Orlando theme parks roundup: What's new in 2019 from Star Wars Land to Sesame Street
Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story included incorrect information about Infinity Falls. That ride opened in May 2018 at SeaWorld Orlando.
New lands, new rides, new thrills — there's a lot of "new" coming up at Orlando theme parks.
Some of it's warm and fuzzy and brings you back to your childhood (like Sesame Street Land at SeaWorld Orlando, starring Elmo, Big Bird and the gang). Other attractions like Star Wars Land and Hagrid's motorbike ride at "Harry Potter world" give you an awesome opportunity to fanboy.
Here's what's on tap at Orlando theme parks in spring and summer.
'Elmo loves you'
Elmo, the lovable red Muppet with the trademark giggle, has a new home. Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando opens Wednesday, March 27. Features include meet-and-greets with all your favorite furry friends, a water play area, daily parade (SeaWorld Orlando's first ever!) and six themed rides. The new land replaces Shamu's Happy Harbor.
You'll recognize the Sesame Street sets like Mr. Hooper's store, Big Bird's nest and that famous 123 stoop, where a lot of human-to-Muppet, heart-to-heart talks took place over the TV show's near-50-year history. The rides in Sesame Street Land range from a Cookie Monster-themed vertical drop to Elmo's ChooChoo Train. A Super Grover family coaster's part of the fun, too.
No doubt Sesame Street Land is for children — but it's also a love letter to the iconic show. For those who wants a little bit of nostalgia, SeaWorld Orlando makes it as easy as A-B-C 1-2-3 ...
Visit seaworldorlando.com.
Wheee!: Details on new 'Jurassic World' ride, including huge waterfall
Everything is awesome
Following the blockbuster success of the "Lego" movies, Legoland Florida presents the Lego Movie World Land. (Yes, Lego Movie World Land at Legoland is a thing!)
The new attraction takes you into the world of the characters and building block sets of "The Lego Movie" and "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part." Called "Bricksburg," this Lego land features three rides, a spaceship-themed playground, and character meet-and-greets with Emmet, Lucy, Benny and General Mayhem. And don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to buy or play with Lego pieces there.
In the film, there's a memorable reference to Taco Tuesday ... and TAKOS (Tentacle. Arm. Kragle. Outside. Sprayer.) Legoland's ode to that? Taco Tuesday Everyday. Don't worry — no tentacles.
Grand opening festivities for Lego Movie World Land take place Tuesday and Wednesday, March 26 and 27.
Visit legoland.com.
More: Star Wars Land, new resorts on tap at Disney in Orlando in 2019
Splish splash
SeaWorld already broke records with Infinity Falls — tallest drop on a river raft ride. Now? Its sister park, Aquatica, wants to give guests a feeling of weightlessness with its new ride, KareKare Curl.
"KareKare," which means "waves," and curl tells guests just about everything they need to know about this upcoming attraction. Riders in a two-person raft will drop fast down the slide and end up on a curve-shaped wave that sends them "climbing" a vertical wave wall and back again. It's a high-adrenaline, weightless adventure that's set to open this year, according to the site.
An exact date wasn't available. Visit aquatica.com.
Excited, we are
Not too long after May the Fourth and Revenge of the Fifth (May 4 and 5, respectively), Disney's much anticipated Star Wars Land opens May 31 at Disneyland in Anaheim, followed by a virtually identical attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which opens Aug. 29.
Both parks moved up the opening dates for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, with each 14-acre site costing $1 billion to build. Years in the making and inspired by the global phenomena that is "Star Wars," features include new rides like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run; Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance; a remote trading port called Black Spire Outpost; Storm Troopers and Darth leaders. One thing to note, Rise of the Resistance will open later this year at Disneyland and Hollywood Studios.
If you're thirsty, consider trying Star Wars Land's Blue Milk or Bantha milk, made famous from "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope," or Green Milk, which appears in "Star Wars: Episode VII — The Last Jedi."
What to expect at Star Wars Land: At Disneyland AND Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disneyland guests planning a visit between May 31 and June 23 will need "valid theme park admission and will be required to make a (free) reservation" via disneyland.com to access Star Wars Land: Anaheim. Disneyland Resort hotel guests will get a designated reservation to access Galaxy's Edge during their stay, however, valid theme park admission is required for that.
Visit disney.go.com.
Blimey
Universal Orlando's almost revved up and ready for its new attraction. A roller coaster ride — Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure — kicks off June 13 at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade at Islands of Adventure.
Hagrid's motorbike adventure rides through the Forbidden Forest, a setting made famous in J.K. Rowling's books and the "Harry Potter" films. Art director Alan Gilmore helped curate the experience, bringing to Harry Potter Land the same magic from the set of the films.
"Your motorbike will fly deep into the wilds of the Forbidden Forest, taking you on a twisting, roller coaster ride to discover the rarest magical creatures," Gilmore said in a video announcement broadcast via Universal's social networks. "You'll twist, turn and rush forward and backward at speeds up to 50 mph. It's really fast."
Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure will replace the Dragon Challenge roller coaster (which was once known as Dueling Dragons). It's set to open June 13.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Orlando theme parks roundup: What's new in 2019 from Star Wars Land to Sesame Street
