|
|
There's another aspect of excitement in the world of thrill rides. There's the excitement of the latest announcements of upcoming rides from an industry as secretive as the military at times, and the excitement of all the latest happenings at parks around the world. Sometimes the news is good, sometimes the news is bad, but our aim is to bring you the fairest, timeliest, most accurate details on everything that concerns you. COASTER-net's team of journalists is hard at work around the clock to bring you the in-depth scoop!
|
 | |  |
|
|
|
Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong, China 06/28/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Hong Kong Disneyland in China is likely going to be a success. An online auction for tickets for the September 4th soft opening of Disney's new theme park were sold out three hours after the auction was online.
The number of tickets sold is unknown, but the ticket sales will prove to Disney that their new Hong Kong park is going to be a success. Along with that, the proceeds from the auction went to Community Chest, a local charity group.
Hong Kong Disneyland won't officially open until September 12th.
|
|
|
|
|
Wild West World, Wichita, KA, USA 06/28/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
The upcoming Wild West World theme park in Wichita, Kansas today announced some of their plans for rides in the park.
10 Million dollars are being spent toward the rides portion of the new theme park. The money is going toward two companies, Chance-Morgan and Zamperla. The reason behind the picks? For the companies good safety record and the ability to theme them to cowboy themed rides.
Chance-Morgan will give the park a train, large carousel, and an antique car ride. Zamperla will give the park two coasters and a mix of family and thrill rides.
|
|
|
|
|
Valleyfair, Shakopee, MN, USA 06/25/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 1,581 Times around the out and back course of Valleyfair's Wild Thing alone may be a dream come true for some, but for Doug LeClair of Maplewood, Minnesota, 11 days on the mega-coaster not only provided a memorable experience, but also a new car yesterday.
Local radio station KDWB kicked off the "Survive It... Drive It" contest on June 13 to see who would brave the coaster's over a mile of steel track to be the last remaining rider. From the group that competed, LeClair beat out second-place winner Brittney Hagan, 19, who accepted $2,500 yesterday morning to concede.
The 23-year-old LeClair walked away from the coaster with the keys to his shiny 2005 Toyota Scion XA.
|
|
|
|
|
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, CA, USA 06/25/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Six Flags Magic Mountain, also known as "The X-Treme Park!", opens up a brand new Batman stunt show that is certainly on the level of X-treme. Batman Begins Stunt Show opens up at the park to entertain guests on a live-action show based on the recent hit movie, Batman Begins.
The show tells the story of Batman's origins, of how Bruce Wayne became Batman. The set of this show includes 45-foot-tall sets, pyrotechnic effects, fights, motorcycle chases, a ride in the new Batmobile, and more effects that are incorporated into the show.
The show will perform daily at the Batman Action Theater.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disney announced that it will be opening Hong Kong Disney in three phases starting in early August.
The main reason Disney is doing this, is to let public transport workers adjust their operations and services according to the Commisioner of Tourism.
From early to mid-August a section of the Park Promenade linked to the Disneyland resort train line will be opened. From August to September 11th, “all public facilities at Penny's Bay, including public roads, the Park Promenade, the Inspiration Lake Recreation Center, the Disneyland Resort Public Transport Interchange, the Disneyland car and coach parks and the Disneyland Resort Pier will begin operation. Franchised buses and taxis will also start service.”
TV and radio commercials will launch in August. On September 12th the theme park and hotels open.
|
|
|
|
|
Alton Towers, Straffordshire, UK 06/22/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Alton Towers this week is cracking down on a trend that has swept the world. The infamous Crazy Frog ringtone has become so popular that the park is now cracking down on those who use the ringtone on their cell phones. The staffs ears will be opened and if the song is played from a mobile phone, the punishment you ask? The guests who use the tone gets sprayed with water from water pistols by park staff.
Visitors are encouraged to rat out those who use the ring tone as well.
Alton Towers marketing manager Mike Lorimer said: "We want our guests to go home screaming with pleasure. We don't want them to leave with screaming headaches because all they remember is the Crazy Frog song."
