This week’s Theme Park Rangers Radar looks to the future of the Orlando Science Center, and Epcot looks back to the heyday of waterskiing at Cypress Gardens. This was long before Legoland Florida entered Winter Haven.

Radar is your weekly roundup of news from Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions. Appears on OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesday.

After a recent helmet tour of the Orlando Science Center’s upcoming “Life” exhibit, which opens in late 2023, I wondered what else was on my wish list for the Loch Haven Park Museum. The current series of projects dates back to 2016 and features an expanded version of KidsTown (including the trademark Orange Grove area) and a revamped entrance/ticket area.

The pre-dating fundraising goal for the updated KidsTown was $30 million, with about $27 million raised, says president and CEO JoAnn Newman. The science center won’t start construction until it gets funding, but its next major project will be big … and digital, she says. It will be updated.

“We use film. We use 15/70mm film. It’s a big plate of film, so you have to thread it,” says Newman. “It’s a dying art.”

The goal is full-dome digital, Neumann says.

“It opens up your content and you can do a big planetarium show there.

Other projects under the current capital campaign include Hive: A MakerSpace, an education building with classroom and lab spaces, and a virtual flight exhibit on the fourth floor.

“Life” replaces the NatureWorks exhibits that have been open since the Science Center moved into the building in 1997.

This year, Polk County celebrated 100 years of water skiing. It ties directly to Cypress Gardens, a longtime Winter Haven attraction that closed in 2009. ”

The land is now occupied by the Legoland Florida Theme Park, continuing the tradition with “Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show,” which debuted on Lake Eloise last year.

“Our history as Legoland Florida is very special, especially in times like these. In the fall, multi-generational families can come and talk to their grandparents about their Cypress Garden memories.” said Kelly Hornick, director of marketing and communications for the park.

“We hear a lot about ski pyramids,” she said.

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“They have unique memories of the LEGO brand, so we are thrilled to see the park come to life with the LEGO brand,” said Hornick. “So it’s like these two different things that were so special to them were brought to life for their children and grandchildren.”

News of Epcot’s transformation has dropped yet again. Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase adventure is slated to come out later this year, according to a post written by Epcot’s Vice-Her President Cartika Rodriguez on her official Disney Parks blog.

The DuckTales item was part of Rodriguez’s article on the park’s 40th anniversary with its grand opening on October 1, 1982, exactly 11 years after the Magic Kingdom opened.

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She didn’t elaborate on what the new activity will be, but the name “World Showcase Adventure” was used in an earlier version featuring Kim Possible and Agent P of “Phineas and Ferb” fame. It seems to indicate some sort of scavenger hunt. .

When this edition was announced in late 2019, just before the pandemic hit, Epcot visitors used the Play Disney Parks mobile app to say, “Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Nephew Huey, Dewey, Louie, Launchpad.” , will join with Webby.” An irreplaceable treasure hunt. ”

No release date was shared, but Rodriguez used the word “soon.” stay tuned.

what’s on your radar?on mail dbevil@orlandosentinel.com