jedimaster1227

Thanks so much for sharing! I honestly hadn't heard of this park before I saw construction photos of Tweestryd hit the net, so it is neat to see how much more to the park there is than just this new set of coasters!

^The screening wasn't in 3D, but that wouldn't be enough to stop me from seeing a new Star Wars movie... I'm a big believer in the value of 3-D in the theater (though I know I'm among the few left) but this is one movie that I'm not sure would have benefited much from a post-conversion. The imagery is more often dark than light, and the on-screen focus is more close-up than in the other films. There are a few larger set pieces but depth isn't something that I think this film would benefit from as much as Rogue One or The Last Jedi did.

Tonight TPR was invited to see Solo - A Star Wars Story for a press preview of the film. As TPR's resident Star Wars uber-fanatic (look at my username), I was thrilled to be able to see this film a few days early! Solo is the second in a series of the "A Star Wars Story" films behind the first film, Rogue One. The intention with this series has been to present films in periods outside of the events already shown in previous films. In the case of Solo, the film focuses almost entirely on the formative years of Han Solo's late youth, amidst the turmoil of the rise of the Empire. Along the way Han picks up a band of thieves with which he learns to hone his skills as a pilot and a smuggler. In some ways, Solo is a heist film with an assembled crew, each with their own purpose or speciality. The film borrows from the old style Westerns for a new scenario midway though. The film is accessible to those that aren't as well versed in the Star Wars canon (the new canon and not the Legends stories) but features lots of nods, direct references and even a few not-so-subtle reveals that only add to a fan's ability to enjoy the film. Solo is at times slow paced and predictable despite being a sci-fi action adventure... That being said, the movie provides a great deal of exciting fan service including one moment featuring an entirely unexpected character's appearance that made the whole audience gasp (I'll give you a hint... It isn't Jar Jar Binks.). Written by father-and-son Lawrence (who worked on the original films) and Jake Kasdan, Solo starts with Han making ends meet on his Empire-ridden homeworld of Corellia (a major location in the Star Wars Legends canon) where we quickly learn of Solo's ambitions to leave the planet, see the galaxy and become its best pilot. Fate presents an opportunity, albeit an unexpected one (if you weren't familiar with Han's backstory before) for him to leave the planet, which a few years later in the service of his new employer, he runs into a band of smugglers that will change his life forever. The scope of Solo is significantly smaller than any of the other films. The movie is contained to only a few worlds, but the set pieces and events that take place in these limited locales are great, especially the futuristic train robbery that has been seen in the film's trailers. Solo had a troubled production with original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller departing the film due to a difference in creative vision with the Kasdans and Kathleen Kennedy. What followed was the prompt installation of Ron Howard (who had many years earlier rejected an offer from George Lucas to direct The Phantom Menace) as the new director. It is believed that over 75% of the film was reshot to better match the intended tone and story beats that had been defined by the Lucasfilm collective. It is indistinguishable when the former directors' work was onscreen compared to what was reshot under Howard's direction. The bottom line is, Solo - A Star Wars Story is not the best Star Wars film in existence, nor does it crack the top five. But what this film does accomplish is a presentation of scenes long referenced in the original films and extended universe that fans will no doubt be eager to see now that they have the chance. The film may not be strong enough from a story perspective to justify its own existence, but the cast carries their characters in good performances that make the slow pace and the long runtime more easy to swallow. Alden Ehrenreich makes Han Solo his own while still portraying the Han that we know Harrison Ford's portrayal ends up showing. Donald Glover accomplishes the same with Lando Calrissian, in a performance that has already stirred buzz to suggest that this character will get their on solo film in the near future. Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emilia Clarke, Thandie Newton and Jon Favreau all offer serviceable performances but with the exception of Harrelson and Clarke, they are given much smaller roles than the trailers would have you believe. There are also a swath of cameos of characters that have appeared in past Star Wars films (some more recent than others) that viewers should keep an eye out for. As a fan of Star Wars, this film does enrich the overall narrative but the more casual viewers may take fault in how little the film does to further the story beyond what has already been alluded to or flat out expressed in past. And for anyone that believes that Lucasfilm is pushing viewers to forget about the prequel trilogy, this film will have more than enough to remind you of the three films that take place before this one (some things more obvious than others). This is a movie with a lot of fan service that will excite even the more casual of fans because it shows onscreen some major moments that many have dreamed about visualizing for years. It is definitely at least worth seeing once, if not on the big screen, then afterwards when the film comes out on Blu-Ray and Digital.

