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Excited guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel). Some of the first guests at Universal’s Epic Universe line up at the ticket kiosks shortly before the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)The Universal’s Epic Universe sign at the main entrance portal on Thursday, May 22, 2025, pictured on the grand opening day of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Excited guests at Universal's Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Excited guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Some of the first guests at Universal Epic Universe line up at the ticket kiosks shortly before 6:30 a.m. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Excited guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Excited guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Excited guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Show Caption1 of 12Excited guests at Universal’s Epic Universe on Thursday, May 22, 2025, quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel). Expand View the full article

Between packing, planning, and keeping the whole crew smiling, organizing a family vacation can become a bit of a juggling act – especially with your little ones top of mind. But did you know that vacationing with Disney Vacation Club (DVC) can relieve some stress and enhance your vacation? Here are 4 ways DVC helps make your next Disney vacation a breeze: 1. Stretch Out in Spacious Villas Ditch the traditional hotel room for something a bit roomier. Each DVC resort offers a variety of studio and villa accommodations designed to make you feel at “home” during your Disney vacation. No matter if you’re planning a cozy getaway for a family of three or a family reunion with a dozen loved ones, DVC villas are thoughtfully designed to comfortably accommodate travel groups of all sizes. From deluxe studios to multi-bedroom grand villas, there’s room for everyone to relax and recharge. All DVC villas (one-bedroom and larger) feature just-like-home amenities, many with multiple separate bedrooms, bathrooms, a living space, a dining space, a washer and dryer unit and a fully equipped kitchen. And having a kitchen on vacation is more than just a late-night snack station or a place to flip pancakes before a day in the parks — it can be a budget-saving superpower. It’s can also be a simple way to create meaningful memories together whether you are baking cookies or gathering the family for a home-cooked meal. Many DVC resorts offer one-of-a-kind accommodations you won’t find anywhere else, transforming your vacation into something unforgettable, even before you visit the theme parks. Families can retreat into the wilderness and savor the great outdoors in a cabin at the newest DVC resort, the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Or wake up to watch the sunrise over Seven Seas Lagoon in a private two-bedroom overwater bungalow at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. And you don’t have to be a DVC member to enjoy these resorts. All guests can book DVC villas for their vacation. 2. Stay in the Heart of the Adventure Many DVC resorts are nestled right in the middle of the magic at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. We’re talking walking distance to the theme parks, monorail access, and spectacular views that might include some fireworks. Staying close means you can do Disney your way. Want to rope-drop Disney’s Hollywood Studios to grab a front-row seat to Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After? Catch a ride on the Disney Skyliner from Disney’s Riviera Resort. Do your kiddos need to sneak in an afternoon nap before the Paint the Night parade at Disneyland Park? Your room at the Villas at Disneyland Hotel is just a quick stroll away. The convenience of being near all the fun allows more time for you and your little ones to prioritize making memories over worrying about commuting from other sites. 3. Unwind in Style at Exclusive Member Lounges DVC membership isn’t only about the resorts. It’s about how you experience Disney with your travel party. While meeting your favorite Disney pals, riding the attractions and snack-hopping through the parks your steps can really add up. Do you and your little ones need midday breaks from the hustle and bustle? That’s where DVC comes in. Eligible* members and their guests can enjoy DVC member lounges. With comfortable seating, complimentary beverages, charging stations and air conditioning, these lounges are the perfect place to pause and soak in a little slice of quiet. In Florida, eligible members have access to the Disney Vacation Club McKim’s Mile House – A Member Lounge in Magic Kingdom Park, and the Disney Vacation Club ImaginAtrium – A Member Lounge atop the Imagination pavilion at EPCOT. Over on the West Coast, members can recharge amongst the stars at Disney Vacation Club Star View Station – a Member Lounge, located in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park. 4. Unlock Extra Magic Discounts and lounges and special events – oh my. DVC members can enjoy a whole new world of extras that can add a little extra pixie dust to your plans. One of the most beloved perks is special experiences like Moonlight Magic. These after-hours events are just for eligible members and feature shorter wait times, complimentary snacks, and rare character meet-and-greets you won’t get anywhere else. Members can also take advantage of discounts at select restaurants and shops, as well as access to movie previews, seasonal gatherings and DVC merchandise. Interested to learn more about DVC Membership or the DVC Resort Collection? Visit DisneyVacationClub.com for the latest news and information. This advertising material is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of timeshare interests. Theme Park admission is not part of the ownership interest and is sold separately. Resort transportation systems are also not part of the ownership interest. * Part of Membership Extras, which requires new Members to have an ownership interest with 150 Vacation Points or more purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, LLC. Requires valid theme park admission. Lounges are subject to operating hours and capacity limits. Dance, Play and Chill with Cool Kid Summer at Disney World READ MORE Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Dates & Teaser Treats READ MORE Guide to the 70th Anniversary at Disneyland Resort READ MORE The post 4 Ways DVC Makes Family Vacations Effortlessly Enjoyable appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

When you’re in Disneyland, there are so many different restaurants to choose from, it can be overwhelming! Disneyland Thankfully, that’s why we’re here! We’ve dined at all the restaurants on property and are here to help you decide which ones are a good fit for your vacation and which ones you may want to skip. We headed over to River Belle Terrace to check out their brunch menu, and let’s just say, you may want to add it to your list! Atmosphere River Belle Terrace is a table service restaurant with oodles of classic charm that overlooks the picturesque Rivers of America. This restaurant focuses on Southern fare and is sure to serve up something delicious for everyone in your party. River Belle Terrace Inside, you’ll be seated in an airy, garden-inspired dining room, while the outdoor seating area offers classic views of the Rivers of America. Either way, you’re in for a treat! Menu At this spot, brunch is served from 11 AM – 3:55 PM and offers a few classic breakfast options such as Signature Pancakes and Biscuits and Gravy, while dinner is served starting at 4PM and serves up signature entrees like Fried Chicken Sandwiches and Pork Chops. Brunch Menu The menu is pretty decently sized here, and because of that, it’s a good spot for picky eaters as well, especially at brunch. Dinner may be a little harder, so if you know you’ve got picky eaters in your group, we suggest aiming for brunch. That’s what we’re here for today, so without further ado, let’s eat! Eats To start us off, we grabbed a breakfast-like item — the Apple Pancake Rolls for $17. These have Apple Pie Topping, Walnut Streusel, and Cinnamon Chantilly Cream, served with Choice of Bacon or Sausage. Apple Pancake Rolls We were able to get a piece of bacon and a piece of sausage with ours. The bacon was crispy and thick, and the sausage was surprisingly flavorful with crispy skin but a soft inside, so we were happy to start out strong. Starting out strong! The pancakes came with a vanilla chantilly cream, which was our favorite part! It was so sweet, and we loved getting to dip our pancakes in it. Overall, this dish tasted like fall in the best way, and we would absolutely get it again! We loved them! Moving on to a more hearty lunch-like option, we grabbed the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich for $24, which comes with Fried Cherry Peppers, Pickle Coleslaw, and BBQ Aïoli with House Fries. Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich This thing was MASSIVE and we were really looking forward to it, but unfortunately, we weren’t fans because it was so greasy. The BBQ aioli didn’t really add much flavor, which means that if you’re not a BBQ fan, you really won’t have an issue here since the flavor is so light. However, if you were looking forward to it, like we were, you’ll be let down. The toppings The fries, on the other hand, were amazing! They’re similar to the film strip fries over at Award Wieners in Disney California Adventure, but had a really nice seasoning on them that left us wishing it came with more. The fries are the real winners Finally, it was time for dessert! The House-Made Pudding is $12 and is Cheesecake Pudding with Strawberry Streusel and Vanilla Chantilly Cream. House-Made Pudding This was very light and refreshing! The sweet chantilly cream paired perfectly with the fresh and sweet strawberries. This gave strong summer vibes, and we’d recommend it to anyone who loves strawberries or is looking for a lighter dessert option. Delicious! But is it really worth a table service reservation? Nosh or Not This Disneyland restaurant is a must-visit if… You’re looking for a solid brunch option You want pancakes in the early afternoon (who doesn’t?) You want a relaxing atmosphere with great views that doesn’t feel fancy You should skip this Disneyland spot if… You’re not wanting to spend an hour+ sitting down to eat You don’t like brunch and want to eat LUNCH before 4 PM You want a spot with different theming than classic Southern charm Overall We think River Belle Terrace is a great spot to dine at in the parks, especially since not many table service spots offer brunch, and that’s pretty special! We suggest checking the menu online ahead of time to see if you and your party will enjoy the offerings at Brunch or Dinner here, and if everyone can find something they like, we think it’s a choice you won’t regret. River Belle Terrace Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disneyland news and reviews! 