While most people think of dolphins and killer whales (Helloi, Shamu!) when it comes to SeaWorld Orlando, roller coasters are another massive draw for the Central Florida theme park. And we mean that literally! Seriously, roller coasters at SeaWorld Orlando boast big-time thrills, with some of them touting titles like the tallest, steepest or fastest coasters in the city or even the state. In other words, for adrenaline junkies in search of their next rush, you can’t do much better than SeaWorld Orlando.

So, if you’re a thrill-seeker heading to SeaWorld for your next Florida vacation, which roller coasters should you add to your travel to-do list? (Spoiler alert: Most of them!) Strap in and hold on tight as we cruise through our ranking of the most thrilling roller coasters at SeaWorld Orlando. Let’s dive in!

What to Know About SeaWorld, the Roller Coaster Capital of Orlando

For most of the world, SeaWorld Orlando may be thought of as only a marine life park made with animal lovers in mind. Roller coaster enthusiasts know the truth, however. Sure, you’ll see a menagerie of aquatic creatures like dolphins, orcas, sea lions, sharks, otters, penguins and more. But this souped-up zoo-meets-aquarium also holds the title of the “Coaster Capital of Orlando”—and that’s saying something, considering that it counts iconic theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort as neighbors.

Before we break down the best roller coasters SeaWorld Orlando has to offer, let’s tackle some frequently asked questions about these heart-pounding thrill rides.

How many roller coasters are at SeaWorld Orlando?

Currently, SeaWorld Orlando is home to seven roller coasters, the most of any single theme park in the city, clinching it the “Coaster Capital of Orlando” title. SeaWorld’s city-wide roller coaster dominance will only be cemented further with the debut of the Penguin Trek family coaster in 2024, bringing the park’s grand total to eight roller coasters. In fact, if you were to go on them all (minus the still-unopened Penguin Track), you would travel almost 4.5 miles across more than 23,900 feet of track. By comparison, Walt Disney World has nine coasters in total across its four theme parks, with five of them in Magic Kingdom Park, while Universal Orlando has seven coasters spread between Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure.

What are the most intense SeaWorld roller coasters Orlando has to offer?

It really depends on what kind of thrills you’re in the mood for. Whether you have a need for speed, can’t get enough of towering heights followed by steep drops, or love high-flying inversions that turn your world upside down, there’s a SeaWorld Orlando roller coaster for everyone.

Tallest

• Mako – 200 ft (61 m)
• Kraken – 149 ft (45 m)
• Manta – 140 ft (43 m)
• Pipeline: The Surf Coaster – 110 ft (34 m)

Fastest

• Mako – 73 mph (117 km/h)
• Kraken – 65 mph (105 km/h)
• Pipeline: The Surf Coaster – 60 mph (97 km/h)
• Manta – 56 mph (90 km/h)
• Ice Breaker – 52 mph (84 km/h)

Biggest Drop

• Mako – 200 ft (61 m)
• Kraken – 144 ft (44 m)
• Manta – 113 ft (34 m)
• Ice Breaker – 93 ft (28 m), the steepest beyond-vertical drop in Florida at 100 degrees

Most Inversions

• Kraken – 7
• Manta – 4
• Pipeline: The Surf Coaster – 1

Most G-Force

• Mako – Negative Gs
• Kraken – 3.9 Gs
• Pipeline: The Surf Coaster – 3.9 Gs
• Manta – 3.7 Gs

Are there good SeaWorld roller coasters for families with kids?

As you can probably tell from those stats above, SeaWorld Orlando is no slouch in terms of high-thrill coasters. That said, a few of these popular rides can be too intimidating for some parkgoers. Or for families with young children, they might be out of reach for kiddos that don’t meet the ride height requirement. Fortunately, even pint-sized daredevils can get in on the adrenaline-fueled fun, thanks to a few family-friendly attractions.

Super Grover’s Box Car Derby is the one and only kiddie coaster in the park, with easygoing twists and turns, a starring turn by the loveable blue Muppet from Sesame Street and a height requirement of only 38 inches. Alternatively, little ones looking to take things up a notch might want to give Journey to Atlantis, Penguin Trek (set to open in 2024), Ice Breaker, Pipeline: The Surf Coaster or Manta a try, with each leveling up the intensity. Journey to Atlantis, SeaWorld Orlando’s water coaster, and the soon-to-open Penguin Trek, which will be the park’s highly themed family coaster, are the perfect stepping stones for aspiring thrill-seekers, combining exciting moments with an immersive storyline. The height restrictions for each are also on the lower end of things at only 42 inches, while Ice Breaker follows closely behind at 48 inches. (For more, check out our complete list of SeaWorld Orlando ride height requirements.)

