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Orlando Rumours 2026: Epic Universe, Disney World Expansions & What's REALLY Coming to Orlando

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Orlando Rumours 2026: Epic Universe, Disney World Expansions & What's REALLY Coming | Orlando Accomplice Podcast

Hello you glorious people — welcome back to the Orlando Accomplice Podcast! 🎙️

In this episode, we're diving deep into the latest Orlando rumours swirling around Universal's Epic Universe, Disney World expansions, brand new rides and attractions, and resort & hotel news — breaking down what's credible, what's wishful thinking, and what could genuinely change the way you plan your next Orlando trip.

✅ What we cover in this episode

🌍 Epic Universe updates

- The latest rumours on new worlds, rides & opening developments
- What we think is realistic vs what feels like fan fiction
- How Epic Universe could shake up how people split their time in Orlando

🏰 Disney World expansions

- Rumoured new lands, rides and experiences coming to the parks
- What the Disney announcements (and non-announcements) actually mean
- Where we think Disney is heading — and where it's dragging its feet

🎢 New rides & attractions

- The ride rumours we're most excited about
- IP additions that could be game-changers (and some we're less sure about)
- Timeline talk - what might actually open and when

🏨 Resort & hotel news

- Rumoured new hotels and what they could mean for pricing & availability
- On-site vs off-site decisions in a changing Orlando landscape
- The resort rumours that would genuinely get us booking flights tomorrow

📌 Why this matters for your Orlando trip planning

Whether you're planning a trip in the next year or dreaming about a future visit, knowing what's coming (and what's just noise) helps you plan smarter - from timing your trip around new openings to deciding which parks deserve more of your days.

🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and let us know in the comments — which Orlando rumour are YOU most excited about?!

Orlando Accomplice Podcast | Disney World | Universal Orlando | Epic Universe | Orlando Travel Tips 2026

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⏱️ Who is Orlando Accomplice?  

We’re Jake & Becky - your Orlando accomplice! We create cinematic travel films, vlogs, shortform videos, photos, and podcasts all about Orlando. From Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando to hidden gems both inside and outside the parks, we’re here to help you plan smarter, laugh harder, and experience Orlando in the best ways possible. 🎢☕️🎙️

If you’re looking for:
✨ Honest Orlando travel vlogs
🎢 Walt Disney World & Universal Orlando tips
🍩 Food reviews and hidden gems
🎧 Chaotic travel stories on our podcast
🎥 Cinematic shortform and park days
💡 Real, and relatable Orlando adventures

Then you’re in the right place — welcome to Orlando Accomplice. 💚

SPEAKER_01

Universal might be about to completely change how theme parks work.

SPEAKER_04

Disney could be planning something massive or nothing at all.

SPEAKER_01

And there's one rumour that sounds fake that might actually already be happening.

SPEAKER_04

So let's break down what's real, what's possible, and what's complete nonsense.

SPEAKER_01

Hello, you glorious people, and welcome to Orlando Accomplice. I'm Becca.

SPEAKER_04

And I'm Jake.

SPEAKER_01

And today we are going to be diving into all the rumours that are coming out of Orlando.

SPEAKER_04

So if you're new here, hello.

SPEAKER_01

Hi.

SPEAKER_04

If you're listening on audio platforms, we are recording on YouTube, so go check us out over there. We've got a little cheeky little setup going down. So yeah, you can watch us on YouTube. And if you're watching us on YouTube and you would like to listen to us audio only, you don't have YouTube and Premium, so you can't lock your phone whilst you're listening to us watching us, then you can just listen to us on audio platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. SoundCloud. All that stuff. Soundcloud. Not SoundCloud, Spotify. Sorry.

SPEAKER_01

I just zoned out completely.

SPEAKER_04

We're a bit rustic as we've been it's it's been a month.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it's been a month, so apologies about the hiatus.

SPEAKER_04

Um we've been ill. I am trying to not get ill again.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

So feel sorry for us and hit a like.

SPEAKER_01

If you actually like the podcast or his YouTube videos, give us a like, a subscribe, hit that notification bell so you know when we are posting, and if you're on the audio platforms, give us a review.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, because it helps out a load.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it does. We love you.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. And since we're doing a rumours episode today, you can give us a comment and like you can comment along, like tell us what you think's real, what's gonna come, and yeah, whatnot. Um disclaimer is that we swear, uh, we talk about like adult things, like stuff you don't want might not want your kids listening to. Um we always have a bevi or a beverage with our podcast. Uh it's mainly alcohol, except I've gone for alcohol free this time.

SPEAKER_01

Do we need to disclaim that?

SPEAKER_04

Uh yeah, I think so.

SPEAKER_01

Are you just tagging it on now?

SPEAKER_04

Some people some people might not want the kids listening to stuff about bevin.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. So let's get into the drinks. Right, what have you got? I'll go first. So I'm on my cut, ready for Orlando.

SPEAKER_01

So we've got how many like Can I just say something before you you can describe what it is while I just look at something.

SPEAKER_04

So I have the what's it called? Bureau.

SPEAKER_01

Bureau.

SPEAKER_04

Bureau, which is Tom Holland's brewery.

SPEAKER_01

Spider-Man beer.

SPEAKER_04

Spider-Man beer. Um, and it's alcohol free. I don't know how you're looking for the calories. Yeah. Yeah. Um so I'm on this today. I I've gone for the Edge Hill Hazy IPA.

