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: May 9 – May 13

Monday May 9, 2015

Disney road work may create new Hollywood Studios entryway
Walt Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District is seeking to do some road improvements that seem to provide new entrances to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Alton Towers bars one-handed woman from Smiler rollercoaster
A one-handed woman who was barred from a rollercoaster at Alton Towers has accused the venue of discrimination.

Woman who fell over at Movie World sues for half-a-million dollars
A young Australian woman is suing Movie World for $500,000 after allegedly tumbling from a flowerbed while trying to watch the theme park's New Year's Day parade.


Tuesday May 10, 2015

New Cedar Point smartphone app cuts your time waiting in line; plus, fluctuating parking fee
This past weekend, Cedar Point activated a new smartphone app that gives guests the ability to choose their next ride based on where lines are shortest.

Hulk Smash: First Look At The Relaunched Hulk Coaster at Universal Orlando
The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure will re-open to the public this summer, but most amusement park fans won’t be able to recognize the attraction following major enhancements.


Wednesday May 11, 2015

USJ scraps plan to build theme park in Okinawa
USJ Co., the operating company of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, said Wednesday that it has dropped a much heralded plan to open a theme park in Okinawa Prefecture, in whose economy the government saw the project playing a key part.

Disney World attendance slips
Fewer people visited Walt Disney World from January to March compared with the year before as a new pricing strategy went into effect.


Thursday May 12, 2015

“Disco Giant Wheel” ride collapses in Kishkinta Theme Park
One person was killed and nine were injured when a newly assembled “Disco Giant Wheel” collapsed in Kishkinta Theme Park.


Friday May 13, 2015

Disney Dollars to be discontinued at Disneyland, Walt Disney World
A Disneyland statement confirmed on Thursday the once popular currency, which could only be used at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, would be terminated effective Saturday.

Review of the News: February 22 – February 26

Monday February 22, 2015

Cedar Point Raises Admission, Announces the Closure of Three Rides
As the Valravn roller coaster construction nears completion, the park is also shuttering three rides: Shoot the Rapids water ride, Skyscraper and Challenge Racing.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi to open Flying Aces coaster this week
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has begun the countdown to unveil its all new record-breaking roller coaster Flying Aces later this week on February 24.

New rides, promotions help Six Flags enjoy record year
The company saw its revenue grow by $88 million, or 7.5 percent, to $1.3 billion over 2014, marking the sixth consecutive year of record financial performance, John Duffey, chief financial officer of the Grand Prairie, Texas-based company, said during a conference call on Thursday.

A theme park is selling a host of unusual items on eBay including a wooden log flume
Dreamland, which is based in Margate, revealed in December that it had debts of £2.9million following a summer of transport problems.  It agreed a five-year deal to pay back its creditors, and is trying to raise £500,000 by selling off some of its items.

Legoland Windsor unveil biggest Lego structure in the UK ever
Theme park staff have unveiled the biggest Lego structure in the UK ever - a scale model of the DEATH STAR.

Disney shares 'first look' at Star Wars lands
A segment during Sunday night's broadcast of "The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60," introduced by actor Harrison Ford, showed several "concept renderings" of attractions coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland.


Tuesday February 23, 2015

Autism Speaks Walk moves out of Dorney Park, citing treatment of special needs worker
The annual Lehigh Valley Autism Speaks Walk, which attracts roughly 5,000 supporters, is moving out of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom this year — yet another event cutting ties with the amusement park after the viral story about the treatment of a special-needs worker.

Westchester may commit $58M in amended Playland deal
Westchester County would spend $58 million on 11 construction projects at Playland as part of an amended deal with the company that is set to take over the historic county-owned park, officials said.

Kings Island latest local employer to raise wages
A seasonal job at Kings Island will pay better this year as the amusement park joins examples of other local employers raising wages in a tightening job market with fewer unemployed workers.

Fight over Six Flags solar farm trudges on
There were more hours of opposing testimony on Monday night to Six Flags Great Adventure's controversial plans to construct a solar generation facility on 66 acres of existing woodlands.

Movie World signs up super villains
Super-villains will be centre stage at Warner Brothers Movie World's latest attraction, opening in October.


Wednesday February 24, 2015

Cedar Point won't raise fence in response to death of man struck by roller coaster
Officials at Cedar Point say the park will make no changes in fence height, signage or other safety procedures in response to the death last summer of a man who entered a restricted area under a ride and was hit by an oncoming roller coaster train.

FunPlex Amusement Park opens in Lagos
Fun-seeking children and their parents living in Magodo-Shangisha area of Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State may now heave a sigh of relief as FunPlex Amusement Park has commenced business on the CMD Road, Shangisha.

Two seals, including newborn, die at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park while red panda breaks into giant panda enclosure in trio of incidents
Two seals, including a newborn, have died at Ocean Park in two separate incidents in less than a week, a spokeswoman for the marine theme park confirmed last night.  A red panda also escaped its enclosure and entered a neighbouring enclosure, home to the park’s two resident giant pandas, Ying Ying and Le Le.

Hidden Mickey made of 48,000 solar panels spotted at Walt Disney World
A solar farm arranged into the shape of the famous mouse ears has been built near Epcot at Walt Disney World.


Thursday February 25, 2015

SeaWorld admits employees spied on protesters
Amusement park operator SeaWorld has admitted that it carried on a practice in which employees posed as animal rights activists in order to spy on those groups.

Cedar Fair Declares 2016 First-Quarter Cash Distribution
The distribution, which is payable March 28, 2016 to unitholders of record as of March 14, 2016, represents the Company's 30 consecutive year of paying a cash distribution to its unitholders.

Alton Towers is to be prosecuted over the Smiler rollercoaster crash
The owner of Alton Towers will be prosecuted over the Smiler rollercoaster crash after it left five people seriously injured.

Universal Orlando releases image of Skull Island: Reign of Kong
The 3-D ride, which will be one of the longest ride experiences ever created at Universal, will  bring the next generation of King Kong to life., according to a release from the theme park.

SeaWorld Entertainment Q4 Loss Narrows From Previous Year
The company reported a Q4 adjusted net loss of $9.6 million, or a loss of $0.11 per diluted share, narrower than the loss of $17.8 million, or $0.20 per share, in the prior year period but wider than the loss of $0.10 expected by analysts.


Friday February 26, 2015

Theme park closes in Phnom Penh
Dreamland, Cambodia’s biggest amusement park, will close 1 March after the contact expires.  The amusement park posted on its facebook, Tuesday, that it was ending its business 1 March.