Attractions Magazine: Fall 2013

FALL 2013 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4
28
FEATURES
24 Q&A
Ron Logan’s work can be found in every Disney theme park.
28 Skipper Ben’s Top 10
Orlando Roller Coasters
See if you agree with the order of these top coasters.
32 Transformers: The Ride - 3D
The Transformers need your help to protect the AllSpark
at Universal Studios’ major new attraction.
44
38 A Tribute to The Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror
Learn about some of the unrealized concepts, what it
became and versions at other Disney parks.
44 Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Mermaids have been entertaining Florida visitors at
Weeki Wachee for more than 50 years
48 Resort Report
Rosen Centre Hotel
52 Table Service 38
Hash House A Go Go
ORLANDO ATTRACTIONS MAGAZINE STAFF
DEPARTMENTS Editor and Publisher
Matt Roseboom
Writers
6 What’s New Online Anthony Armenia, Richard Bent, Michael Corbisiero,
8 Feedback Andy Guinigundo, Seth Kubursky, Banks Lee, Barbara Nefer,
Ben Rebstock, Matt Roseboom, Jackie Roseboom,
12 Vacation Planner Simon Veness, Susan Veness
Photographer
14 Work in Progress Matt Roseboom
Art & Design
20 Photo Finds John Green, Pat Lewis, Sharon Liguori,
Christopher Titchenal, Christina Wright
22 Versus
Proofreading Editorial Assistants
56 Cartoon Ruth Roseboom Anthony Armenia, Banks Lee
57 Spot the Difference Game ON THE COVER: CONTACT INFORMATION

Optimus Prime and Bumblebee join Orlando Attractions Magazine
58 Mystery Photo General Morshower and N.E.S.T. soldiers, PO Box 22526, Orlando, FL 32830-2526
Web: attractionsmagazine.com
60 Out of the Loop ready to protect the AllSpark during the Phone: 407-741-3200
Transformers ride grand opening at E-mail: info@attractionsmagazine.com
62 Lights, Camera, Universal Studios Florida. Read all about Twitter: twitter.com/attractions
Facebook: facebook.com/attractionsmagazine
Attraction it on page 32.
YouTube: youtube.com/attractionsmagazine
Orlando Attractions Magazine is published in the U.S.A. four times annually by Dream Together Media LLC, PO Box 22526, Orlando, FL 32830-2526. The entire contents of this publication are Copyright © 2013 by Dream Together
Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher. Statements or opinions herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, Dream Together Media LLC, or the staff. Orlando Attractions Magazine is locally owned and operated and is not affiliated with any theme park or attraction company. Basic subscription
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within six months.
4 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

What’s new on...
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THESE STORIES AND MORE…
In addition to the stories and photos in this magazine, check our website regularly for even more, plus many videos. Stay up-to-date with all the latest theme park
and attraction news through our weekly video shows, download our free iPhone/iPad app and sign up for our free e-mail newsletter.
aMerican idOl Finalists Visit disney

Some of the 2013 American Idol finalists
showed up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
recently. Check out our online photo
gallery of the event and video to see them
ride down Hollywood Blvd, greet their fans,
answer questions and more.
d23 expO 2013

Disney’s third fan convention was
held in August in Anaheim, Calif. We
were there to bring you all the
Disney World news and more. Check
tOkyO disneysea online for our photo gallery, blog
posts and videos. We’ve posted
VideOs more than 20 videos from the event
Our friends at Theme Park Review including the Aug. 15 episode of
recently visited Tokyo Disneyland and The Show dedicated to it.
DisneySea and captured video ride-
throughs of some of the most popular
attractions. Visit our YouTube channel for
their versions of the Tower of Terror,
Aquatopia, Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage
and even Pooh’s Honey Hunt.
liVe FrOM
the parks
Follow us on Twitter at
twitter.com/attractions
and our Facebook page at
facebook.com/attractionsmagazine.
We frequently post on-the-spot information, Fantasy Faire and Mickey
photos and short videos while we’re inside
Orlando’s theme parks. You can also be
and the Magical Map
notified of our latest videos if you
subscribe to our YouTube channel at Disneyland Resort recently opened an expansion of
youtube.com/attractionsmagazine. Fantasyland as Fantasy Faire. Watch our videos of the Fantasy Faire stage show in the Royal Theatre featuring
“Tangled” and “The Beauty and the Beast” and the new Mickey and the Magical Map stage show.

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 7
Feedback YOUR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND CREATIVITY …
Oliver and the rest of the family. Next ly, I’ve been hearing news of the closing
FROM ThE EDITOR
week we head to Disney before jetting of Hollywood Studios attractions
I hope you enjoy this issue, including the
home to England. Will keep watching towards the back of the park to make
new rumors column on page 58, “The
(Attractions Show) to relive the memories room for a Walt Disney World Cars Land.
Rumor Queue”. Rumors
of this once in a lifetime holiday. Can you confirm or deny this please?
are always circulating but
Chris Lorraine Oliver and Alex Scott Christopher Viola
we try not to spread them
Hull, England South Jersey, N.J.
unless there’s some basis
of fact or the rumor
I’m glad you’ve been able to visit As of press time, Cars Land coming to
seems likely to happen.
Orlando and have some family fun again and Walt Disney World is just a rumor. Read more
But we’re going a little
hope you’ll all be back soon. We wish Oliver about it and other rumors on page 58.
beyond that with this new
a quick recovery and a long life of good
column. We’ll still be trying to present the
health.
rumors that have some merit, but we’ll also
mention some that seem to stick around. As
CELEBRATING 65 YEARS
it says at the beginning of the column, these
I congratulate you and your team on
rumors are not fact and should be seen only
such a brilliant magazine. I always look
as here say until officially confirmed or
forward to each edition, packed with so
denied. We know sometimes rumors become
much news about the latest Orlando pro-
“fact” in some people’s minds, and that’s
jects. Your weekly shows are also must
not our intent. Enjoy them as pure specula-
viewing, and it’s the next best thing to
tion and dream about what’s possible.
actually living in Orlando. I can’t wait for
my return trip to the magic on Nov. 29,
Have Fun,
when I will be celebrating turning 65 -
Matt Roseboom
and couldn’t imagine a better place to be
Editor/Publisher
on this special occasion.
Brian Burton
Borehamwood, GB BETTER ThAN PLUTO?
This is my dog PT who has an image
I hope you have a happy and of Mickey Mouse on his back. When he
fun 65th! Be sure to get your wags his tail, it looks like Mickey Mouse
birthday button when you go to is wagging his tail.
the theme parks. Ron Quimby
South China, Maine
ONLY 102 WEEKS?
I came across your show That’s really cool. It even looks like a
by accident. I love the show. I rare side profile hidden Mickey. Thanks for
have just spent the past num- sending it in.
ber of weeks doing catch up. I
didn’t realize how much I hELP DISNEYLAND PARIS
FINALLY BACK IN ORLANDO missed on my last visit to Walt Disney You may have heard that Disneyland
Well, the Scott family has finally made World. I can’t wait to return. I only have Paris is in a very bad state, and it became
it to Orlando, 21 years after mum and dad 102 weeks to go. even worst the last months. Countless
met here on our first visit (1992). You Louise Corris, breakdowns, bad conditions, closed
might remember our two boys Oliver and Cardiff, G.B. attractions, restaurants, boutiques and no
Alex with the Ripleys T-shirt that dad stage show and nighttime parade any-
won in your competition last year. I’m glad you found us and hope the 102 more. This situation is very sad and we
Finally after heart surgery and weeks fly by. I'm glad we can help pass the want to raise the attention of the Walt
numerous operations (for our eldest son time. Disney Company, which remains end-
Oliver), we have been able to make it to lessly blind on that issue.
Orlando. We thought we would never CARS LAND EAST? For that reason, along with a few
make it. I’m a huge fan of your magazine! As other Disneyland Paris locals/regular
Universal did a fantastic personal an avid Disney fan, I’m always on top of visitors from various European countries,
meet and greet with The Simpsons for the latest rumors and reports, and recent- we launched an open letter to The Walt

Disney Company, asking them to finally BUTTERBEER times and always count on the next time I
step in. More than 3,000 people have WHISKERS can go back. I’m constantly bugging
already signed it. I invite you to read it WITH pIc everyone in my family about when we
here: change.org/petitions/mr-bob-iger- I want- can we go again. I’m always looking on
ceo-the-walt-disney-company-save-dis- ed to share the Internet to see what’s going on at
neyland-paris. a picture I Disney World.
We know it probably won’t make Bob took on my recent trip to Orlando and When I stumbled onto your website, I
Iger say, “Hey they’re right, let’s fix this The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. As subscribed to your magazine right away.
and spend $2 billion in Paris.” We’re just I sat enjoying my Butterbeer, I was soon This magazine is my way of feeling like
trying to make our voice heard. joined by this cheeky squirrel. She did I’m at Disney World when I can’t be
Unfortunately it’s not easy to reach some flirting on the bench next to me, there. When I’m having a bad day, the
overseas audiences with this project. before making a bee line for the one thing that can always make me feel
However we think every person who Butterbeer! And she eventually came up better and put a smile on my face is hav-
cares about the Disney quality standard for air, sporting creamy whiskers, hehe! ing a connection to Disney World and
should care about this situation and help Alan Blundell your magazine does that for me. So thank
us solve it for good. Merseyside, U.K. you for giving all of us this connection. I
Guillaume look forward to receiving my first issue.
Paris, France That squirrel has good taste. Yum, Beverly Wildman
Butterbeer! Trenton, Ga.
I hadn’t heard that it was looking bad,
but if that’s true, I do hope those problems DISNEY cONNEcTION I’m so happy we are your Disney connec-
are cleared up soon. Have any of our other It’s this simple: I love anything Walt tion. Maybe someday you can make the move
readers noticed this? Disney World! Even though I live 12 to Orlando. (But don’t stop subscribing.)
hours away, I still have visited many
THEN … NOW …
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYES

This photo was taken at the bounty
hunter greeting down by the Pixar con-
course on May the 4th. Zam was in charac-
ter and getting in a lot of girls’ faces. But
when this little girl came up to her, she
crouched right down to give her a good Attractions show host Banks Lee posing in the
look. Seems innocent here, but the little girl same spot now and 14 years ago.
freaked out a second later. She was nervous
B
about what was going to happen. efore it was Krustyland and The Simpsons Ride, it was the Institute of Future Technology
Peter Johnson and the Back To The Future ride at Universal Studios Florida. The Institute building didn’t
Clermont, Fla. actually have a NASA space shuttle on top of it. This was an optical illusion created by plac-
ing your camera on a certain spot provided by Universal. Although this particular illusion photo
Don’t worry little girl, Zam isn’t how she opportunity is gone, others can occasionally be found in the park.
appears. (She’s worse … looking that is.)

Feedback YOUR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND CREATIVITY …
We asked our Facebook followers to tell us their favorite meet and greet character
in Orlando’s theme parks. Here’s what they said:
boring photos. He gets the kids to maybe her “evilness”. I can’t quite have to get in line early since they
be all naughty with him - sticking put my finger on just one reason fill up quickly, but I’d wait with my
out tongues, etc. why I like her, but I get my picture daughter again in a heartbeat.
Braedon Godin with her every time I am there. Tony Noone
It would have to be the Fab 5 at Nicola McAndrew Ariel has always been my favorite.
Epcot’s character spot because you On our recent trip, two characters I’ve done many meet and greets
are able to actually spend a little stood out. Rapunzel at the Magic with her but one in particular
time with them before moving on Kingdom. She took her time with stands out in my mind. I was
and on. both our children and even got my spending a day in Magic Kingdom
Michael Fridgen David Lowe four-year-old son up for photos to celebrate my birthday. This was
My favorite is Pinocchio because he My favorite is Cinderella because after saying “Princesses were too before New Fantasyland opened
moves like he’s made of wood. she helped make one of my girlie”. The second character that so Ariel in human form was doing
Attached is a photo of my husband favorite recent memories. My wife exceed expectations was Spider- meets in Adventureland. When it
and me attempting to get a photo and I took my six-year-old daughter, Man at Islands of Adventure. Again was my turn, I told Ariel she was
with Pinocchio, when we were Emma, and one-year-old son, Alex, this character had a good conver- my favorite Princess (and Eric told
photo bombed by Geppetto! (We’ve to Disney World this summer along sation with my kids (and with us) me we had that in common). We
been to all the Disney Parks around with my parents. The look of joy and got them pulling all the super chatted for a bit and Ariel noticed
the globe. Orlando definitely has and amazement on my daughter’s hero moves. Both characters made my pin collection on my lanyard
the best procedure for accessing face when she walked up to meet memories for us all. (the majority of which were of
the characters. It’s a bit of a mob Cinderella and started talking to Kimberly Masimore herself) She started talking about
scene at Disneyland Paris. However, her, was the highlight of my entire Mickey Mouse! He is the one who her collection and asked if I knew
in Tokyo, you can see a lot more of trip far above the the rides and started it all. No visit is complete her favorite item in her collection.
the minor characters that don’t shows! until I have my picture taken with Having seen The Little Mermaid a
make appearances at the U.S. Teresa Cross him! (Oh yeah and my kids picture million times I instantly knew it
parks.) Spider-Man at Universal Studios too!) was the Dinglehopper. She asked
Stephanie Marie Robinson has always been one of our Emily Wright me how many Dinglehoppers I
Mulan at Epcot. She doesn’t rush favorites. We have never felt rushed The most impressive are now the had in my collection at home.
and asks the little girls if they want to visit him and he is always very Transformers characters. The first While I mentally counted the num-
to be themselves as strong war- entertaining, jumping up on coun- time I saw them (at age 32), I let ber of forks in the silverware draw-
riors like her when they grow up. ters and running all over while out an involuntary “WOW!!!” and er at home Ariel turned around
James Galliford always staying in character! ran over to get a picture. As for and was digging through a box
That is really hard to narrow down Becky Hoh cute and fun, I like Stitch and behind her. I finally answered
for me. I think the picture I like the Probably Shamu. SeaWorld has Mickey. Stitch is my husband’s “around 20.” Ariel said “Now you
most is with the Beast in the old always been my favorite park (still favorite character and the have 21! Happy Birthday!” When I
photo spot in the France Pavilion at is despite the negative publicity pictures/interactions are always got home I bought a special case
Epcot. Beauty and the Beast being they are receiving right now) and neat. You never know what Stitch is of the Dinglehopper. Everyone else
my favorite Disney movie, I still getting a picture standing by its going to do! Mickey is timeless. sees it as a simple plastic fork. To
haven’t gotten to New Fantasyland, trademark emblem just makes the When we meet or see him I still me it’s the best birthday gift I ever
so I bet that would be my new trip more special for me. I also like have the excitement and involun- got.
favorite place to meet Beast in his getting my picture taken with tary grin that I had as a little girl Dana Giuliano Spinelli
castle. I also love to meet Mary A’lure’s villainess (I am not sure meeting him for the first time. The Seven Dwarfs when they make
Poppins on the carousel. Who what she is exactly., maybe a siren Jeremy Miller their appearance at Mickey’s Not
doesn’t? or something), also at SeaWorld. I Aladdin and Jasmine in Morocco at So Scary Halloween Party because
Karen Christensen Goff don’t know what it is that attracts Epcot. They were by far the most they’re so hard to find and Dopey
Stitch, because he doesn’t take me to her, maybe her costume, interactive I’ve seen to date. You is my fav.
WRITE TO US! “Like” Orlando Attractions Magazine on Facebook to keep up with all the
latest news, and comment and answer next issue’s Facebook question.
We want your letters and photos! If you have any comments about the magazine, questions about traveling to Orlando or
fun stories or photos to share, simply e-mail us directly at info@attractionsmagazine.com.

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Vacation Planner
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By
___________________________________________________________________________________ Anthony Armenia
MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

BRICK OR TREAT
Location: Magic Kingdom
Dates: Sept. 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, Location: Legoland Florida
27, 29; Oct. 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, Dates: Every Saturday and Sunday
20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31; Nov. 1 in Oct.
Cost: $51 to $73 Cost: Included with theme park
This event invites you to celebrate admission
Halloween by trick-or-treating in the During Brick-or-Treat, ghouls,
park, enjoying select attractions, a ghosts and goblins will descend on
Hallowen fireworks show and Miniland USA transforming it into a
parade. New this year is a Monsters fun, haunted scavenger hunt
Inc. dance party in Tomorrowland featuring trick-or-treating and much
and a meet and greet with Jack more.
Skellington and Sally from “The
Nightmare Before Christmas.”
HALLOWEEN
HORROR NIGHTS
HOWL-O-SCREAM Location: Universal Studios
Location: Busch Gardens Tampa Dates: Sept. 20-21, 26-29;
Dates: Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from Sept. 27 to Oct. 26. Oct. 3-6, 10-13, 16-20, 23-27 &
Cost: $30 to $85 31; Nov. 1-2
Once every century, on precisely the thirteenth year, evil comes out to Cost: $38.99 to $91.99
play. Thirteen evils, to be exact. Try to escape the 13 including The Face horror’s most terrifying crea-
Hunter, The Banshee, and The Voodoo Queen at this years event featur- tures in the flesh featuring all-new
ing three new haunted houses, five returning houses with a twist, scare haunted houses, spine-tingling
zones, roaming hordes and more. scare zones themed to AMC’s “The
Walking Dead”, live shows including
The Rocky Horror Picture Show and
more. Halloween Horror Nights 23
WALT DISNEY WORLD SWAN AND haunted houses include: AMC’s The
DOLPHIN FOOD & WINE CLASSIC Walking Dead, Evil Dead, An
American Werewolf in London, Cabin
Location: Swan and Dolphin Resort in the Woods and more.
Dates: Oct. 18 & 19
Cost: $80
Calling all food and wine lovers, stroll along the scenic Crescent Lake
and immerse yourself in a culinary festival featuring tastings from
SEAWORLD’S
award-winning resort restaurants and wine CHRISTMAS
vineyards around the world. CELEBRATION
Location: SeaWorld Orlando
HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Dates: Select dates from Nov. 23
through Dec. 31
Location: SeaWorld Orlando Cost: Included with theme park
Dates: Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27. admission
Cost: Included with theme park admission Celebrate the season SeaWorld style
Kids of all ages can enjoy all there is to offer at featuring The Polar Express
SeaWorld as they trick-or-treat around the park, Experience, an ice skating show, the
meet some Halloween sea creatures and watch sea of trees, a new Sesame Street
Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween show. Christmas show and holiday-themed
animal shows.

We’ve chosen our favorite upcoming events to spotlight. You don’t want to miss them on your next trip to Orlando.
All events and dates are subject to change. Please check with the proper organization before attending.
Check AttractionsMagazine.com for up-to-date happenings in the Orlando area.
INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL HOLIDAYS AT

Location: Epcot
WALT DISNEY WORLD
Dates: Sept. 27 to Location: Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot
Nov. 11 Dates: Animal Kingdom Nov. 9-Jan. 2; Hollywood Studios
Cost: Included with Nov. 8-Jan. 5; Epcot Nov. 29-Dec. 30.
theme park admission Cost: Included with theme park admission
Go on a culinary journey Disney’s Animal Kingdom will take part in the festivities by
around the world without transforming its parade into “Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade.”
even leaving Orlando. This Holiday lights will take over the backlot of Disney’s
year’s event includes Hollywood Studios for the annual “Osborne Family Spectacle
food, wine, beer, culinary of Dancing Lights.” At Epcot, experience holiday traditions
classes, parties and a live around the world followed by a Christmas story narrated by
concert series. a celebrity guest each and every night.
CHRISTMAS BRICKTACULAR
CHRISTMAS TOWN
Location: Legoland
Location: Busch Gardens Tampa
Florida
Dates: Select dates from Nov. 29
Dates: Weekends in
through Dec. 23
December
Cost: $10 to $40
Cost: Included with
This year, Busch Gardens
theme park admission
Tampa’s Christmas Town is get-
‘Tis the season for
ting bigger and better with a
Christmas Bricktacular
nighttime holiday wonderland of
with a 270,000 brick
wintery surprises featuring more
Christmas tree, festive
than 20 Christmas attractions,
decorations and daily
snow, shows, rides, dining and
appearances by Santa.
shopping options and themed
areas throughout the park.
HOLIDAYS AT MICKEY’S VERY MERRY

UNIVERSAL ORLANDO CHRISTMAS PARTY
Location: Universal Orlando Resort Location: Magic Kingdom
Dates: Dec. 7 through Jan. 4 Dates: Nov. 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22;
Cost: Included with theme park admission Dec. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20
Experience the holidays from a Who’s point of view Cost: $53 to $67
at Islands of Adventure’s Grinchmas, featuring the Celebrate the holiday season the Disney way,
musical adaptation of “How the Grinch Stole with free hot cocoa and cookies, holiday
Christmas.” Over at Universal Studios, guests can themed shows, a special parade and
enjoy the Macy’s Holiday Parade, and performances fireworks, and falling snow on Main Street
by Mannheim Steamroller on select dates. with your favorite characters dressed in their
winter outfits.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Walt Disney World Universal Orlando SeaWorld Orlando Busch Gardens Tampa Legoland Florida Swan and Dolphin Resorts
Resort Resort seaworld.com/orlando buschgardens.com/tampa legoland.com swandolphin.com
disneyworld.com universalorlando.com (800) 327-2424 (888) 800-5447 (877) 350-5346 (407) 934-4000
(407) 939-6244 (407) 363-8000

Work in Progress By anthony armenia
StatuS: under ConStruCtion StatuS: under ConStruCtion

We Just Can’t Wait to Be na’vi i-drive Live rising up
Location: Disney’s animaL KingDom Location: internationaL Drive
The Festival of the Lion King show will be moving to an all-new theater in the Africa Construction on I-Drive Live is well underway. The complex will fea-
section of the park in early 2014. The show is expected ture an observation wheel, Madame Tussauds wax museum, Sea
to stay the same with the theater being highly themed. Life aquarium, shops and restaurants. They hope to have it all open
While it hasn’t been confirmed, it is rumored to be by 2015. The Wyndham Resort at the corner of Sand Lake and
moving to make way for the upcoming Avatar land. I-Drive has also been partially demolished to make way for a new
shopping complex.
PHOTO BY BANKS LEE
PHOTO BY BANKS LEE

StatuS: under ConStruCtion
downtown … disney Springs
Location: Downtown Disney
StatuS: noW open With Downtown Disney being transformed into Disney Springs in a
few years, construction is already heavily underway. Parking lots
there’s a new Mermaid J and K are now closed to make room for the first parking garage
expected to open next year. The old Comedy Warehouse building
in the Kingdom has been demolished and Cap’n Jack’s Restaurant is now closed.
Location: waLt Disney worLD A new bridge from the West Side to the backside of Pleasure Island
The Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom has reopened with a new look and is is being built to allow guests to bypass the construction. The retail
now offering a full menu of Starbucks beverages, breakfast sandwiches and classic store Curl has moved next to Splitsville and Apricot Lane has
baked goods from the old Main Street Bakery. The cups are co-branded to include closed for good.
the famous Starbucks mermaid on one side and Disney icon silhouettes on the
other. The Main Street Bakery does accept Starbucks gift cards and mobile apps.
Guests can earn Starbucks Rewards but they can’t be redeemed at the Disney loca-
tion. The Starbucks at Epcot’s Fountain View should also be open as you read this.

StatuS: Now gREEtiNg StatuS: uNdER coNStRuctioN
there’s a New Princess in town things are about to get Spicy
Location: disney’s Location: epcot
HoLLywood studios Construction is going verticle on Epcot’s newest restaurant, ‘Spice Road Table.’ The
Disney’s newest princess is now meeting and greeting guests at restaurant will be waterfront at the Morocco Pavilion and will be serving small plates
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sofia The First, star of the self-titled and tapas. It’s is expected to open later this year.
Disney Junior show is meeting and greeting guests daily by the
Disney Junior: Live! building. Jake from “Jake and the Neverland
Pirates” is also meeting guests there.
StatuS: uNdER coNStRuctioN StatuS: Now SwaShbuckliNg

hi ho! hi ho! off to 2014 we go Yo ho, Yo ho!
Location: Magic KingdoM a Pirates game For all!
With The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train set to open next spring, construction is in full swing. Location: Magic KingdoM
Mountains are rising high above New Fantasyland, signs of the Dwarfs mines are starting to “A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas” is now
appear and foliage is being planted around the area. Get ready, ‘cause you’re about to go open in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom. The new inter-
on the wildest ride in the forest! active game sends guests on various adventures around
Adventureland using a pirate
map and magic talisman to help
them locate the Treasures of
the Seven Seas. The game is
included with your park admis-
sion and is available to play
daily from park open to close.
PHOTO BY DON GWOREK

Work in Progress
StatuS: Now RiSiNg StatuS: Now SHowiNg
Falcon’s Fury Rising Move it! Move it!
Location: Busch Gardens tampa Location: Busch Gardens tampa
Busch gardens recently dropped some really big news. coming in spring of Join alex, gloria, king Julien and the penguins from dreamWorks
2014, Falcon’s Fury will take guests’ to new heights in a first of its kind drop animation’s “madagascar” in Busch gardens Tampa’s newest live
tower. With no connecting structures, it will be the tallest freestanding drop stage show, “madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation.” The 20-minute
tower in North america. Falcon’s Fury will stand at 335 feet and take riders musical stage show is performed multiple times each weekend and
soaring 60 mph straight down. Like its bird of prey namesake, riders will features singers, dancers, a live band and your favorite madagascar
pivot 90 degrees in midair to a face-down characters. guests can also meet the characters following the perfor-
dive position. an instant later they’ll plunge mance in stanleyville Theater, which has been renovated and is now
at 3.5 gs. construction in the Timbuktu area an enclosed and air-conditioned theater. another madagascar show is
of the park has already begun. rumored for seaWorld next year.
PHOTO BY Nick RigHi/BuscH gaRdeNs TamPa
StatuS: Now SeaSoNaL StatuS: LauNcHiNg SooN

off-Season Brings More Magic coming Soon
Seasonal closures Location: WaLt disney WorLd
Location: Busch Gardens tampa mymagic+ is getting closer to launching with tests expanding to more guests. New signage
Following the trends of many other central Florida theme parks, and queues have been added to attractions
Busch gardens Tampa has changed two of its dining options to all around the parks for Fastpass+. covers
seasonal operation. Both the top level of the crown colony and and accessories for the magicBands have
garden gate cafe will be closing in the off-peak months but are also gone on sale at select disney resorts.
said to be reopening at a later date.