SPEAKER_01

And what other one have you had in the past?

SPEAKER_04

I feel like I've had this one before, but it's been Becky got in me for Christmas. So I've not I had three at Christmas and then not had any since, so I completely forgot what the taste like. But I was listening to Universally Speaking's episode, podcast episode with the drink ride, and she was saying that she really likes an IPA. So that's why I'm you're opting for that today. You've been inspired.

SPEAKER_01

Inspired.

SPEAKER_04

What have you got?

SPEAKER_01

Uh so I have made a pineapple margarita today, but I've got it in this jazzy cup that I'm really excited to use. So this is a cup by reduced and it's insulated. But the reason why I'm so excited about it is because you can take the rim off and re-rim it while you're still drinking. So if you like me and love tahine and you always run out before the drink is done, you can just take it off and saw it out.

SPEAKER_04

Um and you've been wanting that cup for about six years.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so I got it on Amazon because it is from America, but it wasn't like too much more expensive. Um you came quick as well, didn't it? It came rapid in like three, four days. Um, you can drink from any point in the cup, like there's a middle into it, so I can't stick my hand in there, but there's like an edge to it basically. So I don't know, I've not tasted it since I made it, so let's see. And you're on to heen watch. So if I've got tahen on my mush in the podcast, please do tell me. Right, I'm scared I might spill it on town myself.

SPEAKER_04

It's not too bad to say it's like I don't normally like alcohol-free beer, but that tastes fruity like an IPA should. Um it it feels a bit too thick.

SPEAKER_01

I shouldn't have put lip gloss on, I can already feel it like sticking to my mush.

SPEAKER_04

That's a fail. Right, shall we get into the episode?

SPEAKER_01

Alright, my drink's fine, thank you very much for asking.

SPEAKER_04

Oh sorry. How is your drink?

SPEAKER_01

Nice.

SPEAKER_04

Can I try a bit?

SPEAKER_01

Oh, Really! Really, yes.

SPEAKER_04

I feel like I'm not gonna be able to navigate the cup.

SPEAKER_01

You can drink from anywhere. Right.

SPEAKER_04

Other than the little there's like some people.

SPEAKER_01

It will come out. It could be do with more pineapple, I feel.

SPEAKER_04

Ooh.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, well, you're not having it.

SPEAKER_04

I'll love a man.

SPEAKER_01

Stick to your own. Okay, let's get stuck in. So, yeah, we're gonna be breaking down kind of what we think is real, what could be possible, and what is absolute shit.

SPEAKER_04

Gobbledygoo.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Okay. So number one, then, the first rumour that we want to talk about is Epic Universe and the fact they might be changing their ticketing forever.

SPEAKER_04

So these have been these kiosks. So within the entrance to each portal, they've had these kiosks. So this is more than just a rumour, this is really, really like could be happening.

SPEAKER_01

Well, let's just tell the people roughly what we're talking about, Jake, before you I was going to I was going to elaborate. Anyway, so for those of you who've not been to Apple Apple Universe, Epic Universe before, there is a central hub in the theme park, so you've gone through security, you've scanned your ticket and whatever else. Then there is a center central hub called Celestial Park. Now, off Celestial Park, you have portals to each of the lands. Now, these portals were set up, and I don't know if anybody's noticed, there's small tiny patches in the ground when you walk in.

SPEAKER_04

I'd never noticed them.

SPEAKER_01

So rumour has it that they are going to be testing tickets for the portals and either making um the central hub free to enter or at a massively reduced cost, and then you have to scan a ticket to enter the portals.

SPEAKER_04

So going back to my original point.

SPEAKER_01

You jumped the gun, I'm just providing the context.

SPEAKER_04

These kiosks are like the facial recognition scanner things have already been seen.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, so I've screenshotted and put a picture in for you for your reference.

SPEAKER_04

So I think it's like for me, part of when you're taking photos in Epic Universe, the portal itself, you want to take a photo of the portal, don't you? But like now there's just a kiosk in the way.

SPEAKER_01

Well it's not a kiosk, it looks like a bollard.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah. But still it's in the way. Like there's a photo of me and Becky from Epic Universe, and there was like a cat.

SPEAKER_01

So you've seen it as like a profile picture.

SPEAKER_04

Um yeah, there's a team member stood there in the and like we had to edit her out because we wanted it to clean. So it's like now there's no chance of that.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, because you've got these two bollards essentially. Like, you know, if you're driving through Leeds or Manchester and you've got bollards on one-way streets.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, then the the ones that pop up.

SPEAKER_01

The metal ones that pop up. Yeah. And then you're obviously gonna have a cast member or a team member, sorry, uh, each one making sure people are scanning their tickets. So it's it's gonna be chaos eye, I for see.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I I foresee it's gonna be like people are gonna be barging getting in in the way and stuff, and yeah. Yeah, it's uh I'm not too happy about that. But then let's let's talk about like what it what it could entail. So like I think it would be cool to be able to have access to Celestial Park, you know, a bit like City Walk, but I don't think currently there's not enough.

SPEAKER_01

I think that's what they're going for.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Because I imagine sorry, I'm so conscious about this bloody tahine, um, that they are this is having an impact currently on the restaurants in the hub. So you've got the Atlantis and you've got our fave blue dragon that are like, if you want to just go out for tea, like in City Walk, you can't just stroll in for cowfish. Um you can stroll into cowfish or big fire. You can't do that because you need to pay a hundred and odd dollars to get into the theme park. You're burping already. Bless you!

