Friday, 30 September 2011

Theme Parks: A Mouse's House is his Castle

Theme Parks
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A Mouse's House is his Castle
Sep 30th 2011, 15:05

It was 40 years ago today (well, actually tomorrow) that Mickey and the gang lowered the drawbridge on Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom. The Florida resort doesn't have a blowout celebration planned (as it did for its 25th anniversary or as Disneyland did for its 50th birthday bash), but it will be presenting a special character-packed parade, a sing-along stage show, and an anniversary-themed fireworks show on Saturday.

When Walt Disney World first opened in 1971, the man behind the mouse wasn't there to see the place that bears his name. Although he died in 1966, Disney was involved in purchasing the vast property and planning the resort. "Here in Florida, we have something special we never enjoyed at Disneyland...the blessing of size," Disney said after he announced the project in 1965. "There's enough land here to hold all the ideas and plans we can possibly imagine." Initially, the resort offered the Magic Kingdom theme park, which was a knockoff of Disneyland, three hotels, a campground, and a shopping area. Fulfilling Disney's vision, it has grown considerably in its four decades and now offers four theme parks.

While the resort's growth has slowed the past few years, the original Magic Kingdom park will get a major expansion starting in 2012 with a slew of new Fantasyland attractions and features. Farther down the road, the company recently announced that a new land based on "Avatar" is in the works for Disney's Animal Kingdom. Thankfully, the ideas, imagining, and plans continue. Happy birthday Disney World.

Connect With Arthur: Twitter | Facebook

Photo: Roy O. Disney and Mickey Mouse at the grand opening of Disney World in 1971. Disney. Used with permission.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Great Escape Lodge

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Great Escape Lodge
Sep 30th 2011, 10:11

Great Escape Lodge Phone:

888-708-2684

Great Escape Lodge Location:

Across from The Great Escape theme park in Queensbury (near Lake George), New York. The actual address is 1213 US 9 in Queensbury, NY.

Great Escape Lodge Tickets and Admission Policy:

The indoor water park open to registered hotel guests (and not the general public).

Compare rates for Six Flags Great Escape Lodge at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

Indoor Water Park Square Footage:

38,000

Great Escape Lodge Directions:

The actual address is 1213 US 9 in Queensbury, NY.

From Boston: I-90W (Mass Turnpike) to Exit B3. Take I-90 to I-87N (towards Albany) to Exit 20. Take Route 9S and turn right onto Six Flags Drive.

From New York City: I-87N (NYS Thruway) to Exit 24 (towards Albany). Continue on I-87N to Exit 20. Take Route 9S and turn right onto Six Flags Drive.

Indoor Water Park Features:

Interactive water play structure, FlowRider surfing ride, lazy river, activity pool, wading pool, hot tub, family raft ride, and tube and body slides.

More Great Escape Lodge Info:

Official Web Site:

Great Escape Lodge Overview:

Opened in February 2006, the Great Escape Lodge is the first indoor water park from the Six Flags chain. It is also New York's first indoor water park and the first major indoor water park resort in the Northeast U.S. Located across from The Great Escape, the hotel and indoor water park provide additional amenities for guests during the theme park's May-to-October operating season. Open year-round, the resort also provides off-season fun.

If you think "Six Flags hotel" means tacky or low budget, think again. Taking its cue from the Great Wolf Lodges (which in turn hew to classic national park lodges), the resort is striking and elegant--in a comfortable, pseudo-rustic kind of way. An inviting, early-1900s Adirondack theme pervades the property. All of the rooms are generously sized suites. Prices, of course, are very 21st-century and reflect the quality; consider midweek and/or off-season periods for lower rates.

The medium-sized indoor water park offers the usual assortment of slides, a (surprisingly long) lazy river, and other water fun. Featured attractions include the Tall Timbers Treehouse, an interactive water play structure with a tipping bucket, the Avalanche family raft ride, and Boogie Bear Surf, a FlowRider wave simulator for body surfing. The unique roof is made of a transparent material that allows plenty of sunshine and makes year-round tanning possible. Compared to larger indoor parks, the Great Escape Lodge is lacking a wave pool and doesn't have a water coaster (a natural for a Six Flags park) or other marquee attraction. Also, its single whirlpool spa is rather small and reserved for adults.

