jedimaster1227

That definitely is a bummer... This looked like such a neat experience!

Last night TPR was invited to attend a special event celebrating the opening of Jaleo by Chef Jose Andres at Disney Springs! This new restaurant is built upon the former Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe but you'd never know it when you visit this totally new experience. Jaleo is vibrant, colorful and unlike anything you'll find in Disney Springs when it comes to architecture or dining experience. Jaleo's cornerstone is offering a wide variety of tapas-style options that are inspired by the flavors of Spain. Paella is a specialty here, but beyond that, you'll find a number of unique tastes like iberica ham, pork chorizo, croquettas de pollo and the "Ibérico de bellota mini hamburguesa," a pork burger that is out of this world! And like with the food options, drinks are phenomenal here... Gin, bourbon, sangria, wine--you can't go wrong with any choice here! Attached to Jaleo is Pepe, a quick service option for Spanish-style sandwiches, gazpacho and amazing soft serve--all of which are definitely worth your while when you're aiming for the on-the-go! Jaleo and Pepe are amazing new additions to Disney Springs, and one of the first new options to open at Disney Springs' West Side. It is hard to believe that only a few years ago much of Disney Springs did not exist, but looking at that has opened in that time, it is easy to see why these additions have been so successful! The bar has consistently been raised when it comes to shopping, dining and entertainment and Jaleo pushes that trend even higher. I can't recommend enough stepping into Jaleo for a bite--you won't regret it! Jaleo's distinct architecture leaves no impression of the restaurant that previously occupied this space on the West Side of Disney Springs. Chorizo sausage for the win! Jose Andres is a celebrate chef with a number of restaurants throughout the United States (with a larger number in the Washington DC area). He's also a known philanthropist--a great fit for another Celebrity Chef restaurant here at Disney Springs. Pepe is a small storefront in the Jaleo complex that offers fast-casual/quick service options. Nothing like being greeted with freshly sliced iberica ham. If you've not tasted iberica ham, you're in for a treat... The open kitchen provides great views of the wood fire cooking setup... Huge skillets are filled with different dishes including fresh paella, boneless chicken wings (not in the style you'd expect) and more. The flavors are distinct and robust... Cute! The decor is quite funky inside and we love it! The "Endivias con queso de cabra y naranjas" (Endives, goat cheese, oranges and almonds) were delicious and the sangria was fantastic too! Sea urchin lovers like me will be drooling! Seriously fresh paella! The Inside Out features Spanish sweet vermouth, Penedés brandy, bourbon, Angostura bitters and it is amazing! One of the specialties at Jaleo by Chef Jose Andres is the paella and it is absolutely delicious! This vegetable paella features a variety of mushrooms including morels... And if you've never had morels, you'll be head over heels for this paella! The Arroz a banda con gambas is made with shrimp and squid and it is a seafood lover's delight! This boneless chicken wing was literally a wing with the bones removed and cooked whole. A single, whole bite of bliss! Battered squid, anyone? This was easily the best gin and tonic I've ever had. More sea urchin for the win! In case you were wondering, they have Mexican Coke available to order at Jaleo! I didn't know I needed liquefied olives in my life until I tried one. Unbelievable! Jaleo's croquettas are served on a pillow and they are little pillows of heaven to consume! Watermelon and tomato--not something I would have thought to pair but it worked wonderfully. The "Ibérico de bellota mini hamburguesa" is amazing. Don't ask questions... Just order twelve. Chef Jose Andres was present to celebrate the opening of Jaleo at Disney Springs! What's better than a boatload of oysters? TWO boatloads of oysters! This Matador mural is a key feature of the restaurant's unique design. The second floor is equally trendy and the atrium view of the first floor is quite nice! The view of Saratoga Springs from Jaleo is lovely at dusk. It looks like there's a demonstration kitchen available on the second floor of the restaurant too... Some unique merchandise can purchased at Jaleo... I want the Jamones shirt. Iberica ham and caviar? SIGN ME UP! The Pan con chocolate is a chocolate custard with caramelized bread, olive oil and brioche ice cream. There wasn't a bite left on the plate by the time I was finished. The house flan was my favorite I've had at Disney Springs! The Leche Merenga/Fresa swirl soft serve at Pepe is wonderful! We had a fantastic time Jaleo by Chef Jose Andres tonight! Be sure to check out Jaleo at Disney Springs the next time you visit Walt Disney World!

^You're totally fine to post something like this... When we mean major news, it is typically the big new attraction announcement, major park news for an often talked about park (like any of the major US parks, Tokyo Disney, etc...) or something that a park has sent us a press release about. This is the first we've heard of this news, so thank you for sharing!

