| Readers Choice Awards 2012 Jan 19th 2012, 11:04 OK park fans, it's time to let your voices be heard again. The annual Readers' Choice Awards showcase the best new stuff at parks -- the things that captured the attention, stoked the admiration, and outright dazzled readers like you during the past year. Parks introduced lots of popular new goodies during 2011, so it should be a spirited competition. There are some other great online awards programs for parks, but the Readers' Choice Awards is the only one that focuses exclusively on new achievements in the previous year. Think of it as the Academy Awards or the People's Choice Awards for parks. There aren't any prizes for the winners, nor is there any boring awards ceremony -- just the bragging rights that come with getting recognized by the readers of one of the biggest networks on the Web. To get weekly updates about the theme park awards as well as the latest news about the world of theme parks, water parks, and themed attractions, subscribe to About.com's Theme Parks Newsletter. This is the second year that the Theme Parks site has participated in About.com's Readers Choice Awards. Do you want to know which parks got the nod for the first crop of awards? Check out last year's RCA results. It's Time to Nominate Your Favorites! 
About.com, 2012.There are seven categories this year, including three new ones. The nomination period begins Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Links to the nomination forms are listed below for each of the categories. The nomination period ends Wednesday, February 15, after which nominations will be tallied, and five finalists will be determined for each category. The voting phase begins Wednesday, February 22, 2012 and continues through Wednesday, March 21. The winners, as determined by your votes, will be announced on Friday, March 30, 2012. Got that? Good. Now, on to the nominations. 
© Arthur Levine, 2011. Licensed to About.com.This category includes any new ride or park attraction that debuted anywhere in the world during 2011 except a show, roller coaster, or ride in a water park (which have their own categories). You can learn more about last year's new attractions in the Theme Parks Ride Guide 2011. Some possible candidates include (but are not limited to): 
SeaWorld. Used with permission.You can nominate any new park show that debuted anywhere in the world during 2011. A "show" is any outdoor presentation, including a parade, or indoor theater-type presentation. You can learn more about last year's new shows in my What's New at Parks Guide 2011. Some possible nominees include (but are not limited to): 
Six Flags, 2010. Used with permission.Nominate any new coaster that debuted anywhere in the world during 2011. Coasters that were moved from one location to another are not eligible. You can learn more about last year's new rides in my Roller Coaster Ride Guide 2011. Some possible candidates include (but you can nominate any eligible coaster): 
Calypso Theme Waterpark Limoges Canada © Copyright 2011Any new water park ride at either outdoor or indoor water parks (including indoor water park resorts) that debuted anywhere in the world during 2011 would be eligible. Note that water rides in theme parks (such as shoot-the-chute or whitewater raft rides) are not eligible. The ride must be located in a water park, including water parks that are part of theme parks. You can learn more about last year's new water park rides in my Slide Guide 2011. Some possible nominees include (but feel free to nominate any eligible water park ride): 
© Arthur Levine, 2012. Licensed to About.com.Any new food item at a theme park or water park (including indoor water parks) that debuted anywhere in the world during 2011 would be eligible. It could be a snack item, a quick-service dish, or something new at a full-service restaurant. New food served anywhere at theme park or water park resorts, including on-property hotels and onsite dining/entertainment/shopping complexes would be eligible. This is a new category for the 2012 Theme Park Readers' Choice Awards. Who will take home the inaugural prize for the tastiest new food item? 
Knott's Berry Farm, 2011. Used with permission.Which park, anywhere in the world, had the best Halloween event last year? This award is not for any one attraction, but for the best overall presentation, including haunted mazes, scare zones, shows, and decorations. You can learn more about last year's Halloween events in my Scaredy-Parks Guide 2011. This is another new category for the 2012 Theme Park Readers' Choice Awards. Some possible choices include (but any eligible 2011 Halloween event is fair game): 
Silver Dollar City. Used with permission.More and more parks are celebrating Christmas and the holidays with special events. So which one, anywhere in the world, had the best holiday event last year? As with the Halloween award, this category is for the best overall presentation, including shows, holiday lights, festive food, special attractions, and decorations. You can learn more about last year's holiday events in my Jingle Bell Parks Guide Guide 2011. This is yet another new category for the 2012 Theme Park Readers' Choice Awards. Some possible choices include (but all 2011 park Christmas events are eligible):  | |
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