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SATURDAY SIX: In Memoriam – Looking at What We Lost From the Theme Park World in 2023 (Splash Mountain, KidZone, Starcruiser)

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This week’s SATURDAY SIX is our annual look at What We Lost From the Theme Park World this past year. We all took a lot of hits over the course of 2023 and the Disney and Universal theme park resorts were no exception. While those of us in the Real World were dealing with the loss of the iconic retail stores such as Bed, Bath, and Beyond, the theme parks had a series of losses as well. For almost 25 years – starting with the famous Save Mr. Toad Protests that was attended by almost a dozen fans –  the theme park community has grieved in a way that is slightly different than how normal people do it. Most people make their way through the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. That’s all fine and dandy if you believe in esoteric terms such as “mental health,” but that’s not how we do it in the theme park world. NAY NAY. We start at Anger and we stay there.

Let’s take a look back at some of the bigger losses the theme park world suffered this year, starting with…

# 6 – Harmonious

Heaven needed an eye sore

The nighttime spectacular Harmonious, which had its official debut on October 1st, 2021, had its last showing on April 2nd, 2023. In that short period of time, the show was plagued with issues. To begin with, Harmonious was based around five extremely large barges that became an instant eyesore in the World Showcase lagoon. As you can see in the photo below, the main “Stargate” barge was installed a bit off-center compared to the American Adventure Pavilion that you see in the background. That’s because Harmonious wasn’t built with us day guests in mind. Nay Nay…

Harmonious. (photo by @Blog_Mickey)

Harmonious’ best views were seemingly designed for the guests at a two-story Pavilion which was going to be located nearby. However, this Pavilion was never actually built by Disney and the project instead was canceled. This is the kind of stuff that happens when you change your company focus from “Parks & Resorts” to “Parks, Experiences, and Products.”

Upcharge Pavilion miniature. (photo by @Blog_Mickey)

The giant globe used for IllumiNations was brought backstage after each show, whereas the giant barges used for Harmonious stayed in the World Showcase lagoon 24 hours a day.

Harmonious Barges as seen from the Japan Pavilion.
Harmonious Barges as seen from World Showcase Plaza. In the foreground is Harmonious concept art. Many Disney fans online believe it is their job to remind the rest of us that Disney concept art is not to be taken literally, but instead evoke the spirit of what we will be getting.
A rainbow across harmonious. (photo by @Blog_Mickey)

Now, there were some positives about this show, including the fact that photographers could get some really good shots of the colorful show at night.

Harmonious. (photo by Brandon Glover)
Monorail Lime with Harmonious fireworks in the background. October 1st, 2022. (photo by @bioreconstruct)
Look closely and you’ll spot Magic Kingdom fireworks through the center ring of Harmonious. December 31st, 2022. (photo by @bioreconstruct)
Aerial look at the post-show of Harmonious. (photo by @bioreconstruct)

There were plenty of “Rumors and Innuendo” that suggested there were a lot of operational issues once Harmonious was installed in the lagoon as well. That, combined with guest vitriol online and the awful aesthetic of having these barges in guest view during the day eventually led to Disney pulling the plug on Harmonious. I personally would find it hard to believe that the show was intended for such a short lifespan. The money invested on developing, building, installing, and running Harmonious must have been through the roof. Many popular nighttime spectaculars at Disney run a decade or more before being replaced, but the shelf life of Harmonious was actually less than the unmitigated disaster which was Rivers of Light over at Animal Kingdom. That’s right, Harmonious ran a total of 546 days while – believe it or not – Rivers of Light lasted 1,122.

# 5 – Splash Mountain

The theme park world is gravitating to one of relatively fast “experiences.” Not just thrill rides per se, but the days of 10-20 minute epic adventures with attractions like The Great Movie Ride and Universe of Energy are over. Those attractions were replaced by Runaway Railway and Cosmic Rewind, both of which last less than 5 minutes. Tron is an absolutely fantastic addition to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, but one criticism you can easily make about it is that the ride’s two-minute length certainly feels short.