The Crazy Frog ringtone has been remixed into a techno song in Europe and has been topping music charts since, beating out Coldplay's new single that the band had worked on for three years called "Speed of Sound" from their new album "X&Y", which had been highly anticipated.
|
|
|
|
|
Geauga Lake, Aurora, OH, USA 06/18/05 - By: Carl F -
|
|
 Today, Geauga Lake opens up its brand new water park, Wildwater Kingdom. The park is located on the old Wild Life/Sea World section of the Six Flags Worlds of Adventure era. The new water park consists of slides like Thunder Falls (formerly Hurricane Mountain that was moved from Hurricane Hannah's), Liquid Lightning ProSlide Tornado slide, and a family water complex called Splash Landing. Other attractions include Coral Cove, a teenage pool area with basketball hoops and floating objects all over and Riptide Run, an action lazy river with numerous water falls and guest aimed water attacks.
This is Phase one of the Wildwater Kingdom park. Phase 2 is set to open in 2006 when Hurricane Hannah's, the parks other and old waterpark, closes. 2005 marks Hurricane Hannah's final year of operation with only two attractions open before the area gets torn down. The two attractions are Shark Attack, a family slide complex installed in 2003, and Hurricane Bay, a 25,000 square foot wave pool that was installed in 2000 during the Six Flags conversion.
Phase two of Wildwater Kingdom consists of more family slides and a new wave pool and an adult pool that serves alcoholic beverages to those over the legal age limit. Once when Wildwater Kingdom is done in 2006, the park will encompass 20 acres. But, enjoy Phase one of Wildwater Kingdom, it opens today!
|
|
|
|
|
Walt Disney World's EPCOT, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA 06/14/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 Paramedics tried to revive the 4-year-old after he passed out on EPCOT's Mission: Space, but the boy ultimately died.
Daudi Bamuwamye, on vacation with his family, lost consciousness on the enclosed centrifuge-like flat ride at 3:30 p.m. yesterday. His mother got the attention of paramedics and the boy was en route to a hospital when he died.
It is reported that the boy met the ride's height restriction of 44 inches. An autopsy will be conducted.
The ride was temporarily closed until declared safe for operation and reopened today.
Mission: Space opened October 23, 2003 at a cost of $100 million.
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Jane Seiga’s daughter broke both her wrists after riding Rita: Queen of Speed at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
The medics on the scene only diagnosed the girls injuries as sprains, but after a week in pain and some xrays from a doctor, it was discovered that the girl broke her wrists due to the force of the ride.
Now Seiga wants the height restriction on the ride raised so incidents like the one her daughter suffered from don’t happen again.
A spokeswoman for the park said an internal investigation as well as one by the Health and Safety Executive was done; both passed the requirements. Since Rita: Queen of Speed is a new ride, the park said it will monitor it and report any future incidents.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You can find just about anything on EBay these days, but... an amusement park?
That's the case with Wichita, Kansas' classic Joyland park, which owners Stanley and Margaret Nelson hope to sell through the popular online auction site for atleast $1.65 million.
Joyland park closed after experiencing financial trouble when the Nelsons leased and sold the then-fifty-one-year-old park in 2000. The amusement park was returned to the Nelsons after closing, and now the couple seeks to auction off the 40-acre property and its assets, including the 1949 Herbert Schmeck Roller Coaster.
The auction page for Joyland can be viewed by clicking here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Like most parks in America are doing now, Hong Kong Disney will allow smoking in designated areas, and all but one restaurant in its hotels.
Designated smoking areas can be found in outdoor areas of the park, and the only restaurant not allowing smoking is the one in which Disney characters are found in the restaurant
Some Hong Kong legislators are against the fact that the park will even allow designated areas saying the policy is still bad for a child’s health.
|
|
|
|
|
National Museum of American History, Washington D.C., USA 06/06/05 - By: Matthew Grauberger -
|
|
The National Museum of American History, which is part of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. will be showing ride cars from "Dumbo the Flying Elephant" and the "Mad Hatter's Tea Party."
Both of these rides debuted in Disneyland’s opening year in 1955. The two cars will go on display starting June 9th at nine a.m. at the museum's West corridor
If you do go see the exhibit, we recommend you take the metro to the Smithsonian stop, because D.C. traffic can be a mess.
|
|
|
|
|
Six Flags America, Largo, MD, USA 06/06/05 - By: Devin Olson -
|
|
 A shooting in the parking lot of Six Flags America this evening left one motorist with non-serious injuries.
The incident took place just after 6:00 p.m. when an altercation between three individuals, all inside of vehicles, intensified into shooting on the part of all three. While the individuals escaped injuries from the bullets, one was struck by flying debris. He declined medical treatment.
The other two individuals involved absconded from the scene, but law enforcement officials have begun conducting an investigation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
