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It's not long now until the inaugural runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend beginning March 31, at Walt Disney World, and the route has revealed a surprise. The exciting news is the route for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler will go through two lands no runDisney race has ever gone through before, runners will be running through Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The 10-miler race will start in the EPCOT parking lot, head through EPCOT, and then towards Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests will then run past The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to the other side of the park, approaching the 4-mile mark between Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. The route then takes runners out of the park and back towards EPCOT. The runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend is sold out, EXCEPT the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler, so you still have time to register, and enjoy, or endure this unique run!

Marketplace Snacks in Disney Springs has a new menu from today. Previously soft serve, and dole whips were available here, but with them now available at the new Swirls on the Water kiosk, Marketplace Snacks has a new menu. Now with a limited menu, Marketplace Snacks only offers two varieties of Bubble Waffles. The Salted Caramel Bubble Waffle is topped with Chocolate Ice Cream, Pretzel Pieces, Whipped Cream, Salted Caramel, and Chocolate Crisp Pearls and Caramel Sauce, while the Strawberry & Cream Bubble Waffle is topped with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate crisp pearls Both varieties are priced at $8.99, we can't wait to try, can't decide which one, might have to order both!

The collaboration we've been waiting for is finally here! Lilly Pulitzer joins the Disney Parks Collection family today, and all we can say is.... take our money!! You've possibly seen select Lilly Pulitzer styles before in the Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World Resort, but launching today on shopDisney and at various locations at Walt Disney World Resort (and Disneyland Resort), along with Lilly Pulitzer’s store in Disney Springs on April 14, is a brand-new line of fun, Florida-themed, accessories and apparel which we are so excited to get our hands on this spring. The Lilly Pulitzer brand is known for its vibrant, colorful, Floridian lifestyle prints, and this collaboration with Disney is no different. Tropical flowers, fruit elements, and gentle strokes of a watercolor brush were used to develop this fantastically fun “Lilly Loves Disney” print featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Cinderella Castle (look closely and you may even find some hidden Mickeys). Watch this video to see the making of the design yourself! Here is closer look at some of the collection The Sophie Dress features the “Lilly Loves Disney” print in a best-selling style, with UPF 50+ protection for sunnier days and ¾-length sleeves making it perfect for those cool summer nights. Next up is the Buttercup Short, great for slipping on over your favorite swimsuit or a sunny walk in the Disney Parks. Oh, and perfect for Flower and Garden seasons the long-sleeved Finn Top, featuring Mickey on the bottom left corner. We love the accessories too! The Bahia Backpack and Run Around Hat are fabulously chic! This Florida classic collection is available at shopDisney, Walt Disney World Resort, and Disneyland Resort today, while stocks last.

According to Disney, the height requirement for the brand new attraction Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be 42″. Coming to EPCOT this summer, Guardians of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a family coaster attraction, where you begin your adventure touring the Galaxarium, a planetarium like exhibition showcasing the similarities and differences between Xander and Earth's galaxies. You'll even get to discover some of the incredible wonders of Xander and learn and learn about their technology. Just as you are about to reach the end of the tour, everything goes wrong, and you are called into action to help the Guardians of the Galaxy. This family friendly attraction features the first ever reverse launch on a Disney coaster, and is one of the longest enclosed coasters in the world. A new innovation from Walt Disney Imagineering, this coaster rotates 360 degrees so you get t0 focus on the action at all times! Here’s is a comparison between the height requirement for Guardians of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and other thrill rides with height requirements in Walt Disney World. Space Mountain – 44″ Expedition Everest – 44″ Avatar Flight of Passage – 44″ Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – 42″ Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 40″ Splash Mountain – 40″ Mission: SPACE – 40″ Star Tours – 40″ Rise of the Resistance – 40″ Tower of Terror – 4

