We’ve dug through the stats and have narrowed down the top five tallest and fastest roller coasters in Orlando. Hold on – this is going to be one crazy ride.

5. Dragon Challenge – Islands of Adventure

The originally-named Dueling Dragons opened with Islands of Adventure back in 1999 and was later changed to Dragon Challenge after the Boy Wizard took over the area in 2010, when that section of land became known as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade. The ride consisted of two roller coasters that would duel with one another, including three “close encounters” where the two would seem to almost collide with one another. Unfortunately, the dueling nature of the coaster was removed in 2011, but Dragon Challenge is still unbelievably fun.

Rumors are now swirling that Dragon Challenge’s time is limited and will be shut down permanently soon for a new addition to Islands of Adventure, possibly even to expand The Wizarding World once again.

4. Manta – SeaWorld Orlando

Manta opened at SeaWorld Orlando in 2009 and still remains, to this day, the only flying coaster in Florida. Guests are positioned under the track as if they are Superman and are lifted 140 feet in the air, experiencing four inversions throughout the 3,359 feet of track this way. Manta also sports a fantastic queue, featuring several aquariums that total 184,000 gallons and that allow guests to view stingrays and other marine life up close. Finally, the coaster features a unique double station where two trains can be loaded simultaneously, allowing for faster loading times and, in return, a quicker-moving line.

3. Kraken – SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld probably has the best collection of roller coasters in Orlando (with the exception of a few at Universal Orlando). Kraken is a big reason why.

The ride opened at SeaWorld Orlando in 2000 as one of three floorless coasters that debuted in the US that year. Kraken’s theme is based upon a mythological creature that resembles a giant squid and that was said to be found off the coast of Norway and Greenland. Kraken, the roller coaster, stands 149 feet tall, features seven inversions, and reaches a top speed of 65 MPH throughout its 4,177 feet of track. The roller coaster ends with an underground dive into the Kraken’s lair.

Kraken will reopen in summer 2017 as Kraken Unleashed. The attraction’s queue and station will get a makeover and virtual reality will be introduced to the ride, which will be optional.

2. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit – Universal Studios Florida

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit opened in August of 2009 at Universal Studios Florida. The roller coaster features a unique vertical lift hill that stands 167 feet tall and reaches a top speed of 65 MPH. Its cars feature on-board speakers and a touchscreen for guests to select a song to listen to while they ride – there’s even a “hidden” list of songs for guests to access. The roller coaster cars also featuring flashing LED lights that light up as the ride whips through its 3,800 feet of track. Then there’s also its non-inverting loop and several near-misses when another car flies by you.

1. Mako

Mako is the first roller coaster to open at SeaWorld since Manta in 2009, and it’s the tallest and fastest coaster in Orlando. It opened to rave reviews as Orlando’s first and only hypercoaster (a coaster at least 200 feet in height), and it’s no surprise why: reaching 73 MPH over its 4,760 feet of track, it boasts nine airtime hills where guests seem to float out of their seats, providing an exhilarating experience.  The ride also features a unique soundtrack that features several speakers located throughout the attraction that builds as guests climb the lift hill. All of this combined with a uniquely-themed queue makes Mako not only the tallest roller coaster in Orlando, but quite possibly the best.

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What’s changed in the 2017 free Dining Plan at Walt Disney World vs. 2016’s plan?

One of the biggest changes in the free Dining Plan this year is that, unlike last year’s plan where the moderate resorts got the regular Dining Plan for free, guests staying at both value and moderate resorts are receiving the Quick Service Dining Plan for free in 2017. Guests staying at select deluxe resorts and deluxe villas will receive the regular Dining Plan for free, of course, on select dates. If you’re staying at a value or moderate Resort, you can still upgrade to the regular Dining Plan for a fee.

What dates do I need to book in order to qualify for the free Dining Plan?

Disney tends to offer these free Dining Plans during the slower times to draw in more people. Also, these dates are not for all resorts; each hotel has specific dates tied to it for this promotion. It would be best to call Disney directly at 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463) to book this deal and to make sure the following dates are currently available:

• August 21 through September 30, 2017
• November 14 through 20, 2017
• November 25 through 27, 2017
• December 8 through 23, 2017

What are the other requirements to receive the free Dining Plan for 2017?

There are also a few other stipulations that guests must meet in order to qualify for the free Dining Plan:

• Your trip must consist of a minimum of five nights (and a maximum of 14) at select Walt Disney World resorts
• Your park tickets must be at least a Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus
• Tickets must also be a minimum of a two-day Magic Your Way
• You must book your stay by July 7, 2017
• Tickets and options must be used within 14 days of first use

Which resorts are not included in the free Dining Plan?

Not all Walt Disney World resort rooms are available for the free Dining Plan. If you’re staying at one of the below hotels, you can call and have it changed to another that is participating in the free Dining Plan.

• Campsites
• 3-bedroom villas
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Little Mermaid standard rooms
• Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & bungalows

You can view details on which resorts work on which dates with this promo by visiting the official site here.

Is the “free” Dining Plan promotion worth it?

One of the biggest questions about the “free” Dining Plan that Disney offers every year is: “Is it worth it?” A big deciding factor in this is figuring out if any other promotion or discount Disney is offering is greater than the discount you would receive if you opted into the “free” Dining Plan. You would easily spend $200 more a night if you wanted to upgrade from a moderate to a deluxe resort to qualify for the regular Dining Plan for free – not to mention the fee that you would have to pay to upgrade to a Park Hopper ticket, which is around $75 a ticket. Most families visiting Walt Disney World don’t really need a Park Hopper ticket, which allows you to visit multiple theme parks in one day.  Families can easily spend a whole day at just one park – and, even if you decided to cut early, there are tons of other options, including separate-ticketed events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which may still be cheaper to add on instead of this “free” Dining Plan.

The “free” Dining Plan promotion is not for everyone; it is simply best to sit down and figure where and how you want to spend your money and factor in other promotions, as well, as Disney is usually running more than just one offer at a time. If you normally stay at a deluxe resort, this promotion works great. If you’re staying at a value resort, you may want to think twice.

If you are considering taking Disney up on the offer, act fast, as these rooms usually fill up rather quickly.

For more details and to view all of the promotions going on at Disney World, check out Disney’s site.

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With that being almost two years away, there is still plenty of Star Wars fun for visitors to enjoy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With a ton of construction happening at the park (not only on Star Wars Land, but also Toy Story Land, as well), Disney has added several ways for guests to get their Star Wars indulgence, including shows, attractions, special events, and more.

1. Star Wars Launch Bay

One of the biggest Star Wars additions to Hollywood Studios was the arrival of Star Wars Launch Bay, which opened in December of 2015. The walk-through experience features a variety of activities for the SW aficionado, including meet-and-greets with characters (such as the recently-added BB-8) and the Launch Bay Theater, which is a fantastic short film on the history of the franchise (it features interviews with directors, writers, producers, key movie crew members, and Imagineers that help bring the world of Star Wars to life). While on the way out of the Launch Bay, be sure to grab your favorite merchandise at Launch Bay Cargo.

2. Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Star Tours is the original Star Wars attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The original version opened back in 1989, and the current incarnation, Star  Tours: The Adventures Continue, followed in 2011. Guests can now explore several iconic Star Wars film locations, including Tatooine, Coruscant, Hoth, Naboo, Kashyyyk, and the Death Star. The ride is also receiving updates as the new movies come out; Jakku has already been added from The Force Awakens, and Crait from The Last Jedi will arrive later this year.

3. Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

This interactive show is a must-do for families with little ones, especially those who dream of becoming a Jedi. The show takes place throughout the day and features appearances by popular Star Wars characters, including a new villain to battle from the popular Disney XD television show, Star Wars: Rebels. Parents can sign their kids up to be a part of the show at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost, which is located between the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and the ’50s Prime Time Café.