3 Disneyland Restaurants the Experts Refuse to Book Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Have you ever eaten at this Disneyland restaurant? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: This Disneyland Restaurant Serves Brunch Until 3:30 PM first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The theme park capital of the world just got bigger as Epic Universe officially opened to the public at Universal Orlando early today. Its first visitors passed through the entrance at 6:30 a.m. — some eager customers had circled the area since 2 a.m. Eventually, there was a boisterous group countdown, followed by cheers, tears, cosplay and livestreaming. Initial Epic-goers went into speed-walking mode before literally skipping through the park’s signature Chronos portal into Orlando’s eighth theme park. Within 30 minutes, all visitors who had queued up early had ventured into the park. Excited guests at Universal Epic Universe on Thursday morning quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)“It was fun coming in because they had all the team members lining either side of the Chronos [entrance] clapping and welcoming everybody,” said Molly McCormack of Orlando, who arrived in the Epic parking lot at 7:30 a.m. “We walked straight through security, straight through to Chronos,” said McCormack, co-owner of Mammoth Club, a content company that specializes in theme parks and travel. “There’s excitement in the air. Just now in the bar, people are toasting and cheers at each other,” she said. The opening ceremony also included mini-presentations and musical moments at the portals to the other four lands and the declaration that Epic Universe is officially open. Excited guests at Universal Epic Universe on Thursday morning quickly make their way to the main entrance portal shortly after the 6:30 a.m. grand opening of the park. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)The themed areas of Epic include Super Nintendo World, Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk and Dark Universe, which showcases the classic monsters of Universal Studios. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, one of the more ballyhooed rides during previews for Epic Universe, quickly had a 300-minute wait time. Most other attractions had midmorning waits of less than 30 minutes. The Battle at the Ministry wait time might explain the morning congestion at the Wizarding World portal. “There was some running that happened,” a theme park no-no, said Tim Tracker, an Orlando-based YouTuber who covers Central Florida attractions. He said folks were dashing for the Potter ride, but there was no sign of trampling or injuries. The park didn’t feel crowded Thursday morning, he said. “It feels very similar to the preview days,” Tracker said. “When you’re out in Celestial Park, there’s not a lot of people walking around. … And it’s just, it’s been lovely.” Thousands of guests wait in line on June 18, 2010, for the grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure. (Orlando Sentinel file)Overall, the short lines sharply contrasted with the first day of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park in 2010. Some anxious fans waited eight hours then to get close to Hogwarts Castle. There has been a more measured approach in 2025. Ticket sales for the day were limited and quickly became unavailable, so there were no walk-up buyers for Epic on Thursday. The new park has also had several weeks of previews, starting with Universal employees and eventually expanding to the general public. Andrew and Sandra Spicer, a couple from the United Kingdom who took a nearly nine-hour flight to Florida, said they had planned their trip for a year and previously came during previews. “It was the Harry Potter ride that we most wanted to go on when we came,” Sandra said. “We queued for three-and-a-half hours to get on it.” She hoped lines would be shorter and said that they would definitely not wait for that amount of time again. Fireworks explode as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)The sun sets over the Universal Helios Grand Hotel and Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first new major theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Show Caption1 of 12Fireworks explode as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Expand But Daryl Ireland, also from the U.K., said she was willing to wait up to six hours for Battle at the Ministry. She also came during the preview and rode all rides except for Battle at the Ministry and Donkey Kong Mine-Cart Madness, a roller coaster in Super Nintendo World. They were not operating during that visit. “I’m gonna do Mine-Cart first, and then I’m hoping it eases off a little bit [at Harry Potter] because I think everyone will be around there first thing in the morning, Ireland said. “So I’m hoping by the time I get there it might be less full.” “I’m excited to see the look on people’s faces when they look at all of the work that people have done,” Patrick Braillard, senior show writer for the theme park, said during a preview during the buildup to Epic’s debut. With a grand opening comes great expectations in Central Florida. “We have so many theme parks in Orlando and guests have so much expectation,” Braillard said. “We kind of have no choice but to pay it off in a really amazing, epic way. It’s well named, I’ll say that.” Epic Universe has been years in the making. The project was announced in August 2019. Construction began but the COVID pandemic put work on hold for a while. The park’s life begins amid economic and travel uncertainties. But park fans and Universal employees have been sampling Epic in previews for several weeks. That culminated with a gathering of VIPs, celebrities and media Wednesday night. Actor Warwick Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the “Harry Potter” film series, talks with members of the media on the “Celestial Carpet” on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Actress Nico Parker and actor Mason Thames, stars of the upcoming “How to Train Your Dragon” live action film, arrive on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Actors Oliver and James Phelps, who played the Weasley twins in the “Harry Potter” film series, arrive on the “Celestial Carpet” event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, interacts with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)“Saturday Night Live” cast member Bowen Yang has some fun on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo representative director and fellow, walks the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Gothic fashion designer Micheline Pitt, who contributed to Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe, arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Howie Mandel, best known for his roles as a judge on “America's Got Talent “since 2010 and as the host of the game show “Deal or No Deal,” answers questions one the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Dancer and actor Frankie Grande models a Power-Up Band on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Danny Elfman, composer for Dark Universe interacts with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. Elfman has composed scores for over 100 feature films including "Beetlejuice," "Men in Black," "The Wolfman" and more. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Tasha Ghouri, a British model, dancer and television personality, arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universals Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)“The Real Housewives of Miami” star Guerdy Abraira arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Dean DeBlois, writer, director and producer of all “How to Train Your Dragon” movies and the upcoming live action film, interacts with the media during a “Celestial Carpet” event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark "Crash" McCreery, center, who contributed designs for the monsters in Monster’s Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe, walks the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Rick Baker, special make-up effects creator known for his groundbreaking work in films like “An American Werewolf in London,” “Men in Black”, and “Planet of the Apes,” talks with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)VIPs arrive during on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, talks to members of the media during a “Celestial Carpet” event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, interacts with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Show Caption1 of 20Actor Warwick Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the “Harry Potter” film series, talks with members of the media on the “Celestial Carpet” on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Expand The star power included executives from branches of Comcast, Universal Orlando’s parent company, professional athletics and actors, leaning into the NBC broadcast family with Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”), Howie Mandel (“America’s Got Talent”), Joe Manganiello (“Deal or No Deal Island), Andy Cohen (“Watch What Happens Live”) and Guerdy Abraira (“The Real Housewives of Miami”). Other celebs had direct ties to Epic’s worlds, including Warwick Davis, James Phelps and Oscar Phelps from the “Harry Potter” film series, cast members from past and future “How to Train Your Dragon” movies, composer Danny Elfman and Shigeru Miyamoto, designer, producer and director at Nintendo. Epic Universe is the first theme park to open in Orlando since the introduction of Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999. The addition is part of a corporate strategy to encourage longer stays at Universal Orlando Resort, which now features four gates including Islands, Universal Studios theme park and Volcano Bay water park. The expansion also includes three hotels near the new park, including Helios Grand Hotel, which has a direct Epic entrance. Universal now has 11 on-property hotels with 11,000 rooms. