robbalvey

Very soon....

Universal Studios Hollywood just dropped a "Secret Life of Pets" announcement.... Universal Studios Hollywood Takes Guests on a Whirlwind Journey through New York City in an All-New “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” Ride Inspired by Illumination’s Worldwide Blockbuster Movie, Opening in 2020 Universal City, CA, April 10, 2019 – Adoption day is the ultimate rite of passage for every animal seeking a home, and it’s now the inspiration for Universal Studios Hollywood’s lively new ride, “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!,” opening in 2020 based on Illumination’s 2016 global blockbuster and upcoming sequel, which answers the question, “What do your pets do when you’re not at home?” In this all-new fully immersive experience, guests will assume the roles of stray puppies as they join a familiar cast of leading characters from The Secret Life of Pets — Max, Snowball, Gidget, Chloe and Duke, along with a host of other animal friends — on the ultimate quest of finding forever homes. “We are thrilled to be able to bring another exciting Illumination movie-based ride to our guests,” said Karen Irwin, President and COO, Universal Studios Hollywood. “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!’ will capture the essence of the popular film and invite our guests to live vicariously through some of their favorite characters as they embark on a one-of-a-kind experience only available at Universal Studios Hollywood.” The innovative adventure will blend live, dimensional and animated characters with hyper-realistic media as guests zip along a track aboard ride vehicles through bustling New York City streets towards the Pet Adoption event and the ultimate happy ending: forever homes. Along the way, guests will face an array of challenges and meet up with fellow animal pals eager to help guide them toward their destination. “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” will be located adjacent to the popular “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” and “Super Silly Fun Land” attractions. Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets 2, the next chapter in the franchise, arrives in theaters June 7, 2019.

So basically what you're saying is that you really lack any experience at all to be ranking the collection of parks that Southern California has to offer?

Disney has released the final date for Illuminations and some new images for "Epcot Forever!" Final showing of ‘IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth’ will be Sept. 30 LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (April 9, 2019) – “Epcot Forever,” a new nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World Resort, will debut Oct. 1, 2019, on World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot. The limited-time show will be a celebration of the past, present and future of Epcot, built around the magical soundtrack guests have come to know and love at the park. The new show will feature fireworks, lighting, lasers and choreographed, special effects kites, accompanied by a stirring collection of songs that paints a colorful picture of Epcot. Disney Parks Live Entertainment is collaborating on the show with noted conductor and composer Don Harper, who is producing all-new arrangements of classic Epcot tunes to weave into the soundtrack of “Epcot Forever.” “‘Epcot Forever’ is a celebration of what Epcot has been and what Epcot is going to become,” said Alan Bruun, show director for Disney Parks Live Entertainment. “Music is the star of the show, and we use songs going back to the very beginnings of Epcot to music in the park today – from attractions, spectaculars and other shows – and put them into a fireworks spectacular on the lagoon every night. Guests are going to hear music they know and love but in a whole new way.” The current Epcot nighttime spectacular, “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” will end its dazzling 20-year run on Sept. 30, 2019. Now, more than ever, guests will want to bid the show a fond farewell this spring and summer to once again take in a nighttime extravaganza dedicated to the joyful history of humanity and the remarkable achievements of our time. After it launches Oct. 1, “Epcot Forever” will continue into 2020, when it will then make way for the debut of the next epic Epcot nighttime spectacular as part of the park’s multi-year transformation.

Take a front seat ride on 9 awesome roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia!

A park you've never been to is #3 on your list? I'm trying really hard not to come out and say how insanely stupid that is, but I'll refrain from staying how insanely stupid that is because it may be insulting if I say how insanely stupid that is. So I'll be polite and won't say it.

If my memory serves correctly I think this was a very quick stop for us. I think if we had seen it running we would have featured it, but we usually don't feature closed rides unless it was of some significance. So that's probably why we didn't even notice it!

What? I'm not upset. In fact, I honestly could give two warm shits about this discussion! lol! Don't be sorry for creating the topic as there is nothing wrong with the topic. Be sorry for continuing to argue with people about something that you know little about when many well educated people, including people who currently work in the theme park business, have responded to your thread to let you know why there isn't and most likely will not be a park in Austin.

Wow, that is one obnoxious wall of text! First of all... Secondly... Where I grew up in Southern California (Torrance/Redondo Beach area) was about 90 minutes to Magic Mountain and 60-90 minutes to Disneyland/Knott's in normal LA traffic. No one balked at driving that far at all and people in Southern California drive that every single day to go to those parks. So now you want an amusement park and a high speed train system???? Elitch is not a small park! It's 65 acres which is about the size of Disneyland when it first opened! And you chose a bad example because Elitch is due to close in the near future because the city wants to re-develop that area because it hasn't been that popular. No. Nobody said that. We all said it just didn't make any sense given the parks that are already nearby and Austin's demographic. I seriously just think you don't have a clue what you are talking about. Please... just stick to riding coasters and stop thinking about how or where theme parks should be built. Thanks. ...I really don't even understand why this discussion exists!

