Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Trip Report: Disneyland

I haven’t had time to write a trip report for my recent visit the Disneyland Resort, but I wanted to post a few of my thoughts about everything I encountered.  This post will focus mainly on Disneyland, and I’ll give my thoughts on Disney California Adventure in another post.  Instead of going with a traditional paragraph format that I typically use for trip reports I’m just going to give some bullet points from my stream of consciousness as I reflect on my trip, so if this post seems a bit disjointed that’s because it probably is.


Planning
  • I spent three days at the resort, and that seemed like the perfect amount of time.  This allowed me to see everything that I wanted to and re-ride some of my favorites without feeling rushed.  
  • Park hopper tickets are absolutely worth the additional cost.  I typically avoid park hoppers at Walt Disney World simply because the time it takes to switch parks is not worth it to me, but since Disneyland and DCA are literally right across from each other I was able to make good use of the park hopper tickets.
  • I stayed onsite at the Disneyland Hotel.  It was a nice place, and the perk of entering a park an hour early was nice, but there are much cheaper (and closer) options that I will look at if I ever go back.

Food
  • I wasn’t too impressed by the Disneyland food.  It was good, but it didn’t really live up to the hype.  My mind was not blown like I was expecting.  I’ll chalk it up to a case of disappointment.
  • Plaza Inn fried chicken was good, if not a bit too salty, but it was too much food.  I would like to see them offer a smaller portion for a cheaper price.
  • Jolly Holiday Bakery was a great big “meh” to me.  My sandwich was generic, the house chips were good, and the Matterhorn Macaroon was really dry.  There was nothing memorable about my meal.
  • Little Red Wagon corn dog was really good.  The worst corn dog in the world is still probably good, but this cart is gets it right nonetheless.
  • Mint Julep is not good, and neither are the mickey shaped beignets.  I don’t know why these items are hyped so much.  The mint julep tastes like mouthwash and the beignets were flat and greasy unlike real beignets.  I would not order these again.

Rides
  • Indiana Jones Adventure might rival Spiderman at Islands of Adventure as my favorite theme park attraction.  The queue, the theming, and the ride sequence were absolutely amazing.  I loved it.
  • Pirates of the Caribbean blew me away as well.  I wasn’t expecting it to be as awesome as it was.
  • Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Hyperspace Mountain, and Storybook Land Canal Boats were some of my favorites as well.
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds might be the worst coaster I’ve ever ridden.  The trains were terrible, the track layout was horrible, and I felt like I had been through a boxing match when I got off.  I hated every second of this ride.
  • I was underwhelmed by the Fantasyland dark rides.  Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan’s Flight, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and Alice in Wonderland felt very dated to me.  These rides have the potential to be amazing, but the cardboard cutouts and static show scenes left me feeling less than impressed.
  • All of the other rides I went on were fine.  Nothing else stood out, but I didn’t have any problems with them either.

Attractions
  • Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was a nice place to sit down in the air conditioning for a few minutes.  The animatronic has withstood the test of time and still very impressive.
  • Enchanted Tiki Room is a lot of fun.  I also like that you can take your Dole Whip into the show.  I wish Disney World would adopt a similar policy.
  • I would like to get back whenever the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America attractions re-open.  I also want to see Fantasmic.
  • Main Street Cinema was a bit confusing with the multiple screens showing Steamboat Willie.  This space would be better utilized if it were set up with a single screen and rows of seats where guests could sit down for a few minutes.
  • The monorail was fine, but the loading operations were atrocious.  I shouldn’t have to wait 25 minutes in between dispatches, especially at the end of the night when there are no guests boarding at the Downtown Disney station.
  • Sleepy Beauty Castle walkthrough was a nice touch.  The Disneyland castle may not be as grand as its Disney World counterpart, but this walkthrough and other aspects give it a much more quaint and charming feel.

Other
  • Music.  It seems like there was a band playing everywhere I turned, and I loved it.
  • Crowds weren’t terrible, but due to the compact layout of the park it felt much busier than it actually was.
  • Single rider lines are a godsend.  I just wish more attractions actually utilized them.
  • As much I dislike FastPass+ at Walt Disney World, I was missing having three guaranteed passes before I even set foot in the park.  FastPass at Disneyland became more of a hassle when we had to run all over the park to either obtain a pass or to get back to an attraction and use our pass.
  • Paint the Night was very impressive.  I’m not a big on parades, but this one was a lot of fun.
  • Disneyland Forever fireworks were fantastic.  My only gripe is that you might not see the entire show depending on where you stand.  If you stand too close to the castle then you miss the projection mapping on Main Street, and if you stand too close to the main entrance then you miss the projections of the Matterhorn.