Splash Mountain was long, and a lot of the ride experience was really peaceful (along with a couple of great “fake outs.”) There were a ton of animatronics in the ride, including the show-stopping Showboat scene at the end. The big drop gave you an incredible view of the park, and made for a truly magical moment if you begin your descent while fireworks are going off in front of you. A wonderful family ride, Splash Mountain was also a way to introduce younger riders to the type of sensations they will have on roller coasters. They may be hesitant to try rides like Big Thunder when seeing the trains speed by, but one ride on Splash Mountain would more than likely get them in the mood to experience even more. The best news for theme park fans seems to be that Splash Mountain’s replacement – Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – should be a continuation of all the things we loved about the attraction while removing the things that probably shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

Splash Mountain. (photo by Mike Sperduto)
Splash Mountain. (photo by Brandon Glover)
The calm stretches of Splash Mountain were my favorite part. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)
Splash Mountain. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)
Splash Mountain. (photo by Erin Foster)
Splash Mountain. (photo by Tom Bricker)

Splash Mountain is one of the all-time most iconic rides in Disney history, and has been featured in television shows such as Boy Meets World

…and the even more iconic Hulk Hogan’s Thunder in Paradise.

There has been a lot of merchandise put out featuring Splash Mountain, and here’s a look at some of my favorites, including this awesome postcard.

My beloved Tsum Tsums.

My favorite item was this “I conquered Splash Mountain” t-shirt. It was for kids “36-39 inches tall.” The minimum height to get on Splash Mountain was 40 inches.

# 4 – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

One of the most shocking events in 2023 was when Disney decided to abruptly end sailings on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. We covered this story in this year’s Theme Park Turkey of the Year Awards, but still can’t believe something wasn’t done to try and “fix” the Starcruiser rather than just end it for the almost nefarious reason of accelerated depreciation. We’ve known many people who have gone onto the Starcruiser and – to a person – they all raved about the experience and said it was one of the greatest things they had ever done, so we reached out to one of them to give their thoughts on what the Starcruiser meant to them.

Hastin Zylastra: The Galactic Starcruiser was the culmination of a personal journey for me, one that began ten years ago with The Optimist and Legends of Frontierland and was further ignited by the tease of Galaxy’s Edge. It was a shared experience with friends, a story etched in my whole being, and a testament to what themed entertainment can be.

Hard to believe that I met everyone here due to Disney interactive experiences.

Most importantly, the Galactic Starcruiser showcased Disney at its absolute best – what I felt when I fell in love with Disney Parks. Not popcorn buckets or the latest IP. Community, customer service, connection, and play.  Even my boyfriend, initially apprehensive about the experience, felt it the moment those launch pod elevator doors opened. The Starcruiser was, in essence, a return to pure, unadulterated play – something that seemed increasingly lost amidst the upcharges, reservations, and policy-driven world of modern Disney Parks. While there was a narrative to follow, a plot to unravel, and storylines to engage with, the true magic lay in the instant shared connection you could forge with anyone and everyone on the Halcyon.

Even non-story moments, like this Sabbac tournament, would get interrupted by story and play.

So many memories of those specific story elements, laid out for everyone to experience every few days, but somehow individual and special. From Raith Kole looping me into a heist, to the Captain nearly foiling our plans, to the confused guest asking why we were dressed up, to even the Studios Custodial on Batuu playing along in-theme, it felt like personal storytelling at an element of scale never done by Disney before.

A traveling companion shares a story with Captain Keevan.

The Starcruiser was a bold experiment, an ambitious venture with a touch of hubris, and a significant risk. Yet, I’m eternally grateful that Disney, notorious for not taking risks, took this one. To experience it with someone I love deeply, was a privilege. It will forever stand as my defining Star Wars experience, and I believe we’ll see its inspiration in things in the future.

Sharing the ending of a wonderful journey with someone I love.

Though the Galactic Starcruiser has set sail for a distant galaxy, its legacy endures. Failure or not, it has paved the way for a new era of storytelling, one that prioritizes play, connection, and the boundless potential of imagination. While the future of immersive experiences remains unwritten, the impact of the Starcruiser is undeniable. It has ignited the spark of pure, unbridled joy, reminding me that the power of play is what made me fall in love with theme parks and immersive entertainment to begin with.

