jedimaster1227

The Walt Disney World Resort has sent us a press release about the exciting new addition coming to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park in 2017, Miss Fortune Falls!

That's a shame... Such a unique concept from a different time. Sad to hear they didn't bring it back.

In looking at the ThrillCorp website, I realized that they've posted some concept art (that I'd never seen before) that looks REALLY fantastic, especially the combo towers with one tower a Polercoaster and the other a SkySpire! http://www.thrillcorp.com/press/

This terrain turn is gorgeous! I'm still hoping one of the parks in Florida (read: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay) takes the dive and signs with Rocky Mountain Construction to build (or convert) a wooden beast on par with Wildfire and some of their other recent creations. This one looks insane and it kills me that I most likely won't get over to Kolmarden any time soon to try it for myself!

It is neat to see the slight differences between the Walt Disney World and Shanghai Disneyland versions of the ride. Regardless, the ride is very fun in Florida and looks to be no less so in Shanghai, and given the Chinese people's affinity for Snow White, I'm sure this will be one of the big hits for the park.

^Water parks really have been the growing trend in the industry with water destinations thriving despite requiring less of an investment to development. I hope that this is the solution that helps Conneaut Lake Park to succeed and grow. The park certainly has history that most would like to see preserved and expanded upon for many years to come.

Hello rain2836... While we appreciate your eagerness to post to the TPR forums, we ask that you take the time to post using proper spelling and grammar. Text message shorthand is not allowed on these forums, per the Terms of Service you agreed to when joining the forums. That being said, the ride was in extremely poor condition when we saw it in 2006, and as you saw in the video previously posted, taking this thing down to begin with was no easy feat. At a certain point it makes more sense to put the money spent on refurbishing, rebuilding and repainting a previously operating ride towards the purchase of a new attraction that will inevitably have a longer service life. Few parks get the value for their investment when taking old rides like these that were already worn down by the time they were taken down only to put them back up. BMRX didn't pay off for Camelot when they rebuilt it as Knightmare (and they had the extra work that went into removing the mountain facade that wrapped around much of the ride's structure), Starliner didn't pay off for Cypress Gardens Adventure Park and Flashback certainly didn't pan out for Six Flags Magic Mountain despite its long time in the park (four of its fifteen years spent Standing But Not Operating). Rare examples of the successful relocation of rides include Phoenix at Knoebels and Dominator at Kings Dominion. It isn't to say that rides cannot be successfully transplanted to a new park to operate for many additional years (Six Flags used to cycle their rides throughout their parks semi-frequently), but it is a matter of maintenance and cost for these attractions that allows them to be moved with value to new homes. Hard Rock Park/Freestyle Music Park's entire catalog was distributed across several parks with the selling point being that the rides were lightly used and practically new. Had those rides not been maintained during the park's years of closure, they would not likely have been as appealing to a seller or prospective park to reinstall it. Poor maintenance of the already poor ride is the reason why that standup coaster was not fit or worthwhile to rebuild inside of Darien Lake.

The concept art definitely makes this seem like one of the more heavily themed additions for Parc Asterix but definitely another family addition. I'll be curious to see just how it turns out when it is fully built and operating.

^Yeah, it hasn't even done team member previews so I would say it is almost definitely out of the question. Though Skull Island: Reign of Kong is now officially open nearby, so there is still plenty of new fun to enjoy during your visit!

^You shouldn't have any challenges using Uber to access the Universal Orlando Resort. Your driver will drop you off at the bus loop/pick up drop off location attached to CityWalk, which is where you'll later call for them when you're ready to leave.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/07/disneyland-park-guests-get-a-peek-at-new-star-wars-themed-land/ Keep in mind, this concept art is specifically for the Disneyland version of the themed land, taking into consideration its interaction with the neighboring Frontierland and Big Thunder Trail. Disney's Hollywood Studios will likely feature a slightly different configuration and entrance portals to better transition guests from Toy Story Land and Commissary Lane.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/07/disneyland-park-guests-get-a-peek-at-new-star-wars-themed-land/