4. Star Wars: Path of The Jedi

If you’re not completely brushed up on your Star Wars movie knowledge, Star Wars: Path of the Jedi is a great way to get caught up in what is happening in the Star Wars universe. The 10-minute montage features bits and pieces from the first six films (that is, all those before the current sequel trilogy) to get you caught up without having to sit and binge them all. It then culminates with the trailer for 2015’s Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

5. March of the First Order

If your little ones are a fan of stormtroopers, this daily performance featuring Captain Phasma and a platoon of First Order stormtroopers marching up Hollywood Boulevard is a must-see. The performances happen daily, usually on the hour. Captain Phasma and her platoon of stormtroopers end their march at the stage located in front of The Great Movie Ride.

6. Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away

This show follows the March of the First Order and takes place on the center stage in front of The Great Movie Ride. A Galaxy Far, Far Away features a variety of iconic characters reenacting scenes from throughout all of the Star Wars films, including Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, stormtroopers, Kylo Ren, and, yes, even BB-8. The show was recently updated to add a few characters from last year’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

7. Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular

This nighttime spectacular held nightly at Hollywood Studios is a great way to end your Star Wars-filled day. The show features lasers, lighting, pyrotechnics, and other special effects, which are all synced up to your favorite Star Wars musical pieces. A little piece of advice: be sure to arrive 30 to 45 minutes prior to showtime to claim your spot near the center stage, as the popular viewing areas do get crowded.

8. Guided tours

One of the newest Star Wars additions to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the Star Wars guided tours. These seven-hour private tours feature exclusive access to a variety of the above-mentioned events and attractions, including priority boarding for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue and a spot in the Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party, along with special access to Star Wars-themed menu items during dinner at Backlot Express. Tickets for these guided tours start cost $129 per person, and tours are offered on Mondays and Saturdays. Kids ages four through 12 can also participate in the Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple show during the guided tours.

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Wishes Nighttime Spectacular will be officially becoming to an end on May 11 at the Magic Kingdom. A new show, called  “Happily Ever After” will kick off the next day on May 12. Walt Disney World has released a new video showcasing what has gone into creating the score for the this new nighttime spectacular, which is probably the single biggest component of a show of this magnitude. One of the biggest challenges with creating the score for this new show was taking songs from various Disney films, from various timeframes, and creating one seamless song for the entire show.

“Music is truly at the heart of everything,” said Michael Jung, Executive Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “It’s the script, it’s the emotion, it’s the thing that guides us through the show.”

The new show will feature characters and scenes from more than 25 Disney films, including segments from “Moana,” “Brace,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia,” “The Princess & The Frog,” and Aladdin.” And yes, it has been confirmed that Tinker Bell will fly across the night sky, just like she did in “Wishes.” Cinderella Castle will also become part of the story itself, with projection mapping bringing your favorite Disney stories to life on and around the iconic 18-story-tall castle.

For a sneak peek of what went into the projection mapping for “Happily Ever After,” view our previous post here.

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There’s been no official announcement from Disney, so there’s no telling whether or not these new new enhancements will be the same projection-and-light show that is shown on the front of the tree, or perhaps something completely different.

For those not familiar with Tree of Life Awakenings, they are a series of small shows that bring the Tree of Life to, well, life. Each show features projection-mapping technology that brings the animals carved into the Tree of Life alive. The shows begin when the sun sets and run approximately every 10 to 15 minutes until the park closes.

Awakenings was part of a number of nighttime experiences brought to Animal Kingdom to help turn Disney’s Animal Kingdom into an all-day park, and not just a half day park. Other additions included the Rivers of Light show, Discovery Island Carnivale, and, of course, Pandora – The World of Avatar.

The expanded viewing areas are rumored to start in late May, perhaps around Memorial Day weekend, when Pandora – The World of AVATAR opens.

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Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde and his team had several hills to climb before they could begin building Pandora, starting with the fact that the land would have to be based off of plants and animals that were exclusively computer-generated in the film. Another monumental task Disney Imagineers and Lightstorm Entertainment had was creating the giant floating mountains found on the planet of Pandora. This was achieved by using foliage to cover the mountains’ support structures, some of which were so massive that Disney had to use the trailers from the space shuttle program to transport them to the construction site. Disney’s research team, some of which worked on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, also spent time in Hawaii and in China’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to study mountains and foliage.

Disney also ran into an issue with the hundreds of glowing bioluminescent plants located throughout Pandora, each one of which needed power. This was achieved by providing each plant with its own control box, which was later covered in foliage or some other means of landscaping.

The signature attraction found inside Pandora – The World of Avatar, Flight of Passage (in which guests climb aboard a Banshee, the main creature from Avatar), will also begin just like it did in the movie, when Jake Sully climbs aboard a Banshee for the first time and it dives off of a cliff.

With each new nighttime photo of Pandora – The World of Avatar, we are getting incredibly excited for its grand opening, which is on May 27!

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One of the nonalcoholic drinks is called the Pandoran Sunrise, which was designed to compliment the “pods,” or (bao buns) and bowls at Satu’li Canteen. The drink is described as a non-alcoholic mix of tropical Juices blended with Powerade Melon. You can get the drink in a Satu’li Canteen Flute Flask to take home as a souvenir.

There will be a specialty wine called, fitting enough, Banshee, which is an actual winery company based out of Napa Valley. Options include a Chardonnay and Banshee Pinot Noir, and a Dreamwalker Sangria with a splash Blue Curaçao.

There will also be two ales available for purchase, including Hawkes’ Grog Ale with a fruity hop character, which is described as a taste of apricot and peach, a hint of wheat on the finish. The other ale available will be Mo’ara High Country Ale, which is described as a malty amber ale with the aroma of herbal spice hops and tastes of caramel, toffee, and nuts. Both the  Hawkes’ Grog Ale and the Mo’ara High Country Ale will also be available on tap and have the option of a souvenir mug.

Over at Pongu Pongu, guests can enjoy a Night Blossom frozen drink, which is a non-alcoholic mixture of limeade with apple and desert pear flavors topped with passion fruit boba balls. This can also be purchased in a souvenir mug. For the adults, there is the Mo’ara Frozen Margarita, which is served with Sauza Conmemorativo Añejo Tequila with strawberry and blood orange flavor topped with strawberry boba balls, also available in a souvenir mug.

Pandora – The World of Avatar officially opens on May 27, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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Some of the enhancements and changes include:

• A pass specifically for guests on the autism spectrum allows a group to bypass the standby line at popular attractions. The no-cost “Blue Hero Pass” is available at Guest Services inside the theme park.
• Specially equipped spaces in the resort’s Annual Pass, First Aid and Baby Care facilities now serve as designated “quiet rooms” where quests who are on the autism spectrum and their families can take a break. Noise-cancelling headphones, weighted blankets, squishy toys and LEGO building tables are some of the complimentary resources available. A similar space also is available within Guest Services at LEGOLAND Water Park.
• “Social stories” that offer an illustrated, step-by-step walk-through of every ride and show, so guests won’t be surprised by periods of darkness, loud noises, bright lights or other elements that often can be frightening or overwhelming. They’re available for review at Guest Services.
• Newly hired resort employees (called “Model Citizens”) now receive specialized training to prepare them with skills and sensitivities to more effectively interact with guests on the autism spectrum, as well as their families or caregivers. Consultations include Dr. Craig Glaser, the resort’s medical director, who also serves as medical director of Winter Haven’s Urgent Care Cypress facility.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort also announced that in honor of National Autism Awareness Month, the resort will will contribute $15 of the proceeds from each ticket sold to the North and Central Florida chapter of Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks supporters can also purchase print-at-home theme park tickets at a discounted rate of $45 plus tax, a $48 savings off the price of an adult ticket purchased at the gate. This offer will only be available online through Autism Speaks from April 1 through May 31, 2017.

