Kings & Kumba🦁🎢

This summer, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is equal parts roars and remembrance — where new kings are claiming their territory and a beloved legend is taking its final bow

Greetings, followers. It’s Haley, voice of the In the Loop: Theme Park Scoops newsletter.

Busch Gardens is turning up the volume this weekend with the debut of Lion & Hyena Ridge, a reimagined habitat where five young male lion brothers and two hyenas now reign.

But not every roar lasts forever. Kumba — the record-breaking coaster that’s thrilled riders since 1993 — closes the following weekend, the latest long-standing attraction to say goodbye following Scorpion in 2024 and Stanley Falls in 2025.

Busch Gardens has long leaned into nostalgia, and Kumba’s farewell is no exception.

One reader summed up the Kumba legacy perfectly. Kyle Cocita reached out after reading about the coaster’s closure, reflecting on the thrill he and his brother, Cory, shared riding it as kids growing up in Tampa — including 22 rides in a single day, with 19 consecutive trips in the front row.

“It was a beast. It was conquered many times over by two brothers from Tampa. Two ordinary kids fought our way through impatient and excited lines of G Force hungry animals that all wanted the same thing. They all wanted a piece of the beast and a taste of glory,” Kyle wrote.

Turns out, the legend of Kumba isn’t ending. Click here to see how the thrill is evolving.

SeaWorld Orlando

Shark season arrives 🦈

SeaWorld Orlando is going all-in on sharks this summer with Baby Shark, Pinkfong, Shark Appreciation Week and a celebration of Mako’s 10th anniversary.

Click here to read more and vote in our favorite coaster poll!

Walt Disney World

Park hoppers🦘

Part of this summer’s buzziest Walt Disney World addition is Bluey’s Wild World at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The News 6 Daytrippers recently got an up-close look at Jumping Junction, a walk-through experience where kangaroos and wallabies roam freely and, as always, the animals are very much in charge.

Click here for a visual tour.

Gaylord Palms Resort

Christmas news in July 🚂

I always anticipate a theme drop for seasonal traditions, and that includes the theme reveal for ice! at Gaylord Palms.

This year, a fan favorite is back: The Polar Express is returning to the Kissimmee resort’s iconic 20,000-square-foot, walk-through ice experience. Nearly 40 master ice carvers from Harbin, China will spend roughly 35 days sculpting beloved scenes from the classic story inside a 9-degree environment.

Click here for an early guide on this year’s holiday lineup.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Collect space🧑‍🚀

Space fans, clear some shelf space.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering collector’s Artemis II crew trading cards this weekend only — available while supplies last — as part of its Artemis: A Celebration of Exploration event.

Universal Orlando

Halloween horror hype 🎮

Universal Orlando just dropped two major Halloween Horror Nights 35 announcements.

A beloved horror franchise and one of the biggest names in gaming are both getting the scare zone and haunted house treatment this fall.

Legoland Florida

Bricking news 🎃

Legoland Florida is promising this year’s Brick-or-Treat will be its biggest yet — and it’s already delivering on that.

The returning Halloween event will feature a brand-new immersive trick-or-treat neighborhood packed with candy, interactive challenges and LEGO Monster mischief.

Click here for the dates and details.

Covering all of Central Florida’s theme parks — and beyond — in one weekly newsletter brings me a satisfying feeling.

As always, keep me in the loop through my email or reach out to me on X or Instagram.

See you next week!

- Haley