Enthusiast Blogs
Theme Park Enthusiast Blogs add a personal touch to the latest news and they offer first-person accounts & tips. Below, you’ll find the latest headlines from the top theme park enthusiast blogs.
- Shambhala Construction Photos & Fan-Made POV Video3 February 2012, 9:07 pm
Shambhala at PortAventura- Europe’s Tallest Roller Coaster My Spanish coaster buddy Javi (creator of that cool Six Flags vs. Cedar... - Leviathan Construction Photos – B&M Goes Big in 20121 February 2012, 3:21 pm
Leviathan – B&M’s First Foray Into a New Stratosphere Canada’s Wonderland posted some awe-inspiring photos of the massive 305-foot tall... - Montu vs. Alpengeist | Roller Coaster Showdowns30 January 2012, 5:33 am
For this roller coaster showdown I’m pitting two of the most popular inverted roller coasters against each other. In a... - New Wild Eagle Construction Photos28 January 2012, 11:24 am
Dollywood’s Wild Eagle Looks Awesome Dollywood recently posted new construction photos of their 2012 wing roller coaster, Wild Eagle. Here... - Great American Scream Machine | Roller Coaster Reviews26 January 2012, 1:16 pm
A Review of Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia Located near the back of Six Flags Over... - Featured Photo #33 – Props to Prototypes24 January 2012, 5:54 pm
Their openings are often delayed and their known for having downtime even after they are open. But, how can you... - Holiday World Owners Talking to Kentucky Kingdom18 January 2012, 1:54 pm
Holiday World Involved in Talks with Kentucky Kingdom Holiday World owners are in talks with Kentucky Kingdom officials. They’re apparently... - New Verbolten Teaser Video & A Construction Update14 January 2012, 11:48 am
Busch Gardens Williamsburg recently released a new teaser video for their highly anticipated 2012 roller coaster, Verbolten. It’s basically an... - Best of the Blog 2011 – Coaster Poll Results12 January 2012, 1:10 pm
Best of the Blog 2011 – Poll Results This is the continuation of the Best of the Blog 2011 series....
- My New BFF: Crush3 February 2012, 5:15 pm
Throughout my crazy career as a theme park journalist, I've had the good fortune to speak with some of the industry's heaviest hitters, including Disney's Marty Sklar (who worked alongside Walt Disney), Universal's Thierry Coup (who had a major hand in designing Spider-Man and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter), and Disney Imagineer extraordinaire Tony Baxter. With all due respect to these and others whom I've interviewed, my best "get" happened recently while I was on assignment producing vid... - Go Up Schlitt's Creek -- Year Round1 February 2012, 5:52 pm
One of the most innovative and popular water park chains has a new property coming. This summer, Schlitterbahn will be opening an indoor water park hotel on South Padre Island in Texas, near its existing outdoor water park. The beachfront resort, which will be built on the site of a former Holiday Inn, will feature 221 upscale rooms and include onsite restaurants and retail shops....Read Full Post... - What a Bunch of Characters!31 January 2012, 5:50 pm
I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Disney World (I know: It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it) and producing a series of videos for About.com. One of the videos focuses on the Disney characters. No matter how incredible the latest, greatest ride or attraction may be (and some of them are pretty darn incredible), nothing beats the timeless, simple pleasure of getting some face time with Mickey and his pals. Am I right, park fans? We put together a few tips in this fun video about ... - New Universal Show 100 Years in the Making30 January 2012, 5:34 pm
Universal Orlando is keeping the buzz going. In addition to the new Despicable Me attraction coming to Universal Studios Florida and the spiffed-up Spider-Man ride that will reopen at Islands of Adventure, the resort announced two more new additions for 2012. This spring, the nighttime show, Universal's Cinematic Spectacular: 100 Years of Movie Memories, will open. According to Universal, the presentation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the film studio by projecting iconic clips from its... - The Last Ride25 January 2012, 3:42 pm
My father wasn't a fan of roller coasters. He was wary of tall escalators, let alone rickety mechanical rides. But he and my mother dutifully took my brother and me to the coaster havens of our youth and helped plant the seed for this crazy love affair I developed with amusement parks. While he steered clear of the rides, my dad nonetheless enjoyed his park visits around New England, particularly the delicious park food we both craved, such as homemade potato chips and onion rings at Salisbury B... - Dolly Parton Gets into Snow Business24 January 2012, 3:42 pm
The Nashville area has been without a major theme park since Opryland closed its grand ole' park a few years ago. In 2014, the Tennessee metropolis will still be coaster-less, but it will have a new water park and snow park. According to Dollywood, it will partner with the Gaylord Opryland Resort to develop a 114-acre property next to the Nashville resort. The first phase will feature an outdoor water park, to be open in the warmer months, and an outdoor snow park that will entertain guests duri... - Disneyland's Grand Dame Even Grander23 January 2012, 7:00 pm
