Theme Park Insider

Theme park refurbishment and reopening schedule for March 2012 and beyond

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:32:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Here's the latest schedule for what will be opening and reopening at the Disney, Universal and SeaWorld theme parks in Central Florida and Southern California this year: [*with updates from the comments.]

The new Blue Sky Cellar exhibition, focusing on Cars Land, opens at Disney California Adventure on Feb. 29.

Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland reopens March 5.

Disney California Adventure's Grizzly River Run reopens March 9. *The Disneyland Monorail will reopen that day, after a short refurbishment beginning Feb. 27.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man reopens with its HD 3D upgrade sometime in March. No specific date yet.

The first two elements of the new Fantasyland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, the relocated Dumbo and the Great Goofini (formerly Goofy's Barnstormer) also reopen in March - *starting with Dumbo on the 11th.

SeaWorld Orlando's Turtle Trek opens April 27.

The Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square Riverboat reopens May 20.

SeaWorld San Diego's Manta roller coaster opens May 26.

Walt Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopens May 27.

Snow White's Scary Adventures closes permanently at the WDW Magic Kingdom on May 31.

Walt Disney World taketh away but also giveth: The Art of Animation Resort opens the same day, May 31.

Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds reopen June 14.

The next day, is Disney California Adventure's big reopening, with the Cars Land attractions opening June 15.

Epcot's Test Track will be closed from April to September 2012.

No firm opening dates yet for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, or Universal's Cinematic Spectacular and Universal's Superstar Parade at Universal Studios Florida.

Please add any other attraction opening/closing/reopening dates in the comments. Thanks!

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2926/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2926/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Toy Story Midway Mania vs. Test Track

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:52:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Today in Round Two of the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament, we've got two of the more popular destinations at the Walt Disney World Resort for grabbing a Fastpass first thing in the morning.

But which is the one you most want to ride?

Toy Story Midway Mania - at Disney California Adventure and Disney's Hollywood Studios

Test Track - at Epcot

Campaign for your favorite in the comments. Voting is open for 24 hours.

On Monday: Mickey's PhilharMagic vs. Shrek 4D

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2925/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2925/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

Holiday World owners approved to take over former Kentucky Kingdom theme park

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:49:00 GMT

By Lori Schueren: In a decision made by Kentucky's State Fair Board on Thursday, the Koch family has been approved to take over Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, KY.

The park will be renamed Bluegrass Boardwalk. Holiday World president Dan Koch promised that it will be open by May 2013. The park will be a sister park to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana and will provide similar guest experience, with free soft drinks, sunscreen and use of inner tubes at the water park.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2923/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2923/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

New Blue Man Group show debuts at Universal Orlando

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:37:00 GMT

By Domenik Jost: Tomorrow is the official debut premiere of the all-new Blue Man Group show at the Universal Orlando's Sharp Aquos Theater, next door to Universal Studios Florida. Back in January, Universal Orlando announced that the Blue Man Group show was getting a makeover. So just a few weeks ago, the original run of Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando ended after four years. The upgrades to the show include new music, new technology, and new show elements. We got to see an abridged version of the new show and it didn't disappoint. From the second you walk into the theater it feels fresh and new.

Giant balloon balls hang from the ceiling, and a giant projection screen on stage greets guest. The new makeover included an upgrade of the technology used for the show. Once the big white screen lifted off the front of the stage there are LED screens that line the entire back wall of the stage from side to side.

Another set of smaller LED screens are on lifts and move up in front of the bandstands on the top left and right side of the stage, and down to the stage floor. To top it off, there are three more high resolution LED's that can move all around the stage. The new show showcases our society's obsession with cutting-edge technology. So in good ol' Blue Man fashion, the show started with the Blue Men getting a call from the "GiPad", like Gigantic iPad, customer service.

Like the saying goes, "there's an app for that", and the Blue Men have fun with exploring the apps that appear larger than life. The show also brings back signature moments that we have come to love about the BMG shows in a fresh updated way. The new show is even more energetic and electrifying than the previous one. The entire show is very colorful and filled with big musical numbers, from the Blue Men's solos on their drums to the full band chiming in to feeling like you are at a rock concert. There is plenty of audience interaction involved throughout the performance, and watch out you may be brought up on stage by the Blue Men to help them with some "tasks".