The resort will also be holding a few special events in honor of National Autism Awareness Month, including a hands-on building opportunity for kids during the Autism Speaks Walk at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, April 22. There will also be one held in Altamonte Springs on Saturday, November 11, during the Autism Speaks Walk at Cranes Roost Park.

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Disney just released a new video giving us some new behind the scenes footage from the upcoming Star Wars Land expansion coming to both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Disney also released some minor new details about the area where Star Wars Land will take place. When guests enter Star Wars Land, they will be visiting a destination located somewhere on the Outer Rim. Once inside, guests will find themselves in a remote village, which is described as “a busy crossroads along the old sub-lightspeed trade routes.” The village has now become a thing of the past now that hyperspace travel has been invented. This in return has encouraged the area to be inhabited by those who prefer to remain under the radar, such as smugglers, rogue traders and adventurers.

We already know that Star Wars Land will feature two attractions, one where guests will take control of the Millennium Falcon. Disney mentioned today during the panel at Star Wars Celebration that guests will have to make choices on the attraction, and those choices determine several factors during the ride, and even after the fact when they leave the attraction and are wondering around the area. Another attraction coming to Star Wars Land will place guests in the middle of an epic battle between The First Order and the Resistance.

Disney also announced at Star Wars Celebration today that the planet Crait from Star Wars Episode VIII, also known as “The Last Jedi,” will be coming to Star Tours: The Adventure Continues at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney mentioned that more details about Star Wars Land will be revealed at D23 Expo in July.

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The first show that Walt Disney World ever used projection mapping technology for was in 2010, when Magic Kingdom kicked off “The Magic, The Memories, & You.” This featured actual guest-submitted photos that were then projected onto Cinderella Castle for all to view. Other usages since then have included “Celebrate the Magic” at Magic Kingdom in 2012 and on Epcot’s Spaceship Earth in 2013 (when they turned it into a giant Mike Wazowski) and 2016 (making it into a giant Death Star).

Other parks around the world, including Universal Orlando, have been toying around with projection mapping. Universal will be featuring projection mapping on their newly-announced Wizarding World Christmas show which starts later this year. Projection mapping was also used in the grand opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade back in 2010, which included projecting Dementors on the side of the mountains below Hogwarts Castle. And perhaps one of the best venues to use projection mapping is during Halloween Horror Nights. Guests could watch on as buildings “crumbled” to the ground inside the Survive or Die Apocalypse scare zone during Halloween Horror Nights 26 last year. And of course, one of the very first time Universal Orlando utilized projections was in its “Cinesphere Spectacular” show, which made its debut back in 2006, which was eventually replaced with Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular.

There are endless possibilities with projection mapping technology and how theme parks utilize it. With Star Wars Land coming in a few years, there’s no telling how Disney could incorporate projection mapping into that area. Not to mention the massive expansion that is Pandora – The World of AVATAR opening in May. And with Universal now on board with Nintendo, surely we will see projection mapping used to bring the world of Mario to life at the theme parks, such as this newly discovered patent that could work with projection mapping technology to possibly bring a Mario Kart attraction to life.

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You may not know much about the venue; not only is it closed off to the public, its entrance is secret – in fact, you’ve probably walked past it at Disneyland Park several times without even knowing it. Located in the heart of the New Orleans Square land, the venue was overseen by Walt Disney himself and features a legendary restaurant, Le Salon Nouveau.

The original Club 33 has spawned a whole host of spin-off locations:  1901, a lounge located at Disney California Adventure, and the similarly-named Club 33 in Tokyo and Shanghai Disneylands.

Details will be released later this year on where the mythical venue will be located at Disney World, with talk that there might even be one at each of the resort’s four theme parks. The basic message you receive when reaching out to the Club 33 email address is this automated response: “Thank you for your interest in Club 33 coming soon to the Walt Disney World Resort. We’re busy finalizing plans on this exciting new opportunity and look forward to sharing more information later this year.”

Some of the other perks of Club 33 at Disneyland include complimentary valet parking at the Disneyland Resort hotels and access to a variety of private events held on-site. Will some of these perks cross over to Walt Disney World? We’ll find out later this year. Disneyland also gave Club 33 a facelift back in 2014, and several Disney fans were not happy with the makeover. One of the biggest changes that fans were not happy with was the exterior and entrance of the venue was made a lot more visible to guests walking by, whereas the club was fairly hidden to the naked eye as we mentioned earlier. It will be interesting to see how Walt Disney World’s version of Club 33 is integrated into its parks, whether it will be hidden from regular day guests or be placed out in the open for guests to notice.

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Walt Disney World announces the performers for this years event, which happens on September 8-9. Here are the performers scheduled for this year:

• Friday, Sept. 8 – MercyMe, TobyMac, Natalie Grant, Danny Gokey, Matt Maher, Colton Dixon, Rend Collective, Zach Williams.
• Saturday, Sept. 9 – Amy Grant, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Franklin, Jordan Feliz, Crowder, Jeremy Camp, Tye Tribbett.

It was also announced that Matthew West will be the host of the event this year, which will be in its 35th year. Night of Joy originally was held at the Magic Kingdom until 2008 when it was eventually moved to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for two years, only to be then moved to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in 2016.

Night of Joy is one of several Christian music festivals held in Central Florida. Universal Orlando holds their annual Rock the Universe event at Universal Studios the same weekend as Disney World holds Night of Joy. SeaWorld Orlando also holds their Praise Wave Christian music concert series at their park, which is usually held in January.

Night of Joy is a separate ticketed event and is not included with your regular Walt Disney World admission. Tickets will go on for Night of Joy in early June.  You can visit the official website here.

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Tron Lightcycle Power Run, one of the most popular attractions at Shanghai Disneyland, may be coming stateside to Walt Disney World, if current rumors and speculations are true. A lot of these rumors began to rear their head when talk of a Tron sequel/reboot featuring Jared Leto started stirring, which is said to be in the very early stages of development. If accurate, this would allow Disney time to design and prepare a Lightcycle Power Run clone for one, or both, of their parks stateside.

For those of you not familiar with the ride, it is a launched motorbike roller coaster where guests board a lightcycle-themed coaster car and are launched into the world of Tron. The attraction opened alongside Shanghai Disneyland in June of 2016 and features both indoor and outdoor sections and a top speed of 60 MPH.

The biggest question is where could Disney build this massive launched roller coaster. There were, originally, several rumors floating around that it would be placed in Epcot, starting with Ellen’s Universe of Energy, which would meet the wrecking ball. But with the newly-refurbished Test Track, which has a very Tron feel to its theming, sitting next-door to Universe of Energy, this would most likely not be a perfect location for the attraction.

Enter Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom. The Speedway attraction and the surrounding area of Tomorrowland are still sitting in 1971 and are in desperate need of some sort of makeover, and a Tron roller coaster would be a fantastic way to kick it off. Even though Disneyland’s Autopia recently received a facelift by its sponsor, Honda, Disney’s Tokyo and Hong Kong resorts have closed their variations of the Speedway, leading us to believe that Magic Kingdom could easily close theirs, as well – not to mention that the brand-new Shanghai Disneyland opened without any sort of Speedway attraction in their Tomorrowland at all. And let’s face it – Tomorrowland Speedway is not the most cost-effective ride to operate (all of those cars need to be fueled on a daily basis). It also sits on a fairly large plot of land, one that could be utilized for a bigger and more “futuristic” ride.

As far as Disneyland is concerned, the only possible location for this attraction would be to remove Star Wars Launch Bay after Star Wars Land opens in 2019 and build it there. There is also the rumor that Tron could come only to Magic Kingdom, with Disneyland getting a completely new ride based on this platform. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is rumored to be just the beginning of a whole land dedicated to Marvel inside Disney’s California Adventure; we could possibly see this technology re-purposed from Tron into something Marvel-themed. With Avengers: Infinity War coming out in 2018, now would be the perfect time to build an attraction based around Captain America and his team.

