The Gist

Florida Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio push bill to repeal order keeping cruise ships from sailing

By Alex Galbraith on April 14, 2021 at 11:35AM

“Florida is a tourism state with thousands of jobs relying on the success of our ports, cruise lines and maritime industries,” Scott said in a press release. “While many sectors of the economy have been safely operating for months under CDC guidelines, Floridians, and those across the nation that rely on the cruise industry for work, continue to wait for updated guidance from the CDC.”

Disney Parks announce rule changes that would allow cast members to show tattoos, piercings

By Alex Galbraith on April 13, 2021 at 3:19PM

"The world is changing, and we will change with it, and continue to be a source of joy and inspiration for all the world," D'Amaro wrote. "We’ll never stop working to make sure that Disney is a welcoming place for all.

Gleaming pylons are part of the new fountain in development at the base of Spaceship Earth in EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort.

Pandemic or not, Disney is hard at work on fixing Epcot

By Ken Storey on April 13, 2021 at 2:56PM

With the Play Pavilion replacing the former Wonders of Life pavilion and the new Festival Center indefinitely postponed, that leaves few options on where to host festival events. Disney may be dusting off other plans to help address this.

Universal Orlando is about to open a cool new roller coaster. A glimpse at their other parks hints at what might come next

By Ken Storey on April 13, 2021 at 2:45PM

A move to update Seuss Landing may also include the remains of Lost Continent, which was cut in half with the opening of the original Wizarding World land. Lost Continent is also home to a currently unused amphitheater and an indoor attraction.

Amway Center hopes to be open at 100% capacity in August

By Alex Galbraith on April 12, 2021 at 11:34AM

Florida coming out of lockdown is a little different than most places, if only because the state barely locked down to begin with. So, while we're not coming up from underground, blinking our eyes to adjust to the light in the strange, new world, it's still exciting to see venues, tours and other aspects of life coming back online.

Concept art for 2021 Horror drive-thru adventure

Drive-thru haunted attraction from Halloween Horror Nights veteran returns to Kissimmee

By Melissa Perez-Carrillo on April 12, 2021 at 9:32AM

Scream n' Stream started as a pandemic necessity, but its not ending that way. The drive-through haunted house announced it's returning for a second year this fall.

Sanford's St Johns River Festival of the Arts returns from pandemic lull for 10th anniversary

By Sierra Williams on April 8, 2021 at 5:01PM

The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts is back for its tenth anniversary. Art lovers of all kinds can gather in Historic Downtown Sanford for the festival.

History Center staffer at work on the 'Yesterday This Was Home' exhibit

Support the next generation of women in museums and archives by donating to the History Center's 'HERstory' internship fund

By Matthew Moyer on April 8, 2021 at 3:30PM

The Orange County Regional History Center is holding a fundraiser for the next few weeks to help foster the next generation of women historians, researchers and archivists. The new HERstory: Women in History Internship Fund seeks to give women interested in careers in "public history, history, public administration, education and museums" a boost through paid internship opportunities at the History Center.

Walt Disney World has program to vaccinate employees on-site

By Alex Galbraith on April 7, 2021 at 3:19PM

“Sending a big thanks to our amazing Walt Disney World Health Services team as they provide Cast with another option to receive a COVID-19 vaccination,” he wrote. “We are so pleased to help Central Florida in its continued fight to beat the virus!

Mayhem on Mills to celebrate 2nd anniversary (again) with night of brawls at Carlotta's Culture Park

By Alex Galbraith on April 7, 2021 at 2:54PM

The waterways are clear, birds are singing and body slams are coming back to Carlotta's Culture Park. Nature is healing, and so on, and so on.

Universal Studios unveils 'Jurassic World'-themed VelociCoaster, sets opening date for June

By Alex Galbraith on April 7, 2021 at 2:15PM

– Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly newsletters, and consider supporting this free publication. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you Central Florida news, and every little bit helps.

Orlando performance artist Brian Feldman says 'hey' to St. Pete art lovers for 75 days

By Matthew Moyer on April 6, 2021 at 5:06PM

Orlando performance artist and arch-conceptualist Brian Feldman has announced his next gallery installation, and though it's not in the City Beautiful, it's worth the drive to St. Pete's Morean Arts Center. As part of the ongoing Juicy group exhibition of emerging Florida artists, Feldman's durational project hey will be ongoing at the Arts Center from April 10-June 24.

Toys R Us could be plotting a theme park

By Ken Storey on April 5, 2021 at 4:36PM

After a failed comeback last year, Toys R Us may have a return plan that’s bigger than ever. Like other physical stores, the 73-year-old toy store chain struggled as consumer tastes and shopping patterns changed.