SPEAKER_04

Sneezing. Um yeah, I agree. And I arguably cowfish and Atlantis are better restaurants than Cowfish. Atlantis and Blue Dragon. It had a creature in there. Of course it did. Um arguably probably better than most of the restaurants at City Walk. I mean, we've not eaten at Atlantis, but I've heard mad root reviews about him, and I really enjoyed Blue Dragon.

SPEAKER_01

I really enjoyed it, yeah. So I imagine to kind of increase footfall to those restaurants and not having to pay the big ticket price for the entire theme park, or you want to just go and get that beautiful margarita from Celestica, you can't just go and do that without forking out a hundred and odd dollars. So I understand why they're wanting to do it. And you've also got those restaurants on the other side by the Starbucks that haven't opened yet, which is rumoured to be a Mexican and an Italian.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. And you also and even I want to try that what is it called? That one across from Stardust. Cosmic, not good by the city. Oh, the Meteor cafe thing. I want to try there.

SPEAKER_01

Their sandwiches look good. Is it a sandwich or is it a burger? And they had a margarita that I wanted to try and shot myself in the foot if you've watched our drinking around the poles video. Guttered.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. So I think like they're really good restaurants as well. Like the Oak Tree Travin.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Like, even though I didn't really like my It was dry what we had in there, but it's so beautiful inside. And I imagine the post breakfast service being bar.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I've seen like a load of people go and have the barbecue then and say it's really good. So that'd be nice. But yeah. I mean, there's there's no barbecue option. There's big fire, but it's not barbecue as in that traditional barbecue. It's about steak placing it, Big Fire.

SPEAKER_00

I don't know, we've not been.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. But I think that's what it is. It's got Big Fire. Yeah. Um I had another point. Yeah. Sora. Stardust.

SPEAKER_01

Like I wonder what's going to happen with that if they had access to this is true, because it is in Celestial Park. It'll probably just you have to um be there's like another tiny, tiny pole-esque looking thing to get into stardom. That's a scan your ticket when you go through. So I don't know if they'll have these bollard-looking things there. Um that's the way I see them doing it. But yeah. If this is the face recognition system that we think it's gonna be, I anticipate this causing a lot of hold-up at the portals. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Uh especially um Harry Potter, because that well, I wonder if they'll lose single tickets for each portal. So, like, say you could go and pay just for Harry Potter.

SPEAKER_01

I don't foresee them doing that. I see them doing a hub ticket and a portal ticket, portals ticket. Because that'll be alright, faff.

SPEAKER_04

I know, yeah. If you had to buy one for each portal.

SPEAKER_01

You know, like I don't think you like go like just with the incentive of just going to Burke.

SPEAKER_04

What happens if you pay like, say, they wouldn't charge it this low, but imagine if it were like $30 to get into a one portal. And if you would just go five, four.

SPEAKER_00

Four.

SPEAKER_04

So if you just wanted to go to Yeah, there's four portals. Yeah. If you just wanted to go to one of them.

SPEAKER_01

Gender, Dark, Harry Potter, Burke. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

So if if you wanted to just go to one of them, like say you were a local and you were just like, I'm only bothered for one. Instead of having to pay for a full ticket, you could just pay for one portal.

SPEAKER_01

I don't know. I think it's a big thing.

SPEAKER_04

I don't think it's big enough to do that.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Well, they've been trialling it, evidently, so that we've seen in um some kind soul has put a picture in on fa one of the Facebook groups to say that they are testing it. So that I remember that being rumoured when Epic was doing the um previews.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah. So this rumour And to be fair, we did notice that like by each portal there were like a little not like a hut, but there were like a little standard. I don't know what you're talking about.

SPEAKER_01

I just remember seeing the cutout in the floor where you could see something where a piece of floor could be taken away.

SPEAKER_04

If you go in towards the portal, like to the right or left hand side of each of the portals, there's like a it's like a little what's it called? Like a phone box almost. China that you could have someone sat in it. Yeah. Um I think it's in each of the portals, but it definitely was one that outside of Harry Potter. Do you remember us walking out and being like, Oh, I think that is just Harry Potter.

SPEAKER_01

Is it? Yeah. Yeah. And I think that is an additional exit entry. You know, like Nintendo has the little passage at the side and dark you can enter through the side.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I think Burke's the only one without it.

SPEAKER_04

Or we've just There's one for the side, as Burke, as well. We've normally gone out that way. We're not normally gone through portal in a bit on the left.

SPEAKER_01

Oh yes, there is, yeah. I think they have to do that for like health and safety in case everybody needs to like run out. Um, but yeah, let us know how you feel about that. If you have been to Epic a couple of times, if do you think that is going to, you know, make the experience better? Or are you going to invest in a hub ticket if that becomes a thing, just so you can go to the restaurants and you know, sit and watch the the um pew pew.

SPEAKER_04

Fountain show.

SPEAKER_01

Fountain show. Yeah. That to me they need to increase the incentive of by having a firework show.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah. Which are well they're trialing that drone show, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but drones in Florida and the inclement weather. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Very true.

