Theme Park Insider

Universal to install more sound barriers for new coaster

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:18:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: It looks like Universal will be installing more sound barriers for its new Fast & Furious roller coaster.

Los Angeles City Council member Adrin Nazarian, who represents the communities north of Universal Studios Hollywood, posted to his social media that the park "will be installing two additional sound barriers to help reduce noise."

Some residents near the park have complained about the noise from riders on the new Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift roller coaster, which is in technical rehearsals at the California park. Nazarian's post noted that Universal's sound testing met the park�s requirements, but that Universal will be reaching out to the community with updates and is proceeding with the additional sound barriers.

Nazarian posted that the construction would be completed by early September. Could that be a clue about an official opening for the ride? And would Universal really want an official opening that coincided with the start of Halloween Horror Nights?

We will see.

Meanwhile, Universal has completed the track for a second installation of Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift at Universal Orlando's Universal Studios Florida. That one is set to open sometime next year. And its nearest neighbors - in the Orange Tree subdivision where I used to live - will be far from earshot there.

Like Theme Park Insider? Sign up for more Universal and theme park news by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, or upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive monthly content.

Disney to live stream D23's Disney Parks presentation

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:19:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Disney will live stream its big Saturday night theme parks reveal show from D23 in Anaheim this weekend.

The "Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase" will stream at 7pm Pacific Time on Disney+ worldwide. Host Neil Patrick Harris will welcome a variety of guests - expected to include Imagineers, Disney executives, and actors featured in Disney films and attractions - to reveal new details about attractions coming to Disney's theme parks around the world in the next few years.

I will be live blogging the Disney Experiences Showcase on the front page of Theme Park Insider Saturday night, so I hope that you will join us there for ongoing commentary from me and other readers during and after the show.

Disney also will live stream the "Disney Worldbuilders" panel at 10:15am Pacific on Sunday. That session will include director Leslie Iwerks in conversation with Jared Bush, Pete Docter, Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Kevin Feige, who appear in her new documentary that will debut August 20 on Disney+.

Also on Sunday, Disney+ will stream that afternoon's Disney Legends enshrinement ceremony, on tape delay at 6pm Pacific. Disney will not be streaming the Friday evening Disney Entertainment Showcase, in which it will present upcoming theatrical and TV productions.

Sunday also will see the Disney+ streaming premiere of the Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration that will be recorded on August 13 at Disney California Adventure.

Other D23 panels live streaming on Disney+ will be:

August 14, 11am PT, Beauty and the Beast: A Tale as Old as Time 35th Anniversary Celebration
August 15, 3:30pm PT, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 3 Panel
August 15, 6:30pm PT, Disney Rewind Encore Concert

Like Theme Park Insider? Sign up for more travel and theme park news by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, or upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive monthly content.

Universal headlines final 2026 Midsummer Scream reveals

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:02:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: John Murdy revealed the final details for Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights Sunday evening at the Midsummer Scream convention in Long Beach.

The eighth house at the year's HHN will be Killcea�era: Music by Slash, a combination of USH's traditional Latin America-themed house with its annual Slash-scored production. The house's protagonist will be Lola, will turn her quincea�era "into a festival of death to take revenge on everyone who wronged her," the park said in its press release.

Slash has composed an original score for the house, featuring Spanish guitar and an exclusive song titled "15 Candles." The house will lead into the El Circo de la Muerte scarezone, themed to 1930s Mexico.

Hollywood also is getting a version of the Fortnite-themed Fortnitemares scare zone previously announced for Orlando. In addition, Murdy teased a presence at Hollywood's event for Curry Barker's "Obsession," which appears to be a character encounter.

Over on Terror Tram, it's Art the Clown's show this year, as the "Terrifier" icon hijacks Universal's tram for his twisted Christmas celebration. Metal band Ice Nine Kills will score the experience, riffing on classic holiday tunes.

Previously announced houses for this year's event are the IP houses Sinners, Stranger Things 5, Hellraiser, Evil Dead Burn, and Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness, as well as original house Dead, Deader, Deadest and the return of Killer Klowns from Outer Space. Hollywood this year also will be adding the daytime walk-through "Unmasking the Horror Tour Add-On," which has been popular in Orlando. Included houses for that will be Sinners and Killcea�era.