Over the last few weeks Disney Springs has continued to grow with new additions opening every few days. Standing in these new establishments it is hard to believe that just a few years ago the land used to be surface parking lots and the remains of the former Pleasure Island clubs, but walking through the newly opened neighborhoods of Disney Springs, you'd never know. Disney Springs has always been a special place for me (I had my first date with my now-fiancee there and later proposed to her near where we first met in front of Cirque du Soleil) and I admittedly frequent it more often than most. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that I have made it a point to try as many of the new offerings as often as possible as soon as they open... This update highlights some of my experiences at the newest venues (with more to come in the comings months into next year). The latest restaurant to open is Frontera Cocina, the latest concept from famed chef Rick Bayless, located along the edge of the namesake Disney Springs. More of the interior... The restaurant's bar area... Bacon Guacamole featuring Neuske Bacon! The house Queso Fundido was thick and stringy--sure to please many! The restaurant is practically being stripped to frame to begin its restructuring as Paddlefish, a new concept seafood restaurant that will bring back the smokestacks and paddlewheel that formerly graced the building (the structure is not actually a parked riverboat, but a building built onto the water) when it was the Empress Lilly Restaurant. Oddly enough, I never had the chance to dine at Fulton's Crab House before it closed... The full menu for Frontera Cocina... The long lines at Sprinkles Cupcakes have died down since the store first opened, now making it much easier to walk in and enjoy the awesome cupcakes and ice cream inside! Pro tip: Be sure to ask what the seasonal cupcake and ice cream flavors are when you visit--I was able to get a Key Lime Pie Cupcake and an "adult ice cream" containing gin, vermouth and an orange liquor that packed a punched in the best way! Frontera Cocina also opened with a quick service window attached that serves two of the house margaritas and a few food options for those on the go. The chicken tostadas with avocado were pretty tasty! The Atomic Guacamole has serious heat especially on top. Made with habanero peppers. The Shrimp Enchiladas Suizas didn't disappoint! My favorite dish of the night! The Carnitas were the table favorite of the night (I was outvoted as they were my 2nd favorite). The Chicken Enchilidas had a red chile sauce with the bottom of the skillet coated in beans. Delicious! The Pepito Torta was good for the sandwich lover of our table! Shrimp Mojo De Ajo came with a healthy serving of prawns as well. The Carne Asada was cooked nicely and the portion was generous. Coctel Verde (seafood ceviche) was fresh with large prawns & medium sized scallops. The presentation for the Tortilla Soup was very nice! The house Manhattan... Strong! It should be noted that the drinks are partially pre-prepared (like they are at La Cava del Tequila) with fresh ingredients and bitters thrown in to order in order to maintain a quality taste standard for each drink on the menu while also serving with a fresh taste. The Mexican Cola was among the MANY drinks we had during our visit, and it was awesome! We sampled the Cream de Tequila and it was delicious! Basically caramel tequila! Hilda, one of the tequila experts from La Cava del Tequila was on hand to explain the significance of the Cream de Tequila. Some of the interior elements of Frontera Cocina... Branded door handles! You can't beat this view. The winner of the best patio at Disney Springs goes to Frontera Cocina! The ant salt rim... It actually contains real ants and it was delicious! Plantain Sundae. BRILLIANT! The Pecan Pie Bar was definitely the best dessert of the night! Quattro Leches de Coco wasn't my thing but everyone around the table devoured it. The salt rims of Frontera Cocina... Some of Rick Bayless' Frontera-brand sauces, salsas and books are available for purchase at the host stand near the entrance of the restaurant. Moving on, our next stop was Amorette's Patisserie, which opened with the Town Center. The venue offers signature cakes like these that many of us had been dying to try... So we went all in and gave it a shot! Despite all the new items, I come here for my favorites... The chimichurri steak is one of the best. New to the drink menu is the option for a table side Caipirinha. A server comes over and offers up a selection of fruit to muddle (I went with pineapple) and then the cachaca is poured in a gracious serving and given ice and a stick of sugar cane. This drink isn't for lightweights! With the exception of the fruit and ice, there is nothing else in this drink that 40% alcohol content cachaca! This drink was delicious and right up my alley, but it definitely wouldn't be for everyone. Even the dessert menu at Paradise 37 has been expanded! Even some new sandwiches! A cross section of the signature cake--lots of layers! Joffrey's Tea Traders in The Landing (opposite The Boathouse) is offering seasonal, spirited teas for those who are into that kind of thing... Paradiso 37 (another favorite of mine) quietly but significantly expanded their menu last month... Lots of new entrees! Lots of new starters! Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar has also received a reworked menu that removed several less popular dishes (sadly meaning that my favorite Good Dates are no more), updated a few mildly popular options and introduced a few new items. I'll have to come back to give them a shot. Work continues on transforming Planet Hollywood into the Planet Hollywood Observatory and the attached Stargazers Lounge! Next on deck to open with be Homecoming: Southern Kitchen and Shine Bar... For $10 you can get three medium sized ribs prepared in the same style as the signature ribs inside of the main restaurant, and they are just as delicious here as they are inside! Morimoto Street Food, the quick service option attached to Morimoto Asia provides some of the best quick service options on property! The bao are delicious! This new concept restaurant from Chef Art Smith will boast an emphasis on southern cooking (something that hasn't been strongly present at the Walt Disney World Resort previously). A new special beef curry rice bowl was available during our visit--it was hearty and flavorful, and if it is still on the menu next time I will definitely get it again! More bao to enjoy! Sugerboo & Co. is one of the latest stores to open in the Town Center, in the open air arcade to the side of the Coca-Cola Store and Planet Hollywood. Lots of paper goods and unique home items are offered here. Vivoli il Gelato at Disney Springs is still one of the best places for ice cream on property and in Orlando! The Takoyaki is not necessarily a guest friendly item for most guests when it comes to protein (octopus) or its texture, but for some reason, I really love the flavor profiles going on here! I love octopus and these equate to fried risotto balls for me, so this is right up my alley. Grand opening bottles (limited edition 500 for each color) were sold during the opening festivities... I had to buy a few. So much soda! Moving up to the rooftop bar, you get a great view of the surrounding Disney Springs. The Coca-Cola Store also offers two different sized surprise bags (the smaller for $1.99 and the larger for $7.99) with unannounced items inside that will reportedly be changed each month. I won't spoil what I got in my bags, but I will tell you that for what I paid, the value was greater than the cost! I look forward to seeing them change it up in the coming months! This chandelier is the centerpiece of the Coca-Cola Store's ground floor shop, and it is made entirely out of recycled Coca-Cola bottles. You can purchase tasting options like this International Soda Sampler (there's a soda float sampler add-on that I skipped this time around)! Sunfill Mint from Djibouti is like a less-strong flavored Disneyland Mint Julep! I'm freaking out! Of course there are Coca-Cola Freestyle Machines upstairs to use! The rooftop bar offers any soda on tap (all 100 international flavors included) with the option of turning it into a float... Which means that you Beverly lovers can get a Beverly Float. And in my case, I can get a Fanta Melon Frosty Float or a Smart Watermelon Float! Using the wraparound pathways (or the elevators for those that need them), you can move up to the second and third floors to enjoy even more! Lots of unique merchandise items available here... And it will soon be host to the Coca-Cola Polar Bear meet and greet experience. This will be the same hyper-articulated figure from the World of Coca Cola, who we also met at IAAPA a few years ago! The second floor is home to even more merchandise options (not the same as those on the first floor)! Plenty of apparel to choose from. Lots of options! Even some items made out of soda can tabs! Next up was the grand opening of the Coca-Cola Store... And if you know anything about me from my previous reports on Theme Park Review, you'll know that I am a HUGE Coca-Cola fanatic! I love how much Orlando-branded merchandise they have in the store! Easily the best side I've had on property. The Queso Anejo Mashed Potatoes with Aged Cojita Cheese!

Such incredible photos of Taron! This area looks absolutely incredible--they've woven Taron (and the other coaster) into the theming and it looks unlike anything I've ever seen! Thank you so much for sharing!

