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Yesterday Raglan Road hosted TPR and other outlets for a preview of this weekend's Mighty St. Patrick's Festival. This annual festival has been running at Raglan Road Pub for 17 of the 18 years that the Pub has operated at Disney Springs, and each year the offerings expand with new acts and new food and beverage options, all on top of what already makes Raglan Road a special place to visit year round. The Mighty St. Patrick's Festival takes place this year between March 16th and March 19th! One of my favorite places to eat and drink in Orlando! We had an opportunity to sample some Raglan Road favorites as well as new menu items, starting with the Berry UnIrish (a non-alcoholic drink featuring muddled blackberries, fresh lemon juice, rosemary & honey syrup and sparkling lemon Pellegrino) and the Misty Irish Eyed (a mixture of Irish Mist honey, Grace O'Malley gin, Italicus, lemon sour & prosecco). While a normal visit to Raglan Road is filled with entertaining musical and dancing acts, during the Mighty St. Patrick's Festival, the schedule is filled from end to end authentic Irish entertainment! In what I could best compare to a savory cupcake, the Truly Scrumpet Goat Fig features caramelized (torched!) goat's cheese with a fig & port jam on a chive scrumpet with walnuts, pickled beets & poached figs). This was easily the most unique and standout taste of evening! "That Salad with Seared Beef" was a surprising combination of flavors, textures and perfectly prepared ingredients. I'd happily order a plate of this during my next visit! A staple on the Raglan Road menu for many years, the Dalkey Duo is a perfect Dalkey mustard beer battered Cheshire Heritage pork sausage served with Dalkey mustard mayo and buffalo apple sauce. These battered sausages are heavy and filling but the rich batter and unique sausage make them perfectly addicting bites that you'll definitely want to keep digging into. There's lots to see and hear while dining at Raglan Road! The center of the restaurant gives guests an up-close chance to experience all the fun of the pub. The Seafood Sharing Board offers a selection of sesame crusted tuna, smoked fish cakes, "The Pink Panko" (panko crusted seared salmon) and the "Kiss Before Shrimp" (a garlicky-bathed set of shrimp bites with toast). It is always a pleasure to hear from the owners of Raglan Road Pub. The restaurant along with the attached shop, bars and Cookes of Dublin quick service venue are all owned an operated independently of any larger corporation. The venues operate out of scratch kitchens so you know everything is served at its freshest. Much of the staff and entertainers are Irish and the menus offer authentic tastes of Irish heritage with modern flair. Clare Sands (pictured right) is a 6ht generation fiddler, bilingual singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist who is performing daily along with her sister (pictured left) during the Mighty St. Patrick's Festival before moving on to perform in New York, Washington D.C., the United Kingdom and Europe. We capped off our tasting experience with the Guinness Chocolate Cake, made up of dark chocolate, soda bread ice cream and a whiskey caramel sauce. There is no better place to experience authentic Irish step-dancing than at Raglan Road Pub. Defying gravity. Step-dancing isn't reserved to the main stage, with a center stage to put guests in the center of the action. A truly unique experience! Thanks again to Raglan Road for hosting us for another fantastic evening! Be sure to check out the Mighty St. Patrick's Festival this weekend, or if you can't make it before then, don't hesitate to add the Pub to your future Orlando plans--you won't regret it!

It has been announced that Rogers: The Musical, a one-act musical inspired by the show of the same name in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is coming to Disney California Adventure for a limited run this summer! https://www.marvel.com/articles/culture-lifestyle/rogers-the-musical-disneyland-resort-summer-2023 For anyone out there who has long dreamed of seeing a real-life production of Rogers: The Musical, your dreams are about to come true. Starting this summer for a limited-time engagement, a short one-act version of Rogers: The Musical will debut on the Hyperion Stage inside California Adventure Park. More details will be announced at a later date, but Disney Parks shared a small tease of what’s to come when the Avengers step into the spotlight. The fictitious musical all about the life of Steve Rogers, the first Captain America, first debuted in the Disney+ original series, Hawkeye. In the show, all the Avengers are invited to New York for the premiere of the brand new, showstopping musical but only Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, shows up. The MIA Avengers don’t know what they’re missing, though, as viewers are treated to a musical number based on The Battle of New York…though a few creative liberties have been taken here and there. More details regarding the storyline, music, and debut date will be shared in the future and it’s sure to be a SMASH. SMASH. SMAAAAASH.

