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Several weeks ago I had the chance to experience Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando for the first time in a number of years. I will admit that I went in with lessened expectations because my previous experience with the event had it falling below the bar set by the event's Tampa and Williamsburg counterparts. And while some of my expectations were met, I will say that I was pleasantly surprised to see some of the event's offerings have matured since my previous visit years ago. The event entrance opened while the sun was still out... The Howl-O-Scream entrance plaza is set up by the education pavilions and serves as a holding area that opens roughly an hour before the event starts. Shopping, bars and light snacks are available while you wait for the horrors inside to be unleashed--though some start roaming in the area before then. This year's icon was Havoc, known as the face of fear. And he makes his debut in a quick pre-show performance in the event entrance plaza. Once inside the park you'll find a number of themed bars in case you need some liquid courage to survive. The Rave Yard was our first house. No that is not a typo. Yes, this house ended up being exactly what you think would be. Clever choice of signage or too on the nose? Entering one of the event's scare zones. What you see is what you get. Though I will never have anything less than immense respect for the United Parks for having crawlers like these camoflagued throughout the parks for incredibly effective scares. Jumping on the Mel's Die-In bandwagon, I see. Dark and ominous... This rejuvenation clinic is more sinister than it lets on. Of all of the houses at this event, this was certainly... One of them. Aliens are unleashed on a rural corn farm... What could possibly go wrong? You exit the house into the Waterway Grill which this year features a laser light show overhead while you can grab a bite or a brew. Self-awareness is key. While I'm no fan of taking a bath in the middle of a haunt event, this was one of the four advertised rides that was supposed to be operating during the event. Did I see a ghost in this scare zone? Maybe. In case your appetite is ripping you up inside. Mako operating with a 5 minute wait is always a pleasant surprise! This was a newer house location for me and presented some great views of Kraken and Mako. One of the better houses of the year. Hello beautiful! Hard to believe this event has been running for five years already. Monster Stomp is back once again. If you've seen Monster Stomp in one Howl-O-Scream across the country, you've seen them all. But the crowd is always pleased. New this year was an added show, Throttle, located near the water's edge in the Sharks realm of the park. They managed to transform this area into a surprisingly effective stage where a set of borderline-risque dancers meet fire, fueled dirt bikes and Havoc himself. The dancers perform in and around the crowd... And there are motorcycles doing tricks. It doesn't make a lot of sense but in a weird way, it kind of works. Don't forget the fire! Wreaking Havoc throughout the crowd. More pyro to close out the show! Remember how I mentioned options for liquid courage? There's a lot of them at this event. They have stilt walkers too. I will always consider the event's inclusion of this booth to be a... Choice. The most fleshed out scare zone of them all. Just a taste of what you'd experience here. This scare zone was a great place to be headed. Any way you slice or dice it, you could come out a head. This one gave Night Maze a run for its money. Horror, mirrors, fog and darkness just work well together. Oh and night rides on Pipeline were a walk-on. This is one stand-up experience. This was a booth. They had edible offerings to consume. The last and arguably my favorite of the event's scare zones was the Blood Light District. Yes, it is exactly what you think it is. Overall we had a fun time at the event. While Howl-O-Scream will never be the one you go to for movie-set quality immersion or even the most technical of effects, it does manage to have more raw, effective thrills than I find at some of the better-budgeted attractions down the street. Staffing continues to be the greatest challenge where these houses and scare zones could be even more effective if only they had more scare actors. That said, what we experienced this year was a far more mature event than that of previous years. Still plenty of room to grow, but the added entertainment and some really clever scare zones (like the one above) made this feel like they're headed in the right direction for making gains year over year. Howl-O-Scream Orlando 2025 was shockingly fun.

Day one, concluded. part 3: we finished up with the last house, and realized that we had done pretty much everything in the park (at least everything we wanted). . but then remembered we hadn't done that other Transformers ride. . and there were things we wanted to reride. so headed back towards the Transformers area, but noticed a sizable crowd forming in front of the stage at the main entrance as we were about to pass by. checking the time - it was close to the top of the hour - we realized that the main event/scare zones were about to kick off, and this was the main stage for that. for Universal Beijing (and I don't know if this is true of the USA parks, as never been), there seem to be 3 "mascots" for the Halloween scares: Hami Kuma (a rotting teddy bear), Emo Tu (a damaged bunny rabbit), and Foxy Lady (a sultry cat - or maybe a fox?). . and each of them have their own "scare zones" but they come out and perform with their scare actors before they head into the zones. so we decided to hang out and watch the show. things are lighting up! and the crowd behind us is getting a bit larger. . . these are the "pep squad" for Hami Kuma - the bear and here he comes to "dance" next out is Emo Tu - the scary rabbit. he seems to be a bit punk, not Emo tho. these two have a rivalry. . .it seems. and a Dance Off until Foxy Lady comes out, to the biggest cheers, and puts them in their place it's quite the spectacle. SO. MUCH. NEON. each "scare zone" area, has neon of that character. . so this is Foxy Lady's section. show seen, we continued towards Transformers, as the scare zones filled up. and I remembered to take a pic of that beautiful theater that houses the How To Train Your Dragon show. I'm pretty sure this is the Teddy Bear's scare zone. the actors were thrilled to pose with me, and they were easy to spot as each one has a handler who had a light on their vests. so I just looked for the lights, then went over for pics. Stacy staring down a scare actor. . Decepticoaster looks amazing at night! and this was kind of a "do-si-do" type ride . . similar to Baymax. it looked like it had good theming, but still had a bit of a line, so skipped. this is what we had come back to ride - Transformers: Battle for the All Spark. a 3D ride, that was very similar ride system to Spider-Man. it had a queue line that was pretty dang long, tho not quite as long as the Kung Fu panda one was. We waited in this longish line, because it was really the only thing we hadn't ridden yet that we wanted to in the park. Think it was about a 45 minute wait. and honestly? couldn't remember a thing about it. . . LOL. . I had to Youtube the ride, to remind me what it was, that's how i remember it was similar to Spider-Man. oh well. . lots of screens, and I rode it. after that ride, we stopped by Decepticoaster again. . . so good at night. . and then thru the Emo Rabbit's scare zone. it was time to go back for re-rides, on my favorite ride in the park - Jurassic Adventure, which was showing a 5 minute wait (unlike the flyers that were still showing 45 minute wait). my pic of the ride vehicles didn't come out well, so snagged this one online. . .but here's what they look like. this time I did like the locals, and had my phone out ! and already moving fast enough - before we even GET to dinosaurs, that the pic of Stacy and I came out blurry). this one also starts with some screens but with some animatronics mixed in. and then it goes full on physical, with really impressive animatronics. this isn't even close to how many are in the ride, but these are the best pics I got: LOVED this ride. worth a trip to USB just for this ride! feet hurting, and close to the end of night anyways (it was probably less than 30 minutes to close) we headed towards the front - which happens to be where Foxy Lady's "Scare Zone" is. Again, I looked for the handlers with the neon lights to find the actors: and caught a bit of a 2nd performance by the trio. . with some slightly better pics. shopping before heading out, of course they have their own merch too the scary tree at the front, looks really great on the way out! looking back into the park. . as mentioned, the covered entrance really gets the party feeling going at the end of the night. and then it was time for the short walk back to the hotel room to shower and crash. what an exhausting 1st day, but it was so, so good. . . and still had over 3 weeks left to go!

