Disney World does quite a few refurbishments throughout the year!

From ride closures to hotel room updates to things like gift shop facelifts, we often see construction equipment out and about when wandering around the property. And now, we’ve got a refurbishment update for one popular resort!

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is a pretty massive property, and because the resort is so spread out, there are multiple pools for guests to use. However, if you’re staying there soon, your selection may be limited.

As of Monday, July 29th, the Barbados Leisure Pool is closed, and Disney says that it will remain closed through the end of September. We stopped by to check it out, and the gate was blocked and construction crews were working inside.

During this closure, you can use the main pool at Caribbean Beach Resort, which is the Fuentes del Morro pool near the lobby. The other four leisure pools are also open for business at this time.

However, if you’re heading to the Fuentes del Morro pool, keep in mind that Caribbean Beach is currently requiring wristbands for guests who want to enter the pool area. This is to ensure that those using the pool are actually staying at Caribbean Beach. When we spoke to Cast Members, they seemed to think this change would be here to stay.

We’ll keep you in the loop with any more refurbishments or closures in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates! We’ve got you covered.

Click Here to See All the Current Refurbishments!

Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort? Tell us in the comments!

The post One Pool Is Currently CLOSED at a Popular Disney World Resort first appeared on the disney food blog.

Universal Destinations & Experiences filed a patent for an interactive ride system that would give guests a customized experience.

Universal’s Custom Ride System Patent

The patent, titled “Choreographed Ride Systems and Methods,” is a continuation of their previous carousel patent. It describes a system that may “adjust a trajectory or traveled course of the ride vehicle” based on obstacles, rider weight, obstructions attached to the vehicle, and, most interestingly, rider inputs. Examples of rider inputs listed include a rider shifting their weight, turning a steering wheel, or adjusting the vehicle’s speed. Guests could also potentially input a desired intensity level that would affect how close their vehicle would approach obstacles, vertical movement, and roll. The control system would be able to account for all of these factors and more.

“For example, if the rider selects a theme related to birds or aircraft,” the patent states, “the ride path of the ride vehicle may simulate the flight of a bird or aircraft. Other preferences that may be provided via the rider inputs include language selection, character selection, the rider’s height and/or weight, and other similar preferences.

The patent also states that the choreographed movement of the ride vehicles could be viewed by guests who aren’t riding, including those waiting in line, adding extra entertainment.

In some embodiments, the ride system may be an amusement ride system that may provide entertainment for the riders riding the amusement ride system and the people viewing the amusement ride system. The amusement ride system may have a particular theme, such that the ride paths of the ride vehicles and/or certain decorative aspects of the ride vehicles and the ride system generally match the theme.

The ride system is accomplished with sensors tracking the positions of the vehicles.

CEO Dennis Speigel of International Theme Park Services noted to Orlando Inno, “On any ride, you get a crosscut of demographics from children and teens to young adults and older adults, and different people are looking for different experiences.” 

Speigel pointed out that customization could satisfy more guests and encourage guests to ride an attraction again. “If I liked the ride at level one, how am I going to feel at level four? That’s going to bring me back to the same ride for a different experience.”

It’s possible, but not confirmed, that the patent is connected to an upcoming Epic Universe attraction. The former carousel patent certainly seemed to foretell Constellation Carousel. The customizable ride experience could, for example, be used as part of the Universal Monsters-inspired attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in the Dark Universe land.

The ride sees Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, great-great-great granddaughter of Dr. Henry Frankenstein, invite guests to see her latest experiment. She has already brought her own Creature back from the dead and is now working to “rehabilitate” the village’s other monsters. Of course, everything goes wrong when she tries to tame Dracula.

For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.

The post New Universal Patent Teases Interactive, Customizable Ride appeared first on WDW News Today.

Ready or not, Halloween is coming up FAST — at least if you’re using Disney’s calendar!

Disney World is known for the iconic Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom, and of course, there’s the incredibly popular Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland. But, there’s another Disneyland Halloween tradition we look forward to every year — and it’s finally here!

Each fall — er, summer — Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion undergoes a major transformation and hosts Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Haunted Mansion Holiday is incredibly popular — and as of July 29th, it has opened for the season!

But, instead of a standby queue, Haunted Mansion Holiday is using a virtual queue! This is due to the fact that Imagineers are currently working on a reimagined queue experience, so a big section of the standby line is behind walls and unavailable for parkgoers to access. So, Disney is using a virtual queue to manage the line instead! We were able to snag the 12PM drop.

To join the virtual queue, make sure you have the Disneyland app open, logged in, and ready to go. Disney noted that the virtual queue will only be used while the queue is under construction, but we still don’t have an exact date for the construction to end. We’ll share more information when we learn more about the updated queue experience!

Plus, Disney shared this closeup sneak peek at the giant gingerbread display they install in the ballroom scene each year. Check it out!

Master, he’s READY!!

Disney shared this sneak peek into the NEW gingerbread creation sitting at the center of this year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay in Disneyland!

The attraction opened to guests today via a virtual queue! pic.twitter.com/os9zxDEVv4

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 29, 2024

This year, Disney’s Halloween season will take place from August 23rd through October 31st at Disneyland Resort. In the meantime, we’ll be on the hunt for the latest news from Disneyland, Disney World, and more, so make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more!

WHOA! It’s Already Time for Halloween at This Disney Park!

Will you be checking out Haunted Mansion Holiday this year? Tell us in the comments.

The post Haunted Mansion Holiday Is NOW OPEN with a Virtual Queue at Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog.