Archive for the 'Universal Studios Florida' Category
Theme park news: Animatronic Obama, Battlestar Galactica dueling coasters, Hong Kong Disneyland expansion
June 27, 2009 7:33am
A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
* Prowler wooden coaster construction time-lapse video at Worlds Of Fun in Kansas City, Mo. 70,000 images, one per minute over eight months.
* First official POV video of iSpeed coaster at Mirabilandia in Italy. (Parksmania)
* Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D movie starring Brendan Fraser coming to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., from June 12 to Aug. 2. (Screamscape)
* Scale-model pictures of Battlestar Galactica dueling coasters at Universal Studios Singapore. (CoasterForce)
Theme park news: Little Mermaid ride, Star Wars weekend, Hollywood Horror Nights, backyard coaster
June 7, 2009 8:53pm
A round-up of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:
* Uber-Imagineer Tony Baxter discusses the Little Mermaid attraction that never was at Disneyland Paris. (Disney and More)
* Star Wars Weekend: Get your geek on at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — 100s of Pix. (Mouse Steps)
* 6-foot-tall version of desk lamp mascot Luxo Jr. hopping over to Pixar Animation Studios at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Orlando Sentinel)
* $6 million pirate-themed water park in the works for Savannah, Georgia. (Augusta Chronicle)
* Universal Studios Orlando releases dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2009. (Lifthill)
* Photo tour of homemade backyard roller coaster – with a loop! (Theme Park Review)
* POV animation video of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster from Universal Studios Orlando. (Orlando Attractions) Read the rest of this entry »
Top 10 new U.S. theme park rides and attractions for 2009
May 2, 2009 7:04am
Despite the dire economic climate, 2009 is shaping up as a good year for amusement and theme park visitors in the United States.
Here are the rides and attractions I’m most looking forward to this summer:
1) Manta flying coaster at SeaWorld Orlando (Florida) includes a 98-foot-tall pretzel loop with a finale dip into the water that sprays riders. Opens in May.
2) Billed as the world’s highest vertical lift coaster, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida (Orlando) lets riders select a personal soundtrack from an iPod-style jukebox. Opens in late Spring/early Summer (likely June or July).
3) American Idol Experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Orlando) awards one daily winner a shot at an audition on the reality TV show. Opened in February.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster blends thrills with music (w/ POV video)
April 24, 2009 10:34am
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Orlando is the first roller coaster for the iPod generation.
The awkwardly named Rockit blends a deceptively inversion-free family coaster with a personalized jukebox to deliver a 65-mph thrill ride suitable for the tame-hearted.
Delays have pushed the debut back to “late spring/early summer” 2009, which sounds a whole lot like “late June to early July” and way after Memorial Day weekend, the traditional launch for new rides.
The coaster boasts two unique features, both at the beginning of the ride. First, the world’s highest vertical lift carries riders straight up at a 90-degree angle to 167 feet. Second, the world’s first non-inverting loop — which looks like a traditional vertical loop — actually twists twice at the top keeping the car upright at all times.
That’s right: a loop where you don’t go upside down. The 12-seat cars employ no over-the-shoulder harnesses, using only a lap-bar restraint system.
According to Screamscape, the elongated Rockit track features several music video-themed elements:
Read the rest of this entry »
2009 amusement & theme park preview
December 23, 2008 2:13pm
With the teetering economy and the tightening credit crisis, 2009 is looking like a particularly bleak year for new rides, shows and attractions at amusement and theme parks throughout California, across the United States and around the world. Here’s a brief look at the highlights:
California amusement parks
* Addition of Disney characters to It’s a Small World water ride at Disneyland
* Thematic makeovers of Mickey’s Fun Wheel and Silly Symphony Swings at Disney’s California Adventure
* Terminator Salvation wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain
* “Creature From the Black Lagoon” musical stage show at Universal Studios Hollywood
* “Bob the Builder” 4-D movie at Legoland California
* Odin’s Temple Of The Tiger animal exhibit at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Universal Studios Hollywood unveils new annual pass
December 22, 2008 5:16pm
Universal Studios Hollywood will jettison the long-standing “Buy a Day, Get a Year Free” ticket promotion in favor of a new All Access Pass offering unlimited admission and certain line-cutting privileges.
Turns out that the “free” year came with about a dozen blackout days (mostly Saturdays in July and August and a few days between Christmas and New Year’s). The All Access Pass is good 365 days a year (including Thanksgiving and Christmas).
The new annual pass also gets you into the express lane at the front entrance and priority line-cutting perks for the Backlot Studio Tour. Plus, you can buy tickets for your Access-less friends at a $12 discount.
Grinchmas comes to Universal Studios Hollywood
November 5, 2008 5:16pm
Universal Studios Hollywood will sprinkle a bit of Christmas sneer on the 2008 holiday season with the addition of a Grinchmas in Whoville attraction.
The event, which runs weekends beginning Dec. 6 and daily from Dec. 22 to Dec. 31, marks the first time Universal Studios Hollywood will remain open 365 days a year (including Christmas).
Visitors on the studio back lot tram tour will stop at the original “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” movie set to watch Whoville residents (including the Grinch, Cindy-Lou Who and Max the Dog) reenact scenes from the film.
Review: Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood blends satire with thrills
May 16, 2008 4:49pm
No cast of characters cries out for a theme park ride more than the Simpsons, from the animated television show (and movie) that skewers American pop culture with a sledgehammer and a flamethrower.
After a sneak preview Friday, I can tell you the Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood truly delivers — with loads of in-jokes and satire for serious fanatics and tons of thrills and fun for casual fans. The visually stunning experience immerses riders in an IMAX-like movie of the wackiest order. Like Alice falling down the rabbit hole, only faster and more frenetic. It’s high-octane eye candy for the wired age.
The only visually jarring aspect of the ride, which disappears on subsequent visits, is the 3-D rendering of the traditionally 2-D Simpsons characters.
Simpsons ride features 29 characters, original voices
April 9, 2008 10:25am
The $40-million Simpson ride opening May 17 at Universal Studios Hollywood includes 29 characters from the long-running television show — all voiced by the original actors.
The six-minute motion simulator ride follows the Simpsons clan as they are plucked from the crowd at the Krustiest Place on Earth to be the first family to tackle the “upsy-downsy, spins-aroundsy, teen-operated ride thrilltacular.”
Quite naturally, things go awry and the ride careens out of control around the low-budget theme park created by the cartoon show’s cantankerous clown.
(See my earlier hard-hat tour post with Simpsons ride creative director Christian Lauren plus details on the Krustymobile ride vehicle and a list of Krustyland attractions.)
The characters seen on the Simpsons ride (with voice actors in parenthesis) include:
Universal Studios Simpsons ride shows visitors Krustyland
April 8, 2008 12:25am
After stepping through the gaping mouth of a 26-foot-tall Krusty the Clown head, Universal Studios Hollywood visitors encounter a colorful 10-foot-wide Krustyland map detailing the 10 rides and five shows at the Krustiest Place on Earth.
So begins the back story of the Simpsons ride, the $40-million motion simulator set to open at the theme park on May 17. (See my earlier hard-hat tour post with Simpsons ride creative director Christian Lauren plus details on the Krustymobile ride vehicle.)
All throughout the winding carnival midway queue, posters advertise the rides and shows at the low-budget theme park created by the cartoon show’s cantankerous clown. Got questions? Ask Moe the Bartender, who mans the nearby Krustyland information booth.
See a list of Krustyland rides and shows after the jump.