Walibi Belgium has announced a major expansion project for the Aqualibi water park! https://walibibelgium.prezly.com/grand-projet-dextension-pour-aqualibi MAJOR EXPANSION PROJECT FOR AQUALIBI From December 2023, Aqualibi will host a major extension which mainly consists of the creation of a new tower containing 4 innovative water slides. In addition, several actions are carried out in line with the water park's carbon neutrality trajectory. Overall cost of the project: 30 million euros. A wave of novelties is sweeping over Aqualibi! A first project consists of the extension of nearly 1,000m² of the water park by creating a new tower, approximately 25m high, housing a set of water slides unique in the Benelux. Thrill-seeking swimmers will thus be able, from the end of this year, to discover 4 new experiences ranging from side-by-side sliding competitions in buoys or mats, to a whirlwind adventure in a large funnel, to the push of a adrenaline during a vertiginous propulsion in a wave 18m high! In a second phase, the park will also open an outdoor tropical garden fitted out as a relaxation and dining area. We are very excited to be able to announce such an investment for our water park! These 4 "state-of-the-art" slides all have unique elements in the Benelux - and even in Europe. For example, a toboggan will allow duels of slides in buoys with high-speed ascents thanks to water jet propulsion technology. This new project is perfectly in line with our ambition to strengthen our position as a water park of reference in Belgium, offering an offer rich in sensations for an audience of all ages. Jean-Christophe Parent - Managing Director Walibi Belgium-Aqualibi Net Zero Carbon Trajectory About half of the investment budget is allocated, on the one hand, to the energy efficiency of the water park and, on the other hand, to the decarbonisation of the remaining uses. Since the beginning of the year, several renovation works have been carried out in order to achieve significant energy savings. These include, among other things, the strengthening of current insulation, the replacement of the heating and ventilation system with high-performance systems and the optimization and automation of the operation of energy-consuming installations. In addition to acting on the reduction and improvement of energy performance, Aqualibi wishes to green its inputs through the production of renewable electricity. To do this, a park of photovoltaic panels with an area of more than two football fields (15. 700 m²) will be developed this year at the level of the staff car park, multiplying by 4 the production generated by the existing photovoltaic panel installations. The energy supplied will be used to operate the Aqualibi. Open during carnival holidays A first phase of work will be completed on February 17. Visitors will therefore be able to enjoy the water park during the carnival holidays from February 18 to March 5 . During the school holiday period, Aqualibi will offer 7 nights until 10 p.m. on February 18, 19, 23, 24 & 25 and March 3 & 4 , with various activities for young and old. Then, Aqualibi will still be open until August 27, 2023 before starting a second phase of work between August 28, 2023 and December 21, 2023. Useful information Website: https://www.aqualibi.be/fr/aqualibi-travaux-exceptionnels Closure of Aqualibi for works Phase 1: 09/01/2023 - 17/02/2023 Phase 2: 08/28/2023 - 12/21/2023 Slide manufacturer: ProSlide Technology Inc. https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/d0ddaba1-f954-4025-9257-373c4b0832de/Projet - Extension Aqualibi 2023.mp4