StatuS: plaYiNg SooN
Roarin'
New games
Location:
UniverSaL’S
iSLandS
of adventUre
Construction walls have
popped up along the walk-
ways of the Jurassic Park
area. The walls are rumored
to be the start of construc-
tion of various new games of
skill similar to those in the
Lost Continent, which are
rumored to be demolished
PHOTO BY BANks Lee

when The Wizarding World of
Harry Potter expansion opens
next year.
StatuS: Now ShowiNg StatuS: ChaNgiNg

Join ‘the Royal New Dining galore
Celebration’ Location: UniverSaL
Location: off U.S. 192 cityWaLk
In honor of their 25th anniversary, Arabian Nights has The changes don’t stop at the Universal Orlando
launched a new show called ‘The Royal Celebration.’ The Resort. Over in CityWalk, Pastamoré has closed
story provides a new twist on an ancient tale that cen- its counter service area for a lengthy refurbish-
ters around the attraction’s legendary Arabian horses. ment, which is rumored to become a second
The all new experience includes new acts along with restaurant which will offer quick and table service. Latin Quarter is also now being
guests favorites. remodeled. Rumors say it will become a different Latin food restaurant.
StatuS: Now opeN

Duff Beer for Me, Duff Beer for You
Location: UniverSaL StUdioS fLorida
The final phase of the simpson’s area expansion is now complete, offering guests a chance to
grab a Duff Beer at the Duff Brewery, chow down on a Lard Lad donut, meet some citizens of
springfield and ride the new kang
and kodos’ Twirl ‘n’ Hurl. The alien-
themed spinning ride has guests
helping kang and kodos attack
springfield. Around the ride are sen-
sors designed as characters from the
hit animated series, and positioning
your ride vehicle with the sensors will
trigger some fun elements.

Work in Progress
StatuS: now open StatuS: Minionizing Soon
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, atlantis! the Minions are Spreading
Location: Kennedy space center Location: UniversaL orLando resort
visitor compLex Now kids can be just like Margo, Agnes and Edith from “Despicable
The world’s most comprehensive attraction devoted to the space shuttle program Me” and sleep in hollowed out missiles among hundreds of Minions
recently opened. Space Shuttle Atlantis is the new, 90,000-square-foot, $100 mil- once the new Despicable Me kids suites debut this fall at Loews
lion home of the priceless, historic spacecraft that helps tell the story of NASA’s Portofino Bay Hotel. Each of the hotel’s 18 kids suites will feature the
30-year Space Shuttle Program. From only a few feet away, guests can be up-close new theme. The suites are available for reservations for stays begin-
with a 360-degree view of Atlantis. The shuttle is showcased as if it were in orbit – ning Oct. 1
as only astronauts have had a chance to see it. Atlantis is elevated 30 feet off the
ground and rotated at a 43.21-degree angle with its payload bay doors open and
Canadarm (robotic arm) extended.
StatuS: under ConStruCtion

London’s Calling!
Location: UniversaL
orLando resort
The facades of London are starting to take shape in
the expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Set to open next year, the new area will bring the world
of Harry Potter to both Universal Studios and Islands of
Adventure, allowing guests to visit Diagon Alley and
London along with the former Hogwarts and
Hogsmeade areas.

StatuS: Now eRuPtiNg StatuS: RetiRed
this Bar is on Fire Million Points of Musical
Location: downtown Light No More
disney Location: Magic KingdoM
The Lava Lounge is now open at the Walt Disney World recently confirmed the nighttime
Rainforest Cafe. Just to the left of the main parade, SpectroMagic, has officially been retired.
entrance, the Lava Lounge is a small bar fea- SpectroMagic ended its run on June 5, 2010 and
turing a volcano erupting with fire every half the classic Main Street Electrical Parade is now
hour each evening. The bar features speciality performing regularly in its place.
drinks for about $9 each and a selection of
appetizers.
StatuS: Now SeRviNg

ooh La La
and Yum Yum
Location:
epcot
A new ice cream shop has
opened in the former bakery
space at the France pavilion.
L’Artisan des Glaces features
16 flavors, all made in-house
with fresh ingredients. Guests
can also get a shot of liquor
on top – served in a martini
glass. The bakery has moved
to a new spot further back in
the pavilion and was renamed
Les Halles Boulangerie and
Patisserie.

formed
s
finalists per
i n d
o l”
F
n Id
13 “Ame ri c a stopped by
Photo
Before the 20 ow n O rlan do on Aug. 1, they mited
ownt ial Li
in concer t in d ud ios to appear in a spec
ood St e a quick
Disney’s Hollyw otorcade. They also mad
ale show and
Time Magic American Idol Experience fin
m
h fun
illed wit graphers The r show.
appearance at
f
e tickets to thei
w a y s
o is al photo e au d ienc
Orland see and our ll. gave everyone
in th
t o a
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are the
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Visit ou allery of mor
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n s M a gazine
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Attract
NIEL ANDERSON
PHOTOS BY DA
Disney held a se
cond
Kingdom in mid-Ju Long Lost Friends week at
ly as part of Lim the Magic
time were charac ited Time Magic.
ters from “Rob Meeting guests th
“Princess an in Hood”, “C is
d the Frog” a hicken Little
”,
nd “Song of
the South”.

A special Limited
Time Magic pep
rally was held at
Disney’s Hollywood
g.
Studios all summer lon
Mike and Sully from
“Monsters
the
University” joined
Scare Supply band, a
monsterous DJ and MU
tain
cheerleaders to enter
guests each evening .
Some of the stars fro

m Disney
There was too much Channel’s “Teen Be
happen- surprised guests at Ty
ach Movie”
ing at Disney’s D phoon Lagoon
23
Expo in Anaheim Ca water park in late Jun
lif. to e to kick off the
talk about here, but Teen Beach Mov
we want- ie Dance
ed to highlight some Party. Beach games
were held daily
of the all summer-long at th
special character ap e park.
pear-
ances. It was a firs
t look
at Disney’s versions
of
Spider-Man, Iron
Man
and Captain Am
erica
(look for the latter on
the
Disney Magic cruise
ship),
and The Dreamfi
nder
and Figment m
ade an
unannounced limited
time
return, meeting gues
ts briefly
in the Parks and Re
sorts
Pavilion.

By Banks Lee
FUN SPOT AMERICA

Off InternatIOnal DrIve, OrlanDO vs. FUN SPOT USA U.S. 192, KISSImmee
Both parks offer a kiddie coaster, but with the opening of Freedom Flyer and White Lightning,
Orlando’s only wooden coaster, the America park edges out USA and their spinning Rockstar Coaster.
America and USA have several of the same thrill rides such as the Tilt-A-Whirl and Paratrooper, but USA has a more thrilling selection with Hot Seat, Screaming Eagle and YoYo.
With the expansion of the Commander track at America, the park now includes three multi-level tracks as opposed to USA’s two tracks.
Fun Spot USA has the privilege of owning the world’s tallest SkyCoaster at 300 feet. However, the second tallest (250 feet) can be found at America.
Both Fun Spot America and USA have great locations. America is right on International Drive just minutes
away from Universal Orlando, and USA is on highway 192, next to Old Town and minutes away from Walt Disney World.

Q& A By Richard Bent
From music consultant to Disney Legend ...
Ron Logan’s work can be found

in every Disney theme park
and beyond
W
here do you start with Ron Logan? A meeting with the former executive
vice president and executive producer for Walt Disney Entertainment is
like taking your own theme park ride covering the last 50 years of Disney
entertainment. On one side you spot the Spectromagic parade, whilst on
the other is the Fantasmic spectacular. Behind you is the film premier for
Pocahontas in Central Park jostling for space with five half-time Super Bowl
shows, and the opening ceremony for Epcot, parks in California, Paris and Tokyo,
all have their own menu, the list simply goes on and on. It’s a long fun ride.
One of the attractions Ron is most proud to have worked on is the now retired Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom.

Ron and Disney Legend Marty sklar pose
with Donald Duck at the Disney Legends
Induction Ceremony.
Ron has had an interest in entertainment since grad- a similar role. Disneyland asked me at that time to be a
uating from UCLA in the early ‘60s with a degree in part-time music consultant for the park.
music, followed with an MA. During this period he was
able to earn a living as a professional trumpet player, It must have been a very different Disney in 1960s.
producer and conductor. His first break came in 1960 What was it like?
when Disney hired him as a music consultant. Between Yes, it was a different time and era. Walt was still
then and 1977 he mixed work at Disney with the director actively very present and there was only Disneyland, so
of bands at James Monroe High School, in the San who knew where his dream was going to go? At that
Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. In 1977 he was offered time he was still in strong control of his vision, of what
the position of director of music at Walt Disney World. the park and the park entertainment should look and
The next 24 years saw increasing opportunities, with sound like. On one occasion I was leading a band down
him rising to the executive vice president position
responsible for all Disney “Live Entertainment” world-
wide. In 2007 he was honored at the Walt Disney Studios
with the rare Disney Legends award for parks and
resorts.
What made you decide to make music and

entertainment your career?
I lived in the town of Leavenworth, Kan., which is
famous for – its prisons! The actual town is small, and at
the time it seemed as if everyone was into the arts. I
learned to play violin, trumpet, piano and even ‘tap
dancing’. I found I was pretty good in the arts, especially
the trumpet and it gave me the chance to stand out,
build confidence and perform. When I reached the
eighth grade our family moved to Los Angeles.
How did you get your big break?

In L.A. I found I could earn money playing the trum-
pet for bands and I got a job playing in a Roadhouse
owned by Tex Williams. It paid $15 a night, which was
great money for a 15-year-old in the late ‘50s! This made
me realize I could earn a living doing something I
enjoyed. I then worked my way through college going to
Photos by Jeff Lange
school during the day, playing clubs at night. UCLA had

some outstanding musicians from whom I learned a
great deal. In the evenings I was gaining valuable pro-
fessional experience, even spending a year with jazz
trumpeter ‘Chet’ Baker. Following on from director of
bands, orchestra and jazz at James Monroe High School, one of the iconic productions Ron worked on was the aerial spectacular
I moved in the mid ‘60s to Long Beach City College with skyleidoscope at epcot. the show opened in 1985.

Q& A
Main Street USA and decided we should play a ‘rock
and roll’ number. It was Walt Disney himself who sent
me a note that said: “Main Street U.S.A is a reconstruc-
tion of an ‘old’ American town; they didn’t play rock and
roll in 1910 - 1920.” He had a very good point. In those
days they liked to really keep an eye on brand image. It
would be interesting to see what Walt might say today?
You arrived in Florida in 1977.

What was your role at the start?
I was given the opportunity to join Disney full-time
and lead the Walt Disney World Band. I must have done A look at the American/Canadian bison in Disneyland Paris' Wild West Show.
something right as they kept promoting me and giving
me new and exciting roles. I also learned it was wise not
to say no to Michael Eisner (then CEO of Disney)! It’s also
important to mention that lighted how well our product attracted and retained
Michael Eisner had great guests.
interest and influence in
building up the entertain- You have been involved in so many iconic productions, from
ment and show side of the the Disney World Christmas Parade to Skyleidoscope, and
Disney offering, allowing Lights, Motors, Action to Tapestry of Nations. What makes
me to spend money and them special?
produce some iconic Consistency in quality of product – always exceed
moments of Disney histo- our guest's expectation! In the end, the guests are our
ry. Putting a direct mone- best promoters. I was lucky. I had a broad artistic back-
tary ‘value’ on live enter- ground whether playing an instrument, dancing, con-
tainment to the guest ducting or singing. This gave me an appreciation for all
experience is very diffi- the performing arts and bringing them together with a
cult, but we managed to great story. I like to take different art forms and put them
come up with a formula, together in new and exciting situations. One great exam-
based partly on guest ple of this fusion of performance would be Tarzan Rocks
feedback, which high- at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Do you have any productions that

you are particularly proud off?
Many, but I tend to see the ones that made a little bit
of Disney history as special. In Epcot I decided to use
land, air and sea and put a show into the huge lagoon.
This ended up as Skyleidoscope with the Epcot navy,
motorized surf boards and ultralight aircraft flying
around. It certainly was a challenge. When Disneyland
Paris opened we had a location that had very limited
facilities for visitors in the local area for evening meals,
etc. Michael Eisner and the team spotted this and gave
me the challenge to come up with something American
and as a dinner show. That resulted in the Buffalo Bill
Wild West Show which is still running today. We did not
just produce a ‘standard’ show. We researched the ani-
mals, the Indians, the language and even many of the
artifacts to try and keep a depth of realism to it. The chal-
Ron not only worked on the Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage show at lenge was the bison (buffalo). European bison are not the
Disney's Hollywood Studios, but also the broadway version.

same as the U.S. bison. They are smaller and didn’t look center of attraction. All was working well until the globe
right to me. So we needed to get U.S. buffalo to France, started to float out. Instead of beautiful scenes being dis-
but you were not allowed at the time to transport them played on the huge video surface, all that everyone saw
into France from the U.S. But you could transport them was a color test signal. We all wanted to know what had
from Canada to France. So our buffalo had to take a trip gone wrong. In the end, we discovered that so many
to Canada first. Disney has a great way of making things people had been nervous, checking and double checking
happen! to make sure that everything worked that nobody had
remembered to push the one button on the globe that
Disney is well known for their meticulous preparation. turned the video signal on. But it’s a reflective experi-
Does it always go to plan? ence, because of this small error we rewrote our techni-
Most of the time it does go absolutely according to cal procedures.
plan. Because we were Disney, we had a reputation to
maintain. The critics and competition were always wait- Did your roll cover other areas that Disney
ing in the wings to have their say. So before any show was developing all around the globe?
opened, we practiced, tested, practiced and tested again Yes I was involved in all 11 Disney parks at one point
to get it right. or another, plus Super Bowl half-time shows and special
events like park openings and film premiers. I was also
But on occasion things go wrong? fortunate to be given the founding role for Disney
Yes of course. Michael Eisner was visiting Epcot to Theatrical Events. Our first project was taking “Beauty
see our new show, Illuminations 2000 Reflections of and the Beast – A New Musical” to Broadway. Now it’s
Earth. It’s a technically complex show and involves a lot a huge success around the world. People forget that at
of coordination and timing with a floating globe as the the time we proposed doing this, in the early ‘90s, many
shows on Broadway were fairly dark and the
idea of a Disney musical was a risk. Well it
became one of Broadway’s longest running
shows and is still touring after 18 years.
You retired from Disney in 2001,

do you still have the ‘entertainment bug’?
Yes. I started a consulting company
called Entertainment Arts in 2001. There, I
can use my Walt Disney Entertainment team,
all of whom have retired from Disney. In 2003,
I became an associate professor at Rosen
College of Hospitality Management where I
teach Theme Park and Attraction Management
and a class entitled Entertainment Arts and I
am also the chief creative officer for
Dreamvision Entertainment Company, which
deals in theme parks, movies and live show
spectaculars worldwide!
What do you miss from your Disney days?

