Theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil explains all the happenings at Central Florida theme parks this week. He covers the opening date for Aquatica’s new ride, how you can have a cocktail with giraffes, and Disney’s plan to phase in a new way to enter its theme park using iPhones.  

• Aquatica’s new ride (:48)
• Giraffe Bar at Busch Gardens (6:08)
• SeaWorld Shark Encounter refresh (6:45)
• Disney MagicMobile (11:18)
• Cinderella Castle enhancements (16:49)
• Main Street businesses closing (22:09)
• Universal CityWalk stores (26:36)

Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld have tweaked — and sometimes overhauled — procedures dealing with reservations, parking, temperature and security screenings, and social distancing. Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil offers tips that you need to know before you go.

• Parks that require reservations (2:14)
• Disney park hopping (5:02)
• Parks that don’t require reservations (6:18)
• Parking changes (7:50)
• Trams, buses and monorails  (11:05)
• Temperature and security checks (12:14)
• Masks (16:15)
• Social-distancing reminders  (17:11)
• Virtual lines (24:21)
• Mobile ordering meals (26:59)
• Eating/drinking only when stationary (32:42)
• Designated mask-free areas (34:25)

While visitors have to wait for Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration (Oct. 1) to experience Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil toured the ride (on foot) with two Imagineers this week.

• Ride is frozen in time (2:33)
• France doubling in size (4:39)
• Hidden (and not so hidden) rats everywhere (6:29)
• Becoming rat-sized (9:08)
• Trackless ‘ratmobiles’ (11:00)
• 4-D experience (14:15)
• Climatic scene  (17:54)
• 'Ratatouille’ merchandise (20:52)
• More characters moving into Epcot (21:13)

A series is in development for Disney+ that is based on Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Few details have been released about the project, so we decided to create our own Magic Kingdom Universe storylines.

• The Magic Kingdom Universe (:46)
• Hitchhiking Ghost (3:33)
• Space Mountain meets Haunted Mansion (8:19)
• Spaceship Earth: The Movie (11:12)
• Bride from Haunted Mansion (13:13)
• A Dumbo adventure (14:40)
• Gaston would be Sam from “Cheers” (16:20)
• Casey the Enforcer (19:32)
• Cinderella & Jack Sparrow (22:22)

 

Walt Disney World has announced the first details of its 50th-anniversary celebration. The event — dubbed “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” — will begin Oct. 1 and will last 18 months.

• Planning for the 50th celebration (:43)
• Castle makeover continues (3:27)
• Some not loving it (4:46)
• Spaceship Earth  (5:43)
• This is where it gets messy (8:28)
• Tree of Life and Tower of Terror tweaks (10:34)
• Favorite icon (13:24)
• Anniversary will feature new experiences (15:23)
• Mickey & Minnie’s new look (17:38)
• Cinderella Castle through the years (20:12)

If you are looking for some new, outdoor activities to experience, Central Florida attractions have you covered.

• SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival (:24)
• Menu is for comfort and adventurous cravings (3:48)
• Capri Sun for adults (6:48)
• Concerts are back (7:58)
• Ice Breaker in motion (9:57)
• Epcot’s Leave a Legacy  (13:13)
• Finding ‘N Sync (17:20)
• Legoland ski show  (21:44)
• Meet Calico Jade (24:55)
• Stunt show (26:31)
• Disney World at 50 (29:13)

Universal Studios puts an emphasis on food with this year’s Mardi Gras. And some of the “International Flavors of Carnaval” may surprise you.

• No parade and concert series (2:33)
• Universal’s first food fest with beads thrown in (5:26)
• Kiosk theming (7:19)
• Make the tasting lanyard work for you (9:37)
• Parade floats up close (13:25)
• Show me your beads! (14:59)
• Wandering musicians (17:29)
• Tribute Store: Only King Cake stop (18:12)
• Mardi Gras celebrations at other attractions (22:00)
• Universal celebration details (22:29)

Bok Tower Gardens features a stunning 205-foot Singing Tower that houses a 60-bell carillon. The tower alone is worth the trip, but the 50-acre garden offers so much more.

• The word of the day is carillonneur (:16)
• Is it worth the trip? (1:03)
• Amenities: Museum, café, gift shop (2:31)
• Landscape architect (4:06)
• Children’s garden (5:27)
• Window on the Pond (6:50)
• A hill in Florida? (8:41)
• The Singing Tower (9:37)
• Gaining access to the top of the tower (10:55)
• Surprisingly extensive playlist (13:10)
• Who was Edward W. Bok? (16:30)
• What are you waiting for? Go now (18:05)

This week has been jam-packed with theme park news. And since the announcements are all good, Orlando Sentinel theme park writer Dewayne Bevil has deemed this the feel-good podcast of the year.

• Roller coaster testing now include human test dummies (1:26)
• Universal’s Mardi Gras (5:21)
• SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival (9:28)
• Disney’s Jungle Cruise getting update (12:53)
• ‘Festival of the Lion King’ to reopen (16:17)
• Disney’s Blizzard Beach reopening (20:09)
• Disney at 50 (23:36)

Theme park reporters Dewayne Bevil and Gabrielle Russon break down the latest Disney World news.

• No. new annual passes at Disney World (:49)
• Disney’s Magical Express going away   (4:45)
• Goodbye Extra Magic Hours (6:25)
• Park hopping is back (8:27)
• Crowds light at parks (9:16)
• Hall of Presidents closed for refurbishments  (11:12)
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure peak (14:09)