Good morning, everyone! It’s Landon here with your FINAL theme park newsletter of 2023!
The holidays are right around the corner, and I hope you have all the gifts wrapped and ready to go. 🎄🎁 As I sit here typing up this week’s newsletter, I’m reflecting on all the new and exciting things that have happened at our local theme parks and the countless number of stories I have helped bring you week-after-week. From the opening of the long-awaited TRON Lightcycle Run to Universal Orlando’s diabolical and mischievous new Illumination’s Villain Con: Minion Blast attraction – we have had a lot of fun!
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As we look to the future – even more fun is on the horizon! Each of the theme parks has something all-new and exciting lined up for guests to experience.
🤩 Attractions in 2024
Walt Disney World
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – Magic Kingdom, late 2024
Country Bears Musical Jamboree update – Magic Kingdom
CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza – EPCOT, World Celebration
⭐ NEW THIS WEEK⭐ “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” - Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Fall 2024
Star Tours new adventures – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Universal Orlando
Dreamworks Land – Universal Studios Florida
Potential updates on Epic Universe theme park
SeaWorld Orlando & Aquatica
Penguin Trek roller coaster – Spring 2024
Tassie’s Underwater Twist slide – Spring 2024
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Phoenix Rising roller coaster – Spring 2024
Legoland Florida Resort
Build and Race experience – Spring 2024
SEA LIFE Florida Resort – Fall 2024
With this long list of new additions, what are you looking forward to seeing the most?
Let me know by emailing me at lmcreynolds@wkmg.com or by sending a message on X (Twitter). All right let’s get to some of the other big stories this week. 😃
U.K. Theme Park? 🇬🇧
After some rumors began to swirl around earlier this week, Universal Destinations & Experiences broke some news saying they’re exploring the development of building a new theme park in the United Kingdom. Turns out, the area is packed with a large population, creative content and potential for development. The company said they have acquired some land and are now exploring opportunities to build a new park. Will this be a big park or one of their smaller ones? That is the question.
We will wait and see. I know a lot of people from Europe fly ✈️ here to visit our theme parks, now they might have one of their own! Sounds pretty cool to me.
Hotel plans? 🏨
Staying in the ideas of new construction and planning – SeaWorld Orlando has secretly filed plans to build its own theme park hotel. I have listened to countless investor calls with the company and this idea is something that park leaders have voiced for some time now. The new 500+ room hotel would be built not far from Mako and the Nautilus Theater, in an area now used for ambassador parking and backstage storage. These plans are still in the early development stages but seeing this would actually be a big deal for SeaWorld Orlando. 🏗️ Turns out, the theme park is the only one in Central Florida without its official resort hotel on property. According to plans filed with Orange County, the hotel would have convention space, retail, pools and a rooftop bar.
We could hear more details about this beginning next year.
Ready for the close up 😁
Is that Harry Styles?! Well – no, it’s not, but it looks like him. Madame Tussauds Orlando just welcomed its newest wax figure. 📸 And yes, it’s pop singer and songwriter Harry Styles. Guests can now pose with the singer at the ICON Park attraction. The museum said the look that Styles was designed after comes from his ensemble he wore at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards. Not sure if you remember, but Awkwafina’s wax figure is also coming to the museum very soon too.
😍 Animal updates
A couple of animal updates I wanted to share with you this week. The first was at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 🥰
Not sure if you heard the news, but the park welcomed its first African elephant calf in seven years. 🐘 The baby elephant is called Corra, and she is currently backstage bonding with her mom, Nadirah. What makes this even more special is that Nadirah was also born at the park back in 2005. Pretty soon, you may see the two at the Kilimanjaro Safaris!
The other story is coming out of Gatorland. This week, I got a first hand look at the world-famous rescue gator, Jawlene. The small female alligator was rescued back in September after being found without part of her mouth. She is now out in the public eye, relaxing alongside some smaller gators in the park’s baby gator marsh. 🐊 I also got to see how she eats, and it’s pretty impressive. I wish her the best as she recovers at the alligator capital of the world.
🎊 Countdown to 2024 🥳
Finally this week, I wanted to bring you some New Year’s Eve updates from the theme parks. Each of the theme parks have something to do to ring in the new year!
Walt Disney World:
Magic Kingdom and EPCOT will ring in the new year with special fireworks presentations.
Magic Kingdom’s Fantasy in the Sky firework spectacular happening Dec. 30-31 at 11:50 p.m.
Universal Orlando:
Universal Orlando ringing in 2024 with extravagant New Year’s Eve celebrations
SeaWorld Orlando:
SeaWorld plans to show New Years’ Eve firework spectacular following the 11:30 p.m. showing of Winter Wonderland on Ice.
Legoland Florida Resort:
Kids’ New Years Eve celebration Dec. 26-31.
Well, I think that will wrap things up from me. I want to say thank you for sticking with me on this wild roller coaster ride this year!
I hope you have a fantastic and safe holiday season!