Hong Kong Disneyland's New Coaster, More Awesome Board Game

The DisneyParks Blog just posted photos from the grand opening of Grizzly Gulch, Hong Kong Disneyland's newest addition in their continuing effort to have a complete theme park.  Unlike Mystic Point, which looks to be a relatively unique experience for a Disney park, Grizzly Gulch seems to follow existing Frontierland themes rather closely, though it's definitely an attractive area.

Disney Souvenir Finds: Blasted Dogs with Keys

The tourist industry is the heart and soul of Central Florida, and one of its biggest money makers is the mountain of souvenirs sold in the area every day.  Each theme park has its own assortment of branded apparel, toys, and other useless items, often dredging the true lows of tackiness and tastelessness.  However, plenty of items are available with a little more class, uniqueness, imagination, or even just sheer kitschiness.  I'm going to highlight some of those items, and today we're starting with a pirate's best friend and worst enemy.

Creatures of Central Florida: Demoiselle Crane

Demoiselle Crane

• Non-Native: Natural Habitat in Eurasia
• Spotted at SeaWorld Orlando
• Also on exhibit at Busch Gardens Tampa, Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

Creatures of Central Florida: An Introduction

Central Florida is one of the world's greatest examples of what happens when rapid development coexists with a wild, often hostile climate and ecosystem.  Massive tourist attractions and housing developments run into swamps, lakes, and the remnants of the area's agricultural roots.  Because of this combination of the wild and the man made, this area of the country now provides the opportunity to witness an amazing variety of animals in both their natural habitats and in captivity.

Florida is a place where an alligator in the backyard is not a reason for panic, but just a typical afternoon.  Birds of all shapes and sizes migrate here during the winter, and many that would seem exotic anywhere else are as common a sight as a mallard duck.  In the zoos and theme parks, the near endless summer climate allows for the keeping of a truly stunning menagerie of animals from across the planet.

I plan on highlighting some of the many creatures that can be found in Central Florida.  I will provide some pictures, basic information, and where these animals can be found.  The natural world often gets lost among all the animatronics and roller coasters, and the real gators are so much better than the robotic ones on The Jungle Cruise.

Review: Turtle Trek at SeaWorld Orlando

For the first time in years, the theme park wars are heating up in Orlando.  Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a huge hit, with an all but confirmed expansion starting construction soon.  Disney World's New Fantasyland quickly approaches partial completion, and Avatar Land at Animal Kingdom shows signs of initial planning and development.  In contrast to the roller coasters and thrill rides added steadily over the last 14 years, SeaWorld Orlando is bringing the focus back on attractions that educate and entertain.

Turtle Trek is the first addition, a 360 3D film experience that replaces the former manatee and sea turtle exhibits.  The attraction is enclosed in a nicely themed building evoking both waves and the flippers of the titular sea turtles.  The queue itself is nothing spectacular and slightly deceptive in length, but there is some nice landscaping and a good amount of shade.

30X2 or How the Best Laid Plans Go Awry

When I moved down to Orlando, I managed to achieve a childhood dream.  I was away from Indiana, living less than an hour away from the Happiest Place on Earth (copyright Disney, do not use without permission unless you want people in large costumes to break your legs).  I could see myself visiting constantly, and developed great ambitions about finally writing about one of my favorite subjects.

Nicole and I found a wonderful group of Disney devotees who met at the parks every week.  I planned to write about every attraction the group was scheduled to visit, cataloguing the entirety of Epcot in the process.  An ambitious plan at best, but a complete failure once life intruded.

First, remaining projects with work absorbed more and more of my time and creative energy.  Then, Nicole gained a steady client at work, unfortunately one that was scheduled at exactly the time our newfound Disney group met every week.  Finally, the family business for which I continued to work finally called it quits after more than a decade, requiring me to throw together many last minute projects to get by without a regular income.

Although things are far from stable yet, I decided it was time to start writing again.  My childhood dream was to live next to Disney World, my adult dream is to write about it.  It's time to make that dream come true.

Epcot 30x30: Club Cool

Club Cool, located in Future World in Epcot, seems like it should be a blight on the park, a completely random Coca Cola outpost.  Originally installed as Ice Station Cool, it seemed like a blatant example of a temporary advertising opportunity, featuring a small mountain of faux ice and even a frozen caveman clutching a bottle of Coca Cola.  After years of sticking out like a bizarre extension of Blizzard Beach in Epcot, the Ice Station closed to re-open as the exact same thing, just re-named to Club Cool with the frosty overlay removed.

75% of the supposed attraction is awful.  Half the space is devoted to a Coca Cola store featuring uninspired Coke branded merchandise.  There's a soda fountain selling overpriced Coke ICEEs.