jedimaster1227

Earlier last week I was able to stop by Magic Kingdom once again to check out the latest happenings throughout the park. New Fantasyland continues to emerge from behind construction walls as minor projects continue to spring up throughout the rest of the park. Let's take a look! Framework for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster continues to rise. Minor additions to the frame continue to outline the ride track. Gray is facade structure and brown is track supports. Smaller sections of framing have begun to appear on the outskirts of the ride's layout as well. A section that looks like the beginning of a show building has taken form. This section, which was the first to go vertical, has remained virtually unchanged. Dumbo, now open on both sides, also launched its own Fastpass earlier last week. It can be assumed that this slanted structure will support the eventually rolling hills of the coaster's landscaping. But it still has quite a ways to go until we see rolling green. Additional rock work on the Storybook Circus side of The Little Mermaid continues to be added. The Big Top Souvenirs tent is fully wrapped. Now all work to be done for this one is inside. It'll take a little getting used to seeing double Dumbos. Timothy Mouse sits atop the attraction's new main marquee, and rotates just as he did at the crown of the original single spinner. Work on the show building seems to be the primary concern here currently. This is new! It's like the world has been mirrored! Unfortunately during my visit, the interactive queue wasn't open. Double vision! Motivational! Really can't help but stare... The Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station also opened very recently. Coming down the track? Each of the train cars sports a number referencing the opening year of each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks. There is no way to escape the inner ring of this play area completely dry. Water, water everywhere... But not a drop you'd want to drink. The area now sports a small merchandise cart as well. Here you can see the other three park tributes. No detail left unnoticed. What have we here? Somebody stole Mickey's glove! Details, details! This reference can also be found in the Town Square Theater! So wet! Wocka! Wocka! Tigger's Bouncy Place has been replaced by a new Winnie the Pooh meet and greet next to the attraction. Work on the castle retaining walls has also picked up speed once again. Stone work should begin soon. Minor work continues in the original Fantasyland. Snow White's Scary Adventures has closed for good to make way for the Princess Fairytale Hall in 2013. According to D23, 54 items from the former attraction have been salvaged to either be repurposed or sent to the Disney Archives. The Philharmagic Fastpass area now hosts distribution for both The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo. And check out the digital screens! Work on the new development in the old Fantasyland Skyway building plot. This looks like a tower... Might a Tangled experience be coming to Fantasyland soon?

Discovery Cove has sent us a press release regarding the official opening of the Freshwater Oasis!

http://www.zawya.com/story/Ilyas__Mustafa_Galadari_Group_IMG_to_Build_MARVEL_Adventure__Part_of_a_Themed_Family_Entertainment_Destination_in_Dubai-ZAWYA20120626103022/

http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mode=story&story_id=352

^Yep! I believe it is a Vekoma-manufactured track just like Everest was. Plus, the trains look almost identical to the Steam Donkeys on Everest.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/06/27/seattles-ferris-wheel-see-the-view-from-the-top/#6066-4 The new Seattle Great Wheel is shown on Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM)

No, it wouldn't be. It is simply improbable that this individual can make this park come back to life, let alone even remotely accomplish any of the tasks he set out to according to his presented "business plan." There are tons of flaws in his concept and no one will invest their money in a project that isn't grounded in reality, doesn't have experienced leaders behind the helm, doesn't have a solid business plan and lacks the personal capital to invest. There are about a million different reasons why this project won't happen... But his approach is definitely one of them. The initials for Outback Oasis Park (an ill-conceived, unmarketable concept to begin with) spell out OOP. To me, this whole project, dating back to Hard Rock Park has been one big OOPS.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-insane-coaster-wars-travel-channel-06201226,0,5087145,full.story

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/06/chef-of-be-our-guest-restaurant-in-new-fantasyland-shares-his-favorites-from-the-menu/

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/06/get-swept-away-with-caribbean-food-music-at-disneys-typhoon-lagoon-water-park-at-walt-disney-world-resort/ http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/more/tony-horton-fitness-weekend

Holiday World has sent us a press release regarding a change in plans for their 4th of July celebration.

