News Archive
Cedar Fair to merge with Apollo Global
Cedar Fair and Apollo Global Management have entered into a merger agreement set for completion in the second quarter 2010. "We have considered a wide range of strategic alternatives over the past several years. After considering these strategic alternatives, we have concluded that the... [More]
Confirmed: Capatin EO returning to Disneyland
Despite a public denial by Disney CEO Bob Iger, the Captain EO show will indeed be moonwalking back into Disneyland Resort next year. The 17-minute show will open in Disneyland park in February 2010 for a "limited engagement." How limited that is, exactly, is... [More]
Mr. Lincoln's triumphant return to Disneyland
The "Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln" attraction returned to Disneyland today after five years of shuttered doors. The Lincoln animatronic received a major overhaul that includes a new electronic head with more detailed facial animations, a more lifelike silicone skin, and a hydraulic body... [More]
Water park planned for Corpus Christi, TX
Innovative Leisure Partners, a Houston-based development and entertainment company, is in the early planning stages for the construction of a water park in Corpus Christi, Texas. Chuck Hendrix, the company's CEO, was once senior vice president of park strategy and management for Six Flags... [More]
WDW's River Country water park: A retrospective
Walt Disney World opened its first water park in 1976 called River Country and closed the park's doors for the last time on 2001. "Tri-circle-D," a member of the DISboards forum recently posted photos taken of the still-standing--but long abandoned--park in November of this... [More]
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Roy Edward Disney dies at 79
Roy Edward Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney, died this week at age 79. Roy passed away Wednesday at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach due to complications with his long-time battle against stomach cancer. In addition to his many philanthropic ventures, Roy... [More]
Walt Disney's grandson arrested
Patrick Disney Miller, Walt Disney's grandson, was taken into custody Wednesday morning by Los Angeles Police for "possession of a firearm by a felon" and illegally selling ammunition. Police served a search warrant for Miller's home in Woodland HIlls, CA at around 5:30 a.m.... [More]
Disney tests new meet-and-greet queue system
Disney has begun testing a new meet-and-greet queueing system this week at Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom. Instructions posted at the meet-and-greet direct parents to wait in line while their children play in an adjacent playground. When a certain point in the queue is... [More]
Disney phasing out deals as economy recovers
Disney CEO Robert Iger stated today that his company will begin phasing out discounts and deals currently offered as the economy improves throughout 2010. This turn from vistor-seeking to profit-seeking was seen most recently when both Walt Disney World and Disneyland increased the price... [More]
Walt Disney World's first 'twin town' is chosen
The results of Walt Disney World's "Twinned Town" competition have been revealed with the town of Swindon beating out 24 competing towns in the UK for the title of WDW's twin town. As explained Hugh Wood of Disney Destination International, "Britain has an established... [More]
Video: Wizarding World of Harry Potter sneak peek
Universal has included a sneak peek at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" Blu-ray and special edition DVD set for release Dec. 8. Orlando Attractions Magazine got a pre-release copy of the sneak peek video and... [More]
Six Flags to hand over New Orleans park to city
Six Flags officials have gained clearance to hand over the Katrina-ravaged Six Flags New Orleans to the city. In bankruptcy court last week, a Delaware judge okayed a reorganization deal that would free Six Flags' assets (including their New Orleans park) for restructuring. As... [More]
Disney releases Epcot tilt-shift video
Disney is following up its first tilt-shift video (celebrating The Magic Kingdom's 38th birthday) with another tilt-shift video--this time showing off Epcot. The occasion cited is something of a pre-celebratory kick-off to Walt Disney's birthday on December 5. Take a look at the video... [More]
Disney tourist arrested for fake bomb threat
A German tourist visiting Walt Disney World this week was arrested on the charge of making a false bomb threat while in The Magic Kingdom. The tourist, Jochen Naumann of Leipzig, Germany, allegedly told a Disney employee that he had two bombs in his... [More]
Google Street View comes to SeaWorld
Google Street View is now available for a smattering of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment properties. The laundry list of parks now available for 360-degree, street-level online viewing are: • SeaWorld Orlando • SeaWorld San Antonio • SeaWorld San Diego • Discovery Cove • Aquatica... [More]
Six Flags Inc. shareholders seek to stage coup
Stark Investments--a Wisconsin-based hedge fund--has proposed an alternative to Six Flags' plan to crawl out of $2.4 billion in debt: Let the shareholders buy it. Well, most of it. The company proposes a transfer of the company's debt and the vast majority of its... [More]
Shanghai Disneyland to be smaller than expected
The National Development and Reform Commission let loose information about the recently green-lit Shanghai Disneyland, pegging the park's initial size at around 287 acres--24 acres smaller than China's other Disney park, Hong Kong Disneyland. Prior to the release of this information there had been... [More]
Universal Studios fined after Dragons accident
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined Universal Studios after an employee was injured while working on the Dueling Dragons roller coaster at Islands of Adventure. The fine was originally set at $5,000--a relatively paltry amount as far as theme park fines... [More]
SeaWorld Aquatica to add 4 unique water slides
SeaWorld's Aquatica water park opened fairly recently, but park operators are already looking to expand. The park plans to add four new "first-of-a-kind" water slides in 2010. The most interesting of which is a slide that shoots rafts uphill. Dubbed Tornado Walls, the attraction... [More]
Win trip to opening of Universal's Wizarding World
Universal is giving one lucky person (and three of his or her friends and family members) a trip to the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando. The contest opened on November 16 and runs through... [More]
Happy 81st birthday, Mickey Mouse!
Mickey Mouse is celebrating his 81st birthday today. Though not yet technically "Mickey Mouse," Steamboat Willie first make his public debut on November 18, 1928 before transforming into the Mouse we know today. Thus, Mickey's official birthday is celebrated each year on November 18.... [More]
Six Flags NO deal pushes on without Nickelodeon
Despite Nickelodeon pulling out of the deal involving Six Flags New Orleans, the company initially interested in the park and formerly partnered with Nickelodeon, Southern Star Amusement, is seeking to push forward anyway. Southern Star CEO Danny Rogers is now saying that his company... [More]
Video: Disney's new 'Mr. Lincoln' animatronic
Disney has released a promotional video of the newly renovated Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, showcasing the company's most life-like animatronic yet. Take a look at the close-up of the face of the Lincoln animatronic near the end of the video. Great Moments with... [More]
Locals grab for more with Shanghai Disneyland
Now that plans for Shanghai Disneyland have been finalized between Walt Disney Co., the Shanghai government, and Chinese government, all that's left is to acquire the land and begin construction. Not so fast. Residents of the land chosen for Shanghai Disneyland's construction have hastily... [More]
Disney increases swine-flu prevention measures
Disney has gone the extra mile to ensure that park guests are as well protected from the H1N1 virus--and other viruses--as possible. Disney is displaying posters at various locations around the parks reminding guests to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing and to... [More]
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