Kolmarden looks like such a fun park and Wildfire looks incredible! And this... This is amazing! I've never seen animals in any American parks/zoos eating real animal flesh like this in such a natural form--it would always be processed meat or they would be fed backstage. Just awesome to see the cultural differences when it comes to visibility to certain things in these parks versus the US ones. Thanks for sharing!

http://www.olc.co.jp/en/news/tdr/20160705_01e.pdf Concept image ©Disney http://www.olc.co.jp/en/news/tdr/20160219_01e.pdf

Last weekend Maddy and I had the chance to visit Legoland Florida... This was a unique visit for both of us, as it was her first visit and it was my first time visiting as a normal day guest. I've been many times over the years since the park first opened as Legoland Florida (and several times during construction, along with many visits to the park when it was Cypress Gardens and Cypress Gardens Adventure Park), but I'd never had the full day to check out all that the park has to offer. And knowing how Merlin has invested in the park, it was no surprise that there were several new additions and improvements throughout the park that had been added since my last visit well over a year ago. While we're certainly not the target market, there's such a unique charm about Legoland Florida that if you have the day to spare, even as an adult without children, I would say that it is worth at least one visit (especially to visit the storied Cypress Gardens as it still exists, preserved within the larger park). Legoland Florida barely resembles the shell of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park upon whose foundation this park was built. There are distinctly LEGO touches throughout the park, especially in the entrance plaza. EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!! I'll be back! First up, the park's most signature coaster, The Dragon. Previously operating as Okeechobee Rampage, the original ride station was removed to allow a larger dark ride section of the coaster to be added before the standard Vekoma roller skater's lift hill. The ride's original brake run was modified to become straight track leading into the new station where a track switch from the new station was also added to enable additional trains to be available for the operation. Lots of LEGO details throughout the park. Coastersaurus was originally Triple Hurricane, one of the new coasters added when the park first became Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. The ride was recently refurbished to make way for the addition of GCI's first Mini-llenium Flyer trains. The theming of the queue is very nice and integrates the existing structures from Cypress Gardens well. Throughout the area you hear the loud roar of a hidden raptor which, once inside the queue you find to be this tiny dino with a loudspeaker. Very cute and clever. New hotness. Lots of new construction happening behind Coastersaurus... What could it be for? Opposite Dino Island where Coastersaurus lives you can see the large plot of land that will become home to Ninjago: The Ride. Project X existed previous as Jungle Coaster in Legoland Windsor. When the ride operated at Legoland Windsor, it featured odd vehicle enclosures that covered the cars with clear windows. Those added elements were removed when the ride was moved to Legoland Florida. Recently the Imagination Zone underwent a significant refurbishment that enclosed much for the formerly open air (but covered) offerings. This is now the best place in the park to cool off and relax. Inside of Imagination Zone are many interactive offerings for kids and their parents to enjoy building Legos. The earthquake simulator was very tempting for me to play with. Here you can design your own Lego fish and then see them swim on screen, very much like the "fish tanks" at The Cowfish in Universal Orlando's CityWalk, but in Lego form. Our two fish bobbing along, bobbing along on the bottom of the beautiful, briny sea... Rescue Academy is arguably one of the most fun, interactive experiences you can enjoy at Legoland Florida. This is the view from the winner's circle--I might have taken great pride in beating all other guests during our run... I might have. Boating School is essentially the Autopia of boating for kids. Poor octopus... Flight School formerly operated as Swamp Thing--a clone of the same ride (in layout and name) as the one at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, GA. That park was owned by the same person that converted Cypress Gardens into Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. The new entrance for the ride is much nicer than what was here when it was Cypress Gardens Adventure Park. We are the world. Touring Cypress Gardens for Maddy's first visit... Real bananas! B A N A N A S. There's nothing like seeing the Banyan Tree in person... A true wonder of nature! Legoland Florida operates on the shores of Lake Eloise where it hosts a variation of the classic water skiing show that was a staple at Cypress Gardens for many, many years. Unfortunately portions of Cypress Gardens were closed due to flooding... As you can see here. Legoland Florida has such beauty and charm throughout. Miniland is a famous staple of all Legoland parks and Legoland Florida's version does not disappoint! They have a working Stratosphere (that unfortunately doesn't feature High Roller). New York, New York minus the Manhatten Express. Luxor! Kennedy Space Center... Star Wars Miniland was added a few years ago and features Lego recreations of iconic Star Wars scenes. This one is the duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan on Mustafar at the end of Revenge of the Sith. This is the Battle of Naboo from the end of The Phantom Menace. There's even scene represented from Star Wars The Clone Wars, the animated TV show that ran for many years on Cartoon Network. A clone jet pack trooper! LEGO WAMPA!!! The Millennium Falcon scene on Tatooine Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes! The Battle of Kashyyyk from Revenge of the Sith. Every few minutes the Space Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center "launches." Heartlake City was the most recent expansion to open at the park which brought the addition of a Disk'o flat ride. Interestingly enough, Cypress Gardens Adventure Park used to feature a traveling model of the Disk'o but this is a new, permanent model. The historic Southern Mansion in the park has been integrated into Heartlake City but it remains in use only for special events. The first step in making deliciousness... The last time I was at Legoland, the Legoland Hotel was half built, so we stopped in to check it out. The front desk emphasizes how much LEGO there is to the Legoland Hotel There are several activity areas throughout the lobby for kids to play while the adults check in. The elevators in the hotel play different disco songs as you move between floors. Each floor has a unique theme with a greeting character speaking to you when the doors open. *blushes* The Skyline Lounge is an adult friendly area where you can get snacks and alcoholic beverages as well as more kid-friendly options. A second replica of the I-Drive 360 complex can be found inside of the Legoland Hotel with the other operating within Miniland inside of the park. A neat Lego skyline in the Skyline Lounge. I love the humor! You can also take classes with a master builder at the Legoland Hotel. The child's play area inside of the lobby of the hotel... Orc! RUN! There's even a themed restaurant here for guests to enjoy! It was another awesome visit to Legoland Florida and with so much being updated/added consistently, I'm sure to have a good reason to return very soon! And bliss.

