Review of the News: March 20 – March 24

Monday March 20, 2017

Nova Scotia taxpayers chipping in $300K for Upper Clements Park improvements
The province has agreed to put $300,000 towards infrastructure work this summer. There are no new additions, and the money is for regular maintenance to the park's existing 60 or so buildings and roughly 30 rides and attractions.

Malaga’s Tivoli World to receive €300 million makeover
Madrid-based firm Tremon plans to build a complex covering more than 152,000 square metres on the east side of the park, along with gardens and a 2,000-space car park.

Shanghai's oldest amusement park to reopen on March 31
Covering a total space of 16,800 square meters, the park, comprising of three four-story buildings and an iconic hexagonal tower, was first established in 1917 by tobacco tycoon Huang Chujiu, and most recently closed down in 2003, when the city was inflicted with SARS epidemic.

Virtual reality roller coaster coming to Six Flags New England
The Galactic Attack Virtual Realty Coaster is billed as a fully immersive, virtual riding experience on the Agawam park's iconic Mind Eraser coaster.


Tuesday March 21, 2017

Judge Tosses Rye Lawsuit Against Westchester Over Management Of Playland
The City of Rye’s lawsuit against Westchester over management and operational changes at the county-owned Playland Amusement Park was thrown out by a state judge on Monday.

Lagoon Announces Opening Day for 2017
Lagoon will open weekends beginning Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 10:00a.m. (weather and other factors permitting).

Green Bay preparing permit application to restore beach at Bay Beach
The city's parks department is currently preparing an application to receive the necessary permitting to construct the beach. More than $200,000 has already been spent on engineering design work.


Wednesday March 22, 2017

Thorpe Park engineers celebrate 200th rollercoaster anniversary by tucking into cake high above legendary Stealth ride
Maintenance engineers at Thorpe Park perched high above the theme park to prepare Stealth for this season - and mark the 200th anniversary of the rollercoaster.

Lakemont Park closes for summer
Lakemont Park’s amusement rides and related attractions are expected to remain closed this summer while the park operator undertakes improvements.

Universal patents hint at possible Harry Potter 'Floo Network' ride, movable puzzle theaters
The two patents, dubbed "vehicle transportation room system and method" and "system and method for a moving puzzle theater," both show technologies that could be used to bring more elements of the Harry Potter world to life.

Knott’s Berry Farm Opening Virtual Reality Ghost Town in April
The immersive VR gaming attraction, titled VR Showdown in Ghost Town, will take guests on a time traveling adventure to visit a futuristic version of Knott’s western town of Calico.

Six Flags Great America announces new virtual reality attraction
The theme park announced Tuesday its plans for Drop of Doom -- a virtual reality experience on the park's already-operating Giant Drop.

Universal to build 4,000-room resort on former Wet 'n Wild land
The theme park filed plans with the city of Orlando that show a hotel property is in the works.

Gold Coast’s newest roller coaster at Oxenford’s Movie World will be coloured purple
Fuchsia-coloured lengths of track have begun arrived at Movie World which will become the park’s next big attraction, due to be opened in September.


Thursday March 23, 2017

Busch Gardens opens for season, InvadR not far behind
Busch Gardens opens for the season Saturday and it won't be long until the Williamsburg amusement park's newest roller coaster follows suit.

Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios Hollywood goes high-def
Less than four months after Universal Studios Hollywood removed the 3-D feature from its Harry Potter flying simulator ride, the park has upgraded the attraction to include high-definition images of fire-breathing dragons, enchanted trees and evil flying creatures.

First look: Eats at Universal Orlando's Volcano Bay
Universal’s third gate will open on May 25 with 60-plus snacks, entrees, desserts and more to satiate the hungry swimmer.

“The Music of Pixar Live!” Coming to Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in May!
Starting May 26, it will be presented three times nightly at the Theater of the Stars (this will take place after the regular daily performances of Beauty and the Beast).

Walt Disney extends CEO Bob Iger's contract until July 2, 2019
Iger has served as the CEO of Disney for 11 years.


Friday March 24, 2017

Man seriously injured after metal beam from roller coaster fell on him at Funderland amusement park in Cork
According to sources, the worker was standing on top of a stack of tracks for the roller coaster which had arrived on the site on a big articulated truck. The tracks were being removed by a crane mounted on another truck when the tracks began to slide taking the man with them.

Chinese Group buys Blackstone's stake in SeaWorld
The deal gives with Zhonghong Group gives SeaWorld a path into the growing Chinese tourism market and a partner with experience in theme-park development there.