Margaritaville Resort Orlando's Island H20 Live! water park is open at the end of Spring and with that, they'll be hosting a job fair tomorrow for employees for positions throughout the park! Take a look below to see if any of these roles would be of interest to you!

The next morning we woke up to a unique view as we docked on in the port of Cobh, Ireland. Many will know this port by its other name, Queenstown... Queenstown being famous as the final port of call for the RMS Titanic before it left for the ill-fated transatlantic crossing that so many know how it ended. But Cobh (the original name of the port town and the reverted name post-Queenstown) is also a gateway port to Ireland and it is not far from Blarney Castle. I'd traveled through Ireland years earlier in high school and had visited Blarney once before--it was a highlight for me then, so I knew when we found out we'd be visiting Cobh as a part of our cruise that this would be something I could share with my wife. Just like I had ten years earlier, we climbed the steps and kissed the blarney stone. Plus this time around we had a chance to explore the grounds which were pretty neat! The night ended with another excellent dinner aboard the Disney Magic and the first of many great variety acts that would keep us entertained over the coming four days of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Quite the sight to wake up to... At the top you get a panoramic view of the Irish countryside... What a beautiful cathedral. Cabanas sure knows how to spoil a guy with breakfast! Queenstown hosts a Titantic Experience similar to the one found in Orlando, but we were here for something a little more unique. Blarney Castle has a unique beauty to it that I didn't get to appreciate quite as much due to lackluster weather during my last visit. Seriously folks, not for the faint of heart. The only climb more nerve-wracking than this were the ascent and descent of the spiral staircases of Notre Dame. Sadly no FastPass here. But the experience gives you a grand circle tour of the castle. Blarney Castle used to be more but the structures that have survived have been maintained and partially restored to retain their storied beauty. In case you were wondering about the significance of the Blarney Stone and why people kiss it. The act of kissing the Blarney Stone is a bit daunting... You lay flat on your back, holding on to two iron bars while a strong person holds onto you to lean you in upside down... In for the kiss, and then pulled swiftly back up. Such beautiful green. There's a small cave on the grounds that is fun to explore. Picturesque. The closer you get, the more impressive Blarney Castle truly is. Back aboard the Disney Magic it was time to get some delicious grab and go food, like this build-your-own bowl! Fans of the Disney Parks chicken nuggets will be happy to know they can get these delicious bites almost all the time you're on the ship. After Hours is the Disney Magic's adult district... You may notice that the martini's shape is a little more familiar when looked at upside down. O'Gill's Pub is the best place to go for some beer onboard! I've always wondered if O'Gill's Pub was named as throwback to "Darby O'Gill and the Little People," the live action Disney film starring Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Sean Connery and Jimmy O'Dea. Rapunzel's Royal Table has two unique show evenings and this is the first of those two. There are hidden Pascals strategically blended in throughout the restaurant. The thugs of the Snuggly Duckling are throwing Rapunzel a birthday party and you get to help in the celebration! It is a really fun way to enjoy the evening! The Smolder is a transforming cocktail that, when poured... Becomes this! There's no shortage of salmon dishes onboard! No biggie... Just hanging out with Rapunzel on her birthday. The Trio of Veal was amazing! When I saw Truffle Layered Potatoes, I had to order a side. In Fathoms, I couldn't help but fall in love with the Episode 1-inspired drink. Up next... Delicious and it comes with the souvenir bracelet! Junnk is a cross between Stomp, Blue Man Group and Epcot's Jammitors and they put on such a fun show! Just a great time to be had! And yes, they do their own stunts! The Movies On Demand options in your stateroom are comprehensive and wonderful! Any excuse to watch Tomorrowland is good for me! Our Navigator for the next day would let us know about all that was in store for our first of four days at sea...

