Cast Previews

 

Next week Disney is reopening two rides after they were refurbished and revamped, and last weekend Cast members got to be the first to experience them. On Friday we got to see the new Soarin’ Across America movie at the Land in Epcot. It was nice but nothing spectacular, but I am looking forward to Disney rotating through the now existing three Soarin’ films, or even creating more.

On Sunday we got to ride the revamped Rock and Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios, now featuring the Muppets instead of the band Aerosmith. It’s still the same basic premise and the same coaster, but the change should make it less dated, as the Aerosmith version had been going for over 25 years. 

It sounds like the ride will now be more like Guardians of the Galaxy, as it will rotate through several songs instead of featuring a montage of Aerosmith songs like the old version. This should allow them to change out the songs to feature new artists and new hits.

We were supposed to go to Epcot afterwards for another preview of Soarin’ afterwards, but instead decided to grab a drink and snack at BaseLine Tap House, which opened during the run up to Galaxy’s Edge but we had never been to. It was pretty good; we shared some pretzels and flatbread. 

I also checked out the progress on the Animation Courtyard, which is also scheduled to open next weekend.

Clearwater

Friday morning Susan and I drove to Clearwater to visit the aquarium there, which was the home of the tailless dolphin Winter from the movie “Dolphin Tale”. The aquarium had an odd layout, apparently the result of being expanded several times over the decades, and the oldest sections are pretty dated. 

We only spent a little over an hour there, although there was a theater that shows multiple short films that we could have watched, and lots of things to read that we skimmed. While the dolphin tanks were nice, and the aquarium does good rescue work, I would not recommend paying full admission. 

In the afternoon, we met Jennifer and a friend and set up for a book signing with about 20 other authors. I then headed home, while Susan and the girls stayed the night to attend the book event on Saturday. This weekend Jennifer also released her 15th book. 

Yesterday, Jenn went to Epic Universe with Bryan and a friend. She got to ride all the things we didn't get to do a year ago when we went, like the Harry Potter ride, Donkey Kong, the Werewolf coaster, and Stardust Racers. She was not a fan of the Werewolf coaster, as it's short and spinny, but said the other three were pretty good, but not great.

Islands of Adventure

While I was in Arlington, Jennifer was meeting readers and, occasionally, other authors. Saturday afternoon she and Susan continued signing and selling while I hung out at the hotel. They finished up in the evening and we packed up her booth and went to dinner. Sunday we made the long drive home.

Yesterday evening Susan and I went to Universal’s Islands of Adventure with Jenn and a friend. We figured we’d hang out for a few hours and use our after 4 pm express pass to go a few rides, but when we got the found out the parks were closing at six for Grad Bash. 

We quickly went on VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Motorbikes and headed out. In Lost Continent, the Sinbad stunt show, which has been closed since before the pandemic, and the Poseidon walk through, which closed three years ago, were both behind construction walls. 

In CityWalk, the Epic Universe preview store has been converted to a Universal Legacy store.