Yeah, I just don't think you really know that much about how theme parks and their demographics work. Probably best to leave that stuff up to the professionals and you should stick to just riding coasters, throwing your arms up in the air and screaming like a little girl!

Jessie’s Critter Carousel Now Open for a Rootin’ Tootin’ Good Time at Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Park https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/04/jessies-critter-carousel-now-open-for-a-rootin-tootin-good-time-at-pixar-pier-in-disney-california-adventure-park/ Mosey on over to Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure park and take a spin on Jessie’s Critter Carousel, now open! This giant toy carousel stars Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl and a friendly bunch of desert critters inspired by the “Toy Story” films. Hop on and yell “giddyup!” from the saddle of a whimsical snake, armadillo, turtle, bunny or other critters from the world of Woody’s Roundup. Check out the video below! Jessie’s Critter Carousel can be found in Toy Story Boardwalk of Pixar Pier, which celebrates the stories and characters at Disney•Pixar films with exciting attractions, themed neighborhoods and fun eateries.

So did that ride actually close or not? RCDB has it listed as "removed" but clearly that's not the case.

When much larger cities like Miami or Houston don't even have a medium sized park at the moment, do you think it makes sense for Austin to have one? As you said, San Antonio is not far away and you have Six Flags & SeaWorld there, and don't forget you've also got ZDT's not far away either.

Correct. Their previous from-scratch installations have been either Topper Track wooden coasters or Raptor Track clones. Yep. That's what I thought. Wasn't sure if I had missed something. This is an interesting development for sure! Looks like I'll probably end up here this summer and then maybe next summer again!

So this is the first time RMC is building a hybrid from scratch, right?

Every once in a while Disney will do something totally unexpected and somewhat unannounced that really takes you by surprise! Such is the case with "Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy" which just opened at Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios. The attraction is located next to Rock N Roller Coaster in a building that used to be more of a "multi-purpose" venue, but now houses this permanent attraction. Outside the building you can find other cars from the Pixar films to take photos with and there is some entertainment for kids while you wait for the next show. It's very cute and well done! The show itself is a fairly quick 12 minutes or so and when you walk into the theater, it kind of seems like one half of a "CircleVision" theater which is kind of exactly what it is. The main star of the show, however, is a very impressive animatronic of Lightning McQueen that is more on the ground level of the theater in front of the audience. The show demonstrates that it takes "teamwork to win" as Lightning McQueen faces one of his competitors via a racing simulation that he has put together to help newbies become better race car drivers in his academy. The whole thing is well done and will be a nice distraction from the very busy Star Wars Land crowds that will soon invade the park later this summer. Take a look at the video below to really see how impressive this new animatronic is! And then of course.... go see the show! Good morning from Disney's Hollywood Studios! We're here to check out a new attraction which some of you may not know about! Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy has just opened and it can be found right next to Rock N Roller Coaster! You can meet some of the cars from the Pixar films! DJ is here to play you music and pose for photos! And yes, PhotoPass people are out here to take your pics so you don't even have to worry about it yourself! Loved all the entertainment they had for kids. Here they are playing "car wash" as one of the activities. As for the attraction itself, this used to be more of a "multi-purpose" venue but how it houses this permanent attraction! The star of the show is this amazing Lightning McQueen animatronic! Lightning has to race one of his competitors on his "racing simulator" that he developed for his academy. Spoiler alert... guess who wins! Be sure to check out this new show next time you are at Disney's Hollywood Studios!

This just isn't a philosophy that works for Orlando. Maybe ten years ago when you could get the 4-day "locals" park hopper at Disney or a Universal Annual pass for $99, sure, but in 2019, if you're looking for a "cheap" Orlando vacation, you're really not going to find that much simply because there are plenty of people willing to pay what it costs to visit some of the best parks in the world. Especially if you do want to visit Disney. There are no "cheap" options. Even Universal, as you said, is $250 for their 5 day ticket. And since they are no longer park of the Orlando Flex Ticket that includes Busch & SeaWorld, that IMO is a lot of Universal for one visit. You also didn't give us much to go off either as to what you like to do. You mention Busch and SeaWorld, and you mention that you've been to some Disney and Universal parks, but what do you personally LIKE? Are you a Disney fan? Is not doing Disney going to be a dealbreaker for you on this Orlando trip? If you skip Disney you can probably do Busch, SeaWorld and Universal for about $350 and have access to Universal for 5 days. IMO, that "Buy two days, get three free" is just Universal's ploy to get people to stay longer at a park they probably don't need 3 extra days at instead of going to the other Orlando parks. I would get that Universal ticket and then buy the $100 Busch/SeaWorld Combo ticket. Yes, it's $350 for one person, but IMO that's the best "deal" you're going to get here in Orlando if you're looking for the most "stuff" to do for your money. If you want to do Disney, basically assume it's $100 per day. You really don't see a break in pricing at Disney unless you are doing more than 4 days at the parks. And then it's about as much money to do 10 days at Disney parks as it is to do 5 days at Disney parks. And THOSE parks you need the extra time at! So in summary - If you're a Disney fan and you don't want to spend that much money, do three days at Disney and your one day at Busch. If you're not a huge Disney fan and you are looking for quantity over quality, then I'd go for the Universal + SeaWorld + Busch option. That's my advice for you.

