Theme Park Rangers Radar has had an eye on IAAPA, doing a little window shopping before the holidays. And Space Mountain has let its feelings be know — loudly — about the season. And there’s cake for dessert.

Radar is a weekly roundup of news and notes about Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions. It appears on OrlandoSentinel.com every Wednesday.

Monroe’s dress back in Orlando

Marilyn Monroe’s famed “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress is back in Orlando for a little while. It has had an adventure or two since the last time it was displayed at the Ripley’s museum on International Drive.

The gown — in its own special case — was incorporated into Orlando-based Ripley Entertainment’s booth on the exhibit floor of the IAAPA Expo along with assorted other oddities. It’s a part of history dating from Camelot (1960s style) and still making news in 2022.

To recap, Monroe wore the dress once in 1962, for an appearance where she breathlessly sang “Happy Birthday” to John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden.

In 1999, the dress was sold at auction for $1.27 million and was rarely displayed after that.

In 2016, Ripley’s purchased the beige, sequined number at auction for $4.8 million, which at the time was the most expensive personal item of clothing ever to be auctioned. (Guinness World Records said in May that that’s still true today.) In 2017, the garment made its Orlando debut at the I-Drive odditorium.

Monroe’s former dress was back in the limelight this year when Kim Kardashian borrowed it from Ripley to wear to the Met Gala in May. There was loads of security and Kardashian basically had the gown on for the length of a photo opp/staircase. At the top, she was whisked into a replica.

After the ball, it returned to Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in Hollywood, California.

Still, there was some internet outrage and a couple of claims of damage to the dress, which Ripley officials have denied. They also estimate its worth at $10 million. Would that be before or after the Kardashian effect?

After IAAPA wraps, the dress will be moved down the street from the Orange County Convention Center to the International Drive attraction, where it will be seen by visitors and it is expected to stay through Dec. 4.

Very merry Space Mountain

The oldest roller coaster in Central Florida is in the holiday spirit. Space Mountain has minty fresh version for folks attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, an after-hours/extra-ticket Magic Kingdom event.

During Very Merry, the exterior of the indoor ride has rotating lighting effects, some with snowflakes, some with alternating red-and-white panels. It’s fairly mundane in the queue as well, no mistletoe or garland or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” piped in.

It’s more intense once you’re in the rocket and rolling. The tunnel effects play around with red and green lighting. (“This is freaky,” the woman behind me said.) And I don’t know what song I expected, but it wasn’t a borderline headbanger, electric guitar-heavy, up-tempo “Deck the Halls.”

That’s what we got. That “fa la la la la, la la la la” goes right into your brain.

Red and green projected graphic images fly about, and it really is kind of otherworldly. It may or may not distract from the rough and tumble ride you get on Space Mountain, the kind where you may wish a lump of coal on the manufacturers.

Then it gets freakier and more strobed and that’s when you see more of the steel rail of the coaster, and menacing shadows. This is in contrast to the total blackout look the ride sported during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Turns out it’s not much comfort to see where you’re going in there.

You might consider it a warmup for the impending Holiday Remix for Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride. It’s a thing. Really. Rock on.

Treat of the week

My snacking rule is only homemade desserts during the holidays. Otherwise, I’ll eat every York Peppermint Patty in my path. But, for journalism, i’m making merry exception for theme park holiday treats, and you see them popping into Theme Park Rangers Radar through the end of 2022.

This week: Christmas tree cake, available at Casey’s Corner at Magic Kingdom during Very Merry Christmas evenings.

Disclosure: They had me at red velvet. But wait, there’s more. It’s red velvet brownie cheesecake with eggnog buttercream plus spice caramel shaped like a classic evergreen. Then add sugary Christmas lights.

It may not be as Disney iconic looking — no mouse is stirring with this sweet — but there’s a lot of flavor, textures and holiday goodness happening on that plate. Your mouth may not know what to think besides “sweetness overload.” Price: $5.29.

This tree was about 3.5 inches tall, fitting nicely on the little plate. You could share, especially if you’re eying a second dessert. Hey, it’s the holidays. Just step away from the peppermint patties.

Weekend outlook

• You never think it’s going to happen to you. But Saturday is the final day of the 2022 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The Eat to the Beat concert series wrapped up Monday. But fear not, the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays stars on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

• Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando is hosting a Velvet Session featuring Bret Michael on Friday. Doors at 6 p.m. and show at 8 p.m. It’s a 21 and up thing that includes appetizers, select specialty cocktails, valet parking at standing room for the lobby concert for $65.

• ICE and other holiday festivities begin at Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee on Friday. The theme for this year’s ice sculptures: “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

• Universal Orlando has its own Grinchmas show going at Islands of Adventure, plus a nightly holiday parade at Universal Studios and other festive options.

• SeaWorld Orlando is also in holiday mode with its Sea of Trees attraction, “Holiday Reflections” fireworks, Sesame Street Christmas Parade, “Winter Wonderland on Ice” and more.

• Christmas Nights in Lights, a drive-through experience at Dezerland Park Orlando, has started. Reservations required.

What’s on your radar? Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com