Vacation season is on the horizon, and the latest news out of the theme parks sphere brings out the fun festivities just as May gets into the sizzle of things. Universal Studios Hollywood has Mega Movie Summer in store with Wicked characters becoming meet and greets outside of Fan Fest Nights. Epic Universe prepares to open its doors for guests this month in Orlando, with select preview days available to the public.
Disneyland is set to kick off its 70th anniversary celebrations next week at the Disneyland resort, while over at Walt Disney World new villainous and sea-spirited experiences await with new shows and a pirate’s shack coming soon. New themed destinations are springing up with DC Comics getting into family experiences at Gaylord hotels, and Meow Wolf Dallas has been named the “Best Location-Based Experience” by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
Find out more on this week’s theme park news!
Celebrate blockbusters with a blast through the movies that made fandom, including Steven Spielberg’s Jaws—which turns 50 this year—and Back to the Future. The iconic hanging Jaws shark photo-op will make its return with meet and greet characters playing Quint and Brody, and the DeLorean will make a stop along with meet and greets for the Amblin classic.
You’ll not only be able to meet Doc and Marty but Einstein the time-traveling dog will be there too. Additional new meet and greets include Wicked‘s Elphaba and Glinda, a new dino baby just in time for Jurassic World Rebirth, and Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon. Mega Movie Summer runs Friday, June 13 through Sunday, August 10.
A selection of themed film foods will be available for Mega Movie Summer. Here’s a listing of what’s been announced so far and where to find it:
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There’s a few more weeks left of the interactive and fandom-fueled fun at Universal Fan Fest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. Don’t miss out on meeting the Straw Hats, Wicked‘s witches, and exploring Hill Valley in a Back to the Future experience that’s out of time! Get tickets here.
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Take a look at this POV of Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, a family coaster inspired by How to Train Your Dragon at Epic Universe’s Isle of Berk. Tickets for select preview dates are still available here.
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Meow Wolf’s Grapevine, Texas outpost has been named “the best location-based experience” by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. This honor includes competition from major studio driven parks and is a win for the immersive whimsical chaos of the Meow Wolf brand. For more info visit here.
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Memorial Day weekend at Gaylord Resorts nationwide will mark the start of the brand’s foray into participatory entertainment in collaboration with DC. The official Warner Bros. partnership will include immersive experiences for those staying at select vacation resorts. A special walk-through exhibit will be featured at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, which will provide an interactive walk-through that boasts “multiple DC worlds and 40 iconic DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains in more than 1,000 glowing lanterns constructed by master artisans from Zigong, China.”
More activations at the rest of the Gaylord hotels participating in DC Summer include:
Book here.
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The Jonas Brothers will debut a new single to celebrate 70 years of Disneyland with an official album that will soundtrack the theme park’s milestone. Fans will be able to listen to their “Celebrate Happy” during a new park character cavalcade, along with new renditions of Disney faves and new original tracks starting May 16 at the Disneyland Resort. For more information visit here.
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Two new shows to beat the heat this summer in Orlando will be premiering May 27. There’s the revamped The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Villains: Unfairly Ever After at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
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At the Beak and Barrel we hope there’s no shortage of rum for the Disney adults. More looks at concept art for the lounge coming to the Magic Kingdom have been released, and it looks perfectly pirated-out. We can’t wait to see the level of interaction added to the in-park watering hole thats set to open at the end of summer. For more info visit here.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Source: Gizmodo