Because I know you love hearing about these things, here's the scoop on Disney's latest "VIP Experience." For just $399 per person (not including theme park tickets, of course), you can enjoy the Ultimate Day VIP Tour of the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. It's a six-and-a-half-hour private, guided tour of Epcot and select Festival events, including Champagne in the Festival VIP lounge, a tapas lunch, VIP seating for an Eat to the Beat concert, and reserved seating for IllumiNations. Because of the free-flowing booze, the tour is restricted to guests 21 and older, and the tour runs on selected Thursdays and Sundays during the Festival. Call +1-407-WDW-TOUR to book, then take plenty of photos to post on a trip report for the rest of us jealous souls here on the site.
It looks like the attendance numbers are going up at Disney's Animal Kingdom — well, they are up by one, at least. The park welcomed a newborn gorilla on Aug. 7. The yet-to-be-named male was born to mother Azizi and father Gino. Here he is with mom, waiting in the Baby Swap area while Gino rides Expedition Everest. Replacing the broken Yeti with live gorillas on the train was a stroke of genius, I say.
Over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, we're hearing that the American Idol Experience will close at the end of this month, instead of in early 2015, as originally reported. We're also hearing that the American Film Institute display at the exit of the Studio Tour is closing by the end of the month, as well. The park has extended the Frozen special event through the end of September, however. With Star Wars Land slated for the park, one hopes that J.J. Abrams will continue to resist Disney's attempts to convince him to write Arendelle into the Star Wars universe simply so that Disney can transform the Studios park into the Ultimate Cash Cow. We kid. (We hope.)
By the way, if you're visiting Busch Gardens Tampa this week, and see Falcon's Fury open to the public, please let us know. Employees have been seen on the ride and we're hoping for a public opening soon. Update: We've heard that the ride opened this afternoon. Let's hear some reviews!
Let's close this update with a question from a reader, which stumped me: "To your knowledge is the spitting camel outside of Aladdin's Magic Carpets controlled by a cast member, or is it random? The debate rates in my family." I always assumed that the spitting was automatic, but I realize now that I don't know for certain. Can any Theme Park Insider readers provide a definitive answer? Thanks in advance.
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When they flip you up to face down, you are still going up. Then it holds for a few seconds and drops. It's not as bad as it seems. I prefer it to tower of terror for sure.
.... random!
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Great they close all these amazing entertainment options at the Disney Studios. This park went from doing TT and RnR to...well nothing changed.