After years of daydreaming about visiting, watching Travel Channel documentaries about the place and regularly checking cheap air carriers to get myself to Sandusky, I along with a group of friends finally pulled the trigger to make a Cedar Point trip happen! I've been incredibly familiar with the park's coasters over the years but other than that, I knew almost nothing about the park, its history or what else it contained besides its major attractions... What I experienced exceeded my expectations in most areas and really made for a great two day trip to the park. Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room... Yes, Steel Vengeance was only running one train. It is entirely disappointing that a park of this reputation would have a challenge with a brand new ride and not have it resolved shortly after the incident... And even more disappointing was the removal of Steel Vengeance from Fast Lane Plus (the primary reason we bought it in the first place). But that being said, the operations team worked like crazy to dispatch trains as safely and efficiently as possible and in doing so, they were able to keep the wait under two hours throughout our visit. We only rode Steel Vengeance twice because of the extended wait times but it was absolutely worth waiting for and I can only imagine how quickly the lines will move once all three trains are in rotation. From a coaster standpoint, the ride was unlike anything I'd experienced and it would likely sit at the top of my coaster lists if I ever bothered to sit down and map them out. The track is incredibly smooth, the airtime is relentless and the inversions are intense in the best way. One of my favorite parts of the coaster was the elements within the second half where the inversions take place throughout the support structure, make it visually indistinguishable to tell which side is up while you're flying through it all. We waited a collected 3 hours for the two rides we got in on Day 1 (we opted not to wait on Day 2) and I would absolutely say it was worth it. We decided early on that we were going to get the Fast Lane Plus, along with the All Day Dining and All Day Soda packages just as a matter of convenience since we had a lot to accomplish in two days. I'd highly recommend all three options! The Fast Lane Plus presented more value at some coasters than others because of the location of the merge points in the queue. In the case of Millennium Force, the merge was behind the point in which the last guest of the standby queue was standing, so it was basically like we were getting in the normal line. In the case of Top Thrill Dragster, we were able to bypass almost 20 minutes of queue and be on the ride within five minutes of time. Some of the other Fast Lane Plus-eligible attractions either weren't offering Fast Lane access on that day (Gemini) or weren't open at all (Maxair). Overall, I feel like we got our value for the major time saved on several of the coasters. The All Day Dining and All Day Soda packages were both great values for our two day visit. Considering most entrees and a soda cost about $15 - $17, the $80 we paid for two days ended up saving us a little bit of money (plus we didn't have to worry about handling cash or card, just scanning our wristbands). For my first visit to Cedar Point, I enjoyed it much more than I could have expected. The park employees were all extremely friendly, welcoming and operating the park efficiently. There were a few hiccups with some of the rides throughout our visit and there's obviously the challenges with Steel Vengeance, but we never let that stop us from having a great time! The park is rich with hidden history that you just have to look closely to spot--something that I never expected to find in a Cedar Fair park, so in that way I was pleasantly surprised. The lineup of coasters and other rides is really something special with some standouts among them. I definitely thought going into this that I'd only need to visit Cedar Point once in my lifetime, but after this trip I definitely think it'll be on my radar to consider visiting every few years! This is quite the view to drive up to! The last time I rode a wooden coaster with an inversion, it was Son of Beast... So this was definitely a major step up. I had seen photos of Gatekeeper and the new entrance complex for the last few years but it was definitely different to be standing in front of it in person. The keyhole elements are really neat to see and even more fun to ride through. History! Here it is! Even though Steel Vengeance was running a one-train operation and we had to wait two hours for our first ride, this thing was absolutely worth every second. Steel Vengeance was my first RMC, so I pretty much knew I would like it a lot. I don't really keep tabs on what I've ridden nor do I actively rank coasters anymore, but I would probably say that Steel Vengeance is the best coaster I've ever ridden. The thing is ridiculously smooth despite the incredible speed at which some of