Orlando’s theme parks had a big year even while coping with a global crisis or two. Attractions debuted, returned from hiatus, celebrated birthdays and shifted the ways we experience them. Here are some big moments of 2021.
Big thrill
Jurassic World VelociCoaster opened with heart-pounding launches tied to dramatic drops, curves and an overwater inversion at Universal’s Islands of Adventure this summer. Big bonuses: A social media-friendly queue and views plus the double-door lockers, a surprising revolution in traffic flow.
Big birthday
Walt Disney World hit the big 5-0 on Oct. 1 and introduced Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure ride at Epcot alongside “Harmonious” as well as “Disney Enchanted” at Magic Kingdom and “Disney KiteTails” at Animal Kingdom. The celebration also included installation of the Fab 50 statues across the parks, and it will continue into, if you can imagine, 2023. (Big ball bonus: Spaceship Earth’s mesmerizing Beacons of Magic treatment.)
Big move
SeaWorld Orlando added Howl-O-Scream, an intense Halloween offering with haunted houses and other spooky elements, and retained its more kids-centric Spooktacular. (Bonus: Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, after a year off for pandemic, marked its 30th year.)
Big change
In April, Walt Disney World modified its dress code known as the Disney look. That uncovered many tattoos, freed up hairstyles, inspired nail polishers and ended up with on-duty cast members reflecting the world more accurately.
Big displays
Runs of two historical exhibits had extended runs. The educational displays of “Yesterday, This Was Home: The Ocoee Massacre of 1920″ at Orange County Regional History Center and “Pompeii: The Immortal City” at Orlando Science Center captured far-flung moments (and places) in time.
“The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure” opened at Epcot then moved on to museums in New Orleans, Kansas City, Missouri and New York City.
Big debuts
Museum of Illusions opened at Icon Park; Planet Play debuted at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; Legoland Florida added a shade structure above its Miniland USA area; Disney MagicMobile enabled visitors to link park tickets to smartphones; scenes along the shores of Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise were updated; Universal CityWalk became home of a massive new Universal Studios store (plus a smaller, more throwback “Legacy” outlet); Dezerland Park opened on International Drive; a swing ride took flight at Fun Spot in Orlando; and Marshall, a kookaburra moved into Gatorland.
Big comebacks
Cirque du Soleil returned to Disney Springs with its new “Drawn to Life” show; Magic Kingdom’s Hall of Presidents reopened with Joe Biden in place; at Disney World, revised versions of “Festival of the Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage,” “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” and Candlelight Processional arrived; and Mango’s Tropical Café started a new stage show.
Big bummers
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Primeval Whirl ride was demolished and “Finding Nemo: The Musical” was permanently shuttered; Disney Springs said NBA Experience would not reopen; Blue Man Group moved out of Universal Orlando; Fear Factor Live was pronounced dead at Universal Studios; and Holy Land Experience opened for two days in April, but its Interstate 4-facing property was sold to Advent Health in August.
Big question marks
What exactly is going up behind those construction walls in the heart of Epcot? What will slide into the Shrek 4-D space at Universal Studios? (That attraction closes Jan. 10.) When will we see signs of the Splash Mountain update? What will take the place of NBA Experience? When will the “pause” on new sales of Disney World annual passes end? And are we stuck with Disney’s park reservations … forever?
Big talk
In this week’s Theme Park Rangers Podcast, reporter Katie Rice and I count down these and other newsy developments of 2021. (Available wherever you get podcasts.) Next week, we look ahead to 2022.
