Tag: Traveling Author

Bittersweet Goodbye, Muppet*Vision 3-D

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney Adult, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Electric Mayhem, Jim Henson, Muppet Courtyard, Muppet*Vision 3D, Muppets, Rocking Roller Coaster, Travel, Traveling Writer, Uncategorized, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Welcome back to the Crossroads! Today, I’m not here with happy news from the Disney landscape. A few days ago, word officially came down on something we knew was probably coming. The final announcement was about the future of Muppet*Vision 3-D and also the Rocking Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith. The news is both good and bad, depending on your point of view and fandoms.

First, Muppet*Vision 3D and the Muppet Courtyard area will be the future home of the Monster’s Inc. themed land in Hollywood Studios. The new location will feature the Monstropolis roller coaster, dining, shopping, and stage show. Since the original concept art for this new land was shown at D23 in 2023, it appeared the Muppet Courtyard was always going to be going bye-bye. What did surprise us in the announcement of Muppet*Vision 3D‘s closure was the retheming of Rocking Roller Coaster to the Muppets.

Next, so what about Aerosmith? The band was never the first or second choice for the ride-theming, to begin with. Add in the band’s retirement and the allegations against lead vocalist Steven Tyler; the days for this ride were numbered. Since Disney+ released the Electric Mayhem show, rumors about Dr. Teeth and the band taking over the attraction have swirled. Well, it looks like it will be happening. The Muppets are taking the roller coaster and making it their own. This wasn’t a surprise on the surface, but the timing seems like it was to lessen the sting of the Muppet*Vision situation.

Why is closing Muppet*Vision a bad thing? If you look at the wait times or visit the Muppet Theater, there never seems to be a wait, and the theater is rarely very full at all. The Muppets have a sizable fanbase, but since Disney bought Jim Henson Studios, they’ve criminally mismanaged the IP. This attraction was the final project Jim Henson worked on before his untimely death. This alone makes it something that should be culturally preserved. Disney has reported they digitally mastered the show and are looking for ways to put the visuals out for the public. I hope they’ll build another theater by Rocking Roller Coaster, but it will probably end up on Disney+. Disney+ would be a great disappointment because the film needs to be experienced in the theater with all the effects and mayhem.

Overall, I am saddened by the loss of Muppet*Vision 3-D, but I hope we can have a suitable replacement for Rocking Roller Coaster. It won’t have the same magic and memories of our times in Muppet Courtyard, but maybe we can love it too. I made a reaction video on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@brent.abell/video/7440205287061081390), and you can check it out. These are my raw feelings on the day the news dropped. I’ve calmed down a little since then, lol.

Well, back to the grind my friends!

I hope to see you all out on the Crossroads,

Brent

Is Mickey’s Very Merry Party Very Merry?

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney Adult, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings, fellow travelers! Welcome back to Brent’s Crossroads. To stay in the Christmas mood, we will look at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Yes, that is a long title and a mouthful to say. How did I like the party? Well, let’s talk about the experience, and on Friday, I’ll compare the two to see which will win the prize for the best Disney World Holiday party for 2024.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be held this year in the Magic Kingdom on select nights from November 8th through December 20th. It is an extra-ticketed event that runs from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Party guests can enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. to enjoy the park before the party begins. The early entry is nice to rise rides and grab a bite to eat before the merriment starts. Pricing ranges from $169 to $219, depending on the date. Unlike Jollywood, this event sells out most of its dates, so if you choose to go, it’s better to pick a date quickly once tickets go on sale. The dates change yearly, so you must watch the Walt Disney World website to book (or contact Bobby Linn at Pixie Travel Co. at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com and tell him I sent you).

The night features special menu items, ride overlays, merchandise, a parade, a stage show, and an exclusive fireworks show. The offerings are a fun and festive way to get in the holiday spirit. You know I’m a Halloween boy, and this always puts me in a cheery mood. Now, I’ll break down each party section and give you my thoughts.