With things wrapping up on Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and construction kicking into high gear at Star Wars Land at Hollywood Studios, could the next big project be a facelift for Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom? It is also interesting to note that Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary is fast approaching – 2021, to be exact – and surely Walt Disney World has some major plans up their sleeves for this major milestone.

A Tron roller coaster could definitely be one of them.

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The biggest part of the expansion will be a new area themed around Beauty and the Beast. This new area will drop guests in the middle of the village of Belle and will include a new attraction, a restaurant, merchandise locations, and character meet and greets. There will also be a new 1,500-seat theater indoor theater opening inside Fantasyland in for live shows and productions. The attraction coming to the expansion is described as a ride where guests board ““enchanted dishes that dance in rhythm to the film’s music.” Guests will also venture through the Beasts castle during the ride, which leads one to think that the new restaurant coming to the area will not be the incredibly popular Be our Guest restaurant that we have at Walt Disney World. Upon closer examination of some concept artwork, it appears that they will instead be getting an expanded version of Gaston’s Tavern, which would be a flip of what we have in Orlando, which is a small snack stand at the Magic Kingdom. This new expansion will require a few attractions to close at Tokyo Disneyland, including Grand Circuit Raceway and StarJets.

Other additions during this massive investment include a new spinning attraction based on the hit movie Big Hero 6. The attraction will be similar to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at Disney’s California Adventure and a new Minnie Mouse meet and greet location coming to ToonTown.

This expansion is an example of how Oriental Land Company continues to remain independent from the Disney corporate hierarchy. Disney wanted Tokyo Disney Resort to do a clone of Cars Land, for example, and the resort decided to go their own route with this current construction, which is scheduled to be completed in 2020 at a cost of 17 Billion Yen, or $152 million.

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Other amenities at the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat include Sandy’s Castle Restaurant, which features both a breakfast and dinner buffets for guests to enjoy. Breakfast buffet is included with each night’s stay. Connected directly to Sandy’s Castle Restaurant is Sandy’s Beach Bar, which features both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, so both families can enjoy a fun beach-themed beverage. There are also a variety of made-to-order food options available at the bar, including pizza to-go. There’s a gift shop located just inside the entrance of the restaurant area called Palm Tree Traders, which offers a variety of LEGOLAND and LEGO products for guests to purchase. On-site transportation is also provided for guests at LEGOLAND Beach Retreat to and from LEGOLAND Florida theme park. The pool is located just outside of the restaurant and gift shop and features a zero-entry setting and of course, lots of giant LEGO bricks for kids to build with while they swim in the pool. The pool area also features a playground, games, and plenty of room for the parents to relax.

The LEGOLAND Beach Retreat comes just under two years since the LEGOLAND Hotel at LEGOLAND Florida Resort opened its doors, which was back in 2015. The LEGOLAND Beach Retreat offers similar amenities as the hotel but in a much more quiet and relaxing setting for families to enjoy. The area in which Beach Retreat was built on sits just across the road from LEGOLAND Florida Hotel & theme park, on the shores of Lake Dexter.

LEGOLAND Beach Retreat at @LEGOLANDFlorida is officially open! #BrickBeach #builtforkids pic.twitter.com/cAIMCZBACg

— Orlando Informer (@OrlandoInformer) April 7, 2017

Room rates for LEGOLAND Beach Retreat start at $135 per night (plus tax and resort fee) and vary by season, date and availability. There are also packages available, that include both your resort stay and LEGOLAND theme park tickets.

Be sure to check out our full photo gallery from the grand opening of the LEGOLAND Beach Retreat below.

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For the first time ever, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will kick off in August, giving families plenty of time to plan their Halloween vacations. The event kicks off August 25 to be exact, and then runs select dates through November 1 at the Magic Kingdom.

Here are the dates for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2017:

• August 25 and 29
• September 1, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26 and 29
• October 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 29 and 31
• November 1

Walt Disney World has not yet announced pricing or when tickets go on sale, but with dates announced, surely those details are not far behind. Just remember that when tickets do go on sale, to purchase your tickets early, because many event nights sell out.

Remember, due to recent security changes at Walt Disney World, there are new rules and guidelines to follow in regards to costumes. You can read Disney’s costume policy here.

Not to be left out, Disney World also announced dates for the most joyous time of year at the Magic Kingdom, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The event will run on select dates from November 8 through December 22 at the Magic Kingdom.

Here are the dates for 2017 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party:

• November 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 28
• December 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22

Just like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, many dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party do sell out fast, so be sure to get your tickets early, of course, that is when they go on sale.

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With just days to go until Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon officailly opens at Universal Studios Florida, the man himself, Jimmy Fallon, got his very own private tour of his new attraction by none other than Mark Woodbury, President of Universal Creative.

In the video, Fallon and Woodbury tour the replica of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, including the museum areas downstairs that features the history of the Tonight Show hosts, from Carson to Fallon. They then head upstairs for a tour of the upstairs waiting area where Fallon and Woodbury run into Hashtag the Panda and experience a performance by the Ragtime Gals.

Fallon will of course be in Orlando filming his show at Universal Orlando through April 6 to promote the opening of his new ride.

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon officially opens on April 6, 2017 at Universal Studios Florida.

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The Tonight Show kicked off their Orlando shows last night with a video showcasing a familiar scene and car from National Lampoon’s Vacation. Jimmy and his crew, including Steve Higgins, The Roots, and Hashtag the Panda, hoped inside the iconic station wagon from the film and made their way down from New York City to Universal Orlando Resort, only to be turned away by a security guard at the entrance of Universal Studios Florida, just like Chevy Chase is turned away in National Lampoon’s Vacation at Walley World. How did they finally make their way into the park? Let’s just say Hashtag the Panda saved the day.

Celebrity guests featured on last night’s episode included Vin Diesel, Shaquille O’Neal and a musical performance by Pitbull. Other guests throughout the week include Blake Shelton, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Richie, and Jay Leno. Guests who did not get a ticket to the recordings of the shows can attend the musical performances with their regular Universal Orlando admission. Shows start at 8:15PM Monday through Wednesday night at the Music Plaza Stage.

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon has been in technical rehearsals for several weeks now, but officially opens to the public on  April 6, 2017. Orlando Informer will be there live covering the grand opening festivities starting on April 5, 2017.

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Here is what each resort will be offering for guests on Easter Sunday:

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  Easter Ciao! – Trattoria del Porto at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel – Come enjoy a special Easter Sunday brunch in Trattoria del Porto from 10 am – 7 pm. The event will feature family-friendly entertainment that includes Universal Orlando character appearances, live musician, face painter, balloon artist and children’s activities table. Adults $65, Children (ages 3 – 9) $25, under 3 free. For more details, view the entire menu here. Reservations can be made by calling 407.503.DINE (3463)

• Easter Feast Rocks in The Kitchen! – The Kitchen at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando – Head over to The Kitchen restaurant at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando from 10 am – 4 pm to enjoy a special Easter Sunday buffet and fun times for the entire family. Entertainment includes a guest appearance from the Easter Bunny, “kids only” cookie decorating station and more. Adults $49, Children (ages 10 – 14) $24, Children (ages 3 – 9) $16, under 3 free. View the entire menu here. Call 407.503.DINE (3463) for reservations.

• Eggs-otic Easter Brunch – Islands Dining Room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort – Join us Easter Sunday from 11 am – 3 pm for a special holiday buffet in Islands Dining Room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. There’ll be visits from Universal Orlando characters as well as a face painter and balloon artist to entertain the entire family. Adults $56, Children (ages 3 – 9) $24, under 3 free.  Call 407.503.DINE (3463) for reservations. Click here for the full menu.

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  Easter Brunch – Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – Join us Easter Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm for a special holiday buffet in Amatista Cookhouse at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. Entertainment will include visits from Universal Orlando characters as well as a face painter and balloon artist. Adults $56, Children (ages 3 – 9) $24, under 3 free. Call 407.503.DINE (3463) for reservations. Click here for the full menu.

