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I’m oddly nostalgic for a land I’ve never been to, filled with characters I can’t name.
Toon Lagoon, a water based theme park land at Islands of Adventure, was a bit of a sensory overload. Granted, if you took a left when entering, you’ve just walked through a very loud and colorful Marvel land – so Toon Lagoon is slightly more tame. This land has water squirting from nearly every crevice. We looked very closely where we were walking.
Characters and Prep
If it were up to me, we would have binged a ton of Jay Ward cartoons. My kids (between 17 and 7) had no idea who Rocky and Bullwinkle were – let alone Dudley Do-right. Somehow they knew Popeye, but I’m not sure if they’ve ever seen a cartoon. Frankly, it’s a bit odd that a water land (usually the attractions kids enjoy) had characters that only 50-year-olds would remember.
Rushed for time before the trip, we did managed to find a playlist on YouTube and watched at least one episode of Dudley. Sadly, it didn’t hold the attention of the kids and almost immediately they shifted the stream to the latest Mr. Beast episode.
I, on the other hand, a 39-year-old that remember the Sunday comic cartoons, was enthusiastic to see some of these characters plastered on the store signage. I haven’t looked at a newspaper in 10-years and I was slightly upset with myself to not grab a few copies leading up to our trip and force the kids to give the “funnies” a glance.
Comic Strip Cafe
I can’t fairly give critique to the Comic Strip Cafe. We indeed used their lobby and seating area, but the kitchen was closed. We were searching for a place out of the sun and it also conveniently had refillable Coke machine. As the kids went on water rides, we sat in a booth in a nearly empty cafe.
We sat for probably an hour and during that time, I was able to roam the area. The large comic strips covering the walls sparked memories of days before Instagram and TikTok – where you were forced to sit in a lobby waiting for your oil to be changed or get called back for a dentist. Again, we might be the last of a dying breed.
Not the Greatest Food Experiences
Blondie’s
I’m pretty sure I know Blondie’s from hard bubble gum, right?
Well, after a quick Google search – nope. That’s Bazooka Joe.
So the question is, how do I even know who Blondie is? And why do I know what a Dagwood Sandwich is?
These question may never be answered, but we managed to eat at Blondies during our visit. This little shop was not super memorable (inside) but the entrance under a giant sandwich made it easy for us to know it was a dining location.
Our experience was a bit less than stellar. I’m pretty sure we witnessed an employee go to lunch and decide to not return (ever). The manager was overheard calling the employee asking if they were coming back. I can’t say I’ve seen that happen before.
Wimpy’s
I was pretty jazzed to get a burger from Wimpy’s. I was even willing to pay today – for a burger TODAY. But that almost seemed like it wasn’t going to happen.
This will come into play a bit later, but while visiting, the entire Popeyes section lost power. They shut down the attractions and shops. Of course, we didn’t know this at the time. Team members were just telling us the attractions were down. We found out later that night via social media.
Without that information, we lined up at Wimpy’s at restaurant open. We planned on getting some burgers and meeting up with the rest of the family at Blondie’s (inside seating). We stood in line at Wimpy’s and it was time to open. One single worker was standing at the register, but the windows remained closed. They ensured not to get eye contact with us (or the other families that started to line up). We were going on ten minutes after opening and still no eye contact. People started to leave the line.
Determined to get a burger, we waited. My guess is that they were just running behind. Finally, the employee slid open the door and let us know (in not the nicest fashion) that the grills needed to warm up and it would be 20-minutes. Calling their bluff (this employee just didn’t want to be bothered), I said we would wait and we ordered. Saving the experience, a team member preparing the meal came out and was overly apologetic about their delays. The burgers were done in 5-minutes.
Getting Soaked on the Water Attractions
Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls
Is Dudley Do-Right Ripsaw Falls a glorified Splash Mountain? That’s a bit of a difficult question to answer. In some ways, it’s way better. You get far more wet and the drop is a bit more thrilling.
On the other hand, the story is less immersive and at times you really feel like you are in a warehouse filled with water.
So depending on what you like – more story or more thrill and water, your rank for Orlando log flume may vary.
Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
Rapid rides are designed to drench you. I avoid these at all cost, considering I hate having wet shoes and wet clothes. I prepared for this day by wearing Crocs and a thin shirt.
Dressed for the occasion, it was a lovely experience as we trekked to the land only to find the attraction closed. As mentioned, there was some type of power outage in the land and we stalled for nearly an hour before we made our way onto the ride.
The attraction and queue was enjoyable, but loading the attraction with a family from Italy was far more enjoyable. With each waterfall and giant splash, the reaction of the father screaming words in a foreign language tickled me. The entire barge left smiling and wet.
The Olive Oil
We were on Popeyes ship for a solid 5-minutes before we were told the ship was down. In fact, they roped off the exits and entrances while were upstairs trying to play the Popeye theme on the Piano.
Better luck next trip.
Shops and Themes
To he honest, the shops were not super memorable. But then again, they were not my top priority. We hoped in Toon Extra, The Beetle Bailey Store, and Gasoline Alley, but it was just a quick walkthrough.
Beyond the stores, the waterworks outside of the shops were far more impressive. From Hagar, a comic Viking, splashing water to a rain cloud that would pour down every few minutes, Miles had jumped around station to station, ensuring his clothes would never dry.
For me, I wish I went exploring a bit more and captured more images of these characters of yesteryear.
Next Trip and Questions
It would be nice to have more shows in the park. When I saw a giant amphitheater in Toon Lagoon, I was excited to sit down and check out some entertainment. Upon further review, no such luck. The home of a the Pandemonium Cartoon Circus has been long retired. Besides an occasional seasonal event, this theatre is empty.
Beyond this disappointment, there were no spotted character meet and greets during our visit. Maybe meeting Popeye or Betty Boop will be something we accomplish in the future.
Oh, and we should have had some ice cream at Cathy’s.
Final Impressions
Frankly, I don’t feel like I spent enough time wandering around in Toon Lagoon. Upon entry, I could tell it was very themed and there are probably a lot of spots where forgotten comic strip characters were hidden and displayed. But, let’s be honest, this land is not the rope-dropping kind. It’s quite possible that every other land in the park has a bit more buzz and promotion.
The child in me really enjoyed the concept, but the adult in me really wished there were other options besides “getting soaked”. A show or a dark ride could do this land well. But I can’t see Universal dumping money into a land that features characters that this new generation will likely never know.
Personally, I look forward to going back and spending some down time in this land – but I also understand why many would just pass right through.
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