News Archive
Universal Orlando may be developing robocoaster
Some small details of the featured attraction that will be housed within Hogwart's Castle in the future Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando have been leaked. People "in and around the project" have told The Orlando Sentinel that the new roller coaster... [More]
1,000 immigrants celebrate citizenship at Disney
In a stirring celebration of citizenship, more than 1,000 immigrants gathered on Main Street, U.S.A. early Friday to be "sworn in" as American citizens. And then, as the country kicked off Independence Day weekend, these brand-new Americans attended a premiere performance of the newest... [More]
Disney artist talks Obama animatronic
How do you carve out a niche as the principal Disney sculptor when you’re following a bona fide Disney Legend? For Valerie Edwards, director of sculpting for Walt Disney Imagineering, the passing of the tools from the fabled hands of Blaine Gibson has involved... [More]
Monorails collide at Walt Disney World, one dies
Two monorails at Walt Disney World collided Sunday morning killing one Disney employee. Austin Wenneberg, an operator who was piloting one of the two monorails, died at the scene of the accident. The second was rushed to Florida Hospital Celebration with minor injuries. According... [More]
Rumor: Universal's Rip Ride Rockit soft opening
Take this with a hefty grain of salt: One of Theme Park Insider's "go-to Universal Orlando insiders" says there may be a soft opening of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster this weekend. Early soft opening runs will likely be with employees only.... [More]
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Universal's Rip Ride Rockit soundtrack detailed
Orlando Attractions Magazine caught some of the video that plays on the newly installed displays in the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit queue at Universal Orlando and it is quite telling. The video shows some of the animated characters that will host the ride. The... [More]
Behind the Scenes: Obama and Hall of Presidents
Disney's Hall of Presidents reopens to the public this Saturday, July 4 at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Perhaps in honor of President Obama's pledge to promote a more open government, Whitehouse.gov has released a short behind-the-scenes video of Obama recording the... [More]
5 ways theme parks squeeze you and your wallet for money
WalletPop has in interesting article detailing five ways the likes of Disney, Universal, Six Flags and other theme parks "bleed" your wallet for more money. As anyone who has visited a theme park knows, the entry fee is only the tip of the proverbial... [More]
Universal worker injured on Dueling Dragons
An employee at Universal Orlando was injured this morning while working on the Dueling Dragons roller coaster. The accident occurred sometime after 7 a.m. this morning before the park's gates opened to the public. The injured employee was taken directly to the hospital. Tom... [More]
Legoland to immortalize Michael Jackson in Lego form
Legoland in California will be immortalizing Michael Jackson in a plastic Lego figure that will debut at the park this Friday. The Lego figure will be chosen from a group of five different designs by voters on CNN.com [link unavailable at this time]. The... [More]
Hong Kong Disneyland expansion finalized
Walt Disney Co. and the Hong Kong government have finalized the long-awaited deal to expand the Hong Kong Disneyland park. Walt Disney Co. will fund HK$3.5 billion (US$449 million) of the expansion, having previously offerred to fund as much as HK$7 billion of the... [More]
Six Flags' Texas Giant coaster shut down
Six Flags Over Texas has temporarily closed the Texas Giant roller coaster for undisclosed reasons. Park inspectors have been working non-stop to get the roller coaster operational again. Texas Giant first closed access to park guests at around 2:00 p.m. on Monday and remains... [More]
Rip Ride Rockit goes viral on Facebook, Twitter
Rip Ride Rockit is getting the viral marketing treatment online. Universal Orlando has updated the official Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit web site with a video highlighting fictional British rock star Syd Vinyl who is making his rounds on the Internet with accounts on Youtube,... [More]
Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream teaser
There isn't very much to say here except that Busch Gardens has answered Universal's Halloween Horror Nights announcement with a teaser page showing some (very small) tidbits of what's to be expected at Howl-O-Scream 2009. Prices this year are 34.95 for Florida residents on... [More]
Obama debuts at Disney's Hall of Presidents
Walt Disney World annual-pass holders got a special preview of the not-quite-finished Hall of Presidents. The attraction officially reopens to the public this coming Saturday, July 4 and Imagineers will continue to tweak the attraction throughout this week. The Orlando Sentinel reports on the... [More]
Legoland hires new Master, Associate Builders
Legoland California recently ended their hiring competition that saw Lego builders from across the nation compete for Master and Associate Builder positions with Lego. Legoland received about 150 applications for the positions, but only 18 finalists were invited to compete. By the end of... [More]
Pixar's Luxo Jr. debuts at Hollywood Studios
Pixar's long-time mascot, Luxo Jr., has appeared at Disney's Hollywood Studios in animatronic form. Pixar is the animation company that created such digitally animated films as "Toy Story," "Finding Nemo" and "Wall-E." Luxo Jr. is the animated desk lamp that usually crushes the "i"... [More]
2009 Americana Mickey fine art released
The 2009 Independence Day Americana Mickey Mouse Disney fine art has been released for purchase. The artwork, created by artist Trevor Carlton, portrays classic Mickey against an American flag backdrop. Measuring 32"x24", the print comes with a certificate of authenticity. It is a limited... [More]
Disney's Pirates League open for business
The Pirates League is the newest buccaneer adventure in the Magic Kingdom, featuring makeovers that turn theme park guests into savvy swashbucklers. Here, a young girl receives the "Empress" makeover. Depending on the pirate package, a trained Pirate Master can transform boys, girls (ages... [More]
Video: Terminator Salvation full experience
Six Flags Magic Mountain's 16th roller coaster, Terminator Salvation: The Ride, opened to the public on May 23 to rave reviews. If you've been putting off a trip to Magic Mountain, maybe a video of the complete roller coaster experience will serve as proper... [More]
Universal's Rockit gets new video, longer delay
According to Screamscape, some of the blog's readers have mentioned that a Universal employee told them that the Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster will not be ready for the public by the rumored July 3rd preview date. It seems that the roller coaster may... [More]
Universal Halloween Horror Nights 2009 details
Universal Orlando is stepping away from the horror myths that have defined the experience at Halloween Horror Nights in the past to introduce a more cinematic sort of terror. This year, Halloween Horror Nights will highlight three movies that give many of us chills... [More]
Key Walt Disney World land broker passes
Nelson Boice, a land broker who played a key role in the acquisition of the land which would become Walt Disney World, has passed away. Co-founder of Florida Ranch Lands with partner Craig Linton Sr., Boice acted as a middleman between local small-time land... [More]
Hong Kong, Disney reach deal on expansion
According to The Wall Street Journal [subscription required], the Hong Kong government has reached a deal with Walt Disney Co. on the expansion of the Hong Kong Disneyland joint venture. The government will present the details of the plan to city lawmakers sometime next... [More]
Chrysler partners with Six Flags on branding
Chrysler LLC has entered into a new partnership with Six Flags, Inc. to give millions of consumers a firsthand experience with Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. Chrysler will have a significant presence at 10 Six Flag theme parks across the country during the 2008... [More]
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