SPEAKER_01

There is that.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, rumour number two. So when I if you follow us on Instagram, you'll know that I've started doing like a weekly catch-up of like the news that's coming out. So this rumour was going to be on the first episode of the news. The news with Jake. Um trademark. Um this was one of the rumours that was going to be included in there, but it was when I were Pauly, so it was like it wasn't right to put it out. Um so we missed that episode, so we can talk about it now. Uh and this is about a patch of land that is not actually attached to any of the theme parks. It's behind the wheel of Icon Park and Top Golf. Massive plot of land, it's like 90 acres, I think, or like 87 acres. Um at first I was like, why is this such a big deal? When I were kind of doing my research for that episode. And it turns out that it's owned by Universal. Yes. So there's rumours of what it could be. I mean, 87 acres, I can't remember what it's comparable to, but it's In football pictures, what is that? Well, in theme parks, it's it's comparable to one of the parks, like it's almost the size of one of them. I can't think what it is, but it is massive. Um but it's my mind, I think it's probably going to be a hotel.

SPEAKER_01

Well, there's different there's rumours upon the rumour. So there's the rumours of additional hotels. There is the rumour of a another park, which I think that is the bottom of the barrel. Like they've just opened Epic.

SPEAKER_04

Because if they opened a kid's park.

SPEAKER_01

Well, they've got that one in Texas, so maybe they've seen how well that does. Um, but the rumour that I think is the transportation system, yeah. Whether that is this kind of sunshine um railway that they've got that connection, yeah. Yeah. I think they've got a similar thing that runs through Winter Park or this whole tunnel system. Or the Musk thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah. I mean, like 87 acres for transport, that's gonna be like the hub, I guess, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so that'll be where you like a terminal of sorts.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

They might include some dining spots there, so you've finished in the park, you your taxi drops you off there or whatever. Or you get picked up there and you've just had a pizza.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. It it's a strange one really, because I think like I think the if it was to be the Musk, was it nowhere company, nothing company. If it was a creative name. It is, yeah. Um and it's a really cool system. So if you'd not seen it, I think they've I don't know if they've done it in Vegas or if it's if it's come into Vegas. But it's basically single-lane tunnels that Teslas will drive into and the autopilot will take control and weave you through these tunnels. Um but then there's also the problem with Florida turf and like if it can be if stuff can be built underground. Um I mean Disney have their tunnels where the cast members move from place to place, so it is possible.

SPEAKER_01

And with I'd love to see those tunnels.

SPEAKER_04

And with the money that Musk's got and the technology that's at his disposal, anything's almost possible. So it could be the terminal.

SPEAKER_01

And I do think Orlando's a very forward-thinking city.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, oh definitely is, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um they're constantly trying to improve, and well, we've all seen the chaos of the I-4 and what is due to come. Um so yeah, I don't think it's an expansion. I think that's that is clutching at straws and that is blue sky thinking. Um but I do think it's it's got to be something to do with transportation. They might, because it is however many acres, it's 87 acres. Yeah, yeah. They might have the transportation with a hotel.

SPEAKER_04

I think that's what it would be. I I think it there will be a hotel attached to it, I think. And it'd be pretty cool to stay there, really.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, because if that transportation hub links up to uh the legacy parks and epic, and you could just walk straight, it's so good for Icon Park.

SPEAKER_04

Yes, it will. So, so good for Icon Park.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Um I mean if you've got time to go to Icon Park.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, very true.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Universal making it difficult.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, tin roof's gonna be buzzing.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, we love tin roof.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um, so yeah, something is gonna be happening. Universal don't just buy eight to seven acres of land to do nothing with. Um I wonder how long they've had it.

SPEAKER_04

I bet they've had it for years and years and years.

SPEAKER_01

They planted a load of trees on it. Yeah. And are they in the process of like demolishing it? Or clearing it all, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, mad.

SPEAKER_01

Um, yeah. So again, let us know what you think. Let us know what you hope for. Don't just like we don't want this as like you know, what is definite. This is a rumours podcast. So what is what what speculate. What do you yeah, what what do you speculate?

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

What do you speculate? I speculate it's gonna be that hotel, isn't it? Yeah. And it's like I say it'd be co cool to stay there just for the access to Icon Park. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Mm-hmm. Okay, rumour number three. Disney's fifth gate. This has been on the rumour mill for decades.

SPEAKER_04

Ages, this hasn't it?

SPEAKER_01

Yes, yes. So it's just one that people just don't stop talking about and don't stop talking about for the right reasons. We always want more.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, and they've always got some.

SPEAKER_01

They're deep, bro. He wants to fill them.

SPEAKER_04

And they've got all that land that's a lot of it's just like empty.

SPEAKER_01

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

So where would this fifth gate be?

SPEAKER_01

I don't know in terms of land, like the the the Disneyland Disneyland, whoa, sorry, don't come at me in the comments. I do apologize. The Disney World plot is as big as is it San Francis Seattle, San Francisco.

SPEAKER_04

It's bigger than that, Manny, in it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. But it's bigger than I can't remember. Somewhere.

SPEAKER_04

It's bloody big anyway. It's bigger than many, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So I don't know where where it would go. And again, I think a a large Percentage of Disney World is marshland and like swamp. So I don't know where it could be.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But it's just been rumoured for a very, very, very, very, very long time. However, the amount of work and construction that is going on in Walt Disney World across the entirety of it at the minute, I don't think this is happening.

