We’re shifting into update mode for this week’s Theme Park Rangers Radar, with additions to an aging Disney bucket list, a look at sales for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and another stroll through a theme-park parking lot. That last one wasn’t the smartest move in Florida in August.
Radar is a weekly roundup of theme park bits and pieces. It publishes on OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesdays.
Kicking the bucket again
A co-worker told me that when he Googles my name, he gets a pic of Kylo Ren. Well, it’s a pic with Kylo, but it’s still kind of weird. It’s tied to a 2016 column I wrote after Star Wars Launch Bay opened. I don’t think he liked me.
This got me self-searching to see what Google thinks is important about me. The through line is mostly “Star Wars” related and other most-searched items including NBA commissioner Adam Silver, the Grinch and a rant about monorail etiquette.
One story I had repressed was about creating a Disney bucket list (“Everything and the Kitchen Sink” reads part of the headline. IYKYK). But that was from 2017, and surely additions should be made. Since it was five years ago, I’ll give five fresh suggestions.
Activate lightspeed aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or on the bridge at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Hear all six songs of the soundtrack aboard Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot.
Connect the previous two using the Disney Skyliner transportation system.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, do the Pandora triple-header: Na’Vi River Journey and Avatar Flight of Passage followed by lunch at Satu’li Canteen.
Finally, an old-fashioned item to roll out this newish list: Get a haircut at Harmony Barber Shop, an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom.
Not-So-Scary tales
If you feel like August is too soon for Halloween, I won’t argue with you. Both a lot of folks are voting us down with their dollars.
The first 15 event nights of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the after-hours, extra-ticket programming at Magic Kingdom, sold out. Right now, there are four additional dates that are gone, including Oct. 31, the final chance of the year.
Ticket prices range between $109 and $199, depending on date. It might not be wise to hold out for an extension. Things start looking mighty Christmassy around Nov. 1 in these parts.
Numbers game
Last week I wrote about changes in the parking lot at Epcot, specifically the numbering of lanes.
Sure enough, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has shifted from two digits to three digits, including my oft-visited Peacock 15, which shall now be Peacock 105.
And thus there was uniformity across the kingdom. The end.
Weekend outlook
It’s opening weekend for Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, which runs on select nights through Oct. 31, including this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival continues, and the performers for its Eat to the Beat concert series are Southern Avenue (Friday and Saturday), followed by “American Idol” alums Kris Allen and David Cook on Sunday and Monday.
It’s the final weekend for Electric Ocean, the summertime special event at SeaWorld Orlando. The same is true for the park’s Craft Beer Festival. Both extend into the Monday holiday before calling it a year. Next weekend: Howl-O-Scream.
It’s Heroes Weekend at Legoland Florida with activities set for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. It includes fire-prevention information, character appearances with Lego Policeman character and a Lego City mosaic.
“Bionic Me,” an exhibit that displays how technology enhances the human experience, ends its run at Orlando Science Center on Monday.
Orange County Regional History Center’s Lunch & Learn on Friday is “I’m With Her — Women in the Central Florida Music Club Scene,” which is tied to the museum’s upcoming exhibition: “Figurehead: Music & Mayhem in Orlando’s Underground.”
What’s on your radar? Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
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