And don’t worry if the height restrictions for everything other than Super Grover’s Box Car Derby are out of reach for your tiny tot or if the coasters are too intense for a thrill-averse guest in your group. Those who are tall and brave enough can still experience these popular rides without an additional wait by utilizing SeaWorld Orlando’s free child swap service. After the first person goes on, all you need to do as you get off the roller coaster is let the ride attendant know that you would like to do a rider switch. They will give you a child swap pass, allowing the other riders in your party to go on without having to go all the way through the ride’s standby line again.

Can you take bags on roller coasters at SeaWorld Orlando?

For safety purposes, no loose items are allowed on roller coasters at SeaWorld Orlando, whether that’s a cell phone, a purse or a bag of souvenirs. Along with having someone in your party who isn’t riding hold onto it for you, you also have a couple of different options for how you can stash your stuff. First, open storage containers are available on the unload side of the roller coasters, where you can keep your things just while you ride. However, these cubbies are unsecured without locks, so you might not want to risk it if you’re carrying something valuable.

Next, there are also a few different kinds of lockers throughout the park. Larger lockers for all-day use can be found near the park entrance. Alternatively, for those who prefer to keep their belongings close by during the day, smaller lockers are also located near select attractions. You can either rent these on a single-use ($2 for two hours) or a multi-use basis ($10 for the day) if you would prefer to move your items from ride to ride.

Are there test seats at SeaWorld Orlando?

Yes! If you’re here reading this, then you already know that going on a roller coaster can be a ton of fun. That said, for some people, they can also be really uncomfortable (or potentially even impossible to ride due to the design of the attraction’s seats, particularly taller individuals or those with a larger body type. Rather than forcing folks to wait in a long line only to find out that they won’t be able to fit safely or comfortably, causing potential embarrassment in the process, test seats are available outside the queue for rides with restrictive seating, saving people both time and stress. Pre-ride sample seats are available outside of the following SeaWorld Orlando coasters:

• Ice Breaker
• Kraken
• Mako
• Manta
• Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

Be forewarned that seating on Journey to Atlantis might also be restrictive for some riders. However, test seats are not available.

Which SeaWorld Orlando coasters have Quick Queue?

Without a doubt, one of the worst parts of going to a theme park like SeaWorld Orlando is having to wait in line for a long time for a ride. Luckily, those who would rather not stick it out in line can skip it altogether by upgrading their visit with Quick Queue. SeaWorld Orlando’s version of FastPass or the Lightning Lanes at Disney World or the Express Pass at Universal Orlando, Quick Queue allows riders to get to the fun even faster by using separate shorter lines that typically have much shorter wait times.

At SeaWorld Orlando, Quick Queue is available in four different options, with each offering unlimited priority access to select rides within the park, including all of the roller coasters aside from Super Grover’s Box Car Derby. Pricing for Quick Queue starts at $14.99 for the most basic option and goes up from there, increasing in price depending on the access given or what day you visit. In general, SeaWorld Orlando Quick Queue prices are higher on busy days like weekends or during periods like spring break, summer or the holidays. (Check out our Quick Queue guide for all of the details.)

All the SeaWorld Orlando Roller Coasters Ranked

And now, the part that you’ve all been waiting for: Our ranking of the best roller coasters at SeaWorld Orlando for thrill-seekers. From here on out, we’ll be breaking down all of the thrills and chills each of these pulse-racing SeaWorld coasters has to offer throughout the ride journey, including their top speed and max height at the peak, as well as other aspects like ride duration and track length. We’ll also include any height restrictions so you can gauge if a ride is right for you and your crew.

For this list, SeaWorld coasters are ranked from least to most thrilling, from the kid-friendly fun of Super Grover’s Box Car Derby to the blazing-fast thrills of Mako. Of course, all of our rankings are completely subjective. Because, as they say, thrill level is in the eye of the beholder (or something like that). Anyway, pull down on your lap bar and let’s get started!

8. Super Grover’s Box Car Derby

Originally known as the Shamu Express, Super Grover’s Box Car Derby is the only kiddie coaster at SeaWorld Orlando. Located in Sesame Street Land, this kid-friendly roller coaster now features theming inspired by Grover, the cuddly blue monster from Sesame Street. Just as mellow as the beloved show itself, with some easygoing twists, turns and drops, the ride is an excellent introductory coaster.

Top Speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)

Max Height: 31 ft (9.5 m)

Duration: 1 minute, 12 seconds

Track Length: 800 ft (240 m)

Height Restriction: At least 38 inches (96.5 cm); riders between 38 inches and 41 inches (104.1 cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion

7. Journey to Atlantis

A SeaWorld Orlando staple since 1998, Journey to Atlantis is one of the park’s original thrill rides. Part roller coaster, part dark ride and part water ride, Journey to Atlantis incorporates the best of both into one truly iconic ride. Three roller-coaster-style chain-lift hills and two soaking-wet splashdowns, one following a chilling 60-foot drop, bring the thrill-ride fun. Meanwhile, immersive dark ride elements transport guests into the lost city of legend, where you will encounter a blacklight-lit forest, Atlantis’ ancient architecture and possibly even a siren or two along the way.

