jedimaster1227

^Assuming the Chicago location follows the same operating procedures as the location opening in Las Vegas next month, there is no hard age limit though Universal recommends against bringing children younger than 13 years old. https://www.universalhorrorunleashed.com

Disneyland Paris has shared updates on two of their iconic "mountains" as they enhance and refurbish these classic coasters. https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/new-light-display-for-star-warstm-hyperspace-mountain-exterior/ In celebration of the 30th anniversary of this iconic Discoveryland attraction in 2025, the Walt Disney Imagineering Paris and Design & Delivery teams are currently developing a brand- new light concept for the exterior of Star WarsTM Hyperspace Mountain. The project, which began nearly 2 years ago, is taking shape a little more each evening with the gradual replacement of over 640 luminaires – requiring over 17 kilometres of cabling – the modernisation of technical equipment, the repainting of the roof and the creation of new technical access points to facilitate maintenance operations. Once completed, this upgrade will deliver a breathtaking experience – not only for passengers aboard Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, but also for all Discoveryland guests, who will be able to enjoy the stunning light eHects generated each time a vehicle launches. To successfully complete this project, the teams also had the opportunity to work with the lighting designer who worked on the original 1995 attraction! As well as restoring the attraction’s majestic roof to its original splendour, the new lighting will feature all-new eHects to enhance this iconic Discoveryland landmark. See you later this summer to discover the results of this interstellar transformation – and to continue exploring galaxies far, far away… https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/a-day-at-star-wars-hyperspace-mountain/ To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Parisian version of the beloved attraction Space Mountain, Disneyland Paris’ teams have recorded an exclusive behind-the-scenes video revealing how the magic of this ride – which first opened on June 1, 1995 – comes to life. From its breathtaking opening ceremony to its recent transformation into Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, the history of this iconic dome-shaped attraction has been marked by many unforgettable moments. That same history continues to be written by the resort’s Operations and Maintenance teams, who help “transport guests to a galaxy far, far away” each day, while ensuring their journey is both smooth and safe. And there’s still more to come: new collectible items dreamed up by Disneyland Paris’ Merchandising teams will soon arrive in shops, and the attraction’s outdoor lighting setup is currently being redesigned! Stay tuned for more updates! https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/big-thunder-mountain-the-wildest-ride-in-the-west-to-reopen-on-21-june/ On 21 June 2025, the iconic Big Thunder Mountain attraction will once again welcome visitors to Frontierland®, following several months of renovation led by the Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, Design & Delivery, Maintenance and Central Workshops teams. Over the last few months, a wide range of specialists with a variety of skills have been taking great care of Big Thunder Mountain, one of the most popular attractions at Disneyland® Paris. Their objective: to ensure the attraction is meticulously maintained, preserving the quality of the experience while honouring the original creative vision and safeguarding its story, which remains deeply intertwined with that of Frontierland®. In addition to the in-depth maintenance of the tunnels and rails, with certain stretches being completely replaced, parts of the mountain were repainted, and the arch was cleaned using drones – a first for the Walt Disney Imagineering Paris teams. Some of the attraction’s water, visual and sound effects have also been reworked or restored. The highly detailed scenery of Big Thunder Mountain was not left out – certain wooden elements like Mill Camp Tower were dismantled for restoration before being reinstalled on the mountain. Hundreds of accessories, visible both throughout the attraction and its queue line, have been carefully cleaned, repainted, and given a patina in the Disneyland® Paris Central Workshops to preserve the authentic, timeworn look of this gold-rush-era mine. For larger pieces, such as the Lavinia steam engine visible from the queue area, the work was carried out directly on site. The attraction’s animal figures, such as the mules, opossums and bats, were restored and repainted in the Central Workshops, and some were even given a brand-new coat, like the emblematic the goat. This ambitious project, necessary for the smooth running of the attraction that is open all year round and mainly outdoors, required collaboration between teams from Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, Design & Delivery, Maintenance and Central Workshops, who worked tirelessly to renovate the wildest ride in the wilderness in the West!

Universal Studios Hollywood has shared a new look at the upcoming Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster with new concept art and a reveal of the first cars that will operate on the coaster. Prepare for high-speed thrills when Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift arrives at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026. With a groundbreaking 360-degree rotation of the individual ride vehicles as they rocket along an elaborate track, this is a roller coaster like no other. Get your first look at the Fast & Furious ride vehicle—the Dodge Charger—on display during Universal Mega Movie Summer, starting June 13 through August 10, 2025.

The next morning would bring another first for me beyond those found on a new ship... This would be my first time visiting Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point! The new island destination opened just over a year ago at the southern tip of Eleuthera as a complementary destination to Disney Cruise Line's original island destination, Disney Castaway Cay. The destination has been in development since early 2019 and the years since have involved significant environmental review and work to minimize impact, develop a sustainable operation and to honor the local culture and wildlife. A new open-trestle pier allows the ship to dock at the island, without requiring the dredging that traditional piers have called for. All of this to say that years of anticipation had built up for me to see and experience this new port of call. We loaded up on breakfast knowing that we had an active day ahead of us... I just love it. The walk from the ship to the end of the open-trestle pier is roughly equivalent to the walk from the ship to the family beach on Disney Castaway Cay. The entrance plaza from the pier features a few small kiosks and counters to allow for early shopping and snack purchases. Not unlike on Disney Castaway Cay, you take a shuttle from the main arrival spot to the beach area. Disney T'ings carry a good variety of just that. Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point features the Rush Out Gush Out water play area with slides, tipping buckets, spray nozzles and fountains. Some signature art from the island, created by a local Bahamian artist who consulted on much of the art styles found across Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. A look at everything offered within this island destination. The red path is the tram route which crosses the island to bring you from the arrival location to the beach area. It was a little gloomy out during our visit, plus it was surprisngly cold during our cruise, but the beach was beautiful. RUSH! A Junkanoo Celebration takes place at the Goombay Cultural Center, a covered, elevated pavilion in the middle of the island's beach area. The pavilion is used for activities and crafts between performances and the beachfront serves doubly as the seating area for the start of the show. RUSH! continues out into the main street of the beach area for more musical fun. True-True BBQ is the island destination's main buffet dining option with a great variety of flavors, both accessible and more unique to the region. I tried a little bit of everything and I loved a bit of all of it. In preservation of the natural environment of Eleuthera, much of the guest-accessible pathways and areas are elevated so as to not disturb the wildlife and vegetation below. Sebastian's Cove is the youth activities space on the island, where younger guests can check in (as an extension of Disney's Oceaneer's Club onboard) in a youth-exclusive space for water and dry play. A look at the water play area at Scuttle's Cove. A look at the family cabanas set up along one of the island's beautiful beachfronts. Quite a view! Looking back at Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point from the Disney Treasure... And a look at the family cabanas within view. We pulled away from the pier with a send off from the locals who help to support the island operation each day that a ship is in port. Second lunch (the first taking place on the island) featured some fresh steak tacos from Donald's Cantina on the upper deck! Our first dinner in Worlds of Marvel for the cruise--one of my favorites across the fleet, as a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. One of my favorite design elements in the restaurant. The venue feels very distinctly Marvel. Flavors of the world area featured across the first Worlds of Marvel dinner's menu. Disneyland fans should appreciate this nod. Ultron is one of my favorite (underutilized) Marvel villains, so I love that he serves as Avengers: Quantum Encounter's main protagonist. Here's the beef. You had me at key lime pie. Ant-Man and The Wasp are not the only MCU heroes to make an appearance during the show. The show has even been updated since it originally debuted on the Disney Wish (before The Marvels was released). Now, Ms. Marvel interacts with Captain Marvel where before, the show featured a number of comedic near-miss moments between the two. The parade of Pym Particle-enlarged desserts at the end of the meal has also been replaced with a surprise appearance by Spider-Man! Look at him--he is the captain now! Back in the atrium storytellers Sage and Coriander were regaling guests with a retelling of Aladdin. The storytellers' caravan includes many recognizable books... Sage and Coriander play multiple characters during each story. There's an entertaining take on "A Whole New World..." And a surprise appearance during the finale. Love. I was able to play charades with Donald, which was a blast. We were greeted in our stateroom by a new towel animal and something else... We received an awesome lithograph to commemorate our visit to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point during its inaugural season! A great end to a fantastic day!