In addition to the water park, the resort offers contests, crafts projects, and a full daily complement of dry activities through its Kids' Club. Think of a cruise ship itinerary for youngsters. It's possible to get greasy fries and pizza at the Great Escape Lodge, but the resort's wonderful restaurants, particularly the cozy Trapper's Adirondack Grille, is a quantum leap removed from typical Six Flags fare. Guests can restore their waterlogged skin and get pampered at the resort's onsite spa.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Hope Lake Lodge WP

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Hope Lake Lodge WP
Sep 30th 2011, 10:11

Hope Lake Lodge Indoor Waterpark Phone:

(607) 835-6300

Location:

Cortland, New York (between Syracuse and Ithaca)

Indoor Water Park Square Footage:

41,000

Hope Lake Lodge Indoor Waterpark Admission Policy:

The water park is open only to registered hotel guests and condo owners at Greek Peak. It does not offer day passes to the general public.

Directions to Hope Lake Lodge:

From Binghamton & points south: I-81N to exit 9. Route 11N to 392W.

From Syracuse and points north: I-81S to exit 10. Route 11S to 392W.

From Ithaca and points west: Route 13N to Dryden. Go straight through the light at Dryden and then follow 392E to the resort. Note: You will be making a right turn in Virgil at the stop sign to stay on Route 392.

Indoor Water Park Features:

Body slides, tube slide, wave pool, kiddie slides, indoor/outdoor whirlpool spa, activity pool, outdoor pool, and interactive play structure with tipping bucket.

Official Web Site:

Hope Lake Lodge Indoor Water Overview:

The Cascades Indoor Water Park at Hope Lake Lodge is an average-sized facility. While it lacks the signature rides of larger indoor water parks, such as a surfing simulator or a water coaster, it does feature many of the usual attractions such as a wave pool, water slides, and an interactive play center with a tipping bucket. In addition to the indoor water park, Hope Lake Lodge offers a video arcade and activities for kids, adults, and families.

Hope Lake Lodge is part of Greek Peak which also features downhill and cross-country skiing as well as snow tubing. In warmer months, Hope Lake Lodge offers activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. The resort also offers a spa and restaurants.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Halloween Events

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Halloween Events
Sep 30th 2011, 10:11

Until 1972, the year that Knott's Berry Farm transformed its Southern California park into Knott's Scary Farm, theme parks didn't embrace Halloween. In fact, most parks generally shut their gates soon after Labor Day. Now, however, virtually every park has jumped on the hay wagon with elaborate haunted houses, shows, and other Halloween hoopla. Discover where to find spooky fun in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

Scaredy-Parks 2011 Guide

Busch Entertainment. Used with permission.
Coast-to-coast thrills and chills are in store at theme parks and amusement parks. And the Scaredy-Parks guide is your one-stop resource for all of the Halloween events at North American parks.

Halloween Horror Nights 21 at Universal Orlando

Universal Orlando, 2011. Used with permission.

It is year 21 for the venerable Halloween Horror Nights, and Universal Orlando is exploiting the number to incorporate a blackjack/21/gambling-gone-wacko theme. Visitors lucky enough to escape the wrath of Lady Luck will find one of parkdom's best collections of haunted houses, scare zones, shows, and all-around Halloween goodness. Among the new mazes this year is one based on the film, The Thing.

Knott's Scary Farm Haunt 2011 at Knott's Berry Farm in California

Knotts Berry Farm, 2011. Used with permission.
It is the grandaddy of theme park Halloween events, and it is still scaring the daylights out of guests 39 years after somebody at Knott's Berry Farm got the bright idea of making over the park into a seasonal scarefest every Halloween. It is also still one of the best Halloween events.

Six Flags Fright Fests 2011

Six Flags. Used with permission.
All of the Six Flags parks have Fright Fests, but they all put their unique spins on the Halloween events with distinct haunted houses and mazes, special shows, and other features. Find out the dates, ticket info, and more info about each of the Fright Fests.

More 2011 Florida Halloween Theme Park Events

Walt Disney World. Used with permission.

Universal Orlando is not the only place in Florida to find scary (and not-so-scary) Halloween fun. There's also Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular.

More 2011 California Halloween Theme Park Events

Disney. Used with permission.