So there you have it.  Those are my high level thoughts on my trip to Disneyland.  The park is not without its faults, but it’s still a wonderful park that is worth a visit for any theme park fan.  Look for a similar post about Disney California Adventure soon.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Review of the News: March 21 – March 25

Monday March 21, 2015

You can help name a Virginia roller coaster
The ride at Busch Gardens Williamsburg will have a "Viking invasion" theme and, evoking the old style of roller coaster construction, will be made of wood.



Tuesday March 22, 2015

Disneyland Food & Wine Festival returns
After a six-year absence, the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns from April 1 to May 1, 2016.


Pleasureland unveils new £5m Southport Eye as town's tallest landmark
A new Southport Eye, now the town’s tallest structure, will begin turning this Easter, part of a landmark multi-million pound investment at Southport Pleasureland.


Nagoya amusement park in hot water for safety mishaps
The safety mishaps occurred at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, where all 16 attractions have since been suspended for safety checks.


Miracle Strip rides sold and removed from property
There's a visual reminder that Miracle Strip Amusement Park will not be reopening in Panama City Beach. All of the rides have been broken down, sold, and hauled off.


Westchester Lawmaker Proposes New 30/30 Playland Deal
Westchester County, and the company it is working with to revamp Playland, would each fork over $30 million under a new deal being floated by the county Board of Legislators' chairman, according to a report on lohud.com


Cedar Point amusement park says track is finished on its new dive coaster
Park officials in Sandusky tell The News-Messenger in Fremont that the track has been completed and crews now are focusing on landscaping, electric and computer work.


Thrill-seekers are left hanging upside down screaming in terror after a BIRD brings rollercoaster to halt at a Chinese theme park
The thrill-seekers were upside down on the halted Crystal Wing ride at Beijing's Happy Valley Amusement Park for almost 20 minutes on March 19, the People's Daily Online reports.


Fate of controversial Six Flags solar farm could be decided Wednesday
Testimony from a handful of people is apparently all that is left in the grueling process that has been Six Flags Great Adventure's application to construct a 66-acre solar farm.

Six Flags to open parks in Vietnam
Grand Prairie-based Six Flags (NYSE: SIX), announced Monday a strategic partnership with NaVi Entertainment, a private company in Ho Chi Minh City, to build a theme park and water park under the Six Flags and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor brands.


Wonderla Holidays readies its third theme park at Hyderabad
Wonderla Holidays Limited is hoping to earn Rs 60 crore in top-line in the first year from its third amusement park to be opened next month in Hyderabad.


Student dies falling off Fantasy Kingdom ride
A first year student of BAF Shaheen College died yesterday after falling from a water ride in Fantasy Kingdom, a theme park in the outskirts of the capital in Ashulia, Savar.


Dubai theme park confirms white-knuckle rollercoasters
After a year of teasers, motiongate Dubai has now confirmed exactly how 13 Hollywood blockbusters will be re-imagined.


Universal Studios Hollywood raises daily ticket prices ahead of Harry Potter opening
The prices of daily tickets sold at the front gate jumped over the weekend to $115 from $95, according to the theme park's website.


Walt Disney World Introducing New ‘Disney After Hours’ Paid Event at Magic Kingdom
An announcement has been made on Monday afternoon, revealing that Magic Kingdom park is going to introduce “Disney After Hours” for the months of April and May where guests can pay an extra fee to enjoy different attractions late into the night.


Fire disrupts Disney’s Lion King show at Animal Kingdom
A small fire broke out at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando on Monday afternoon, forcing Walt Disney World park officials to evacuate about 1,000 guests.



Wednesday March 23, 2015

Conneaut Lake Park leaders could put nearly $490K toward debts with sale of lakefront lots
Proposed sales of two lakefront lots on Conneaut Lake may help Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park clear almost $490,000 toward its debts.

A ‘monster’ change is coming to Adventureland
Construction is under way for Adventureland’s first new roller coaster in more than 20 years, The Monster.


Knoebels: Free-admission park still growing at 90
Knoebels Amusement Resort has expanded greatly since it opened on July 4, 1926, with a borrowed steam-powered merry-go-round, a pool and a few food stands.



