Walk Time: Turning around a rough week for theme park fans
Halloween Horror Nights has started at Universal Orlando, which is the good news in what was a rough week for many theme park fans.
Things do not look good for the future of the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain. To be fair, that's because the recent past has been a problem for that coaster and too many of its riders. Multiple reports of brain injuries and at least one death have led to lawsuits, settlements and a state investigation that has kept the Arrow 4D coaster closed for more than a month. Has Six Flags' X2 made its final run?
Down the road at Knott's Berry Farm, the park appears to have stepped in it with what appears to be an AI-designed T-shirt. But generative AI does not seem to be intelligent enough to know that one should not use a Sambo caricature on said merch. Knott's Scary Farm shirt appears to show racist caricature
The big blow this week was the death of Dolly Parton, the music legend and humanitarian whose Dollywood theme park is now among the most-visited in America. Dolly Parton passes away at age 80
Turning toward the future - and better news, one hopes, Report: Universal Studios Japan plans major expansion.
In Europe, Saudi money is behind a $7 billion Manga Theme Park(s) Coming to Paris.
And back in the Americas, Mexico's 'Luxury Theme Park' sets opening preview date.
Meanwhile, Disneyland starts construction on new parking garage and Walt Disney World sets opening date for Lakeshore Lodge.
The former Six Flags St. Louis, one of the chain's original-build parks, is now Mid America Adventure. Six Flags Fiesta Texas also broke ground on its new Werewolf Gorge family roller coaster while Holiday World has started laying track for its new Mack rides water roller coaster. Construction update: Six Flags, Holiday World start on 2027
On our Discussion Forum, one reader posted, I hope D'Amaro puts the "Animal" back in "Animal Kingdom", while another warns of The coming drought in Orlando theme park development.
Finally, for those of us who track such things, let's dive into what counts as a credit in Did I actually Visit that State?.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a wonderful weekend.
Replies (2)
Thank you for noting Tim Curry and Peter Cullen and their connections to the theme park industry!
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Rough week for theme park fans for sure. But in celebrities involved in the theme park industry, not just Dolly’s death, but also the passing of both Tim Curry and Peter Cullen in the same week. Tim Curry did the voice of SIR, who was in the now-extinct ExtraTerrorestrial Alien Encounter at Magic Kingdom. I never got to experience that, but I watched videos and people who got to do it (like Tom Corless at WDWNT) said Curry really made that attraction, just like all of the films he was in. And Peter Cullen reprised the voice of Optimus Prime for the Transformers rides- at least in the American Universal parks in Hollywood and Orlando. Cullen might’ve also done the voice for the one in Singapore?