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Coney Island Scores Two New Coasters for Summer 2011

After years of decline it looks like Coney Island has finally found its place in the 21st century, and things seem to be moving full speed ahead into the future. Last year Luna Park joined the theme park offerings, and this summer looks to welcome a pair of brand new roller coasters. Sure they aren’t the extreme offerings at some of the country’s bigger parks, but these are the first new coasters to hit the boardwalk in more than 80 years.

Scream Zone is one of the area’s newest amusement park spots, and recently they introduced the new rides. Soarin' Eagle and Steeplechase were welcomed by coaster fans—including Mayor Bloomberg—last week.

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A Lady Gaga Theme Park? Hey, It Could Happen

Forget Disney and Six Flags for this season’s theme park visit, as there might be a new musical-sort of amusement park opening its doors in the near future. Apparently Lady Gaga is thinking about creating her own amusement park complete with plenty of play areas for all of her “Little Monsters.” Best of all, she’s even been talking with Alice Cooper to share some of her ideas, so hopefully there'll be plenty haunted houses.

We’re a little skeptical about any type of music theme park, as there was that Hard Rock Park idea that didn’t go too well and Dollywood isn't exactly overrun with tourists. Maybe if they plan this one somewhere a little more popular than Myrtle Beach, things will go a little bit differently.

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Last One on the Boeing 747's Waterslide is a Rotten Egg!

The summer vacation season is right around the corner, and that means a trip to the local water park is in order for many families around the country. However, this year we’re suggesting a little bit of a road trip to hit up one of the most unique water worlds, and best of all, it’s educational too!

Evergreen Wings and Waves Waterpark is attempting to live up to its promise as the country’s only aviation-themed water park when it opens up this summer. There’s ten different waterslides planned for the park, along with a wave pool that holds just shy of 100,000 gallons. It’s located right next to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon—not too far from Portland—so we’re totally jealous of any kids that are lucky enough to visit on a field trip.

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Mickey Mouse Isn't Letting an Earthquake and Tsunami End His Fun in Asia

April is a big month for Disney when it comes to its theme parks in Asia. It seems like we’ve been talking about the House of Mouse opening up a new park in China for some time now, but it looks like tomorrow is the day when the bulldozers, shovels, and cranes finally arrive in Shanghai. The official groundbreaking is set for April 8—assuming all goes according to plan.

It takes quite some time for all those iconic Disney rides and attractions to be built from the ground up, so don’t expect to visit anytime soon. As of now, they’re thinking that it’s going to take about five years or so. The city of Shanghai has created a special tourist zone just for the park, and they’ve set aside just shy of 2,000 acres for hotels, parking lots, and a lake. They’ll also be adding a stop to their subway system too, so accessing Mickey will be pretty simple.

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The Top Three Theme Park Season Passes for Summer 2011

With the clocks moving ahead this weekend it’s only a matter of time before theme parks across the country throw open their gates for the summer season—check right here for the most anticipated theme park opening dates. However, if you’ve got more than one roller coaster in your sights, there are a few passes that will get you access to all the season’s screams and thrills. Here are our picks for the Three Best Park Passes for 2011:

· Cedar Fair Platinum Pass
There’s only 66 days until Cedar Point opens for the 2011 season, but that doesn’t mean that you need to wait to order your ticket. The ultimate season pass grants you access to every coaster, attraction, and ride in the Cedar Fair empire. So not only can you visit roller coaster mecca in Ohio for free, but any and all Cedar Fair parks are free too—think King’s Dominion and King’s Island. Free parking and exclusive ride nights are yours with the pass, but the best perk is getting into the park an hour before everyone else. All this can be yours for $165 per person, or $155 per person if you order in packs of four.

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June 3 is the Most Important Day at Disneyland This Year

We’ve mentioned all the bulldozers at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure on and off for quite some time, and it looks like Mickey is still busy in his construction worker outfit as the warmer weather approaches.