Universal Orlando has announced several original houses coming to this year's Halloween Horror Nights! Haunted House Announcement: Gálkn: Monsters of the North In a remote northern village, a wicked being rises from the dead with a horde of monsters. Try to escape the belly of the beast. Tickets are now on sale: http://spr.ly/60114gThB Haunted House Announcement: Grave of the Flesh Welcome to your funeral, where it’s about to go from bad to worse. You’ll enter the underworld and be hunted by flesh-eaters for eternity. Haunted House Announcement: Dolls: Let’s Play Dead You’re about to become doll-sized and be hunted by toys that have been burnt, melded and stitched together by a twisted little girl. Haunted House Announcement: Hatchet and Chains: Demon Bounty Hunters. In this Old West town, all hell is breaking loose. Red-hot lava demons are trying to possess everyone, melting everything in their path. Haunted House Announcement: El Artista: A Spanish Haunting In 19th century Spain, a tortured artist moves into an isolated country manor for inspiration, but the art comes alive and possesses him.

Universal Studios Hollywood has announced a new house for this year's Halloween Horror Nights, Monstruos 3: The Ghosts of Latin America. https://x.com/horrornights/status/1938628392963739903?s=46&t=TK-FUKECKXMmu4-XNc2oyg Haunted House Announcement: One wails. One bites. One beguiles. La Llorona, La Muelona and La Siguanaba await in the dark. Three legends La Muerte wants you to meet, but you’ll wish you never did.

Royal Caribbean has announced they are amplifying the Ovation, Harmony and Liberty of the seas in time for the Spring 2026 season with new and enhanced venues and features for each of these ships! https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1798/royal-caribbean-will-amp-up-memory-making-on-ovation-harmony-and-liberty-of-the-seas-in-2026/ Royal Caribbean is tripling the adventure in 2026 when it debuts three newly amplified vacations on Ovation, Harmony and Liberty of the Seas. The fan-favorite ships are set to be reimagined with bold new experiences while visiting must-see destinations across Alaska, Europe and the Caribbean. Vacationers have more choices than ever before for all-out adventures starting spring 2026 and can book the vacations now on Royal Caribbean’s website. “Royal Caribbean continues to raise the bar on delivering the best of every vacation with revolutionary ships and top-rated exclusive destinations. The Royal Amplified program gives our guests the best of Royal Caribbean with new-to-class culinary options and experiences, entertainment and thrilling adventures, paired with the hospitality and service Royal Caribbean is known for,” said Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer, Royal Caribbean. “After seeing incredible success and guest satisfaction with the amplification of Allure of the Seas, we’re excited to bring three new amplifications to our fleet in 2026.” With new thrills and laidback chill, bolder ways to dine and drink, leveled-up nightlife, and more ways to stay, families and adventurers can max out memories on a lineup of unmatched experiences: Ovation of the Seas Vacationers can go all out with amplified experiences on Ovation, including a revamped pool deck with private casitas and a new whirlpool. To refuel, there’s a variety of international cuisine to indulge in from Tuscan favorites at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen to hibachi at Izumi Teppanyaki. The celebrations continue with tropical cocktails at the Pesky Parrot tiki bar, making its Quantum Class debut; dancing at the brand-new Sound Cellar; and more slots and games at the expanded Casino Royale. Along with new accommodations like the Ultimate Family Suite and Panoramic Suite, the upcoming experiences join a lineup of returning Quantum Class favorites like the Ripcord by iFly skydiving simulator and SeaPlex, the largest indoor activity space at sea. Ovation will take adventure to the next level at sea and on land with getaways to Alaska, where vacationers can take in the wonders of the Last Frontier on 7- to 13-night Alaskan adventures starting spring 2026. Plus, Ovation returns to the region as the first in the action-packed Quantum Class lineup to deliver immersive adventures on land with multi-night Cruisetour experiences. Harmony of the Seas Making its way to Harmony is a new Caribbean-inspired pool deck with tropical sips at the new The Lime & Coconut, as well as a refreshed adults-only Solarium. Adventurers can dive into bold bites at more than 20 venues, including Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade for gameday favorites, El Loco Fresh for Mexican delights and the new Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse. Plus, new ways to stay like the Ultimate Family Suite and even bigger nightlife at the largest Casino Royale in Royal Caribbean’s fleet create more ways for all kinds of vacationers to make memories. Harmony will kick off its summer glow-up in Europe before the Oasis Class vacation calls Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, home. Starting winter 2026, vacationers can get away to the Caribbean on 5- and 7-night vacations to locations like Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, and Falmouth, Jamaica. Adventurers can also visit the vacation brand’s top-rated Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas and purchase their day passes to the all-inclusive Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, debuting December 2025. Liberty of the Seas Families are in for all-new experiences for all ages with unmatched chill at the completely reimagined pool deck with The Lime & Coconut and new casitas, and thrills at an all-new Royal Escape Room concept coming to Liberty. There are flavors for all tastebuds from Japanese cuisine and hibachi at Izumi Teppanyaki to tacos and more at El Loco Fresh, along with a new-to-ship Starbucks. It’s all combined with returning favorites on deck, like The Perfect Storm waterslides, crave-worthy restaurants and show-stopping entertainment. Sailing from Southampton in summer 2026, vacationers on Liberty can explore European hot spots with 7-night adventures to places like the awe-inspiring Norwegian fjords, the medieval streets of Bruges, Belgium, and the rich culture of Copenhagen, Denmark. Then, Liberty will head to Galveston, Texas, for the winter season, unlocking more ways for vacationers to explore the Western Caribbean at spots like the vacation brand’s Royal Beach Club Cozumel, delivering the ultimate beach day in Mexico when it opens in 2026. Following the newly reimagined Allure of the Seas, the three soon-to-be-amplified vacations are the latest in the award-winning fleet to be transformed as part of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified program, first introduced in 2018. Royal Caribbean continues to deliver the best vacations to more than seven million people annually with visits to 300-plus destinations across 28 ships, with four more on order. Plus, the vacation brand will continue to expand its destination lineup in the next three years with the addition of four exclusive experiences, including the next bold adventure in Perfect Day Mexico in fall 2027. Joining the lineup are Royal Caribbean’s new Royal Beach Clubs in Paradise Island in The Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico, along with exclusive beach destinations in Labadee, Haiti, and Lelepa in the South Pacific to deliver more ways to bask in paradise. More information about Royal Caribbean’s leading vacations and growing lineup of ships and destinations can be found on Royal Caribbean’s website.

Bellewaerde has announced 10 million Euro in investments planned for the 2026 season! Bellewaerde announces a new €10 million investment! This will allow for the expansion and renovation of the Canadian zone, with: - Wild Swing XL, a mega-swing promised to be the largest of its kind in the world - A renovation of the Canadian Burger, doubling its capacity - A 300m adventure course! Opening in spring 2026!

