Theme Parks

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Last look: MuppetVision 3D at Disney World

It’s time to stop the music. It’s time to dim the lights. After a 34-year run at Walt Disney World, the curtain is dropping on MuppetVision 3D. The final day to see the presentation is June 7.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/05/muppetvision-3d-ends/?

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SeaWorld Orlando: New emperor penguins set for Florida debut

SeaWorld Orlando visitors can come face-to-face with emperor penguins later this week, the theme park confirms.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/09/seaworld-emperor-penguins/?

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Disney: New GoofyCore brings Cool Kid energy, dance party to Epcot

Gawrsh, there’s a lot of stimulation going on at GoofyCore, the new limited-time activities area at Epcot that’s part of the Cool Kid Summer push at Walt Disney World.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/10/disney-goofycore/?

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Disney, NBCU sue Midjourney over copyright infringement

Disney and NBCUniversal have teamed up to sue Midjourney, a generative AI company, accusing it of copyright infringement, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by Axios.

https://www.axios.com/2025/06/11/disney-nbcu-midjourney-copyright?

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First look: ‘Hydro Surge’ stage show at SeaWorld Orlando

The rise of new theme-park stage shows continues with “Hydro Surge,” now performed daily at SeaWorld Orlando.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/17/seaworld-hydro-surge/?

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‘Disney Starlight’ parade times, route in Magic Kingdom set

Walt Disney World has confirmed fresh details about the new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom theme park. “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” steps off for the first time July 20.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/20/disney-starlight-parade-times/?

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Islands of Adventure hopping: Dragons, Cool Zone, T-shirt desert

For years, Universal’s Islands of Adventure was the newborn baby of the Orlando theme park family. It spent a quarter-century as our latest addition, opening at the tail-end of an ‘80s-’90s flurry that birthed Epcot, Universal Studios, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/24/islands-hopping/?

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Universal: Damaged dolls house joins Halloween Horror Nights lineup

Universal Orlando has announced another original haunted house concept for the 2025 edition of Halloween Horror Nights. It’s called Dolls: Let’s Play Dead.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/25/hhn-dolls/?

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First look: Epcot’s revised Test Track zooms to future

When Walt Disney World reopens its Test Track attraction at Epcot, visitors can expect a new look and a new future-pointed emphasis during the indoor-outdoor ride that zooms over theme park goers.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/30/epcot-test-track/?

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Why SeaWorld’s ‘Baby Shark’ show won’t kill you

You can’t really be angry while queuing up at SeaWorld Orlando for “Baby Shark Mini Live Show.” You asked for this.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/01/seaworld-baby-shark-show/?

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Disney: Jordin Sparks, Beach Boys set for Epcot concerts

Walt Disney World has revealed the performers for this year’s Eat to the Beat concert series, the musical element of the Epcot International Food  & Wine Festival. New acts on the list include Jordin Sparks, KT Tunstall and, in the final concerts of 2025, the Beach Boys.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/02/disney-epcot-concerts/?

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Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge’s animals ready for visitors again in Orange County

“This is it,” Debbie Helsel said. “You don’t have to take us anywhere else.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/09/back-to-nature-wildlife-refuges-animals-ready-for-visitors-again-in-orange-county/?

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Kennedy Space Center opens The Gantry at LC-39 attractions

There’s a new stop along the popular tour at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and it presents views that showcase Florida’s nature and modern technology.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/11/kennedy-space-center-gantry/?

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? 70 years of Disneyland

Fireworks explode behind Sleeping Beauty's Castle during Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration in 2005. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/AP Disneyland opened its doors in Anaheim, Calif., 70 years ago today, envisioned as a family attraction with a focus on storytelling. It's still the second most visited theme park in the U.S., trailing only Disney World in Florida. Walt Disney crosses the drawbridge that serves as the entrance to Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, in Anaheim, Calif., on April 16, 1955. Photo: David F. Smith, AP/File Admission in 1955 cost $1 for adults and 50 cents for children. Tickets for most rides were an additional 10–50 cents, per AP. Today, it's at least $100 for a daily pass. A handful of the original rides are still there, including the Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan's Flight and Jungle Cruise. More photos.

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Theme park parades: Brighter, bigger, in demand

Walt Disney World is introducing a fresh parade, a staple of the theme park experience for decades, but one that’s evolving with technology and modern audiences.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/18/theme-park-parades/?

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Magic Kingdom’s Disney Starlight parade prompts cheers, tears on opening night

Walt Disney World fans enthusiastically greeted the roll-out of a new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom on Sunday. It’s the first regularly scheduled after-dark parade at the theme park in nearly a decade.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/21/disney-starlight-parade-opening-night/?

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Theme park injuries: Coasters, carousels on quarterly report

Dizziness, falls, loss of consciousness and pains in the arm, wrist and chest were among the conditions recorded in Florida’s quarterly report of theme-park injuries.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/21/theme-park-injuries-report/?

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Gaylord Palms: Rudolph and friends set for new ice carvings

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” will be the theme of the upcoming carved-ice display and holiday festivities at Gaylord Palms Resort. Expect very shiny noses, secret slides and a larger-than-life Bumble for the 2025 edition.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/24/gaylord-palms-ice-rudolph/?

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Quarterly report: Epic Universe debut boosts Comcast theme park revenue

Revenue for the theme park segment of Comcast Corp. went up 18.9% in the second quarter after the opening of its Epic Universe in May, the company announced Thursday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/30/comcast-epic-quarterly-report/?

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Disney sets opening date for ‘Zootopia’ attraction, updates coaster plans

Walt Disney World shared updates on several projects Thursday, including one grand opening date and revamped roller coaster details, some revealed by a menagerie of Muppets featuring Kermit the Frog.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/21/disney-update-0823/?

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100 days of Epic Universe: Rave reviews, long waits, speculation

Orlando is marking the 100th day of the Epic Universe era. Universal Orlando’s new theme park, which debuted May 22, burst onto the scene during a very hot summer with positive reviews for its detailed design and elaborate attractions.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/29/epic-100-0830/?

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Disney World ready to repaint Cinderella Castle

Cinderella Castle, the centerpiece structure of Magic Kingdom theme park, will be getting a new look that’s kind of like one of its old-timey looks.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/03/castle-paint-0904/?

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Orlando theme park rides: What’s closed and what’s coming

Orlando’s theme parks are forever in flux, visually represented by panels and panels of construction walls. Currently, there are attractions getting refurbished, replaced and rested, but that all translates to parkgoers as “you can’t do that right now.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/11/closed-rides-0913/?

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Disney: Gino, an original Animal Kingdom inhabitant, has died

Gino, a western lowland gorilla and longtime resident of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, has died, Walt Disney World announced Wednesday.  He was 44.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/17/gino-disney-0918/?

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Universal Orlando guest dies from ‘blunt impact’ after riding Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers

A man in his 30s who became unresponsive after riding the Stardust Racers thrill ride at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe theme park died from “multiple blunt impact injuries”, according to the county medical examiner.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/18/universal-orlando-guest-dies-after-riding-epic-universes-stardust-racers/?