these twisted elements are approached and the 27 seconds of airtime are relentless. Despite only running one train, the operation moved pretty efficiently! We waited two hours from the point in which we got in line to the time we got off of the ride, but the first half hour the ride wasn't running at all, so 1.5 hours of operation time to get us on the ride. The queue brings you into the bowl of the coaster and lets you get pretty close to some fantastic fly-by moments. So much airtime! Through the supports! Here are the coaster's other two trains waiting to be given the all clear to return to concurrent service. The location of the coaster (and the park) on the shores of Lake Erie present a really unique environment to take in from the rides. I can't get enough. So picturesque too! We purchased the all day meal deal for our two days in the park, and this brisket was the first meal we had under the plan. It was delicious! It was surprising to see Cedar Point using custom characters tied into the story of Steel Vengeance roaming the park. This restaurant was also neat because the walls were filled with signs from old attractions, storefronts and venues. Steel Vengeance can be seen from many angles inside of the park. Let's not forget about Maverick... I love Cheetah Hunt closer to home in Tampa, but Maverick was relentless and powerful in a way I hadn't experienced before on a launched coaster. Brothers in steel... One of the park's original carousel pavilions still exists today even though it isn't currently in use! I love neat history like this! Even though Steel Vengeance was the thing that finally got me to pull the trigger on going to Cedar Point for the first time, it was Millennium Force that I had seen on Travel Channel specials growing up that had always put Cedar Point on my watchlist. THROUGH THE TREES!!! (Sorry, this is a throwback to a time when I was an eager fanboy obsessed with the subculture and in-jokes of TPR and I reverted for a second... Regaining my composure now.) So. Ridiculously. Smooth. I really loved Millennium Force more than I expected! It isn't the best thing I've ever ridden, but it was super unique, smooth and really fast! Here's a handful of Rougarou photos... Because there's not much else to say or share about it... Because it was the only coaster in the park we genuinely disliked. Iron Dragon wasn't anything special compared to some of the other Arrow suspended coasters, but it was still neat to get to ride another one, considering they are becoming increasingly rare. Valravn was my third dive coaster (after Sheikra and Griffon) but it was probably my least favorite... Not that it was bad, but I felt like the overall experience on Sheikra is the best of the three. Gatekeeper was something I didn't expect to enjoy nearly as much as I did... I'd not been on a B&M Wingrider before, but everything I had seen and read indicated that they were fairly forceless and uninteresting. This one took me by surprise because, while it wasn't intense at all, the sensation of sitting outside of the track, combined with the hyper-smooth maneuvers really made for a fantastic experience! The initial drop and the keyhole/gate elements were definitely my favorite parts of the coaster. We enjoyed it so much it ended up being one of the two coasters we rode the most on the entire trip (the other being Maverick). When in Ohio, eat at Pink's? I'm not sure but it was tasty! It is kind of surreal getting to walk under an old Arrow corkscrew... Part Rollercoaster Tycoon nostalgia and part, "where are all the nets? This would never be allowed in Orlando!" Corkscrew has some classic charm and it is really nice to see that the park has maintained it so well despite its age. The coaster ran fairly smooth for an Arrow. Having ridden Kingda Ka before, I knew what to expect with Top Thrill Dragster but I was no less excited to ride. Despite it having inconsistent operations throughout the weekend we were able to ride it twice without any problem! The introduction of Steel Vengeance to Cedar Point brought the addition of new thematic elements and details that tie the Frontier area of the park together. These posters can be found in Maverick's queue. Another look back at Valravn... The extended immelman is nice! King of the Castle. I didn't get the chance to try Chickie's & Pete's while I was in Philadelphia... Though when I tried it in Cedar Point, I can't say it lived up to the hype. We were able to ride Steel Vengeance one more time at the end of our first day in the park and only waited about an hour despite the one train operation. The night ride was even more insane than our opening morning ride. This coaster is pure insanity in the best way! Millennium Force looks fantastic at night! Only at night was I able to recognize the white/grey color scheme that pairs with Valravn's more-visible orange and blue paint. It is a nice touch for sure! That wraps up day one in the park... Day 2 features more coasters and lots of the smaller attractions!

