Theme Parks

Orlando’s about to get a whole lot slower, and way cuter. The world’s first slotharium, Sloth World, is landing on International Drive in February 2026. Honestly, who doesn’t want to hang out with a sloth? This isn’t your typical zoo setup. At Sloth World, you’ll get to wander through a lush rainforest habitat with more than 40 sloths roaming around—no glass, no cages, just you and these gentle, sleepy creatures. There’ll be different species to meet, and yes, you might even

Get ready for a big year in 2026—Central Florida’s theme parks are rolling out new family rides and giving old favorites a fresh twist. SeaWorld Orlando is launching SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, an indoor dark ride that’s the first of its kind for the park. You’ll hop into a submersible and dive into shipwrecks and deep-sea mysteries. “We’re redefining what a family attraction can be,” said Conner Carr, the park’s vice president of rides and engineering. He’s excited about

Katina dies at age 50, photo courtesy of SeaWrlorld SeaWorld shared sad news on Sunday: Katina, one of their best-known killer whales, has died at 50. Her health had been slipping for a while, and things got worse in the past few weeks as she grew older. The animal care and medical staff watched over her day and night, eventually focusing on making sure she was comfortable. She passed away with staff members by her side—people who’d cared for her for almost forty years. Katin

Tokyo Disney It’s wild, but for a lot of families, flying all the way to Tokyo Disney Resort can actually cost the same—or sometimes even less—than a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. Prices at WDW have shot up, the Japanese yen is weak right now, and honestly, Tokyo Disney’s tickets and food are just cheaper, especially if you score a good flight deal. It sounds strange at first, right? But when you add up everything—flights, hotels, park tickets, food—Tokyo Disney start

Galacticoaster is the first new roller coaster to arrive at LEGOLAND Florida’s main park since the place opened back in 2011. It’s also LEGOLAND Florida’s first indoor family coaster with a space theme, and it’s set to open on February 27, 2026. “You’re never going to see a launch like Galacticoaster, that’s for sure. Even in Florida,” said Rob Smith, the COO of Merlin Entertainments. This indoor ride takes families on a space adventure, hitting speeds up to 40 miles per hour

If you love Disney, collect rare finds, or just get a kick out of pop culture history, mark your calendar. On December 6, 2025, Van Eaton Galleries is throwing open the doors to almost 900 Disney treasures at its “Pop Culture and Disney Parks Featuring the Art of Disneyland” auction. Forget your average park souvenir—this is the good stuff. We’re talking original ride props, concept art, signage, costumes, and a whole lineup of pieces straight from Walt Disney World’s legenda

Larry Ellison’s family just bought Lion Country Safari for $30 million. That’s a big shift—after almost 60 years in the same hands, the park is moving under the wing of the Oracle co-founder’s family. If you know Ellison, you know conservation isn’t just a buzzword for him. It’s a running theme in his projects and philanthropy. Lion Country Safari posted a statement online, thanking the families who built its reputation in wildlife, conservation, and education. They promised

Justice Department Investigates SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Aquatica Orlando for Disability Discrimination The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida have started investigating United Parks & Resorts Inc. The focus is on whether the company has violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by discriminating against guests with disabilities. United Parks & Resorts, which

Lou, the elephant at Myakka Elephant Ranch Retiring to Florida isn’t just for seniors. Elephants are retiring to the Sunshine State in ever-increasing numbers.   In 2016, thirty-five Asian elephants, performers from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, retired to a lush new retirement habitat at Florida’s White Oak Conservation Center. This is all in response to pressure by animal rights activists, culminating in the company retiring its performing elephants and

Eat to the Beat Concerts Draws Massive Crowds If you’ve ever wandered through EPCOT during the International Food & Wine Festival, you know it gets busy at night. The mix of food, drinks from every corner of the globe, and a steady stream of live music always brings in a crowd. Still, nothing prepared even the die-hard EPCOT regulars for what happened November 17th. When The Beach Boys hit the stage for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, the America pavilion morphed into a w

Happy #MermaidMonday from Kathryn and the crew! The mermaids hit the water every single day—well, unless the weather gets in the way. Want to catch a show? Grab the free Friends of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park app for up-to-date showtimes and instant alerts. You’ll get notifications about weather closures, camp dates, capacity updates, Buccaneer Bay hours, mermaid performances, and anything else you need to know. Check out all the details at https://friendsofweekiwachee.co

On November 13, 2025, Disney dropped its Q4 earnings report for fiscal year 2025 and held the usual earnings call. The company covered everything—theme parks, Disney+, the cruise line, and a bunch of other updates. So, what’s really happening inside the Walt Disney Company right now? Let’s zoom out first. Disney posted $22.5 billion in revenue for Q4, which basically matches what they made in Q4 last year. For the entire fiscal year, revenue ticked up 3% to $94.4 billion, up

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is about to make Zootopia feel real with a brand-new 4D theater show right inside the park’s famous Tree of Life. The show, called Zootopia: Better Zoogether, drops you into a nine-minute ride alongside Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. You’ll slip on “carrot vision” 3D glasses (“because carrots are good for your eyes,” of course), and the city of Zootopia just bursts to life around you. Sights, smells, and wild motion effects make you feel like you’re right

Spaceship Earth surprised everyone by opening its doors to guests October 18, 2025, after months of refurbishment at EPCOT. People who managed to catch a ride said it felt just like it did before the August shutdown—same narration, same scenes, no big changes that guests would notice. Even though the ride is spinning again, Disney’s official site still lists Spaceship Earth as closed until October 24, with normal hours picking up on the 25th. Right now, nobody’s really sure i

Icon Park in Orlando is gearing up for significant changes in the coming years, with a large-scale expansion slated for 2026 and 2027....

After seventy years of operation, the Miami Seaquarium will close to the public this weekend, ending its long tenure as a South Florida...

Photo courtesy of Unidersal Studios, Orlando Ride reopens two weeks after man's tragic death. Universal Orlando has reopened the Stardust...

Roy Disney and Mickey Mouse opening day Walt Disney World October 1, 1971 On this day in 1971, Walt Disney World opens in Central...

This holiday season, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will glow once again as it hosts the Asian Lantern Festival, presented...

Imagine, you’re strolling down Main Street U.S.A., humming the “It’s a Small World” theme (don’t lie, you know you do),...