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The Six Flags Qiddiya (Saudi Arabia) Discussion Thread has been added to the directory!

Merlin Entertainments has announced that they are moving forward on the development of LEGOLAND Shanghai and are now expecting the resort to open in 2024. https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/newsroom/news-releases/2020/legoland-shanghai-cooperation-agreement/ Merlin Entertainments today announces that it has entered into a formal co-operation agreement with the Shanghai Jinshan District Government, CMC Inc. and KIRKBI to develop a LEGOLAND® Resort in the Jinshan District of Shanghai, China. This follows the signing of a framework agreement in November 2019, announced as part of the China International Import Expo. Under the terms of the agreement, all parties will form a joint venture company and contribute funding to the construction and development of LEGOLAND® Shanghai. The total project investment is expected to be approximately $550 million. Construction of the project is planned to start next year, and the Resort is expected to open in 2024. LEGOLAND® Shanghai will be one of the largest LEGOLAND® Resorts in the world and will incorporate a 250-room fully themed hotel on opening. World-leading creative, design and construction teams will work together to create an immersive theme park, drawing inspiration from famous scenic spots in Shanghai, Jinshan District and the town of Fengjing. It will be located in the Jinshan District in south west Shanghai with a two-hour catchment of 55 million people. The region comprising Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui has an estimated population of 220 million. China is a focus of significant development and investment by Merlin. Since the start of 2018, the Company has opened five new Midway attractions, including the world’s first Peppa Pig World of Play (Shanghai) and Little BIG City (Beijing). The LEGO Brand has also been established as the leading toy brand in China and has seen annual double-digit growth for more than a decade. With millions of LEGO Fans now in China, the basis is certainly established for LEGOLAND Shanghai. The building of the LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort is part of the Jinshan District’s ‘five-year plan’ for the area, which seeks to establish a new area of cultural and tourism development in this region of the Yangtze River Delta. It is envisaged that the construction of the resort will be accompanied by the establishment of other businesses in the vicinity including hotel accommodation, retail, sports facilities, offices and high-end housing. NICK VARNEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS, SAID: “China represents a great opportunity for strong global brands and I am delighted to work with our partners to bring one of the world’s largest LEGOLAND® Resort to Shanghai, which builds on the other attractions we have developed in this exciting part of the country. The Shanghai LEGOLAND® Resort will be a must-visit destination for playful learning experiences for the millions of people who live in the vicinity and beyond. The Merlin team looks forward to working with our partners to develop the creative concept design for the resort and making it a reality, marking a significant milestone for Merlin’s presence in the Chinese market.” Merlin currently operates 13 Midway attractions in China including LEGOLAND® Discovery Centers, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Centers, Dungeons, Peppa Pig World of Play and Little BIG City. Dependent on opening schedules, LEGOLAND® Shanghai will be opened after LEGOLAND® New York (scheduled to open 2021) and LEGOLAND® Korea (scheduled to open 2022). JORGEN VIG KNUDSTORP, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, LEGO BRAND GROUP, AN ENTITY WITHIN KIRKBI: “The LEGO® brand has increased its presence, revenue and contribution in China during the past decade to create a positive impact on the development of the Chinese society with learning through play experiences. We are excited about the opportunity to bring LEGOLAND® to Shanghai Jinshan. It will give Chinese families even more opportunities to experience the benefits of LEGO® play and have fun together. We have been pleased with the positive response the LEGO® brand has received in China. KIRKBI, the LEGO® Group and LEGO® Education look forward to continuing to invest to bring even more exciting experiences to families in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta.” HU WEIGUO, SECRETARY OF SHANGHAI JINSHAN DISTRICT PARTY COMMITTEE – THE JINSHAN DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE “Jinshan District is striving to build a bridgehead for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, and the Fengjing area of Jinshan, where LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort project is located, is in the geographical center of the Yangtze River Delta. Facing the "14th five-year plan" period, Jinshan District will give full support to the strong halo effect which will be created by the building and opening of the LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort. The project will become a new cultural and tourism landmark promoting the Yangtze River Delta and the surrounding areas. It will also help advance the pace of industrial upgrading, urban renewal and rural revitalization, and accelerate the construction of Shanghai's southwest urban sub-center, thus contributing to the high-quality development of Yangtze River Delta integration.” MR. RUIGANG LI, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF CMC INC. “LEGO and LEGOLAND have an enormous fan base around the world. The town of Fengjing in Jinshan District is an excellent option of an advantageous location at the center of Yangtze River Delta with remarkable economic growth momentum and purchasing power. As one of the partners in LEGOLAND Shanghai, CMC Inc., having extensive resources, profound consumer insights, and local operation experience in media and entertainment, will work closely together with Jinshan District, KIRKBI, and Merlin Entertainment on the development and operation of LEGOLAND Shanghai, to create a destination and experience of fun and inspiration for kids and family from Shanghai and China.”

Walt Disney World has announced a variety of holiday offerings across property that will be available to guests beginning today! https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/11/happy-holidays-festive-fun-begins-today-at-walt-disney-world-resort/?CMP=SOC-DPFY21Q1wo1105201111200008C The holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort starts today, and we’re unwrapping more details about the magical experiences happening across our theme parks and Disney Springs, including special pop-up appearances by Santa Claus. Read on for all the festive fun! Magic Kingdom Park Your favorite characters don their holiday best and celebrate the season in a series of special cavalcades, complete with Christmastime floats and music. From Mickey and friends trimming a tree to Goofy and his pals whipping up a bakeshop full of scrumptious treats, character cavalcades bring holiday spirit to the streets of Magic Kingdom throughout the day. And keep your eyes open for Santa when he glides down the parade route in his sleigh. Main Street, U.S.A. is the spot to catch the Holiday Trolley, bringing festive harmonies from the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet, and you may just see some Toy Soldiers joining the Main Street Philharmonic when they march through Magic Kingdom playing their merry melodies. At night, holiday magic brings a festive look to Cinderella Castle with special projection effects, producing a kaleidoscope of designs including festive stripes and dots, a whimsical Christmas sweater look, a jeweled winter castle and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation. It’s sure to provide the perfect colorful backdrop for your holiday photos. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park Holiday fun returns to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, bringing unique seasonal décor and a flurry of festive flotillas with favorite Disney characters sailing down the Discovery River to a jolly holiday soundtrack. “Donald’s Dino Bash Festive Flotilla” takes its seasonal celebration to the water, with character friends waving to everyone as they pass, and Chip ‘n’ Dale jingle through the jungle, bringing their own style of holiday flair to the river. The Discovery Island Drummers cruise along, too, entertaining guests on the shore with an energetic holiday beat. And when Santa Claus makes the trek to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, he’ll spread the joyous spirit of the season to all he sees along the way. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios get their own visit from Santa when he brings glitz and glamour to a motorcade down Hollywood Boulevard, led by an entourage of elves and riding in his red convertible packed with presents. And just in time for the holiday season, “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration” adds a festive finale, featuring everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf, and celebratory songs of the season. After dark, the iconic Hollywood Tower Hotel on Sunset Boulevard will twinkle with projection effects as it becomes the Hollywood Holiday Tower Hotel, magically transforming into a Muppets gingerbread masterpiece, a Toy Story toy hotel, a snowy corner of Arendelle and a Dickensian village inspired by “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” Disney Springs The holidays arrive at Disney Springs on Nov. 7, when the area will transform into a winter wonderland, full of sparkling lights, enchanting décor and holiday surprises. Disney Springs is the place to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list – including yourself! And here, you’ll want to take a break and savor the comforting flavors of the season. As you wander, you can enjoy the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll presented by AdventHealth, with elaborately decorated, Disney-themed trees appearing throughout the shopping, dining and entertainment district. There will also be music-playing DJs during the day, and in the evening, stilt-walking toy soldiers, skating snowflakes and a magical snowfall will add a touch of wonder for holiday shoppers at surprise locations. Santa and Mrs. Claus are also making the trip to Disney Springs this year, where later in November you’ll be able to catch them soaking up their last bit of Florida sunshine before their big night. Look for them cruising Lake Buena Vista and sharing Christmas wishes from a pair of colorfully decorated pontoon boats. Disney Parks Holiday Merchandise You can bring the Disney Parks magic of the season home with you with new holiday-themed merchandise available throughout Walt Disney World Resort, as well as the Downtown Disney District and Buena Vista Street at Disneyland Resort in California (starting Nov. 19) and online at shopDisney.com. From apparel to accessories to homeware and more, these very merry collections feature the latest ear headbands, spirit jerseys for adults and children, plush, mini-backpacks by Loungefly, cloth face coverings and more. Highlights include: The first Disney Parks holiday snow blower Matching holiday onesies for the whole family Fuzzy clogs by Crocs A new holiday collection from BaubleBar And much more! This is just a sampling of all the festive fun you will enjoy at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort this year. And there’s more to come! EPCOT gets into the spirit a little later in the month, when the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth kicks off Nov. 27 with live entertainment, Holiday Kitchens, the Holiday Cookie Stroll and more. The Disney Parks Blog is also celebrating #DisneyMagicMoments of the season with our special new “Everything Holidays” section, featuring live events, DIY activities and more festive content through the end of 2020. So keep checking back here with us for more!