When it comes to opportunities like these, coaster fans should have nothing more to say than "thank you." Breaking rules, hassling the park staff for something free and special and not taking any responsibility for one's own ability to check for emails are the kind of behaviors that ruin these kind of opportunities for those of us that enjoy the chance to still have them happen. Thank you for weeding out more people who don't deserve the chance to represent us as fans at special experiences like this.

I-Drive 360 has quickly become a major staple for Orlando tourists and locals alike in the three years that it has been open. Home to what has been known as the Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds and the Sea Life Aquarium along with several shops and restaurants, the complex has been rebranded as Icon Orlando--a credit to the Orlando Eye's status an icon for Orlando tourism. Tonight Theme Park Review was invited to attend a media event previewing the new Starflyer opening at Icon 360 and to check out the rebranded complex with tastes of the restaurants' signature dishes and drinks. We also had a chance to check out all of the major attractions that anchor Icon 360. If you haven't had the chance to visit yet, Icon 360 is definitely something that is well worth your time, especially if you're looking for a break from the parks and a quick bite. First up was a visit to the new Orlando StarFlyer! The Orlando StarFlyer logo... This is the tallest StarFlyer in the world! The Orlando StarFlyer complex also includes a tourist info center and the I-Drive Sky Bar for guests that need a little liquid courage before riding. Here's an inside look at the I-Drive Sky Bar which will open with the Orlando StarFlyer! Here’s a look at the ride control panel for the Orlando StarFlyer. And some close-up details on the control panel. The Orlando StarFlyer has a minimum height restriction of 44 inches and no maximum weight restriction, as long as you can fit securely in the ride seat. A look at the back of the seats... Including a laser-cut logo! And the I-Drive Star Bar logo. A look at the inner mechanics of the Orlando StarFlyer. Check out the new look of the Icon Orlando terminal! Time for some delicious food! Tonight Sugar Factory brought their signature goblets to the Icon 360 party along with some delicious meatballs! So many great options! Tapa Toro's paella is the best! Tin Roof brought their signature pork rinds! So much food! Outback had mac and cheese bites, sirloin steak and beer! Some neat serving techniques for the event! Shake Shack and Ben & Jerry's were both here as well! Oddly enough, this was my first time trying Shake Shack and I genuinely loved the burger I had! iLounge Istanbul had some delicious champagne cocktails! What was previously I-Drive 360 has officially become Icon 360 as of today! Let's check out some of the other attractions at Icon 360... Laces out Dan! Something new is coming to Madame Tussaud's in the near future and TPR will have more to share about it soon! Sea Life's 360 tunnel is always a highlight! Such a fun little attraction! Nothing quite like getting your own car on the Icon (formerly known as the Orlando Eye)! Here’s a look at the new Orlando StarFlyer with the sunset behind it as seen from the top the Icon. A look at the Orlando StarFlyer plot where there is a colorful pavement to be seen from above. It's a double rainbow! It's so intense! Check out some of the interesting new merchandise options that have debuted at the Icon gift shop. While at Icon 360, don't forget to visit Skeletons for a very unique experience... My favorite section is the one featuring more "unique" skeletons . The Icon looks fantastic at night! The special lighting ceremony for Icon 360 included a fun little fireworks show! PYRO! The fountains out front are also a part of the show. As we were leaving we were able to catch the Orlando StarFlyer testing with its awesome lighting package turned on. It really is mesmerizing to watch! I genuinely can't wait to experience this for myself!

Universal has sent us a press release announcing that Trick ‘r Treat will be coming to Halloween Horror Bights at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood! [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

Universal has sent us a press release announcing that Trick ‘r Treat will be coming to Halloween Horror Bights at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood! [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

^I’m pretty sure they still had a few showings of the normal films presented in that theater in between the Galaxy of Fun shows.

https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/jurassic-world/ https://www.nbcumv.com/news/countdown-extinction-%E2%80%9Cjurassic-park%E2%80%94-ride%E2%80%9D-universal-studios-hollywood-starts-now?network=33127

https://www.legolandfloridablog.com/2018/05/10/the-lego-movie-world-coming-to-legoland-florida-resort-exclusively-in-spring-2019/

(Continued) It was kind of surreal for this Florida kid to see a polar bear in legitimate (not artificial/artificially created). I always love getting see Bald Eagles up close. They really are majestic creatures! Meerkats! Our visit to the Philadelphia Zoo was really awesome in a unique way (mostly because we were among five other guests there that afternoon). The National Constitution Center was something that was going to be a "nice to do" but not a "need to do" on our trip but I'm incredibly happy we ended up visiting! Inside the Sidney Kimmel Theater at the National Constitution Center, a gorgeous multimedia presentation featuring projections, moving set pieces and a live, roaming narrator... The show was like the next evolution of Circlevision and I was enamored by it! I might now be the President of the United States of America... The legitimacy of my inauguration has not yet been subject to examination. The National Constitution Center also features a room filled with life-sized statues of all of the signees of the Declaration of Independence. I found myself spending a lot of time here. I love all of this. Independence Hall is a visual focal point in the design of most major attractions in the surrounding area. We spent a LOT of time in Reading Terminal Market... While there, we (of course) tried a Philly Cheesesteak. I don't get the hype. MeltKraft on the other hand was all kinds of wonderful! Also, gator gumbo is as amazing as it sounds! The same place that had the grilled cheese (MeltKraft) was also affiliated with the Valley Shepherd Creamery... So I wasn't going to turn down an opportunity to enjoy some of their own cheeses... FRESH RACLETTE!!! Chocolate Chip Cheesecake for the win! Next up was a visit to the Franklin Institute, home to the world's largest heart. They also have a working Tesla Coil. This was honestly one of the coolest, terrifying things I've ever done... Why is it terrifying? This is why. The stairwell has a pendulum naturally moved by the rotation of the Earth. The Franklin Institute had a neat set of interactive sports exhibits to enjoy! More physical activity than I've experienced in years. Just neat. See? There are theme parks represented in this report too! I can't look away. They had a mini Houdini's Great Escape here! There's a whole section on aviation here too! Test Track? Funny enough, the real reason we planned to go to the Franklin Institute originally was because it was the home of the original Silence Dogood Letters as referenced in National Treasure. It turns out that the letters are most definitely not here, but it was still a fun place to visit. That's one heck of City Hall! I didn't realize that Comcast's corporate headquarters were here but it was neat to visit... During the holidays the Comcast Center opens its lobby for a non-stop presentation of holiday visuals on these really awesome screens. The experience draws quite the crowd! There are even some surprise elements around the inside of the building! It was a great way to finish our trip!

