jedimaster1227

http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/grand_strand/article/myrtle_beach_merchants_envision_proposed_ferris_wheel_as_future_icon/191133/

Just thought I'd share this pretty impressive (and helpful) guide for the non-Potter fans. http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/06/16/potter-lingo-and-lore-youll-want-to-know-before-visiting-the-wizarding-world/

If this ends up happening, that will make the minimal number of two reasons to visit South Florida jump up a notch to three (okay, four if you include the TPR members that live there).

SeaWorld Orlando has sent us the link to a new video in honor of Manta's first birthday.

http://unofficialjazzlandinfo.yuku.com/topic/1965/t/The-end-of-the-dream.html So long... Farewell... Auf Weidersehen... Goodbye.

http://d23.disney.go.com/articles/061410_NF_BN_DisneylandHorizons.html

http://d23.disney.go.com/articles/061410_NF_BN_DisneylandHorizons.html

http://unofficialjazzlandinfo.yuku.com/topic/1641/t/Ideas-and-Sugestions-to-save-the-park-No-debate-just-Ideas.html?page=2 I think for me, this about sums it up: I'm pretty sure the swampland that is Six Flags New Orleans has plenty of mush, but if Danny Rogers wants to bring in more, more power to him!

This is the official Universal Orlando HHN XX: Twenty Years of Fear thread!

Sarner has sent us a new press release about Ocean Park's Funnicular and its latest achievement.

http://www.amusementtoday.com/

(Continued) You have 5 seconds after the Howler's message is delivered before it self destructs. Now Anthony Hopkins will tell you where to pick up an Australian pilot, a thief and Ving Rhames (who now prefers to wear Gucci shoes). Prepare for more window details... Gillyweed was featured in the fourth book/movie. As if the name doesn't give it away, swallowing it gives you gills. Shrooms and a Hidden Mandrake. Hidden Mickeys have nothing on Hidden Mandrakes! Three layers of photo fun in one! I want to grow my own Mandrake! Long after Keyboard Cat has passed away, Measuring Tape Cat will keep on rockin'. Even the fake storefronts have filled interiors, which is good to see. Two things to note: 1. The building is filled with wand boxes, as can be seen in the windows. 2. Ollivander's has a butterbeer mustache. I don't know what The Magic Neep is, but if its anything like the Closet Organizer, I want one! Just in case the castle wasn't a clear enough sign for you. I didn't get stuck in this test seat! Three clicks! More castle photos incoming... If it stays like this, I may move here. How many times have you seen this shot? Feedback: Do everything like you did today. You were doing incredibly! Hippogriff guidelines. How not to ride a wicker basket. "Empty train go woosh!" Another great shot of Hogwarts! Slightly edgy. Slightly redundant. A look at the front car, minus the blur. Hehe. Sold! I neglected to cover the Hogwarts Express in the previous update, so now it gets some love! They knew 27 was my lucky number so they reversed it and included it on the front of the train. By that same token, it was in 1995 that first annual pass for a theme park was purchased. I made history that year. Before you drop this thing into Clayton Ravine, you need to get the Delorean off of the transfer track and set it up in front of the locomotive. Respected. No more construction walls! Not anymore. An Nyong Hi Ka Ship Sio. It looks like they are ready to add the area to the list. A giant screen has been set up at the entrance of the park in preparation for the grand opening. Fin. At least for this visit.

