5/09/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Disneyland, China Travel, Theme Parks, Attractions, Disney (all tags)
In the eternal struggle to make Hong Kong's Disneyland pay its way, the park has just opened the Hong Kong version of the classic It's A Small World ride.
Small World's been having a tricky year, with alterations planned for the original in California, possibly to accommodate fatter passengers. In Hong Kong, they're hoping that the world-peace style message of the ride will bring in a few more customers.
The Hong Kong version has a couple of unique features--those new Disney dolls are there--but the most significant is that four new languages have been added to that never-ending, high-pitched singing. Now you get Cantonese, Putonghua, Tagalog and Korean versions as well. We'll see if that brings the crowds in.
Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Disneyland Launches Classic Attraction [The Star]
· Disneyland's Small World Ride to Get Some Changes [Jaunted]
· Year of Mickey Mouse in a Mao Suit [Jaunted]
[Photo: jimmiehomeschoolmom]
by amandak
5/07/2008 at 4:15 PM
Tags: Roller Coasters, Led Zeppelin, Theme Parks, Attractions (all tags)
For smooth-jazz lovers, it's a "Highway to Hell": South Carolina's Hard Rock Park promises all the thrills of your local theme park with a much better soundtrack.
While the tourist attraction doesn't have its official grand opening till June 2, a "sound check" is letting ride aficionados get their first look at Hard Rock's first theme park.
The coasters in this $400 million park are designed to be extra quiet so riders will be able to hear the corresponding songs--even over all the screaming.
Besides the "Life In The Fast Lane" and "Nights In White Satin" rides, the park boasts a memorial to dead musicians, a Mount Rockmore and a "Bohemian Rhapsody"-themed fireworks show. Alas, there will be no "Love Roller Coaster."
Related Stories:
· Hard Rock Park [Official Site]
· Led Zeppelin Ride Centerpiece of Rock and Roll Theme Park [Jaunted]
[Photo: Wikipedia]
by egw
4/25/2008 at 2:07 PM
Tags: The Simpsons, Theme Parks, Amusement Parks, Green Travel (all tags)
We already knew The Simpsons Ride would be green, and now we've gotten a look inside. Set to open on May 15, the ride has been going through previews at Universal Orlando, and reports on what to expect are already leaking out.
The theme park obsessives at Orlando United have a super-detailed rundown of every aspect of the ride, from the lines outside to spoilers. (We won't spill any secrets here.)
We will mention that there's a clever nod to the Back to the Future attraction The Simpsons experience has replaced. "Technical Rehearsals" will continue until the official opening if you absolutely can't wait to ride this thing.
Related Stories:
· The Simpsons Ride Technical Rehearsal [Orlando United]
· Simpsons Ride Spoilers [LAT]
· The Simpsons' Universal Home Goes Green [Jaunted]
· What's Inside the Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios? [Jaunted]
[Photo: Orlando United]
by pbb
4/23/2008 at 3:30 PM
Tags: The Simpsons, Theme Parks, Amusement Parks, Green Travel (all tags)
In last summer's "The Simpsons" movie, an evil EPA head plans to cover up Homer Simpson's eco-unfriendly error by enclosing Springfield in a giant glass dome.
But America's first cartoon family actually cares a lot about the environment, if Universal Studios is to be believed: The new "Simpsons" rides at both Universal Hollywood and Universal Orlando use green technology to save over 600,000 watts of power a day, enough to run your laptop computer around the clock for a year and a half.
Designers of the ride, which is based on the TV show and the movie, used energy-conserving software, more advanced motors and LED lighting to achieve the energy savings. Take that, Russ Cargill!