SPEAKER_04

I think they've got too much on. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Because they've got villains lands come in and then the Oh the the Tropical Americans, is that what it's called? Yeah. Um sorry, my throat is like, can you hear me? I'll rasp it. Sorry. Um, yeah, so I think they've got too much on, but I do think a fifth gate could happen, but then it's like would the take away from the IPs that they could put in the main park with with them kind of things.

SPEAKER_01

What would be this fifth gate?

SPEAKER_04

If anything, it would have been the villains land, I think.

SPEAKER_01

I was just gonna speculate.

SPEAKER_04

Go then speculate.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, because they have now rumoured to have done a little little U-turn with the plans for Villains Lands.

SPEAKER_04

Making it bigger, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01

No, they've redacted some stuff. Okay. Um so they made plans and they put in permits and permits have changed. Alright. And the is it Josh Romara? Romero Romara? The new guy. What? Damaro, innit?

SPEAKER_04

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01

Sorry, Josh.

SPEAKER_04

Um if you're listening to this, Josh. So is that highly doubt you are.

SPEAKER_01

Shout out to all 25 of our listeners. Um yeah, it was either just before he came and took over or just after that like these plans started to change. So I don't know if they're trying to go, you know, a bit more family friendly. Not that it wouldn't be family friendly anyway, it's Disney. What's the worst they're gonna do? Maleficent.

SPEAKER_04

Like, see what you mean.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Or they've they've kind of squashing it and trying to uh kind of make it a bit smaller than what it is and put less not effort into it, but so they've got so they'd have more space than to do other stuff, I guess. Or to create a whole new villain's theme park. I'd love that. But I don't I think again, Slim Pickens. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, it's difficult. I I don't think throwing it out there, I don't ever think that we're gonna get another gate. Do you know from Disney?

SPEAKER_01

I do. I just think within maybe a decade, I don't think any time now.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I don't think we will. I think they'll just keep building the additional parks of the ones they've got at the minute. Because I don't see I mean all four of the parks are quite different, but then I can't see them doing anything that's like as different to make it.

SPEAKER_01

What would be the fifth thing, yeah. Because you've got a Magic Kingdom, you've got an Animal Kingdom, you've got the film Hollywood Studios, and then you've got Epcot, which is my favourite place.

SPEAKER_04

And it's like you could have you could have Which is your edutainment. And I even think like Epcot's quite similar to Tomorrowland. Is it Tomorrowland with Space Bank?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Like the whole like the concept of it, like the obviously it's got a bit old now, but like the premise of like the new technology and this is what could happen in the future kind of thing. I think that's quite similar. So I think to do a full new park, but clutching at straws with what's left.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

But then I could like if they didn't build Monsters Inc. and building Pixar Pixar Park, oh my god. That'd be fucking sick.

SPEAKER_01

I don't know. I'd love to go to the the never eat, should West Coast Park because that is where all that predominantly like lives and pops off.

SPEAKER_04

Like they've got all the Pixar stuff, cars and they have and the hotel.

SPEAKER_01

They don't really like push that so much in Orlando, but that is the whole you know, to get people to travel from side to side and not just stick to one.

SPEAKER_04

Um yeah, that's another point as well. Like if they added another gate, you're taken away from your other parks.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but it's thousands of miles away.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, no.

SPEAKER_01

Um excuse me. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Like and especially when they're trying to expand into different countries. Like if they open a new park.

SPEAKER_01

Well, where is that other park that they announced last year? Is that a um yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Um so that again pisses on the bonfire of another park.

SPEAKER_04

But yeah, Pixar Park at Pixar Park.

SPEAKER_01

Pixar Park.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, that'd be good. Yeah I just want to see that Zootopia come over somewhere.

SPEAKER_01

That the only place I can logically see that is Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So I don't know. My hopes if it were to happen is we just get a full villain's park where Oogie Boogie is walking round seven days a week. We don't just see him on Halloween. Cruella Deville, my queen. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Loved that. Loved that film. Okay, let us know again. What would you like Disney's fifth gate to be? Do you have any idea? Yeah, Jake really wants Pixar Park and I think.

SPEAKER_04

I've taught myself into it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

I was against it at first, but I'm like, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

We want that Incredicoaster on the West Coast. Oh yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, because you could have Incredibles, Zootopia. Mm-hmm. Is that Pixar? Or is that just Disney?

SPEAKER_00

I don't know anymore. Toy Story, but then exactly what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_04

Does that mean like you could have had monsters ink there and stuff?

SPEAKER_01

That could have been the big icon, just the how good does that coaster look, though. Like to me, where they are putting that looks like it's uh miles away from the park. So this has got to be a huge building.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. And I think the building.

SPEAKER_01

Start our bio reconstruct. Um so yeah, again, let us know with that one what you think, what you speculate is going to happen. On to the next one. Onto the next one.

SPEAKER_04

So we've all seen the closures of beloved places like Lost Continent. R.I.P.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

So this rumour has been going around forever by the signs of things. And it's the re-theming of lands.

SPEAKER_01

Oh the re-theming of Lost Continent, essentially. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

I'm trying to think if there's any other lands that are getting close to being like because we'll obviously lose is great and I love it. Burping now. Um and then Simpsons, they've they've lost their out as well.

SPEAKER_01

And there's also Toon Lagoon.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. And yeah, that whole top section of like where Men in Black is and stuff. Yeah. Like all that could possibly get re-themed.