Did you think the report was over? I've got another seven pages written to share... In all seriousness, I did return to the Wizarding World today, and I've got a follow up report (with another 100 photos) to share based on said visit. Today (and much of this week) the Wizarding World opened with the park and remained open for most of its hours. The construction walls preventing access to the area from both entrances are now completely gone, meaning that the openings are essentially here to stay, at least in theory. You could hypothetically walk the area now even if no specific attractions are open as there are no walls to stop you, but I have a strong feeling that the area will remain open from now on. Surprisingly enough, the area while not busy in the early morning, did get busy in the afternoon yet the land barely wavered. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey had a maximum wait of 35 minutes at the busiest time of day, and save for one brief stop, the ride ran without hitch for our entire stay. It seems that the ride's operations team has really nailed their loading, dispatch and unloading procedures to streamline the process, thus shortening wait times in every way. We waited in the normal line twice, both times waiting no more than ten minutes before we boarded our Enchanted Benches. Also a great feature, the single rider line led us directly into the pre-loading room, making each wait no more than five minutes. We rode Forbidden Journey five times during our day, and each time, I noticed some new detail, effect or show system that impressed me even further. Here are some more spoilerly details that have come up since today's visit... Ollivander's had about a twenty minute wait today, and some new garbage bins with discreet rings attached have made their way to the surrounding corridor where guests have made makeshift lines while waiting for the show. It looks as if Universal could use these to set up a switchback system of sorts, but that also prove to be an issue, considering that this same corridor serves as the main exit path for riders of Dragon Challenge. Interestingly enough, Art Director Alan Gilmore (responsible for the films as well as much of the design on the Wizarding World) could be seen walking around the inside of the Three Broomsticks today (presumably admiring his work). Aside from this, much work has gone into setting up stages and lighting pieces for the grand opening taking place this Friday. Today we also had lunch in the Three Broomsticks for the first time. The menu offers items like chicken, ribs, fish and chips and sheppard's pie, all of which are meant to be cooked in the English style of cooking. I ordered the chicken and rib combo (which was strangely cheaper than it was just to buy the chicken platter). With my chicken and ribs (both of which were generous portions) came roasted potations and a full cobb of corn, which was pretty good for theme park food. I also tried a new drink, Pumpkin Fizz, which is literally a carbonated version of Pumpkin Juice. Being a fan of the latter, I loved the new one, noting that it serves as a decent concession considering Rowling's strict no-soda rule. We finished the meal with a Chocolate Trifle which was essentially a chocolate mouse shot for two, also infused with strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Every piece of the meal was extremely tasty, and for the price, the amount of food given was more than fair. Here's the mirror from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone... Detail is always nice. Darn it! The Mandrake Falls joke was all I had. Guess I'll fall back on the movie with a favorite quote of mine... "I wanted to be a ping pong champion!" The main portrait room. Dumbledore's Pensieve. Sadly enough, it has no memories for you to dip your face in. Bench photo! My expecto just patronum'd! Another one for good measure... Hogwarts in the RAW! Wondering where I got these photos? Oddly enough, there is a clearly open pathway (with no signage to lead people away) into this little opening... Coming in 2011: PottDer Fallinfast. I'm guessing they won't be doing walking tours up here anytime soon. I feel like I like I've spoiled a perfectly good castle. 1 down--Disneyland to go! At night, fibre-optics illuminate the ride's name over the stone writing. Kind of like Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Oh, wait... Had enough castle photos? Because I'm nowhere near done. Time for some Index lovin'. Flight of the Wickergriff is certainly a fun ride. "You don't deserve to wear that uniform." Opening prep. They plan to have the Balrog and the Chernabog as a part of the opening day festivities, hence the large stage. Really? I couldn't tell. Not getting old yet. I'm guessing this is the Ministry's headquarters for the event. A look back at Hogsmeade... Ring, ring. Hello? Ring, ring. Hello??? The test seats for Dragon Challenge have been moved to the entrance of the attraction as of this week. If you can get the golden egg, I'll sing Doctor Worm at my next American Idol Experience audition. Erik's just mad that they didn't replace Dueling Dragons with a copy of Great Bear. The new queue does have a few good photo spots though. I'm not quite sure, but I believe that is a Entei pictured. Gosh, I hate Pokemon. The cobra roll has some bite to it. I'll let my comment's teeth sink in a little bit. Tooth. There's more to Indiana than just a Goblet of Fire! Another look at the Triwizard Cup. Chumba, wumba, goblety goo... This change isn't fair, It's sad but its true. Chumba, wumba, goblety gee... When this new theme is lame as can be. Who needs theming when you have floating candles? I'm getting them for my ceiling after I pull all of my expensive Star Wars posters off of the wall. Erik prepares to shoot fire from his red eyes, scaring the Hungarian Horntail into throwing his arms up in defeat. Can we get there via Stargate? If so, I'm bringing Richard Dean Anderson along, and especially not Kurt Russell. Just sayin'. "You are mine now. You belong to me!" A new cart was out selling (unadvertised) lemon ice. They were even offering samples and they were delicious. You can buy the Firebolt (pictured left) for $300 or the Nimbus 2001 (picture right) for $250. For that price, they better fly for real. I need the extra space to store my brain mass and hot air. Additional theming in the Owl Post... Fire Dragon lives!!! Dervish and Banges is Hogsmeade's main merchandise shop. I'm so down! Another clever, albeit simple window display in the Wizarding World of Windows and Crooked Chimneys. Is Weedosorus legal in Hogsmeade? Window display details... Even in the Wizarding World, the best way of cleaning up a mess is with the Sham Wow. Vince is an elf anyways. A picture of the animated Howler in the Owl Post window display.

^Because Six Flags America is enclosing Joker's Jinx, of course.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2385718,CST-NWS-coaster13.article

The floating candles did look real, and how they did it was still beyond me. The only shame of it is that they replaced a very nice set of original theming in the Dragon's queue to make room for even more candles. It was a little bit of overkill in my eyes.

^People have been waiting twice that amount of time for Mainstreet Electrical Parade over at the Magic Kingdom. I don't put it past anyone to wait a ridiculously long period of time for one attraction/show anymore...

^Your feet are inside of the vehicle, which is essentially boxed in (as you can see in the photo you posted). I'm almost positive that parks have to go through many tests to ensure a proper "reach envelope" that prevents the guest from hitting their arms or legs on anything that they shouldn't be hitting. Thanks again to everyone for the comments on the report--I am definitely glad to have shared this, and I will have some more photos to post (hopefully) from Sunday's visit. Anything that I missed that you'd like me to make sure I get this time around (the only thing I won't do is take pictures in the ride itself)?

The Wizarding World was open for most of the day yesterday (it closed at 6:00 pm) and today it was open to general guests and was still open when I left. The secondary entrance wall is now down completely allowing unlimited access from both sides to the area. Some new stages, lighting rigs, videography kits and more have been set up in anticipation of the grand opening next week. Sorry for the lack of photos, but I didn't bring my camera with me today. I'll be back on Sunday to take some more.

^^^I believe the Kiddie Coaster and Windstorm are both considered to be a part of Old Town and not Fun Spot USA. As far as I know (as of three weeks ago), both were still there.

http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/09/1522898/creditors-one-step-closer-to-seizing.html

http://www.blooloop.com/PressReleases/New-Attraction-Hershey-s-Create-Your-Own-Candy-Bar-Opens-Its-Factory-Doors-for-Visitors/2294

http://www.blooloop.com/PressReleases/Theme-Parks-Cedar-Fair-Appoints-Two-New-Members-to-Its-Board-of-Directors-/2289

http://www.amusementtoday.com/

http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2010/06/14/story3.html?b=1276488000%5E3482271