After an excellent time in Florida it was time to fly to somewhere new... No theme parks here for us to visit, but lots of culture, history, snow and delicious food! So now we continue with some photos from something completely different! It isn't a visit to the Orlando International Airport without a gander at the sleeping tourist... He must really be tired after all these years. Interesting connection to the Titanic. But our holidays in Orlando have come to a close... And now we're somewhere new! Our first meal in the city was at Green Eggs Cafe, with some incredible Buffalo Chicken Skill Mac & Cheese! I can't go anywhere without finding something tiki! Neat to see this old building's Automat signage and facade retained despite it being repurposed. Philadelphia's most notable area is home to Constitution Hall, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and much more... We'll be back for these soon! Our first stop was the American Jewish History Museum... A pretty neat experience spanning multiple floors with several interactive exhibits. That evening we visited Talula's Garden, a local restaurant with rave reviews... And with a cheese plate like this, I was off to a great start. Buttered brioche bites--little pillows of heaven! Lamb and gnocchi? Sold! And the best chicken I've eaten in my life! Housemade coconut cookie bites! Almond ricotta fritters! Port Poached Pears! Seriously, this place was the Garden of Eden. I can't recommend it enough! Looking down from our accommodations for the week, it was neat to see a Wawa (without a gas station) so close. Oh, and snow! The Liberty Bell is a historic attraction and the placement of the original bell in the shadow of its original location is a masterful design. And it is obviously a very popular experience. Echoes of National Treasure... Up close details. Time to visit Independence Hall! I've seen this painting in The American Adventure at Epcot! Neat! Independence Hall is best known as the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence... And it was in this room where the signing took place! Almost all of the decor in the room has been replaced over the years, but the one item in the room that can be confirmed as original is the chair pictured here, where George Washington sat and signed the Declaration of Independence. The tour (which is free to attend by the way) takes you on a tour of the rest of the building. You just don't see massive rooms like this in construction anymore! Considering going up to the steeple to find Benjamin Franklin's rose colored glasses that will help me read the hidden map on the back of the Declaration of Independence. Next up was a visit to the Philadelphia Zoo... Which was very quiet due to the overnight snow flurry the city had received. Bats! TPR Turtle Fancy fulfilled! Megacroc found! Now where is Sharktopus? Yellow Spotted Lizards! Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes? Ever seen a rattlesnake up close? This is the rattle for which the snake has earned its name. It is Kaa from The Jungle Book! With the zoo empty it was like walking through The Day After Tomorrow... Which was kind of awesome! Inside we found some chimpanzees including a few infants! Adorable! The Philadelphia Zoo is unique in that it has overhead trails for some of the animals to roam through... And during our visit, we saw a tiger enjoying the trail! This Florida kid does enjoy messing around with snow!

