food IS a theme park
If you’ve ever wanted to own your own theme park ride, now’s your chance! First, meet the Edaville Family Theme Park. Take a good look at that map — you could own a piece of theme park history!
©Edaville
Later this month, Edaville Family Theme Park — located in Massachusetts — will hold an auction of several of its attractions. The park was recently sold to new ownership, so it’s time for a little theme park refresh!
Let’s just say this weekend has been…EPIC.
We finally got a chance to explore Universal Orlando’s new theme park, Epic Universe. We’ve been running all over Super Nintendo World, as well as How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk, Celestial Park, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic. We also got to get our first really good look at Dark Universe, including the INCREDIBLE Monsters Unchained ride. Well, there was something about that ride that REALLY impressed us that we haven’t talked about yet: the lockers.
We here at DFB obviously enjoy theme parks.
TRON Lightcycle / Run
We’ll never turn down a trip to a Disney World park or say no to a day at Universal Orlando. Thrill rides, park food, and the exciting environment at a theme park are things we thoroughly enjoy. But what if that theme park is made up of rides featuring a popular video game that kids and adults have grown to love? Yep, we’ll probably enjoy that, too! This is why we’re excited about this new theme park announcement!
WHAT is going on with the crowds in Disney World?
Entrance to EPCOT
During the Q3 earnings call in August of 2024, Disney revealed that demand for its domestic parks had been “flat.” (CEO Bob Iger had actually predicted that attendance would go down.) One Disney executive explained that higher-income consumers are traveling internationally more, while lower-income consumers are feeling a little bit of stress. Disney also warned that there could be a continuation of those trends in terms of the “top line.” So just what’s happening with the crowds now? Has demand gone up or down since we last heard from Disney? We’ve got an update.
What is going on with the theme park that previous Disney Imagineers are building?
©American Heartland
We have been keeping an eye out for any updates about American Heartland, a theme park being built in Oklahoma. This new theme park, which has a team of former Disney Imagineers working on it, has been dubbed the Disneyland of Oklahoma. It is set to cost around $2 billion and will span 1,000 acres, including a 125-acre theme park, a water park, a large RV park with cabins, a dinner theatre, an amphitheater, a swimming pool, and a clubhouse. The park was expected to open in 2026, but it seems that the opening date will be pushed back.
Could a new theme park still be in the works in Oklahoma?
©American Heartland
Universal has two projects in the works: Epic Universe at Universal Orlando and a new experience being built in Texas. But there is also another theme park that was in the process of being built in Oklahoma. What makes this $2 billion theme park and resort and project so unique? Well, it is being built by former Disney Imagineers!
Universal has been making great progress on their new Epic Universe theme park which is expected to open in Orlando in 2025. Lots of rides have been testing and we have gotten LOTS of details about what to expect in each of the themed lands.
Epic Universe ©Universal
If building one new theme park isn’t enough, Universal has also been toying with the idea of building a brand-new theme park in the United Kingdom. This plan has been brewing for a bit, but we just got an update on the status!
We’re gearing up for one of the BIGGEST theme park events in Orlando…the opening of a NEW park!
This new theme park is huge!
Universal Orlando is set to open Universal Epic Universe in 2025 and we can’t wait to be there! We don’t have an official opening date yet, but Universal has already shared details about several of the lands, rides, restaurants, and offerings coming to the park. But what about the tickets? Well, we’ve got some news!
Universal has been dreaming BIG recently, and working to turn those dreams into a reality.
Shrek and Donkey and Fiona!
First, we saw Universal open Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood. We also saw a NEW DreamWorks land just open at Universal Studios Florida. Of course, we can’t talk about BIG dreams without mentioning Epic Universe, Universal Orlando’s ambitious third theme park. But Universal is also working on a big project ACROSS the pond and recently revealed a plan to build a theme park in the U.K.
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