About.com Theme Parks

Worried about Getting Swine Flu from the Mouse? Take the Poll.

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:36:52 +0000

The Three Little Pigs may not be afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, but some folks are raising concerns about contracting swine flu at destination theme parks such as Walt Disney World. A recent New York Times article cited parks' large crowds, guests from around the world, and high-touch encounters between visitors and costumed characters as "the perfect petri dishes for the H1N1 virus." Most parks, including Disney World, are taking precautions such as installing hand sanitizers and offering employees free flu shots. What do you think? Would you steer clear of theme parks to avoid the risks of flu transmission? Or is the threat overblown? Take the poll. And please share any additional thoughts on the matter by clicking on "Comments" below.

Photo: Mickey and Minnie get into holiday gear at Walt Disney World. Disney. Used with permission.

Worried about Getting Swine Flu from the Mouse? Take the Poll. originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 12:36:52.

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Magic Mountain Spins New Coaster

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:14:17 +0000

There's a (very) little bit more news coming from Six Flags Magic Mountain about its new coaster. According to Brady MacDonald at the Los Angeles Times, the 2010 ride will be a family coaster. And, apparently that's all the California park is saying for now. A few months back, Six Flags CEO, Mark Shapiro, let slip that Magic Mountain would be getting its 17th coaster in 2010. With the addition of the family coaster, the park will reclaim its status as having the most coasters of any park in the world--a bragging point it will share with the 17-coaster haven, Cedar Point. Six Flags says it will reveal details about the new ride later this month. My guess is that a spinning coaster, a staple at many other Six Flags parks, is on its way to Magic Mountain.

Goliath - Review of the Magic Mountain hypercoaster
Scream-Ride Out Loud- Review of the Magic Mountain floorless coaster

Magic Mountain Spins New Coaster originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 14:14:17.

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Fantasmic Disney World: Top 10 Rides and Shows

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:39:33 +0000

Its four theme parks are crammed with one over-the-top experience after another. Narrowing down the choices to a top-ten list of the best that Walt Disney World has to offer is no easy task. My pick for number ten may surprise you. And you may also be surprised--or ticked off--by what I left off of the list. Chill out! First take a look at my picks for the ten best rides and shows at Walt Disney World's theme parks. Then weigh in with your own Disney World picks. That way, the rest of us will have a chance to get ticked off at you.

Mission: SPACE Ride Review- One of my top-ten best WDW attractions.
Soarin' Ride Review- Another top-ten best WDW attraction (according to me, anyways).

Photo: At night, Expedition Everest, one of the top-ten rides at WDW, has dramatic lighting. �Arthur Levine, 2006. Licensed to About.com.

Fantasmic Disney World: Top 10 Rides and Shows originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 17:39:33.

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It'll Cost More Clams to Visit Shamu

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:39:36 +0000

The heck with The Great Recession! The economy may have taken on a lot of water, and consumers may have taken it on the chin, but SeaWorld Orlando nonetheless raised its one-day, one-park ticket to a staggering $78.95--a $4 increase. Busch Entertainment's other Florida parks, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove, also increased their admission fees. It now costs $5 more, $74.95, to visit Busch Gardens. Florida residents, however, can take advantage of Busch's recession-buster deal: a SeaWorld Orlando season pass (that extends through the end of 2010) for $69.95--less than the gate price for a one-day ticket. Busch is also offering Florida residents a one-day SeaWorld pass at the regular price and throwing in a free ticket to Aquatica or Busch Gardens.

It'll Cost More Clams to Visit Shamu originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 14:39:36.

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A Water Coaster--at Sea?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:50:09 +0000

Other cruise lines have included water park slides aboard their ships. But when the Disney Dream launches in 2011, it will feature AquaDuck, the industry's first floating water coaster. The ride's 756-foot long see-through tube will extend beyond the side of the ship, sending passengers zooming high above the ocean. AquaDuck will use jets of water to propel riders' rafts up and along the route as it circles the ship.

