Contents AttractionsMagazine.

com | Fall 2017 | Volume 10 | Issue 4

FEATURES

24 28 32 38
Q&A: Skipper Ben’s Disney’s D23 Expo That’s a Wrap
Making Things Top 10 Attractions Announcements
Go Horribly Wrong Outside the Parks
The Great Movie Ride and Ellen’s
The future is looking exciting for Energy Adventure are closed,
Universal Orlando’s Patrick Braillard You may have experienced Orlando’s Walt Disney World. We break down but not forgotten.
talks Halloween Horror Nights. world-class theme parks, but you’re not everything announced at the expo.
done having fun yet.

44 48 52
Nerd Bars Resort Report Table Service
Geek is in, and you’ll geek-out over Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Paddlefish, at Disney Springs ARTIST CONCEPT BY DISNEY

these cool Orlando bars.

ON THE COVER
Mickey and Minnie are the stars of
DEPARTMENTS
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

What’s New Online Photo Finds 58 Mystery Photo

ride, which was announced to replace
6 20
Feedback Versus 60 Out of the Loop
The Great Movie Ride at the D23 Expo.
8 22
10 Then & Now 56 Bemusement Park 62 Lights, Camera,
12 Vacation Planner 57 Spot the Difference Attraction!
14 News In The Queue 58 The Rumor Queue

Fall 2017 5
 WHAT’S NEW ON ATTRACTIONSMAGAZINE.com
By Banks Lee
Check our website regularly for more articles, plus many videos. Stay up-to-date with all the latest theme
park and attraction news through our weekly video shows, our free iPhone/iPad app and our free e-mail
newsletter.

D23 EXPO 2017

It was a big year for Disney Parks at the biennial
D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif. Walt Disney World
Resort alone got at least 12 announcements of new
rides, updates, openings and more. There’s so
much, that we can’t list them all here, so be sure to
check out our feature story later in the issue, and
go to our website and YouTube channel for all the
news from all the Disney parks around the world!
And while you’re on YouTube, check out our many
videos from around the Expo, including full panels,
show floor tours, special events and more.

SAYING GOODBYE
As part of the new additions coming to Walt Disney World announced at D23 Expo, we learned two classic attractions
would be closing for good. The Universe of Energy at Epcot and The Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios both
closed Aug. 13 to make way for Guardians of the Galaxy and Mickey Mouse, respectively. After you read our tribute
stories on page 38, head to our website and YouTube channel for looks at their final days, tributes, and even a final ride
on Energy that doesn’t go according to plan.

EXPANSION DRIVE PODCAST LIVE FROM THE PARKS

THE GREAT
SHIRT DEBATE Follow us on Twitter @Attractions,
on Snapchat at AttractionsMag,
on Instagram at attractionsmagazine
and our Facebook page at
facebook.com/attractionsmagazine. We frequently
post on-the-spot information, photos and live videos
while we’re inside the theme parks. You can also
see our latest videos if you subscribe to our YouTube
channel at youtube.com/attractionsmagazine. Be
sure to click on the bell icon to be notified when we
post new videos.

We post a new show every day.

Sunday: The Weekly Rewind
Monday: Daycation Kingdom
Tuesday: Photo Finds, Roy Meets World
Wednesday: As Dreamers Do, Expansion Drive
Thursday: Attractions Magazine - The Show,
It’s a question many theme park fans in We recently debuted our first audio podcast called Expansion Drive. On it, Early Night Live
Orlando have wondered at one time or hosts Mike Kerrigan (from our Daycation Kingdom vlog), Didi Francique Friday: Attractions Adventures
another: is it OK to wear a Disney T-shirt to and a weekly guest bring you news and discussion about everything fun, Saturday: Blue Sky Beauty
Universal or vise-versa? We polled our social including theme parks, video games, television, movies, music and more.
media followers recently and the results were New episodes are released every Wednesday. You can find and listen to it
a little surprising. Head to our website to see on iTunes, Google Play and Podbean. A video version is also available on
what people think about this fun debate. our YouTube channel.

6 Fall 2017
 FEEDBACK
Favorite Fan Photos and Stories.

ATTRACTIONS MAGAZINE STAFF

Editor and Publisher

Matt Roseboom

Writers
Andy Guinigundo, Andy Haynes, Jim Korkis,
Banks Lee, Ben Rebstock, Matt Roseboom,
Quinn Roseboom, Brittani Tuttle,
Simon Veness, Susan Veness, Tharin White

Photographer
Matt Roseboom

Art & Design He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute! – Claire Sneddon
My lovely hubby Charlie channelling his inner
AllPhaseGraphics.com, David Campbell, Vince Dorse
Ariel, thanks to the amazing knitting skills of my
Proofreader sister! This photo was taken at Disneyland Paris
Scott Otis earlier this summer. – Carolyn Brooke-Millward

Editorial Assistants
Banks Lee, Jackie Roseboom,
Quinn Roseboom

CONTACT INFORMATION
Attractions Magazine
7512 Dr. Phillips Blvd. STE 50-612, Orlando FL 32819
Web: attractionsmagazine.com
Phone: 407-741-3200 Mom and I at the Magic Kingdom! It was mom's
E-mail: [email protected] first visit back since 2004. This was taken outside
Twitter: twitter.com/attractions the Be Our Guest restaurant earlier this year. She Mom, you said South of the Border ... we thought you meant Mexico.
Facebook: facebook.com/attractionsmagazine loved the restaurant and connecting again with – Austin Michael Costello
YouTube: youtube.com/attractionsmagazine
the park. – Kathleen Theresa
Snapchat: AttractionsMag
Instagram: Instagram.com/AttractionsMagazine
Pinterest: pinterest.com/Attractions

Attractions Magazine (ISSN 24708364) is published in the U.S.A. quarterly by Dream Together
Media LLC, 5700 Fun Spot Way, Orlando, FL. 32819. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, Florida
and additional mailing offices. The entire contents of this publication are Copyright© 2017 by Dream
Together Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form
without the express written permission of the publisher. Statements or opinions herein are those of
the authors and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, Dream Together
Media LLC, or the staff. Attractions Magazine is locally owned and operated and is not affiliated with
any theme park or attraction company. Basic subscription rate is $23.95 for four issues. Single issue
price is $5.99. Shipping is extra on single and international orders. All orders must be prepaid and are
payable in U.S. funds only. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Attractions Magazine, Attn:
Had a magical time at Universal Studios! Even
Subscriptions, 7512 Dr. Phillips Blvd. STE 50-612, Orlando FL 32819. SUBSCRIBER: If the postal did some back-to-school shopping at The mayor's wife decided her hat wasn't good enough.
service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive
a corrected address within six months. Ollivanders. – Kayleen Parra-Padron – Cynthia Ayala Maldonado

8 Fall 2017
 Going back to the '50s and '60s Era in Style!
– Cindy Borges
Mickey, you blinked! – Ben Rebstock

Nothing beats your first visit on your first birthday.

– Tracy Typinski Where dreams come true! – Patrick McCord

We are out of Bort license plates in the gift shop.

– Crystal Basone

WRITE TO US!

We want your letters and photos!

If you have any comments
about the magazine, questions
about traveling to Orlando or fun
stories or photos to share,
simply e-mail us at
[email protected].
Follow me to the Food and Wine Festival. – Deme Grabert

Fall 2017 9
 THEN & NOW
From Athletic City to a Chocolate Factory
By Matt Roseboom

B efore it was the steampunk-looking factory it is today, it was a

“city” with a huge athlete in front. The Toothsome Chocolate
Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen building at Universal Orlando CityWalk
released when the Chocolate Emporium was announced in 2015. Notice
the restaurant was originally going to be named Toothsome Chocolate
Factory & Savory Feast Emporium. It’s speculated Universal took “facto-
used to house NBA City Restaurant. Of course, NBA City was a restaurant, ry” out of the name so as not to be mistaken as a Willy Wonka-themed
arcade and gift shop themed to the National Basketball Association. restaurant. Fans of NBA City will be happy to know an NBA Experience
Although it’s hard to tell, most of the old NBA City building was used when restaurant and arcade is coming to Disney Springs where DisneyQuest
building Toothsome. We’ve also included the concept art Universal used to be.

THEN

NOW CONCEPT

10 Fall 2017
Fall 2017 11
 VACATION PLANNER
Upcoming Orlando-area attractions and events you may want to plan your vacation around.
By Banks Lee

COMING SOON

FAST & FURIOUS: INFINITY FALLS

SUPERCHARGED Location: SeaWorld Orlando, formerly SEAGarden area
Location: Universal Studios Florida, formerly Opening Date: Summer 2018
Disaster! Infinity Falls will be a new rapids ride that will send guests twisting and turning through a jungle environment. A unique
Opening Date: Spring 2018 vertical elevator will lift each raft for a dramatic launch into the river, 40 feet below, making it the world’s tallest river
Guests will explore the headquarters of Toretto and rapid drop.
his team and even get to check out some of the
supercharged cars they’ve seen on the big screen.
Then, they’ll board specially-designed vehicles and RATATOUILLE RIDE
take off on an adventure with the film stars.
Location: Epcot, France Pavilion
Opening Date: By 2021
A new Ratatouille-inspired attraction will take guests on a dazzling chase across a kitchen with the sights, sounds and smells
of Gusteau’s Parisian restaurant. Patterned after the attraction at Disneyland Paris, the new attraction will open in an all-new
space in the France pavilion.
GUARDIANS OF
THE GALAXY RIDE
Location: Epcot, formerly Universe of Energy SESAME STREET LAND
Opening Date: By 2021 Location: SeaWorld Orlando, to replace Shamu’s Happy Harbor (still open)
Epcot will have a brand new E-ticket attraction within Opening Date: Fall 2022
Future World, based on the rockin’ and action-packed As part of the continued partnership between SeaWorld Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, a new Sesame Street-
world of Guardians of the Galaxy. themed land will be built.

STAR WARS:
THE FORCE
AWAKENS MINILAND
Location: Legoland Florida Resort
Opening Date: 2018
A new Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Miniland
display will feature several scenes re-created with
thousands of Lego bricks, enhanced with lights, sound
effects and animation.

STAR WARS-THEMED
HOTEL
Location: Unknown
STAR WARS: GALAXY’S EDGE
Opening Date: Unknown
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios, formerly Streets of America and Lights, Motors, Action! This new Star Wars-themed hotel will be the most
Opening Date: 2019 experiential concept ever. Guests will have a one-of-
Guests will be transported to a remote trading port and right in the middle of a battle between the First Order and the a-kind experience where a luxury resort meets a
Resistance. Guests will also have the chance to fly the Millennium Falcon, where each person is critical to the mission’s success. multi-day adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
The large land will also include a variety of characters, including BB-8, Chewbacca, Rex and Kylo Ren.

