theme parks – Veness Travel Media

30 Years of Orlando!

It was 30 years ago this week that Simon’s first book was published, and led to a career in Orlando travel-writing that continues to this day. The Brit Guide to Orlando & Walt Disney World was unique in that it was aimed purely at the UK market to Central Florida, which no-one (surprisingly) had tried before. Our “little project” has since led to half a lifetime in the travel world, with book sales in excess of half a million, and counting!

There have been other travel adventures, to be sure, including trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Chile and Slovenia, plus our epic Year On The Road RV adventure, which this blog is named for. But Orlando has always been the abiding driving force, a constant in our world of regular globe-trotting.

The Brit Guide was always Simon’s specialty, though, an ever-evolving collection of user-friendly content, images and style that owed a lot to his newspaper background, but added his own personal experiences as a holiday-maker to the overall mix. In 2004, it led to him moving from the UK to Florida, to continue his love affair with the destination (and meet the love of his life!), which branched out into coverage for a wide range of media, including the BBC, the Telegraph, Independent and Sky Travel.

There were more books, online content aplenty and, of course, social media. Simon has appeared on TV, radio and various podcasts, and continues to write for a number of different outlets, despite now being in his Medicare years (which he hates!). Happily, there is also a new Orlando book in the offing, picking up where the Brit Guide left off in 2024. We’ll have more about that in due course, but, in the meantime, our new book – 111 Places in Orlando That You Must Not Miss – continues to be another major strand to the Veness Travel Media output, and something that has been really well received here in The City Beautiful.

All in all, it has been an action-packed 30 years of Orlando and much, much more, and we hope to bring even more to you in the next decade or so (God willing). So, just because the Brit Guide faded away last year, that doesn’t mean the end of our relationship with British visitors. It will just be re-born in a whole new package. Just like Orlando does every year!

The Most Epic Part of Epic Universe

*The grand entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. Truly epic.*

If there is a most epic section of Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe, it has to be the Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. From the moment you step inside this most immersive of worlds, you are transported to an authentic 1920s version of Paris that is breathtaking to behold. And that’s before you take in a single attraction or food or beverage sample. There is a stunning array of design, detail and imagination everywhere you look, and an inherent beauty to the artistry that surrounds you. This seven-minute snapshot video (hopefully) encompasses all that is best about this extraordinary theme park:

And there’s that word again: Beauty. This is an utterly beautiful park, with an astounding level of detail that is all-encompassing. It feels like no expense was spared to create a vivid and lasting impression of imagination and creativity, and it all culminates in this one world from the Potter-verse. Universal absolutely caught lightning in a bottle with their first two Wizarding Worlds, but this one is on a whole different level of immersion, not so much a theme park as a time machine that transports guests to another time and place. Just sit back and enjoy the journey…

*The rich, astonishing, beautiful look of Ministry of Magic*

*The inside detail of Ministry of Magic. Just look at the detail in that floor!*

*21st century Florida or 1920s Paris? You decide…!*

Disney’s Magical Animation Reanimation

*An artist’s rendering of the new-look Magic of Disney Animation courtyard* *at night*

OK, that headline sounds like a bit of gibberish, but it’s accurate – Walt Disney World is reimagining its current Animation Courtyard area in Disney’s Hollywood Studios as The Magic of Disney Animation, an all-singing, all-dancing area of characters, animation and classic fun, with a firm nod to Walt and his original Burbank studios.

Starting September 25, 2025, the Studios park will shut down the Courtyard area (with the exception of the newly reopened Little Mermaid show) and re-open it in late 2026 as a complete character-fest. Here’s what they say:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (July 22, 2025) – A brand-new animated adventure is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026. “The Magic of Disney Animation,” will debut in the building that currently houses Star Wars: Launch Bay. Drawing inspiration from the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California, and the Emmy award-winning and heartwarming short film “Once Upon a Studio,” guests will step into a whimsical twist on the real-life studio building, but this time, when the animators are away, the characters come out to play! Topped with Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat, the space will invite guests to explore different studio departments brought to life by Disney characters.

*The redesigned outdoor courtyard space will become a tree-lined plaza full of Disney characters*

In the Production Gallery, portraits come to life just like in the 2023 short film “Once Upon a Studio,” while in the Screening Theater, guests can get inspired by a short film the whole family will love. Additionally, they will have the chance to learn how to draw fan-favorite characters and greet them in real life.

Families with younger children will also delight in “Drawn to Wonderland,” an all-new indoor playground inspired by the whimsical concept art for “Alice in Wonderland” created by Disney Legend Mary Blair. This imaginative play area will feature an oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area.