Ouannii & Gaya from the Galactic Starcruiser. (art by @SonderQuest)

# 3 – Aaron Adams

While some reading this article may not recognize the name, most would have heard Aaron’s content as he worked hand-in-hand with Len Testa and Jim Hill producing the popular Disney Dish Podcast. He also co-hosted the Marvel-Us podcast with Jim Hill. Aaron suffered a heart attack on Thanksgiving morning, and he passed away the following week. Aaron left behind his loving wife Sabrina. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with the expenses following Aaron’s sudden passing. You can donate by CLICKING HERE.

Aaron Zachary Adams (5/4/74 – 11/29/23)

LEN TESTA: Aaron had played guitar for years. So when I said I wanted to start playing (early 2021 – during the pandemic), Aaron jumped in with recommendations for things like practice tools (I own an XBox because of RockSmith), and we’d jump on Zoom calls so Aaron could show me how to play the Ramones.  The guy was just super-generous with his time.

My favorite Aaron story, though, might be when Ted Linhart from DisneyDocs.net loaned the second draft of the original American Adventure script, and we hired professional voice actors to record the script as if it was a real EPCOT attraction.  Aaron did voice work at a studio in Indianapolis, so he knew a bunch of people who could help.

On the first day of recording, Aaron’s got everyone in the studio.  I’m on a Zoom call listening in, and right before the first actor (Barry Silverman) comes in, Aaron tells me that I’m the customer for this project, and that I can provide whatever direction I want. Aaron told me to step in and say anything I need to say during the recording. But I tell Aaron “Look, you’re all professionals. I’m just here to see how the process works. I’m not going to interfere.”

Barry comes in and reads his first line (“America has been settled by people of all nations”), and I JUST CAN’T HELP MYSELF.  I buzz in to the booth and say “Barry, that was beautiful, baby. But can you try it like this…”

Aaron laughed for like three straight minutes. He laughed until he coughed.  It was hilarious.

Anyway, Aaron’s the voice of Will Rogers in the show, and it’s one of the few times he was heard in the Disney Dish.  It’s probably the Disney Dish show I’m most proud of, and we couldn’t have done it without Aaron.

JIM HILL: Did you ever have that pain-in-the-ass pal who said “Yeah, this is good. But you can do better”? That was Aaron Adams. Someone who was brutally honest about … Well, everything.

I had the privilege of working with Mr. Adams for nearly a decade. And we produced hundreds of podcasts together. Mind you, it wasn’t always an easy collaboration. Aaron had high standards after all (Which made me wonder why he agreed to work with myself & Mr. Testa).

If you’re ever lucky enough to have an Aaron Adams wander into your life, treasure them. Because that’s the kind of creative colleague you really want in your corner. Someone who will work tirelessly to make your stuff shine. More importantly, a good friend who thinks enough of you to sometimes share a hard truth.

Len Testa and Jim Hill with Aaron Adams. (art by SonderQuest)

# 2 – Ian Barritt

I remember getting a text from SAT SIX Editor-in Chief Megan Stump that said, “Ian passed.” My response was, “Ian who?” I only knew one Ian, but I knew it couldn’t be him. I got the text while I was going through Ian Barritt’s photos from various runDisney races just days before. It didn’t make sense. Unfortunately, as many reading this have learned the hard way, life often doesn’t make any sense. In January of this year, we did an entire Tribute Article to Ian which you can read by CLICKING HERE. The Tribute is filled with testimonials from Ian’s friends from the theme park community, and it hits home the core message of the movie It’s A Wonderful Life… most of us never realize what kind of impact we have made on the lives of others around us.

Ian Barritt. (art by Brian Cooper)

Megan Stump:  I’ve known Ian for what seems like forever, but it really was only about 8 years. We met on Twitter and finally met for real during a 5k at Universal. We were both running the inaugural Avengers half in Disneyland, and us and a few other friends hung out that weekend and that was it. Running was a huge part of Ian’s life, along with theme parks, and runDisney was the perfect outlet for him. He was always ready to hand out a congratulations online or in person. He was so proud of all of his friends, no matter if they were running a 5k, a marathon, or just getting out there.