Knott's Berry Farm is not the only park in California to offer Halloween antics. There's also Six Flags Fright Fest, Disney's HalloweenTime, and other Halloween events at Legoland, California's Great America, and SeaWorld San Diego.

The Best Haunted Attractions

Arthur Levine, 2004. Licensed to About.com.
Roller coasters get most of the glory, carousels get plenty of PR spin, and whirling rides get lots of...dizzy passengers and the occasional visit from a clean-up crew. But haunted attractions, also known as spooky rides or by the industry term, dark rides, have been, and continue to be, an integral part of the theme park and amusement park experience as well. In honor of the Halloween season, I've pulled together a list of the Best Haunted Attractions. These classic and modern-day rides keep the Halloween spirit alive (or is that dead?) and well throughout the year.

More Halloween Fun

There are places other than theme parks to find Halloween fun, and About.com's Family Vacations Guide has a great overview of spooky train rides, scary (and not-so-scary) haunted houses, and more.

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Thursday, 29 September 2011

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Water Parks in Iowa

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Water Parks in Iowa
Sep 29th 2011, 10:09

Iowa water parks are arranged alphabetically.

Do you have a favorite water park in Iowa (or two or three)? Have you had a memorable experience at a waterpark? Write a review of an Iowa water park and share it with the Theme Parks community.

The Beach Ottumwa
Ottumwa
641-682-7873
Seven-acre park with wave pool, slides, and lagoon. Indoor lap pool.

'Boji Splash Indoor Water Park at Bridges Bay Resort
Arnolds Park
(800) 727-4561
(712) 332-2202
Small indoor park for registered guests at Bridges Bay.

Grand Harbor Indoor Waterpark and Resort
Dubuque, Iowa
866-690-4006
Indoor water park open to registered hotel guests.

Huck's Harbor at PZAZZ! Resort Hotel
Burlington, Iowa
877-543 2386
Indoor and outdoor water park open to registered hotel guests and general public.

King's Pointe Waterpark Resort
Storm Lake, Iowa
Indoor and outdoor water parks open to registered hotel guests and general public.

Lost Island
Waterloo
319-233-8414
A Polynesian-themed park in Iowa's countryside. Attractions include a wave pool, lazy river, enclosed tube slides, and kids' interactive play area.

Wasserbahn Waterpark Resort
Amana
319/-668-1175
Indoor water park for hotel guests with waterslides, interactive children's play area, spa, and sauna.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Sea World Orlando

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Sea World Orlando
Sep 29th 2011, 10:09

Sea World Orlando Phone:

(800) 327-2424
or (407) 351-3600

Operating Schedule:

The park is open year round and generally stays open longer during holidays and the peak summer season.

Location:

International Drive in Orlando, Florida

Sea World Orlando Directions:

The physical address is: 7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando, FL 32821

From Orlando: I-4 to Exit 72.

From Tampa: I-4 to Exit 71.

Sea World Orlando Admission Policy:

SeaWorld Orlando requires separate admission from the adjacent Aquatica water park and from Discovery Cove, SeaWorld's dolphin experience park. Reduced price for children 3 to 9. Ages 2 and under are free. Season passes and special promotions available for Florida residents.

Discount packages are available online at Sea World Orlando's Web site that combine Sea World Orlando passes with admission to one or more area parks: Aquatica, Busch Gardens Tampa, Discovery Cove, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Wet 'n Wild.

Hotel Info:

The Renaissance Orlando Resort at Sea World is one of Central Florida's finest hotels. Its rooms are unusually large, its decor is striking, and it offers one of the best breakfast buffets in the area.
Search for Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld rates at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

Find Nearby Hotel Accommodations
Compare rates for Orlando-area hotels at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.