Like many grand dames from California, the Disneyland Hotel got a facelift. Soon after Disneyland opened in 1955, the adjacent hotel welcomed its first guests. Through the years it grew and evolved, but it had recently been showing its age, especially in comparison to the resort's elegant and upscale Disney's Grand Californian. Two years ago, the Mouse began re-Imagineering the hotel and has now taken down the construction walls. In addition to renovated rooms, the made-over Disneyland Hotel fea... - Chutes and Towers20 January 2012, 4:14 pm
As if the 2012 season wasn't already chock full of incredible new rides, along come two more. La Ronde, the Six Flags park in Montreal, will debut Vol Ultime, a swinging tower ride. At 45 m (about 150 feet), it's not as tall as some of the more extreme swing rides (such as the 301-foot Windseeker coming to Carowinds in the spring), but it should play on our innate acrophobia to incite dread nonetheless. I have not had a chance to ride any of the newer swing rides, but just the sight of passenger... - What Are Your Choices? It's Time to Nominate Your Favorite Parks.18 January 2012, 12:02 am
About.com's annual Readers' Choice Awards kick off today, and the Theme Parks site will be participating for the second year. There are a few wonderful park awards programs out there, but what makes About.com's different is that the focus is exclusively on new achievements. Not unlike the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards, we will be showcasing the best that parks had to offer last year. And you, dear readers and park fans, will be choosing the best....Read Full Post...
- Mini Trip Reports for 201113 January 2012, 6:42 pm
A collection of short TRs from the 2011 season.... - Happy Holidays!24 December 2011, 4:58 pm
Tis the season...... - Video: Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest 20117 December 2011, 9:47 pm
Including a short trip report with photos!... - News: Condor Leaving Morey’s Piers; Numerous Updates3 December 2011, 5:49 pm
Many removals and additions to Morey's Piers this offseason!... - 2011 Lead Ticket Awards Results13 November 2011, 5:25 pm
The losers of the 2011 LTA's!... - Trip Report: 2011 UC MusicFest9 October 2011, 5:49 pm
Multi-day festival with music and rides... - Trip Report: 2011 Great Allentown Fair3 October 2011, 8:41 pm
Massive fair in eastern PA; lots of pics and a video!... - 2011 Lead Ticket Awards19 September 2011, 12:05 am
Vote for the worst in the theme park industry!... - Trip Report: St Bart’s Italian Festival12 September 2011, 8:41 pm
Small fair with some neat rides!...
- The Old Is New Again – The New Texas Giant17 June 2011, 3:31 pm
Sick airtime. Steep drops. Overbanked turns. Probably not what one would expect from the old Texas Giant. Oh well. For those who missed it, sorry, but the old is gone, and the new is come. ... - The Adventures Continue With Star Tours 219 May 2011, 4:23 am
Star Tours has been a beloved piece of the Disney parks since the late eighties. There has not been a time in my nineteen year existence that I didn’t know about or love Star Tours, and the same can be said about the franchise upon which it was based. Many were rightly skeptical when Disney ... Continue Reading ... - Things have changed12 May 2011, 10:00 pm
Welcome to the new Coasterdom! We have decided to update the look of the site as the previous design has been with us for a number of years and we felt that it was time to change. You will notice many new features with our update as well. The first being the sidebar. It is ... Continue Reading ... - B&M Coaster Championship Round 2: Kumba vs. Dueling Dragons: Ice12 May 2011, 7:33 am
Kumba, which translates to “Roar” in English seeks to overpower the ice Dragon from Universal Studios Orlando. Only a few hours apart from one another, Kumba is the original B&M classic coaster; it marked one of the first times that the boys got everything right. Ice Dragon alone is a force to be reckoned with, ... Continue Reading ... - B&M Coaster Championship Round 2: Tatsu vs. Great Bear10 May 2011, 9:19 pm
Now the only flying roller coaster in California takes on the weirdest B&M invert ever created. Tatsu obliterated Air in the first round, while Great Bear enjoyed a healthy success of its’ own. Tatsu is now in its sixth season of operation, whilst Great Bear is now three years past the decade mark. While the ... Continue Reading ... - B&M Coaster Championship Round 1: Nitro vs. Wildfire & Behemoth vs. Green Lantern3 May 2011, 6:59 am
Okay everyone, don’t look now, but I’m about to pretend that I have been keeping up with the site for the past two weeks and that you’re all just cray. In the last matchup of the first round, Wildfire will take on Nitro while Green Lantern (formerly Chang at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom) will go ... Continue Reading ... - The Game Is Afoot!18 April 2011, 9:10 pm
