Jaunted

Theme Parks / SeaWorld / Amusement Parks / Green Travel / → All Tags

Shamu Just Says No to Plastic Bags at SeaWorld

On your next visit to one of the SeaWorld theme parks, it might be a good idea to bring one of those reusable grocery bags, and this is especially the case if you’re planning to stock up on souvenirs for your little one—or yourself. The parks have decided that plastic this and plastic that aren't the best for the environment, so they’re planning to ditch a lot of their disposable items in favor of those which are reusable.

Within the next year or so, SeaWorld will phase out their use of plastic bags across all of their parks. They don’t want anyone to rethink a potential purchase of a giant stuffed Shamu, so SeaWorld will still reluctantly hand out bags; however they will be totally made of recycled paper. Of course they will also be pretty darn happy to sell you a snazzy reusable SeaWorld shopping bag as well.

more ›

Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Roller Coasters / Canada Travel / → All Tags

Screaming Starts This Week on Canada's Newest, Largest Roller Coaster

We knew that our neighbors to the north were up to no good with their latest roller coaster, and now the time has finally arrived for coaster crazies to take it for a spin.

It seems like quite some time since we first heard of the country’s biggest and baddest coaster, but it’s all going to be worth it when it makes its debut later this week. Christmas comes early for coaster fans this year—May 6 to be specific—as that’s when Leviathan is set to debut at Canada’s Wonderland.

CBC News got a sneak peek at the new ride—see the video above—and it’s clear that this thing means serious business. The roughly 306-foot drop looks pretty intense even from the comfort of your couch, and let’s not even begin to discuss the 80-degree drop angle.

more ›

Coffee Travel / Starbucks / Disney / Disneyland / Walt Disney World / Disney World / Amusement Parks / Theme Parks / → All Tags

Starbucks Dons the Mickey Mouse Ears to Enter Disney Parks

The countdown clock is approaching zero as Disneyland workers and engineers finalize the reboot of Disney’s California Adventure theme park. We’ve mentioned the new rides, attractions, and other excitement a couple times before; however, there’s one more addition that we’ve failed to discuss in the past. It might be time for us to update our picks for favorite and unusual Starbucks, as it now looks like overpriced lattes and coffee milkshakes are heading toward Main Street USA.

It’s not just the parks in California either, as the plan it to bring the caffeine to both the greater Disneyland Resort as well as Walt Disney World Resort down in Florida. Apparently there’s already discussion about sending some Frappuccinos and their passports overseas, but nothing has been worked out as of yet.

more ›

Theme Parks / Russia Travel / Universal Studios / Amusement Parks / → All Tags

It Might Not Get Harry Potter, but Russia Preps for a Universal Studios

If you’re thinking about a international theme park road trip there might be another point of interest to add to your planned Google Map. The bulldozers aren’t turning up the earth just yet, but it does sound like Universal Studios will bring its movie magic overseas. The plan is to create a brand new park all the way over in Moscow, but it might be a little bit different than some of the company’s other parks.

It gets pretty darn chilly over in Russia, so the plan is for Universal Studios to be more of an indoor theme park. It’s scheduled to take up around 37 acres of space, so we kind of think that’s going to limit the potential for Harry Potter to make an international flight across the globe. However, the blueprints do a call for an indoor water park as well as one of those CityWalk shopping and entertainment districts. The whole thing will be called Galactica Park, but that’s assuming the drawings and sketches actually come to life.

more ›

Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Alton Towers / → All Tags

Too Scary for the Under-12s at Alton Towers

There’s scary theme park rides, terrifying theme park rides, and there’s the world’s most feared theme park ride. Alton Towers over in England seems to have achieved the honor of having one of the scariest rides around, and it’s so darn intense that the attraction has actually received a PG-13 rating—or at least the UK version.

The new Nemesis Sub-Terra ride is definitely not for amusement park rookies. The British Board of Film Classification has actually stepped in, and passed along a rating for something other than a movie for like the first time in over 100 years. There’s plenty of 3D—and 4D—content in the attraction, so they thought it was appropriate to step in and provide ample warning.

more ›

Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Disney / Walt Disney World / → All Tags

Not Even Spider-Man Can Escape Disney

We heard that Mickey Mouse was pretty interested in purchasing the rights to some comic book characters, and now it sounds as if superheroes could be joining him at Disney theme parks around the globe.

Disney gobbled up the rights to much of the Marvel universe, and now plans to add the characters to the parks is on the drawing board. Head mouse in charge—Bob Iger—recently told shareholders that superheroes like Spider-Man might just be making an appearance at the company’s theme parks sooner rather than later.

more ›

Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Universal Studios / Orlando Travel / → All Tags

Spider-Man Gets a Facelift and is Back in Business at Universal Orlando

We didn’t even know that the Spider-Man ride at Universal Orlando was closed for refurbishment, but no need to worry as it’s already back open. Apparently the ride was in need of a little TLC, but engineers and designers did way more than just dusting things off and spaying a little Lysol on the seating surfaces.