12 Fall 2017
 EVENTS
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Magic Kingdom
Select dates, Aug. 25 to Nov. 1
NEW LIVE ENTERTAINMENT THEATER
Location: Magic Kingdom, off Main Street, U.S.A. Halloween Horror Nights
Opening Date: Unknown Universal Studios Florida
This new venue will be based on the iconic Willis Theater in the 1920s Kansas City, where Walt lived after he left Select dates, Sept. 15 to Nov. 4
Marceline.
Howl-O-Scream
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Select dates, Sept. 22 to Oct. 29

TOY STORY LAND TRON LIGHTCYCLE Halloween Spooktacular

POWER RUN COASTER SeaWorld Orlando
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios, formerly Weekends, Sept. 23 to Oct. 29
Backlot Tour Location: Magic Kingdom, formerly unused land
Opening Date: Summer 2018 next to Space Mountain Brick or Treat
This 11-acre land will transport guests into Andy’s Opening Date: Unknown Legoland Florida
backyard. The new area will include a Slinky Dog The highest-rated attraction at Shanghai Disneyland Select dates, Oct. 14 to 31
family roller coaster and an Alien saucers ride. is coming to Tomorrowland.
Sesame Street Weekends
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 7 to 29
UPDATED CHINA FILM
Spooky Empire
Location: Epcot, China Pavilion Hyatt Regency Orlando
Opening Date: Unknown Oct. 27 to 29
To showcase the splendor and majesty of China, the current film will be replaced by a new seamless Circle-Vision 360° film.
International Food & Wine Festival
Epcot
SPACE-THEMED RESTAURANT Aug. 31 to Nov. 13

Location: Epcot, next to Mission: Space Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Opening Date: Unknown Magic Kingdom
A new table-service restaurant will invite guests to travel high above the Earth for an unforgettable dining experience Select dates, Nov. 9 to Dec. 22
surrounded by space.
Holidays at Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando Resort
DISNEY SKYLINER MICKEY AND MINNIE’S Nov. 18 to Jan. 6, 2018
TRANSPORTATION RUNAWAY RAILWAY
SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Location: Various Disney World locations Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios, formerly The SeaWorld Orlando
Opening Date: Unknown Great Movie Ride Select dates, Nov. 24 to Dec. 31
This new transportation system will give guests a Opening Date: Unknown
bird’s-eye view of Walt Disney World. This new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will feature an Christmas Bricktacular
gondola ride will connect Epcot and Hollywood Studios original story that will take guests on a journey inside Legoland Florida
to four resorts – Art of Animation, Pop Century and the world of the current Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts Select dates in December
Caribbean Beach, as well as the proposed 15th Disney using new technologies that turn the flat cartoon world
Vacation Club property, Disney Riviera Resort. into a three-dimensional display. Christmas Town
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Select dates, Nov. 18 to Dec. 31

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD All events and dates are subject to change.
Location: Universal Orlando Resort, location unknown Please check with the proper organization before
attending. Check our calendar section
Opening Date: Unknown at AttractionsMagazine.com
Universal Parks & Resorts will bring the fun of Nintendo games to life in an expansive, highly-themed environment. for up-to-date happenings in the Orlando area.
Guests will feel as if they are playing inside their favorite Nintendo games.

Fall 2017 13
 NEWS IN THE QUEUE
By Quinn Roseboom

WOLFGANG GONE, WOLFGANG APPEARS

LOCATION: Disney Springs
The Wolfgang Puck Grand Café in West
Side is now closed. But a new Wolfgang
Puck concept will open in Town Center.
The “Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill” is said
to modernize the traditional bar and grill
concept in a setting inspired by traditional
farmhouses, with a touch of elegance.
Jaleo, a concept by Chef José Andrés’
ThinkFoodGroup will open in the former
Grand Café location. They’ll feature a
menu of tapas that reflect traditional and
contemporary Spanish cuisine.

EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION ENDED ONE MAN’S NEW DREAM

LOCATION: Walt Disney World LOCATION: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Guests can now view models of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land in a
renamed and remodeled One Man’s Dream. “Walt Disney Presents” is pretty much
Express Transportation was a short-lived service which offered special buses to pick up and drop off the same attraction it’s always been, but with the back half re-constructed to show off
guests inside the Disney parks, bypassing extra security checks for an extra fee. Disney said most new and upcoming attractions headed to the park. Historic items from Walt Disney’s
people preferred other transportation options, so they ended the service. The new Minnie Van past continue to be showcased, as well as the Star-Lord meet and greet, and the
service also launched around the time they ended this service. preview theater for upcoming films.

14 Fall 2017
 WE WANTS THE ... RED CHAIR FOR $50?
LOCATION: Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Park and Disneyland Paris

The famous auction scene with the redhead in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is changing.
The redhead will still be there, but in a new role in which she has joined the pirates and is
helping them auction off the local townspeople’s items at the Mercado auction. The
Disneyland Paris version of the ride has already been updated, with Disneyland's and
Disney World’s attractions set to be refurbished sometime next year.

A NEW GRAND REVEAL

LOCATION: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

TWO-STORY STORY
LOCATION: Orlando Florida
CONCEPT ART BY DISNEY

The new Grand Avenue area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open this fall adjacent to Muppets Courtyard, and New City Sightseeing Orlando double-decker buses connect the main
is intended to capture the spirit of present-day Downtown Los Angeles. A section of the former Streets of America attractions of Central Florida with hop-on, hop-off options at Universal
façades will be turned into vintage office buildings and warehouses, which represent the different districts and Orlando, Disney Springs, SeaWorld Orlando, International Drive and
cultures of L.A. To fit in with this new area, the Muppet*Vision 3D theater was recently renamed Grand Arts more.
Theatre and received a new marquee. A key feature of Grand Avenue will be the BaseLine Tap House, a corner pub
specializing in beer and wines from California.

Fall 2017 15
 TRAVELING IN POLKA-DOTTED STYLE
LOCATION: Walt Disney World

A new mode of transportation that can take you anywhere on Disney

property is now available. It’s called Minnie Van and its stylish vehicles and GAME OVER
LOCATION: Disney Springs
friendly cast members are available for a flat fee of $20 per trip. You can
summon the vehicles using the Lyft app.

SPONSORSHIP EARTH
LOCATION: Epcot

After 12 years, Siemens has ended their sponsorship of the park's iconic The interactive indoor theme park, DisneyQuest, has closed its doors after 19 years of operation. The space
Spaceship Earth attraction and Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. No has begun its transformation into the NBA Experience, a one-of-a-kind basketball-themed attraction featuring
changes have been announced. hands-on activities and a restaurant.

16 Fall 2017
GOODBYE DRAGONS, HELLO CREATURE THRILLS
LOCATION:
Universal’s
Islands
of Adventure

A new generation of thrill

ride is coming to The
Wizarding World of Harry
Potter – Hogsmeade in
2019, replacing Dragon
Challenge. This new
highly-themed family
coaster will take you
deeper into J.K.
Rowling’s Wizarding
World, where you will
encounter some of your
favorite characters and
creatures. The Dragon
Challenge coaster was
permanently closed on
Sept. 5 to make way for
the new ride.

SOARIN’ AROUND THE EARTH

LOCATION: Epcot

After two months of

updates and renovations,
Mission: Space officially
reopened with an all-new
adventure. The Orange
Mission's visuals have been
updated, and a new
mission was added to the
less intense Green side. The
Green Mission takes you on
an orbit around planet
Earth via the Kennedy
Space Center. The
attraction also has a new
preshow featuring actress
Gina Torres, instead of Gary
Sinise.

Fall 2017 17
 STAR WARS SPRINGS VR
LOCATION: Disney Springs and Downtown Disney
The Star Wars Universe is virtually coming to
Disney Springs and Downtown Disney this
holiday season in a brand new virtual reality
experience. A VR company called The Void
will create a brand new experience center to
showcase their first collaboration with
Industrial Light & Magic called Star Wars:
Secrets of the Empire. You will be completely
untethered from wires as you freely roam a
tactile VR experience. Imagine stepping onto
a platform over lava in Mustafar and feeling
the heat from below. When playing the
game, you’ll also hold a physical blaster to
amplify the real effects of the virtual world.
Part of the Once Upon a Toy store recently
closed, moving its merchandise into the
former Fun Finds store to make room for the
VR experience.

A FINAL FAREWELL TOUR, DUDES! D23 EXPO OVERLOAD

LOCATION : Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. LOCATION : Walt Disney World

Many new attractions were announced at this year’s D23 Expo. For more
information, read our story on page 33.
• New Main Street theater
• Magic Kingdom’s Tron coaster
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Guardians of the Galaxy attraction at Epcot
• Epcot Future World Blue Sky concept
• Mission: Space restaurant
• New China pavilion movie
After 26 years, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventures will end after Halloween Horror Nights this • Epcot’s Ratatouille ride
year. It has not yet been announced what may replace the yearly show, or if Fear Factor Live, the show • Disney Vacation Club Riviera Resort
that usually performs in the theater, will return. Rumors point to the area being demolished and used for • Gondola transportation
future expansions. • Star Wars immersive hotel

18 Fall 2017
 MINE-BLOWN
LOCATION:
Kissimmee
Fun Spot Kissimmee’s newest
roller coaster, Mine Blower, is
the only wooden coaster in the
state of Florida to make an
upside down inversion. The
gold mine-themed wood and
steel hybrid coaster has

PHOTO BY JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ-SUBLIME IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

banked turns, the zero gravity
inversion, a lift height of 83
feet, and 12 airtime moments.

THIS SOURCE OF ENERGY HAS RUN OUT - NO MORE MOVIE RIDES

LOCATION : Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios

PHOTO BY BANKS LEE

Ellen’s Energy Adventure and The Great Movie Ride both closed for good this past August, making way for the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy ride, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway
Railway, respectively. Read more about them on page 33.

Fall 2017 19
 Orlando is always filled with fun things to see and our photographers are there to capture it all.

Three differen
t ce
in the world o remonies were held
f theme park
grand ope s. The
ning
World of A for Pandora - The
vatar was h
May at Disney eld in late
’s Animal Kin
joined by man gdom. Disney
yo CEO B
filmmaker Ja f the movie’s cast membe ob Iger was
mes Camero rs, including
Zoe Saldana. n and
Across Orlando actresses Sigourney Wea
opening of at ver and
Volcano Ba the same time was the
featured Univ y water park at g ra nd
ersa Univ
group of Sout l Orlando President Bill Dav ersal Orlando. It
h Pacific dan
Super Mario cers. Across th is surrounded by a
himself was e world in ea
officials for th joined rly June,
e groundbre by Universal and Ninten
World at U aking of Sup do
niver er N
is also comin sal Studios Japan. The vide intendo
g to Universa
l in Orlando an o game-themed land
d Hollywood.

ld at
mer event was he
A brand new sum n Diego. In
ando and Sa
SeaWorld Orl atured food and
El ec tr ic Ocean fe
Orland o, d “Pop”, a
bo ot hs , a bubble show calle
beve rage tertainment
nc e pa rt y w ith intermittent en
da r light
eme Beam lase
such as an Extr gh tt ime
e Ignite ni
performer, and th
spectacular.

20 Fall 2017
 With the a
nno
Movie R unced closing of The
ide at Disn G
both the D ey’s Hollyw reat
isney Pa ood Studio
D23 officia rks Blog s,
l fa and Disney
opportunity n club offered select ’s
LEE

to gue
with spec walk the track of the sts the
PHOTO BY BANKS

ial chara
cters and ride, complete
food and d
rinks.

Disney’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif. allowed guests to be

immersed in all things Disney for three days in July. Some decided
to create and wear some elaborate costumes, while others
just enjoyed the panels and activities on the show floor, such as
being able to jump into Scrooge McDuck’s Money Bin.

Fall 2017 21
 VERSUS
We put attractions head-to-head.
By Quinn Roseboom

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has always been a staple thrill ride at both
Disneyland and Walt Disney World. But now that Guardians of the Galaxy —
Mission Breakout has replaced Disney California Adventure’s Twilight Zone attrac-
tion, which coast’s tower reigns supreme?

TOWER OF TERROR
STORYLINE
vs. MISSION: BREAKOUT

Tower of Terror’s original storyline with the pairing of the classic television show is the While Mission: Breakout’s story is fun and fast paced, it just doesn’t fit in with the
perfect combo for a winning experience. movie’s timeline. If Mantis is picking them up, how does Peter still have his Walkman?

MUSIC

The Twilight Zone’s theme song is iconic, but doesn’t even remotely compare to Mission: Breakout has a killer line up of musical artists including The Jackson Five and
Mission: Breakout’s soundtrack. Elvis Presley. To top it all off, some of the ride’s drop patterns are synced with the music
to add even more to the experience.

THRILLS

Tower’s randomized drop patterns and Breakout’s randomized song list and visuals both make sure you get a fresh experience every time.

QUEUE

The Hollywood Tower Hotel is host to an array of detailed trinkets from the hotel, and Marvel is famous for hidden Easter eggs and references throughout its properties and
Twilight Zone episodes. But unfortunately, unless you’ve really dove deep into the the queue is chock-full of both easy-to-spot and hidden ones. Be sure to keep an eye out
show’s past, you likely won’t recognize any of them. for Stan Lee!

MOOD

Both attractions are excellent at conveying the feeling of being in their intellectual property’s universe. Tower is creepy and makes you feel like you’re the newest resident of
The Twilight Zone, while Mission: Breakout puts you right in the middle of one of the Guardian’s larger-than-life battles, complete with classic music from Earth’s past.

