Ready to go WILD 🦁

Happy Friday, everyone!

Landon here -- (hold on, let me pause this music) -- and today we’re going WILD as the 50th anniversary celebration at Walt Disney World comes to an end. As I said to you all last week, it’s been a fun run during the 18-month long celebration, but now I’m looking forward to what is coming down the track next -- and that is the BIG anniversary for ANIMAL KINGDOM!

If you didn’t know, this year the park is celebrating its 25th anniversary on the same day as Earth Day (April 22). This is my favorite Disney park. It’s a fun park to visit, take your time and just chill alongside some cool animals, like elephants, hippos, monkeys, tigers and so many others. 🐘 This month, I’m sure I’ll have a lot of stories coming out of the theme park to bring you.

In fact, I have one that is pretty awesome, and it involves the park’s lesser flamingoes. 🦩

For years, the park flamboyance (group of flamingoes) struggled to hatch a chick. The park said the flock had only produced one chick in 20 years before the 2022 breeding season. The key to success? A type of clay used on the baseball and softball fields at ESPN Wide World of Sports. ⚾ Leaders teamed up with the sports complex to mix the clay from the fields with sand and water. When done successfully, the clay bakes in the sun and turns rock like, which is perfect for the birds to create their built-up nests.

Disney said shortly after they implemented this, they had SEVEN eggs! 🐣 The first bird to hatch got the name SANDY. I love this story, don’t you?! You can see the birds near the park’s front entrance. When you head into the park, be sure and check out some of the new sweet treats the park has introduced for the upcoming anniversary! That elephant cupcake looks GREAT!

TRON-tastic lineup 🎢

In addition to Animal Kingdom festivities, over at Magic Kingdom, the resort this coming week is preparing to officially open its highly-anticipated roller coaster TRON Lightcycle / Run. I brought you a lot of details about the attraction a couple weeks ago. Just a reminder, when the ride opens next week, it will ❌NOT❌ have a standby line. You will be required to have a Lightning Lane or a virtual queue. Some of you, I know, have had success snatching one of those virtual queues early in the morning. It’s not just the ride opening this week, Disney also plans to drop all the merchandise for TRON Lightcycle / Run and open its new experience, the TRON Identity Program. 📀

In addition to TRON Lightcycle / Run, Walt Disney World is also welcoming back its popular nighttime shows. “Happily Ever After” is coming back to Magic Kingdom and “EPCOT Forever” is returning to the World Showplace at EPCOT. I know for a fact that the days these shows return, the park will be very busy, so pack your patience.

Spectacle at Sea 🛳️

Over at Port Canaveral, we received some news coming from Disney Cruise Line.

The company is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary beginning this May -- and this week, we got a FIRST LOOK at the outfits Mickey, Minnie and the other Fab 5 characters will be sporting on the ship. 🤩 Disney Cruise Line said the new shimmering outfits feature multi-toned fabrics and swirling designs reminiscent of ocean waves. During these limited-time cruises, guests will see new entertainment, merchandise and so much more. If you haven’t book your cruise, get to it! You still have time. Speaking of bookings, 2024 sailings are now available, which includes cruises that will take you to Disney’s new tropical destination, Lighthouse Point. ⛱️

Another big headline from Disney Cruise Line -- the future of some of its upcoming new ships. ⚓ Disney Cruise Line is sending its 7th ship in the fleet to somewhere that I was not expecting. Meanwhile, it’s sixth ship, the Disney Treasure, just hit a major milestone in construction.

👟 Go the Distance

Attention runners! We now have the themes for the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ RunDisney shared the new images of the themes late this week. The weekend next January will consist of the 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon and full Marathon. For those really impressive runners, you can take part in the Goofy Challenge (Half-Marathon and full Marathon) or the Dopey Challenge (consists of all the races). General registration for the big race weekend is coming up -- so, get READY TO RACE! 👍

🚧 Construction UPDATE 👷

A quick update to a story I brought you all last week involving Universal’s new attraction, Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. This week, construction crews completed the attraction’s entrance sign look. Does it not look GREAT!? In addition to the attraction’s front entrance sign, crews also began painting parts of the building a bright orange.

The attraction’s gift shop also got its own sign … EVIL STUFF, anybody? 🦹‍♂️

For those not familiar with the new attraction, it’s opening this summer and will have you putting your skills to the test. The interactive, blaster 🔫 game experience will combine innovative screen technology, state-of-the-art gaming interactivity and elaborate physical sets that will create a one-of-a-kind, game-based adventure.

Ready to 🧗‍♂️ ROCK

🐊 Gatorland has some awesome experiences for its guests to check out, but now it has something that will test your skills. Get ready to experience CROC ROCK. The outdoor experience will have you climbing a wall, crossing a chain bridge and then ziplining! Leaders said they wanted to offer a different, dynamic and interactive experience that you won’t find anywhere else in Florida. Gatorland said the 45-minute tour will be offered during select times of the day. There are some requirements to experience the new attraction.

I plan on getting out there soon to see what this is all about.

New concerts 🎶

This week, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay said it has an exciting lineup of concerts coming this month during its Food and Wine Festival. The festival, which kicked off earlier this month, allows guests to try some delicious foods, ride the park’s exciting attractions and see FREE live concerts. 🎤 This Saturday, guests can hear award-winning singer Jeremy Camp take the stage. The Christian music singer will be followed by singer Tenille Arts on Sunday. The festival runs through May 21.

Here are a couple other concerts at our other theme parks:

💮 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival: Piso 21 (April 1- 2)

🐬 SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival: Warrant (April 1) and Smokey Robinson (April 2)

🎠 Smaller thrills

🎟️ Universal Orlando unveils an AWESOME ticket deal for Florida residents

🐰 The Easter Bunny Experience at ICON Park returns, kids get on free rides

🖍️ Crayola celebrates BIG birthday and the Crayola Experience is having a party

That will do it from me this week, my friends.

I hope you all have an incredible weekend -- and enjoy the sunshine out there. ☀️

Talk to you all again next week.

-Landon 😎