jedimaster1227

After a few hours of rest in Rome, we went back to the airport to grab our bus to the port of Civitavecchia where we would be greeted by a familiar and exciting sight! I have sailed on all of the current Disney Cruise Line ships, and out of all of them, the Disney Dream is the one I've sailed upon most frequently. Captain Mickey greeted us as we first embarked on the ship. Much time would be spent here over the next 11 nights... I have always loved the atrium on the Disney Dream. First stop? Cabanas for some fantastic food including all you care to enjoy snow crab! We took advantage of the open house time on the first day of the cruise to explore all of the youth activity spaces onboard. The Disney Infinity room is inspired by the console game. If you tapped a Oceaneer Band on your game's RFID reader/pad, you could unlock an exclusive Disney Cruise Line ship toy in the game. I do wish the game series had lasted longer... Star Wars: Millennium Falcon in the Oceaneer Club features a revolving loop of sequences from Star Tours (including the original attraction's ride film) and it is hard not to geek out when I see it. One of my favorite spaces on the entire ship... Echoes of EPCOT history. Vibe is an exclusive youth activities space for teens. They even have their own outdoor sun deck and pool area. Our awesome verandah stateroom for the cruise! I've seen this Sailing Away party many, many times and it never gets old. Let the towel animal fun commence! I love how 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea continues to be a property that finds life and acknowledgement at Disney Cruise Line. Disney Victrophonics was a newer act performing on the ship for our cruise. Hi Goofy! I treated myself to a "World of Old Fashioned" tasting to kick off the cruise... And it was a heavenly experience. The experience is a little non-traditional in that not all of the alcohols used are strictly whiskey or bourbon. But the four unique takes on the drink were all worth consuming. So cute! After a relaxing day at sea, we awoke the following morning as we pulled into the port of Chania, Greece. But before we could go ashore, we needed fuel for the day. Due to it being an early-afternoon arrival in port, we opted to do a champagne tasting in Pink before our time on land. We were treated to five champagnes plus two macarons, all explained and curated by an expert sommelier who guided us through the experience. I highly recommend taking advantage of one of these tastings if you have the chance. Chania, Greece was a fairly straightforward port. We opted for an excursion (also known as a Port Adventure) that brought us on a tour of Scenic Crete... Starting at Ancient Aptera. Our first archeological ruins of the trip... This amphitheater was a neat stop along our journey. Next up was a brief visit to Kournas Lake, a picturesque body of water nestled in the mountains of Crete. Our port adventure concluded with a meal in the town of Argyroupolis... Fresh Greek food never disappoints! This was a fantastic way to kick off our time in Greece! Isn't she lovely? It was a lovely touch to be treated to spa waters upon our return to the port--it was exceptionally hot out in Chania and this hit the spot! Someone else loves John Carter like me? That's so cool! The Golden Mickeys is a classic show performed in the Walt Disney Theatre. Dinner that night was served in Animator's Palate which means we had a chance to hang out with Crush and the gang from Finding Nemo... But most importantly, it meant we could eat as many Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes as possible! Our door would become progressively more covered in decor throughout the course of our cruise... I also treated myself to a Premium Whiskey Reserve tasting while onboard. This ship is my happy place. Another cute towel animal to cap off our day!

Our final day in Munich was reserved for "on your own time" to explore the city and spend more time at Oktoberfest. For this reason, we used our day to accomplish both. Revisiting Marienplatz was the first activity of the day... Absolutely beautiful. We even had a chance to see and hear the Rathaus-Glockenspiel play. Reinheitsgebot München Viktualienmarkt was a short walk away and worth a stop for one reason in particular... Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog! Despite having been to Las Vegas, New York and several other cities that have an Eataly location, this was my first time actually visiting one. It's like a theme park for Italian foods. I could have done some serious damage here. This was one of the most indulgent meals I consumed on the entire trip. Back at Oktoberfest for our final evening, we spent some time watching Jack enjoy his favorite ride in all of Germany. As the sun sets, many of the rides begin to come to life in new and colorful ways... Out of the fire and into the frying pan? Hupferl was another "never in America" kind of experience and it was awesome. The size of some of these (traveling) flat rides is astounding. One more visit to the Devil's Wheel. We weren't on a log flume... We weren't on a log flume. We grabbed as many extra rides on Olympia Looping as we could on this evening... Just such an incredible experience! While it wasn't my favorite coaster to ride, Alpina Bahn looks great at night. Our last few hours at Oktoberfest were spent roaming the beer tents, each of which has unique entertainment, decor and more. Each tent felt totally different... The Paulaner tent is one of the bigger tents. And the interior is quite vibrant! I was grateful that I had the chance to visit Hofbräuhaus München at the start of my trip, because I wouldn't end up having a chance to drink at the Hofbrau tent. The Hacker tent may be smaller than some of the neighboring tents... But it has one of the most charming interiors of them all. Braurosl was quite busy on this night... Such a neat space! Spatenbrau was too busy to allow walk-in guests to jump in for a drink. We revisited the Lowenbrau tent to see if the atmosphere changed when compared to our daytime visit in the prior afternoon. The vibe was definitely more lively and party-like at this hour. It looks bigger from the outside. But a rock band on the inside was keeping everyone entertained. This looks familiar! Remember how I said I wasn't above riding both sides? I'm not. And somehow this ended up being the last coaster I rode at Oktoberfest...

I think you meant to share that here:

Genting SkyWorlds is a park with an incredibly unique history, a very unique setting and in a lot of ways, it is a really solid park. It sits atop Mount Ulu Kali in the Titiwangsa Mountains in central Peninsular Malaysia, not far from Kuala Lumpur. The park sits on a plot of land occupied by the previous Genting Outdoor Theme Park as part of the Resorts World Genting complex. It was originally intended to open in 2016 as 20th Century Fox World, the first theme park themed to Fox-owned IP. Plagued by project and construction challenges and only compounded by the acquisition of much of Fox by The Walt Disney Company in 2018, the project was subject to countless delays. With a planned opening in 2019, Fox (in progress of being acquired by Disney) invoked the right to pull much of their branding and license rights out of the park, which resulted in a lawsuit and settlement, enabling the park to operate with some of previously agreed upon IP (Ice Age, Robots, Independence Day, Night at the Museum, Epic, Rio, Blue Sky Animation and Planet of the Apes while losing the rights to other key properties such as Alien, Predator, Alien vs. Predator and Sons of Anarchy. The loss of these properties required that many of the nearly-finished or under construction attractions and areas would have to be stripped of their theming and reworked to operate without their original intent. COVID-19 only worsened the situation, further delaying the park's opening to early 2022. Two of the park's major attractions never opened with the park and have yet to operate, one of which hasn't even completed construction--both of which developed by the now-bankrupt and recently-acquired Dynamic Attractions. All of that said, the park has some interestingly bright spots. In ways, it almost teeters on greatness at a standard that you'd find at Universal, maybe even Disney in some rare cases. But in a lot ways, that shine is surface-level. Once you get into it, you find that this is comparable to a Merlin-level park with a slightly higher opening budget that has since been operated poorly. The park itself is smaller than it appears, but has a decent amount of offerings packed into the compressed space. But for this reason, the lands and attractions butt up against each other without the natural transitions you come to expect from other parks of this caliber (or the caliber at which this park aspires to be). It doesn't help that a portion of the park is closed following the fire that took place in June 2024... Or the fact that several of the attractions inexplicably are not operating "just because." But as someone who has watched this park's evolution from afar, getting the chance to see it up close, and to observe what I saw firsthand, knowing in many places what the lands and attractions were meant to be with the 20th Century Fox IP still attached, it is a really unique experience to visit Genting SkyWorlds. Not unlike other parks in Asia, park maps make it a point to highlight every element in the park, right down to the restrooms, to speak to the volume of things covered by your price of admission. The entrance of the park (seen in my previous update) feeds directly from the Resorts World Genting complex into the park's covered entryway. It's a decently sized set of entrance corridors leading to the two ways of getting around the park, but there isn't a lot found within this space besides shops, quick service options and games. Indepedence Day Defiance is a flying theater attraction inspired by the film franchise (more specifically, Independence Day: Resurgence). Sadly it was closed, "just because." Invasion of the Planet of the Apes might be the best example of how this park teeters on greatness... The queue design is absolutely wonderful from the moment you step in. The tone is set that you're entering the post-Simian Flu-riddled world of the modern Planet of the Apes films. I was blown away by how much detail was put into this worn down queue. Brilliant. You head into a pre-show grouping room where a pre-show sets the stage for where you are in the story. Set in the aftermath of the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes film (with a plot oddly similar to the start of War for the Planet of the Apes), you meet Malcolm (the protagonist from Dawn, recast here for the ride) who explains that the General and his army are coming to try to restore power to the humans using a generator that is home to Caesar and his ape brethren. Malcolm needs your help to warn Caesar of their impending attack in the hopes of staving off war between the two species... Clips from the films are used in the pre-show... You board trackless hovercraft vehicles and go along your journey wearing 3-D glasses. Not unlike similar rides of this sort, you are moved through scenes of water, fire, bullets, explosions and jostling motions. The animation in the ride looks like something out of Time Crisis 2, which takes away much of the positive momentum from the queue and the pre-show, but graphics aside, it is a really solid attempt at translating such a well known franchise into a ride. Robots Rivet Town is based on the hit, one-film franchise Robots, starring Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Robin Williams and Amanda Bynes. The movie came out in 2005. This is the whole of Rivet Town. Two stacked flat rides and a quick service kiosk behind me. Big Weld's Zeppelins (a Dumbo-like ride) and Rivet Town Roller (a Unicoaster) were both not operational today ("just because"). Not sure why they even let people into the land, considering there wasn't a single thing open in it during our visit. A land with nothing open is kind of fitting for such an obscure property... Due to its mountaintop location, Genting SkyWorlds experiences rolling bouts of intense fog that give the park the eeriest of feels. Walking through Andromeda Base, you pass by "Descent into Darkness," one of the park's two incomplete Dynamic Attractions coasters. This one was supposed to be themed to Alien vs. Predator (as the rest of the land was themed to Alien vs. Predator and the franchise's Weyland-Yutani corporation. Ride vehicles, animatronics and a complex series of show elements were all designed but never installed in the massive show building. The coaster's outside track was put in place but the interior layout was never completed. The inside of the show building continues to be a massive, dark and empty box. And there is no real expectation that the coaster will ever be finished. To read more about what was meant to be, I highly recommend visiting this site for a full look at the land's original design, ride details, art and more. Alpha Fighter Pilots was originally meant to be Colonel Fighter Pilots, themed to the Colonel Marines from Aliens. While the fog was still rolling through we moved on to the Ice Age land, by far the largest and most spread out section of the park. Ice Age: Expedition Thin Ice has a massive indoor queue, not because it is that popular, but because it is so low capacity. Even with only 50 people ahead of us in line, we waited almost an hour for this Oceaneering trackless dark ride to load. The ride features the characters from the popular Ice Age franchise (probably the park's most valuable IP they were allowed to retain), both on screens and in the form of a few animatronics. The ride was very short and only had a handful of vehicles in operation... It's obvious why this reminded me so much of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin at SeaWorld Orlando. Acorn Adventure is the land's signature rollercoaster. The queue is basic but winding with a few neat elements along the way. The park went with Beijing Shibaolai as the manufacturer. The coaster, while fun, was exceptionally rough, to the point that I was convinced it was a re-themed remnant of the former Genting Outdoor Theme Park, but alas, it was just poorly designed. The park could benefit from some sprucing, despite only opening a few years ago... Samba Gliders from the Rio section of the park soars over portions of the Ice Age land. Acorn Adventure's mountain is the largest structure in the park and can be seen from most lands in some way or another. Ice Age also has a pretty large child's play area... With not a lot to do inside. We moved back towards Andromeda Base as the fog rolled out to take a closer look. It's not hard to see how this land was meant to feel like something out of the Alien films. The story behind this coaster is such a shame. It looks like it had such potential. Andromeda Canteen is the land's quick service eatery. It has yet to open at the park to date. Terraform Tower Challenge was originally going to be Alien: Terrorforma. It is a unique S&S combo tower with a pre-drop sequence that lowers riders beneath the loading area for a show scene (that was originally going to involve Alien eggs, facehuggers and the xenomorphs attacking) before shooting you up the tower to drop back down. Boot Camp Training was meant to be Marine Boot Camp Challenge. The traditional ropes course (with a zip line coaster at the finale) had a strict, no-camera policy so this was as close as I could get to taking a photo before being turned away. After loading our items in lockers, we waited in line to harness up, only to find that, with Guests in the structure, almost all employees left the complex for 30 minutes, preventing the zipline from operating (or enabling guests to enter or exit the structure). Seeing this, we gave up before we started for fear of becoming stuck inside. The exit portal between Andromeda Base and the Eagle Mountain section of the park is easily the best transition between lands that the park has. The scale of the portal is huge. And the pathway through the tunnel is quite fun for lighting junkies like myself. You emerge from the tunnel in the more modern-era Eagle Mountain side of the park. Sadly Eagle Mountain is, in essence a mini land with one non-functional attraction, a few shops and dining options. Due to the park's tight footprint, it is nearly impossible not to see the attractions from several other lands from within view. This is really nice rock work though. Eagle Mountain is home to Mad Ramp Peak - Full Throttle Racing, a duel powered high speed motorcycle coaster that has never operated, also produced by Dynamic Attractions. Don't mind my finger, this is one of the best photos I have of one of the few areas of the coaster you can get close to. If you look closely, you can see the coaster track that sits beneath the ride's "pavement." The coaster trains would have motorcycles that rode above the pavement while a chassis was powered along the rails below. The ride's initial launch segment... You can kind of make out the coaster track-versus-pavement setup when looking at this bridge. Without the coaster, Eagle Mountain is a pretty shallow land. The coaster's gift shop contains some interesting items... It appears that the park produced a high volume of merchandise for when it was meant to operate as 20th Century Fox World... How do I know, you ask? Logos like this are not uncommonly found on the merchandise sold (at discount) throughout the park. From the side of Eagle Mountain, the path to the back half of Central Park is closed off. The Night at the Museum interactive dark ride was unharmed by the fire aside from damage to its facade, but the entire land has been shut down due to the extent of the rest of the damage. See what I mean? A look at the Mad Ramp Peak station... Independence Day: Defiance is pat of the Central Park section of the land for some reason. The shop has everything the two fans of Independence Day: Resurgence would ever need. ESD Global Defender here exists, for some reason. Glad to see Setpoint continuing to find ways to build low capacity coasters around the world... Sid's Rock 'N' Slide is a Zierer Kontiki that I missed seeing during my earlier laps of the park. The Blue Sky Carousel is ornate and centered in its own plaza. You can ride on the back of "recognizable" Blue Sky Animation characters... Ah yes, the hit film "epic" is featured here too. Epic Voyage to Moonhaven was so tucked in the back of the park, I nearly missed seeing it. Some solid queue design to set up the ride's story. This is a themed ABC Rides flume with dark ride segments. After seeing the state others were in, despite ponchos, after riding, we opted out. Epic Hummingbird Flyers is the land's other attraction. The design of the land is nice, but like other parts of the park, feels more like a mini land due to its small number of offerings. Of all of the bubble waffles I've consumed, this was certainly one of them. Oh look, a character. Samba Gliders dominates the skyline of the Rio section of the park. I will say, the Rio land was actually one of the better looking sections of the park. Rio Carnaval Chaos! is a Zamperla Demolition Derby but it wasn't operating during our visit "just because." Artsy fartsy. Another look at Acorn Adventure... This time from the Rio section of the park. Very nice. They even had the Rio characters in a show! A look back at the Awana Skyway passing over the park. The park has a pretty nice exit plaza... I spy a retired logo... Time to head out and do some more exploring of Genting Highlands!