This weekend Raglan Road Pub at Disney Springs is hosting its annual Mighty St. Patrick's Festival in honor of St. Patrick's Day! This event brings special entertainment throughout the weekend (starting today, March 15th and running through Sunday, March 17th, 2019! We were fortunate enough to get a preview of this year's offerings last night and there is a lot to be excited about during this festival! Raglan Road has always been a highlight when it comes to food and entertainment at Disney Springs and the Mighty St. Patrick's Festival is another great reason to come out and visit! Last night we visited Raglan Road Pub for a preview of this year’s Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival! Raglan's signature Fish & Chips are always worth trying! A look at the packed schedule of special entertainment that can be experienced throughout the weekend at Raglan Road! If you're looking to celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend with some beer, look no further! Our first sample was a taste of Raglan's signature "Hog in the Box," a slow roasted pork shoulder with sweet onion stuffing, caramelized onions, applesauce and a pork crackling. It was delicious! Cookes of Dublin, Raglan Road's quick service option next door will debut a new mini chicken slider soon and we got a sneak peak! The chicken was juicy and tender, and the batter was fantastic! Raglan Road isn't just about dining... Live entertainment allows for immersive step dancing, folk music and a bit of interactivity for the kids! Next up was the Heavenly Ham and it certainly lived up to its name! Maca, an award winning 3 piece Traditional & Folk music group from Ireland is performing at Raglan Road Pub for the Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival! Ben Gunnery has gone on tour internationally with various companies including Barrage, Riverdance and Gaelforce, and he’s performing live at Raglan Road Pub during the Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival! The Raglan Risotto is hearty and wonderfully flavorful! The Dalkey Donkey is an Irish take on the classic Moscow Mule, subbing vodka for whiskey! The "Gnocchi Sea Gnocchi Do" is one of my favorite dishes on the Raglan Road menu. The gnocchi are light and pillowy (with a charred exterior) and the scallops are plump and cooked perfectly! Raglan Road hosts a variety of performers throughout the day, featuring Irish folk musicians (who sink well known songs as well as classic tunes with modern takes). Irish step dancing is a major part of the Raglan Road experience and guests are seated right in the middle of it all! Ger’s Bread and Butter Pudding is an absolute must try when visiting Raglan Road! No guest is too old to try step dancing at Raglan Road! The Fluffy Lemon Clouds are quite the treat for dessert. There's nothing not to love at Raglan Road! Bringing new meaning to "getting some air." DANCE OFF!!! The Mighty St. Patrick's Festival runs through Sunday, March 17th, 2019 (this weekend) at Raglan Road Pub in Disney Springs! Whether you're looking for a bite, a pint, great entertainment or a combination of the above, a visit will be well worth your time! Thanks to Raglan Road for hosting us for the delicious preview of this weekend's festivities! Sláinte!

Kentucky Kingdom has been active on Twitter over the last few weeks, sharing new photos of the construction progress on the new Kentucky Flyer wooden coaster opening at the park later this year!

We continue to see great new updates from Kennywood's Twitter account on the construction of Steel Curtain! This thing continues to grow as the lift hill hill has been completed and work on the station track is under way!

Liseberg has announced that the classic Schwartzkopf coaster Lisebergbanan has undergone a major refurbishment in the offseason and the ride will now feature new trains and a redesigned station with a new facade!

Universal Studios Hollywood has sent us a press release announcing that tickets are now available for the "Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle Premiere Event" taking place on April 11th and April 12th, 2019.

Not a problem--just something to not do in the future! We have a process where the parks send us their press releases and when it comes to news that they send us, we try to curate our discussion threads so you know the content we post is coming from the most reliable source.

The Universal Orlando Resort has announced more details about Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, opening at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade on June 13th, 2019!