Universal Orlando has announced details for their celebration of the holiday season including the new "Universal's Holiday Experience featuring Macy's Balloons." Plenty of merry and all kinds of mayhem will take over Universal Orlando Resort as it unwraps its 2020 Holidays celebration from November 14 through January 3, 2021. Guests can celebrate the most wonderful time of the year as Universal’s most beloved holiday traditions and characters come to life in reimagined ways that align with the destination’s enhanced health and safety procedures – from the all-new “Universal’s Holiday Experience featuring Macy’s Balloons” to character celebrations and appearances around the parks – and it’s all included in theme park admission. This holiday season, guests of all ages can enjoy: Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure The streets of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley will become beautifully adorned with themed decorations, garlands and lights as the sounds of special holiday-themed performances fill the air throughout the lands. Guests can hear both magical and Muggle Christmas carols from the Frog Choir comprised of Hogwarts students and their giant croaking frogs, as well as the unique holiday hits of one of the wizarding world’s most popular singing sensations, Celestina Warbeck and the Banshees. There will also be seasonal treats, holiday eats, and beverages – including the highly-anticipated return of the fan-favorite, hot Butterbeer. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch and Who-liday Character Appearances at Universal’s Islands of Adventure It wouldn’t be a Holidays celebration without the mean, green one himself! While visiting Seuss Landing in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, holiday-goers will enjoy appearances by the maven of mischief, The Grinch, as he continues to try and find ways to steal holiday cheer, and the merry Whos from Whoville. ALL-NEW Universal’s Holiday Experience featuring Macy’s Balloons at Universal Studios Florida New this year, guests will have the opportunity to get up-close with larger-than-life parade balloons and floats like never before during “Universal’s Holiday Experience featuring Macy’s Balloons.” Guests will stroll along a picturesque pathway where they’ll encounter elaborate floats and stunning balloons inspired by everything from iconic holiday staples like reindeers and the Nutcracker, to characters from popular animated films, including the mischievous Minions from Illumination’s “Despicable Me” and “Minions” films, Gingy, The Gingerbread Man, from DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek” movies and the penguins from DreamWorks Animation’s “Madagascar” franchise. And it all culminates with a special appearance by Santa Claus and the opportunity to take a socially-distanced portrait with the big man himself. Universal’s Holiday Character Celebration at Universal Studios Florida During “Universal’s Holiday Character Celebration,” guests can celebrate the holiday season with the Minions and other beloved characters from Illumination’s “Despicable Me” and “Minions” films, and with DreamWorks Animation’s treasured family of Shrek characters and King Julien and the crew from the “Madagascar” franchise. Guests will sing and dance along with some of their favorite characters as they arrive aboard incredibly-festive parade floats, then perform special holiday show moments that the entire family will enjoy. Afterward, guests will have the chance to take socially-distanced photos of themselves with the characters and floats. Guests can also enjoy these additional holiday festivities across Universal Studios, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk while visiting the destination: First-Ever Holiday Tribute Store: A brand-new Tribute Store dedicated to the Holidays will debut at Universal Studios Florida for the holiday season. Located in the New York area of the park, guests will come dashing through the store into a winter wonderland featuring four immersive rooms – including one inspired by Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch – stocked with a variety of new merchandise that will make perfect holiday gifts, plus delicious seasonal food items. Guests can also browse Universal’s assortment of Holidays merchandise and make purchases online by visiting shop.UniversalOrlando.com Holiday Tree Hunt: Guests who purchase the Holiday Tree Hunt will embark on a search for 16 holiday-themed trees scattered throughout various merchandise locations in the theme parks and CityWalk. Guests will receive a brochure that outlines the participating locations, where they’ll have to collect stamps to mark their visit to each stop. Those who successfully complete the entire hunt will receive an exclusive Holiday Tree Hunt-branded ornament. Holiday Treat Trail: Guests can participate by grabbing a complimentary Holiday Treat Trail brochure that outlines a list of specialty food and beverage menu items across select dining venues. Those who purchase all qualifying items will receive a special sweet treat. Guests can make the most of their holiday visit by staying at one of Universal Orlando’s hotels – including the brand-new Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites, opening December 15, 2020 – where rates start at $79 per night and include exclusive theme park benefits. Each hotel at Universal Orlando will feature festive flourishes and decorated Christmas trees to get guests into the holiday spirit, and offer special Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve dining options. To learn more about offers for Universal Orlando’s hotels, to book a reservation – and even build a custom holiday vacation package, visit: https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/places-to-stay/hotels/holiday-happenings Universal Orlando continues to implement its enhanced health and safety procedures and guidelines focused on “screening, spacing and sanitization,” and those practices will be applied to all experiences taking place during the destination’s Holidays celebration. Key measures include screening guests and team members, enforcing social distancing, requiring face coverings, limiting capacity at the parks, attractions and hotels, and increasing cleaning and disinfection procedures and more. For more information about Universal Orlando’s Holidays celebration and incredible deals for guests to take advantage of this season – including the limited-time “Get 3 Days Free When You Buy 2 Days” offer that is available for purchase through January 6, 2021; the “Get 3 Days for $55 per Day plus tax” offer for Florida residents that is available for purchase through December 17; and $100 savings on select annual and seasonal passes – visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.

Zach Riddley from Walt Disney Imagineering has shared this new sneak peek at the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster trains! https://www.instagram.com/p/CHN7LPLB_5C/ Here is an exclusive sneak peek of two of our ride engineers as they prep some of EPCOT’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind vehicles at our warehouse in Florida. If you look closely at the colorful paint design on the vehicles (called coaches in roller coaster engineering parlance), each one is unique with different wear patterns and impact marks. Imagineers were inspired by markings that appear on NASA Space Shuttles and other spacecraft upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. We can’t wait to share more on this truly out-of-this-world, awesome attraction as we make progress on construction and put these coaches on the track!

It has been announced that this year EPCOT will host the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth from November 27th - December 30th, 2020. https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/10/celebrate-the-season-with-the-taste-of-epcot-international-festival-of-the-holidays-presented-by-adventhealth-nov-27-dec-30-2020/ Looking for sights, sounds and flavors from holiday festivities around the world this year? Then be sure to check out the Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth, taking place Nov. 27-Dec. 30, 2020 at Walt Disney World Resort. This magical event will feature delicious food, fun activities for the whole family and the chance to see some Disney characters in their holiday finest. At this year’s festival, enjoy a global celebration of seasonal cuisine at the Holiday Kitchens, located throughout World Showcase, including three kitchens inside World ShowPlace Events Pavilion. Indulge in festival favorites like the slow-roasted turkey from the American Holiday Table, pork schnitzel at the Bavaria Holiday Kitchen or the beef bourguignon from the Yukon Holiday Kitchen. As you sip, savor and sample your way through the Holiday Kitchens, you may spot some of your favorite characters – dressed in their holiday best – traveling through World Showcase to spread holiday cheer. Keep an eye out for Queen Anna and Elsa in the “Frozen Holiday Promenade,” and Mickey Mouse and his pals making merry on the “Mickey and Friends Holiday World Tour.” And we can’t forget about Santa Claus! When Santa visits EPCOT during this festive time of year, he’ll take a grand horse-drawn tour around World Showcase, calling out happy holiday wishes to all. When you need a break from your jolly jaunts, be sure to visit America Gardens Theatre to enjoy the sounds of the season from Voices of Liberty, who will share favorite carols through their incredible harmonies. Mariachi Cobre will bring to life Las Posadas, a celebration of Mexican holiday customs through music and dance. Over at the Canada pavilion, JAMMitors will grace the Mill Stage with their playful percussion. And, enjoy the shopping, sights AND sounds inside World ShowPlace as fan-favorite JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season will bring you on an uplifting journey through R&B, gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. The Holiday Cookie Stroll returns this year, with a complimentary cookie as reward for completing the confectionary collection. The delicious array of sweet treats to choose from will include cookies from five different locations throughout the park. You can also pick up an adorable cookie jar to collect all of your cookies, available for purchase at the Holiday Markets throughout World Showcase, while supplies last. To share holiday traditions from around the world, everyone’s favorite snowman from Frozen invites kids of all ages on the new “Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition,” a festive adventure around World Showcase to round up holiday traditions Olaf misplaces. You can purchase the expedition map at Mouse Gear, Disney Traders or World Traveler at International Gateway, then look for hidden Olafs throughout the World Showcase pavilions. Once you find them all, you’ll receive a gift worth melting for (while supplies last). The holiday season across the rest of Walt Disney World Resort begins Nov. 6, 2020, with seasonal celebrations at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs and Disney Resort hotels.

The Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has announced the launch of its 15th anniversary celebration and the opening of the Castle of Magical Dreams, both starting on November 21st, 2020! The resort will also launch the "A Disney Christmas" special event on the same day. Starting November 21, 2020, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will enter a magical milestone, as it officially celebrates its 15th anniversary with the opening of the reimagined castle – the Castle of Magical Dreams. On the same day, the resort’s “A Disney Christmas” special event will kick-off to bring even more happiness to guests. Welcome the Castle of Magical Dreams – filled with hopes and dreams from our cast and community Inspired by 13 stories of beloved Disney Princesses and Queens, the Castle of Magical Dreams offers something special for every guest with its many towers and spires embracing iconic patterns, textures, colors and ornamentation unique to each story. When the reimagined castle opens to the public – the first of its kind in Disney’s history - not only will it be a living centerpiece of Hong Kong Disneyland, but it will also act as a shining beacon of courage, hope and possibility to all guests. Guests will be able to admire these features both up-close and afar, against the idyllic backdrop of the lush landscape of the surrounding mountains. As part of the castle’s magical transformation, the resort invited guests, cast members, community partners and Disney friends, including Mickey Mouse, to share their own dreams and wishes on “magical dream cards.” These cards were collected in a treasure chest and lifted to the top of the tallest tower in the castle. This act symbolizes the rebirth of the castle through the power of everyone’s aspirations, ensuring that the heart of the resort will always be filled with hopes and dreams. Witness the castle’s magical transformation This is the first time in Disney history that an existing castle has undergone such a grand transformation. To mark the occasion, guests can visit the “Building a Dream: The Magic Behind a Disney Castle” exhibition, and embark on a visual journey that goes behind the magic, discovering the Walt Disney Imagineering process of reimagining the beloved castle, and gaining insights into the transformation from concept and design development, to the innovative building techniques, interpretation of the Disney Princesses and Queens’ stories in partnership with Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, and upcoming entertainment offerings. Starting the same day, a special “Glimpse into the Magic” tour of the Castle of Magical Dreams will be available to guests. This tour allows guests to venture through the castle, whilst being guided by an audio narration from local celebrity and Disney fan, Karena Lam. “It’s a very immersive tour which allows guests to appreciate the architectural designs of the towers, turrets, domes, spires and finials, and see how their various colors, icons, patterns, and cultural features were inspired by the Princesses and Queens,” Lam shared after experiencing the tour. Virtual countdown to the 15th anniversary launch To celebrate this historic milestone, the resort is launching a 15-day countdown to the 15th anniversary celebration from November 6 on the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort official website. This virtual countdown to the launch will also be available on the resort’s Instagram account (@hkdisneyland), inviting guests from all around the world to join in the celebrations. Special limited-time “Magic Access” Re-join Offer From November 3 to 30, 2020, lapsed Magic Access members can enjoy a limited-time “Magic Access” Re-join Offer* which entitles eligible guests to a 15 percent discount on the membership price, with one complimentary food and beverage item and one complimentary merchandise item. For details, please visit the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort website. 15 Years of Magical Dreams Since its grand opening, Hong Kong Disneyland has been a place where countless dreams have come true, and even more dreams will become a reality in the years to come. To celebrate the park’s 15th birthday celebration, guests can gather even more joy and wonders at the entrance of the park with a limited edition 15th anniversary-themed button, which will be distributed to guests on November 21, while supplies last. *This “Magic Access” Re-join offer is only applicable to Magic Access memberships which expired on or before October 3, 2020. This offer is not applicable to senior Magic Access Membership Card purchases, existing Magic Access members, Magic Access membership renewals, Magic Access certificates or ticket upgrades.

Idlewild Park & SoakZone has announced that several attractions will be retired before the 2021 season. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHI9jtAlFJO/ One thing that is a constant in life is change. At Idlewild & SoakZone, part of our evolution over the last 143 years has been a continuous examination of the sustainability, capacity and popularity of our attraction lineup. As part of that process, the following attractions will be retired prior to the start of our 2021 season: the Rainbow Wheel in Raccoon Lagoon, Bubbling Springs Ball Pit in Jumpin' Jungle, and the current Ferris Wheel in Olde Idlewild. We know that these attractions have created countless memories for so many of you over the years, and we join in saying a heartfelt goodbye. Idlewild remains committed to offering our Guests a mix of classic attractions and new adventures. We look forward to adding new and exciting family experiences in future seasons. Stay tuned

The official announcement has come from Kennywood that Kangaroo, Paratrooper, Bayern Kurve and Volcano are all being retired. No information has provided on what will replace these attractions.

We have been sent a press release announcing the formation of the Orlando Entertainment District, a collection of attractions, restaurants, bars, night clubs and experiences on International Drive in Orlando, FL that have come together to promote themselves under a unified banner. Locals have reconnected with an old friend and are hanging out on International Drive. Now, top attractions, bars, restaurants and night clubs which have sprung up in the past decade on I-Drive are looking to amplify the trend by creating the Orlando Entertainment District and increasing communication with local residents. ICON Park’s president and CEO Chris Jaskiewicz is leading the charge to brand the area the Entertainment District. “Orlando has a rich history of vibrant entertainment districts, such as Church Street Station in the 1970-80s, and then Pleasure Island in 90s and early 2000s. We now have what those spots had and more – nightly live entertainment at Ole Red and Tin Roof, fun night clubs such as Mango’s, top restaurants such as Yard House, Uncle Julio’s, Sugar Factory, three dinner theatres, bowling, and 15 great attractions from the 400 foot high Wheel to a Titanic museum with hundreds of artifacts recovered from the ship.” "There is a pent-up demand for high-quality fun, entertainment and dining – even if you’re on a budget,'' said Jaskiewicz. “Locals have rediscovered the entertainment value of I-Drive and how easy it is to get here, and they’re loving it. About 75% of our guests now are locals, so we want to make sure all our residents know what is available to them here in their own town and state, especially as their out-of-state travel is limited by the pandemic.” Over the past decade, billions of dollars have been invested in International Drive, as developers, the Orange County Convention Center, and Orange County officials have worked together to create a world class destination which became one of the nation’s busiest spots for visitors. In 2015, Orange County’s I-Drive 2040 Vision plan was adopted with a a special district as the gateway to International Drive, and now business leaders there are taking steps to brand it as the Entertainment District. “This is a perfect example of the public and private sectors working together in a smart way – Orange County created a gateway district under their 2040 Vision Plan and now business leaders are branding it to help all businesses on International Drive” said Luann Brooks, who is the Executive Director of the International Drive Business Improvement District. The Entertainment District has launched a website, social media and publicity to increase awareness about the following venues: ICON Park A 20-acre open-air dining, shopping and attraction destination in heart of I-Drive which is home to attractions The Wheel, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Pearl Express children’s train, Arcade City, and 7D Darkride Adventure and restaurants and bars including Yard House, Tin Roof, Uncle Julio’s, Ole Red, Tapa Toro, Sugar Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings and Shake Shack. Mango's Tropical Café A nightclub offering Brazilian Samba, Cuban Conga and a variety of Latin beats to Hip-hop, 80s & 90s hits and Michael Jackson Acts also known for its Dinner & Show, a throwback to the classic supper clubs of yesteryear: The “Tropicana” in Havana, Cuba and the Cotton Club of New York City. Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Takes guests on a journey back in time to April 1912, when the ship embarked on its maiden voyage. Guests receive a replica boarding pass, assume the role of a passenger and follow a chronological journey through life on Titanic. The Exhibition features more than 300 artifacts directly from the wreck site of Titanic. Access full-scale room re-creations including the famous Grand Staircase, Promenade Deck and First Class Cabin. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Features self guided tours of hundreds of exhibits from the worlds of science, hands-on interactive displays, videos, wax figures, cartoons, photos, rare artifacts, and special effects. Pirate’s Cove Golf Voted “Best Miniature Golf” in Florida, players putt through mountain caves, across a full-scale pirate ship, over footbridges and under cascading waterfalls. Kings Dining & Entertainment Features luxury bowling, billiards, energetic music, sports viewing, nostalgic retro video gaming, and food and drinks. Pirates Dinner Adventure A dinner show for children and adults alike featuring a cast of entertainers, acrobats, and cutthroats - sword fights, songs, sea monsters, and a captain’s feast. Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Shows A 45 minute comedy mystery where all the clues are presented to dinner guests who formulate questions for a live interrogation to help solve the crime. The Orlando Entertainment District is located near I-4, Universal Boulevard, the Beachline, and the Turnpike on International Drive. To learn more visit: https://orlandoentertainmentdistrict.com/.

SeaWorld San Antonio has sent us a press release about the new Fiesta del Mar event that will be hosted at the park over the next two weekends! San Antonio’s rich Hispanic culture meets the sea at the all-new Fiesta del Mar! This NEW SeaWorld tradition will come alive every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the vibrant colors, lights, smells, and sounds of old Mexico, while keeping guests safe with the park’s enhanced health and safety measures including physical distancing, additional cleaning and sanitizing, face covering requirements, temperature screenings, and a ticket reservation system to manage capacity. Guests will enjoy the familiar sounds of violins and vocals from authentic mariachi bands, say “¡Olé!” to colorful flamenco performances, and indulge in their favorite Mexican festival food and drinks. This limited time cultural celebration occurs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 6 – 15. Fiesta del Mar will give guests the opportunity to celebrate rich traditions while safely visiting the park, roaming its expansive 250 acres decorated with traditional fiesta-styled decor, and enjoying cooler autumn temperatures. In addition to enhancing the park’s already strict health and safety measures, capacity will be significantly limited to create even more open space for a visit that promotes physical distancing in a safe environment. Guests are encouraged to make reservations early as reservations are required and limited to manage capacity. Reservations can be made at SeaWorld.com/san-antonio/tickets/reservations/. Fans of Mexican and Latin food and drink can satisfy their taste buds with delectable street vendor food options from a Fiesta del Mar chef-created menu that includes nachos, tacos, tostadas, roasted corn, churros, mangonadas; drinks including margaritas, Modelo, Modelo Negra, Dos Equis, and Tecate beers, and non-alcoholic beverages; and the ever popular San Antonio favorite, chicken on a stick! The celebration will also include a Fiesta del Mar Market with themed merchandise, recuerdos (souvenirs), medals and more. SeaWorld Pass Members have the special opportunity on Sunday, November 8 to receive a FREE SeaWorld 2020 medal, exclusively designed for and only available to pass members, featuring a moving replica of the state’s Tallest, Fastest, Longest and Newest wooden coaster – Texas Stingray (quantities are limited, while supplies last). Guests will also be treated to live music concerts with popular local bands The Chisme, and Bidi Bidi Banda (a Selena tribute band!) and enjoy the exciting rides and SeaWorld attractions they’ve come to love. “San Antonians are craving a return to their cherished traditions, but wanting to celebrate safely with friends and family,” said Byron Surrett, President of SeaWorld and Aquatica San Antonio. “Our first-ever Fiesta del Mar will give our guests this special opportunity to enjoy the perfect combination of our Mexican heritage, and memorable community and family fellowship.” After a day of festive fun, the night sky will come to colorful life when guests cap off the party with a Fiesta del Mar fireworks extravaganza! This jaw-dropping show features a Folklorico dancer pre-show and an amazing finale of vivid flames, sparks, and aerial bursts of color, all set to Latin music. This fireworks spectacular can be viewed from socially distanced seating at Bayside Stadium, around the banks of the water ski lake, and throughout the park. Best Way to Play Guests can best experience SeaWorld’s Fiesta Del Mar by purchasing a 2021 Season Pass to enjoy the rest of the 2020 season for FREE and play through the end of 2021! The new 2021 Season Pass also includes FREE parking, passholder exclusive discounts on merchandise and photos, and all new special event (including the 2020 SeaWorld medal giveaway). The fun and incredible value also doesn’t end there. The park’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum Annual Passes are packed with even more benefits (the best in SeaWorld’s history) to enjoy the parks year-round including up to six (6) free bring-a-friend tickets, VIP parking, up to 50% off in-park discounts, free access to animal interactions, and much more. Safety: SeaWorld San Antonio is committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and the animals in our care. The park has worked diligently with state and local health officials, outside consultants and attraction industry leaders to enhance our already strict health, safety and cleanliness standards. These protocols and guidelines will be modified based on evolving industry standards and methodologies, public health, and governmental directives, and advancing scientific knowledge on the transmissibility of COVID-19. SeaWorld San Antonio is excited to continue to provide our guests with fun, inspiring and memorable experiences, while addressing important health and safety needs during this time. For detailed information about the measures that guests can expect when visiting the resort, including key operational changes, visit Seaworld.com/san-antonio/park-info/park-safety. For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorldSanAntonio.com. Follow SeaWorld on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news from SeaWorld.