Sea World Orlando Features:

SeaWorld is both a marine life park, with compelling stadium shows and exhibits, and a ride park with wild coasters and other attractions.
  • The marine life highlights include:
    • The Shamu stadium show, "Believe," is SeaWorld's signature presentation. Combining choreographed stunts, music, video, and, of course, lots of splashes, the large-scale show matches the killer whale's size.
    • Blue Horizons melds trained dolphins and birds with Cirque-du-Soleil-style theatrics.
    • Shark Encounter sends guests through an acrylic tube into a giant shark tank to get up-close and personal with the fearsome animals.
    • Penguin Encounter offers views of the Arctic creatures. As a bonus for guests who visit on a hot and humid Florida day, the exhibit is kept at a penguin-worthy 30 degrees.
    • At Stingray Lagoon and Dolphin Cove, guests can view, pet, and feed the animals.
  • The ride and attraction highlights include:
    • Manta- A flying coaster.
    • Journey to Atlantis- A themed water ride/roller coaster/dark ride.
    • Wild Arctic- A ride/exhibit hybrid, the attraction "transports" guests to the Arctic with a nifty motion simulator ridefilm and then offers a chilly view of real polar bears and whales.
    • Kraken- A wild floorless coaster.
    • Families with younger children will want to head to Shamu's Happy Harbor for pint-sized rides.

What's New at Sea World Orlando:

New for 2011
One Ocean
All three SeaWorld parks (in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego) will debut a new killer whale show this spring called "One Ocean." As with past presentations, there will be giant LED screens, original music, and special effects to help tell an overarching story--in this case, that we all share the planet and need to play a role in its ecological stewardship.

New for 2009: Manta Flying Coaster

More Sea World Orlando Info:

Other Sea World Orlando Parks:

Official Web Site:

SeaWorld Orlando

Sea World Orlando Overview:

When SeaWorld first opened, it was little more that a souped-up marine life park with exhibits that could be found at many municipal aquariums. Since the Busch folks took over however, the "Adventure Park" now features great rides along with the Shamu shenanigans. Many of the attractions combine coaster and other ride experiences with the fishy stuff.

Sea World is a huge park with lots of shows, exhibits, rides, and things to do. If you've never been, you could easily spend two days exploring the park. (And Sea World often offers free second-day admission with a one-day ticket. Check with the park to see if it is available.) If you have limited time at Sea World, take a few moments to get a sense of the lay of the land, note the times of the shows, and plan a rough itinerary before you wander aimlessly into the park. During peak season, the park often presents nighttime Shamu shows and an evening show over its lagoon that includes fireworks. Check the schedule.

The park offers lots of extra-fee opportunities, some of which allow guests to get closer to the animals. Check with Sea World for info, reservation details, and prices for activities such as behind-the-scenes tours, VIP tours, and animal interaction programs.

There are plenty of dining choices, and like the other Busch parks, the food is mostly pretty good. Sea World's waiter-service restaurant, Sharks Underwater Grill, features dinner and a show provided by the sharks swimming in the tank along the see-through walls. Make reservations in advance or early in the day at the popular restaurant. Sea World also offers special dining experiences such as a nightly luau, a dine with Shamu experience (Oddly, the buffet includes "Seafood Creole." Ew! Don't tell Shamu.), and a character breakfast with the Sesame Street gang. Make reservations well in advance for these popular choices.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Kingda Ka Onboard Video

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Kingda Ka Onboard Video
Sep 29th 2011, 10:09

Added on Jun 29 2007

This video of an actual ride aboard Kingda Ka (as opposed to a video of a virtual CGI ride that Six Flags Great Adventure released before the coaster opened) shows the record-breaking coaster in all its big, bad glory. It includes long shots of the ride taken from the ground, but the video's highlights are its onboard point-of-view and rider-reaction shots. The Six Flags video is well produced and really gives a sense of the beyond-white-knuckle coaster and its insane stats: 128 mph in under 4 seconds and 456 feet tall. If seeing is believing, then you have to see this video.

Are you a video enthusiast, always uploading your latest videos to sites like YouTube? Well, we want to show your stuff! Let us showcase your video for you on About.com.

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Wednesday, 28 September 2011

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Best Haunted Attractions

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Best Haunted Attractions
Sep 28th 2011, 10:11

Roller coasters get most of the glory, carousels get plenty of PR spin, and whirling rides get lots of...dizzy passengers and the occasional visit from a clean-up crew. But haunted attractions, also known as spooky rides or by the industry term, dark rides, have been, and continue to be, an integral part of the theme park and amusement park experience as well. Herewith, in no particular order, are the best haunted attractions at North American parks.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Arthur Levine, 2004. Licensed to About.com.
Sure, the freefall drop tower part of the ride is thrilling, but the pre-show and effects leading up to the finale, particularly in the original version at Disney's Hollywood Studios, is downright chilling. The "fifth dimension," as the elevator cars move horizontally through a star field towards impending doom, is haunted attraction nirvana.

