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: September 5 – September 9

Monday September 5, 2016

I hope everyone enjoyed Labor Day!


Tuesday September 6, 2016

Bankruptcy Court approves Conneaut Lake Park's bankruptcy plan
The Chapter 11 reorganization plan filed by Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park was confirmed this morning by Chief U.S Bankruptcy Judge Jeffery Deller following a more than one hour hearing in U.S. District Court.

14-year-old shot in Carowinds parking lot
Carowinds said that at about 7:20 p.m., security officers reported a shooting in the bus parking lot outside the park in the 14500 block of Carowinds Blvd.

Playland: Court battle looms for offseason
The county and the company it chose to run Playland made overtures to Rye to dissuade the city from pursuing legal action over proposed changes to the park.

Safety concerns raised following Indiana Beach incident
An employee suffered several injuries at Indiana Beach over the weekend following an incident with a roller coaster car.

Waldameer sees more out of state guests as 2016 season wraps up
Some new attractions and nice weather lead to an increase in attendance numbers compared to the 2015 summer season.

Pulse victims honored with Universal Studios window
A special window honoring victims of the Pulse shooting has been installed above a street scene at Universal Studios theme park.


Wednesday September 7, 2016

Disney World starts scanning kids' fingers
Disney said the new process will help block the use of stolen and shared tickets. Previously, kids' tickets would have been easy to transfer because they had no finger images attached to them.


Thursday September 8, 2016

What to expect in Halloween Horror Nights' Repository
Members of the creative team behind Repository recently shared a few facts -- none too spoilery, I'd say -- about the experience, which will debut Sept. 29 (nearly two weeks after HHN kicks off) and run through Oct. 31.

Efteling was not a concrete terror target
The Efteling theme park was never mentioned as a ‘concrete’ target in an ongoing investigation into a 25-year-old alleged jihadi, the public prosecution department said on Thursday afternoon.


Friday September 9, 2016

Carowinds honors first responders
Carowinds released a statement saying the discount is to show their appreciation and all first responders will receive 50-percent off full-price regular admission.

The rise and fall of Geauga Lake
Through the years Geauga Lake transformed from a rural picnic area to massive thrill park. Its final incarnation as Wildwater Kingdom shut down for good this year.

Review of the News: May 2 – May 6

Monday May 2, 2015

Ferris wheel catches fire at new dinosaur theme park in Bangkok
The fire broke out following an afternoon thunderstorm in the Thai capital, says the fire and rescue department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.


Tuesday May 3, 2015

Dollywood turns 30
It was on this day in 1986, Dolly Parton opened the amusement park in Pigeon Forge, TN.  The park originally opened in 1961 as Rebel Railroad with the engine train Klondike Katie as the main attraction.

Westchester lawmakers approve Playland management deal
The Westchester County Board of Legislators approved a management contract with Standard Amusements to operate the county’s Playland Park.

Conneaut Lake Park trustees, tax creditors to file bankruptcy plan by June 3
Trustees of Conneaut Lake Park and its real estate tax creditors plan to submit a joint bankruptcy reorganization for the beleaguered amusement park by early next month.

Legoland Dubai theme park announces new ride
Legoland Dubai has unveiled The Lost Kingdom Adventure ride — the theme park’s flagship attraction in Adventure, one of six themed lands within the venue.


Wednesday May 4, 2015

Kennywood Visitors In For A “Whale” Of A Time This Summer
Workers checked rides for safety, hosed down appliances, and put new faces on old favorites. They’ve also reconstructed the former entrance to Noah’s Ark, that big whale that disappeared 20 years ago.


Thursday May 5, 2015

Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel To Go Dark For Light Renovation
The iconic Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel will go dark Thursday and stay dark for 20 days to make way for a $1 million revamp in time for the Pacific Park amusement park’s 20th-anniversary celebration.

Tokyo DisneySea’s Children’s Day jogging event attracts 1,000 entrants
About 1,000 people participated in a jogging event held at Tokyo DisneySea in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, on Thursday to mark Children’s Day.

Lake Winnie kicks off 91st season with new thrill ride
Lake Winnepesaukah enters its 91st season with "one of the thrillingest thrill rides" ever to fling riders around the North Georgia amusement park.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom to double South Whitehall police coverage
Things went so well with an agreement last year between South Whitehall police and a popular Lehigh Valley summertime destination that the township is doubling the amount of protection it will pay for this year.

Bay Beach previews new rides
Park officials and the City of Green Bay are touting overhauled engines for the train ride and two new rides ready to debut this weekend.

Waldameer prepares to open this weekend
It is a sure sign of the summer season, the start of Waldameers 120th year  is this weekend and there are many new things to look forward to this season.

Tourists crowd, trash Shanghai Disneyland weeks before opening
Photos posted to Chinese social media network Weibo show trash and debris left behind in the courtyard, vandalism to a light post and recently planted flower beds that have been walked over.


Friday May 6, 2015

Cedar Point's mysterious Valravn secret revealed
For the first time ever, Cedar Point is creating augmented reality that changes the way its guests see the park.

First-look at spinning ride vehicles of Cobra's Curse
This week, the Tampa theme park gave us our first look as the ride vehicles of Cobra's Curse in action.

Legoland execs negotiating with Orange property owners
Legoland executives are negotiating sale prices with a handful of property owners in Orange County as they seek to settle on a site for the third Legoland Park in North America.

Review of the News: Thursday October 4, 2012

Carowinds, Charlotte, NC
South Carolina amusement ride inspectors found nothing wrong with the WindSeeker ride at Carowinds after a July stoppage stranded 25 riders.
Herald Online

Waldameer Park, Erie, PA
Waldameer Park & Water World has closed on the purchase of three properties critical to the family-owned amusement park's long-term expansion.
Erie Times-News

Review of the News: Sunday September 23, 2012

Marineland, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
In a media release on its website, The Niagara Falls Humane Society says it sent inspectors into Marineland yesterday.
News Talk 610 CKTB

Pleasure Island, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Forget about Old MacDonald ... half a million pounds is being spent to bring a petting farm and tractor ride to Pleasure Island.
This Is Grimsby

SeaWorld, Orlando, FL
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment's long-running war with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration isn't over.
Orlando Sentinel

Waldameer, Erie, PA
Waldameer Park & Water World, which introduces a new attraction nearly every year, is adding something just as big this fall: more than 7 acres of land and buildings, including the Inn at Presque Isle, at Peninsula Drive and West Sixth Street.
GoErie.com