Merlin Entertainments has shared a new look at LEGOLAND New York, the newest LEGOLAND park which will open in 2021! https://backstage.merlinentertainments.biz/2020/legoland-new-york-update/ The team at LEGOLAND New York are working hard to build hopes and dreams of bricktastic fun for 2021! LEGOLAND New York will be the largest of the eight global LEGOLAND Parks, with 50 rides and attractions across a 500 acre site. The 250-room hotel and key buildings have now been built and the rides are being installed including the brand-new LEGO Factory Adventure Ride! On this exclusive ride visitor's find out what it’s like to be a LEGO minifigure on A BIG LEGO Adventure and will be magically shrunk to miniature size and be right in the action of LEGO bricks being created! We can't wait for little builders to cruise around at Junior Driving School, to see trainees mastering Spinjtizu at Jay's Gravity Force Trainer and to welcome our first guests at the LEGO Castle. Check out the latest construction images below. We are excited to share that Miniland Goshen is also starting to take shape with iconic buildings from The Bull Stone House to St. Patrick's Cathedral - all carefully crafted by our LEGO Model Builders. One of the key attractions at New York’s Miniland will be the 19-foot-tall Empire State Building, with exactly 102 floors and 6,500 LEGO brick windows - the whole building is made from a whopping 97,680 bricks! There will also be a a 23-Foot-Long Brooklyn Bridge and a stunning St. Patrick’s Cathedral all made of LEGO bricks of course! The Miniland at LEGOLAND New York is dedicated to the sights and sounds found all around New York State and the first Minilanders recently got to enjoy some sunshine!

The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort has announced that the park will gain its largest investment in the history of the resort with the addition of LEGO MYTHICA: World of Mythical Creatures. https://www.merlinentertainments.biz/newsroom/news-releases/2020/legoland-windsor-lego-mythica/ The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort has today revealed it will open a multi-million-pound new land where mythical LEGO creatures come to life. Opening in spring 2021, LEGO MYTHICA: World of Mythical Creatures will feature thrilling new attractions and experiences, including a never-before-seen UK ride. Created for kids by kids, the parallel universe of LEGO MYTHICA marks the Resort’s single biggest investment since the gates opened 25 years ago and will see children’s imaginations and creativity run wild as mythical LEGO creatures come to life in front of their very eyes. Unveiling the name in a video shared across LEGOLAND Windsor’s social media channels, the latest tease reveals a mythical portal to another world opening for the first time. In a hint to the creatures that families may find in this parallel universe, huge footprints shake the Resort, a winged shadow flies overhead and the 30 second film ends with an ice storm engulfing LEGOLAND Windsor’s iconic entrance. Working in partnership with Kids Industries, the LEGOLAND Windsor team behind the new land spent a year discussing and testing ideas and concepts with seven to 11-year olds and their parents who influenced everything from the final ride experiences, names and characters. “What better way to celebrate our 25th birthday than by unveiling a completely unique experience like nothing else we have launched at the Resort since we opened. At the heart of LEGO MYTHICA: World of Mythical Creatures will be epic rides, including a UK first, and breath-taking mythical creatures designed to capture children’s imaginations and inspire them to build and play. Our new land has been two years in the making and co-created with families to make sure it delivers what children and their parents want from a theme park in 2021. We can’t wait to share more details soon.” LEGO MYTHICA World of Mythical Creatures is currently under construction at the Resort and is set to open in spring 2021. The new land will be found between Heartlake City and the Resort’s LEGO-themed Hotels. For more details and to book tickets to the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, visit www.legoland.co.uk/mythica

^Sea World Gold Coast is a Village Roadshow park, not owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment or Miral, who is responsible for the Yas Island theme parks.

Miral has announced that construction is over 40% complete on SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, the first international SeaWorld theme park located on Yas Island. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miral-announces-over-40-construction-completion-of-seaworld-abu-dhabi-301145519.html Miral, Abu Dhabi's leading curator of experiences, has announced over 40% construction completion of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi. In collaboration with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, this landmark project will bring the next generation of marine life theme parks to Yas Island and will be home to the UAE's first dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center providing world-class facilities to support regional and global conservation efforts. This project, visited by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, is scheduled for completion end of 2022. The next generation marine life theme park will be Yas Island's next mega attraction, complementing Miral's growing portfolio and enhancing the existing offerings on the Island, further positioning it as one of the top global destinations. Built on multiple levels with a total area of approximately 183,000sqm, the park's design leverages SeaWorld's more than 55 years of experience in marine research, conservation, and animal welfare. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will feature purpose-built habitats and ecosystems that will house different species together, as they are in the wild. Once complete, the marine life theme park will offer unique immersive experiences that engage visitors from the UAE and around the world, broadening their knowledge and appreciation of marine life. The park will be home to six distinct realms which tell a unified and immersive "One Ocean" story showing the interconnectivity between all life on Earth and our oceans – "We are connected to the Ocean, and the Ocean connects all of us." Once complete, the park will feature one of the world's largest and most progressive indoor aquariums, an immersive ride that takes guests on a thrilling and visually stunning journey from Pole to Pole, and countless interactive exhibits. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said: "This is yet another great new addition to Yas Island's immersive attractions and experiences. It will help further position the island as a top global destination, and contribute to the growth of Abu Dhabi's tourism vision. We are proud to have partnered with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment on this incredible project, which brings more than 55 years of expertise in marine conservation and world class marine animal care to Yas Island." Commenting on the partnership with Miral, Scott Ross, Chairman of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, said: “It’s a privilege to partner with Miral, a best-in-class organization, to build the first new SeaWorld park in over 30 years and the first park outside of North America. Yas Island is a visionary and transformational project and is already becoming a landmark destination for global travellers. We are thrilled SeaWorld will be a part of this special place, which will further expand our vitally important marine life research, rescue, conservation and education efforts in the region." The research center will serve as an advanced knowledge hub for researchers, scientists, and marine conservationists to better understand and protect the region's marine life and ecosystem. The research will include live studies into indigenous Gulf species such as dugongs and sea turtles, while further contributing to the global marine science community. Additionally, the facility will extend SeaWorld's already global reach and play a vital role in rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the region. To date, SeaWorld has come to the aid of more than 37,000 animals in need, returning many to the wild and providing a forever home for animals that are unable to safely return to the wild. Marc Swanson, the interim chief executive officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, commented: "SeaWorld Abu Dhabi represents the first new SeaWorld park in over 30 years and the first park outside of North America. We're looking forward to creating unforgettable experiences for our guests, educating them about some of the planet's most majestic marine animals, and continuing our world class animal care, conservation and advocacy work." One of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi's goals is to provide impactful education and learning opportunities for its visitors. This includes engagement with local partners to build marine life and conservation awareness initiatives, inspiring the UAE's future generations to follow marine careers and professions. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is part of Miral's $ 3.2 Billion investment in developments under construction. Its recent construction milestone of 40% completion includes over 50% of the concrete poured, the heaviest 50-ton steel column installed, and acrylic for the exhibits successfully fitted. About Miral Miral is Abu Dhabi's creator of destinations, uniting people and places through unique, immersive and exciting experiences. Responsible for the development and management of Yas Island, Miral's assets encompass entertainment, hospitality, leisure, sport, dining, retail, and real estate destinations. Today, Yas Island is home to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, Yas Links Golf Course, Yas Mall, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Marina and seven hotels, including the flagship Hotel W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island. For more information, visit http://www.miral.ae. About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter, and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. The Company is one of the world's foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry, and veterinary care. The Company collectively cares for one of the largest zoological collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The Company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial animals that are ill, injured, orphaned, or abandoned, with the goal of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 37,000 animals in need over the Company's history. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens®, Aquatica®, Sesame Place® and Sea Rescue®. Over its more than 60-year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The Company's theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests.