I miss seeing Mickey, Donald, Goofy and
the gang every day. But I also miss the cre-
ative gamesmanship – The thrill of victory,
the agony of defeat.
When then Disney CEO Michael Eisner came to see the new
Illuminations show at Epcot, the globe only showed a color
test signal because someone forgot to push a button.

SKIPPER BEN’S TOP TEN
By “SKIPPER” BEN REBSTOCK

Sure, it's taken us a few years, but we are finally here – the Top 10 Roller Coasters in Orlando. So, move over "Small World" because
it's time to strap in, buckle up, lower the lap bar and hold on tight as we break down the best coasters in Orlando's theme parks.
Dragon
Challenge
Universal's Islands
of Adventure
Formerly known as "Dueling Dragons" before Harry Potter moved in,
Dragon Challenge is two coasters in one. The inverted coasters feature
two distinct tracks (Chinese Fireball and Hungarian Horntail) that
interwine with each other. On numerous occasions, it feels like you're
going to hit the other coaster, only to dart out of danger at the last
moment. Don't be fooled, these are two different rides, so be sure to
experience both. And you might want to bring a sack lunch with you
as Dragon Challenge features one of the longest queues you'll ever
walk. But, on the bright side, at least you get to see the Triwizard Cup
on your way.
Hollywood
Rip Ride Rockit
Universal Studios
Opening in 2009, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit changed the land-
scape of Universal Studios. The bright red track twists and turns
past and through existing show buildings, and its placement at the
front of the park is hard to walk past. It sucks you in by offering rid-
ers the ability to pick the song you listen to while you ride. It makes
you want to ride again and again and again. The vertical lift into the
face-first drop leads you into my favorite part of the ride, the
corkscrew loop (yes, a loop where you never actually go upside
down). At 65 mph, you shoot through the park, and even take a swing
outside through CityWalk. Sure, the soundtrack could use a little updat-
ing, but those in the know can access the "hidden songs" (Search our
website for a full list). There's nothing like riding an awesome roller
coaster to the Muppets singing "Rainbow Connection." Give it a try!

Big Thunder
Mountain
Railroad
Magic Kingdom
I know, it's pretty surprising that the "wildest ride in the wilderness" would be
this far down the list, but that speaks more to the wealth of Orlando coasters
that have opened since Big Thunder opened in 1980 than anything it lacks.
BTMRR (as it's known by cast members) still stands large over Frontierland.
While it's far from the tallest or fastest coaster in the area, it's one of, if not the best themed around, which goes a
long way in making your ride so enjoyable. From the animals that line the track, your brisk encounter with the town of
Tumbleweed to surviving falling rocks, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an absolute classic, and even more fun when
you ride at night.
Kraken
SeaWorld
In 2000, SeaWorld unleashed the Kraken on theme
park visitors in Orlando, and it's been thrilling guests
ever since. The beast by the lake is the only floorless
roller coaster in Orlando, giving you the feeling that
you are literally just hanging on by the edge of your
seat. With a top speed of 65 mph, the Kraken tosses you around like a rag doll, tak-
ing you upside down seven times. This monster is one of the most extreme coasters
in Florida and should not be missed on your next visit.
Revenge of
The Mummy
Universal Studios
The Mummy is the perfect mix of dark ride and roller coaster. It
starts with an impressive queue that puts you into the story (the
set of the Mummy movie is haunted). Creepy cast members keep
the tone eerie, giving you a thumbs down as your cart moves into
the ride. After you give your soul to the bad guy, your car launches
into the only haunted coaster in Florida. It was also the first ride to
introduce the "false ending," which we won't spoil here. If you've been
on this ride, you know how much fun it is. And if you haven't, you are
in for a real treat. Now if I could only get my cup of coffee!

Expedition Everest –
Legend of the
Forbidden Mountain
Disney's Animal Kingdom
When it comes to design, Expedition Everest takes the cake. What the Imagineers
did in designing the Forbidden Mountain is simply a work of art. When it comes
to the ride, it's great. Everest is fast, has some great drops, and everyone loves
the backwards section of the ride. But what keeps this coaster from moving up
much higher on our list is the Yeti. When working, Everest might be the best ride
in Orlando. But with the Yeti standing still for the last several years, it has to
take some effect on my rankings. Maybe one day the Yeti will return to his for-
mer glory and Everest will reclaim its throne … we can only hope.
Manta
SeaWorld
Orlando's only flying roller coaster is a standout on the scene. Granted,
the attraction is based on an animal that swims, you really do feel like you
are soaring through the air while facing the ground. The ride includes
four inversions across a very interesting track layout, giving you sensa-
tions that you have probably never felt on any other roller coaster. The
second half of the ride features the famous wing dip into the water (it's the picture you see
anytime the ride is talked about), where water launches from the surface as if your coaster car
is gently dipping into the lake surrounding the track. Also don't miss the walk-through aquarium
area. Manta is one of the newest coasters on the Orlando scene and is already one of the best.
Space Mountain
Magic Kingdom
Sure, there are much newer coasters out there. Ones with better
technology, ones that go faster, ones that twist and turn and throw
you around, but none of them are your first. What do I mean by
that? Any kid who grew up going to Disney World knows, Space
Mountain is that roller coaster you set on a pedestal. The large
white mountain that you built up as the guts to ride. And when you
finally did, you fell in love forever. In reality, Space Mountain doesn't
go very fast and it doesn't have many large drops, but it feels like
you're shooting the stars and flying through space. It's hard not to
feel like a little kid every single time you ride it

The Incredible
Hulk Coaster
Universal's Islands
of Adventure
The roar … the speed … the size. The Hulk is, without a doubt,
the most intimidating-looking roller coaster in Orlando. The ver-
tical launch inside the Gamma Tube (complete with Bruce
Banner screams) into a Zero-G roll, followed immediately by the
cobra roll – it doesn't get any better then this opening
sequence. I'm grateful for the water mist that hits your face as
you dive under the bridge, mainly because it helps me wake up
from the minor blackout I just experienced! The rest of the ride
is as big of a beast as the character the ride is named after.
While it suffers from a weak queue that can leave you with a
headache if you are stuck in line too long, The Hulk as a ride
by itself stands out as nearly perfect.
Rock 'n' Roller

Coaster Starring
Aerosmith
Disney's Hollywood Studios
It's hard to believe this coaster is over 14 years old, but
it's still going strong today. What sets this ride apart
from the other coasters is the totally immersive experi-
ence you get, making this more than just a roller coaster.
From your tour of G Force Records and the awesome pre-
show to waiting for your super stretch limo in the back ally,
it sets you up perfectly for the ride. There aren't many
more jaw dropping moments in any park than when you
watch the 2.8 second, 0-60 mph takeoff. Throw in three
inversions, scenic sets of Los Angeles and multiple songs,
and you've got the best coaster in Orlando. Love in a roller
coaster!
Skipper Ben is a former Walt Disney World cast member.

He worked at Jungle Cruise, Muppet*Vision 3D and as a producer for Radio Disney.
He now resides in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Lisa (also a former cast member) and daughters
Abigail Lily and Alayna Iris.
Do you agree with Ben or have a suggestion for a future Top 10?
Let us know at info@attractionsmagazine.com

By Seth Kubersky
I f you are a child of the ‘80s,

“More than meets the eye”
likely conjures memories
of lying on the living room
rug, watching stiffly animated
Japanese cartoons while con-
tive parks. But the transforma-
tion these robotic refugees
from Cybertron have achieved
in Orlando may be the most
remarkable of all.
torting toy cars and trucks into N.E.S.T. RISES

cyber-superheroes. And if you When Universal Studios
were born around the millen- Florida opened its gates in
nium, that motto means com- 1990, the Murder, She Wrote
puter-generated mechanical Mystery Theatre was one of
mayhem on screens both big the park’s original (and among
and small. Whichever genera- the only reliably operating)
tion you grew up with, the opening-day attractions. The
Transformers brand translates walk-through edutainment
to epic action, honorable demonstration about televi-
heroes and interplanetary sion post-production was reno-
peril: all ideal elements for a vated into a similar show
$100 million theme park attrac- (Hercules & Xena: Wizards of
tion. So it seemed almost the Screen) in 1996, then
inevitable when Universal retired entirely in 1999. For
Studios, working in partner- over a decade, “Soundstage
ship with director Michael Bay 44” in the center of the park
and executive producer Steven sat vacant, save for sporadic
Spielberg, brought the block- usage during special events.
buster cinematic “Robots in Then in June of last year,
Disguise” to simulated life. within days of Transformers’
Transformers: The Ride - 3D Hollywood debut, heavy
debuted in 2011 at Universal equipment unexpectedly
Studios Singapore and at appeared and quickly demol-
Universal Studios Hollywood ished the dormant structure.
A visitor to Universal Studios Florida prepares to meet the menacing Megatron in 2012, instantly becoming the Despite obvious construc-
in the flesh (or metal). top attractions at their respec- tion, Universal Orlando

N.E.S.T. headquarters endures a blistering attack (featuring bursts
of flame and actual fighter jets flying in formation) during
Transformers' explosive opening ceremony on June 20, 2013.

ATTRACTION SHOWDOWN: TRANSFORMERS VS. SPIDER-MAN
Sharp-eyed visitors will quickly notice some striking similarities between
Transformers and its spiritual predecessor, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-
Man ride next door at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. Both attractions utilize
identical open-top simulator vehicles (built by Oceaneering Entertainment Transformers: The Ride - 3D
Systems, who also provided the trackless cars for SeaWorld’s new Antarctica)
and 4K ultra-hi-def dichroic 3D projections. The rides even share several
identical story beats, from a character leaping onto your vehicle in the opening
scene, to the freefall finale from a skyscraper into a last-second rescue. But just
because these neighboring headliners share design DNA doesn’t mean they are
identical clones, any more than Disney’s animatronic boat rides It’s a Small World
and Pirates of the Caribbean are interchangeable.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS THAT HELP GIVE EACH ATTRACTION ITS OWN UNIQUE IDENTITY:
TRANSFORMERS: THE RIDE - 3D THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SPIDER-MAN

Sense of Speed: The final scenes of Spider-Man create a Sense of Humor: Bay’s straight-faced take on the
dizzying sensation of flying through a cityscape; Transformers takes battlin’ ‘bots is barren of the original cartoon’s camp comedic
that intensity and extends it through the entire experience. With its value, but Spider-Man is stocked with the webslinger’s
near-constant barrage of breakneck action, Transformers feels signature wise-cracks. Spidey’s dialogue has character and
“faster” than any other indoor ride in Orlando. wit, while Transformers’ is largely limited to “Protect the
Slow-Mo: On the flip side, two of Transformers’ most memorable AllSpark!”
moments come when the action slows to a crawl for Matrix-like slow- Moving Sets: Though both rides frame their 3D screens
motion sequences. You may mock Michael Bay’s cinematic cliches, but with large, detailed physical environments, only Spidey’s sets
his signature Baysplosions are exhilarating to experience up-close. really get in on the act. The swinging fire escape, levitating
Photo-Realism: Spidey’s simulated city is rendered in an Statue of Liberty head, and other animated props all add
appropriately cartoony style, even after a hi-def upgrade in 2012. immensely to erasing the edge between reality and illusion.
Transformers’ imagery, on the other hand, is as exactingly photo- Fire! Fire!: Transformers features effective fog-fueled
realistic as anything ILM’s Oscar-winning CGI wizards have created for simulated explosions, but they can’t compare to the real thing.
the silver screen. Hint: Look for hidden tributes to the designers in When the Hobgoblin hurls his flaming pumpkin at you, the
both city’s signage. resulting ball of actual fire always takes your breath away, no
Media Silos: Most riders will never notice Transformers’ most matter how many times you’ve been on the ride.
impressive magic trick: a quartet of massive 60’ high “media silo” Stan The Man: As the hit Marvel movies have proved,
elevators that move vehicles up to the building’s second story (during everything is better with a Stan Lee cameo, and Spider-Man
Optimus Prime’s introduction) and then back down (during the has four (five, counting the audio farewell). You can spot the
freefall). Wrap-around 3D projections follow the cars as they travel, legendary superhero creator driving a truck, fleeing into a
making the transitions invisible, and the silos operate in pairs so that theatre,... and in a couple other secret spots you’ll have to find
one can carry guests while the other resets. for yourself.
ECID E FOR YOURSELF!