While not officially announced, local media has revealed through state filings that SeaWorld San Antonio is preparing to add a new roller coaster in the area where the Currents shopping center and the Dolphin Dive attraction are today. Official details are expected to be released in the Fall. https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/seaworld-new-roller-coaster-20379372.php A multimillion dollar project slated for SeaWorld San Antonio (SWSA) is no longer under wraps. While a few details about the venture remain limited, a recent state filing has revealed hints about what the Texas amusement park is planning. Governor Greg Abbott vetos Senate Bill 3, total ban on THC productsGovernor Greg Abbott vetos Senate Bill 3, total ban on THC products The company registered a new report through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, often used to file architectural barriers projects, on Monday, June 16. Unsurprisingly, the park kept the project name vague, labeling it as "SWSA 2026." Regardless, there's still a few elements about the $8.9 million attraction that can be confirmed, including that it will take up nearly 4,000 square-feet of the park. The type of work is also filed as "new construction," meaning it is not simply a renovation of an already-existing structure. According to the TDLR, the project includes the addition of a new roller coaster for park guests that will be installed between the Steel Eel and Wavebreaker rides. Both attractions are located on the Northeast side of the park, relatively close to Sea World Rescue Jr., the newly built kids play area that opened this year. Guests may be able to try out the new roller coaster sooner than they think. Last year, MySA reported on the project, SeaWorld Rescue Jr., once its TDLR was filed, explaining how its completion date was listed as March 1. The area ended up opening to the public just a week after then, on Saturday, March 8. Currently, two larger buildings are located within the space the new roller coaster will soon anchor: the Currents shopping center and the Dolphin Dive—a kid-friendly vertical drop ride. What type of roller coaster is coming to SeaWorld San Antonio? The new attraction will be a family-style, inverted coaster, according to the TDLR filing. The ride's foundations will be mostly drilled concrete pier type, the report adds. When will the new roller coaster be finished? Construction on the coaster is scheduled to start on Tuesday, July 1, according to the TDLR, which is subject to change. Guests can expect to see it be complete by June 1, 2026, according to the report. MySA reached out to SeaWorld San Antonio for comment but the park said they wait to announce new projects in the fall season. For now, a majority of the details only remain available through public records such as these.

Universal Destination & Experiences has announced that it will open a second location for Universal Horror Unleashed. The indoor, year-round horror experience will be the first Universal-branded attraction in the Midwest and is part of the company's ongoing efforts to expand their footprint across the world. https://corporate.universaldestinationsandexperiences.com/universal-destinations-experiences-expands-universal-horror-unleashed-concept-with-second-location-planned-for-chicago/ Universal Destinations & Experiences, the themed entertainment division of Comcast NBCUniversal, announces its second location for Universal Horror Unleashed, the company’s year-round, immersive horror entertainment experience. The new, indoor venue will open in Chicago, chosen for its large population and reputation as one of the country’s leading destinations for tourism and entertainment. Expanding the Universal Horror Unleashed brand is a key part of Universal’s broader growth strategy to reach new audiences, in new markets, through new and original concepts. The upcoming venue will be located on Chicago Avenue at the former Tribune Distribution Center, situated between the River North and West Town districts. This marks Universal’s first branded experience in the Midwest. “Universal Horror Unleashed delivers on our promise to create highly immersive and terrifying horror experiences that connect with fans year-round,” said Page Thompson, President, New Ventures, Universal Destinations & Experiences. “We’re excited to bring this bold concept to life in Chicago, a city known for its vibrant culture. We’re grateful for the city’s support as we convert this dormant site into a unique attraction that showcases our storytelling expertise and ability to deliver mind blowing experiences that shatter guest expectations.” This original concept combines Universal’s deep expertise in the horror genre with next-level storytelling to deliver a truly unforgettable experience. The year-round concept will deliver immersive, horror-centric entertainment that goes beyond the theme parks, bringing spine-chilling thrills, terrifying environments, and unforgettable scares to guests. The horror will also extend to the food and beverage offerings, with themed craft cocktails and bites, as well as a retail location with unique collectible merchandise and more. The announcement comes on the heels of other key developments for Universal Destinations & Experiences, including the recent opening of Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, the first Universal Horror Unleashed Las Vegas, opening August 2025, the 2026 launch of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas, and plans for a new theme park and resort in the United Kingdom — Universal’s first in Europe, slated to open in 2031.   The first Universal Horror Unleashed location was announced in January 2023 and is set to open later this year in Las Vegas on August 14, 2025. Tickets for Universal Horror Unleashed Las Vegas are now on sale now at UniversalHorrorUnleashed.com.

Universal Destinations and Experiences has announced that Jason Voorhees will return to Halloween Horror Nights in 2025 with a new house at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood, Jason Universe. https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2025/06/13/jason-voorhees-slays-at-universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights/ Titan of terror Jason Voorhees rises again at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, and he is going to slay. Jason Universe sees the iconic killer from the infamous Friday the 13th films get his own haunted house at the seasonal event at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time. The all-original immersive nightmare will take brave guests back to the summer camp where the gruesome legend was born. Jason Universe is being described as "a vengeance tour through the summer camp to see where it all began, from the creaking floorboards of Jason's ramshackle cabin to the decaying main lodge and the eerie forest that offers no refuge for his victims." Fans are being promised recreations of classic kills from the multimillion-dollar franchise that launched 45 years ago with the theatrical release of the first film. Expect Jason, decked out in his legendary hockey mask, to "taunt and stalk" his victims who learn too late that everything they heard about him and his reign of terror is true. Described as an "homage to the machete-wielding slasher" who is considered one of the most notorious villains in cinematic history, Jason Universe sounds like a classic execution of an enduring and ever-popular 12-film horror franchise. Jason Voorhees Has A History Of Killing It At Halloween Horror Nights Jason Universe isn’t the first time Jason has appeared at Halloween Horror Nights, a mecca for fans of the genre. Most recently, at Universal Studios Hollywood, he was joined by Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, and Chucky on the Titans of Terror Tram on the Studio Tour Backlot in 2017. It has been nine years since he last featured in a haunted house there. The last one was 2016's Freddy Vs. Jason. In Orlando, his last appearance was in 2015 when he appeared in both a Freddy Vs. Jason attraction and the All Nite Die-In: Double Feature scarezone. Created by Victor Miller, the first Friday the 13th movie, directed by Sean S. Cunningham, arrived in theaters in May 1980. The most recent film was 2009’s identically titled reboot, Friday the 13th, directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay. The most successful film in the franchise was the 2003 A Nightmare on Elm Street crossover, Freddy vs. Jason, which grossed $82.62 million worldwide. Although it has been a while since a new Friday the 13th movie has dropped, Crystal Lake, described as "an origin story for Jason and a prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise," is on the way. It will stream exclusively on Peacock debuting in October 2025. Confirmed cast members include franchise mainstay Adrienne King, Dead to Me’s Linda Cardellini and Abigail's William Catlett. It's not known how or if the Halloween Horror Nights haunted house will integrate the new show. Jason Universe isn’t the first of this year's attractions to be announced. Fallout, inspired by Prime Video's acclaimed smash hit show, was recently confirmed. Similarly to the horror homage, it will also appear at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. Fallout will place fans in iconic scenes and face-to-face with their characters on a journey from Vault 33 to the Wasteland. Both parks have also recently teased that Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy's, based on another widely popular videogame IP that inspired a hit movie and an upcoming sequel, will be featured in some form at Halloween Horror Nights. The blood red carpet gets rolled out for horror fans at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Universal Orlando Resort kicks off the festivities a little earlier on Friday, August 29, 2025. Tickets are now on sale. More news on additional Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses, scarezones, and live shows is expected in the coming weeks.