Thursday March 24, 2015

The Screamin' Eagle at Six Flags is turning 40
When Six Flags St. Louis opens for the 2016 season, its flagship ride reaches a milestone. On April 10, 1976, the longest, fastest and largest roller coaster ride in the world made its debut.


Six Flags theme park gets OK to cut 15K trees for solar farm
Jackson Township’s planning board on Tuesday granted a request by Six Flags Great Adventure and KDC Solar to move forward with a project that opponents argue will have a devastating effect on the environment.


Oakwood Theme Park is back for Easter - and Megafobia has had a birthday makeover!
To mark the occasion, the the high-thrill ride has been decked out with a new gold and silver livery, and as part of the celebrations the park is also planning a weekend of special events and activities around April 30, the coaster's opening day in 1996.


Carowinds unveils newest attraction: Plants vs. Zombies
The attraction, located on the south end of the park behind the Afterburn roller coaster, is based on a popular video-game franchise from PopCap Games that pits – duh, what else? – plants against zombies.


Enchanted Forest: Oregon theme park marks 45 years
It started with $4,000 and an empty 20 acres south of Salem in 1964.


Disney's Halloween party gets early start
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom is getting an early start on the holiday in 2016. The first night of the event will be Sept. 2-- three days before Labor Day and more than eight weeks before Halloween.



Friday March 25, 2015

Coney Island’s Luna Park Amusement Park Opens
Coney’s Island Luna Park is opening at noon Friday for the season.  An opening day ceremony will be held Saturday.

Kentucky Kingdom getting major gateway sign
A major new sign identifying Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay that will go at Gate 2 off Crittenden Drive has been approved by the Kentucky State Fair Board.


Disney: Very Merry Christmas Party starts Nov. 7
We now have the dates for the 2016 edition of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, the after-hours, extra-ticket holiday event at Magic Kingdom, courtesy of the Walt Disney World website.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Review of the News: March 14 – March 18

Monday March 14, 2015

'Walking Dead' zombies to stalk Universal Studios Hollywood in year-round maze
Universal Studios Hollywood plans to turn the "Walking Dead" haunted maze, which has proved wildly popular during the theme park's last four Halloween Horror Nights, into a year-round attraction.


Second Alton Towers ride to be closed in quick succession
Bosses at the theme park said it will be "saying goodbye" to Ripsaw, which opened in 1997, on the resort's official blog page.


Toothsome Chocolate Factory set for CityWalk
Expect chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate at Toothsome Chocolate Factory, a new restaurant that will open where NBA City used to be at Universal CityWalk later this year.


98 jobs cut at Alton Towers as part of major restructuring
Theme park Alton Towers has cut 98 jobs as part of a major restructuring – almost 100 fewer than originally feared.



Tuesday March 15, 2015

Dreamland park staff seek payouts
Former Dreamland employees protested outside the recently closed amusement park yesterday to demand the company pay them entitlements owed under the Labour Law.


Universal Orlando shows off ride vehicle for Skull Island: Reign of Kong
Universal Orlando on Tuesday released details about the ride vehicle for Skull Island: Reign of Kong, saying it needed an entirely new and revolutionary way to transport guests into the middle of the adventure.


Terry Van Gorder, Knott's visionary CEO, dies at 82
Terry Van Gorder, Knott’s Berry Farm’s only CEO while it was family owned and operated and who led the effort to license “Peanuts” characters for Camp Snoopy and spearheaded the development of Bigfoot Rapids and the GhostRider wooden roller coaster, has died. He was 82.


Six Flags Ticket Scam Reported in New Jersey
Many in New Jersey reported receiving the promotion in the first few weeks of March, but it's a scam, a Six Flags spokeswoman warned.



Wednesday March 16, 2015

Keansburg Amusement Park hopes to reopen iconic ride
The "Dark Ride" known as The Spook House dates back to the 1930s. It's been out of commission since Sandy. The park opens Saturday.

Amusement Park releases 'Live at the Lake' concert schedule
Charley Whittenburg, CEO at Arnolds Park Amusement Park on March 4 announced the Live at the Lake Concert Series. The lineup features 15 FREE nights of entertainment over a 13 week period.


FunTime? Amusement park encounters obstacle to Gulfport return
The City Council might put the kibosh on FunTime USA's return to the beach this summer.  Residents all along the Coast have been excited by the potential reopening of the iconic amusement park Hurricane Katrina obliterated.