Disney World, Universal Studios fight tax bills in Florida
To cut tax bills in the tens of millions of dollars, the specialists at Orlando's famous theme parks have employed methods from the creative - placing cows on undeveloped land and claiming an agricultural exemption - to the traditional - negotiating or appealing to a county board.

Review of the News: September 26 – September 30

Monday September 26, 2016

HarvestFest marks end of park’s season
DelGrosso's Amusement Park Director Elliott Geist said the park's 30th annual season finale, HarvestFest, brought thousands of people Saturday and Sunday.

Grim reaper catches fire at Utah haunted house
Patrons at Lagoon Amusement Park in Utah looking for a scary thrill got more than they bargained for Saturday night, Sept. 24, as a portion of a haunted house attraction caught on fire.

SeaWorld introduces passes that let you bring a different guest each day
You buy an annual pass to SeaWorld for the normal price of $168. You can buy a second transferrable pass at the same time for $208. Whenever you visit on your "host pass", a different person can come with you using the transferrable one.

Alton Towers engineer whose mistake contributed to Smiler crash 'felt pressure to restart ride quickly because of bonuses'
The HSE report found that theme park management had set targets for staff for the length of time rides were out of service and that bonuses were then linked to staff achieving low levels of this “downtime”.


Tuesday September 27, 2016

SeaWorld in 2017: New coasters, rides and shows to turn the tide
With its announcement of new roller coasters, rides, shows, and other features coming in 2017, SeaWorld offers a sense of its new vision and how the parks will evolve.

Universal Studios Hollywood gets an Android app
Ticket purchasing, resort map, wait times, itineraries, alerts for your optimal ride wait times, notifications, news, and more are available within the free app, so you can focus on enjoying your Minion Mayhem ride or take Potter's Forbidden Journey whenever it's convenient to you.

Alton Towers operator fined £5 million over crash in which two girls lost legs
Merlin Entertainments admitted breaching the Health and Safety Act over the June 2015 crash of The Smiler roller coaster at the park.

45 more Disney autism lawsuits dismissed, appealed
An Orlando federal judge has dismissed 45 more lawsuits over access to Disney theme-park rides and attractions for disabled people, but the lawyer handling them is already appealing them.

Kentucky Kingdom claims attendance record
The Kentucky Kingdom amusement park and its Hurricane Bay water facility had an estimated 800,000 visitors in the recently completed 2016 season, surpassing the previous year's attendance by more than 200,000.


Wednesday September 28, 2016

Knott’s Shuts Down Attraction Denounced by Mental Health Advocates
Less than a week after it opened, Knott’s Berry Farm Tuesday shut down a Halloween attraction criticized by mental health advocates for perpetuating the social stigma of mental illness.

Waldameer announces $2 million water park expansion for 2017
Waldameer is planning a $2 million expansion to Water World for next summer, park officials said.

Universal Orlando to celebrate Mardi Gras for 49 consecutive days in 2017
Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando will run for 49 consecutive days in 2017. The party will run from Feb. 4 to March 24 and will include Cajun food, parades and bands from New Orleans.

Alton Towers withdraws free entry for Blue Peter badge holders
Holders of the much-coveted badges awarded to viewers of the flagship BBC children’s television programme have benefited from the perk at Merlin attractions for at least a decade as part of a list of 200 places offering free access to those wearing the show’s famous insignia.


Thursday September 29, 2016

Great America closes virtual reality ride after claims of insensitivity
A virtual reality experience at California’s Great America has been pulled from its park following concerns that the attraction was harmful to people who suffer from mental illness.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach unveils details of new rollercoaster
The £16.25 million ride, which is currently being referred to as Construction 2018, will reach heights of 88.5ft, feature drops of up to 82ft and hit speeds of up 80km/h (49mph).

Alton Towers visitors yet to recover a year after Smiler crash
The owner of Alton Towers has said visitor numbers have not yet fully recovered more than a year after the horrific rollercoaster accident that saw it fined £5m.

Disney World announces 2017 US military discounts
From now until Dec. 16, 2017, active and retired military personnel or their spouses can purchases specially priced tickets for themselves and up to five additional family members or friends.


Friday September 30, 2016

Grandparents can get free tickets to Drayton Manor theme park
The theme park is offering all grandmas and grandpas the chance to visit for free to celebrate National Grandparents Day on Sunday 2nd October.

Princesses set for month of royal meetings
There will be a month of royal encounters at Disney Springs starting on Saturday. Disney Princesses will be holding court, greeting the public every day in October.

Busch Gardens welcomes another baby gorilla
The gorilla population at Busch Gardens has gotten a little bit bigger. Oliver, a western lowland gorilla, was born at the Tampa theme park on Aug. 18.