This past Friday, SeaWorld Orlando hosted TPR for a media preview of this year's Seven Seas Food Festival! This excellent event returns for its third year with delicious new options at returning booths along with several brand new booths! As with previous years, the best way to experience the event is to buy a sampler lanyard, with passholders having access to purchase an exclusive 20-item lanyard for the best value of the event. With a great selection of unique foods (with sizeable tasting portions), a great variety of beverages (alcoholic and non) and all of the fun of a normal day at SeaWorld Orlando, the Seven Seas Food Festival is just another great excuse to come out and visit the park! The Impossible Meat Slider is an absolute winner! We love that the Central Florida parks and resorts have been embracing the Impossible Burger and it is awesome to find options like these popping up across festival menus and permanent menus across town. Many of the booths/kitchens feature a neat display nearby that shows off common ingredients used in the feature region. Lamb chops being prepared fresh for consumption! The Sea Scallops Provençal from the Mediterranean kitchen is served with a wonderful risotto and has been a festival favorite at the event since it debuted in 2017! Bananas. Foster. Cheesecake. Cone. Heaven in a cone. The Bacon & Cheddar Hushpuppies are a returning favorite and with the generous helping of honey butter, they are a treat best served hot! The Teriyaki Beef and Avocado Salad is a new item that was delicious and refreshing. Served cold with a bed of tortilla strips, this dish was hearty and the plate was full! The Jambalaya at the Gulf Coast Market was quite nice! New this year and totally unique is the Cajun Lobster Cheesecake, also found at the Gulf Coast Market. What's for dinner? Well since you asked... I wasn't going to pass up the New Orleans Crawfish Boil at the Gulf Coast Market! There was half of a lobster claw in the cheesecake! Watch as the predator prepares to attack his prey... The predator takes the time to savor the kill. Over at the Brazilian Market, there are many delicious dishes to be had! The Bacon Wrapped Plaintains are delicious (and a great portion) and the new Brazilian Picanha Steak is fantastic! For the fans of mini donuts, at the Seven Seas Food Festival, you can get them loaded with chocolate, caramel, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry on top. All the scallops. I need all the scallops. New this year are the Key Lime Fritters! Several of the event's most popular individual kitchens have been moved to the festival area and placed side by side. Jamaican Beef Pattys are available for those that are interested. Many of the booths throughout the event offer food and beverages, but part of why the Seven Seas Food Festival is so awesome is the abundance of booths dedicated purely to drinks! The Seven Seas Food Festival also features headliner acts at the Atlantis Bayside Stadium, included in park admission during every day of the festival. Ever notice how the turning maneuvers on Mako look like the jaws of a shark? SeaWorld recently launched its own pin trading program not unlike the ones you find in the other parks. Seriously folks... If SeaWorld Orlando didn't have enough awesome going on to convince you to visit on a normal day, the Seven Seas Food Festival is a great excuse to come out and visit, if not to consider buying an annual pass! Over a decade after Manta debuted, this element still looks fantastic! Signage accompanies every market with photos and descriptions of every item available to purchase. Pão de Queijo are huge and well worth it! The Seven Seas Food Festival runs on select dates through May 5th (Fridays - Sundays) and reaches into most areas of the park. The Mousse De Maracuja (Passion Fruit Mousse) and the Bacon Wrapped Plantains are both heavenly! SeaWorld Orlando is launching their own brew club! Membership can be purchased for $79.99 online or in person at Waterway Grill. Beer refills in the club are only $5! The portions are generous for the price! Skewered Pork Wrapped in Bacon was AWESOME! The Ports of Call section of the park is used for the Seven Seas Food Festival and some of the best food options are back here! Did we mention that we LOVE the bacon wrapped plantains? The Bingsu Salted Vanilla Ice Cream topped with caramel popcorn is one of our favorite desserts of the entire event!

Liseberg has sent us a press release announcing the details about their new Underland dark ride, which will open in 2020.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products has sent us a press release that Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will open at Disneyland Park on May 31st, 2019 with the launch of the land's shops, dining and the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open later this year at a later date to be announced.

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products has sent us a press release that Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will open at Disney's Hollywood Studios on August 29th, 2019 with the launch of the land's shops, dining and the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run attraction. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will open later this year at a later date to be announced.

Kennywood continues to share excellent construction photos as the Steel Curtain roller coaster grows by the day! Rain or shine, sun or snow, this project isn't slowing!

SeaWorld Orlando has sent us a press release announcing the Grand Opening of Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando later this month! Mark your calendars because the new land will open to guests on March 27th, 2019! Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando Elmo's Choo Choo Train Food Trucks at Sesame Street Rubber Ducky Water Works Elmo's Window

