Review of the News: January 25 – January 29

Monday January 25, 2015

Shanghai Disneyland may face fireworks ban on polluted days
An official from the city's fire department said all firework shows will be prohibited without exception when the air quality index is above 201.

Universal Orlando teases details on Hulk coaster renovation
Not much is known about what Universal Orlando Resort has planned for The Incredible Hulk Coaster, which is currently closed for renovations. But the theme park today hinted at what guests can expect when it's finished.

Europa-Park announces 2016 summer season dates
Germany’s most popular tourist attraction – the Europa-Park Theme Park in Baden-Wurttemberg – will open its doors for the 2016 summer season from 19th March – 6th November.


Tuesday January 26, 2015

Council hits back over claims of suppressed Dreamland report highlight “risks” of theme park project
Thanet District Council (TDC) has hit back at claims it deliberately sat on a report which warned of the financial risks associated with re-opening Dreamland.

SeaWorld rumored to be moving forward with big hotel plans
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is rumored to have hired a hotel development consultant with plans to build 2,500 hotel rooms throughout the company, industry sources told Orlando Business Journal.

H-1B Visa Controversy: Disney World Replacing American Workers With Cheap Foreign Labor?
Two former tech employees for Walt Disney Co. filed federal lawsuits Monday alleging the company is replacing domestic staff with lower-paid immigrants living in the United States on H-1B visas.

Legoland to open new 'Lego Movie' feature in 4D starting Friday
Legoland Florida will add another brick in its wall of attractions with the opening of The Lego Movie 4D on Friday, upping the ante on a new 12-minute 3D feature by adding wind, fog and water effects.


Wednesday January 27, 2015

Reverse Time Tested
Quassy Amusement and Waterpark’s newest thrill ride, Reverse Time, was recently tested at the SBF/VISA Group manufacturing facility in Casale di Scodosia, Italy

Lake Compounce fined $70k for exposing employees to chemicals
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Lake Compounce, located in Bristol, for 18 serious workplace safety violations.

Six Flags Great Adventure renames new 4-D coaster after comic book supervillain
The ride was expected to be called Total Mayhem until park officials announced on Wednesday morning that it would be renamed after the DC Comics supervillain The Joker.


Thursday January 28, 2015

Harry Potter celebration back at Universal Orlando
Fans of the boy wizard are expected in droves again at Universal Orlando this weekend for A Celebration of Harry Potter.

Harrison Ford Set to Unveil New 'Star Wars Land' on Upcoming TV Special
The former Mr. Solo will unveil the upcoming theme park attractions of the new Star Wars Land coming to California’s Disneyland and Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resorts.

Six Flags St. Louis seeking 3,000 employees for 2016 season
Six Flags St. Louis is looking for some 3,000 friendly, high-energy people to join their team.  The theme park offers competitive wages, flexible schedules, great benefits and a wide variety of jobs.


Friday January 29, 2015

French police 'arrest man with guns in suitcase' at Disneyland Paris, female companion detained
Police say man held after he was found with guns in his suitcase is not a terrorism suspect, as his female companion is detained by officers

Shanghai Disneyland casts spell on surrounding property prices
Residential units in the town where Disneyland is located have seen average prices jump 20 per cent on-year in January, with property agents saying transactions are up as the park’s opening date approaches.

Family claims boy bitten by snake at Animal Kingdom caused grandmother's death
A well-known Orlando attorney said Thursday that he has been retained by a family who claims a snake bit their 8-year-old son at Disney's Animal Kingdom, causing the boy's grandmother to go into cardiac arrest, which caused her death.

Holy Land Experience announces free day
The Orlando theme park's website said Wednesday, February 24, will be free to guests.  The free day is held once a year by the park so it can maintain its tax-exempt status.

Review of the News: January 4 – January 8

Monday January 4, 2015

3 Theme Park Operators That Beat Disney in 2015
Disney stock beat the market, but most publicly traded operators of theme parks and regional amusement parks actually performed even better.

Artist Charged With Attempted Murder in Theme Park Attack
Frederick Torres, 33, was charged with attempted first-degree murder for his attack on Glenn Ferguson at the Islands of Adventure park. Both artists draw caricatures at Universal's parks but work for an outside firm, Orlando-based Fasen Artists, Inc.


Tuesday January 5, 2015

Fans rally to say goodbye to popular Disney, Universal rides in Orlando
In Orlando, theme park fans are taking one last spin on of some of their favorite rides before they shut down for good to make way to flashier attractions.

New Dubai theme park seeks actors, dancers, singers
IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s largest indoor theme park which is scheduled to open in Dubai this year, is holding auditions for actors, singers and performers seeking a role in the park’s upcoming live entertainment shows.


Wednesday January 6, 2015

SeaWorld settles orca trainer safety citations
SeaWorld and California workplace regulators have reached a settlement over allegations that the park failed to train workers to safely interact with its killer whales.

Universal Orlando announces 2016 Mardi Gras concert lineup
The theme park announced its concert lineup for the annual New Orleans-themed celebration, with musical acts from a variety of genres, including rock, pop, R&B, and country.

Alton Towers to open Rollercoaster Restaurant with 400m food DROP
The food will tackle two gravity-defying loop-the-loops before dropping eight metres down a tornado spiral onto their table.

Six Flags files objections in slip-and-fall case
Six Flags Theme Parks is objecting on a number of fronts to a negligence suit filed against it, in response to a slip-and-fall accident from 2013.

Rain shutters Knott's, Magic Mountain while Disneyland, Universal Studios endure sogginess
Heavy rain shuttered two Southern California theme parks on Tuesday, while others remained open and slogged through the day.


Thursday January 7, 2015

Cedar Point’s annual calendar offers clues to when Valravn roller coaster will soar
Cedar Point’s recently released wall calendar lists May 6 as this year’s Season Passholder Preview Night. Historically that it is day the Sandusky amusement park opens its new attractions — weather, construction and ride testing deadlines permitting.

SeaWorld Orlando tops off new Mako coaster
The theme park shared an update of the new coaster's "topping off" where it installed the tallest point of the 200-foot ride, which will open later this year.

Dubai Parks and Resorts imports 300 year-old olive trees from Italy for landscaping
Dubai Parks and Resorts, the company developing the massive theme park project in Jebel Ali, said that it has imported 14 eight-metre tall olive trees ranging between the ages of 200 and 300 years from Italy to landscape its flagship project.

SeaWorld Sues State for Whale Breeding Ban
SeaWorld filed a lawsuit challenging the California Coastal Commission’s stipulation that bans the San Diego theme park from breeding captive orcas.

Starbucks coming to Knott's
Beginning in March, a 935-square-foot Starbucks will anchor the California MarketPlace just outside the park’s entrance.


Friday January 8, 2015

Knott's Partners with Susan G. Komen for a Third Year
Knott’s Berry Farm and Susan G. Komen Orange County are partnering, for a third year, to raise money for breast cancer awareness, services and research by offering a special “Pink Ticket” and limited edition “pink” t-shirt, January 4 through March 18.

Animal Kingdom: A look at the 'floating mountain' illusion of Pandora
Held up and extended by steel beams, the mountain -- which more closely resembles a boulder with grass on top -- can best be seen from the parking lot, but there are some decent views near Pizzafari inside the park.

Busch Gardens offers new multi-park ticket plan
Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando are offering more flexible multi-park ticket offers this year designed to bring in more visitors.