After a 2 year absence, SeaWorld Orlando's iconic observation attraction, Sky Tower is back! The observation tower has been closed since March 2020 when the parks were forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic A true Orlando classic, the Sky Tower at SeaWorld opened in 1974, it's capture slowly rises into the sky, rotating gently, offering panoramic views of International Drive, and beyond. A spokesperson for SeaWorld Orlando said the ride is in soft opening mode, and may not be available at any particular time, but it's been in operation this week, although it was planned to be closed on Wednesday 16 March, all day. The Sky Tower stands at 400 ft, and you have to 48” or accompanied by a companion (14 years of age or older) to ride. We'll see you there soon, for some birds eye views of Orlando. SeaWorld Orlando platinum, gold, and silver pass members can the Sky Tower attraction for free. Bronze members, fun card holders, and regular guests pay $5 to ride.

Walt Disney World has confirmed that the popular after hours event, H2O Glow Nights will return to Typhoon Lagoon water park soon, though an exact return date was not announced. H2O Glow Nights happens after the water park closes for the day, Get glowed up, and ready to glow wild at this glowing party night under the stars! Disney H2O Glow Nights is a rare opportunity for guests to experience Typhoon Lagoon under the light of the moon, with glowing beach balls, inner tubes and other lighting effects! On select nights, Typhoon Lagoon will become a luminous, nighttime hotspot featuring a DJ Dance Party on the beach, plus special character meets will be included too. at this one-of-a-kind experience. Guests can play party games, try unique food and beverage treats, and enjoy all the attractions at the water park with minimal wait times. Highlights Include: Glow-rious lighting effects and décor throughout the water park A DJ dance party on the sandy beaches of the Surf Pool Toy Story-themed activities and Character Greetings A tempting selection of limited-time, event-themed food and beverage specialties An adults-only retreat for Guests 21 and over, featuring live entertainment and a cocktail bar with a bevy of refreshing beverage for purchase An oh-so flashin’-able souvenir glow wristband Important Details: Admission to this event requires a separately priced ticket valid only during specific dates and hours. The number of tickets available is limited, and tickets are valid only for the specific event date and hours. Tickets are nontransferable, nonrefundable and may not be resold. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. A valid form of government-issued photo identification will be required to verify your age. Entertainment offerings are subject to change without notice. Water parks are subject to weather closures. Dress Code Swim attire must be appropriate for a family environment and without buckles, rivets, zippers or exposed metal and other sharp objects. Jeans (denim) and wetsuits (neoprene) are not permitted on the following attractions at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park: Bay Slides, Humunga Kowabunga, Ketchakiddee Creek and Storm Slides. Diaper-age children must wear plastic pants or swim diapers in pool areas.

The Osceola County attraction Wild Florida is celebrating the arrival of a brand new baby. The airboat, gator & drive-thru safari park has announced the birth of a beautiful zebra foal. The new born male zebra can already be viewed while riding through the drive-thru Safari Park, and the great news is this new baby is the first of several expected this spring. Wild Florida’s Sam Haught said “In our opinion, you’ll have a hard time finding something cuter than a baby zebra running and bucking on the safari,” He continues. “He’s out and about loving life for all our guests to see and we hope everyone stays on the lookout for him when they cruise through during spring break this year!” The Wild Florida Drive-thru Safari Park is home to a number of animals including giraffes, eland antelope, scimitar oryx, American bison, mouflon sheep, and so many more. Wild Florida is also home to a gator park, including a feeding show and popular airboat rides. For details click here.