SPEAKER_01

Universal have got a lot to work on.

SPEAKER_04

They do, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And it's like Hey, you're smashing it, smashing it though, smashing it.

SPEAKER_04

Um but yeah, so this is specifically Lost Continent. And we've talked to Def about the possibility of Pokemon taking it. And I think that is what's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_01

But there's also the rumours that Zelda could be taking it because when Epic opened, there was a lot of hints and rumours. There is the stained glass window and blah blah blah. However, I think that just points to a Zelda expansion in Nintendo world. I don't think to move it up to it's just it would be, you know, people are kind of having tunnel vision with the way Lost Continent currently looks and can see the Zelda games, which yeah, I get that. Um but yeah, Pokemon, you're the Pokemon guy. Proceed.

SPEAKER_04

So my this is my kind of like wish list for the Pokemon games. Games are landing. So we've I think the file the permit.

SPEAKER_01

This is like the loudest drink I could have Jiggle Django.

SPEAKER_04

Um so yeah, there's the file the permit for or a what's it called?

SPEAKER_00

Permit.

SPEAKER_04

Not a permit, a like a like a trademark almost. Oh, a ride system that was like a capsule. So I think it's going to be based off Pokemon Snap. This is the ride that's gonna be in there. Okay, I'm clueless, so Pokemon Snap was a game that came out on Nintendo 64 and you basically went around in this little pod and you took photos of Pokemon.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Didn't they do something like that similar?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, they brought out a new version of Switch. Um so that's what I think could be that ride vehicle and that ride. Um and then there's also the Kanto Park that's just opened in Japan, and it's more of like a I think I talked about this last time, and I spoke about Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Do you remember?

SPEAKER_03

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_04

And my explanation for Yorkshire Sculpture Park was if anyone doesn't know, there's a park in Yorkshire that's got a load of sculptures in it. But anyway.

SPEAKER_01

He's always been so descriptive.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, um, so like I feel like they could do some similar stuff there. I mean, like I say, that's just a place where you walk around and like there's there's like one l little fairground ride, and it's it's not it's only small, but it's uh it's like a bit of a celebration place. Um so there's that, so I think they could do a like a massive theming of it. Um Mythos will obviously change.

SPEAKER_03

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_04

Um yeah. And I think what else we would I don't think we'd get a show. I think we'd get I think we'd get two rides. Because there's two rides there could well no there's one ride there currently in there. But I think we'd get two rides, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I think to manage crowd level there needs to be a minimum of two, but it's just yeah, whether they'd keep the Sinbad stage to host a Pokemon show, yeah, where like I don't know, Ash is like trying to learn how to be some Pokemon master with his Pokedex and whatever.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But can we just talk about Mythos for a second? Because a lot of us love that place and it has been voted the best theme park re restaurant apparently for for years, I don't. Is it 10 years or something it says on the sign? They they wear that banner with pride. Yeah, it is a great place in there. Can I just say though, Universal, if you are gonna keep that restaurant, please turn down the air con like a small amount. It's like walking into a fridge.

SPEAKER_04

It could be like an ice gym and restaurant.

SPEAKER_01

Where you get all your icy Pokemon, yeah. Yeah. But if we get some of the food that they get in like the Asia parks, it'd be so cool.

SPEAKER_04

Like that's another point. Like, I don't know if they'd take it away from the Asia parks first. Like if it came to Orlando before it went to Well, well they've said they've said that it's coming, aren't they? So I I'm pretty guaranteed this is gonna happen.

SPEAKER_01

And they've kind of slowly drip fed it in with the um parades and the polade floats, like they've incorporated Pokemon into that now.

SPEAKER_03

Um very true, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So yeah, I think I agree, I think it is gonna be Pokemon when we hear that God knows when.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Like Universal are really, really taking the time with this one. Really taking the time with this one.

SPEAKER_04

It's gonna take a while for him to build it all.

SPEAKER_01

But I will miss walking through Seuss Landing at EPA and seeing that big trident stuck out the ground that I didn't even know that his feet were there as well.

SPEAKER_04

I can't believe you didn't know that there were feet there.

SPEAKER_01

No. Because I never went into the show.

SPEAKER_04

I never went into um I remember one of my first ever photos when we went on his honeymoon was the feet.

SPEAKER_01

The feet. Yeah. Oh, it shows how much I actually look at his photographer. So sorry.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But yeah, I've all missed seeing it, and it's just it's a it is just a filtering sp spot to get to Hogsmead or to get quickly on Velocicoaster. Um you'll miss that weird chickpea bloody It was cookie dough, it wasn't. Cookie dough, but it's made out of chickpeas. You think you can eat raw cookie dough? You get very, very polar.

SPEAKER_04

So it's all cookie dough chickpeas.

SPEAKER_01

It's made out of chickpeas.

SPEAKER_04

Every single cookie dough.

SPEAKER_01

No, that cookie dough is made out of chickpeas.

SPEAKER_04

But what about other like raw cookie dough?

SPEAKER_01

Then you shouldn't be eating it because you need to cook it.

SPEAKER_04

Well learns of new every day. Is that a rumour? Is that real?

SPEAKER_01

That's real. You've got raw egg in there and copious amounts of flour that you're just eating.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, but people eat raw eggs when they want to get swole.

