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I'm very happy about Celestial Park, primarily for the fact they're treating some very flagship anchor attractions with original theming rather than attaching an IP to them (which I don't view as a negative, it just feels rare to see otherwise nowadays). Starfall Racers looks incredible!

Day 16: Sunday, June 18th part 2 (of 2) - Furuvik - and a surprise bonus on the way back to the hotel! continued. . . if I'm not mistaken, this was a lovely boardwalk/elevated pathway that went out onto the edge of the water, and around the goats & Red Panda enclosure. we didn't get to see the Red Panda - I do believe Dexter told us that the enclosure was getting ready for them, but the actual animals had not been moved into the enclosure yet? but I do know that he drew our attention to that land mass way off in the distance, and I'm pretty sure he said that was Finland we were seeing from Sweden. the post Indian food group that was being shown around by Dexter (that's him on the far right) yo Llama is SOOO fat. when she sits around the enclosure? she sits a ROUND the enclosure! hey. .it's not fat.. it's just fur. . . so Dexter was all excited about the Camels, and he actually called them by name and they came *running* over to him. now, did they come running over because they recognized and love him? or because he had handfulls of food to feed them? the world may never know. . . . but it was still wonderful to see, and get pics of. nothin to see here. . just some goats on a big rock. we had heard folks talking about a dark ride/ boat ride. . but hadn't been able to locate it. when asked Dexter about it, he brought us right to the entrance. (I dont' think we'd ever have found it otherwise). it looked like a fun little river raft ride, tho the boats were very small. there was some chatter about 4 per boat, but I recall protesting, and we ended up 3, 2, and 1 . . and what a correct call THAT was. that boat in front with 3 seems a little low to the water! um. . . . big Mike isn't looking too steady on his own either. . I'm concerned. . but at least Jonathan and I seem to be a little steady. um. . the heavier boat in the front seems to be causing a little bit of a traffic jam. . . I look worried, but the operators were laughing hysterically. . . and "luckily" we had someone off ride walking by at JUST the right moment to capture the chaos. ( think this is courtesy of Andy ? ) this guy's face cracks me up: I mean. . . we're laughing and horrified at the same time. ohhhh. . here comes the "Dark ride" part Realistic!! Sharks AND a Kracken? what kind of jungle is this???? but once you safely disembark, you are walking thru a monkey house. . .which makes the boat ride so worth it! turtles too. . you can get so close to them! Achievement unlocked!!! I found the 5th mascot. or did I? he was hanging around with his twin, and I wasn't sure which one of them I had met earlier. so better safe, than sorry. . . at least now I know i met all five of them. around this point, I was starting to feel pretty bad. I was getting cold, and was starting to cough a lot. . . I didn't think I was sick, and it SEEMED to be allergies. as that was affecting some others right at this point. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything with me to help with the congestion. . . . but I COULD buy a nice warm sweatshirt in a giftshop, so I did that. tho I didnt' buy this freaky octo-duck thing. . . nice to see that at least the mini carousel was getting some riders. . . speaking of horses? we had met up with everyone else to head out, and as we were walking towards the entrance we passed this Hobby Horse race track the park had as an attraction. so why not? Several of us grabbed hobby horses, and off to the races! this is a big part of why I absolutely *love* taking trips with TPR. . there really is no such thing as looking too stupid! it was hella fun, and kudos to my fellow racers! Pic courtesy of Robb, I believe. passing that theater we had seen on the way in. ah. .that's why only the two mascots were out. the others are here on stage. and have at least a bit of a crowd. and Elissa, Sarah, and TPR were awarded giant boxes of Chocolates from our guides at the park. we all piled back on the bus, as the sky started to darken and a bit of rain drops started to fall, and the candy got passed around to everyone for a taste. Robb & Elissa had a surprise for us on the way back. . we weren't going straight back to the hotel. . we were stopping here, at SkiStar Stockholm Hammarbybacken ! they have a lot of activities here at this place, that seems to be open year round. . . tho we were here for this: the only mountain coaster in Stockholm as you can see from the ground, it had started to drizzle, and we weren't sure they would keep it open for us.. but they did! here's some of the other activities that can be done here - this is the Tube sliding tracks (it was late in the afternoon, and the weather was kinda icky. . so that would be why it was mostly empty) you get in the individual cars, and they hook you up and pull you up to the top of the Mountain. here's Joey getting ready to head up. and I BELIEVE this is a pic I took of the screens showing how to control the mountain coaster as you descend. . .but gives a good view of the track/city. here's me coming down. . pic courtesy of, I think, Elissa (or could have been Jason) this thing was FLYING because the track was wet. pretty terrifying, but it was SO much fun. after riding in the rain tho, I was so congested and hacking that no one wanted to sit by me on the short bus ride back to the hotel. There was something going on in town tonight - a concert of some kind, I think. . and several in the group bought last minute tickets and were headed to it. all I wanted to do was find someplace to get some decongestant. . .