^We had a few that offered to serve as private drivers but given the nature of our trip and timing not being something to plan around, it made more sense to just keep ordering new Grabs.

Universal Destinations and Experiences is partnering with Asset World Corp Public Company Limited and NEON to create an immersive experience in Bangkok's Asiatique The Riverfront Destination. This new Jurassic World-themed attraction will feature animatronics and immersive story experience set on Isla Nublar, along with a new shop and dining offering. https://news.marketersmedia.com/awc-neon-and-universal-destinations-and-experiences-announce-jurassic-world-the-experience-the-worlds-largest-immersive-experience-of-its-kind-coming-soon-to-asiatique-the-riverfront-destination-opening-q2-2025/89149007 Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with NEON, a global leader in immersive and epic experiences, and Universal Live Events & Location Based Entertainment. This collaboration reflects the shared vision of these industry leaders to set a new benchmark for lifestyle destinations positioning Bangkok as a world-class tourism and entertainment hub. Together, we will introduce Jurassic World: The Experience to Southeast Asia—a groundbreaking, family-friendly adventure set to open at Asiatique The Riverfront Destination in Q2 2025. (From left to right) The press conference of Jurassic World: The Experience, in Bangkok, held at Asiatique The Riverfront Destination led by Mr. Michael Hariz, Chief Commercial Business Officer, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, Dr. Paitoon Wongsasutthikul, Chief Investment Officer, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, Mrs. Wallapa Traisorat, Chief Executive Officer and President, Asset World Corp Public Company Limited, Mr. Chadchart Sitthiphan, Bangkok Governor, Mr. Nithee Seeprae, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr. Gerald Raines, SVP, Live Events and Location Based Entertainment Universal Destinations and Experiences, Mr. Ron Tan, Executive Chairman & Group CEO, NEON, and Mr. Kurt Baker, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, NEON. A new collaboration with shared value between AWC, NEON, and Universal Live Events & Location Based Entertainment, a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, aims to redefine lifestyle destinations by integrating fun, entertainment, and sustainability, highlighting Bangkok as a global hub for tourism and entertainment. Jurassic World: The Experience, is the world’s largest immersive experience of it’s kind. This newly imagined walk-through journey specifically curated for Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, is designed to be a top destination for visitors from around the world. This groundbreaking project aligns with Asiatique The Riverfront Destination's vision of offering family-friendly, immersive experiences that foster connections and strengthen its status as a premier destination. Join the waitlist now at Jurassicworldexperience.com and be the first to receive updates and exclusive perks for Jurassic World: The Experience. Spanning over 6,000 square meters, Jurassic World: The Experience immerses audiences of all ages in settings inspired by the globally popular Jurassic World film franchise, from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, blending real-world science and education with the very best in high-quality entertainment. Unlike a traditional theme park, visitors to this this unique experience will find themselves surrounded by life-like animatronic dinosaurs and environments inspired by iconic scenes within Jurassic World as they navigate Isla Nublar, while making thier way to safety in an unforgettable exploration of the island’s wonders. As part of this exciting destination, a new Café & Restaurant space is in development which will provide a unique dining experience inspired by Jurassic World: The Experience, seamlessly blending the immersive journey with culinary delights for visitors of all ages. Mrs. Wallapa Traisorat, Chief Executive Officer and President of Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC), said, “We truly appreciate the shared value that NEON and Universal Live Events & Location Based Entertainment bring to this partnership, setting a new benchmark in delivering happiness, innovation, and sustainable value for generations to come. This collaboration will create an unparalleled attraction at Asiatique The Riverfront Destination, in the heart of Bangkok by the Chao Phraya River, featuring a total development of over 10,000 square meters, including more than 6,000 square meters dedicated to Jurassic World: The Experience which will immerse guests in a thrilling new adventure deep into Jurassic World, as they roam amongst the largest cretaures to ever walk the earth.” “We are committed to strengthening Thailand as a global sustainable tourism destination, where tourism and sustainability go hand in hand. Through this collaboration, AWC aims to inspire people worldwide and across generations to build a better future by integrating innovative and sustainable concepts into entertainment.” Mr. Ron Tan, Executive Chairman & Group CEO of NEON said, "NEON is thrilled to partner with Universal Destinations & Experiences and Asset World Corp to bring Jurassic World: The Experience to the vibrant city of Bangkok. With our track records of sold out shows in cities around the world, we are confident that this immersive spectacle in Thailand will raise the bar even higher, exceeding every expectation to deliver an unparalleled experience into Jurassic World. We would like to thank our partners for their support in making this incredible vision a reality, and we eagerly look forward to welcoming massive crowds into Jurassic World: The Experience.” Mr. Gerald Raines, SVP, Live Events and Location Based Entertainment Universal Destinations and Experiences, said “We’re excited to work with AWC and NEON on bringing Jurassic World: The Experience in Bangkok to life for guests of all ages in 2025” Jurassic World: The Experience aligns with AWC’s mission to bring innovative and sustainable concepts to Thailand’s lifestyle and entertainment real estate sector. This project is a part of a broader strategy to develop Asiatique The Riverfront Destination into an integrated hub that combines retail, history, culture, dining and entertainment, captivating the imaginations of visitors from around the world while offering a diverse array of unique and inspiring experiences. This collaboration supports the strategic vision of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to strengthen Thailand as a global sustainable tourism destination and event hub. By delivering world-class experiences, it contributes to tourism growth, fosters job creation in the hospitality sector, and boosts local businesses through increased visitor engagement from across the region. Scheduled to open in Q2 2025, Jurassic World: The Experience will offer unforgettable, family-friendly adventures. To receive new updates and exclusive perks before anyone else, please visit Jurassicworldexperience.com and join the waitlist. https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/2956111/jurassic-world-approved-in-bangkok The Board of Investment (BoI) has approved a project to build Jurassic World, a new Bangkok-based attraction featuring animatronic dinosaurs, to promote tourism. The 1.2-billion-baht project, covering 4,000 square metres, will be located in Asiatique The Riverfront, an open-air mall on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Asset World Attraction and Retail, a part of Asset World Corp (AWC), received the green light from the BoI to go ahead with the investment. The project, named Jurassic World: The Experience, is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Inspired by the Hollywood movie Jurassic World, Asset World Attraction and Retail is aiming to build a new attraction containing lifelike robotic dinosaur replicas. AWC said earlier it plans to open the park in this year's second quarter, as part of the first phase of its five-year plan for Asiatique The Riverfront. Jurassic World: The Experience hopes to attract visitors of all ages from both domestic and international markets.