Universal Destinations and Experiences has announced that Jason Voorhees will return to Halloween Horror Nights in 2025 with a new house at Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood, Jason Universe. https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2025/06/13/jason-voorhees-slays-at-universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights/ Titan of terror Jason Voorhees rises again at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights, and he is going to slay. Jason Universe sees the iconic killer from the infamous Friday the 13th films get his own haunted house at the seasonal event at both Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood for the first time. The all-original immersive nightmare will take brave guests back to the summer camp where the gruesome legend was born. Jason Universe is being described as "a vengeance tour through the summer camp to see where it all began, from the creaking floorboards of Jason's ramshackle cabin to the decaying main lodge and the eerie forest that offers no refuge for his victims." Fans are being promised recreations of classic kills from the multimillion-dollar franchise that launched 45 years ago with the theatrical release of the first film. Expect Jason, decked out in his legendary hockey mask, to "taunt and stalk" his victims who learn too late that everything they heard about him and his reign of terror is true. Described as an "homage to the machete-wielding slasher" who is considered one of the most notorious villains in cinematic history, Jason Universe sounds like a classic execution of an enduring and ever-popular 12-film horror franchise. Jason Voorhees Has A History Of Killing It At Halloween Horror Nights Jason Universe isn’t the first time Jason has appeared at Halloween Horror Nights, a mecca for fans of the genre. Most recently, at Universal Studios Hollywood, he was joined by Freddy Krueger, Leatherface, and Chucky on the Titans of Terror Tram on the Studio Tour Backlot in 2017. It has been nine years since he last featured in a haunted house there. The last one was 2016's Freddy Vs. Jason. In Orlando, his last appearance was in 2015 when he appeared in both a Freddy Vs. Jason attraction and the All Nite Die-In: Double Feature scarezone. Created by Victor Miller, the first Friday the 13th movie, directed by Sean S. Cunningham, arrived in theaters in May 1980. The most recent film was 2009’s identically titled reboot, Friday the 13th, directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay. The most successful film in the franchise was the 2003 A Nightmare on Elm Street crossover, Freddy vs. Jason, which grossed $82.62 million worldwide. Although it has been a while since a new Friday the 13th movie has dropped, Crystal Lake, described as "an origin story for Jason and a prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise," is on the way. It will stream exclusively on Peacock debuting in October 2025. Confirmed cast members include franchise mainstay Adrienne King, Dead to Me’s Linda Cardellini and Abigail's William Catlett. It's not known how or if the Halloween Horror Nights haunted house will integrate the new show. Jason Universe isn’t the first of this year's attractions to be announced. Fallout, inspired by Prime Video's acclaimed smash hit show, was recently confirmed. Similarly to the horror homage, it will also appear at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort. Fallout will place fans in iconic scenes and face-to-face with their characters on a journey from Vault 33 to the Wasteland. Both parks have also recently teased that Blumhouse’s Five Nights at Freddy's, based on another widely popular videogame IP that inspired a hit movie and an upcoming sequel, will be featured in some form at Halloween Horror Nights. The blood red carpet gets rolled out for horror fans at Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Universal Orlando Resort kicks off the festivities a little earlier on Friday, August 29, 2025. Tickets are now on sale. More news on additional Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses, scarezones, and live shows is expected in the coming weeks.

^I can’t imagine the owner of a high performance race car being satisfied with said vehicle not being able to complete more than a few laps per race.

^Give it time. It’ll close unexpectedly again…

The Universal Orlando Resort has quietly confirmed that the end is near for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit to make way for a new experience. The coaster will close on August 18th, 2025, so guests have only a few months left to take in the thrills of this unique attraction. https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/hollywood-rip-ride-rockit Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit will permanently close on August 18, 2025 to make way for a new experience. More details will be available at a later date.

As the Halloween Horror Nights season approaches, Universal Destinations and Experiences has started to release news on some of the offerings which will be found at this year's event... https://www.ign.com/articles/universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights-2025-to-feature-the-first-ever-fallout-haunted-house IGN can exclusively reveal that Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights in both Orlando and Hollywood will be getting a new haunted house based on Prime Video’s Fallout series and that HHN’s Five Night’s at Freddy’s experience will be based on the movie, the latter of which will be brought to life with the help of the legendary Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, who also did the animatronics for the film. While we don’t know much more about the Five Nights at Freddy’s experience, Fallout’s haunted house will open on August 29 at Universal Orlando Resort and on September 4 at Universal Studios Hollywood, and it will allow fans to relive the greatest moments from Fallout’s first season and more. Guests will first enter Vault 33 and follow Lucy LacLean as she tries to escape a bloody massacre while also learning of an “evil hidden secret.” The journey will then take guests outside the vault and into the Wasteland, where they will need to dodge attacks from both Scavengers, Raiders, and even mutated cockroaches known as RAD Roaches. Throughout the trek through the Wasteland, guests will visit the Super Duper Mart, encounter the Ghoul, and even meet Maximus and his massive T-60 armor. To learn more about this exciting and terrifying trip to the nuclear wasteland, we had the chance to speak to John Murdy, Creative Director / Executive Producer at Universal Studios Hollywood, and Matthew Flood, Senior Show Director at Universal Orlando Resort, for IGN Live. Among other things, these big fans of Fallout shared how they and the team are doing all they can to make this the best Fallout experience ever. “As you go through these environments, we want fans to say, ‘I recognize this, I'm in a Fallout vault. How cool is that?!’ Flood said. “Where else are you going to get to say that you walked through a Fallout vault and then into the Wasteland and saw ghouls? “And you can see and understand what the world is just by what you pass, including the bodies when Lucy first exits the vault. That type of thing is really good for us in Halloween Horror Nights and… yes, it’s gruesome, which is what our fans want at Halloween Horror Nights. It’s also scary and provides great characters, good monsters, all the mutated creatures, and the ghouls. That’s ripe for the picking when it comes to Halloween Horror Nights.” Fallout also offers the team a chance to do something they’ve never done before. “Fallout is kind of retro futuristic, and a lot of the aesthetics of it are very 1950s,” Murdy said. “The fact that we get to deal with the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust is very exciting for us since we've never done anything like that at HHN before. It’s like tapping into a whole different realm of horror.” What’s also interesting is that Hollywood and Orlando will each have unique aspects to their Fallout experience, including for the T-60 armor. “It's massive,” Murdy said of the T-60 Armor. “We work really closely with the people who are producing Fallout, and they've shared an incredible number of assets with us. We've done a lot of really big stuff over the years with Horror Nights, but this has got to be, I think, one of the biggest things we've ever had to do. We also thought it’d be cool if each park had a lot in common but also some differences. So, for Hollywood, the Power Armor is a full animatronic; we’re doing it as a fully animated figure.” “In Orlando, we do have kind of a final battle moment,” Flood added. “I’m not going to reveal too much, but yes, T-60s will be part of that battle. We also got a chance to fit in Filly, and I think having a moment to get a real-life Fallout battle happening there is pretty cool.” Murdy also teased that each Fallout house will have its own “creature takes,” and Hollywood’s will be the horrifying Yao Guai Bear. With ghouls and mutated bears and murderous scavengers abound, this haunted house is meant to be a chaotic thing, but Flood, Murdy, and the team have taken great care to have it be more than just non-stop terror. Murdy told us that his writing treatments for this Fallout experience averaged 100 pages, which feature both a narrative guide and a technical breakdown from start to finish. “It's that detailed because we need to spell it all out for our team so they know exactly what to create,” Murdy said. “And what Horror Nights is known for is our attention to detail. And what we're aiming for alongside the casual guest is the uber fan. We want to have so many different Easter Eggs that certain people won't particularly notice, but that the real hardcore fans of the video game and the series will.” Flood teased that there is a Pip-Boy they’ve been working on that will be a treat to find, and he teased that guests should look in all the windows of the storefronts or sides of buildings, as there will be “little things scattered around.” “If you're here for a second or third time through the house, and you get a chance to glance down when you're not totally terrified, you can see a lot of those Easter eggs existing throughout the house,” Flood said. Lastly, we asked what the pair what they were most excited about bringing to life for Hollywood Horror Nights. “For me, it was obviously the Wasteland,” Murdy said. “It is fun to go from the vaults where you're in a claustrophobic environment to then kind of open it up into the Wasteland. However, when I think of it purely from what Horror Nights delivers, it’s Super Duper Mart.” Speaking of exciting fictional businesses, we were able to get one more exciting quote for the Five Nights at Freddy’s experience at this year’s Hollywood Horror Nights, and it’s making the wait for more details even worse! “When you experience this, it is literally like living in the movie,” Murdy said. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/universal-halloween-horror-nights-five-nights-at-freddys-2025 Every year, horror fans from around the world flock to Hollywood and Orlando for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, a fall festival of fear that always features some of your favorite monsters from across pop culture. Every year the attractions pack in tons of new horror fun, and every year fans have their own special wish list of which properties will get haunted houses this time around. Well, Five Nights at Freddy's fans, this one's for you. Universal announced over the weekend, via the official Halloween Horror Nights account on X (formerly Twitter), that FNaF will get its own haunted house during this year's festivities, and the attraction will be coming to both Hollywood and Orlando versions of the Horror Nights experience. So whichever coast you visit, Freddy Fazbear and all his friends will be waiting. Sadly, we don't have any more details yet, but the post does promise that Five Nights at Freddy's will be presented in "a whole new way" at this year's Halloween Horror Nights, so fans of the franchise will definitely want to keep their eyes out for more news, especially since there's a new movie on the horizon. Beginning with the original video game from Scott Cawthon, which released in the summer of 2014, Five Nights at Freddy's has spent the last decade expanding into a mega-popular horror brand that features everything from numerous video game sequels and spinoffs to a series of books to loads of merch. In 2023, the franchise reached a whole new fandom when the first Five Nights at Freddy's movie, starring Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard, landed in theaters and on Peacock. And the mayhem continues in 2025. Universal and Blumhouse Productions announced last year that Five Nights at Freddy's 2 would hit theaters December 5, just weeks after Halloween, and back in April we got a first look at the teaser trailer for the new film, which features returning cast members Hutcherson, Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, and Piper Rubio, along with new cast members like Skeet Ulrich, Wayne Knight, and Mckenna Grace. Halloween Horror Nights returns to Universal Parks this fall.