If you have been into the online theme park enthusiast community for a while, you’ll know what I mean when I reference “Nantimi”. If not, do yourself a favor and do a search on wikipedia (or hell, this site) to educate yourself. For those that know what I’m referencing, it appears that Hersheypark was pleased ... Continue Reading ... - No, Disneyland Isn’t Overpriced18 April 2011, 6:05 pm
I attend a mid-sized state college in southern California; namely, Cal Poly Pomona. It’s not Harvard, Princeton, USC, or Berkley; but it is a pretty nice school with a fairly active student body. So while our school paper isn’t exactly the Harvard Crimson, it has some decent writers with stories to tell. I tell you ... Continue Reading ... - B&M Coaster Championship Round 1: Bizarro vs. Griffon & Silver Bullet vs. Apollo’s Chariot18 April 2011, 6:07 am
The-ride-formerly-known-as-Medusa takes on the lower seeded but just as intimidating Griffon while Silver Bullet will look to blast Apollo’s Chariot out of the sky (that is, if the dude’s kid hasn’t already driven it into the Sun). Only one more day of first round matchups remains (not including today, of course), and I’ll continue on ... Continue Reading ...
- Legoland Florida: Water park will open May 263 February 2012, 7:15 pm
Legoland Florida theme park, which opened in Winter Haven in October, has announced the opening date for its water park. The attraction, which includes remodeled versions of Cypress Gardens’ old Splash Island on the site, will be ready May 26, the Saturday before Memorial Day, it was announced Friday. The water park area is incorporated into [...]... - Discovery Cove: Video shows Freshwater Oasis construction, details3 February 2012, 4:54 pm
Discovery Cove has released its first “webisode” about Freshwater Oasis, an addition to the resort scheduled to open to the public this spring. The video includes footage of the current construction and details shared by Stewart Clark, vice president of Discovery Cove. He shares information about the new animal encounters. To see Asian short-clawed otters “guests will [...]... - Orlando Science Center: Two more chances for observatory at night2 February 2012, 8:30 pm
Orlando Science Center is wrapping up its seasonal session of nighttime skygazing at its Crosby Observatory with Saturday gatherings on Feb. 4 and Feb. 18. Visitors will have access to the science center’s refractor telescope and its 10-inch lens to view moons, planets, galaxies, nebulas and more. Astronomy experts and other volunteers will be availabe to [...]... - Universal Studios: Sugar Ray added to Mardi Gras lineup2 February 2012, 5:47 pm
Sugar Ray, the band that scores hits with “Fly,” “Every Morning,” “When It’s Over” and others, has been added to the concert lineup of Universal Studios’ Mardi Gras celebration. The band, fronted by Mark McGrath, will perform at the theme park’s Music Plaza on March 17 in the slot previously held by Jill Scott. Universal’s Mardi Gras, [...]... - Ripley’s to mark World Sword Swallowers Day2 February 2012, 3:38 pm
The Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum on International Drive will take part in a global observance of World Sword Swallowers Day on Feb. 25. Dan Meyer and Will Rotten will perform a free sword-swallowing show at Orlando’s Odditorium. Their show will start at 1:30 p.m., building to an official “swallow” that will take place at [...]... - Gatorland: Giant pythons, more alligators arrive1 February 2012, 10:18 pm
Giant snakes and a group of alligators that were rescued because of the Animal Planet show “Confessions: Animal Hoarding” have a new home at Central Florida’s quintessential reptile attraction, Gatorland. The animals arrived in crates on Wednesday, having been shipped from the Phoenix Herpetological Society. The four giant pythons and 10 alligators were rescued in northern [...]... - Islands of Adventure: Last day of ‘old’ Spider-Man ride is Feb. 71 February 2012, 5:25 pm
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride at Universal’s Islands of Adventure will temporarily close to prepare for its new high-def version that is scheduled to be ready for theme-park guests in March. Tuesday, Feb. 7, will be last day to experience the edition that’s been in place since it debuted at IOA’s opening in 1999. The new [...]... - Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel: Lemonheads, Carl Dixon on tap1 February 2012, 4:37 pm
The Hard Rock Hotel has two musical events set for this month: Carl Dixon in Velvet Unplugged and Lemonheads at Velvet Sessions. Velvet Unplugged is the acoustic (and free) version of the long-running Velvet Sessions, a monthly cocktail party-lobby concert combo at the hotel. Carl Dixon, formerly of the Guess Who, will perform at Velvet Unplugged at [...]... - Busch Gardens: ‘Iceploration’ glides into Tampa31 January 2012, 1:36 pm
There’s no kitchen sink in “Iceploration,” the new ice-skating show at Busch Gardens in Tampa, but it wouldn’t be that surprising. The production features a dozen ice skaters (including one that takes flight), life-size elephant puppets, cheetah costuming, a Siberian lynx and other live animals, acrobats on trampolines, a three-story tree, a virtual snowstorm and high-tech [...]...
