew while Merry is away.   Captains’ Quarters Inside the Captains’ Quarters, visiting pirates can enjoy a taste of the finer life, which was once the living quarters of the Spanish Comandante. However, the fine artwork and drapery hasn’t escaped slashing blades or burn marks over the years by rambunctious pirates, and in some places, faded spots on the wall are all that remains of now plundered portraits.   Above the fireplace are mounted five miniature ships in glass bottles, rumored to represent pirates from every corner of the world banding together to defeat tyranny. Keep a weathered eye out, as these mysterious bottles have been known to come alive and engage in a fearsome battle.  There’s still plenty more to be discovered inside The Beak and Barrel, but that’s enough for today. Be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more details, including the opening date and a first look at some of the sea-worthy selection of drinks and bites fit for pirates of all ages coming soon. It’s a pirate’s life for us!