Part 2 it was early afternoon and past time for lunch, so we headed over to Harry Potter land, because one of those I was with wanted to get some ButterBeer, and we figured it was worth it to see if we could get into the restaurant there. nope, the line to get INTO the restaurant was posting a 45 minute wait, and it was so crowded, it triggered an anxiety attack. . so I stepped way over to the side, and just waited for the Butterbeer to be purchased - took the requisite pic of them drinking it in Hogsmeade and with the foam mustache, and then we headed elsewhere to get food. and easily found short lines, and indoor seating over by Minions land. there were pretty neat "scary" themed cups for sodas, and some themed deserts too. oh, and because we were near minions land? anyone who ordered a burger combo (my 3 fellow TPR folks, and a ton of others in the restaurant), got a burger, fries, a drink. . and a Banana. no, really. LOL although I went for a standard braised pork and tofu bowl. the themed deserts. I just had to try the "naughty ghost" what it looked like on the outside and inside. I believe it was Passion Fruit, but was very mild in flavor. didn't get to try this, as I wasn't hungry again tonight. . but these looked SO good! as we were finishing up, Robb & Elissa sent a message to the group that the 4 houses were about to open up for the night, and now was the time to grab them while the lines were still gonna be really short. luckily we had been eating right next door to this gate - not even realizing there was a house back there, so we lucked out and were able to quickly get in the line. fun fact - was told that Universal Beijing was built with the houses in place. which was why there were specific areas and gates that led to the haunts. so these are permanent buildings year round that they close off by closing the gates. and when they want to change a house, they just change what's inside them. LOTS of queue space, not filled because 1) it was early, and 2) it was a Monday. love that you can see the Harry Potter area in the background of this queue. the line moved pretty quickly too. . don't think we waited more than 15 minutes for any of the houses. this man is holding a sign declaring no photography and no recording without permission. unlike on the rides, it seemed that no one was taking pictures or filming without permission, so my phone was kept securely in my pocket for the houses, hence no pics from inside of any of them (sorry) luckily, Robb *had* permission to film, and he shared with the group, what I thought was the greatest jumpscare I'd ever seen in a house. we were all talking about the "bathroom scene" in this one house, and he had filmed it and was able to share. so I'm able to share with y'all too. SO well done, and no, I have no real idea (just some guesses) how they managed this. . but over and over all night. . so damn impressive. CTCL7709.MP4 after the haunt, we still had a few things we hadn't done yet, and I had told William that I'd meet him over at the theater for the evening performance of "the Untrainable Dragon" - as I wanted to see the shows too. we had time, so went back into Harry Potter land (and I immediately felt uncomfortable in the crowd), but surprisingly, the Forbidden Journey ride really did only have a 5 minute wait - as the app has said. so we walked right on to it. still a fun ride, with impressive technology. pics from the queue: I know the sorting hat. . yay, something I was familiar with and coming out of the ride, the Tri-Wizard contest show was going on. . .and just like in Japan? was filled with very handsome white boys for the male academy . . so of course stopped and watched for a moment, before the crowd forced me to peace out and move out of this area. one of the Nicks had mentioned something called, I think, "Lights, Camera, Action" - which I knew nothing about, but said it was something that was in the US parks too, so we went over there and did that. it's a walkthru/show, with a lot of effects, and hosted via screen by Stephen Speilberg. the fire effects and water effects were impressive, but I totally get why there was no line, and for our "showing" there were maybe 30 people. then it was on to the big, impressive, Chinese theater facade off to the left of the main street for the How to Train Your Dragon characters in "the Untrainable Dragon" William met us out front and recommended we sit at the very top of the balcony in the center, to get the best view. Since I trust him, I did so, and he was right. fantastic show, with some really impressive special effects. particularly the flying Toothless, which we got a fantastic view of from our seats. pics of the show below: the staging really is a technological marvel. finishing that show, we still had 3 houses left before the Waterworld show - something I had also never seen and wanted to see. so we headed towards the next house, and came across the ending of a street performance in this huge moving stage/orchestra. this house was themed around a movie studio, and tho not "scary" at all, I appreciated the props and sets in this one. I was hoping for as good a jump scare as the bathtub ghoul had given, but it seems we had started by chance with the best scare of them all actors in the queue pretending to film the victims as they lined up. not 100% positive, but I *think* some of the footage was shown as we were walking thru the house on screens? he kept "filming" me, so I took a pic of him. and then we headed over to Waterworld, where we caught the last show of the evening. i was surprised and not surprised it wasn't all that crowded - people that were here, were here for the Haunts. and also this is way back at the back of the park. in other words, it takes an effort to come see this show. Luckily it is apparently the same show that has been running in Orlando/California parks, so William was able to explain to me what the hell was happening. Yup, another film I've never seen. if I look at this as just a stunt show? it was quite enjoyable. . in particular how much movement they got on the boats and jet skis in such a small lagoon. fire!!! uh oh.. that leaking "fuel" can't be good. the plane, the plane!!!! knew that leaking fuel would be an issue! it was nice and warm on a chilly evening tho. the Jurassic area looks great lit up at night. . but we were just passing by on our way to the other two houses remaining Jack's Circus. . oooo. . this has promise totally NOT Harley Quinn and Joker. . . . gotta love China. LOL was a fun house tho not particularly innovative. about a standard Six Flags house. not terrible tho. we realized we had missed a ride over here too, as Minion Mayhem was kinda hidden in this corner. So got in line and took a spin on that. this is the only pic I took from that tho. . . thought it was interesting in the queue. really impressive looking park at night. and even tho NOT HHN? this is very familiar. the last house was based on Universal Monsters. and tho VERY light on scares? I loved this one 2nd best. . the design work and props in here blew me away. it was like walking into the old movies. and the cockroach room in the mummy section creeped me the F out. a look at our hotel from the house line. the main entrance to the house. so well done. as mentioned, the entrances to the houses are pretty well "hidden" because they are there year round. . . so I loved that Universal has folks out in the walkways helping to direct parkgoers to the entrances. to be concluded in part 3

Tormenta first drop taking shape!!! Pics credited to JB Thrills, William Gauzens, Javan Townsend,Andrew Floyd and Six Flags Over Texas!

The trains from Professor Screammore's Skywinder of the now closed Six Flags America have been shipped to Canada's Wonderland for use on Flight Deck! I am excited about this as these trains from Vekoma greatly improve the ride experience!

Day 0 continued: arriving at Universal Studios Grand Hotel is quite an experience. . it's a huge hotel that straddles the entrance to the park, and the Citywalk. very "vintage" Hollywood designed too. and they were decorated for Halloween! for some reason (VERY unlike me) I don't seem to have taken any pics of the room at Universal? but each room was themed, and ours was "Back to the Future". . so we had pics of Doc and Doc, Marty, the DeLorean in our room. and a nice view the lobby is pretty art deco. loved this lamp. you could take these stairs down to go thru security for park entry. we were going to meet up with 'the Nicks" to go into Citywalk, but Stacy and I headed to the bar first. where we discovered an entire drink menu themed to 'spooky' it was called the "Moonlight Berry Whisper" and had a Berry Ice Dragon in it. . of COURSE I had to order it. it was really good, tho not much alcohol in it. Fischer had "Shrek's Vitality Potion" and Shane had a "Spiced Soul" I believe after drinks, we headed out to Citywalk, passing right in front of the park gates. while Universal Beijing doesn't have "Halloween Horror Nights" officially, they DO have "Scares @ Universal" with some very familiar park landmarks that are from HHN, and some Houses, that are included with admission. as well as a big show and 3 "scare zones" that feature their Halloween Mascots - represented below in the neon sign. but we'd be doing that tomorrow. Tonight was just a visit to the Citywalk to check it out, and grab a bite. Can't be a Universal without the famous globe out front! not as big as some of the other CityWalks I've been to (tho I've never been to the US Universals). . .but this one had very reasonable prices on everything, and some very decent food options. and a Popstore - that of course, was sold out of Labubu PLENTY of everything else tho. . but I very quickly got over the blind box craze. . I wanna know what I'm buying . . . did pick up a few as gifts tho. very large food court, that was open after the park closed. . . i think we came in here to eat close to 10:30 pm? everything was so inexpensive, I ended up ordering way too much so I could try things. my stomach regretted it later that night, but at least I didn't eat all of it. and only had one of these (gifted one to others at the table, and tossed one). . I got excited by seeing Door Nail Dumpling as an option for a side, and ordered them. but of course, they were no where near as good as the handmade by grandmas ones we had had earlier today. They were ok tho. . . just not amazing. on the way back to the hotel, we popped into Toothsome's to check out prices they were reasonable, and we ended up grabbing some stuff for our room. and then the robot guy (no idea what his name is) was out and about at end of night. . so for some reason, I did a "gangsta pose" with him while wearing my Chinese Grandma red jacket. . . LOL still a good pic tho. a pic of some of the fountains as we crossed the lake back to the hotel. and then it was time to crawl into bed, and sleep. tomorrow was a big day - breakfast included in the hotel, and then a full day at Universal Beijing to kick off the official TPR China trip.

Rain nothing! Tormenta progress ramps up as more track pieces arrive! Pic courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas!