SPEAKER_01

It's not 1980. No one's eating raw egg anymore.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, yeah, that's true.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, well I mean no one at my gym's eating raw egg anymore.

SPEAKER_04

If you eat raw egg, let us know.

SPEAKER_01

Fish and a rice cake vibe.

SPEAKER_04

He is massive as well, so he is swallowed.

SPEAKER_01

Anyway, okay, next rumour.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. Um do you want to do this one? I did the last one.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So the next one is I don't think it's a rumour, I think it's pretty much given. Prices are gonna ramp up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

So when I did my last news episode, uh we talked about Disney's prices going.

SPEAKER_03

News of Jake.

SPEAKER_04

News of Jake. Um we talked about the prices increasing there, and they've gone up maybe like $10 to like $15, depending on the pack. Um and that but that was just on the gate on the day prices. But that kind of indicates how they're trying to put the price up anyway. Um but yeah, I can see I can see the prices going up again, which is rid I remember when I went to Orlando as a kid, or whenever I was 18, and I uh went to Epcot for the day. Um my mum and dad didn't want to go. So I think it was like the second second day, and like we so we'd already been to Epcot once, so I wanted to go back. And I got a taxi there and it cost $110, and now it's like nearly $200.

SPEAKER_01

$110 for what?

SPEAKER_04

To get into Epcot. For you, yeah, yeah. On the day.

SPEAKER_01

Is it? Yeah, so you've got annual passes, so like I don't even bat an eyelid.

SPEAKER_04

But if you look at the prices on the on the date, like yeah, but who's going to the park?

SPEAKER_01

Like, if you've gone to the park and paid at the gate, like please let me know your experience, because that absolutely baffles me. Like, why don't you just go online?

SPEAKER_04

Well, that's the thing. Like, no, I don't know how many people actually pay on the gate anymore.

SPEAKER_01

I bet it's very, very, very you see probably them turn them little turnstile things. They're not even turnstiles, they're little glass.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

The only time we've ever gone up to one of them was to get a button.

SPEAKER_04

We went up to one when we've had to pick up his tickets on a sunny moon.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, pick up tickets that we've pre-paid for. Yeah, that's what I mean, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. But yeah, I've never seen don't really see many people queuing there. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But yeah, I think demand is up right now, Epic's busy, like Disney is never not quiet anymore, and they are really levelling up their kind of quote unquote premium experiences. Like all these lounges they're opening and dining packages and dessert parties, like shit's expensive.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah, it's getting it's getting daft. I wonder when it's gonna start pricing. I mean, it's already started pricing people out, I think. But I mean, if people are gonna pay it.

SPEAKER_01

We've all seen those podcast episodes of people going in serious debt to go to Disney World. Like, who is that guy, that finance guy that does them podcasts?

SPEAKER_04

Um I could know.

SPEAKER_01

You do know, he wears glasses.

SPEAKER_04

Oh yeah, I can't I can't remember his name. Um, but yeah, it's it is crazy the prices now. But like I say, people are gonna keep paying it and people are gonna still keep finding the money.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and that's why like we really think if you go into Orlando for 14 days or you go twice a year at the minimum, the annual pass is worth it.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah, 100%. But we're we're kind of lucky in terms of from the UK with his ticket prices, we normally get discount, not discount, but we the multi-pass tickets are kind of affordable. Whereas, like when I hear Cassie talk about when she goes down to um Holland and like weekend tickets, like they're probably spending like hundred odd dollars a day, maybe.

SPEAKER_01

And that's like make sure you appreciate it. Like, I'm just swanning into the park, like this is free money.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, because you paid it for at the start, you feel like yeah, honestly.

SPEAKER_01

But yeah, I foresee the prices increasing, demand is up, these theme parks aren't getting any quieter, like post-COVID, it's only boomed.

SPEAKER_04

They've got to make the money back somewhere, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, like how do I I can't even remember off the top of my head how much Epic cost and like how much money Disney are pumping into these renovations. Um yeah, I think it's coming. And also with the potential of Epic being added to the annual pass, that's gonna increase the annual pass, obviously.

SPEAKER_04

I my hot take is I don't think they're gonna do an annual pass for Epic until they add more stuff.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, yeah. Yeah. Let us know if you agree or disagree with Jake on that one. Okay. We've got one more, and this one's a bit of a wild card.

SPEAKER_04

So where did you find this one?

SPEAKER_01

Um well this is based off of the tapu tapu rumor.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. So deep in the forums. So this uh wild card root wild card rumour, this super spooky rumour is that Volcano Bay is gonna get a big overhaul. And this is due to them getting rid of the tapu tapu, which if you're not aware, this was like a wristband that you got, and you could kind of go up to the front of a ride, tap it on your on your wrist, on this little bracelet thing that you had, waterproof of course, and you'd almost like join a virtual queue, and then you when your time would come back, it wouldn't it give you a return time, you'd come back, and you could go. It was a bit like how fast passers, this is how fast passers used to work at Disney before my time.

SPEAKER_01

I'm we've never been to Volcano Bay. I keep asking to go, and I want to get one of those little bed cabana things, sit cocktails while he goes and plays mermaids in the wave pool. Um but um I I imagine this being a really good system because you're not having to stand in lines in the scorching heat with no shoes on, burning your feet on that floor. Um you can sit or go do whatever you want to do, go in the laser river or whatever it is. So I think Tapu Tapu was a bit ahead of its time.