- Win a $50 Walmart gift card and help a friend!28 January 2012, 3:09 pm
My blogging friend Lolo of Crazy About My Baybah has been working hard the past few weeks to become a Mamavation Mom. If you’re…Win a $50 Walmart gift card and help a friend! is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - #HotFlash giveaway: Win $200 from Global Resort Homes today26 January 2012, 5:00 pm
Global Resort Homes provides vacation rentals at several resort communities around Orlando. And let me tell you, these are the NICE resort communities – the premier ones in the area.…#HotFlash giveaway: Win $200 from Global Resort Homes today is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - Stan Lee to appear in Universal’s ‘new’ Spider-Man ride25 January 2012, 5:30 pm
One of the new attractions at Universal Orlando Resort this year is actually an update to one of the most popular rides there – The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Universal…Stan Lee to appear in Universal’s ‘new’ Spider-Man ride is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - Disney Cruise Line adds homeport in Miami, European itineraries24 January 2012, 4:57 pm
Disney Cruise Line has introduced some new, exciting itineraries for 2013. For the first time ever, there will be sailings from Miami, and the European cruise offerings have been greatly…Disney Cruise Line adds homeport in Miami, European itineraries is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - Quick giveaway: $100 AMEX gift card! #hotflash20 January 2012, 10:00 pm
I’ve teamed up with some other bloggers tonight to have another Hot Flash Giveaway! One lucky reader will win a $100 gift card from American Express or Amazon, or $100…Quick giveaway: $100 AMEX gift card! #hotflash is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - SeaWorld Orlando gives first sneak peek of Turtle Trek20 January 2012, 1:54 pm
Turtle Trek is a new attraction opening at SeaWorld Orlando this spring. SeaWorld says TurtleTrek is going to be the world’s first 3D, 360-degree domed theater experience that takes you…SeaWorld Orlando gives first sneak peek of Turtle Trek is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - LEGOLAND Florida announces 2012 calendar of events20 January 2012, 1:47 pm
Central Florida’s newest family theme park is gearing up for an action-packed 2012 with special events specifically geared towards families with children age 2 to 12. From LEGO® Friends Weekend…LEGOLAND Florida announces 2012 calendar of events is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - Dollywood and Gaylord to build new theme park in Nashville19 January 2012, 9:32 pm
Two of the biggest names in Tennessee tourism are teaming up to bring a major family entertainment zone to Nashville. Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET) and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Company have…Dollywood and Gaylord to build new theme park in Nashville is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom... - SOPA / PIPA: Today’s Internet black-out18 January 2012, 1:40 pm
I am not making my site dark today, largely because I feel that some of my readers would get confused and click away quickly rather than read the information about…SOPA / PIPA: Today’s Internet black-out is a post from Family travel blog Theme Park Mom...