Thorpe Park has announced their newest experience, Ghost Train which will open in the Spring of 2023. This experience replaces the former Derren Brown's Ghost Train attraction which operated for 7 years. https://www.thorpepark.com/explore/theme-park/rides/ghost-train-ride/ Say your final farewell... Depart the mortal world on a one-way ticket beyond the veil into darkness on THORPE PARK Resort’s newest ride experience – Ghost Train. But watch your tracks, death is always one stop ahead. This next generation of Ghost Train will take you on a harrowing ride into the realms beneath THORPE PARK Resort to where the supernatural believers call home. Ghost Train is one of the UK’s longest ride experiences featuring live actors and multisensory effects to create a terrifying attraction like no other! There’s nothing virtual about this petrifying experience, so prepare to meet your maker as you come face-to-face with horrors that dwell within. Opens Spring 2023 Ride FAQs When does Ghost Train open? Ghost Train is set to arrive at Thorpe Junction during Spring 2023, we'll confirm an opening date as soon as we know more. Do you need a timed ticket? What time does the ride open? We will confirm this via our app and website ahead of the ride opening. Has this replaced Derren Brown's Ghost Train? Yes, Ghost Train has replaced Derren Brown's Ghost Train. Does the ride feature VR? No, there's nothing virtual about this petrifying experience! Has the ride experience changed much? Yes, Ghost Train features an entirely new storyline and special effects. Does the ride feature live actors? Yes, live actors are featured throughout the experience. Is Derren Brown involved in the project? No, after seven years Derren Brown's Ghost Train has reached the end of the line and has now departed the island. What is the minimum height/age restriction? We will confirm this via our app and website ahead of the ride opening. Is this wheelchair accessible? Wheelchairs may be taken into the ride; however, the user must be able to transfer onto a ride seat and be able to walk unaided. We are constantly looking at ways to make our rides more accessible and we will update via our website and app should any changes occur in the future. For a video teaser visit: https://www.facebook.com/thorpepark/videos/947649396226321

Gardaland has announced the addition of Jumanji The Labyrinth which will debut in 2023! https://www.gardaland.it/en/jumanji-the-labyrinth/ Are you brave enough to take on the Labyrinth to save Jumanji? Drought threatens the very existence of Jumanji! The rains have stopped falling, the wells have run dry, and the rivers have stopped flowing. Only you can save the day - by returning the sacred gem to the elephant temple, that will bring back the waters flowing back to the land Venture into the Labyrinth where you will have to face the dangers of an ancient temple mirror maze, before stepping into a dark adventure tunnel adventure – but watch out for the spitting snakes! Then finally enter the wild jungle maze, with its innumerable pitfalls and surprises Will you be able to survive the Labyrinth and save Jumanji? Good luck adventurers!