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. More on Epic Universe Fast-track tech helps Universal mold new Epic Universe A rolling history of Central Florida’s attractions industry Epic Universe: Know before you go Pictures: Epic Universe’s nighttime celebration goes off with a bang Pictures: Celebrities, VIPs arrive for Epic Universe nighttime celebration Epic Universe Ride Guide: New park rides ranked from tame to super scary Peeking into the portals (and just beyond) of Epic Universe Epic Universe: Frequently asked questions (plus answers) Power-Up Bands get games going in Super Nintendo World Epic Universe timeline: From dragons to butterbeer, here’s how theme park evolved An Epic movie guide: What to watch before visiting Universal’s new park Epic Universe: Say hello to new Helios Grand, theme park neighbor Epic Universe survival guide: What to pack for the new park Epic Universe: Exec blends arts, engineering in theme park roles Epic Universe preview: An early walk (and rides) in the park View the full article

It’s summertime, so do you know what that means? It’s time to start talking about Halloween at Disney World! Halloween decorations in Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is coming back this year, and Disney has been pumping out announcements for it as of late. First, we got the dates for the party revealed to us, then we found out there would be a price increase! Now we have the full list of EVERY SINGLE party ticket price. Thanks to that, you can now decide which days you might want to avoid going due to the high pricing! Mickey and all his friends are coming back once again to celebrate the (not so) scary holiday at the special ticketed Magic Kingdom event this year. The party offers exclusive character meet and greets, parades, fireworks, eats and treats, and more! Yes, we’re extremely excited for the party, but the event will come with a price increase. Halloween at Magic Kingdom AUGUST August 15th: Adult $149.00/Child (Age 3-9) $139.00 August 17th: Adult $119.00/Child (Age 3-9) $109.00 August 19th: Adult $119.00/Child (Age 3-9) $109.00 August 22nd: Adult $129.00/Child (Age 3-9) $119.00 August 24th: Adult $129.00/Child (Age 3-9) $119.00 August 26th: Adult $129.00/Child (Age 3-9) $119.00 August 29th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 August doesn’t vary in prices between the days that much. The exception being August 15th as the most expensive day, followed by August 29th, which is $10 cheaper. If you have the flexibility to be picky with your dates, it might be best to avoid those two. August 17th and August 19th are the cheapest of the August party days! Trick or treating! SEPTEMBER September 2nd: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 5th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 7th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 9th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 12th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 14th: Adult $149.00/Child (Age 3-9) $139.00 September 16th: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 19th: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 21st: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 23rd: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 25th: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 26th: Adult $169.00/Child (Age 3-9) $159.00 September 29th: Adult $169.00/Child (Age 3-9) $159.00 September 30th: Adult $179.00/Child (Age 3-9) $169.00 September is when you’re going to see the prices really pick up! The later you get in the month, the higher the price will go. September 30th is a day we’d avoid if you can, as it’s a $30 price increase over the most expensive day in August. It comes as no shock that the closer we get to Halloween, the higher the price goes! Get ready for some great photo ops! OCTOBER October 2nd: Adult $179.00/Child (Age 3-9) $169.00 October 3rd: Adult $179.00/Child (Age 3-9) $169.00 October 5th: Adult $189.00/Child (Age 3-9) $179.00 October 7th: Adult $189.00/Child (Age 3-9) $179.00 October 9th: Adult $189.00/Child (Age 3-9) $179.00 October 10th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 13th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 14th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 16th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 17th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 19th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 23rd: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 24th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 26th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 28th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 30th: Adult $229.00/Child (Age 3-9) $219.00 October 31st: Adult $229.00/Child (Age 3-9) $219.00 We get it, going in October just makes sense because that’s Halloween month. However, that will come at a much larger cost! Similar to September, the price only gets higher as you get later into the month of October. Halloween and Halloween Eve are the most expensive at $229 for an adult ticket and $219 for a child ticket. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a spectacular and fun exclusive event. Guests can enter the party as early as 4 PM, while the party runs from 7 PM until midnight. Tickets include entrance to the party, exclusive character meet and greets, several trick or treat spots, and more. Obviously, no one is ever excited to see a price increase anywhere in Disney World, but we will admit that we can’t wait to hit the party this year. We’ll be covering everything on opening night, so be sure to tune in then! Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular Be sure to keep following the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news and updates. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be attending the party this year? Let us know in the comments! The post FULL LIST of Dates to AVOID Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve been lucky enough to explore the portals at Epic Universe with some early previews! Exploring the five immersive lands, experiencing rides and attractions, checking out the entertainment, and of course eating the food. Well, now it’s time for you to visit the thrilling land, cause it’s finally OPENING DAY! Epic Universe The one thing that you can always anticipate, but will always hit you with the unexpected, is long lines. We were preparing for long lines and high wait times for the opening of Epic Universe. However, the longest line so far might be longer than you’d expect! We’re going to be covering the full, exciting opening day of Epic Universe, and you won’t want to miss it! Be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for all of it! Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> What are you most excited about for Epic Universe? Let us know in the comments! The post A FIVE-Hour Line Is Now at a Standstill in Epic Universe on Opening Day first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

GRAB (or hide!) YOUR WALLETS; it’s time for one of the BIGGEST Disney souvenir sales of the year! ©Disney The Disney Store’s Twice Upon a Year sale is HERE, and over 500 items are on sale for up to 40% off — that’s a huge savings, which means you can get even more bang for your buck. Need new park outfits? Check. Need some Disney home goods? Check. Want to get a jump on your holiday shopping? Triple check. Let’s get into it! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Shop the ENTIRE SALE right here! ©Disney Over 500 items are on sale for over 40% off as part of this sale — but it won’t last long, so act fast! View online! This Disney World Starbucks Tumbler is less than $20 ©Disney How cute is this sparkling Starbucks travel tumbler?! The vibrant green hue evokes Tinker Bell’s iconic outfit. A double-wall exterior with a golden foil Walt Disney World logo and iridescent glitter within provides a lift throughout the day. View online! We love this Minnie Mouse suitcase for kids ©Disney Just in time for your next Disney World vacation! With a hard shell, roomy interior compartment, retractable handle, and swivel wheels, it feels very grown-up indeed,d and its appeal is timeless. View online! Or, you can grab these Bluey and Bingo shoes! ©Disney Your little one will know their Bluey from their Bingo, er, their right from their left, while wearing these adorable mismatched slip-on shoes featuring the adorable heeler pups from Bluey. With colorful screen art on the tops, nubuck suede accents, and starry printed interiors, these cute shoes have pull tabs and elastic side accents so they’re super-easy to slip on and off, and the non-skid rubber soles mean they’re perfect for playtime or anytime. View online! And finally, how about a new Loungefly? ©Disney View online! We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post This Disney Souvenir Sale Only Happens Twice a Year (And Over 500 Items Are Up to 40% Off) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