SPEAKER_04

I do too. I think it like when the fast passers left, it was just everyone were distraught, and everyone still talks about it now. So I feel like they had a good thing going there. Um but if they were to overhaul it, would you see an IP going there?

SPEAKER_01

No, what I think they're gonna do is I think they're gonna make it pay per slide.

SPEAKER_04

Really?

SPEAKER_01

I think they're gonna want to monetize it a bit more. I think potentially the the water park is a bit of a money suck for the Universal.

SPEAKER_04

I mean, I bet it's quite costs quite a lot to be.

SPEAKER_01

Maintenance on that. I mean, I know any theme park needs maintenance, but like water constant all the time, yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Well, look how much the water rides go into.

SPEAKER_01

That volcano, it doesn't show off.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, very true. But yeah, like the water rides at Universal, like they go down once a year to for maintenance to it for a decent period of time.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So yeah, I think it's might get an overhaul. Oh, sorry, I'm going rogue with my microphone here. But yeah, I think they're gonna lean more towards like if you wanna get on the big slides, you're gonna have to pay for your fast passes.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. Mm. Yeah, 'cause I I bet these people who want to go to Volcano Bay just to do that, sit in a cabana and just doing the pool like the wave pool.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, like to me, I'm only really good like I'm not a water slide girly like I like roller coasters. I'd probably go in the Laser River, I'd go in the wave pool, and I'd probably go on that um ride where you sit in the dinghy, and it's kind of like a high not a hybrid coaster, but like it's like a um you get pulled along a little bit.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I don't like dark tunnels and things like that when like I'm just yeah, when you're just sliding down, like no, I've watched way too many horror films for this. No. Um but yeah, I think this could really, really change the Volcano Bay experience for people for the for the fans of Volcano Bay.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. And yeah, I think I think that could happen. I could see that happening.

SPEAKER_01

But this is neither confirmed or denied. Yeah. So that was just a rumour. Tapu Tapu's gone out the window, what's coming next, kind of thing. Um, I do want to go to Volcano Bay because I want to try all the snacks and the cocktails. Um, so hopefully when we go on our next trip, we might see so you might see some videos from us, maybe. You know, Britt's first time at Volcano Bay.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But yeah, there's enough small changes happening that it's kind of worth paying attention to. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, definitely. Universal sneaker.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

In a good way.

SPEAKER_04

And then out of nowhere, they'll just drop some.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So yeah, that was the rumours. The rumour mill has churned out for Orlando.

SPEAKER_04

We've got a quick fire segment to go through them rumours.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_04

So this is just gonna be a yes or no. We're gonna go through the rumours and we're gonna think, is this real? Is this not? Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01

So Who's asking who?

SPEAKER_04

I'll go first. Um so Disney's fifth gate by 2035.

SPEAKER_01

Not happening. Actually, I said within a decade, dinner, and that's a decade.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. I don't see it happening.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I agree. Yeah. Thinking on it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

You're not allowed to think. Rapid fire, quick fire.

SPEAKER_01

Overhaul Figment first before they even think about that. Sorry, I've got the Figment fans, I'm a hit off.

SPEAKER_04

Maybe it's gonna be a figment land.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely not. That purple dragon needs to no.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, next one is Universal overtakes Disney in Orlando.

SPEAKER_01

Ooh. No. I don't think it's gonna happen.

SPEAKER_04

I don't think they ever will do.

SPEAKER_01

As much as I would like them to. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

I think that the two different beats, and I can't like stepped up this next like this past even five years.

SPEAKER_01

They put literally, I know they said it on like the um documentaries and stuff, but they put the park back in Theme Park. Yeah. That park is beautiful.

SPEAKER_04

Next one is Epic Universe doubles in size.

SPEAKER_01

No, I don't think doubles, but expands.

SPEAKER_04

I think in a in ten years, I think it'll have doubled. Because if you think there's gonna be well Burke's not moving. No, Burke's done, I think.

SPEAKER_01

I'd be surprised if they do, and I'll eat my words.

SPEAKER_04

Zelda expansion.

SPEAKER_01

Dark expansion.

SPEAKER_04

Dark expansion. Harry Potter expansions are already started.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Have I said Zelda?

SPEAKER_01

Yes. So that that's all that can be expanded. Do you think that's gonna double the entire theme park?

unknown

No.

SPEAKER_01

Because Celeste uh Celestial Park can't move anywhere.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. I guess so, yeah. Okay, then. No. I said we weren't allowed to think, but yeah, no. Last up is the free entry theme parked hubs.

SPEAKER_01

I don't think it's gonna be free. I don't think it's gonna be free.

SPEAKER_04

No, I don't think it's gonna be free. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Alright, what are your rumours? What are your speculations? Let us know in the comments or give us a DM. If you strongly disagree with anything we've said, we'd love to chat.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. This is the good thing about rumors, you can just like chat amount. Like it's good nice, it's fun to speculate. Yeah. It's fun to see what other people really want as well.

SPEAKER_01

But yeah, let us know what you believe and what you think is utter rubbish. But thank you so much for listening and thank you so much for watching. Hit that like, subscribe, notification bell if you're on YouTube, and leave us a review if you're on audio platforms. We will catch you in the next one. That's hopefully not a month away. Okay. Bye. We will be good. Bye. Bye, bye.