Top Speed: 50 mph (80.5 km/h)

Max Height: 100 ft (30 m)

Duration: 5 minutes, 56 seconds

Track Length: 1,800 ft (549 m)

Height Restriction: At least 42 inches (106.7 cm); guests between 42 inches and 48 inches (121.9 cm) must be accompanied by a supervising companion

6. Penguin Trek (Coming 2024!)

Venture across the frozen tundra of Antarctica on a snowmobile ride during this adventurous family coaster. Making its debut in 2024, Penguin Trek will see guests set out on a wilderness expedition in search of penguins, traversing both outdoor settings and indoor dark ride scenes, which will use special effects and multimedia to immerse riders in an arctic environment. Filled with educational elements, guests will start their icy voyage at an arctic research base before finishing the experience in SeaWorld Orlando’s penguin habitat. Similar to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure, this all-new story coaster will keep the excitement coming with two heart-racing launches. Best of all, at only a minimum of 42 inches (only four inches more than Super Grover’s Box Car Derby), the height requirement is easily obtainable for many kids.

Top Speed: 43 mph (69 km/h)

Max Height: Unknown

Duration: Just over 3 minutes

Track Length: 3,020 ft (920.5 m)

Height Restriction: At least 42 inches (106.7 cm) but less than 77 inches (195.6 cm)

5. Ice Breaker

Nestled near SeaWorld Orlando’s Wild Arctic area, the park’s Ice Breaker roller coaster takes its name from the icy summits of the Frozen North. The first launch coaster in the park, Ice Breaker boasts not one, not two, but four airtime-filled launches. Catapulting riders both forward and backward, the final reverse launch on this arctic adventure sends thrill-seekers soaring high in the air before careening down the steepest beyond-vertical drop in the state, a 100-degree-angle, 93-foot-tall spike. After that, the chills continue with a near-vertical, 80-foot-tall tophat followed by even more rip-roaring twists and airtime hills. Wait times can get pretty long for Ice Breaker, making this a great option for Quick Queue.

Top Speed: 52 mph (84 km/h)

Max Height: 93 ft (28 m)

Duration: 1 minute, 20 seconds

Track Length: 1,900 ft (580 m)

Height Restriction: At least 48 inches (121.9 cm); guests between 48″ and 54″ (137.2 cm) in height must be accompanied by a supervising companion

4. Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

For a totally tubular ride you can’t experience anywhere else, don’t miss Pipeline: The Surf Coaster. The newest roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando (at least until Penguin Trek opens), Pipeline is the world’s first and only surf coaster. Yup! Just like the name suggests, this SeaWorld roller coaster lets riders feel like they’re hanging ten on a gnarly wave, thanks to the ride’s stand-up seats. But these aren’t just any seats. They’re dynamic stand-up seats that give the sensation of riding a wave, taking airtime to a whole new level—especially since you can add in extra airtime moments even when you aren’t going over a hill. If that doesn’t already have you stoked, then Pipeline’s high-speed launch up 110 feet and an inversion definitely will.

Top Speed: 60 mph (97 km/h)

Max Height: 110 ft (34 m)

Duration: 1 minute, 50 seconds

Track Length: 2,950 ft (900 m)

Height Restriction: At least 54 inches (137.2 cm) but less than 78 inches (198.1 cm)

3. Manta

With wingspans of as much as 29 feet, manta rays are truly majestic marine animals. They’re also the inspiration behind Manta, one of the most enduringly popular rides at SeaWorld Orlando. The only flying roller coaster in the Sunshine State, Manta mimics the feeling of a giant ray soaring through the ocean. After all, swimming is kind of like flying through the water—only with a head-first 113-foot nosedive face down and four inversions, including a 98-foot-tall pretzel loop. In short, Manta is awesome and not just one of the best roller coasters in SeaWorld Orlando, but one of the best rides in the park, period. Is it as thrilling as Kraken or Mako? Not quite, but wow, the feeling of flying over the park does take your breath away. Our recommendation? Ride in the front or back row for an experience you won’t forget.

Top Speed: 56 mph (90 km/h)

Max Height: 140 ft (43 m)

Duration: 2 minutes, 36 seconds

Track Length: 3,359 ft (1,024 m)

Height Restriction: At least 54 inches (137.2 cm)

2. Kraken

If it’s intensity you’re looking for, then you definitely won’t want to miss Kraken. Opened in 2000 as Florida’s first floorless roller coaster, this monster attraction is still the only one of its kind in Orlando. As you might expect of a roller coaster named after a legendary sea creature, Kraken takes guests on a truly wild ride. After a pulse-racing 144-foot drop, riders hurtle into a towering 128-foot-tall vertical loop before leading into six other inversions, including a zero-go spiraling camelback roll. The final subterranean dive even barrels right through the beast’s lair before a grand corkscrew finale. It’s just about as scream-worthy as it gets when it comes to SeaWorld Orlando rides. Sure, it might feel a little rough at times, but that just adds to the thrill.

