So today, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment have announced the names of their 2 latest roller coasters…
Meet Busch Gardens 10th Coaster… Iron Gwazi and SeaWorld Orlando’s 6th Coaster… Ice Breaker.
Lets start with the Gwazi ‘re-vamp’ now named Iron Gwazi. Iron Gwazi is “going to be the best roller coaster in Florida,” says Jonathan Smith – director of rides and engineering. “We’re building what could be one of the best coasters in the entire world.”
Iron Gwazi will have a tallest point of 206 feet, a 91 degree drop and a top speed of a whopping 76 mph!! Which is faster than Mako may i add! It will be the tallest and fastest coaster in the Sunshine State.
Iron Gwazi is being converted from an old twin-track to a single-track design – by Rocky Mountain Construction who also made Steel Vengeance (which Iron Gwazi will now overtake, by 1 foot, to be the tallest hybrid) are a hugely popular and many fan favourite lists include many Rocky Mountain coasters.
birds eye view of Gwazi
Second up is SeaWorld’s newest coaster.. Ice Breaker which will be a family thrill coaster.
Using linear synchronous motors, the unique coaster will feature a quadruple launch. After leaving the station, the trains will enter a track switch that will move them laterally into the launch section. They will first magnetically launch backwards, then forward, then backward, and finally forward with enough momentum to hit the ride’s top speed of 52 mph and make it out of the launch area. – USA Today
“Passengers will experience airtime (both forward and backward) while they are launching” on SeaWorld Orlando’s new Ice Breaker roller coaster, ride director Jonathan Smith says. “Airtime going backwards is unique.” -SeaWorld Parks
“What’s really cool about the launch experience is that there are camelbacks (airtime-generating hump-shaped hills) integrated into the track,” says SeaWorld’s Smith. “Passengers will experience airtime while they are launching. Airtime going backwards is very unique.”
Ice Breaker’s riders will navigate a 93-foot spike at 100 degrees, a full 10 degrees beyond vertical. They will also encounter an 80-foot top hat-shaped element that Smith says will be loaded with airtime. The coaster will be an “unusual, crazy, fun and thrilling experience,” he adds.
On top of both of those rides coming to the parks in 2020 SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment have announced a new attraction ‘Riptide Race’ is coming to Aquatica Orlando next year too!
Its going to be an exciting year for Roller Coasters isn’t it!! which one are you looking forward to the most? Me? Iron Gwazi!!
It seems like a long time ago that we saw the Cirque Du Soleil show at Disney World, so long so that people have actually stopped asking us about it… however that’s set to change.
Disney confirmed at their D23 expo that for the first time, Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios have joined forces with Cirque du Soleil to create a show that will combine Disney storytelling and heart with Cirque du Soleil’s signature artistry.
What?
Disney describe it as a love letter to Disney Animation – Set your imagination in motion with an all-new collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering in a show inspired by Disney animation for an all-new experience. Journey into a world where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come to life. This love letter to the heART of Disney animation transports you in a celebration of life and all of its deliberate, unanticipated movements of Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic mastery.
When?
Previews will begin March 20, 2020, leading up to the world premiere on April 17.
Cost?
We’re hearing that seats will cost approx anywhere from $69 to $169 based on where you sit.
Disney news coming think and fast at the moment as D23 Disney’s annual conference gets in to full flow and I’d guess there’s no bigger news than whats going to happen at Epcot!
Epcot will be unified with four neighbourhoods that each speak to important aspects of the world and its people: World Showcase, World Celebration, World Nature and World Discovery. These neighbourhoods will be filled with new experiences rooted in authenticity and innovation that take you to new destinations, where the real is made fantastic in a celebration of curiosity, hands-on wonder and the magic of possibility.
World Showcase
World Showcase will continue to be a celebration of culture, cuisine, architecture and traditions – infused with new magic.
The United Kingdom pavilion will welcome the first attraction inspired by Mary Poppins. You will step in time down Cherry Tree Lane past Admiral Boom’s house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family, where your adventure will begin.
In 2020, following the limited-time run of “Epcot Forever,” the new “HarmonioUS” will debut as the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying you away harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of artists from around the globe. “HarmonioUS” will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more.
