Review of the News: December 14 - December 18

Monday December 14, 2015

Carowinds to get world’s first ‘intra-active 3-D game experience’ with ‘Plants vs. Zombies’
The new attraction will be based off the video game series of the same name that puts players in a battle between plants and zombies.

Six Flags Over Georgia sets Guinness World Record
Six Flags Over Georgia has set a Guinness World Record for Most People Kissing Under Mistletoe.  According to a press release, 402 people (201 couples) were part of the historic event.


Tuesday December 15, 2015

Cal/OSHA Cites California's Great America $70,200 for Roller Coaster Accident
Cal/OSHA announced that the owner/operator of California’s Great America theme park was at fault for a roller coaster accident that critically injured a ride mechanic on June 12. Robert Hooks, 66, suffered serious injuries when he was struck by the Flight Deck ride while retrieving a cell phone in a restricted area.

Cookies sold at Universal Studios Japan contained expired ingredients; no health woes reported
USJ Co., operator of Universal Studios Japan, said out-of-date ingredients were used in some souvenir cookies sold at the movie theme park between summer 2011 and last February.

Attorney arrested for bringing gun into Disney World
A Florida attorney was booked for firearms charges after he tried to bring a loaded revolver into Disney World's Magic Kingdom.


Wednesday December 16, 2015

The Green Lantern roller coaster returns to service
Following a nine month hiatus, the Green Lantern roller coaster at Warner Bros. Movie World returned to service this afternoon.  The Green Lantern originally closed in March after a freak incident where one if its cars was left dangling in midair.

Disney tinkers with Hollywood Studios parking
Disney World has adjusted its usual parking procedures for Hollywood Studios in recent weeks. Some guests have been asked to park instead in the Epcot lot and then return to the Studios via bus, boat or walkway.

Adorable sleepy tiger twins are born at Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld
The twin female cubs are the latest additions to the Gold Coast's resident tiger family.  The unnamed cubs were shown to the public at theme park Dreamworld for the first time on Wednesday.

Jungle Skipper Canteen, a new Disney restaurant, opens at Magic Kingdom
The new table-service restaurant, which is now in soft opening, officially opens Wednesday, Dec. 16.


Thursday December 17, 2015

Amusement park settles in discrimination case
The Superland amusement park in Rishon Lezion will compensate Arab students with 4,000 free admission cards as part of a settlement after the park was accused of racial discrimination.

Carowinds offers behind the scenes tour of latest expansion
The tour showed off new water slide sections still stacked up in a parking lot, a 400-gallon bucket that will tip and pour water on guests and lots of brightly-colored pipes to add sparkle to the water park, that will grow by 40 percent next year.

Theme parks ramp up security
On Thursday, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld installed metal detectors at all park entrances. Outside of Florida, Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood have said they are also installing detectors.


Friday December 18, 2015

West Virginia's Camden Park accused of safety violations
Camden Park in Huntington faces more than $65,000 in proposed fines after a federal investigation found serious workplace safety hazards.

Review of the News: December 7 - December 11

Monday December 7, 2015

Kennywood taking Noah's Ark back to the future for 80th anniversary
The walk-through ride will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, and the amusement park is renovating the longtime attraction by taking it back to its classic funhouse style with less of the higher-tech additions from recent years.

OSHA fines Cedar Fair over injury
Cedar Fair LP has been hit with a $14,000 fine after an employee suffered a fractured leg while doing maintenance work on a ride at the company’s Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky.


Tuesday December 8, 2015

Universal sets opening date for West Coast's Wizarding World
The newest Wizarding World of Harry Potter will open at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, the theme park announced Tuesday morning.

SeaWorld thinks smaller with regional approach
As it reinvents itself, SeaWorld is pursuing strategies more typical of a smaller regional theme park than an international tourist destination.


Wednesday December 9, 2015

Margate's Dreamland park operator owes £3m to creditors
The operator of a seaside theme park with vintage rides is facing debts of almost £3m months after it reopened.


