Theme Park Insider

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best Stunt Show?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:02:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Please do not try duplicating today's 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament blog post at home - it's for Best Stunt Show, and we must leave that to the professionals, right? :^)

We're looking for a champion in this category that delivers exhilarating stunts, an engaging show and that leaves you marveling about what you saw for hours afterward.

And, by the way, after yesterday, I'm wondering if anyone actually reads what I write between the headline and the first photo in these posts. So if you are reading this, let's have some fun. Please post the word "varmints" to either the site or the Theme Park Insider Facebook page sometime in the next day or two. Bonus points for being extra creative in how you work it in. You will have my undying gratitude.

Now let's cut to the chase. Literally.

High-Dive Theater - at Holiday World

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular - at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Lights! Motors! Action! - at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Walt Disney Studios Paris

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

On Sunday: Universal's continuing its emerging tradition of debuting theme park commercials on Super Bowl Sunday. This year, Universal's running a 30-second spot (here's a snippet) during the final hour of the Super Bowl pregame show, to promote the upcoming Transformers: The Ride 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood.

On Monday: The Tournament returns, and we'll pick the best animal exhibit.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2893/. 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/201202/2893/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

D23 offering Disney fans 'off the map' access to Disneyland, for $250

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:46:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Remember that $2,500 Disneyland Candlelight Processional special that got you into Walt's Main Street apartment? Well, now Disney's lopped a zero of the end of that price, offering D23 members a chance to get into the apartment, as well as other "behind the scenes" sites at Disneyland, for "just" $250.

The D23 "Disneyland Off the Map" tour event run all day on Tuesday, March 6. Tickets go on sale Feb. 9 at 10am PT (at the link above - theme park admission is not included, but required to get into the event). The event will include tours of the Main Street Apartment, as well as the Dream Suite apartment above New Orleans Square that once was the publicly accessible home of the Disney Gallery. Participants also will get a ride on the Disneyland Railroad's Lilly Belle VIP parlor car. And then, there's this:

We will be meeting at 6 p.m. for a very special dinner (and drinks) inside one of the resort�s most unique restaurants.

For some reason, Disney's not mentioning the name of the restaurant, but the only place in Disneyland where you can get a "drink" - and the only "off the map" restaurant in the park - is Club 33. If dinner at Club 33 is included, does anyone know why Disney wouldn't advertise that? And if the dinner's not at Club 33, do you think it's a bit of a bait and switch to imply that it is?

I'd love to hear you thoughts about this event, and whether or not you think I should spring for the cost and go (and take lots of pictures for publication on the site, of course).

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2892/. 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/201202/2892/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best 3D Movie?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:06:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Put on your special glasses and remain seated, as we're about to pick the best 3D movie in a theme park.

When I started putting together this year's tournament, I thought it'd be neat to start by matching up rides and shows of the same type to crown the best in each of those categories, before setting them against each other in a head-to-head bracket. Best flume ride? Best animatronic show? Best simulator ride? It'll be fun!

But when I sorted through the Theme Park Insider reader ratings to select the attractions for each vote, I was reminded just how fuzzy the lines between various types of theme park experiences have come. Let's consider today's category, 3D movies, for example.

Pretty easy, huh? If you sit in a theater and wear 3D glasses while watching a movie, that's a 3D movie. But what about 4D attractions, where the seats jiggle and tickle? Okay, we'll make those a different category. But what about 3D movies with live actors, or animatronics? Should they be in with the 3D movies, or the 4D ones? And what about 3D movies where the seats don't move, but you still get stuff sprayed at you? 3D or 4D?

Multiply those decisions by the number of categories in the tournament, and you can see that I had to make more decisions that Judge Judy.

So for today's vote, we've got the top 3D movies that don't include seats that "jiggle or tickle," and that parks haven't labeled as "4D." Those will be in the Best 4D Show category next week. But we do include today a couple of 3D movies that include live actors and/or animatronics. As with all tournament contests, voting is open for 24 hours and campaigning via the comments, Facebook and Twitter is encouraged.

Captain EO - at Disneyland, Epcot, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris

Mickey's PhilharMagic - at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland

MuppetVision 3D - at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney California Adventure

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

Tomorrow: We'll be voting to pick the best theme park stunt show.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2891/. 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/201202/2891/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best Wooden 'Mega' Coaster?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:06:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Today in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament we're honoring those roller coasters that blur the line between traditional wooden coasters and modern steel mega-coasters. These hybrid coasters deliver heights (over 150 feet), speed - and airtime - previously unheard of on woodies, thanks to their blend of materials or construction technique.

Three stand out, according to Theme Park Insider reader ratings - El Toro at Six Flags in New Jersey (prefabricated wood), last year's rebuild of Texas Giant at Six Flags' original park in Arlington (steel track on wood support), and the defending champion in this tournament, The Voyage at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana (wood track on steel support). Voting is open for 24 hours, and campaigning - in the comments, and on Facebook and Twitter - is encouraged.

El Toro - at Six Flags Great Adventure

Texas Giant - at Six Flags Over Texas

The Voyage - at Holiday World

Tomorrow: It's time to vote for the best theme park 3D movie.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201202/2890/. 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/201202/2890/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best High-Speed Indoor Ride?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:49:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Today's category in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament honors a new type of hybrid ride, which marries the traditional, narrative-driven "dark" ride with a high-speed thrill experience. On one, the speed simulates the high-pressure launch and weightlessness of flight to Mars. On another, you grab a moment of airtime as you blast from the side of a volcano. And on the third, you're enjoying the wind-in-your-hair joy of pure speed on a racetrack.