The land that formerly hosted Geauga Lake, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure and SeaWorld Ohio has been sold to Industrial Commercial Properties, who intends to develop retail, restaurants, residential and other commercial uses for the plot. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/industrial-commercial-properties-purchases-former-geauga-lake-and-sea-world-property-from-cedar-fair-301164766.html?fbclid=IwAR1wzjhK-ePJoMxnMcigrxas25yXC31jRCTyEzHrPbrKg9SLgum4W_pr2q0 Industrial Commercial Properties LLC (ICP) has acquired the 377 acre property that was the former home of Geauga Lake Amusement Park and Sea World Ohio. The property is located in Bainbridge Township, Ohio and the City of Aurora, Ohio. The property will be rebranded as The Geauga Lake District, with elements of design that will pay homage to the history of the site and the former amusement park, which operated from 1887-2007. The Geauga Lake District promises to be a master planned development that will include retail, restaurants, residential and other commercial uses. A cohesive and curated design will showcase uniform lighting, landscaping, public improvements and streetscape, including the construction of a new Geauga Lake Boulevard, which will connect State Route 43 to Depot Road and will feature a roller coaster design feature in the median. "We are reigniting this iconic landmark," said Chris Semarjian, owner of ICP. "The redevelopment of this site will not only create a fully functioning district where people can live, work, dine and recreate, but it will also have a broader impact on economic development and job creation for the region." "Many of us that grew up in Northeast Ohio have fond memories of the park, and it was important to our development team, the Trustees and the Mayor that we respect the remarkable history of the property and take great care in creating design elements like the signage, landscaping, lighting, and other public improvements at the site," said Chris Salata, ICP's chief operating officer. "With greater residential density planned for our property and Pulte's project under construction in Aurora, the demand for commercial users will be strong," added Salata. ICP is known for providing industry-leading real estate solutions that are custom designed to meet the evolving needs of tenants, local communities and public officials. The first company to be part of The Geauga Lake District will be Menards, a national, family-owned, home improvement store, which will occupy 24 acres, and will open in early 2022. Founded in 1960, Menards boasts over 350 stores across the country in its portfolio. "Menards at Geauga Lake" will represent a multi-million-dollar investment into the District and will be the retailer's third store in Northeast Ohio and their first on the east side of Cleveland. "We are thrilled to have such a high-quality operator like Menards kick off the project," stated Austin Semarjian, vice president of leasing and acquisitions at ICP. Over the last year, ICP collaborated with Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin of Aurora and the Bainbridge Township Trustees, Lorrie Sass Benza, Jeffery S. Markley and Kristina O'Brien, to make this exciting and impactful project become a reality. On September 28, 2020, the Township and the City both unanimously approved the creation of a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) for the site that creates an income and tax sharing arrangement between the communities and calls for Aurora to provide water and sewer utilities to the property. ICP is actively marketing the site to retailers, restaurants, residential and other commercial users. The Geauga Lake District will highlight the spectacular 50-acre, spring-fed, Geauga Lake and include open green space that will be activated with public improvements. Geauga Lake will offer scenic vistas for all of the development's residents and visitors. About The Geauga Lake District The Geauga Lake District is a master planned, mixed-use development, located in Bainbridge Township in Geauga County, Ohio and the City of Aurora in Portage County, Ohio. With elements of design that pay homage to the history of the site and the former amusement park, The Geauga Lake District will include retail, restaurants, residential and other commercial uses, providing spacious green space and scenic vistas for all of its residents and visitors. About Industrial Commercial Properties (ICP) Founded in 1996, Industrial Commercial Properties LLC (ICP) is a real estate development company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in commercial and industrial rehabilitation, build-to-suits and economic redevelopment. The Midwest's leader in commercial real estate, ICP currently owns over 140 properties with more than 300 tenants, totaling 42 million square feet of industrial, office and commercial space.

Disneyland Resort has sent us a collection of statements in response to the State of California's newly-released guidelines limiting park operations and capacity. STATEMENT FROM KEN POTROCK, PRESIDENT, DISNEYLAND RESORT We have proven that we can responsibly reopen, with science-based health and safety protocols strictly enforced at our theme park properties around the world. Nevertheless, the State of California continues to ignore this fact, instead mandating arbitrary guidelines that it knows are unworkable and that hold us to a standard vastly different from other reopened businesses and state-operated facilities. Together with our labor unions we want to get people back to work, but these State guidelines will keep us shuttered for the foreseeable future, forcing thousands more people out of work, leading to the inevitable closure of small family-owned businesses, and irreparably devastating the Anaheim/Southern California community. QUOTES FROM DR. CLAYTON CHAU, DIRECTOR, ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH CARE AGENCY “I think for a large county like us, especially a county with institution of higher education where folks [are] coming in from outside the county and outside the state, I think it’s going to be very hard to achieve the yellow tier.” “It depends on when the vaccine will come as well as how many doses [are] available for our populations as well as how many of our residents will readily accept the vaccine – those are the three factors that will determine how soon we can get to the yellow tier.” “Personally, I think that we can look forward to a yellow tier by next summer, hopefully. Hopefully.” Erin Guerrero, Executive Director, California Attractions and Parks Association “To say today’s announcement on theme parks is disappointing would be a grave understatement. The Governor has not used science or data to inform his decision. Theme parks have opened and operated safely around the world for months. Data and science prove that theme parks can operate responsibly anywhere – there is no rational reason to believe they can’t do so in California. No one cares more about park employee and guest safety than the parks themselves. “Let me be unequivocal– the guidance issued by the Newsom Administration will keep theme parks shuttered for the foreseeable future. By forcing amusement parks to stay closed until their home county reaches Tier 4, the Governor has issued a “Keep Theme Parks Closed Indefinitely” Plan which will devastate California’s major theme park industry. “This plan prolongs unemployment for tens of thousands of people, hastens bankruptcy for families and small business owners adjacent to parks, and contributes to insolvency for local governments whose budgets rely on parks as an anchor economic driver. “While we appreciate the more nuanced approach in the guidance for smaller theme parks, keeping California’s larger parks closed is unfair and unreasonable. Based on the responsible reopening of parks in other countries and states, science and data do not support the indefinite closure of this iconic industry in California. “Responsibly reopening amusement parks on a reasonable timeline can and should be done while we fight this pandemic – the two are not mutually exclusive. California’s theme parks and their phenomenal workforce are ready to reopen responsibly. Parks’ loyal guests are ready and the communities and local governments surrounding the parks are ready. We urge Governor Newsom to revise this guidance to allow for a reasonable and responsible reopening of California’s signature theme park industry in Tier 3.”

^I think Jurassic World has the potential to have some really unique experiences compared to the other Universal parks.