The two parks are already getting ready for the influx of locals and tourists, and this year visitors are going to have quite the summer. Projects to revamp the park across from Disneyland have been ongoing, but this summer another big milestone arrives. The front entrance of the park will be changing—so get ready to enter in some kind of weird maze way—but once you’re inside get ready for a whole new ride.

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The Plastic Pieces are on Their Way to Malaysia for Asia's First Legoland

We’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of all things Lego to Florida, but now it seems like we might want to turn our attention elsewhere around the globe. The plastic pieces are on the move, and it looks like Malaysia might be welcoming the first Legoland in Asia sometime in 2012.

Apparently bulldozers have already been hard at work clearing around 75 acres or so for the new park, and its 40 plus rides and attractions that will make up the new Legoland Malaysia. This will be the sixth land devoted to Legos worldwide, so if you’ve already been to the other five, you better start planning your trip to hit up the latest and the greatest. There’s over 30 million plastic pieces to assemble, so you’ve still got a little bit of time to find a decent flight.

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All the Season Opening Dates for the Best Theme Parks Around the USA

Even though March is just around the corner, the weather around much of the country makes it feel as if spring will never arrive. We’re remaining hopeful that it will, and that’s why we’re already planning our first roller coaster rides of the season. We looked into several theme parks across the country to see when they plan on firing up the corn dog machines, and here’s what we found:

· Carowinds:
Charlotte, North Carolina is one of the most southernmost parks in the country that shuts things down for the season, as it’s just not as warm as Florida. The summer season starts early enough here though, as the park cracks open the gates on Saturday, April 2.

· Cedar Point:
The granddaddy of all them parks in Sandusky, Ohio—at least where coasters are concerned—opens up for the season on Saturday, May 14. That’s only like 81 days from today, so start saving up for souvenirs along with the regular admission price.

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UK Theme Park Relocates Ride Because It's Haunted by a Headless Monk Ghost

We’ve been to the Disney version of a haunted house at both Mickey’s world and his land, but the latest spooky theme park news out of the United Kingdom appears to be way more hardcore.

At Thorpe Park in England, workers were busy doing their thing getting a new ride ready for visitors come this summer season, but when the bulldozers started moving the earth around they clearly disturbed something—or someone—that wasn’t as excited about the new attraction. After starting to construct a new water ride called Storm Surge park, workers noticed that bits and pieces of the ride starting moving around the construction scene on their own.

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The Green Lantern Roller Coaster Arrives at Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Green Hornet has been in theaters for a few weeks now, but there’s another green super hero movie coming out later this year—and it has its very own roller coaster. The LA Times is calling the new ride “the most anticipated new roller coaster of the summer,” so we’re thinking when this thing finally arrives at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California the line is going to be pretty long.

The coaster isn’t going to set any speed records when it debuts, but what makes it so unique and exciting is the way in which in moves riders. Things will be set in a sort of zigzag track, and plenty of tourists and locals alike will hold on for dear life as speeds approach close to 40mph as the ride twists and turns. It kind of simulates a marble falling down a series of tubes, and unfortunately—or fortunately—we’re the marbles.

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Star Tours 2.0 Opens May 20th at Disney's Hollywood Studios

As we first reported last year, Disney has been giving their Star Wars attractions a facelift and now they've finally announced that Star Tours: The Adventures Continue will open at its Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World resort on May 20th 2011.

The Star Wars-themed ride at Disneyland in Anaheim (which is also getting a makeover) previously hadn't been updated since it opened in 1987 so fans were delighted last year when the rumors of a revamp were confirmed.

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Legoland Goes to the Dark Side with New Star Wars Miniland

Star Wars fans, you'll want to pack your lightsabers and head to Legoland in Carlsbad, California. The theme park will open a new Star Wars Miniland area on its grounds on March 31.

You will be able to see seven famous scenes from the Star Wars saga and one from the animated TV show Star Wars: The Clone Wars made entirely of the colorful plastic building blocks. Plus, you can come dressed in your Luke Skywalker or Princess Leia costume and pose for pics with life-size Lego replicas of Chewbacca, Darth Vader and R2-D2.

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