ORLANDO, FL

It’s never too early to start the panic. The official Universal Orlando website already has the first dates listed for Halloween Horror Nights, and the fear is coming earlier than ever.

HHN 29 kicks off on September 6th, a full week earlier than HHN 28. Usually the first weekend of September is reserved for Rock The Universe. However, in 2019 Rock the Universe moves to the dates usually reserved for Celebration of Harry Potter, which is not returning to Universal Orlando for 2019.
This is the earliest date for HHN yet, and it will be interesting to see how things roll out for HHN 29.
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FREDERICKSBURG, VA

Fun Land of Fredericksburg's general manager grinned and said something "doesn't seem right" just before ground was broken Thursday for Virginia's first multi-level go-kart track.
Clint Novak, who'd christened Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw "the queen of Fun Land" at an event last year, then switched her bright red hard hat with one crowned by a tiara. Afterward, he joined her, managing partner Chuck Peitz and two others to use gold-colored shovels to dig into a spot where the Central Park shopping center amusement park's go-kart track has been.
"I'll be the queen of Fun Land every day for you!" the mayor said before telling the invited guests that it was an honor to be invited on behalf of the city. "You guys have invested in our community. You've made it a better place to be, a better place for families to be. You are a destination and you make us a destination and we appreciate that. We really do."

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ORLANDO, FL

 Someone last night leaked what looks like confirmation of the name of the new theme park that Universal Orlando is building near the Orange County Convention Center.

The image, which now has been making the rounds on Twitter and Reddit, shows what looks like an on-screen presentation in a big conference or ballroom. The fine print on the image says, "All content is in early development. Do not distrib(ute)," which of course, the leaker ignored, allowing us the potential news that the name of the park will be...
Universal's Fantastic Worlds.

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SANDUSKY, OH

With every new record-breaking coaster at Cedar Point, it’s easy to forget the ones that came before it.
Remember in 1976, when the Corkscrew was brand new, the first in the world with three inversions? H. John Hildebrandt does.
“In 1974, Cedar Point had four roller coasters: Blue Streak, Cedar Creek Mine Ride, Wildcat and Jumbo Jet,” writes Hildebrandt, who started working for the park as a seasonal employee in 1969 and went on, decades later, to become general manager. “It was the fifth coaster, the Corkscrew, which opened in 1976 that changed everything forever at Cedar Point.”

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Get ready to ride! In another cruise industry first, Carnival Cruise Line’s MardiGras will feature the first-ever roller coaster at sea when it debuts in 2020, providing an unforgettable and unique open-air thrill ride on the line’s newest and most innovative ship.
Built by Munich-based Maurer Rides, BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster is a heart-pounding rush of adrenaline offering nearly 800 feet of exhilarating twists, turns and drops with riders reaching speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour.
Taking cruise industry innovation to new heights, BOLT is an all-electric roller coaster that allows two riders in a motorcycle-like vehicle to race along a track 187 feet above sea level, enabling guests to experience the sea in an exciting new way with breathtaking 360-degree views.

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MASON, OH

The dark, cold December days have theme park fans dreaming of what could be coming to their favorite parks once spring returns.
And no park is generating more buzz with coaster fans nationwide than Kings Island in Mason because of rumors of a massive new coaster coming in the next two years.
While the park has yet to announce any new ride (other than the return of Antique Cars in 2019), it has helped fan the flames of speculation with hints about "Number 5 is Alive," a reference to the former Son of Beast, and its base station, Outpost 5. 

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Sally Corporation’s dark ride project for Six Flags Entertainment Corporation was awarded the prestigious Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement. Given by the Themed Entertainment Association, it’s one of the industry’s greatest honors representing some of the finest achievements in the creation of compelling places and experiences. Already an industry award-winner, the mixed-media ride took home IAAPA’s Best New Product and the Impact Award in 2015, from rides at Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags St. Louis. The seventh iteration, at Six Flags Magic Mountain is accepting the Thea award in April.
Designed and built by dark ride specialists, Sally Corporation, JUSTICE LEAGUE: Battle For Metropolis is a story-driven adventure for guests of all ages. The state-of-the-art dark ride blends dimensional and animated sets, animatronics, 3D video, special effects, projection mapping, laser stun-blasters, interactive targets, a scoring system, a musical score and more aboard custom motion-based vehicles. The ride now operates at seven Six Flags parks in the United States and Mexico.
Justice League bridges the gap between a classic dark ride and thrill ride, making it a perfect fit for the Six Flags franchise aiming to satisfy their family demographic. The TEA Thea Awards Committee wrote, “Narrative-based, full immersion storytelling is an impressive new direction within a park system better known for iron rides – while staying true to the Six Flags brand.”

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ORLANDO, FL

Just this week, the Kingdom Hearts team announced a first-of-its-kind pop-up experience that will feature a playable demo of the upcoming release (KINGDOM HEARTS III), a special Keyblade exhibit, and artwork from the game. The best part? It will all be located at Disney Springs, in the heart of Town Center, available to guests from December 14, 2018 through January 31, 2019.
Confession: I’ve never played Kingdom Hearts. If I was a gamer, I’m sure it would be at the top of this Disney lover’s “must-play” list, but I haven’t picked up a joystick since middle school so until recently, I knew very little about the action role-playing game that has millions of devoted fans.
The Kingdom Hearts universe connects Disney characters, stories and worlds into one incredible, imaginative experience. In this third installment – set to release in stores on January 29, 2019 – characters from beloved films like Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story and Monsters, Inc., and Walt Disney Studios’ “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Big Hero 6,” “Tangled,” “Frozen” and more are brought together in a fantastic adventure that spans the magical worlds of Disney, Pixar and SQUARE ENIX. Here, you’re invited to relive nostalgia and go on new adventures with Sora—the unknowing heir to a spectacular power—and his friends as you battle together to fight off the Heartless invasion using Keyblade transformations, joint attacks with Disney and Pixar characters, Disney character summons, classic mini games, and more.

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