- Discovery Cove construction update2 February 2012, 6:32 pm
Discovery cove has released a short construction update video of the new freshwater oasis attraction that will be opening spring 2012. It’s going to add an area to view marmosets and river otters.... - Busch Gardens Williamsburg Verbolten Update28 January 2012, 2:00 pm
Busch Gardens Williamsburg has reached a milestone for their new Verbolten coaster. They have released some footage today because they have finished the track on the new coaster. They have a few previews of the indoor section of the ride … Continue reading →... - Busch Gardens Tampa Animal Care Center Opens26 January 2012, 12:00 pm
Busch Gardens Tampa opened their new Animal Care Center on Monday. I haven’t made it to Florida yet to have a look at it, but what I saw under construction on my last trip looked really interesting. I think it’s … Continue reading →... - Manta construction update at Seaworld san diego25 January 2012, 5:35 pm
Seaworld released a construction update video on the new Manta coaster at Seaworld San Diego last week. It’s a shame it’s not a flying coaster like Manta in Orlando, but it does look like it’s got the great queue line … Continue reading →... - Thorpe park claims new coaster so extreme dummies are losing their limbs25 January 2012, 1:13 am
I call BS on this story. First off, those are mannequins, not water dummies like they use to test coasters. Second, the dummies on both sides are damaged in exactly the same way with limbs cleanly cut. If they were … Continue reading →... - Turtle Trek Webisode 124 January 2012, 1:26 am
Seaworld Orlando has released a short webisode with some concept drawings and background information on the new exhibit. It really looks like they’re doing a good job on it, and I look forward to it’s opening.... - New website for Busch Gardens Tampa30 August 2011, 8:38 pm
Busch Gardens Tampa has a preview of their new web site available for you too look at and comment on. It looks good to me. they’ve really cleaned it up. I’ll have to try it on a mobile device to … Continue reading →... - Carowinds is getting a Windseeker24 August 2011, 10:00 pm
I can’t say that this is really a surprise. They’ve put a windseeker in just about every other Cedar Fair park. I’ve never been on one, but personally I think it looks like fun. I would love another coaster, but … Continue reading →... - Technology in the new Fantasyland addition12 August 2011, 12:00 am
Disney has released a short video highlighting some of the advanced technology that is going into the design of the new fantasyland section of the Magic Kingdom. It’s really quite interesting....
- Take A Virtual Spin on Iron Shark5 February 2012, 1:31 am
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- Dorney Park Off Season Photo Update4 February 2012, 12:46 am
... - Coney Island Cyclone Heads To Rehab3 February 2012, 12:10 am
... - NPN January 2012 Poll Results2 February 2012, 10:37 pm
... - Bringing Soak City to Kings Island2 February 2012, 1:35 am
... - Detailing Fun Spot Orlando's Expansion1 February 2012, 3:29 am
... - Shambhala Climbs To The Sky31 January 2012, 9:10 pm
... - X-Flight Reaches High Point at Six Flags Great America31 January 2012, 3:17 am
... - Feel the Skyrush!31 January 2012, 12:08 am
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- 2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best Stunt Show?3 February 2012, 4:02 pm
By Robert Niles: Please do not try duplicating today's 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament blog post at home - it's for Best Stunt Show, and we must leave that to the professionals, right? :^)We're looking for a champion in this category that delivers exhilarating stunts, an engaging show and that leaves you marveling about what you saw for hours afterward.And, by the way, after yesterday, I'm wondering if anyone actually reads what I write between the headline and the first photo in these posts.... - D23 offering Disney fans 'off the map' access to Disneyland, for $2502 February 2012, 5:46 pm
By Robert Niles: Remember that $2,500 Disneyland Candlelight Processional special that got you into Walt's Main Street apartment? Well, now Disney's lopped a zero of the end of that price, offering D23 members a chance to get into the apartment, as well as other "behind the scenes" sites at Disneyland, for "just" $250.The D23 "Disneyland Off the Map" tour event run all day on Tuesday, March 6. Tickets go on sale Feb. 9 at 10am PT (at the link above - theme park admission is not included, but req... - 2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best 3D Movie?2 February 2012, 5:06 pm
By Robert Niles: Put on your special glasses and remain seated, as we're about to pick the best 3D movie in a theme park.When I started putting together this year's tournament, I thought it'd be neat to start by matching up rides and shows of the same type to crown the best in each of those categories, before setting them against each other in a head-to-head bracket. Best flume ride? Best animatronic show? Best simulator ride? It'll be fun!But when I sorted through the Theme Park Insider reader ... - 2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best Wooden 'Mega' Coaster?1 February 2012, 4:06 pm
By Robert Niles: Today in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament we're honoring those roller coasters that blur the line between traditional wooden coasters and modern steel mega-coasters. These hybrid coasters deliver heights (over 150 feet), speed - and airtime - previously unheard of on woodies, thanks to their blend of materials or construction technique.Three stand out, according to Theme Park Insider reader ratings - El Toro at Six Flags in New Jersey (prefabricated wood), last year's rebu... - 2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best High-Speed Indoor Ride?31 January 2012, 3:49 pm