Universal Beijing Resort has announced new details about the lands and experiences guests will find when they visit the park next year! Universal Beijing Resort today unveiled jaw-dropping details of the multiple entertainment experiences available for guests at its expansive destination resort. Universal Beijing Resort features the Universal Studios Beijing theme park, Universal CityWalk Beijing and two extraordinary hotels, The Universal Studios Grand Hotel and the NUO Resort Hotel. The widely anticipated resort has now revealed even more exciting details for guests. Start from left: John Gentile, Senior Director & Executive Producer of Universal Beijing Resort; Bob Dennis, Creative Director for Transformers Metrobase; Florence Hu, Vice President of Marketing & Sales of Universal Beijing Resort; Tom Mehrmann, President and General Manager of Universal Beijing Resort; Sabrina Han, Creative Coordinator for Transformers Metrobase; Dean Orion, Creative Director for Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness; Frank Fang, Production Art Director for Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness The Universal Beijing Resort experience is unique to China – representing a collection of Universal’s most popular attractions from around the world as well as specially themed experiences reflecting China’s rich cultural heritage. An enchanting waterway connects all key locations. Guests enter the dazzling CityWalk entertainment complex and approach the magnificent Universal Grand Hotel, which serves as gateway to the entire park. Once inside, seven immersive and expansive, themed lands unfold around a central lagoon. The seven spectacular themed lands include Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, Transformers Metrobase, Minion Land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World Isla Nublar, Hollywood and Waterworld. These magnificent lands are at the heart of the guest experience, bringing some of popular films' and pop culture’s most compelling stories and character to life. Each land is a collection of immersive experiences, including themed rides and attractions, shows, entertainment, shops and restaurants with incredible food and beverages. They are expansive and stretch beyond the limits of imagination. Within them are dozens of blockbuster attractions and entertainment experiences, dozens of themed restaurants and food and beverage venues as well as many specialty merchandise and retail locations. “We and our local partners, including Beijing Tourism Group, are creating one of the most magnificent theme park destinations ever built – right here in Beijing,” said Mr. Tom Mehrmann, President and General Manager of Universal Beijing Resort. “It is the fruit of co-creation, merging Universal’s decades of global theme park experience with our partner’s deep insights on China. Over 100,000 constructors, more than 500 designers and artists, and more than 500 suppliers and partners from around the world jointly made the project possible, and we can’t wait to unveil this dream destination to the world next year.” Bringing the Movie World to Life and Creating the Immersion Beyond Imagination Walking into the themed lands, guests will find themselves in unforgettable movie scenes, experience replicas of the movie world, enjoy wonderful adventures with customized storylines, and completely immerse themselves in multi-sensory stimulation and story-driven experiences. Today, Universal released the exclusive details on some of the products being developed, including a few iconic landmarks and the most anticipated rides in these theme lands of Universal Studios Beijing, through inspiring conceptual images and videos. Some highlights are- In Transformers Metrobase, the first entire Transformers land in the world exclusively built in Universal Beijing Resort, guests can choose to become “guest agents” and fight together with Autobots on thrilling rides like the Decepticoaster, the biggest and most exciting roller coaster in the Resort or the Transformers: Battle for the AllSpark, one of the most popular rides in the land or visit the Energon Power Station to "replenish energy" like a bot. Guests can explore The Valley of Peace of Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness, inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s beloved film franchise. Set in “Legendary China”, this is Universal’s first Kung Fu Panda-themed land. The Valley of Peace is the small town where Po, the panda hero of this story, lives. Guests can go on a Kung Fu adventure with Po, fighting against Tian Sha on a unique flume ride, Kung Fu Panda Journey of the Dragon Warrior. Inspired by Illumination’s Despicable Me franchise, Minion Land elates and captivates guests, welcoming them into a spectacular, one-of-a-kind immersive experience that invites them to explore iconic locations from the blockbuster films like never before. Throughout the land, guests can interact with the mischievous Minions themselves and, in the land’s signature attraction, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, guests join Gru, his daughters and the Minions for an unpredictable and utterly electrifying ride. Guests are transformed into Minions and are launched into an unforgettable trip through Gru’s Super Villain laboratory. Walking into The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, Hogwarts™ castle perfectly embodies this incredible world full of infinite possibilities. Discover Dumbledore's Office, Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom, Gryffindor Common Room, and the Room of Requirement. The beloved Butterbeer™ is also available for guests to enjoy. In addition, guests may experience an adventure like no other with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™. This can-not-miss ride will refresh guests' understanding of immersive entertainment and allow guests fly with Harry on a journey though familiar scenes in the movie and experience a completely immersive journey into the wizarding world. Welcome to Jurassic World Isla Nublar, inspired by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s legendary blockbuster franchise. Guests will explore this island of wonder and thrills where dinosaurs roam the Earth again. Inside guests will find an authentic and magnificent world has been expertly brought to life in jaw-dropping detail. Guests can explore this hidden world with four unique zones filled with interactive adventures. With "Jurassic World Adventure", the main ride of this area, guests will take the All-Terrain Luxury Automatic System (ATLAS) into the wilderness of Nublar Island and embark on an adventure in the turbulent world of dinosaurs, encountering Tyrannosaurus rex, Indominus rex and Velociraptor. Encountering the Unique Entertainment Beyond Expectation With 24 shows and entertainment experiences, Universal Beijing Resort blurs the lines between stage and cinema in first-ever entertainment experiences utilizing live performers, interactive props and unique sets. Universal Beijing Resort unveiled two unique shows today: Lights, Camera, Action! featured in Hollywood Boulevard and Waterworld Stunt Show. Featuring world-renowned directors, Zhang Yimou and Steven Spielberg, Lights, Camera, Action! merges both Western and Eastern popular culture, leading guests into the behind-the-scenes glitz and glamour of film special effects. In addition, Universal Studios Beijing will offer Waterworld Stunt Show in the first land dedicated to Waterworld. Guests will join in an immersive adventure and experience a thrilling water battle that gives them an up-close look at the stunt show of water motorboats, high- dives, gunfire, explosions, as well as a plane crash with great sensory stimulation. A Place Born from Craftsmanship and Co-creation Behind the blockbuster-sized entertainment of Universal Beijing Resort is the dedicated craftmanship of more than 500 artists from China and the world. Artists have worked to create and perfect every single detail of the guest experience. They have carefully combined Western and Eastern culture inspirations to create a world full of surprise and amazement. For example, just for one attraction, Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, located in the center of Kungfu Panda Land of Awesomeness, changes seasons continually through winter, spring, summer and fall. To achieve this, artists created 58,000 hand-made blossoms which were then paired with 360-degree projection and other artistic technologies to achieve the magical transformation effect. Another example is from Transformer Metrobase, which features an expanded and completely fictional story with China as the background. In the creation of the storyline and the experience, international designers carefully studied Chinese culture, such as Flying Fairy, Armillary Sphere and water ink painting, skillfully integrating the inspiration and working closely together with their local counterparts during the design process. John Gentile, Senior Director & Executive Producer of Universal Parks and Resorts, said: “This is a story of designers of different cultures and thinking working together to collaborate, impact and co-create. Based on the co-creation and our persistence in detail, we have brought something spectacular to life and put our guests in the story. I’m sure you will share in the amazement as you experience the park that has benefitted from the creative input of so many people and so much remarkable effort. We are very proud to be part of this great journey.” Co-create Your Own Woah Moment in #Universal Beijing Resort Open Audition# Universal Beijing Resort recently also launched the Universal Beijing Resort Open Audition Douyin campaign on October 19th, which is divided into 2 phases and is planned to last for 3 weeks, inviting guests to be among the first to experience the infinite entertainment possibilities. In the phase one of the campaign, Universal Beijing Resort seeks to create a nationwide dancing trend and invites guests to remix the Universal’s classic music and join the dance challenge. Guests are also invited to co-create the extraordinary moment with Universal Beijing Resort. In the phase two of the campaign, Universal Beijing Resort and Douyin will jointly launch 5 stickers based on the iconic landmarks of Universal Beijing Resort. Users can create their own videos using the stickers and participate in the challenge to experience the immersive theme park experience in advance. For more information about #Universal Open Dancing Audition#, please scan the QR code with Douyin APP About Universal Beijing Resort Universal Beijing Resort is a widely anticipated theme park destination that will feature the Universal Studios Beijing theme park, the Universal CityWalk Beijing retail, dining and entertainment complex and two hotels. The hotels include the Universal Studios Grand Hotel, the first-ever Universal-themed resort hotel, and the first NUO-branded resort hotel from Beijing Tourism Group. The Universal Studios Beijing theme park will feature seven highly themed and immersive lands that include several all-new attractions along with the selected Universal rides, shows and attractions from around the world – plus specially created experiences designed to reflect China's cultural heritage. Universal Beijing Resort is developed, constructed and operated by Beijing International Resort Co., Ltd., a joint venture that is 70 percent owned by Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Co., Ltd., and 30 percent owned by Universal Parks & Resorts, a business unit of Comcast NBCUniversal. Beijing Shouhuan Cultural Tourism Investment Company, Ltd. (BSH Investment) was founded to support the investment of Universal Beijing Resort. Under the guideline to, “drive the development of an industry and a region with a project,” BSH Investment and Universal Parks & Resort will jointly invest Universal Beijing Resort with extraordinary design, technology, creativity and environmental protection. Universal Parks & Resorts, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, offers guests around the globe today’s popular entertainment experiences. With three-time Academy Award® winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg as creative consultant, Universal’s theme parks are known for immersive experiences featuring highly thrilling and technologically advanced film- and television-based attractions. Guests of all ages enjoy encounters and adventures with some of the very popular characters and well-established brands in entertainment. Comcast NBCUniversal wholly owns Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Japan and has a license agreement with Universal Studios Singapore.

LEGOLAND Florida has announced that the resort will celebrate their tenth anniversary with ten new reasons to visit! https://visitcentralflorida.org/blog/legoland-florida-resort-special-events-calendar/ In honor of LEGOLAND Florida Resort celebrating it’s 10th birthday in 2021, we’re giving you the top 10 reasons to visit LEGOLAND Florida in 2021. In addition to 10+ reasons to party, LEGOLAND will bring back its original Annual Pass pricing to commemorate the Park’s milestone birthday. Florida residents can snag a New! Play & Party Pass at the throwback price of $99. This Theme Park pass will include complimentary parking, discounts for friends and family tickets, access to select special events and a collectable, commemorative brick. Top 10 Reasons to Visit LEGOLAND 1 – Watersports Stunt Show – New! Launching Feb. 12, 2021, Brickbeard’s buccaneer recruits are ready to graduate from his stunt school, but they must first pass his swashbuckling skill tests! Witness the daring feats that these pupil pirates must perform before they join the crew. New Show Features Never-before-seen, new female LEGO® pirate character New original music Gravity-defying stunts including wakeboarding, barefoot-skiing, jump acts and an iconic ski pyramid All-new flyboard act, taking this show to heroic heights above the legendary Lake Eloise 2 – PirateFest Weekends Events – New! With Brickbeard’s new show weighing anchor, the entire theme park will be overtaken by his friends and LEGOLAND will be home to its first ever pirate invasion! Also debuting Feb. 12, PirateFest Weekends will run for three consecutive weekends, through February 28. Crafty crews can play like pirates with themed build activities and new LEGO® character meet & greets. An all-new musical show, full of adventure, will take over the LEGO® City Stage, and specialty food will feed even the hungriest buccaneers. The swashbucklin’ fun will be nonstop, and each merry day at sea is marked with a dance parrrrty like no other! 3 – 4-D Movie – New! Get ready for an adventure into a new world with our all-new 4-D movie, premiering at LEGOLAND Fun Town Theater in spring 2021. 4 – Master Builder Experience – New! See how real Master Model Builders dream, create and build with the iconic LEGO® system in LEGOLAND’s all-new building center, opening this spring. 5 – LEGO® Friends Weekends – New! A day of fun is best shared with… Friends! LEGO® Friends are back May 1, 2, 8 & 9 for Friend-tastic weekends full of fanciful builds, music and more. 6 – Miniland Shade Structures – New! LEGOLAND’s most iconic area of the park will undergo a cool transformation! New shade structures will bring even more enjoyment to the beloved land in 2021. 7 – LEGO City Models – New! Larger-than-life models will bring new stories and characters—and Insta-worthy photo opportunities—to LEGO CITY in spring 2021. 8 – Expanded Summer Celebration – Awesummer Party through the summer at LEGOLAND Florida Resort with birthday surprises around every corner, including festive “streetmosphere,” music, and exciting fireworks on select dates in June and July. 9 – LEGO City Stage Show – New! Summer shenanigans will take center stage as LEGOLAND debuts an all-new stage show in LEGO CITY! 10 – Awesome Birthday Party Of course, the theme park built for kids will have one amazing birthday party. And yes, the BIGGEST, most awesome LEGO birthday cake ever created. Stay tuned as the Park announces more details around the party weekend for the big 1-0. LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel The party continues long after the park closes when families stay onsite at the all-new LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel. Since the hotel is just 130-kid steps away from the front gate, this adventure-packed resort is the ultimate family destination for a vacation. Every stay at Pirate Island Hotel includes a free family-style breakfast, nightly pirate fun and in-room treasure hunts.