Easter brunch is a great way to visit one of these amazing on-site hotels at Universal Orlando and truly check out what they have to offer.

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Let’s take a look at some of the best hidden Easter Eggs within Universal Orlando’s two parks.

1. That’s no alien…

Men in Black: Alien Attack opened in 2000 at Universal Studios Florida and is an interactive ride where guests blasts their way through the streets of New York battling aliens. But there’s one alien that may catch your eye if you’re paying close attention. Located towards the beginning of the ride right after the “training session” is a scene with a person in a baseball cap reading a newspaper. If you zap him just right, the newspaper lowers revealing, that’s right, Steven Spielberg, who of course, was the executive producer for the film Men in Black. (Side note: If you shoot him, he is worth a lot of points.)

2. BANANA!

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem is a simulator ride that opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2012. It replaced the former Jimmy Neutron: Nicktoons Blast attraction at the park. While the ride itself has some Easter Eggs that we will save for another time, did you know that Universal planted the Minions favorite food outside of the attraction? That’s right. Actual banana trees are located just outside of the entrance of the attraction. Just don’t try and take any of their bananas. We all know how that ends.

3. Michael Bay… ROLL OUT!

Transformers: The Ride 3D opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2012 and features an epic battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Aside from Starscream, another famous jet makes a brief appearance in the ride. During the beginning of the ride when you’re still inside the NEST facility, you can see the tail section of a plane in the distance. That would be Michael Bay’s private jet, which was not harmed in the making of this attraction.

4. The golden ape…

Kongfrontation closed its doors for good in September of 2002 to make way for Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida. But the ape would not die in vain. But Universal did not forget about Kong. Universal Creative actually pays tribute to Kong inside the Revenge of the Mummy ride. When you’re in the treasure room towards the beginning of the ride, pay close attention to the various treasures throughout the room, you might just catch a glimpse of an golden ape statue paying tribute to Kongfrontation.

5. Window treatments…

If you’re heading to Universal Studios Florida to ride the new Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon, you may want to take a few seconds and look up at the Metropolis Tribune windows, which are located above the Virtual queue machines. These windows feature a variety of names of people that have contributed to the development of Universal Studios Florida over the years.

6. Bridge troll

When you’re venturing through the world of Lost Continent at Islands of Adventure, be sure to take a few seconds and visit the troll under the bridge by Mythos. Head down by the water behind Mythos and if you listen carefully, you’ll hear the moans and groans of a troll.

7. Heed these warnings…

While waiting in line for Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida, pay close attention to the walls of the queue line and see if you can decipher some of the hieroglyphics on the wall. Some of them spell out actual words and some of them even warn you of your impending doom.

8. Not an exit…

During one of the final scenes of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure when you’re plummeting back down towards the ground after Doc hits you with his ray gun, pay close attention to the manhole cover that you come close to smashing into. It has a little message for you.

9. Spot the signature…

As you venture through Marvel Superhero Island at Islands of Adventure, pay close attention to the giant superhero murals that are located throughout the area, and see if you can spot Adam Kubert’s signature. Adam is the artist behind the giant murals located throughout the area.

10. He who shall not be named…

When venturing back to London from Hogsmeade aboard the Hogwarts Express, pay close attention to the lightning strike near Malfoy Manor. You may just catch a quick glimpse of “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named”. This only happens going from Hogsmeade to London and not London to Hogsmeade.

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These are just a few of the many Easter Eggs located throughout Universal Orlando’s two amazing theme parks. Do you have any favorite Easter Eggs located at Universal Orlando? Let us know what they are on Facebook and Twitter!

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Another new features happens right when you open the app. The first thing you will now see after opening the app will be park maps, which will allow you to navigate all four Walt Disney World parks with ease. There is also a new area called “Spotlight.” This new area highlights entertainment and other various experiences throughout the park for you to enjoy.

The next big thing to come to the My Disney Experience app will be mobile ordering, in particular for Pandora – The World of AVATAR when it opens in May. As was previously announced, Pandora’s Satu’li Canteen will feature mobile ordering where guests can order via the My Disney Experience app and pick it up a short time later.

No major changes were made in regards to your MagicBand and the My Disney Experience app, which both still work together. There should be an update out in your respective app store for the new My Disney Experience app updat.

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Disney announced this new device today that will help people get familiar with the language of the Na’vi. The device will come with 15 translation cards. Guests can then purchase more cards to learn even more about the Na’vi language. There will be a variety of trading card packages for sale, each representing different cards, such as Nouns (Blue) and Adjectives (Purple). There will also be more hard to find cards, such as Animals (Orange), Phrases (Aqua), and Landscapes (Tan). There will also be really hard to find cards, which include Plants (Green) and Gear (Yellow).

Merchandise product developer Cody Hampton teamed up with Lightstorm Entertainment and Dr. Paul Frommer, who is the creator of the Na’vi language, to obtain audio clips for the Na’vi Translator Device.

The Na’vi Translator will be available for purchase inside Windtraders when Pandora – The World of AVATAR opens later this summer.

Until next time, “kìyevame.”

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxJH7oOiACs

Some of the highlights from season 2 will include Dr. Arden’s  human “Rasper” experiments and an encounter with serial killer, Bloody Face. Guests will encounter New Orleans aesthetics, including Salem witches, the voodoo Queen of New Orleans Marie Laveau, and the sadistic Madame Delphine LaLaurie, in the “Coven” season area of the haunted house. And finally, guests will have an up-close and personal encounter with the Millers story in the “Roanoke” season area of the haunted house, which will feature Piggy, the Polk family and the ghosts of the blood moon.

“We are thrilled to bring the incredible storytelling and iconic characters of ‘American Horror Story’ back to Halloween Horror Nights for a second year,” said Michael Aiello, Sr. Director of Entertainment Creative for Universal Orlando Resort. “Last year, ‘American Horror Story’ was the highest guest-rated haunted house in Halloween Horror Nights history – and we can’t wait to immerse our guests in all-new horrors from the show.”

It was also announced that this will be the largest maze at HHN 27 this year, A.K.A. the “uber-maze.”

Halloween Horror Nights 27 will run for a record-breaking 34 select nights from September 15 to November 4. For all of the latest news, photos and more from HHN 27, be sure to check out our HHN guide.

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A few bag checkpoints and metal detectors will remain at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom for guests arriving via bus or other transportation methods other than the Ticket & Transportation center. This will hopefully allow for smoother flow of traffic once guests arrive at the park, the Magic Kingdom security checkpoints located at the entrance of the park have always been a bottleneck during peak times.

If you’re staying at a hotel located on the monorail route, such as the Polynesian Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort, or the Contemporary Resort, you will have your bags checked at the hotel before getting to the park.

All of these changes go into effect on April 3, 2017.

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According to the Disney Parks Blog, the new show will feature segments from “Moana,” “Brave,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia,” “The Princess & The Frog,” “Aladdin” and more. The show will make its debut at Magic Kingdom on May 12, 2017.

The new song featured in “Happily Ever After” is performed by country music artist Angie Keilhauer and singer Jordan Fisher, who is featured on the “Moana” soundtrack.

“Wishes” made its debut in 2003, which was the replacement for the “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom, which made its debut in 1971.

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The show will take place after the daily performances of the “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage” show at Hollywood Studios. The show will feature a variety of Pixar characters that will make appearances, including Woody, Jessie, Mike and Sulley, the Incredibles and more.

Disney World did not announce a start date other than “this summer,” so we will have to wait and see what the official start date is. The event is also quoted as “limited-time” on the Disney Parks Blog, so this does not appear to be a permanent addition to the park.

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Every corner at Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley is filled with the wondrous score from all of the Harry Potter films, but which ones really stand out? Let’s break down some of the most “ear-catching” tunes found within the Wizarding World. The next time you’re in one of these incredible areas, be sure to take a few seconds to just listen to the music, because it truly does make the experience that much more memorable.

