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: August 15 – August 19

Monday August 15, 2016

Police: Women stole from Kentucky Kingdom
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office arrested two women Saturday accused of stealing more than $1,000 worth of items from Kentucky Kingdom.

Disney World Gives Animal Kingdom the Night Off
The addition of several nighttime activities that extended the park's close from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. since Memorial Day weekend will be reversed following Labor Day.


Tuesday August 16, 2016

TailSpin Racer Coming to Dollywood’s Splash Country
This thrilling new attraction allows up to six guests to race each other on mats through the twists and turns of TailSpin Racer’s unique spiraling tube design.

Police charge 8 with pot possession at Dorney Park
Authorities allege one man ate evidence, two men were spotted smoking pot in the parking lot at 11 o’clock in the morning and that three people face charges after the smell of marijuana came wafting out of their locker.


Wednesday August 17, 2016

6 Hurt By Electric Shocks On Connecticut Amusement Park Ride
Police say six people were hospitalized for injuries they sustained when a ride at an amusement park in New London shocked them. Officers were dispatched to the scene at Ocean Beach Park shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday following reports of the injuries.

12 Tourists Injured After Freefall Ride Hurtles to the Ground
Twelve tourists have been left injured after the breaks on a freefall attraction reportedly ‘failed’ – sending the ride crashing towards the ground.

Oakwood launches Olympic challenge
Completed cards can be handed in to staff at the admissions desk and will be entered into a free daily draw to win an annual pass.

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights gets more terrifying with 'American Horror Story' reboot
The park's annual terrifying scare fest just got even bloodier by joining forces with one of the the most gruesome shows on television, FX’s acclaimed-- and controversial-- “American Horror Story" series.


Thursday August 18, 2016

Cedar Point announces new, improved water park
The amusement park announced Thursday that it will transform Soak City into the new Cedar Point Shores Water Park.

Universal Orlando shares backstory on latest CityWalk addition
Universal Orlando Resort guests are still waiting for the new Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen to open, but the theme park is sharing a bit more on the fictional story behind the new CityWalk addition.

Revamped Planet Hollywood will include Guy Fieri burger menu, upgraded visuals
The celebrity-themed restaurant hopes to return to that position in Disney Springs, a dining and entertainment complex that used to be called Downtown Disney.

Kings Island brings back WinterFest for 2017
The park will reopen in the colder months for ice skating, reindeer petting zoo, rides, performances and more.


Friday August 19, 2016

Funfields amusement park to install ‘TornadoWAVE’ next year
Park owner John Verga said the TornadoWAVE was a four person raft ride that will be open for the summer of 2017/18.

Worlds of Fun announces two new rides for 2017
Worlds of Fun has announced it will introduce two new rides in 2017: the Mustang Runner and the Falcon’s Flight.

Worlds of Fun extends its season to celebrate ‘Winter Wonderland’, redesigns front entrance
WinterFest will showcase 14 favorite holiday characters, spectacular light displays, ice skating, and festive live entertainment. The park will be transformed into a winter wonderland for six weeks beginning November 24, 2017.

USF students petition Busch Gardens to restore discount admission
Busch Gardens is canceling its discount admission for students at the University of South Florida, blaming a lack of interest in the half-off, $50 pass good for the academic year.

Great America building floorless roller coaster to replace stand-up Vortex
Named the Patriot, the ride will make its debut in early 2017 at the Santa Clara theme park, spokesman Roger Ross announced Thursday. The coaster will take riders 91 feet in the air before dropping them into a 360-degree loop at 45 mph.

New Valleyfair ride will swing riders 230 feet in the air
True to its Minnesotan roots, the new ride’s name is “to celebrate the region’s affinity to being ‘up north’ and the great outdoors,” Valleyfair says.

Knott’s Soak City Water Park Adding Two New Towers for 2017
According to the official website of Knott’s Soak City, the water park will debut two water slide towers, dubbed Shore Break and The Wedge.

Universal Orlando brings magic back with 4th annual Harry Potter Celebration
The 4th annual Harry Potter celebration at Universal Orlando Resort, a weekend-long event that celebrates everything from J.K. Rowling's fictional wizard world, will happen Jan. 27-29, park officials said.

Carowinds to add winter festival, vintage rides
Carowinds is bringing back its WinterFest holiday celebration for the third time in the park’s history, as well as debuting four new rides to show off in its upcoming “County Fair” section.

New attractions coming to Dorney Park in 2017
The South Whitehall Township amusement park says it's bringing back bumper cars by popular demand. The park is also adding "Kaleidoscope," a circular, spinning ride plus a new showcase called "Cirque Imagine."

Disney digitally alters 'crude' hand gesture in Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
The longstanding Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction has taken heat online in the past for Tyler's thumb-to-ring finger motion he makes in the queue presentation of the ride, with critics saying it is representative of a sexually-driven gesture referred to as "the shocker."