Animal Actors Closes, Monstropolis Update (Ep. 25)

This week's episode covers a mix of closures, construction and new arrivals from across Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World. Universal has confirmed that Animal Actors On Location! will close for good on 2nd November, bringing an end to a 36-year run at Universal Studios Florida. Over at Hollywood Studios, new aerial photos have given fans their clearest look yet at construction on Monstropolis, including the vertical lift towers for the upcoming Monsters, Inc. door coaster. Elsewhere, Animal Kingdom has welcomed a new arrival to the pack on Kilimanjaro Safaris — a male African painted dog named Prospect, part of one of Africa's most endangered species.

- Animal Actors On Location! closing for good at Universal Studios Florida after 36 years - What might replace it — Universal hasn't said yet - New aerial photos reveal construction progress on Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios - Vertical lift towers and loading area for the Monsters, Inc. door coaster taking shape - New African painted dog named Prospect joins the pack at Animal Kingdom - Disney's 20+ year support of Painted Dog Conservation

Universal has confirmed that Animal Actors On Location! will close for good on 2nd November, bringing an end to a run stretching all the way back to Universal Studios Florida's opening day in 1990. The show has gone through several name changes over the years, starting out as Animal Actors Stage before becoming Animal Planet Live, and finally Animal Actors On Location! in 2006. It's one of only three attractions left at Universal Studios Florida that dates back to opening day, alongside E.T. Adventure and the Horror Make-Up Show. Universal says the closure is making way for a "future experience," though no details have been given yet on what that might be. If you want to catch it before it's gone, your Orlando Guru can help you fit it into a trip before November.

New aerial photos, shared by aerial photographer bioreconstruct on 5th September, have given fans their clearest look yet at construction on Monstropolis. The footage shows the vertical lift towers and loading area for the Monsters, Inc. door coaster taking shape, along with a rebuilt entrance and work on a new central fountain. The coaster itself will be Disney's first ever suspended coaster and its first with a vertical lift, sending guests up more than 40 feet in around four seconds before dropping them into the famous door vault from the films. The seats will actually rotate from a sideways boarding position to face forward during the lift. Disney has confirmed most of Monstropolis will open in 2027, with the coaster itself following in a later phase. Your Orlando Guru can keep you posted on firm opening dates as they're confirmed.

A new male African painted dog named Prospect has settled in on the savanna along Kilimanjaro Safaris, joining the existing pack there. Painted dogs are one of Africa's most endangered carnivores, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild, and they're easy to spot thanks to their distinctive black, white and tan markings, with no two dogs looking exactly alike. Disney's Animal Kingdom has supported Painted Dog Conservation in Zimbabwe for more than 20 years through the Disney Conservation Fund. Prospect joins a run of new arrivals at Animal Kingdom this year, including a new adult gorilla earlier in the summer. Worth keeping an eye out for him next time you're on safari.

Animal Actors On Location! is closing for good at Universal Studios Florida. Universal has confirmed the show will take its final bow on 2nd November, bringing an end to a run stretching all the way back to the park's opening day in 1990. The show has survived several name changes over the years, starting out as Animal Actors Stage before becoming Animal Planet Live, and finally Animal Actors On Location! in 2006. It's one of only three attractions left at Universal Studios Florida that dates back to opening day, alongside E.T. Adventure and the Horror Make-Up Show. Universal says the closure is making way for a "future experience," though no details have been given yet on what that might be. For a show that's created memories for guests and team members for 36 years, it's a proper end of an era at Universal Studios Florida. If you want to catch it before it's gone, your Orlando Guru can help you fit it into a trip before November — head to orlandoinsider.co.uk. New aerial photos have given fans their clearest look yet at just how far along construction is on Monstropolis at Hollywood Studios. The footage, shared by aerial photographer bioreconstruct on 5th September, shows the vertical lift towers and loading area for the Monsters, Inc. door coaster taking shape, along with a rebuilt entrance and work on a new central fountain. The coaster itself will be Disney's first ever suspended coaster and its first with a vertical lift, sending guests up more than 40 feet in around four seconds before dropping them into the famous door vault from the films. The seats will actually rotate from a sideways boarding position to face forward during the lift, which is a proper piece of engineering. Disney has confirmed most of Monstropolis will open in 2027, with the coaster itself following in a later phase. Looking at the scale of construction still going on around the site, there's clearly a fair way to go yet. Your Orlando Guru can keep you posted on firm opening dates as they're confirmed — head to orlandoinsider.co.uk to find out more. New African painted dog joins the pack at Animal Kingdom. A male painted dog named Prospect has settled in on the savanna along Kilimanjaro Safaris, joining the existing pack there. Painted dogs are one of Africa's most endangered carnivores, with fewer than 7,000 left in the wild. They're easy to spot thanks to their distinctive black, white and tan markings, with no two dogs looking exactly alike. Disney's Animal Kingdom has supported Painted Dog Conservation in Zimbabwe for more than 20 years through the Disney Conservation Fund. Prospect joins a run of new arrivals at Animal Kingdom this year, including a new adult gorilla earlier in the summer. Worth keeping an eye out for him next time you're on safari. Head to orlandoinsider.co.uk if you want your Orlando Guru to help plan a trip around Animal Kingdom's newest residents.