22 Fall 2017
Q&A
By Susan and Simon Veness

Patrick Braillard:
The Art of Making Things Go Horribly Wrong

atrick Braillard’s job as show around the world. Meet the man whose became a professional actor and director

P director for Universal Entertain-

ment, Art and Design is to create
Halloween Horror Nights mazes and
scare zones whose concept ends with,
creative inclinations are gentle enough to
be best buddies with Curious George and
wicked enough to unleash a murderous
werewolf on guests.
in the Seattle area, and I had been doing
that until 2004, when my wife got a job in
Orlando. We came down and I worked at
Disney for about a year before getting an
“and then, everybody dies.” By challeng- acting role at Universal Orlando. I was
ing guests to face their greatest fears and with the opening team for Fear Factor
immersing them in the bloody heart of a Live, and I made people eat bugs for a liv-
Tell us a bit about your background, and how

horror story, Patrick has had a hand in I’m originally from Seattle, Wash. and ing. In 2007, I became a performance cap-
you got into the theme park business.

changing the way Halloween is perceived I graduated from college in 2000. I tain for the street performers for
Halloween Horror Nights, and in 2008
and 2009, I was brought back seasonally
on the concept team, as well as for show
direction for the mazes. In 2010, I became
a full time show director with Creative
Development.

What was your most enjoyable experience

Being a brand-new team member and

before you got into Halloween Horror Nights?

being part of the opening of a venue is

always going to be special in my heart. I
got my start at Fear Factor Live, and I did
about 2,500 shows there before I became
part of the Halloween team. The creative
development team we have is tasked
with Halloween as part of our marquee
events, but we are also tasked with any
new developments, so when Diagon
Alley came online, we did the entertain-
ment for that area, and when Raptor
Encounter came on, we did that. Any
time new entertainment comes up in the
park, we’re responsible.

During down time at Fear Factor Live,

What other roles have you played at Universal?

I would get trained at various roles

around the park, so I was also a Shrek vil-
lager, I was The Man With the Yellow Hat
at Curious George Goes to Town, and I
was trained in the Horror Makeup Show,
One of Braillard's best memories at Universal Orlando was being part of the opening team for Fear Factor Live, which required
daredevil volunteers to take part in a manic mixture of stunts and challenges: "I made people eat bugs for a living!"

24 Fall 2017
but I only did one show
before I got pulled to do
Halloween stuff. I think I
might be the only actor on
property who can say I
only did one approved
show at Horror Makeup
before getting pulled
away.

What were your

responsibilities when
you became a performance

The performance cap-

captain?
Braillard has taken part in many different roles for Universal, including their yearly Mardi Gras parade.
tain role name has shifted
and they’re now called
performance coordinators.
The role is part cheer-
leader, part creative con-
sultant, as well as a show-quality expert a greater goal, which is to scare the Fear Factor Live focused on things that challenge
for various portions of the Halloween bejeezus out of people. Our success stems people. Did you find your experience there
event. The show directors and concept from the scareactors themselves, rather useful when you moved to Halloween Horror
teams come up with all the thematics than the direction they’re receiving. It Nights?
built into the houses, scare zones and sounds clichéd to say, but they are really Psychologically speaking, I think it
shows. The assistant show directors are the life-blood of the event. They are the helps Horror Nights because you see the
onsite to make creative calls during the most dedicated characters we have at our different things people are afraid of. Not
course of the event, whether it’s to help disposal, and they have to work extreme- every person is scared by the same thing,
somebody’s safety, move a scareactor, or ly hard to do what they do. which is wonderful because it allows
help provide direction so that they are Horror Nights to affect guests “constantly
able engage the guest in a different way Do you have any amusing memories from differently.” That’s a good thing this year,
and increase the impact of the experience working with scareactors? because the event is going on for such a
on the guest. We want to make sure they One year, the scareactors were scaring long time, and we’ll be able to display all
have every tool necessary to affect the guests so badly, that people were jumping of the different things we’ve got.
guest as much as possible, but we don’t out of their shoes and running out of the
want that part of the process to be seen. scare zone. They knew they had to take Have you always been a fan of the
We want it to feel like a visceral experi- the shoes to Lost and Found at the end of horror genre?
ence that’s happening in the moment, and the night, but in the interim, they would Yes. I’m the youngest of three, and my
that it hasn’t had 13 or 14 months of plan- tie the laces around their necks and carry parents really didn’t censor anything I
ning. Our role makes sure the cast for a the shoes of their victims around while watched. They didn’t push me towards
scare zone or a maze really feel they’re an they were on set, daring people to come horror, but I was inclined to watch
ensemble, and they’re all working toward back and get them. because it’s so taboo, and it’s so bloody,

Fall 2017 25
and it’s not like anything else. My siblings My first experience as a guest was in evolving. Being on the inside of it now, I
were into action movies and Hollywood 2005, and the thing that struck me — and have a greater appreciation for it.
blockbusters, and my sister is absolutely that still strikes me to this day — is the
terrified of clowns. When I did the potential we have to change the environ-
Carnage Returns show with Jack the ment that the guests see, feel and interact
What makes the ideal Halloween Horror

Clown, I sent her a video of Jack saying with. When you walk through, you If I were to build it like a recipe, it needs
Nights maze?

“hello” to her. But I made sure that, on the appreciate the lighting, the audio, the to start with a good story. Second, you’ve
preview of the video, it was me saying scareactors, and the thematics, but what a got to place it in a location that is memo-
“Hi” to her first, then I turned the camera lot of people don’t realize is that the exter- rable and all-encompassing. You have to
and Jack told her he was going to be hid- nal change has occurred within one hour, place the guests in an environment that
ing underneath her bed. What fun! because of our tech teams. With the flip of feels as if it is real. Third, you have to place
Having a sister is awesome. a switch, we go from having wonderful dedicated performers inside of it, who
parades and day-time experiences to a know how to scare, and enjoy scaring peo-
place of nightmares, and that is some- ple. Then you have to add in music and
thing that is always going to be inspiring sound effects that are key toward the end
What was your first experience of Halloween

for us. It allows us to keep the event of those scares. The lighting has to be on
Horror Nights, either as a guest or as somebody

par so that you see just enough to not

working the event?

know whether you’ve seen everything.

Then there’s some stuff we like to do, and
tricks we like to pull on guests that, hope-
fully, if we’re doing our job right, they
don’t know we’ve gotten away with, that
adds in that extra little Halloween flair we
like to provide. Bake it at 350 degrees for 13
months and see what happens!

How has Halloween Horror Nights evolved

The original mazes and the original

over the years?

storytelling we have done since the very

beginning still hold true today. We love
creating original stories and providing
something guests can’t get anywhere else.
That being said, there’s a lot of fun in
being able to play with “American Horror
Story” and “The Shining”. Getting the
opportunity in years past to drive “The
Exorcist”, or “American Werewolf in
London”, or “The Thing”, and now we
get to bring in “Ash vs Evil Dead” and
“The Shining”. Being able to serve “The
Shining” as a maze is a fantastic, exciting
thing. Last year we had “American
Horror Story” and we showcased three
episodes. This year, it’s in Soundstage 21
and it’s an uber-maze. It’s the biggest
maze we have this year, and it’s showcas-
ing “Asylum”, “Coven”, and “Roanoke”.
The three seasons we’ve picked this year
are fantastic, because they’re so varied.
There is something different for every-
body to be scared of in that maze. It’s a lot
of fun partnering with Fox and Ryan
Murphy’s team on the way we’re going to
impact guests, as well as carrying on the
style and the storytelling they have done
so well on that show.
Now the show director for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights program, Braillard is responsible for all the live entertainment
elements of the haunted houses and scare zones, and remains a big fan of the horror movie genre.

26 Fall 2017
Patrick and his Halloween Horror Nights co-worker Mike Aiello, left, took a break from the “scare Braillard being interviewed by our Show reporter Amanda during opening night of Halloween
factor” to help with the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley in 2014. Horror Nights 21 in 2011.

entertainment for their dollar. We’re for us. Not only does it increase the effi-
always going to push the envelope to try ciency, but it also gives us the opportunity
You mentioned “The Shining” is a maze you’re

“The Shining” is one of the most to figure out the best way to engage our to adjust to the guests’ reactions. If we’re
excited about. What makes it special?

defining moments for me as a fan, and guests, and, as fans, we care about mak- not getting quite the impact from a partic-
I’m really excited because we’re doing ing sure we are just as engaged and enter- ular trigger during the course of the run,
stuff in the maze that we haven’t done tained as our guests who are walking we can always change that programming
before, or we’re doing better than we’ve through. on a moment’s notice and see if that gives
ever done before. If you’re a fan of that us a desired effect. Our tech teams have
film, you’re going to see key moments evolved into a well-oiled machine as far
from the film in the maze. If I walk out of as how they provide all the things that go
How has technology for Halloween Horror

that maze and I haven’t seen ‘X’, I know Our systems have grown with the ‘bump.’
Nights evolved?

we didn’t do our job. You’re going to see times. Now, a single programmer-opera-
things you’re going to want to see. tor can control the entire house’s audio
system while walking through on a tech-
What do you imagine for Halloween Horror

nical review, and change levels per-room, The houses aren’t self-aware yet, but
Nights’ future?

per-speaker, per-trigger, on a moment’s they’re getting close. Then we’re all in

What have some of your favorite mazes

I’ve come to the realization that per notice. That has been such a valuable tool really big trouble!
been over the years?

week — even per day — my answer might

change. Right now, my favorite mazes in
our past are Gothic and Hades, and I really
like the last Thing house we did, and the
Silver Screams house. The third incarnation
of Scary Tales was awesome. That was a
fantastic maze. A lot of fun.

How important are the live entertainment

Our live shows are incredibly impor-

shows during Halloween Horror Nights?

tant. We’ve got 34 nights during the fall to

be able to scare guests as much as human-
ly possible, and we have the opportunity
to entertain them in distinct ways. We are
always going to place a particular amount
of interest and attention towards those
live shows so that our guests get the best
Let the mayhem begin! This was the kind of Halloween Horror Nights action Braillard was in charge of during his time as performance
captain for the many scare zones that make up the outdoor action at Universal's mega-popular Halloween event.

Fall 2017 27
Skipper Ben’s TOP TEN
By “Skipper” Ben Rebstock

Top 10 Things To Do In Orlando Outside the Theme Parks

trip to Orlando doesn’t have to be all about the theme parks. No, there’s so much more to the area than just

A Mickey Mouse and Minions. Here’s our list of the Top 10 attractions you need to experience outside of the
theme parks on your next trip to Central Florida.

DRIVE DOWN I-DRIVE

INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
10
We’ll start our list by recommending a cruise down Orlando’s “World Famous” International
Drive. You never know what you’ll see on I-Drive. Several attractions on this list can be found
here, but this is also where you’ll find unique shopping, dining and bizarre attractions. Right
now, the strip is overrun with zombies. There are zombie mazes, zombie laser tag, zombie
survival stores ... I even think we saw a zombie buffet last trip (don’t ask what they serve).
Even if you don’t stop anywhere, a drive down International Drive is always fun.

9
PLAY AT THE WORLD’S
LARGEST ENTERTAINMENT
MCDONALD'S
INTERNATIONAL DRIVE
On the corner of International Drive and Sand Lake Road, you’ll find one of the
most unique McDonald’s you’ve ever seen. It’s home to the world’s largest
PlayPlace, and we aren’t just talking a big ball pit. A multi-level playground is surrounded by a large arcade in a 2,000-square foot area. A recent renovation
to the building brought not only new entertainment, but also an open kitchen with a very unique McDonald's menu. You’ll find pastas and salads offered
next to Big Macs and Happy Meals.

28 Fall 2017
8 SEA LIFE
AQUARIUM
I-DRIVE 360
Sea Life brings their unique take on
aquarium attractions to International Drive. Here, you’ll find a very
unique presentation of ocean life with their blend of multimedia
exhibits and highly themed tanks. One of the main goals of Sea
Life, is to bring you as close to the animals as possible. There are
multiple tanks you can crawl through, and pop up in the middle of
the action. And the main attraction is the “walk-thru” tank, where
sharks and other majestic creatures can be found swimming all
around you.

7 WONDERWORKS
INTERNATIONAL
DRIVE
There might not be a more iconic
structure outside of the theme parks in Orlando than the upside-
down building called WonderWorks. Described on their website
as a “theme park for the mind”, this bizarre building houses
some of the coolest hands-on science exhibits around. Learning
has never been so much fun. In recent years, they’ve added
more attractions such as laser tag, a ropes course and a magic
dinner show to help keep you entertained all day. With all of the
changes coming to Epcot, WonderWorks just might be Orlando’s
best “edu-tainment” experience out there.