At its best, staying at a Disney hotel is an integral part of the Disney World experience. However, there are certain trends we’re DONE with! Let’s go to Disney World! As Disney has Disney policies, these trends have us a bit concerned with the overall Disney hotel experience. Rooms Not Ready There are few things more frustrating than arriving at a hotel after a long day a travel only to find your room isn’t ready at the scheduled check-in time. This can be especially frustrating at Disney World because, currently, guests staying at Disney World hotels have free access to one of the resort’s water parks on check-in day. While we obviously understand that at times delays happen, this issue seems to pop up with frustrating regularity. If you get sick, your room is the best place for you to be Check-Out Issues From arrival to departure, Disney seems to have a slight check-out issue. According to Disney policy, “If you have a credit card on file — or you have a zero-dollar balance — it’s easy to check out of your room, with no need to stop by the Front Desk! You can enjoy streamlined checkout through the My Disney Experience app. Just open the app menu and select “Hotel Reservations”. Then select “View Charges” to begin checking out. If you forget—no worries, you’ll be automatically checked out at our checkout time, 11:00 AM.” Mobile Checkout Sign However, some guests have fun into an issue where if they leave the grounds of their hotel — say to make a quick final rope drop visit to a park or grab a final breakfast at a different hotel — they are then automatically checked out of their hotel and are unable to get back into their room and retrieve their belongings even prior to 11:00 AM. Yum! While there are ways around this, like bringing all of your belongings to Luggage Assistance if you’re planning to leave your room that morning, for example, it shouldn’t be an issue in the first place, and we hope Disney works this issue out quickly. The luggage assistance desk! Late Night Food Options If you decide to stay at one of Disney World’s theme parks until close, by the time you return to your hotel, you may be out of luck if looking for a late-night snack. This is especially true if you’re at a park that’s on the opposite end of the property. On a night when the Magic Kingdom closes at 10:00 PM, it will likely take guests about an hour to get back to Pop Century, where the Everything Pop! shop and food court closes at 11:00 PM. While we obviously understand that these outlets need to close for the night, an extra hour of operation could potentially make a massive difference for many guests. Everything Pop Shopping and Dining These troubling Disney hotel trends need to be nipped in the bud ASAP. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the Disney World experience. 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Leaving a Disney Cruise Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What worrisome Disney hotel trends have you noticed recently? Let us know in the comments below! The post “I Am Paying For it After All": Disney Adults Are TIRED of This Hotel TREND first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We spend much more time at ALDI than you probably think, and for good reason! ALDI! ALDI is a great place to shop for everyday needs without hurting your wallet. With summer arriving, ALDI has been delivering on great summertime items and essentials. Let’s check out what’s coming the week of May 28th! We’ve spotted some amazing, cheaper options at ALDI when it comes to summer essentials! Check out these sandals for both men and women. The material provides both comfort and lightness. These would be great for a beach day or a day at Disney World. The best part is that you can get these for only $7. Compare that to other store options — it’s a no-brainer! ©ALDI We have a few more color options to show the ladies specifically! If a taupe color doesn’t fit your style, there are also black and blue for you. If you want something really different, the orange offers a unique pattern. If sandals aren’t your style, check out the knit slip-on trainers. These might be a better pick for a day at Disney World, and sneakers for $12.99 are a steal of a deal! ©ALDI It’s going to be a summer of cheap shoes for the whole family, because we found sandals for your kiddos as well. These $5 children’s sandals would go great for a Disney day fit or a hot beach day. We love the subtle design added to the purple sandals! ©ALDI ALDI isn’t leaving your little ones out; they have sandals for toddlers as well. They offer the same comfort and lightweight, and are only $5! The little cuties get some different color choices — pink and a cool mix of green shades to create a camo design. ©ALDI If you’re planning on buying some shoes, you may need some socks to go with them! ALDI has socks for both men and women alike, and all packs come with six pairs of socks! For the men, a pack with black and seafoam colors, as well as a pack with blue and black colors. The ladies get more color options — with sock packs coming in colors of teal and green, rose… ©ALDI …cream and grey, as well as cream and green. Six pairs of socks for $7.99 is a great deal, especially considering how easy it is to lose socks when washing them (why is that?). We also wanted to show you these two visor hats from ALDI to help with sun protection. ©ALDI We talked about footwear, so let’s continue to build on the outfit. Check out these gorgeous athleisure dresses — taking the combination of athletic and leisure, putting them together to create a comfortable and stylish look. The dress comes in both black and green, and is only $15! ©ALDI ALDI also has some shorts for you. Technically, the shorts are a little over $6 each, since the shorts come in packs of two! There are a few color options — gray and blue, black and light blue, and gray and green. We also have another pair of knit slip-on trainers for the ladies, this pair coming in blue. ©ALDI Ladies, if you’re looking to expand your athletic wardrobe, you may want these biker shorts. ALDI has biker shorts in blue, green, and pink — for $8.99. You could get like five of these for the price of one at Lululemon! ©ALDI Moving away from the outfits, we really liked these seat cushions. If you’re ever feeling uncomfortable sitting down, these will be great for you. They’re also super portable, in case you need to bring them out to wherever you’re headed. The seat cushions come in packs of two for an amazing price of $6.99! ©ALDI If you’re looking for a new cooler, this is a great pick at a great price. It’s not often you find a cooler for $30! We love the style of the cooler as a shoulder bag. With all its pockets and compartments, you’ll fit everything you need while organizing it the way you like. ©ALDI We love our tumblers, and we keep coming back to ALDI. ALDI has been killing it with the tumblers lately; they have great color options, and of course, great pricing. We love the soft blend of colors that they use; it’s hard to choose which one to go for. Sitting at $10, maybe there’s no reason to settle for just one! ©ALDI Whether you’re hitting a beach, swimming pool, or water park, you may want to consider grabbing one of these. Waterproof phone cases are extremely useful to have. It allows you to carry around your phone for photos, videos, or maybe you’re waiting for a call — without the fear of it getting damaged! ©ALDI Speaking of waterproof, we found these waterproof beach cases. It looks like ALDI has them being used to throw your shades in there, but we’re sure you could fit other stuff in there as well. We love the color mixes they used for the cases, really letting them stand out. ©ALDI Lastly, keep yourself cool this summer with this tripod fan! We bet you don’t hear the combination of tripod and fan that often, but it’s a brilliant idea. They’re super flexible, so you can set it up however you need, or store it easily to bring on vacation with you. You can also set your phone up on it! ©ALDI We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest things that ALDI has to offer, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! I’ve Been Packing My Disney World Park Bag Wrong — Here’s My New Strategy to Avoid Chaos Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What did you like about ALDI’s essentials? Let us know in the comments! The post We Just Found the Best NEW Items Coming to ALDI -- Including Shoes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Feeling thirsty? Owala Water Bottle Over the last several years, Owala has become one of our FAVORITE water bottle brands. Recently, we took a look around Amazon to find the newest Owalas available on the site, including a few that celebrate Disney royalty! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. 24 Oz Disney Princess Moana Water Bottle @Amazon Owala is offering SEVERAL bottles in color ways reminiscent of Disney Princesses, including Moana. SHOP HERE 24 Oz Disney Princess Ariel Water Bottle @Amazon There’s also a bottle in the teal and green color scheme representing Ariel, which will surely make you feel like you’re under the sea! SHOP HERE 24 Oz Disney Princess Rapunzel Water Bottle @Amazon Finally, there’s also a bottle in the color scheme of Tangled’s heroine. Each of these bottles is made from an insulated stainless-steel body, and features a FreeSip spout designed for either sipping upright through the built-in straw or tilting back to swig from the spout opening, a protective push-to-open lid that keeps the spout clean, a convenient carry loop that doubles as a lock, and double-wall insulation that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours, a wide-opening for cleaning and adding ice, and a cup holder-friendly base. SHOP HERE 40 Oz Bottle @Amazon If you want to go BIGGER, there’s a 40 oz option that features many of the same benefits in a larger size. While there aren’t Disney Princess color ways, there are several options including the pictures Citrus Crush. SHOP HERE These are some of the coolest new Owala designs that just dropped on Amazon! Stay tuned to DFB for more Amazon updates! Searching for more? Check out our Amazon Storefront!The post 4 NEW Owalas from Amazon That Are PERFECT for Summer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Going to Epic Universe and need to know EVERYTHING?? This is the BIGGEST — most EXTENSIVE — Epic Universe video we’ve made YET. Isle of Berk So get ready to learn it ALL from a brand you TRUST — the best rides, the tastiest food recommendations, the secret shortcuts, EVERYTHING — today on DFB Guide. Check out our video below: The ULTIMATE Guide to Universal’s Epic Universe Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this video? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide to Universal’s Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Most of us have had a day where we plan to watch one of Disney World’s incredible nighttime spectaculars like Happily Ever After in Magic Kingdom, Fantasmic! in Hollywood Studios, and Luminous — The Symphony of Us at EPCOT, and when we go to watch the show, BOOM, it’s canceled. Happily Ever After in Magic Kingdom As much as we hate it when it happens, well, it happens! One of the most common reasons a show might be canceled is weather. When it’s too windy or lightning is too close to the area (some shows still run in the rain!), the show will be canceled for the safety of the guests and performers. We just learned a new way that a Disney World show can be canceled, and we bet you didn’t even know it was possible. Last week, you might have noticed that Luminous—The Symphony of Us was unexpectedly canceled. When we asked why, a Cast Member told us it was because the bridge that allows the barges to move to the middle of the World Showcase wouldn’t open. The fireworks couldn’t happen because they couldn’t get the equipment where it was supposed to be. Luminous If you’ve been walking around the World Showcase, you might have been stopped by Cast Members who said the bridge is opening. You’re usually only stopped for 10 minutes or so, but it can always be a bit frustrating when you’re rushing to your next Lightning Lane and realize you didn’t give yourself enough travel time. When the bridge is back down, you’ll be able to continue on with your day. EPCTOT Bridge One of EPCOT’s previous shows used to keep the barges on the water during the day, but this wasn’t popular amongst EPCOT fans because it blocked the views across the water. Now, they’re moved off the water for most of the day and brought back at night for the show. EPCOT We were also told that the same situation happened in Magic Kingdom for the bridge that opens for the Electrical Water Parade. Electrical Water Pageant While this isn’t something you can plan on, if you notice that it’s getting close to fireworks time and the barges aren’t out on the water, the bridge might not be working, and fireworks might be canceled. Keep following Disney Food Blog for more Disney news! DISNEY WORLD FIREWORKS AND NIGHTTIME SPECTACULAR VIEWING Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite nighttime spectacular? Tell us in the comments! The post The Weird Reason Why Disney World Fireworks Could Be Canceled first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We know it’s May, but it’s already time to start thinking about Halloween! Why? Because Disney says so! Halloween decorations 2023 Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are now on sale for the general public, and that means you can start planning your trip to experience all that spooky season has to offer! The event will kick off on August 15th, and we’ve got everything you need to know before you purchase those tickets. Currently, you can buy tickets through the Disney World website, and you may want to hurry if you’re interested in a popular date like opening night or Halloween itself. Typically, several dates sell out ahead of time each year. 2024 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party welcome sign Prices for the tickets are as follows: August 15th: Adult $149.00/Child (Age 3-9) $139.00 August 17th: Adult $119.00/Child (Age 3-9) $109.00 August 19th: Adult $119.00/Child (Age 3-9) $109.00 August 22nd: Adult $129.00/Child (Age 3-9) $119.00 August 24th: Adult $129.00/Child (Age 3-9) $119.00 August 26th: Adult $129.00/Child (Age 3-9) $119.00 August 29th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party pin September 2nd: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 5th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 7th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 9th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 12th: Adult $139.00/Child (Age 3-9) $129.00 September 14th: Adult $149.00/Child (Age 3-9) $139.00 September 16th: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 19th: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 21st: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 23rd: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 25th: Adult $159.00/Child (Age 3-9) $149.00 September 26th: Adult $169.00/Child (Age 3-9) $159.00 September 29th: Adult $169.00/Child (Age 3-9) $159.00 September 30th: Adult $179.00/Child (Age 3-9) $169.00 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party October 2nd: Adult $179.00/Child (Age 3-9) $169.00 October 3rd: Adult $179.00/Child (Age 3-9) $169.00 October 5th: Adult $189.00/Child (Age 3-9) $179.00 October 7th: Adult $189.00/Child (Age 3-9) $179.00 October 9th: Adult $189.00/Child (Age 3-9) $179.00 October 10th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 13th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 14th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 16th: Adult $199.00/Child (Age 3-9) $189.00 October 17th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 19th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 23rd: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 24th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 26th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 28th: Adult $209.00/Child (Age 3-9) $199.00 October 30th: Adult $229.00/Child (Age 3-9) $219.00 October 31st: Adult $229.00/Child (Age 3-9) $219.00 Trick or treating! The party runs from 7PM-midnight on the designated nights, taking place in Magic Kingdom. This means that Magic Kingdom will close at 6PM to daytime guests on party nights, but those with event tickets can get into the park as early as 4PM. During your five hours of party time, you can check out exclusive entertainment, special snacks, complimentary trick-or-treating, rare character meet-and-greets, and typically, low wait times for rides around the park. Wristband distribution Some of the highlights each year include the Boo to You! Parade and the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show, as well as the dedicated fireworks show — Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular. If you’re a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas or Hocus Pocus, you’ll probably find a lot to enjoy about this event. Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular We’ll be there on the opening night of the party to bring you all the excitement and important news, so stay tuned! For now, check out our video below to learn all about last year’s event. And if you need help planning your vacation, we recommend our friends over at Small World Vacations to walk you through the entire process! They’re Disney vacation experts, and their services are complimentary. Keep following DFB for all the Disney World news and updates. Click Here for All the Halloween Party Details! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you going to the Halloween party this year? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets Are on Sale to Everyone for Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EVERYONE REMAIN CALM! It’s happening — Epic Universe is officially OPEN to the public! Epic Universe We’ve been spending as much time here as we possibly can, making sure we know all the ins and outs of this park so you’re prepared ahead of your first visit. And, of course, we’re BACK on the park’s first day of regular operation to see just how everything is going. So, let’s check it out! If you’re hungry, you can stop by the grand Mead Hall, Spit Fyre Grill, or the racing-themed Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel food stand. Throughout your day on the Isle of Berk, be on the lookout for characters! You can meet Hiccup and the beloved Toothless at Haddock Paddock, but we also spotted some other friends wandering the area. Hiccups Wing Gliders Finally, there’s the epic live show called The Untrainable Dragon. This show is based on the Untrainable show in Universal Beijing Resort. From the set to the characters, this is truly an incredible show. Dark Universe Dark Universe draws on Universal’s rich history with horror. There are plenty of monsters and spooky vibes to really set the mood, so be prepared for a wild time. This land is home to two attractions, including the MAJOR new ride Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Dark Universe The land’s second attraction is a spinning family coaster inspired by The Wolf Man. It’s called Curse of the Werewolf, and you’re gonna want to RACE to escape the werewolves before you become one. Das Stakehouse All that screaming can really work up your appetite! Luckily, there are plenty of places to eat, like Das Stakehaus, The Burning Blade Tavern, and De Lacey’s Cottage. And, if you have time, we highly recommend you stop by for a monster character meet-and-greet while you’re here! You can also check out a Universal Horror Monster Makeup experience! Each of the team members there has a costume that looks like a lab coat, just like Dr. Frankenstein would wear. ©Universal We’ll be updating this article throughout the day as we explore more of the first day of Epic Universe, so make sure you check back here for more! In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for the latest theme park news. Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you planning on visiting Epic Universe at Universal Orlando? Tell us in the comments. The post Come With Us to EPIC UNIVERSE on OPENING DAY first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Play break, unlocked! 🎉 #planDisney #EPCOT #WaltDisneyWorldView the full article