Day 1: Universal Studios (full day). Part 1: so today was the official kick off of the trip! a full day at Universal, and it was a Monday which meant the Halloween event was going on! (I believe it runs Fri-Mondays until Halloween). it's NOT called Halloween Horror Nights, seemed to be called "Scares @ Universal" , but a very similar thing, with houses and scare zones - tho what is "scary" in Beijing seemed to be very different than what is "scary" in the US, at least as far as the Scare Zones go. I'll get to that later in this update first up tho, was breakfast - which was included every morning during our stay at the Universal Studios Grand Hotel. here's as close as I seem to have gotten to a "room picture", myself and Stacy that I sent home to let Jim know we were ready to go for the kickoff of the trip. the walkway to the breakfast area goes over the park entrance, so got a preview of where we would be in the next hour. and what a surprise! it's a "character breakfast" I was absolutely thrilled of course. . . even tho I have not seen more than a couple of the "Despicable Me" films, or any of the "Minions" movies. they wander around during breakfast from table to table, and also pose at the front for photos. different characters most mornings. and in costume for Halloween it was a very good, and large, breakfast buffet. and tho I didn't take a lot of pictures of the food, I did focus on the sweets table so got lots of those pics! Toothless creampuffs no idea, but adorable spooky donuts! I tried this thinking it was just a case of "mis-translation to English". . . but nope, it wasn't pieces of chicken. it was Chicken Cartilage. (one of the few things I moved aside once trying a single, chewy/cruncy bite). and all areas of the food tables were decked out with these adorable Minions in Halloween costume sculptures: breakfast eaten, we headed down to the main entrance, and went thru Security as a group (hotel guests get early entry to some parts of the park, and TPR went thru security and the entry as a group to ensure no issues with tickets. tho we were all gonna meet up in an hour when Transformers land opened to the public to all ride Decepticoaster together as a group thru the general line. the entrance area really is not that spooky in the daytime, before they pump in all the fog. reminded me very much of several parks in Europe where the front entrance has a "cover" that turns into an entertainment area at night. spooky hanging tree a look back at our hotel from inside the park. that "bridge" on the 2nd level is where I snapped the pic on the way to breakfast earlier. out of the main entrance street, you are hit with a stunning view of the main lagoon, and the mountain that houses one of the park's signature rides: Jurassic Flyers. (that area wasn't open just yet either, but would be in about an hour) headed towards the "early entry" side of the park: Minions land, and Harry Potter Minions land is an indoor area. . not really large, but housing the kiddie coaster, and a couple of flat rides. tho if you count the coaster in the facade, this park has five credits lots and lots of fun theming over here, even if I didn't "get" most of it. Group shot before we split up for about an hour (some to get the kiddie in minions land, or the junior in HP land). Courtesy of Robb not allowed to go this way yet (the Moose out front - and those employees there - told us). but the torches were already lit to start the day. park staff directing folks to the right for Harry Potter, rather than to the left for Jurassic Park area. tho I've still never been to a USA Universal park - so have nothing to compare it to. and am not a huge Harry Potter fan (and have issues with the Author). . these lands that I have been in at other Universal parks continue to impress me. they are so well done. (tho I will say the "moaning Myrtle" in the bathroom here, sounds very "adult" when she's moaning in Chinese, LOL) this was the ONLY time all day this area looked like this. it soon swelled up with so many people (MANY of them dressed in robes with wands) that it was hard to move, and became quite claustrophobic to me. They LOVE Harry Potter here. taking advantage of the early entry crowds to get a pic with the train. the main ride in this area, tho we skipped this for the moment to get in the shortist-it-would-be-all-day line for "Flight of the Hippogriff" - I believe a true Mack junior coaster. it was more fun than the one I remembered riding at Universal Japan. . so wonder if it's the same model? by the time we finished that coaster, Jurassic Park and Transformers were about to open, so we headed towards Decipticoaster, cutting thru Jurassic Park. past Jurassic Park, if you hang a right here, is Transformers world. this intersection would be used as a "scare zone" later tonight. my first good view of Decipticoaster's launch. several folks had told me it was a "clone" of Hulk at the Orlando Park, but in talking to some Universal Beijing folks, they explained it's actually NOT a clone, tho it is very close. this is due to some minor differences in the track, but heck if I can remember exactly what the differences were that he told me. across the plaza is another large Transformers ride, but that one wasn't opening with this area, and they told us to come back after 2 and they'd have it open for guests. Decipticoaster doing it's thing. group shot before we got in line to ride (courtesy of Robb) whee! (pics thanks to Elissa) what did I think? I really liked it! it had a ton of floater air (which I really enjoy) and when I commented to someone that it wasn't as forceful as I had expected and was very re-rideable for me, that's when he told me about the differences with Hulk at Islands of Adventure. one thing I DO recall, is the storyline - as I asked about that, since the onboard audio is all in Chinese. he explained to to me, and now I love the coaster even more: the train is actually a Decipticon. an evil surfer (dude) who has turned himself into the train to try and torture/kill the riders, and the control unit is trying to safely get us back to the station. too damn adorable. then we all split off again for the rest of the day, and the group I was with headed back over to Jurassic Park to get the other big coaster. but first, we passed "West Dock Dogs". . which amuses me. this is the Queue Line for Jurassic Flyers - a Mack inverted powered coaster, that has seating similar to the Arthur ride at Europa Park. EVERYTHING must go in a locker - tho provided free of charge. so no pics of the station or queue past the lockers. I did enjoy this ride, but was disappointed by the lack of any dinosaurs on it! the paddocks you "fly" over, are all empty. it seemed as if they blew the whole setting budget on the queue line. (oh, the ride across from it *totally* makes up for the lack of dinos on this ride, but I really do wish at least there were some statues of dinos in the paddocks you go over). still a fun time, but the line stayed pretty long all day due to capacity on it, so I only rode this the one time. here's the ride across from it. and I wanted Dinos ? yup, this gave them to me. Elissa told me this was her favorite ride here, and that I'd love it, and yup, she was 100% correct. I ended up riding this a few times. Myself, Nick, Stacy, and Nick are ready for a Jurassic Adventure! the queue line formation reminded me a lot of "Dinosaur" at Animal Kingdom (and we saw a bunch of other TPR folks in this line too) Universal really does do a great job with the theming in the queues. . . and the use of the digital screens. no pictures from the actual ride, because there were "no photos or recording" signs everywhere. but EVERYONE was recording or taking pictures. on most every ride we had been on thus far. So I inquired about it, and the advice we got was "do as the locals do". . . .well, the locals were all taking pics and videoing. . . so when I rode this later, I took some pics that I'll share in part 2 (or 3). it was hard to get non blurry pics tho, as the vehicles are moving pretty well as you're being chased by dinos. . . LOL exiting tho, I was able to snap a couple of pics of Jurassic Flyers in action: then my small group headed over to Minion's land to get the last coaster credit in the park: Loop-Dee-Doop-Dee - a kiddie/jr coaster, that does, in fact, not "loop", nor "dee-doop" . . but some folks count credits, and MUST ride every coaster available. as it wasn't just an oval kiddie? I got in line with them to ride too. from the station, a peek at one of the other rides in this area. Dumbo as "bugs" I guess? the train design is fun too. do as the locals do - see, folks filming on the ride. so we got a pic and it's a pretty good one, I think. we had the whole day, and with the coasters all ridden (tho some would get re-ridden), we took a detour back to Jurassic Park for Raptor Encounter. is this Blue? no idea, but it was well done. we even talked the Nick's into posting for a pic. tho I ended up purchasing the one of myself and Stacy. (it's already hanging on the wall at home). exploring along the backside of the park - as we hadnt' been over here yet, and the map showed a pretty large structure back here. turned out it was Kung Fu Panda area (another franchise I have not seen any films from). . to get there you have to pass thru the Waterworld Show section. we made note of the times it was playing, as I've never seen it, so wanted to catch a showing. and then suddenly, it gets lush, and there are Panda's everywhere: it's the "Kung Fu Panda: Land of Awesomeness" and yeah, I'll agree with them. . it's pretty damn STUNNING inside here. (and cool. . the sun had come out by now and it was warming up) the lantern balloon ride looks incredible. as did the carousel - but we'll get to that shortly. this was the main reason to come back here: a boat dark ride. "Journey of the Dragon Warrior" note it says wait time is 10 minutes. so that is ALL walking the queue. I think this one wins the prize for being the longest queue line I'd ever been in. it just went on and on, room after room, and it was a double sided queue . . so giant rooms of just row after row of empty queues. . . Seriously, the walk was almost 9 minutes to get to the loading station. it was so long, and with so many steps, that even tho I LOVED this ride? I declined to go back and ride it again later because I didn't want to do that much walking again. I can just imagine if every here on a day so busy that the queue would be full. . this would be a 4 hour wait. finally getting to the load station: as noted tho, the ride IS worth it. such a great dark ride, even if I didn't know any of the characters represented. really impressive animatronic movements too. and some screens. it's a fairly long, and impressive, ride. wasn't gonna leave this area without carousel freak me, riding the carousel tho! even talked some non-carousel crazy folks to ride it with me such impressive carvings! and even the toilets in here were themed to the film. . . to be continued in part 2