As spring gets into full swing, Walt Disney World has announced an amazing selection of yummy new treats throughout the resort that are a must for your next visit. First up is some delicious menu updates at Backlot Express at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Starting March 29, the quick serve menu is getting a revamp with delicious dishes including a Cuban Sandwich, Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork Burger, Teriyaki Tofu Bowl, and Chicken Southwest Salad. These dishes look great, just look at them! And what meal is complete without a sweet finish. The Wookie Cookie is back and not one to miss on your next adventure to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Star Wars and sweets – what could be better than that? Pick up all of these yummy items from Backlot Express through Mobile Order on your next visit. You’re going to go wild for these tasty offerings coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Over in Africa, the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery will be serving up a Marinated Pork Flatbread Sandwich featuring marinated pork atop of a cucumber-tomato salad, harissa aïoli, and greens with house-made chips, as well as the Spiced Potato Hand Pies, fried pastries with seasonal vegetables and potatoes – yum! Calling all Wilderness Explorers! You don’t have to look very far for a culinary adventure because there are some Wilderness Explorer Cupcakes waiting to be discovered across Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. At Pizzafari you’ll find the Flamingo Badge Cupcake, a coconut cupcake with exotic fruit filling, coconut frosting, white chocolate pearls and a white chocolate flamingo badge. Over at Flame Tree Barbecue the Dragonfly Badge Cupcake is a pink lemonade flavor with a strawberry compote filling and topped with lemon frosting and a dragonfly medallion – how tasty! Lastly, the Dinosaur Badge Cupcake can be found at Restaurantosaurus and is a chocolate cake with a cookie cheesecake filling, yes you heard that right, and finished with chocolate frosting and a white chocolate dinosaur badge. All of these treats are available on Mobile Order too! If you’re a fan of coffee, there are even some new caffeinated beverages on the horizon. If you find yourself at Dino-Bite Snacks, be sure to try the Cold Brew Iced Coffee. And for a sweeter take on this beverage, try the Cold Brew Coffee Ice Cream Float. Ice cream and coffee sure sounds appealing! The Resorts at Walt Disney World are also here with some exciting news. At Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, the Barcelona Lounge recently began featuring live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can even Build-Your-Own Gin and Tonic as you enjoy the vibes and sweet tunes from a Spanish guitarist. You simply have to come out and try this spot. At Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, you can now get your hands and taste buds on some new beignets and beverages at Scat Cat’s Club – Lounge. This tasty treat includes a trio of Mickey-shaped Beignets served with red pepper jelly, pimento cheese, and green goddess dressing dusted with powdered sugar – delicious! The Oyster Beignet Po’Boy is a Mickey-shaped beignet with fried oysters, lettuce, tomato, Cajun rémoulade, and house-made pickles served with potato chips. Now onto the drinks. The Bebop Bloody Mary combines vodka and spicy bloody Mary mix topped with shrimp, andouille sausage, and celery – a bloody Mary fan’s dream! You can also sip on the Syncopation Shift featuring vodka, rum, mango rum, melon liqueur, and pineapple juice with a glow cube or the Bonfamilles Bourbon Peach Tea with bourbon, peach schnapps, and fresh-brewed sweet tea. And to top off these yummy additions, live entertainment has returned to this lively location on select nights! Disney’s Old Key West Resort has a change to Shrimp Fritters at both Olivia’s Cafe and Gurgling Suitcase Libations & Spirits. The unique thing about this new update is that it was done to help support sustainable seafood initiatives while keeping the environment in mind! Stop by these locations to try these delicious fritters for yourself. Disney Springs has a few new openings you’ll definitely want to have on your radar. You can indulge in all the DOLE Whip your heart desires with the brand-new Swirls on the Water. This kiosk will feature delicious flavors as well as signature items like DOLE Whip Lime & Habanero Soft-serve Nachos featuring waffle cone chips topped with DOLE Whip lime and habanero soft-serve, mango boba pearls, Tajin spice, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream, or the 50th Celebration Cone with a DOLE Whip lemon and cookie dough soft serve swirl. You can also try the DOLE Whip Flight featuring all six of the featured swirl flavors and those over 21 can indulge in the Sangria Float featuring DOLE Whip and red wine sangria! Finally, if you’re a food truck fan, Local Green Orlando has rolled into Disney Springs to bring a combination of plant-based, vegetarian, and pescatarian dishes that are nutritious and delicious, like the Monsta shrimp burger, Bubba Sparxx vegan pulled BBQ sandwich, and the Elote Street Corn.

Disney has just announced that they plan to reopen Victoria & Albert’s at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa “later this year”, saying “we don’t have specifics right now, stay tuned for updates to come”. Victoria & Albert’s is now only one of a handful of restaurants that still haven’t reopened following the COVID-19 shutdowns in March 2020. Victoria & Albert's is the ultimate in fine dining at Walt Disney World Resort and one of the Southeast's finest restaurants. Victoria & Albert's features modern American cuisine with exquisite ingredients sourced from around the world, including truffles from Italy, Russian Osetra caviar, beef from Japan, poulet rouge from North Carolina and shrimp from local Florida waters. Recipient of AAA's highest accolade—the Five Diamond Award, Forbes Travel Guide Four Star rating and glowing reviews from Zagat and others, this restaurant in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa evokes a genteel era when dining was an elegant ritual, served by an experienced maître d'hôtel and chefs in classic white toques.

Sad news as word comes through that the popular Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show is now permanently closed at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort in Walt Disney World. The show has been closed since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, and now Cast Members have been notified that the show will not be returning. The land occupied by the dinner show, Luau Cove will be used for a long-rumored new Disney Vacation Club building. Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show showcased traditions from Polynesia, including dances from Tonga, New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa, and Hawaii. The feast that accompanied the show featured platters of Polynesian ribs, Aloha pulled pork, and roast chicken, the feast ending with the most amazing Pineapple Guava Cake. Sadly it looks likely that the show that has been performed since Walt Disney World opened in 1971 is no more.