It had been a few years, but when the chance to revisit the Florida Strawberry Festival came up, I wasn't going to pass it up. For those of you not familiar, the Florida Strawberry Festival is an event that runs in early March for 11 days a year. It is peak strawberry season in Plant City, Florida (aptly named) and thus, the city hosts a festival devoted to all things strawberry. As I've come to experience in the past years' events, the Florida Strawberry Festival is host to a large midway filled with flat rides (and a few coasters), games of chance a TONS of fair foods of all varieties. And it isn't a trip to the Florida Strawberry Festival without a stop at Parkesdale Farms, a cross between a farmer's market and a dessert bar... All the fair foods! I can't look at this type of flat without thinking of the vintage "TPR Visits the Ghetto Fair" reports from way back when... Strawberry Dole Whip! BREAKING! Here's your first look at the new Super Nintendo Land coming to Universal Studios Japan, Universal Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Victorville, CA. In case you're wondering how strawberries are grown. The attention to detail is stunning! All the fried sweets! Be warned... You may not walk out of this festival without sweating oil out of your pores. The fairgrounds are permanent and are lightly used throughout the year outside of the Strawberry Festival. The Midway has really grown substantially over the years. For the first time in my experience, we entered the Florida Strawberry Festival from the midway side of the fairgrounds. They even convinced Nintendo to let them debut a new costume for Luigi and a new Yushi to ride on! I can't wait to experience this closer to home! I appreciate their dedication to replicating the classic Super Mario Bros. 2 look of the Koopa Troopers. The Florida Strawberry Festival even has its own mascots! For those that like games of chance... More fried food. This was one of several large ferris wheels guests could enjoy at the festival. This was the first time I'd seen fresh cinnamon rolls at the festival... As tempting as they looked, I was saving up my room for something later. Flat... I've always enjoyed these compact drop towers. Flat rides. Flat rides... BREAKING: Here's your first look at the new How to Train Your Dragon land coming to Universal Orlando! Rides... Of... Shortage... So many... No... I don't know what makes me laugh more... The pixelated google image or the religious text slapped on the side of a flat ride. It's edgy because they spelled "Escape" as "Excape" for some reason... Animatronics in the Midway are always a pleasant surprise. I couldn't help but stare at this one. Lots of play areas for the kids. I'll be honest... I really don't remember half of the names of these flat rides anymore. I'm ok with not getting this credit. A Magnum P.I.-themed flat ride. Always fun to see a Larson Fire Ball out in the wild. Smoked animal legs are never in short supply here. It wouldn't be a midway without a Tilt-A-Whirl. The rules for Jurassic Excape are the best. And one of these. They have a zipper... But I figured for my skull's sake, I'd pass. Always fun. You don't come to the festival without walking out of this tent with a sack of candy. There's live entertainment too. I've had some of this cart's most outrageous burgers over the years... In the interest of my trying not to shave more years off of my life, I passed this time around. There are strawberry festival diorama contests... Who else remembers the Crash Test Dummies? Yep... They have a traveling Pinfari model... I experienced this type of flat ride for the first time with TPR on the 2008 East Coast trip... Always fun. Years ago they had the one that ran at Geauga Lake for years, but I'm not sure if this is the same coaster or just the same model. This might be the best themed bumper cars ever... "Crunchy balls of goodness!" On that note, time to go enjoy a different kind of goodness... No joke, I want a whipped cream hose installed in my home. It is rare that during the Florida Strawberry Festival the line for the classic Strawberry Shortcake bar would be short. I guess we timed it well because we only waited about ten minutes. BLISS IN A PLASTIC CUP! Parkesdale Market is just as much of an attraction as it is a farmer's market of sorts. Welcome to the "Garden of Eaton." I dubbed thyself Strawberry King. The Game of Thrones has begun. Parkesdale Market is a must visit when in Plant City (plan your time enjoying the rest of Plant City wisely, because while there is so much to do elsewhere, this is where you really want to spend some time)! Seriously folks... If you love strawberries, shortcake, whipped cream or any combination of the above, this will be your new poison. A classic dog (don't judge me, I use ketchup) was a good choice too. Nothing life changing, but a great place for a quick meal at a stupid-cheap price. Lots of variety on the menu beyond hot dogs including beef sandwiches, tamales (I had one of those too), ribs and desserts. You don't leave here without a flat of fresh strawberries. All of the produce grown at Parkesdale Farms is naturally sweeter as these crops are grown adjacent to the strawberry fields. And their prices are awesome too! The buns really sell these dogs well. The Polish Sausage was pretty great. I leave you with a punny farewell. I appreciate you all berry much. I've heard people rave about this Chicago establishment for years and wanted to see what all the hype was about. Because you don't eat your main meal before eating dessert, we stopped at the nearby Portillo's to try it out. There used to be a sign for the Strawberry Onions that advised that they help keep the elephants away. In my experience, the elephants have stayed away after buying these onions.

I was wondering what this complex would look like after if reopened without the Sega Republic theming. It looks like they made the most of losing those IP rights and with the exception of the note on the cleaning for headsets, it seems like a pretty neat operation. Thanks for sharing!

I'm taking lots of notes for Osaka and Kyoto since those are two cities we've never been to that we'll be visiting early next month! Thank you for these great continued updates!

Universal Studios Hollywood has sent us a press release announcing the upcoming projection experience "Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle" at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade.

The Universal Orlando Resort has sent us a press release announcing the upcoming projection experience "Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle" at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay kicked off their 60th Anniversary Celebration with the announcement that a new RMC steel/wood hybrid coaster built upon elements from the former Gwazi coaster will debut in 2020! This new coaster will become North America’s tallest hybrid, and the fastest, steepest hybrid coaster in the world!

Be sure to check out the huge new update on Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in the Disneyland Resort Discussion Thread! You can find out lots of new details about this massive expansion that will open at Disney's Hollywood Studios in fall 2019!