In an unexpected turn of events, S&S Worldwide quietly dropped a video teaser via Instagram that confirms their involvement in the concept of a coaster and S&S triple combo of drop or launch towers. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRNk-HnFJMx/?igsh=MTJ2NHVwdjVtaHk1cA%3D%3D The Orlando Business Journal has confirmed with Mango's Tropical Cafe owner, the same person that pursued the now-cancelled Skyplex complex previously, that this new plan is being considered. The land where the Skyplex complex was meant to go may be sold or used for other purposes after serving as a staging space for this project's construction. https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2025/11/20/mangos-tropical-cafe-roller-coaster-i-drive.html?b=1763659350^22615320 The owner of Mango's Tropical Cafe has confirmed plans to build a launch coaster and drop tower along International Drive. Roller coaster fans may have a future option for thrills on International Drive without having to visit a theme park. Utah-based amusement ride manufacturer S&S Worldwide Inc. announced plans to build a launch roller coaster next to Mango’s Tropical Cafe, according to a Nov. 18 social media post. Launch coasters use a unique system to accelerate quickly from a standstill. The concept video also shows a tower ride next to the coaster as part of the restaurant property at 8126 International Drive. The concept art shows the attractions in the parking lot space in front of the nightclub and restaurant. The coaster appears to be S&S Worldwide's 'triple launch' design with a track length of 1,260 feet, a max speed of 64 mph and a ride time of 95 seconds. It also looks to only have one ride vehicle running at a time, which can seat 12, having a ride capacity of roughly 320 people per hour, according to the ride manufacturer's website. One of the unique features is the 125-foot drop at over 60 mph and its three launches. Josh Wallack, owner of Mango's Tropical Cafe, confirmed the plans and said the move is part of his push to enhance that intersection along the tourism corridor. “Our hope is that we can continue to be a great place for residents and locals — but we really need to raise the bar for entertainment,” he said. Wallack said the rides will be funded through a combination of debt and equipment financing. He added the construction timeline and the total cost have yet to be determined. S&S Worldwide Inc. did not respond to a request for comment. The company markets a mix of thrill, family and tower rides, as well as offering ride services. Wallack shared that people may be familiar with this coaster as it is already at Ocean City, a tourism destination on New Jersey's Jersey Shore. According to the park's website, it costs roughly $10 per guest to ride the coaster. Meanwhile, the envisioned parking lot space may appear tight compared to other coaster sites, as that area is 16,000 square feet, according to South Florida Water Management District mapping tools. For comparison, the same mapping tool shows Freedom Flyer, a suspended inverted coaster at Fun Spot America in Orlando, takes up roughly 35,000 square feet of space. SeaWorld Orlando's Pipeline: The Surf Coaster sits on around 126,000 square feet of space. Still, Wallack didn't appear deterred as he said the coaster has a smaller footprint than other I-Drive attractions — such as the Starflyer at Icon Park. The announcement also comes a year after Wallack confirmed his plan for The Skyplex complex — a mixed-use destination anchored by a 500-foot tower roller coaster — was officially canceled. Financing for Skyplex fell apart during the pandemic, he previously said. The new coaster does not appear to be as ambitious — or have a price tag of $250 million. Wallack also said he plans to use The Skyplex land — primarily on the northeast corner of I-Drive and Sand Lake Road — as a staging area for the ride's construction process and piece it together at Mango’s. “We are lucky to have the available land close by,” he said. “But even if we didn’t own it, most of the time people who own vacant lots, they’ll take some rent for someone to do construction lay down work.” Peter Weishar, director of the themed experience programs at the University of Central Florida, said he does have some questions regarding the logistics of building a roller coaster on Mango’s property. However, he does think it could work as he said S&S Worldwide is a credible ride manufacturer that has a proven, successful track record. “They didn't provide a lot of details about when it would be expected or when construction would start, but the company that does it is a very well-known coaster company that does some quality work,” Weishar said. “So, if it does happen, it would be terrific.” He also said it is a good idea — as it could help entertain tourists who are coming to town but may only be able to spend half a day here. It could also be another option for those who may not want to commit to spending a whole day at a theme park. “I can see it as a very viable idea to have an attraction like this on I-Drive,” Weishar said. The International Drive Pedestrian Bridge is expected to cost more than $35 million. Wallack's new ambitious project accompanies his venture to partner with Orange County to build and speed up the construction of a planned $35.6 million I-Drive pedestrian bridge. The walkway is expected to open by 2030 and will span the intersection of I-Drive and Sand Lake Road — one of the busiest intersections in Central Florida — while connecting to the proposed coaster's area. That intersection also is where Mango’s and the World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's are located. “So, we are continuing down that path with regards to the bridge and with the Mango's project, and we believe that when all is done I-Drive will look like what the two last county mayors intended it to look like — the I-Drive of the future, not the I-Drive of the past,” he said. If both projects are completed — the tourism corridor would dramatically change in image and entertainment offerings, which could help boost visitation-related business.

