Other Parks
« Previous EntriesMusical choices for Universal’s next roller coaster, the Rockit
Thursday, August 28th, 2008What do Alan Jackson, Fatboy Slim, Sheryl Crow, Funkadelic, Ricki Martin, Judas Priest and the Bee Gees have in common? They’ve all recorded music that could wind up being someone’s personal soundtrack in the next Universal Orlando Roller Coaster, The Hollywood Rip, Ride & Rockit being built at Universal Studios.
The theme park company is currently […]
SeaWorld testing paid version of line-cutting passes
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008Starting Saturday, SeaWorld Orlando will test out a new extra-cost ticket option that allows visitors to buy the privilege of skipping long lines at the most popular rides and shows, such as the Kraken roller coaster or “Believe.”
SeaWorld is calling the program “Quick Queue.” Through Sept. 1, visitors will have the option of paying an […]
SeaWorld moves anteater to safety
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008SeaWorld Orlando has moved its anteater to an indoor shelter as it makes early preparations before Tropical Storm Fay. Workers are also moving some of the park’s “smaller, more delicate” birds to covered aviaries to protect them from any high winds, said SeaWorld spokeswoman Becca Bides. SeaWorld has also canceled its evening program at Discovery Cove […]
Universal: No plans to adjust hours right now
Monday, August 18th, 2008Universal Orlando says it plans to maintain normal hours tomorrow despite the advancing Tropical Storm Fay, though park executives, like everyone else around town, are still monitoring the storm’s track. Spokesman Tom Schroder said the resort can adjust quickly, if necessary. “We’ve got a lot of practical experience in handling extreme weather and keeping everyone […]
Disney to try to purchase Seaworld?
Tuesday, August 12th, 2008Merlin Entertainments, which owns Madame Tussauds, Alton Towers, and the London Eye, will have to compete with the biggest theme park business in the world - Disney - in the race to take over the £1.5bn SeaWorld business in Florida. SeaWorld and dozens of sister theme parks across America are being put up for sale […]
Universal keeps pace with Disney and raises ticket price to $75
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 Universal Orlando adds $4 to its basic ticket price today, keeping its one-day, one-park pass in line with Walt Disney World’s at $75 a person. Universal also raised the price of some of its multiday packages, though it left some of its deeper-discount offers intact.
Michael Lewellen, Universal vice president for public relations, said the higher […]
Nickelodeon picks up Eisner series
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008Michael Eisner is taking a road trip back to TV family land with a gung-ho dentist and some new pals at Nickelodeon. Through his private investment firm, Tornante Co., Eisner plans to announce today that he has sold his first animated series, “Glenn Martin DDS,” to the Viacom Inc.-owned cable channel. The program, about a […]
The early birds get the water slides at Aquatica
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008A recent visit to Aquatica, SeaWorld’s new water park, was an eye-opener on summer-weekend crowds. A friend insisted we arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. I thought he was crazy to get up that early on a Saturday, but he was right.
We arrived at 9:15 a.m., and by about 10:15, the park was filled to […]
Construction continues on ‘Harry Potter’ attraction
Monday, July 14th, 2008Development of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has moved into a new phase, forcing Universal Orlando to close a children’s roller coaster, a restaurant, a gift shop, a bar, and a footpath that once ran past them all in Islands of Adventure.
Last week Universal closed the Flying Unicorn ride, the Enchanted Oak Tavern restaurant, […]
Duped by Disney?
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008The Zoo Northwest Florida reached out for help when they were close to financial ruin, and the community responded by raising $1 million and knocking off a third of their debt. But Executive Director Danyelle Lantz says one person who promised financial aid didn’t deliver, instead she says he stole the one thing this little […]
SeaWorld, Busch, increase basic prices, lower Florida deals
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008It looks as if Busch Entertainment Corp. is trying to sway Florida residents to trying more of the company’s theme parks. The Orlando-based theme park company announced new ticket prices this morning that include a $2 increase in the basic ticket rate for SeaWorld Orlando — but also offs a deep-discount in multi-park deals available […]
Disney & Dollywood?
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008When Lee Robertson and his counterparts aren’t remanufacturing pumps and equipment for the ethanol industry, they may just be filling a niche for Walt Disney Corp. or Dollywood.When the folks from Walt Disney Imagineering come calling, Robertson takes them out to a back corner of Valley Equipment’s 35 acres, where they can scour a section […]
Cash back on locker rentals at Aquatica
Friday, June 20th, 2008Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park, has changed they way it refunds deposits for locker and towel rentals. And in a good way! Previously, guests received a three-dollar in-house credit, not cold, hard cash. The credit was good for a year at Aquatica and SeaWorld. However, beginning this week, Aquatica visitors will get five bucks once they […]
Joey Fatone in duet with Discovery Cove dolphin
Friday, June 20th, 2008Today’s celebrity theme park shot comes to us from Discovery Cove. It’s Orlando’s own Joey Fatone and CJ, an Atlantic bottle-nose dolphin, earlier this month. Fatone is currently hosting/being the ringmaster of NBC’s Celebrity Circus.
Harry Potter mini-film set for Universal’s Wiz World?
Monday, June 16th, 2008(Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Is Universal Orlando going to get its very own Harry Potter movie, unique and independent from J.K. Rowling’s seven-book, eight-movie saga? A London newspaper says yes. Universal is not saying much. The Sunday Mirror of London reported on Sunday that Rowling wrote a new Potter story and that key actors and others involved […]
