Theme Park Archive
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Disney Magic could be cruising European waters this summer
Disney Cruise Line is expected to announce the Disney Magic cruise ship, which is based at Port Canaveral, will be taking a European vacation in summer 2007.
Disney officials would not discuss specific details but rumour are that Disney plans to offer European cruises on the Magic, from May to August 2007, with possible stops in England, France and Italy. There likely will be "repositioning cruises" from Port Canaveral to Europe in May; and from Europe to Port Canaveral in August.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Universal Orlando - Abolish Universal Express
Universal Express the service that allowed visitors to skip an occasional long line is switching entirely to its Express Plus service, in which people pay extra money for the privilege of cutting lines all day.
Working a bit like Disney's FastPass service, Universal visitors could obtain free reservations to come back later, at one of two specified times, and skip the long line in favor of a much shorter Express line.
Universal introduced the alternative, Express Plus, in 2003. In that program, visitors pay extra -- a fee that ranges from $15 to $50 depending on the season and package -- for a pass that allows them to get into any of the Express lines, any time.
Express is out and Express Plus is in, Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said. The Universal Express pass dispensers will be removed, he said.
"Express Plus allows guests to have front-of-line access to all of our attractions whenever they want to," Schroder said. "Our regular Express system allowed guests to choose a window of time, a reserved time. What we were finding is guests were only able to go to one or two attractions a day with it, and they told us it didn't really enhance their experience."
A Disney spokesman said Walt Disney World has no plans of getting rid of FastPass.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Universal Orlando - Free Children Tickets
Universal is offering free tickets to children ages 3-9 when their parents buy two-day, two-park tickets over the Internet.
The deal might be permanent if it works. For at least through July 31, a child can get in free for each $99.95, two-day, two-park pass a parent buys. A similar children's ticket previously cost $99.95. Children younger than 3 already get in free.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Walt Disney Co.
The world's largest theme-park operator, set a holiday-season attendance record at its Walt Disney World resort in Florida.
Crowds were so heavy at Disney World the week after Christmas that the Magic Kingdom parking lot was closed briefly one day as it reached capacity in the early afternoon.
Overall, 2005 was a strong year for attendance at Disney World's four theme parks, with the Magic Kingdom coming in again as the most-visited park in North America and the world.
More than 16 million people visited the park, a 6.5 percent increase, according to figures from Amusement Business, a trade publication.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Expedition Everest
Disney's Animal Kingdom's newest attraction.
Ancient legend holds that high in the Himalayan Mountains lives an enormous creature that fiercely guards the route to Mount Everest.
Now that legend roars dramatically to life in a new runaway train adventure that combines coaster-like thrills with the excitement of a close encounter of the hairy kind.
Expedition Everest is part of the 18-month "Happiest Celebration on Earth," the jubilee honoring 50 years of Disney theme parks and commemorating the 1955 opening of Disneyland. The celebration began May 5, 2005, with the launch of the largest lineup of new shows and attractions and continues through 2006.
Walt Disney World guests will discover for themselves the fearsome lore of the yeti when Expedition Everest peaks in early 2006 at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. Aboard out-of-control railcars screaming forward and backward, white-knuckle adventurers swoop into the unknown, braving twists, turns and drops inside and outside a mighty mountain leading to an unforgettable encounter.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Cypress Gardens
Announced a new four-tiered ski show pyramid reminiscent of the spectacles staged by founder Dick Pope.
Groundbreaking for the Starliner roller coaster is set for later this year. The classic wooden coaster was purchased by Buescher earlier this year from the Panama City Beach Miracle Strip Amusement Park. It is expected to open in 2007.
Memorial Day weekend 2006 will launch a nightly laser and fireworks show over the park's Lake Eloise.
Plans also call for the re-opening of the Wings of Wonder butterfly atrium this month and the opening of the Pope Memorial Museum. The museum will house a collection of memorabilia for Cypress Gardens and Florida's tourism history.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Water Mania Closing
After 20 years Water Mania, the 36-acre water theme park in Kissimmee, is closing.
The park will close Sept. 5.
After Sept. 5 and through the end of October, holders of single-day tickets and season passes may redeem them for admission at Wet ‘n Wild, located in Orlando on International Drive.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Universal Studios
Halloween Horror Nights XV
No One Will Live Happily Ever After. Universal Orlando® Resort rewrites the book of fear with Halloween Horror Nights®—TALES OF TERROR, Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 7-9, 12-16, 20-23, 27-31. Explore the most terrifying haunted houses ever created, skin-crawling scare zones and more, as you experience stories clawed from the depths of your worst nightmares.