By Robert Niles: Today's category in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament honors a new type of hybrid ride, which marries the traditional, narrative-driven "dark" ride with a high-speed thrill experience. On one, the speed simulates the high-pressure launch and weightlessness of flight to Mars. On another, you grab a moment of airtime as you blast from the side of a volcano. And on the third, you're enjoying the wind-in-your-hair joy of pure speed on a racetrack.Voting is open for 24 hours, an... - What to do for the 'One More Disney Day'?30 January 2012, 6:20 pm
By Robert Niles: We're one month away from Disney's "One More Disney Day" Leap Day promotion - 24 hours of Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on Feb. 29.I'm torn on how effective a promotion this will be for Disney. It's just one day, after all, and on a "school" day at that, when relatively few families of Disney fans will be able to get away for a trip down to Disney World or Disneyland for the event. So I suspect that the attendance will be almost entirely locals - people with a... - 2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best B & M Flying Coaster?30 January 2012, 3:25 pm
By Robert Niles: Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters consistently score among the top-rated roller coasters in Theme Park Insider's reader ratings. Today in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament, we're going to select our favorite of the company's Flying Coaster models.Voting is open for 24 hours, and you're invited to campaign for your favorite by rallying votes on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.Air - at Alton TowersManta [link includes on-ride video] - at SeaWorld OrlandoSuperman... - Theme Park Apprentice Tournament of Champions: Challenge 4 vote28 January 2012, 11:28 pm
By Robert Niles: It's time to vote on this week's challenge in Theme Park Apprentice: Tournament of Champions. Challenge 4 was to envision a boutique park for the Walt Disney World Resort. Please take a look at the submissions by our contestants before voting.This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2886/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a ... - Busch Gardens Williamsburg completes the track for Verbolten27 January 2012, 6:05 pm
By Robert Niles: Busch Gardens Williamsburg has completed the track for its new multi-launch roller coaster Verbolten, which will open at the Virginia theme park this spring.Here's an update from the park, with some footage from inside the ride's show building, currently under construction.Verbolten will be a high-speed ride through the Black Forest, along the course of the old Bid Bad Wolf coaster.This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2885/. All rights...
- Alton Towers Secret Weapon 7: Revealed8 January 2012, 4:01 am
The UK has a funny way of making parks go very public with their future additions long before they are announced to the public. Thorpe Park was forced to released plans for The Swarm a full 8 months before it would officially be announced to the public. Fortunately for coaster fans, Alton Towers has followed suite [...]... - Poll Results: Most Anticipated Wing-Rider5 January 2012, 6:39 am
The last poll asked which under-construction B&M Wing-Rider you are most excited for in 2012. The three competitors of this global showdown included The Swarm at Thorpe Park, X-Flight at Six Flags Great America, and Wild Eagle at Dollywood. Each had their own merits, which was shown in the relatively close poll. However, the winner with 45% of the [...]... - JAWS makes room for Harry Potter expansion at Universal Orlando4 January 2012, 4:58 am
A Universal Studios Florida original attraction, JAWS, has officially closed. Opened with the rest of the park in 1990, JAWS was a unique Intamin-conceived, water-based guided tour that reenacted some of the most iconic scenes with the giant shark. The 5 minute tour was heavily influenced by the often crazy skipper guides who narrated the [...]... - “Green Lantern Coaster” debuts at Warner Bros. Movie World27 December 2011, 3:53 pm
S&S Worldwide’s first 8-passenger El Loco coaster is now opened at Warner Bros. Movie World on Australia’s Gold Coast. Green Lantern Coaster features a 120-degree drop, a 45-degree outward banked turn, two inversions, and all the other twists and turns of this increasingly popular model. The first-of-their-kind trains feature, over the shoulder lap bar harnesses, an [...]... - Track complete on Dollywood’s Wild Eagle, new animation3 November 2011, 4:05 am
Dollywood’s Wild Eagle is one of the most anticipated attractions for the 2012 season. The B&M Wingrider has been quietly, andcertainly quickly chugging along with construction and, what may come as a surprise to some, track work was recently completed. The final piece was lowered into place last week. These B&M’s seem to fly up [...]... - Poll Results: Skyrush vs Leviathan12 October 2011, 9:50 pm
Since “Announcement August”, the two super coasters of 2012 have quickly been established: Canada’s Wonderland’s Leviathan and Hersheypark’s SkyRush. Obvious comparisons make these two coasters ideal “rivals”: Bolliger & Mabillard vs Intamin, Giga-Coaster vs Mega-Coaster, giant overbanks vs airtime hills, Canada vs USA (well, perhaps not that extreme). It is certainly possible that these two [...]... - Review: Halloween Haunt 2011 at California’s Great America10 October 2011, 4:58 pm
Although Cedar Fair didn’t add any new headliner coasters during their time as owners, the single greatest improvement in the park’s history did come out of their ownership. The annual Halloween Haunt at California’s Great America has dramatically increased in popularity every year since it’s introduction in October 2008, growing to its present 3 scare zones, [...]...
