Review of the News: July 25 – July 28

Monday July 25, 2016

The 'Tower of Terror' is getting a 'Guardians of the Galaxy' update
Disneyland's Tower of Terror is getting a Marvel makeover. As of next summer, the Twilight Zone-themed elevator ride at the California theme park will become Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! News of the updated attraction was shared at Comic-Con this weekend.


Tuesday July 26, 2016

Pokémon GO Takes Over Busch Gardens
Pokémon GO players have a new place to meet up and catch ‘em all courtesy of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The theme park has announced its intent to become the “ultimate Pokémon GO’ destination this summer.

Universal Orlando lifts blackout dates for rest of summer
Universal Orlando annual passholders can now ride Skull Island: Reign of Kong any day of the week, without worrying about blackout dates. Universal Orlando announced it has lifted all its blackout dates for the remaining of the summer.


Wednesday July 27, 2016

FunTown Pier destroyed by Sandy, fire will not be rebuilt, report says
Seaside Park officials rejected thrill rides taller than 100 feet at a meeting Tuesday and the lawyer for the amusement park owner told the officials that decision seals the pier's fate, according to Shorebeat.

Disney patents system to track Magic Kingdom visitors by their footwear
Using cameras and sensors, the technology would scan people’s footwear upon arrival and follow them as they move throughout the grounds to see what rides, shows or stores peek their interest.

Silverwood launches new water slide
Up at Boulder Beach there's a brand new water slide now open called Riptide Racer that can handle six riders at a time and up to 900 an hour. That means shorter wait times when you come to cool down.


Thursday July 28, 2016

SeaWorld San Diego drops lawsuit over breeding ban
SeaWorld San Diego has dropped a lawsuit against the California Coastal Commission that challenged the agency’s right to impose a ban on the breeding of killer whales at the theme park.

Review of the News: July 18 – July 22

Monday July 18, 2016

8-year-old drowns in pool at Knoebels Amusement Park
An eight-year-old boy has died after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a Northumberland County amusement park.

M&D's safety officer banned after he gave Tsunami rollercoaster all-clear 16 days before horror crash
The inspector who passed the M&D’s Tsunami rollercoaster as safe 16 days before June’s horror crash has been banned, the Record can reveal.

Two Minors Injured While Visiting Lake Winnie
The two were riding the Fly-O-Plane when officials say they were injured and quickly taken to a local hospital.

Disney intern fired over alligator tweet gets job back
A Walt Disney World intern is back on the job after she was briefly fired for tweeting a photo of a sign telling employees how to respond to questions about alligators in the theme park’s waters.


Tuesday July 19, 2016

Disneyland Resort celebrates 61 years
The Anaheim resort celebrated its 61-year anniversary this week.


Wednesday July 20, 2016

Rye threatens legal action over Playland deal
Any new construction being considered should need approval from the city, Mayor Joe Sack contends. This includes a proposal to replace the decades-old public pool there with a dining patio.

What the truck? Kings Island drops another hint about new attraction
In a unique press release, park officials sent a small blue truck to the newsroom. A stack of logs wrapped in twine was in the toy truck’s bed.

Parents won't sue Disney over son's death by gator
Matt and Melissa Graves of Omaha, Nebraska, said in a statement that they want to focus on their family's future health. A family spokeswoman, Sara Brady, said she couldn't say whether a financial settlement had been reached with Disney World.


Thursday July 21, 2016

Throne, nativity statutes on block at theme park estate sale
A motorcycle, nativity statutes, mannequins and a gold-and-silver-painted throne are among the scores of items being sold off in a massive estate sale by The Holy Land Experience religious theme park as it deals with a financial crunch.


Friday July 22, 2016

Lanarkshire’s M&D’s theme park reopens after rollercoaster crash
M&D’s theme park has reopened almost a month after a rollercoaster crash that left 10 people in hospital.