6
CATCH A
WRESTLING SHOW
FULL SAIL
UNIVERSITY
Did you know you can catch the next generation of
WWE superstars before they make the big time at
Full Sail University? About once a month, the WWE
shoots episodes of their WWE Network show “NXT” on the Full Sail campus,
showcasing the newest stars in the WWE Universe. While tickets can be very hard to come by,
it is a very cool experience if you can time your trip right. At certain times of the year, VIP tours
are also offered at the WWE Performance Center, where you can see what it’s like to be a NXT
Superstar and step in front of the camera and in the ring in a one-of-a-kind experience.

Fall 2017 29
 5 ORLANDO TREE TREK
KISSIMMEE, FLA.
Located minutes from Walt Disney World is an adventure park that
takes you high into the trees of Orlando’s natural habitats. Orlando
Tree Trek features six different ropes courses that vary in difficulty,
with the easiest courses starting just 10 feet off the ground. But if
you are brave enough to test yourself against their most difficult
course, you better not be afraid of heights, because you’ll be 35 feet in the air
with the tops of the trees. The park also includes two 425-foot-long zip lines.
There are courses for both children and adults, which means there is plenty of
fun for the whole family.

4 MADAME
TUSSAUDS
I-DRIVE 360
Want to post selfies of yourself with celebrities
like Pitbull, Taylor Swift, Vin Diesel or even Walt Disney himself? Then head over to
Madame Tussauds and meet as many “celebrities” as you’d like. Unlike some other
wax museums, guests at Madame Tussauds are encouraged to get up-close-and-
personal with the figures – free of barricades keeping you away. It’s actually way more
fun than you can possibly describe, especially in the social media world we all live in. So

3
be sure to have plenty of memory on your phone before you go, because you’ll be
taking a ton of pics.

SEE A SHOW AT DR.

PHILLIPS CENTER FOR
THE PERFORMING
ARTS
DOWNTOWN
ORLANDO
Located just eight miles from Universal Orlando Resort sits one
of the premier performing arts centers in the United States.
The Dr. Phillips Center houses multiple unique venues that can
showcase anything from Broadway-caliber plays and musicals
to stand-up comedy acts and intimate concert performances.
There are events going on nearly every night, so be sure to
check their schedule online before your next trip.

30 Fall 2017
SPACE OUT AT
THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER
VISITOR
COMPLEX
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA.
2
The Kennedy Space Center is nearly as synonymous with Central
Florida attractions as Disney, Universal or SeaWorld. Located on
Florida’s Space Coast, the Kennedy Space Center hosts
“behind the gates” tours of the NASA facility, as well as a
number of attractions to give you a hands-on experience and
see what it’s like to be an astronaut. Rockets still launch from
the site and VIP Launch Viewing tickets give you an amazing
view as a massive rocket launches into space. The Kennedy
Space Center has been a major piece of Florida history for
the past 50 years and it’s a must-visit attraction.

1
TAKE A RIDE ON THE COCA-COLA
ORLANDO EYE
I-DRIVE 360
Want to take a look at nearly every attraction listed here, as well as Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and DO YOU AGREE WITH BEN
SeaWorld before you visit them? Well, then head over to the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye on I-Drive for a bird’s eye view OR HAVE A SUGGESTION
of everything Central Florida has to offer. You’ll travel 400 feet in the air on this observation wheel in one of 30 air- FOR A FUTURE TOP TEN?
conditioned capsules for a 20 minute spin. You get great views of International Drive and the Universal Orlando
Resort because of their close proximity. And if you look in the distance, you’ll be able to see Spaceship Earth, Let us know at
Expedition Everest and other iconic Disney attractions. For added fees, you can even rent your own private capsule or [email protected]
take a champagne tour. It’s only been open a few years, but the Orlando Eye has already become one of the area’s
most memorable landmarks.

Fall 2017 31
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Bob Chapek shares details on the Skyliner gondola system coming to Walt Disney World, just one of many announcements made at Disney’s D23 Expo
this summer.

32 Fall 2017
Brings Huge
Announcements for
Walt Disney World
By Brittani Tuttle

his year’s Disney D23 Expo at

the Anaheim Convention
Center in California was jam-
packed with plenty of announcements,
exclusive previews and surprise guests,
all bringing the latest in Disney news to
their biggest fans. From previews of
Disney’s upcoming animated and live-
action films to the Disney Legends induc-
tion ceremony and more, fans had plenty
of news to sink their teeth into during the
Expo.
But nothing was more anticipated,
than the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
panel, hosted by Chairman Bob Chapek,
where the theme park world was turned
on its head with huge announcements for
additions coming to the parks over the
next four years.
The Star Wars hotel will feature fully immersive environments to bring guests into their own Star Wars story.

“On the heels of the many new and

incredibly popular experiences that just
debuted this year, the best is yet to come.
We have ambitious plans for our parks Studios might have been the most antici- changing, and through the model, we can
and resorts around the world,” said pated of the panel, with an update on the begin to see how truly epic these immer-
Chapek. “We’re investing in the guest Star Wars-themed land. sive new worlds will be.”
experience like never before, and we’re Star Wars land received an official The land will feature two major attrac-
doing it all in a way that is only possible name: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. tions themed to the Star Wars universe
at Disney!” Revealed alongside a detailed model of and be set after the events of “Star Wars:
Several projects and updates were the area (see page 12), this upcoming land The Force Awakens”. The first attraction
announced for Disney’s Hollywood will bring a new world, as well as immer- will put guests right in the midst of battle
Studios, Magic Kingdom and Epcot, as sive storytelling to Walt Disney World between the Resistance and the First
well as additions to their resorts and and Disneyland Park, like never before. Order as they try to escape a hangar bay
transportation. “To say we are excited for the Star on a Star Destroyer. The second attraction
Wars-themed lands to open in 2019 is an will have guests in the cockpit of the
Disney’s Hollywood Studios understatement,” Chapek said. “All Millennium Falcon, and their every move
The announcements for Hollywood along, we have said this will be game- will determine their mission’s success.

Fall 2017 33
The Tron-themed attraction will be built just to the left of Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom.

Guests will also be able to meet some of meet in Star Wars Launch Bay. about the upcoming Toy Story Land, with
their favorite characters, like Chewbacca, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be the new artist renderings, as well as an open-
BB-8 and Kylo Ren, who all currently biggest themed land expansion ever at 14 ing date, next summer. The land will fea-
acres for each location, and is set to open ture two new attractions: the Slinky Dog
in 2019. Disneyland Park will debut the Dash family roller coaster, as well as Alien
land first. Swirling Saucers, which will take guests
Another change that has come to on a ride as the Toy Story Aliens try to
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the loss of capture their ride vehicle with “The
The Great Movie Ride, which closed Aug. Claw.”
13 (see page 38) to make way for the Scaled models of both Star Wars:
upcoming attraction, Mickey and Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land are
Minnie’s Runaway Railway. available for guests to view in Disney’s
“This is one of the boldest […] most Hollywood Studios in a reimagined ver-
impossible things I’ve ever worked on in sion of One Man’s Dream, which is now
almost 40 years of being an Imagineer,” called “Walt Disney Presents”.
said Kevin Rafferty. “And you know
what? That’s what I love about it. Well, Magic Kingdom
that, and Mickey. This is not going to be a Two new additions are set to arrive at
small attraction; it’s going to be game- the Magic Kingdom by its 50th anniver-
changing.” sary in 2021: the fan-favorite Tron
In this new attraction, guests will jour- Lightcycle Power Run attraction, original-
ney into the world of Disney Channel’s ly from Shanghai Disneyland, and an all-
Emmy Award-winning Mickey Mouse new live entertainment theater located
shorts, as they experience the two-dimen- just off Main Street, U.S.A.
sional cartoon world as an immersive The thrilling, high-speed Tron roller
experience, thanks to new ride technolo- coaster will be located in Tomorrowland,
Mickey and Minnie's

gies. The opening date for this attraction in a new area by Space Mountain.
Runaway Railway

is yet to be announced. The live entertainment theater coming

takes guests straight

Finally, more details were revealed to Main Street, U.S.A. will be based upon
into a Mickey Mouse
cartoon.

34 Fall 2017
The Guardians of the Galaxy attraction will be themed to the idea that Star-Lord visited Epcot as a child.

the Willis Theater in Kansas City, stand- munity of Tomorrow is preparing to

ing as it was in the 1920s. This new venue celebrate its 35th anniversary this fall,
will bring world-class live entertainment and over time, will evolve into a brand
to Magic Kingdom unlike ever before, new version of itself – while still retain-
similar to the Hyperion Theater in Disney ing the original concept and vision of
California Adventure Park. the park, according to Disney. Some of Fresh off the heels of a successful ride
these updates and new additions have re-theming at Disney California
Epcot already come to fruition, with more on Adventure, the Guardians of the Galaxy
The Experimental Prototype Com- the way. are set to arrive at Epcot with an all-new
E-ticket attraction in Future World. The
new ride will take the place of Universe of
Energy’s Ellen’s Energy Adventure,
which closed along with The Great Movie
Ride. Details on the out-of-this-world
attraction have yet to be fully announced,
but the ride is expected to join our galaxy
in 2021.
Another new addition to the park will
reside in the World Showcase, as a new
“Ratatouille” ride based upon the family
attraction at Disneyland Paris will take
guests on a wild Parisian adventure.
Guests will be able to take in all the sights
and smells of Ratatouille’s Paris by the
50th anniversary of Walt Disney World
Resort in 2021.
The World Showcase will also see
changes at the China pavilion, as an
This “blue sky” Epcot concept art was shown at the expo to represent the possible future of Future World. updated film will soon replace the current

Fall 2017 35
 The Mission: Space restaurant will let guests enjoy a meal in the final frontier.

film, using a next-generation digital cam- have already taken form, starting with
era system to film in seamless Circle- Mission: Space. The ride received an
Vision 360°. No date has been set for the update to its Orange Mission with new
update. HD-quality video, as well as an all-new
Other updates being made to Epcot Green Mission that takes guests on a
slingshot mission around the Earth. Both
new missions are now open for new
recruits at Epcot.
Also coming to the Mission: Space
area at an unknown date will be a highly-
immersive new table-service restaurant
that will allow guests to dine among the
stars. All of the “windows” in the new
restaurant will look out into space.

Resorts
The immersive experiences at Walt
Disney World won’t stop at the parks,
as two new hotels with their own immer-
sive experiences were announced at D23
Expo: the Disney Riviera Resort, and an
immersive Star Wars-themed hotel.
The Disney Riviera Resort, which
will be located near Epcot and
Hollywood Studios, will be the newest
addition to resorts in the Disney
Vacation Club lineup. It will also serve
Guests will team up to help fly the Millennium Falcon when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens in 2019. as the hub for the newest form of

36 Fall 2017
Disney transportation, which you’ll
read about later in this article.
“Our Vacation Club Members are
among our most loyal fans, and we think
they’ll love what we have planned, espe-
cially the rooftop restaurant that will offer
unbelievable views of nighttime spectac-
ulars at both Epcot and Hollywood
Studios,” said Chapek.
This resort will be the 15th Disney
Vacation Club property at the Walt
Disney World Resort, and is slated for a
fall 2019 opening.
The other resort in the Parks and
Resorts panel lineup is an unprecedented
hotel themed to the Star Wars universe,
and has yet to receive an official name.
This experimental resort will be dedi-
cated to the theming and concept behind
what makes Star Wars so beloved, and
take it even further by placing guests
within the story. Each guest will have a
one-of-a-kind experience on a multi-day
adventure while staying in the self-con-
tained hotel. “It’s unlike anything that
exists today,” said Bob Chapek. “From
the second you arrive, you will become a
The Skyliner gondolas will be a new scenic form

part of a Star Wars story. You’ll immedi-

of transportation between parks and resorts.

ately become a citizen of the galaxy and

experience all that entails, including
dressing up in the proper attire. Once
you leave Earth, you will discover a star-
ship alive with characters, stories and
adventures that unfold all around you. It expectations and making every aspect of
is 100% immersive, and the story will your vacation uniquely Disney, we’re cre- The Future of Walt Disney World
touch every single minute of your day, ating a new point-to-point transportation With all of these announcements and
and it will culminate in a unique journey service in a way that only Disney can do,” changes already in motion for the
for every person who visits.” said Chapek. The polka-dotted SUV’s can Orlando parks, fans are clamoring for
Each guest will be invited to cosplay take guests anywhere on Disney property more details and information on what’s
and immerse themselves in the Star Wars on demand through the driving service to come. The Great Movie Ride and
world during their stay, and every aspect Lyft, and costs a flat fee of $20 per ride. Universe of Energy have closed for their
of the resort will be themed - even down Chapek also announced a whole new respective refurbishments, and the heat is
to the windows gazing out into the vast transportation system with the Disney on for Walt Disney World as it begins to
reaches of space. The opening date, as Skyliner gondolas. This will give guests deliver on the “Blue Sky” promises it
well as the location, will be announced in an eye-in-the-sky as they travel to and made during the Parks and Resorts panel.
the future. from Disney’s Pop Century, Art of As the 50th anniversary of the resort is
Animation and Caribbean Beach Resorts, just four years away, its only a matter of
Transportation with the hub located at the newly time before we see these updates and new
New updates are coming to trans- announced Disney Riviera Resort. additions come to life at Walt Disney
portation at Walt Disney World as well, The Skyliner will also have stops at World. All of the announcements made at
and some of these updates have already the International Gateway in Epcot and at the Expo paint a beautiful picture of what
begun operation. Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each gon- the future of theme parks could be with
The Minnie Van service made its dola facade will be decorated with vari- the latest innovations and experimental
debut this summer, and serves as the ous Disney characters and park icons, storytelling techniques at work.
newest motor vehicle transportation such as Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Until then, all we can do is wait, and
mode for guests. Goofy, and even the Hitchhiking Ghosts look forward to our great big beautiful
“Since we’re all about exceeding guest from The Haunted Mansion. tomorrow!

