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Vote of the week: What's the top animated franchise you want to see in a theme park?
By Robert Niles: Yesterday's opening of the new Madagascar stage show at Busch Gardens Tampa surprised a few readers who hadn't heard the news that Universal no longer holds the rights to use all the DreamWorks Animation characters in its United States theme parks. Show More Summary
Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation debuts at Busch Gardens Tampa
By TH Creative: Busch Gardens Tampa's Stanleyville Theater will be bursting with thermonuclear "tween" energy when the park premieres its newest live stage show Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation on May 18th. Backed by a live bandShow More Summary
Look east -- far east -- for Disney's best response to Harry Potter
By Robert Niles: With all the attention we've paid to Universal's Harry Potter over the past weeks/months/years, let's not overlook a potentially enthralling theme park franchise that rival Disney has started to develop -- one that's far from realizing its immense potential to engage theme park fans. Show More Summary
Expect 'NextGen'-style animation and interactivity in Universal's Diagon Alley
By Robert Niles: The leaks keep on coming from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Diagon Alley, now under construction at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. We told you in December 2011 about the Gringotts coaster that will provide...Show More Summary
Merida meets 'Murica
By Robert Niles: So Disney gave its newest "princess" a makeover, and that's making some fans mad -- including the person who created Merida. Those are the before and after looks for Merida, the heroine of Disney/Pixar's Academy Award-winning Brave. Show More Summary
More aerial construction photos of Orlando theme parks, including the Hogwarts Express track
By TH Creative: [Editor's note: TH Creative emailed these aerial photos of some of the big new theme park projects under development around the Orlando area.] Universal Studios Florida, with Diagon Alley (upper right) and Springfield...Show More Summary
Plan your day at Disneyland
By Robert Niles: Disneyland revolutionized the theme park industry when it opened on July 17, 1955. Today, Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California remains the nation's second-most visited theme park, behind its younger sibling, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Show More Summary
Gatekeeper opens to the public at Cedar Point
By Jim Koehl: Gatekeeper, the new B & M wing coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, opened Saturday, May 11th with fireworks, the Ohio State University Marching Band, and tens of thousands of excited "ride warriors". This record-breaking...Show More Summary
Vote of the week: Backwards or in the dark -- which coaster thrill do you prefer?
By Robert Niles: We've long offered a couple nuggets of advice to people who say that they're afraid of riding roller coasters. First: Keep your eyes open and focused on the track in front of you. Imagine that you are "driving" the roller coaster and that the track in front of you is the road ahead. Show More Summary
The first Inverted roller coaster is now running backwards
By Anthony Murphy: Before there was Montu, Dragon Challenge, or Alpengeist, Six Flags Great America offered theme park fans the world's very first inverted roller coaster -- Batman: The Ride. But this year, this inverted coaster is offering...Show More Summary
The Blog Flume Filter for May 9, 2013
By Jeff Elliott: Editor's note: Before Jeff goes on his weekly rant, I should note that Cedar Point's Gatekeeper had its preview day today, so the coaster now open for rating and review on our Gatekeeper listing page. We featured POV video from the ride on the Flume earlier this week. Show More Summary
SeaWorld Orlando reveals theme song for new Antarctica attraction
By Robert Niles: SeaWorld Orlando has provided a sneak peek at the theme song for Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, the park's upcoming multi-million-dollar dark ride and penguin encounter. The singer's former American Idol finalist Lauren Alaina, and the style is Idol pop (country flavor). Show More Summary
Told ya so! Universal Orlando confirms Harry Potter - Diagon Alley for 2014
By Robert Niles: Universal Orlando this morning confirmed the news we've been telling you for months: That it is building a new Wizarding World of Harry Potter, themed to Diagon Alley, in Universal Studios Florida. And that it will open...Show More Summary
Take a video ride on Cedar Point's new Gatekeeper
By Robert Niles: Cedar Point today released its official on-ride POV video for its new Bolliger & Mabillard Wing coaster, Gatekeeper. The Sandusky, Ohio theme park has posted two videos for the ride, one from each side of the coaster train. Show More Summary
How not to plan a trip to a theme park: Iron Rattler edition
By Bobbie Butterfield: For the past several months the Six Flags Fiesta Texas website had heralded Iron Rattler as opening this spring. This left considerable room for conjecture, as spring officially began on March 20 and summer doesn't begin until June 21. Show More Summary
Plan your day at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom
By Robert Niles: Editor's note: Today we're starting a new weekend feature, bringing together and updating our trip-planning advice for each of the world's most popular theme parks. We're starting with the world's number-one-most-visited park, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Show More Summary
Vote of the week: Do you do theme park parades?
By Robert Niles: Disney's cooking up a new parade for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World -- but will theme park visitors make this new parade a hit? Theme park parades can start heated arguments among some fans, who will debate the Electrical Parade vs. Show More Summary
The Blog Flume Filter for May 2, 2013
By Jeff Elliott: Disneyland ? Mickey & the Magical Map is set to open May 25th at the Fantasyland Theater. Okay, with the newsy bits completed, I have to say that this really impresses me. It is using newer technology to lipsync theShow More Summary
Universal Orlando announces June 20 debut for Transformers, plus a contest to win a trip to the opening
By Robert Niles: Universal Orlando today announced that its version of Transformers: The Ride 3D will open on June 20. Universal's also running a contest on its Facebook page, giving away a trip to the grand opening. Universal announced...Show More Summary
What are the best high-motion dark rides for visitors with upper-torso weakness?
By Daniel Etcheberry: Guests with upper-torso weakness should be aware of the forces that certain rides will give to their bodies. If you are one of them, you are lucky to have me as your theme park ride dummy. I am generous enough to...Show More Summary