Beyond the building, Animation Courtyard will be reimagined into “The Walt Disney Studios,” a newly designed outdoor space offering shaded seating, playful landscaping and fun surprises, ideal for relaxing, snacking or spontaneous fun.

Walt Disney Animators and Imagineers are working hand-in-hand to bring the wonder and nostalgia of Disney animated films to the whole courtyard in new and immersive ways families will love.

“Our film came from the heart and from a desire of all the Disney Animation artists wanting to celebrate our artistic accomplishments and a passion for the studio’s legacy,” said “Once Upon a Studio” director, Trent Correy.

“Working on this film was the highlight of my career – the most fun I’ve ever had,” recalled his fellow director, Dan Abraham. “And now, to collaborate with the wonderful talents at Walt Disney Imagineering to bring the short and our studio to guests in this exciting way is beyond our wildest dreams.”

In addition to the new offerings, the exteriors of several existing buildings will be reimagined with design elements inspired by buildings found in Burbank. To prepare for the transformation, Animation Courtyard, Star Wars: Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance! will close beginning Sept. 25, 2025. Guests can continue to enjoy “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and Walt Disney Presents while the transformation is completed.

More details about new offerings, characters, and experiences coming to this new area will be shared in the coming months.

*Farewell, Launch Bay and its Star Wars theme – there’s a new theme a-c0ming!*

The Beauty of Constellation Carousel

We are rarely smitten by relatively simple rides in our theme parks, but we have to admit to being bowled over by the Constellation Carousel at Universal Orlando’s new Epic Universe park. It’s hard to imagine anyone could come up with anything new or really compelling for such an “old-fashioned” ride, but Universal’s designers have really reinvigorated this formula with their take on a classic carousel. Check out our video of the ride here:

A Brit Guide Farewell

It is with sadness that we announce, officially, that we have severed ties with our publisher of the Brit Guide to Orlando, which we have written for the last 29 years. It has been a while in the works after some deep disappointments in the past few years, concluding with the publication of the 2024 edition in black and white, against our knowledge or even consultation.

It has been a good run, though. For much of the 29 years we have been the best-selling travel guide of any kind in the UK, and we have sold in excess of 250,000 copies in all. We have been a big part of many visitors’ Orlando holidays and have had some wonderful feedback and made lifelong friends as a result.

We will still be happy to meet up with people when they’re here, and we will continue to post on various social media about our work here in the Theme Park Capital of the World. And our work definitely won’t stop. As the old saying goes, as one door closes, another opens, and that will certainly be our intention going forward.

So, stay tuned to us here on the Veness Travel Media blog, and Follow us on Instagram, BlueSky Social and YouTube. You never know where we will turn up next!

Looking Ahead to Epic Universe

May 22, 2025 is shaping up as THE big date in next year’s calendar here in Orlando as we look ahead to the opening of Universal Orlando’s brand new theme park, Epic Universe. We were tasked with providing a preview for the New Zealand Herald recently, and it is now online, with a full run-down of what this super-exciting new park will offer come next May:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/looking-to-2025-universal-opens-universal-epic-universe-in-orlando/HYSTLBX365HL3EOCH2FJRWD524/

There is a LOT to look forward to, and we will have more news and insights about this astounding new park in the weeks and months ahead. Stay tuned, now…!

Orlando’s Top 10 (Non-Theme Park) Christmas Attractions

*The fabulous ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord Palms Resort*

We always say there is a lot more to Orlando than just the theme parks, as good as they are. And that is especially true for the Holiday season here in Central Florida. There are several dozen Christmas celebrations that all offer wonderful experiences that owe nothing to Mickey and Co, hence we made it the subject for our latest blog for AttractionsTickets.com:

https://www.attractiontickets.com/en/latest-news/orlando/orlandos-top-10-christmas-experiences

*Dazzling Lights at Leu Gardens in Orlando*

Let’s Go Christmas Crackers!

While it’s still barely half-past October, and we haven’t had Halloween yet, let alone Thanksgiving, it is also the case that Orlando is busily gearing up for its busiest time of the year – the Holidays! That’s right, the big Christmas festive season is almost upon us, and that’s the cue for us to set up all the excitement in store in our latest blog for AttractionTickets.com, especially with our UK visitors in store. It all starts on November 2 and there is even more to look forward to than ever before. Don’t believe us? Check out the blog here: https://www.attractiontickets.com/en/latest-news/orlando/walt-disney-world-tickets/lets-go-christmas-crackers