According to park officials the new ride is “Mind-blowingly better,” and if we recall it was pretty darn awesome before. It sounds like they ripped out all kinds of the former wires, screens, this, and that and replaced it all with more high tech gadgetry. Park officials are quick to brag about new 4K digital high-definition animation, a new fancy pants 3-D projection system, and even new and improved 3-D glasses to take advantage of all the improvements and upgrades. There’s also a whole new soundtrack and music score to keep your heart pounding as you venture through the world of Spider-Man and his comic book friends.

more ›

Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Disney / Disney World / Disneyland / → All Tags

Disney Tightens Their 'FastPass' Ride Reservation Policy

There’s all kinds of tricks, tips, and tidbits when it comes to visiting a mega theme park like those in the Disney empire. However, one of the best secrets was a kind of loophole in the FastPass ride reservation system over at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

It wasn’t really that big of a secret, but it’s something we considered pretty slick. The FastPass kiosks read your park admission tickets and spit back out a reservation for when you can return to a ride like Space Mountain. Stick your ticket in around 10am and it might tell you that you need to come back between 3:30pm and 4:40pm. However, you just need to see Mickey during the 4pm parade! No big deal, as you can always just come after your reservation window expires—no questions asked.

more ›

Theme Parks / Dollywood / Amusement Parks / Tennesee Travel / → All Tags

A Second Dollywood Theme Park May Be on the Way to Nashville

It’s time for Dollywood part deux, as Dolly Parton is ready to get to work—maybe even 9 to 5—on her second theme park. This time she’s got her sights on the greater Nashville area, and if all goes as planned the tourists and travelers will be filling up the parking lots starting in 2014.

The new place doesn’t sound to be another exact version of the original theme park, as this new establishment is going to only cost $50 million to build. Officials are billing it as some sort of water and snow park, and it’ll be located across from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. Apparently it’s just the first piece in a number of new entertainment offerings coming to the area as the city looks to get families and other visitors to stick around and spend a little cash.

more ›

Cruise Travel / Theme Parks / Disney / Disney Fantasy / Disney Cruises / → All Tags

Despite the Concordia Sinking, Cruising Keeps On Keeping On

We realize the world is a little hesitant about taking a cruise anytime soon, but if you trust Mickey Mouse to, then there's a new ship for you. The Disney Cruise Line is finishing up the final touches on its newest vessel—the Disney Fantasy—and after seeing some of the pictures, we’re kind of ready to strap on the mouse ears and head to the Caribbean.

The latest addition to the fleet isn’t quite ready for passengers and parties just yet, as things are still getting finalized over at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. However, Disney is pretty proud of their latest piece of floating entertainment, so they’re showing off sneak peek photos following the ship’s float out.

more ›

Universal Studios / The Wizarding World of Harry Potter / Harry Potter / Amusement Parks / Theme Parks / Orlando Travel / Traveling with Children / → All Tags

Wrapping up Winter Break with The Wizarding World?

Not only have we entered 2012 this week, but it's also the last few days of winter break for schoolchildren. If we're talking about college-age kids, then they've got a little longer. Regardless, this is the last dash time for family vacations at the theme parks in Orlando, FL...specifically at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

We've been a few times now since it opened 1.5 years ago, and each time we return with photo galleries and tips aplenty. If you're about to jet down to hit the park or are contemplating a last-minute mini-vacay, here's everything you need to know:

· Changes to ticket prices & ride seating
· Our complete, first-hand survival guide to the Potter park
· Photos from November 2011
· Photos of the all the FOOD
· Inside the Forbidden Journey castle & ride
· The souvenirs! Oh man, the souvenirs.
· Photos & video of the Hippogriff and Dragons roller coasters
· Even more photos (from the night before opening)

[Photo: Jaunted]

Video Game Travel / Angry Birds / Theme Parks / Finland Travel / Amusement Parks / iPhone / → All Tags

The Next Stop for Angry Birds: Their Own Theme Parks in Finland

Those ubiquitous Angry Birds are at again, and this time they’re on the move in their homeland of Finland. Making the jump from mobile app to stuffed animal and even apparel was easy, but now they’re entering the real world with their very own theme park—kind of.

Rovio—they make the game—along with Lappset have an agreement to build two new parks focused on those birds, the pigs, and their world in two Finnish cities. To us, the spots sound more like fancy playgrounds than true theme parks, but developers do promise to integrate both the virtual and physical worlds into something new and fun.

more ›