Meteorologist Jonathan Kegges was the first to notify me weeks ago that when the next total solar eclipse crosses the U.S., Central Florida will be in the path of totality. And we’ll have a 6-minute show!
OK. It’s not until Aug. 12, 2045, but it’s still fun to think about, especially if you’re still living off the hype from the eclipse coverage from this week.
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Our theme parks will likely be a hot ticket that day (we won’t talk about how much that’s going to cost). Disney World, of course, comes to mind, but let me also point out that Orlando’s newest theme park might be the best spot.
How about a celestial spectacle in Celestial Park?
Or just Epic Universe in general. After all, the theme of Universal Orlando’s fourth park is meant to lure astrology fans.
You can’t spell eclipse without “epic.” How fitting, right?
We have a while to wait. In the meantime, I’m Haley, and I’m keeping you in the loop on all things theme parks.
Epic Universe
🌟Book your celestial stay now
Speaking of Epic Universe, more details were released this week on two new resort hotels.
Stella Nova and Terra Luna are a cosmic fusion of imagination and relaxation. By the looks of the new concept art, guests will have some good dining options.
Both resorts are set to open early next year and both hotels offer exclusive theme park benefits and complimentary transportation throughout the Universal Orlando destination.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
10th roller coaster has some exciting firsts 🎢
“Phoenix Rising” is currently under construction but this week, crews completed the track for the steel-inverted roller coaster.
No opening date details have been released, only that Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has plans to open in the Pantopia-themed area this spring.
“Phoenix Rising” will be the first coaster to feature an on-board audio experience, with a one-of-a-kind soundtrack.
Walt Disney World
Rules are changing for DAS
Disney World’s theme parks are busy year-round and you can usually tell how busy they are by checking the wait times at attractions. I can’t remember the last time I saw a reasonable wait time at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Well, come May 20, guests may see a difference.
Disney World and Disneyland are changing their policies for guests with disabilities. The Disability Access Service program is intended to accommodate guests who due to a developmental disability, like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period.
The reason why I say you might see a difference in the wait time is because a large majority of people in those lines are using the DAS system.
The way to obtain DAS is changing too. We’ve included helpful information, including a breakdown from News 6′s Ezzy Castro and screenshots, in this web story.
Frog friends in the bayou 🐸
I really enjoyed it when Prince Naveen and Tiana were frogs in “The Princess and the Frog” film, and now we’ve got some original amphibians for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure - Felipe, Mayra, Mondo and Isabel.
I love all the original characters’ names too. However, it might be difficult to remember them all when I visit the Bayou.
By the way, Disney calls this the “last batch” of the musicians’ reveal. Does that mean an opening date announcement is coming soon?
We’re almost there...we think.
Now boarding... 💺🌌
When I attended the media preview for the new stories added to Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, it reminded me of Star Wars Weekends that were held at Disney’s Hollywood Studios years ago. A sense of nostalgia.
Now that we’re in the Star Wars streaming era, we’ve got to enjoy it somewhere else besides the living room. I anxiously awaited The Mandalorian and Grogu to make an appearance, and the classic motion simulator ride did not disappoint.
Along with the new experiences, there’s also new Star Tours merchandise to check out at Tattoine Traders.
Hopefully, soon I’ll be able to mention the opening dates of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Penguin Trek at SeaWorld Orlando.
As always, feel free to keep me in the loop through my email or reach out to me on my X or Instagram.