Review of the News: Wednesday May 29, 2013

Disneyland, Anaheim, CA
A 22-year-old who works at the venerable Southern California theme park was arrested late Tuesday, hours after a small explosion in Mickey's Toontown section.
CNN

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL
An elderly woman visiting Disney World with her grandson discovered a pistol loaded with hollow-point bullets on her seat at the amusement park’s “Dinosaur” ride, police report.
The Smoking Gun

Fantasy Forest, Queens, New York City, NY
Fantasy Forest, a mini-amusement park designed for young children, opened up to big crowds this weekend at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
NY Daily News

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, CA
With mechanics locked out Wednesday in an ongoing labor dispute at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, amusement park visitors were greeted with picket signs and left wondering who was maintaining the rides.
KTVU

Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL
Six Flags Great America in Illinois said a man pinpointed as the park's 100 millionth guest was treated to a free pizza and line-skipping privileges.
UPI

Review of the News: Thursday May 23, 2013

Holiday World, Santa Claus, IN
The Freedom Train, the last remaining of Holiday World’s original rides from the days when the theme park was known as Santa Claus Land, has taken its final trip.
Courier Press

Playland Park, Rye, NY
The chairman of the Westchester Board of Legislators is asking a court to void an agreement between the county and Sustainable Playland, a nonprofit chosen by the county executive to take over Playland Amusement Park in Rye, adding more uncertainty to the already confused process of reinventing the historic park.
The Journal News

Universal Studios, Orlando, FL
Borrowing a page from its Harry Potter playbook, Universal Orlando said Thursday it will soon add a collection of shops and restaurants with a common theme drawn from the world of the long-running animated television show "The Simpsons."
Orlando Sentinel

Review of the News: Sunday May 19, 2013

Playland Park, Rye, NY
Westchester County has reached a settlement with the family of a Rye Playland worker killed on a ride at the historic amusement park.
Hudson Valley News 12

Universal Studios, Orlando, FL
As Orlando's Theme Park Wars heat up again for the summer, Universal Orlando Resort has made the first move in hiking its ticket prices, becoming the first theme park ever to charge more than $90 for a single-day, single-park adult ticket.
Central Florida News 13

Review of the News: Wednesday May 15, 2013

Ghost Town in the Sky, Maggie Valley, NC
Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park is scheduled to kick off its 2013 season Memorial Day weekend, thanks to the grit, passionate and determination of its new owner and longtime champion Alaska Pressley, who has slogged ahead with her dream despite hoops and hurdles.
Smoky Mountain News

Kings Dominion, Doswell, VA
The Doswell amusement park says it is amid a "hiring blitz" of about 400 seasonal employees ahead of the park's opening on May 24. The hiring is expected to continue right up to Memorial Day weekend.
WSET 13

Review of the News: Thursday May 9, 2013

Disneyland, Anaheim, CA
California state regulators have withdrawn some citations made against Disneyland over safety requirements for crews working on the ride Space Mountain.
UPI

Morey’s Piers, Wildwood, NJ
Tim Sanson, a spokesman with Morey’s announced that the company is working on a new app for its piers this summer.
Shore News Today

Oakwood, Pembrokeshire, Wales
After months of secrecy, Oakwood Theme Park has finally revealed the name of its new £4m family-themed attraction which is set to open later this month.
Tenby Observer

Review of the News: Wednesday May 8, 2013

Guilin Merryland, Guilin, Guangxi, China
A theme park in Guilin, China is giving away discounts to women who wear short skirts.
Travelers Today

Playland Park, Rye, NY
The chairman of the Westchester County Board wants the District Attorney to investigate repairs to Rye Playland from Superstorm Sandy.
Westchester News 12

Universal Studios, Orlando, FL
The theme park announced Wednesday the expansion of the popular Wizarding World of Harry Potter with a new area based on the books' fictional scenes in Diagon Alley.
Fox News

Review of the News: Monday May 6, 2013

Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy, CA
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park has set aside several days on the calendar for artists receive free entry to paint the picturesque botanical scenes that are so abundant in the park's grounds.
Gilroy Dispatch

Magic Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Merida, the young heroine in the Disney-Pixar film "Brave," is joining the official ranks of Disney Princesses, and Walt Disney World is marking the occasion with a brief ceremony at Magic Kingdom on Saturday.
Orlando Sentinel

Review of the News: Sunday May 5, 2013

Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
Cedar Point’s new ride came in on time and right on budget, at $30 million.
Sandusky Register

Gröna Lund, Stockholm, Sweden
The world's tallest chair carousel ride has opened at a Swedish theme park.
Digital Spy

Review of the News: Wednesday May 1, 2013

Pacific Park, Santa Monica, CA
The first 1,000 moms who visit the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier this Mother’s Day will ride for free and receive a free family photo.
Santa Monica Mirror

Playland Park, Rye, NY
Several members of the Save Playland Amusement Park Group met with members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators within their weekly Government Operations Committee meeting on Tuesday April 30th, 2013 to discuss their group’s ongoing petition effort against Sustainable Playland Incorporated’s proposal to reduce the size of the amusement park and remove rides.
Rye Patch

Playland Park, Rye, NY
Around 80 workers are now working furiously to ready the 280-acre amusement park on Long Island Sound for opening day on May 11.
Newsday

Universal Studios, Orlando, FL
The theme park unveiled a roughly 80-foot-tall Transformer display Wednesday morning and updated the display today with the June 20 ride information.
Orlando Sentinel

Wonderland, Sakai, Fukui, Japan
Police on Wednesday raided the operator of Wonderland, an amusement park in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, a day after a 6-year-old boy was injured on a roller coaster.
The Japan Times

Review of the News: Tuesday April 30, 2013

Marineland, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Marineland has sued a third former employee in four months — this time for $2.5 million.
St. Catharines Standard

Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, CT
Quassy Amusement Park is accepting registration for auditions for its Quassy Summer Idol singing competition until auditions begin on Monday, July 8.
Voices News