Here’s the Orlando theme-park news you need for the week of February 20.
1. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser
The star of the show this week was the first insider look at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser; the newest, most immersive, and most expensive experience at Walt Disney World Resort. Staying aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a two-night experience that offers complete and total commitment to bringing guests into the Star Wars universe. Original characters, lightsaber battles, and unique food items are all included in this first-of-a-kind experience. The photos are nothing short of amazing, but beg the question – is it worth all the hype? Only time will tell!
In the meantime, check out the photos and details here.
2. Festival of Fantasy Showtimes
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the beloved Festival of Fantasy parade will return on March 9, and this week, showtimes were released in the MyDisneyExperience app! The parade will run daily at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm and will feature characters from beloved films such as Tangled, Peter Pan, The Princess and the Frog, and others. The star of the parade is the Maleficent Dragon, a float that breathes fire nearly 30 feet in the air and takes on the parade route despite being 35 feet long.
The Festival of Fantasy runs at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
3. International Flower & Garden Festival Updates
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival kicks off on March 2 and runs through July 4. Through this festival, guests can experience beautiful topiaries, unique food items, and exclusive merchandise. This week, the full menu was released for the first time, and adorable merchandise was also revealed. The Garden Graze scavenger hunt is also set to return, taking visitors on a tasty tour around the World Showcase.
Check out the details, including menu items, in our article here and a sneak peek at the merchandise here.
4. Seven Seas Food Festival Celebrates Mardi Gras
SeaWorld Orlando is known for having festivals almost year-round. One of the biggest festivals of the year is the Seven Seas Food Festival. This event is included with park admission, and takes place on Thursdays through Sundays between February 4 and May 8, 2022. This week, Mardi Gras is taking place at the festival and includes special features such as a pop-up parade in Wild Arctic Plaza, live Cajun and jazz music, a Bourbon-street inspired block party, and a number of Gulf Coast inspired food selections!
Check out our guide page here for everything you need to know about experiencing the 2022 Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando.
5. Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort
Speaking of Mardi Gras, the party is still going strong at Universal Studios Florida, but as we head into March (how did that happen already?), the countdown to the end of the festivities is unfortunately already upon us. The Mardi Gras festivities include a stellar parade, live concerts, and good food in addition to the unique experience of the Mardi Gras Tribute Store and the newly popped-up Universal Monsters: A Tribute to the Creatures of the Night store built into Sahara Traders while Revenge of the Mummy is down for maintenance.
Here’s everything you need to know about Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort.
That’s it for this week’s news! See you at the parks.
