Theme park news: Wildebeest water coaster, Kennywood launch coaster, Epcot tequila bar, water park Speedo ban

A roundup of my theme park Twitter updates for the last week:

* Holiday World announces the $5.5 million Wildebeest, the world’s longest water coaster, for May 2010 at Splashin’ Safari water park in Indiana. Photos. (Coaster Warriors)

* Kennywood in Pennsylvania announces an as-yet-unnamed $5.5 million launch coaster with a 90-degree drop and three inversions for 2010. Video. (News Plus Notes)

* D23 Expo announces dates and times for keynote speakers Iger (CEO), Cook (Studio), Rasulo (Parks) and Lasseter (Pixar).

* Photos: “Princess and the Frog“ movie exhibit opens in Animation attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (Laughing Place)

* Princess Tiana (”Princess and the Frog”) to join finale float in Once Upon a Dream parade at Disneyland Paris. (DLRP Magic)

* New parking lot means no “third gate” theme park at Disneyland for at least 6-10 years. (Around Disney)

* Concept art: Halloween Horror Nights “Terror Tram: Live or Die” zombies, clowns and flashers at Universal Studios Hollywood. (Fangoria)

* Review: Best and worst Disney World iPhone apps. (MiceAge)

* Alton Towers water park in U.K. officially bans Speedo-style swimsuits for men in interest of public good. (Screamscape)

* Photos: Haunted Mansion sleepover contest winners get royal treatment at Disneyland. (O.C. Register)

* Video: Demolition crews tear down Pegasus wooden coaster at Efteling theme park in the Netherlands. (Screamscape)

* Kouzzina by Cat Cora opens at Disney’s BoardWalk at Disney World. Menu, reservations online.

* Disney opening a new tequila bar — La Cava del Tequila — on Aug. 28 at Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion. Tequila shots + roller coasters = hurl. (Attractions Magazine)

Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: www.latimes.com/funland. Follow Funland on Twitter and Facebook.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer

Photo: Last of the Rowhicans won  the men’s division of the 46th annual Disneyland employee canoe race around the Rivers of America. Credit: Disneyland

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This entry was posted on Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 9:34 am by Brady MacDonald and is filed under California, Celebrity, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Epcot at Walt Disney World, Europe, Family & Kids, Florida, France, Great Britain, Los Angeles, Magic Kingdom, Orange County, Restaurants, Southern States, Theme Parks, Universal Studios Hollywood, Water Parks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.