Theme Park Rangers Radar detected a blip in the base of one of Walt Disney World’s most famous trees. Was it a bug or a feature? Were endangered species involved? Radar is also taking in new and future art plus previously unnoticed theme-park elements.
Radar is a weekly presentation of attractions news, notes and nibbles. It appears on OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesdays.
Bugging out
We shouldn’t call it a farewell tour just yet, but news out of the recent Destination D23 gathering prompted a visit to “It’s Tough to Be a Bug,” the show subtly tucked inside the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
At the D23 event, it was indicated that a new show based on “Zootopia” characters was in the works for that spot. No details, including a timeframe, were shared. (Imagineers are “finalizing the concept,” according to D23.com.) That event also prompted a return to the Dinosaur ride last week and on the same visit I checked out “Bug,” which I had not seen in years.
My most accurate foggy memory was about the effects built into the seats. Some of them are pretty horrifying and simulate a rush of insects. I could have put this on my Most Scary Disney Moments, judging by the squeals of audience members.
Another unnerving moment was the descent of black widow spiders from the ceiling. They had been tucked away nicely, and their appearance was dramatic.
The show, which debuted in 1998, is a 3-D presentation featuring Flik (the ant from “A Bug’s Life”), a soldier termite and a stink bug. You could consider parts of it educational if icky.
My audience, armed with “bug eye” glasses, was populated with plenty of kids, and folks were extremely chatty during the show. Some of it was stating the obvious to young people. “Do you see the spider?” one mom asked her kid, though the on-screen spider was taking up a huge portion of the screen.
The show has held up pretty well with few outdated references. And one of my favorite parts is the digital curtain made from a butterfly pattern.
Art, big-time
We’ve got murals on the mind now that Disney World has shared fresh images.
First, at Disney Springs Art Walk, a panel called “El Nido” is now complete. It’s by Cuban-American husband-wife team Juan Travieso and Katerina Santos, who create under the merged name TRATOS, a blending of their surnames. The focus of the piece is their young son Luka, surrounded by colorful birds, plants and other bits of nature.
The Art Walk is found near the bus stop adjacent to the Town Center neighborhood of Disney Springs.
Disney has shared glimpses of the work-in-progress mural that will be part of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride. An Instagram account tied to Walt Disney Imagineering says the mural will be along the exterior of Tiana’s business, which is housed in a repurposed barn.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which takes the spot held by Splash Mountain, is scheduled to open in late 2024.
Spotted and noted
Three things I had not seen or noticed before on the theme-park front:
• Projections have been added to a segment of MuppetVision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Now on the side walls: even more images of Waldo, the so-called living 3D effect. The vacuum cleaner effect applies to this as well.
• The piano stool’s covering outside Casey’s Corner at Magic Kingdom matches the striped vest of the pianist. It’s the little things.
• There’s such a thing as “year-round” Quick Queue sold at SeaWorld Orlando. It’s $299 for unlimited front-of-line access at rides such as Mako, Manta, Kraken and Infinity Falls for 12 months. This price, naturally, is atop the usual admission fee to SeaWorld.
Weekend outlook
• Museum of Illusions Orlando’s Bark-O-Ween Bash, a Halloween puppy party, is set for Friday evening.
• Island H2O Water Park holding adults-only Monster Mash with themed drinks, glow foam, DJ with Halloween classic tunes on Friday evening. Costumes permitted, with restrictions.
• Orlando Science Center will host programming tied to Saturday’s annular solar eclipse. Tickets are limited, and admission must be purchased in advance.
• Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts & Goblins, a Halloween event, marks its first weekend Saturday and Sunday.
• Halloween festivities continue at SeaWorld Orlando (Howl-O-Scream at night, Spooktacular by day), Universal Studios (Halloween Horror Nights), Legoland Florida (Brick or Treat) and Magic Kingdom (Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party).
• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival continues daily. Eat to the Beat concert series will feature Hoobastank on Friday and Saturday, followed by Air Supply on Sunday and Monday.
• The official grand opening of the Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana attraction at Epcot is set for Monday, although it has been in soft-opening/preview mode for several days. The area also will feature a meet-and-greet with the Moana character.
What’s on your radar? Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com.
