Theme Park Rangers Radar: Poseidon bows out, Disney anniversary juggling and a look at what’s next
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It’s a goodbye tour for Theme Park Rangers Radar this week as we pay our respects to Poseidon’s Fury, which debuted at Islands of Adventure in the previous century, and do royal waves to the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World.
Yet there’s something new to pose with at Disney Springs and fresh attractions coming down the pike. Radar is a weekly collection of theme park news and nuggets. It publishes at OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesdays.
Poseidon’s flurry
Poseidon’s Fury opened at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in 1999, yet it still has an identity crisis.
Some comments overheard outside the attraction recently:
“What is this?” (Wellll …)
“Is this a water ride?” (No.)
“It’s a roller coaster!” (Nope.)
“It’s like Spider-Man!” (Nuff said.)
“It’s going away next week” is a slightly inaccurate take because the final day of Fury will be May 9, Universal Orlando announced this month.
People are drawn to its crumbling-temple exterior, but it’s usually a “slow and go” moment as folks amble toward Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Granted, it’s a difficult attraction to explain. “It’s a show that you walk through,” I usually explain. If Fury were introduced today, I bet the words “immersive” and “experience” would be in the name and perhaps “spectacular” and an exclamation point.
On my last visit, I noticed the attraction sign has a subtitle of “Escape From the Lost City,” which describes the original version that included a disguised god and false peril, a theme-park staple.
As a farewell gesture, I came up with three things I’ll miss about Poseidon’s Fury, one of IOA’s original attractions.
The effects, both grand and simple. Of course, the water tunnel leading out of the tomb and the startling finale are biggies, plus the choreography between on-screen effects and the actual pools of water and fire have been strong. Even the hidden message in the first show room works, despite the wonky phrasing of “trident gold’” (At least folks don’t spiel along a la Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion.)
The trend of the unisex-named narrator. Taylor could be male or female — smoothing operations without changing the script — but mostly I wanted my Taylors to be uber-nerdy and nervous. (See also Lonnie at the long-lost Disaster attraction at Universal Studios.)
The fading-away vibe of Lost Continent. The land — gloriously free of most intellectual property, if beige in presentation — took a giant hit with the development of Hogsmeade. Fury’s demise and the 2018 shutdown of “The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad” leave the LC with Mythos restaurant, Enchanted Fountain and a handful of shops.
Universal has not announced a replacement attraction for Poseidon’s Fury.
Flashy 50
The 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World officially is over, but glitter remains. Visitors can still see 50-branded merchandise on property, if in smaller supply. (The outlets are a good place to look, too.)
Other anniversary holdovers include the Fab 50 statues in the four theme parks, which still bear the 50th logo. I thought that would bother me, but already I’m looking at those golden discs as a reminder of the past, a modern-day “circa 1971.”
But the gigantic digital versions of the statues have gone away near International Drive. The curved screen atop a parking garage, easily spied from Interstate 4, has been updated for WDW ticket sales. It runs through four scenes with pictures from the parks. The formula appears to be iconic structure, recognizable character and folks enjoying a ride you might identify in a speeding car. Therefore, the lineup for the Disney’s Hollywood Studios scene includes Tower of Terror, “Star Wars” stormtroopers and a tight shot of guys on Slinky Dog Dash.
Big round birthday
Related: A Disney100 statue, saluting 100 years of Walt Disney Co., has been installed in a plaza near the Orange Garage of Disney Springs.
If you stand in just the right spot, you can turn your selfie into a Mickey, using the 100′s two zeros as ears. I gave it an early stab, posted on Twitter (I’m @themeparks).
Coming soon (?)
With Tron Lightcycle / Run up and running at Magic Kingdom, we are now without any pending opening dates for attractions. But several parks have announced seasons for upcoming debuts. (This list is, of course, fluid and may change before you read the end of this sentence.)
Pipeline: The Surf Coaster is set to open sometime this spring at SeaWorld Orlando. UPDATE: On Wednesday afternoon, SeaWorld released a video announcement with a more specific date for Pipeline’s debut. It now says the coaster will open in May.
Turi’s Kid Cove, including the Tamariki Twirl waterslide, has an Aquatica opening time frame of May.
Villain-Con Minion Blast, a moving walkway/standing and shooting attraction, is working its way to a summer opening at Universal Studios.
Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana, is expected at Epcot in late 2023, as is a new fireworks show (name TBA).
Looking ahead, Disney says Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open in late 2024 and Star Tours, a simulator ride at Hollywood Studios will get an update next year. Epic Universe, the third theme park of Universal Orlando, is expected to be operating by summer of 2025.
Weekend outlook
Science of Wine, a fundraiser for and at Orlando Science Center, is set for 8 p.m. Saturday.
At the Garden Rocks concert series, a part of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, performers include A Flock Seagulls (also heard on the park’s soundtrack for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind) on Friday and Saturday, then Jo Dee Messina on Sunday and Monday.
At SeaWorld Orlando, Tito Nieves sings Saturday during the Seven Seas Food Festival, followed by Kameron Marlowe on Sunday.
What’s on your radar? Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