5. Potter Waltz – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

This tune surely makes you want to break out your dancing footwear. This iconic song is featured on the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire soundtrack and is scored by composer Patrick Doyle. The tune is featured in the scene where the Triwizard Champions dance with their partners in a lavish Yule Ball. It can be heard in various locations in Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure, including the Dragon Challenge queue (an attraction which takes its very premise from the same movie). The Yule Ball is also probably the most memorable of the winter-themed scenes in the Harry Potter film series, including the scene where Filch is dancing with his cat, Mrs. Norris. Another notable duo dancing is of course, Albus Dumbledore & Minerva McGonagall.

4. Fireworks – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

If Fred and George Weasley had a theme song, this would be it. Composed by Nicholas Hooper, this catchy and upbeat tune is featured in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix scene where they surprise the Great Hall with a festive show of fireworks and typical Weasley craziness, teaching a lesson to Professor Umbridge in the process.

This song can be found in a variety of areas within Diagon Alley, including The Leaky Cauldron, which has a little bit of a guitar flare to it. It can also be heard on the Hogwarts Express when you are traveling from Hogsmeade to London, when the Weasley twins make their appearance on their brooms in front of Hogwarts Castle.

3. Rita Skeeter – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Ah, Rita Skeeter – everyone’s favorite Daily Prophet reporter. The scene that probably jumps immediately to mind when hearing the infamous character’s theme is when, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Rita pulls Harry into a broom cupboard for an interview that turns out disastrously. This whimsical song fits in perfectly with the surrounding areas, almost creating an atmosphere of curiosity as you venture into the world of Diagon Alley.

You can hear this catchy tune walking around the London waterfront as well.

2. Professor Umbridge – Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix

Professor Umbridge, everyone’s favorite least-favorite character (next to He Who Shall Not Be Named, of course) had her own catchy theme in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This song would surely spell trouble if it were played throughout Hogwarts Castle, just like it is in the movie when she makes her way around Hogwarts Castle enforcing her new rules and policies on the student body. It is a catchy piece of music that will most likely catch your ears before any other track played inside The Wizarding World. It can be found playing within Diagon Alley and The Leaky Cauldron. This song is played much more than any of the other song’s within The Wizarding World, but not quite as much as our number one pick.

1. Hedwig’s Theme

Talk about saving the best for last. You cannot walk into a Wizarding World section without this song from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. This is the music that, when you hear it, you know you’re in the land of the Boy Wizard. The minute you hear those first few notes by world-famous composer John Williams, it gives you instant goosebumps. There are literally too many sections to list where you can hear this iconic theme song being played within the Wizarding World, but know that you cannot miss it.

However, don’t get this song mixed up with the “Epilogue – 19 Years Later” track from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 soundtrack. That song has bits and pieces of “Hedwig’s theme” in it, even though it was written by Alexandre Desplat instead of Williams. That track can be heard before boarding the Hogwarts Express in both Hogsmeade and London.

Another rendition of the “Hedwig’s theme” is “Harry’s Wondrous World,” which is also from Sorcerer’s Stone and also is composed by John Williams. This tune has a similar beginning to it as “Hedwig’s Theme” but changes its mood about a minute or so into it. This is another song that can also be found within a variety of areas in the Wizarding World, including Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and London.

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A How to Train Your Dragon theme park area already exists at Heide Park in Germany, but the area consists only of a few flat rides and a moderately-themed water ride. Surely, Universal could expand on this idea and make a truly immersive experience for fans of the franchise – and, just as with Harry Potter, even non-fans – to enjoy.

But how? Let’s take a look at three different ways Universal could introduce DreamWorks’ biggest hit into their theme parks.

1. Roller coaster

This is probably the most obvious and easiest choice for a How to Train Your Dragon attraction. Who wouldn’t love to experience the sensation of flying on the back of Night Fury?

Even with The Incredible Hulk Coaster and – for now – Dragon Challenge, there’s still room for Universal to build a family-style coaster, which would be a lot more suitable for the age demographic that this film draws in. Ride designer and manufacturer Intamin, who Universal has worked with a lot lately, makes a family launched coaster, which is currently the base for the new Wave Breaker: The Rescue Coaster coming to SeaWorld San Antonio later this year. This would be a great platform for Universal to build a moderate thrill ride based within the world of How to Train Your Dragon, especially with the capability of providing the sensation of riding on the back of a dragon.

The resort could also go the spinning family roller coaster route and build something similar to Cobra’s Curse, which opened last year at Busch Gardens Tampa.

If Universal went for a more extreme roller coaster, they could got for a B&M wing coaster – something which the Orlando area doesn’t yet have. The roller coaster cars feature riders on each side of the track with nothing above or below them. Imagine swooping through the village of Berk, much like the Flight of Demons roller coaster at Heide Park (which can be seen above) – it’d be amazing!

The one drawback to this scenario? Universal Orlando already has Dragon Challenge, and with the rumor of it closing in the near future, I don’t think the company would want to go and add another dragon-themed roller coaster to its parks immediately afterwards.

2. Simulator

Another, much simpler way to put guests in the middle of Berk would be a simulator. In fact, given the demographic of How to Train Your Dragon, a simulator of some sort may be the best route for Universal to take with the series. Universal is no stranger with simulators, and they tend to make each one progressively bigger and better; just look at The Simpsons Ride, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, and, now, Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The next step for Universal to take in the simulator department may be something on an even larger scale, maybe along the lines of the new Flight of Passage attraction coming to Pandora – The World of Avatar over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Described as a simulator where you are flying on the back of a Banshee, a creature found within the world of Pandora, Universal could take this idea and really run with it.

And then there’s the company they are already very familiar with, Dynamic Attractions, who has a great “flying theater” attraction (seen in the video above) that would work perfectly for a ride like this. It would allow guests to participate in a dragon-training class, much like Hiccup does in the first How to Train Your Dragon film. You then board your dragon and are taken for a ride throughout popular landscapes from the movies.

3. Dark ride

This is a biggie. Universal has been on a roll lately with dark rides, from The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man back in 1999 to the more recent technological wonder that is Skull Island: Reign of Kong. The company sure has a knack for groundbreaking dark rides.

Universal could go the dark ride route by using one of their few remaining original attractions, E.T. Adventure, as the basis; How to Train Your Dragon, being the family-friendly franchise that it is, does not need a crazy, high-speed thrill ride to wow its audiences. E.T. Adventure still, to this day, is one of the most engaging dark rides out there, and the intimacy that it provides its riders would be a huge benefit for Dragon. Now, it is almost 30-years-old, so some updating will, of course, have to be done, but the suspended ride vehicles would definitely be the way to go.

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Here is a description of the show via press release:

The night show in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will use magnificent projection mapping to bring the magic and wonder of Harry Potter to life in a way never before seen at Universal Studios Japan. The immersive show, that will leave fans in awe, unfolds above the Black Lake with Hogwarts castle serving as the backdrop and focal point. The incredible technology will brilliantly light up the night sky as Dementors fly ominously along the castle.

Could this be the same rumored projection show we are supposedly getting here in Orlando? It sure seems that way. Several changes and developments have happened over the last several months to make us believe that Universal Orlando and possibly even Hollywood are gearing up for some sort of projection show. One of the most noticeable is that several trees have been replaced in front of Hogwarts Castle at Universal Orlando, providing for a much better view of the rockwork on the side of the castle, providing a much better viewing area on the bridge between Jurassic Park and Hogsmeade. Also, Universal Parks announced a partnership with Christie Digital Systems, who will be the preferred projector provider for the parks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC1BG5Nd7ts

The show officially kicks off at Universal Studios Japan on April 21, 2017 and runs until November 5, 2017.

Universal Studios Japan also announced new Interactive Wand locations for guests to enjoy throughout Hogsmeade.