Efteling has announced that an updated scene will be added to De Vliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman) coaster. The new scene will debut on April 1st, 2023. https://www.efteling.com/nl/blog/nieuws/20230202-nieuwe-scene-voor-de-vliegende-hollander Starting April 1, the new scene will have you sailing through a graveyard of derelict shipwrecks. Efteling Designer Karel Willemen explains the design. What do you think the new scene will look like? Karel: “The curtain of rain, where the ghost of a ghost ship suddenly approaches you during the ride, regularly provides extra maintenance. That is why we have chosen to replace this scene during the regular winter maintenance of De Vliegende Hollander. Nice detail: in the new decor we use the large wooden figureheads that were made years ago for the attraction, but which we have not been able to install until now.” The key visual of the new scene in the water attraction De Vliegende Hollander by Efteling Designer Karel Willemen. Audio directs the revamped scene “Previously, the pouring rain drowned out the audio, but in the situation from April 1, we can let the music and soundscapes play a greater role,” Karel continues. “Together with composer René Merkelbach, I looked at whether the existing music still needed to be adapted. We soon found out that it fits the new scene perfectly. We even let the music direct what you see while sailing: lightning strikes to the beat of the music, the water splashes up and the shipwrecks with their immense figureheads loom. I think it will be fantastic.” De Vliegende Hollander will open again on Saturday, April 1, 2023. In honor of the reopening, a new music album will be available on Spotify and other streaming services. Description of the first part of the ride in De Vliegende Hollander After embarking, we sail out of the seventeenth-century harbor in a sloop. We pass two impressive VOC ships and reach the open sea. The starry sky seems to predict a calm weather picture, but nothing could be further from the truth. We get into a dense fog with our sloop and hear lugubrious ghosts all around us and their echoes from past, present and future. In the distance, a ship's bell sounds panicked… When we sail out of the fog bank, we see driftwood floating in the night darkness, barrels and boxes on which ship rats have taken refuge. Then: a lightning strike! The seawater splashes meters up and the bright light briefly shows us a shipwreck with a mouldering, angelic figurehead. We are sailing through a ship graveyard! A second and third lightning strike reveals in a short flash several wrecks and figureheads that seem to sing to us like Sirens. Then suddenly: darkness and ominous silence, we hold our breath! Frontally in front of us, De Vliegende Hollander looms with much fanfare and comes straight at us. The infamous ghost ship, with a smoldering figurehead in the form of a bloodthirsty lion, was waiting for us, pulling us in and swallowing us! We crash into the depths of the underworld; the darkest part of the soul of De Vliegende Hollander… About The Flying Dutchman Since 2007 you can defy the age-old legend of ghost ship De Vliegende Hollander in this spectacular water roller coaster. At the beginning of 2004, a start will be made on the attraction on the site of the former open-air swimming pool. Karel Willemen is designing a harbor town with a 22.5 meter high tower for this purpose. A dune landscape and De Kombuys with terrace complete the surroundings. The Flying Dutchman tells the story of the greedy VOC captain, Willem van der Decken. Against all rules, he sails to the East on Easter Sunday 1678, in the middle of a heavy storm. His ship turns into a fiery ghost ship doomed to sail the world's seas forever. An encounter with this ship in the adventure attraction is not excluded at all…