^I went ahead and moved your question into our official discussion thread for PortAventura, because if anyone knows the answer, it'd likely be someone who posts in here!

Kings Dominion has sent us a press release regarding their returning Kingsfest Christian music concert series.

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Ky-Fair-Board-160736025.html

On Friday I had the chance to attend a special "Splash-Up" event at Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando's water park. I've always been a fan of this water park (it is actually my favorite one in Orlando) so it was a pleasure to be invited back to represent Theme Park Review for this media event! The event's focus was meant to allow the media to get a feel for the water park, including some of the newer offerings like Omaka Rocka, and more recently the introduction of the Weekday Pass, the new "Learn-to-Swim" lessons and the SeaWorld/Aquatica combo tickets for Florida Residents. The day included a tour of the entire water park, a brief look at the swim lessons and access to the park's newly updated Banana Beach Cook-Out including all day, all-you-care-to-eat food and beverages! [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Bryan_Nadeau_Interview_6e2q[/coastertube] This is why we're here! We were able to watch the completion of one of the new "Learn-to-Swim" lessons offered at Aquatica. The lessons are split between five sessions, and all lessons are completed with the aid of the same lifeguard throughout the course. If you or your children are in need of swimming lessons, I highly recommend checking out Aquatica's unique course. Aquatica's Vice President Bryan Nadeau welcomed us to the park and answered any questions we might have (see video above). And as the SeaWorld parks always know how to throw a media event, they brought out our favorite animal, the sloth! He's the real reason we're here! Oh yeah, something else that is fairly new at Aquatica? Coca-Cola products served in the parks! We approve! The sloth enjoyed his visit to the Banana Beach Cook-Out too! Aquatica has two adjacent wave pools, each running their own unique programs. Even more cool, those programs change from day to day! Whanau Way and Omaka Rocka share the same tower complex but have separate entrances. The Kiwi Market is also a new addition to the park, opening for the first time on the day of our visit... The real reason why we're here! Tassie Twister, the park's two bowl slides are accessible by crossing the park's lazy river. The Banana Beach Cook-Out is the park's all day buffet that recently received a menu overhaul. It originally featured hamburgers and hot dogs along with more BBQ related food items. Now it is a pizza, pasta and salad bar with additional items including roasted chicken, potatoes, and desserts. Time for some rider shots! Here they come! Another awesome slide complex! Aquatica is extremely picturesque! Walkabout Waters is sure to provide lots of wet play experiences thanks to its many fountains, jets and two huge tipping buckets. No lemon slushies here, but they've got plenty of other delicious options to enjoy! And now I present... Very good food! I highly recommend the Banana Beach Cook-Out for any prospective visitor to Aquatica. It includes all day access to food at this location, as well as (non-alcoholic) beverages throughout the park. Going down! Aquatica has a beauty to it thanks to its wonderful set of color schemes matched with lush foliage and landscaping. You really are transported out of the Orlando environment while here. Omaka Rocka features transparent slides that allow the passerby to witness riders sliding along. Roa's Rapids, the park's "action river" is the most popular attraction here, seeing more guests daily than either of the two wave pools. The Taumata Racer is the park's most white-knuckle thrill and offers a neat racing dynamic paired with a fun drop riding on slide mats. Be forewarned: It is near impossible to escape this slide without a plume of water in the face. See what I mean? Some people leave behind a water trail as well! Here is the park's signature slide complex, Dolphin Plunge. The slide complex is the park's most signature offering because the slides pass through a tank with Commerson's Dolphins. Here you can see one of the Commerson's Dolphins, the Dolphin Plunge slide and the Loggerhead Lane lazy river in the background. Found at the front of the park, there are many angles to view this slide, and all of them look great! Tassie Twister can also be seen at the front of the park and it blends in really well! One lucky rider got an up-and-close flyby with the Commerson's Dolphin. It is a neat sensation to quickly sink beneath the water without being fully submerged. Posing for the camera? This park was designed with photographers in mind! I believe that this is the reason the lazy river is called Loggerhead Lane. Aquatica also recently launched the Discovery Dollars cashless payment system for their park. Time to make our way out for the day... Special thanks to Aquatica for inviting Theme Park Review (and myself) to attend their media "Splash-Up!" If you haven't had the chance to, come check out Aquatica! It is seriously an incredible water park and a definite must-do when visiting Orlando!

