Theme Park Rangers

On the 100th episode of Theme Park Rangers podcast, Orlando Sentinel tourism reporter Dewayne Bevil answers his most frequently asked questions and looks back on the guests that have offered insight and helped us reach this milestone.

• So you ride roller coasters for a living? (1:37)
• How often are you in the theme parks? (3:00)
• Do you get in for free? (5:28)
• What is your favorite park? (6:35)
• What's your favorite ride? (9:20)
• Do you ever get sick of going to the parks? (10:05)
• Epcot construction (11:52)
• Epic Universe plans (16:57)
• SeaWorld/Busch Gardens coasters (21:24)
• New owner, new space (23:44)
• From Joe Rohde to Thierry Coup (26:25)

SeaWorld Orlando will offer an intense Halloween experience this year with Howl-O-Scream, an after-hours, extra-ticket event with haunted houses and scare zones. Orlando Sentinel reporters Dewayne Bevil and Patrick Connolly discuss the new offering and the Halloween events planned at Universal Orlando and Disney World.

• Halloween surprise in June (1:04)
• SeaWorld's kid-friendly event (3:12)
• Howl-O-Scream: What we know (5:29)
• Roving bands of zombies going up and down I-4 (10:02)
• Priced to be a temptation (12:17)
• Universal's HHN (15:00)
• Disney's Boo Bash (17:27)
• Pandemic attractions popped up (21:19)

Tourism reporter Dewayne Bevil highlights festivities at Central Florida attractions coming this summer.

• Is VelociCoaster open? (:00)
• RESCUE exhibit Orlando Science Center (4:42)
• Earthquakes at WonderWorks (7:06)
• Free Pulse memorial (8:09)
• Legoland Mythica movie & hunt (9:38)
• SeaWorld Electric Ocean (11:44)
• Universal character meet and greet (13:10)
• Epcot festivals (15:16)
• Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom (16:13)
• HHN at Universal (19:45)
• Face mask rules (22:08)

Tourism reporter Dewayne Bevil talks with John Saccheri, who runs the theme parks fan site Big Fat Panda, about recent changes that make the parks feel like they did before the pandemic and changes they hope will happen soon.

• Temperature screenings (1:59)
• Masks off for photos (2:35)
• "Cleanest trash cans in history" (3:20)
• "A Taste of Not So Scary" (4:57)
• "Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" (8:28)
• First step toward entertainment (11:55)
• No silver linings to a pandemic… but (13:48)
• Down with park reservations (16:57)
• Casual food service need (18:24)
• Pooh is pure delight (20:00)
• Castle makeover (23:03)

Jurassic World VelociCoaster, the next thrill ride coming to Universal's Islands of Adventure, opened for annual passholder previews Sunday. Orlando Sentinel reporters Dewayne Bevil, Patrick Connolly and Kathleen Christiansen experienced the rollercoaster and lived to talk about all the twists, turns and inversions. Oh, and don't forget the dinosaurs.

• If Hagrid and Hulk had a baby (1:31)
• No over-the-shoulder harness (4:02)
• 1st half full of surprises: Stomach-dropping moments & dinos (7:14)
• Front row vs. back row (9:36)
• Riding with mask a challenge (13:27)
• What happens between now and June 10? (14:39)
• The queue: Raptors and Chris Pratt (16:37 )
• Lockers: Revolutionary development (18:39)
• Best photo op spots (21:59)

Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil and podcast producer Wesley Alden have two different thoughts on the PeopleMover at Magic Kingdom. Dewayne thinks it is fine. Wesley is indifferent. But there are folks out there that can't get enough of the ride.

• Transportation of the future (2:51)
• Disney obsessions (4:48)
• Going through Space Mountain (7:20)
• Behind-the-scenes tour (11:06)
• A non-Disney Disney ride (13:54)
• Tron construction (15:17)
• There is no wait (16:00)

Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil goes on a hunt for tattoos at Disney World and comes up short. The search was spurred by changes in the Disney Look, the company's long-standing appearance guide. Castmembers can now have tattoos, fingernail polish and newly allowed hairstyles for the first time in Disney theme parks.

• Disney Look update: The hunt for tattoos (1:18)
• Live shows returning (8:38)
• Grad Bash returns to Universal Orlando (13:56)
• Cinco de Mayo at SeaWorld (15:36)
• "The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" (18:01)
• What didn't make the cut at Star Wars land (20:31)

Scott Terrell, director of Animal and Science Operations at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts discusses recent animal births at Animal Kingdom and festivities planned to celebrate Earth Day.

• Baby alert! (1:09)
• Rhino prenatal care (4:00)
• Nigerian dwarf goats (5:11)
• The Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom (6:14)
• Earth Day festivities (7:09)
• Sand sculpture (10:49)
• Which animal gives you peace? (11:10)

Come on, Delaware! Country Bear Jamboree. Really? The Theme Park Rangers breakdown a recent poll by Upgraded Points that ranked favorite Disney World rides by park, state and gender.

• VelociCoaster opening date (:40)
• Disney World loosens mask policy (2:24)
• Favorite ride at Magic Kingdom (3:24)
• Favorite ride at Epcot (7:04)
• Favorite ride at Hollywood Studios (9:25)
• Favorite ride at Animal Kingdom (12:55)
• Favorite rides by state (15:03)

Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil discusses the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Halloween Horror Nights at Universal, and so many festivals at SeaWorld Orlando.

• Epcot International Food and Wine Festival (1:07)
• Disney holiday celebrations (8:45)
• So many SeaWorld festivals coming (11:08)
• Universal's HHN (16:08)
• Universal Legacy store at CityWalk (19:06)
• Disney at 50: Prices from 1971 (27:29)
• Ranking character meet and greets (35:14)
• MagicMobile (36:11)
• Mickey Bars and Millennium Falcon Ice Cream Sandwiches (39:05)