Fall 2017 37
 “We looked for what would
be a ‘castle’ for the Golden
Age of filmmaking. That
façade is one of the
strongest, most dominant
theater entrances ever
created,” said Disney-MGM
Studios concept architect
Joseph Kilanowski.

ker in six
played the role of Jane Par
Actress Maureen O’Sullivan her Audio-
from 1932 to 1942 and
Tarzan movies for MGM r jungle outfit
The Great Movie Ride. He
Animatronic was part of
ué for the time.
was considered quite risq

38 Fall 2017
 That’s A Wrap!
It’s a Final Fadeout For The Great Movie Ride
By Jim Korkis

he Great Movie Ride had its considered and storyboarded for the Dorothy’s fabled ruby slippers in

T final day of operation on Aug. 13

– to be replaced by a new attrac-
tion called Mickey and Minnie’s
Runaway Railway.
attraction, including scenes that would
have included the “Keystone Kops”,
“Ghostbusters” and “Close Encounters of
the Third Kind”. It ultimately opened
“The Wizard of Oz”, to Sam’s piano
from “Casablanca”, to a carousel
horse from “Mary Poppins”. One of
the more recent additions was one of
With the closing, guests lost the last very similar to how it closed, but there the arks from “Raiders of the Lost Ark
original attraction still operating since were some changes a couple of years ago. • The loading dock was designed to
opening day of Disney-MGM Studios In June 2015, the attraction saw minor look like a vintage soundstage, with
(now Disney’s Hollywood Studios). It changes with the new sponsorship of vintage cameras and a cyclorama of
was the signature attraction for the park, Turner Classic Movies (TCM,) including Hollywood Hills mansions under-
housed in a full-scale, detailed replica of extensive signage, and having movie his- neath the Hollywoodland sign. A
the iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theater, torian Robert Osborne not only host a Hidden Minnie could be located in
one of the most famous movie palaces of longer pre-show film, but also provide that scenery. Eagle-eyed guests could
the golden age of film. commentary during the ride. In
When the park officially opened on addition, there was a different
May 1, 1989, former Disney CEO Michael movie montage in the finale that
Eisner described it as “The Hollywood brought in sequences from more
that never was - and always will be.” The recently made films.
theme park was to be a representation of Over the years, at least three
the Hollywood seen in the movies, on separate attempts were made to
postcards and in fan magazines, not an bring a version of the attraction
actual geographical location, but a state of to Southern California. First, it
mind. It seemed a natural choice to have was earmarked for the planned
the major attraction, located at the end of but never built Disney-MGM
Hollywood Boulevard, showcase those Studio Backlot in Burbank.
famous films. In the early ‘80s, Then it was green-lit several
Imagineers proposed an Epcot pavilion years later for the proposed
that would have included a “Great Movie Hollywoodland addition to
Moments” attraction, so the ride evolved Disneyland. Finally, it was
out of that concept. seriously considered for the
One of the challenges facing Disney Hollywood Pictures Backlot
was that it had not produced classic live- area of Disney California
action films in the 1930s and 1940s, that it Adventure, but budget costs
could use to recreate the era. In 1985, doomed its construction.
Disney signed a contract with MGM/UA Here are a few things
(United Artists) to use up to 250 films you may have missed on
from its movie library. In initial discus- the attraction:
sions, one of the ideas suggested for the • The queue contained
attraction was to have live celebrity a constantly rotating
Character actress
Margaret Hamilt
on was severely
impersonators inside interacting with the exhibit of actual
of the fiery exit burned in the fil
scene in the actu ming
al movie. Her Au
guests. Many different movie genres were movie props, from
one of the most dio-Animatronic
advanced when w as
it debuted.

Fall 2017 39
 also find a few Hidden Mickeys
throughout the ride.
• The phrase “Ready when you are,
C.B.” refers to iconic movie director
Cecil B. DeMille. A cutout of his head
was attached to one of the rafters
above the vehicle that was clearly
visible to the ride operator but not
the guests.
• The blank guns used by the cast
members were housed in a locked
safe in a passageway just to the right
of the marquee. Cast members were
required to go through training
with the Orange County Police
Department in order to use them.
Here are some more fun facts about
the different scenes in the ride. Watch a
full video ride-through and walk-through
at attractionsmagazine.com.

Imagineers intensively wined and

Singin’ in the Rain

dined actor and director Gene Kelly to get

him in a good mood before showing him
his Audio-Animatronic for approval.
When the ride first debuted, Kelly’s
umbrella was open to protect the figure,
Actor Gene Kelly was sick with a cold and a fever of 103 degrees during the several days it took to film this sequence on the MGM

but the water occasionally splattered off

backlot.

of it and hit the guests, so it was closed.

(also from “Public Enemy”) that couldn’t and were created from the same molds as
Actor James Cagney’s family was be seen clearly by the guests were actually two of the buccaneers in the Pirates of the
Gangster Alley: The Underworld

unhappy with his attire in the gangster copies of the “Orlando Sentinel” newspa- Caribbean attraction.
scene from his classic film “Public per. The puddles on the ground were not The gangster car that drove onto the
Enemy”, so they gave the Imagineers one real liquid and often accumulated dust scene had the license plate number 021
of Cagney’s actual tuxedos, so he would and needed to be cleaned during mainte- 429, which is a reference to the infamous
appear more “classy”, even though he nance, as did the “horse puddles” in the Valentine’s Day Massacre on Feb. 14, 1929.
did not wear a tuxedo in the movie scene. Western scene. One of the cleverest Hidden Mickeys
The prop newspapers scattered The gangsters hiding to the left of the in the attraction was Mickey’s foot on a
around the outside of Patrick J. Ryan’s bar tram car were named “Squint and Beans” recreation of an actual 1930s Mickey
Mouse movie poster sticking out beneath
the torn “Public Enemy” movie poster on
the left-hand wall opposite the Cagney
character.

John Wayne’s voice was impersonat-

Western Town

ed by actor Doug McClure. When he was

alive, Wayne heard McClure impersonat-
ing him and apparently approved of him
doing it. When the ride originally opened,

Like the Jungle Cruise attraction, The Great Movie Ride

provided the opportunity for cast members to interact
with guests during the ride and occasionally ad-lib.

40 Fall 2017
 In the Well of Souls scene in the Raiders of
the Lost Ark movie, there is a golden pillar
with a tiny engraving of R2-D2 and C-3PO
from Star Wars. They could also be found in
this scene in The Great Movie Ride.

The figure is meant to sug

gest John Wayne’s charac
in the 1956 Western movie ter
, “The Searchers”. In the
film, however, he wore a
black hat and bright red shi
rt.

most iconic
ha s be co me one of the
The Alien crea tu re the director
s in fil m hi st or y, even though
movie monster the film.
ow th e fu ll Al ien for most of
chose not to sh

Fall 2017 41
the figure wore the real belt buckle the
actor wore in the movie “Red River”.
However, as soon as that information
became public knowledge, it was stolen
and a replica took its place. But the little
band the Wayne figure wore on his right
wrist was one that Wayne was given for
good luck when he visited Vietnam, so
the figure does indeed wear something
authentic from the actor.
Clint Eastwood’s figure did not repre-
sent a specific scene from any of his films,
but his star-making roles in spaghetti
westerns like “Fistful of Dollars”. The fig-
ure was a next-to-last-minute replace-
ment for actor Lee Marvin, when
Marvin’s family refused to authorize his
Oscar winning portrayal of a gunfighter
sitting on a tipsy horse leaning against the This Lockheed Electra 12A plane was found by Imagineers in Hondo, Texas and its serial number (1204) confirmed that it had been
building from the comedy “Cat Ballou” used in Warner Brothers films as well as two Tarzan films.
as being disrespectful.
The sheriff who popped up on the bal-
cony on the right hand side to shoot at the
bank robbers was a reused figure of
President Thomas Jefferson from The played Jane in the movie “Tarzan the Ape her bicycle transforming into the Wicked
Hall of Presidents. Man” visited Orlando and got her photo Witch on her  broom. However, MGM
taken with her audio-animatronic double was charging what Disney felt was an
on the elephant. She also placed her excessive licensing fee for each minute of
“Alien” is not an MGM film, but handprints in the cement of the building’s use from the movie, so the scene was
Alien

made by 20th Century Fox. However, forecourt. transformed to the storm from “The
Disney had previously licensed the rights The figure of Tarzan swinging on a Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, since a huge fan
to it for a proposed attraction that later vine was later copied as a pirate swinging had already been installed.
evolved into the ExtraTERRORestrial on a rope at Disneyland Paris’ Pirates of
Alien Encounter at Magic Kingdom. the Caribbean.
Those guests who listened carefully At the time of its opening, the Wicked
The Wizard of Oz

could hear Ripley’s cat meowing in the Witch figure was the most elaborate and
distance. Ingrid Bergman didn’t speak in this realistic audio-animatronic figure ever
Casablanca

The names on the screen consoles on scene because her family wouldn’t give produced. The figure was later updated
the lower left floor by the tram are names of permission to use her voice, even though with Sarcos technology to make it even
the Imagineers who worked on the attrac- Bergman’s grandchildren have been more lifelike. It was so sophisticated that
tion along with some amusing notations brought through the attraction several it took a week to program 15 seconds of
including “Intergalactic Goo Analyst” and times to see their grandmother’s anima- motion.
“Still Programming the Witch”. tronic. In order to avoid paying MGM even
There is continuing debate on more, Imagineers had Liza Minnelli, the
whether the plane in this scene was actu- daughter of Judy Garland, re-record
The dramatic scene where Indiana ally used in the original film despite Dorothy Gale’s lines.
Raiders of the Lost Ark

Jones and Sallah lift the Ark of the Disney’s assertion that the serial number
Covenant diverted guests' attention from is the same. However, there is no debate
the walls on the opposite side. There, hid- that the back half of this plane is the one The original finale wasn’t to be a
Finale

ing in the hieroglyphics were images of C- that has crashed in the jungle in movie montage but an appearance of
3PO and R2-D2 (that were also hidden in Adventureland's Jungle Cruise. the great Wizard of Oz, as the previous
the film itself), as well as Pharoah Mickey scene was the characters approaching
Mouse being served a wedge of Swiss the city. Curtains would have opened
cheese by Egyptian slave Donald Duck. This section was originally meant to on either side of the vehicles featuring
Sorcerer’s Apprentice

showcase the tornado from The Wizard of audio-animatronic versions of charac-

Oz, and the screen would have shown ters seen in the attraction taking their
Actress Maureen O’Sullivan, who swirling objects, including Miss Gulch on bows.
Tarzan