SeaWorld completes footprint of Mako coaster
The nearly mile-long track of Mako has been installed at SeaWorld Orlando.   The roller coaster is billed as the tallest, fastest and longest coaster in Orlando, topping out at 200 feet and reaching 73 mph.


Legoland announces expansion, hotel, new attractions
Legoland Florida will add a new beach-style resort, a Ninjago martial arts themed land, a movie featuring Lego Nexo Knights, and a summer program of fireworks and special entertainment.


Line up, coffee fans: Starbucks opens at Knott's Berry Farm
Knott’s Berry Farm park-goers have a new place to turn for their caffeine fix: Starbucks.  A 935-square-foot store, which had its soft opening this week, will officially debut Friday.


Disney World tests preferred parking -- for a price
For $15 atop the regular parking fee, guests heading to Magic Kingdom and Epcot will be allowed to pull into designed areas of their current parking lots.



Thursday March 17, 2015

SeaWorld to Stop Breeding Killer Whales
SeaWorld has decided to end its orca-breeding program following years of criticism about how the animals are kept in captivity.


Demolition begins for Hurricane roller coaster in Dania Beach
The 100-foot-tall wooden ride in Dania Beach closed five years ago and finally is coming down to make way for an $800 million shopping and entertainment center at Stirling and Bryan roads called Dania Pointe.


Michigan’s Adventure adding Funland Farm
The amusement park is adding the Funland Farm, an area that will feature a variety of animals, including llamas, alpacas, a mini horse and a mini donkey.



Friday March 18, 2015

Animal Kingdom to explore its after-dark side
Beginning the evening of April 22 — the park's birthday and Earth Day — guests can see an elaborate, original production called "Rivers of Light." They can also experience the Kilimanjaro Safaris with a sunset effect and admire an enlivened Tree of Life. There will be entertainment and parties added to the Harambe Village and Discovery Island areas as well.


Wicksteed Park's pirate ship is closing down
Thrill-seekers are being given the chance to win a place for the last ever ride on the Wicksteed Park pirate ship after the attraction was given a 12-month reprieve from closure.


Busch Gardens will have new show, restaurant and beer room
Busch Gardens Williamsburg opens for the season Sunday, with several new features either ready to go or in the pipeline.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Review of the News: March 7 – March 11

Monday March 7, 2015

Magic Springs Theme Park reopening in April
After a long winter, Magic Springs Theme Park is back for family magic and set to open Saturday, April 9.


Red carpet rolled out for premiere of new movie at Legoland Windsor
Celebrities including the X-Files’ Gillian Anderson and former Spice Girl Emma Bunton were among the star studded guests who attended the first ever screening of ‘The Lego Movie 4D A New Adventure’.


Where You'll Find Nintendo's First Theme Park Rides
The companies announced on Saturday that the first rides based on the video game giant’s collection of characters will be located in Osaka, Japan. Universal hopes to have the attraction completed in time for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.


Hong Kong Disneyland drops bombshell as it announces sudden resignation of managing director for ‘personal reasons’
Hong Kong Disneyland dropped a bombshell late yesterday, ­announcing that managing director Andrew Kam had resigned “for personal reasons” and would be replaced by the theme park’s vice-president of operations, Samuel Lau.


Fantasy Island: 'Exciting future' for theme park after buyout
Leisure company the Mellors Group, which already owns a theme park in Dubai called Fantasy Island, has bought the attraction for an undisclosed fee.


Universal Studios Japan attracts record number of visitors in fiscal 2015
Universal Studios Japan has attracted a record number of visitors in fiscal 2015, topping the previous 12.7 million mark set the year before, the Osaka theme park operator said Monday.



Tuesday March 8, 2015

Turkey legs no longer at Animal Kingdom
If you're in the mood for a juicy turkey leg, you're out of luck at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. The theme park is no longer selling the jumbo item, which has garnered an urban myth and a fan following that strong enough to inspire a T-shirt sold at Walt Disney World.



Wednesday March 9, 2015

Health of Tilikum the killer whale is deteriorating, SeaWorld says
The health of SeaWorld's killer whale Tilikum is deteriorating, the amusement park said, explaining that the aging whale has become increasingly lethargic.


Coney Island Carousel Finally Receives Historic Status
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced on Tuesday that B&B Carousell was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.