Revenge of the Mummy

Universal Studios, 2004. Used with permission.
Universal incorporates so many innovations into its utterly unique dark ride/coaster, it has coined a new label for Revenge of the Mummy: psychological thrill ride. With its inky darkness, creepy scarabs, and other freak-out inducers, the ride plays a winning mind-games hand. But Universal, never shy about its in-your-face fun, also unleashes physical thrills, including a surprisingly potent coaster experience, to produce a wild, kinetic, frenetic attraction. You'll be screaming for your mommy. How the CA and FL Mummy Rides Compare

Haunted Mansion

Arthur Levine, 2003. Licensed to About.com.
Coming on the heels of the wildly successful and innovative Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion was part of an incredible burst of creative energy from Disney and one of its high watermark moments. An overnight sensation (that was actually many years in the making), the classic ride has remained enormously popular; casual and ardent fans alike typically pair it with Pirates as the archetypal Disney attractions. More funny than scary, Haunted Mansion nonetheless includes some classic and modern-day haunted attraction gotchas.

Spook-A-Rama

Arthur Levine, 2004. Licensed to About.com.
While it may not have the cachet of Nathan's hot dogs, the Cyclone roller coaster, or the Wonder Wheel, the Spook-A-Rama at New York's Coney Island is nevertheless a seminal piece of living amusement park history. One of the few remaining classic haunted attractions, enthusiasts consider the Spook to be the Sistine Chapel of dark rides. Read on mortals...IF YOU DARE!

Coney Island, NY
Coney Island Photo Gallery

Curse of DarKastle

Arthur Levine 2005. Licensed to About.com.
Think of a traditional amusement park dark ride. On steroids. Curse of DarKastle is a 20th-Century-style romp through a haunted, Gothic 15th-Century castle using 21st-Century technology. As with the dark rides of yore, there are spooky corridors, things that go bump in the faux night, and loads of scary "gimmicks" or gotchas. But Curse's gotchas use 3-D CGI animation, roving motion-base vehicles, and other new-age features. It's an incredible achievement, particularly for a seasonal park.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg, VA

Pirates of the Caribbean

Disney 2007. Used with permission.
Dead men may tell no tales, but Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean have entertained millions with their salty tales. A landmark achievement in theme park storytelling when it debuted in 1967, Pirates remains one of Disney's--and all of parkdom's--most beloved attractions. This isn't strictly a haunted attraction, but those scary pirate skeletons and cries of "Dead men tell no tales," can get pretty spooky.

Haunted Mansion

Knoebels.
No, not that Haunted Mansion. While the more famous Disney dark ride relies on a lot of big-budget Imagineering trickery, the Haunted Mansion at Knoebels is a retro dark ride that owes more to classic amusement parks of yore. Designed in-house and partly using sets and components from closed dark rides, the Knoebels attraction is generally regarded as one of the best modern-day examples of a traditional spooky ride.

Knoebels, PA

Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye

Disney. Used with permission.
An E-Ticket tour de force, Indiana Jones Adventure immerses guests into the world of the popular movie series through the use of Disney's innovative Enhanced Motion Vehicles, highly elaborate sets, and a stunning array of effects. Rather than retell one of the film's stories, it creates a new plot and casts riders in leading roles. It is one of Imagineering's crowning achievements. This isn't a "haunted" attraction per se, but Indiana Jones Adventure does incorporate all kinds of dark ride gotchas, such as snakes, "poisonous" darts, and--of course--a giant, forbidden eye.

Disneyland, CA

Ghostwood Estate

Kennywood.
An interactive dark ride, Ghostwood Estate arms each passenger with a blaster to shoot at haunted characters and rack up points. While there are a number of similar shoot-em-up rides, Kennywood's attraction is among the best.

Kennywood, PA

Looking for More Haunted Attractions?

Sadly, many of the classic amusement park dark rides have closed, but to find a directory of those that are still operating as well as a look back at the rides' glorious history, go to Laff In The Dark. Lovingly maintained by dark ride fans, it is a wonderful ode to the rides as well as a treasure trove of feature articles and info.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Colorado Theme Parks

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Colorado Theme Parks
Sep 28th 2011, 10:11

Colorado theme parks and amusement parks are arranged alphabetically.