42 Fall 2017
 stop and turn
puter that issued the speed, start,
constant communication with a com
the wire.
Goodbye Universe of Energy tem ber 199 6, the commands for the vehicle through experience was the seven
From its opening in October 1982
until its reno vati on in Sep
abo ut The high ligh t for most guests during the 45 minute
onal story iled dinosaur diorama.
ot told a fairly serious and educati minute journey through a highly deta
Universe of Energy pavilion at Epc atronic animals ever to be
energy and the energy needs of the
future. The 36 dino saurs were the largest audio-anim
on Aug. 13, the pavilion shared a
mor e ligh t- had to be placed in the
With its redesign until its closing icat ed by Ima gine ering. They were so huge that they
ject of fabr was landscaped
edian Ellen DeGeneres learning abo
ut the sub roof installed overhead. The forest
hearted story centered around com pavilion building first and then the
rose up to 40 feet overhead.
energy in a nightmare. visi on gam e sho w with 250 prehistoric trees that the latest research that the
Ellen fell asleep and dreamed
about bein g on the tele
For the 199 6 rehab, the dinosaurs, in keeping with
ns are about energy. Losing badly,
she calle d upo n given new skins and repainted
“Jeopardy”, where all the questio ture s wer e less reptilian and more birdlike, were
Science Guy, to give her a crash cou
rse on ene rgy crea A water misting effect of the
her next door neighbor, Bill Nye the hter colo rs with more stripes and other markings.
of the 105,000-square-foot buil
ding itse lf was brig similar gag with an oversized
to help her win. The exterior rhan ging Bron tosa urus sneezing was added, since a
to take the best advantage of capturin
g sun ligh t to ove ience attraction at Epcot. The
specifically designed by Imagineers dog prov ed so pop ular in the Honey, I Shrunk the Aud
roof that generated approximately
70,000 wat ts ed throughout to make it look
power the photovoltaic cells on the a was reha bbe d as well, with new foliage add
was fed through an inverter that
convert ed it to flor g a damp Earth smell were
of direct current power. The power ope rate gree ner, lush er and less rocky. The smellitizers producin
ded to
ost 15 percent of the energy nee the renovation.
alternating current and supplied alm veh icle s wer e late r ada pted for The deactivated during io-animatronics figure (supposedly
a re-used
the traveling theater veh icle s. The uniq ue ride The Elasmos s and the Ellen aud
auru
it did not look muc h like the
Great Movie Ride and The Twilight
Zone Tower of Terror.
ered by figu re from the Wor ld of Motion pavilion, which is why ove d som etime
le six horsepower electric motor pow k, were rem
Each vehicle was driven by a sing ng the perf orm er), alon g with the accompanying audio trac
d duri
batteries. These batteries recharge never replaced.
eight 12-volt lead-acid automotive on the hug e turntables. around 2014 and a new Guardians of the Galaxy
show while the theater cars wer e in thei r stat iona ry form atio n
edd ed Elle n’s Ene rgy Adventure closed to make way for
eighth of an inch thick, that was imb
The cars were guided by a wire, one vehicle was in attraction.
a low-level radio frequency. The
in the concrete floor and emitted

Fall 2017 43
 GEEKING OUT OVER
ORLANDO’S NERD BARS
By Andy Haynes

Don't worry, these specialty drinks at Joysticks Orlando only

look scary. They're actually quite delicious. This Donkey Kong
relief literally pops out from the wall, and makes a handy
place to store alcohol.

44 Fall 2017
 Vault 5421
Gods and Monsters has had more than their fair share
of difficulty finding and maintaining a location for their
comic and game store. Having to quickly move out of
the Artegon Marketplace when it suddenly ceased
operations felt like the end was near for the store
before they settled on their current location. So it’s
perhaps with a wink and nod to their near demise that
they opened Vault 5421, a post-apocalyptic themed
bar. Styled after the popular genre, Vault 5421 is an
immersive location designed by creative talent who’ve
previously worked on local theme parks. The bar isn’t
just highly themed, it also contains many Easter eggs
from various post-apocalyptic sources. “We’ve got
references to everything in there,” said Todd Fisher co-
owner of Gods and Monsters, “everything we could
s the theme song for the old “Cheers” TV show says, “Sometimes

A
think of.” Keen-eyed guests to Vault 5421 can spot
you want to go where everybody knows your name.” But what
references to “Fallout”, “Mad Max”, “Rick and
if you want to go where everybody also knows the name of your
Morty”, “Aliens” and more. The atmosphere and
Dungeons and Dragons’ character? Orlando has always been a city built on
details in the bar, from the coolers holding the drinks
hospitality, and it is definitely no stranger to themed bars. From Trader
down to the bar stools, have been meticulously
Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to Frosty’s
detailed and designed to provide the most immersive
Christmastime Lounge in Downtown Orlando, there are bars to fit just
experience possible. Even the bartenders are in
about every theme and style. But, with the rise of “geek culture” in recent
costume (and, if you come on certain nights, so is the
years, Orlando has recently started seeing more and more bars of the, shall
cage dancer)! If you’re looking for a drink at the end-
we say, more “nerdy” per-
of-the-world, then Vault 5421 is the place to be.
suasion. In actuality,

PHOTO BY ANDY HAYNES

“geek culture” really rep-
resents a very wide vari-
ety of interests. Whether
you’re looking to play
some classic arcade
games, argue about comic
books, try out the latest
table-top gaming, or just
lounge in a heavily
themed environment (all
while having a pint of
your favorite craft beer),
Orlando has you covered.
Here’s a look at a few local
venues that can quench
your thirst while provid-
ing that nerdy outlet you
crave.

Every inch of Vault 5421 is painted and covered in decorations. It's like being in
the middle of the apocalypse!

Fall 2017 45
 Player One
Over in Lake Buena Vista, just around the corner from Disney Springs, is the popular arcade bar Player One.
Founded in 2013, Player One allows gamers, for a nominal cover charge, unlimited access to more than 32
classic arcade machines and nearly every home console that has ever been created. With the recent closure of
DisneyQuest (some of whose games found their way to Player One), more and more tourists and locals have
PHOTO BY ANDY HAYNES

made their way to Player One to scratch that classic gaming itch. Players are afforded the opportunity to order
drinks from the large assortment of craft beer, ciders and meads, while playing video games on the large screens
right around the bar. “The owners really wanted to preserve the nostalgia of arcades, but also give it that twist of
having beers,” said Social Media Manager Matt Molandes. “For people who grew up in the arcade age, they are
now also old enough to drink. So why not merge the two?” The focus on beers over hard liquor allows Player
The Geek Easy
One to maintain a more communal and happy feel rather than letting aggressive natures get out of control. Not
In the back of A Comic Shop (yes, that’s actually its
only does this help protect the vintage machines, but also allows the bar to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere
name), through a secret back door (don’t worry, it’s
and serve as a safe space for all types of people. “That is a very important aspect of Player One,” said Matt,
not too hard to find) lies The Geek Easy, where it’s
“that anyone who walks in here can feel safe, especially in this day and age, whether you’re a newcomer or
easy to be a geek. “We wanted to be basically a sports
already a member of the family.”
bar without the sports,” said Owner Aaron Haaland.
“We were doing events with comic book writers and
artists and we decided that we wanted to do something
where we could sell beer and have events nightly.” At
The Geek Easy, events range from viewing parties of
television premieres shown on their large projection
screens, to bingo, karaoke and everything in between.
As a smaller venue, The Geek Easy is able to host more
exclusive events which can take advantage of the
intimate setting and better fuse the bar style trivia and
karaoke nights with geek culture. That’s not to say the
venue can’t also rock out! The bar prominently features
a stage where “nerdcore” bands will often play. When
they do, the tables are pushed back, the disco ball is
lowered, and The Geek Easy becomes a rocking dance
club. The Geek Easy prides itself on being as inclusive
as possible, making the bar a comfortable place for
everyone. “We’ve made rules like no heckling at the
karaoke,” continued Haaland. “We very much made
‘no harassment’ policies which we strictly enforce.”
PHOTO BY ANDY HAYNES

The "top secret" entrance to

The Geek Easy. No password
required!

46 Fall 2017
Joysticks The Cloak and Blaster
Take a building built in 1901 in Downtown Orlando, Where do adventurers go to rest and make merry after a long day of dragon slaying? Why the local tavern of
add theme park quality retro ‘80s inspired décor, a course. And The Cloak and Blaster wants to be just that, with a healthy mix of pop culture and nerdy fandoms, of
dash of vintage arcade games, a healthy dose of course. “We ourselves are two geeks who are passionate about certain things in pop culture fandoms, geekery, etc,”
premium themed cocktails, shake thoroughly and what said Andrea C. Zimmerman, co-owner and chief creative unicorn (yes, that’s her real title). “We really wanted to
you end up with is Joysticks Orlando. “All the things open a business together that reflected the things we were most passionate about.” That business became The
you loved from when you were a kid,” said Co-Owner Cloak and Blaster, a two story bar and gaming venue that is a medieval tavern downstairs and a starship base
Addie Hassel, “we made it even better and then we upstairs. Patrons who are ordering one of the many craft beers and drinks or partaking in the delicious kitchen
added alcohol.” Inside Joysticks, patrons can find (Definitely try the Lannister Burger with its pretzel bread bun and peanut butter sauce.) are allowed to check out any
homages to many different retro properties including of the bar’s more than 300 different board games to play while they relax. Leaving the tavern downstairs, guests
Star Wars, Jaws, The Haunted Mansion and more. will find a more subdued starship lounge upstairs. There, guests can play on several of the video game consoles or
Some touches are as simple as a sign that reads “No just enjoy a quieter space. The Cloak and Blaster also features several themed nights throughout the year celebrating
Stairway to Heaven” (from the movie Wayne’s World) many different fandoms including Harry Potter, Firefly, Doctor Who, Pirates and more. “We love [doing these
to as elaborate as an entire corner of the bar dubbed themed events],” explained Andrea. “It’s a chance for all of us to exercise our creativity without having to
the “Never Say Die Lounge” (from the ‘80s adventure completely change our concept over and over again.”
classic “The Goonies”). With a full liquor license,
Joysticks even features elaborately themed drinks with
names like the “Weird Science” and the “Foolish
Mortals.” Joysticks sees a wide range of patrons come
through its doors, from young professionals looking to
relax in nostalgic surroundings to older folks looking to
listen to the music and play the games of their
childhood. “We wanted to make sure you could come
in for the arcade games,” continued Addie, “but you
could also come in for everything else!”

NAME WEBSITE ADDRESS COVER CHARGE AGE RESTRICTION

godmonsters.com/ 5421 International Drive,

Vault 5421 No 21+
vault-5421 Orlando
114 S. Semoran Blvd. Suite 6, 21+
The Geek Easy mygeekeasy.com No
Winter Park on weekends
8562 Palm Pkwy, 21+
Player One player1orlando.com $5
Orlando after 6pm.
875 Woodbury Rd, No, must order food/
The Cloak and Blaster cloakandblaster.com No
Ste 108, Orlando drinks to play games
69 East Pine, No, must order drinks
Joysticks Orlando joysticksorlando.com 21+
2nd Floor, Orlando to play games

Fall 2017 47
The six-story-tall Wilderness Lodge lobby features elements inspired by Native Americans and the Grand Canyon.

