Universal Studios Hollywood has released their Super Bowl ad for the upcoming attraction-Transformers the Ride.

In the ad you are directed to a website for the ride that not only gives tons of great videos about the ride, but also gives you the chance to be one of the first people to experience the ride.

Head to Prepare for Battle  and enlist in N.E.S.T. (Network Elements:Supporters and Transformers) to be greeted by the general. You have to gain points, and to gain points you have to recruit more enlistees and answer trivia questions. Simple as that.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rsIICYIcF1I

The website itself is a fun take from the movie where the battle against Megatron rages on. It’s up to humans to band together and held destroy the Decepticon Menace.

And if you’re not into the whole Super Bowl phenomenon, or just want to spoil it early check out the full Transformers:The Ride Super Bowl ad:

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Lni0WCFnZDw

For more information, or to enter to win, visit the official Transformers-Prepare for Battle website.

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My theme park news has all the time in the world!

Disney

Disney’s California Adventure is getting a huge overhaul this year. The jewel in the crown will be the amazing looking Carsland. Al Lutz over at Miceage posts this:

According to Al Lutz, an insider from Miceage. Carsland will hold the press event on June 14, and officially open June 15. Special thanks to Kyle Peek for the heads up.

“EDITOR’S NOTE 2/2: The dates for DCA’s grand re-opening event have finally been chosen. June 14th will be the media day and private celebrity party, and June 15th will be the official first day of operation for customers. There will only be a handful of days for AP Previews and soft openings for Cars Land in early June, and those dates aren’t confirmed yet. June 15th will also kick off DCA’s new operating schedule of daily 8AM to 11PM hours through the summer. – Al Lutz”

Today is the 45th anniversary of the announcement of EPCOT…the Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow. It would be a 50 acre air conditioned prototype city where time would never stand still.
“EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are emerging from the forefront of American industry,” said Walt. “It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed. It will always be showcasing and testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems.The video below shows the original plans for EPCOT. You can see a lot of things that were borrowed from that concept,but never used. Do you think Walt would approve of the current state of EPCOT?
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WVf3-e0O4yA

One of the coolest fun little details are the old school style attraction posters at the Disney parks. It’s only a matter of time before the new attractions appear at Disney’s California Adventure, well they are getting a sneak peek courtesy of Disney Parks blog.

The Disneyland Adventure App is here! Take a stroll through your favorite attractions via your iPhone or iPad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-dR3F_L3c4

Other parks

Morey’s Piers has begun rock work on their all new “River Adventure” water park attraction. Inspired by Typhoon Lagoon, and other water parks across the country, this attraction is going to be a great place to relax.Full details

If Holiday World is successful in reopening Kentucky Kingdom, what’s the one thing that visitors will need? If you said hotel rooms, you’re absolutely right. In a fascinating study of how a theme park effects local economies, CEO of the largest Kentucky based hotel operator, is in talks to help Holiday World reopen the park. At it’s peak, the park would generate 10,000 hotel nights a year. If the park is closed, well that’s a big dent in the economy.Full story

Dear god, PETA is upset at another animal based waterpark. Again. The “animal rights activists” are upset that Sea World in Australia serves fish at their restaurants. It would be one thing if the park goes into the tanks, spears a fish and brings up on your plate, but like all theme parks, Sea World buys it’s fish from different markets. If PETA would only use their powers for good. Full story

It wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without a massive theme park ad. This year Universal Hollywood is taking to the small screen by letting Optimus Prime warn you. The full ad will run Sunday, but here’s a sneak peek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1F-eGddzKI

Newplusnotes has done a little bit of digging around and found plans for the new Fun Spot expansion. While nothing really majorly groundbreaking here, the surprise comes in that Fun Spot is looking at getting a Windseeker! A smaller version than the Cedar Fair versions at only 225 feet tall, but still…a windseeker! The GCI wooden coaster will have a height of about 65 feet tall, and have a metal under structure. I guess Gwazi is the lesson learned about wooden coasters in Florida.

Ride of the Day
Music is the life blood of just about any imagination. The images painted by the sound can be better than the pictures made by brushes. The same can be said about theme park rides. If you go to Six Flags, you get a coaster. If you go to Disney you get the same coaster…but you add music and some themeing and you get an attraction. Today’s ride of the day isn’t a ride in any park, but a great ride that only music can take you on. Enjoy!

ZKO Rollercoaster // GREAT EMOTIONS from virtual republic on Vimeo.

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Rock hand Sugar Ray will be performing Saturday March 17th for Universal Orlando’s annual celebration of music,beads, and good times.
These days Sugar Ray is best known for lead singer Mark McGrath’s stint as host on tv show, Extra.
The hand has several huge hits including Fly, Every Morning, and Someday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmLv8rfunPo

Concerts are included in park admission, and are on select dates only. Concerts are held on the main stage in Music Plaza right under Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit immediately after the Mardi Gras Parade.
For more information, including tickets, visit the official website.

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……..More

To get even more excitement going, Discovery Cove is releasing a series of Webisodes to give fans a behind the scenes look at what its going to take to get things in gear.

Episode 1-Freshwater Oasis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVCNAzFcEbQ

This video gives an overview of what exactly guests can expect from the section.

Stay tuned for more Webisodes leading up to the opening of the new area.
For more information, and to book your vacation visit the official website.

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