^The picture isn't working. Try uploading it to the forum instead.

^It should be noted that Disney has a Research and Development wing that (I believe) operates in what is almost a stand alone division. They seek patents for technologies many of which don't end up in the parks (and other applications) for many years to come. I know they were working on some kind of tactile feedback system not too long ago that was rumored to come to the parks eventually. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21028137.900-illusions-to-send-shivers-down-a-gamers-spine.html

I've gone ahead and moved this thread here as it is more suited for this section of the forums.

http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x836135886/Rides-shut-down-in-Canton-park

http://www.adnews.com.au/adnews/dreamworld-rides-with-sapientnitro

^^^I'd imagine people aren't reading your comments because your posting tone is extremely off-putting. Sometimes additions aren't made solely for the impact of attendance figures. The Little Mermaid was the first major character-based addition to the park since Toy Story Mania and Monsters Inc. before it. California Adventure suffered from a lack of character, which in turn meant a lack of guest connection to the park, lost sales revenue in synergistic merchandising (you have no idea how well The Little Mermaid and Toy Story sell). And looking at the lines of the attraction, you need to stop and look at the capacity. Mermaid is an omnimover, one that is quite efficiently run. If the ride doesn't have a long line, it isn't for lack of popularity, it is for excess of capacity, which is a positive for this attraction! As for Toy Story Mania, not sure where you are getting your figures, because I've waited just as long for the DCA version as I have for the DHS version, if not longer. And as a part of the total park revitalization project, both of these additions (as well as all others) were made to create a more complete park experience, rather than the discounted version that opened in 2001 and trailed along through 2005. Radiator Springs Racers... People are complaining about the mouths being off? Some of the most advanced and lifelike character animatronics are introduced and people complain about the mouths? It is this same kind of nitpicking that made Disney change the "dole whip hair" on the Little Mermaid ride, and the end result wasn't any better. It's this false sense of entitlement that clouds the fan's ability to see a quality product for what it is, rather than what it should be. The general public doesn't care to notice that the mouth is slightly off center when the rest of the animatronic, let alone the environment enveloping it looks stunning. Hate to remind everyone here, but these parks are a business first, and therefore cater to the general public, not the nitpicking fans who notice the problems in a new attraction first, rather than the successes. Again, you look at the opening day crowds as a judge for the successful measure of the park as it is now? What a flawed way of analyzing the process. Do you have the statistics in hand to prove that the thousands of guests all did every attraction in the new area multiple times? Do you have the data to suggest that the attendance figures were merely a spike and should drop back down to what they were before the revitalization project started five years ago as early as next week? Yes, you may be an engineer. But that doesn't make you a park operations expert. Or a statistician capable of predicting the success of a project that only opened a few days ago. There is no argument for you except "read, laugh at the persistent arrogance, and move on."

^Every contract has exit clauses that allow for deals to be brokered to alter or even nullify the terms. I'm not saying anything about whether or not it will happen because I honestly don't know, but having read that contract, and having witnessed Disney make some deals over the last decade (Pixar, Marvel, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit/Al Michaels) that took people by surprise, I wouldn't count the possibility out. I'd go out on a limb to say that a deal could certainly be made for the right price... And considering the success of a certain ensemble film (and all of the films leading up to it), I'd imagine someone out in Glendale is calculating that price, if they haven't already.

^^The Universal Ride Reservation System (or U-Bots) is currently being offered quietly while running concurrently with the standard Universal Express system. As a guest you can choose to utilize one or the other.

Definitely Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Bluegrass Boardwalk has sent us a press announcing their withdrawal from the Kentucky Kingdom revival project.