Disney4me Posted Monday at 10:06 AM Report Share Posted Monday at 10:06 AM Epic Universe is so last week, am I right? No, of course not. The new Universal Orlando theme park was years in the making, but if you want to wait until it’s less white-hot for a visit, there are new and returning options at Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions in the coming months. (Beware, it’s practically Halloween season. Boo!) Disney debuts Two new stage shows are now in the daily lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After,” in which Magic Mirror breaks into song, is running in the former home of the Lightning McQueen Racing Academy, just beyond Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Ariel and Ursuala are 2 of the characaters featured in 'The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure,' a new live stage show at Disney's Hollywood Studios. (Omark Reyes/Walt Disney Co.)“The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” features Ariel and friends in a new production. A previous “Mermaid” show there closed with the 2020 pandemic shutdown and never returned. Also on tap is GEO-82, an adults-only lounge within Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. It opens June 4. (Reservations are required). Meanwhile, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival continues daily through June 2, them the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off Aug. 28. On the character front, there will be Goofy-centric events in Epcot’s CommuniCore Hall, and Phineas and Ferb will begin making appearances, for a limited time, near the entrance of the park on June 1. We await news about the timing of a new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, but Disney says its “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” will begin “this summer.” Ditto for the new version of Test Track, said to reopen in “late summer” at Epcot. Typhoon Lagoon water park again is holding H2O Glow After Hours events on select nights through Sept. 13. And for the first time since the early pandemic days, both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are open at the same time this summer. SeaWorld dives in SeaWorld Orlando presents several seasonal activities under its Summer Spectacular umbrella. They are available on select days through Sept. 1. Park visitors can take in “Hydro Surge,” a new stage show with acrobats, dancers, vocalists and “a powerhouse drummer,” according to SeaWorld’s website, in Nautilus Theater. There also will be the “Shamu and Crew” parade; Club SeaGlow, a dance party at Bayside Stadium; Rescue Tails at Seaport Theater; and “Ignite” fireworks. Baby Shark and Pinkfong characters are set for appearances at SeaWorld Orlando theme park this summer. (United Parks & Resorts)New to the scene: Baby Shark Experience, which launches June 30 and runs through Sept. 2. That will include a live show plus meet-and-greets with Baby Shark and Pinkfong. A YouTube video includes a “Happy, happy SeaWorld” ditty. You’ve been warned. The park’s Bands Brew & BBQ event will be held on weekends from July 5 through Aug. 24. The performers have not been announced. Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park, brings back AquaGlow, an after-hours event with some new variations including Tassie’s Neon Twist, Luminous Lane and Roa’s Rapids: Amped Up. There are also laser-light shows, foam parties and unlimited soft drinks on select nights through Sept. 27. Aquatica also has added the Ultimate Playdate, which gives families early and exclusive access to Turi’s Kid Cove on select dates between June 2 and July 28. Legoland Florida, Fortnite’s Peely prep new global Lego Festival Legoland life Legoland Florida continues its participation in Lego Festival, a worldwide event tied to other Legoland parks. It features themed zones with group builds plus dance parties, characters and Fortnite experiences. It runs Saturday and Sundays through June 7. In addition, Sea Life Florida Aquarium, built next door to Legoland Florida, is set for its grand opening on June 6. 'DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers' exhibit is at Orlando Science Center through Sept. 7. (Jennifer Dummett/The Children's Museum)Things to see • “DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers,” an interactive display that explores self-discovery, justice and teamwork, is installed at Orlando Science Center through Sept. 7. The museum’s adults-only Science Night Live event, set for May 31, will include the exhibit and some super-programming. More info: osc.org. • Meanwhile, Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee is having “DC Summer,” with superhero themed experiences such as DC Super Hero Craft Zone, the Battle for Justice Light Show in the atrium, DC Super Hero Academy live show and the Revenge of the Riddler Scavenger Hunt. There’s more, including swag for hotel guests. More info: gaylordhotels.com /dcsummer. • “Orlando Collected,” an exhibit honoring the 150-year history of the City Beautiful, is installed at Orange County Regional History Center through Jan. 11. More info: thehistorycenter.org. • Madame Tussauds Orlando has added a new figure of actress Angela Bassett, who grew up in St. Petersburg, to its celebrity lineup. She’s wearing a black and gold jumpsuit inspired by one of her favorite red-carpet looks. More info: madametussauds.com. Halloween scene If you think August is no time to be having Halloween thoughts, well, you’re not from around here, are you? Consider this: We have more public information in May about our park’s spooky events than we do about Independence Day. OK, it’s mostly just dates at this point, no need to get scared. Although some attractions are selling tickets already. • Halloween Horror Nights begins at Universal Studios on Aug. 29. The after-hours fright fest is held 46 nights through Nov. 2. For info: universalorlando.com/hhn. • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a gentle, after-hours event, is set for Magic Kingdom on 38 nights between Aug. 15 and Oct. 31, although it’s already sold out for Halloween night. More info: disneyworld.com. • SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream, its after-hours event with haunted houses, scare zones and roaming hordes, runs from Sept. 5 through Nov. 1. It’s also promising “never-before-seen surprises.” Spooktacular, its gentler, non-horde daytime event, is set for select dates between Aug. 30 and Nov. 2. More info: seaworldorlando.com. • Brick-or-Treat, the Legoland Florida Halloween daytime event, will be on select dates between Sept. 20 and Nov. 2. More info: legolandflorida.com. Last call? We know for sure that some attractions are going away. The exact dates are not always available, but will these long-timers still be around next summer? • The curtain is definitely dropping at MuppetVision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The company has announced the final day to see Kermit and friends in this location, an attraction open since 1991, will be June 7. Likewise for the nearby PizzeRizzo restaurant. The space will be part of a future land based on “Monsters, Inc.,” eventually. There will be a Muppet takeover of the park’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but so far no end date for the Aerosmith version. One last walk around Disney’s Tom Sawyer Island • Disney has also announced that it will add two “Cars” rides as a Frontierland expansion at Magic Kingdom. But this means farewell to Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America and Liberty Belle. No dates have been shared. • In December, Universal Orlando announced that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit will be closing at Universal Studios in early September of 2025. It’s been rocking and rolling since 2009. 5 things to remember about Universal’s Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster 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. View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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