A background photo on the Walt Disney Imagineering website showing what is believed to be a Spaceship Earth brainstorming design session

Disney Imagineers may be planning pop-up experiences in a dead mall near you

By Ken Storey on April 5, 2021 at 4:15PM

With buying habits quickly change, many retail centers around the nation are struggling. Disney itself has begun scaling back the number of Disney stores it operates. Many mall operators have turned to temporary pop-up experiences, like the ones Disney is now rumored to be developing, as a solution to draw crowds back to the malls.

Disney announces dates for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

By Melissa Perez-Carrillo on April 2, 2021 at 1:50PM

Disney has announced the dates for Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival along with details on Ratatouille-themed food events. According to a post on Disney's official blog, the festival will begin on July 15 and will feature the return of global marketplaces, including Canada, Greece, Germany, Hops and Barley, Appleseed Orchard and others.

Orlando director Jeremy Seghers to stage an immersive version of U.K. theater sensation 'The Woman in Black' in June

By Matthew Moyer on April 2, 2021 at 10:12AM

Orlando's Jeremy Seghers — who we last checked in with back in August during his outdoors staging of The Bacchae in an airport field — has announced that his next production will be an immersive version of The Woman in Black. The original Woman in Black by Stephen Mallatratt (from a 1983 novel by Susan Hill) has gained somewhat legendary distinction for a 30-year run on London's West End, though there's also the little matter of it being hailed as an "ingenious ghost story."

Will's Pub, Lil Indie and Dirty Laundry, located on North Mills Road, jointly host the new Faire of the Dog market every second Saturday of the month.

Faire of the Dog market returns to Will's Pub on April 10

By Sierra Williams on April 1, 2021 at 2:17PM

– Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly newsletters, and consider supporting this free publication. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you Central Florida news, and every little bit helps.

Julia is a 4-year-old muppet with autism. She was added to the 'Sesame Street' cast in 2015.

It's time to meet a Muppet: Sesame Street's Julia coming to SeaWorld for Autism Acceptance Month

By Alex Galbraith on April 1, 2021 at 12:50PM

Sesame Street Land was a bit of a pilot project for SeaWorld's upcoming park in San Diego. Though the opening date has been postponed to 2022 amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the primary-colored offshoot of SeaWorld was a proof-of-concept for a larger kid's park out west.

Peter Rabbit gets into trouble in one of the illustrations for Mad Cow Theatre's 'Bedtime Tales of Long Ago.'

Mad Cow Theatre's latest show takes storytime to cyberspace

By Alex Galbraith on April 1, 2021 at 12:02PM

– Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly newsletters, and consider supporting this free publication. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you Central Florida news, and every little bit helps.

Cruise lines are booking trips for this summer, in spite of CDC order

By Alex Galbraith on March 30, 2021 at 1:49PM

– Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly newsletters, and consider supporting this free publication. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you Central Florida news, and every little bit helps.

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» topic: The Gist

Florida Senators Rick Scott, Marco Rubio push bill to repeal order keeping cruise ships from sailing

Disney Parks announce rule changes that would allow cast members to show tattoos, piercings

Pandemic or not, Disney is hard at work on fixing Epcot

Universal Orlando is about to open a cool new roller coaster. A glimpse at their other parks hints at what might come next

Amway Center hopes to be open at 100% capacity in August

Drive-thru haunted attraction from Halloween Horror Nights veteran returns to Kissimmee

Sanford's St Johns River Festival of the Arts returns from pandemic lull for 10th anniversary

Support the next generation of women in museums and archives by donating to the History Center's 'HERstory' internship fund

Walt Disney World has program to vaccinate employees on-site

Mayhem on Mills to celebrate 2nd anniversary (again) with night of brawls at Carlotta's Culture Park

Universal Studios unveils 'Jurassic World'-themed VelociCoaster, sets opening date for June

Orlando performance artist Brian Feldman says 'hey' to St. Pete art lovers for 75 days

Toys R Us could be plotting a theme park

Disney Imagineers may be planning pop-up experiences in a dead mall near you

Disney announces dates for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Orlando director Jeremy Seghers to stage an immersive version of U.K. theater sensation 'The Woman in Black' in June

Faire of the Dog market returns to Will's Pub on April 10

It's time to meet a Muppet: Sesame Street's Julia coming to SeaWorld for Autism Acceptance Month

Mad Cow Theatre's latest show takes storytime to cyberspace

Cruise lines are booking trips for this summer, in spite of CDC order

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