The best April Fools’ Day pranks in Florida
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — April 1, better known as April Fools’ Day, is a day for people to partake in pranks and other shenanigans, and this year, several Tampa Bay-area and Florida organizations participated.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort unveiled a “new attraction” it dubs “I4 — The Daily Commute.”
“Immerse yourself in the world of standstill traffic with unbelievable sights of the eye-sore and unpredictable merging lanes that make you say ‘Huh?'” the company said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
One user replied with “Opening summer 2152,” to which Universal Orlando Resort replied, “Our construction is MUCH faster than that.”
Tampa International Airport
The face of Tampa International Airport, Phoebe the flamingo, escaped from her enclosure Monday morning to take in the various sites of Tampa.
Phoebe was spotted at Amalie Arena, the beach, the downtown trolley, and even the top of the TPA parking garage.
Clearwater Aquarium
The Clearwater Aquarium said it found a rare manatee in Clearwater Bay — the Elephas manatus.
The aquarium said the rare species descends from the elephant. It has features such as flapping ears and tusks.
The aquarium posted a link that redirects to a page that says “APRIL FOOLS!”
Florida Atlantic University
The Florida Atlantic University football team posted on social media that the “Battle of the Coasts” matchup between FAU and the University of South Florida would take place this year on an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean.
“Where better to host this year’s ‘Battle of the Coasts’ than off the coast of the Atlantic?” the team posted. “The game vs. [USF] will be played in the Atlantic Ocean aboard an aircraft carrier, a first in college football history.”
Several accounts replied to the post calling for the game to be a reality.
“How much do we need to pay for this to actually happen???” one account posted.
“Zero passing and at least a dozen sea rescues if they survive the fall, love it let’s do this for real not as April fools,” another replied.
“I know this is an April fools joke but like, there’s gotta be ONE carrier big enough to make this a reality lol,” another user said.
“As much as this is a joke, it would unironically go so hard,” a user posted.
The “Battle of the Coasts” matchup will actually be happening on Nov. 1, but it will be played on land — at the FAU Football Stadium in Boca Raton. Sorry to disappoint.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
The Naples Zoo posted pictures of one of its flamingos that “turned blue.”
“Our keepers were left scratching their heads this morning as they found this vibrant blue flamingo among the flock,” the zoo posted. “Turns out flamingos can change color not just from eating shrimp but from blueberries too!”
While it’s true flamingos get their pink color from their diets, eating blueberries wouldn’t turn them blue.
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