The highly anticipated Iron Gwazi roller coaster now officially open to the public at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Iron Gwazi, Busch Gardens’ 10th coaster actually finished construction in 2020, but its opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iron Gwazi is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's 10th coaster, and actually finished construction in 2020, but its opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction, the newest addition at Busch Gardens is a wood and steel hybrid coaster design, combining the innovation of a steel coaster and the nostalgia of a wooden coaster. The original dual-tracked wooden coaster Gwazi was closed back in 2015, RMC was contracted to transfigure Gwazi into a hybrid, using some of the original structure, and yes, while elements of Gwazi, the classic wooden coaster, are integrated into the ride, all-new thrill components and a reimagined track layout take Iron Gwazi to a whole different level. Iron Gwazi plunges riders from a 206 foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour. Riders on Iron Gwazi will experience a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, as they sink their teeth into crocodile-inspired thrills. Standing at a very high 206 feet tall and featuring RMC's innovative Ibox track, Iron Gwazi operates with two trains seating 24 riders, and wow, it's a beautiful sight to behold. Iron Gwazi is America's tallest hybrid roller coaster, and gives an exhilarating ride while experiencing a 206-foot-tall peak down a 91-degree drop, a dozen airtime moments and a top speed of 76 miles per hour. Additionally, it is composed of more than 4,000 feet of steel track, including three inversions. You really gotta ride this coaster soon!

According to rumors, Disney is getting ready to bring back the Minnie Van service to Walt Disney World. Minnie Vans, we're essentially a Taxi/Uber service available throughout the resort. The service was owned and operated by Disney, with Cast Members driving you to your destination. The popular Minnie Vans debuted back in July 2017, but they were suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 restrictions, and have never returned to service. Many thought the Mini Vans would never return, but Disney has always insisted that the service was simply on hold. Now, sources have indicated that Disney is in the process of hiring Cast Members to bring the service back to Walt Disney World. Please remember this is only a rumor, and it's not happening until Disney confirms it!

Tom’s Watch Bar, a high-end sports bar concept from Smashburger founder Tom Ryan, is the first occupant of the top-floor space at the Hollywood Plaza entertainment complex and garage on International Drive. The new sports bar, which already has locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and Denver, could be open as soon as late 2022. The space includes a rooftop patio area, ample parking and unobstructed visibility from Interstate 4. The soon-to-open Orlando site is going to be unique. Owner Tom Ryan commented “It’s 10 stories above International Drive, so it’s got great views of Disney, great views of Universal at night. We love outdoor seating and bars, so we’re going to light up the top of that structure and make it a beacon for everybody.” The new Tom's Watch Bar will feature Top Golf simulators and several other entertainment features, and its calendar, once open, will feature a variety of watch parties and events. The menu in the new sports bar will include traditional sports bar staples such as burgers and wings but also sushi-grade tuna towers and poke bowls. Ryan said “We do consider ourselves an entertainment-based concept versus just a bar and restaurant that shows sport.” This sounds life a great addition to International Drive, and we cannot wait to try it once it opens!

Island H2O Water Park in Kissimmee is now open for the 2022 season, just in time for Spring Break! The water park is located next to Margaritaville Resort Orlando! Island H20 features more than 20 experiences, including several exhilarating drop slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, a children’s area to ensure fun for the whole. Island H2O combines refreshing family fun with cutting-edge technology to provide guests with a unique, immersive and interactive experience. Take a journey on a lazy river, float in a wave pool, splash in an area for kids, play together in an interactive splash zone, challenge body and tube slides, compete on racing slides, take a spin on giant raft rides, and relax in the adult pool or a private cabana. Riders customize their ride experience by selecting music and lighting for a number of attractions using a state-of-the-art wristband system. Selfie stations, video booths and on-ride photos capture images and video to share on social media. Island H2O is completely interactive, with games and experiences that let you earn points to use toward food and merchandise discounts. The park also offers a choice of comfortable cabanas. Choose from three luxury cabana options, Standard, Cabana Suite, and Adult. Team members provide full service to cabana guests. Enjoy everything from a tasty frozen beverage to an entire meal in your cabana. Cabanas include a mini-fridge with with 4 bottles of water, a safe, charging station, a table, chairs, and chaise loungers. Commenting ahead of this year's opening, Island H20 general manager Kim Kuanu said “Even with the challenges the pandemic presented, last year was our best year yet,” “We know the quality family time and unforgettable experiences are more important that ever, so we look forward to an even better year helping to create special memories for our guests and their families.” Health and safety remain the parks top priority, hand sanitizing stations can be found throughout the park, along with signs encouraging guests and employees to wash their hands frequently, and cover their coughs and sneezes. All of the park’s water goes through a UV light and filtration process, assuring a clean, health-conscious experience. Tickets are priced at $64.99 per adult, $54.99 for seniors ages 62 and up and children ages three and up, and Season Passes are $79.99 per person. Online ticket purchase in advance of a visit is highly encouraged, as are cashless payments while in the park. Visitors can save $5 per ticket by purchasing in advance.