48 Fall 2017
Resort REPORT
By Tharin White

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Lets You Get Away From it All
Just Minutes From Magic Kingdom

ave you ever wanted to escape view of the Fire Rock Geyser when it cast members. Everyone at your table

H the hustle and bustle of

Orlando, but still be just min-
utes away from the action? Disney’s
Wilderness Lodge and the new Disney
erupts.
The second pool, Boulder Ridge Cove,
was recently renovated and offers zero-
depth entry and a hot tub. If you arrive
must scream for ketchup if they want the
condiment, and all the other patrons at
the restaurant will bring some. This
results in a lot of laughs and way too
Vacation Club (DVC) Copper Creek addi- early enough, you can also snatch a shad- much ketchup, but it’s all part of the fun.
tion can offer just that. This classic Disney ed seating area complete with chairs and Fine dining is also an option for those
resort is just a short boat ride from the a couch. The pool has a throwback to a
Magic Kingdom and offers Disney bus past Disney attraction. Many of the boul-
transportation to everywhere else on prop- ders, along with the crane over the pool,
erty. As part of the Disney Deluxe Resorts, were taken directly from the Backlot Tour
this lodge and DVC addition offers a step at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the
into the Pacific Northwest while being in Catastrophe Canyon scene.
the heart of Walt Disney World. Right nearby is the Geyser Point Bar
You’ll start off in the large lobby. This & Grill, with stunning views of natural
area pays homage to the Grand Canyon, Florida. This lounge and bar area offers
Native Americans and numerous nation- everything from breakfast to signature
al parks. The stone fireplace is a recreation cocktails and rustic fare. This quick ser-
of the Grand Canyon, showcasing the vice location offers meals under $15 and
many layers of time that occurred drinks that range from the organic root
throughout the history of its making. beer at $2.79 to Huckleberry punch at $12.
Plenty of seating allows everyone to relax During the lunch and dinner hours, you
by the fire, or during the holidays, circled can order fried oysters, cheesy barbecue
around the massive indoor Christmas brisket and salmon rillettes.
tree. There is also the spring that forms If you’re looking for a heartier meal,
inside the lobby and flows throughout look no further than the Whispering
the exterior of the resort down into the Canyon Café. It offers plenty of options.
main pool. Their signature item for every meal is the
The theme of the resort continues all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet. These skillets
everywhere you go, from the Copper offer a slew of different food items from
Creek waterfall down to the erupting separate entrees on the menu. The break-
geyser. From the waterfalls down into the fast skillet has Mickey waffles, biscuits,
Copper Creek Springs pool, guests of all gravy, home fries, bacon and scrambled
ages can enjoy the numerous water-based eggs. While the lunch and dinner skillet
amenities. The kids can play in the kiddie has ribs, pulled pork, chicken, mashed
pool, complete with activity area and potatoes, baked beans, corn on the cob
slides. The springs pool offers great wad- and much more. Whispering Canyon is
ing areas, a 67 foot slide and a perfect also known for its funny gags and playful Rustic charm and serene nature views surround the entire resort.

Fall 2017 49
 seeking a fancier meal with some Disney
flair. Artist Point is a signature restaurant
featuring butcher cut steaks and featured
wines. Those not looking for steak can try
the cedar plank salmon, seared scallops or
roast chicken. You may also partake in the
Taste of the Pacific five-course meal. This
meal features cuisine directly inspired
from the Pacific Northwest and ends with
two separate desserts. The Lodge also
offers a separate bar area at the Territory
Lounge and a quick service restaurant at
the Roaring Fork. Guests may also cook
their own dinner at the numerous BBQ
pavilions throughout the resort.
Aside from the food and pools,
Wilderness Lodge offers plenty of other
activities everyone in the family can enjoy.
Sturdy Branches is the health club at the
resort, which offers 24 hour access. Those
wishing to get out of the gym can rent a
bike, walk or run their way down the
tree-lined paths around the resort.
Campfires are another great way to get
the family together for some fun, and out-
PHOTO BY DISNEY

door movie screenings are usually offered

around the same time for viewing under
The Cascade Cabins offer a full kitchen, dining room and living room, complete with fireplace and plenty of natural lighting. the stars.
Out from the land and into the water,

The Copper Creek Springs pool is the resort’s largest swimming area and features hot tubs, a kids play area and a 67-foot-long slide.

50 Fall 2017
 Wilderness Lodge offers plenty for those member tour you around and teach you
seeking to sail onwards. Fishing excur- the history that lies before you. The villas
sions are offered pontoon-style pontoon offer two, three, and four bedroom possi-
style for groups up to five; you may also bilities with views of the woodlands, pool
partake in one to two person Bass Nitro and courtyard.
fishing excursions. Motorized boats are The new Copper Creek area offers
also available for rent that allow free high-end villas and studios. Hidden
roaming on the waters of Seven Seas details throughout the new rooms can be
Lagoon and Bay Lake. found in the Sven silhouettes, hidden
While amenities are a great perk, the Mickeys in the wood grain and Carolwood
lodging aspect is truly the most important Pacific tickets. The Grand Villas offer their
part of the Wilderness Lodge. The central own living room, three bedrooms, a full
lodge rooms offer easy access to the kitchen and private balconies.
buses, and close proximity to the pool and The final offerings are the Cascade
restaurants. Guests who stay in the main Cabins. These new additions offer private
lodge can expect views over the hot getaways while still being close to the
springs, into the wilderness of wild resort’s amenities. Each of the 26 cabins
Florida, or towards the entrance of the can sleep up to eight and offer plenty of
lodge. Outside of the main lodge are three areas to relax and enjoy the nature of
other areas for guests to stay, the Boulder Central Florida. Every cabin has an
Ridge Villas, the Copper Creek Villas and indoor and outdoor fireplace, along with
the Cascade Cabins. a private hot tub overlooking Bay Lake.
Boulder Ridge was the first expansion Throughout the past few years,
of Wilderness Lodge back in 2000. The Wilderness Lodge has received numerous
rooms range from deluxe studios to two upgrades, which now allows it to have
The Fire Rock Geyser erupts more than 120 feet in the air.

bedroom villas. Boulder Ridge may be a many different amenities and types of
You can expect eruptions to occur every hour, on the hour,

separate building from the main lodge, vacation offerings. This Disney Deluxe
from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.

but the theming and the feel of rustic Resort truly provides peace and comfort
comfort and charm continue throughout. from the hustle of the parks and attrac-
The main area features a fireplace and tions in the area. Meanwhile, it’s just a
seating for a relaxing break by the crack- seven-minute boat ride from the Magic
ling fire. Besides the main rotunda and Kingdom. If you are looking to escape
outdoor areas, there is also a special room into the wilderness, all while being min-
called the Carolwood Pacific. On special utes from the Disney Parks, Wilderness
days, it may be possible to have a cast Lodge is a great resort.

PHOTO BY DISNEY
The private hot tubs on the back porch of the Cascade Cabins
offer a relaxing retreat with sweeping views of natural Florida.

WILDERNESS
LODGE

Location: 901 Timberline Dr

Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Prices: Standard Room $307
to $544 per night
Parking: Free self-parking,
Valet is $25 per day
PHOTO BY DISNEY

Phone: 407-824-3200
Website: DisneyWorld.com
Nature inspired all aspects of the new villas, from the opaque wood grain glass, to the large rustic headboards.

Fall 2017 51
Paddlefish sports a dramatic new look, thanks to a recent redesign, including a sleek, contemporary style and a dramatic lighting package that makes it look especially eye-catching at night.

Another new big difference is the addition of a new lounge area atop the riverboat, that provides a great vantage point over much of Disney Springs.

52 Fall 2017
Table SERVICE
By Susan and Simon Veness

This (Paddle)Fish
Is A Disney Original

here isn’t much of Disney Stone Crab Lounge and chic

T Springs – the former Downtown

Disney – recognizable from its
original design, but one element
from the 1970s is still there, and it has just
Constellation Room. The intricate exteri-
or decks remained but, shorn of its most
obvious features, the Crab House didn’t
look quite as inviting as the first incarna-
undergone its second transformation to tion.
remain fresh and relevant. Looking to give their venue new
The classic boat docked on the shore life, owner Levy Restaurants opted for
of Lake Buena Vista opened in May 1977 a second regeneration in 2016 and it
as the Empress Lilly, a magnificent 220- reopened earlier this year as
foot recreation of a 19th century paddle- Paddlefish. Back came the paddle-
wheeler. Named for Walt Disney’s wife wheel and funnels, along with a sleek,
Lillian, it served as the iconic center of contemporary look and, more impor-
what was then Lake Buena Vista Village, tant, a rooftop lounge and bar provid-
and was “the” place to dine for 18 years, ing a grandstand view over Disney
before – much like Dr. Who – it went Springs. Executive Chef Steven Richard is a long-time Disney Springs
through its first “regeneration.” The interior was completely remod- stalwart with plenty of upscale experience.
Still essentially the same idea, the eled, with huge windows added to the
former Empress became Fulton’s Crab lower deck dining area, while the for-
House, minus its smart paddlewheel mer front bar was extensively modified
and twin funnels, but with the funky to include a specialty seafood boil sec- tion that adds a delicious new element
to the menu.
With all these changes, the restaurant
is fortunate to have a Levy stalwart at the
helm to ensure the new-look restaurant
lives up to some high expectations. Chef
Steven Richard was previously at
Wolfgang Puck’s in the West Side of
Disney Springs, then executive chef at the
Italian-themed Portobello before arriving
at Paddlefish.
He was in charge of the rebuild of the
kitchens in the new restaurant, as well as
reworking the menu so it appealed to
fans old and new. In fact, it had to do
more than that, as Chef Richard told us;
“Fulton’s had a lot of emotional roots for
a lot of people and we were very aware
The former Stone Crab Lounge is now home to the specialty seafood boil section and bar. we needed to bring it to the next level.

Fall 2017 53
The interior decor is notably brighter and more modern, with the individual dining rooms — like the Constellation Room — more in keeping with the restaurant's sophisticated vibe.

“Our goal was to make it a premier offerings. We still have the lobster corn fans, but we changed enough that it’s
seafood destination for all of Florida, but dogs that were a terrific fun item that peo- genuinely different and new.”
we didn’t want to go so far afield that ple loved, the great Crab Cake with a While the offerings remain heavily
someone who enjoyed Fulton’s would maque choux, and the fried green tomato seafood oriented, Chef Richard also want-
not be comfortable, so we kept some appetizer. We kept enough elements to ed to ensure they could appeal to all
things from Fulton’s menu, like the crab try to ensure we didn’t offend Fulton’s Disney Springs guests. “When we put the
menu together, we tried to create enough
variety so that, no matter who you are,
you can come in and enjoy a great meal,
even if you have a shellfish allergy,” he
insisted.
“I was speaking to a table the other
night, and one of them wasn’t a great
seafood fan, but I was able to recommend
the pork shank. I often like braised items
because if you don’t love that pork shank,
it’s not going to love you back, so that kind
of craft cooking is very attractive to me.”
And to us, as it turned out. We chose
the Osso Bucco as one of our main cours-
es, alongside the Scallops, and we were
not disappointed. The pork came up
beautifully succulent, with a surprisingly
light and delicate smokiness that was the
perfect foil to the generous bed of ched-
dar grits it sat on. Superbly moist and out-
rageously tender (all that braising, you
see!), it just edged out the scallops – with
their melt-in-the-mouth quality and total-
ly delectable crispy Brussels sprouts – as
our dish of the day.
One of the must-try appetizers is a former Fulton's Crab House favorite, the Lobster Corn Dogs, which come up deliciously soft and
succulent, with a real boost of flavor from the sweet chili aioli.

54 Fall 2017
Be brave and opt for the delectable Charred Octopus, which is one of Chef Richard's specialties. It’s served on a soft bed of The Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Tart includes a slice of candied
cannellini beans and chourico, and given a superbly delicate finish from the smoked paprika oil that imbues the whole dish bacon.
with a deep, mellow flavor.

They had some serious competition, choice, deliciously smoky and crisp, with
though. Choosing an entrée turned out to a tangy finish from the accompanying
be one of the toughest decisions we’ve chourico and smoked paprika oil.
had to make in a long time. The signature But you might just have to opt for the
seafood boils are all tantalizing. “We have before Lobster Corn Dogs Chef Richard
two 60-gallon kettles that we fire up every mentioned. Five skewers of perfectly
morning,” explained Chef Richard. “We cooked lobster tail in a light cornflour bat-
start with a mixture of bay leaf, lemon, sea ter, served with a sweet chili aioli, its
salt, Old Bay seasoning, garlic and onion, heavenly buttery finish definitely melts
and it goes all day long, like a liquid ver- on the palate.
sion of the wood-burning oven we had at You should save room for dessert, too, Another delicious — and different — appetizer is the Crab &
Portobello. as Paddlefish serves a cracking Key Lime Asparagus Benedict.
“If I’m poaching lobster, as we do at Pie as well as a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan
lunch for the lobster roll, or for the lobster Tart with a strip of candied bacon that is PADDLEFISH
guacamole, or poaching shrimp for the as photogenic as it is tasty.
shrimp cocktail and the seafood tower, it Finally, do try their signature cocktails Location: The Landing, Disney Springs
all comes from the boil. And then it can for another “taste the difference” chal- Price Range
also produce everything from Maine lenge. The fabulously rich Southern Appetizers: $9 to $17
Lobster and King and Queen Crab to Sangria features Medley Bros. bourbon
shrimp, mussels and clams. Then we add instead of the traditional brandy, while the
Entrees: $17 to $49 (sides extra)

potatoes and corn from the Plant City Garden Gimlet is given a gorgeous boost
Desserts: $9 to $10

farmers market here in Florida and it’s all with the addition of crème de violette.
Phone: 407-934-2628

in that concentrated mixture for a unique Craft beers and an extensive wine list
Online: disneyworld.com and
flavor.” complete a suitably opulent accompani- paddlefishrestaurant.com
The appetizer selection is equally ment to your meal, and you can also add Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to
mouthwatering, starting with their lob- to the occasion by waving to the steady
ster guacamole, prepared table-side and stream of Amphicars that pass by the
Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to midnight

given the freshest of twists with the addi- restaurant windows, each one with its
Friday and Saturday

tion of that poached lobster, providing a cargo of excited passengers. But, with the
positive ‘Olé!’ on your tastebuds. The Paddlefish fare in front of you, there can
Paddlefish accepts the Disney Dining Plan

Charred Octopus is also an inspired be no doubt who has the best deal!
(2 entitlements required).