Universal has finally announced the details of their third Orlando theme park Universal Epic Universe, starting with the gateway land, Celestial Park! https://media.universalparksusa.com/press-releases/universal-orlando-resort-shares-first-official-look-and-details-about-its-highly-anticipated-new-theme-park-universal-epic-universe/ In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will unveil its next gamechanger for theme park entertainment with the debut of its most ambitious theme park yet: Universal Epic Universe. Epic Universe will present a level of theme park immersion and innovation that is unmatched – transporting guests to expansive worlds featuring more than 50 awe-inspiring attraction, entertainment, dining and shopping experiences that come together to create an unforgettable adventure that is nothing short of epic. The addition of Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park will also transform the award-winning resort into a weeklong vacation destination filled with the most compelling experiences imaginable. Today, Universal Orlando reveals more details about Celestial Park – the heart of Universal Epic Universe and the first world guests will encounter at the new theme park. CELESTIAL PARK With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and strolling pathways, Celestial Park puts the “park” back in “theme park.” As soon as guests enter the imaginative world, they’ll embark on a journey of discovery, thrills and excitement as they wander through lush living gardens nestled along shimmering waters surrounded by stunning architecture inspired by astronomical and mythological elements. Here, guests can relax while taking in the sights and sounds around them, board a shooting comet for an exhilarating roller coaster adventure, dine on delectable cuisine, shop exclusive merchandise to commemorate their visit and more. PORTALS TO OTHER EXTRAORDINARY WORLDS Plus, Celestial Park will be the gateway to explore the four additional worlds of Epic Universe – each bringing to life extraordinary adventures that go beyond guests’ wildest imaginations. Through a set of majestic portals that capture the imagination and creativity of each world, guests will embark on a transformative experience as they journey from Celestial Park to: • The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, where guests will discover a different era of the wizarding world in an all-new land that blends 1920s wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures’ Fantastic Beasts films with the iconic British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter series; • SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, where guests will enter the iconic green pipe and discover a new way to play as they step into the worlds of beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Donkey Kong; • How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, where guests can soar with dragons in a colorful world filled with Viking adventures based on the wildly popular How to Train Your Dragon film franchise; • and Dark Universe, where guests encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery. CELESTIAL PARK ATTRACTIONS AND EXPERIENCES Here are additional details about some of the other wonders guests can enjoy while exploring Celestial Park: • Starfall Racers, a dual-launch racing coaster that sends guests rocketing through the skies aboard comets in a race to see who’s the fastest of them all. Reaching speeds up to 62 mph and heights up to 133 feet along 5,000 feet of track, Starfall Racers will be Epic Universe’s most thrilling coaster experience with unique maneuvers such as the “Celestial Spin,” in which the two coaster vehicles perform an inverted crisscross while speeding through the air – creating an “out-of-this-world” adrenaline rush. • Constellation Carousel – the grand centerpiece of Celestial Park. Here, explorers of all ages will take a fantastical whirl aboard constellations that glide forward, backward – and even make 360-degree rotations – through the milky way in a choreographed dance of music and starlight. • Astronomica, an interactive wet-play area that also doubles as a giant compass rose to the many wonders of Epic Universe, featuring crystal blue fountains that spring to life and dance around guests; • An array of unique dining experiences ranging from full-service restaurants to quick-service locations that offer something for every palate, including Atlantic – a full-service “surf and turf” restaurant set inside a Victorian aquarium complete with captivating views of Celestial Park; and The Blue Dragon Pan-Asian Restaurant – where diners take a culinary journey across Asia as they enjoy authentic Chinese, Japanese and Thai fare in this full-service restaurant accented with neon dragons and ethereal lanterns. Additional “must-eat” locations within Celestial Park include The Oak & Star Tavern, where guests can enjoy savory barbecue, Pizza Moon, which will serve up a tasty menu featuring a variety of pizzas, and more. • Incredibly detailed retail locations, including the Nintendo Super Star Store, where guests can shop an assortment of merchandise themed to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD; Moonship Chocolates & Celestial Sweets, where guests can satisfy their cravings with a unique selection of sweet treats, and more. • Plenty of exciting entertainment, including various fountain shows throughout Celestial Park’s seven acres of water where a multitude of fountains sway, dance – and even reach heights up to 135 feet in the air – to music and interactive lighting from day to night. And located inside Epic Universe at the end of Celestial Park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, designed to transport guests to a world where the heavens and earth unite – complete with 500 rooms, one-of-a-kind views and its very own dedicated entrance into the theme park. Plus – in addition to raising the bar for theme park innovation, Epic Universe is Universal Destinations & Experiences’ latest development to integrate energy efficiency and sustainable construction practices.