BioDomes
Write-up by @ThemeParkPriest, concept art by @MonorailRed
Write-up by @ThemeParkPriest, concept art by @MonorailRed
Guests enter a beautiful tropical garden. They can take a calm and serene stroll through the tropical plants and by a waterfall. The tropical plants include the following: fruit trees, cacao plants, spices, philodendrons, orchids, ferns, and “emergent” trees like the Date Palm.
Attention all nature-lovers! The Land Pavilion is offering an exciting new way to experience the beauty of wildlife. The new butterfly house exhibit at The Land pavilion, called “Bambi’s Butterfly Garden” is the perfect spot to experience, learn, and appreciate a wide variety of butterfly species in their natural habitat. Our butterfly house is a one-of-a-kind interactive experience, where you can observe and learn about the intricate lives of these beautiful creatures. With over 50 species of butterflies (including the giant Blue Morpho and other gorgeous ones), you are sure to be dazzled by their vibrant colors and majestic flight. Come explore, and witness a world like no other!
In the second biome, guests will experience tranquility again–this time with native Florida plants and scenery. Here guests will find the following plant species: Cattail, Bulrush, Cobra Plants, Coneflower, Catberry, Water Lily, Columbian Monkshood (for pictures, see https://thegardenersworld.com/wetland-plants/). In a throwback to the original Living with the Land, an alligator enclosure is found in this biome.
Looking for a unique and refreshing way to experience the flavors of Florida? The Orange bird has returned with a juice bar that offers the perfect opportunity--Orange Bird’s Florida Orange Juice Bar! Similar to Club Cool, The small drink sample location blends natural fruits from all over the state into delicious drinks. With an ever-growing selection of juices from all over Florida, you'll be sure to find something you love. Whether you're looking for a quick pick-me-up or something to enjoy while taking in the sights, our juice bar is the perfect place to get your fix.
Different stations to sample:
Northern Florida
Blueberry Lemonade
Honey Peach
Central Florida
Passion Orange Guava
Pineapple
Southern Florida
Coconut Pineapple
Mango
Citrus Central
Orange
Grapefruit
Tangerine
Although grasslands vary across the world, all of them are characterized by a nearly continuous covering of the ground by grass. Guests will find the following plant species: Blazing Star, Goldenrod, Aster, Milkweed, Lupine, Purple Coneflower, Clover, Sunflower, and Wild Indigo. In one corner of the dome, guests will find plants that come from African savannas.
“Flock of Birds” spinner ride takes the kinetic energy and fun of Dumbo and melds it with a carousel’s attention to detail under the beautiful setting of the Grasslands biome. Modeled like the original smaller Dumbo ride, each of the 10 bird vehicles holds 2 guests (or 3 small ones). Each bird vehicle is a bird found in Grasslands around the world–Western Meadowlark, Bobolink, Sparrow, Prairie Chicken, Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Bluebird, Long-billed Curlew, Emu, and Sarus Crane.
Located in the Grasslands Bio-dome, The Land Garden is where guests can wander a labyrinth of hedges, seeing several flowers along the way. Even the map of the maze is educational–the flowers are symbolized by an image that reflects their appearance.
In this dome sits the coldest biome in the world–the Tundra. Guests will be transported to the harsh, relatively dry lands of the Arctic–a designation that includes locations like the United States (i.e. Alaska), Canada, Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and Scandinavia. Although the number of things that can live there are rather limited, some species are able to thrive, including the following: shrubs (like the Labrador Tea), Arctic Willow, Arctic Poppy, Arctic Crocus, Arctic Lupine, Arctic Moss, Moss Campion, Cottongrass, Tundra Rose, Saskatoon Berry, Bearberry, Pasqueflower, Snow Gentian, and Purple Mountain Saxifrage (for pictures, see https://www.treehugger.com/tundra-plants-5193248). Guests will learn how the size of shrubs is an indicator to naturalists of the climate–taller shrubs indicate greater growth due to higher temperatures. Guests will appreciate the respite of this cooler dome in the heat of the Florida sun. Properly directed fans keep most of the cool air on the plants rather than on the guests. Additionally, the windows are more heavily tinted in this dome to mimic the shorter days of the Arctic.
“On the Tundra” is a trackless ride similar to Tokyo DisneySea’s Aquatopia. With 14 “snowcraft” vehicles (that each hold 1-2 guests) made to look like a mix between a snow tube and a snowmobile, this ride is on a smaller scale to fit the space of the biome. The paths of the vehicles are determined by computers. Guests will get to come up close to rocks and tundra shrubs as part of their 2-minute journey.