As the Halloween Horror Nights season approaches, Universal Destinations and Experiences has started to release news on some of the offerings which will be found at this year's event... https://www.ign.com/articles/universal-studios-halloween-horror-nights-2025-to-feature-the-first-ever-fallout-haunted-house IGN can exclusively reveal that Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights in both Orlando and Hollywood will be getting a new haunted house based on Prime Video’s Fallout series and that HHN’s Five Night’s at Freddy’s experience will be based on the movie, the latter of which will be brought to life with the help of the legendary Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, who also did the animatronics for the film. While we don’t know much more about the Five Nights at Freddy’s experience, Fallout’s haunted house will open on August 29 at Universal Orlando Resort and on September 4 at Universal Studios Hollywood, and it will allow fans to relive the greatest moments from Fallout’s first season and more. Guests will first enter Vault 33 and follow Lucy LacLean as she tries to escape a bloody massacre while also learning of an “evil hidden secret.” The journey will then take guests outside the vault and into the Wasteland, where they will need to dodge attacks from both Scavengers, Raiders, and even mutated cockroaches known as RAD Roaches. Throughout the trek through the Wasteland, guests will visit the Super Duper Mart, encounter the Ghoul, and even meet Maximus and his massive T-60 armor. To learn more about this exciting and terrifying trip to the nuclear wasteland, we had the chance to speak to John Murdy, Creative Director / Executive Producer at Universal Studios Hollywood, and Matthew Flood, Senior Show Director at Universal Orlando Resort, for IGN Live. Among other things, these big fans of Fallout shared how they and the team are doing all they can to make this the best Fallout experience ever. “As you go through these environments, we want fans to say, ‘I recognize this, I'm in a Fallout vault. How cool is that?!’ Flood said. “Where else are you going to get to say that you walked through a Fallout vault and then into the Wasteland and saw ghouls? “And you can see and understand what the world is just by what you pass, including the bodies when Lucy first exits the vault. That type of thing is really good for us in Halloween Horror Nights and… yes, it’s gruesome, which is what our fans want at Halloween Horror Nights. It’s also scary and provides great characters, good monsters, all the mutated creatures, and the ghouls. That’s ripe for the picking when it comes to Halloween Horror Nights.” Fallout also offers the team a chance to do something they’ve never done before. “Fallout is kind of retro futuristic, and a lot of the aesthetics of it are very 1950s,” Murdy said. “The fact that we get to deal with the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust is very exciting for us since we've never done anything like that at HHN before. It’s like tapping into a whole different realm of horror.” What’s also interesting is that Hollywood and Orlando will each have unique aspects to their Fallout experience, including for the T-60 armor. “It's massive,” Murdy said of the T-60 Armor. “We work really closely with the people who are producing Fallout, and they've shared an incredible number of assets with us. We've done a lot of really big stuff over the years with Horror Nights, but this has got to be, I think, one of the biggest things we've ever had to do. We also thought it’d be cool if each park had a lot in common but also some differences. So, for Hollywood, the Power Armor is a full animatronic; we’re doing it as a fully animated figure.” “In Orlando, we do have kind of a final battle moment,” Flood added. “I’m not going to reveal too much, but yes, T-60s will be part of that battle. We also got a chance to fit in Filly, and I think having a moment to get a real-life Fallout battle happening there is pretty cool.” Murdy also teased that each Fallout house will have its own “creature takes,” and Hollywood’s will be the horrifying Yao Guai Bear. With ghouls and mutated bears and murderous scavengers abound, this haunted house is meant to be a chaotic thing, but Flood, Murdy, and the team have taken great care to have it be more than just non-stop terror. Murdy told us that his writing treatments for this Fallout experience averaged 100 pages, which feature both a narrative guide and a technical breakdown from start to finish. “It's that detailed because we need to spell it all out for our team so they know exactly what to create,” Murdy said. “And what Horror Nights is known for is our attention to detail. And what we're aiming for alongside the casual guest is the uber fan. We want to have so many different Easter Eggs that certain people won't particularly notice, but that the real hardcore fans of the video game and the series will.” Flood teased that there is a Pip-Boy they’ve been working on that will be a treat to find, and he teased that guests should look in all the windows of the storefronts or sides of buildings, as there will be “little things scattered around.” “If you're here for a second or third time through the house, and you get a chance to glance down when you're not totally terrified, you can see a lot of those Easter eggs existing throughout the house,” Flood said. Lastly, we asked what the pair what they were most excited about bringing to life for Hollywood Horror Nights. “For me, it was obviously the Wasteland,” Murdy said. “It is fun to go from the vaults where you're in a claustrophobic environment to then kind of open it up into the Wasteland. However, when I think of it purely from what Horror Nights delivers, it’s Super Duper Mart.” Speaking of exciting fictional businesses, we were able to get one more exciting quote for the Five Nights at Freddy’s experience at this year’s Hollywood Horror Nights, and it’s making the wait for more details even worse! “When you experience this, it is literally like living in the movie,” Murdy said. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/universal-halloween-horror-nights-five-nights-at-freddys-2025 Every year, horror fans from around the world flock to Hollywood and Orlando for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, a fall festival of fear that always features some of your favorite monsters from across pop culture. Every year the attractions pack in tons of new horror fun, and every year fans have their own special wish list of which properties will get haunted houses this time around. Well, Five Nights at Freddy's fans, this one's for you. Universal announced over the weekend, via the official Halloween Horror Nights account on X (formerly Twitter), that FNaF will get its own haunted house during this year's festivities, and the attraction will be coming to both Hollywood and Orlando versions of the Horror Nights experience. So whichever coast you visit, Freddy Fazbear and all his friends will be waiting. Sadly, we don't have any more details yet, but the post does promise that Five Nights at Freddy's will be presented in "a whole new way" at this year's Halloween Horror Nights, so fans of the franchise will definitely want to keep their eyes out for more news, especially since there's a new movie on the horizon. Beginning with the original video game from Scott Cawthon, which released in the summer of 2014, Five Nights at Freddy's has spent the last decade expanding into a mega-popular horror brand that features everything from numerous video game sequels and spinoffs to a series of books to loads of merch. In 2023, the franchise reached a whole new fandom when the first Five Nights at Freddy's movie, starring Josh Hutcherson and Matthew Lillard, landed in theaters and on Peacock. And the mayhem continues in 2025. Universal and Blumhouse Productions announced last year that Five Nights at Freddy's 2 would hit theaters December 5, just weeks after Halloween, and back in April we got a first look at the teaser trailer for the new film, which features returning cast members Hutcherson, Lillard, Elizabeth Lail, and Piper Rubio, along with new cast members like Skeet Ulrich, Wayne Knight, and Mckenna Grace. Halloween Horror Nights returns to Universal Parks this fall.

