jedimaster1227

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/06/disneyland-grad-nite-new-twists-on-a-50-year-tradition-coming-in-2012-and-2013/

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/06/al-weiss-announces-retirement/ http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/als-message-to-disney-cast-members/

(Continued) Flying over Disney's Hollywood Studios really was my favorite part of the tour! Blizzard Beach also looks amazing from up here... Some more of the Disney resorts from above... I think these are the All Star hotels. The Family Raft Ride is a fun topic for my family thanks to my cousin forcing my mother on it many moons ago. Over to Animal Kingdom we go! Next to the Polynesian and the Grand Californian, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is my third favorite Disney hotel in the world. MiraCosta is fourth. "Diggin'... Diggin' in Dinoland." Ever notice the tree in the concrete of the entry plaza at Animal Kingdom. Everest still works from above. Time to make our way back... Which means I get to fly! Yes, the vent is jetting air from the outside into my face. But in the hot Florida Summer, it felt amazing! One more stop on the way back... What have we here? Power Trip, the park's new coaster (Cypress Gardens' old Galaxy Spin coaster) is nearly ready to open. Almost back... We're coming in for landing... Just as an old warbird waits to take off. "Nobody move a muscle..." The planes have room for up to three passengers, weight dependent. This truly was an amazing experience! Upon the end of the flight, guests are given a nice looking certificate if they participated in the "Captain's Package. Guests are also asked to write their thoughts on the experience in the Pilot Notes book, which will be read after each flight. This company takes its guests seriously, and takes all words to heart--a truly great sign in this business. Again, Mauiva Air Tours is a fantastic offering out of the ordinary, especially for the theme park fan. There are some great photo moments, some neat backstage glances and, if you choose to do so, the opportunity to fly a plane, which may be a first for some of you. Give it a try--I promise it will be worth your while!

Today I had the opportunity to represent TPR in trying out a brand new offering for the Orlando visitors, in the form of Mauiva Air Tours. A new branch of a larger company specializing in chartered flights and tours, this new group seeks to offer a different take on the Orlando experience. Flying higher than the tallest buildings in "the City Beautiful," Mauiva Air Tours offers several chartered flight options, including flights around Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Celebration and even a fireworks tour between Fantasmic! and Epcot's Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. My tour consisted of all that I mentioned above, minus Universal and Celebration, and obviously the fireworks. Flying in a Cessna, my pilot Blake and I covered lots of ground over the course of the flight. I was able to see things from the air that I could have never seen from the ground, especially at Disney. There is some backstage magic to be found on this flight! And the coup de gras of the flight? Well, I had been hooked up with what they call the "Captain's Package" which includes the option to give the guest a chance to fly the plane. A little nervous at first, Blake was an excellent teacher (as well as pilot) who, when not making sure I kept the pitch and yaw level along the horizon, was able to passionately speak about his interest in the area, including Disney. One thing I noticed about this experience that I've not seen at a tour like this before, was that everyone involved clearly loved what they were doing. I've attached a promo video that Mauiva gave us to share, but I think the photos will do even more justice. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=mauiva30v2_j689[/coastertube]The bottom line: Mauiva Air Tours is an extremely unique, entirely welcoming offering found in Kissimmee that even the most relaxed fan should consider flying with. Even better, you can tell that their hearts are truly in the right place, as they offer children several flights a month in a program they call "Give Kids the Air," done in conjunction with the nearby Give Kids the World. My thanks go out to Brad, Angie and Blake for making my first Mauiva experience an unforgettable one... And it won't likely be my last. I'm seriously eying that fireworks tour for the near future! My morning started out with a very brief instructional video preparing me for what I was about to experience. This gives me clearance to fly! I'm starting to lose count of how many photos like this I've taken. The offices for Mauiva Air Tours are cozy and relaxing, setting a nice tone for the flight ahead. This is the business they are in, and they do it well! They own several planes and also lease a few. Are we ready? Almost! This is my pilot, Blake! And we're almost ready to fly! So many good movie quotes just flashed into my mind... I challenge you to think of which ones I haven't (or have) and post them. For all of you cockpit enthusiasts out there... Captain, we are ready for takeoff! And we are airborne! See the Peabody and the Orange County Convention Center? That means we are by SeaWorld! We're getting closer now... Wasn't I just here with Bryan? But first, let's take a look at Aquatica from above! Such a beautiful water park! I promise you, this isn't a photo of a model. And Aquatica's most recent addition, Omaka Rocka is looking good! Time for some Kraken love! Over at Shamu Stadium, you can see a few killer whales from above. You can also see the Dine with Shamu complex as it undergoes continued safety upgrades in preparation for its reopening. I've looked in this direction from the top of the Skytower before, but this is a little different. You can see the Magic Kingdom off in the distance. We would've gotten closer to the Magic Kingdom if we could have, but this yellow circle is a strict no-fly zone. Don't worry, we can still fly over the rest of the parks! We were two characters in flight over at Downtown Disney. No more Rock & Roll Beach Club or Motion... Did you know that the Casting building is designed to look like a cruise ship? The Swan & Dolphin dominates this side of the World Showcase. Typhoon Lagoon truly is a beautifully landscaped park. I see you Crush n' Gusher! On to my favorite park... Give me a moment... Disney's Art of Animation Resort is coming along very quickly... Disney's Hollywood Studios was already open for the day, which made our flight overhead even more exciting! Lights! Motors! Action! looks nice from here, though I still haven't seen it in person. I've never really thought about it, but the backside of the Grauman's Chinese Theater does really blend in with the rest of the studio buildings here. Oh, and look at Pixar Place... And how much raw space they have to work with in Stage 1, next to Toy Story Mania... A neat view of Catastrophe Canyon... No more scaffolding on Tower of Terror! Unintentionally tilt-shift. Focusing the camera while moving at such high speeds isn't easy, but the architecture of Epcot still stands out. Space Mountain, the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower all look very nice together. Over at Fantasmic!, we got some neat sights... Anyone need a snake, canoes or a riverboat? "From here you all look like little ants!" Echo Lake is one of Mickey's ears...