Today I had the chance to check out the brand new Frozen Ever After attraction at Epcot. The successor to Maelstrom and a part of the larger expansion of the Norway pavilion to bring the massive IP into the park, Frozen Ever After presents a new story wrapped in the familiar tunes of the famous film. The ride tells the story of a day of celebration commemorating the events of the film, with the characters singing some of the most notable songs from the film but not in the ways you've previously experienced them. Imagineers have significantly reworked the theming of this attraction and have added to the queue and ride to accommodate for the extreme demand behind the property as it will inevitably draw significant crowds for many, many years to come. The former entrance station has been removed to allow for additional length to be added to the ride with all entrance and exit flow taking place in Maelstrom's former exit station. The previous post-show theater has been removed entirely for the addition of a huge inside queue filled with incredibly effective lighting and architecture that immerses guests in the courtyards of the kingdom of Arendelle. Once inside the ride, you will find some of the most impressive, advanced audio animatronics that Disney has ever produced. The animatronic figures are the next evolution of the interior projection technology that already powers the seven dwarfs figures in the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom. The ride layout has remained exactly as it was when the ride was Maelstrom (with the exception of the entrance station being converted into standard ride track) but the ride feels significantly longer as there are far fewer corners of the attraction in which nothing is going on. The story carries on throughout the ride and hardly pauses between rooms, as the ride has little time to spare given the space constraints of the pavilion's existing structures. As you'll see in the photos below, this attraction features some incredible new animatronics, perfect staging and lighting. The music has been re-orchestrated in an way that will surprise the biggest Frozen fans. This isn't simply a rehash of the film or its animated short sequel, but a direct sequel to the previously featured events. There have been many that claimed that there was no place for Frozen (or animated characters) in the World Showcase at Epcot, but as the Royal Sommerhus and now Frozen Ever After have shown, there is an extremely tasteful, not over-the-top way to integrate Disney stories into the culturally authentic representations of the world's countries. I only hope that future expansions to the World Showcase follow the incredibly successful formula that Frozen Ever After and the Royal Sommerhus have taken in plussing their host pavilion. These additions will surely succeed in drawing record crowds (as today already proved) and Frozen Ever After sets a high bar for future dark ride additions to the Walt Disney World Resort! Get used to lines looking like this for the foreseeable future... The entrance facade of Maelstrom was reworked for the introduction of Frozen Ever After. The ride's cave has been sealed off to ensure a darker ride interior--an incredibly effective decision. A look at the ride's marquee... A list of warnings for guests to review. A subtle nod to Kristoff with Sven holding him up. Kristof's office can be seen at the entrance of the interior queue. It's all in the detail! Neat! Impressive stonework! The removal of the post show theater has freed up a huge amount of space for the new interior queue. The former exit station now serves as the entrance and exit station for Frozen Ever After, allowing for additional track length to be spent towards the ride experience. The execution of the new interior queue is nothing short of astounding! The forced perspective of the neighboring Arendelle cottages along the queue wall is incredibly effective. Woohoo! Since I was in the FastPass+ lane I was unable to go in to this section of the queue but it looked to be filled with detail. I still can't get over how great this looks! Almost time to head in! The official Proclamation of the Summer Snow Day holiday that gives cause to Frozen Ever After's depicted festivities. Even when loading into the ride vehicles, guests can see neighboring cottages all around. The boats from Maelstrom have been refurbished and repurposed for Frozen Ever After. No notable changes have been made to these ride vehicles. Olaf is the first character we see in the ride... Watching this animatronic bob along and emote was incredible! The trolls looked incredible! This baby troll pops up right before you take the journey to the ice palace (aka the lift hill). In place of Odin's all seeing eye, you climb the lift hill with the ice palace visible ahead and a giant colorful snowflake glowing to signal your arrival. Inside of Elsa's ice palace you will find Olaf skating around gleefully. Kristoff is serenading Anna in a very cute moment for the ride. Sven happily watches as the two share a moment. Elsa's rendition of Let It Go is nuanced to line up with the film, while allowing guests to be right in the middle of the most recognizable sequence from the entire franchise. As Elsa sings the ice palace grows around her... The glow continues to grow! And with a blast of energy the boat pushes off backward.... The ice palace is huge and thus riders are able to see it continue to grow as you continue backwards. Marshmallow and the snowgies ready to send guests back down to the waters of Norway. Fireworks over Arendelle! Frozen Ever After is an incredible addition to the World Showcase and Epcot in that it will appeal to guests of all ages and be a HUGE draw. The story is unique without straying too far from the source material. I highly recommend that you check out the attraction, even waiting a few hours for this experience if need be. FastPass+is definitely the preferred route to get on this ride as soon as possible, if not rope dropping the park, but if your only shot is to wait in the Standby line, then I recommend taking that step--it will be worth it, especially if you are a Frozen fan like I am. This is an incredible addition to the park, one of the strongest dark rides at Walt Disney World) and a great taster for what is to come with Avatar and Star Wars Land in the coming years!

