ORLANDO, FL
Most people’s focus might be on Galaxy’s Edge over at Hollywood Studios, but I don’t let that distract me from what’s next at Magic Kingdom. Construction has been underway in Tomorrowland on the upcoming Tron coaster, a replica of the attraction at Shanghai Disneyland. One of the best views from outside the park (without access to a helicopter, of course) is from the roof of the Contemporary Resort. With a proper camera lens or a pair of binoculars, you can see the entire construction site. FULL STORY
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ORLANDO, FL
FuelRod, the reusable, portable, swap-able battery system that allows you to charge your device on the go, can now be found in all three of Orlando’s major theme park organizations – but there’s a catch. Being known in the theme park community for offering free, unlimited swaps at its Walt Disney World kiosk locations, the company is now charging for swaps at select locations across the country. Currently, FuelRod kiosks at Walt Disney World Resort and SeaWorld Orlando offer free swaps for guests who purchase a kit for $30 ($20 online and at select airports). However, Universal Orlando Resort now charges a $3 swap fee for guests looking to get a fresh, new battery. FULL STORY
GLEN, NH
Story Land, a New Hampshire children’s theme park centered on nursery rhymes and fairy tales, is requesting that the kids be left at home for one night. The 65-year-old park in Glen is holding its first “Nostalgia Night” for all kids “young at heart” age 21 and up on Saturday, June 22. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Story Land said it hopes guests will recreate old family photos taken at the park. It even encourages retro attire. General manager Eric Dziedzic said the park’s been talking about creating an event like this for years. “Kick back and enjoy an adult beverage where as a kid you sipped a juice box, then groove to the tunes of Crush, a Dave Matthews Tribute Band,” Story Land says on its website. “We’re going all out so you can relive your younger years in the Land Where Fantasy Lives!” FULL STORY GALVESTON, TX
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island is adding a new multi-million dollar set of slides that are more than the first of its kind – they are out of this world. Infinity Racers, which will open in June of 2019, is a pair of space-themed, racing head-first mat slides. At a whopping eight stories tall and as long as two space stations, Infinity Racers delivers a fun, only one in the world, water slide experience. Both of the racing slides are nearly fully enclosed the entire time (except for the loading and splash zones) with multi-colored fiberglass that creates unique lighting effects inside each slide. Schlitterbahn chose to add a space theme to the slides in honor of the men and women of NASA and the Johnson Space Center, who have inspired the world to reach for the stars. Given the park’s proximity to the space center, it’s also a salute to the entire region. The interior of each slide delivers a unique experience as well. One of the slides, named Orbiter, features circles of multi-colored fiberglass in different sections of the ride while the other, Galaxy, features dashes of multi-colored fiberglass. The water slide will open in time to be part of the national celebration of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing. FULL STORY ORLANDO, FL
niversal Orlando has revealed more details about its roller coaster that’s under construction in the original Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction. New descriptions of the ride provide facts such as speed, maneuvers, height requirements and characters seen in association with Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. The ride debuts at Islands of Adventure theme park June 13. Riders will “experience a freewheeling coaster flight where they’ll twist, turn and rush forward – and backward – at speeds up to 50 mph,” said a news release distributed Tuesday morning. The coaster’s storyline involves a trip into the Forbidden Forest, a dark and dangerous locale referenced in all seven of the original “Potter” books by J.K. Rowling. The guide aboard the Universal ride will be Hagrid, a half human/half giant character who is both gamekeeper and teacher of the “Care of Magical Creatures” course at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. FULL STORY TAMPA BAY, FL
A recent filing to the FAA by Busch Gardens Tampa has shed some light on one of the record breaking stats of the yet to be named hybrid coaster. The form has a height listed as 210 feet above grade for the former structure of Gwazi. The current record holder is Steel Vengeance located at Cedar Point at a height of 205 feet. The under construction version of Gwazi was revealed to be the tallest in North America, steepest, and fastest hybrid that Rocky Mountain Construction has built. The revelation that this project is now the tallest know project by RMC I think it also reveals that a yet to be announced project in Europe or Asia will exceed 210 feet. Not much is known about this much anticipated hybrid coaster that will surely be a great addition to Busch Gardens Tampa’s lineup of thrilling attractions. Fans eager for more official information will most likely have to wait for the roller coaster to start taking shape before the park will share a full rendering or a detailed description of the layout and elements. However with the marketing material they have release and the artists rendering of the first drop it is expected to have a beyond vertical 91 degree drop, and a speed of at least 75 MPH. To achieve this speed the drop will need to exceed 200 feet, for comparison Mako at SeaWorld Orlando has a maximum speed of 73 with a 200 foot drop & Steel Vengeance goes 74 MPH with a 90 degree 200 foot drop. These stats are merely an estimate of what is likely and physically possible while we wait for more official announcements from the park including a name for their 2020 addition. As the summer of 2019 approaches the park still has not shared an opening date for this years addition of Tigris, a multi launch coaster by Premier Rides. Author Jeff Goodman ORLANDO, FL
Beginning March 17 2019, busses heading to the water parks will display "Typhoon Lagoon" or "Blizzard Beach." Currently, if you want to get to Typhoon Lagoon, you have to board a bus to Disney Springs and then transfer to a Typhoon Lagoon bus. Although the service will be direct to the water park, some routes may stop at other resorts prior to the water park.
FULL STORY Aerial views show Hagrid roller coaster construction at Universal's Harry Potter land (PHOTOS)3/11/2019 ORLANDO, FL
The wait will soon be over for fans waiting for the new Hagrid-themed roller coaster at Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The roller coaster that once was Dueling Dragons, and then rethemed to Harry Potter’s Dragon Challenge, but will now be Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, is opening June 13. More details on the roller coaster are expected this week, but before then, one Twitter user (@biorconstruct) has added a slew of aerial photography images to his feed showing what we can expect. Hagrid’s three-headed dog Fluffy, for instance, is in full view. FULL STORY Six Flags Entertainment Corp. announced in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday that it has begun a search process to find a successor for James Reid-Anderson, the company’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.
Reid-Anderson informed the company he intends to retire by the end of February 2020. The Grand Prairie-based company has retained an outside search firm for the process, which is being led by the company’s board of directors. The filing said both internal and external candidates will be evaluated. Reid-Anderson first took the CEO position at Six Flags (NYSE:SIX) in September 2010 and served in the position until chief financial officer John Duffey was promoted to CEO in February 2016. In July 2017, Duffey abruptly stepped down, and Reid-Anderson again took the reins. FULL STORY CHARLOTTE, NC
Carowinds’ Copperhead Strike coaster will debut March 23 — as will a beer by the same name from this popular Charlotte brewery. The local amusement park has teamed up with Sycamore Brewing on Copperhead Strike IPA. “It’s the perfect partnership,” says Sarah Brigham, co-owner at the Charlotte brewery. “Carowinds is a brand for the Carolinas, and Sycamore is rooted in the Carolinas.” Expect an easy-drinking and approachable brew — yet with a hoppy bite. It features bright citrus hops and underlying floral notes. Can art features a fang-bearing snake with a looping coaster in the background, with bright orange, purple and yellow coloring. Copperhead Strike IPA will be available on tap in the park’s Blue Ridge Junction throughout the season. FULL STORY |
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