^That’s a really disappointing number of major attractions closed at one time…

Six years ago, I had a chance to embark on a grand European adventure, combining time at Disneyland Paris, in London and aboard the Disney Magic for a transatlantic cruise ending in New York City. It was one of the best (and longest) vacations I've ever taken, and ever since, my wife and I have been itching to do something similar. In years that followed, we set our sights on the Mediterranean, with Greece being on both of our bucket lists--anything else would be bonus. Knowing we had a more limited time this time around (thanks to having a young child back home, work obligations and other pending trips--see my Oktoberfest and Malaysia trip reports for more on that), we opted to skip out on parks at the front end of the trip, doing a "best of" stopover in London before heading to Rome/Civitavecchia to catch the Disney Dream for our 11 night Mediterranean cruise. We flew Norse Airways from Orlando to London Gatwick directly. On our prior transatlantic trip we flew Norwegian's long haul from Orlando to Paris and loved our experience. Norse Airways emerged from Norwegian's restructuring as a budget airline replacing many of Norwegian's prior long haul routes with their former planes. Fair warning, while the planes are comfortable, this is the equivalent of flying Spirit or Frontier on a long haul flight. Baggage requirements are smaller/more stringent and everything is an up-charge, to the point that the price difference, if you're packing for a long trip like we were, might not be far off from one of the more established, major airlines. In our case, their itineraries worked the best for us timing-wise, but they wouldn't be our first choice to fly again. Due to travel delays on our last transatlantic trip, we missed out on our reservation for the Michelin-starred Amaya restaurant in London. When planning this trip, we knew we had to make up for it. Quite easily the best oysters I've ever consumed, anywhere. I could have eaten this entire bowl of raita myself. If you're looking for stellar Indian food, Amaya is well worth your time! It felt so good to be back in London after six years. We were seriously tempted, but for this trip we had something else in mind... The last time we saw a show here, it was Kinky Boots and we loved it! The inside of the Adelphi Theater is lightly themed to Hill Valley California... Of course, they have merchandise. I've waited for this moment for such a long time! Here's my honest take on Back to the Future: The Musical... The show is pure fun. The music isn't particularly deep but it is ridiculously catchy (especially when listening again after seeing the show). The story is mostly aligned with what you know from the original film, though some story points have been updated to better align with the times (avid Back to the Future fans may be caught off guard, but it doesn't take away from the overall show). The cast is super talented and the effects are next-level. There's a moment at the end of the show that absolutely stuns. Avoid spoilers if you can because it is breathtaking, especially as a fan of the franchise. I'm super excited to see this show when it tours through the US soon and I've been listening to the soundtrack on repeat in the months since our trip concluded. We set reservations at our favorite speakeasy bar in Chinatown a few minutes' walk away from the West End... Though the drink menu has changed since our last visit, we both were very pleased with our choices. Good vibes only. It doesn't hurt that you can order fresh dim sum from one of the restaurants in Chinatown to be delivered to your table while you drink. I definitely recommend visiting Chinatown while in London if you can spare the time. The next morning we hopped in a taxi for our next destination, passing Big Ben to see it up close for the first time since I was in high school. During our last visit, the clocktower was behind scrims for an extended refurbishment, so it was neat to see fully restored after all these years. Our time in London was dictated primarily by our foodie interests... I could have bought it all. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason was where we had one of our best meals during our previous trip and it was a must-do for this trip, knowing we were coming back to London. You can bet I finished this entire pot of Apricot, Honey & Lavendar tea. While the Salon offers prix fix menus, they do allow you to mix and match elements if your personal preferences cross the lines. This lobster omelette was one of my favorite dishes from our previous visit, so I had to give it another go and I was not disappointed. I opted for a savory tea lunch. My wife opted for sweet... What's great about getting both is that you can share, and as part of the experience, you can order more of any of the finger sandwiches, finger foods and sweets as you care to enjoy. After consuming our weight in food, we went down to the Fortnum and Mason shopping floors to buy things to send home. Shipping to the United States was a flat $25 for all of this and it arrived about a week after our visit. I was tempted to sample all of the ham, but knowing we would be ending our trip in Barcelona where I could try the best, I resisted the immediate temptation. Sadly not my favorite Fanta flavor I've tried... Would've loved to experience the London Trocadero when Sega World was still open inside. Also would have liked to try The Crystal Maze but we didn't have time during this visit. While in London, my wife asked for us to stop by the MinaLima storefront. We had seen their artwork in the Harry Potter films, in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter locations around the world and even met them in person at the Celebration of Harry Potter events at Universal Orlando over the years, so it was important for her to visit the store if we could. If you're a Harry Potter fan, this place will feel like a candy store for you. Cirque Arcanus is one of the new shows coming to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic section of Universal's Epic Universe later this year... After our brief stop in London it was time to fly to Rome... But not without stopping at our first ever Nando's! Sweet potato fries from heaven. Garlic & Herb Nando's sauce for the win! During our flight it felt appropos to watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, considering where we were headed... The film was not worth the view. The next morning we would wake up and head to the port of Civitavecchia to catch our ship...

Mirabilandia has announced that Nickelodeon Land will be joining the park's lineup with new attractions, dining, shopping and character meet and greets! https://www.mirabilandia.it/en/nickelodeon-land Nickelodeon Land - 2025 Novelty - Mirabilandia's new themed area! Your favorite Nickelodeon characters will be the main protagonists of the new thematic area inside the Park, opening in Spring 2025! Check out the incredible new features for 2025: fantastic new attractions for the whole family, themed dining options to suit all tastes, and an incredible store where you can buy fantastic mementos of your visit to the Park. All this and much more coming at Nickelodeon Land! Purchase your open-date admission for the 2025 season now. Get ready for a new thematic area! SpongeBob and Patrick, the Ninja Turtles, Dora and PAW Patrol are waiting for you to enjoy unforgettable days together at Mirabilandia. Whether you are an adventure lover or an explorer looking for surprises, the Park's 2025 novelty is perfect for you! A season full of surprises Come and discover an entire area of the Park dedicated to Nickelodeon characters: 10 attractions 3 dining outlets 1 shop 2 meet & greet areas 25,000 square metres A world of fun comes to life Meet Nickelodeon characters in exclusive Meet & Greet inside the exclusive locations. Multiply the fun by trying out the Park's 10 new attractions, perfect for the whole family, from little ones to adults. And when you need a break, discover the new dining options with their tasty dishes and enjoy shopping at the area store, the perfect place to find unique gadgets and gifts. With more than 25,000 square feet of pure fun, Nickelodeon Land awaits you for an unparalleled 2025 season. Don't miss your chance for an unforgettable experience with your whole family! Meet SpongeBob and Patrick at the Park Pack your backpack with your appetite for adventure, a dash of adrenaline and a hearty dose of wonder... and get ready for endless fun! Don't miss the new SpongeBob-themed attractions and dining option! Come explore the world of PAW Patrol Dive into the streets of Adventure Bay with your favorite rescue pups and get ready for an experience like no other. Join Chase, Marshall, Skye and their friends to enjoy fantastic adventures firsthand! Dora is coming to Mirabilandia Live a unique adventure together with Dora and her friends and get ready for an unforgettable day full of discoveries and lots of fun. Pack everything you need and dive into this new journey at the Park's themed attractions! Join the Ninja Turtles on a quest Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo are waiting for you for unparalleled fun! Tackle their coaster and set out on a quest for their favorite pizza - here you'll find everything you need to become the perfect ninja.

Walibi Belgium has announced that their new family coaster will be called Mecalodon and it will be the third longest coaster in the park! https://www.walibi.be/en/explore-the-park/attractions-family/Mecalodon ABOUT MECALODON Immerse yourself in the charm of a picturesque fishing village and experience our exhilarating new family attraction! Hold on tight as you speed through 925 metres at 65 km/h, gliding just above the water. With breathtaking thrills and stunning scenery, this is the park’s 3rd longest coaster. Get ready—14 airtimes will take your breath away! 925 meters long Picture 205 great white sharks lined up in a row, bursting with excitement, eager to embark on this thrilling attraction. 3 launches Forget the snorkels and goggles! 3 accelerations will have you gliding over the water at top speed! 65 km/h This family coaster is as fast as a great white shark darting through the depths! Ready to ride the wave of adrenaline? 14 airtimes Hold on tight… we’re about to lift off – well, almost! Experience moments of weightlessness as gravity steps aside for a thrill-packed adventure. Behind the Scenes of the Benelux’s Biggest Family Coaster! From dream to reality, top experts teamed up to create a true masterpiece — Mecalodon, the brand-new family attraction at Walibi Belgium! Thrill-seekers, brace yourselves! Get ready for surprises, intense moments, and endless fun. Mecalodon might just become your new favourite ride!