First, the early entry is valuable. Being in the park before the party begins allows you to ride the rides without party overlays and get some dinner. Not taking time during the party hours to ride regular rides helps give you more time to enjoy the party’s unique offerings. You have to be aware that some holiday food items are available all day, but some are only sold during party hours. The app and party map can help you find out which is which. The restaurant menu boards will also show what is only at the party. Rides like Tomorrowland Speedway, Mad Tea Party, and Space Mountain have holiday effects and lighting only during party hours. The holiday overlays on Jungle Cruise (Jingle Cruise) are on the ride all day, so this is one to hit when you arrive for early hours to check it off your list.

Second, it is all about the cookies. Five stations featuring different cookies are set up around the Magic Kingdom. The stations also have apple cider, hot chocolate, or egg nog to drink with your cookies. This year’s cookie offerings were two different sugar cookies (round red iced and tree-shaped green iced), red velvet cake cookie, buttercream frosted gingerbread, and caramel pretzel chocolate chip. I will be tasting and reviewing the cookies as soon as I get the YouTube channel set up. The hot chocolate was delicious. The apple cider tasted like regular apple juice with a splash of cinnamon. Lastly, the egg nog was a thick concoction with a flavor hint of bubble gum. The egg nog was weird.

Next are the rides. The Mad Tea Cups feature festive music and lights while you spin yourself sick. It is fun to let the ride take you around without spinning the cups. Life is better when you aren’t ill from cookies and spinning. Tomorrowland Speedway was the best of the ride overlays. The last time we attended the party, right after COVID-19, the speedway didn’t have the lights and decorations around the track. Seeing it all lit up while driving around the course was beautiful, and I’m glad they had the overlay this time. Space Mountain is a different animal compared to the usual ride experience. The ride is usually dark inside; you can’t see the track when you speed through space. Red and green lights illuminate the inside during the party, and holiday music blasts through the show building. The last ride I want to discuss is Jingle Cruise. This is a fun alternate version of the Jungle Cruise and worth waiting to ride. The boats are renamed, and the animals have a good time showing their Christmas spirit. Jingle Cruise is a must-ride during the holiday season.

Now, a quick word on merchandise. Like any other Disney event, merchandise is out there in force. Disney knows how to merch you to death, and they hold true here. Besides the regular holiday offerings, the party has specially branded merchandise with the Very Merry logo that is only sold in select locations during party hours. This year also features a gingerbread house ornament as a free token for partying with the mouse.

Food? There are plenty of party and holiday exclusive choices. The sweet treats far outnumbered the savory ones, and it was hard to find something that sounded good to eat during the party to combat the sweets. I’ll discuss this in depth when I compare this party with Jollywood Nights.

Lastly, the shows. There are three exclusive shows during Very Merry: a stage show, a parade, and a fireworks show. These are different from the regular park shows and are only during party hours. The stage show, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, is a festive show that is located on the stage in front of Cinderella’s Castle. It features Mickey and friends in a fun show that will make you smile. The Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade follows the regular park parade route from Frontier Land to Main Street, USA. Many characters get in the spirit with holiday costumes, and Santa makes his appearance at the end in grand fashion. The best of the three is Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show. The show includes festive projections on Cinderella’s Castle and a jolly fireworks show. It is my favorite of the Disney World fireworks shows.

Is this a perfect party?

No, because it’s geared more for children. One plus is that once the parade ends, there is a mass stroller exodus to the exit. This reduces wait times for rides and clears the park. The park is already at reduced capacity for the party, but the kids and parents leaving make it even less crowded. This makes for a fantastic experience in the Magic Kingdom.

In closing, I won’t tell you which party I liked more, but I will say it started with fewer strollers in the park. If you can attend the party, it is worth the price to experience it. I won’t turn down going again, and you won’t either.

Okay, back to writing this novel I’m super behind on. I hope you get to travel where you want to go, and I’ll see you out on the crossroads!

Good night,

Brent

Christmas Tree on Main Street, USA

Is Disney’s Jollywood Nights Worth It?