Day 0 - Beijing Back alley food tour & bus to 1st basecamp hotel: Universal Studios Beijing! part 1 Elissa & Robb had found a local food tour company that was very highly rated, and had made plans to take the tour. She offered to anyone that was arriving early, if they wanted to join in, and I believe we had all 12 spots filled with TPR folks. after a great sleep (thanks to Tylenol PM to knock me out and help prevent jet lag), I got up and got my first look at the actual view from my room. pretty nice. it was nice and cool, and I had slept with windows cracked. . .was loving the weather. but I had an important task to take care of now that I was actually thru Immigration & Customs: China parks tend to be very restrictive on age/weight/height. so anything I could do to make myself look younger, I needed to do. Cutoff age was 49, so needed to look at least that young - or at least tell them I was that young if they asked. Some dyed hair, but for me, that meant shapewear (for weight, since they mainly eyeball), and cutting off the goatee, as I knew that would make me look much younger. and it did I made sure to take note of the warning on the Q-tips the hotel supplied, and was aware of my "ear socket and deep nostril" checked out, and had the hotel hold the bags (as we weren't headed over to Universal until ~3pm, and the food tour started at 11am). we met up in the lobby, and grabbed a pic with Robb, and the cow that was hanging out by the hotel front entrance: my roomie for this trip, Stacy, also did the food tour with us! with excellent Navigation from Elissa, we made our way over to the nearest metro station, and headed to the meeting spot for the food tour. random pics snapped while walking to the metro. this rail system was super easy to understand, and that was true of every major city we took the train in. and it was great to see so many things with English translations, even if the vast majority of the people did not speak English. (translator app is super helpful) we got to our stop about 40 minutes early, so we were cut loose to explore the area and meet back to start the tour at 11. the area in central Beijing is absolutely gorgeous the stop we were to meet at was apparently next to a pretty major landmark - the Central Axis and Wanning Bridge: all over the city there were little "workout" areas and many of them were being used by older folks staying in shape. Andrew and Jon too ! these folks were just hanging out on an afternoon putting on a performance in a music circle. myself and John - he was a huge hit over in China (especially among the kids). . they just hadn't seen a beard like this often. . so lots of folks snapping pics of him. the aforementioned music performance. and yes, the singer really did sound an awful lot like Yoko Ono singing. was very cool to hear tho, and the folks gathered were very appreciative. absolutely no idea why this "Patrick and Spongebob holding each other's cakey-butts" was on this bike, but I saw it several places around Beijing. perhaps a local "graffiti art" type image? Dancing Children, yay!!! Not today, as it was Sunday. . but later in the trip, we'd see so many children in the parks on school trips. back at the station, we snapped a pic with our food guide and then we were off! our first stop down an alley was this tiny (well, they were all pretty small, local places) noodle house. looking around the alley as our guide explained how this local place had been here for many years, and was very popular for their pulled noodles. a peek into the kitchen from the table I sat at. the 12 of us on the tour took up pretty much all the tables in this place, so we were able to learn about the food, and how it's made and should be eaten. mixing everything together. it smelled incredible. as someone who likes spicy, I added chili sauce to mine, but not until after tasting it first, to get the full flavor of the noodles yum! you can tell I just *hated* this the kewl side of the place being so small, is that the owner and chef came out and sat with us to watch us eat and judge our reactions. they were so surprised I asked if I could take their picture. (behind them are pics of Chinese celebrities who have come by this place for noodles) moving on towards our next stop, I did notice that some of the architecture in this neighborhood was very "heavy". . . what I'd expect from a Communist place. . but most of it was not. which made places like this stand out that much more. I truly was surprised how much i enjoyed the people and places in China, and found everyone to be just delightful. (well. . except for that one Disney saleswoman who couldn't understand I wanted to buy a medium shirt for my bf, and kept pointing to my belly and saying "too fat" when I tried to check out with the shirt). LOL our guide explained to us how most of these entrances we were passing in the alleys were homes, and the blue "studs" indicated wealth/prestige. . so the more of them, the higher the rank. many had 1 or 2, but a few had 4. then we turned onto a little strip center and into our 2nd stop: slightly bigger place, and we only took up two of the 4 long tables in here. some of the options, tho we were going to try the first one, a famous Beijing dish called a Door Nail Dumpling (because it looks like a door nail on the Forbidden City giant red doors) our guide explained the history of the dish, how it got it's name. . . and broke out a local alcohol - that was quite strong - for us to try. cheers! here are the Dumplings. and they were OMG so good. . . I think would rank way up there in the top 3 things I ate this entire trip. absolutely delicious back out into the main street, and down another alley way, and we were at our 3rd stop. this one just looked like a doorway. . but as you went back, it split off into multiple houses/restaurants. we sat at a table in the "courtyard". . and were served multiple dishes to make a meal. Pork (or chicken. . not sure which) oh, maybe that one is the chicken? lots of options on the table, and our guide explained the proper way to eat everything. these were a "desert". . which really tasted like a red bean marmalade. it wasn't bad, but it wasn't a favorite of mine. mainly because I really hate being sticky, and you can tell from just looking at these, how sticky it was. here she is explaining procedure to us again, everything was quite good. very low on the "spiciness" level (for me), but really great on flavor. as soon as was done, I had to go wash my hands (the sticky thing). . so got to see my first "traditional" Chinese toilet. ta-da! and then we were on our way back thru the alleys and back onto a main street for our final stop. it wasn't on the main floor tho. . it was on the rooftop (overlooking the historical landmark "Drum Tower") noted, ummmm. . . vampire policeman? I think? adorable that they put "cloud lights" above the stairs as you ascend three flights to the rooftop. the rooftop was lovely - and covered in Astroturf. yup, our final stop was Hot Pot (which many of us on this trip had never had before). . with beef, pork, and tofu options and ADORABLE mustard dipping sauce bowls the aforementioned Drum Tower view from the rooftop dining. food tour over, and myself full, fat, and happy, we headed back to the metro to grab our luggage from the Hilton, and head over to Universal via transfer bus that Elissa had booked. the front of the restaurant entrance that we went into for the rooftop dining. yeah. . the metro was a LITTLE more crowded on the ride back to the Hilton. but the transfer bus was there, and we loaded our luggage and spread out. the official trip didn't start till tomorrow, so 15 or so more folks would be meeting us later at the hotel. pics from the bus window as we left central Beijing (since the Universal resort is on the town outskirts) and it had been dark the night before, so I didn't get to see really any of the city just a tiny fraction of the apartment buildings, that stretched for miles in every direction around Beijing. and crossing over one of the multiple "moats" that surround the city. and then. . .glimpsed thru the window on the opposite side? we turned into Universal Beijing resort. to be continued. . .