Standard Amusements, the operator of Rye Playland has filed to end its 30 year operating agreement three years in, citing the Westchester County not completing their agreed upon investments as expected. https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/2025/01/23/playland-park-rye-ny-management-deal-ending-as-standard-amusements-wants-out-westchester/77905072007/ The rocky marriage between Westchester County and Standard Amusements at Playland amusement park in Rye is heading for divorce. Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said the county this week received a letter from the private company seeking to end its 30-year privatization deal to run the famous park that began in 2022. Just three years in, Standard has called it quits. Standard Amusements co-founder Nicholas Singer, an investment professional who rode the Playland rides as a child growing up in Harrison, said the contract would be terminated on Feb. 20, almost three months before the start of the 2025 Playland season on May 17. The company is seeking $57 million in damages and repayment for its investment in the public park. "As we have made the county executive and his team aware over the last two months, if Playland is to open during the 2025 season, it will be operated by the county," he wrote. Jenkins, in an interview following his remarks at the Westchester County Association breakfast at Pelham Country Club, said his administration was prepared to move on, with the path forward yet to be determined. “The marriage is going to get dissolved,” Jenkins said Thursday, Jan. 23. “The question is: How is that going to work?” The Westchester Board of Legislators has scheduled a special meeting for 4 p.m. on Jan. 24 to discuss the issue. Westchester deal with Standard Amusements called a 'marriage made in hell' County Legislator Catherine Parker, D-Rye, said the agreement was troubled from the start. “This was a marriage made in hell,” she said. Parker said the deal hasn't felt right since it was proposed in 2016. "I think it would be the best if Standard went their way, and the county ran Playland," Parker said. "It has not been a good relationship. I'm not surprised by the news. As soon as possible we have to have this done and we need to cut all ties." “This was a marriage made in hell,” she said. Parker said the deal hasn't felt right since it was proposed in 2016. "I think it would be the best if Standard went their way, and the county ran Playland," Parker said. "It has not been a good relationship. I'm not surprised by the news. As soon as possible we have to have this done and we need to cut all ties." The resolution of some divorces often involve messy disputes over financial issues. That appears quite possible in the Standard-Westchester split. Standard says Westchester owes it a bundle of money In its Jan. 21 letter, Singer said Westchester had failed to complete 70% of its promised capital improvements by April 24, 2024, as required by the contract. He said failure to meet the target entitles Standard to $11 million in liquidated damages plus the repayment of funds invested by Standard, with 12% interest added from the time of the investment. The total by late January was $57 million. If the county failed to make such payments by May 21, Singer said, then the interest would escalate to 18%. Westchester County Attorney John Nonna, however, said in a Jan. 22 letter obtained by Tax Watch that the contract allows the county to cure the alleged default "as long as the county immediately takes steps necessary to remedy same and duly institutes and diligently prosecutes same to conclusion." A major early challenge for new County Executive Ken Jenkins Jenkins served as deputy county executive under George Latimer, now in Congress, until Jenkins was appointed county executive on Jan. 6. Standard's letter to the county seeks $57 million. He said the agreement struck by the Latimer administration called for a payment of substantially less in such circumstances. "They are trying to get that, and that's part of who's at fault and the dispute, and that's going to go back and forth," said Jenkins. Westchester Parks Commissioner Kathleen O'Connor, in a Jan. 22 letter to Singer, rejected Standard's notice of termination. She said the county had met its obligation to hit the 70% threshold before Standard sent the notice. O'Connor said that Standard's announcement that it would not manage the park in 2025 was an act of default by the private company. She said the contract called for the management company to honor its obligations until the issue was addressed in a dispute resolution process. Westchester official: Standard failed to operate many rides in 2024 She added that Standard also breached the contract by failing to keep the amusement park's rides in operation, citing back-to-back weekends in June 2024 when from 8 to 19 of the park's 40 rides were shuttered. Standard also failed to pay its 2023 management fee of $400,000, citing the county's failure to meet deadlines on infrastructure projects it promised to complete. Westchester said it completed the project in November, 2024, which O'Connor said fulfilled Westchester's obligations for the payment. That project to was to completed in 2023. "The manager must pay the management fee within 30 days," O'Connor wrote. Rob Astorino started push to privatize Playland in mid-2010s The stunning departure of Standard Amusements will end a process that started with former County Executive Rob Astorino's privatization push in the mid-2010s. The Mount Pleasant Republican insisted that the county government should no longer manage the historic amusement park on the banks of Long Island Sound in Rye. His successor, Latimer, the Rye Democrat whose home stands across the street from the park, attempted to end Astorino’s plan. But Standard persevered in federal Bankruptcy Court in litigation that cost taxpayers $5 million. Then Latimer struck a new agreement that put Standard in charge in 2022. "We ended up handcuffed to the bride," Parker said. That deal launched Westchester’s $150-million capital improvement plan at the park, with the requirement that Standard invest $30 million in the facility as well. That agreement, however, raised hackles in the city of Rye, which revoked the park’s tax-exempt status. Standard received tax bills estimated at $3.4 million for 2023. While a state Supreme Court judge restored the tax exemption, the litigation has continued, with Standard fighting Rye’s continued taxation for the former Tiki Bar restaurant. The judge’s decision on the tax exemption remains under appeal at the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division in Brooklyn. Despite the pending separation, Westchester County advises that they intend to operate the park for the 2025 season as planned. https://bronx.news12.com/westchester-county-to-open-playland-park-amid-legal-dispute-with-operator Despite ongoing legal challenges with Standard Amusements, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins announced that Playland Park is set to open for the 2025 season. The announcement follows Standard Amusements' decision to back out of its 30-year contract just three years into the agreement, citing the county's alleged failure to meet construction obligations. Jenkins refuted these claims, emphasizing the county's significant investment in the park: "Westchester County has invested over $144 million, close to $150 million into the capital projects at Playland. There's no question about the investments that have been made. Everyone tells us the improvements make the park look beautiful, and we're going to continue moving forward." County officials counter that Standard Amusements has neglected its responsibilities and mismanaged the park. With Standard Amusements stepping back, it will not operate Playland for the upcoming season, leaving the county to manage the park's operations during this legal contention. Statement from Westchester County: The County has invested $150 million dollars to upgrade and restore Playland, while Standard Amusements has repeatedly neglected its responsibilities and mismanaged the Park. Standard Amusements’ poor performance is evident through the following failures: Inadequate Ride Operation: Numerous rides were closed throughout the seasons, a violation of industry standards. Insufficient Maintenance Staff: The lack of adequate staffing affected both daily operations and preventative maintenance. Unresolved Maintenance Issues: Several repairs identified in the October 2024 safety audit remain unfinished. Withholding Money from County: Standard Amusements is withholding money from the County citing delays in project completion. Despite the County providing proof that all projects, including the Switchgear, were completed. Statement from Standard Amusements: For over a decade, we have tirelessly worked to revitalize Playland. Unfortunately, Westchester County has once again failed to live up to its end of the bargain. And once again, the County is publicly pointing fingers and misrepresenting facts instead of working towards solutions. In November, we alerted the County that we were terminating our agreement based on their complete failure to meet the construction obligations under the contract. By its own admission, the County has missed the contractual deadlines, despite our consistent flexibility and patience, including a blanket one-year extension on all their project deadlines. While we will no longer be the Park’s steward, we are committed to facilitating a seamless transition of Playland management responsibilities to the County. We sincerely hope—for the sake of Westchester County residents and visitors, our 40+ employees, and ultimately the taxpayer—that the County changes its attitude and decides to prioritize the Park and stops wasting time and money trying to spin and misdirect the public.

Universal Studios Hollywood has released a ton of new details about their first ever Universal Fan Fest Nights. This new event features live entertainment, walk throughs and themed experiences, exclusive food & beverage and character offerings, all in an extra-ticket event. Tickets for the event are now on sale. https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/hhn/en/us/things-to-do/events-and-seasonal-activities/fan-fest-nights A Night of Fandom Awaits Universal Fan Fest Nights - an all-new after hours event with the fandoms you love in one place, every event night. Celebrate with other fans the best of Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Gaming, and Anime like never before.
 Step into the worlds of Star Trek, Back to the Future, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen as well as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™.
 
Geek out for real with in-world experiences, celebratory moments, themed food, and exclusive merchandise that takes fandom to a whole new level. Celebrate Your Favorite Franchises
Every Event Night—All in One Place Select Nights April 25–May 18, 2025 Boldly go on an immersive Star Trek adventure aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-D and enter the iconic bridge featured in Star Trek: Picard. Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before The most immersive Star Trek adventure awaits you in an all-new journey into the heart of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D, with must-have merchandise and exclusive themed food. Grab your favorite cosplay, gather your crew, and set course on an unforgettable evening. A New Star Trek Adventure Begins! At Star Trek: Red Alert, embark on an out-of-this world adventure aboard the legendary starship U.S.S. Enterprise-D as a mysterious entity wreaks havoc through the ship's systems! Star Trek: Red Alert is a daring walkthrough experience featuring many familiar locations from the legendary franchise including the iconic Bridge—a screen used set piece from the Paramount+ original series Star Trek: Picard. Engage your Appetite! With space travel comes worldly cuisine. Send your tastebuds on an adventure at Quark’s Cafe with special themed food such as the Tribble Truffle Trio and refreshing worldly drinks. Also, don't miss the 10 Forward Bar where you can indulge on specially crafted drinks such as the Ceti Eel Margarita and so much more. Must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. Starfleet Essentials Make it so. With new Star Trek apparel, accessories, and collectibles. Go Back to Hill Valley in 1955, just like Marty McFly, and relive iconic film moments from Back to the Future at Courthouse Square. Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need
Imagination Take the Universal Fan Tram Back to the Future and enter Hill Valley in the ultimate time traveling adventure. Check out the authentic Courthouse Square from the film and meet your favorite characters like Doc Brown and Marty McFly along the way. Time Travel to the Real Courthouse Square Travel back to Hill Valley in 1955, just like Marty McFly! Relive iconic film moments from Back to the Future as Courthouse Square comes to life. Take a photo in your cosplay with Einstein and the iconic Time Machine, experience the Enchantment Under the Sea dance along with a recreation of the Clock Tower lightning strike that sends Marty back to the future. Dine on a Timeless Menu Prepare to rock around the clock with 50s themed food and retro beverages. Back to the Future Goodies Going back to 1955 is fun, but having proof you did is even better. Discover all-new apparel, accessories, collectibles and more. Embark on a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS adventure with fellow Harpers to save Waterdeep from Xanathar. Prepare for Adventure! Get your dice ready. Adventure as your favorite class as the World’s Greatest Role-Playing Game™ becomes a reality. Enter Waterdeep in an immersive walkthrough experience, meet in a tavern, and shop the themed merchandise. Fight to Save Waterdeep Join fellow Harpers on a DUNGEONS & DRAGONS quest to save Waterdeep from the clutches of the notorious beholder, Xanathar the Beholder, in the in-world action-packed DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Secrets of Waterdeep. Take a Breather at The First Roll Tavern For any fan who’s dreamed of visiting the Sword Coast, your time has come. After your quest through Waterdeep, reward yourself with a beverage like an Eldritch Blast at DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: The First Roll Tavern. Must be 21+ with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Merchandise Calling all Wizards, Rogues, Fighters and fans! Enhance your cosplay with must-have DUNGEONS & DRAGONS accessories and browse themed apparel and collectibles. Get ready to sail into the world of One Piece and meet Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew. Set Sail with Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew Prepare for a night of piracy and cosplay (subject to Cosplay Costume Guidelines) as you enter the swashbuckling Fan Zone of One Piece. Meet with the Straw Hat Crew and grab your merchandise and themed provisions fit for any pirate. One Piece: Grand Pirate Gathering Adventures await in the swashbuckling Fan Zone of One Piece. Get ready to meet Luffy and his Straw Hat Crew, like Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji. Capture all the fun with interactive photo opportunities and join the ranks of the most wanted pirates with the help of sketch artists. Dine Like a Pirate Get a taste of One Piece with a special themed menu featuring savory bites and sweet offerings, all inspired by your favorite characters. One Piece Treasures Go full on pirate and make your status official by getting sketched as a wanted pirate and score unique merchandise. Watch Yuji Itadori and his friends in a heroic Jujutsu Kaisen battle. Really Go All Out with Jujutsu Kaisen From the pages of the widely popular manga, comes an anime adaptation of the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. Watch Yuji Itadori and friends take on a sorcery battle, shop themed merchandise and get beyond cursed with unique snacks. Welcome to a World of Sorcery Watch this big screen adventure inside our DreamWorks Theatre, Jujutsu Kaisen: Hunger of the Cursed. Follow Yuji Itadori as he embarks on a journey from becoming the host of a powerful curse to learning how to fight it and other curses alongside fellow students at Tokyo Jujutsu High School. Dig Into Powerful Jujutsu Kaisen Snacks Really Go into the world of sorcery and indulge in Jujutsu Kaisen inspired bites. Jujutsu Kaisen Themed Merchandise Add a touch of sorcery to your cosplay (subject to Cosplay Costume Guidelines) and shop the Jujutsu Kaisen apparel, accessories and collectibles. Discover new fan experiences like encountering a Niffler, baby dragon, or Occamy, and celebrate your house pride at Hogwarts™ Always, a breathtaking new show. An Evening in the Wizarding World Awaits Wizards, witches, and Muggles™ unite for an evening of magical experiences. Come and celebrate everything that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ has to offer from attractions to new magical creatures, a stunning new projection show, new themed food, beverages, and merchandise offerings. Casting a New Spell on the Night Experience the wonder of Hogwarts™ Always, a breathtaking show that takes you on a magical journey through a school year at Hogwarts™. Enjoy unforgettable music and incredible moments of wizardry, all set against the majestic backdrop of Hogwarts™ castle. Encounter Magical Creatures Hogsmeade has recently become even livelier with magical creatures. Now is your chance to meet a baby dragon, Occamy and yes, a Niffler who loves shiny, sparkling treasures. Dining & Shopping New Evening Feasts at the Three Broomsticks™ Celebrate your house pride with a special evening feast. Satiate your appetite with a spellbinding three course dinner at the Three Broomsticks™. And don’t forget to top it off with a Butterbeer™. Reservations required. Magical Finds Await: New Merchandise Add some new magic to your cosplay with the debut of the latest merchandise. Be the first to get the new Collector’s Edition interactive wand, exclusive to Universal Studios Hollywood, or the entire collection of Pygmy Puff-inspired merch that will enchant any magical creature lover. Step into SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ for a special Yoshi celebration and other experiences. Let’s Go, Yoshi Universal Fan Fest Nights will mark the debut of fan-favorite, Yoshi, as a new meet and greet character in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™. Search for hidden Yoshi eggs in a fun scavenger hunt and celebrate with drone moments that will light up the night sky. You’ll also have a chance to meet Mario and friends, and ride Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge. Hello Yoshi Meet and Greet Yoshi at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ Get ready for a meet and greet you’ll never forget featuring the legendary Yoshi. 
Let’s go! Can You Find Yoshi’s Hidden Eggs? Search for Yoshi’s hidden eggs on a fun-filled scavenger hunt throughout the
Mushroom Kingdom. Nightly Drone Moments Ooh! Ahh! Watch celebratory drone moments illuminate the night sky. Tasty Yoshi Menu Items at Toadstool Cafe™ Visit Toadstool Cafe™ to fuel up on Yoshi themed food and specialty beverage to commemorate Yoshi’s arrival at Universal Studios Hollywood. Reservations required. Yoshi Merchandise and More Stock up on new Yoshi wearable merchandise that is the perfect addition to your SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™ collection.