Review of the News: July 11 – July 15

Monday July 11, 2016

Zippin Pippin rollercoaster reopens
Last month two cars crashed into each other at the station sending three people to the hospital. Those cars were inspected by the manufacturer while the ride was shut down for several weeks.

New high wire attraction opens at Drayton Manor Theme Park
VertiGO is a high ropes attraction that not only helps visitors face their fear of heights, but tests even the most confident of thrillseekers, as it takes them on an aerial adventure within the grounds of the award-winning family theme park.


Tuesday July 12, 2016

Roller coaster cable malfunction prompts Six Flags New England to close ride indefinitely
A cable on the Goliath roller coaster malfunctioned on Monday, prompting Six Flags New England officials to close the ride indefinitely.

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival menus released
New marketplaces include a tomato-inspired booth called Greenhouse Guru, an all-chocolate booth called Chocolate Studio, Islands of the Caribbean, and a booth featuring wines from California called Wine & Dine Studio.


Wednesday July 13, 2016

Cedar Point testing virtual-reality experience on Iron Dragon, part of 'Cedar Point Nights'
Starting this Friday, riders on Iron Dragon will have the option of trying a new virtual-reality experience during the 2-minute ride.

Historic Arnolds Park Inc. plans annual fundraiser for Saturday, August 6
Historic Arnolds Park Inc., announces "Party in the Park," a Fundraiser on August 6th in the Majestic Pavilion to help support and sustain Historic Arnolds Park Inc., a non-profit organization.

Shanghai Disney theme park nears 1 million visitors
Disney Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger on Monday said that nearly a million people have visited the entertainment giant’s theme park opened less than a month ago in mainland China.

Adventureland's new $9 million ride closed for maintenance
“The Monster” opened to the Altoona theme park on June 4, and just one month later, is down for the week.


Thursday July 14, 2016

Bomb squad says Six Flags amusement park safe after threat
Authorities say no threats have been found at Six Flags America in Prince George's County after the amusement park was closed because of a bomb threat.

Anaheim gives Disney a tax break for a new luxury hotel
After lengthy debate, the Anaheim City Council voted to give Disneyland a tax break of about $267 million over the next 20 years to build a luxury hotel on what is now a parking lot near the theme park.

Skull Island officially opens at Universal Orlando
After much anticipation, the legend of King Kong comes to life in this new, unprecedented adventure.


Friday July 15, 2016

How do theme parks compete with Pokémon Go?
Fans are playing all over Disneyland, which has got to be driving arch-rival Universal nuts, as Universal has the theme park rights to Nintendo characters

SeaWorld San Antonio to begin construction on mystery $18 million attraction
SeaWorld San Antonio plans to reveal the new attraction in September, said spokeswoman Lindsey Campbell, declining to elaborate.

Universal Orlando: Sapphire Falls Resort now open
Sapphire Falls, located between the company's Royal Pacific and Cabana Bay Beach resorts, carries a Caribbean theme. It has 1,000 rooms, bringing the total for Universal hotels to 5,200. It's Universal Orlando's first new hotel since Cabana Bay Beach Resort opened in 2014.

Review of the News: July 4 – July 8

Monday July 4, 2016

Happy Fourth of July to all of our American readers!


Tuesday July 5, 2016

Efteling amusement park accused of racist rides
The Stop Oppressive Stereotypes (SOS) group published an open letter to the Kaatsheuvel-based park on Twitter complaining about two attractions, Monsieur Cannibale and Carnaval Festival.

The Walking Dead Attraction At Universal Studios Officially Opens To The Public
The highly anticipated attraction promises fans of the show they’ll get to experience the thrilling terror of the Walking Dead universe.


Wednesday July 6, 2016

Inspectors find 4 code violations after “Zippin Pippin” roller-coaster crash
State inspectors have found four code violations as they investigate a roller-coaster accident in Green Bay that sent three people to the hospital.