Related Stories:
· What's Inside the Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios? [Jaunted]
· The Simpsons Ride: The Krustiest Place On Earth [Jaunted]
· Green Travel coverage [Jaunted]
by egw
4/22/2008 at 9:15 AM
Tags: Disneyland, Disney, Japan Travel, Theme Parks (all tags)
Happy belated birthday to Tokyo's very own Disneyland, which turned 25 last week. In a country where even grown women are allowed to go manic about Mickey, Tokyo Disneyland has long been attracting Japanese visitors, many of whom go dozens or even hundreds of times throughout their lives.
But the bosses of Tokyo Disneyland can see change coming. Japan's aging population means there will be fewer and fewer visitors for Disneyland, so they're looking further afield to keep their company going strong. Various sites in Southeast Asia are in the shortlist at the moment so you never know where the culture of Disney will strike next.
In the meantime, Tokyo Disneyland is adjusting for its elderly customers. They've started a special "Flowers and Trees Tour" because that's what gray-haired Japanese like to look at, and some of their current special packages focus on couples in their 60s. Perhaps they'll even let Mickey go gray?
Related Stories:
· Magic Goes On, Tokyo Disneyland 25 [AFP]
· Tokyo Offers Free Pizza to Pensioners [Independent]
· Disneyland coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: aida]
by amandak
4/16/2008 at 5:15 PM
Tags: Disneyland, Disney, Theme Parks, Attractions (all tags)
The folks over at Disney are going to be tinkering with the original Small World ride at Disneyland and that has some Disney fans pissed.
Disneyland is going to alter the ride, which was created by Mary Blair in 1964, to incorporate stylized Disney characters like Alice in Wonderland and Lilo and Stich. Yeah, we know. Blasphemy
The family of Blair penned an open letter to Disney execs criticizing their decision to alter the 14-minute ride. And more Disney fans have been hitting the blogs protesting the renovation. But the Disney execs have struck back too, saying that Walt Disney never meant for his theme park rides to remain static. It gets a little confusing to follow, but the Daily Travel & Deal blog is chronicling every step of the fight.
Even TMZ is jumping on the bandwagon saying that Disney is only changing the ride because too many fat people are on it, causing the ride to get stuck and thus having passengers escorted to dry land. This could possibly be true, but it was on TMZ.
Related Stories:
· Disney Fires Another Salvo at Small World Fans [LAT]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Yeoh_Ts]
by juliana
4/09/2008 at 3:43 PM
Tags: Universal Studios, The Simpsons, Amusement Parks, Theme Parks (all tags)
It's kinda hard for us to get excited about the Simpsons Ride opening at Universal Studios on May 17 because to open this ride meant closing down the totally awesome Back to the Future ride.
Still, we should be happy that replacement is something equally iconic. (We just wouldn't go for, say, a Snakes on a Plane experience.)
The LA Times' Daily Travel and Deal blog has some deets on the ride which is housed in the old BTTF ride structure and has the same motion simulator concept.
MORE...
by juliana
3/21/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Theme Parks, Amusement Parks, Australia Travel, Roller Coasters (all tags)
In a week, Australia's Gold Coast will host an "After Dark Park" night at one of the biggest amusement parks there, Dreamworld. That's the place we know as home to the Tower of Terror roller coaster, although it's also got a new big thrill ride called Motocoaster, a nearly 45-mile-per-hour roller coaster where you're strapped in to a replica 500 cc motor bike.
But next week, on March 28, the attention will be centered on the Zero to Hero contest, the annual FlowBoarding competition. That takes place on the FlowRide attraction, a mix of surfing, skateboarding and bodysurfing which is definitely exciting to watch.
Entry to the After Dark special opening is by reserved ticket, and the final of the FlowBoarding takes place at 9:30 pm. Some attractions will be closed but all the big scary rides will be open. We're holding out to see if anyone will cross the Motocoaster with the FlowRide to get some kind of swimming motorbike experience.
Related Stories:
· Dreamworld Gold Coast [Official Site]
· World's Scariest Roller Coasters: The Tower of Terror [Jaunted]
· Amusement Parks coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Soapstar D'Lux]
by amandak
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