Epic Universe marks one year: Jeff Polk reflects on what worked and what's next. Plus Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift's 170-ft spike rises, Sinners heads to HHN, and SeaWorld unveils a world-first suspended dark ride.
★ Epic Universe Turns One · June 12 · 5 min read
Florida theme parks, every single morning.
Friday · June 12 · 2026 · ⛈ 93° · Year One
★ Epic Universe Year One · Fast & Furious Construction · HHN Sinners · SeaWorld SEAQuest ★
Epic Universe Turns One — And Its GM Says the Best Is Still to Come
Universal's blockbuster new park just marked its first anniversary. Plus: Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift reaches a construction milestone, Ryan Coogler's Sinners heads to Halloween Horror Nights, and SeaWorld announces a world-first suspended dark ride for 2026.
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★ Universal · Epic Universe · One Year In
Jeff Polk on Epic Universe's First Year : Hidden Details, Guest Favorites, and What Comes Next
Universal Epic Universe just passed its one-year anniversary, and the park's Executive Vice President and General Manager Jeff Polk sat down with Orlando Informer to take stock of the milestone. In the interview, Polk opens up about hidden details guests are still discovering, which characters and lands have become guest favorites, and what the team is eyeing for the future.
Epic Universe opened in May 2025 to historic crowds and near-universal critical acclaim, becoming arguably the most significant new theme park to open in the United States in a generation. Year two will be the real test — but if the GM's tone is any indication, the team isn't slowing down.
★ Source: Orlando Informer →
★ Universal · Studios Florida · Construction Update
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Hits 170 Feet as Its Vertical Spike Takes Shape
The construction site where Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit once stood is now dominated by a towering vertical spike reaching 170 feet into the Orlando sky. Attractions Magazine has the latest photos of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift's track work , and the scale of the replacement coaster is already making a statement on the Universal Studios Florida skyline. The launch coaster's signature spike element is one of the defining visual features of the new attraction, and it's now impossible to miss from the park and surrounding areas.
★ Source: Attractions Magazine →
★ New Attractions Announced
⬤ Universal · HHN 2026
Sinners Confirmed for Halloween Horror Nights 2026
Ryan Coogler's Academy Award-winning supernatural horror film is officially coming to Universal Orlando Resort's Halloween Horror Nights 2026. Orlando Informer has the announcement — the Mississippi Delta vampire story will bring its unique blend of blues, horror, and dread to a full HHN house this fall.
⬤ SeaWorld · New Attraction 2026
SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep — A World-First Suspended Dark Ride for SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando has officially unveiled SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep, an all-new attraction described as the world's first suspended dark ride of its kind. Per Orlando Informer , guests will board vehicles suspended from above and descend into a deep-sea adventure. The ride is slated to open in 2026.
★ Disney · Hollywood Studios · Construction + Pixar
Monsters, Inc. Coaster Takes Shape at Hollywood Studios — and Pixar Just Dropped the Gatto Trailer
The "doors" suspended roller coaster that is replacing the former Muppet Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios continues to rise, with Attractions Magazine providing the latest construction update on the Monstropolis land taking shape around the ride. The coaster's unique door-themed vehicles and track layout are a major departure from anything currently at Walt Disney World.
On the screen side of Pixar's house, Pixar dropped the first trailer for Gatto — its newest original film — and the early reaction from fans has been enthusiastic. The studio's pipeline is running hot between Toy Story 5 opening next week and Gatto presumably eyeing a 2027 release.
★ Sources: Attractions Magazine · AllEars →
Baby giraffe Ivy debuts at Animal Kingdom, La Poutinerie opens at EPCOT in weeks, and the World Cup comes to CityWalk.
Disney · Animal Kingdom
Baby Giraffe Ivy Takes Her First Steps on Kilimanjaro Safaris — And Guests Are Already Charmed
Disney · EPCOT · Opening Soon
La Poutinerie Chimney Work Underway at EPCOT — Canada Pavilion Eatery Opens in Under a Month
Universal · CityWalk · World Cup
Universal CityWalk Is Hosting FIFA World Cup Watch Parties With Special Menus and Photo Ops
Disney · Walt Disney World · App
There's Been a Big Change to the My Disney Experience App — Here's What's Different
Disney · PhotoPass · Cool Kids' Summer
PhotoPass Launches Cool Kids' Summer Photo Challenge Across Walt Disney World Resort
Universal opened Epic Universe with a target on its back. One year later, the question isn't whether it worked — it's what a year two looks like for the most ambitious theme park opening in a generation.
— Park Pulse Daily — June 12, 2026
★ Weekend Orlando Outlook
Get there early — all four days hit 93°+ with afternoon storms rolling in after 2pm. Storms most likely today at 70%.
★ Rope drop through noon = dry window · Monday is your best bet for full-day touring
Coming up in the parks
SeaWorld IGNITE Fireworks & Drone Show Opens
SeaWorld Orlando's all-new summer nighttime spectacular launches tonight. Runs nightly through September 7.
Toy Story 5 Opens in Theaters
Pixar's long-awaited fifth installment arrives one week from today. Social reactions from last week's premiere have been overwhelmingly positive.
Busch Gardens Giraffe Celebration Weekend
Two days of giraffe-themed activities at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Father's Day Brunch available on June 21.
SeaWorld Fourth of July Celebration
Independence Day fireworks at SeaWorld Orlando, plus Red, White & BBQ runs through August 23.
Live-Action Moana Opens in Theaters
Tickets now on sale following this week's new trailer drop. Disney's next big summer theatrical after Toy Story 5.
Busch Gardens Bier Fest Brews & BBQ Begins
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's popular Bier Fest runs July 25 through August 30. Pin Trading Weekend kicks off the same day.
★ This Day in Park History
2021 June 12: VelociCoaster Opens at Universal's Islands of Adventure
Universal's Jurassic World VelociCoaster opened five years ago today at Islands of Adventure, instantly claiming a spot among the world's elite roller coasters. The 155-foot, 70-mph launch coaster with its top hat inversion and zero-gravity roll became a flagship attraction for the resort — and today Theme Park Insider is still calling it the best roller coaster in the world. Happy birthday, Veloci.
Watch How Soarin' Across America Was Built in the Latest Disney Unscripted Episode
Disney · Swan & Dolphin
Swan & Dolphin Marks America's 250th With Fourth of July Fireworks and Summer-Exclusive Menus
Disney · BoardWalk · America 250
DVC Members Get an Exclusive Character Dance Party at Disney's BoardWalk for America's 250th Birthday
Disney · Walt Disney World
Over 400 Alligators Have Been Removed From Walt Disney World Property in the Decade Since the 2016 Tragedy
Pixar Drops a Behind-the-Scenes Video of the Toy Story 5 Voice Cast Recording in Studio
We Tried Every New Popcorn Flavor at Universal Orlando and Ranked Them All
Attractions Magazine →
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★ SOURCES · Orlando Informer · Attractions Magazine · AllEars.net · Chip and Co · WDW News Today · Laughing Place · Theme Park Insider ★