After a great first day aboard, it was time for our first day at sea... A leisurely opportunity to enjoy more of the ship's venues, food and fun! It's never a bad day when your morning starts at Marceline Market! How could you go wrong with a breakfast like this? A fun piece of art found near the entrance of Hero Zone aboard the Disney Treasure. The Rose acts both as its own venue as well as the pre-show lounge for Palo Steakhouse and Enchante. It is inspired by the live action version of Beauty and the Beast. And the lounge offers a fantastic view! Today was a great day to enjoy the ship's many pools. I love capturing a variation of this funnel photo with each Disney Cruise I take. Mickey’s Smokestack Barbecue at Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods is one of my go-to places for quick and tasty food. Any chance to meet Stitch is one that I'm going to take! That night we had dinner in 1923, home to some of my favorite dishes, like this fantastic Hyperion Four-Cheese Tri-Color Tortelloni. The Kingswell Duck Confit Pastilla is another favorite of ours we repeat every time we can. The Alameda Porcini Spiced Ahi Tuna is always a refreshing choice, and the black sesame brittle is a unique accompaniment I love. The Flourless Orange Almond Cake was a great dessert option. But the Burbank Blueberry-Lemon Bavarian Cream takes the cake! Yes, I went back to Haunted Mansion Parlor. And yes, I sat in the chair! I might have ordered this piece of art from Art of Disney On Demand onboard... I might have. Next up was another new lounge for me, the Skipper Society. Inspired by the Jungle Cruise and its associated lore, I was in heaven taking in all of the detail found within. The menu is also quite nifty... Another interactive tablet menu... Some unique choices on tap... And they have waffles! And for the Trader Sam's fans in the house. A Typhoon Lagoon connection via S.E.A.! A "Soaring: Fantastic Flight" (Tokyo DisneySea) reference via S.E.A.! You can bet this skipper boat tiki bowl made its way home with me! Awesome details on the bar back! Neat tap too! A telegram from Walt himself! Disneyland fans may recognize this copy of The Daily Gnus which was given out as a part of the short-lived Adventureland Trading Company game. Love it. Hi Donald! Disney Seas the Adventure was our first show in the Walt Disney Theatre and a great way to kick off the cruise's main stage entertainment. I love the interior of the theater. Never a bad time to enjoy Funnelvision onboard... Did I go back to Haunted Mansion Parlor again at the end of the night? Sure did! There are tons of hidden details throughout the Parlor... You simply have to look closely. Deadpool & Wolverine was playing onboard in the ship's movie theaters during our sailing. I adore this view. Love it! Our second towel animal of the cruise, marking the end of another day...

^I wouldn’t bet on a B&M Wingrider considering they already have Wild Eagle. My money is on a flying theater like Soarin’ or SkyFly: Soar America.

Pleasure Beach Resort has revealed the name of Project 2026, their gyro swing. The new attraction will be known as Aviktas and is slated to open during the 2026 season. https://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/2025/05/20/pleasure-beach-resort-reveals-name-of-new-tallest-of-its-kind-ride/ Pleasure Beach Resort has teased fans with what’s to come by revealing the first details of its new £8.72m ride. The Blackpool attraction announced ‘Project 2026’ back in March, and has now confirmed the ride’s name: Aviktas. Aviktas has been coined by Pleasure Beach’s creative team, leaving fans scratching their heads about how the ride and its theme will come to life. However, they’ll need to wait a little longer as Pleasure Beach bosses are keeping tight-lipped on further details for now. What fans do know is that Aviktas will be the tallest of its kind in the UK, dwarfing similar rides across the country by almost double. CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE, said: “We’re incredibly excited to reveal the name of our next major attraction, Aviktas. This is a ride like nothing we’ve ever created before, and while we’re keeping the full experience under wraps for now, I can promise it will be truly extraordinary. “We’ll be revealing pieces of information about Aviktas over the next few months, including its theming, colours and design, and we’ve added a dedicated section to our website where fans can follow its journey. “After all, what’s a new ride launch without a little bit of mystery?” Project 2026 was first announced at the beginning of Pleasure Beach’s 2026 season, and work has already begun on its delivery. The former Bowl-A-Drome building has been demolished, with Aviktas set to take its place. A Gyro Swing is a giant spinning pendulum. Aviktas will swing 120 degrees and reach 138 feet at its highest point. It can seat 40 riders who face outwards with their legs dangling, and will experience an exhilarating feeling of flying. Although other swinging pendulum rides exist in the UK, none come close to the Pleasure Beach model in terms of height. For example, Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom reaches approximately 74 feet, with the new ride almost double that in size. Aviktas is due to open in 2026. Pleasure Beach Resort is open for the 2025 season. Unlimited riding wristbands can be booked online at www.pleasurebeachresort.com, and the earlier tickets are booked, the better the value.

