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2011 at the attractions: Updated Star Tours, Discovery Cove's new reef, and Legoland
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On the new Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios, guests aboard Starspeeders will be in a high-speed race through the canyons of Tatooine. (Walt Disney Co. / September 11, 2009)
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Dewayne Bevil on Attractions Theme Park Ranger 11:23 a.m. EST, January 6, 2011
os-bevil-theme-parks-new-2011-20110106
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<!-- sphereit start -->As a wise old theme-park attraction once said, "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow." The Magic Kingdom's Carousel of Progress wouldn't lie to us, would it? Here's an overview of six projects set to debut in 2011.
Force field
What: Revamped Star Tours
Where: Disney's Hollywood Studios
<HR class=hr-promo rel="test">Catch up with the latest on health on our Booster Shots blog. <HR class=hr-promo>
When: "Sometime" in 2011, Disney officials say.
What we know: The simulator ride was closed in September for retooling into a different "Star Wars" time and place. The story will be set between Episodes III and IV of the films — right before the original "Star Wars" movie, which was released in 1977. When Star Tours takes flight again, we'll see old and new characters, and we'll be seeing the action in 3-D.
What's the bottom line: The revamp feels overdue, yet fresher than reviving "Captain EO" over at Epcot. But if you've ever been to Star Wars Weekends at the theme park, you know not to underestimate the franchise's appeal.
Wharf speed
What: Hyperion Wharf
Where: Downtown Disney
When: Part 1 is scheduled to be complete this summer.
What we know: Hyperion Wharf is the name of the repurposed Pleasure Island entertainment district. The renovation includes the eventual demolition of some of the former nightclubs, where yet-to-be-indentified restaurants will stand along the waterway. But first to be completed is an amphitheater-style park near Paradiso 37 restaurant. Disney plans to entertain guests throughout the day there after it opens this summer. (The entire Hyperion Wharf project is slated to be complete in 2013.)
What's the bottom line: It will be interesting to see how many people this park draws while Hyperion Wharf takes shape. Entertainment will be key, but in the Disney renderings, we can't see how this area will differ from the lightly populated grassy area next to Bongos on Downtown Disney's West Side.
Whale, yeah
What: New killer-whale show
Where: SeaWorld Orlando
When: Spring
What we know: The park is pulling "Believe," the 4-year-old show starring Shamu and company. Officials have not confirmed if trainers will be in the water with the whales in the new show — but they haven't been since the February death of trainer Dawn Brancheau.
What's the bottom line: Show details have not been released, but we want to believe that the future production will avoid the New Age
New discovery
What: Grand Reef
Where: Discovery Cove
When: June
<HR class=hr-promo rel="test">Catch up with the latest on health on our Booster Shots blog. <HR class=hr-promo>
What we know: The new reef will be built around an aquarium with 125 species of fish, rays and sharks. There will be snorkeling with tropical fish and a rope bridge over sharks. Plus, there's SeaVenture, an additional-cost underwater stroll near venomous fish and sharks (behind panoramic windows).
What's the bottom line: Add-ons make us nervous — but so do sharks.
Cat fancy
What: Cheetah Hunt
Where: Busch Gardens, Tampa
When: Spring
What we know: It's an animal-inspired roller coaster with electromagnetic launches and an inversion plus an adjacent animal habitat for sprinting challenges with real cheetahs.
What's the bottom line: Oh yeah, let's run with it.
Putting it together
What: Legoland Florida
Where: Winter Haven
When: October
What we know: Merlin Entertainment, the newest player among the major Central Florida attractions, has taken over the old Cypress Gardens to create a theme park based on the children's building blocks. Look for rides and activities geared to its key 2-to-12-year-old demographic.
What's the bottom line: There's plenty of curiosity about Legoland. Most folks aren't sure what to expect — the Polk County version will be only the fourth one in the world and second in the U.S. Anticipate a lot of traffic heading that way for a look-see.<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var afterLoginLocation = ''; var defaultLocation = $('articlePromoLink').href; var wasClicked = false; if (!!window.carnival) { new memberNav( '#articlePromoLink', function() { //user is logged in if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != '' && afterLoginLocation != 'default'){ $('articlePromoLink').onclick = function(){ carnival.utils.listener.fire('_carnival_'+afterLoginLocation); wasClicked = true; return false; }//if } }, function(){ //user is not logged in if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != ''){ $('articlePromoLink').onclick = function(){ carnival.modal.popit(location.protocol+'//'+carnival.configuration('currentDomain')+'/'+signon.folder+'/site/registration/modal.signon'); wasClicked = true; carnival.user.afterLogin( function(){ if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != '' && afterLoginLocation != 'default'){ carnival.utils.listener.fire('_carnival_'+afterLoginLocation); } else if(wasClicked){ window.location = defaultLocation; } }); return false; } //if } }).writeNav(); //new memberNav } //if</SCRIPT>
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2011 at the attractions: Updated Star Tours, Discovery Cove's new reef, and Legoland
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Dewayne Bevil on Attractions Theme Park Ranger 11:23 a.m. EST, January 6, 2011
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<!-- sphereit start -->As a wise old theme-park attraction once said, "There's a great big beautiful tomorrow." The Magic Kingdom's Carousel of Progress wouldn't lie to us, would it? Here's an overview of six projects set to debut in 2011.