IS SU PERIO R; RID E THEM BOTH AND D
RIVALS
ME W HIC H OF THESE WELL-MATCHED
R YEARS TO CO
FANS WILL DEBATE FO

declined to confirm the devel- they’ve been on Universal’s over the south end of Universal
opment for months, fueling fan radar for “four or five years,” Studios’ central lagoon. And in
rumors; some (including this according to Universal case you couldn’t guess which
author) initially speculated the Creative’s President Mark adventure awaits inside, a
project would be a year-round Woodbury. The franchise “has sculpture of Autobot leader
haunted house, but the truth everything you want in an Optimus Prime himself stands
turned out to be far more ambi- attraction: It has really great guard above the entrance. (Tip:
tious. Most impressively, the interesting characters, … it has Walk a couple of dozen yards
new Transformers attraction unbelievable action, … really towards San Francisco for a
opened almost exactly one year great environments and a great photo-op angle with
to the day from the initial wonderful story.” After Trans- Optimus in the background.)
groundbreaking, which formers was greeted with
Universal Creative’s Executive “wild success” in Singapore PREPARE FOR BATTLE
Producer Mike West calls, “the and Hollywood, Universal After reading the requisite
fastest we’ve ever built an swiftly “fast tracked it to warning restricting guests
attraction of this scale.” Orlando,” exactly duplicating under 40” inches and adults
The Transformers may be the originals (“Why mess with susceptible to strong simulat-
newcomers to Florida, but perfection?” quips West) ed motions, recruits brave
except for cosmetic alterations enough to volunteer for
to the exterior and queue, and N.E.S.T. (the human resistance
The AllSpark, source of all Cybertronic
upgraded ultra-hi-definition battling alongside Autobots to
life, is showcased inside Transformers'
projectors for its 13 3D screens. defend Earth from the
extensive standby queue.
The resulting ride may not destructive Decepticons) can
exactly blend into the park’s pick between standby,
Production Central or New Universal Express and single
York areas, which it sits on the rider lines. All three queues shard (cyberlife-stimulating
border between, but it certainly are densely themed with McGuffin and center of strife
makes a strong visual impres- futuristic hardware (featuring in Transformers lore) and
sion. The multistory militarized hidden symbols and switches Scorponok’s severed tail.
N.E.S.T. (Nonbiological Extra- to touch) and flat-panel video Video briefings from allies
terrestrial Species Treaty) head- displays, but only the standby including Ironside, Ratchet
quarters – a futuristic bunker line explicates the complete and General Morshower
N.E.S.T. soldiers - actually Universal bristling with hi-tech conduits backstory, showcasing sci-fi (played by Glenn Morshower
ride operators - stand at attention and secret codes – now looms artifacts like the AllSpark from “Transformers: Revenge
outside the attraction entrance.
This may look like a long queue, but many guests waited well over two hours to ride General Morshower gives guests a video briefing about the Decepticon attack while
Transformers during its debut season. they wait to board the ride.

ed it’s own difficulties: “We had
to create a real environment, it
wasn’t an animated environ-
ment.
We had to make sure that
seamless blend between that
high-definition video and the
real set had to be there,
because we didn’t want
guests to see when you were
leaving the media and going
to a set. That was a real chal-
lenge, making sure that we
could blend great media with
This severed tail from Skoponok (as seen in the first film) is just one of the artifacts on display in the ride's standby queue.
just-as-great sets, and also
tying in live-action effects.”
Those efforts apparently
During their bout, you end up paid off, because as West
in possession of the AllSpark reports, “guests come off and
and accelerate to evacuate the they go ‘Wow! How’d they do
city, at which point Optimus that?’” The ‘wow’ moments
Prime pulls up to escort you. Woodbury is most proud of
Megatron gets in the way of include the “media silos”
your escape, setting off a non- devised to help guests “appre-
stop chase sequence that does- ciate the scale of the really
n’t let up until the literally giant characters” and the
earth-shattering ending. “classic Michael Bay” slow-
Highlights include surviving motion scenes. “This attrac-
a missile “exploding” mere tion is groundbreaking on
inches from your face; smash- several levels,” Woodbury
Transformer Evac's "console" can be seen in the front row of the ride vehicle. ing through a skyscraper; and boasts. “Technologically and
seeing Optimus’ awe-inspir- visually, the sense of immer-
ing transformation in super- sion that we’ve been able to
sized 3D. Your first time accomplish is really unparal-
of the Fallen” and “24”) pre- “Evac,” a blue 12-passenger through may be mostly a leled. But ultimately, accord-
pare recruits for the coming Autobot escape vehicle, who metallic blur; Transformers ing to West, “it’s all about the
battle, introducing your com- asks you to “navigate” by packs an overwhelming story. You want the guests
patriots and enemies (see keeping an eye out for danger. amount of sensory stimula- coming away having a great
sidebar). Keep an eye on the As Evac swivels into to the tion into four minutes, and experience ... you don’t want
sector numbers on the walls; first scene, the panther-like like all top attractions it them thinking about the tech-
by the time you reach the Ravage is rampaging through demands several trips nology.”
boarding platform in area E7, N.E.S.T.’s main hangar, shat- through to fully absorb.
all heck will be breaking tering the AllSpark’s protec- ROLL OUT
loose, and the bad guys will tive case and landing smack MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE On the grand opening day,
be inside the formerly secure on the hood of your car. Guests who have already June 20, voice actors Frank
fortress. Chasing after him, you come experienced Universal’s Islands “Megatron” Welker and Peter
At this point, it’s time to face-to-face with your first of Adventure’s Spider-Man ride “Optimus Prime” Cullen
grab your 3D “protective eye- giant robot smackdown, as may experience some deja vu walked the red carpet along-
wear” (dichroic models iden- your buddy Bumblebee and (see sidebar). “We knew from side towering incarnations of
tical to those used on Star the sinister Sideways skid in the outset that using the Spider- their characters (available
Tours and Despicable Me: and start slugging it out, Man ride system was the way to daily for meet and greets at a
Minion Mayhem) and board seemingly feet in front of you. go,” reveals West, but that creat- bunker across from the

Voice actors Frank “Megatron” Welker, left, and
Peter “Optimus Prime” Cullen play enemies on-
screen but are old friends off-screen.
KNOW YOUR FRIENDS AND FOES

Even if you’ve never seen a single Transformers episode or
film before, you can still enjoy the ride as a purely visceral
experience, and if you pay attention to the queue videos
you’ll get the gist of the storyline. But the action will seem a
little less like a chaotic blur of chrome if you become familiar
with these important Autobot allies and Decepticon antago-
nists before beginning N.E.S.T. training:
AUTOBOTS (GOOD GUYS)

Optimus Prime: Red and blue leader of the Autobots, dis-
guised as a Peterbilt 379 truck. He stands over three sto-
ries tall in robot form; the sword-wielding statue above the
attraction entrance is “life-size.”
Evac: The last-resort transport that serves as your rookie
ride vehicle. Look for his arms in front of your car when he
partially transforms to catch the AllSpark.
Bumblebee: Optimus’ sidekick doubles as a
Oscar-winning director/producer Steven canary-yellow Camaro, and can only communicate
Spielberg poses alongside Optimus Prime via radio clips. Spot the crushed VW Beetle
at the ride's grand opening celebration. (a nod to Bumblebee’s cartoon incarnation)
at the ride’s end.
DECEPTIONS (BAD GUYS)

Supply Vault gift shop, where Megatron: Optimus’ scarred sworn
you can also get exclusive nemesis, he’s intent on using the
action figures and edible AllSpark shard (source of all
chocolate AllSparks). Even Cybertronic energy) to turn Earth’s
Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg technology against humankind.
was in attendance, and impress- Ravage: The first Decepticon you’ll
ed enough by the pyrotechnic- have a close encounter with is this
packed dedication ceremony – devious cat-like robot, who breaks
which featured film-used full- into N.E.S.T. and runs away with the
sized Optimus and Bumblebee AllSpark.
vehicles and fighter jet fly- Devastator: At over 100 feet long,
overs – to film it on his iPhone. this “Constructicon” is the biggest
The ride itself is inspiring that ‘bot of all; beware his vacuum-like
same sense of awe every day, at maw, which sucks whole cars into a
an astounding rate of one mil- maze of gnashing gears.
lion riders in just over a month. Starscream: Megatron’s cowardly
So whether you are an old- lieutenant likes to swoop in, take a
school “G1” fan, an admirer of few potshots, then flee in fighter-jet
Bay’s films, or just looking for form when resistance arrives.
the latest in cutting edge dark-
ride thrills, it’s time to “Roll
out!” to Universal Orlando.

By Michael Corbisiero
Tonight’s feature calls for.

a different sort of introduction...
We invite you to join us as we delve into an
attraction that has engendered intrigue and
fear. Standing at 199 feet, the Hollywood Tower
Hotel looms in a corner of Disney’s Hollywood
Studios, inconspicuous to guests at first glance.
Closer inspection may reveal a few peculiar
things. The building appears to have been marred.
Perhaps by some sort of inclement
weather? The bellhops appear aloof
and a bit pallid. A thick layer of
particles and cobweb adorn the
lobby — which appears to have fur-
nishings from another era. And does
the placard out front say “Tower of
Terror” upon closer inspection?
Something is certainly amiss. Step a bit
closer and you just might hear the
screams of guests plummeting into …
LEE
Y BANKS
The Twilight Zone.

PHOTO B

A new era began for the
Disney company in
1984 when Michael
Eisner was made
CEO. In the
myriad of changes that fol-
Decade agenda: Disney MGM
Studio’s Sunset Boulevard.
“The impetus for the Tower of
Terror was: ‘We need to have
something at the end of Sunset
Boulevard’,” revealed McNair.
lowed, including a renais- It was meant as something to
sance in Disney’s animation expand upon the 1930’s-1940’s
division, a phrase was coined era chosen; the apex of the
as an encapsulation for this glamor and glitz of Hollywood.
period: “The Disney Decade”. MGM itself was formed as a
“Michael quite wisely recog- way to appease the populace
nized that one of the driving Universal intended on targeting
things of the company’s pop- with Universal Studios.
ularity and financial gain rest- The germ of the ride was
ed with its theme parks,” for- formed with a mock-up of an
mer Disney Imagineer and attraction based on the comedy
theme park designer Craig “Airplane!”. McNair recalled
McNair Wilson stated. It was their “What if?” project was an
upon Eisner’s insistence that airport on the backlot filled with
many attractions and expan- jokes and thrills, including faux
sions the Imagineers had previ- security checkpoints and three
ously pitched to no avail finally airplanes that could also be
happened. used for filming productions.
While The Tower of Terror “Everyone loved it until they The Hollywood Tower Hotel looms over Sunset Boulevard at 199 feet tall. From the
wasn’t explicitly outlined in realized it was going to be a moment guests set sight on the building, the ride imparts a story.
Eisner’s plans to expand the $220 million ride,” quipped
resort, its genesis was a result of McNair.
one of the items on The Disney Some time later, McNair was told to amass and a lead a will the ride be funny or will it
core group of Imagineers, affec- be scary?”, Brooks pondered in
tionately called “The Knuckle- the first meeting. This was a
heads,” which included Steve question the team had thought
and Tim Kirk, Jim Steinmeyer about in their preliminary
and William Stout. “Get ‘The work. The core group of
Knuckleheads’ together, be in Imagineers sifted through
my office by two o’clock. Brooks’s backlog of material for
Michael [Eisner] has someone
he wants us to meet with,”
McNair recalled being ordered
by Marty Sklar, the former
International Ambassador for
Walt Disney Imagineering.
In the office stood Eisner
with filmmaker and actor Mel
Brooks, the auteur responsible
for a slew of satires and come- PHOTO BY BANKS LEE
dies. Brooks and his family
enjoyed Disneyland and the
hope was to create a new attrac-
tion with his imprint on it. “So
The ghostly changing sign by the
PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY
attraction's entrance states the hotel

opened in 1912. The attraction actually
opened to guests on July 22, 1994.
Each "elevator" ride vehicle holds approximately 22 guests.

They get a quick view of the park before plummeting down
the elevator shaft.
PHOTO BY BANKS LEE
The ride vehicles climb the first elevator shaft and encounter the five unfortunate souls lost Guests board their elevator in the boiler room, which accurately reflects the era
in The Twilight Zone. This illusion is accomplished with a Pepper's Ghost effect. the attraction is set in. Their departure is set into motion by the ride's bellhops,
who are specifically given the direction that they're "frozen" in time.
inspiration. It was agreed that hotel to sit toward the front gate A meshing of the two was The Tower of Terror
no one film would suffice as the of Disney MGM. I was all about suggested and The Hollywood After many brainstorming
primary source for a full- implementing show into the Horror Hotel was born, nick- sessions and conceptualiza-
fledged ride, but a tone could be concept.” The idea was to have named “Hotel Mel” by the tions, Brooks took his leave
derived from one. “We ulti- guests pass through areas that Imagineers. A real hotel would from the project and the world
mately decided upon “Young would dynamically change. have served as an adjunct with of theme parks. Hill postulated
Frankenstein” as our muse, in One example involved occa- the attraction being the center- that it might have had some-
terms of doing something that sionally transposing an audio- piece of the experience. Former thing to do with a failed televi-
was both funny and scary,” animatronic for a real actor in Disney Imagineer, artist and sion series helmed by Brooks
McNair said. “At the same time the hotel to ensure guests could- concept designer Tim Kirk entitled “The Nut House.” Mel
[of meeting with Brooks], we n’t memorize everything the revealed the Imagineers aspired would later go on to direct
were working on a four star attraction had to offer. to also offer effects in the rooms “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”.
for guests to experience during This left the team with the
their stay. “Maybe we were tower concept and no branding.
kind of imagining things; to McNair would later part the
think guests would want to project and resign from Disney
experience that,” he comment- Imagineering before seeing the
ed with amusement. tower to its fruition. A fair
Several iterations were cre- amount of the attraction’s core
ated, all incorporating thrills was established under his guid-
and gags. One such moment ance, which included the piv-
included guests being on the set otal drop sequence. The initial
of a hotel during Brooks’s latest idea was spurred when he
film shoot. Writer and theme demonstrated what the ride
park aficionado Jim Hill vehicle could do with the use of
described one of the original a salt and pepper shaker; push-
concepts of the freefall experi- ing the salt shaker off of the
ence: “You’d reach the hotel table and letting gravity handle
shaft, in which Mel would yell the rest. Not only did the ride
‘Cut!’ causing the elevator cable vehicle need to move guests
to be ‘cut’ and send guests vertically, but also horizontally.
plummeting to their death. Skepticism was pushed aside
Except they wouldn’t because and the Imagineers reached out
EY SN
they’d stop just short enough to to Otis Elevator to test this idea.
TESY OF DI
make it to the gift shop.” This In conjunction with Otis

rendition of the ride could be Elevator, McNair’s notion of a
PHOTO COUR
of Terror compared to The Haunted freefall mechanism was