The show builds from beginning to end and really ends with a bang. The show goes from comedy, to informational, to a rock concert, into an entire rave party at the end. The new finale puts together everything that people love about BMG and by the end you will find yourself in the middle of a gigantic rave party.

During the finale, the big balloon balls drop from the ceiling and light up with colors, white paper flies off the rolls into the crowd, lights going on everywhere in all colors, and the place has transformed into a dance party. Once the music stops, the party is over (unfortunately), and the BMG wanted their balls back.

Blue Man Group has this unique ability to connect with people of all ages and walks of life. It's something that makes it special and I can definitely recommend this show to everyone. Everything is family friendly, though it may be too much for smaller kids to understand everything in the show (but they will sure laugh and have fun). If you have seen the old show, great, go see the new one, you won't regret it. If you have never seen it, it's a great introduction to the world that is Blue Man Group. The best way to describe this show would be it's like Broadway meets Rock Concert. The new show was refreshing, fun, thrilling, and I would definitely go see it again. This is in my opinion the best Blue Man Group show to date. For tickets, showtimes, and more information visit Universal's website.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2921/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2921/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Soarin' Over California vs. Terminator 2: 3D

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:19:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Today in Round Two of the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament, we've got our first Disney vs. Universal match-up of this round. Five versus 12 traditionally is one of the more popular "upset" match-ups. Will we see one here?

Soarin' Over California - at Disney California Adventure and Epcot

Terminator 2: 3D - at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan

Campaign for your favorite in the comments. Voting is open for 24 hours.

Tomorrow: Toy Story Midway Mania vs. Test Track.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2922/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2922/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Incredible Hulk Coaster vs. Top Thrill Dragster

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:38:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Today in Round Two of the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament, we're "launching" the Best Roller Coaster bracket with a high-speed match-up.

Incredible Hulk Coaster - at Universal's Islands of Adventure

Top Thrill Dragster - at Cedar Point

Campaign for your favorite in the comments. Voting is open for 24 hours.

Tomorrow: We've got our first Disney vs. Universal contest of the second round, with Soarin' Over California vs. Terminator 2: 3D.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2920/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2920/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man vs. Revenge of the Mummy

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:56:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Today in Round Two of the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament, we're kicking off the Best Themed Ride bracket with a classic match-up of two of Universal's top thrill rides.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man - at Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Japan

Revenge of the Mummy - at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Singapore

Voting is open for 24 hours. Campaign for your favorite in the comments.

Tomorrow: We "launch" the Best Roller Coaster bracket with a match-up between Universal's Incredible Hulk Coaster and Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2919/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2919/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

SeaWorld San Diego's February Manta construction update

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:23:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: SeaWorld San Diego's just released a video update on construction for the west coast Manta roller coaster, which will open this May.

San Diego's Manta will be a Mack launch coaster that skims around the Forbidden Reef section of the park.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2918/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2918/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Waterworld vs. Clyde and Seamore

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:15:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Welcome to the first match of Round Two of the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament. Today, we're voting in the Best Show bracket, as top seed Waterworld faces off against 16-seed Clyde and Seamore.

Waterworld - at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Japan

Clyde and Seamore - Known as Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island at SeaWorld San Diego, Clyde and Seamore's Cannery Row Caper at SeaWorld San Antonio and Sea Lions Live! at SeaWorld San Diego.

Voting is open for 24 hours. Campaign for your favorite in the comments.

Tomorrow: We move over to the Best Themed Ride bracket as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man takes on Revenge of the Mummy.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2916/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2916/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Round Two match-ups and schedule

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:04:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: You certainly surprised me with some of your decisions so far in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament. But that's created some really great match-ups for Round Two, and beyond.

The Haunted Mansion earned the most votes of all the nominees in Round One.