And while that may be true... What about what the ride actually is justifies the other five years of development?

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced that Serengeti Flyer will be opening on February 27th, 2023! https://buschgardens.com/tampa/rides/serengeti-flyer/ Have you heard about the record-breaking Serengeti Flyer coming to Busch Gardens February 27, 2023? With each swing, riders will soar higher and higher above Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s expansive 65-acre Serengeti Plain while experiencing multiple negative-G moments before plunging back toward the Earth. If you have an Annual Pass and have been collecting your Passport to Thrills tickets, your exclusive time to ride is almost here! Guests who have visited Busch Gardens Tampa Bay one time each in December and January AND collected those tickets, have until February 23, 2023 to collect their February ticket. Come back on February 24, 2023 from 10am – 2pm and present your December, January, and February tickets for entry into the exclusive Passport to Thrills event. The event includes the FIRST opportunity for Pass Members to ride Serengeti Flyer, free popcorn, soda, button, and more. February tickets will not be distributed on February 24, 2023.

While I don't disagree... It doesn't feel like any part of it was so revolutionary that it required eight years to open.

Today Merlin Entertainments announced "The Curse at Alton Manor" as the new ride-through haunted house dark ride that will open at Alton Towers this Spring. https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/newsroom/news-releases/2023/alton-towers-new-dark-ride/ The Curse at Alton Manor is the official name of the new attraction and is set to be the Resort’s most immersive dark ride to date. An eerie image of the new ride-through haunted house has also been unveiled which hints at what’s to come with the attraction when it launches this Spring. The Resort is keeping ride details, including the backstory of the Manor’s sinister past under wraps for now, however it has said it will be a haunting ride which will frighten and excite both brave youngsters AND adults, as it takes them on a hair-raising journey through the spectacular twists and turns of the cursed manor. Although there is limited information around what to expect with the ride, creators of The Curse at Alton Manor are said to have found new and unimaginable ways to scare and surprise fans, with special effects and visuals that have never been seen before from a UK theme park. The spooky site where Alton Manor resides was once home to the attraction Duel, however the ride was abruptly closed after the building was repossessed last year due to unnatural activity in the area. Although information around the strange goings-on inside the house is limited, the image offers a set of clues about what’s in store for fans who dare to ride The Curse at Alton Manor, but The Resort is leaving it up to fans to figure this out. “Let the countdown begin! The Curse at Alton Manor is no ordinary dark ride. It has all the components of a supernatural tale - it’s dark, compelling and promises some thrilling and scary moments along the way. Fans of eerie rides will certainly appreciate this one. More details on The Curse at Alton Manor will be revealed next month, so stay tuned for what’s to come.” - KATE MCBIRNIE, HEAD OF PRODUCT EXCELLENCE AT ALTON TOWERS RESORT Alton Towers Resort is renowned for providing world-class attractions for guests of all ages, including Wicker Man, the UK’s first wooden rollercoaster to be built in over 20 years, Oblivion, the world’s first vertical drop rollercoaster and The Smiler, the world’s first 14 loop rollercoaster, to name a few. The Staffordshire based theme park continues to welcome millions of guests from across the globe, delivering memorable and unique experiences and events each season.