Today I had the chance to visit Epcot to try out the new Soarin' Around The World as well as the Royal Sommerhus at the Norway Pavilion, a new meet and greet for Anna and Elsa. The original version of Soarin' (over California) closed on Thursday with the new version debuting on Friday. Soarin' has traded out the many beautiful landmarks of California for new international destinations including Sydney Harbor, the Great Wall of China, the pyramids of Egypt and the Taj Mahal. Despite this update coming primarily from the new Soarin' over the Horizon attraction in Shanghai Disneyland, each version has a different finale with Epcot's taking place over Spaceship Earth. This is a great evolution of an already iconic Disney attraction and while the destinations are new, the classic score has been re-orchestrated to match the locales which guests fly over. The ride now offers three unique scents but unfortunately (Horizons) fans of the L'Orange scent will be disappointed to find that the fresh smell of orange groves didn't find its way into the new internationally focused ride film. Royal Sommerhus is the first of two new additions to the Norway pavilion, with Frozen Ever After (the successor to Maelstrom) opening later this week. The new addition to the left side of the Norway pavilion is surprisingly subtle when it comes to Frozen. The architecture is authentic to Norway and the interior of the cottage queue features almost no references to the namesake film. It is only until you enter the actual meet and greet parlor where Anna and Elsa are present that the experience clearly ties into Frozen (not even the music from the film is heavily referenced in the background loop) and even their photo backgrounds are tastefully toned down. Many Disney fans feared that Frozen coming to Epcot would take away from the authenticity of the Norway pavilion, but based on everything I experienced yesterday, I believe those fears were unfounded. The debut of Frozen Ever After will be the true deciding factor, but based on the side of the pavilion that already debuted, I don't think anyone has anything to worry about. The final addition to note from the weekend was the introduction of a new exhibition inside of the China pavilion focused on the new Shanghai Disneyland Resort. Featuring many of the artwork and displays from the most recent D23 Expo, the low key presentation gives guests insight into the creative processes behind the new park and some of its most unique elements. Rope dropping Epcot will look like this for a long time if you're aiming to get on Soarin' Around The World first. The ride's marquee was updated to reflect the new title. Thankfully the gorgeous queue has been left intact with only the addition of a third corridor leading to the newly constructed Concourse C theater. The pre-pre-show video loop no longer lists flight destinations in the clouds, rather charting out your planned travel via an animated map. Ready for a surprise? Patrick Warburton as Chief Flight Attendant Patrick is still the host of Soarin' despite the new ride film! He sets such a perfect tone for the start of the ride so I was thrilled to see him stay on. The pre-show film was not altered in any way, nor was any new dialogue recorded to facilitate this portion of the classic attraction staying on. There's nothing not to love about the new Soarin' Around The World. It is an incredible evolution of a classic Disney attraction that pays great homage to what came before (pre-show, the memorable score and the fireworks finale) while introducing exciting new visuals and destinations not previously seen. Traveling around the world in 4.5 minutes can certainly make you work up an appetite--and the nearby Sunshine Seasons quick service options at The Land pavilion certainly satisfy! Bread Pudding French Toast, eggs, potatoes, bacon... And a Key Lime Tart because it is never too early for dessert (if you don't already know, I REALLY like food). Over at Turtle Talk with Crush, characters from Finding Dory have begun making appearances in the show. Turtle Pile! Destiny the whale shark now helps Dory to teach the audience how to speak whale. After Turtle Talk I went back over to Soarin' for a little experiment... The posted wait time for the ride was 45 minutes upon entry of the queue. This was the back of the line when we started. Now that the third theater has been added, it has been stated that the flow of the queue has been greatly increased... By the time we got on the ride, we had only been in line for 25 minutes despite the 45 minute posted wait time. While I can't guarantee the this will be the norm moving forward, it was clear that at least during my visit, the addition of the third theater has allowed the standby queue to load more consistently, shortening our overall wait time by nearly 20 minutes! Over at the Norway pavilion the Royal Sommerhus has opened! "Meet Anna and Elsa" is very subtly included at the bottom of the marquee to let guests know that this is Frozen related, but aside from that (as you'll see), this isn't very in-your-face when it comes to the popular film property. Authentic architecture really sets the mood out here... Little Disney details everywhere you look. The queue is very quaint and charming! Some of the construction wall artwork actually lives on in the form of tapestries that adorn the queue walls. The clock works! The first (subtle) trace of Frozen I could find in the cottage. More tapestries... This tapestry is a tribute to Maelstrom, the attraction that has since been replaced with Frozen Ever After. The border of the artwork on the tapestry is inspired by the unique chair backs of the benches in the ride's post-show film theater. Unique details all around! More art on the walls... A tapestry depicting Arendelle. A look inside of the meet and greet parlor... Anna has the port of Arendelle as her backdrop. Elsa's backdrop features a view of her ice castle on the side of the North Mountain. The meet and greet exits out into a small gift shop featuring a variety of Frozen themed merchandise options. The architecture here looks great! The restroom complex at the Norway pavilion was heavily refurbished in during the pavilion's Frozen-led facelift. Fun fact: The restroom complex (particularly the building on the far right) has existed since before the Norway pavilion was constructed. An extended queue full of switchbacks is set up just opposite the entrance of the Royal Sommerhus as wait times are expected to be high for these two popular princesses. Some Nordic glyphs in the rockwork near the Royal Sommerhus. A look at the soon-to-open Frozen Ever After entrance area... The ride's entrance sign peeks out over the construction walls. The former Maelstrom entrance was given a Over in the China pavilion the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibit has been replaced with an exhibit about Shanghai Disneyland... Lots of great detail to be seen... These displays were previously featured at the D23 Expo's Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Pavilion. I look forward to meeting The Woolley next Summer. I'm interested to see how these stone formations translate in real life. Still interested to see if what we've seen of Q'araq matches more closely with this eventually... I love this stylized map of Camp Discovery! Based on the design I would've thought this was the Soarin' theater but it is nice to know that this is a flex-venue. Plenty of room to grow! A good ol' helping of Schofferhofer Grapefruit from Germany to round out the day! Never a bad choice, especially on a hot Florida afternoon like this one! Where Truman always wanted to go: Fiji! It wouldn't be a Disney attraction without Hidden Mickeys! This one can be found during the Monument Valley scene. The Eiffel Tower looks great during this sequence! Each of the three Soarin' Around the World films (Soaring Over the Horizon at Shanghai Disneyland) features the same ride film with the exception of the finale, which is specific to the host resort of the ride. For Epcot, the finale flies over Spaceship Earth with fireworks... And the fireworks mark the end of the ride... Subtle but not too subtle! The Taj Mahal... The pyramids of Egypt... Orca! Sydney Harbor... Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the inspiration for much of the design of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park and Hong Kong Disneyland. Ice is nice! The ride film starts out Soarin' above the Matterhorn (not the Fantasyland side of it)...