^Beef taco box?

I want Beef Taco Box.

"It's almost as good as Dole Whip... Almost."

^Seatbelts are there for a reason. Calling for them to be cut out (i.e. cutting out safety parameters) in favor of faster dispatch times isn't sensible.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/06/a-new-look-at-storybook-circus-at-magic-kingdom-park/

Very nice photos! It looks like your Sony HX9V is serving you well!

Canobie Lake Park has sent us a press release regarding the grand opening of UNTAMED, the park's new Eurofighter.

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=Turtle_The_Incredible_Journey_Trailer_dm27[/coastertube]

The Gravity Group has released new construction photos from Happy Valley's new High Five coaster.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has sent us a press packet with photos and video from the return of their popular Summer Nights show, Kinnetix! [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=BGTB_Kinnetix_Broll_ehqs[/coastertube]

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peter-j-crage-to-resign-as-cedar-fairs-chief-financial-officer-123573314.html

Holiday World has sent us a press release regarding the recent passing of the long-time employee Frieda Foertsch.

The Grand Reef was definitely a little chilly at first, but you get used to it within minutes of being in the water. It was cold compared to a heated pool, but normal for an animal tank, like you'd reach into at SeaWorld. As for the rest of the park, The River is heated and I'd probably say the water was closer to 82 degrees... Needless to say, we spent a good deal of time there!

SeaWorld Orlando has sent us a press packet including photos and video from the grand opening of Discovery Cove's The Grand Reef. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=BLOG_sm_file_Opening_Day_mh8b[/coastertube] And for Theme Park Review's official coverage of the grand opening of The Grand Reef, visit this page.

^Just because it is six months apart doesn't mean that it makes it ok. We ask that you don't bump a dormant thread unless you have a justifiable reason to do so. Please remember this in the future.

^Not to steal your thunder, but doesn't that mean that anyone can get these updates? They aren't just sending you the updates, they are sending them to everyone on the mailing list.