0 0 p o un ds, the Tower
132 ,0 evators. Mansion in that it was meant to worked into the attraction.
iz ing m o to rs that weigh the sp ee d s of normal el
U til times amuse and frighten. “The dirty secret of the ride is
guests at 15 MPH in 1.5 se
conds.
accelerates ee d o f 3 9
its top sp
It can reach

that it uses two vehicles,” he
disclosed. The first moves
guests down a hall, through a
painstaking recreation of The
Twilight Zone theme, in
which it enters into a second
vehicle, the “tower” portion
PHOTO BY BANKS LEE

of the experience. This eleva-
tor shaft is equipped with
industrial elevator motors
supplied by Otis to hurl
guests upward and screaming
The lobby and study feature a collection of antiques, items constructed especially for the ride, and furnishings from the 1940s.
downward faster than gravity
could accomplish.
Both McNair and Kirk
divulged that The Mission Inn Calif.). The final tower’s exterior with their tower-based freefall Imagineers from placing a sub-
(located in Riverside, Calif.) is ultimately an amalgamation concept. “We looked into tle nod to horror films inside the
served as one of the primary of architectural styles, but firm- Stephen King’s material first, attraction. Astute guests might
inspirations for the Tower of ly vested in the aesthetic of but ultimately “The Twilight hear a familiar score from
Terror’s exterior lined with Sunset Boulevard. Zone” offered us more variety,” Kubrick’s horror opus when
Spanish Colonial architecture. Kirk recounted. Perhaps in a walking through a portion of
Portions of the lobby were A Fifth Dimension different world, we might have the lobby.
based on the Millennium The Imagineers sought out seen “Stephen King’s Tower of “The Twilight Zone” hap-
Biltmore Hotel (Los Angeles, a property that would coalesce Terror.” This didn’t stop the pened to boast a cerebral sense
The ride vehicles rest in

four shafts which push
the guests upward before
moving them horizontally
into the two tower drop
shafts. Following the
descent, guests exit in
the "basement" of the
structure.

of suspension without a screened every Twilight Zone
reliance on gore. Much like episode in preparation.
“The Twilight Zone” creator The Imagineers had to fig-
and host Rod Serling found lat- ure out a way to retrofit the
itude in fantastical settings, the series into their preexisting
Imagineers could offer a fright- concept. “One of the most
ening experience without common themes of the series
breaking the park’s family- is a sense of discomfort and
friendly image. Disney reached disorientation,” said Marc
out to the widowed Carol Zicree, television writer, direc-
Serling. It was determined that tor and author of “The
in spite of Rod Serling selling Twilight Zone Companion”.
the intellectual rights to CBS The freefall aspect of the ride
after its cancellation, the rights served as a suitable nexus for
to a theme park attraction were the property. The concept
later
ng was shot but
still retained by his estate. A invited guests to experience a
os th et ics to re semble Rod Serli vo ice .
tor with pr s
deal was struck and the “lost” episode of “The Footage of an ac ed to match Rod'
ou gh an im pe rs onator was still us
Imagineers immersed them- Twilight Zone”. (It should be discarded, alth
selves in the show’s many sto- noted no episode involving a
ries for inspiration. Michael haunted hotel was produced.)
Sprout, the show writer of the The exterior of the hotel synchronicity to the ride’s emblematic narration. New
attraction was said to have facade was marred to provide story; one evening, a portion footage and audio were
of the building was struck by obtained to blend with old cel-
lightning, sending five unfor- luloid shot during the produc-
tunate souls to The Twilight tion of the series for the pre-
Zone. Per the narrative sanc- show. Guests would be
tioned by Imagineers, the strained to find the seams in
Hollywood Hotel opened in this presentation that pre-
1917 and abruptly closed on ludes their descent into the
Oct. 31, 1939. boiler room.
A large casting net was No detail was spared on the
thrown and voice actor Mark ride’s interior. A laborious
Silverman was handpicked by amount of research was con-
the Imagineers and Carol ducted to capture the technolo-
Serling to impersonate Rod’s gy of the 1930s to 1940s the
Everything found in the attraction boasts a specific amount of dust and cobwebs and Imagineering had to employ their unique skill set to properly make the Hollywood Hotel
requires the custodial staff to be briefed as to how "dirty" the "hotel" must be kept. appear ominous and make it appear it's lofted higher with the use of forced perspective.

structure is enmeshed with. motion was dropped due to
From the switch plates and logistical concerns, primarily
many furnishings to the many related to the allotted space the
facets of the boiler room, every- buildings permitted and bud-
thing was carefully recreated getary parings. But they still fol-
based on what a guest would low the same narrative penned
see in a hotel in the late 1930s to by Imagineer Michael Sprout
early 1940s . In the ride’s lobby with material carried over from
kreview.cOm
rests antique chairs dating back the Florida incarnation.
to the Renaissance era, several The Tower of Terror at
bronze statues carved by French Tokyo Disney, however, boasts
Par
PHOTOS BY BY THeme
artist Moreau, a Mahjong set an entirely original concept
placed in an accurate manner, that’s divested from the proper-
mailboxes with parcels left in it ty due to the variance in cul-
and many more adornments all tures and because the Oriental
fitting within the chosen era. Land Company would have
The proposition of horizon- had to offer requisite fees to each version
of
tal and vertical moments were both Disney and CBS. The ride the Tower of
Terror
implemented by filling a space system is similar, but the narra- boasts uniqu
e
to the brim with vignettes from tive’s focal point is on Harrison architecture
based
The Twilight Zone’s theme that Hightower, said to be the hotel’s on the discr
etion of
leads guests through to the ele- famous builder. Guests experi- the imaginee
rs and
vator shaft that invariably sends ence the drop as a result of a spacial limita
tions.
them plummeting, although curse brought on by an idol Pictured is th
e
not uniformly. Profiles have Hightower brought from one of Tokyo Disney
Sea
been programmed and ran- his expeditions. Like the rendition, wh
ich
domized for each encounter. California and Paris renditions, features a w
hole
No two rides are identical. the ride circumvents the hori- different sto
ryline.
“The additional profiles were a zontal hallway of the Florida
‘happy accident’,” McNair version. Thematically, there’s a
stated. large disparity, but its effect is
A slew of references from still the same. started watching “The Twilight believe if he were alive, he
the television series can be Each design team offered Zone” today and they’re every would have been the first one
found throughout the ride. their own architectural take bit engaged as people who in line,” he posited.
Some of these facsimiles include with minor changes to the inte- grew up with the show,” said The Tower of Terror is a
a pair of broken spectacles from rior to reflect the logistics and author Zicree. But none of this timeless attraction; it’s nestled
“Time Enough at Last”, the budgetary constraints of each would have been possible within an era that it intrepidly
penny Mystic Seer machine project. In a way, this is befitting out the unbridled imagination embraces. It clearly delineates
from “Nick of Time”, the bro- of the concept and its roots as an of Rodman Edward Serling, or itself as a fixture from another
ken watch from “A Kind of a anthology series, which encour- “Rod,” as he preferred. After a era. As author and unofficial
Stopwatch” that could freeze aged the notion of offering mul- honorable discharge from his Disney Historian Jim Korkis
time, and the red toy telephone tiple stories and interpretations. Army post as a paratrooper, put it, “Tower of Terror is
from the episode “Long Serling turned to writing as an without a doubt an E Ticket
Distance Call”. Picture If You Will... outlet. After the pilot, "The attraction in every sense of the
There’s been some question Twilight Zone" spawned five phrase, from technology to
Other Permutations of the ride’s vitality; some say- seasons, which subsequently storytelling to attention to
“The hope in the 1990s was ing it feels dated and the “The delved deeper into the inexplic- detail.” Much like the original
that the property would be Twilight Zone” lacks the clout it able and bizarre, all while main- series, the ride will continue
familiar with the public, but once had since its opening on taing some sort of kernel of to invoke fear and delight and
even if it wasn’t, the atmos- July 22, 1994. When the series truth. ultimately inspire. We think
phere and experience would first premiered, there was noth- Would Rod Serling have Serling wouldn't have wanted
still carry it,” Kirk affirmed. ing like it; a collection of approved of The Twilight it any other way.
This kernel has remained true bizarres stories with no recur- Zone Tower of Terror? Serling So next time you find
in all renditions of The Tower of ring characters, but motifs and was described as a thrill-seek- yourself in the lobby of the
Terror. themes. Today, there’s still er by Zicree. “For Rod’s 40th Hollywood Hotel, we suggest
In the versions at Disney arguably little that resembles birthday, he visited his being very careful, or else you
parks in California and Paris, the television program. “I talk infantry regiment and took might just find yourself in …
the ride’s forward elevator to young people who’ve just one last jump out of the unit. I The Twilight Zone.

By Barb Nefer
M ermaids have always been popular, but over the years they’re had spikes in interest from things like Disney’s The Little
Mermaid and the recent Animal Planet “documentary,” Mermaids: The New Evidence. While the latter was a fictional show pre-
sented under the guise of fact, there’s a place in Florida where mermaids are, indeed, as real as they get. You can see them perform
underwater several times a day, and even meet them on land, at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
An Age-Old Fascination underwater through air hoses. He bought the property that’s
“There’s always been an interest in mermaids, and that’s now Weeki Wachee Springs State Park in 1946, built an under-
why this park has been here for so long,” Public Relations water theater, and hired young women to perform as mer-
Manager John Athanason said of the unique state park. “We did- maids.
n’t invent mermaids here at Weeki Wachee. They’ve been around According to Athanason, that original showplace, which was
for hundreds of years, and there’s such a mystique about them. built right into the limestone six feet under the water’s surface,
Now the modern media has picked up on that a little bit, and I was later replaced with a larger theater. The theater that‘s here
think it’s wonderful. But we’ve had it here for 66 years, so we like now was was built in the late 1950s,” he said. “The original sat
to think we’re the mecca of mermaids.” maybe 22 folks, and this one holds 400.”
How did Weeki Wachee become the only state park to have
mermaids on its payroll? The attraction was the brainchild of for- One-of-a-Kind Theater
mer Navy frogman Newt Perry, who developed a way to breathe That expansion happened when the American Broadcasting

It's not uncommon to spot turtles, eagles,
alligators and even manatees on the daily
boat tours offered at Weeki Wachee Springs.
Company bought the Weeki Wachee attraction. According

to Athanason, “The theater itself and the components were
built in Clearwater and trucked over here. Then an assort-
ment of underwater divers and welders sunk it right into
the spring. That’s why this park is unique. No one can
duplicate what we have here because of environ-
mental laws. You’ll never again see another struc-
ture like this built in a natural spring.”
The spring goes straight down 117 feet and is
the opening of the Florida aquifer. Athanason
said, “Out of that opening comes about 117 mil-
lion gallons of water daily, and it feeds the Weeki
Wachee River. It originates here, feeds our Buccaneer Bay
water park, and when you go around the river bend, it’s 12
miles to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s 99.8 percent pure spring
water that stays at 74 degrees constantly, year ‘round.
“The biggest misconception is that the mermaids swim
in a tank or an aquarium. That’s simply not the case. It’s
very difficult to describe the location until you see
it firsthand.”
You immediately under-
stand the concept when you
take your seat in the theater and real- You'll see mermaids in the water and
ize that you’re actually below the water, with the spring on land, where they're happy to pose
itself acting as the “stage.” Because it’s totally open, you’ll for photos.
see fish, sea turtles, and even the occasional manatee impro-
vising a performance along with the mermaids.