Paramount Global and Advent Allen Entertainment have announced plans for a new experience themed to Top Gun opening in the Summer of 2028 near The Strat. This new attraction expected to include rides and a recreation of the Hard Deck bar from Top Gun: Maverick. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/top-gun-soars-into-las-vegas-302464018.html Prepare for takeoff! Paramount Global and Advent Allen Entertainment — led by entertainment visionary Mark Advent and hospitality pioneer A. William "Bill" Allen III — today announced a partnership that will transform the iconic Top Gun movie franchise into one of the most adrenaline-charged, immersive experiences ever to hit the Las Vegas Strip. Located on an undeveloped site at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower, this high-octane destination is set to ignite passions and forge unforgettable memories in one spectacular location. Scheduled to launch summer of 2028, Top Gun Las Vegas (working title) will be a revolutionary fusion of daring rides and cinematic storytelling. This bold new venture will seamlessly combine breathtaking visuals, high-energy entertainment, and the legendary spirit of Top Gun, complete with fighter jet simulators and more. Adding to the fun, guests will embark on a pulse-pounding mission using state-of-the-art thrill ride systems and immersive technology that will redefine the meaning of adventure, then kick back at the reimagined Top Gun: Maverick's Hard Deck bar and restaurant featuring live piano singalongs. Located in Las Vegas—the entertainment capital of the world—this gravity-defying experience promises to captivate and thrill like never before. The sky's the limit, with plans already being explored for future locations across the U.S. and around the globe. "This innovative venture marks a new milestone for Top Gun and expands Paramount's portfolio of immersive entertainment," said Pam Kaufman, President and CEO of International Markets, Global Consumer Products and Experiences at Paramount. "Paramount is committed to delivering authentic, mind-blowing experiences for fans, and Mark Advent and Bill Allen are the perfect team to make this destination soar." "The Top Gun films are one of the most emotionally charged stories of our time," said Mark Advent, co-founder of Advent Allen Entertainment and creator of the legendary New York New York Hotel & Casino. "We're proud to unite with Paramount to bring this timeless, action-packed epic to life—delivering experiences that embody teamwork, excellence, the exhilaration of speed and the thrill of flying. We are pulling out all the stops and looking forward to bringing Top Gun to even higher heights on the Strip and beyond!" Bill Allen added, "Working alongside the Paramount team has been incredible. We're thrilled to launch this unprecedented adventure—an experience that will redefine thrills, storytelling, and dining. Get ready—because this is one mission you won't want to miss!" Loaded with great food, killer drinks, and nonstop energy, this Top Gun adventure will be the ultimate spot to unwind, soak up the thrill, and embrace the good times. Strap in, rev up the engines for high-flying excitement, heart-racing action, and family-friendly fun. An action classic beloved by global audiences, the Top Gun franchise stars Tom Cruise as aviator Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a daring flyer who first trains at the Navy's prestigious fighter weapons school, and 30 years later, returns to train a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission, the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen. After the original film cemented itself in pop culture, the follow-up, Top Gun: Maverick, was a box office smash, grossing $1.49 billion worldwide. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/top-gun-las-vegas-experience-strat-hotel-paramount-1236228141/ Paramount Global wants to take Las Vegas visitors to the Danger Zone. The media company is partnering with Advent Allen Entertainment to create and launch a fully immersive experience based on its Top Gun franchise, which stars Tom Cruise. The experience will be built on an undeveloped site at The Strat Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, and while details remain, uh, classified for now, the companies promise a combination of rides and storytelling, utilizing advanced technology and, of course, jet simulators. The companies are also planning to recreate the Hard Deck bar from Top Gun: Maverick, promising live piano singalongs so visitors can channel their inner Miles Teller and sing “Great Balls of Fire.” Top Gun has had a resurgence since the success of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, and Paramount is betting that its adrenaline-soaked nature will translate to an exciting experiential business. While the initial Top Gun Las Vegas (working title) is set to open in 2028, the companies say that they are actively exploring potential expansion locations in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. Immersive experiences have become something of a growth business for the entertainment industry. While Disney and Universal continue to pour billions into their global theme parks (Universal just opened its latest park, Epic Universe, this week), many companies are also exploring smaller, more focused efforts. Netflix, for example, is set to open its first two Netflix Houses later this year in Pennsylvania and Texas, and Universal is also experimenting, planning a horror-themed Las Vegas attraction for later this year, and a smaller kids theme park in Texas next year. Paramount, for its part, seems content with strategically licensing its IP for immersive experiences, including an indoor theme park in New Jersey based on Nickelodeon, a deal to bring Spongebob to Universal’s Texas park, and now Top Gun. “This innovative venture marks a new milestone for Top Gun and expands Paramount’s portfolio of immersive entertainment,” said Pam Kaufman, president and CEO of international markets, global consumer products and experiences at Paramount. “Paramount is committed to delivering authentic, mind-blowing experiences for fans, and Mark Advent and Bill Allen are the perfect team to make this destination soar.” “The Top Gun films are one of the most emotionally charged stories of our time,” added Mark Advent, co-founder of Advent Allen Entertainment and creator of Las Vegas’ New York New York Hotel & Casino. “We’re proud to unite with Paramount to bring this timeless, action-packed epic to life — delivering experiences that embody teamwork, excellence, the exhilaration of speed and the thrill of flying. We are pulling out all the stops and looking forward to bringing Top Gun to even higher heights on the Strip and beyond!”

Dollywood has begun to tease their new addition for 2026, expected to open in the Wildwood Grove section of the park!

Six Flags Mexico has announced the addition of a new family boomerang coaster which will open at the park in 2026! https://static.sixflags.com/website/files/sfmx_boomerang.pdf Six Flags Mexico is pleased to announce the introduction of a new ride for 2026. It is a Roller Coaster Family Boomerang, whose installation will begin in the coming days. The new attraction is designed to provide fun for visitors of all ages, consolidating the company's commitment to family entertainment and social development. The game will be accompanied by the addition of more than 300 square meters of green space along its boundaries and will not involve the felling of a single tree, as its construction will be carried out on an existing concrete slab that was once a theater stage. It's important to highlight that the construction of this new game meets all sustainability and environmental requirements. It has been verified by the competent authorities of Mexico City and the Tlalpan Municipality and has the required permits for its installation. The construction of the Boomerang Family Roller Coaster meets the highest safety and technological standards, has all the required official permits, and strictly complies with local safety and environmental regulations. With this new investment, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation reaffirms its commitment to Mexico, Mexico City, and the Municipality of Tlalpan, as well as to the responsible growth of the entertainment industry, an important pillar of the country's economic flow. Beyond the adrenaline rush, our Roller Coaster Family Boomerang seeks to make a positive impact on the community. The attraction, designed for all ages, will allow a wide audience to enjoy more hours of fun. The Roller Coaster Family Boomerang is part of Six Flags Mexico's comprehensive social responsibility strategy. This attraction, the only one of its kind in the region, will not only diversify the park's offerings but will also contribute to strengthening the social fabric, positioning Six Flags Mexico as an active partner in community development. The park will release more details about the Boomerang Family Roller Coaster in the coming months.