S&S – Sansei Technologies has sent us a press release announcing their new Spin Shot Tower concept, which can be built new or retrofit on any existing S&S tower! S&S – Sansei Technologies is excited to announce the new Spin Shot Tower! The Spin Shot takes the thrills and excitement from our 4D Free Spin coaster seat and puts it on our world-famous tower rides. For a modest investment, the Spin Shot can be retrofit on any S&S tower. Custom ride profiles can be programmed to orient the rider, face-up, face-down or even upside down during the tower ride sequence! This thrilling experience will be mechanically controlled to ensure maximum safety and thrills for all riders. S&S recognizes the current market challenges and the limited capital expense budgets most parks now face. Executive Director of Sales & Marketing, Josh Hays said, “Our CEO, Tim Timco, challenged us to develop an exciting attraction that parks could offer their customers at a modest budget. We believe our talented engineering team has met that goal. Parks want to offer their guests new and exciting experiences every year. That is a difficult task right now, but we believe our new Spin Shot Tower will allow parks with existing tower rides to reward their guests with a thrilling experience that doesn’t break the bank.” The Spin Shot is a patented product only available from S&S - Sansei Technologies. For more information about the Spin Shot Tower, you can visit the S&S website at http://s-s.com/rides/spin-shot-tower/.

A new Virtual Reality experience, SoReal will open in Shanghai Disney's DisneyTown in 2021, taking over the Lakeshore building where the Boathouse Restaurant previously operated. SoReal Shanghai Disney DisneyTown Announcement Today, management representatives from Shanghai Disney Resort and SoReal attended a special celebration ceremony. Joe Schott, President and General Manager of Shanghai Disney Resort, became the founder of Beijing Qitian International Cultural Technology Development Group Co., Ltd. , CEO Qi Xiao presented the golden key representing the lakeside architecture of Disney Town! With the official handover of the building to SoReal, construction work is about to begin. This new SoReal super-body space experience is scheduled to open to tourists in 2021. Since its grand opening in 2016, Disney Town’s unique shopping experience, delicious world cuisine, and wonderful live performances have continuously brought surprises to visitors. With SoReal settled on the lakeside of Disney Town, Disney Town will further bring visitors a rich entertainment experience , giving visitors the opportunity to experience the special fun of leading technology!

Motiongate is getting two new coasters in 2021 themed to two Lionsgate film franchises, John Wick and Now You See Me! https://variety.com/2020/film/news/john-wick-now-you-see-me-lionsgate-roller-coasters-1234809174/ Lionsgate is turning its hit “John Wick” film franchise into a 10-story roller coaster ride at the Motiongate theme park in Dubai. The “John Wick” ride, and another coaster based on the “Now You See Me” film series, are expected to open at Motiongate early next year. Variety has the exclusive first look at renderings of what the attractions will look like, below: John Wick: Open Contract Now You See Me: High Roller The “John Wick: Open Contract” coaster will offer riders a choice as they board: They can help John Wick — the assassin played by Keanu Reeves in the 2014 movie and its two (so far) sequels — or they can hunt him. “You’ll get two different experiences depending on which path through the queue you choose to get on the ride,” said Jenefer Brown, executive vice president and head of global live, interactive and location-based entertainment at Lionsgate. Brown said the ride designers worked with the “John Wick” filmmakers and production designer in re-creating the world of the film. Specifically, guests will walk through a scaled version of the Continental — the setting in the movies where assassins gather. “I think what’s going to be amazing for fans is to have the opportunity to walk through the lobby of the Continental and experience different key moments in the settings that took place in the films,” Brown said. “This attraction in particular is really about setting the story by putting people in this very immersive environment, and then you really get the action as you get on the coaster. It’s 10 stories high, so there’s definitely a level of intensity that’s befitting of the ‘John Wick franchise that guests will experience.” As for “Now You See Me,” the “High Roller” attraction is also a roller coaster, but set in a casino location. (The 2013 film and its sequel are about “The Four Horsemen,” illusionists who pull off robberies during their performances.) “Guests will have the experience of walking through the casino and taking part in a heist that the Horsemen are in the midst of pulling off,” she said. “There will be a really great immersive story experience that leads guests on to this coaster.” Brown said the Dubai location is the first step in Lionsgate’s ambitious long-term goal of expanding its global theme park presence and taking on established rivals like Disney and Universal. Besides its segment of Motiongate, Lionsgate owns a smaller indoor amusement center, Lionsgate Entertainment World, in China. “”John Wick’ is definitely an intellectual property that we feel is perfect for location- based entertainment,” she said. “Because the world is so rich and the characters are so intriguing. There’s a lot of story that we can tell there in an experiential way. “Now You See Me” is the same way, as magic is incredibly popular and universal. Doing this first ride in Dubai I think will establish what we can do in other places around the world, and we’re interested in expanding our portfolio of film franchises and TV series, in outdoor theme parks.” Lionsgate already has a coaster based on “The Hunger Games” and a live music/dance show based on “Step Up” at Motiongate, which also has themed rides based on DreamWorks and Columbia Pictures properties. In the U.S., Lionsgate has launching touring shows based on “Now You See Me” and “La La Land,” and has a “Saw”-themed escape room attraction in Las Vegas. But Brown said it remains to be seen whether large-scale thrill rides like “John Wick” will find a home here. “We would love to bring these types of experiences and attractions here,” she said. “I think that there has just been more opportunity to date internationally. But I think that that is changing and we’re certainly exploring possibilities in North America. Hopefully in the not too distant horizon, we’ll be able to bring some of these larger scale experiences here. In terms of these larger footprint outdoor theme park/ indoor theme park type of experiences, it’s something we’re incredibly interested in and focused on. It’s just really a matter of finding the right opportunity and in mature markets like North America or Europe, those aren’t as frequent as in other parts of the world.” Brown noted that as the “John Wick” and “Now You See Me” coasters in 2021, the timing will likely coincide with the further loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. Motiongate Dubai has already re-opened at reduced capacity. “Capacity, while it may be reduced to 50%, we are seeing guests that are coming out at that those numbers and levels so I think that’s really encouraging for the industry,” she said. “It’s going to take some time for guests to feel comfortable but I think, the good news is that a lot of the measures that are being taken at our parks and across the industry have really convinced guess that that the safety and health requirements that are needed right now are there.”

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Disney Springs has sent us a press release announcing some upcoming specials for their 15th anniversary, available on Wednesday, October 21st! Coupled with the fun entertainment that Raglan Road has to offer, and all that a visit to Disney Springs can bring, this is the perfect excuse to visit! Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Disney Springs marks its 15th anniversary on Weds., Oct. 21. To celebrate the 15-year milestone, Raglan Road will offer $15 specials on its most popular dishes and beverages plus other discounts on the Oct. 21 anniversary date: Select Entrees reduced to $15 to include Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s To Die For Pie, Bangin’ Bangers and Mighty Mash, and the OMG Burger $15 15-year-old Irish Whiskey Flight $15 Beer Flights for Two 15 percent off Cooke’s of Dublin meals 15 percent off Shop for Ireland retail purchases The dining, shopping and entertainment district Disney Springs was still called Downtown Disney in 2005 when the authentic Irish pub, owned and operated by Irish partners John Cooke and Paul Nolan, opened its doors offering a lively mix of authentic Irish entertainment and contemporary Irish cuisine. Now situated at The Landing at Disney Springs and having garnered multiple dining and entertainment awards through the years, Raglan Road features daily choreographed Irish stage shows by talented bands and an award-winning step-dance troupe. A dining destination for travelers and locals, Raglan Road last month earned Orlando magazine’s 2020 Reader’s Choice first-place Dining Award for Best Live Music Entertainment. The pub’s popular annual Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival and its Labor Day weekend boutique Irish music festival, the Great Irish Hooley, have welcomed many thousands of festival-goers each year. Initially featuring lunch, dinner and late-night pub grub, Raglan Road in 2013 introduced its Rollicking Raglan Brunch on Sundays, eventually expanding to Saturdays, as well. The popular weekend brunch last month also earned an Orlando magazine Reader’s Choice 2nd place Dining Award for Best Brunch. A Traveler’s Choice award winner for consecutive years, Raglan Road in 2020 also earned the exclusive honor of placing in the top 10 percent of restaurants worldwide thanks to travelers’ reviews and ratings. In addition to the pub’s modern Irish cuisine, the menu features a wide selection of craft beers and ales, hand-crafted cocktails, Irish coffee drinks, plus wine and bubbly, too. The Raglan Road children’s menu offers options for every young palate. Raglan Road closed in mid-March due to pandemic-related restaurant shutdowns and reopened in June after incorporating a long list of safety measures throughout the restaurant. Guests can book socially-distanced tables for dinner and for the Rollicking Raglan Weekend Brunch. Drop-in guests may find distanced seating at one of the pub’s bars, in one of three dining rooms or on the patio, but reservations are highly recommended. The pub’s Shop for Ireland boutique is open daily and packed with everything from cookbooks and kitchen wares to a wide selection of apparel, jewelry, flat caps, ball caps, and foodstuffs. Cooke’s of Dublin, the Irish quick-service restaurant adjacent to the pub, offers traditional favorites like Dublin-style fish & chips, burgers and savory pies to carry out, eat in or devour at an outside table from noon to 10 p.m. Owned and operated by Irish partners John Cooke and Paul Nolan, Raglan Road features traditional Irish dishes and new creations with a Celtic twist. The restaurant’s warm interior of aged walnut and mahogany woods from old Irish bars and churches was built in Ireland and shipped to Orlando. Live entertainment nightly includes a suite of shows featuring Irish bands and dancers. Guests also can enjoy shows beginning at noon during the weekend Rollicking Raglan Brunch. Dinner is served from 4-11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday Brunch is served from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant is located at Disney Springs in the Walt Disney World Resort, 1640 E. Buena Vista Dr., Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Visit www.raglanroad.com or call 407/938-0300. Follow us @RaglanRoadPub on social media.