Visit www.HalloweenHorrorNights.com to learn more.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Sea World expanding
Planned to open in 2007 SeaWorld's new "naturalistic water park" will feature slides and other attractions in which guests can get close to dolphins and other sea creatures.
One feature of the park, will be transparent acrylic flumes that guests slide down through a pool of black-and-white Commerson's dolphins, although people won't come in direct contact with the animals, said Jim Atchison, SeaWorld Orlando's executive vice president and general manager.
The attraction "will whisk guests through a naturalistic lagoon within inches of Commerson's dolphins,"
Sea World said. "Commerson's dolphins have vivid black-and-white coloration, and are fast, agile swimmers that symbolize the energy of the sea."
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Kennedy Space Center
- A $160 million redevelopment plan -- including nine new rides and exhibits -- is aiming to transform Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
The centerpiece of the 10-year plan for the Visitor Complex is a much-anticipated $60 million Shuttle Launch Experience motion simulator that is designed to simulate a shuttle liftoff. Construction begins this month, and it's expected to open in early 2007.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Sea World Discovery Cove
Sea World Orlando has introduced a summer package called Twilight Discovery at its Discovery Cove. Through Sept. 1, guests can experience the interactive marine experience from 3 to 9 p.m. for $259 plus tax. The package, different from the regular day experience, includes a reception, sunset dolphin swim and dinner stations throughout the park instead of the daytime sit-down lunch.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Disney
Thrilling New Adventure at Disney's Animal Kingdom Brings the Legend of Yeti to Life
Legend holds that high in the Himalayan Mountains lives an enormous creature that fiercely guards the route to Mount Everest.
Now that legend comes dramatically to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in a new high-speed train adventure that combines coaster-like thrills with the excitement of a close encounter of the hairy kind.
Walt Disney World guests will discover for themselves the fearsome legend of the yeti when Expedition EVEREST opens in 2006 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Theme Park Tickets
Usefull contacts for Orlando Park tickets - remember to shop arround to get the best deals.
Buying in the UK
Cheapest Park Tickets - www.cheapest-park-tickets.co.uk
Attraction Tickets4Less - www.attractiontickets4less.com
Theme Park Tickets - www.themepark-tickets.com
365tickets.com - www.365tickets.com
UnPackaged Attractions - www.unpackagedattractions.co.uk
Theme Park Holidays - www.themeparkholidays.com
UnderCoverTourist - www.undercovertourist.com
Attraction Tickets Direct - www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk
Keith Prowse - www.keithprowsetickets.com
Theme Park Direct - www.themeparkdirect.co.uk
Buying in the USA
UnderCoverTourist - www.undercovertourist.com
TicketMania - www.ticketmania.com
Discount Tickets - www.discount-tickets.us
Check out the parks direct for special offers and discounts for seniors and Florida residents.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Typhoon Lagoon @ Walt Disney World
Crush 'n' Gusher water coaster brings new thrills to Typhoon Lagoon "Flash flooding" takes on a whole new meaning when they experience Crush 'n' Gusher, a new white-knuckle "water coaster" thrill ride that opened this week at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon water park.
Riders on Crush 'n' Gusher, are whisked away on inflatable rafts and immediately begin to experience the up-and-down sensations of a roller coaster. Powerful water jets propel guests through cavernous twists and turns, eventually spitting them out into the tranquil waters of Hideaway Bay.
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Busch Gardens
Plans To Build Nation's First Diving Coaster
Busch Gardens plans to open the first diving roller coaster in North America by May, the Tampa theme park hopes that a ride offering a 200-foot straight vertical drop at 70 mph will draw big crowds. It will be named SheiKra after a type of African hawk.
The new ride will be the tallest dive coaster in the world, and one drop will hurtle riders down at a 90-degree angle. A second 90-degree drop will race 138 feet into a subterranean tunnel.
The attraction will feature a jungle ruins theme.
Part of the SheiKra project includes a new 500-seat indoor/outdoor replacement for the park's outdoor Smokehouse restaurant. The park's circular railroad train ride will reopen after SheiKra is complete. Two of the railroad stations had to be closed and the route shortened to stay out of the coaster construction zone.