Disney Imagineers will incorporate other goodies into the Dream, including "virtual portholes" for inside cabins. High-definition screens will mimic windows by relaying real-time footage shot outside the ship. Taking whimsy to the high seas, animated characters such as Mickey Mouse and some of Nemo's pals will occasionally float past the virtual windows. Disney has posted a computer-generated video of the AquaDuck water coaster.

Give a Day, Get a Disney Day- How to score free Disney park tickets in 2010.
Putting the Disney into Disney's California Adventure

A Water Coaster--at Sea? originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 16:50:09.

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Legoland Hits the Bricks in Illinois

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:24:09 +0000

With outposts in Denmark, Germany, and the UK, Legoland seems determined to expand its park empire in the US beyond the popular Legoland California. The chain has expressed interest in additional stateside sites through the years, including the recently vacated Cypress Gardens in Florida. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Legoland is also perusing a spot in southern Illinois, near St. Louis. The park would be part of a possible 900-acre project slated for retail and entertainment development.

Legoland California Photo Gallery
Knight's Tournament Robocoaster-Ride Review of the unique Legoland attraction.

Photo: Is Legoland bound for the Midwest? �Arthur Levine 2007. Licensed to About.com.

Legoland Hits the Bricks in Illinois originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 12:24:09.

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Kings Island De-Clawed and Trimmed The Beast

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:32:40 +0000

It frequently shows up on coaster fans' top-10 lists. And it's one of the world's most famous wooden roller coasters. Heck, noted kid-lit author R.L. Stine even wrote a book about it. But this coaster fan thinks The Beast at Kings Island is the single most overrated coaster on the planet. Read why in my coaster review of The Beast.

Photo: The Beast gets ready to lurch through the woods at Kings Island. Cedar Fair. Used with permission.

Kings Island De-Clawed and Trimmed The Beast originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 16:32:40.

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Show and Tell: Share Your Best Disney World Photos

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:52:44 +0000

One of the most photographed places on the planet is Walt Disney World. And since you're at About.com's Theme Parks site, chances are YOU have a bunch of Disney World photos. Well, we want to see them! So please join in our brand-spanking new Walt Disney World Show and Tell by sending along one unique and interesting photo to feature in our showcase. Maybe it's a rarely photographed spot at the vast Disney World resort. Or maybe it's a highly creative or particularly beautiful shot. Whatever the case, please share it with us, and tell us about it at About.com's Disney World Show and Tell. Thanks!

Photo: Where at Disney World was this photo taken? CoasterGuy. Used with permission.

Show and Tell: Share Your Best Disney World Photos originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 16:52:44.

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Coasters, Hot Dogs, and...the Opera?

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:16:29 +0000

Here's a weird one. A sequel to the hugely popular musical, Phantom of the Opera, will transplant the masked phantom from his subterranean Paris opera house home to new digs under the boardwalk at Brooklyn's Coney Island. The play is scheduled to open in London this coming March and will hit New York's Broadway in November 2010. Set in the early 1900s, the new Phantom will feature Coney Island during its heyday.

Coasters, Hot Dogs, and...the Opera? originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 17:16:29.

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Going with the Flow (Actually two Flows) in Syracuse

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:10:36 +0000

The Great Recession has put the kibosh on lots of development projects, including may planned indoor water park resorts. But the folks behind the Maya Indoor Water Park in Syracuse, New York say that the resort will be built, albeit later than anticipated. Developers now say that ground will be broken next spring, and the water park should open in spring 2011. Among its features, the Maya Water Park will offer two FlowRider surfing attractions. Read more about the Maya Indoor Water Park and Resort.

Photo: The Maya Indoor Water Park will offer two FlowRider surfing attractions. �Arthur Levine, 2006. Licensed to About.com

Going with the Flow (Actually two Flows) in Syracuse originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 15:10:36.

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