In summer 2020, the France pavilion will offer even more for you to discover, including the much-anticipated attraction Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, where you’ll shrink to the size of Chef Remy and race through Gusteau’s restaurant on a wild adventure. Summer 2020 will also see the debut of a delicious new restaurant in the France pavilion, La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options featuring a menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse.
Also in the France pavilion, the classic Impressions de France film will be joined by the new “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along,” debuting in January 2020 and directed by Don Hahn, producer of both the animated and live-action versions of this tale as old as time.
“Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” will debut in January 2020 in the Canada pavilion with new scenes and a new story.
In the China pavilion, “Wondrous China” will take guests on a spectacular journey across the country, filmed and presented in a completely seamless 360-degree digital format.
World Celebration
World Celebration will offer new experiences that connect us to one another and the world around us. The iconic Spaceship Earth will remain a voyage through time as the journey transforms to reflect the power of storytelling to unite the human experience. New narration and an entirely new musical score will focus on the moments and ideas that define our story. You will follow a magical “story light” that brings the entire experience to life in dynamic ways, giving each scene energy and beauty that ties the entire journey together.
A new pavilion will be the perfect place for live events, and the home base for Epcot’s signature festivals. It will provide a stunning elevated view of the entire park and an ideal spot to witness Epcot’s nighttime spectacular. This beautiful three-level structure will have one of the most remarkable architectural designs at any Disney park, featuring a plaza level, a middle expo level, and a park that sits in the sky on the top level.
Epcot’s entrance plaza will be transformed with new experiences that connect us with the world, welcoming you with a reimagined fountain, new pathways and sweeping green spaces that beautify the entryway. The design will pay homage to the origins of Epcot.
As you exit Spaceship Earth, you’ll discover a breathtaking new view of World Showcase from Dreamers Point. World Celebration will also feature a new statue celebrating the legacy of the original dreamer, Walt Disney, plus beautiful natural environments and global design elements filled with Disney magic and surprises, including a wishing tree in an enchanted forest and a story fountain celebrating the power and music of iconic Disney storytelling.
W
World Nature
World Nature is dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe and balance of the natural world. It will include The Land and The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilions.
Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana” will be the first experience inspired by the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film. This lush exploration trail will invite you to meet and play with magical, living water. The water will have a life of its own – just like Moana’s friend, the ocean – and you’ll learn about the importance of the natural water cycle.
The Land pavilion’s new film, “Awesome Planet,” which showcases the beauty, diversity and dynamic story of the planet, will debut in January 2020.
World Discovery
In World Discovery, stories about science, technology and intergalactic adventure come to life. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be the first “other-world” showcase pavilion at Epcot. The adventure starts in the “Galaxarium,” a planetarium-like exhibition that explores the similarities and mysteries of the formation of Earth’s galaxy and Xandar. You will be invited to learn more about the treasures Xandar has to share – until the moment when the Guardians of the Galaxy arrive, and adventures across the cosmos ensue. The attraction will feature a new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering – a storytelling coaster that rotates 360 degrees to focus your attention on the action, including the first reverse launch on a Disney coaster.
An expansion of the Mission: SPACE pavilion, the new restaurant Space 220 will be a culinary experience featuring the celestial panorama of a space station, including daytime and nighttime views of Earth from 220 miles up. You’ll board a special elevator for a journey to a space station that is home to an incredible dining experience. Along the way, viewports will give you a real-time perspective as you travel high above the planet. Once you arrive, you’ll enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in views that are truly out of this world. Opening this winter, Space 220 will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group.
The PLAY! pavilion will open in time for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World. In this digital metropolis, you’ll discover an interactive city bursting with games, activities and experiences that connect you with friends, family and beloved Disney characters – both real and virtual – like never before. As part of this new pavilion, you’ll have the chance to help legendary fashion icon Edna Mode on her quest to rid the world of uninspired style, or make a splash competing in a water-balloon fight hosted by Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby.
You’ll be able to visualize these exciting plans for Epcot when doors open Oct. 1, 2019, for Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience in the Odyssey Events Pavilion. You’ll discover engaging and interactive exhibits that showcase the relentless innovation, energy and excitement driving the park’s future throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
And breathe…… an absolute ton of things to come at Epcot and rightly so, the theme park has felt slightly neglected over the years, well no more!