Do you have a favorite theme park in Colorado? Have you had a memorable experience at a theme park or amusement park? Write a review of a Colorado theme park and share it with the Theme Parks community.

Buckskin Joe
Canon City
(719) 275-5149
Frontier town and railway.

Elitch Gardens
Denver
(303) 595-4386
Former Six Flags theme park.

Funtastic Fun
Englewood
(303) 761-8700
Indoor park for young children. Attractions include Ferris wheel, teacup ride, and carousel.

Heritage Square Amusement Park
Golden
(303)727-8437
Family entertainment center with go-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, arcade, and a few amusement rides, including a Ferris wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl, carousel, and kiddie coaster.

Lakeside
Denver
(303) 477-1621
Traditional amusement park. Features the circa-1940 Cyclone wooden coaster.

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
Canon City
(888) 333-5597
Attractions include the world's highest suspension bridge, the world's longest aerial tram, and the world's steepest incline railway.

Santa's Workshop
North Pole (really!-near Pike's Peak)
(719) 684-9432
Small, Christmas-themed park.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: The Simpsons Ride Review

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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The Simpsons Ride Review
Sep 28th 2011, 10:11

With their rapid-fire gags, penchant for (cartoon) violence, and boundary-pushing humor, The Simpsons are a good fit at the loud, in-your-face, we-love-to-blow-stuff-up Universal Studios parks. The Simpsons Ride gives guests the chance to accompany Bart, Homer, and the rest of the iconic clan as they experience the brand new Krustyland, theme parks within the Universal theme parks that have been built on the cheap by Krusty the Clown. Of course, calamity ensues. And since this is the Simpsons, hilarity ensues as well.

The Simpsons Ride Up-front Info

  • Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 4.5
    Motion simulator thrills include (simulated) coaster drops and crashes.
  • Attraction type: Motion simulator
  • Height restriction: 40 inches

Universal Studios Florida Ticket Info

Universal Orlando offers two basic ticket options: A 1-day, 1-park ticket to either Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure; or, a 2-park ticket with park-hopping access to both parks for up to seven days.
Save money and time. Get Universal Orlando tickets in advance of your visit. Buy Discounted Tickets Online, Direct from Universal Orlando.

Will you be able to handle The Simpsons Ride?
As a motion simulator, The Simpsons Ride syncs the action of its eight-passenger vehicles with wild animated footage. Although scenes include freefalling from nosebleed heights and mid-air collisions, the vehicles never actually move more than a few inches in any direction. If you can handle Star Tours at the Disney parks, you'll be able to handle The Simpsons.

Pirate Rip-Off

The fun begins outside the ride. A gift shop retrofitted as a Kwik-E-Mart, complete with a Squishee stand, helps make the transition to the Simpsons world. The attraction is housed inside a garish Krustyland building, with retro amusement park lights, eye-popping colors, and a giant head of Krusty the Clown. Guests enter the ride by walking along Krusty's "red carpet" tongue and into his mouth.

The signature Simpsons humor is everywhere. The front of the attraction is made to resemble an amusement park midway with carnival games such as Ring Toss. "SMALL RINGS, GIANT BOTTLES-IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" screams a sign on the booth. Throughout the queue (and lines for The Simpsons Ride can get quite long), there are giant video screens playing a 30-minute loop that includes new Krustyland footage interspersed with excerpts from park-centric Simpsons show footage. As guests shuffle through the rat maze, there are plenty of chuckles to be had, for example, watching dolls from around the world sing, a la Disney's "It's a Small World," the heartwarming refrains of "A Duff for you; A duff for me..." from the "Selma's Choice" episode. Disney, SeaWorld, and other theme parks get tweaked throughout the queue and on the ride itself. The Pirates of the Caribbean would shiver their timbers if they caught the signs for Captain Dinosaur's Pirate Rip-Off.

It's Thrilltacular

At both Universal parks, The Simpsons Ride is presented in the same buildings that used to house the Back to the Future attractions. As with that groundbreaking motion simulator ride, guests make their way through labyrinthine corridors and up to one of multiple levels on either side of the building. Before boarding, they are held in a pre-show area filled with laugh-out-loud Simpsons displays that include Apu and Groundskeeper Willy.