Read complete coverage from the Orlando Sentinel of Universal Orlando’s new theme park Epic Universe. See the latest photos, news and updated ride, show and food reviews for the new park that will feature lands called Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe (featuring classic monsters) and Celestial Park, an opening act that includes rides, restaurants and other attractions. The park officially opens to the public on May 22, 2025. See complete coverage at OrlandoSentinel.com/epic View the full article

We’ve been talking about this for YEARS, but the day has finally come. Universal Orlando’s newest park, Epic Universe, has opened its gates and welcomed guests for its grand opening. Epic Universe Epic Universe was previously in technical rehearsal, but today is the first official day. Because technical rehearsals were available for everyone, what do opening day crowds look like in the park? Technical rehearsals were at a limited capacity, but let’s take a look at what a FULL Epic Universe looks like. Welcome to the first day of Epic Universe! Flocks of people fled to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, most likely to ride one of the most anticipated rides for the park: Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. This was the crowd just to get into the portal! Crowds to Ministry of Magic The queue was expected to be 150 minutes for the attraction and that was only at 8:30 AM. The ride doesn’t open till 9 AM! How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk was filled with dragon lovers of all ages ready to get on incredible attractions and meet Toothless. Here’s the queue to enter the land. We appreciated how Team Members were handing out free bottles of water! Packed! Despite this crazy queue, we were able to ride Dragon Racer’s Rally with no wait. It took us eight minutes to walk through the queue, but then we were on our own, learning how to fly. We’re not joking when we say May 22nd has been marked in our calendars for months now. A new theme park has officially opened in Orlando, and we’re glad to welcome Epic Universe into our theme park family. Keep following DFB for all the theme park news you love! We’ll be updating this post throughout the day with more crowds and details! COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUYING EPIC UNIVERSE TICKETS Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you planning on going to Epic Universe soon? Tell us what you’re most looking forward to in the comments. The post You Won't Believe the CROWDS on the Sold Out Opening Day of Epic Universe! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)The sun sets over the Universal Helios Grand Hotel and Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first new major theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Fireworks launch over Universal Epic Wednesday, May 21, 2025, on the eve of the theme park’s grand opening to the public, Thursday. Universal Epic is the first major new theme park in the US in more than 20 years. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Show Caption1 of 12Fireworks explode as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park in Orlando on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thousands of invited guests and celebrities watched the spectacular fireworks and drones show. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Expand View the full article

• Where: Epic Universe is about 2.5 miles southeast of Universal Orlando’s original theme parks, near the Orange County Convention Center. The entrance is off Epic Boulevard, which is accessed from Destination Parkway or South Kirkman Road. The official address is 1001 Epic Blvd. The Kirkman Road extension has opened for traffic, so if traveling from downtown Orlando, westbound on Interstate 4, take Exit 75B for Kirkman. There are new directional road signs in place for Epic Universe. The new route is a bit curvy and elevated at points, but follow those signs to Epic Boulevard and the theme park’s parking lot, which will be on the left. If traveling from the southwest, going eastbound on I-4, exit onto State Road 528 and then take Exit 2 to go northbound on Universal Boulevard. Turn right onto Destination Parkway, then left onto Epic Boulevard, skirting a roundabout and then a right turn to the entrance of the parking lot. • Parking: Epic Universe has its own parking lot; there is no parking garage there. Parking is $32. Prime self-parking is $50-$60. • Key times for opening day: The main parking lot (including ride-share drop-off) opens at 6 a.m.; shuttle bus service from Universal Orlando hotels to Epic Universe also begins at 6 a.m.; turnstiles at the front entrance and inside the entrance for Helios Grand Hotel guests open at 7 a.m. There will be a “brief celebratory moment” at 8 a.m. near the park entrance. Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily through June 1. • Future operating hours: From June 2 through June 17, Epic’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For the remainder of June, the schedule varies by day but opens at either 9 or 10 a.m., then closes at either 9 or 10 p.m. (These times are subject to change). • Security: Bag screening occurs just before the main entrance. Among the prohibited items in the park are explosives, weapons, alcohol, marijuana or any item containing cannabis or related paraphernalia, power-driven or radio frequency-controlled devices, outside food or beverages, glass, coolers, suitcases, bags with wheels and folding chairs. Everyone must travel through a metal detector, too. (The system is similar to Universal Orlando’s mega-garage.) An effect makes it appear as though guests are traveling through a green tube at the entrance of Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe, welcoming them during a media preview event on May 20. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)• Tickets: Prices for one-day admission to Epic for the rest of the year vary daily and range from $139 (for four days in September) to $199 (from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Eve). The first available date posted for a one-day ticket is May 26. Universal Orlando offers multiday passes with other theme parks and Volcano Bay water park that may bring down price-per-day rates. • App: The official Universal Orlando app can be used to facilitate purchases, dining reservations, maps, show schedules, wait times and more. More on Epic Universe Epic Universe Ride Guide: New park rides ranked from tame to super scary Peeking into the portals (and just beyond) of Epic Universe Epic Universe: Frequently asked questions (plus answers) Power-Up Bands get games going in Super Nintendo World Epic Universe timeline: From dragons to butterbeer, here’s how theme park evolved An Epic movie guide: What to watch before visiting Universal’s new park Epic Universe: Say hello to new Helios Grand, theme park neighbor Epic Universe survival guide: What to pack for the new park Epic Universe: Exec blends arts, engineering in theme park roles Epic Universe preview: An early walk (and rides) in the park . View the full article

A warm climate and lush environment were early draws for the Florida tourism industry. The arrival of railroads, leisure travel and air-conditioning jump-started the Sunshine State ahead of the 1971 arrival of Walt Disney World. A lot of travel stops have come and gone over the decades. Here is a brief look at Central Florida’s attractions, through the years. • 1878: Glass-bottom boats are introduced at Silver Springs in Marion County. • January 1936: Pope Sr. establishes Cypress Gardens, the state’s first theme park, in Winter Haven. It eventually is known for Southern belles, film settings and for being the “water ski capital of the world.” Pope Sr. (from left), daughter Adrienne, wife Julie and son Pope Jr. take to the water in a Cypress Gardens photo, likely from the 1950s. (Orlando Sentinel file)• Dec. 1949: Owen Godwin Sr. opens Gatorland as a roadside attraction on South Orlando Blossom Trail. Original name: Florida Wildlife Institute, which was changed to Snake Village and Alligator Farm before landing on Gatorland in 1954. • Nov. 15, 1965: After months of secret land purchases and speculation, Walt Disney announces, from a downtown Orlando hotel, plans to build in Florida. Construction began in 1968. • Oct. 1, 1971: Magic Kingdom theme park opens alongside the Contemporary Resort Hotel, followed by the Polynesian Village Resort. Tourists mingle with characters at Magic Kingdom on opening day of Walt Disney World on Oct. 1, 1971. (Orlando Sentinel file)• Dec. 15, 1973: SeaWorld Orlando theme park opens about 7 miles southeast of Magic Kingdom. • Feb. 21, 1974: Circus World, which eventually features coasters named the Hurricane and Zoomerang, opens in Davenport. The attraction closed in 1986. • July 1974: Church Street Station, a collection of bars, opens in downtown Orlando and thrives into the 1980s. Co-founder Bob Snow sold the property in 1989. • March 1975: Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village opens at Walt Disney World. It expands and goes through several names including Walt Disney World Village, Disney Village Marketplace, Downtown Disney and Disney Springs. • June 20, 1976: River Country, Disney’s first water park, opens near Fort Wilderness. (It closed in late 2001.) A swimmer makes his way across the cool waters of River Country at Walt Disney World's Fort Wilderness Resort in February 1989. (Orlando Sentinel file)• March 13, 1977: SeaWorld mastermind George Millay creates Wet ‘n Wild, a water park on International Drive. In 1998, Universal bought the attraction, which shut down in 2017. (Universal’s Endless Summer Resort is on the site now.) • Oct. 1, 1982: Walt Disney World introduces Epcot, its second theme park, a variation on Walt