If you go to http://www.clubtpr.com/login.php and enter your username and password, and then click this link: http://www.clubtpr.com/account.php It should take you to your current account page.

Yes, the login is currently disabled. What is it that you needed to login for? There really isn't anything in the account pages at the moment anyway.

On Tuesday, April 23rd, acclaimed celebrity chef, Wolfgang Puck, will be bringing his flagship restaurant, Spago, to Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill Disney Springs for a one night only special dinner event. Guests will be able to experience Chef Wolfgang Puck’s classic Spago dishes like the Smoked Salmon Pizza, Tuna Cones, and his Wienerschnitzel. Wolfgang Puck will also be bringing some of his talented chefs from Spago Beverly Hills, CUT at the Rosewood and Wolfgang Puck American Grill, to present The Spago Experience. Dinner reservations will go from 5 pm – 10 pm with a pre-fix menu of $98/per person. Link to book: https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/wolfgangorlando?default_date=2019-04-23&default_time=5:00PM

Not "every Halloween" but they did it once or twice...

Disney Villains Take Center Stage at Select Disney After Hours Nights Events at Magic Kingdom Park Disney After Hours has been a huge success with guests looking for the opportunity to experience the magic at Magic Kingdom Park after the sun goes down. Today, I’m excited to share a new reason to delve into the delights of Disney After Hours this summer – Disney Villains will add a wicked twist to Disney After Hours event nights June 6-August 8! In case you aren’t familiar, Disney After Hours is a special event that’s open to a limited number of guests and offers low wait times at more than 20 attractions and experiences after the park closes to day guests, from classics like the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Space Mountain, to newer favorites like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, plus many more. Event tickets also allow entry as early as 7 p.m., which gives you time to enjoy fireworks before heading off to the attractions. Ice cream novelties, popcorn and select bottled beverages are also included in the cost of admission. This summer, Disney Villains After Hours will take on a wickedly fun villains theme, with exclusive entertainment, food & beverage, merchandise and more. Here’s a taste of what new elements to expect: - A Brand-New Disney Villains Stage Show – Hades and Meg from “Hercules” will set the castle stage ablaze in this all-new stage show, Villains Unite the Night, which will also feature appearances by Jafar, The Queen, Dr. Facilier and Maleficent. - Spot Maleficent the Dragon – Maleficent the Dragon, with her Steampunk style and signature wicked grin, will be let loose for the first time at night – breathing fire as she creeps through the park as a one-of-a-kind experience for party guests. - Villanous Enhancements: Discover surprising, villain-inspired additions at Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain. Wickedly Good Food & Beverage -A variety of special food & beverage offerings will also be available for purchase, including tasty desserts, drinks and dishes inspired by The Queen, Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Hades, Dr. Facilier and even Emperor Zurg. - Event Merchandise – Event attendees can also purchase new logo merchandise, as well as items from a curated collection of the best Disney Villains merchandise available. - One Notorious Item to Note: Ever driven to stand out in their unpredictable and audacious fashion, while the Villains will be entertaining guests in the new stage show, they will not be participating in character greetings during the event. If you really wanna get in on the action, feel free to show off your sinister side by dressing in attire inspired by your favorite baddie. Disney Villains After Hours tickets cost $139 plus tax in advance, $144 plus tax on the event night. Keep your eye on the Disney Parks Blog in the coming weeks for booking details! Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club Members can take advantage of a $30 discount and purchase tickets for $109. Tickets for these specific Disney Villains After Hours event nights will go on sale April 29. Joining us for this year’s event? Be sure to share your experience with us using #VillainsAfterHours. More details: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/magic-kingdom-after-hours/

We have decided to make some changes to Club TPR and at the moment we are not accepting any new members. We will make an announcement when we have more details to post.

Why do people just post a link and nothing else? It is one of the laziest most uninformative things you can do on a discussion thread. I hate it and it really annoys me when people do this. Like, is it really too much to ask for someone to type even ONE SENTENCE describing why they posted that link so the rest of us know why we should click on it? For example: Nagahshima Spaland has announced the opening date of the new coaster! You may want to use Google Translate to translate this page: http://www.nagashimaresort.jp/spaland/info/hakugei.html That took my EIGHTEEN SECONDS to write, and it gives the reader a much better idea of why you just lazily posted a link and by adding the sentence more people may click on it and then further discuss what they just read. Or, WAIT! Better yet! How about a description AND a screen shot!!!! You know, *ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING* something to the discussion at hand! For example: Nagahshima Spaland has announced the opening date of the new coaster! You may want to use Google Translate to translate this page: http://www.nagashimaresort.jp/spaland/info/hakugei.html Translated: Look, guys, I gotta be honest, that took me almost TWO MINUTES to do. I know that's a lot of time and effort for our Idiocracy world, but c'mon? Is it really too much to ask of some of you to spend TWO MINUTES to be able to properly communicate something rather than just posting a link like you're some sort of moronic drone who don't have the intelligence to function any more than doing copy/paste? I can't be the only one who feels this way, right? RIGHT?!?!? /end rant.