Disney World's Yacht and Beach Club plans convention space expansion
Walt Disney World's Yacht & Beach Club Resort plans to expand its convention space with an additional 25,000 square feet.

Review of the News: August 8 – August 12

Monday August 8, 2016

Disney Building Wall Around Lake After Alligator Killed Toddler
Disney is building a wall around the lake when a toddler died in early July after being dragged into the water by an alligator. The wall, Disney says, is part of a new security plan designed to prevent such accidents.

Utah sisters collect thousands of signatures on petition to relocate animals kept at Lagoon
The Barkdull girls want to see these wild animals roam freely, in an environment similar to the natural habitat they came from.

Plans for second hotel at Gulliver's World set to go ahead
Developers were seeking a lawful development certificate for the blueprints which were first submitted more than 10 years ago.


Tuesday August 9, 2016

Dopey Takes A Tumble During Fantasmic! Show at Walt Disney World
Dopey slipped between the railing of the ship and right onto a stunned Goofy, who glances down after the beloved Disney character's spill onto the ship's deck.


Wednesday August 10, 2016

Former Six Flags theme park valued at $3 million
The New Orleans Industrial Development Board has released the findings of the appraisal group selected to value the shuttered Six Flags park.

More houses for Halloween Horror Nights
Universal Orlando has announced the more of its creative program for Halloween Horror Nights 2016, including three haunted houses, its five scare zones and two stage shows.

Disney turns in strong earnings despite theme park attendance declines
The Walt Disney Co.'s domestic theme-park attendance declined during its third quarter, underlining Orlando's quieter summer so far.


Thursday August 11, 2016

Enchanted Forest amusement park turns 45
The theme park has grown to have more than a dozen rides and attractions, including Storybook Lane, with several life-size scenes from classic nursery rhymes.

Legoland Florida announces Lego Star Wars Days
A Lego Star Wars Miniland Model Display will be in the park, featuring seven scenes from the movie series and a scene from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The display is made out of 1.5 million Lego bricks.

Walt Disney World pulling plug on famed Electrical Parade
Disney Parks will pull the plug on the event this October, with the final Main Street Electric Parade coming Oct. 9.

Main Street Electrical Parade Set to Return to Disneyland for ‘Limited Engagement’
The nighttime parade, with its brightly lit three-dimensional floats and iconic theme song, originated in the early 1970s, becoming a beloved favorite among Disney guests before going dark at the Anaheim theme park in 1996.

Disneyland Paris evacuated after suspicious package found at train station
Marne-la-Vallee station, which is located inside the theme park, is about 18 miles east of Paris. It lies just in front of the entrances to the two theme parks and Disney Village.

Disneyland Resort to build new 7-story parking structure, elevated walkway ahead of 'Star Wars' land
Disney intends to construct a transportation hub, a massive parking structure and a pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard connecting them with Disneyland and Disney California Adventure ahead of the opening of “Star Wars” land in its signature theme park.


Friday August 12, 2016

Three-year-old boy falls from roller coaster at Idlewild
Local police and state inspectors spent much of Thursday investigating how a 3-year-old boy fell from a roller coaster at Idlewild and SoakZone amusement park in Ligonier in one of several such incidents across the nation this week that have led to increased scrutiny of thrill rides.

Cliff’s Amusement Park wants to locate owner of missing memento
The dog tag with fallen Santa Fe County Deputy Jeremy Martin’s picture was found at the park last month.

Two girls, aged 6, sexually assaulted at Legoland theme park
The girls were attacked as they played in the Castaway Camp in the Pirate Shores area of the Windsor tourist attraction.

Universal plans virtual reality experience for Halloween Horror Nights 2016
Universal Orlando Resort's offering Halloween Horror Nights fans a new interactive experience this year, combining real-life characters and virtual reality.

Disney's first Latin American princess, Elena of Avalor, makes her park debut
Elena of Avalor, the entertainment giant’s first princess “inspired by diverse Latin cultures," will be available for meet-and-greets throughout the park and appear in a live performance “The Royal Welcome of Princess Elena.”

Disney to offer $79 Park Hopper tickets for annual passholders
Starting Friday, annual passholders can purchase one-day Park Hopper tickets for just $79.  The tickets allow guests to visit Disney's Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom.

Shark exhibit gives SeaWorld visitors hands-on experience
The theme park's Shark Touch Pool is adjacent to the Wild Arctic ride, and it's downright simple. Step right up, put your hand down into one of the tanks and touch a epaulette shark, a white-spotted bamboo shark or a brownbanded bamboo shark.