Top Speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)

Max Height: 149 ft (45 m)

Duration: 2 minutes, 2 seconds

Track Length: 4,177 ft (1,273 m)

Height Restriction: At least 54 inches (137.2 cm)

1. Mako

This one is for all the speed demons out there. The tallest, longest and, most importantly, fastest roller coaster in Orlando, Mako is a hyper coaster inspired by the fastest shark in the world, which can hit speeds of as much as 46 miles per hour. Mako, however, is even faster, with high speeds of more than 70 miles per hour. The ride’s in-and-out track takes inspiration from the titular shark’s movements, offering up twists, turns and plenty of airtime along a silky-smooth steel track. Only instead of reefs and harbors, the hunting ground for this SeaWorld Orlando roller coaster is 200 feet in the air, much of it (appropriately) over water. While you won’t scream your way through any inversions, the roller coaster does hurtle over seven airtime hills, including one that will have you rising out of your seat for a jaw-dropping 4.3 seconds. It’s intense. It’s exciting. And not only is it the best roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando, but according to USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2023, it’s also the best roller coaster in the entire country.

Top Speed: 73 mph (117 km/h)

Max Height: 200 ft (61 m)

Duration: 2 minutes, 18 seconds

Track Length: 4,760 ft (1,450 m)

Height Restriction: At least 54 inches (137.2 cm)

Well, daredevils, that brings our roundup of the best SeaWorld Orlando roller coasters to its thrilling conclusion. Which roller coaster is your favorite to ride? Journey to Atlantis? Manta? Let us know in the comments! Then, find out how you can save on your next visit with our discount SeaWorld tickets. You can buy tickets at a discount for Discovery Cove and Aquatica, too!

The post SeaWorld Orlando Roller Coasters – Ranking The Thrills appeared first on Park Savers.

We bring you a lot of stories every single day. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up. So in case you missed anything from our feed, we have rounded up all our stories in one place to get the news at a glance. Here is your Daily Recap for Wednesday, November 29, 2023.

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

• Tickets were (at one point today) no longer available for any 2023 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party date at Magic Kingdom.
• Later this afternoon, guests either canceled their tickets or Disney added more tickets to the December 12 and December 14 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events, as they are available once again.

EPCOT

• The celebrity narrator lineup for this year’s Candlelight Processional at EPCOT has been altered, as Ann-Margret and Simu Liu have been removed from the schedule.
• The new Walt the Dreamer statue at EPCOT is now visible from the Walt Disney World Monorail after Disney revealed the statue in its final location on Tuesday.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• The opening of the new Blue Ribbon Corn Dog location on Disney’s BoardWalk has been pushed back to 2024.
• Among the special holiday treats available at Walt Disney World this season is the Deer Holly Day Cupcake, a chocolate and peanut butter dessert available at Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts.

Other Walt Disney World News

• During a conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the New York Times’ DealBrook Summit on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the company’s ongoing legal battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as well as Disney’s presence in China, which DeSantis has previously criticized.
• The next meeting of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) Board of Supervisors will be almost exclusively dedicated to a discussion of “Historical Issues” with the former Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID).

Disneyland Resort

• It looks like Disney’s graphic designers took a shortcut with the new Disneyland map released this month and didn’t use a large enough photo for the cover. The cover photo — of the Main Street, U.S.A. Christmas tree — is so low quality, pixels are visible to the naked eye.
• In another easily avoidable mistake, new plaques on the construction walls of Astro Orbitor in Tomorrowland feature incorrect dates and information related to the version of the attraction in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.
• The new 1st edition Trader Sam’s holiday rum barrel tiki mug has arrived at Disneyland Resort.
• Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Resort has debuted new key cards featuring a retro design inspired by the hotel’s mid-century architecture and design.

Shanghai Disneyland

• A Weibo user has shared the first video POV of Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, the new main attraction of the City of Zootpia opening on December 20 at Shanghai Disneyland.

Hong Kong Disneyland

• Someone new has joined the lineup of “Frozen” characters: Mossi the baby troll! This interactive puppet character meets with guests in World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland.
• While walking through World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, guests might catch a performance by The Royal Arendellian Troubadours.
• Among several dining locations in the new World of Frozen expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland is Forest Fare, a quick-service stand at which guests can grab a light meal or delectable treat. We reviewed them all to find out which items were worth trying or skipping.
• The main dining location at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland is Golden Crocus Inn, named for the symbol of Arendelle. We tried every item on the menu — including the $60 themed chocolate fondue.

Entertainment and Media

• Fantasy Flight Games has shared exclusive details about deckbuilding for Star Wars: Unlimited, the upcoming trading card game.
• The linear Disney TV networks are “not for sale,” CEO Bob Iger said during the New York Times DealBrook Summit on Wednesday.