- Disneyland Paris to unveil new water show, revamped parade1 February 2012, 1:30 pm
Disneyland Paris will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a new nighttime spectacular in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and a revamped evening parade starting in April.... - Universal Orlando adding new nighttime water show this spring25 January 2012, 11:12 pm
Universal Orlando will debut the "Cinematic Spectacular" nighttime water show this spring as part of a new entertainment lineup at the Florida theme park that includes an upgrade to one ride, a re-theme of another attraction and the addition of a nightly parade.... - Wing-dipping Manta coaster coming to SeaWorld San Diego in May24 January 2012, 2:30 pm
SeaWorld San Diego will add a manta ray-themed family roller coaster on May 26 that marks the U.S. debut of a highly anticipated prototype ride.... - Legoland to add Pirate Reef water ride, expand Star Wars area19 January 2012, 6:22 pm
As part of a multiattraction expansion this spring, Legoland California plans to update the Star Wars Miniland area that debuted last summer, add a pirate-themed shoot-the-chutes water ride and install a crab exhibit at the adjacent SeaLife Aquarium.... - England's Dreamland Margate rescues, restores historic thrill rides17 January 2012, 1:30 pm
Dreamland Margate plans to reopen in 2013 as the world s first amusement park dedicated to last-of-a-kind historic thrill rides, including one of the world's oldest roller coasters.... - Mad T Party nightclub coming to Disney California Adventure11 January 2012, 11:01 pm
A nightly dance party created as a last-minute diversion to entertain idle hordes waiting for a wildly popular attraction at Disney California Adventure has turned into an ever-evolving mainstay that might just become an accidental institution.... - Aquanura water show in the works at Efteling in the Netherlands10 January 2012, 6:43 pm
Efteling plans to unveil a $24-million nighttime spectacular this year that features water fountains, flame-throwers, synchronized spotlights and symphonic music set to fairy tale stories drawn from the Dutch theme park's signature attractions.... - Free-fall coaster to debut at Denmark's Legoland Billund in May9 January 2012, 7:29 pm
The Polar X-Plorer roller coaster at Legoland Billund in Denmark will take riders around a snowcapped mountain and under a frozen waterfall before sending them crashing through an ice-covered lake.... - Flying Ninjago thrill ride to debut in 2012 at Legoland Germany4 January 2012, 2:30 pm
The interactive Flying Ninjago thrill ride debuting in 2012 at Legoland Germany will send riders spinning through air on the wings of a dragon....