A hilarious video sets the stage as the guests are chosen to join the Simpsons family for the debut ride aboard Krusty's Thrilltacular, Upsy-Downsy, Teen-Operated Roller Coaster. However, a vengeful Sideshow Bob (the voice of Kelsey Grammer) is shown lurking in the shadows to sabotage the new park.

Groups of eight passengers are shuttled to individual ride rooms where they watch a (literally) gut-busting, pre-ride safety video featuring Itchy and Scratchy. Instead of Back to the Futire's DeLorean time machines, guests now board an oversized roller coaster car. At the start of the ride, the cars move ten feet up and join a phalanx of other vehicles in front of an enveloping, 80-foot Omnimax domed screen.

Unlike Back to the Future's filmed footage, which used miniature sets and other old-school Hollywood trickery to create its time-shifting environments, The Simpsons Ride uses computer-generated imagery. This has its pluses and minuses. On the positive side, the footage is crisp and bright--even sleek. The motion simulator sensations, as the vehicles move in sync with the action on the screen, are very convincing. The initial zoom up a roller coaster lift, for example, is quite well done.

CG Why?

The CGI footage on The Simpsons Ride is a bit disconcerting.

Universal Orlando, 2008. Used with permission.
But, there's something disconcerting about seeing our old two-dimensional TV pals rendered in CGI. Crude animation is part of the Simpsons oeuvre. It sounds like the Simpsons (the original cast provides all of the voices), but it doesn't quite look like the Simpsons or have their usual fluidity. That detracts a bit from the ride experience.

Still, in true Simpsons form, there are some wildly funny lines. In the face of impending doom, for example, Homer reassures his family that "theme parks wouldn't kill you as long as there's a dime left in your pocket." Except for the CGI misstep, The Simpsons Ride is in tune with creator Matt Groening's distinctive Simpsons sensibility. Fans of the show--and there are legions of them--will love taking a ride with them. And more casual fans will likely adore the attraction as well. In any event, everyone would agree that the attraction is considerably more fun than Captain Dinosaur's Pirate Rip-Off.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Massachusetts Water Parks

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Massachusetts Water Parks
Sep 28th 2011, 10:11

Massachusetts water parks are arranged alphabetically.

Do you have a favorite water park in Massachusetts (or two or three)? Have you had a memorable experience at a waterpark? Write a review of a Massachusetts water park and share it with the Theme Parks community.

Breezy Picnic Ground Waterslides
Douglas
508-476-2664
Small park with some water slides.

Bousquet
Pittsfield
413-442-8316
Family entertainment center with some water slides, activity pool with small slides, plus go-karts and mini-golf.

Cape Codder Resort
Hyannis
508-771-3000
Small, indoor water park resort with wave pool, slides, whirlpool, kids' play area.

CoCo Key Water Park at Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Medium-size indoor water park resort
Open to hotel guests and to the general public.

CoCo Key Water Resort at the Sheraton Ferncroft
Danvers, Massachusetts
Medium-size indoor water park resort open to registered hotel guests and limited availability for general public.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags New England
Agawam, Massachusetts
Affiliated theme park: Six Flags New England
Huge outdoor water park included with admission to Six Flags.

Water Wizz
Wareham
508-295-3255 or 401-364-2070
Medium-sized outdoor water park with mini-golf.

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Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Theme Parks: Will Cars Drive Away as Most Anticipated Ride of 2012?

Theme Parks
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Will Cars Drive Away as Most Anticipated Ride of 2012?
Sep 20th 2011, 07:04

The parks are usually the ones guilty of laying on the hyperbole, but I'm quite jazzed about 2012, and I think that out of the many years I've been writing about the industry, it just may be the most exciting year for park developments. Granted, there aren't any major new parks opening (except for China) or really any one thing that's grabbing the headlines and hogging the spotlight. It's the sheer quantity and breadth of new attractions, lands, rides, coasters, and other goodies that's coming our way that has me pumped.

Of all the announcements, however, I think the one goodie that may have me the most giddy is Cars Land, the Pixar-inspired expansion that's taking shape at Disney California Adventure. The town of Radiator Springs is coming to life along with the E-ticket attraction, Radiator Springs Racer. The finishing touches are also being made as part of the massive makeover of the second park at Disneyland Resort, which has gone from huh? to wow! over the past few years. (It's amazing what a mere $1.1 billion can do, eh?)

