Good morning and Happy New Year, everyone!
It’s Landon here – and I’ve arrived back in your email for another theme park newsletter. It’s been a while since we talked. 👨💻
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Hopefully you had a restful and awesome holiday season packed with some good memories with family and friends. Before I began writing the newsletter this week, I ripped down and packed all the Christmas decorations – both inside and outside my house. 📦 If you’re holding onto the holiday season for a little longer, you’d better hurry because this weekend is likely your last time to experience it all at many of our theme parks. After this weekend, many of the holiday offerings and decorations will begin to fade away. Don’t worry, it will be back before you know it.
🤔 As I stare at the calendar and see 2024, I hope you have some big plans and goals for the new year. In terms of the theme parks, 2024 is looking VERY bright with new attractions and experiences coming online. 🤩
One of my year’s goals is happening this weekend. Yours truly will be running the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon ... again. 🏃♂️💨
I’m taking on the daunting challenge of running 26.2 miles around the Walt Disney World Resort. This year, I’m dragging my fiancée and a couple of friends with me. I’m sure we will crush it 👍 and we certainly won’t be alone. Thousands of runners will hit the pavement this weekend for the race weekend. This morning, the 10K race stepped off, and the half-marathon and full marathon will follow in the days to come. If you’re heading to Walt Disney World this weekend, be aware that the parks may be a little busier than normal – for this reason. Are you running this weekend? Or do you have any big goals for 2024? Let me know by emailing me at lmcreynolds@wkmg.com. Can’t wait to hear from you.
To all the runners this weekend – Congratulations! 👏
Festive finale 👑
🎄If you’re still feeling a little festive – you might want to head to SeaWorld Orlando this weekend.
The park is set to host its limited-time, Three Kings Celebration. During this three-day event, guests can commemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men. The theme park will have festive holiday lights, live music and entertainment, and a live retelling of the tale of the Three Kings outside of the Nautilus Theater. Inside the theater, guests can enjoy the final performances of the fan-favorite show, O’ Wondrous Night at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. We also can’t forget about some of the delicious Latin fare that will be served up for the occasion! SeaWorld said the park will have dishes like empanadas, tostones and coquito! 😋
A little bonus for those with small children this week! 🎟️ SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay launched its free 2024 Preschool Card! This deal is only available for a limited time for children 5 and under. It gets them complimentary admission into the park and each of the nearby water parks through Dec. 31! All you must do is register by the end of next month.
Savor the artistry 🎨
Beginning next week, Walt Disney World will welcome back one of my favorite festivals, the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. I don’t know why, but this is one of my favorite’s year-after-year. I think it’s all the incredible art, food and live entertainment that you get to see out there. I’m sure I’ll have much more to say about this next week as the festival kicks off officially, but this week, I wanted to bring you the menus. 😄
Some of the new foods that are set to sweep your taste buds into a culinary journey include a grilled pork belly, a white chocolate and orange mousse “Rock the Dots” dessert and a crazy chocolate funnel cake sandwich. Something else people are freaking out about – the Figment popcorn bucket. You know what I’m talking about. This year, the popcorn bucket, packed with 🌈 popcorn, draws inspiration from the triangle-shaped Imagination! Pavilion at EPCOT. Inside, Figment can be seen jumping around and over a rainbow of all places.
Not sure if you remember, but the last Figment popcorn bucket a couple years ago caused quite the stir. Disney said the buckets will be available at the Odyssey, and limited to ✌️ per person.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts begins Jan. 12 and runs through Feb. 19.
One more thing about Walt Disney World and food, this week, the resort rolled out a special dining plan offer for Disney+ subscribers. 👨💻 Turns out you can get a FREE dining plan when booking your next Walt Disney World vacation! The offer is available for stays from July 1 to Sept. 30.
Ninja-Ready FUN 🥷
Legoland Florida Resort is sharing some of the karate-chop worthy additions coming to its LEGO NINJAGO Weekends later this month. The special limited-time event begins Jan. 20 and is free with park admission. Some of the fun activities punching their way into this year’s event includes Lloyd’s Elemental Challenge, Master Wu’s Expedition and a Whip Around Dance Party!
Not only that, but the theme park also said there will be some AWESOME LEGO character meet-and-greets and food and drinks that would make any ninja jealous. 😃
Anyone down to try some HI-YA-biscus Kombucha Lemonade 🧋or Wings of Wisdom?! I’ll be there waiting for you. LEGO NINJANGO Weekends runs through Feb. 19.
Looking at “LIFE” 🪷
A new attraction at the Orlando Science Center is coming to “LIFE” you could say.
This week, News 6 anchor and Insider guide Crystal Moyer gave us a first look 👀 at the new exhibit that will open in March. 👷♀️Construction crews said the new exhibit will transport guests into three distinct areas of our planet, the rainforest, the oceans and the swamps.
Guests will come face-to-face with larger-than-life trees and animals including alligators, sloths and even bonnethead sharks! 🦈 This new exhibit took over the Science Center’s old Kids Town play area. The multi-million-dollar project has been in the works for some time – but is nearing the finish line soon. I don’t know about you, but this is one attraction here in Central Florida that I can’t wait to see!
Kids pass & night out 🧑🚀
🚀 Finally, this week, a quick stop at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. They too have a special pass for the little ones to take advantage of now. The space complex just launched its Junior Space Explorer Pass for Florida residents. The FREE pass is available to children 5 and under – and is perfect for families with little ones to come and explore the space complex and all its exciting exhibits!
Just like the SeaWorld Orlando pass that I mentioned earlier, this pass is available only for a limited time!
That’s not the only news coming out of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. This week, tickets went on sale for its after-hours “Kennedy Under the Stars” space event. This one-night event allows guests to dress up and enjoy the complex as it illuminates in bright colors. The event will also feature live music and entertainment throughout! “Kennedy Under the Stars” is happening on Feb. 2!
Well, I think that will do it from me this week. I’m so glad to be back with you all again. I hope you have an incredible weekend and I look forward to talking to you all again next week!
-Landon ✍️