Today Theme Park Review was invited to SeaWorld Orlando to participate in a media preview and Ridercam session on Mako. With Robb and Elissa currently in Europe, Maddy and I stood in to brave the newest coaster at the park. Mako is the latest addition to SeaWorld Orlando, a park that has received consistent investment for the last few years including TurtleTrek, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, the new guest-facing Manatee care facility, Mama's Pretzel Kitchen and the Annual Passholder Lounge. This new coaster is intended to push the thrill envelope for SeaWorld Orlando and Central Florida while still providing a coaster experience that is accessible to families (the minimum height requirement is 54 inches) and with B&M as the ride manufacturer, you know that is exactly what this park has received. Now the tallest (200 ft) and fastest (73 mph top speed) rollercoaster in Orlando (a title it will presumably hold until the opening of the Skyscraper rollercoaster at Skyplex), the ride features nearly a mile of track with nine airtime hills with almost forty percent of the track located directly over water. The ride's enveloping realm, Shark Wreck Reef plays host to many sunken ships (including the ride station) for Mako to cut across and a new intelligent surround sound system fills the area with sound that reacts and follows the coaster trains as they move throughout the space. With the Summer of Mako set to begin with the debut of the coaster, the park is also offering limited time food and beverage options including a honey vanilla mako shark cookie; a SeaWorld exclusive Coca-Cola Freestyle mix, Mako Blast (coming June 14); a specialty alcoholic beverage only available at Shark’s Underwater Grill; and Mako American Red Ale, a SeaWorld exclusive brew available in several locations around SeaWorld. Joined by the existing staples Shark Encounter and Sharks Underwater Grill, Shark Wreck Reef is a revitalized corner of SeaWorld livened by the presence of the dynamic new coaster crossing its path twice overhead of guests during its ride path. As someone that has ridden several B&M hyper coasters, I found Mako to be pure fun but comparable to those I've experienced. This isn't necessarily going to be a top ten coaster for anyone that has ridden any major coasters outside of Central Florida, but it does stand out in the local market as the coaster with the largest amount of airtime to be experience in one ride. The coaster barrels at its top speed in the first half of the ride but does slow in the latter half of the ride--something that may catch some riders off guard, but the floater airtime is not lessened much despite the changed pace. The ride is not incredibly forceful like some B&M coasters of yore (like Montu or Kumba), nor is the the airtime "ejector air" but thanks to B&M's awesome lap bar-esque restraints, your rear will spend little time on the seat during the quick out and back journey of Mako--though you'll never feel unsafe as the restraints keep your legs (and thus, body) pinned tightly. Some coaster enthusiasts may find that Mako doesn't push the envelope, but at the end of the day it doesn't have to. The dosage of airtime this ride delivers is going to be extremely hard to scoff at, even if it isn't as violent or quick as you might find on an Intamin-made airtime machine. This ride delivers in exactly the ways that SeaWorld Orlando needs--a highly visible coaster (that can be seen from far outside of the park limits to draw guests in) that fills a niche that Orlando/Central Florida did not already have satisfied (an airtime-focused coaster) while delivering a memorable, thrilling experience for guests of most ages (again, the minimum height requirement being 54 inches). Mako is an incredibly fun coaster--one that some may consider among the finest, depending on your tastes and exposure to similar rides. It is certainly worth the visit to SeaWorld Orlando, especially when you consider how many other great rides and shows are already at this park. As SeaWorld Orlando continues to evolve in the coming years, Mako will take its place along the park's already powerful skyline, thrilling guests for many, many years to come. Shark Wreck Reef is the new realm, encompassing the existing Shark Encounter, Sharks Underwater Grill and Fins gift shop while adding several new merchandise options and lots of shipwreck theming. Sharks have been embedded into the pavement throughout the new realm, adding to the underwater feel of the area. SeaWorld continues to educate even when adding new thrill rides with the addition of new, interactive displays that share facts about sharks and how to help protect them. I do love sharks! The entrance of Shark Encounter has been plussed to fit into the rebranded Shark Wreck Reef. Meet Finn, a shark made entirely from non-biodegradable trash. More educational displays in Shark Wreck Reef. Mako's lift towers over Shark Encounter. Mako is unique in that it crosses the guest path twice during the course of its layout. Sharks Underwater Grill also received new signage to match the rest of the area. A new caricature and face painting station has been added as a part of the retiming of the realm. This is definitely a very different view than we saw standing here a year ago. As part of the recently announced partnership between Guy Harvey and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Guy Harvey himself hand painted this mural (over the course of three days) near the entrance of Mako for guests to admire within Shark Wreck Reef. Mako cuts across the remains of several sunken vessels during the course of the ride. There are many neat details in the theming to see up close. Lots of Guy Harvey merchandise available for purchase... Including this shirt feature artwork from Harvey and Mako. The coaster zooms over the ride's marquee in a fun and unique way. I do it for Larry. I could get used to seeing this. The new Mako gift shop has some awesome shark merchandise for you shark lovers. It is really neat to see Mako trains wrap around you as they finish out the remainder of their course. We had the chance to interview Brian Morrow (VP Theme Park Experience and Design), the creative lead for so many of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment's many projects. Don't get used to seeing the wait time this low... Much of the queue for Mako is outside. But the ride does fly by all around it. It will be fun to see the ride fly by while waiting to move inside. Mako's ride station is modeled after a sunken ship (presumably a cargo vessel)... And of course, you can purchase your on-ride photo after you ride. The partnership with Guy Harvey is heavily emphasized in the new gift shop at the exit of Mako. Similar to Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld Orlando has begun featuring merchandise highlighting their signature coasters. Opening crowds are expected to be huge... With this in mind, the Nautilus Theatre may be used as an air conditioned overflow queue while the crowds are at their peak. Even the coaster's supports have been themed to fit into the Shark Wreck Reef realm. The coaster looks perfectly curved. There are no water effects currently as the train grazes the water's edge... But the realm's surround sound music kicks in with a triggered series of sounds as the train navigates through this final section of track. A temporary Coca-Cola Freestyle truck has been set up just past the Nautilus Theatre to help keep the huge crowds hydrated in the coming Summer months. SeaWorld will also feature a custom Coca-Cola Freestyle flavor, Mako Blast for guests to enjoy during the Summer of Mako. Directional signage throughout the park ensures that guests clearly know which direction to move in if they wish to ride Mako. Mako looks incredible from the water's edge! One of the last airtime hills of the ride flies past the ride's exit... Where much of the ride's first half can be seen. The largest airtime hill of the coaster. Making the return journey... Lots of floater air coming from Mako. A headchoppper moment takes place when the train dips under the lift hill to head out towards the water's edge for its final turnaround maneuvers. The inside of the ride station features these neat screens that show the silhouettes of sharks and rays swimming overhead. Going up... Coming down! Bring it around town... Almost home! We also had the chance to interview Mike Denninger (VP Theme Park Development and Design) who shared insight as to why the trains were one row shorter than most hyper coasters, along with some thoughts on his favorite elements of the coaster and the genesis of Mako coming to SeaWorld Orlando. We've got shark swag! It wouldn't be a Shark Wreck Reef without actual sharks! Screens in the Mako queue feature footage from the Guy Harvey Foundation that shares information on how scientists track sharks as they migrate great lengths annually. This one's coming home! This really gives a good feel for how Shark Wreck Reef is... Shark Encounter even received a few upgrades including these new projections of shark silhouettes swimming by... Still a classic SeaWorld experience after all these years! Mako is incredible to watch from the water's edge. As mentioned earlier, a new Coca-Cola Freestyle flavor has been developed exclusively for SeaWorld Orlando... And it even comes in a Diet Mako Blast variation! This carbonated fruit punch soda is quite tasty! And resembles blood in the water... So it fits! Thanks again to SeaWorld Orlando for hosting us today--we really love Mako and can't wait to see what is next in store for this incredible park! It is time to start! You can tell from the look on our faces that we're getting plenty of air... And if that isn't proof enough, take a look at Maddy's hair. Here we are entering the overbooked turn to make our return trip towards the end of the ride... A neat view. You even get airtime entering the mid-course brake run! There's some really great curves to this coaster! This is Mike Denninger's favorite element--one that he specifically pushed to have included in the ride's layout... A low, drawn out airtime hill taken at a high speed for an airtime experience different from the other 8 airtime hills. Diving between the Nautilus Theatre and the Mako ride station... Almost 90 degrees! We're in the home stretch! Apparently Mako is also a great hair stylist! Mako is such a fun coaster--a great addition to an already incredible park! Quite a view from here! Flying down the first drop! From this angle you can see just how big Mako really is!

