ORLANDO, Fla. — What’s ahead in theme-park world for 2021? We have hopes and dreams but not a ton of answers as the coronavirus pandemic continues to mess with the calendar.
It makes sense for attractions to hover in wait-and-see mode after unstable 2020. But it leaves us with few firm dates and occasions to anticipate. So here’s what we’re wondering while wading into ’21.
Q. How will the under-construction roller coasters roll out?
A. Islands of Adventure’s Jurassic World VelociCoaster is literally the one to watch. Universal Orlando is allowing us to see what they’re up to with this ride in many ways, including recent testing of ride vehicles. We know to expect air time and dino-matronics. Its debut is scheduled for “summer.”
Meanwhile, SeaWorld Orlando’s Ice Breaker stands there silent, looking like it’s ready to go. It has a strong look, and it should be fun to watch from the park’s shortcut bridge. Also appearing to be in neutral gear is its intense sister ride, Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa; however, it has a “spring” opening date on the calendar.
At Walt Disney World, work continues on Tron Lightcycle/Power Run, an indoor-outdoor thrill ride at Magic Kingdom, and on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the attraction inside the big sky-blue box at Epcot. At one point, they both had an “in time for the 50th anniversary of Disney World” time frame attached to them. That date is Oct. 1, but it would not be shocking to see either slip into ’22.
Q. Speaking of which, how exactly will Disney World mark its golden year?
A. Even before the pandemic and shutdown, the company had said very little beyond pointing to the new paint job on Cinderella Castle. What are Plans B, C and D? Will it be a short and sweet moment or could it be an old-school, two-year celebration, as at least one expert has thrown out there?
Q. How will the transformation of Epcot continue to evolve?
A. In addition to the Guardians ride, we have seen progress on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (plus a nearby creperie) in the France pavilion as well as the space-themed restaurant in Future World. Heavy machinery continues to rumble behind the construction wall where Club Cool and company used to be.
But the latest talk of the park is the gigantic, taco-shaped barge in the World Showcase Lagoon that’s been put in place for “Harmonious,” a planned nighttime spectacular. Can we get chips with that?
Q. What’s the most likely, most imminent, most promising thing coming?
A. It’s the return of (modified) park-hopping between Disney World theme parks, which started Friday. Date-specific park reservations will continue to be required, but after going to that park, annual passholders and folks who paid for the park-hopping option with their day tickets will be able to transfer to a second park after 2 p.m. I’ll take those baby steps.
Q. What else is allegedly on the horizon?
A. January holds additional promise with Planet Play, a new indoor playground that came to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex last Friday, the debut of the Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Arts this Friday and the opening of the Museum of Illusions on International Drive on Saturday.
There’s also the addition of the Auto Experience to I-Drive’s Dezerland Park in “early” 2021, and the launch of Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show at Legoland Florida on Feb. 12. Universal’s Volcano Bay, shuttered since early November, is slated to reopen “on or before March 1,” according to the official website, and Blizzard Beach, one of Disney’s water parks, is set to reopen on March 7 after a closure lasting almost a year.
The Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is scheduled to be a long chew, from March 3 through July 5.
Icon Park Slingshot and Icon Park Drop Tower, both in the 400-foot-high neighborhood, are scheduled to open on I-Drive sometime this summer.
Q. Is it time to cross our fingers?
A. Perhaps this time next year, we will have been flung toward the sky, turned upside down at high speeds, been shrunken down to the size of a rat, had a cupcake to celebrate WDW’s 50th, inspected classic cars, park hopped and watched fireworks with thousands of our closest theme-park friends. Maybe some attractions and shows will be back in business.
Wouldn’t that be ’21-derful?