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Jollywood Nights, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings, travelers! I want to welcome you back to the crossroads. I hope all is well. Today, I want to discuss the Jollywood Nights party at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. The party is an extra-ticketed event happening once the park closes. Attendees can get in early, at 6 pm, to enjoy the park before it closes to the general public. Without a party wristband, you can’t ride rides or do anything in the park after 7:30 pm. The price ranges from $159 to $179 and is only on select nights. This year, it is only being held on thirteen nights. So, if you want to go, check the Disney website for ticket availability (or email Bobby Linn with Pixie Travel Co. to help book your trip at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com and tell him Brent set you).

The Jollywood party is geared more to an adult audience than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. I attended both over the weekend, and I will review Mickey’s Very Merry later this week. There are some distinct differences, and I will get into those in the reviews. Both parties feature special food and drink, events, ride overlays, shows, and merchandise.

Now, let’s talk about Jollywood Nights.

Jollywood Nights is billed as a throwback to Hollywood’s golden age. The streets are lit with lights, a Christmas tree is in the lake, and festive projections adorn the Chinese Theater where Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is housed and also on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Overall, the mood is like Christmas, leaving this Halloween fan feeling jolly.

I want to start off with the special shows. Jollywood Nights has a Christmas fireworks show, a musical show hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, and, new this year, an ice skating show called Glisten! on a special surfaced area in front of the Chinese Theater. If those shows aren’t enough to squeeze into your five hours, there is also a Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along show and a Pixar dance party. We did all the shows, and each one was fantastic.

The next thing to discuss is the food. The event features exclusive food and drinks that are only available during the party hours. We tried some of the offerings and liked everything we ate. The prices seemed more reasonable than the food at Mickey’s Very Merry, and the food tasted better, too. The highlights were the birria taco, yuca con chicharron, and the two popovers (main dish and side dish themed). We also tried the caramel apple cider and the drinks featured at the Tip Top Club’s Twilight Soiree at the Hollywood Tower Hotel (or the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, as we like to call it). There were so many choices, and trying them all would take multiple trips. It sounds like a goal for next year.

Lastly, the merchandise. Outside of the Haunted Mansion, I don’t pick up other Disney things. I do, however, like to pick up a trinket or two from events as a memento of the trip. This was the first year for Ollie, a gingerbread man who acted as the mascot for this year’s party. There was Jollywood Nights-dated merchandise like shirts, coffee mugs, Mickey ears, ornaments, and pins, to name a few. I’ll be curious to see if Ollie sticks around as the mascot going forward. Disney won’t want to pass up on a way to brand the party for future merchandise. The offerings were few, but deciding what to pick out was easy.

Overall, the party is amazing. It is better than its partner party in the Magic Kingdom. Once I finish my review of Mickey’s Very Merry, I’ll tell you why Jollywood Nights are better for your money and sanity. I would go again and can’t wait to spend more time at Jollywood Nights.

I have to go and do the writing thing again, lol. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you at the crossroads! Don’t forget to subscribe here, on Instagram (@brenttabell), Threads (brenttabell), and TikTok (@brent.abell). Each follow on a platform will enter you for the first of two subscriber giveaways for one of two pins from the two parties. More info on when the deadline is for the first drawing is coming later this week.

Enjoy the road ahead,

Brent

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2024

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Welcome to the Crossroads! Today, I want to give my final thoughts about Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (check out the details here). The event is a ticketed party after the Magic Kingdom closes down. The night features trick-or-treating, a special fireworks show, and a villain stage show. Disney also has exclusive food, drink, and merchandise available to purchase.

Now, how was it for the cost?

The tickets range from $119 to $199 per ticket, depending on which date you attend. This event isn’t every day, so you have to plan when you want to party with the mouse. You can get into the Magic Kingdom a few hours before the party begins to ride the rides and grab a bite to eat. Once guests without a wristband have left the park after regular hours, the party gets going.

When the spooky lights come on, the fun begins. While kids can dress up and get candy from designated locations, there are plenty of other things for everyone to enjoy. Some rides have special overlays or lighting to give them a Halloween feel, and lightning effects are projected on Cinderella’s Castle. The vibe is enjoyable and festive. The highlight is seeing the Haunted Mansion portion of Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and riding the attraction multiple times. By the way, I am a huge Haunted Mansion fan.