Indiana amusement park seeing more visitors under new owner
Apex Parks Group has updated several of the park's attractions in preparation for the 2016 season, and it has added attractions, including a single-loop roller coaster and bumper boats that will open later this season.


Thursday July 7, 2016

Florida woman accused of stealing thousands in theme park tchotchkes
A 32-year-old Florida woman had a court appearance last week after perusing the Kwik-E-Mart in Universal Studio’s Simpsons land on her motorized scooter and allegedly swiping more than $3,500 in memorabilia from the amusement park in March, according to a police report.


Friday July 8, 2016

French amusement park announces ride modeled after Tulsa's Golden Driller
Fraispertuis City, an amusement park in France, announced its 2017 project on Instagram — a ride based on Tulsa's Golden Driller.

Amusement park ejects spectator over Trump-fueled tirade
A magician’s quip about Donald Trump during a performance at a well-known Connecticut amusement park provoked a vulgar tirade by an audience member, who was ejected from the property after interrupting the show.

Review of the News: June 27 – July 1

Monday June 27, 2016

Tsunami rollercoaster derails at Scotland's M&D theme park
Nine children and two adults were injured and are being treated in hospital, Police Scotland said.


Tuesday June 28, 2016

M&D's Tsunami rollercoaster closed TWICE for repairs in week before crash which injured 10
Bosses at the theme park said the ride was closed due to a “minor electrical fault” the day before it crashed leaving two boys seriously injured


Wednesday June 29, 2016

Work underway to repair DelGrosso's wave pool
A month after DelGrosso's Amusement Park opened Laguna Splash Water Park, the wave pool was shut down. DelGrosso's announced paint was peeling and the pool had to be shut down for repairs.

Zombies offer a sneak peek of Universal Studios Hollywood's 'The Walking Dead' permanent attraction
Dozens of flesh-hungry walkers descended upon Universal Studios Hollywood on Tuesday morning to greet local media as well as current and former cast members from “The Walking Dead,” and a few celebrity super fans who stopped by to check out the all-new permanent walk-through attraction.


Thursday June 30, 2016

M&D's partially reopens after 30ft roller coaster crash
The owners have opened the indoor complex, which houses the Kids Soft Play Area, Bowling and Amazonia, but the rides and roller coasters remain closed.

Kings Island launches construction of new attraction
While park officials wouldn’t comment on speculation that a new wooden roller coaster could be on the way, blueprints that accompanied approved building permits indicate that could be what’s in the works.

Lakefront lot sale means Conneaut Lake Park taxing bodies get nearly $200K
The sale of the first of two lakefront lots by Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park has been completed for $260,000 with the net proceeds of almost $200,000 to be used toward the amusement park's past tax debt of more than $1 million.


Friday July 1, 2016

Suspicious bag forced Holiday World evacuation
Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, will open at its normal scheduled time Friday after the amusement park was evacuated Thursday because of a suspicious backpack.

Dollywood opens autism calming room
Dollywood partnered with Autism Speaks to design the calming room, which has sensory-friendly toys like gently glowing lights and a cozy teepee tent.

Alabama amusement park closes permanently 2 months after opening
Lake City Amusement Park, open only since April, is closing because it has lost its funding source.

Cedar Fair theme parks and the American Red Cross partner to offer blood donors thrilling summer fun
All those who come to donate at select blood drives will receive one free ticket, valid for entry to any U.S. Cedar Fair theme park, including Cedar Point, Kings Island and others, while supplies last.

More details, potential name emerge for Universal Orlando's planned hotel
The hotel, dubbed Project 927, "consists of 600 hotel rooms within one new tower connected to a new parking garage to be constructed south of Sapphire Falls Resort," said city of Orlando documents.

NPH, Whoopi, Cal Ripken Jr. among Candlelight narrators
Walt Disney World has revealed a partial list of its narrators for the 2016 Candlelight Processional, a holiday presentation at Epcot.