After a restful evening, we woke up early to rope drop Oktoberfest for our full day at the fair grounds. As it turns out, most of the attractions don't open until a few hours after the grounds open, as most people are (justifiably) rushing to the beer tents. But the emptiness gave us a chance to see the space more freely before it would be time to check in for our reservations at the Lowenbrau tent. Must be first! (No, not really.) Might I interest you in some cured fish? The celebrity portraits on this game booth are so bad they're great! Dr. Archibald Master of Time is a huge dark ride experience that somehow has no physical show elements as riders experience the full attraction with VR headsets while moving through the physical building on ride vehicles... You know the rule. There's something about a giant ferris wheel that just feels right at festival grounds. Dan, right behind you. Timmy hates explanations, or so I'd assume. The gang's all here! This will be a moment long remembered. This is currency and in it, we were rich. Sweet elixir of life. Good beer, good food, great company--many memories! Reed and his refreshing radishes. Yes, I ordered a hearty helping of sauerkraut and it was worth every bite. This pork knuckle was the small portion option and I had the meat sweats after eating it. The strength astounds me. More delicious shredded pancakes for dessert! This happens at Oktoberfest. And this. When the pickle vendor passes, you don't pass up a chance to pick a pickle. Tangy yet satisfying. The better (butter)beer mustache. Prost! Such an amazing experience! And a good time was had by all! After our time in the Lowenbrau tent, we roamed the grounds to enjoy more rides... This standing "Looping the Loop" was intriguing but that much manual effort didn't feel right after consuming so much food and beer. The sheer scale and ornateness of this Rotor's facade was impressive. "The Devil's Wheel" had long been something that interested me... And witnessing the experience was well worth the hype... But trying it out firsthand? Wacky. Hilarious. Uncomfortable at times? Yes to all of the above. As unflattering as this photo is, it is my trophy showing the moment not only in which I gave birth, but in which I won the round by being the last on the Wheel! We had to try one more time... Some of our group passed the test with flying colors. Me, not so much. Such a great view! Down Joey goes! As the sun began to set we continued to try more experiences... Here on the giant slide my victory was sure to be documented for all to see... Nevermind. I'm not above riding both sides. Clench and squish! Bob joined me in finally riding the aneurism-inducing Predator. It was insane and intense but one of my favorite rides at Oktoberfest. The Pixels shooting dark ride was... Bizarre. Alpina Bahn is Olympia Looping's sibling at the fair and it features newer trains from Gerstlauer. While it was still fun, I definitely preferred Olympia Looping overall. Time for a meter long marzipan crepe! It has a waterfall, therefore we must ride. It was quite fun! You could've guessed where we'd end up for dinner... The booth that makes this amazing pasta even featured us on their social media in all of our embarrassing glory!

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has released new details about the Wild Oasis project in Jungala, including the new Tree Top Drop, a water play area, new climbing structures and a number of new animal habitats! https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/busch-gardens-tampa-bay-reveals-new-details-for-wild-oasis-including-new-animals-new-interactive-attractions-and-new-ride-302363028.html Busch Gardens Tampa Bay today announced exciting new details about Wild Oasis, including new animal species coming to the park, a new drop tower ride and new interactive climbing structures, splash pad and more. Located within the Jungala area of the park, the all-new Wild Oasis will be North America's most immersive kid-friendly adventure realm when it opens this Spring 2025, designed to ignite the imagination and engage all the senses, promising non-stop excitement for every member of the family. Wild Oasis will transport guests into a vibrant environment inspired by the beauty and biodiversity of the rainforest. Inside the realm, Habitat Hideaway will introduce guests to all-new animals who will be joining the park's collection of over 200 animal species. Guests will have the opportunity to encounter capybaras, giant anteaters, squirrel monkeys and tropical birds. Set in a lush, natural environment, this all-new multispecies animal habitat will offer unique viewing perspectives from both ground-level and aerial viewpoints, providing visitors with an up-close experience with these fascinating animals. Thrill-seekers can take adventure to new heights aboard the all-new Tree Top Drop, a 35-foot drop tower featuring an immersive multimedia experience. Riders will be surrounded by action-packed jungle scenes displayed on screens throughout the ride's cenote-themed environment. With a height requirement of 38 inches (with an adult) and 42 inches to ride alone, this attraction is perfect for younger thrill-seekers looking for an exciting adventure. The adventure continues throughout Wild Oasis with a variety of exciting attractions for all ages. Explorers are invited to tackle the Canopy Climb, an expansive attraction featuring four levels of climbing structures, 200 feet of horizontal climbing trails and vertical climbs reaching 45 feet high. Younger adventurers can cool off at Enchanted Falls, an interactive splash pad and play area with fountains and spray towers. For those looking to journey further, the Rainforest Quest offers guests the opportunity to embark on a self-guided educational scavenger hunt, providing an exploration of the interconnected wonders of nature and highlighting the relationships between different species in the rainforest. "We're incredibly excited to introduce the Wild Oasis—a vibrant, rainforest-inspired realm with amazing animal habitats, thrilling attractions, and interactive play areas that will entertain, educate and inspire our guests to cherish the wonders of the natural world," said Jeff Davis, Park President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. "Our Annual Pass Members will get exclusive first access to explore this all-new adventure realm before anyone else, including fun experiences like the Tree Top Drop ride and Habitat Hideaway exhibit." Annual Pass Members Get Exclusive First Access to the All-New Wild Oasis! Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Annual Pass Members will be the first to explore Wild Oasis before it opens to the public in Spring 2025. Annual passes for 2025 are on sale now starting as low as $15.75 per month with no down payment. Membership includes unlimited admission, access to vibrant seasonal events and exclusive Pass Member benefits like FREE guest tickets, FREE parking and special savings on merchandise as well as food and beverage. Guests can learn more about Wild Oasis and the unbeatable benefits of being an Annual Pass Member by visiting BuschGardensTampa.com. To be the first to know about park updates, guests can follow Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok.

Holiday Park Germany has announced a new family coaster and surrounding themed area that will join the park's lineup in 2025. It will be themed to the animated franchise "100% Wolf." https://www.plopsanews.com/de/pressemitteilungen/holiday-park-germany-kondigt-derde-nieuwe-attractie-aan-voor-2025 In summer 2025, Holiday Park Germany will open a new spectacular family roller coaster with a new themed area, designed after the success story "100% Wolf". The major attraction is part of a comprehensive expansion of the park. A new Smurf-themed ride will also open in 2025 and the new Blinky Bill themed area will be completed with another family attraction. New family roller coaster goes over the lake Exciting ride elements on and next to the Holiday Park lake guarantee fun for the whole family. A so-called "spike", an open end of the roller coaster track, and a surprising backwards ride provide additional thrills for young and old. "With this new attraction, we are closing the gap between our indoor children's roller coaster and our thrill coasters," emphasizes Bernd Beitz, Germany director of the Holiday Park operator Plopsa. The 11 million euro investment aims to offer a varied experience for guests of all ages. "The new roller coaster is perfect for the whole family," reports Bernd Beitz. The track with a track length of 760m was developed individually for the Holiday Park by the German manufacturer Gerstlauer and brings the story of "100% Wolf" to life for the first time. Coen Nieuwenstein from the roller coaster manufacturer Gerstlauer is also pleased about the collaboration: "Gerstlauer is very pleased and grateful that we are part of the project team that is realizing this family roller coaster and the beautiful new area in the Holiday Park." 100% Wolf: New heroes for Holiday Park Germany With two series seasons on TOGGO on SUPER RTL and a successful movie, 100% Wolf has captured the hearts of young and old around the world. A completely new film experience with Freddy and his friends will hit the big screen in 2024. The original action adventure is about the brave Freddy, who is transformed into a cute poodle instead of a dangerous werewolf during the full moon. The exciting story combines mystery, humor and exciting adventures with an important message: "Everyone has what it takes to be a hero!" 80 million euro master plan The investments for 2025 are part of the new 80 million euro master plan of Holiday Park Germany. The "Greenville Bus" and "Blinky's Soapboxes" will open this summer. This will be followed in 2025 by the Smurfs with a cheerful themed ride, the completion of the Blinky Bill themed area "Greenville Town" with another attraction and the new 100% Wolf family roller coaster. From 2026, the festival giant Tomorrowland will move into Holiday Park with a spectacular large roller coaster and themed area aimed particularly at adults and teenagers. 40 million euros will be invested in a stand-alone water park with themed adventure pools and water slides.

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions has announced that they are expanding their existing waterpark at their Wisconsin Dells resort. This new expansion will grow the resort by 75,000 square feet with a number of new slides, pools and amenities. Rendering of exterior view of new indoor waterpark expansion of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in the Wisconsin Dells. (Photo: Business Wire) https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250109105161/en/CORRECTING-and-REPLACING-Kalahari-Resorts-Conventions-in-Wisconsin-Dells-Announces-85-Million-Indoor-Waterpark-Expansion Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is reinforcing its title of America’s Largest Indoor Waterparks with an exciting $85 million, 75,000-square-foot indoor waterpark expansion at its Wisconsin Dells resort. Construction is now underway, with the expanded portion of the waterpark slated to open in fall 2026. The highly anticipated glass-enclosed, open-air waterpark with a retractable roof introduces three exciting new water slides: the Wild Wildebeest and Green Python, both six-person raft slides, and the Cheetah Mat Racers, a four-lane racing slide. Guests will enjoy an array of other new attractions as well, including the Lost Lagoon Spa Pool, the Watering Hole Pool with zero-depth entry and tanning ledges, the Coral Cove Kiddie Slide Pool, and The Grotto adult swim-up bar. "Kalahari could not be more excited to announce this indoor waterpark expansion in the Wisconsin Dells, the Waterpark Capital of the World," said Todd Nelson, CEO, owner, and founder of Kalahari Resorts. “With new slides, pools, a swim-up bar, spas, and more, there's something for every member of the family to enjoy!” Rendering of interior view of new indoor waterpark expansion of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in the Wisconsin Dells. (Photo: Business Wire) Todd and Shari Nelson, both born and raised in the Wisconsin Dells, have always had a passion for waterparks. After a family trip to Africa, Todd was inspired by the concept of Ubuntu – the African philosophy of “togetherness” that emphasizes a universal bond of sharing and connection. This idea led the Nelsons to open the first Kalahari Resorts in Wisconsin Dells in 2000. “My wife and I opened the first Kalahari Resorts in the Dells 24 years ago, and it’s been an incredible journey,” said Nelson. “Kalahari is so much more than a waterpark - It’s a place where families can come together. After two and a half decades of creating memories here in Wisconsin Dells, we’re excited to expand our offerings and invite even more families to experience the spirit of togetherness.” In addition to the new waterpark attractions, guests will enjoy a 40’ wide big-screen TV display, additional food and beverage options, and enhanced seating and comfort options, including new cabanas and whirlpool cabanas. Location of new indoor waterpark expansion of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in the Wisconsin Dells. Courtesy of AP. The new indoor waterpark is one of several new amenities and renovations Kalahari has added in recently. Other additions include 237 new rooms, a renovated Spa Kalahari, an all-new splash pad and dry playground, an expansive lobby renovation, and two additional dining options: Sortino’s Italian Kitchen and Cinco Niños, a modern Mexican restaurant and tequila bar. For more information, please visit the Kalahari Resorts media site at kalaharimedia.com.