Force field
What: Revamped Star Tours
Where: Disney's Hollywood Studios
<HR class=hr-promo rel="test">Catch up with the latest on health on our Booster Shots blog. <HR class=hr-promo>
When: "Sometime" in 2011, Disney officials say.
What we know: The simulator ride was closed in September for retooling into a different "Star Wars" time and place. The story will be set between Episodes III and IV of the films — right before the original "Star Wars" movie, which was released in 1977. When Star Tours takes flight again, we'll see old and new characters, and we'll be seeing the action in 3-D.
What's the bottom line: The revamp feels overdue, yet fresher than reviving "Captain EO" over at Epcot. But if you've ever been to Star Wars Weekends at the theme park, you know not to underestimate the franchise's appeal.
Wharf speed
What: Hyperion Wharf
Where: Downtown Disney
When: Part 1 is scheduled to be complete this summer.
What we know: Hyperion Wharf is the name of the repurposed Pleasure Island entertainment district. The renovation includes the eventual demolition of some of the former nightclubs, where yet-to-be-indentified restaurants will stand along the waterway. But first to be completed is an amphitheater-style park near Paradiso 37 restaurant. Disney plans to entertain guests throughout the day there after it opens this summer. (The entire Hyperion Wharf project is slated to be complete in 2013.)
What's the bottom line: It will be interesting to see how many people this park draws while Hyperion Wharf takes shape. Entertainment will be key, but in the Disney renderings, we can't see how this area will differ from the lightly populated grassy area next to Bongos on Downtown Disney's West Side.
Whale, yeah
What: New killer-whale show
Where: SeaWorld Orlando
When: Spring
What we know: The park is pulling "Believe," the 4-year-old show starring Shamu and company. Officials have not confirmed if trainers will be in the water with the whales in the new show — but they haven't been since the February death of trainer Dawn Brancheau.
What's the bottom line: Show details have not been released, but we want to believe that the future production will avoid the New Age
New discovery
What: Grand Reef
Where: Discovery Cove
When: June
<HR class=hr-promo rel="test">Catch up with the latest on health on our Booster Shots blog. <HR class=hr-promo>
What we know: The new reef will be built around an aquarium with 125 species of fish, rays and sharks. There will be snorkeling with tropical fish and a rope bridge over sharks. Plus, there's SeaVenture, an additional-cost underwater stroll near venomous fish and sharks (behind panoramic windows).
What's the bottom line: Add-ons make us nervous — but so do sharks.
Cat fancy
What: Cheetah Hunt
Where: Busch Gardens, Tampa
When: Spring
What we know: It's an animal-inspired roller coaster with electromagnetic launches and an inversion plus an adjacent animal habitat for sprinting challenges with real cheetahs.
What's the bottom line: Oh yeah, let's run with it.
Putting it together
What: Legoland Florida
Where: Winter Haven
When: October
What we know: Merlin Entertainment, the newest player among the major Central Florida attractions, has taken over the old Cypress Gardens to create a theme park based on the children's building blocks. Look for rides and activities geared to its key 2-to-12-year-old demographic.
What's the bottom line: There's plenty of curiosity about Legoland. Most folks aren't sure what to expect — the Polk County version will be only the fourth one in the world and second in the U.S. Anticipate a lot of traffic heading that way for a look-see.<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> var afterLoginLocation = ''; var defaultLocation = $('articlePromoLink').href; var wasClicked = false; if (!!window.carnival) { new memberNav( '#articlePromoLink', function() { //user is logged in if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != '' && afterLoginLocation != 'default'){ $('articlePromoLink').onclick = function(){ carnival.utils.listener.fire('_carnival_'+afterLoginLocation); wasClicked = true; return false; }//if } }, function(){ //user is not logged in if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != ''){ $('articlePromoLink').onclick = function(){ carnival.modal.popit(location.protocol+'//'+carnival.configuration('currentDomain')+'/'+signon.folder+'/site/registration/modal.signon'); wasClicked = true; carnival.user.afterLogin( function(){ if(!!afterLoginLocation && afterLoginLocation != '' && afterLoginLocation != 'default'){ carnival.utils.listener.fire('_carnival_'+afterLoginLocation); } else if(wasClicked){ window.location = defaultLocation; } }); return false; } //if } }).writeNav(); //new memberNav } //if</SCRIPT>