RideRover

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay had one of its restaurants closed yesterday after a state health inspector found rodent p**p in the kitchen in multiple places. 💩 ��Zagora Cafe was closed yesterday and apparently has re-opened after re-inspection this morning. This is located centrally in the front of the park after walking in. 🍱 ��The report from the Florida Department of Business and Regulation reads “High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. 19 rodent droppings on storage floor. 1 rodent dropping on shelves in dry storage. 1 rodent dropping on can goods in dry storage. 2 droppings on kitchen floor underneath storage shelves. 2 droppings on floor underneath front counter. **Warning**” 😬 ��This is not the first rodeo where establishments have been shut down by the health inspector at Busch Gardens. Last year, Dragon Fire Grill was shut down due to numerous health violations. That one included a yellow sticker on the front door.� 🚪

Do you still eat at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or do you steer clear? We always eat after leaving the park. 💭

Want a hint about when Tropical Americas might actually open? 🏗️

Disney has extended construction permits at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the new land out to May 19, 2027, giving the project a fresh 12 month runway that lines up neatly with a summer 2027 opening target. The 11 acre Pueblo Esperanza will replace the former DinoLand U.S.A. with the first ever Encanto dark ride, an Indiana Jones Adventure inside the old DINOSAUR building, a new carousel, and a themed playground. Construction has been in full swing since Restaurantosaurus and DINOSAUR closed on February 1. ✨

One of Tomorrowland’s most overlooked buildings just came back to life at Disneyland. 🎬

Based on the Disneyland App, Disneyland plans to quietly reopen the Tomorrowland Theater this morning with the “Pixar Short Film Spotlight”, showing a rotation of animated shorts inside the venue. The reopening has arrived without a formal announcement. The theater has worn many hats since the days of Captain EO, later hosting Path of the Jedi and various Marvel preview reels before sitting dark again in recent stretches. ✨

Pixar short films feature Luxo Jr., Lou, and Smash and Grab. Will you be checking out this new offering? 💭 

Photo from Theme Park IQ 📸 


Today is a big day for Universal Orlando Resort. 🎉

Universal Epic Universe is officially one year old! The park opened on May 22, 2025 with five worlds spread across more than 100 acres: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Ministry of Magic, How to Train Your Dragon - Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. Opening day headliners Stardust Racers, Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, and Monsters Unchained have spent the year reshaping how Orlando trips get planned. 📅 

Universal is celebrating with anniversary merchandise, soundtrack releases, and a new Captain Cacao meet and greet in Celestial Park. ✨


EPCOT has soft opened Soarin’ Across America to all guests today, four days ahead of its scheduled May 26 debut. ✈️

The new bi-coastal film, created for the United States Semiquincentennial, temporarily replaces Soarin’ Around the World and takes flight over the Grand Canyon, the New England coastline, New York Harbor, the heartland, and beyond. The attraction also debuts an interactive standby queue called Soarin’ Challenge Across America, developed in partnership with National Geographic. The same overlay arrives at Disney California Adventure on July 2. 🇺🇸