Warner theme park used pirated music for years, gets small fine
A Spanish theme park operated by Warner Bros., called Parque Warner, has been found guilty of playing unlicensed music to its customers for over six years.



Thursday March 10, 2015

Busch Gardens to open 2016 season March 20
Busch Gardens will open on March 20.  The theme park will be open every day for spring break through April 10, according to a news release.



Friday March 11, 2015

Plans For Rye Playland Include New Rides, Restaurants
Soon-to-be operator Standard Amusements LLC said it would add $30 million to the $58 million the county already plans to invest as part of the deal to spruce up the troubled park, lohud.com reported.

Disney looks into $15 resort fee
A Disney spokesperson pointed out the company constantly does guest surveys, and the latest one asks guests if they would be willing to pay a $15 per night resort fee.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Trip Report: Universal Studios Hollywood

I recently had the opportunity to check out Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time, and was even fortunate to experience the soft opening of the Wizarding World West.  Instead of giving you a play by play of my day, I’ll just give you an overview of my experience.

Tickets

Even though I was visiting in February during the slower time of year, my family and I decided to spring for front of the line passes since we were only visiting for one day and wanted to be sure that we could experience all of the park’s attractions.  These passes allow you to skip the lines once for each attraction, and also give you priority seating for the shows.  

I would highly recommend the front of the line passes for anyone, and I’ve also heard good things about the VIP tours, so be sure to check out your options before purchasing your tickets.  I would also recommend purchasing tickets online ahead of time since you might save a few bucks with the recently implemented demand pricing.

Side Note:  Ride attendants are supposed to scan the barcode on your front of the line lanyard when you enter the queue so that you can’t use the pass more than once per attraction.  Let’s just say that some attendants were more vigilant in this exercise than others, so it might be possible to use your pass more than once per attraction.  I certainly wouldn’t expect this to happen, but it’s a nice bonus if it does.

Wizarding World West

The Wizard World of Harry Potter doesn’t officially open until April 7th, but the park is holding soft openings before that in order to train employees and work out all of the kinks before the grand opening.  I was lucky enough to experience on of these soft openings during my visit.

If you have visited Hogsmeade Village at Universal Orlando, then there won’t anything surprising about this new iteration of the land.  It’s still a highly immersive environment, and the rides, shops, and restaurants are among the best themed anywhere, but there are no significant differences between the Hollywood version and the Orlando version.  That being said, if you’re a Harry Potter fan or just a fan of theme parks in general, you will not be disappointed with the Wizarding World West.

As far as the rides are concerned, The Forbidden Journey and The Flight of the Hippogriff are certainly on par with their Orlando counterparts, if not better.  The Forbidden Journey in Hollywood features 3D video, but I didn’t feel that it added anything to the ride.  I’ve heard rumors that they’re still tweaking the video and lighting, so it might be a different experience once they dial it in.  I will say that I found the dementor sequence in the Hollywood version to be vastly superior to Orlando’s due to sheer volume of dementors the creative team decided to include.  It was awesome.  The Hogwarts castle queue was great as well.

I want to include a quick comment about the ride’s restraints.  I’m a bit on the larger size with a barrel of a chest, so over-the-shoulder restraints can be tricky at times for me.  I felt like the Hollywood restraints were a bit more forgiving than the Orlando version.  The Hollywood test seats have a green and red light, so if you can get the green light when lowering the restraint then you’re good to go.  I like this setup much better than Orlando which has a red, yellow, and green lights and can be confusing for riders that just want to know if they will fit or not.  The go, no-go, nature of the Hollywood test seats leads me to believe that the ride vehicles do not have specifically modified seats for larger guests.  This is purely speculation though, so don’t quote me on that.

As far as the rest of the land is concerned, Flight of the Hippogriff was similar to the Orlando version despite being built by a different manufacturer, the shops were very similar, the restaurants seemed the same even though I just took a quick look inside them, and I can confirm that the Butterbeer is just as delicious (even though they don’t offer the hot version at this time).  I didn’t get a chance to experience Ollivander’s, so I can’t really comment on that.

The cast members were very good at staying in character, almost to a fault.  I tried to engage a few wizards in conversation about the differences between the Hollywood and Orlando villages, but they tried to pretend like they didn’t know what I was talking about.  I understand the desire to be authentic and true to the Harry Potter world, but it was a bit annoying to be honest.  But if that’s the best complaint I can come up with, then they must be doing something right.