Thursday December 10, 2015

Fantasy Island put up for sale
The popular Lincolnshire theme park has been put up for sale after entering administration 12 months ago with £50 million worth of debts.

Holidays up in the air at Universal
For the 14th consecutive year, the Macy's Holiday Parade is marching through the streets of Universal Studios theme park nightly through Jan. 2.


Friday December 11, 2015

Epcot: New narrators set to speak up at Candlelight Processional
Four consecutive narrators will be making debuts in the event, which features a mass choir and live orchestra on stage alongside a celebrity who reads the born-in-a-manger story to the theme park audience -- generally standing-room only -- at America Gardens Theater.

Review of the News: November 30 - December 4

Monday November 30, 2015

NMC Children’s Park functioning as Private Amusement Park
NMC administration and office-bearers usually claim the all NMC services are public-oriented and the NMC charges nominal fees for providing such services. But, it is not true. The NMC has allowed privatization of its services and the private contractors offer the services to citizens’ children at higher cost than what NMC should have charged, and thus they are minting money.

Boy Injured After Climbing Out of Log Ride at Castles N' Coasters
Police spokesman James Holmes said Sunday the boy climbed out of the ride on his own for an unknown reason and his foot got caught. Holmes says the boy was dragged and then fell 30 feet into the water.

Alton Towers 'sack' The Smiler operator after rollercoaster crash
The worker operating The Smiler ride at Alton Towers which crashed seriously injuring four people has reportedly been sacked.  Theme park operators Merlin this week said “human error” was to blame for the horrific smash in which two young women lost legs.


Tuesday December 1, 2015

Judge says mediation needed to settle Conneaut Lake Park's bankruptcy case
A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has ordered mediation take place within the next two months in an effort to settle Conneaut Lake Park's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.

Carowinds names Brad Marcy as new general manager
Brad Marcy is the new general manager of Carowinds with the departure of Mike Fehnel, who’s heading back to his home park in the Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. system.

Visitors continue to shun Alton Towers following rollercoaster crash
Merlin Entertainments, the FTSE 100-listed parent company of the Staffordshire-based theme park, said numbers were "significantly below" the previous year, although the rate of decline has been narrowing in recent weeks as punters turned up for Halloween-themed events.

Flamingo Land voices 'massive concern' over spread of fracking
The owners of Flamingo Land, a family-run theme park and zoo near Pickering, North Yorkshire, said they feared visitors could be put off if Third Energy's gas production scheme yards from the resort at Kirby Misperton led to a series of other hydraulic fracturing operations being passed in the area.

Watchdog group calls for state to remove Holy Land Experience mural
The Hold Land Experience park did not get permission from the state to paint the mural on Conroy Exit ramp from I-4.


Wednesday December 2, 2015

Kings Island hiring 4,200 workers for 2016
Kings Island is set to hire 4,200 workers in 2016 for both full- and part-time positions.  The Mason theme park is now accepting applications online at kifun.jobs for the 2016 season, which opens in April.

Orange County commissioners approve zoning for Skyplex
Orange County's Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a zoning grant Tuesday for Skyplex Orlando.

Universal could buy 474-acre property, says Skyplex attorney
Before the Orange County Commission voted to approve Skyplex, attorney Hal Kantor said Universal Orlando opposed the project because Universal is trying to buy a 474-acre property near Universal Boulevard, currently owned by Colony Capital LLC.


Thursday December 3, 2015

Registration for Six Flags 'most kisses under mistletoe' attempt
Six Flags over Georgia is attempting to break a Guinness World Record - and all you have to do is show a little love!


Friday December 4, 2015

Lake Compounce installs 100-foot tree
Lake Compounce Amusement Park in Bristol has brought in a 100-foot Christmas tree this year for its annual 'Holiday Lights' attraction.

Man charged with filming undressing kids at Pa. amusement park for years
There allegedly was no privacy in the dressing room at Dorney Park near Allentown, Pa.  The taping allegedly went on for a decade, stretching from June 2005 to September 2015, the station reports.