Farewell to KidZone; parking zone hair care; ‘Puss in Boots’ posing – Orlando Sentinel

KidZone has been a part of Common Studios theme park for many years, however there’s nonetheless lots to soak up there. And never simply from the water bucket that dumps on guests to the Curious George Goes to City attraction. 5 of its points of interest are closing later this month, so Theme Park Rangers made one final spherical with Woody Woodpecker and the previous residence of Barney the Dinosaur.

The week additionally included a fun-size film promotion at Common and weird (however not beneficial) hair styling in a theme park parking zone. Radar is a weekly roundup of Central Florida points of interest morsels and moments. It seems at OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesdays.

The tip for a 5 points of interest throughout the KidZone part of Common Studios is approaching. The ultimate day for visitors to see Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster, Curious George Goes to City, Fievel’s Playland, DreamWorks Vacation spot and Shrek & Donkey’s Meet & Greet is Jan. 15.

People with out younger youngsters or doing wellness checks of E.T. Journey most likely don’t make frequent stops within the Zone. It’s proper there within the title: These items is for kidz.

Common Orlando hasn’t introduced plans for the realm past that there will probably be “household leisure … that may immerse visitors within the adventures of beloved animated characters,” an organization information launch stated.

On a current KidZone outing, possible my last journey, it felt eerie realizing that they had been going away. At the very least they weren’t abandoned. The place was teeming with strollers and reminiscing grown-ups. I made psychological notes, questioning as I wandered.

• I hope somebody has totally video-captured Fievel’s Playland, as a result of it’s loaded with artistic makes use of of the previous theme park standby: We people are actually the dimensions of one thing small. There are lots of merchandise melded collectively to kind this play space. Youngsters can run by means of books and boots and an animal skeleton that has a slide included. Playland features a waterslide that’s extra wish to get children sprinkled than drenched. In my previous age, it is going to be good to discover KidZone through the chip in my head.
• Curious George goes to city additionally has a load of particulars within the type of a cute monkey-driven city the place one can get soaked in quite a few methods. And behind the facade, away from the water, is the two-level Ball Manufacturing facility that’s so tucked away you may name it double-secret. If one might bust by means of the again wall of Ball Manufacturing facility, they’d land within the parking zone of Onerous Rock Lodge.

• DreamWorks Vacation spot was created in pandemic instances and merges meet-and-greet alternatives with a dance get together and film trivia whereas sustaining social distancing. Whereas one isn’t nostalgic for these early days of COVID, or heaven forbid, sentimental, it’s an instance of the artistic minds and “present should go on” mentality of the instances. Plus, the area was as soon as the house of A Day within the Park With Barney, a splendidly air-conditioned attraction that closed in 2021. (Should you shut your eyes, you may hear the screaming/”I Love You, You Love Me” music.)
• The Woody Woodpecker coaster is a type of gateway points of interest to severe thrill rider standing. Plus, it comes with Woody’s trademark cackle. Right here I puzzled if it could possibly be repurposed to a extra modern character. However I additionally puzzled if its time was up. The journey opened in 1999, the identical yr as Islands of Journey’s Unimaginable Hulk Coaster (wholly rebuilt in 2015-2016) and Dueling Dragons (now dismantled and the positioning of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Bike Journey at IOA).
• Shrek & Donkey haven’t been KidZoners lengthy, migrating from the park’s Sundown Boulevard after Shrek 4-D closed final January. There’s often a great queue of oldsters ready to fulfill them, and Donkey’s quips are high-quality. May he be one of the best interactive character within the parks? (IOA’s Enchanted Fountain could also be gurgling at that notion.)

Reminder: Different KidZone points of interest, together with E.T. Journey, “Animal Actors on Location” present, SpongeBob StorePants and KidZone Pizza Firm restaurant will keep on after Jan. 15, Common says.

It could be a mean-spirited to make a listing of individuals behaving badly in theme parks … however simple. We might make that work utilizing solely parking heaps because the settings.

Newest offense noticed: Arriving customer flings automobile door open, hops out, stands within the adjoining parking slot and dramatically applies hair spray. We’re not in opposition to grooming, however it shouldn’t maintain up site visitors. Unable to park and get on with their theme park days had been folks attempting to get into that adjoining slot and the automobile behind that, which led to a backup of impatient parkers.

After an worker inspired her to relocate, there was an “Oh, there are vehicles right here in a parking zone?” look of shock. The customer put belongings again within the automobile after which violated my No. 1 theme park parking peeve: Strolling into oncoming site visitors.

All of it falls into class of Know If You’re Blocking the Manner. Bear in mind for those who’re blocking the circulate of site visitors on the parks. We’ve received coasters to journey, with or with out good hair.

This ends the 2023 dangerous conduct rant. Repeat, repeat.

Simply to even off the karma, right here’s one thing to love. At Common Studios, there was a photograph op / backdrop to advertise “Puss in Boots: The Final Want” movie. It stands outdoors the “Animal Actors on Location” theater.

Notable is the dimensions of its cutout characters. They don’t tower over the children. Puss, Kitty Softpaws and Perrito appear to be they’re contemporaries of the youngsters. As a teen, I used to be confounded by walkaround characters who had been adult-sized when their real-life animal counterparts needs to be a lot smaller. As we speak I’m extra forgiving of proportion impropriety, however this “Puss In Boots” show is a contemporary change.

· Orange County Regional Historical past Heart’s Lunch & Study seems at 100 years of the Orlando Public Library at Friday’s session (noon-1 p.m.) There are in-person and digital choices for $5 ($14 with lunch). Extra information: thehistorycenter.org.

· The ultimate day to expertise the “Sizzling Wheels: Race to Win” exhibit at Orlando Science Heart is Sunday. It’s included with common admission. Extra information: OSC.org.

· Gatorland’s half-off admission for Florida residents continues by means of Jan. 31. Tickets have to be bought on the attraction to obtain the low cost. Extra information: Gatorland.com.

What’s in your radar? E mail me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com