The Walt Disney Company

• X owner Elon Musk has told The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger and other corporate executives to “go f*** [them]selves” as his social media platform continues to miss out on advertising revenue from companies who paused spending on his website.
• During a Q&A at the New York Times’ DealBrook Summit, Disney CEO Bob Iger addressed the company pulling advertisements and leaving X (formerly Twitter).
• Current CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger said at the New York Times’ DealBrook Summit on Wednesday that he was “disappointed” in what he was seeing with the company during Bob Chapek’s tenure as CEO.
• The Walt Disney Company Board of Directors has appointed two new directors.

WDW News Today

Botched Walt Statue, Dopey Rips Off Snow White’s Arm, Disney Delays a Corn Dog Kiosk

Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs Coaster Nighttime POV Ride – World of Frozen, Hong Kong Disneyland

REVIEW: Tom Tries All World Of Frozen Food at Hong Kong Disneyland

Joe Hernandez Voice Actor Panel – Turtle Talk with Crush | The Legend of Zelda | Kingdom Hearts III

That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

The post Elon Musk Tells Disney CEO Bob Iger ‘Go F*** Yourself’ Amid Advertising Pause, POV of New Zootopia Hot Pursuit Ride at Shanghai Disneyland Released, & More: Daily Recap (11/29/23) appeared first on WDW News Today.

Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Resort has debuted new key cards featuring a retro design inspired by the hotel’s mid-century architecture and design.

Disneyland Hotel Key Card

The front of the key card has the “Disneyland Hotel” wordmark on a blue rectangle. Around that are squares, diamonds, circles, and triangles in shades of blue, yellow, orange, and white.

The back has standard keycard information.

Disneyland Hotel History

The Disneyland Hotel first opened on October 5, 1955, a few months after Disneyland Park. Walt Disney exhausted his funding when building Disneyland, so he asked Jack Wrather to build the hotel. It was owned and operated by Wrather until his death in 1984.

The Walt Disney Company was then able to purchase the Disneyland Hotel by acquiring the Wrather Corporation in 1987 and 1988. They sold off most of Wrather’s other assets, including the iconic Queen Mary in Long Beach. Much of the hotel was demolished to make way for Downtown Disney District, which opened in 2001. The loss of hotel rooms was offset by the opening of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the same time.

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, a new Disney Vacation Club property, opened this fall.

Read more Disneyland Hotel news:

• PHOTOS: New Mid-Century Holiday Décor Package Debuts at Disneyland Hotel
• REVIEW: Trying Bites and Beverages From the NEW Palm Breeze Bar at Disneyland Hotel
• NEW The Villas at Disneyland Hotel Blend Now Available From Joffrey’s Coffee
• PHOTOS, VIDEO: Tour a 1 Bedroom Villa in The New DVC Villas at Disneyland Hotel

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

The post New Disneyland Hotel Key Cards Debut With Retro-Inspired Design appeared first on WDW News Today.

Guests have either canceled their tickets or Disney has added more tickets to the December 12 and December 14 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events as they are available once again.

More Tickets Available for Mickey’s Verry Merry Christmas Party and Disney Jollywood Nights

December 12 first sold out a week ago. Availability for the date reopened on Tuesday before both dates sold out this morning. If you want to go, grab your tickets fast as they will likely sell out again soon.

Availability has also opened up for some Disney Jollywood Nights dates. There are tickets available for tonight (November 29), as well as the previously sold-out December 4 and 6. Tickets have remained available for December 18 and 20 but are still sold out for December 16, the only remaining Saturday for Disney Jollywood Nights.

During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, guests can enjoy Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and rare character meet and greets. There are also complimentary treats, special menu items, and exclusive merchandise.

Beginning this year, a brand-new “Frozen”-inspired show called “Frozen Holiday Surprise” is being performed at Magic Kingdom during regular park hours and during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

Entertainment and offerings for Disney Jollywood Nights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios include Jazzy Holidays at The Hollywood Brown Derby, the Twilight Soirée at the Tip Top Club at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and the Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog-hosted Disney Holidays in Hollywood show in Theater of the Stars, in addition to exclusive food and character meet and greet opportunities. Check out Tom’s honest review of Disney Jollywood Nights.

The 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is also in full swing now and no separate tickets are required to attend the festival — it happens all day every day in EPCOT through December 30. Guests can enjoy holiday food items from Holiday Kitchens, participate in Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition, enjoy Storytellers throughout World Showcase, and see the Candlelight Processional hosted by celebrity narrators.

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The post Tickets Available Again for Two Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Dates & More Jollywood Nights Dates appeared first on WDW News Today.

An opening day land at Disneyland Park in 1955, Tomorrowland was conceptualized as an area that could capture the potential of ‘tomorrow,’ a place Walt Disney described as “a step into the future, with predictions of constructive things to come.” One ‘constructive thing’ that has been created since the land’s opening is the internet, which was seemingly not consulted when crafting the historical plaques recently installed on the construction walls currently surrounding the Astro Orbitor attraction at Disneyland Park.