From March 16, Walt Disney World Resort have announced that face masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests on the Disney Skyliner at Walt Disney World, plus, masks will also be optional for fully vaccinated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser guests on the box truck transportation while traveling to and from the Halcyon starcruiser and Batuu. Face masks have been optional for fully vaccinated guests in most locations within Walt Disney World since last month, with the exception of Disney Transportation. Although mask will no longer be required on the Disney Skyliner, or the Starcruiser Box Truck, masks are still required to be worn on Disney buses and Monorails by all Guests (ages 2 and up). Additionally, face coverings will also be optional for fully vaccinated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser guests on the box truck transportation while traveling to and from the Halcyon starcruiser and Batuu.

Disney Vacation Club have announced proposed plans to develop new Disney Vacation Club villas at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! “It’s no secret that our Members and Guests love the monorail resorts at Walt Disney World,” said Bill Diercksen, senior vice president and general manager of Disney Vacation Club. “Expanding our Disney Vacation Club offerings at the Polynesian would give our Members and Guests yet another incredible option for staying close to the magic while making vacation memories that last a lifetime.” Inspired by the early concepts for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the Imagineers of today are honoring the past while furthering the resort story with this innovative addition. Projected to open in late 2024, the proposed vacation ownership property would complement the existing resort and evoke the spirit of the Pacific Islands. With the new development situated on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, the proposed property will be built on the site of the Disney's Spirit Of Aloha show, meaning that the dinner show will not be returning. The new villas will offer stunning views of the Magic Kingdom. Proposed plans would offer additional rooms, new recreation offerings and dining options. More information and project details will be shared at a later date. Since 2015, Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows has been a favorite resort destination, offering an island paradise in the middle of the magic. Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows currently has 380 Disney Vacation Club villas, including the largest Deluxe Studios at any Disney Vacation Club resort at Walt Disney World and unique two-bedroom Bora Bora Bungalows, located over the waters of the Seven Seas Lagoon – the first of their kind at Disney.

Great news from Universal Orlando Resort today, after being closed for almost two years, Poseidon's Fury has officially reopened to guests at Universal's Islands of Adventure. While Universal hasn't commented whether any of the walk-through attraction includes new special effects or not, the façade and surrounding area have been completely refurbished. Many fans speculated that changes would be made to the attraction's storyline, but it appears that the show has been preserved as it was before closure.

Wonderful news from Universal Orlando Resort, A new quiet room for guests who could use a break from the busy and often noisy theme parks when they feel overwhelmed is now open at the resort. A resort spokesperson for Universal confirmed the room, located near the front of Universal Studios Florida to the right of the Studio Audience Center and Lost and Found, will be open during regular park hours. To find the entrance to the new Quiet Room, simply make a right turn immediately after entering the park where you will find Family and Health Services, this includes the Quiet Room, plus First Aid, a Nursing Room, and a Family Restroom. Guests do not need to reserve the room, but will need to wait until it is vacant to use. A 30-minute time limit is encouraged. the room has rubber floor tiles, an activity wall panel and two hiding tunnels. The Universal Creative and Guest Safety and Accessibility Teams worked together to design the room to be a safe, quiet, low-stimulation space for guests, all with a little help from the minions. Click here for more information on accessibility at Universal Orlando Resort.

Madame Tussauds Orlando has added another wax figure to its star studded lineup. The International Drive attraction within Icon Park is now home to a figure of singer Ariana Grande. The Ariana Grande figure, in a scene inspired by the 7 Rings music video, is dressed in a pink outfit inspired by the singer’s Sweetener tour. It also features replicas of Grande’s tattoos as well as her signature ponytail of course! Madame Tussauds said it's London-based team of artists, sculptors and designers used images, videos and magazines to capture Grande’s likeness, with the wax figure taking six months to complete. You will find Grande's wax figure is featured in the attraction's music room alongside Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Ricky Martin. Madame Tussauds Orlando is a who's who of well known and famous faces, other wax figures at the attraction include Pitbull, Ryan Reynolds and members of the Justice League.

Fabulous news from Walt Disney World! The fan-favorite, and ours, the Tumble Monkeys will soon be returning to The Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Disney Parks official TikTok account posted a video of the Tumble Monkeys practicing. Over the past few months, Disney have been holding auditions at Walt Disney World for stunt actors with aerial abilities and trampoline experience, which led us to believe that The Tumble Monkeys would be returning soon. Now with this Disney TikTok video, it confirms the news we have been waiting for, that The Festival of the Lion King will soon return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which is awesome! Right now, with the full show not playing, a modified version of the show is performing, called A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King, but with The Tumble Monkey segment returning, we await the triumphant return of The Festival of the Lion King this summer!