Today Theme Park Review was invited to Legoland Florida to check out this year's LEGO Star Wars Days, a weekend special event running this weekend along with May 12th - 13th and May 19th - 20th! LEGO Star Wars Days brings a Star Wars focus to the park with roaming characters, special LEGO versions of Darth Vader and Captain Phasma, a new show and lots of Star Wars-themed activities throughout the park for guests to enjoy in addition to all of the fun you already get during a normal visit to Legoland Florida! And speaking of year-round fun, LEGO Star Wars MINILAND has been expanded with the addition of several new and iconic scenes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens! All of this Star Wars excitement comes in addition to the park's gigantic lineup of rides and attractions, shows, Cypress Gardens and water park... Not to mention the park's newest additions from the last few years (Ninjago, Chima, etc...). Needless to say, LEGO Star Wars Days is an excellent excuse to get back out to Legoland Florida if you haven't been recently, and there is plenty of reason for you to visit the park in general, especially if you never have before! Today we’re at Legoland Florida to experience the new LEGO Star Wars Days offerings at the park! LEGO models of Rey and BB-8 are popular features towards the entrance of the park! Be on the lookout for Stormtroopers throughout Legoland Florida during LEGO Star Wars Days! Take a look at the event guide available to pick up at the entrance of the park. There are lots of special Star Wars offerings to enjoy throughout the park! And even more! This LEGO Yoda model is available to take a photo with just inside of the entrance of the park. Guests can meet their favorite Star Wars characters during LEGO Star Wars Days at Legoland Florida! Members of the 501st Legion can be spotted roaming Legoland Florida during LEGO Star Wars Days! Poe Dameron and Padmé Amidala are two more characters guests will find at Legoland Florida during LEGO Star Wars Days! Even Imperial TIE fighter pilots need a break every once in a while! The park is also featuring several limited time offerings for LEGO Star Wars merchandise during the event. LEGO Star Wars MINILAND is a highlight of Legoland Florida that can be enjoyed year-round! Darth Maul! The Millennium Falcon chase scene through the crashed Star Destroyer is represented in the new area, complete with moving elements! The Jakku Market Escape scene from The Force Awakens is also represented in the new LEGO Star Wars MINILAND area. Finn's crashed TIE Fighter scene! Rey's home on Jakku is a downed AT-AT. The scene that introduced Kylo Ren and the First Order to viewers in Star Wars: The Force Awakens can be seen here. Guests can visit the LEGO Star Wars Photo Fan Gallery to check out themed art featuring LEGO Star Wars characters and to enter for a chance to win one of the photos! LEGO Darth Vader is meeting guests during LEGO Star Wars Days at Legoland Florida! I couldn't resist! Rey guards the other entrance to LEGO Star Wars MINILAND where you can see recreations of iconic scenes from the Star Wars films! The Battle of Kashyyyk from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is featured in LEGO Star Wars MINILAND! As is the iconic Cantina scene from Star Wars: A New Hope. And the Millennium Falcon escaping Mos Eisley, also from Star Wars: A New Hope. Even more characters to be found throughout the park! It isn’t a visit to Legoland Florida without some of Granny’s Apple Fries! Next was Galaxy of Fun, a variety show wrapped loosely around the themes of LEGO Star Wars. There was juggling... And balancing too... Overall, a very different kind of show for a Star Wars event. You can't roam the park without at least running into a few extra characters! Light Sword Churros are available for purchase during the event as well! Here is the Battle of Hoth from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back as seen in LEGO Star Wars Miniland. Darth Maul and the Seventh Sister were out meeting guests as we were heading out! Another special merchandise option for the event! Special thanks to Legoland Florida for hosting us for the first day of this year’s LEGO Star Wars Days! Be sure to check out the event for yourself by visiting the park this weekend, May 12th - 13th or May 19th - 20th!

SeaWorld Orlando has sent us a press release announcing Sesame Street will be coming to the park in Spring 2019 along with the park's first ever parade!

The Universal Orlando Resort has announced the next themed maze coming to Halloween Horror Nights this year... Dead Exposure: Patient Zero!

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has sent us a press release announcing the grand opening date for ICON!

^The ride structure looks far better than the station and queue does... I still wonder how much it would really take to retain the existing structure for future use. Kentucky Kingdom had Twisted Twins closed for six years before it began working on the RMC conversion. Gwazi has only been closed for just over three years and these structures are designed to last decades, so I have to believe there's some level of value to what is still standing. I don't know that I believe that Busch Gardens is in a position to invest the kind of time, money and resources into upgrading Gwazi (let alone tearing it down, which comes at a cost that has seemingly been deemed low priority if they truly intended to bring it down). I'm hopeful that they do, but I'm totally prepared for a Premier Skyrocket-level investment and not an RMC-level investment.

The Pasta Purses are one of my favorite foods on the ship! And I'm glad you had the chance to do Palo Brunch--that is easily my favorite dining experience on these ships! I typically am heavy handed on the cheeses and the seafood, but the chicken parm is one of my favorites I've ever had!