I love how this park continues to find new and creative ways to pack more incredible rides into its landlocked plot. Falcon's Fury is an incredible ride, so I'm sure this will impress as well.

(Continued) Johnson & Murphy specializes in fine clothing with a focus in leather shoes. Everything But Water offers a unique selection of women's swim wear. Lucky Brand Jeans offers namesake clothing for men and women. Disney's longstanding partnership with Vera Bradley continues with the opening of a dedicated storefront in Disney Springs. All of the custom Disney/Vera Bradley designs are available for sale here. This store is also unique in that it offers personalized embroidery services as an uncharge option. Some neat architectural elements in the Town Center... There is this unique wellspring that allows guests to turn the wheel and bring water up to the well... Like this! Multiple two story shops have opened and will open as a part of the Town Center, which is a nice change of pace for the mostly one-story buildings throughout the rest of the area. Sephora had an artist from the Disney Design Group on hand for their grand opening to give out signed artwork to commemorate the day. The Town Center is huge and open compared to some of the other shopping offerings in Orlando. It's a fruitain! The Under Armour store is one of the two-story shops already open in the Town Center. The inside is spacious and features a few neat elements to enjoy beyond shopping. I venture up to a new plane... The Under Armour store features an interactive fitness tracker game... For which to make a fool of myself. Seems decent enough right? It turns out that I'm the 36th highest ranked in the world! Would you believe it? The Town Center entrance to the newly-opened Lime Garage looks great as well. Fountains and poutine! I've not had the chance to try the poutine, but I will soon enough! The new Town Center entrance of World of Disney is now open. The transformation of Fulton's Crab House into Paddlefish is well underway. B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co. is another food option I've not had the chance to try, but with some many great things at Disney Springs, you can bet I'll be back soon to give this a go! Along with the new entrance was the debut of a new entrance mural A new entrance the LEGO Store was built to allow access from the Town Center. Na Hoku is open for those interested in fine Hawaiian jewelry. Edward Beiner is there for those who want quality eyewear. Lines like these are standard at Sprinkles Cupcakes (with the line on the right exclusively for the Cupcake ATM). I haven't tried it yet but I'll get to it eventually. The Sprinkles building used to be the Disney Springs ice house and this is one remnant of that building's history. Frontera Cucina is another new table service restaurant coming to Disney Springs, a concept restaurant by Chef Rick Bayless that will offer a new twist on fine Mexican cuisine. The Disney Springs Welcome Center is host to the relocated Guest Relations for Disney Springs (formerly located in the Marketplace)... Inside you will find even more wonderful art showing off the history of Disney Springs as it grew into what it is today... The highline in use at Disney Springs--an explanation for why the elevated train tracks exist on the West Side. A look at the more residential Town Center. And the more rural edge of the town Center near the springs. More of the Town Center... And a classic look at The Landing featuring The Boathouse, the Empress Lily (soon to be Paddlefish) and one more easter egg... The inclusion of Jock Lindsey in his plane C-3PO flying just outside of his namesake Hangar Bar. Earlier this week (just short of two weeks after the opening of the Town Center) the grand opening of STK took place. The grand opening was more of a preview event with food and drink tasters along with a feel for the club environment STK is bringing back to The Landing (formerly Pleasure Island). Buttermilk Fried Rock Shrimp. "Not Your Daddy's Manhattan" with Bulleit Bourbon, Zinfandel Port & Carpano Antica. One of the Lil' BRGS with wagyu beef and truffles. Grilled Lamb with an Olive Tapenade. Tasted like the lamb was marinated with olives as well. Tuna Tartare with avocado, soy honey emulsion & taro chips as well as the Sweet Corn Pudding. Smokeshow cocktail with Don Julio Tequila, Mescal, Aperol, Carpano Antica & Sweet Vermouth. The Jumbo Lump Crab Salad at @eatSTK @DisneySprings. One of the best tasters of the night! Cucumber Stiletto, my favorite of the night with Ketel One Citron, St. Germain & Cucumber. An open air bar with a view! Overlooking the Town Center at Disney Springs... The rooftop bar becomes a dance venue at night! In case you forgot where we were... Looking towards the bar. STK is the latest venue to open at Disney Springs but there is so much still to see, taste and experience in the coming months. If you haven't been to Disney Springs recently, I highly recommend a visit. There's tons of new dining, lots of great detail and so much "Disney" in Disney Springs that it will be well worth your time!