The past year has been so hard without Ian.  runDisney is just, well, different. No matter who you were, your biggest cheerleader wasn’t cheering you on from the internet or being excited that he just finished his 100+ runDisney race. No excited posts on Saturday mornings sharing his newest medal, not to brag, but just because he loved it. It just hasn’t been the same. Marathon weekend is going to be odd this year because he’s not getting up at 3 am to go run 48.6 miles over four days.

Ian was just a good person. He unapologetically loved what he loved and didn’t care who else agreed, which in the internet age can be difficult. He loved his friends and family more than anything except maybe soccer. He loved the theme parks, fireworks, and thrill rides. He just loved LIFE. The theme park community lost such a wonderful person. More than a friend, he was a brother to me, and the theme parks and runDisney are never going to be the same again without him.

Ian Barritt. (art by SonderQuest)

SCOTT SANDERS: Like many folks, we met Ian (@BazTastic77) on Twitter, and our paths started to cross at the theme parks and especially during runDisney weekends. It didn’t take long before we became real life friends and got to know Ian, the man behind the twitter handle. I joke, but Ian was my wife’s running husband alway checking in to make sure she was ok (vice versa as well at times) in races, especially at other races around Central Florida stretching from Tampa to the Space Coast.

Ian and his niece along with my wife Emily and daughter Izzy.

It was always fun spending time with Ian at the parks. He’d eat almost anything, which was ideal so we didn’t feel bad when we bought some bonkers theme park dish that we wanted to try or that we knew Derek needed a photo for a Saturday Six article because Ian would happily share and in some cases enjoy the entire item sans a bite or two. It is impossible to walk around the theme parks without asking “what would Ian think/say?” Because he was usually spot on, and matter of fact about things.

Even away from the theme parks and races, Ian was fun to be around. Over the last few years, Ian along with his awesome family have taking wonderful care of my in-laws during their snow birding time in Florida.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to spend time with Ian can attest to how wonderful he truly was.

Ian and I “having a laugh” as he would say.

# 1 – Dick Nunis

A true Disney legend.

Howard Bowers: An old trope says the Disney organization is successful because it employs “Dreamers” and “Doers.” This week, we lost one of its most extraordinary doers, Disney Legend Richard A. “Dick” Nunis, whose near-mythological reputation sometimes overshadows his vital contributions to Disney’s parks and our enjoyment of them. Under Nunis, guest satisfaction was the sole metric for success. And while many executives in high positions could quote Walt Disney, Dick Nunis was perhaps unique in that he understood the reasoning behind Walt’s philosophies and made them both teachable and actionable.

The Nunis family moved from rural Georgia to Southern California in the early 1950s in search of better opportunities, and young Richard took those opportunities, earning a football scholarship to UCLA as a talented halfback. He dreamed of becoming a professional football player and a coach but was sidelined after suffering a broken neck during a game.

Taking the advice of fellow classmate Ron Miller (who just happened to be Walt Disney’s son-in-law), he applied at the soon-to-open Disneyland in a newly-created department that would teach freshly-hired cast members how to do things “The Disney Way.” Working for Van Arsdale France, Nunis put his education degree to work. Dick’s strict work ethic and drive were noticed and appreciated, and it didn’t take long for him to start moving up the ladder at Disneyland, often reporting to or working for Walt directly.

While managing Adventureland, a furious Walt came to Nunis to complain that he had just gotten a 4-and-a-half-minute long ride on the Jungle Cruise, which was supposed to take 7 minutes. In Randy Bright’s book “Disneyland: The Inside Story,” the author relates that Nunis spent three weeks personally training each Skipper to give the same ride the same way every time. When Walt returned to check Nunis’ success, Disney rode the attraction over and over again, making sure that each Skipper gave the same show. It was a lesson that Nunis never forgot – to Walt, delivering the best show possible to every guest was what Disneyland was about.

Dick Nunis (photo courtesy of Disney)

After Walt’s passing, Nunis’ rank in the company continued to rise along with his no-nonsense reputation. When Yippies staged a protest in Disneyland in 1970, Nunis kept his cool all day, working behind the scenes with Disneyland security and Anaheim police to maintain order and keep the park open. But when a protestor spat on Roy Disney, Nunis allegedly punched the long-haired youth in the stomach, doubling him over, before dragging him off stage to be arrested.