“I think that’s part of what helps with the charm Struggle to Survive
and the mystique of this park because you get When Walt Disney World was first built,
double the entertainment,” Athanason Weeki Wachee still attracted a lot of vis-
added. “Even though we have an itors, although I-75 siphoned off the
attraction in the mermaid show travelers who once drove right
itself, the natural resources and the past the park on Highway 19.
ability for our visitors to see the “In the ‘70s, coming to
spring via the underwater the- Orlando meant visiting the
ater is magnificent in its own Magic Kingdom, and then
right. When you’re sitting in you had really nothing else
this theater, you see part of to do, so you came to
the real Florida, and then we Weeki Wachee or Cypress
throw in beautiful mer- Gardens,” Athanason
maids, too.” explained.
But over time, Disney
It’s Not Easy Being Finned expanded to eventually
According to Athanason, include four theme parks,
performing as a mermaid is while Universal added two
much more difficult than peo- of its own, and SeaWorld
ple realize. “These girls make it offered yet another option to
look easy, but the water tempera- keep people in the area for their
ture is pretty cold. Your body temper- whole vacation. Because of that,
ature is 98.6, you go into 74 degree Athanason said many of the old
water, and after about 40 minutes you lose roadside attractions went extinct.
a degree of body temperature. Hypothermia Weeki Wachee managed to hang on,
can set in, and that’s why our shows are only so long. buoyed in part by the decision to add a water
“Then you throw in the current because of the enormous park. “We built Buccaneer Bay back in the early ‘80s,”
amount of water coming in from the aquifer. There’s about a five Athanason said. “It made us more appealing to the locals. The
mile an hour current, so they have to fight it. They’re not wearing any water park afforded the opportunity to come back week in, week
weight belts or scuba gear to keep them warm. Their buoyancy is out, and swim in the spring.”
strictly maintained by how much air they take in through the air hose
and how much they exhale” The State of Florida to the Rescue
Because of all these factors, it takes three to six months to learn The park still struggled until 2008 when the state of Florida
the basics and the choreography for just one show. The mermaids stepped in to make it part of the State Park system. “I think
train for over a year to learn every part. Athanason said, “We don’t they really recognized the cultural significance of this park and
get a lot of turnover because there’s a lot of time and effort the girls its importance because of the natural spring and surround-
invest.” ings,” added Athanason. “It was the best thing that could have
happened.”
The mermaid shows are still the main attraction,
with multiple performances of “Fish Tails” and
“Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid”
each day. The former is a performance that weaves
The underwater theater provides a window directly into the spring where the mermaids perform. It may look as though the mermaids appear like magic, but they
really come in through this entry tube. Then they must swim
through a long tunnel to the performance area.
in the park’s history and climaxes with an amazing feat of The Fountain of Youth
underwater breath-holding. After each show, a mermaid meets Indeed, you might even see some of the original mermaids
guests for photos near the gift shop. doing a performance. Athanason said, “On our 50th anniversary
Weeki Wachee Springs also has activities that highlight its we invited a group of our former mermaids. We asked them to
identity as a state park. There’s an animal show with native come back and perform a show for that weekend. It was such a
wildlife like snakes and alligators and a scenic 30-minute boat huge hit that they come back one weekend a month now. They’re
ride down the river. Near the entrance there’s a separate conces- remarkable and very inspiring. You’ve got women who are in
sion renting canoes and kayaks if you want to take a self-paced their 40s, 50s and 60s. We had one who was in her 70s, but she
scenic journey. has since retired … again.
Buccaneer Bay, which is open seasonally, is a big draw, too. Its “When you watch them underwater, it’s like they’re 18 again.
water slides drop riders right into the chilly springs. There’s a div- If you ask them, they would swear this was the Fountain of
ing platform and a real lazy river. Unlike the concrete troughs at Youth, and their performances prove it.”
traditional water parks, nature’s park sends you through a gen- While Weeki Wachee Springs State Park may not be the leg-
uine waterway with depths of up to 16 feet. There’s also a play endary place Ponce de Leon was looking for, it does indeed
area for young children. prove that you can freeze the hands of time. The attraction is pre-
served much as it was in its early days and serves up a true slice
A Less Expensive Alternative of Florida nostalgia.
Even though it’s a two hour drive from Orlando,
Weeki Wachee Springs offers a unique alternative to
the big attractions. “If you really want that laid-back,
less expensive option, this is the perfect place for
you,” Athanason explained. “The mermaid shows do
reach capacity in the summer, but other than that,
you’re not going to have the hustle and bustle and
standing in long lines like you would at the theme
parks. At a rate of only $13 for adults and $8 for kids,
and no parking fee, we’re a nice day trip.”
Besides lower crowds, you can also count on
Weeki Wachee to transport you into the bygone era of
original Florida attractions. According to Athanason,
“People say, ‘It’s been 40 years. I remember coming
here when I was a little kid.’ They come back to
renew those memories again, so we really don’t want
to change our park that much.”
Buccaneer Bay is a water park with a twist. You splash and slide right into the chilly spring.

Resort Report
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
ROSEN CENTRE HOTEL

OFFERS LUXURY
AND CONVENIENCE
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
The Rosen Centre Hotel is hard to miss. It's right

next to the Orange County Convention Center.

Jackie Roseboom
T he Rosen Centre Hotel is best known as being a conven-

tion hotel because of its close proximity to the Orange County
Convention Center, as well as its own impressive convention
space. But when you arrive, you’ll be surprised at what else
the hotel offers.
All of the hotel’s features are just steps away from the
large open lobby. The bar area features lots of seating: couch-
es, tall tables and comfortable chairs. No matter your require-
ments, you’ll find a comfortable place to chat. The lobby and
hallway carpets feature vibrant colors with different patterns
but the same color scheme. It adds an interesting design ele-
ment all around the hotel.
The featured restaurant is Everglades. It’s upscale but you
don’t have to dress up. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed.
The food presentation is beautiful and includes combinations
The Rosen Centre's large pool is right

outside the lobby and convention area.
A new poolside restaurant will be
added next year.

Resort Report
98Forty is one
of two small
bars where you
can get food and
drinks right in
the lobby.
The rooms at the Rosen Centre are very spacious and offer most everything
you'll need.
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that may sound strange, but If you would like to eat at

are truly delicious. For exam- Everglades, but are not staying
ple, the Tenderloin of Buffalo at the hotel, they will validate
with blueberry sauce was your parking. That goes for the
amazing. They also have spa as well. Reservations are
Alligator Bay Chowder. The recommended. All the Rosen
surf and turf and some other hotels are known for holiday
items are a little pricy, but decorations and activities. Their
worth the splurge. Chef Fred holiday feasts are popular with
Vlachos loves pairing great hotel guests and locals.
foods with great wines. So The Spa at the Rosen
much so that the hotel hosts an Centre’s contrasting color
event called Vine and Dine scheme of cream walls with
multiple times per year. dark cabinets are accented by
98Forty Tapas & Tequila is beautiful aqua-colored art-
right in the lobby and is a great work, which helps you ease
place to enjoy a mouthwater- into stress-free mode. The
Everglades' decor makes South Floridians feel right at home. ing Ceviche and a tequila cock- relaxation room features
tail. Next to that is Banshoo soothing scenic videos accom-
Sushi Bar. The casual Café panied by calming music. The
Gauguin offers something for women’s and men’s locker
everyone including a breakfast rooms include showers, a
buffet as well as a full menu. steam room, restrooms and a
It's open for all three meals. small countertop full of ameni-
Smoooth Java Coffee Bar (next ties to help you get ready.
to the Enterprise rental car The spa also has a full
desk) serves Starbucks and salon. But take note, the salon
other grab and go items. The services do not include use of
Lobby Lounge & Pool Bar is a the spa facilities. The exercise
popular place day and night. room is open 24-hours and is
Red's Deli has a New York loaded with all the latest fit-
style and serves soups, salads, ness equipment, but there is a
pizza and sandwiches. It also $15 dollar charge for the extent
doubles as a convenience of your stay.
The Lobby Bar has a large seating area. The bar itself will be remodeled next year. store. Of course there’s the stan-

Rosen Centre
Hotel
Location: 9840 International Drive, Orlando
Prices: $99 - $239
Phone: 800-204-7234
Online: rosencentre.com
The surf and turf at Everglades is worth the splurge.
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dard tropical pool with to the convention center if you Everglades offers
umbrellas, lounge chairs, two use the covered bridge. a great bread
hot tubs and a fun little kiddy Numerous restaurants are selection. Notice
pool with a fountain. right on the other side of the the alligator-shaped
There are different guest hotel and the Pointe Orlando butter.
room configurations to suit shopping center, which fea-
your specific needs. The stan- tures many great restaurants,
dard rooms are spacious and a few shops and a movie the-
have all the usual amenities, ater, is only about a 15-20
including cribs (complimenta- minute walk. Most of that
ry), extra towels and bedding, walk is indoors if you pass
makeup and shaving mirror, through the convention cen-
hair dryer, iron and ironing ter.
board, refrigerator and a cof- The hotel offers one daily
fee maker. free ride to and from
The executive suites and SeaWorld and Universal. If
the VIP suites are available that doesn’t fit your schedule,
with one or two bedrooms there are other options – for a
and feature a formal entry fee. (The I-Drive Trolly is the
way, living room and a wet best bet for going to SeaWorld,
bar with a refrigerator and Wet n’ Wild and all of
microwave. They also have an International Drive.) Trans-
extra bathroom and access to a portation to Disney World is
VIP lounge. The largest rooms also available roundtrip for
are the two presidential suites $17 per person.
that feature a formal entry All rooms and common
foyer, a home theater and a areas of the hotel offer free
main living area with a large wireless internet access. The
conference table. hotel is pet friendly with a
The best feature of this number of rooms set aside for
hotel is its convenient loca- those traveling with dogs.
tion. It's literally right next to There is a $20 per day charge ly nice hotel in a central loca- few less amenities, is their sis-
the convention center on for valet parking and $13 per tion to all the attractions, give ter hotel, Rosen Plaza Hotel,
International Drive. You don’t day for self parking. the Rosen Centre Hotel a try. on the other side of the con-
even need to go outside to get If you’re looking for a real- Equally impressive, but with a vention center.

Table Service

Susan and Simon Veness
Funny Name, Huge Portions
Hash House A Go Go
Opens its First Florida
Location on I-Drive
S ome say the location is
cursed. Some say it’s
built on an ancient Indian bur-
ial ground. But Hash House A
Go Go, situated just south of
Festival Bay Mall on Inter-
national Drive, is out to prove
the right dining concept has
arrived. And if our visit is any-
thing to go by, we think they’re
right.
Hash House began 13
years ago in San Diego, Calif.,
and while it’s a chain restau-
rant with locations in four
Sous Chef Cory Hoekstra and Assistant Kitchen Manager Mike Koster pose next to
states – now five, with the
the tractor in the lobby.
opening of the Orlando loca-
tion – it has the feel of being
family-owned, in part due to a and Sous Chef Cory Hoekstra We were intrigued by the
menu filled with comfort introduced us to the concept restaurant’s catch-phrase, Twist-
foods, in part due to its casual and the food. Cory is an ed Farm Food. “You have to see
elegance, without a hint of Orlando restaurant veteran, the food to grasp the concept,”
cookie-cutter decor. joining the Hash House team Cory said, “but it’s our twist on
When the Travel Chanel’s this past June after training at comfort foods. We don’t claim
Man v. Food program took on the Las Vegas location. “There to be farm-to-table, but we’re
Hash House’s Fried Chicken is a difference in the tourist pretty close. Everything is made
Eggs Benedict – a gluttonous flow,” he told us. “In Vegas, from scratch, and it’s all good,
combination of grilled mashed tourism is constant. Orlando homey food. There are no heat
potatoes, tomato, spinach, has seasons, with distinct ups lamps and no microwaves
fried chicken, scrambled eggs, and downs, and that has to be here.”
a fresh biscuit, smoked bacon, handled properly so we Cory started our culinary
and grilled cheese, smothered always keep the guests tour with the Fried Green
in chipotle cream – the crowd happy.” The restaurant was Tomato Stack, a towering
went wild and Hash House quiet during our visit, but at ensemble of thick tomato slices
achieved instant fame. dinner time and weekend deep-friend in a sage and corn-
Assistant Kitchen Manager brunch the place is packed. flake coating, topped with

Table Service
chicken salad and goat cheese, to the days when no-one wor-
with a rich balsamic reduc- ried about calories or fat con-
tion, mounted on a massive tent. It was absolutely succu-
slice of watermelon. “Eighty lent, and when paired with a
percent of our dishes use bacon waffle and a quick dip
watermelon,” Cory told us. in the syrup, we were in
“We figure that way you’re breakfast heaven.
getting some fruit every day.” Next we sampled the
“My idea is that breakfast Corned Beef Hash, cooked for
can be anything, anytime,” he eight hours, then shredded. No
continued, “and our Chicken diced stuff from a can here. The
and Waffles is a staple. Did corned beef was moist and fla-
you know that combo origi- vorful, its accompanying bis-
nated in the Middle Ages in cuit featured those wonderful
Europe? I don’t even know stretch-marks you’re supposed
how they could make waffles to see when they’re made right.
back then!” He ducked into “It’s hard to bake in the humid-
the kitchen and returned with ity we have here in Florida,”
three bacon waffles topped Cory admitted. “About one
with two massive chicken month out of the year I can
wings and deep-fried leeks, make biscuits perfectly.”
with a drizzle of barbeque Then came the Apple
sauce and a side of maple Smoked Bacon and Mashed we take two eight-ounce patties incredible, and we’ve done
syrup. One bite of the chicken Potato Stuffed Burger. and put toppings in between things like Snicker’s cheese-
and we were transported back “Sticking with the diner idea, them. It’s a great burger on a cake and chocolate-dipped
Sunday morning after a long banana cheesecake.”
Saturday night.” In fact, it tast- Manager Michael Koster
ed like the best meatloaf your dropped by our table, his infec-
mother ever made, but on a tious smile a real asset to the
bun, with a side of batter fries. welcoming feel of the restau-
Who came up with these rant. “The best part of my job is
brilliant dishes? “Our original when I get to deliver food,” he
executive chef, Andy Beardsley, said. “I talk to the guests, and
is super creative,” Cory said. some of them have been here
“He’s originally from Indiana, 10, 12 times, but they still get
so he took Indiana comfort the same look on their face
food and blended it with when the food comes out.
Southern California style. We Sometimes they bring new peo-
also offer some specials here in ple with them and I say, “Did
Orlando that are specific to the you warn them?” Everyone
area, like shrimp and grits in a takes pictures of their meals.”
cast iron skillet. It’s done in So enormous are the por-
Hash House style, but it’s tions that it looked like mice
southern comfort food.” had nibbled the sides of each
Surely after a typical Hash dish after we were done, but
House entrée no one has room guests can take comfort in
for dessert, right? Cory set us knowing they can split their
straight on that: “You wouldn’t entrees or take some home to
believe how much dessert we avoid doing what the staff
sell. We make new cheesecake calls “The Zombie Walk” on
every day, and we like to get their way out. There are
creative with it. We just made a downsized menus for seniors,
Captain Crunch and Peanut and choices like the Grilled
One of Hash House's most popular dishes is the Chicken and Waffles. Butter Cheesecake, which was Rosemary Chicken and Brie

Hash House A Go Go
Location: 5350 International Drive, Orlando
Price Range: Appetizers: $9 to $14
Breakfast: $7 to $15
sandwich or the Grilled Porto- guaranteed to meet new Lunch: $6.50 to $15
bello Mushroom Sandwich for friends, experiment with new Dinner: $15 to $30
those who are watching their flavor combinations and pro- Kid’s Meals: $3 to $7
waistlines. files that you have not before Senior’s Menu: $5.25 to $12.95
Co-owner Jim Rees told us experienced while enjoying Desserts: $8.95
the secret of Hash House’s generous portions of familiar
success: “What sets us apart comfort foods presented with Contact: 407-370-4646
from most restaurants is that style and a flair for the unusu- Online: hashhouseagogo.com
dining at Hash House a Go Go al. We certainly hope the suc-
is a total dining and entertain- cess of our first restaurant in
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
ment experience. You are Orlando will be good reason Friday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
to expand the concept in
Florida.”
But what about the restau-
rant's quirky name? Jim shed
some light on that too, saying,
"'Hash house' is a traditional
name for a 'breakfast joint' and
'Go Go' is the food – generous
portions of comfort food with
unique presentations and fea-
turing over the top flavor pro-
files."
You’re going to eat too
much, there’s no doubt about
that, but Hash House A Go
Go’s insistence that they
Just to make sure you get your “don’t care how much you eat,
allowance of fruits, Hash House we just want to feed you” and
includes a watermelon slice in many of the artistic way in which they
their dishes and drinks. Here's the achieve that, hasn’t just bro- You'll need a huge appetite to finish this Hardwood Smoked Bacon and Mashed
Watermelon Kiwi Lemonade. ken the curse, it’s shattered it. Potato Stuffed Burger.

