2022 in review: New coasters, ‘Star Wars’ experience, Peppa Pig park, fresh attractions
In 2022, Orlando theme park fans said hello to new attractions, hello again to eagerly anticipated pandemic comebacks and goodbye to a few old faithfuls. Throw in a couple of hurricanes and some unexpected headlines, and you’ve got a newsy ‘22.
Arrivals
Roller coaster enthusiasts greeted Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot, Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando, Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster at Peppa Pig Theme Park. That lineup is indoor and outdoor, highflying and kid-centric, skirts the waterfront, rolls along with and without intellectual properties and sports a shifting soundtrack. Plus, it’s a harbinger for 2023 when at least two major thrill rides will open.
Peppa Pig park, part of the Legoland Florida resort in Winter Haven, introduced boutique-style attractions to Central Florida, aimed squarely at a very specific, very young market.
The new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience, opening adjacent to Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, also courted a niche group. Folks immersed themselves in the ways of Jedi and Resistance for two-night stints filled with lightsaber training, mysterious clues, starship cuisine and climactic battles.
Disney introduced MagicBand+, which added a few powers to the wearable technology, including interaction with statues and nighttime spectaculars.
Disney characters got a new high-visibility home on a curvy screen that wraps around the corner of a parking garage at International Drive and Sand Lake Road.
Connections Eatery and Connections Cafe (aka Starbucks) opened at Epcot while construction continued nearby on the long-term “transformation” of Epcot.
Universal’s Great Movie Escape, featuring challenges based on “Jurassic World” and “Back to the Future” premiered at Universal CityWalk.
Ripley’s Mirror Maze opened on International Drive, while renovation was completed at the original Ripley’s attraction next door, which includes a new space-themed room.
Lego City Space, a hands-on rocket and rover exhibit, opened at Legoland Florida.
Max Action Orlando, which features escape rooms, ax throwing, virtual-reality games and more, debuted at Icon Park.
Orlando Science Center was host to “Bionic Me” and “Hot Wheels” exhibits, the latter of which remains open through Jan. 8.
Orange County Regional History Center developed “Figurehead: Music & Mayhem in Orlando’s Underground,” a yearlong exhibit that will be in place at the museum through September.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex added two bus tours that included visits to launchpads, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse and more.
Happy returns
The phased reopening of attractions, following extended shutdowns due to the COVID pandemic in 2019, continued into 2022.
This year, Walt Disney World returned “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” and “Fantasmic” to Hollywood Studios; the Festival of Fantasy parade, “Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire” and the Harmony barbershop to Magic Kingdom; and Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue to Fort Wilderness campground. It introduced a modified/abbreviated “Finding Nemo” show to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where the tumble monkey characters were reintegrated into a full-blown “Festival of the Lion King” show.
The resort also put Minnie Vans back on the street this summer. In November, Blizzard Beach water park reopened, only to have Typhoon Lagoon, its sister park, close again.
In December, the Walt Disney World Railroad, suspended by construction of the Tron ride, again started circling Magic Kingdom.
At Universal Studios, the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster reopened after an extended rehab period that began in January.
ICE, the chilled holiday event, returned to Gaylord Palms after a two-year absence.
Departures
Shrek 4-D closed at Universal Studios, soon followed by the adjacent Monsters Cafe. The space will be incorporated eventually into a Minion-themed land.
Universal’s Superstar Parade ended its 10-year run in June.
“Disney KiteTails” stopped flying at Animal Kingdom in September.
Orlando FreeFall Tower closed after 14-year-old Tyre Sampson died after falling from the International Drive ride. The tower eventually will be dismantled.
Surprises and newsy news
Orlando-based Ripley Entertainment made entertainment headlines by lending its multimillion-dollar Marilyn Monroe dress to Kim Kardashian to wear (briefly) at the Met Gala in New York.
Hurricane Ian forced many attractions to suspend operations, notably at Gatorland, which had flooding across the attraction. It was closed for two weeks. On happier notes, Gatorland scored mentions on “Jeopardy” and “Saturday Night Live.” It also opened a Capybara Encounter experience.
The Wheel at Icon Park dumped a Bullseye Blast interactive game and announced a new similar activity — dubbed “The Great Florida Road Trip” — will debut in early 2022.
Universal Studios added “Vamos — Bailalo,” a street show with a dozen dancers and Latin music.
Universal revived CityWalk’s Red Coconut Club into holiday themed pop-ups called Dead Coconut Club for Halloween and Green and Red Coconut Club for the end of the year.
Night of a Million Lights, a fundraiser for Give Kids the World Village, moved to Island H2O water park.
Walt Disney’s corporate plane, which spent years as part of the Studio Backlot Tour at Hollywood Studios, was rehabbed and displayed at D23 event in California.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast.