Disneyland Paris has unveiled new details regarding Disney Adventure World, the reimagined Walt Disney Studios Park, including the new Tangled attraction, 14 new dining locations, the new lake Adventure Bay and World of Frozen. Many of these new experiences will debut on March 29th, 2026. Beyond that a new UP! themed attraction and a new Lion King-themed land are still under construction. https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/on-march-29-2026-world-of-frozen-along-with-many-new-experiences-will-open-within-disney-adventure-world-the-reimagined-second-park-at-disneyland-paris/ On March 29, 2026, World of Frozen – along with many new experiences – will open within Disney Adventure World, the reimagined second park at Disneyland® Paris A historic date for Europe’s number one tourist destination, which, upon completion of its transformation, will have roughly doubled the size of its second park, offering experiences that push the boundaries of storytelling. 125 days before Walt Disney Studios Park transforms into Disney Adventure World with the opening of Adventure Way — a majestic new main avenue featuring entertainment, a brand-new attraction inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film Tangled, 14 new dining locations — and the debut of an immense lake called Adventure Bay, with a breathtaking nighttime spectacular. The highlight of this expansion, the impressive brand-new World of Frozen, will fully immerse guests into the heart of the iconic films. The Kingdom of Arendelle, recreated on a life-size scale, will feature a new family-friendly attraction, a daytime show, a royal encounter with queens Anna and Elsa, interactions with beloved characters including a true-to-size Olaf made possible thanks to next-generation robotic figures demonstrated today by Walt Disney Imagineering team, a tavern, and shops. This monumental expansion is set to captivate and amaze guests at every turn. While Disneyland Park® continues to evolve by bringing the magic of timeless stories and enchanted tales to life, the destination’s second park – now reimagined – will transport guests into the worlds inspired by Disney Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, and Marvel Studios films they love where they can experience unforgettable adventures. Renamed Disney Adventure World from March 29, 2026 it will welcome guests to three spectacular immersive lands: the new World of Frozen, the colorful Worlds of Pixar, and the epic Marvel Avengers Campus, which will later be joined by a fourth world inspired by the classic Disney Animation film The Lion King. The transformation of more than 90% of the second park’s offerings since 2002 illustrates the ongoing ambition of Disneyland® Paris to reinvent itself and enhance the guest experience. As Natacha Rafalski, Présidente of Disneyland® Paris, explains: “March 29, 2026 will mark a historic milestone for Disneyland® Paris with the transformation of our second park into Disney Adventure World, and the opening of its spectacular new expansion, featuring World of Frozen. With this step, we’re pursuing the most ambitious transformation in our resort’s history, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and inviting guests to live their own adventures in the extraordinary worlds of Disney Animation, Pixar, and Marvel. This marks a new era for Europe’s number one tourist destination, filled with deeper storytelling, stronger emotions, and unforgettable moments. Supported by our €2 billion investment plan, this expansion reflects a bold creative vision, made possible thanks to the talent of Walt Disney Imagineering and the passion of our Cast Members who bring our stories to life through their dedication and creativity. Together, we’re reinventing how our guests experience Disney Animation, Pixar, and Marvel worlds, bringing to life the emotions that only Disney can inspire.” "Top Must-Dos at Disney Adventure World" Visit Arendelle, meet Anna and Elsa and the villagers, set sail on a musical boat ride and sing “Let It Go” at the top of your lungs Be dazzled by the new nighttime spectacular over the lake Spin in gondolas beneath a sky filled with lanterns in the new attraction inspired by Disney Animation’s Tangled Delight your taste buds in the company of Disney Princesses, at Regal View Restaurant & Lounge, some appearing in stunning never-before-seen outfits at Disneyland® Paris. Take a selfie with Spider-Man, and have fun interactions with Super Heroes like Thor and Black Panther at Marvel Avengers Campus Experience highly theatrical shows such as TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure, Mickey and Mickey and the Magician. Dance with Minnie Mouse and the Disney Marching Band, meet Mickey Mouse dressed in his new Victorian outfit and share a special moment with Rapunzel and Flynn’s Musical Encounter Top Unexpected"Experiences at Disney Adventure World" Befriend Rúna, a troll, at the Fjord View Shop Send a Snowflower Festival postcard from Arendelle Enjoy park’s very first lounge, with panoramic lake views, at The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge Climb aboard a giant champagne cork and gather around a gigantic jar of jam for an ir-rat-ional culinary experience at Bistrot Chez Rémy EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES AWAIT OUR GUESTS At Disney Adventure World, the greatest Disney Animation, Pixar and Marvel stories come to life. After experiencing the excitement of a Hollywood premiere in World Premiere – the new themed entrance unveiled last May – and celebrating these tales in the dazzling shows at World Premiere Plaza, guests can now dive into their favorite stories, becoming the heroes of their own adventures in the immersive lands of Disney Adventure World. World of Frozen will push the boundaries of storytelling. Every detail has been designed to recreate the iconic scenes and locations of the Frozen films, one of the most popular stories ever produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios. During their visit, guests will participate in a one-of-a-kind celebration: the Snowflower Festival, bringing the entire village of Arendelle to life, specially decorated for the occasion. “World of Frozen is more than just inspired by the film; it truly brings the kingdom of Arendelle to life. Working together across disciplines, our Imagineers combined creativity and attention to detail to craft a world that captures the spirit of the story and feels real and immersive. We’re very proud to see the castle, the village, and the North Mountain become reality, and we can’t wait for our guests to step into this world and be part of the story.” - Michel den Dulk, Vice-President and Portfolio Executive Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering Paris IMMERSIVE ARCHITECTURE Architecturally, guests will discover the majestic 118-foot-tall (36 meters) North Mountain, crowned by Elsa’s Ice Palace. At its base lies the village of Arendelle, with its lively town square framed by colorful Nordic-inspired buildings and sparkling water spots. Villagers, accompanied by a symphonic reinterpretation of the films’ iconic songs played throughout the village, will guide guests to Arendelle Bay, the Fountain of Friendship, or Arendelle Castle decorated with its iced decorations, designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and brought to life by UK Loco, a British company specializing in immersive decor. Subtle floral motifs and rosemaling, a traditional Norwegian decorative art, will adorn facades and moldings with refined craftsmanship. Inspired by Scandinavian landscapes, the landscaping will contribute to storytelling with conifers, birches, beeches, and crocuses, recreating the atmosphere of the animated films’ settings. This journey, punctuated by beloved songs such as “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Let It Go” will reunite visitors with some of the kingdom’s most beloved characters: Olaf, Sven, and Kristoff. The ride will travel from the snowy forest to the Valley of the Trolls, through Elsa’s dazzling Ice Palace, before ending with a spectacular finale in Arendelle Bay lit by snowflake-shaped fireworks. Frozen Ever After will feature cutting-edge technology, including state-of-the-art Audio-Animatronics figures delivering breathtakingly lifelike performances. Numerous lighting and sound effects, along with new immersive projection technologies currently being programmed by Walt Disney Imagineering, will provide a visually and emotionally stunning experience for all. A NEW FAMILY ATTRACTION At the heart of the village, beneath the Clock Tower, Frozen Ever After attraction will take guests of all ages on a boat ride full of adventures alongside Anna, Elsa, and their friends. INTERACTIONS WITH FROZEN CHARACTERS In World of Frozen, guests will have the unique opportunity to meet Anna and Elsa during a Royal Encounter* in Arendelle Castle. After passing through the famous Portrait Gallery, whose final decorative details are being completed in the coming weeks, they will join the sisters for an exclusive moment, with personal interaction and photo opportunities to create memories that last a lifetime. The festivities will continue in Arendelle Bay with A Celebration in Arendelle, a 15-minute colorful show, presented several times a day for the Snowflower Festival. Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and villagers will take part in the celebrations aboard three majestic Viking longships, developed with Couach Construction Navale, a renowned French shipbuilder from the Bordeaux region. Boat decoration, has been entrusted to artisans who have long collaborated with Disneyland® Paris. Kristoff’s longship, for example, was painted by artisans from Prelud, a historic supplier based near Dijon. This participatory show will invite the audience to sing along with characters from Frozen to iconic songs from the franchise such as “Let It Go” or “Show Yourself”. Exclusively for World of Frozen at Disneyland® Paris, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the multi-award-winning songwriting duo, winners of the Oscar® for Best Original Song for “Let It Go”, have composed new music especially for the show presented on the Bay. They are also behind other iconic songs from the Frozen franchise, including “For the First Time in Forever” and “Into the Unknown,” which have been streamed billions of times worldwide. Throughout the village streets, guests may also encounter other beloved characters such as Oaken, the cheerful shopkeeper and sauna owner with his famous “Hoo-hoo!”, or Mossie, an adorable baby troll who is as curious as he is endearing. During a press conference held on November 24, 2025, at Disneyland® Paris, Bruce Vaughn, President and Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Imagineering, unveiled a next-generation robotic character representing Olaf, the lovable snowman from Frozen. This new Olaf character was created by Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development in close collaboration with Disney Live Entertainment and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Olaf will make appearances in the Arendelle Bay show in World of Frozen, the new immersive world coming soon to Disney Adventure World at Disneyland® Paris, and special limited-time appearances in World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. These advancements in robotics enable Disney to bring iconic characters to life at an unmatched level of believability, engaging with guests and other characters around them, just as they did in the films that won the hearts of millions of viewers around the world. To explore how this innovation came to life, take a look behind the scenes in the latest episode of “We Call It Imagineering,” available now on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel. THE GASTRONOMY OF ARENDELLE The quick-service restaurant Nordic Crowns Tavern will be the perfect spot to take a break and recharge after adventures throughout World of Frozen, while enjoying the warm and welcoming spirit of Arendelle. The decor will trace the history of the kingdom and its royal family through galleries of paintings and many decorative objects. Open for both lunch and dinner, the restaurant will offer a customizable dining experience inspired by Nordic cuisine, with dishes guests can compose to their liking. In total, 16 combinations will be available: a base consisting of mashed potatoes or quinoa; a protein like grilled salmon or Nordic meatballs; seasonal vegetables such as carrots or peas; and one of two sauces to top it all off, tangy cranberry or creamy dill. Nordic Crowns Tavern will also feature a wide range of frosty desserts, from a blue sorbet to vanilla ice cream with customizable toppings, a snowflake dessert, and a selection of Nordic pastries. Gluten-free options and vegan alternatives will also be available, reflecting the diverse culinary offering at Disneyland® Paris. SOUVENIRS FROM ARENDELLE Arendelle Boutique, the village’s iconic toy shop, whose decoration and furnishings progress week by week, will offer, alongside must-have Frozen merchandise, an exclusive selection of creations inspired by Scandinavian craftsmanship. Guests will find wooden sculptures, clothing, and objects adorned with elegant rosemaling motifs. For those wishing to stroll through Arendelle in style, a collection reinterpreting Nordic dress codes will be available, featuring embroidered garments and accessories with floral patterns. Before continuing their adventure, guests will also be able to share their experience by sending a postcard from the village mailbox located beside the shop. BEFRIEND RÚNA BABY TROLL TOY Just steps from the boats moored in Arendelle Bay, the Fjord View Shop will feature a unique experience: meeting Rúna, an interactive baby troll toy. After a meeting ceremony, guests will acquire and head home with their new interactive companion. Equipped with the latest technology, Rúna will react to touch, blink its eyes, move its ears, light up, and communicate with other trolls it encounters. Exclusively in World of Frozen, it will also interact with the iconic locations of Arendelle, the villagers, and Queens Anna and Elsa. In this new shop, a special area will invite guests to get ready for the festival with themed make-up and hairstyles, the perfect way to wander the village in style and festive spirit. Beyond World of Frozen, guests will live unforgettable adventures in the extraordinary Pixar and Marvel universes: ADVENTURE BAY: A MAJESTIC 7.5-ACRE LAKE At Disney Adventure World, immersive lands such as World of Frozen will be set around Adventure Bay, the beating heart of the park’s expansion. This central lake will offer breathtaking vistas, and its shores, extending from Adventure Way, will come alive with unforgettable character experiences during the day. As night descends, the lake comes alive with reflections of light and color, inviting visitors to linger along its tranquil shores before it transforms into a dazzling open-air stage for a new nighttime spectacular. CHARACTER ACTIVATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY On the banks of Adventure Bay, the West Pavilion will provide a relaxing space inspired by early 20th-century architecture, where guests can meet Mickey or Minnie, dressed in their brand-new Victorian outfits currently being crafted by Cast Members at the Disneyland® Paris Costume Workshop. Shortly after its opening on March 29, 2026 , additional Disney characters will join the lakeside fun, making this new space a place of enchantment both day and night. DISNEY CASCADE OF LIGHTS, THE SECOND NIGHTIME SHOW AT DISNEYLAND® PARIS At nightfall*, as Adventure Bay will fall into darkness, something extraordinary will awaken. Barges, quietly gliding into position, will set the stage for a brand new, never-before-seen nighttime spectacular: Disney Cascade of Lights. More than just a show, this spectacular is designed as an emotional journey – an invitation for every guest to believe in their own inner strength, to embrace wonder, and to feel the power of storytelling in a way only Disney can deliver. Designed as the grand finale to each day at Disney Adventure World, the show will deliver an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages. Designed in a 360° configuration, with tiered viewing areas, it allows visitors to enjoy exceptional views from around the bay. Pushing the boundaries of innovation, the production will feature the world’s first integration of a revolutionary aquatic drone system along with next-generation aerial drones, creating breathtaking choreographies that unfold simultaneously across the sky and the water. This new production will invite every guest to step into the story and embrace their own heroic journey, inspired by the courage and determination of stories including Disney Animation’s Mulan, Hercules, Moana, and Zootopia, Pixar’s Up, and from the Marvel Universe. This show will combine immersive staging with cutting-edge effects to create an experience unique to Disneyland® Paris. Guests will enjoy unprecedented proximity to a wide range of elements, including water screens, choreographed fountains, large-scale projections, dynamic lighting, special effects, and pyrotechnics. At its centerpiece, a world-exclusive ballet of 379 drones, developed in collaboration with official technology provider Dronisos, will illuminate the sky and water with intricate formations and dazzling choreography. New aquatic drone technology has been created exclusively for the new show, in keeping with the resort’s continued focus on innovation in entertainment. The experience will be brought to life with a powerful soundtrack, recorded by a 90-piece orchestra. Featuring new arrangements of beloved Disney music, the score includes an original adaptation of “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana as well as an entirely new anthem created for the show, “We Can Be Heroes.” Together, these elements will showcase an unprecedented blend of technology, artistry, and storytelling, establishing the production as a new milestone in Disney nighttime entertainment. In the coming months, the entertainment team will undertake extensive rehearsals to perfect the seamless choreography of aerial and aquatic drones, combined with cutting-edge special effects, ensuring a breathtaking experience from the very start of the expansion. ADVENTURE WAY: THE NEW MAIN AVENUE OF DISNEY ADVENTURE WORLD A true prelude to Disney Adventure World’s experiences, Adventure Way will link World Premiere Plaza and its many theatrical shows to the park’s various lands: Marvel Avengers Campus, Worlds of Pixar, and World of Frozen. This new main avenue will feature a brand-new attraction, a wide array of dining with 14 culinary experiences, lush green spaces perfect for relaxation, and a rich variety of entertainment. THE NEW ATTRACTION: RAIPONCE TANGLED SPIN Adventure Way will host Raiponce Tangled Spin, a brand-new family attraction inspired by the Disney Animation film Tangled. Designed for dreamers of all ages, this ride will bring to life one of the film’s most iconic moments: the Lantern Festival. Seated in finely sculpted gondolas, guests will whirl gracefully beneath a sky illuminated with floating lanterns, surrounded by frescoes depicting Rapunzel’s adventures. Accompanied by legendary music from the film, including “I See the Light,” guests will spin and twirl, immersed in the romantic atmosphere of the Festival. Mandy Moore, the original voice of Rapunzel, has specially recorded audio announcements for the attraction, adding an authentic touch. A CULINARY EXPERIENCE WITH THE DISNEY PRINCESSES Before continuing their adventures in Disney Adventure World, guests can relax and enjoy a delicious meal at the new table-service restaurant located on Adventure Way: The Regal View Restaurant & Lounge. This elegant venue will welcome guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a refined atmosphere, decorated with embroidered drapes, floral tapestries, delicate wood moldings, and impressive murals illustrating Disney Princesses such as Snow White, Tiana, Moana and more. Guests of all ages will also have the chance to meet some of these Disney Princesses—such as Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Merida (Brave), Jasmine (Aladdin), Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), Mulan (Mulan), or Ariel (The Little Mermaid)—to share unforgettable moments. Some Princesses, such as Aurora or Ariel, will be wearing stunning never-seen- before looks at Disneyland Paris. Every detail has been meticulously designed by Imagineers, such as the ornamental plates reflecting the world of each Disney Princess. These were hand-crafted by Royal Delft, the renowned Dutch porcelain manufacturer and official supplier to the Dutch royal family. The magnificent canopy above the restaurant’s entrance was created by Schaffner workshops in Alsace, whose expertise in artistic ironwork dates back to the early 19th century. This new restaurant will also offer some tables with ideal views of Adventure Bay, making it a perfect spot to enjoy dinner while admiring Disney Cascade of Lights, the new nighttime show set to illuminate Disney Adventure World. The chef and culinary team are currently finalizing the menu to ensure it harmonizes perfectly with this exceptional new setting. THE FIRST BAR INSIDE THE PARKS The Regal View Lounge, the very first bar located inside either of the two Disneyland® Paris parks, will offer guests a relaxing break in a bright space adorned with royal-blue hues. An elegant wooden bar with golden accents will anchor the room, surrounded by paintings and illustrations honoring the beloved animal companions of Disney Princesses, such as Heihei (Moana), Pascal (Tangled), and Mushu (Mulan). Guests can sip a signature cocktail or explore a variety of drinks inspired by Disney Princesses’ personalities, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the lake and World of Frozen, accompanied by piano renditions of Disney classics. MORE FLAVORS TO DISCOVER At Disney Adventure World, guests will embark on a culinary journey of creativity, innovation, and discovery. The 14 food and beverage locations along Adventure Way will showcase new and exclusive offerings at Disneyland® Paris. La Terrasse Panoramique will invite guests to enjoy bread bowls, New York rolls, and a selection of hot beverages. Café Luminosity will debut an original hot dog concept with four signature recipes, complemented by sweet treats like cinnamon rolls. To round out the experience, three kiosks, five chalets, and several mobile carts will line the area, offering diverse creations such as filled brioche rolls, stuffed potato waffles, and whimsical Disney Princess-inspired desserts. POETIC GARDENS AND ENTERTAINMENT Adventure Way will also feature themed gardens celebrating some of Disney and Pixar’s most beloved stories, blending nature and poetry. Guests of all ages can stroll through charming, landscaped areas such as the Tangled Garden or Toy Story Garden, the latter adorned with two monumental statues of Woody and Jessie. Trees and shrubs carefully trimmed into toy shapes will create playful scenery, naturally leading into Toy Story Playland. At The Gazebo Garden, guests will enjoy peaceful moments in an English-style setting, complete with bronze statues honoring Disney Animation films inspired by classic British stories such as Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Throughout the year, this garden will come alive with music: Rapunzel and Flynn’s Musical Encounter in spring; Mary Poppins and the Pearly Band in summer; Miguel’s Fiesta Latina in fall; and, starting November 2026, character greetings with other Disney icons. The Disney Marching Band, a lively marching band led by Minnie Mouse and her 12 musicians on percussion and brass, will parade down Adventure Way, delighting guests with pop and modern renditions of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel songs, adding a festive touch to an already magical promenade. A BESPOKE SOUNDTRACK Upon entering Adventure Way, guests will be welcomed by a brand-new musical score composed especially for this promenade. This original 40-minute theme, recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, will offer guests a truly magical interlude at the heart of Disney Adventure World THE FUTURE OF DISNEY ADVENTURE WORLD IS ALREADY TAKING SHAPE “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” – Walt Disney Starting March 29, 2026 Disney Adventure World will offer guests a rich journey of adventures. But the story doesn’t end there: Disneyland® Paris is already preparing the next chapters, always guided by the ambition to continually enrich the guest experience. A NEW ATTRACTION INSPIRED BY UP Upcoming next, a family-friendly attraction inspired by Pixar’s Up will join Adventure Way. This flying carousel will add motion and energy to the promenade, offering families yet another whimsical experience to enjoy together. AN IMMERSIVE WORLD INSPIRED BY THE LION KING Later, Disney Adventure World will welcome the first themed area dedicated to The Lion King, one of Disney Animation’s most beloved films worldwide and especially in Europe. This new universe, whose construction began in fall 2025, will feature a major attraction combining water-based thrills with next-generation Audio-Animatronics® figures, plunging guests deep into the Pride Lands to follow Simba’s adventures, set to the unforgettable songs of the 1994 masterpiece.