When I set up the tournament, I had an idea which categories would feed into the Best Ride bracket and which ones would go into the show brackets. But then you selected Soarin' Over California for Best Simulator, and Carousel of Progress for Best Animatronic Show. Now, which one of those moves more? Which one is a ride, and which one is a show? I have to admit, I hadn't thought too hard about those specific rides, because I hadn't anticipated either one getting out of Round One.

Basically, you blew up my bracket. :^)

So I took the winners from Round One, ordered by the number of votes they'd received, and broke them into three brackets for Round Two and beyond. Initially, I'd planned on four brackets, but after looking at the line-up I decided there was no logical way to make clean fields for "live" shows and "animated" shows, as I'd planned. Too many shows blur the line between the two. So we're down to just one "Best Show" bracket.

After I made those changes, I decided to just go ahead and expand the fields so that there would be no more byes. That meant adding a couple attractions to the Best Themed Ride field and six shows to the Best Show field. Those slots went to runners-up from Round One with the highest vote totals. So, yes, Star Tours and Toy Story fans, your rides are back from the dead and live to fight at least one other day!

Here are the brackets for the rest of this year's tournament:

Best Themed Ride
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey vs. 16. Carousel of Progress
2. Haunted Mansion vs. 15. Tom Sawyer Island
3. Pirates of the Caribbean vs. 14. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
4. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man vs. 13. Revenge of the Mummy
5. Tower of Terror vs. 12. Jungle Cruise
6. Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges vs. 11. Maharajah Jungle Trek
7. Men in Black Alien Attack vs. 10. Splash Mountain
8. Toy Story Midway Mania vs. 9. Test Track

Best Roller Coaster
1. The Voyage vs. 8. Apollo's Chariot
2. Incredible Hulk Coaster vs. 7. Top Thrill Dragster
3. Manta vs. 5. Cheetah Hunt
4. Prowler vs. 5. Montu

Best Theme Park Show
1. Waterworld vs. 16. Clyde and Seamore
2. It's Tough to Be a Bug! vs. 15. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
3. Lights! Motors! Action! vs. 14. MuppetVision 3D
4. Mickey's PhilharMagic vs. 13. Shrek 4D
5. Soarin' Over California vs. 12. Terminator 2: 3D
6. Fantasmic! vs. 11. Festival of the Lion King
7. Walt Disney: One Man's Dream vs. 10. Poseidon's Fury
8. Universal's Horror Make-Up Show vs. 9. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

And here's the match-up schedule for Round Two:

Monday, February 20: Waterworld vs. Clyde and Seamore
Tuesday, Feb. 21: The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man vs. Revenge of the Mummy
Wednesday, Feb. 22: Incredible Hulk Coaster vs. Top Thrill Dragster
Thursday, Feb. 23: Soarin' Over California vs. Terminator 2: 3D
Friday, Feb. 24: Toy Story Midway Mania vs. Test Track

Monday, February 27: Mickey's PhilharMagic vs. Shrek 4D
Tuesday, Feb. 28: Haunted Mansion vs. Tom Sawyer Island
Wednesday, Feb. 29: Manta vs. Cheetah Hunt
Thursday, March 1: Lights! Motors! Action! vs. MuppetVision 3D
Friday, Mar. 2: Men in Black Alien Attack vs. Splash Mountain

Monday, March 5: Pirates of the Caribbean vs. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and It's Tough to Be a Bug! vs. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Tuesday, Mar. 6: Tower of Terror vs. Jungle Cruise and Walt Disney: One Man's Dream vs. Poseidon's Fury
Wednesday, Mar. 7: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey vs. Carousel of Progress and The Voyage vs. Apollo's Chariot
Thursday, Mar. 8: Universal's Horror Make-Up Show vs. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular and Prowler vs. Montu
Friday, Mar. 9: Fantasmic! vs. Festival of the Lion King and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges vs. Maharajah Jungle Trek

And on Monday, March 12, Round Three begins. There will be no reseeding, so the 8/9 winners will face the 1/16 winners, and so forth. (In the coaster bracket, the 1/8 winner will face the 4/5 winner, and we'll have one fewer round.)

Thanks to everyone who has voted so far, and I can't wait for Monday! (When has anyone ever typed those words before?)

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2914/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2914/ for the original version, along with all its comments.