Disney’s original Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow concept. • April 1987: Boardwalk and Baseball amusement park opens on the former Circus World site. It closed in 1990. • February 1988: Arabian Knights dinner show opens in Kissimmee. It closed after a 25-year run. Longtime Disney star Annette Funicello kisses her old pal Mickey Mouse on opening day of Disney-MGM Studios in 1989. (Orlando Sentinel file)• May 1, 1989: Disney-MGM Studios theme park opens, with Disney CEO Michael Eisner edging out the arrival of Universal Studios Florida. It ushers in Eisner’s expansion plan known as the Disney Decade. • May 1, 1989: Pleasure Island entertainment district opens at Disney World, adding several nightclubs to the resort’s lineup. • June 1, 1989: Typhoon Lagoon water park opens at Disney World. • June 7, 1990: Universal Studios Florida theme park debuts. • Nov. 8, 1991: Terror on Church Street, a year-round haunt, opens. The original closed in 1999, but another owner has a two-year run of Terror on the third floor of Church Street Exchange. • July 1992: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum, built to look like it’s falling into a sinkhole, opens on International Drive. • 1993: Ripley Entertainment Inc. moves headquarters from Toronto to Orlando. • Late 1993: Florida Splendid China, an attraction with one-tenth scale replicas, opens near Kissimmee. It operated for 10 years. (Now on the site: Margaritaville Resort homes and condos.) Plunging straight down the side of Mt. Gushmore at Blizzard Beach gives Walt Disney World Resort guests the spine-tingling thrills of skiing up north. (Courtesy Walt Disney Co.)• April 1, 1995: Blizzard Beach water park opens at Disney World. • March 1998: WonderWorks, the upside-down-looking attraction, opens on International Drive. • April 22, 1998: Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park opens with celebrities such as Stevie Wonder and Jane Goodall on hand. • December 1998: Cirque du Soleil debuts its “La Nouba” show at Downtown Disney. It ran through 2017. Crowds gather at the entrance of Universal's Islands of Adventure during the park's opening to the public on May 28, 1999. (Orlando Sentinel file)• May 28, 1999: Universal Orlando opens Islands of Adventure park and Universal CityWalk, a shopping and dining area, adjacent to Universal Studios. • July 1, 2000: Discovery Cove, SeaWorld’s day resort with marine animals and water activities, debuts. • February 2001: Holy Land Experience, a Christian attraction with Bible-related activities and shows, opens near Conroy Road and Interstate 4. Trinity Broadcasting Network purchased it in 2007. The attraction closed in 2020. • June 2003: Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede dinner show opens near Interstate 4. It operated for five years. • June 2006: Blue Man Group moves into the theater at Universal CityWalk. It closed with the 2020 pandemic shutdown. In 2024, another Blue Man show is announced for a new space at Icon Park. • 2008: Disney-MGM Studios’ name changes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. • Sept. 27, 2008: Pleasure Island nightclubs are closed as the area is absorbed into an area eventually known as Disney Springs. Loggerhead Lane floats guests down a lazy river past exotic birds and exotic fish. SeaWorld's new water park, Aquatica, opened to the public March 1, 2008. (Julie Fletcher/Orlando Sentinel)• March 1, 2008: SeaWorld introduces Aquatica water park. • June 18, 2010: The first Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Islands of Adventure with Daniel Radcliffe and other actors participating in festivities. • Oct. 15, 2011: Legoland Florida opens in Winter Haven on the former grounds of Cypress Gardens. • July 8, 2014: Diagon Alley, the second installment of a Wizarding World of Harry Potter, opens at Universal Studios. The Hogwarts Express attraction connects the attractions in two different theme parks. Team members welcome cheering fans into a confetti-filled Diagon Alley during the grand opening at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter expansion, at Universal Studios Florida, in Orlando on July 8, 2014. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)• April 29, 2015: Orlando Eye, a 400-foot observation wheel, debuts on International Drive next to Madame Tussauds Orlando and Sea Life Orlando Aquarium. • September 2016: The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions announces it will move its headquarters from Alexandria, Virginia, to Orlando, and it extends its contract for the IAAPA Expo to be held at Orange County Convention Center through 2030. • May 25, 2017: Volcano Bay water park opens at Universal Orlando. • Aug. 29, 2019: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge realm debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. • Nov. 2021: “Drawn to Life,” a new Cirque du Soleil show, opens at Disney Springs. • May 19, 2022: Peppa Pig Theme Park, aimed at preschoolers, opens next door to Legoland Florida in Winter Haven. The park entrance is shown during a media preview for Peppa Pig Theme Park on Feb. 16, 2022 (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)• March 2024: The COVID-19 pandemic leads to Central Florida attractions closing down for three or four months. • May 22, 2025: Epic Universe becomes Orlando’s first new theme park in more than 25 years. View the full article

Actor Warwick Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the “Harry Potter” film series, talks with members of the media on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Actress Nico Parker and actor Mason Thames, stars of the upcoming “How to Train Your Dragon” live action film, arrive on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Actors Oliver and James Phelps, who played the Weasley twins in the “Harry Potter” film series, arrive on the “Celestial Carpet” event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, interacts with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)“Saturday Night Live” cast member Bowen Yang has some fun on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo representative director and fellow, walks the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Gothic fashion designer Micheline Pitt, who contributed to Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe, arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Howie Mandel, best known for his roles as a judge on “America's Got Talent “since 2010 and as the host of the game show “Deal or No Deal,” answers questions one the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Dancer and actor Frankie Grande models a Power-Up Band on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Danny Elfman, composer for Dark Universe interacts with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. Elfman has composed scores for over 100 feature films including "Beetlejuice," "Men in Black," "The Wolfman" and more. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Tasha Ghouri, a British model, dancer and television personality, arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universals Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)“The Real Housewives of Miami” star Guerdy Abraira arrives on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Dean DeBlois, writer, director and producer of all “How to Train Your Dragon” movies and the upcoming live action film, interacts with the media during a “Celestial Carpet” event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark "Crash" McCreery, center, who contributed designs for the monsters in Monster’s Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe at Universal Epic Universe, walks the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Rick Baker, special make-up effects creator known for his groundbreaking work in films like “An American Werewolf in London,” “Men in Black”, and “Planet of the Apes,” talks with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)VIPs arrive during on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Karen Irwin, president and COO of Universal Orlando Resort, talks to members of the media during a “Celestial Carpet” event as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Destinations & Experiences, interacts with guests on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Show Caption1 of 20Actor Warwick Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the “Harry Potter” film series, talks with members of the media on the “Celestial Carpet” as part of the Universal Epic Universe grand opening ceremonies at the new theme park on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Many celebrities, movie stars, dignitaries and other VIPs were introduced during the event. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Expand View the full article