after a bit of a break. . continuing on with last year's Oktoberfest trip! (i know, I know. . . but whattayagonnado???) Day 6: Leaving Munich and headed to Europa Park! not too early of a check out, but up and out early, saying goodbye to Munich and climbing aboard the buss for the drive to Europa Park (about a 3 1/2 hour drive) Elissa surprised us during the drive with everyone getting a gingerbread cookie medallion to congratulate us on surviving Oktoberfest looking out the window and enjoying the beautiful German countryside these tiny tractors on a transport next to us were adorable! we made a pit stop at a roadside rest area for a lunch break and were rewarded with some beautiful views from the back patio of the Burger King there: and if this hadn't freaked me out so much, I would have bought it. . . FASHION!!! very soon tho, we were arriving at Europa Park! this trip we were staying at the Coloseo - the Roman themed resort . . and it, like the park, was all done up for Halloween. the view out of the front of the hotel, looking at the resort across the street (where I had stayed my prior visit to Europa with TPR), and the back of the Water/coaster ride from Mack. getting to my room. . the view out the window. not of the park this time, but it was really quite lovely, and that street was not noisy at all. simple, but very heavily themed rooms here. I'd expect no less from Europa Park, and they exceeded my expectation. solo room this trip, so no need for the bunk beds. . . but loved the design of them. BRILLIANT placement of Vitruvian Man, making use of the mirror to complete the image. it was around this time that we got a message from Robb - the park (and Robb/Elissa) were surprising us with admittance to the park for the last hour of operation (if we wanted) and some ERT on Voltron, the newest coaster. of course, I think pretty much everyone wanted, and we all met in the lobby and headed over to the resort entrance to go into the park. the park is HEAVILY decorated with over 1 million pumpkins (I recall them telling me) - and after Halloween, guests are encouraged to take pumpkins home with them! it was chilly, but that didn't stop people from riding the flume - newly open and rebuilt after a fairly recent fire took out almost the whole ride the prior summer. where would we head? we had just under an hour before we were supposed to meet up at Voltron. so many of us headed towards Wodan (one of the best wooden coasters in the world) and Blue Fire. Splash battle wasn't popular this late in the day - and at this temp.. but still get some great pics of the park's incredible theming. the main entrance to Wodan (and there is a free haunt back there too, for those that don't want to pay the upcharge for Traumatica - which was worth EVERY PENNY by the way). But that's what that smoke is from, the free haunt. it really is such an amazing coaster, and the theming in the queue is great as well. happy TPR folks, about to ride Wodan! Christopher loved it! so did I ! following the arc of the park, to head to Voltron, we had to pass Blue Fire. so of COURSE! again, happy TPR folks about to go on Blue Fire I do like this coaster a lot. . that last heartline roll tho? that part I don't care for. having just ridden a clone of it in China, can confirm, yeah, I don't like that last heartline roll. LOL passing by the Blue Fire entrance again after riding. . yeah, they have blue sheep on the roof. why? Europa Park! that's why theming *everywhere* and shortly, we were standing in front of Voltron. . . it's quite intimidating right out front. it was right near closing time for the park, hence why not a lot of folks around in these pics. and you really can't tell how long it is. . it is a long ride capturing Euro Mir and Voltron trains in the same pic. Sadly, I think I just saw something about Europa will be removing Euro Mir to replace it with a new coaster. gahhh!!! TPR is ready to ride Voltron! Yay!!! after our rides, the park allowed us to peek into the main queue line and snap some pics, and observe the "singing" Tesla Coils that trigger while folks wait in line. it was so cool to have this opportunity. what did I think of Voltron ? it's really intense. . . I liked it a lot, but I wasn't able to ride every train during our surprise ERT. . .I did every 3rd train. in particular, the "wing" seats were the most intense. . .it's good tho! especially that "turntable / launch" section that is hidden, and then you realize the ride isn't over and you haven't returned to the station. after our rides, we headed back to the hotel, as we had a buffet dinner planned, and a 1st - a TPR speed puzzling competition, organized by William. loved the theming in the park tho, and kept stopping for pics. "Angry Corn" more angry corn!