Over the last two weeks, the culmination of many years of planning and construction began to open in the form of the Town Center at Disney Springs. Built upon the plot formerly occupied by the parking lot for Pleasure Island, the Town Center plays host to many new shops and several new dining options, with new stores opening almost ever week. With the Town Center comes the opening of the new Lime Garage as work continues on the new venues at The Landing (the area formerly occupied by the Pleasure Island clubs). Disney Springs is filled with lots of new detail along with a unifying storyline that explains how all four of districts of Disney Springs are connected (The Landing, West Side, Marketplace and the Town Center). As you'll see in the many photos below, there is lots of new detail, dining (my favorite) and "Disney" in Disney Springs... Your place to be! Glad to finally be here for the Town Center's opening day! I seriously cannot wait for the Coca-Cola store, especially the promise of a rooftop bar with Coke products and alcohol to enjoy! I have a weakness for patisserie sweets so naturally this was where I needed to hit first! Amoretti's Patisserie features an upstairs kitchen out of guest view, but final prep of these desserts takes place right in front of guests. The show kitchen element of Amorette's is great even for those not in the mood for a snack. Lots of options to choose from! Everything here is made in house and prepared fresh daily! Even more special is the concierge-style experience with the one-on-one service approach, allowing a knowledgable cast member to guide you through the menu without worry about the standard conga-line experience you'll find in most quick service venues. We tried the Reflections in Memphis (Peanut Blondie, Banana, Bacon, and Chocolate) and the 49th and Broadway (NY Cheesecake with Lemon Curd, Blueberries, and Chantilly)... Along with Amorette's Hot Chocolate Ganache, the signature non-alcoholic beverage of Amorette's Patisserie. First stop for me during the grand opening of the Town Center was Amorette's Patisserie! YeSake is one of the newest quick service food options at Disney Springs, offering a new twist temaki hand rolls and sake. Rather than the traditional seaweed wrap, these hand rolls are made with tortilla wraps. Pictured here is the Great Wall temaki, a hand roll filled with Chinese-style pulled pork, pickled jalapeño, hoisin sriracha sauce and green leaf lettuce. For $6 this is a great snack and a great value to be tried. Next up was Morimoto Street Food, an awesome quick service venue offering a few favorites from inside of the main restaurant along with some unique items. Pictured here are the pork egg rolls and the takoyaki (octopus fritters topped with nori, pickled ginger and okonomi sauce). After Morimoto Street Food it was time to pig out at D-Luxe Burger... This is the place where you can get a quick service burger (that is arguably the best) that is fresh, thick and juicy--served by default with a good deal of pink. There are also a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages here and even a specialty macaroon. First up, the El Diablo burger with a patty blended with chorizo and topped with fried cherry peppers, pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo. The Barbecue Classic is topped with a fried onion ring, gouda cheese and barbecue sauce. The Cluck Burger is D-Luxe Burger's take on a chicken sandwich. The Fresh Cut Fries are not the standard fries you get at any other quick service venue on property. Plus they are served with choice of six sauces--I highly recommend the curry ketchup! D-Luxe Burger also offers a cute macaroon that looks like a burger. Inside of the restaurant's seating space are some great pieces of artwork that depict the history in this storied building. The Glowing Oak Ranch became the Glowing Oak Restaurant which is now D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs. I want this poster so badly! It actually explains why the buildings on the Disney Springs West Side are so grand... Because they were once host to the Grand Centennial Expo, a world's fair of sorts Yes, this is a picture of two manatees sharing a milkshake. The outside of D-Luxe Burger... And the marquee... The new beauty of the namesake springs is incredible. Morimoto scored the prime location when to came to visibility throughout Disney Springs. Layered and blue, the springs look like a natural Florida spring but perfected. Several new spaces throughout the Town Center have been added to allow for new entertainment to perform daily. Disney's finest landscaping and floral efforts continue to shine in Disney Springs. There are many spaces within the Town Center that have yet to open. This new building will soon host Blaze Pizza, a quick service option that does for pizza what Chipotle does for Mexican food. Homecoming: Southern Kitchen and Moonshine Bar will open later this year, a new project by Chef Art Smith. A look at the huge covered patio at Blaze Pizza. The backside of STK can be seen from a new path that leads to Morimoto Street Food. Newly refurbished restrooms flank Morimoto Street Food. This circular building was one a part of the 8-Traxx dance club at Pleasure Island but is now a part of the kitchen for Morimoto. The soon-to-be main entrance of Homecoming: Southern Kitchen and Moonshine Bar. Several new pop-up shops have opened throughout Disney Springs, with the two newest being behind STK. Chapel Hats has a pop-up shop behind STK in addition to its more permanent storefront in The Landing. A new bridge from the entrance of the AMC Fork & Dine side of the West Side towards the backside of STK has opened. Heavy work continues on the conversion of Planet Hollywood in the Planet Hollywood Observatory along with the addition of the Stargazer's Lounge outside. The existing Haagen Daz and Wetzel's Pretzels booths from the side of DisneyQuest have been relocated to a new cluster of for options alongside YeSake and a Joffrey's coffee stand. The Coca-Cola Store looks wonderful! This arcade is host to several new shops with a few more opening in the coming weeks. It is not air conditioned as it is somewhat of an open-air structure, but it is unlike most structures in Florida. Two new shops on the way... And many already open like Tommy Bahama. Tommy Bahama features a small atrium in its storefront. Sugar boo & Co. is a new store that features unique parchment and other home goods-style items.

I appreciate what the park tried to do with Bizarro, but temporary overlays and rethemes just aren't the way to keep coasters like this fresh. If they are good, they can stand on their own for decades without significant changes. I'm glad to see them going back to the Superman theme with this one.

Neat to see Europa Park continuing to expand with the new land and the indoor water park. I swear I'll get to visit one day...