The new decorations contain ‘fun facts’ about different versions of the ride found at Disney’s global parks, but some of the information printed about the Magic Kingdom edition of the attraction is incorrect.

Astro Orbitor Work Wall Plaque Contains Incorrect Information

Work walls were placed around Astro Orbitor earlier this week as the ride closed for a refurbishment that will stretch into 2024. Plaques detailing the history of different versions of the ride were added to the walls after initial installation, with the decoration detailing the past of the Magic Kingdom attraction featuring incorrect dates.

The plaque suggests that Astro Orbiter opened at Magic Kingdom in 1995 as a reimagining of Star Jets, which itself was an opening day attraction at the park. Neither of these dates are correct.

Star Jets did not open at Magic Kingdom until November 1974. It closed in January 1994 before reopening just over three months later — in April 1994 — as Astro Orbiter.

The Magic Kingdom plaque is the lone decoration to feature such inaccuracies, with all other plaques containing accurate dates.

While it may seem senseless to point out inaccurate dates printed on an inconsequential plaque, this lack of attention to detail is a tad irksome. This information is easily accessible and verifiable on the internet; instead of taking an additional 10 seconds to certify the information on Wikipedia or through another source, there’s now a visible decoration inside Disneyland Park that’s misreporting the company’s history.

The timing of the incorrect plaques roughly coincides with the introduction of a new holiday map at Disneyland Park. The front of the guide is decorated with a photo of the famous Christmas tree erected on Main Street U.S.A. each year, but the quality of the image itself is poor, resulting in a pixelated map cover that is noticeable and easily avoidable.

In January of this year, a statue was installed on Main Street U.S.A. at Disneyland Park to kick off Disney100 celebrations. The Mickey Mouse sculpture featured a banner that read “It all started with a mouse,” a misquote of the Walt Disney statement “It was all started by a mouse.” The statue was promptly updated with the correct quote.

What do you think about incorrect dates being printed on a historical plaque currently displayed on the construction walls surrounding Astro Orbitor? Let us know in the comments.

For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.

The post PHOTOS: Plaque on Astro Orbitor Construction Walls at Disneyland Park Contains Incorrect Dates, Information About Magic Kingdom Version of the Attraction appeared first on WDW News Today.

The main dining location at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland is Golden Crocus Inn, named for the symbol of Arendelle. This quick-service restaurant features dishes like a seafood medley and lamb shank, as well as the chocolate fondue dessert.

Golden Crocus Inn

The Golden Crocus Inn is located in the village of Arendelle.

The golden crocus shield emblem is above the front entrance and on the cobblestones outside.

The interior of the restaurant is quite cute and contains intricate theming and detailing.

Images, several of which are lifted directly from the “Frozen” franchise, are framed on the wall. Paintings of Elsa and Anna are framed near the entryway, with additional framed images filling up the nearby wall.

The building itself looks like a traditional Northern European structure from the inside, with the details both obvious and subtle really adding to the ambiance of the restaurant.

One of the cats from the 2017 animated short “Olaf’s Frozen Adventure” looks over guests in the eatery.

The restaurant contains several dining rooms, each of which is decorated with franchise-inspired items.

A large painting of Nokk the water spirit seen in ‘Frozen II’ is framed on the wall.

Another dining room contains framed paintings of sailors.

General Destin Mattias, seen in “Frozen II,” is among those who appear.

Large maps of Arendelle appear on the walls of another seating area.

Golden Crocus Inn Menu

There are four adult entrées and one kids entrée at Golden Crocus Inn.

The side dishes are the Prawns Cocktail and Arendelle Meatballs. The beverages available are fresh juice, Coca-Cola, Sprite, and BonAqua water.

Entrées

Bayside Seafood Medley – HK$238 (Chef Recommendation) [$30.48 USD]

Potatoes, brown sugar roll, cream sauce

The Bayside Seafood Medley certainly lives up to its name, containing shrimp, oysters, salmon, potatoes, green beans, and tomatoes in a cream sauce.

The dish is essentially a large clam chowder, but the sauce has a bit of an unexpected bitterness on the backend. It’s not unwelcomed, it just may not be for the average American palate.

Our salmon came in large chunks and was expertly prepared; it was delicate and flaky, certainly sticking out as one of the stronger elements of the dish. The oysters, meanwhile, were a tad fishy, but that’s to be expected from a counter-service dish.

The potatoes are cubed, and while they’re not bad, they were a bit chalky. Other dishes at the Golden Crocus Inn have stronger potato sides; the Innkeeper’s Special Braised Lamb Shank, for example, is served with halved potatoes, and we would have preferred to have found those in this medley.