Great Wolf Lodge has sent us an announcement about two new unique slides coming to Great Wolf Lodge Georgia!

Today I had the chance to stop in to Universal Studios Florida to check out Fast and the Furious Supercharged which is now in a limited period of technical rehearsals. The ride is the newest addition to the Universal Orlando Resort and builds upon the experience of the same name that opened last year at Universal Studios Hollywood as a part of the Studio Tram Tour. Unlike its Hollywood counterpart, this is its own ride (although not much longer than the segment-only version on the West Coast) and this version has nixed the 3-D glasses and imagery in favor of a more tolerable and clear 2-D film experience. The story of the ride goes that you are set to celebrate another of Dominic Toretto's recent race victories in a party bus when Owen Shaw (a villain of the film franchise) interrupts the party looking for a witness in your group to a crime his team has committed. The party buses are launched ahead as a high octane (read: very quick) race through the city ensues with Dominic Toretto and the gang fighting to save you from Owen Shaw. The technology behind the ride is almost identical to that of Skull Island: Reign of Kong in Islands of Adventure, including the trackless ride vehicles and the immersive 360 degree projection theater during which the majority of the ride's experience takes place. There are a few brief scenes added before the projection theater, along with some pre-shows added to help flesh out the story before you ride. Fans of the franchise will enjoy the nods throughout the queue to the films' characters and in-jokes and avid Universal fans may spot a few references to other Universal attractions and characters, past and present. When the ride officially opens, it will offer a standby queue (which is the only option currently available during the technical rehearsals), a virtual queue option (akin to the ones found at Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and the slides at Volcano Bay) and a Single Rider queue. This ride is in line with you what you know an expect from Universal's most recent attractions... If you loved Skull Island: Reign of Kong or are a fan of the Fast and the Furious franchise, this ride will likely appeal to you. It is a quick experience, but one that will definitely find its audience in the park due to the popularity of the franchise and the thrill of a new addition at the park in general. The walls are down and the doors are open! Lots of cars to be seen up close... Dominic Toretto's famous Dodge Charger is parked out front. Fast and the Furious Supercharged will offer a Virtual Line option much like Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon. Technical Rehearsals mean the ride can open and close without cause and some effects may not work as expected. A look at the ride's Standby entrance board. The ride also has a dedicated queue for Single Riders. The first of many queue spaces to be found before the loading area of the ride. The normal barbecue setup for Dominic Toretto's family can be seen as you walk through the queue. The queue weaves in and out of several warehouses where sports cars can be seen while guests wait. Including a few cars from the Fast and Furious films! Looks like this truck is ready to be set up for a party! The queue is littered with subtle nods to past Universal attractions. The shirt on the chair is one from the former "Disaster! A Major Motion Picture Starring You!" attraction that previously occupied the majority of the space that Fast and the Furious Supercharged now uses. Tej Parker guides guests through the queue with brief updates on then mission. When Tej isn't onscreen, scenes from the Fast and Furious films are shown. Some heavy duty equipment for the road. The first of the two pre-show areas features a spieler show sets the stage for the story of Fast and Furious Supercharged. This space is known as the "Family Room" and features photos and references to the many characters in Dominic Toretto's family. This includes Brian (the late Paul Walker) and his son Jack. More details in the "Family Room." And an in-joke from Fast & Furious 6. Tej and Mia dial into the Family Room to let the guests know it is time to proceed. The second pre-show room is Tej's "war room" where a nervous aide to the team hopes to get everyone ready for their ride to safety on the party bus. A look at the ride's warnings. Our bus has arrived! Each bus has a driver, similar to the way Skull Island: Reign of Kong has, though these drivers remain silent throughout the course of the ride. Since there is no photography or videography allowed on the ride, I bring you one more photo of the ride vehicle from the exit station. Of course the ride exit dumps into a gift shop. Lots of themed merchandise to choose from! And there are even more cars outside of the gift shop for guests to check out! With work on Fast and Furious Supercharged nearly done, the next and most visible project underway is the redevelopment of Central Park in anticipation of the new lagoon show that will replace Universal's Cinematic Spectacular. The former Central Park area has been ripped up, but the reason has not yet been revealed. You can kind of see just how larger this platform is becoming... There's more on the horizon for Universal Orlando! A with that I wrapped up my quick visit!