(Continued) There are plenty of tropical fish in the reef that swim amidst the various coral blooms. I see you... You spotted ray, you! You barely notice that there's a barrier here! The guide rail on the side will be used by the SeaVenture guests as they walk along the bottom of the reef. The Grand Reef offers amazing views, even from the middle of the water. It all just works so well! From the looks of it, I either approve or had a smudge on the side of my goggles that I just couldn't wait to clean. They had at least five of the larger rays in the reef as well. Swimming with these was definitely an experience! Have you ever swam with a school of fish? I have, and it is fun, albeit a little stressful trying to keep up. I was soon engulfed by a swarm of sting rays. No really, a ton of them flew right past me as I was taking pictures. See? Looks pretty real, right? The area has a few waterfalls, which add a little flair to the otherwise peaceful reef. Now it is time for my tribute to Dave. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... This time, it's really personal! I'm not sure how I got this photo from inside of the shark tank, but I'm glad to say I survived. Okay people, I took it from the other side of the barrier... Don't worry yourself! "The shark still looks fake!" Maximum Sharkage? Approved! Another look at the shark section from above. It really does work well for the guests! Sharkocalypse! Employees were testing the SeaVenture experience while we were there... To give you an idea of what the system looks like. I think they're still working out the mechanics of the system, but it should be a great experience once it is online! Like I mentioned earlier, they colored the reef beautifully! A ray decided to slide into my photo... Ride the Flying Ray! Lemon slushie!!! The River, the park's lazy river is blended quite organically into the park's layout. It also has elevation changes from deep to shallow that make it feel even more real. Time to visit the Aviary! What have we here? This one just posed for us while we took photos... The River runs under and around the Aviary, which is nice. Then this guy just strolled down the path, ignoring us as if we were normal to him. But he did let us take some glamor shots! The Aviary is divided into sections, each heavily themed and filled with birds. You can feed the birds in the Aviary, all food included in your admission! There's been a breach in the raptor containment area. Evacuate! Evacuate! One of the caves in the Aviary had amethyst in the roof. Back! Back! Under the falls! This was another cool-looking bird... We nose a thing or two about noses. Hidden along the side of The River. I tried recreating that iconic moment from The Little Mermaid. I failed. I also failed to flatter myself in this image. Here's a look at the old saltwater reef from The River. Can't keep my hands, my hands, my hands out the cookie jar. The River passes through a neat little cave. The area just looks magnificent! And I close with the good stuff... Lemon slushies! Seriously though, get out to Discovery Cove and come visit The Grand Reef! The new area and the park overall is spectacular and unlike anything else I've been to. Thanks again to Discovery Cove for having me!