The cinnamon bread isn’t your traditional overly-sweet dessert-type cinnamon offering, as there’s just a hint of the flavor. It reminded us of the honey wheat brown bread from Outback Steakhouse. Though you may not expect it, the bread does serve as a tasty base for a dollop of the clam chowder-esque sauce, as the flavors do pair nicely.

This rosette pastry comes with every meal, though it’s only listed on the menu for the kids’ meal. It’s snowflake-shaped and comes in cute Summer Snow Day packaging.

Such a pastry would usually be filled with something like ham or cheese, but this is empty. It has a sweet flavor on the front end but a savory taste as well. Its texture is like a solid, crunchy waffle. We love it and it makes for a nice finish to the meal.

Village Chicken Roll stuffed with Ham & Cheese – HK$218 ($27.92)

Sautéed vegetables, mustard cream sauce

The mustard cream sauce is served on the side, which is nice.

We love the plating of this dish in the frying pan with the golden crocus symbol on the handle. Given that this restaurant is inn-themed, you would expect comfort food, and that’s what this meal delivers.

The cheese in the roll is nicely melted. The ham is a little hard and chewy but tastes good. The chicken is tender and salty. It’s well-breaded and nicely fried. A bite dipped in the mustard cream sauce elevates the food without overwhelming it. The sauce brings a light mustard flavor to the backend.

For counter-service mashed potatoes, they are pretty solid, if not a tad over-salted. They aren’t watery at all. The vegetables are very oily in a good way. They included tomatoes, carrots, and zucchini. It’s a good dish that we would have again.

Innkeeper’s Special Braised Lamb Shank – HK$238 ($30.48 USD)

Polenta potato puree, roasted vegetables, beef gravy

Visually, this reminded us of the pork shank that used to be available at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom when it opened in 2012.

There is a lot of meat on the bone. It’s very juicy and tender. The “beer gravy” was kind of weird but good. It had a distinct beer aftertaste.

The veggies in this dish included broccolini, green beans, and carrots. On the topic of veggies, we’ll say that the care that goes into these dishes is spectacular. This dish was ready to go but before the Cast Member put the lid on (which is something they do at Hong Kong Disneyland when you carry your food), she decided the plating didn’t look right. She tossed on more vegetables and rearranged items to make it look nice.

We loved the potatoes. They were nice, soft, and dense, and made with oil, not butter.

This isn’t our favorite, but it’s good. If it’s what you want to order, we definitely wouldn’t dissuade you.

Forest Mushroom Pasta – HK$198 (Vegetarian Dish) [$25.36 USD]

Forest mushrooms, poached egg, truffle cream sauce

This meal is phenomenal. The mushrooms are perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. We would never think to put an egg on this but it’s perfect and adds a saltiness. We wish there was a second egg so we could spread it over the whole dish.

The truffle sauce also adds a saltiness to the pasta. It’s a great portion size. Despite sitting for a few minutes while we photographed it and tried the prawn cocktail (below), it remained fresh and hot. It is a heavy dish, so we could see it going away in the summer months, but it’s perfect for a cold night. This is our favorite meal from Golden Crocus Inn and we highly recommend it.

Sides

Prawns Cocktail – HK$55 ($7.04 USD)

The shrimp is decent. It’s prepared well and doesn’t taste fishy. But the cocktail sauce is terrible. The consistency is off, there’s no spiciness, and it doesn’t add anything to the side. So while the shrimp are fine, without a good cocktail sauce, this isn’t worth getting.

Arendelle Meatballs in Mushroom Cream Sauce – HK$55 ($7.04)

Though not advertised, the meatballs come on top of mashed potatoes and with a dollop of jam that we assume is lingonberry. The mushroom cream sauce is good with a subtle mushroom flavor that adds a light saltiness to the meatballs. The meatballs themselves are like Swedish meatballs you might get from Costco, cooked in the oven rather than microwaved.

This is nothing spectacular, but the sweetness of the jam brings everything in the side dish together for a wonderful bite.

Seasonal Offer

Celebration Chocolate Fondue – HK$488 ($62.50 USD)

Including ice cream, fresh fruit, and cotton candy

This is a seasonal offer, so probably won’t be available during the hot summer months. It’s obviously inspired by the line “And maybe it’s the party talking or the chocolate fondue,” sung by Hans in “Love is an Open Door,” not to mention all the other mentions of chocolate in the “Frozen” series. It comes in a beautiful blue fondue pot with white Arendellian filigree, and matching dishes of ice cream, fruit, and cotton candy. It is a little dangerous — not only is there a fire beneath the fondue, but the ice cream trays sit on dry ice.

We aren’t sure if what we think of as “cotton candy” is an American-ism or not but the cotton candy pieces were definitely marshmallows. They didn’t pair as well with the chocolate as the other items.

The chocolate isn’t particularly potent. It’s a subtle, light dark chocolate flavor. If you dip your marshmallow, ice cream, or fruit further into the pot, the chocolate that comes from closer to the fire will have a more potent flavor.