- Closed20 September 2011, 4:21 pm
This blog has archived information only. Please go to www.outdooramusementbusiness.com... - Everything I Ate At The Minnesota State Fair10 September 2011, 12:35 am
I was indoctrinated into the cult of the Minnesota State Fair six years ago. At the time, it was sort of a goof with my then-girlfriend, now-wife: we were dating long distance between San Francisco and New York, so it was an excuse to meet halfway and in her hometown. Twelve hours, two orders of fried cheese curds, several Leinie’s and a live taping of "A Prairie Home Companion" later, I was hooked for good. I've only missed it twice since. (Once, for my wedding, and then last year, ... - Final rush gets fair attendance to No. 3 all time | StarTribune.com7 September 2011, 5:21 pm
Big numbers in the final two days helped the 2011 Minnesota State Fair become the third-best-attended State Fair. Attendance Monday was 154,532, officials said Tuesday. That was far more than showed up for the final day in 2009 (126,924) or 2010 (120,226). That followed a record-breaking Sunday, when the fair drew 229,943. It was a record for a final fair Sunday and halted a five-day skid of daily declines vs. the previous year. The final tally for 2011 came in at 1,769,872. That's down slightly... - Carny enjoys life ‘in a fishbowl’ - Carny enjoys life ‘in a fishbowl’: Local7 September 2011, 5:20 pm
BLACKFOOT — Gena Tuttle has carnival in her blood. Her great-grandparents, grandparents and parents all worked for circuses and carnivals, and Tuttle was born into the work and lifestyle — and she’s proud of her heritage. “It’s pretty awesome,” she said, adding that her genealogy is full of aerial acrobats and lion tamers who performed on the road and in Hollywood. In fact, her great-grandfather Bob Mathews trained one of the lions MGM Studios used in its films, and her grandfather, ... - Poll: Fair's freak shows incite some ire - Coeur d'Alene Press: Local News7 September 2011, 4:46 pm
The Press asked, "Next year, should the fair allow freak shows?" The vote split this way: • Yes, it's their right; 298 votes (39 percent) • No, it's just wrong; 380 votes (49 percent) • I don't have an opinion; 94 votes (12 percent) via www.cdapress.com... - Elephant rides should be a thing of the past - latimes.com7 September 2011, 4:06 pm
The Los Angeles County Fair is steeped in traditions, from its Ferris wheel to fried everything. But elephant rides are one tradition the fair should do without. The Humane Society of the U.S., the country's most influential animal welfare organization, is against them, saying that elephants are typically trained for rides and other performance activities through the use of bullhooks and electric prods. The Assn. of Zoos and Aquariums "strongly encourages" its member organizations to d... - Walworth County Fair nets another year of big crowds - Beloit Daily News: News: walworth county fair, elkhorn, county fair, labor day weekend, rob baxter7 September 2011, 4:04 pm
ELKHORN - Dan and Brenda Murphy, of Delavan, were busy stripping a piece of cotton candy from a large bag for their grandson, Bentley, as they made their way pushing a stroller through one narrow, sparsely populated area of the Walworth County Fair on Sunday. It was one of the few spots visitors could easily maneuver as large crowds filled seemingly every aisle, some on hand several hours even before the well-known Doobie Brothers band hit the stage. "That is why we are here," Connie a... - Adirondack Renaissance Fantasy Faire begins Sept. 10 - Entertainment - Rome Observer6 September 2011, 3:33 pm
BOONVILLE — The season for fun isn't over for a group of Romans who run renaissance festivals. The Adirondack Renaissance Fantasy Faire is going to be a weekend of free entertainment and excitement for the entire family. Thinking about the economic challenges that families are facing these days, Parker Publishing and Entertainment has been putting together free festivals. "It has become so expensive these days that a lot of people who would love the fun and thrills simply can't go, so we ... - Man Stabbed During Fight at the L.A. County Fair: LAist5 September 2011, 10:18 pm
Man Stabbed During Fight at the L.A. County Fair In the amusement park section of the L.A. County Fair, 2010 (Photo by vmiramontes via the LAist Featured Photos pool) A stabbing on the grounds of the L.A. County Fair in Pomona led to the arrest of three men Sunday night. The incident took place at around 10 p.m., and involved two groups of people who broke into a fight in an area of the fairgrounds where liquor is sold, according to KTLA. One man was stabbed during the course of the fight. "...
- Yes Another WindSeeker and Park Update!!3 February 2012, 9:40 pm
Windseeker is steady going up and here are few new photos of windseeker and the park: Source CoasterCrew Facebook ... - Kings Dominion Windseeker Update!1 February 2012, 6:04 pm
Kings Dominion has posted a picture of the Windseeker seats and a video showing some of the Windseeker and DA! merchandise. Check them out! .... - Busch Gardens Installs Final Piece of Multi-Launch Coaster Track26 January 2012, 8:23 pm
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Jan. 26, 2012) – Busch Gardens reached a major milestone Jan. 17 when a team of engineers and contractors bolted the final piece of Verbolten’s 2,835 feet of steel track into place. When it’s complete, Verbolten will take riders on an adrenaline-filled adventure through two high-speed electromagnetic launches, stunning sensory effects and a [...]... - Kings Dominion’s Windseeker Begins It’s 301 Foot Climb!21 January 2012, 5:32 am
Kings Dominion’s Windseeker has started its 301 foot climb. Earlier today, they posted a picture of the first piece in place. ... - Windseeker/Dinosuars Alive! Kings Dominion Update!19 January 2012, 6:45 am
Kings Dominion has posted a new video showing how they are coming along with the construction of Windseeker as well as Dinosaurs Alive! be sure to check this video out! ...