Orlando theme parks 2015 in review: New Eye, old hat, poo

There are no statuettes to hand out, no gold medals to bestow, no certificates of participation to mail, but, yet, here are some awards marking memorable moments of Orlando theme parkdom for 2015.

*The It Happens Award: New desserts piled up at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and they looked like ca-ca. The company’s test of sweets designed to resemble the droppings of giraffes, elephants, hippos and tamarins was short-lived but just did not pass the smell test. They were discontinued, but it allowed us to stink up the place with word play, and those articles were among my most read ones of the year … although many commenters would put this in the What Were They Thinking category.

*The Looking Up Award: High-wire artist Nik Wallenda walked along a section of the Orlando Eye during its grand opening in front of a national TV audience, but his descent, riding atop one of the wheel’s capsules was just about as harrowing. Runner-up: Folks squinting toward the sky, visualizing where the 500-foot-plus Skycoaster might top out one day.

*The You Look Vaguely Familiar Award: Makeover of the year goes to Morimoto Asia, a new Disney Springs restaurant that now inhabits the former and long-dormant Mannequins Dance Palace — even if it means disco really is dead. Runners-up: NBC Sports Grill & Brew, the former NASCAR Grille, at Universal CityWalk; the hub at Magic Kingdom; and the lobby remodeling, bungalows addition and name restoration at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

*The This Changes Everything Award: A new exit built onto an off ramp from Interstate 4 goes directly into the Disney Springs parking garage, allowing some motorists to bypass the construction and mind-melting traffic along Buena Vista Drive.

*The Arrested Development Awards: Immerse yourself in childhood playthings at Legoland Hotel in Winter Haven and the second-ever Crayola Experience, an attraction operating at Florida Mall.

*The Hello, Old Friends, Award: Islands of Adventure visitors can meet and greet a dinosaur who’s OK with selfies. And she’s much closer to the “real live dinosaur” status the park used to tout for its Triceratops Encounter. Runners-up: “Mummies of the World” exhibit at Orlando Science Center, Clyde and Seamore return to stage at SeaWorld Orlando’s “Sea Lion High.”

*The Addition By Subtraction Award: The giant sorcerer’s hat was removed, piece by piece, from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, giving guests their first clear view of the park’s Chinese Theater since 2001.

*The What’s Up Here Award: But Hollywood Studios continued to be a mystery as the Studios Backlot Tour and American Idol Experience were shuttered while lands were announced for the “Toy Story” and “Star Wars” franchise … for sometime … somewhere. And what about that alleged name change for the park?

*The You Can’t Make This Stuff Up Award: Holy Land Experience is incorporating a mini-mini-golf course called Trin-I-Tee.

*Award Go Smash Hulk Say: Universal announced a retooling of the Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster, then completely removed the rail, wacking out the skyline of Islands of Adventure. It’s coming back to IOA, as the Hulk, in the spring, Universal says.

*The Now Behave Yourselfie Award: Nonbelievers cheered Disney for banning selfie-sticks. But it already seems a bit quaint now that all our parks are using metal detectors.

May the theme park gods bless us, every one.

dbevil@tribune.com or 407-420-5477