Alton Towers has announced their new attraction for 2025, a top-spin called Toxicator joining the lineup of Phalanx-led experiences in The Forbidden Valley section of the park. Alton Towers Resort unveils name of new record-breaking attraction and thrilling first-of-its-kind details Toxicator subjects thrillseekers to heart-pounding centrifugal forces and extreme spin patterns The topspin ride is the highest of its kind - standing at 78ft Situated in The Forbidden Valley - it has been developed to experiment on the Nemesis creature Alton Towers Resort is challenging thrillseekers to submit to the spin as they reveal the first tantalising details of the unique new attraction that awaits them this spring. Named Toxicator, the new topspin ride can accommodate more than 500 riders per hour. They are seated back-to-back before being flipped round and held face down above a ‘bubbling pool of highly toxic alien acid’. The first-of-its-kind in the UK, Toxicator sees thrillseekers subjected to heart-pounding centrifugal forces from intense spin patterns. The only topspin ride in the world to be elevated above ground level means spectators can watch the entire experience from underneath. Standing at a record-breaking 78ft high thanks to its setting on a 16ft elevated platform - it is situated in the Forbidden Valley next to the iconic Nemesis Reborn. It is the latest technology from the shadowy organisation known as The Phalanx and is used by them to extract and separate toxic saliva from the Nemesis creature. It applies an intense spinning, centrifugal force to the saliva which turns it into a chemical solution so powerful it will melt anything it touches. Fans were recently treated to an exciting first tease of the new attraction in a TV advert unveiled this week. Bianca Sammut, Vice President of Alton Towers Resort, said: “Alton Towers is renowned for consistently delivering new and reimagined thrills for our fans and as the UK’s only topspin ride, we’re excited to welcome Toxicator to the park. “We can’t wait to challenge thrillseekers to submit to the spin. Located in the heart of Forbidden Valley, this is the latest chapter in the Nemesis story which has captivated generations of thrillseekers worldwide. “We’re not yet ready to reveal precisely when Toxicator will turn your world upside down, but rest assured the wait will be worth it.” To book tickets to be among the very first to experience the heart-pounding power of Toxicator visit altontowers.com. https://www.altontowers.com/2025/ Toxicator Fact File The topspin ride will allow more than 500 riders per hour This double-sided version is one of only two in Europe Height restriction: 1.4m Green-lit water fountains on both sides of the ride Total height will stand at over 78ft tall. This is due to the ride being elevated on a 16ft structure, that guests walk underneath (a world-first) https://x.com/altontowers/status/1882828309840761102?s=46&t=TK-FUKECKXMmu4-XNc2oyg

I never thought I'd have a chance to go to Malaysia but when life throws you an opportunity that is so unexpected, you lean into it and live in the moment. I knew virtually nothing about Kuala Lumpur before I found out I would be traveling there, but once I dug in, I found a variety of unique and personally appealing experiences... I even had the chance to visit two theme parks that I was always interested in, but had long resigned myself to the notion of never being able to see firsthand. The Kuala Lumpur International Airport was large and airy, which was welcoming after being in transit for a full day. In transit to my hotel I found a nice looking water park that I unfortunately wouldn't have time to visit on this trip. This looks familiar, rail style and all. First stop, Din Tai Fung! It was my first time eating at a location in person and it was well worth the hype! Fortunately enough, this one was in a shopping mall connected to my hotel so I'd end up visiting multiple times during this trip. Sadly, the Nando's in the same mall had closed for refurbishment just days before my arrival... But hope on that front was not all lost. Don Don Donki looked and felt familiar... It was only once I was back home in the States that I realized that it was a part of the Don Quixote company in Japan. We rode the Don Quixote ferris wheel at their store location in Dotonbori, Osaka back in 2019 so it was neat to find an outlet from the company here. They also have an infectious theme song playing on loop in the store... So excited to be here! I passed out early on my arrival day and it took me several days for the jet lag to wear off. My hotel had an awesome buffet restaurant included in our stay which included a variety of Malaysian and Southeast Asia options (along with some more traditional Western offerings). When in Kuala Lumpur, curry laksa for breakfast was my entree of choice. The restaurant also had an incredible "prawn bisque omelette" that they claimed was their speciality. I'd have several throughout the trip. Some of the freshest fruits I've had anywhere were consumed on this trip. Our hosts brought us to Restoran Siu Siu Sungai Besi, a local chinese restaurant known for indulgent meals, a variety of choices and a lazy Susan turntable for ease of sharing. Some of the best pork belly I've ever consumed. Coca Cola Rasa Asli (Original Taste) was, as expected, both delicious and refreshing. I could have eaten here every meal for the rest of the trip and been in heaven. The next morning on my way to work I found Spider-Man serenading the travelers at KL Sentral station. Dolly Dim Sum nearby offered some different flavors compared to Din Tai Fung, though I'd still choose the latter as my favorite of the two. Entirely coincidental, my interest in all things "tiki" was stoked when I discovered that the hotel I was staying at had an entire bar dedicated to the Jungle Bird drink, which I had no idea was first developed at its predecessor property nearby. Subtle in its vibes, it matched the decor of the hotel... But the drink was pure tiki bliss in a cup. On one of my few days off, I ventured around Kuala Lumpur to see some famous sights, check off a bucket list experience and more, starting with a visit to the famous Batu Caves. The artistry is distinctly unique to this region and feels very different than what I've seen in Japan or China. Most people have seen the rainbow steps of Batu Caves before (I had) but never realized where it was or what it led to... The level of detail on these shrines is incredible. What an incredible setting! Up we climb! Almost there! Batu Caves is home to several shrines built within the cavernous mountains of the area. It astounds me that someone found this place centuries ago and had the vision to leverage it as a place of worship. There's something incredible about the natural architecture that makes this space seem so much more sacred. I made some friends during my visit. Just don't feed them. "Sponsored by Pepsi." And I was having such a good time too... Time to move on to our next adventure... We took a Grab (the Uber/Lyft equivalent in Malaysia) to the Awana Skyway station at Genting Highlands... It's like Sprite... Plus lemon! Why take the cable car you ask? Because not only would we be treated to a picturesque journey into the foggy mountains of Genting Highlands but... It would give us our first look into our next destination, Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park. Just a few months prior to our visit, the park's Central Park-themed area experienced a fire that tore through the facade and impacted at least one restaurant and several backstage facilities. The adjacent Night at the Museum interactive dark ride was not damaged (aside from the facade), but given the extent of the damage to the land, this section of the park has remained closed for reconstruction. I was a little disappointed we wouldn't have a chance to ride this attraction as I do like the franchise, but considering how I never thought I'd have a chance to visit this park at all, it was a loss I was willing to accept. The cable car drops you off directly into the Resorts World Genting complex, a massive combination of casinos, a shopping mall, dining, entertainment, the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park, Genting SkyWorlds, a Ripley's attraction and much more. In addition to Night at the Museum being down, Rivet Town Roller (a unicoaster) and Independence Day: Defiance (a flying theater attraction) would both be closed during our visit. In our next update, we head into the park!

Our next day started out with a visit to Legoland Deutschland (with a brief stop at Peppa Pig Park next door). The second Legoland property I’ve been to so far, this was a really charming park! The lineup features some unique coasters (including a bizarre wing-rider that’s not quite for kids but also not a super-thrilling ride compared to some of the larger versions of this coaster type) and lots of fun smaller experiences throughout the park. We had express access to all of the park’s major rides, which cut our wait times down to minutes at a time. Similar to Legoland Florida but different. But first... Somehow I ended up experiencing Peppa Pig Park in Germany before ever getting to its counterpart in Florida. What you see in this photo is the majority of what the park is/includes. There are water play areas... And a few family flat rides... The youngest of kids will find the experience exciting. Papa Wutz´Achterbahn was the real reason we were here. It features a themed zero car, a traditional lift hill and a booster launch (Zamperla is known for big, launched coasters after all). Bis Bald Peppa Pig Park! Now on to the main event! Rope drop included a cute dance number featuring some LEGO characters. Bavarian LEGOmeister is the best! Familiar but different. Really, really picturesque on a level I hadn't expected. It feels like I've been here before. I thought it was kind of interesting that they had one of these kinds of rides in Legoland only to have a similar, albeit smaller experience in Peppa Pig Park. The newest addition to Legoland was our first stop of the visit. The realm features many mythical creatures built out in LEGO form. The station and queue building for Maximus - Der Flug des Wächters is pretty neat. I've been on a few B&M wing-riders before, but never a kid-oriented version. The coaster wraps around the mini-land's many elements. A look at the coaster's trains up close. One of the coaster's two inversions twists directly overhead the land's entrance/exit corridor. TPR takeover! After riding this one, I’m not convinced family/kid-friendly B&M wing-riders need to exist anywhere else. Drachenjagd was a fun junior coaster near the larger, more traditional Feuerdrache (Dragon) coaster. Feuerdrache was a good time. The park's express pass system is handled entirely through your own mobile device and allows you to reserve a priority entrance within a few minutes' time. The system seriously worked great! Power Builders is the original KUKA arm-based attraction and it was quite fun to experience the highest intensity program. Flying Ninjago was the first time I've ridden a Gerstlauer Sky Fly and for whatever reason, I couldn't get the thing to flip... But others around me were spinning the entire ride through. Das Große LEGO Rennen is a carbon copy of the one in Florida. It has its value with a few pops of airtime and some sharp turns. Lunch was a surprisingly great plate of veal spare ribs and a baked potato for good measure. It doesn't matter what the attraction is themed to, this is the quintessential Legoland experience. Temple X-Pedition was short but fun. This section of the park was quite nice with a kinetic energy thanks to several moving attractions within view. I do like that this park has an observation tower. A look at the bulk of the layout of Maximus. Jungle X-Pedition was a fun log flume with a few surprise twists. This looks familiar! A moving LEGO model of Ninjago was one of my favorite elements of this park's Miniland. It's like apple juice but carbonated! Fun to see this guy here, considering he has a near-identical twin at Disney Springs. Love this! Dinner was unsurprisingly another bowl of our favorite truffle oil pasta... By now, I think you know the rule. Hi Robb and Jack! One of the oldest attractions at Oktoberfest. The size of these portable funhouses never ceases to amaze me. There's just something about that Oktoberfest nighttime glow... Back for more... Elissa beat the Toboggan with style! Sarah nailed the lift as well! This is one time where I definitely recommend looking down. This Jumanji-inspired funhouse, complete with a knock-off Robin Williams continued to crack me up throughout our time at Oktoberfest. There aren't many Enterprises left out there, so it was fun to see one here. Voodoo Jumper is one of the best flat rides at Oktoberfest to observe, in addition to riding! Our next day would be our big day at Oktoberfest with time at the Lowenbrau tent, rides and more festival food ahead!