Disney’s D23 is off and running in California. For those not in the know D23 is an annual conference where Disney bosses give us an update on all things Disney (I’ve written Disney a lot of time there). It’s a Disney Geek heaven and I love it.
First up is a little update on Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway…
Set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Imagineers are getting ready to open next year. You’ll be invited to the Chinese Theatre, which serves as the magic portal through which theatergoers will step from the human world directly into the cartoon world for one Goofy adventure aboard Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway!
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway puts you inside the wacky and unpredictable world of Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning “Mickey Mouse” cartoon shorts! Once you step into the cartoon world of Mickey and Minnie, you’ll board a train with Goofy as the engineer. Then, one magical moment after the next leads you to a zany, out-of-control adventure filled with surprising twists and turns.
With an original story and lovable theme song, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway uses state-of-the-art technologies and dazzling visual effects to transform the cartoon world into an incredible and immersive multidimensional experience.
We’re expecting further details the closer we get to opening.
Disney annual conference D23 kicks off this weekend and even before a visitor has stepped foot inside the convention centre in California Disney have dropped some some welcome news.
Epcot
Disney have big plans for Epcot, the development with be done over multiple years and will see new experiences added that will make the park more Disney, more family, more timeless and more relevant to the millions of guests who visit each year.
The reinvention of Epcot will include Journey of Water, Inspired by “Moana.” This first-ever attraction based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios hit film, “Moana,” will let guests interact with magical, living water in a beautiful and inspiring setting.
And this October, guests will be able to visualize all of the exciting plans for Epcot at a new experience center in the Odyssey Events Pavilion, called Walt Disney Imagineering presents the Epcot Experience. Inside this first-of-its-kind offering within a Disney park, guests will discover engaging and interactive exhibits that allow you to step inside the relentless innovation, energy and excitement and see some never-before-revealed details driving the future of Epcot all throughout this unprecedented period of transformation.
Tron
Disney also confirmed the name of the Tron ride coming to Disney’s Magic Kingdom in 2021.
Disney have confirmed the name will be Tron Lightcycle Run
Star Wars
Although not strictly theme park related I thought I’d also include the Start Wars hotel news.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be a new, first-of-its-kind vacation experience where guests will check in for a two-night adventure aboard a glamorous starship. Once onboard, guests will interact with characters and become active participants in stories that unfold around them on their galactic journey.
We’re expecting lots more information this weekend and as usual we’ll keep you in the loop.
Reservations are now open for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Experiences! All the info on how to book these ‘out of this world’ experiences is below…
If you’re planning to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning Aug. 29, 2019, you can now make reservations for several galactic experiences.
Whether it’s customizing your own legendary lightsaber, building a droid at Black Spire Outpost’s industrial depot or hanging out at Oga’s Cantina, there’s much to explore as you become part of the Star Wars story.
Craft a Lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop – Constructing a lightsaber is a rite of passage in the life of a Jedi, as this elegant weapon from a more civilized age is attuned to its wielder through the Force. Inside Savi’s Workshop, you will feel the presence of the Force as you craft your own lightsabers, customizing them with various hilts, accessories and the all-important kyber crystals.
For the Savi’s Workshop experience, there will be limited walk-up availability but reservations are highly recommended. A credit card deposit of $199 is required for each reservation. Cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; any no-shows will be charged the full price of the experience. Guests can also bring one guest to observe the experience.
Build a Droid Inside the Droid Depot – Droids can be some of the most loyal companions in the entire Star Wars galaxy, and now you can have the chance to build and customize your own astromech friends at the Droid Depot. Patrons pick pieces and parts off a conveyor belt to construct one of two core models (R-series or BB-series), which can then interact with elements throughout Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
At Droid Depot, reservations are highly recommended and there will be limited walk-up availability. Cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; any no-shows will be charged the full price of the experience. Guests may also bring one person along for the build experience.
Hang Out at Oga’s Cantina – Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the notorious watering hole where smugglers, bounty hunters, and weary travelers of all ages can come partake in some out-of-this-world refreshments. To make trip planning easier, Oga’s Cantina will follow the 180-day reservation process currently offered for restaurants and experiences requiring reservations. While there will be limited walk-up availability, reservations are highly recommended. And like our other experiences, cancellations can be made up to the day before without penalty; however, any no-shows will be charged.