Man I am loving what Herschend is doing here!

Kentucky Kingdom has announced Flying Fox, a new Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster for 2026! https://www.kentuckykingdom.com/media-room/new-family-roller-coaster-flying-fox/ Kentucky Kingdom is taking family fun to new heights with the debut of its first new roller coaster since 2019, adding to the continued investment in the park. Today, the park officially announced Flying Fox, an all-new family-friendly coaster opening for the 2026 season. This custom coaster will be the park’s 6th rollercoaster, the most in Kentucky. Join the daring adventures of local legend and crop-dusting pilot, Jeb Fox, as Flying Fox sends riders soaring over a vibrant Kentucky farmland setting. Every detail of the attraction has been carefully designed by Herschend’s in-house creative team, known for bringing stories to life in ways that feel both authentic and whimsical. From the red barn-inspired queue to hand painted murals and playful audio featuring Jeb himself, the theming celebrates Kentucky’s agricultural heritage while adding a lighthearted twist aimed for families to enjoy. “At Kentucky Kingdom, our mission is to create memories worth repeating, and the addition of Flying Fox is the next exciting chapter in that journey,” said Sarah Worrell, General Manager of Kentucky Kingdom. “With the debut of Discovery Meadow in 2025, we set a new standard for immersive, family- friendly experiences, and Flying Fox builds on that momentum. This new coaster represents not only our continued investment in the park, but also our commitment to transforming Kentucky Kingdom into a place where families can return year after year and always find something new to discover.”

I didn't get to the park this year but am happy to hear that they are taking care of general punch list maintenance. Going all the way back to when SF originally owned the park, those general maintenance items were not really being done. It would be nice to have a new coaster or even flat ride but there is also something to be said about a park where all rides are operational 90% of the time

Disneyland Paris has shared an update about their current refurbishment of Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast which is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year! https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/a-major-refurbishment-for-buzz-lightyear-laser-blast-until-the-end-of-2025/ A major refurbishment for Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast until the end of 2025 Attention, Space Rangers! Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast has closed its doors for a major refurbishment, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025. Here’s a sneak peek at the extensive work being carried out! Over the coming months, teams from Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, Maintenance, and Central Workshops will be working extensively on this interactive Discoveryland attraction, a favourite among guests of Disneyland® Paris. Many aspects will undergo major upgrades – or even complete replacements – to ensure the best possible guest experience. A Refreshed Star Command The attraction’s highly stylized façade, covered in radars, energy-collecting towers, and futuristic pillars that represent Star Command’s space station, will be repainted – along with the marquee and the iconic nearly -two-meter-tall Buzz Lightyear statue. The neon lighting on the five towers and radar dishes will also be completely redone to provide even more vibrant lighting. Thorough Work on the XP-41 Space Cruisers Guests will benefit from newer technology in their mission to defend the toy galaxy from the evil Emperor Zurg: all current Astro Blasters, which allow them to shoot targets, will be completely dismantled and replaced. Additionally, many of the ride vehicles will be repainted and equipped with new dashboards featuring improved displays. A Brighter Galaxy in Focus This fantastic space adventure will return brighter than ever: inside the attraction, lighting will be completely overhauled with the replacement of all spotlights and the refurbishment of special lighting effects. Some of the targets – used by guests to score points in the battle against Zurg and his army of toy robots – will also be replaced with new ones, offering improved precision and performance. Beyond these changes, many other technical and visual aspects of the attraction will be refurbished during this closure, including the restoration of several Audio-Animatronics®. Over the coming months, all teams involved in this ambitious project will be hard at work to bring Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast back in top form by the end of 2025.