These announcements come just weeks after NBComcast announced that they are purchasing the remaining 49 percent ownership of Universal Studios Japan. Universal Studios Japan will also be among the first Universal theme parks to get a Nintendo themed area, which is scheduled to open in 2020, just in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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BB-8 beeps and boops as he interacts with guests, just like the real BB-8 in Star Wars: The Force Awakens . He is fully articulated as well, moving his head and body. The video was shared by Chris Iannuzzi, who is also known as the “Puppet Master” at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Creative Entertainment.

Could this new BB-8 meet and greet at Hong Kong Disneyland be just the beginning of Disney introducing more “intelligent” droids in their parks? In particular the new Star Wars expansions opening at Walt Disney World & Disneyland in 2019, which is rumored to have autonomous droids that will move freely throughout the area.

BB-8 will have his meet and greet debut stateside at Disney’s Hollywood Studios next month inside Star Wars Launch Bay, where he will join Kylo Ren and Chewbacca. He’s also made appearances at the “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away” show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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SeaWorld Orlando announced today that their new Seven Seas Food Festival is so popular that they’ve moved it from Saturday’s only to daily operation through April 16 to accommodate spring break crowds.

Seven Seas Food Festival features over 60 unique dishes from 11 global marketplaces throughout the park. In addition to this, there are a number of wines, specialty cocktails, and over 55 local and international craft brews. Featured dishes include Banana Foster Cheesecake Cones, Cheese Grits & Shrimp Casserole, Skewered & Grilled Corn on the Cob, and more.

The event still features a concert every Saturday. Some of the acts remaining for the event this year include ZZ Top, Village People and more. For the full concert list and a highlight video of the event, click here.

SeaWorld Orlando also announced that world-renowned animal expert “Jungle Jack” Hanna will be appearing at the Seven Seas Food Festival on April 1st and 2nd. Throughout the weekend, the park will have several opportunities for guests to personally interact with Jack Hanna, including meet-and-greets, autograph signings, and exclusive dining packages.

Guests can purchase reserved seating in advance by clicking here.

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A new clothing line is coming to Disney Springs that will feature dresses and accessories inspired by Disney nostalgia. Called ‘The Dress Shop’, this new line will feature a variety of dresses featuring iconic Disney characters, attractions and more, including the Tower of Terror and the Orange Bird. There will also be a variety of accessories, including handbags resembling an apple, the White Rabbit, and a Hollywood Tower Hotel suitcase.

You’ll be able to view the entire collection when the Dress Shop on Cherry Tree Lane opens inside the accessories boutique at the Marketplace Co-Op in Disney Springs on March 31. There will also be a variety of special events planned for that weekend as well, including a trunk show of vintage-inspired apparel.

If you’re over on the west coast, you will also be able to purchase select merchandise inside Vault 28 in Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort, and beginning in mid-April, a limited time offering inside the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

No details were announced if any of this merchandise will be available online via the Shop Disney Parks app or Disney Parks online.

For the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions, be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Some new teams created for this year include the Electrical Water Pageant Sea Serpents and the Carousel of Progress Rovers. Some of the returning popular teams include last year’s champion, the Hollywood Tower Hotel Bellhops and the popular Future World Phoenicians.

You can download a high-resolution drawing of the bracket over on the Disney Parks Blog to keep track of your favorite teams. Voting will take place from March 14 to April 3 via the official Walt Disney World Facebook page, which can be found here.

T-shirts and posters featuring the March Magic 2017 teams will be available for purchase at DisneyStore.com from March 14 to April 4, 2017.

Which team are you voting for? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

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The new family raft ride, Miss Adventure Falls, is now open at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Walt Disney World has shared a new video showing off the new slide, including some on-ride footage of the ride.

In this new attraction, guests follow along with Captain Mary Oceaneer and her ocean treasures she’s discovered over the years. The story goes that Mary got stranded at Typhoon Lagoon after a severe storm, and now guests can venture down this new family water slide and view her various treasures that she has collected during her travels.

Miss Adventure Falls is located next to the Crush ‘N’ Gusher water slide in the park. This is the first addition to Typhoon Lagoon in over 10 years. The last slide that was added to the park was the Crush ‘N’ Gusher slide in 2005.

for the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions, be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Disney released new footage and details from inside Pandora – The World of Avatar on various ABC shows throughout the day. The first segment featured GMA reporter Paula Faris taking viewers for a walk around Pandora with Avatar film Producer Jon Landau. The video gave us our first look at the all-new Flight of Passage attraction, including the goggles guests will wear on the ride and a clip of the interactive queue. The video also features a look at the huge assortment of flowers and plants that guests will discover throughout Pandora, some which are real, and some are not. We also got a look at the Na’vi blueberry cheesecake and a few of the drinks available within Pandora – The World of Avatar.

It’s also mentioned in the video that Pandora – The World of Avatar, while mainly it focuses on the original Avatar film, there are hints throughout the land of the upcoming Avatar sequels.

WATCH: INSIDE LOOK: @VisitPandora the world of Avatar only at @WaltDisneyWorld! #VisitPandora @DisneyParks @OfficialAvatar pic.twitter.com/uFqamUfuLa

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 9, 2017

ABC’s The View  later showed another preview from inside Pandora – The World of Avatar featuring Avatar creator James Cameron and The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg walking around The Valley of Mo’ara section of Pandora. The video also features never-before-seen footage of the boat ride coming to Pandora – The World of Avatar, the Na’vi River Journey. James Cameron and Whoopi also discuss where Pandora – The World of Avatar takes place in the Avatar timeline.

“There’s Avatar’ the first movie, then there are the four sequels that we’re working on next, and then a whole generation after that when all the conflict, all the struggle, all the warfare between the Na’vi and the humans is over,” Cameron said. He also mentions that some of the ideas of Avatar came from his dreams when he was a just a teenager.

Cameron also discusses just how amazing Pandora – The World of Avatar will look at night once all of the bioluminescent plants come to life. ”This whole land will light up at night,” Cameron mentions. “I actually think, in a way, it’s more magical by night.”

We’re ready for sweet treats from #VisitPandora! Get a sneak peek @WaltDisneyWorld‘s @visitpandora and see even more tonight on @Nightline! pic.twitter.com/DltwE9WBpH

— The Chew (@thechew) March 9, 2017

The Chew sampled the Lumpia snack from the Pongu Pongu snack stand inside Pandora – The World of Avatar. The snack is described as a crispy pineapple-cream cheese spring roll. The Chew co-host Clinton Kelly described it as “pineapple cream pie in an egg roll.” The snack is Chinese of origin and is a popular snack in Indonesia and the Philippines. They are traditionally filled with vegetables and meats, but Disney has taken taken that concept and turned it a sweet treat for Pandora – The World of Avatar.

Nightline also aired a segment on Pandora – The World of Avatar later tonight on their show that will feature an in-depth look at the stories of the land. The clip features a close-up look at the seats for the Flight of Passage attraction. Check out the full clip above if you missed it.

Pandora – The World of Avatar opens May 27, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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The event will run for one night on April 14, which for those of you taking notes, is also the same weekend as the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando. During the event, guests will be able to enjoy a variety of Star Wars themed activities, including being among the first to meet BB-8 at the park. Vanessa Marshall, the voice of Hera Syndulla from Star Wars Rebels will be the host of “Inside the Saga: Celebrity Chat Show” inside the Epic Theater during the event and will take you inside the latest Star Wars film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Other activities include:

• Rebel Base Activities – This area will be located in the center of the park, most likely in front of the Chinese Theater and will host a variety of events, including Star Wars dance parties.
• Star Wars photo ops: Guests will have the opportunity to take photos with their favorite Star Wars characters, including Han Solo cast in carbonite, Jabba the Hutt’s Palace, the Hoth Wampa Cave and more.
• Galactic Nights Stars in Cars Motorcade: Celebrity guests during Star Wars: Galactic Nights will be paraded down Hollywood BLVD.
• Imperial March & March of the First Order: Darth Vader leads a group of Stormtroopers down Hollywood BLVD. to the center stage. Captain Phasma will also lead a group of First Order Stormtroopers down Hollywood BLVD.
• “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away”: This show features live actors on stage depicting scenes from various Star Wars films.
• “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular”: The Star Wars themed fireworks spectacular featuring your favorite stars and sounds from the Star Wars films, including the famous Star Wars soundtrack.