When the portals of Epic Universe theme park officially open Thursday morning, Universal Orlando will welcome a new era of attractions technology. Central Florida’s first big theme park debut since 1999 was designed with modern features to align with the expectations of today’s consumers. There’s fresh tech on multiple fronts. Sometimes it’s obvious — such as lockers activated by facial recognition — but sometimes it’s invisible to park visitors. “There’s a strong expectation that if you’re going to walk into a world based upon Nintendo games, that you’re going to be able to interact with the environment as well,” said Peter Weishar, director and professor of UCF’s themed-experience program. New Power-Up Bands, wearable technology activated in Epic’s Super Nintendo World, and the updated iteration of wands for its Wizarding of Harry Potter land propel that trend, he said. “That’s definitely a new way of engaging a guest and making them feel like they have a degree of agency over what they’re seeing,” Weishar said. Epic Universe also has themed lands called How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Dark Universe, which showcases classic Universal characters such as Dracula, Wolf-Man and the Mummy. Frankenstein Manor houses a signature ride within Dark Universe. Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment features a slew of animatronic figures with close-up encounters for passengers. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)‘It’s not easy’ The buzzy attraction within Dark Universe is named Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Riders glide through a dark and stormy revenge-driven storyline, encountering lurking animatronics from multiple directions at a rapid pace. “I don’t think there’s a more ambitious collection of technology being stuffed into one building than in that attraction,” said Jeff Polk, general manager and executive vice president for Epic Universe, during previews for the park. “We have more high-level animated figures that are interacting directly with the ride vehicle, with a fairly complex ride system, with video, with other effects put in place in there, than we have ever combined into one space,” he said. “Doing that is not easy. I can tell you, it’s not easy,” Polk said. Orlando’s theme parks regularly updated their ride systems and introduced innovative inventions in new attractions over the years. Epic Universe will be the first to open with only 21st-century technologies. UCF’s Weishar points to Mine-Cart Madness, an Epic roller coaster in the Donkey Kong Land within Super Nintendo World. The design of the ride creates the illusion of broken rails and carts flying across the gaps. “As with most innovation, it’s an incorporation of some existing technologies coupled with a few new different ideas,” Weishar said. And he labeled the park’s Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride a game-changer. Passengers watch a rollicking chase scene involving movie characters and an elaborate system of lifts. “You’ve seen pieces of it done before, but never at that scale, never at that quality,” Weishar said. “Once you’ve gone on that, there’s going to be an expectation of seeing something of that quality in the future, especially on new rides,” he said. Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is an interactive ride within Super Nintendo World at Universal Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Things change quickly Development is happening rapidly, said Dennis Speigel, founder of International Theme Park Services. “Technology has risen to a level in the world of theme parks that we couldn’t have imagined 10, 15 years ago even,” Speigel said. “It’s allowing us to do things that we just now can dazzle the guests with and it’s a combination of CGI, AR, VR.” Epic’s ride called Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge debuted at Universal Studios Japan in 2021 and at Universal Studios Hollywood in California in 2023. The Orlando version is already an upgrade. “Even in the short time between the introduction of the rides in the other parks, this version has faster computers, higher resolution, faster frame rate and new technology,” Weishar said. Lights and fountains put on shows in the Celestial Park section of Epic Universe theme park. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Lights and camera action In Epic’s Celestial Park, an introductory area of the new park, there are prancing water fountain and a lagoon at the foot of the Helios Grand Hotel. “This park has 7 million independent color-changing, programmable LED lights in Celestial Park alone,” Polk said. “Those are things you can and can’t see,” he said. “The technology of the lights, people don’t think about that, but it’s really complicated.” There’s elaborate wiring — and water — to consider. “It’s amazing stuff that we’ve never attempted before,” Polk said. Smartphones and mobile ordering, which are becoming increasingly common in real, non-park life, are integrated into Epic Universe, particularly in its restaurants. For years, attractions designers plotted to pry people away from their devices, Weishar said. “Then they came to the realization of, you know, people aren’t going to do that right now,” he said. “How do we integrate the experience in the park with the phone that you’re already carrying in your hand? … To use it to help you figure out what’s the next ride you’re going to go on, where you’re going to eat, to help navigate the park.” The morphing preferences of consumers also affected some designs of the new park. Epic’s ticket booths for on-site purchases are off to the right side rather than standing guard before the entrance. “We’re really trying to push into the world of mobile ticket,” Polk said. The ticketing area may be repurposed. “That building could be something else,” Polk said. “That ultimately is us trying to think through where you want to be in the future, versus just saying, ‘OK, we’ll just carbon copy what we do today because that’s what everybody does.’” The dueling Stardust Racers coaster takes guests for a head-to-head romp at Epic Universe. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Face the future Epic will use facial recognition for opening lockers and express lines with a goal of extending those capabilities. “I don’t think it’s there totally yet, but I think it will, within the next five years, be a constant, beginning at the front gate and being utilized through the attractions,” Speigel said. Universal’s goal is to make attractions “friction-free,” Polk said. “We’re really focused on, how can we take friction out of the guest experience, so that as they’re making their plans at home, getting on the internet, getting on the phone, getting here, coming in the gate, getting into the park, that the technology disappears into the background and they’re just enjoying themselves,” Polk said. Modern technology could alter how parks update — or replace — existing attractions, Speigel said. “Something we’ve been working on for a long time is evolving the software and planning for the software improvements and extensions, kind of like what the cell phone has done and the Tesla automobile,” he said. “Let’s leave room in the program that we can put that in there, I think we’ll see that rather than tearing down the ride or just rebuilding a new ride,” he said. And technology may start following folks home after their park experiences, Speigel said. “You’ll be able to do connecting with whoever your park is — Disney, Universal, whoever. It’ll happen through the computers at home as well,” he said. “I think that facial recognition is just where the world is going. That’s going to be our fingerprint for tomorrow, I believe.” Mine-Cart Madness at Super Nintendo World takes guests on a fast-paced ride through Donkey Kong Country at Universal Epic Universe. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)Expect bumps along the way, experts say. “Every time you go out of the gate and you swing on new technology, there are always things you didn’t expect and things that you’ve got to adapt to,” Polk said. “We’re seeing rapid increases in technology and effects and innovation, but I think that’s always been there, and there’s always been leaps forward to create new experiences. I think it’s wonderful to be quite honest with you,” Weishar said. “What’s going to happen, and what’s already happening is, is the competition — Disney is gearing up for major expansions at Disney World as their answer to some of the things we’re seeing at Epic, and Universal isn’t stopping their momentum either,” he said. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. More on Epic Universe Epic Universe Ride Guide: New park rides ranked from tame to super scary Peeking into the portals (and just beyond) of Epic Universe Epic Universe: Frequently asked questions (plus answers) Power-Up Bands get games going in Super Nintendo World Epic Universe timeline: From dragons to butterbeer, here’s how theme park evolved An Epic movie guide: What to watch before visiting Universal’s new park Epic Universe: Say hello to new Helios Grand, theme park neighbor Epic Universe survival guide: What to pack for the new park Epic Universe: Exec blends arts, engineering in theme park roles Epic Universe preview: An early walk (and rides) in the park View the full article

THE DAY IS HERE! Epic Universe Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s newest park, is officially open to the public, and to celebrate, they had a grand opening ceremony. We’re not trying to be dramatic when we say this ceremony was EPIC (now that the park is open, get ready for ALL the epic puns). Welcome to Epic Universe! This is the “blue” carpet where different guests arrived. Welcome! Everyone is here to celebrate this brand-new theme park. It’s packed! Crowds! Each of the lands had its own special ceremony. For How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, an actual Viking ship came in with an ice sculpture! A Viking Ship! The boat was filled with real fish and lobster. Epic Universe is not messing around. This is crazy! This grand opening felt like a long time coming, and we can officially welcome Epic Universe to the theme park family. We’re so ready to explore, eat all the food, ride the rides, and share all the details so you can have the best trip ever. Make sure you’re following DFB so you get all the information and plan for your first visit. We’re going to continue to update this article throughout May 21st to bring you FULL coverage on this epic ceremony. COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUYING EPIC UNIVERSE TICKETS Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you excited that Epic Universe is officially open? Tell us what you’re looking forward to in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Universal Orlando to attend their media preview of Epic Universe Grand Opening. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post We're LIVE from Universal's Epic Universe Grand Opening Celebration first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The post Disney Foodie Finds: New Disneyland 70th Food & Snacks appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

First Look & Guest Reactions! 75 New Disneyland 70th Food & SnacksView the full article