A lot of stimulation is being made at Goofycoll, Epcot’s new limited-time activity area, part of Gausch, the Churkid Summer Push at Walt Disney World.
The Goofycore has heavy vision and sound, but thankfully the smell inside the communication hall is light. The theme park’s multipurpose space encourages the event’s, well, a bit of a goofy name.
The activity begins at the ground level with a carpet that doubles as a curvilinear track on the dance floor and a huge game board. Think about candy land. In the center of the room is a vibrantly colored DJ booth (aka Goofy’s gaming machine) that appears to be melted.
The giant game card has characters and instructions on one side, hanging from the ceiling (“Ah, boy! 2 turns””Posting and collecting three bows!”). However, on the Disney scale, the theme is rather subtle.
But something about this space makes the kids literally run around in circles. And that’s fine. It burns that energy. The parents have grown furniture on their sides, taking deep breaths as they watch the circular movements of those children. The young people have a fairly free rein here until they try to climb onto the DJ’s shelf. That’s when the cast members kindly take action.
“We’re going to dance to all sorts of music,” the DJ warns, and he spins a wide range of songs that start with the Jonas Brothers (“Live to Party”) and travel decades to stop by Chubby Checker, who does “The Twist,” “Mr. Roboto.” The DJ called for ballet moves. It leads to a “one-time dreamy” moment – the DJ did a jete – followed by a bander of truly young boys dancing for “Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.”
But wait, there were also salsa, hip hop, disco, supermodel struts and high kick routines. A woman in her 20s broke the memory of the core choreography from “High School Musical” to “We’re All Together.”
There was also a game that included a hula hoop and a round of red lights! Green light!
All this happened before arriving at fly bones/gorgeous goofy that enhances the strength of the youngest people. He is a rock star in this crowd. But the beat continues. This includes interactions with characters that are not in line.
Closed immediately: Tomsaud Island in July, Rip Rise Rockit in August
This is the latest incarnation of Communicore Hall, previously performed as a museum exhibit, a gift shop and a festival food kiosk (the current version does not have any food inside, but there is a small menu that includes Oreo Ravioli). We’ve seen it also be there on rainy days at the park’s “Celebracion Encanto” show.
Another selling point of Goofycole is its brilliant air conditioning. Goofy must have portrayed long straws and other cool kids’ summer dance parties. Sweat at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
In addition to dance parties, Disney World packages discount park tickets for kids, character interactions and hotel’s September registered churikid summer. For more information, visit disneyworld.com.
Sky and the sea
This summer is also a new show, a drone show that will lead to the “Ignite” fireworks show at Sea World Orlando.
Visitors see: drones that form sea raffes in the sky. These include floating jellyfish, electric eels, giant turtles and swimming rays. Each of these images has animations, adding to the underwater fantasy.
SeaWorld Orlando: The new emperor penguin who wins Florida debut
But it has not been drawn out. Of the 12-minute Ignite experience, you can watch the drone for about five minutes. And if you are sitting at Bayside Stadium, the sea glow scaffolding of the club on stage can interfere with the airshow.
“Ignite” continues to have a huge presence, expanded from the fountain at the park’s central lake with fiery effects, lights, music and bursting fireworks. The show is not every night, but on the epic summer evenings in the park, which runs until September 1st. Check out SeaWorldorlando.com.
News and notes
• As MuppetVision 3D was closed at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the company provided an update on Muppet Front via a video featuring Kermit the Frog. The character said a new version of the park’s Rock and Roller Coaster (featuring the Muppets rather than Aero Smith) will open in 2026.
• There are changes that take you down the tracks on Walt Disney World Railroad. As of July 7th, trains will only run between the station in front of Magic Kingdom and the station in Fantasyland. And the main street’s words are that the engine runs in one direction in the opposite direction. The closure comes from construction within and around Frontierland for the expansion of the park, with “car” attractions and villain-themed land.
•Sea Life Florida Aquarium has opened at Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Inside: A 180-degree tunnel designed with over 3,000 creatures representing 150 species and the “Theme Park Under the Sea” motif.
Please email dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Bluesky: @themeparksdb. Thread account: @dbevil. X Account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.
Original issue: June 10th, 2025, 12:09pm EDT