The Walt Disney World Resort has released new information regarding Disney Starlight, the new nighttime parade set to debut at the park on July 20th, 2025! https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/everything-we-know-about-disney-starlight/ Raise your hand if you love a Disney parade! I know I do! Announced last August at D23 EXPO, “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” is the new nighttime parade coming to Walt Disney World this summer. While we’re eagerly awaiting to see “Disney Starlight” light up the streets of Magic Kingdom, I had the chance to speak with the creative team behind the magic to share everything we have to look forward to soon. When is “Disney Starlight” coming to Magic Kingdom? It's official! Just announced: you can dream the night away at Magic Kingdom when “Disney Starlight” debuts July 20. And, you don’t have to wait to see a sneak peek of the poster coming soon to the Magic Kingdom train station! Will there be “Disney Starlight” merchandise? Of course! Sparkle along with the show with a “Disney Starlight” logo tee shirt, blanket, a Disney pin, a light up pair of Mickey Ears with a removable bow, and a light-up bubble wand that will dance along with the parade.  And, for the snackers, a dreamy new popcorn mix is coming soon! Themed to celebrate the debut of “Disney Starlight,” this new offering will be available exclusively at the Main Street Confectionary in Magic Kingdom starting the first night of the new parade. Guests can enjoy a star-kissed mix of Bubble Gum and Blue Raspberry Candy Popcorn, M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Candies, mini-marshmallows, and white chocolatey drizzle. How were the “Disney Starlight” floats designed? Designing floats for a nighttime parade adds another layer to the live entertainment production process. This first look at the floats reveals these are more than just static structures – they are storytelling stages on wheels. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKLNtosSCPC/ When we think about what this storytelling looks like at night, we think about creating these landscapes – or dreamscapes, as we think about them – out of light. How do we use this medium to portray movement, color, and imagery that we would normally see in a more scenically driven float during the daytime? Today’s technology gives us more options than ever to use lighting and video elements as a storytelling tool. For instance, our Blue Fairy magic, seen throughout the parade, is made completely from points of light; the use of a curved LED panels on the Encanto float gives us the opportunity to create magic and movement that a static image would not provide. This is the exciting technology and art of the “Disney Starlight” floats. And speaking of exciting, here’s a moment we’ve been eagerly waiting for: the reveal of the grand finale float of “Disney Starlight.” All the joy, wonder, and magic culminates in the parade’s finale, where a whimsical train, inspired by the iconic Main Street Electrical Parade float, emerges to take dreamers of all ages on a ride through the stars. Swirling ribbons of starlight reveal Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck leading a procession of Disney moments that includes Snow White and Dopey in a twinkling minecar, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider floating toward a gleaming lantern on their boat, and Aladdin and Jasmine taking a magic carpet ride. Closing out the celebration are the original dreamers, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, draped in sparkling new looks. Together, the duo sends us off, reminding us to believe in the power of wishing upon a star. Which of the finale friends are you most excited to see? What music will we hear in “Disney Starlight”? A parade without music is like a canvas without color. Show Director Tara Anderson said it perfectly: “You’ve got to have great music to have a great experience.” We have an original theme written specifically for “Disney Starlight” that truly embodies all the majestic and fantasy feelings you get watching a parade come down Main Street, U.S.A. with Cinderella Castle in the background. For Disney fans, this new theme may have some surprises that sound familiar – be sure to listen closely for some Disney Parks favorites woven into the score. Is "Disney Starlight” rehearsing now? While floats set the stage, and music sets the tone, our performers bring the energy and excitement. Choreographed by Cindy Wilson, who drew inspiration from each of the films represented in the parade, as well as a mix of different dance styles. Every eight-count is meticulously timed to coordinate with the music and lights as they animate across the costumes and floats. Every float built, every note in the music you hear, every performer learning the choreography for the first time – it all plays a part in building the excitement and anticipation as we get closer to the final production. I’ll leave you with a final quote from Tara. Anyone who has worked with her can attest that this is really something she says throughout every project as we prepare for guests to see all the hard work come to fruition, and I think it really embodies what motivates the team behind the “Disney Starlight” parade: “We need to touch every heart.” What is “Disney Starlight” about? “Disney Starlight” transports guests into the stories of our beloved Disney characters. Through the power of the Blue Fairy’s magic, you’ll watch dreams and wishes come true. As the lights dance from float to float, you’ll see favorite classic and contemporary characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Pixar films, some for the very first time in a Disney Live Entertainment nighttime parade! Brought to life by the creative hands and hearts at Disney Live Entertainment, "Disney Starlight” is the perfect continuation of our legacy of nighttime parades, with bits of nostalgia sprinkled throughout a dazzling procession that raises the bar for the future. This idea holds true for every part of this parade, not only in the float design, but in the music, choreography, and more. With several members of the creative team having worked on fan-favorites such as “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “SpectroMagic,” you will see the inspiration from ever-iconic electrical parades of years past. “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” recalls the nostalgia of nighttime spectaculars with innovation lighting the way for a magical experience like never before. What Characters Can We See in “Disney Starlight?” From the moment the Blue Fairy’s magic wand lights up the night, dreams will come to life with an enchanting order of floats with these fantastic friends: The Blue Fairy Peter Pan & Wendy Asha La Familia Madrigal (Mirabel, Isabela, Bruno) Elsa Aurora and Prince Phillip, Tiana and Prince Naveen, Belle and the Beast, and Cinderella and Prince Charming Miguel and Pepita Moana Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck,Snow White and Dopey, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Aladdin and Jasmine, and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse “Disney Starlight,” we can’t wait to see you this summer – July 20 is going to be the dreamiest night!

Flamingo Land has been actively pursuing approvals to build a resort destination on the shores of Loch Lomand, Scotland since 2018 and it appears that it is expecting to receive final approvals in the coming weeks for its latest proposal. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c19d8kvd0m8o What is happening with Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond? A proposed resort on the shores of Loch Lomond featuring a waterpark and monorail is set to be approved by the Scottish government, overturning the decision of the national park authority. The project was initially rejected last year by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority, who said it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation policies. The proposal is by theme park operator Flamingo Land. It hopes to build the £40m Lomond Banks resort, which features a monorail, waterpark, hotel and restaurants. What is Flamingo Land? The plans feature a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants. Flamingo Land is a theme park and zoo in Yorkshire that has operated since the 1950s. The name comes from a colony of the brightly coloured birds that were among the first animals on the site at Kirby Misperton. In 2018 the company behind the park - Flamingo Land Limited - submitted proposals for a tourist development at Loch Lomond, including a hotel, craft brewery and leisure centre. The plan was met with strong opposition, with an online petition against it gathering more than 55,000 signatures. In September 2019 the company withdrew its original plans, but returned in 2020 with an updated £40m ($50m) proposal featuring a water park, monorail, swimming pool, hotel and restaurants. Throughout the process Flamingo Land has insisted that the development would not be a theme park, and planning papers state that it would be a "a major step away" from their other resorts. More than 174,000 people signed the petition against the new proposal. Why do some people oppose Flamingo Land? The original plans were dubbed "the most unpopular planning application in Scottish history" by Ross Greer, the Scottish Greens MSP, and the revised proposal has proved just as controversial. Concerns have focused on whether the development would distort public green space in one of Scotland's most scenic areas. In April 2024, Lynne Somerville, the chairwoman of Balloch and Haldane Community Council, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that the plans would "dominate the whole west side of Balloch" and be a "living hell" for people living locally. However, it is not just locals who are concerned, as evidenced by the number of letters sent to the council protesting against it. Others have raised fears that the vista of Loch Lomond would be affected - damaging both a stunning view and a tourist hotspot. Additional traffic in the area is another concern. Flamingo Land estimated an additional 253 cars would be on the road during rush hour times, from 17:30 until 18:30. What has changed from the original proposal? The original proposals were unanimously objected to by West Dunbartonshire Council, but it did not oppose the proposal the second time around. The park authority is responsible for planning - not the council - but the local authority's change of heart was still greeted furiously by protesters. Flamingo Land has also said the new proposal would feature visitor accommodation and walkways sympathetic to the local environment, and that public access would be maintained throughout the site. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency requested that lodges were removed from part of the site designated as a flood plain and questioned whether proposals to mitigate the risk of floods were "technically feasible." Flamingo Land stated in its plans that part of the site was exempt from the flood plain concern due to it having been in previous use as a railway line until the 1980s. What benefits could Flamingo Land bring? Flamingo Land and Lomond Banks believe there would be considerable benefits for the local community, starting with creating around 200 jobs. They have stated that they would use local businesses throughout the construction of the development, estimated to raise £3m for the local economy. The company has made their promises to the area legally binding in a unilateral voluntary undertaking called "the Lomond Promise." Improvements to transport in the Loch Lomond area would also be planned, upgrading the congested Stoneymollan roundabout. The planning papers lodged with the park authority state that the Ballochloan roundabout should be reprofiled as well, and that the overall development would become a "focal point" for Balloch. The same papers praise the possible monorail in particular. Who will make the final decision? The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority board decided to reject the proposals in September. It cited the concerns over flood risks and the impact on the surrounding environment. The developers said they were disappointed by the decision, but remained committed to the project and would appeal it. The Scottish government planning reporter has since signalled his intention to give planning permission for the development, overturning the decision of the national park authority. He said the project did not conflict with the local development plan for the area, or the rules set out in the government's national planning framework. The site could operate safely despite being within a flood risk area, he said, and there could be "locally significant" benefits in terms of jobs and a boost to the economy. Will the project go ahead? Full planning permission would only be granted if Flamingo Land and the park authority came to a legal agreement. There are 26 weeks for this agreement to be reached - and if it is not, the Scottish government planning reporter will reconsider whether to approve or reject the application. Dr Heather Reid, convener of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park authority board, said the board would now take time to consider the implications of the report. She added: "We stand by the reasons for the board's unanimous decision to refuse this planning application and it is deeply disappointing that the reporter has taken a different view." The Balloch and Haldane Community Council said it would fight the decision as it "contradicts the expressed will of the community". Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer called the decision an "anti-democratic outrage" and said his party was "urgently considering our options for continuing this fight".