Disney Dish: How Geyser Mountain Almost Replaced Tower of Terror at Disneyland Paris

Universal's Epic Universe and Disney's Tech Pivot

• 🏗️ Universal announced the resumption of construction on its Epic Universe theme park, signaling a return to large-scale physical development.
• 💻 This contrasts with Disney's strategic shift, with CEO Bob Chapek positioning the company as a tech company driven by the success of Disney+.
• 🛍️ Disney is also closing 20% of its physical stores to focus on e-commerce, further emphasizing its digital transformation.

Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival and Attraction Photos

• 🌸 The Epcot Flower & Garden Festival has begun, noted as potentially the longest one ever, running into late June or early July.
• 🎶 New background music and lighting schemes at Epcot's entrance were discussed, though overshadowed by Universal's major construction news.
• 📱 Disney is piloting a new attraction photo review feature within the My Disney Experience app, allowing guests to select and manage their ride photos digitally.

Future Disney World Deals and Merchandise

• 🏨 For late spring 2022 Walt Disney World trips, deals like free nights or dining plans are anticipated due to anticipated high hotel capacity and competition.
• 🎁 The scarcity of unique glassware and merchandise in parks is attributed to Disney's cautious approach following the overstock of 2020 merchandise and ongoing supply chain issues.
• 📦 Future merchandise orders are expected to be smaller and more generic until normal purchasing patterns reemerge.

Universal Dining Recommendations

• 🍽️ For vegetarian and vegan dining at Universal CityWalk, Antito's Mexican restaurant is highly recommended for its flavorful options like sweet potato tacos and vegetarian enchiladas.
• 🍩 Voodoo Donuts is highlighted for unique and tasty donut creations, with the 'Grape Ape' being a standout.
• 🎶 The Portofino Bay Hotel's Beach restaurant offers good Italian food and outdoor seating, with a hope that its live opera singer tradition has survived cutbacks.

The Genesis of Tower of Terror: Geyser Mountain

• 🎢 The Freefall ride at Magic Mountain (1982) inspired Disney Imagineers to develop a similar thrill ride, but with a unique story to differentiate it.
• ⛰️ The first concept was Geyser Mountain for Euro Disneyland, designed to fit into the Frontier Land aesthetic and expand the Big Thunder Mountain mythology.
• 💡 Geyser Mountain would have used a similar drop tower mechanism but involved being