Summer unleashed 😎

Central Florida’s theme parks are making headlines this week, debuting new attractions, refreshed experiences, and celebrating a blockbuster first year

Hello, theme park fans, it’s Haley. Buckle up for a wealth of news.

As the mom of a toddler, I live in a “Bluey” household, and I couldn’t wait to tell him about my workday seeing Bluey and Bingo make their Walt Disney World debut.

It’s one of the many new things coming to Walt Disney World.

Pure Muppet mayhem 🤘

Walt Disney Imagineering is known for putting a lot of thought and detail into attractions.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is no exception, as so many props from previous attractions and beyond have found a new home.

One of my takeaways from this attraction is that the Muppets simply don’t age — a quality that fits seamlessly into Disney’s ever-expanding IP landscape.

One other thing, don’t skip Rock Around the Shop because the Muppet merchandise right now is not to be missed.

Team engineer 🕹️

All roles are created equal on the newly updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

The engineer seat just became the most important job on the ship, as they choose the bounty, pick the planet, and collect crates for Hondo Ohnaka — all while keeping tabs on a certain little green passenger named Grogu.

My favorite feature, though, is hearing the Mandalorian’s voice the entire duration of the journey. It made gameplay almost secondary to the experience itself.

Leadership changes 💼

Joe Schott to take over as president of Walt Disney World this summer. (Walt Disney Company)

Disney World’s next leader knows the parks inside and out — starting from the Jungle Cruise dock.

The Walt Disney Company named Joe Schott as the new president of Walt Disney World, taking over from retiring president Jeff Vahle. Schott brings more than 40 years of Disney experience to the role.

Universal Orlando

1-UP 🍄

Universal’s Epic Universe is marking its first anniversary in Orlando, celebrating one year of immersive worlds, millions of visitors, and a park that’s still growing.

From expansion plans and the long-awaited rollout of annual passes to ongoing efforts to beat the Florida heat, Epic Universe leaders say the best is yet to come.

Juke screams 🧛‍♂️

Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood announced that “Sinners”, the Academy Award-winning supernatural horror film from writer-director Ryan Coogler, will haunt both parks for Halloween Horror Nights. (Universal Destinations & Experiences)

Ryan Coogler’s Academy Award-winning supernatural horror film “Sinners” is heading to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort — and the vampires are bringing the blues with them.

It’s the second house announcement for this year’s event and the first of the IPs.

SeaWorld Orlando

A new expedition 🧊

Expedition Odyssey: Fire & Ice (United Park & Entertainment)

SeaWorld Orlando’s newest adventure is arriving just in time for the unofficial start of summer.

Expedition Odyssey: Fire & Ice, a story-driven upgrade to the park’s popular indoor flying theater ride, whisks guests from Arctic tundras to erupting volcanoes in a fully reimagined, high-definition cinematic experience.

Rescue milestone 🦭

A sea lion pup recently marked the 43,000th rescue for SeaWorld. (United Parks & Entertainment)

SeaWorld has surpassed 43,000 animal rescues, cementing its place as one of the largest marine animal rescue organizations in the world.

The milestone was marked by the rescue of an orphaned California sea lion pup.

Gaylord Palms Resort

Heroes assemble 🦸

Super Hero Summer featuring DC at Gaylord Palms Resort. (Marriott International)

Gaylord Palms Resort’s Super Hero Summer featuring DC has begun.

The event brings Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and other fan-favorite DC characters to life through live shows, character dining, splash zone events, a scavenger hunt, and a nightly light show.

That was a wealth of content for this week.

As always, keep me in the loop through my email or reach out to me on X or Instagram.

– Haley

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