This is an awesome start to what I know will be an incredible trip report throughout! You really do get what you pay for when it comes to these cruises--not having to think about paying extra for soda, knowing that your dining room is different each night, there's always space for you in the main shows and there's a ton to do throughout the ship always makes the value clear for me. I've sailed with Disney quite a few times now but the Disney Magic is the only ship I've not sailed on yet, so it is great to see so many awesome, unique features on the Disney Magic through your eyes. We're hoping to sail on the Disney Magic in Europe this Summer, so this is only raising my hype levels immensely! And I'm also super eager to see more of your experience during Marvel Day at Sea--it looks like a really fantastic addition to an already incredible cruise!

A few weekends ago I had the chance to visit Busch Gardens Tampa for the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival... Along the way I enjoyed the park's many animals, fantastic rides and lots of tasty food and drink options! This event really brings out the best in this park and adds another option when it comes to ways to enjoy your time here. We also were able to check out the park's newest ice skating show, Turn It Up, which was well worth the visit! The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival continues to run for the remaining weekends in April, so if you have a chance to get out to the park, I highly recommend it! Between the rides, shows, animals and delicious food and beverage choices, you'll definitely not be disappointed! Check out the following link for the delicious full event menu: https://buschgardens.com/tampa/events/food-and-wine-festival/cabins/ It was so busy on the day we visited that we had to park at Adventure Island and shuttle over. They really do spruce up some of the less-frequented sections of the park for this event! Another topiary in the park. Special roaming characters are out and about during the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival! And there are special photo ops throughout the park! This used to be the Marrakesh Theater where many shows had been performed over the years. The theater is now walled off from guest view. No new activity at Gwazi these days... Gwazi is still totally visible from all angles in the park. The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival brings with it several neat topiaries. There's also this living statue that is fun to watch. New this year is addition of pieces created live throughout the park by local artists. It isn't a visit to Busch Gardens Tampa without a stop at Walkabout Way! I love seeing the kangaroos and joeys in the Kangaloom! Friendly emus! Just hanging out... What's this? Tree creatures!!! And they do a special rope drop ceremony for the opening of the Food & Wine Festival area in Gwazi Park! This path has been used for events like the Food and Wine Festival, Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town over the years and it provides an up-close view of the former Gwazi dueling wooden coasters. Tourist topiaries! New this year was the addition of artists creating new large scale works of art live throughout the festival. The bison slider with sriracha ketchup was our absolute favorite dish of the event! Still so strange to see the coaster not actively running anymore... The track has definitely seen better days. Lots of tasty options to choose from along the Food & Wine Festival path! Set up similarly to other theme park food & wine festivals, you order from ahead and bring your receipt to the counter for your item to be served fresh. Lots of great beer, cider and wine choices throughout the event as well! The permanent pavilion in Gwazi Park (often enclosed and used for Howl-O-Scream mazes in September/October was being used for concert merchandise and additional beverage options! More live art to watch come to life! Even more... Frog legs and hush puppies! Steak and a delicious cauliflower cake! Also new for us this visit was "Turn It Up," the park's newest ice skating show. The show is a modern take on ice skating with the focus being highly choreographed scenes set to popular music across different genres. The sets are just as dynamic as the skaters dancing in and around them. Definitely an enjoyable show and a great break from the Florida sun! Well worth your time if you're at the park! Busch Gardens Tampa is known for their animals too! You can't visit Busch Gardens Tampa and not stop by Falcon's Fury... Or should I say, drop in! Some of the Jungala attractions had quietly closed, but have since reopened after a short downtime. Sheikra is still one of my favorite coasters in all of Florida. Some delicious lamb chops! And a light and fluffy duck bao bun for good measure! Coca-Cola is a big partner of the SeaWorld Parks and their presence at the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival can definitely be felt... Especially in the form of two new food booths with menu items infused with flavors created with Coca-Cola products. This Baked Brie was served with a Strawberry Fanta Coulis. The Orange Fanta Whoopie Pie was a winner for us! The Minute Maid Apple Glazed Pork Belly was perfectly cooked! A local vendor had chocolate covered bacon available for purchase along the festival path! A full list of the locations where food, drinks and merchandise can be purchased throughout the event. Who knows if we'll ever see any life in this structure again... Frozen jack & coke? Sold! Goo Goo Dolls was set to perform on the evening of our visit. Looking back at Gwazi one last time...

In honor of National Beer Day, we have been sent a list of some of the unique beers offered throughout the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort!

Universal Orlando has sent us a press release announcing that Stranger Things is coming to Halloween Horror Nights this year for Orlando, Hollywood and Singapore's event!