Other activities that are open to guests during this event include Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Tours-The Adventures Continue and random Star Wars character sightings throughout the park, including the new AWR Trooper from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The event runs from 7 PM – midnight at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and ticket prices are $129 plus tax for adults and $124 plus tax for children ages 9 and under. Tickets are available online here.

And, as always, for the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions, be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Disney World announced today that ABC will be revealing more details about the upcoming Pandora – The World of Avatar expansion at Animal Kingdom throughout the day on March 9.

“Good Morning America” will feature a sneak peek at the all new expansion including a first-ever look at Flight of Passage, the new attraction within Pandora – The World of Avatar. After that, the show “The View” will feature a segment featuring Avatar creator James Cameron and show host Whoopi Goldberg walking through the world of Pandora, including a preview of the Na’vi River Journey, the other attraction within Pandora – The World of Avatar. Also be sure to watch “The Chew” for a preview of the Lumpia, a snack food found on the world of Pandora. The evening show “Nightline” will feature another segment on Pandora – The World of Avatar, which guessing with a name like Nightline, we may see Pandora at night during this segment.

So be sure to set your DVR for a whole lot of Pandora goodness tomorrow, March 9 on ABC.

Pandora – The World of Avatar officially opens on May 27, 2017.

And, as always, for the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions, be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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According to Disney Research, the new technology will allow structures such as cabinets, rooms, and warehouses to generate quasistatic magnetic fields that will then in return, provide power to devices within the area of the field. Disney mentions that after analysis, up to 1900 watts can be transmitted to a coil receiver, allowing for wireless charging while standing in a room, unlike traditional wireless charging, which requires you to place your smartphone on some sort of stand or platform to charge wirelessly.

With the latest rumors about the latest iPhone mentioning that Apple may finally introduce wireless charging, this technology would be a great way for Disney (in the future) to eliminate “charging stations” found throughout Disney parks, one of which is the incredibly popular “Tangled Toilets” area at the Magic Kingdom. A lot of the time these areas have broken USB chargers anyways, making it nearly impossible to charge your phone.

Surely we won’t see this technology anytime soon within Disney parks or resorts due to it still being in the research stage and the fact that smartphones will most likely have to be equipped to handle this sort of charging, but it is exciting to see the future of wireless charging may involve us not having to place our phones on some sort of mat or surface, but simply have it in our hand.

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One of the biggest interactive activities that Universal has going on right now are the special Harry Potter wands that you can purchase, which allow you to interact with certain elements throughout Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. Universal also has the TapuTapu wearable arriving with Volcano Bay, which is going to interact with certain elements inside the new water park. Could we see that same technology work with the Switch and the upcoming Nintendo expansions coming to the parks? It is a strong possibility.

How does the Nintendo Switch work?

The Nintendo Switch controller is broken down into two main parts: the main screen and the Joy-Con controllers, which are the brains behind the Switch.

The Joy-Con controllers feature several sensors at the bottom of the controller that can sense your movement. Each Joy-Con also has a camera, accelerometer, and gyro-sensor, which makes independent left and right motion control possible. And, of course, the Joy-Con features a rumble technology, allowing for vibration.

How will this fit into theme parks?

With all of the technology packed into the Switch console, the possibilities of some sort of integration into the Nintendo areas coming to Universal theme parks is not only possible, it’s almost a no-brainer. Nintendo is focusing heavily on massive co-op with the Switch, and with that could come some really neat stuff in Super Nintendo World. Imagine heading to Universal with your Switch and competing with random tourists or your friends in the park. Universal and Nintendo could even team up and offer “in-park” exclusive items to Switch players at Universal. The Nintendo Switch is literally the perfect system for this, as it is designed as a console that you can play anywhere at anytime.

Another great thing about the Switch is that you will be able to leave it in your backpack or bag and just use the Joy-Con controllers to participate in activities that are not as involved as competing with people on your Switch console. This would be great for some interactive elements throughout Nintendo Land, such as the wand elements in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The only downside to this is the poor battery life of the system, which is said to be around two-and-a-half to six hours, depending on the game. But, hey – maybe Universal will integrate Switch charging stations into their Nintendo areas… right?

Do video game consoles have a future in theme parks?

Nintendo has lost a lot of ground in the gaming industry over the years to the big boys, Sony and Microsoft. The Switch is their attempt to find a niche that they can once again thrive in, which is that area between hardcore and casual gamer. Nintendo tested these waters with the release of the insanely popular Pokemon GO app, which was a great way for theme-park-goers to participate in a “virtual” world.

The other thing is price point. It’s rather easy to walk into a Universal theme park and purchase a couple of $50 interactive Harry Potter wands; a $300 console is a different story. That’s still not to say that Nintendo and Universal won’t collaborate and come up with some creative and interactive elements within these areas utilizing the Switch or any other Nintendo console or game – it may just not be on the level of what we want it to be (such as more on the software side rather than the hardware).  It will also most likely be the local crowd,  a.k.a. annual passholders, utilizing the Switch console in parks rather than tourists traveling from out of the state or country.

I highly recommend you take a look at an article written by fellow OI contributor Marc Kleinhenz, where he goes in-depth with a few Pokemon GO attractions we would like to see at Universal. Also, special shoutout to my good friend Russell Holly (@russellholly on Twitter) for some helpful information and insight on the Nintendo Switch platform.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhGzRFC4iJE

Satu’li Canteen

Satu’li Canteen will be the healthy eating option inside Pandora – The World of AVATAR. The venue will feature internationally-inspired cuisine, vegetarian options and specialty libations.

Here is a description of Satu’li Canteen via the official Walt Disney World website:

Owned and operated by Alpha Centauri Expeditions (ACE), Satu’li Canteen supplies travelers all the comforts of home—courtesy of a unique, fast-casual menu that’s been crafted from Pandora’s natural abundance.

Here are some of the food items you will be able to purchase at Satu’li Canteen:

Pongu Pongu

Pongu Pongu, which means “Party Party” in the language of the Na’vi, will be a beverage stand within Pandora – The World of AVATAR, and will feature a variety of cool refreshments, including beer, beverages and sweets. The stand will be located near the Windtraders gift shop within Pandora – The World of AVATAR.

Here is a description of Pongu Pongu via the official Walt Disney World website:

Meaning “Party Party” in the language of the Na’vi, Pongu Pongu welcomes weary travelers to try our bioluminescent frozen cocktail, indigenous beers—or even a sweet snack you won’t find elsewhere!

Pandora – The World of Avatar officially opens on May 27, 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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Attendees will be able to sample authentic Caribbean cuisine and participate in song and dance native to the Caribbean Islands, all at at Cayman Court at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando. There will also be limbo and of course, a conga line for guests to participate in.

Tickets for the event are $69 for adults and $35 for children ages 3-9. There is also a priority ticket option, which gets you closer to the action with seating in the first two rows of tables nearest the stage. Those tickets are  $76 for adults and $40 for children ages 3-9.

Dinner begins at 6 with the festivities kicking off 7 PM and running until 7:45. Event comes with complimentary self parking or $5 valet parking. The event runs select dates April 5 – July 5.

For more details and ticket information, visit the official website here.

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“We are incredibly proud of the success that La Nouba has had for nearly two decades,” said Jerry Nadal, Senior Vice President of the Resident Shows Division for Cirque du Soleil. “We want to thank Walt Disney World Resort for a wonderful relationship over the years. We look forward to announcing what’s next for Cirque du Soleil.”

Disney mentions that the park will have details about what is replacing La Nouba soon.

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