Universal Orlando has announced details for this year's Universal's Mardi Gras, which will feature concerts, a parade, food, live music and new offerings that extend the fun beyond Universal Studios Florida to the other parks and resorts! https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/events/mardi-gras We’re Going Beyond the Bayou for Mardi Gras! What’s even more exciting than Mardi Gras? Universal’s Mardi Gras! We’re going beyond the bayou with an awesome party inspired by Carnaval celebrations from around the world. Watch a parade (on select nights) of spectacular floats. Sample flavors from the bayou to Brazil and beyond. Enjoy live music all around and concerts (on select nights), then go ahead and get your beads and your party on! Prices, times, dates, entertainment, event and/or experience details are subject to changes and/or cancellation without notice. Daytime and Nighttime Fun at Universal Studios Florida At Universal’s Mardi Gras you’ll enjoy a glittering parade and some of the biggest names in music live in concert (both select nights only), along with unforgettable food from around the world (food available for purchase). Don’t Miss the Spectacular Parade The dazzling floats will be rolling, the colorful performers will be moving to the beat, and the beads will be flying. This year’s parade features traditional floats plus six all-new floats straight from New Orleans and the party will bounce! Float Riding You haven’t experienced Mardi Gras until you’ve experienced it from atop one of our spectacular floats. Toss beads to the crowd while you make your way through the streets for an unforgettable time. A limited number of spots are available per night. Reservations will be accepted in-park via the Virtual Line™ experience in the Official Universal Orlando App. Note: There is no Mardi Gras parade on March 31. Food & Beverage Universal CityWalk The Mardi Gras festivities extend to CityWalk with specially-themed food and drink offerings in a number of venues. Must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverage. Mardi Gras Dining at Universal Orlando Hotels The best way to experience Mardi Gras is with a stay at one of Universal Orlando Resort’s spectacular hotels. Whether you’re actually staying as a guest or just stopping in for a delicious meal, you’ll find a variety of tantalizing menu items specially themed for Mardi Gras. Must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Trattoria del Porto CAJUN JAMBALAYA PASTA Shrimp, Smoke Sausage, Chicken, Onions, Peppers, and Mushroom in a Creole Sauce with Fettuccine Pasta MASQUERADE CANNOLI Mixed berry insalada The Thirsty Fish BOULEVARDIER Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Campari, Sweet Vermouth Splendido Bar & Grill MOJITO LAMPONE (Lampone is Italian for raspberry) Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Chambord, simple syrup, raspberry, mint Hard Rock Hotel® The Kitchen BOURBON STREET BEIGNETS Bourbon Caramel Sauce, Powdered Sugar FRENCH 75 Hendrick’s Gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, champagne Velvet Bar N’AWLINS PO’ BOY SLIDERS Smoked Andouille Sausage, Sautéed Peppers and Onions, Cajun Remoulade, Toasted French bread FRENCH 75 Hendrick’s Gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, champagne beachclub HURRICANE Papa’s Pilar Rum, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, grenadine, pineapple, and orange juice Loews Royal Pacific Resort Islands Dining Room KING CAKE PANCAKES Lemon and powdered sugar glaze, spiced walnuts (breakfast only) Orchid Court Lounge & Sushi Bar ORCHID Nikka Gin, St.Germain, Crème de Violet, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Pea Flower Float Tuk Tuk Market CHOCOLATE BOMB Choose from: chocolate and caramel with spiced pecan with Mardi Gras purple, green and gold decor, s’mores or cookies & cream Loews Sapphire Falls Resort Amatista Cookhouse SHRIMP & ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE GUMBO POT PIE Vegetables and Okra Strong Water Tavern CUCUMBER HURRICANE TWIST Light rum, lime juice, midori, sliced cucumber New Dutch Trading Co. TRADITIONAL KING CAKE Universal’s Aventura Hotel Bar 17 Bistro CRAWFISH ETOUFFEE Classic dish of crawfish, the holy trinity of onions, celery and bell pepper served over rice MUFFULETTA SANDWICH Genoa Salami, Mortadella, ham, provolone and swiss cheese, and olive salad Bar 17 Bistro and Bar Ventura HURRICANE Bacardi Superior Rum, Myers’s Original Dark Rum, passion fruit, tropical juices SAZERAC Rye whiskey, absinthe, simple syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Galaxy Bowl Restaurant SHRIMP PO’ BOY WITH ZAPPS CHIPS Crispy Cajun fried shrimp piled on a French baguette and topped with a creole inspired creamy remoulade sauce – add $7 for a choice of 16-ounce Abita draft beer or 12-ounce Abita king cake soda (Also available a la carte) LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER HURRICANE Let the good times roll with Bacardi Light Rum, Cruzan 12yr Single Barrel Rum, passionfruit puree, orange juice and grenadine – served with a 32-ounce souvenir Galaxy Bowl cup Universal's Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites Beach Break Café NEW ORLEANS BBQ SHRIMP & DIRTY RICE A classic creole dish. Sautéed shrimp in a rich butter and Worcestershire sauce on a bed of flavorful Cajun spiced rice with andouille sausage Sand Bar THE ENDLESS CARNIVAL Castillo Silver Rum, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Chinola Passionfruit Liqueur, pineapple juice, orange juice, a pinch of dried blackberries, pineapple wedge and a green sugar rim Universal's Endless Summer Resort - Dockside Inn and Suites Pier 8 NEW ORLEANS CAJUN ROASTED CHICKEN & DIRTY RICE A classic creole dish of Cajun spiced oven roasted half chicken on a bed of flavorful Creole rice with andouille sausage topped with spicy sweet candiedbacon Sunset Lounge, The Oasis Beach Bar and The Wave Maker’s Pool Bar THE ENDLESS CARNIVAL Castillo Silver Rum, Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, Chinola Passionfruit Liqueur, pineapple juice, orange juice, a pinch of dried blackberries, pineapple wedge and a green sugar rim