57 FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine •
1. The purple lollipops (top off-center) have vanished. 2. The carrot badge on the foremost bunny’s beret is larger. 3. The girl’s hat (front-center between the bunnies) is
now red. 4. The man wearing a red shirt (left-bottom) now has two red fanny packs. 5. The Lemon Slush & Fruit sign has turned upside down. 6. The girl with the pink hair
(center behind bunnies) is gone. 7. The green gummy bear (behind the dancing bunny on parade float) has changed color to blue. 8. The woman wearing a blue shirt
(bottom off-center) has a new red purse. 9. The peppermint on the base of the float is missing a red stripe. 10.The gold wheel of the float (left) has an additional
grommet on the top section of the wheel.
Can you find 10 differences in the bottom photo?
as the Easter Bunny dances on the parade float with chicks Carlos and Phil.
The Pink Berets from the movie "Hop" pose with guests at Universal Studios
Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Star Wars and More
Greetings, Theme Park Fans! Welcome to the also heard tell of Willy Wonka being scout- Cars Land has garnered a lot of traction
debut of “The Rumor Queue”, a column dedicated ed for use in the resort. in California, which if placed in the seem-
to fielding all of the rumors permeating throughout ingly desolate Backlot Tour area at
the industry into one convenient place. The Expansion of Isla Nublar Hollywood Studios, would leave space for
...................... A fourth Jurassic Park film is being another Pixar ride. Perhaps the Imagineers
Disclaimer: The thoughts expressed here are not pur-
prepped for a 2015 release and is said to have reconsidered an indoor Monster’s, Inc.
ported as fact and should be seen as rumors only until offi-
cially confirmed or denied by the companies mentioned. relaunch the franchise. We’ve heard mur- family coaster? Or maybe there is a new
...................... murings of a new rollercoaster being built to concept in the works.
coincide with new film.
Tolkien’s Middle-Earth Two takes have been rumored: the first The King’s Return?
During the winter of 2013, The Saul being a coaster strewn between vegetation Kongfrontation was removed in 2002
Zanetz Company filed a trademark for and animatronic dinosaurs and the second and replaced with The Revenge of the
Middle-Earth for use in theme park services, involving an excavation site in a mine with Mummy, but a recent rumor curiously
recreation facilities and amusement parks. a track that dips, treks through darkness suggests the behemoth with banana
This is the same company that handles the and propels guests backwards. breath will return.
trademarks for “The Lord of The Rings” and Inspired by Hollywood‘s re-imagin-
“The Hobbit”. Star Wars and Cars Land ing, this idea would be expanded upon
The trademark is all-encompassing and Disney’s acquisition of LucasFilm might and placed where Disaster presently
isn’t indicative of an impending announce- have left its theme park inclusion uncertain, stands at Universal Studios, but admit-
ment, but certainly suggests the idea is but there’s no doubt this seminal piece of tedly is just a potential concept. Things
being toyed with. pop culture will find its way into the parks. could change many times before any-
Universal’s Islands of Adventure Toon We’ve heard a Mos Eisley Cantina and thing is finalized. This is just the nature of
Lagoon hasn’t received much attention as Jedi Academy are just two of the many the industry.
of late, including its theater, which is often things being conceptualized. Rumors sug-
empty. Rumors suggest this space may be gest this expansion will branch outward
demolished and replaced with a recreation from Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood If you wish to submit a rumor, offer feedback or submit
an inquiry, please do so by sending an e-mail to
of The Shire and accompanying locales Studios. Displays from the D23 Expo affirm
rumors@attractionsmagazine.com.
from Middle-Earth. that we’re on the cusp of a formal announce-
You may request to remain anonymous.
This is all blue sky at this point, as we’ve ment, but still years away from opening.
The deadline for entries is Nov. 22, 2013. One answer allowed per person, per issue. Please include your
name and mailing address with your answer. Everyone who submits the correct location will go into a
drawing. One person, randomly selected from all the correct entries, will win a prize. We reserve the right
to publish the name, city and state of those entering. One winner per household allowed per year.
LaST ISSuE’S MySTERy

PhoTo aNSWER
No one correctly guessed last
issue’s Mystery Photo location.
It is a prop from the “Richie Rich”
movie on display at the Planet
Hollywood store at Disney’s
Hollywood Studios.
WIN a PRIZE!
Tell us the exact location of this photo and you could win a prize!
To enter, e-mail your answer, along with your name and mailing address, to mystery@attractionsmagazine.com.
hint: You’ve walked right past this guy and his friends many times while visiting Walt Disney World.

Out of the Loop By Andy Guinigundo
Attractions News from 43 feet long with a wingspan of 44 feet. It took 32

builders 17,336 hours in the Lego Model Shop in
Outside the Orlando Area Kladno, Czech Republic to build and is a one-to-one
replica of the X-wing in Lego set #9493. However,
it is 42x bigger!
Kings Island Announces way and other attractions. The Blue Streak roller
Banshee Coaster coaster celebrates its 75th birthday this year. In
Mason, Ohio – The ill-fated Son of Beast once- recent years, the Blue Streak restoration has gained
looping wooden coaster took its final riders in early momentum having received a $50,000 Pepsi
2009. There it sat unmaintained and in disrepair “Refresh” grant. It was not too long ago that the
until 2012 when it was mercifully disassembled. coaster was not running. Despite all of the renewal,
After much speculation, Kings Island announced that tragedy has struck the park again. Early the morn-
Banshee would be built upon the site where Son of ing of Aug. 1, fire ravaged the 77-year-old Beach
Beast once stood. At park closing time on Aug. 8, Club Restaurant and connected dockside banquet
fans and local media were on hand when the record- hall. While all park rides were spared, a Blue Streak Record Breaking Looper
breaking B&M designed inverted coaster was train being stored within the Beach Club was lost. Opens at Six Flags
announced. With inverted coasters, the track is on Both buildings are a total loss and the official cause Valencia, Calif. – In June, the world’s tallest and
top and the ride vehicle is suspended below. It will of the fire remains under investigation. fastest looping coaster, Full Throttle, opened at Six
become the world’s longest inverted coaster at
4,124.1 feet. It is expected to travel 68 mph to a Life-sized Lego Star Wars
height of 167 feet and a maximum elevation change X-wing Fighter Comes to
of 208 feet. It will invert seven times in a variety of Legoland
ways, and carry a robust 1,650 passengers per Carlsbad, Calif. – The world’s
hour on three trains. Construction has already largest Lego model, a life-sized Star
begun. The ride is expected to open in April 2014. Wars X-wing Fighter, made its way
via six freight trucks from New York
Conneaut Lake Park Suffers to Legoland California. The fighter’s
Ups and Downs appearance coincided with Star
Conneaut Lake, Penn. – Restoration continues at Wars days at the park in June, but it
the 121-year-old Conneaut Lake Park. A Travel will remain through the year. The
Channel film crew was at the park recently to docu- model required 5,335,200 Lego
ment the efforts that have extended beyond the blocks. It weighs 45,980 pounds
classic Blue Streak roller coaster into the park mid- and sits 11 feet high and extends

For more Out of the Loop, visit AttractionsMagazine.com.
Flags Magic Mountain. Full throttle has several attractions. The new park is being described as “big-
unique features in addition to its sheer speed and ger, better, and wetter”. It will cover four additional
height. It is a triple launch coaster with two 0-70 acres than its previous footprint and will contain more
Out of
mph forward launches and one backwards launch rides than ever, including a new roller coaster. It will be
the Loop
through a tunnel. Another unique feature is the “wetter” as they will double the size of the water park,
Twitter Feed
launch over the “top hat” in which riders are shot up Hurricane Bay. The group that finally was able to come
and over the record-breaking loop at a height of to an agreement to reopen the park is led by none
For more ongoing coverage of news
over 160 feet, experiencing a spectacular view and other than Ed Hart, who was part of the original group
out of the Central Florida loop, follow
some airtime. With Full Throttle’s opening, the total running the park before Premier Parks/Six Flags took
me on Twitter @AttractionsOOTL.
coaster count at Magic Mountain was brought to 18, over in the late ‘90s until its close in 2009. The park
Also follow our main Twitter feed
the most in the world. has a planned reopen date of May 2014.
@Attractions.
underway for the immensely popular holiday season

at Disneyland. Halloween will once again include
west coast specific attractions like the transforma-
tions to Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted
Mansion Holiday featuring Jack Skellington. In
Frontierland, a Dia de los Muertos celebration will
take place. Looking forward to winter, Disney has
announced a holiday version of its acclaimed World
of Color nighttime fountain and projection show.
World of Color – Winter Dreams will be hosted by
Olaf the snowman from Disney’s upcoming film
“Frozen”. It will include new scenes from Disney
classics “Bambi”, “Fantasia” and “Toy Story”. Steve
Davison, creative director of World of Color said, “I
am so excited to be bringing new magic to ‘World of
Color’ this holiday season. The brand-new show is
WhiteWater to Provide Disney California Adventure to Present filled with great music, new effects and, of course, all
Water Attractions for Park World of Color – Winter Dreams the magnificence of the ‘World of Color’ fountain and
in World’s Largest Building Anaheim, Calif. – As the curtain fell on another projection system. It’s going to be a very powerful
Chengdu, China – In the center of the all-new 18.3 D23 Expo in August, preparations were already and amazing experience for guests of all ages.”
million-square-foot New Century Global Centre in
China sits Paradise Island Waterpark. WhiteWater
Company of Richmond, Canada will be providing all
of the wet thrills. The park will feature a massive
beach with a giant LED screen that will show chang-
ing ocean views. Among the water features will be a
themed water play structure and a family raft ride. It
will contain a multitude of water slides including the
looping “AquaLoop”. The never-ending wave for
boogie boarding called the FlowRider will also be
installed.
Kentucky Kingdom to Reopen

Louisville, Ky. – Reports of Kentucky Kingdom’s
reopening have graced this space on several occa-
sions only to be proven wrong after deals were broken
or fell apart. This time, announcements actually appear
to be true as work has begun to restore standing

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FALL 2013 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 4

57 Spot the Difference Game ON THE COVER: CONTACT INFORMATION

4 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

aMerican idOl Finalists Visit disney

d23 expO 2013

6 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

8 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYES

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 9

10 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

MICKEY’S NOT SO SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

12 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL HOLIDAYS AT

HOLIDAYS AT MICKEY’S VERY MERRY

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 13

StatuS: under ConStruCtion StatuS: under ConStruCtion

PHOTO BY BANKS LEE

14 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

StatuS: uNdER coNStRuctioN StatuS: Now SwaShbuckliNg

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 15

StatuS: Now SeaSoNaL StatuS: LauNcHiNg SooN

16 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

PHOTO BY BANks Lee

StatuS: Now ShowiNg StatuS: ChaNgiNg

StatuS: Now opeN

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 17

StatuS: under ConStruCtion

18 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

StatuS: Now SeRviNg

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 19

20 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

Some of the stars fro

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 21

FUN SPOT AMERICA

22 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

From music consultant to Disney Legend ...

Ron Logan’s work can be found

24 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

What made you decide to make music and

How did you get your big break?

school during the day, playing clubs at night. UCLA had

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 25

You arrived in Florida in 1977.

Do you have any productions that

26 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

You retired from Disney in 2001,

What do you miss from your Disney days?

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 27

By “SKIPPER” BEN REBSTOCK

28 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 29

30 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

Rock 'n' Roller

Skipper Ben is a former Walt Disney World cast member.

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 31

I f you are a child of the ‘80s,

torting toy cars and trucks into N.E.S.T. RISES

32 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • FALL 2013

FALL 2013 • Orlando Attractions Magazine • 33