The lines for the rides are almost all walk-on since the park capacity is significantly reduced during the party hours. Once the first parade and fireworks end, the crowd gets even smaller. The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show is done multiple times. Wait until the end of the night and see the last show right at the end of the party. This allows you more time to ride rides and pick up some treats or merch.

Overall, it is worth the money to do this extra-cost event. Being able to get right on most rides without waiting almost makes the cost worth it. We’ve heard you get a ton of candy in the past, but it seemed like we didn’t get much this year. They also have special dietary treats, and I didn’t get much of it when I cashed in my tokens for them. I should’ve stuck with the regular candy instead of trying to be good. We’ve also been to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and I feel it is a better party for the money. I’ll have to compare them again after attending this year’s Very Merry.

Thanks again for visiting! I will bring home some goodies from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to have as giveaways for subscribing here or following my TikTok over @brent.abell. Everyone subscribed here, following on TikTok, or subscribing to the new YouTube channel will be entered when it launches next week. You can get an entry for each one you subscribe to.

In closing, I want to give a shout-out to my Disney trip guy, Bobby Linn, at Pixie Travel. He does fantastic work helping you plan your trip, and best of all, it is a free service. Be sure to contact Bobby at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com to get your dream vacation rolling.

See you out at the Crossroads,

Brent

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights 2024

On By Brent AbellIn Halloween Horror Nights, HHN House Reviews, Scare Zone Reviews, Travel, Traveling Writer, Universal Studios Orlando1 Comment

Good afternoon! Welcome back to Brent’s Crossroads, and thanks for coming along on the journey. This fall, I hit both Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Universal Studios Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights 33. I will discuss Mickey’s Not So Scary next week, but now it’s time for the real scares.

Besides traveling and being a Disney Adult, I am also a dark fiction writer and a huge horror genre fan. Attending Halloween Horror Nights is something I’ve dreamed of experiencing. I was not disappointed. The event spans the main park area and features ten houses, five scare zones, a live stage show, and lots of food and drinks created for the festivities. The houses and scare zones are a mix of original concepts and IP (intellectual property) themes. Lastly, it wouldn’t be a huge even like this without plenty of exclusive merchandise. Now, I want to run through the houses and scare zones with how I ranked them. The placement is NOT a slight against the team members or scare actors- they were all fantastic and worked their asses off to scare the crap out of everybody. The ranking is based on concept and if the design worked or not.

And now, the rankings…

10) The Museum: Deadly Exhibits- The theme of this house was that an ancient cursed artifact has gone on display in a museum and causes all the employees and exhibits to rot and mutate. I wasn’t big on the theme or the way the sets looked. This appeared to be the one with the least budget amount.

9) Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodline- Great set pieces, but a lackluster story. I’m not sure if the right amount of scare actors were on duty when we went through, because I questioned why the house protagonist is the one jumping out at me all the time. I expected more from a battle between Van Helsing’s daughter and the Bride of Frankenstein versus Dracula’s daughter. This should’ve been a homerun, but fell short.

8) Major Sweet’s Candy Factory- This house was based on a previous scare zone. The house had some annoying PA announcements you were forced to loudly listen to before you entered the door, and the story didn’t do anything for me. Kids on a school fieldtrip eat the candy and turn into little murderous brats who kill the adults. The brutal kill scenes were very good, but the story felt boring.

7) Goblin’s Feast- Tour a goblin kitchen and home where human is on the menu. The house had some nice set pieces, but didn’t strike as anything special.

6) Triplets of Terror- Follow the triplets as they murder people while they celebrate a birthday. The house isn’t bad, but when you get to the middle you ‘step’ into a true-crime podcast, it loses the story flow. I would’ve preferred the house stay focused on the killing spree and not the publicity the murders brought about.

5) A Quiet Place- Great sets with amazing props for the monsters, but the only thing that jumps out at you are the survivors jump scaring you to be quiet while they make a ton of noise to alert the creatures. I also wish it had something to tie to A Quiet Place: Day One.

4) Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America- This house was based on Latin American legendary monsters. The sets were great, and scenes nice and gory. I got jump scared good in this one.

