Say goodbye to KidZone.Parking Lot Hair Care; Puss in Boots Posing – Orlando Sentinel

KidZone has been part of the Universal Studios theme parks for decades, but there’s still a lot to absorb. And not just from buckets of water dumped on visitors to the Curious George Goes to Town attraction. With his five of its attractions closing later this month, Theme Park Rangers played one last round at the former home of Woody Woodpecker and Bernie the Dinosaur.

The week also included fun-sized movie promotions at Universal and unusual (but discouraged) hairstyling in theme park parking lots. A weekly collection of moments. Appears on OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesday.

Five attractions within the KidZone section of Universal Studios are coming to an end. The last day guests will see Woody Woodpecker’s Nut House Coaster, Curious George Goes to Town, Fiebel’s Playland, DreamWorks Destination, and Shrek & Donkey’s Meet & Greet is his January 15th.

If you don’t have young children or are doing health checks for ET Adventures, you probably don’t stop by the Zone often. As the title says. This is for children.

Universal Orlando has not announced plans for the area beyond having “family entertainment that immerses guests in the adventures of their beloved cartoon characters,” the company’s news release said.

On a recent KidZone outing (probably my last trip), I was eerie to see them leave. At least they weren’t deserted. The store was bustling with strollers, leaving a trace of an adult. I took notes while wandering and wondering.

• I hope someone has video captured Fibel’s Playland in full, as it’s full of creative uses for old theme park standbys. There are many products fused together to form this playground. Kids can run through books, boots and animal skeletons with built-in slides. The playland has a waterslide that will keep the kids entertained by splashing rather than getting drenched. In old age, it would be nice to explore her KidZone via the chip in her head.
• Curious George Goes To Town has a lot of details in the form of a cute little monkey town that you can get drenched in different ways. There is a two-story ball factory in the back. If you manage to break through the wall behind the Ball Factory, you’ll land in the Hard Rock Hotel parking lot.

• Created in times of pandemic, DreamWorks Destination blends dance parties and movie trivia with meet and greet opportunities while maintaining social distancing. It’s not that I’m nostalgic for the early days of COVID, heaven forbid, or sentimental, but it’s an example of creative minds and the “show must go on” mentality of the times. , this space was once home to a day spent at the park with Barney, a fantastic air-conditioned attraction that will be closed in 2021. Song. )
• The Woody Woodpecker Coaster is one of the gateway attractions to true Thrill Rider status. In addition, Woody’s trademark cackle is also included. Here, I wondered if it could be diverted to a more modern character. But I also wondered if that time was over. Now demolished, it opened in the same year as IOA’s Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure site.
• Shrek and Donkey moved from the park’s Sunset Boulevard after Shrek 4-D closed last January. There is usually a long line of people waiting to see them, and Donkey’s quips are of high quality. Is he the best interactive character in the park? may be.)

Note: Other KidZone attractions, including ET Adventures, the “Animal Actors on Location” show, SpongeBob StorePants and the KidZone Pizza Company restaurant, will continue beyond January 15, Universal said.

Making a list of badly behaved people at theme parks would be mean…but easy. I was able to get it working by using only the parking lot as the setting.

The latest crime uncovered: An arriving visitor holds the car door open, jumps out, stands in an adjacent parking slot, and dramatically applies hairspray. We’re not against grooming, but it shouldn’t block traffic. Not being able to park and ride through our days at the theme park, with people trying to get into the slot next to it and the vehicle behind it, led to an impatient Parker backing up.

After an employee encourages her to move, “Oh, is there a car in the parking lot here?” The visitor put her belongings back in the car and violated my number 1 theme park parking lot: stepped into oncoming traffic.

It all falls into the category of knowing if it’s blocking the way. Be careful if you are blocking the flow of traffic in the park. With or without good hair, there are coasters you can ride.

That’s the end of the 2023 bad behavior rant. Repeat, repeat.

To level the karma, here’s what I like.At Universal Studios, we had a photo shoot/background to promote the Puss in Boots: Last Wish movie. Standing outside the “Animal Actors on Location” theater.

Of note is the size of the cutout letters. They do not tower over children. Cat, Kitty Soft Paw, and Perito look like their children’s age. As a young child, I was baffled by adult-sized walk-around his characters when their real-life animal counterparts were supposed to be much smaller. Today, I’m more tolerant of inappropriate proportions, but this “cat in boots” display is a refreshing change.

· Lunch & Learn at the Orange County Regional History Center looks back on 100 years of the Orlando Public Library in Friday sessions (noon-1pm). There are in-person and virtual options for $5 ($14 with lunch). For more information: thehistorycenter.org.

· Sunday is the last day of the Hot Wheels: Race to Win exhibit at the Orlando Science Center. Included in regular admission price. For more information: OSC.org.

· Gatorland half price admission for Florida residents continues through January 31st. Tickets must be purchased at the attraction to receive the discount. For more information: Gatorland.com.

what’s on your radar?on mail dbevil@orlandosentinel.com