Great news! AREA15, the immersive art and entertainment district in Las Vegas, have announced plans to bring its award-winning concept to Orlando. The new location is expected to open in 2024 and will be located in the heart of the city’s tourist corridor, just off I-4 between I-Drive and Walt Disney World. The Orlando entertainment venue will feature a spectacular 300,000-square-foot building which will be home to a range of attractions, art installations, retail offerings, restaurants, bars, and more, all under one roof. Since opening in Las Vegas, AREA15 has launched 20 attractions and experiences. It welcomed almost 2 million visitors in the first year alone. As well as welcoming guests of all ages to enjoy a range of attractions, art installations, retail offerings, restaurants and bars, and more, all under one roof. AREA15 will also host events, art exhibitions, nightlife and shows. A massive robot called Mechan 11 has planted a flag in the field along I-4, just north of the Vineland Premium Outlets, where the new AREA15 development will be located. “AREA15 was built for today’s social dynamics,” says Winston Fisher, AREA15 CEO. “Sophisticated consumers are gravitating toward artful new forms of entertainment where the lines between commerce and the experience economy blur" He continued "AREA15 Orlando is the ideal city for our second location, providing an ecosystem where innovative design, best-in-class attractions, integrated storytelling, monumental art installations, extraordinary technology and distinctive retail thrive together.” AREA15’s chief creative officer, Michael Beneville, adds: “AREA15 looks forward to cultivating a collaborative spirit with Orlando’s creative community, as well as adding a distinctive new destination within the city’s world-famous tourism corridor. We’re all immensely energized by the possibilities our Orlando development offers.” The prime location for the new AREA15 sits just across the I-4 from the O-Town West development. The nearby Daryl Carter Parkway will also eventually have a full interchange with I-4, allowing for more direct access to the site, which is located nicely between Disney World and Universal Orlando. With AREA15 Orlando not due to open until 2024, don't forget about the massive Mechan 11 robot, standing guard over the site, give him a wave and say hi everytime you pass him on the I-4!

Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley has shared more details and images from inside the load station at the soon to open 'Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind' at EPCOT. In his Instagram post, Riddley said “One of the ways that we help tell the story is by infusing details into all the various functional items that make up an attraction and this one is no different.” Regarding the rides load gates, he said “Angular designs, striking use of colors, and materials all help tell the story of a Nova Corps facility. The railings, station gates and floor markings (yes, the floor is pretty cool too) are all used to convey the experience in ways that might not be as obvious or apparent, but every detail is a choice that supports our story. Seen in these new close-up images of our station gates have a weight and scale to them to help convey the industrial nature of the area. Handrails made from stainless steel give a sturdy and durable feel and show the precision craftsmanship of the Nova Corps.” He also went on to highlight the presence of Nova Corps insignias and imagery inside the attraction, including a prominent illuminated logo of the Nova Corps. In the images you can also see a smaller Star Blaster in the queue area. The more we see of this attraction, the more we're getting excited for it, and we cannot wait to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind when it opens this summer!