Voting is open for 24 hours, and campaigning through Facebook and Twitter is not only allowed, but encouraged.

Journey to the Center of the Earth - at Tokyo DisneySea

Mission: Space - at Epcot

Test Track - at Epcot

Feel free to campaign in the comments, too. In fact, follow me there as I'm going to jump into full campaign mode on behalf of one of today's nominees. (Opposing viewpoints welcomed, too, of course.) Please take a look before voting.

Tomorrow: We're voting on the best "mega" wooden hybrid coaster.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2889/. 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/201201/2889/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

What to do for the 'One More Disney Day'?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:20:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: We're one month away from Disney's "One More Disney Day" Leap Day promotion - 24 hours of Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on Feb. 29.

I'm torn on how effective a promotion this will be for Disney. It's just one day, after all, and on a "school" day at that, when relatively few families of Disney fans will be able to get away for a trip down to Disney World or Disneyland for the event. So I suspect that the attendance will be almost entirely locals - people with annual or seasonal passes, generating no additional admission income for Disney. Some might book hotel rooms for a night or two around the event, but I don't see this "Disney Day" generating any more in-park revenue for the company that a typical summer day would. Sure, it's nice to convert a Wednesday in February to a high-attendance day, but whatever additional income that brings in will be nothing more than a rounding error in Disney's budget.

So what is the value of this stunt? Publicity. The 6am-6am operation at Disney's two top theme parks will attract TV and newspaper reporters, as well as writers from every Disney-fan and theme park website. And all those stories will be drawing the public's attention three months before the start of summer vacation, when many families are considering their summer plans. So it's not the extra money that Disney makes on Feb. 29 that's driving this promotion. It's the extra money that Disney can make from the publicity around Feb. 29.

Hey, we'll play along. But how? That's what I want to talk about today. What should be our coverage angle for Feb. 29?

Here's my idea, and it's deceptively ambitious: Use the 24-hour window to try to visit every attraction at Disneyland. Keep in mind that there are 40 rides and shows at Disneyland, not counting the parade, Fantasmic! or fireworks. (Or Matterhorn, which will be down for refurbishment on Feb. 29.) That's just 36 minutes per attraction. And on a day when many at Disney are expecting to hit park capacity.

Disney's published calendar for Feb. 29 for both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom lists no special entertainment for that day in either park - just the evening parade at Disneyland and the afternoon parade and Wishes at the MK, same as the day before and after. The calendars also note, ominously for this effort, that "select attractions, entertainment and services will be available" on that day. I'm taking that to mean that everything in the park won't be open for the full 24 hours.

So is a clean sweep of the park even possible? Is it worth trying? Is there a better idea for experiencing the 29th? Does anyone want to volunteer to cover the Magic Kingdom, since I'll be in Anaheim? Does anyone in Southern California want to join in for part of the day?

Have at it, in the comments.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2888/. 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/201201/2888/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best B & M Flying Coaster?

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:25:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Bolliger & Mabillard roller coasters consistently score among the top-rated roller coasters in Theme Park Insider's reader ratings. Today in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament, we're going to select our favorite of the company's Flying Coaster models.

Voting is open for 24 hours, and you're invited to campaign for your favorite by rallying votes on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments.

Air - at Alton Towers

Manta [link includes on-ride video] - at SeaWorld Orlando

Superman - Ultimate Flight - at Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Great America and Six Flags Over Georgia

Tatsu - at Six Flags Magic Mountain

Tomorrow: We'll vote on the best high-speed indoor rides.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2887/. 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/201201/2887/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

Theme Park Apprentice Tournament of Champions: Challenge 4 vote

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:28:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: It's time to vote on this week's challenge in Theme Park Apprentice: Tournament of Champions. Challenge 4 was to envision a boutique park for the Walt Disney World Resort. Please take a look at the submissions by our contestants before voting.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2886/. 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/201201/2886/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg completes the track for Verbolten

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:05:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Busch Gardens Williamsburg has completed the track for its new multi-launch roller coaster Verbolten, which will open at the Virginia theme park this spring.

Here's an update from the park, with some footage from inside the ride's show building, currently under construction.

Verbolten will be a high-speed ride through the Black Forest, along the course of the old Bid Bad Wolf coaster.

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2885/. 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/201201/2885/ for the original version, along with all its comments.

2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Best Musical?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:01:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: We're celebrating musicals today in the 2012 Theme Park Insider Tournament by selecting the best theme park live musical. Here are the top five nominees, based on your Theme Park Insider reader ratings.

Campaign for your favorite by posting a link to today's post on Facebook or Twitter, and encouraging your friends to vote.

Aladdin - at Disney California Adventure

Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage - at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue - at Universal Studios Florida

Festival of the Lion King - at Disney's Animal Kingdom and Hong Kong Disneyland

Finding Nemo: The Musical - at Disney's Animal Kindgom

On Monday: The tournament returns as we pick the best Bolliger & Mabillard Flying Coaster

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201201/2884/. 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/201201/2884/ for the original version, along with all its comments.