The chocolate pairs well with the strawberries, of course.

The ice cream comes in small balls and the menu doesn’t state their flavors. We think we detected vanilla, vanilla with chocolate chips, and rum raisin. There might have been some caramel in there, too. All of the ice cream was good.

The rich milky ice cream is fantastic with the chocolate. After you dip the ice cream, you can wait a moment and the chocolate will harden, but you can also leave it melted.

We highly recommend this dessert. It’s delicious, makes for cute pictures, and is fun to share. It’s ambitious for a counter-service restaurant but is executed well, adds to the theming, and is a highlight of World of Frozen.

Kids’ Meal

Forest Mushroom Pasta and Meatballs Platter – HK$105 ($13.45 USD)

Sautéed vegetables, mushroom cream sauce, including rosettes and BonAqua mineralized water

Adults can’t order the kids’ meal (and we didn’t have any spare children on hand) but considering it seems to be a smaller portion of our beloved Forest Mushroom Pasta, plus the meatballs, it’s probably good.

Overall

As we said, our favorite dish here is the Forest Mushroom Pasta, followed by the Village Chicken Roll stuffed with Ham & Cheese, Bayside Seafood Medley, and Innkeeper’s Special Braised Lamb Shank. But none of the meals were bad, we would honestly recommend all of them. The Arendelle Meatballs were good and the Celebrate Chocolate Fondue was excellent. You can’t go wrong with this menu — except for the Prawns Cocktail, but even that has good shrimp. The plating was beautiful and we love when theme parks actually theme things. Definitely visit Golden Crocus Inn if you’re going to Hong Kong Disneyland.

World of Frozen Food Review

Watch Tom review ALL the World of Frozen food, including the Golden Crocus Inn menu, in this video.

To learn more about some of the other food available in World of Frozen, check out our review of the Forest Fare quick-service stand. Check out some of our other World of Frozen coverage here:

• PHOTOS, VIDEO: Mossi the Baby Troll Interactive Puppet Character Debuts at World of Frozen
• PHOTOS, VIDEO: See the Royal Arendellian Troubadours Perform at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland
• PHOTOS, VIDEO: Take a Complete Day & Night Tour of World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland
• Full List (With Prices) of New World of Frozen Merchandise at Hong Kong Disneyland
• PHOTOS, VIDEO: Take a (Short) Ride Through the Forest on Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs in World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland

Which Golden Crocus Inn menu item sticks out to you most? Let us know in the comments.

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The post REVIEW: Every Single Dish (Including $60 Themed Chocolate Fondue) from Golden Crocus Inn in World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland appeared first on WDW News Today.

The celebrity narrator lineup for this year’s Candlelight Processional at EPCOT has been altered, as Ann-Margret and Simu Liu have been removed from the schedule. Ann-Margret was initially scheduled for November 28 and 29 while Simu Liu was slated for November 30 through December 2; they have been replaced on the official Walt Disney World website with Ashley Eckstein and Bart Millard, respectively.

Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrator Schedule Changes

Ann-Margret did take part in the Candlelight Processional on November 28 but was replaced with Eckstein for November 29 performances. Eckstein is a voice actress who has starred in numerous Disney-produced animated television series, perhaps most notably voicing Ahsoka Tano in animated “Star Wars” content such as “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels;” this is the first time that Eckstein has narrated the Candlelight Processional.

Liu was set to return as a celebrity narrator this year after debuting in the role in 2022. He’s been replaced on the schedule with Bart Millard, the lead singer of the Christian music band MercyMe who served as a celebrity narrator for the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT in 2018 and 2021.

The updated remaining celebrity narrator list is as follows:

• Ashley Eckstein: Nov. 29
• Bart Millard: Nov. 30-Dec. 2
• John Stamos: Dec. 3-5
• Neil Patrick Harris: Dec. 6-8
• Marlee Matlin: Dec. 9-11
• Brendan Fraser (NEW): Dec. 12-14
• Eva Longoria (NEW): Dec. 15-16
• Joey McIntyre (NEW): Dec. 17-18
• Sterling K. Brown (NEW): Dec. 19-20
• Jordan Fisher (NEW): Dec. 21-23
• Steven Curtis Chapman: Dec. 24-26
• Audra McDonald (NEW): Dec. 27-28
• Lisa Ling: Dec. 29-30

The Candlelight Processional is a beloved Disney Parks holiday tradition that moved to EPCOT in 1994. A celebrity narrator shares a version of the Biblical story of the birth of Christ as a choir and orchestra perform traditional holiday music. Performances of this year’s Candlelight Processional commenced on November 25 alongside the 2023 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays, you can watch our full video of the first show of the year below:

What do you think of the changes to the Candlelight Processional celebrity narrator schedule? Let us know in the comments.

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The post Ann-Margret, Simu Liu Drop Out of EPCOT Candlelight Processional, Replacement Celebrity Narrators Added to Schedule appeared first on WDW News Today.