The popular ESPN Club on Disney's BoardWalk which has been temporarily closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic will not be re-opening, and is now permanently closed. Disney have announced that major upgrades are coming to the BoardWalk area over the next few years, and this includes a brand new table service restaurant and bakery, The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers It's believed that the ESPN Club will be the location for this new restaurant. ESPN Club opened at Walt Disney World in July 1996 and offered classic American pub cuisine, sports entertainment and shopping, along with live tv coverage of sporting events.

Starting March 22, TUI's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner filled with excited tourists from the United Kingdom will fly into Melbourne Orlando International Airport, with officials projecting the worldwide travel giant bringing 135,000 passengers into Melbourne by the end of 2022. With most passengers heading straight to the theme parks and attractions of Orlando, TUI switching from the much closer to Orlando, Sanford Orlando International Airport to Melbourne is a challenge for TUI, as their regular visitors to the sunshine state will be used to arriving much closer to Orlando. Plus, for Space Coast business leaders, the question is how they can lure these passengers to spend any amount of time, and their money in the local area. Tammy McKenzie who is in charge of the TUI Group's “Project Melbourne" commented "I have colleagues that have come over to Melbourne, and they've been out by the beach there. Yes, the beach is absolutely amazing — but it's quite residential," "If our customers come here, how will they know what's offered? Where will they know to go? And that's going to be the really key part for Melbourne now, and for the Space Coast," McKenzie said. "It's making sure that the Brits know about Melbourne," McKenzie went on to say Melbourne offers TUI two key strategic advantages: nearby beaches and uncongested access to I-Drive. After switching from Sanford to Melbourne, McKenzie said TUI will market the Space Coast to European travelers along these lines: “Melbourne treats visitors to the more authentic side of Florida, and a place to retreat and relax from the chaos of I-Drive.” McKenzie said TUI has been working the past few months with Cocoa Beach hoteliers on packaging overnight stays with Brevard activities: think beachgoing, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, deep-sea fishing, seafood dining and shopping. For example, she said TUI passengers could rent a car and spend consecutive nights along the Space Coast, which could be particularly attractive for Port Canaveral cruisers, and with this in mind, U.K. cruise line Marella Cruises, a division of TUI, will itself launch cruises from Port Canaveral next summer. Destinations will include New York, New Orleans, Charleston, South Carolina, Key West, and the Caribbean. TUI agreed a seven-year contract in 2020 to move its Central Florida gateway operations from Orlando Sanford International Airport to Melbourne. Since then, construction crews have been racing to complete a massive $72 million overhaul of Melbourne's passenger terminal to ensure it can accommodate TUI's aircraft and the large influx of international passengers. All works will be completed in in time to welcome TUI's inaugural flight from the U.K. which will be from Manchester, England on March 22. Rob Himler, Melbourne Orlando International Airport spokesman said TUI will operate 11 weekly flights throughout April from eight U.K. regional airports. Each flight will carry between 300 to 345 passengers. Moving into the busy summer months, flights will increase to 16 weekly flights The Space Coast Office of Tourism has earmarked $200,000 for initial marketing aimed at the influx of TUI passengers. With most TUI passengers spending between 10 to 14 days on their Florida vacations, Melbourne Main Street Executive Director Kim Agee said she hopes they return to Melbourne for the last two days of their trips. “We’re hoping they will stay in our local hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. And that they will come into downtown and shop and play and live and explore, and do all the things that we have to offer," Agee said. TUI Flight Schedule: Here is the details for the TUI flights as they prepare to fly from a large number of U.K. locations into Melbourne. Birmingham Flights from Birmingham (BHX/EGBB) will operate up to 3 times per week. Bristol Twice-weekly flight will operate from Bristol (BRS/EGGD). Doncaster Sheffield A once weekly flight will operate from Doncaster Sheffield (DSA/EGCN). Edinburgh A once weekly flight will also operate from Edinburgh (EDI/EGPH). Glasgow Glasgow (GLA/EGPF) will also have a once weekly flight. London Gatwick London Gatwick (LGW/EGKK) will have twice-weekly flights. Newcastle Twice weekly flights will operate from Newcastle (NCL/EGNT). Manchester Manchester (MAN/EGCC) will see the most flights with up to five weekly flights.