Downstream Effects of ROTR’s Popularity
With people getting to Disney’s Hollywood Studios early every morning hoping to get an early boarding group for the new ride, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the Jotter investigated what guests are doing while waiting their turn to ride. The answer is pretty clear. By monitoring the wait times of the attractions, many park goers are getting into line for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Galaxy’s Edge and Slinky Dog Dash Roller Coaster in Toy Story land. Wait times for these already popular rides has been hitting the 90 minute mark, or more, shortly after park opening. Another, um, “attraction” guests are hitting is the Trolley Car Cafe, which sells Starbucks coffee near the entrance of the park. In the time it takes guests to get their cup o’ Joe, they could have made it close to the front of the line on many of the park’s attractions. Priorities.
SeaWorld’s Ongoing Conservation Efforts
Last December, SeaWorld announced it contributed almost $1 million to the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund to help save the critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. According to NOAA, there are fewer than 500 of these whales alive, and only 12 births have been observed since 2017. The main reasons for the decline in population over time are vessel strikes and fishing gear that cause injury or death. These whales traverse busy shipping and fishing lanes and SeaWorld is hoping to contribute to the development of non-lethal nets to prevent unintended harm to these marine mammals. Disney has also been charitable in this area, funding grants to help the environment, including developing mammal-friendly fishing gear. Park goes may be relieved to learn some of the the dollars they spend goers to helping the planet.
New Merch at Disney
Fans of Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom in Disney World may be happy to learn new commemorative merchandise will be available for purchase today. Disney is releasing an apparel collection with new shirts, pins, and more featuring Space Mountain and Carousel of Progress. It’s the 45th anniversary of these popular attractions. The gear is available at the Tomorrowland Light and Power Co. You can check out the new merch here.