Side Note:  Both The Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff participate in the front of the line program, but Ollivander’s does not.  That’s another reason to consider the VIP or front of the line tickets since those attractions will have very long lines once the land officially opens.

Other Rides

I wasn’t expecting too much from the rides at Universal Studios Hollywood since there’s a lot of overlap between the attractions at Hollywood and those offered at Orlando.  Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, The Simpsons, Shrek 4D, and Transformers are all basically the same rides except for minor differences between queues, so while I enjoyed them all I won’t spend too  much time discussing them.  You can read my Universal Orlando trip report from last year if you want my opinions about them.  The Jurassic Park River Adventure was down for refurbishment, so I won’t discuss that either.

As for the rest of the rides, I was expecting big things from the Revenge of the Mummy since I’m such a big fan of the Orlando ride.  Unfortunately I encountered a big dose of antic-appointment with this attraction.  I really loved the first half of the ride, or at least what seemed like the first half anyway.  I don’t have any quibbles with the ride, really.  It’s actually quite fun.  But it’s way too short.  It feels like an incomplete attraction.  If the coaster had been twice as long, it would have been incredible.  But when the first thought when coming back to the station is “That’s it?”, there’s something wrong.

The other attraction I was looking forward to was the park’s marquee Studio Tour and it did not disappoint.  I loved seeing the backstage areas of the actual working studio, and driving through the different sets was very cool. I especially enjoyed the War of the Worlds plane crash set. The ride portions and staged events on the tour were (mostly) great as well.  Jaws, the Bates Motel and Psycho house, Earthquake, and King Kong 3D were among my favorites.  

There were, however, two sections of the studio tour that I didn’t care for at all.  The first being when the tram crosses a flooded bridge next to a model of a ship from Peter Jackson’s King Kong.  Whoever thought it would be a good idea to flood the tram and completely soak the shoes of everyone for absolutely no reason at all should be fired.  It added absolutely nothing to the tour and only made guests angry.

The second portion of the tour that I was less than impressed with was the Fast & Furious: Supercharged section.  The acting was terrible, the dialogue was cringe worthy, and the graphics were laughable.  The studio tour is excellent and it deserves a better ending than this rotten pile of garbage.  I hope the Orlando version of this ride has nothing in common with this poor excuse for an attraction.

Shows

There are three shows at Universal Studios Hollywood: Animal Actors, Special Effects Show, and WaterWorld.  To be honest, I didn’t expect much from these shows than a nice diversion while I rested my feet for a few minutes, but I was pleasantly surprised.  They were much better than I anticipated.

Animal Actors was fun and entertaining, but then again it’s hard to go wrong when cute animals are involved.  The trainers were cute as well, but that’s another topic for another time.  The Special Effects Show highlighted some of the techniques used by movie makers to create the special effects we all know and love.  It reminded a bit of the Horror Makeup Show at Universal Orlando, but on a larger scale.  Some of the gags were predictable, but it’s still entertaining.

As good as Animal Actors and the Special Effects show are, if you only have time to see one show make sure it’s WaterWorld.  The pyrotechnics, the high flying stunts, and the exciting boat chases will keep you on the edge of your seat.  The show is even more impressive at night, so try to catch the last showing of the day if you can.

Side Note: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the front of line passes provide several perks for the shows as well.  In additional to guaranteed priority seating, select showings have exclusive content for front of the line pass holders.  For example, Animal Actors had an after show where the trainers showed off different techniques for how they train their animals.

Food

The only food and beverages items I had in the park were a regular Butterbeer from the Butterbeer cart in Hogsmeade, and a slice of pizza, Caesar salad, and Buzz Cola from Luigi’s in Springfield.  The Butterbeer was delicious as I mentioned above, the Buzz Cola was tasty, and the pizza and salad were unremarkable.  Overall, I found the food options throughout the park to be severely lacking.  There were much more interesting places to eat in CityWalk, in my opinion, so keep that in mind when looking for somewhere to find eat.

Other

The parking situation at Universal Studios Hollywood needs some improvement.  I understand this is a working studio and land space is limited, but it was very confusing as to which parking garages were open and where we were supposed to go.  Improving the signage and having people direct traffic would go a long way.

I’m also worried about the capacity of the park.  With its odd (but necessary) split-level layout and overall small footprint, I don’t think the park is ready to handle the influx of crowds the Wizarding World is going to attract.  Unfortunately there’s not a lot the park can do about it at this time, so expect longer lines if you’re visiting in the near future.