Fall 2017 55
 By Vince Dorse, Created by Pat N. Lewis & John Green

56 Fall 2017
 SPOT THE DIFFERENCE In Memory of Christopher Titchenal 1977-2017
Can you spot the 10 differences in these two photos?

ou may not recognize the name Christopher Titchenal, as puzzles. What better tribute than to make his family’s photo into

Y most people don’t read the staff box on page 8. But if

you’ve enjoyed the Spot the Difference page in the past
four years, you’ve enjoyed Christopher’s work. He always
worked his magic, adding and removing parts of each photo for
one of the puzzles, created by his friend Sharon Liguori. Pictured
is Christopher with his wife, Alida, and Mickey Mouse at the
Magic Kingdom on Oct. 1, 2011 - Walt Disney World’s 40th
anniversary and Chris' 34th birthday. You can spot their daughter
you to spot, not for the money, but because he loved bringing you Anna in the after photo.
a bit of theme park fun. Christopher started working on
Attractions Magazine with the Spring 2012 edition and he began
exclusively creating Spot the Difference with the Fall 2013 issue.
If you’d like to help Christopher’s family with his medical bills
We’re sad to report that after a nine-month battle following heart
and more, donations may be made
surgery, Christopher passed away on Aug. 10. He stayed strong
via PayPal to [email protected],
to the end. We will all miss Christopher and trying to solve his
via YouCaring at youcaring.com/alidatitchenal-901441
or via GoFundMe at gofundme.com/chriss-hospital-campaign

BEFORE AFTER

shows three fingers instead of four.

above Mickey’s head. 7. Mickey’s left eyebrow is larger. 8. Christopher is now wearing a watch. 9. Mickey’s bow tie has changed from yellow to blue. 10. Mickey’s hand on Alida’s shoulder now only
4. Christopher and Alida’s daughter Anna is looking over Christopher’s shoulder. 5. Alida’s Mickey Mouse Ears are missing the center Mickey Mouse logo. 6. The red curtains have an extra gold swirl
1. Christopher is wearing an extra pin. 2. Mickey has three white buttons on his slacks instead of only two. 3. Mickey’s right pupil is larger.

Fall 2017 57
 THE RUMOR QUEUE
By Fowl Owlerson

all is here, which Donkey Kong coaster, and a Yoshi uni-

F means a great deal of

rain for Floridians and
weather that’s not as swelter-
ing, but let’s face it, it’s still
mover are all still on the table for the land.
Kid Zone is rumored to close this winter
to make way for the new land.
Merlin Entertainment, a U.K.-based
Busch Gardens

company that owns Legoland and an

assortment of attractions on International
Drive, has expressed interest in purchas-
hot. So put your umbrellas up, grab a ing Busch Gardens from SeaWorld
towel and dry off, and let’s see what’s Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand USA Entertainment. If this sale goes through,
Disney

been rumored in the theme park industry. and Dinosaur are rumored to be on the we may see an influx in money being
chopping block for an Indiana Jones ride spent on new projects. A new hotel is
and themed area. I’m skeptical of the rumored for Busch Gardens Tampa.
The Secret Life of Pets project was rumor from a thematic perspective, but We’ve heard a project planned for the old
Universal

delayed, but is rumored to be making its stranger things have happened. Gwazi roller coaster space is coming
way to both coasts. A How To Train Your Epcot’s Imagination pavilion is together, but commencement may be
Dragon attraction is also rumored to be in rumored to be overhauled as a Pixar delayed as the fiscal aspect of the park is
the works for both coasts. pavilion. The Wonders of Life pavilion is being restructured. Perhaps a sale to
In Orlando, the replacement for rumored to be up for removal to make Merlin would also result in an increased
Dragon Challenge is said to be a room for the coming Guardians of the budget for Howl-O-Scream?
Forbidden Forest experience that won’t Galaxy attraction and Mission: Space
be as intense as Dragon Challenge and restaurant.
will employ animatronics and new ride With the Marvel land expansion com-
DISCLAIMER

vehicle patents. The Fear Factor Live sta- ing to Disney California Adventure in the
The thoughts expressed here are not purported
as fact and should be viewed as hearsay until officially
dium may be removed for what is space surrounding Mission: Breakout, confirmed or denied by the companies mentioned.
rumored to be a Wizarding World comes a rumor of what this may entail. A
Ministry of Magic experience. Captain America roller coaster is
Have a rumor, comment, or question? Send

Super Nintendo World is progressing, rumored, as well as a version of the Iron

them our way at [email protected].

but its rumored opening date may be Man Experience from Hong Kong
You can also strike up a conversation with yours
truly on Twitter @fowlowlerson.
pushed back past 2020. Mario Kart AR, a Disneyland.

MYSTERY PHOTO

WIN A PRIZE!
Tell us which park you can find this stone lantern in and
which part of the park. To enter, e-mail your answer, along
with your name and mailing address to
[email protected].

Hint: The answer can be found in our Spring 2017 issue.

The deadline for entries is Nov. 10, 2017. One answer allowed
per person, per issue. Please include your name and mailing
address with your answer. Everyone who submits the correct
location will go into a drawing. One person, randomly selected
from all the correct entries, will win a prize. We reserve the right LAST ISSUE’S MYSTERY PHOTO ANSWER
to publish the name, city and state of those entering. One Congratulations to Brandi Jenkins from Greenville, S.C. She recognized Elisa as riding
winner per household allowed per year. The Freedom Flyer roller coaster at Fun Spot America in Orlando.

58 Fall 2017
 OUT OF THE LOOP
Attractions News from Outside the Orlando Area
By Andy Guinigundo

Classic Attractions Reopen Busch Gardens Trading Movie Screen

at Disneyland for VR Headsets
Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif. – Many Busch Gardens Williamsburg,
attractions around the Rivers of America Williamsburg, Virginia – Virtual reality
section of Disneyland park have been is a technology that has been making its
closed during the ongoing construction way into theme parks the last few years.
of Star Wars Land. These included Mark Older roller coasters have been retro-fit- Cedar Point went so far as to remind
Twin Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, ted with VR headsets with the action enthusiasts that Cedar Point is private
the Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes, seen in the headset matching the course property and that driving to that far
Fantasmic!, and the iconic Disneyland of the coaster. Busch Gardens end of the point to take a look was pro-
Railroad. Construction is now complete Williamsburg is in the process of creat- hibited, especially during winter
and one by one, these attractions have ing North America’s first VR motion months. In August, it was finally
reopened. The last of these to reopen, the simulator. The former attraction, announced that Steel Vengeance, a
railroad, is one of Disneyland’s original Europe in the Air, was a motion simula- “hyper-hybrid” coaster, would be
attractions. While closed, Imagineers tor like ones used in flight simulators to replacing Mean Streak's. Some of Mean
took the opportunity to update the train pilots. Previously, the motion sim- Steak’s wood and framework have
indoor Grand Canyon Diorama and ulator was positioned in front of a large been salvaged, but new wooden con-
Primeval World scenes just prior to movie screen. The unnamed attraction struction most definitely has taken
entering the Main Street Station. The will have an Irish theme, but details place. This is being combined with
biggest changes, however, occurred in have been sparse. A promo video has track technology whose ride resembles
the Rivers of America section just stated there are “two worlds in Ireland” that of a traditional steel coaster, and
beyond the New Orleans Square – the one we know, and the one not vis- allows for extreme banking and inver-
Station. New views from both sides of ible to humans. It sounds like we will be sions. Hence, hybrid, in this case,
the train are evident. The Columbia exploring this other world next year. means steel track on a wood base. The
Gorge scene is all new. The train cross- “hyper” term has been used to
es a picturesque trestle and for the Cedar Point Announces describe coasters more than 200 feet
first time, takes a left turn. Multiple Record-Breaking Coaster tall, as this one will be, making it the
waterfalls and rock formations have Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio - It was world’s first hyper-hybrid. Cedar Point
been added and provide a new back- nearly a year ago that Cedar Point’s epic Vice President Jason McClure stated,
drop through this area. The wooden coaster Mean Streak made its “This is another roller coaster that only
Disneyland Railroad is once again circuit for the last time. Since then, Cedar Point could build - tallest,
providing a “Grand Circle Tour” of much speculation has swirled regard- fastest, and longest of its kind with
Disneyland. ing what would replace that beast. four inversions and the exciting move-

60 Fall 2017
ments the hybrid design can achieve”.
Statistically, it will be 205 feet tall, travel
74 mph, and descend 90 degrees over a
5,740 foot long track. After well over a
year of construction, the coaster is
planned to open next year. 

Hersheypark to Add Two

Water Park Attractions
Hersheypark, Hershey, Penn. –
Hersheypark has announced the addi-
tion of two water park attractions for
2018. The Breakers Edge water coaster is
the first hydromagnetic coaster to have
“flying saucer” turns. It is being
described as Hersheypark’s 14th coaster.
The Whitecap Racer will be the longest
mat racing water slide in the world. It
will have six lanes and two sets of loop-
ing tunnels. The two rides will add
40,000 gallons of water to The
Boardwalk water park located inside
Hersheypark. Admission to the water
park is included with regular park
admission. This investment is the
biggest for the water park in nearly a
decade. The attractions are expected to
be open by Memorial Day.

Six Flags to Add First of its Kind

Wonder Woman Coaster
Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio,
Texas – Wonder Woman Golden Lasso “Raptor” single rail track. The track and ‘Luxury Waterpark’ Announced
Coaster will be full of firsts. accompanying single seat trains are for Gaylord Opryland Resort
Technologically speaking, this is the first capable of a full array of coaster maneu- Gaylord Opryland Resort and
coaster announced to utilize the vers. Speaking of maneuvers, the new Convention Center, Nashville, Tenn. –
coaster will climb a 113-foot hill just A $90 million investment will be used to
before a 100-foot, 90-degree drop. create SoundWaves, a luxury indoor and
Additionally, it will feature two airtime outdoor waterpark adjacent to the resort.
hills, a 180-degree stall, overbanked The site will be split into a 111,000-square-
wave turns, a zero-g roll and a steep foot indoor section and a 106,000-square-
uphill spiral. DC Comics has been part foot outdoor section. The indoor side will
of Six Flags for a long time. Heroes and cover three floors and have the soaring
villains alike have many themed rides, atrium characteristic of Gaylord proper-
specifically coasters, including Batman, ties. There will be dedicated areas to
Superman, The Joker and more. Wonder adults including adult-only pools as well
Woman Golden Lasso will be the first as areas for young children and families.
roller coaster to feature the heroine. Some of the features announced include
Artist renditions of the ride show bright lazy and rapid rivers, water slides, a dou-
yellow track with red supports and the ble FlowRider, wave pool, and a kids area
likeness of Wonder Woman prominent with a multi-level play structure. The
in the theming. The ride is expected to area is expected to open next fall with the
open next year. indoor area open year-round.

Fall 2017 61
 LIGHTS, CAMERA, ATTRACTION!

of Harry Potter,
izarding World
The W
l Studios Florida
Universa

your
efore you find
n Alley
B way into D

look up in the
London area.
win
ia
at Universal O
d
go

ow
rlando,
s in the
You may find
e
a
ng ba ck th
Kreacher pulli
to star e at you.
curtains

62 Fall 2017