3) Slaughter Sinema 2- This house was a trip through horror movies being shown at the Carey Drive-In. The movie themes and sets were top-notch with some very graphic scenes. I also have to give props to the designers for the shark animatronic and walking through the dude’s split in half body.

2) Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire- This house surprised me. I fully expected to hate this house since I wasn’t a fan of the movie, but I loved it. It wasn’t a scary house, but the sets and effects were all great fun. Slimer and Ecto-1 won the house for me.

1) Insidious: The Further- I was very excited for this house when it was announced, and it didn’t disappoint. I love the film series, and being able to explore the Further made for a really fantastic house. The rooms were creepy and moody with the best scare actor placement in the whole park. The Black Bride was played perfectly by the actors and scared the hell out of people. This was also voted the best house for 2024, and it earned it.

Now for the Scare Zones…

5) Demon Queens- Walked through and didn’t even notice.

4) Duality of Fear- Like the zone above.

3) Swamp of the Undead- This one tried. You could tell the Scare Zones seemed mailed-in this year with all the money going into Epic Universe. Great sets, and the zombies looked good shambling around in the fog.

2) Enter the Blumhouse- This zone was based on Blumhouse films such as The Black Phone, Megan, Freaky, and The Purge. Nice idea, but it was essentially a photo-op area. Most of the main characters were on stages you couldn’t get on, and they didn’t come down. The only actors milling around the zone were Purge actors.

1) Torture Faire- A fine faire based on death and torment. Great sets and great actor interaction around the zone.

Overall, I loved HHN, and I want to go back every year now. The experience is worth it, and I highly recommend going at least once if you love horror. For more travel shenanigans follow me over on TikTok @brent.abell and follow here! Subscribe or like!

Well, back to working on the next book and planning for the next trip!

Later,

Brent

Snacks From Around the Globe

On By Brent AbellIn food reviews, international snacks, Travel, Traveling WriterLeave a comment

Hey travelers, welcome back to the Crossroads! This is where everyone can share their travel experiences and hang out. One thing I love to do when traveling to different countries is to check out the snacks. I look for candy bars, chips, or anything else I can’t find in the USA.

The picture is from my latest overseas trip. I toured Rome, Naples, Sicily, Athens, and Kusadasi in Turkey. While other tourists went to shops looking for shirts, hats, and shot glasses, I scoured the area for mini-marts and convenience stores. I was stoked to find new Ruffles, Doritos, KitKats, and Oreo flavors on my hunts.

My purpose in showing these here is to do reviews and tastings on the TikTok channel and this site. The upcoming YouTube channel will also showcase these reviews and have videos from different trips and events. I haven’t dived in on any goodies yet, but I did try the KFC chips in London last year, and they are phenomenal.

Thanks for coming by, and I hope to see you out at the Crossroads,

Brent

Welcome to the Crossroads

On By Brent AbellIn Halloween Horror Nights, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Universal Studios Orlando, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

I want to welcome you to Brent’s Crossroads. If you know me, you know I am an author who loves to travel and share my experiences. The purpose of this new site is to separate my writing work from my travels. I am also a huge Disney adult, and I have plenty to say and share concerning that as well.

The picture above is from this year’s Universal Studios Orlando Halloween Horror Nights. During the same weekend, I also attended Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. To kick this site off, I will have an article on both experiences in the next few days.

If you like traveling or like someone with a warped sense of humor about traveling, this is the place for you. I will talk about my trips, explore the sights, and review the local snacks I bring back from foreign lands on this site. Soon, there will be an accompanying YouTube channel, Facebook page, and other media sites for you to join in the fun with.

This is a work in progress, so please don’t mind the dust and sounds of the hammering. I want to give you a place to learn about other places to visit, what they offer, and what the food is like. Feel free to kick your feet up, grab a drink, and converse. This is your page, too, and you can always share your tales with everyone, but please be respectful.

You can find my author website at www.brentabell.com. If you feel so inclined, you can also join the TikTok page for videos about my travels and other musings about writing and the horror genre at @brent.abell.

Welcome again to the Crossroads, and I hope we can have fun traveling around together!

Brent