The next day we started out at Skyline Park, not far from Munich. The park has a solid variety of coasters and a decent collection of other offerings in a charming setting. As our first park of the trip, it was a nice warmup for the more involved days ahead. We had exclusive ride time on Sky Dragster before the park opened. With only a few two-seater bikes in circulation, this was a great benefit to prevent us from waiting in lines once the park welcomed other guests. Sky Dragster was the first Maurer Rides Spike Coaster, a powered, semi-manually controlled coaster system that has been built in a few parks on land and even on several cruise ships. It was my first time riding one, and while kind of neat, I found it to be a little less thrilling that I would have expected, and the top speeds you could reach still felt like you were crawling through the layout at times. Skyline Park has a decent number of tall attractions on its... Skyline. This might have been a mistake for me to ride... It might've been. Sky Wheel was another first for me from Maurer Rides. The experience is a combination of hang-time, terror, laughs and "kerchunks." Berg- und Tal Hetz was the park's newest coaster from SBF Visa Group... And if you know anything about SBF, you know these coasters can pack a punch. Sky Rafting (sense a theme in the naming convention?) is a sizable water rafting attraction that should look familiar to old Six Flags attractions... Apres Ski Party was a neat fairground funhouse parked permanently at Skyline Park. The moose out front should've told ya it was fun! And a good time was had. Flotter Otto exists. Huepfburg is a bouncy play area set in the shadow of Sky Wheel. Geisterbahn was the first ghost train I experienced on this trip. This ride's main character starts out with no hands... Strange things ensue. And by the end of the ride he has hands. Sky Twister is another classic flat ride. Sky Wheel is visible from most parts of the park. "It's Coca-Cola but frozen!" No coaster left unridden here. Allgäuflieger is the park's starflyer and it is the tallest attraction in its lineup. Flammkuchen and beer for lunch? Yes please! They had a self-operated carousel and it simply had to be experienced. Wildwasserbahn is a surprisingly large log flume. It was a little too cold for my riding during our visit but those in our group that did try it really enjoyed it. Science ride! The queue for Zero Gravity was almost as experiential as the ride! Zero Gravity is a modern take on a Rotor, but with a translucent structure and unique show lighting. It was quite a good time! Most of the park's self-operated attractions had been removed over the last few years but this swing ride still exists. And it is quite fun. Why pay for ropes courses at home when Sky Walk at Skyline Park is included in the park admission? After our time at Skyline Park, we stopped at the grocery store near our hotel. I was surprised to find some familiar brands like those I find at home... A taste of the Germany of EPCOT... But in Germany. Just a normal sight in Germany during Oktoberfest. Back to Oktoberfest we went! Predator was one of those super-daunting flat rides that I committed to riding before the end of our time at Oktoberfest... I'll never discount a traveling drop tower when it comes to bringing the thrills. You know the rule. A hidden gem of food that we found at the fair grounds was this awesome pasta stand that prepared your fresh pasta, tossed in sauce and scraping out the cheese from inside of a hollowed out cheese wheel... This would be the first of several truffle oil pastas for us! It was a quick visit, but a good one. More fun would follow on the next day... With it being the weekend, crowds were significantly more than what we experienced last night, so it was an eat-and-walk night (save for that one ride on Olympia Looping) before calling it an early night…

It had been a long time since I last traveled with Theme Park Review... On land, I had been a part of the Behemoth/East Coast trip in 2008 and the Deep South trip in 2009. At sea I had sailed with TPR on the Freedom of the Seas in 2011. Oktoberfest had been a bucket-list experience for me for most of my life, and getting the chance to experience some of Germany's most notable parks had equally sat atop my list for as long as my fandom of theme parks and coasters has existed. For years, I watched Robb & Elissa's videos from the parks, thinking that I wouldn't get the chance to experience the beer tents or to have the chance to ride Olympia Looping, Euro-Mir or SilverStar... But when the 2024 Oktoberfest trip was announced, I knew I was going to do everything I could to attend (including ending up on a certain game show). As I've been preparing (read, paring down tens of thousands of photos) for this trip report, I'm already nostalgic for the experience of this trip. Robb and Elissa took great care to show us the best time possible at each stop. For those of us whose first time it was here, they made an extra effort to make sure we didn't miss out on the best parts. And as someone that has been a part of this site since the mid-2000's, it was an honor and a great gift to experience so many new things and places with friends I've known for 19 years. Diving into it... Did I walk all the way across the Chicago O'Hare airport to visit this particular corridor for a very particular reason? Sure did! My first half day in Germany was a success in that I had a chance to drop off my stuff at the hotel and hop on the train into the city... The architecture in and around Marienplatz was absolutely stunning. My main stop for the day was Hofbräuhaus München. I didn’t have a ton of time, but I did get my first taste of Bavaria, literally and figuratively… The interior of Hofbräuhaus München was so charming and unique. My first taste of authentic oompah music on this trip! While I'd been to the Biergarten Restaurant at EPCOT, I'd never been to an authentic beer garden before! But I immediately took advantage of the opportunity! My first German meal of the trip and it got me so hyped to eat more throughout the trip. And to drink more too! The next morning I hopped a train to Fussen from Munich... The train ride was beyond picturesque. I had an amazing spaetzle take on mac and cheese at the hotel in Fussen and called it an early night because the next day would be a very active one. Why Fussen? Well I had some castles to visit... Oh, and the Museum of the Bavarian Kings could not be missed. No photos allowed inside but the museum was well worth our time and helped to instill a greater understanding in us before we toured the castles in the area. Hohenschwangau Castle was the first of our stops. There's a strict policy of no photos inside except photos taken of or through windows, but the tour was absolutely incredible. Delicious and refreshing! It's like Coca-Cola... But with orange! The view from within Hohenschwangau Castle was incredible. And it only got better upon closer investigation. Neuschwanstein Castle was within direct view of the Hohenschwangau Castle at most times. Back near the Museum of the Bavarian Kings is a lake known for swans... A swan lake, if you will. Lots of roasted pork and sauerkraut was consumed on this trip. We hiked up the mountain after lunch to Marienbrücke for the best possible view of Neuschwanstein Castle. Just two Disney fans from both coasts experiencing a Disney fan's dream up close! Die Schlümpfe. My first Cornetto cone of the trip. but not my last! Neuschwanstein Castle is a landmark for Disney fans as it is known as the partial inspiration for the design of Sleeping Beauty Castle found at Disneyland Park in California (also previously found at Hong Kong Disneyland). Discerning fans can recognize the visual similarities. Again, no photos inside but the tour was fantastic and the reveals from room to room were cinematic and surprising! It was amazing to be here in person. Most people share photos of the castle from Marienbrücke, but not the other way around. After our fun in Fussen, we drove two hours to Dornbirn, Austria, for an authentic Austrian meal and a night in the city. Due to bad traffic and rain, our night was really just time at dinner, but Rotes Haus, which has a deep history going all the way back to 1639, was a delightful treat. And our meal did not disappoint! The rain cleared as our meal ended and we enjoyed the nearby sights briefly before heading to bed. The next day we found ourselves back in Munich for the formal kickoff to the Oktoberfest trip with TPR. The spread was bountiful! And the beer was flowing! Pork knuckle and roasted chicken were the main courses of the night and they did not disappoint! After dinner, several of us walked to the Oktoberfest grounds to scope out the festival... But when life puts Olympia Looping in front of you, it is simply the rule that you must ride at least once. As I mentioned earlier, Olympia Looping has been a bucket list coaster for some time. It is a white whale for many coaster fans, both because of its traveling nature and because of its famous size, number of inversions, its smoothness despite its age and its intensity. Schwarzkopf coasters continue to be removed from service year over year (several notable sibling coasters were taken out of operation in 2024) and it has always felt like the clock is ticking for Olympia Looping--at least for me to have a chance to ride it. But I can wholeheartedly say that the hype and the wait to experience this were both worth it. Olympia Looping is incredible. The layout, the speed, the smoothness, the intensity, and even the operations when kicked into high gear (five trains running at once!) were all mind-blowing. For a coaster that first operated in 1989, it is maintained and run like a modern coaster and even when compared to Alpina Bahn operating nearby at the festival, this was a significantly better experience and an absolute highlight of the trip. So great to be traveling once again with friends I've known for so long! I'd be back to try to conquer the Toboggan later... Robb was kind enough to record my first ever ride on Olympia Looping... And the results speak for themselves. Simply an incredible way to kick off the trip... And there was so much more ahead!

SeaWorld Orlando has announced a new first-of-its-kind flying theater attraction opening in Spring 2025. This new four and a half minute long, Arctic-themed experience will be family friendly with a minimum height requirement of 39 inches. SeaWorld Orlando, the Coaster Capital of Orlando renowned for its impressive selection of thrilling and unique rides, unveiled plans for its latest groundbreaking attraction planned to open in Spring 2025: the World's first-of-its-kind Arctic flying theater. This new experience invites families to soar over icy landscapes, dive beneath frozen waters and come face-to-face with some of the planet's most magnificent creatures. From majestic beluga whales to awe-inspiring orcas and walruses, this adventure puts riders right in the middle of the action. It's also all indoors, so rain or shine, this attraction guarantees a cool, thrilling escape for the entire family all year round. Building on the family-friendly thrills of the park's newest attraction, Penguin Trek, this new ride accommodates guests with a minimum height requirement of just 39 inches, ensuring the whole family can enjoy the adventure together. Riders will embark on this 4:30 minute journey within one of two of the attraction's immersive multi-level theaters, each accommodating 30 guests. They will experience the Arctic as if they were truly there, witnessing jaw-dropping visuals both in the air and underwater, including the stunning Aurora Borealis and remote, untouched areas of the Arctic. Only at SeaWorld Orlando will riders have the rare opportunity to experience a seamless journey from underwater views of the Arctic's marine life to the outer atmosphere, providing a satellite perspective of this incredible and expansive region. This attraction emphasizes SeaWorld Orlando's commitment to blending education with entertainment, offering guests a comprehensive view of the Arctic's vast and varied ecosystem. Thanks to custom filming equipment specifically created for this project, the award-winning production team was able to film in some of the most remote parts of the Arctic, capturing its diverse environment in stunning detail. From lush, green landscapes that challenge the typical perceptions of the Arctic to the snow-capped vistas and crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life, guests will be transported to locations that are otherwise inaccessible to most. "We are thrilled to introduce this first-of-its-kind attraction to SeaWorld Orlando," said Jon Peterson, President of SeaWorld Orlando. "This indoor immersive flying theater experience reinforces our commitment to education, animal care and research. As guests disembark from the attraction, they'll find themselves in the awe-inspiring wonder of one of the world's most remote places, face-to-face with some of those very animals found within the Arctic such as beluga whales, walruses and more. By bringing the wonders of the Arctic to life, we are offering guests an unparalleled and immersive experience that will create lasting memories for people of all ages." With the launch of this Arctic-themed flying theater, SeaWorld Orlando continues to innovate and expand its lineup of world-class attractions, solidifying its status as a premier destination for thrill-seekers and families alike. SeaWorld 2025 Annual Pass Members will have the exclusive opportunity to be among the first to ride this groundbreaking attraction before it opens to the general public. Passes are on sale now, so guests will want to grab their passes for the chance to be part of this exhilarating adventure. Be Among the First to Ride the Upcoming 2025 Attraction with a SeaWorld Annual Pass Guests can experience the best of SeaWorld Orlando with a 2025 annual pass including unbeatable benefits, unlimited visits and the opportunity to be the first to experience this new 2025 attraction before it opens to the public. Annual passes for 2025 are on sale now and starting as low as $15.75 per month with no down payment. For a limited time offer, guests can buy their 2025 annual pass and upgrade to the next tier for free. Membership includes unlimited admission, access to vibrant seasonal events and exclusive Pass Member benefits like FREE guest tickets, FREE parking and special savings on merchandise as well as food and beverage. Plus, Pass Members receive special monthly rewards throughout the year such as exclusive Pass Member merchandise, behind-the-scenes animal experiences, festival-exclusive food and beverage deals and discounts on admission to SeaWorld's separately ticketed Howl-O-Scream event. The SeaWorld Orlando Annual Pass program features the bronze, silver, gold and platinum annual pass options. The platinum pass grants access to all 11 parks in the U.S. that are in the United Parks & Resorts parks portfolio, including three SeaWorld parks, two Busch Gardens parks, two Sesame Place parks and several award-winning water parks. Annual Pass Members also get exclusive discounts at Discovery Cove in Orlando. The Annual Pass program is structured in a guest-friendly way that allows visitors to choose the pass, the benefits and the parks that best fit their needs. Restrictions apply. For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com. Follow SeaWorld Orlando on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for the latest news from SeaWorld.