So today I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to represent Theme Park Review at the grand opening of The Grand Reef at Discovery Cove in Orlando. For those of you that don't know, Discovery Cove is a "boutique park" featuring an all-inclusive admission (save for a few offerings) with the included experiences being the attraction of the park. No rides. No shows. Just a lush park with some beautiful animals, some amazing reefs, a wonderful lazy river, a very large aviary and unlimited food and drinks included with your admission! The park is known for its signature offering, a "swim with the dolphins" experience, but that wasn't why we were invited to the park. The park's capacity is limited to preserve the intimate feel of the experience as well, lending credence to the isolated environment that truly feels like nothing else found in Orlando, let alone the continental United States. The Grand Reef is a new experience built on a previously-undeveloped expansion pad featuring sting rays, tropical fish and even some sharks. The Reef is built with different levels to accommodate for the different guests. The shores of this walk-in pool are friendly for the younger guests and are a common place for the sting rays to be fed en mass. Deeper in are some crevices and "coral" reefs (artificial coral is used in the reef) where the many fish populate and at the bottom are some of the larger rays. Another section of The Grand Reef is segmented by thick, curved panels of glass, separating the guest from the tank with the sharks. This tank will soon be used for a new offering known as SeaVenture, a dry-for-wet diving experience that requires no certification to enjoy. This offering, while requiring a separate fee, is not yet ready for guests, but is expected to open within the next month or so. Having never been to Discovery Cove, I took some time to explore the park as a whole, and I loved everything that I saw. The place is a relaxation paradise, but has plenty for the active guest to enjoy. I practically swam the entire park and then went back to walk it again twice over in the three plus hours that I was there. Oh, and if I have to make one recommendation for a special treat offered at the park's many snack bars, get yourself a lemon slushie. You'll thank me later... Inside of the main lobby, guests are greeted by a warm and spacious entrance. From the minute you enter the property's main gates from the road, you feel like you are a VIP. I want this for my room. Included with your guest badge (yes, the print one out for every guest) is a mini map of the entire park. Notice the plot on the right says "2012 Future Experience." This was the original salt water reef that opened with the park and closed yesterday in preparation for the opening of The Grand Reef. This time around, mine says more than just "Participant." We were escorted back to The Grand Reef, but not before passing the old saltwater reef which is now closed. Seriously, it is like we've been transported to islands. We aren't in Florida anymore. The park's architecture seems to draw influence from the Polynesian cultures, including the wood frames, triangular designs and thatched roofs. All guests are required to wear wetsuits or neoprene vests during their time in the water. And of course, there are fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo, which are included in your admission. Some awesome little showers in the park... Welcome home... You've arrived! The barnacled posts mark the barrier between the shark tank and the rest of The Grand Reef. The shark reef will play host to SeaVenture starting soon. Shallows and depths are spread throughout the reef without any pattern or rhyme. The variability of the aquatic landscape just makes it all feel so much more real. This area of the shallows is popular with guests as the stingrays tend to congregate, waiting for their feeding time. The Grand Reef has bridges and pathways intertwined with the area to allow for some great photo ops (I'll get to those soon) and access to the SeaVenture tank. I forgot my milestone paper sign... Darn! No photoshop caption contest for this photo! Larry, this is for you. You stay classy, Discovery Cove. Another neat idea, they actually offer a visual guide for the fish in The Grand Reef that you can strap to your wrist while swimming. Fishy, fish, fish, fish, fish. One of the private cabanas that can be rented for the day. Discovery Cove's signature experience allows guests to swim with the dolphins. I'm sure I'll try this out next time! Back to why we're here... There's a running joke playing against me with this photo, but I dare not say it aloud. Manta? Wrong park. You can actually tell the elevation change by looking at the tint of the water's color. One of the smaller cabanas available for rent along the beach of The Grand Reef. It really is a pretty big addition for Discovery Cove! They did an amazing job with the colors of the reef, making it a visually inviting experience for even the non-swimmer. You really are swimming with the rays. Sheer awesome! It's a little hard to tell, but this is a glass barrier separating the shark section of the reef. The net meets the top of the glass barrier and the glass itself is angled so as to flow and transition better with the rest of the reef. One thing I love about The Grand Reef (and the rest of the park for that matter) is that they've scattered different ruins and stonework in the tanks, the river and the surrounding environment. It all just adds to the realism of the park. They even have a spotted ray here! At first glance, would you jump to the conclusion that this is a ladder? Thanks to the theming, I didn't. The Grand Reef is truly one of the most beautiful settings SeaWorld has ever created! "Look at all those humans in the human tank!" In a very clever move, the park's gift shops sell books for those planning on reading while relaxing on the park's beaches. Over at the park's main eatery, there is an entertainment venue for daily performances. It's five o'clock somewhere. Even the path work in the park is impressive! The Enchanted Tiki Bridge! Very kind. I want to be sponsored by Starfish! Another look at the walled off area leading to the old saltwater reef. It's time to start! I dove in and immediately recreated the opening title sequence for Finding Nemo.

^Hard research through what sources? You'd be more credible if you gave us an idea where your research stems from.

http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mode=story&story_id=306

People are just giving you a hard time, but your heated reaction gives further ammunition for people to play with you. People have a certain sense of humor at TPR and while we welcome you here, we do warn that if that kind of humor isn't your cup of tea, this might not be the place for you. That being said, let's continue to keep things friendly and level. Opinions are fine, but arguments over whether this coaster is a family ride or a thrill ride don't need to get heated. Remember, we're talking about theme parks here! These things are supposed to be fun!