Reservations for the experiences above can now be made through My Disney Experience app or on www.mydisneyexperience.co.uk. Reservations will be available for dates up to 180 days out.
*Reservations for the above experiences in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edgearehighly recommended. Walk-up availability may be limited.
So just when we though we had ALLLLLL the Halloween Horror Nights news that we needed, Universal hit us with a brand new event that is heading to HHN this year!
A brand spanking new lagoon show is debuting at Studios just for HHN (6th September – 2nd November )…
HALLOWEEN MARATHON OF MAYHEM
Watch as the lagoon transforms with a spectacle of neon and synth, featuring iconic scenes from top horror films, cult classics and TV shows in “Halloween Marathon of Mayhem”.
The Lagoon is going to light up with iconic scenes from the following: Stranger Things Ghostbusters Universal Monsters Killer Klowns from Outer Space
The show will feature a blend of fountain based media, state of the art tech and special effects in a ‘new way’.
This is one 80’s nightmare you won’t want to miss.
Show times each event night are 10PM, 11PM and 12AM.
This is a verrrryyyy cool addition to Halloween Horror Nights in my opinion!
What do you guys think of this?
Stay tuned for more information on Halloween Marathon of Mayhem!
With Halloween Horror Nights just around the corner the announcements are coming thick and fast! This year HHN29 is looking stacked with 10 houses, 5 scare zone and 2 shows all kicking off from 6th September until the 2nd November.
Today Universal confirm House of 1000 corpses, come face-to-face with the psychotic Firefly family and their collection of blood and gore. Watch “The Legend of Doctor Satan” come to life right before your eyes. Keep a lookout for the latest addition to Captain Spaulding’s Museum of Monsters and Madmen, Fish Boy! And if you’re lucky, you’ll escape the house as fast as a rabbit, minus the fluffy bunny costume and tragic ending.
Halloween Horror Nights this year looks like it’s going to be an absolute cracker. Houses already confirmed are Stranger Things, Nightingales, Universal Monsters, Depths of Fear, Yeti Terror of the Yukon, Ghostbusters, Us and Graveyard games but what about scare zones I hear you call… Well Universal confirmed them today.
Zombieland Double Tap
It’s time to brush up on those rules of survival. Based on the hit film and its upcoming sequel, this scare zone puts you in the middle of the United States of Zombieland. The infection has spread and bloodthirsty zombies are everywhere. The most important rule to remember: Always double tap.
Rob Zombie Hellbilly Deluxe
You know his music, now it’s time to live it. Step into the heavy metal horror of Rob Zombie’s music and imagery in this pulse-pounding scare zone. From otherworldly beings to brutal maniacs, you’ll come face-to-face with his twisted creations as the music cranks to a frenzy.
Anarch-cade
An 80s-inspired arcade has taken over Avenue of the Stars. At first glance, you may think it’s a party. However, you quickly learn that “Game Over” means a permanent end for you. A gang of neon slashers are out to play and this is one game you won’t want to lose.
Vanity Ball
Beauty is pain. Literally. In the streets of Hollywood, your flesh becomes the canvas as blade-wielding artists slice up willing participants into horrific living works of art. Here, going under the knife takes on a whole other meaning.
Vikings Undead
We’re all familiar with the brutal Viking warriors. It’s terrifying enough thinking about facing them alive. Now picture facing them as the undead. They have risen and laid siege to Central Park with an onslaught of gore. Bloodlust never dies.
Universal also confirmed that Academy of Villains will be returning this year – Academy of Villains returns in an epic experiment of mind and body. Man’s true nature is dragged out into the dark, gothic streets of anarchy. This wickedly talented group of artists is back for an all-new performance featuring a killer mix of visionary dance and extraordinary theatrics.
If you didn’t watch the show live here’s your chance to catch up on the replay. In this episode Abby and Gavin chat about Universal’s epic announcement about their 4th park, tiny bit about Disney and then some positive SeaWorld news.
They also give away 5 goodies bags packed full of theme park goodness. Check it out here;
OAT live is a bi-weekly theme park news, review and chat show which has been running since September 2017. All episodes are available on our facebook page.