Temper your expectations. While you’ll be able to experience attractions during your visit, you’re going to wait longer than you would typically (for a Thursday or for any other time of year in general). Things that normally would have minimal wait times will have excessive waits as well. Shows have the potential to fill up during this busy period, so plan accordingly and queue early to ensure you can get in. My best recommendation is to prioritize what really matters to you for your visit and focus on working down that list as best as possible as your day goes on. Rope drop the park so you’re amongst the first people in the gates so you can rush to the most popular attractions before the largest crowds roll in within the next few hours that follow. With only one day, you won’t likely get to do everything you aim to. Also keep in mind that navigating the parks and park hopping will likely take longer than normal as there will be more people in park paths and in the line for entrance turnstiles. Plan ahead. Arrive early/on time. Set realistic expectations and be pleasantly surprised if they’re exceeded. Have a good time.

The announcement post has been updated with more details from Universal including news about a new Minions Cafe and more!

The Universal Orlando Resort has announced the new "Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast" which will open at Universal Orlando in the Summer of 2023! https://corporate.universalparks.com/its-so-much-fun-its-a-crime-universal-orlando-resort-announces-illuminations-villain-con-minion-blast-a-first-of-its-kind-diabolical-family-attraction-inspired-by-illuminations-popular-mi/ Next summer, guests will engage in loads of diabolical fun for kids, teens and adults as part of Universal Orlando Resort’s newest attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. Developed in partnership between Universal’s award-winning creative team and the acclaimed filmmakers from Illumination, this interactive, blaster game experience will invite guests to put their villainous skills to the test as they compete against each other in a bid to join the ranks of the franchise’s most infamous supervillains. Villain-Con Minion Blast combines innovative screen technology, state-of-the-art gaming interactivity and elaborate physical sets to create a one-of-a-kind, game-based adventure where guests encounter immersive environments, nefarious villains and tons of mischievous Minions from Illumination’s films in a whole new way. The world-class attraction transports guests to Villain-Con – the biggest criminal convention on the planet – to take part in an epic competition to see if they have what it takes to become the newest member of The Vicious 6, a notorious group of supervillains from the hit film, “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” Guests who are up for the challenge will grab an interactive blaster and step onto a motion-based pathway to put their skills to the test. They’ll wind and glide through various scenes where they earn points by blasting a variety of items and causing as much mayhem and destruction as possible. It’s a unique, mischief-filled experience that’s so much fun, it’s a crime. Villain-Con Minion Blast will open in Summer 2023 at Universal Studios Florida within the new Minion Land on Illumination Ave. This new area will also feature the fan-favorite Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction, a new Minion Café and other surprises inspired by popular characters from Illumination’s blockbuster franchises. More details about Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast and Minion Land will be revealed in the months ahead. For more information about Universal Orlando Resort, visit www.universalorlando.com.

Today it was announced that Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World will be closed starting on January 23rd, 2023 to make way for Tiana's Bayou Adventure. This new attraction is set to open in 2024. https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/12/a-new-scene-and-new-critters-are-introduced-for-tianas-bayou-adventure/ We’re getting closer to going down the bayou with Tiana and friends as progress continues on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since the attraction was announced in 2020, Imagineers have been hard at work designing an immersive experience inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “The Princess and the Frog” and the heart and culture of New Orleans. We’ve shared additional details and some sneak peeks since then at events such as ESSENCE Fest and D23 Expo 2022, demonstrating how our research brought us to New Orleans in an effort to remain authentic to the story’s setting. Today, I’m excited to give you a first look at a new scene and some of the brand-new characters we’re creating specifically for this attraction. In Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, you’ll join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis during Mardi Gras season as they prepare to host a one-of-a-kind celebration for the people of New Orleans. This new scene is the thrilling moment you first drop into the bayou and encounter some friends both new and familiar. As you can see here, fireflies will light up the night and invite you deeper into the bayou … almost like they’re waving you forward. What you can’t tell from this rendering – so you’ll just have to trust me on this one – is that beautiful zydeco music will fill the air. Zydeco is a special blend of rhythm and blues that was born in Louisiana, and when you hear it, you’ll feel like you’ve truly stepped into Tiana’s world. Here you’ll find Louis, who explains where this amazing music is coming from. Tiana made some new friends out here – a band full of adorable critters, including an otter, a rabbit, a racoon, a beaver, a turtle and others. The band members sing and play instruments made of natural materials they found in the bayou. It feels like they may have a bigger role to play in this story … but we’ll just have to wait and see on that one. Like so many musical genres, zydeco brings together the sounds and styles of many cultures. We wanted that spirit reflected in this scene (and throughout the attraction) so that all our guests feel welcome to join in the celebration. It’s emblematic of what we’re always striving for with our attractions – bringing people of different backgrounds together through timeless Disney stories. This new musical adventure provides us with a song sheet to write that concept into reality. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will take you on a journey inspired by the story and characters from the hit film, picking up where that story left off. In preparation for this new experience and the many exciting updates ahead, Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World Resort will be closed starting Jan. 23, 2023, so we can begin the next phase of this attraction’s development. Additional information about Splash Mountain at Disneyland Resort will be shared at a later date. Continue following along with the Disney Parks Blog for all updates relating to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure as it makes its way to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort in 2024.