Last Sunday morning I was able to venture out to Universal to go give the new Halloween test offerings a try... Since my visit on Sunday it has been announced that these offerings will be offered regularly between Sept. 26-27 and Oct. 3-Nov. 1. As many of you know, Halloween Horror Nights was cancelled this year due to COVID-19, given the crowds the event garners, the filled pathways scarezones demand and the close up scares that the haunted houses call for... But in a surprising turn, Universal announced that two houses from this year's planned event would open to all guests (with a Virtual Pass Reservation) at no extra cost during the day. These houses would be outfitted with plexiglass shields to protect guests from the scareactors and vice versa and that social distancing processes would be put in place to keep the close-quarters elements of the houses at bay. In addition to the two houses, two new food trucks, a free scavenger hunt-style experience and a new food & beverage location, along with the existing Tribute Store have brought the Halloween vibes back to the park, but during the daytime, which is a first for Universal. I won't go as far as to compare/judge the two haunted houses against other Halloween Horror Nights years, because I believe that the houses had less scareactors than they would in a normal year, and because the experience just simply wasn't apples to apples, but I am happy to share my thoughts on both. Overall, Universal did a REALLY good job of managing the queues for these two houses. At opening, there were (very) limited capacity standby lines available for those that wanted to rope drop the houses, but right around park opening, the Virtual Line Pass availability for these houses came up, allowing me to reserve my entry times for both without trouble. The capacity must be heavily limited compared to normal, because I only saw about 6 people ahead of me in either queue, but the best part is, the management of guest flow inside of the houses. House attendants inside of each house hold glowing (soft) batons that can be used to gently stop guests from proceeding if there isn't enough social distance between them and the party ahead of them. This actually makes for a more personal experience in the houses with more "on your own" moments in the rooms than the normal conga line approach would allow. Any scare location (or boo hole as some would call them) are covered (at least from head to waist) in clear plexiglass to prevent the scareactor from spreading particles and vice versa. Depending on the lighting, this may give away where a scare would be up ahead, but there are more than a few covers placed to provide balance by distracting you from the real scare spots. "Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives" was the first house I went to (and the one I did standby for, so I was able to experience this one twice in the same day) and the one I more eagerly anticipated. A sequel to last year's amazing Universal Monsters house, this one focuses almost exclusively on Frankenstein's bride as the name suggests, with a few clever nods to the other classic Universal Monsters of cinematic past. The house theming is over the top and puts you in a heightened version of the world seen in the classic Frankenstein movies. I didn't get too many scares out of either run in this one, though it could've just been bad timing. But the detail in this one is really great. "Revenge of the Tooth Fairy" is the house that makes me really eager to see what else was planned for Halloween Horror Nights 30. This house is presented in such a unique format with such distinct design/stylistic choices, this house was amazing. As if you're stepping into a Grimm Fairytale-style storybook, the opening of the house literally unfolds around you like the pages of a book (and the effect is REALLY clever). Narration carries overhead from room to room, explaining what is going on around you as if you were being read a bedtime story. As the story goes, one child refused to give his tooth up to the Tooth Fairy, and as a result, the Tooth Fairy unleashes an army of fairies to attack the child and the other residents of his family's manor. Seriously, I can't say enough good things about this house, other than I wish I had done this one twice instead of Frankenstein. I appreciate that Universal is testing the limits of what can be done safely in COVID-times, and this Halloween event seems like a fair compromise in lieu of a full Halloween Horror Nights. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if another house or two don't find a way to be opened up before the end of October if the demand proves to be there for these other offerings. I was glad I visited when I did because crowds really do seem to be picking up for the Halloween offerings--so if you're interested, plan ahead and get out to Universal before November 1st! Getting to the park at 7:45 AM, just an hour and 15 minutes before park opening, it was more quiet at the arch than I expected. But with social distancing in place, lines filled the queues normally used for the ticket booths and entry queues were set up to allow Guests to enter via the park exit. About 15 minutes before the park opened, people in line around me started to point out that Virtual Line Passes had become available for the two Haunted Houses. I rushed into the app and managed to book a time for each... I was surprised that the system let me book two houses for the same time. Thankfully, with the Virtual Line Pass, I waited about 6 minutes for the first house once in the line, so I had plenty of time to use my pass for the other house later on. A familiar location for Halloween Horror Nights fans, though this line is set up for social distancing. When the park first opens, there is a very limited capacity standby queue for each of the two haunted houses. I defaulted to Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein as last year's Universal Monsters house at Halloween Horror Nights was one of my favorite houses of the year. We were let into the park around 8:50 AM and the line for the house started letting guests in just after 9:00 AM, so I only ended up waiting about 8 minutes in line by the time I got into the house. By the time I exited Universal Monsters, signs like these had been set up in key locations between this corner of the park and the park entrance. With time to spare until my Virtual Line Passes for the two houses, I got in line for the Tribute Store, what was meant to be the main Halloween Horror Nights shop for the event but opened even after the event's cancellation with tons of merchandise, themed rooms and a new food & beverage counter. I waited maybe 15 minutes in line before being allowed in. The theming inside of the Tribute Store is on par with that which you'd find in Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses... And with this year's event having been set to celebrate thirty years of fear, there were plenty of references, subtle and not to icons and offerings of years' past. There were a few banners/signs within the Tribute Store that were strategically covered as if to hide a detail that would've been related to this year's planned event. We'll have to wait until 2021 to see what Universal had planned for us for the 30th Halloween Horror Nights season, but hopefully they'll pick up right where they left off with what was planned for this year. Icons have a substantial presence in one of the Tribute Store rooms... The Usher, the Caretaker, the Storyteller, the Director, Jack the Clown, Eddie and Fear are among those represented. Some art designed for this year's event has found its way to more HHN merchandise not marked by a year. But there is plenty of merchandise for what was supposed to be this year's event available for purchase. Fans of Halloween Horror Nights lore can see props and details that tie into past years. The entrance facade for last year's Tribute Store is actually featured in this year's Tribute Store interior. In a hallway leading to the next Tribute Store room, you find lots of archival photos on the wall from the event's past 30 years... Here is Universal Parks CEO Tom Williams featured at one of the event's earliest years. Bill & Ted become synonymous with Halloween Horror Nights for many years thanks to its popular show. Some classic and more current images are intermixed throughout the halls. Anyone remember the "S.S. Frightanic: Carnage Crew" haunted house from Halloween Horror Nights 8? Back when the Bates Motel still existed at Universal Studios Florida... Time to head into the next room! More classic Universal Monsters merch! The third room has introduced a food & beverage counter for the first time in the history of the Tribute Store and it has already proven to be incredibly popular. These cherry heart gummies actually beat and pulse on the serving table before being given to you to take with you. One of the coolest food item presentations I've seen in a theme park. I won't spoil how it is done (it is actually fairly simple) but the effect is really neat. So many options to choose from! Horror donuts make me go nuts. The final room in this year's Tribute Store is themed to Beetlejuice, which was all but confirmed to be a haunted house in this year's version of Halloween Horror Nights. Some of the film's most iconic visuals are recreated here in the store. So cool! This room was easily the most impressive of the four. And the check out location is themed to the afterlife lobby from the film! Amazing! No detail is too small! The experience isn't over until you're back outside! Thankfully I had gotten my Virtual Line Pass. The beauty of the Virtual Line Pass is that there was almost no one ahead of me when I finally entered the queue. I waited behind 7 people in total once my time had come to get in line. A similar experience for the other house line. Social distancing was really solid throughout the park's offerings. Even though Virtual Lines were advertised as "At Capacity," I did find some times drop for later in the day within the first hour and a half of park operation. Two food trucks are parked in the New York corner of the park to offer spooky themed treats for the Halloween season... Interesting choices. Yep. Another new offering this year is the Skeleton Bar in Cafe La Bamba. This is a new food & beverage location with some Halloween decor. Cafe La Bamba is traditionally used as a venue to support RIP Tours during the Halloween Horror Nights season. It was neat that Universal took the time to open the venue and lightly theme it for the season. I went with the Loup-Garou and I was pleased with my choice! Goin' down the bayou... In case you were wondering... New Halloween Horror Nights legacy merchandise continues to be released, with the latest round featuring the Terra Queen from Halloween Horror Nights 15. Even more legacy merch... Halloween Horror Nights face masks are available for purchase. The Scarecrow Stalk is a free scavenger hunt experience that sends guests across the park to find scarecrows. If all of them are found, you can get a free sample bag of candy to enjoy. Signage out front advised guests that the haunted houses were at capacity. Work on the CityWalk refurbishment where Fossil, Quiet Flight, Island Traders and PiQ! used to be continues. Even more custom Universal masks available for purchase at the Universal Studios Store. Two days after the Premier passholder preview and one day after the new Halloween offering test began for all Guests, this is what the toll plaza looked like just 2.5 hours after the park opened... Exactly why I try to avoid going in the first day or so if possible these days. I brought some treats home from the Tribute Store including this awesome red velvet cake pop. The beating heart gummies were really delicious--honestly more jello-like than gummy and I was loving it. But the star of the show was the vegan skull brownie--super dense and moist but no shortage of flavor!