I also want to mention something that really bothered me during my trip.  When I first entered the park in the morning, there was an extremely loud band playing terrible covers of really bad pop songs.  They were playing so loud that I could not hear myself talking to the employees that were standing a foot away from me.  And that is not an exaggeration.  Needless to say it was a bad way to start my day at the park.  Universal Studios Hollywood needs to get rid of this band ASAP and replace them with anything, preferably with classic movie scores since they are, you now, an actual movie studio.

Conclusion

Universal Studios Hollywood is far from perfect, but I still had a fun day during my visit.  The Studio Tour, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and WaterWorld were the big standouts for me, and the other attractions were fun as well.  Much of the park will seem familiar if you’ve been to Universal Orlando, but it’s still worth a visit if you find yourself in Southern California and are looking for a good time.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Review of the News: February 29 – March 4

Monday February 29, 2015

Michigan's Adventure to hire 1,200 seasonal employees
Michigan's Adventure is accepting applications for 2016 full-time and part-time seasonal positions.


Traffic jams around Six Flags in response to ticket deal
Traffic around Six Flags Magic Mountain was snarled throughout the day Sunday as many motorists converged on the amusement park in response to park promotions, according to park and law enforcement officials.


Disney Launches Seasonal Pricing Plan For 1-Day Tickets
Disney’s properties in Orlando and Anaheim have rolled out a new seasonal pricing plan.  It’s a variable pricing plan for single-day tickets.


SeaWorld brings in former Universal Orlando hotel leadership to help development resorts
This new division in the company will focus on resort construction and development efforts that SeaWorld’s CEO Joel Manby announced in November.


Jack Lindquist, first president of Disneyland, dies at 88
Jack Lindquist, a longtime Disney Parks employee who served as the first president of Disneyland and helped plot the global expansion of the Mouse's theme park operations, died Sunday morning in Orange County. He was 88.


Alton Towers is closing one of its popular rides this year
The ride was a bath time-themed log flume with three drops and, when it opened in 1981, it was thought to be the longest log flume in the world.



Tuesday March 1, 2015

Disney World sued by server over tipped-worker wages
A former server at the Magic Kingdom's Plaza restaurant has sued Walt Disney World, saying her income took a hit because she had to spend too much time on duties that didn't generate tips.


Darien Lake brings back free in-park concerts for 2016
Following up on the success of last year’s free in-park concert series, Darien Lake has announced that the attraction will return in 2016.


Roller coaster to reopen 9 months on, despite crash
Customers at Alton Towers will be able to ride "The Smiler", the "world's first 14 loop roller coaster" at the Staffordshire-based theme park once again in less than three weeks, when the park reopens for 2016.



Wednesday March 2, 2015

Dancing cars turn Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters into a musical traffic jam
The new Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters debuting Monday at Disney California Adventure turns a rush hour traffic jam involving a fleet of 1950s-era vehicles into a choreographed dance routine of near-miss twists and turns.


Animal Kingdom’s ‘Rivers of Light’ to debut next month
Rivers of Light, a new light show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, will debut at the park on April 22, according to the Disney Parks Blog.


Epcot's annual flower fest now underway
The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is underway again. The event features thousands of blossoms, a sprinkling of outdoor kitchens, educational moments and Disney’s world-famous topiaries.



Thursday March 3, 2015

9 Six Flags Roller Coasters Will Feature Virtual Reality As Early As This Month
Six Flags announced it’s partnering with Samsung to bring virtual reality to nine of their most popular coasters.



Friday March 4, 2015

PEI theme park won't reopen
Santa's Woods theme park, once a spot bustling with children on warm, summer days, will be closing for all seasons to come.


Knott's Berry Farm sued over boy's roller-coaster injury
The family of a Utah boy who was badly injured on a Knott's Berry Farm roller coaster has sued the Southern California amusement park for negligence.


Cedar Point has a 'Valravn' secret to reveal
Cedar Point's spokesperson says "we're working on something very special for the queue line that's never been done at Cedar Point before. It will make your wait for "Valravn" a little more entertaining."


New owners, new opportunities for Indiana Beach
Crews are working to bring the sparkle back to what was once the centerpiece of Monticello.


Disney theme park plans revealed during shareholder meeting
During a March 3 annual shareholders meeting, Iger shared both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort will break ground on their respective Star Wars lands next month.