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Wednesday theme park news updates: The Triceratops is back at Universal, and so is the snow at Disneyland Paris

By Robert Niles
Published: December 15, 2010 at 10:03 AM
A few theme park news items for the middle of the week:

The big news is the return of the Triceratops Discovery Trail at Universal's Islands of Adventure. The walk-through encounter with an animatromic dinosaur closed in 2001, but reopened quietly this week.

Universal team members have been heard saying that this is a trial run, but with the attraction opening the week before Christmas holiday crowds descend upon the park, I'm wondering if Universal is seeing Trike as a stop-gap to soak up some of the crowds that will be overrunning the nearby Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Smart move, I say. Triceratops isn't anything waiting more than 15-20 minutes to see, but I always found myself lingering there longer than I'd expected.

Busch Gardens Tamps has posted some construction photos of its upcoming Cheetah Hunt roller coaster on the SeaWorld Parks blog. The images are small, but show that the main tower is up and track work is proceeding at a nice pace for a scheduled spring opening.

Disneyland Paris in the snow

Finally, I offer that lovely photo of Disneyland Paris, covered in snow, from the Disney Parks blog. I've spent many holidays looking at the fake stuff Disney strews about Disneyland and Walt Disney World, so it's fun to see a Disney park covered in the real thing.

Readers' Opinions

From 97.79.27.242 on December 15, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Cheetah Hunt? I need more info on this!
From Robert Niles on December 15, 2010 at 11:26 AM
Here ya go
From Anthony Murphy on December 15, 2010 at 11:49 AM
I think your picture of DLP proves how astetically beautiful the park really is! DLP has the best visuals of any Disney park, but, the worst cast members (for the most part)
From Paul Jeffs on December 15, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Personally I've never had a problem with any Disney CM, Parisian or otherwise, and some are better than others at every park worldwide.
I'll agree that DLP is the most beautiful "Magic Kingdom" style park, but some of it's upkeep issues are only now being addressed by management.
The trike encounter at IOA is one of those attractions that, whilst not not an E-ticket thrill, adds a lot to the overall experience of the Jurassic Park island and I hope it sticks around after the HP Holiday crowds have left.
From Joshua Counsil on December 15, 2010 at 9:11 PM
Wow... DLP is beautiful when snow-covered. Great picture.
From 94.173.9.23 on December 16, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Yeea! Good to see DLRP getting some time to shine on this post Rob! Fantastic place. Who cares if the cast members are sometimes not as helpful or as happy as their cross Atlantic cousins - your in Disneyland - stop complaining and enjoy it for what, as this picture shows, it is!

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