When Walt Disney World’s construction was falling behind, Dick was brought in to supervise the project and get things back on track. Never content to sit in an office and direct people, he rolled up his sleeves and worked with his crew to get a task done. When sod needed to be laid the night before the Contemporary Resort-Hotel opened, Nunis put out an “all-hands” call for help to place the fresh-cut squares of grass on the open dirt. He was one of the first on the site and instructed newcomers on what to do as they arrived. When a newly hired cast member asked Nunis for advice on how to correctly lay the sod, Dick, likely only half-jokingly, yelled, “Green side up!”

Not that Nunis was all work and no play. Some of his ideas were outlandish, maybe crazy. They were good for Disney, but the company (and the world) were only sometimes ready to embrace them.

  • Dick wanted a machine that could make waves large enough and consistent enough that guests could rent long boards and surf on waves in front of the Polynesian Resort. He contracted with a Scottish company to install the machine on an island facing the hotel’s “Beachcomber’s Shore.” The machine worked, and Nunis himself rode the waves the machine made along with volunteers from the company with surfing experience when television programs like “The Mike Douglas Show” would come to the resort to film episodes. The machine worked well, but the forces it generated to make the waves tore it from its supports. Additional money was spent to reinforce the structure, but the stress on the machine was still too great. The wave machine was abandoned. Once River Country became operational and Wet ‘n’ Wild opened in Orlando with a wave pool meant for swimmers, Nunis worked to bring back his surfing wave machine with a proposal to take the area around the exiting wave machine in the Seven Seas Lagoon and turn it into a cement swimming pool. This new idea was deemed impractical, but it led to the development of Typhoon Lagoon and its wave pool which is ideal for both swimming and surfing. It took an additional 15 years, but he finally got his wave machine.
  • Florida’s summers are notoriously hot and uncomfortable, so when Dick saw hotel staff in the Bahamas wearing business suits and ties with short pants, he thought he had discovered exactly what his executives in Florida needed. He sported the look for the November 1990 opening of the Yacht and Beach Club, then in 1991, introduced Bermuda/Walking Shorts for men and flowing shorts for ladies to “The Disney Look,” the official guide that regulates cast member appearance. From June through September, suits with shorts were a go for executives and other business-forward roles. Despite the best intentions, the style never caught on – as it looks slightly silly – But Dick’s heart was in the right place.
Dick Nunis at the opening of Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.

Nunis was also a huge advocate for ride capacity. He wanted to make sure guests visiting Disney parks had enough things to see and do without standing in long lines all day. This obsession earned him the nickname “Hop-A-Long Capacity” from some Imagineers. Some of his ideas to improve capacity included:

  • Directing Rolly Crump to put two Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride attractions next to each other in Florida’s Magic Kingdom. The slow-loading, low-capacity version of the attraction in Disneyland was wildly popular, so Nunis thought having two of them side-by-side would solve the problem in Florida. Crump took the idea in a slightly different direction, creating two distinct tracks in a single large Toad atttaction that doubled capacity in a similar way. One can only speculate that the decision to put two Country Bear Jamboree theaters back-to-back in Disneyland was also Nunis’ suggestion after the attraction was a runaway hit in Florida.
  • Adding a Swan Boat attraction to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Nunis believed that the young park was way below its needed capacity and volunteered to build the attaction’s boats in Florida’s Central Shops.
  • Directing Imagineering to build a flume ride in Disneyland’s Bear Country. Nunis knew from research that Bear Country was typically empty of guests while Tomorrowland was packed to the gills, and he’d been requesting a flume for Disneyland for many years. Tony Baxter famously pondered how to build the flume while also considering what to do with figures from America Sings that were about to be retired, and Splash Mountain was born.
  • During a presentation of the combined World Showcase/FutureWorld model, Dick suggested that the USA pavilion be relocated from the front of World Showcase to the back to act as a weenie to pull jaded Americans across the lake. It was a brilliant insight into the minds of 1980s American tourists.