But there are all kinds of wow! developments taking place at parks next year. I don't have everything listed yet, but you can see some of the highlights at my What's New at Parks page. What do you think will be the most anticipated new park goodie of 2012? Weigh in by clicking "Comments" below.

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Monday, 19 September 2011

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: World Waterpark West Edmonton

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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World Waterpark West Edmonton
Sep 19th 2011, 10:09

Phone:

780-444-5300

Location:

Inside the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

World Waterpark Admission Policy:

The indoor water park is open to the general public. Discounted rates offered for children, ages 3 to 10. The park also offers a discount for guests who arrive within 3 hours of closing. Season passes, which include admission to the West Edmonton Mall's other attractions, are available.

Indoor Water Park Square Footage:

5 acres or approximately 200,000 square feet.

The World Waterpark is North America's largest indoor water park. For more info, see A Lotta Water: Who Has Wisconsin Dells' Biggest Water Park?

Directions:

From Calgary, Alberta (South): Highway 2N, which turns into Gateway Boulevard. Left onto Whitemud Drive. Right onto 170 Street N. Left onto 87 Avenue W. The mall is on the right.

Nearby Airport:

World Waterpark Indoor Water Park Features:

Wave pool, tube slides, body slides, kiddie slides, action river, bowl slide, whirlpool spas, interactive play structure, zip line (extra charge), and bungee jump (extra charge).

Offcial Web Site:

World Waterpark Overview:

Long before Wisconsin Dells ushered in the new wave of indoor water park resorts, folks were enjoying the slides and attractions at the World Waterpark in the West Edmonton Mall--even during Alberta's notoriously brutal winters. Although many of the newer water park resorts make various claims about being the largest, the Canadian original is still North America's largest indoor water park. For more info, see A Lotta Water: Who Has Wisconsin Dells' Biggest Water Park?

The cavernous park offers a bunch of slides and rides to satisfy guests of all ages and thrill-tolerance levels, including the Sky Screamer speed slide, the Raging Rapids action river, and kiddie bumper boats. The enormous wave pool is among the world's largest--indoors or outdoors. Another highlight is Tropical Typhoon, a "toilet bowl" ride which sends folks swishing around the perimeter of a bowl and then getting flushed out the center into a splash pool.

The West Edmonton Mall also includes Galaxyland, an indoor amusement park, indoor mini golf, a skating rink, an aquarium, and other attractions, as well as on-site hotels and, of course, scads of shops, stores, and restaurants.

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Theme Parks: What's Hot Now: Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld

Theme Parks: What's Hot Now
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Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld
Sep 19th 2011, 10:09

It's Not Open Yet!:


Note that construction of the Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld at Glacier Lakes Resort is delayed and is now scheduled to open in Spring 2010.

Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld at Glacier Lakes Resort Phone:


888-927-8296

Location:


Farmington, New York. Near Rochester in the Finger Lakes area.

Indoor Water Park Square Footage:

70,000

Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld Water Park Admission Policy:


The water park will be open to registered guests of the resort's two hotels, but it will offer day passes to the general public based on availability.

Indoor Water Park Features:


FlowRider surfing attraction, family raft ride, bowl ride, mat racing slide, lazy river, tube slides, body slides, interactive play structure with dump bucket, chidlren's activity pool, and whirlpool spa.

Other Water Park Info:


Want to learn more about the rides that will be coming to Aquazonia? Read these reviews of similar attractions at other indoor water parks.

Boogie Bear Surf FlowRider at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge Indoor Water Park

The Cyclone Bowl Ride at Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park

Fantastic Voyage Family Raft Ride at Wilderness Indoor Water Park

Official Web Site:

Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld at Glacier Lakes Resort Overview:


Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld will be a large indoor water park with a "lost world civilization" theme. It will feature a generous array of attractions including a FlowRider surfing attraction, a family raft ride, a bowl ride, a lazy river, and a whirlpool spa. It will also offer an interactive play center with small slides and a tipping bucket.

In addition to the indoor water park, the Glacier Lakes Resort will include a main 175-room mansion-themed hotel along with a 100-room Hampton Suites hotel. Other features of the resort will include a conference center, a restaurant/retail/entertainment area, and a video arcade.

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