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Author Archives: Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

Universal Quietly Reopens Entire Long-Shuttered Land After Half a Decade

The globe at the Universal Studios Japan entrance

Even in a landscape dominated by Minions, monsters, and Mario, one familiar beagle is making headlines again. Universal Studios Japan has quietly pulled off something unexpected this week: it reopened an entire themed land that had sat largely dormant since the pandemic. While major attention has gone to bigger expansions—like the flashy debut of Epic Universe in Orlando or the ...

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Report: SeaWorld Tradition “Must Come to an End” After Years

Two orcas leap out of the water at SeaWorld San Diego

For decades, SeaWorld has attracted visitors with its signature mix of marine animals and family entertainment. But in recent years, that formula has started to crack under pressure. The 2013 documentary Blackfish ignited a global conversation about animal welfare, forcing SeaWorld to phase out its orca breeding program and reevaluate the future of captive animal shows. Now, a new battle ...

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Florida Theme Parks Face Major Changes as Animals Go up for Sale

Trainers on stage during a dolphin show at Gulf World Marine Park

What was once considered family-friendly entertainment is now increasingly viewed through a more critical lens. In the years since Blackfish turned public attention toward the treatment of orcas in captivity, American audiences have become far less forgiving of theme parks that rely on marine mammals for shows and exhibits. SeaWorld Orlando, long the focus of animal rights protests, has seen ...

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Disney Needs To Stop Pushing the ‘Next Generation’

Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker

What do Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Pirates of the Caribbean all have in common? They’re all Disney franchises, they all rake in billions – and they’re all obsessed with continuing their legacy by introducing the “next generation.” While Disney is reportedly now considering rebooting Indiana Jones, it seemed to be taking a different track with the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial ...

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Report: ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot Will Not Cast New Lord Voldemort

Voldemort in his final battle against Harry in the 'Deathly Hallows'

Filming for HBO’s reboot of Harry Potter is now officially underway – but don’t expect to hear news about Voldemort 2.0 anytime soon. Two years after it was initially announced, production for the Harry Potter TV series began on Monday. With rumors suggesting that filming for both Season 1 and Season 2 will occur back-to-back, we’ve received a flurry of casting announcements ...

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Guests Bite, Vomit, and Collapse as Disney World’s Drinking Problem Continues

Two hands clinking wine glasses in the foreground with Epcot’s illuminated geodesic sphere, Spaceship Earth, glowing in purple and blue lights at night in the background.

For some guests, the greatest attraction at EPCOT isn’t Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Soarin’, Spaceship Earth, or Frozen Ever After – it’s Drinking Around the World. An informal challenge, the idea behind Drinking Around the World is that you, well, drink. Participants start at one end of World Showcase before working their way around and drinking a different alcoholic beverage from ...

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Disneyland Paris Enacts Controversial Alcohol Policy for Theme Park Guests

A bustling day at disneyland with visitors enjoying the view of the iconic fairy tale castle.

Gone are the days when alcohol was a rarity at Disney parks. Over the years, alcoholic beverages have become increasingly available across the company’s theme parks worldwide. At one location, however, guests must follow a surprising policy. While other non-castle parks have sold alcohol for a while, it took over 60 years for stiff drinks to hit menus at Disneyland ...

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‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ Are (Apparently) Set in the Same World

Harry talking to the snake in 'Sorcerer's Stone'

Two of the most beloved children’s series of all time are connected – or so thinks one super sleuth fan. There are a lot of similarities between JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. Both series tell stories of good versus evil in a fantasy, magical setting – complete with witches, mythical creatures, and a few deep ...

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Disney Park Ends In-Park Sales of Merch To Tackle Crowds

Disney merch in store at Shanghai Disneyland

Shanghai Disneyland is no stranger to long lines, but few expected the merchandise release earlier this month to spark a near-total system breakdown. With queues stretching overnight, hotel rooms booked for early entry, and resellers flooding the resale market within hours, the debut of the Summer Ocean Party line—featuring beloved character Duffy and Friends—brought the park’s merchandise operation to a ...

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