Dick went on to lead operations worldwide, bringing Walt’s standards of excellence to Disney parks on every continent. He retired in 1999 after 44 years with the company and eventually joined the board of The University of Central Florida, where he worked tirelessly to expand the school and became the number one fan of UCF’s football team.

Nunis rarely granted interviews, and when he did, they were only with Disney’s official media. He was fiercely loyal to the company that helped shape him into who he became and officially always toed the line. Nunis released a memoir through Disney Press in 2022, “Walt’s Apprentice: Keeping the Disney Dream Alive,” a somewhat sanitized retelling of his lifetime of work for Disney.

A giant among men, Dick Nunis.

Honorable Mention – Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone

One consistent complaint that the Universal parks receive is that they aren’t kid-friendly, especially compared to Disney. The last couple of years have seen Universal make some dramatic changes in order to appeal more to the younger set, including the opening of Minion Land earlier this year. Previously, the biggest draw for kids in the park was Woody Woodpecker’s Kid Zone, which was filled with kid-friendly attractions and play areas.

Fieval’s Playland used the gimmick that many Disney fans would remember from the old Honey, I Shrunk the Kids play area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Fieval’s Playland. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Throughout the area there were a ton of fun playful gags.

Duck Tape joke. (photo by Harvey Wood)

A Day in the Park with Barney was an area in Kidzone that included a huge interactive area for kids to explore along with a shockingly good stage show.

A Day in the Park with Barney. (photo by James Keaton)
A Day in the Park with Barney. (art by @SonderQuest)

A Day in the Park with Barney did not last long once Universal re-opened after the Covid shutdown in 2020. The area was re-themed to DreamWorks Destination, and featured characters from more recent movies such as Kung Fu Panda and Trolls.

Destination Dreamworks. (photo by Hedgehogs Corner)
Poppy from Trolls waving to the guests. (photo by Hedgehogs Corner)

Loved seeing this post on social media as KidZone was about to close featuring Woody’s Nuthouse Coaster.

Kidzone was closed to make way for an upcoming DreamWorks land that will open in 2024.

A look at the former Woody Woodpecker’s Nuthouse Coaster. (photo by @bioreconstruct)
Aerial overview of the demolished KidZone. March 16th, 2023. (photo by @bioreconstruct)
Aerial peek at former KidZone theming in Universal’s Back of House. Aug 18th 2023. (photo by @bioreconstruct)

Double Secret Honorable Mention: Cinematic Celebration

While Disney fans are used to E-Ticket nighttime spectaculars filled with pyro and ballyhoo, Universal fans haven’t been so lucky. Because of where Universal Orlando Resort is located, they aren’t able to have the bombastic fireworks you would see in shows like Happily Ever After at Disney’s Magic Kingdom or Luminous in EPCOT, because Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure are just steps away from The Real World and people’s houses. Anyone who has had to a deal with an HOA knows what that can be like, so Universal’s in-park shows need to be much smaller in scope.

For years, the shows that Universal had at night could – at best – be described as “okay.” I remember being at the debut show for Universal Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories back in early May 2012 and the highlight of the show was seeing how much Universal had invested in making the nighttime spectacular revolve around the upcoming movie Battleship, which bombed horribly at the theaters just two weeks later.

It wasn’t until Cinematic Celebration that Universal finally cracked the code on how good their nighttime shows can be. For those who don’t know, the center of Universal Studios Florida holds a large lagoon. For previous shows, Universal tried to make it so that everyone around all sides of the lagoon could get a good view. This ended up making almost no one have a good view of the show. For Cinematic Celebration, Universal designed the show to be seen from Central Park. Water screen technology had greatly improved over the course of the decade, so now guests were able to see clips of ultra-popular movies – including Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, and Transformers – with lasers and other elements providing a pretty fantastic experience.

Aerial look at fountains of Universal Orlando’s Cinematic Celebration. (photo by @bioreconstruct)
Universal Cinematic Spectacular. (photo by Mike Sperduto)
Minions. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)
The Wizarding World. (photo by @ViewsAndQueues)

Many times when things close at both Disney and Universal, guests get a chance to say “goodbye.” Often you’ll even find last-day merchandise available. That’s not what happened for Cinematic Celebration. After the shows mysteriously stopped taking place in February, people started asking what was going on. Universal finally gave an “official” answer when posting a reply on Twitter.