Cedar Point has announced Siren’s Curse, a new record-breaking tilt coaster will open at the park in 2025! https://www.cedarpoint.com/blog/media-center/record-breaking-sirens-curse-tilt-coaster-to-lure-cedar-point-thrill-seekers-in-2025 Cedar Point, The Roller Coaster Capital of the World®, will add fathoms of thrills to its world-renowned and record-breaking collection of scream machines with the 2025 debut of Siren’s Curse – the tallest, fastest and longest “tilt” roller coaster in North America. Siren’s Curse hearkens to the legend and lore of mysterious creatures living beneath the surface of Lake Erie; often spoken of – but never spotted. The sirens of the lake who lured sailors to their underwater demise with their sweet, seductive songs will finally rise to land and attempt to entrap guests in a sinister two-minute fate of non-stop roller coaster innovation. Riders will hear the echo of the siren’s chilling melodies as they ascend an old 160-foot-tall Lake Erie shipping crane tower, the sounds growing more sinister as riders reach the top. Their fate will hang in the balance as they encounter the roller coaster’s signature moment: a dead stop on a “broken off” section of track. The creaking platform holding the train of riders will slowly tilt the entire train into a 90-degree vertical position, forcing riders to peer straight down with the hope their train will connect to the twisted track below. As the track locks into place, riders will flee from the beckoning call of the siren and plunge into the abyss, speeding through 2,966 feet of track at a top speed of 58 mph. The ride will feature 13 weightless airtime moments, two 360-degree, zero-gravity barrel rolls and a high-speed “triple-down” element with twisted and overbanked track. Adding to the immersive experience, the two, 24-passenger trains on Siren’s Curse will feature integrated audio and signature LED lighting on each car. Located across from the Iron Dragon suspended coaster and near the Cedar Point Marina, the ride’s tangled and compact layout will provide the high-thrill experience Cedar Point guests have come to know from America’s Roller Coast®. Guests must be 48” tall to ride Siren’s Curse. “Record-breaking thrills have always been at the heart of Cedar Point’s roller coaster lineup, and Siren’s Curse lives up to that standard,” said Carrie Boldman, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. “The entire ride is an experience filled with non-stop action, but that first precarious tilted position where you’re hanging on – looking straight down – and waiting for the track to connect will be a signature moment our fans will love. It’s a first-of-its kind for Cedar Point and we’re thrilled to bring it to our guests.” With the addition of Siren’s Curse, Cedar Point will be home to an impressive lineup of 19 roller coasters, including fan favorites like Millennium Force®, Steel Vengeance®, Maverick® and more. As previously announced, the record-breaking triple-launch strata coaster Top Thrill 2® is scheduled to reopen in 2025. Guests can dive into season-long access to Siren’s Curse and the park’s 67 additional attractions with a 2025 Gold Pass. It includes Cedar Point and HalloWeekends® admission in 2024 and all of 2025, free parking, Cedar Point Shores® Waterpark admission, in-park discounts, bring-a-friend tickets and more. Right now, the 2025 Gold Pass is on sale for $125 or 10 payments of $10 after initial payment of $25. Guests can purchase online now at cedarpoint.com. Siren’s Curse is scheduled to open in early summer of 2025. For more information on Siren’s Curse, construction updates and more, follow Cedar Point on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube or visit cedarpoint.com. https://www.cedarpoint.com/new-in-2025 Siren's Curse The tallest, longest, fastest tilt coaster in North America The legend and lore of mysterious creatures living beneath the surface of Lake Erie comes to life with Siren's Curse, North America’s TALLEST, LONGEST & FASTEST tilt coaster. Often spoken of – but never spotted, the sirens of the lake who lured sailors to their underwater demise with their sweet, seductive songs will finally rise to the land above Cedar Point and attempt to entrap you in a sinister two-minute fate of non-stop roller coaster innovation. Located across from Iron Dragon and near the Cedar Point Marina, Siren's Curse is set to lure its riders in 2025. Will you answer the siren's call? HEIGHT - 160 FT SPEED - 58 MPH DURATION - 2 MIN The Siren's Call You’ll hear the echo of the siren's chilling melodies as you ascend an old 160-foot-tall Lake Erie shipping crane tower, the sounds growing more sinister as you reach the top. Your fate will hang in the balance as you encounter the roller coaster’s signature moment: a dead stop on a “broken off” section of track. The creaking platform holding your train will slowly tilt into a 90-degree vertical position, forcing you to peer straight down with the hope your train will connect to the twisted track below. Evade Her Grip As the track locks into place, you’ll flee from the beckoning call of the siren and plunge into the abyss, speeding through 2,966 feet of track at a top speed of 58 mph. Come face-to-face with 13 weightless airtime moments, two 360-degree, zero-gravity barrel rolls and a high-speed “triple-down” element with twisted and overbanked track. Guest must be 48” tall to ride Siren's Curse. Lore Brought to Life The legend is real – and you’ll hear and see it! The ride’s trains feature an over-the-shoulder lap bar with flexible vest restraint. The vehicles also feature two firsts for Cedar Point: on-board audio, allowing the sound of the siren to envelop you as you escape her grasp; and high-tech LED lighting on the exterior of each car, mimicking the silky motion and eerie nature of the mythical creature, from the top of the tower to the adrenaline-pumping journey below.

We arrived in Rome at roughly 12:30 AM and immediately took the shuttle to the airport hotel to get some sleep. Just a few hours later, we returned to the airport to catch the shuttle to Civitavecchia for our cruise. The Disney Dream is the cruise ship on which I've sailed the most times, not just with Disney but with any cruise line. Getting greeted onboard by Captain Mickey is always the best way to start off a cruise! The design of the atrium will always be one of my favorite elements of this ship! Feels like home to me. First lunch of the cruise at Cabanas means all you can enjoy snow crab! Adults have an opportunity to explore the youth activity spaces onboard during Open House periods and there are many fun places to visit! The Disney Infinity space in Oceaneer's Lab is neat. The online elements of the game has been out of service for a few years but the offline gameplay and the figures are still fun to enjoy. If you bring home a Oceaneer's Band from the cruise (the MagicBands given to kids onboard for Oceaneer's Club and Oceaneer's Lab access) and place it on the RFID scanner for Disney Infinity, you can receive an exclusive digital DCL ship toy in the game. Now that's what I call podracing! One of my favorite spaces found on the way to Vibe, the teen club onboard, is a nod to the lighted hallways of EPCOT Center's past... Journey into Imagination's ImageWorks and Horizons are echoed here. Vibe really is a neat plae for the teens to hang out. And they have their own sun deck with loungers and jacuzzis! Our stateroom for the next 11 nights! The Sailing Away deck party is always a fun way to kick off a cruise! Roaming the ship you can find hidden Disney details that span over a century's worth of film and TV. Each time I sail I find something new, like this! Disney Victrophonics was a new experience to us, performing in the atrium on multiple evenings throughout the cruise. It isn't uncommon to see Disney friends roaming the ship. Disney Cruise Line offers beverage tastings of various types depending on the length of the cruise. My first of this cruise was the "World of Old Fashioned" tasting. For $100 per person, we were treated to four Old Fashioneds, handmade and curated by an informed bartender who talked us through all of the drinks and their base alcohols. The experience also included two chocolate truffles. Coming back to our stateroom at the end of our first night onboard, we were greeted by tthis cute towel animal. We woke up the next morning to a view of Greece outside of our verandah. We would be pulling into Chania later in the afternoon so we had time onboard for some early-day activities. Are you even sailing with DCL if you're not eating Mickey Waffles for breakfast? Yes, it is the morning and we're having champagne... Another new-to-us experience was the Champgagne Tasting. We were toured through five different champagnes (plus one macaron) by an expert somelier who informed us of the differences in style, preparation and history between each bubbly we tasted. We easily got our $60 per person out of this experience and I can't recommend it enough if you enjoy champagne. Once docked in Chania, Greece we boarded a motorcoach for our Port Adventure, starting with a stop at the ruins of ancient Aptera. The site is continually being excavated. Most notably, this theater in one of the more well-recovered elements of the site. Next we visited Kournas Lake for a quick dip... Our final stop of the excursion was a family-style lunch in the really wonderful setting of the mountain-side village of Argyroupolis. Fresh tzatziki, traditional Greek salad, empanada-like apps and my favorite, rice-stuffed fried squash blossoms were an amazing start to our Crete-style meal. Spit-roasted chicken and fresh fries rounded out the meal. There's nothing quite like walking back to a ship on which you love to be sailing. Spa water upon arrival? Don't mind if I do! Really? Mine too! The Golden Mickeys was our first of three broadway-style shows in the Walt Disney Theater. Crush joined us for our first night in Animator's Palate. One does not simply dine at Animator's Palate without consuming quantities of pasta pursettes. Our stateroom door would progressively become more decorated as the cruise went on. On this night I experienced the Premium Reserve Whiskey Tasting and I was very pleased! And a new towel animal welcomed us to bed!

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced "Wild Oasis" coming to Jungala in 2025. This updated corner of the land will feature a refurbished and updated family drop tower (formerly known as "Wild Surge"), a new climbing structure, new water play areas and added animal exhibits. https://buschgardens.com/tampa/kid-friendly/wild-oasis/ Wild Oasis Opening Spring 2025 to Entertain, Educate and Inspire Busch Gardens Tampa Bay invites explorers of all ages to "Wild Oasis", an interactive, re-imagined realm designed to entertain, educate and inspire. Guests will be immersed in the sounds and sights of the rainforest and engage in activities that touch on its many elements, including a newly themed drop-tower ride with engaging special effects, a high-energy climbing canopy, a new multi-species habitat and interactive water play areas. Guests are challenged to explore even further by engaging in a scavenger hunt highlighting the connections and relationships between different species in the rainforest.