Triple Threat Honorable Mention: Trail’s End (as we knew it)

When it comes to dining at Disney, our favorite phrase is “all you care to eat.” From ‘Ohana to Woody’s Roundup BBQ to Whispering Canyon and pretty much everywhere in between, if there’s a buffet or buffet-style restaurant, we love eating there. Trail’s End at Fort Wilderness was up there with the best of them. The amount of quality food items that were available was just incredible, and we went crazy for their signature fried chicken and pork ribs. There was something for literally everyone, including pizza and fish dishes. You want dessert? How about strawberry shortcake, ice cream, cake, apple cobbler, bread pudding, and more.

The former Trails End Buffet experience.
The former Trail’s End buffet chicken.
Ribs at the former Trail’s End buffet.
The former Trail’s End buffet
The former Trails End menu.

One major plus at Trails End was how accommodating they were for vegetarian and vegan diners. The buffet itself is a carnivore’s dream, but vegans can take solace that there are items that can be prepared off menu. In fact, one of the chefs who was working at Trail’s End was basically a superstar to many guests with dietary restrictions: Chef TJ. We’ve had some truly fantastic meals made by Chef TJ that have made the vegan in our party feel very special. Chef TJ always goes above and beyond and makes every meal magical.

Vegetarian meal at the former Trail’s End experience.
Strawberry Shortcake at the former Trail’s End buffet.+
Trail’s End BRUNCH.

Trail’s End has been “reimagined” into a grab-and-go location.

Trail’s End Restaurant in its current state.
The new vegetarian-friendly section of the menu.

So there you have it: SATURDAY SIX Presents: In Memoriam 2023! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out the THEME PARK ENJOYMENT INDEX, which gives a monthly recap of all the theme park news you need to know (and a lot more you don’t need to know, but we’re gonna tell you anyway). You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

Theme Park In Memoriam Plot

Gone but never forgotten. (pixie dust by Scott Walker)

Ghosts of In Memoriam Past:

  • 2022 (KiteTails, Shrek 4D, Josh easyWDW)
  • 2021 (NBA Experience, SotMK, Must Do Disney)
  • 2020 (Rivers of Light, Primeval Whirl, The Void)
  • 2019 (Burudika, Mizner’s Lounge, IllumiNations)
  • 2018 (Emeril’s at CityWalk, Eighth Voyage of Sindbad, Richard Gerth)
  • 2017 (Dragon Challenge, Great Movie Ride, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure)
  • 2016 (Osbourne Lights, Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, Lights, Motors, Action!)
  • 2015 (Twister…Ride It Out! Mulch, Sweat, and Shears, Disaster!)
  • 2014 (Camp Minnie-Mickey, The Giggle Gang, Push the Trashcan)

Special Thanks to The Elite Brandon Glover, Digital Maestro Scott Walker, the bio-est of all reconstructs @bioreconstruct, Captain Cruiseline Scott Sanders of the world-famous Disney Cruise Line Blog, my personal protege Hunter “Elvey” Underwood, artist @SonderQuest, the mighty maven of merchandise Hedgehog’s Corner, the SAT SIX Fun Squad of Parkscope Joe and “the Dadalorian” Nick, hot shot Michael Carelli, charter member of the Universal Four @Nitro230, the permit princess Alicia Stella, master cartographer Tommy Hawkins, and Hermione Granger’s tutor Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Absolutely no help was added by SeaWorld Influencer @SuperWeenieHtJr. The SAT SIX is inspired each week by goofballs Aengus Mackenzie and LitemAndHyde and you Potterheads will enjoy Meg’s other blog work over at the Central Florida Slug Club.

We won’t even talk about all the stuff Disney+ just took off the service!

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One thought on “SATURDAY SIX: In Memoriam – Looking at What We Lost From the Theme Park World in 2023 (Splash Mountain, KidZone, Starcruiser)

  • Dick went to USC. He broke his neck in the rivarly game against UCLA.

    Reply

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