Halloween Horror Nights starts Thursday, September 3 at Universal Studios Hollywood and continues select nights through Sunday, November 1.

Midsummer Scream is moving

Midsummer Scream, the world's largest Halloween fan convention, announced at the conclusion of this year's program that it is moving. Next year's event will take place August 6-8 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

The Anaheim facility, which is California's largest convention center, is the home to Disney's D23 and the annual music industry NAMM convention, among other major events. It's a big - and needed - upgrade for Midsummer Scream, which has outgrown the Long Beach Convention Center that has housed it for the past decade.

Like Theme Park Insider? Sign up for more themed entertainment news by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, or upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive monthly content.

Rope Drop: D23 is coming to Anaheim

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:58:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: As the "rope drop" starts a day at theme parks, the Sunday "Rope Drop" post kicks off the week here at Theme Park Insider. Here is what lies ahead for fans at the parks this week.

Today is the final day for the Disneyland 70th Celebration at the Disneyland Resort in California. But there is plenty coming up at the resort as Anaheim prepares to welcome the D23 event next weekend.

It's D23 Day at Disneyland on Thursday, with complimentary Ear hats while supplies last and a Disney Legends Cavalcade. The park will put up several D23 photo ops and bring out some rare characters, while offering complimentary unlimited digital downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos.

Over at Disney California Adventure, Thursday is the day for the annual Disney Jr. Let�s Play! Party, with the block party starting at 10:30 am through Hollywood Land. In the evening, DCA will host the live Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration show. Here are the details on that. May the odds be ever in your favor.

On Friday, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event starts at the Anaheim Convention Center, with big evening programs at the Honda Center across town. Saturday is the night for the Disney Experiences presentation at the Honda Center, which will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris this year. D23 continues through Sunday.

Friday also is the day for the media previews for the rebuilt Montezooma coaster at Knott's Berry Farm and the new NightFlight Expedition ride at Dollywood. Silver Dollar City also has a big announcement event planned for that day, too. Look for coverage of everything here on Theme Park Insider then.

One week from today is the final day for Fast & Furious Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida. And, burying the lead for this entire post, it's also National Roller Coaster Day on August 16.

Planning a trip?

Here are the current refurbishment schedules from Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Universal Orlando.

Silly Symphony Swings is closed at Disney California Adventure with no reopening date yet.
Universal's Horror Make-Up Show is closed at Universal Studios Florida. Estimated reopening in winter 2026.
Carousel of Progress is closed at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. New show debuts in 2027.
August 16: Last day ever for Fast & Furious - Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida.
August 21: Haunted Mansion reopens as Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland.
September 8: Indiana Jones Adventure closes at Disneyland, with no reopening date.
September 8-11: Mark Twain Riverboat closes at Disneyland.
September 14: Mad Tea Party and Tom Sawyer Island close at Disneyland, with no reopening dates.
September 15-20: The Untrainable Dragon closes at Universal Epic Universe.
October 26: Volcano Bay closes for the season, with a planned return on or before April 1, 2027.
November 20: Jurassic Park River Adventure reopens at Islands of Adventure.
January 4 - February 2, 2027: Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges closes at Islands of Adventure.
January 25 - February 4, 2027: Fyre Drill closes at Universal Epic Universe.
February 8-19, 2027: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey closes at Islands of Adventure.

If you would like to get out there and support Theme Park Insider at the same time, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote or shop our international and U.S. attraction ticket partners.

You can find our one-page visitors guides to dozens of top theme parks around the world, including Disneyland, Walt Disney World and the Universal parks at www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews.

Finally, for my weekly update of travel and theme park news, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's free newsletter, or upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive monthly content.

Walk Time: How much is a Six Flags pass really worth?

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:09:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: In theme parks and entertainment, "walk time" is the name for the final paid minutes of your shift, when you gather your stuff and start heading home. At Theme Park Insider, "Walk Time" is our weekend look back at the past seven days in theme park news.

Six Flags kicked off its annual pass campaign yesterday, running limited-time pricing through the Labor Day weekend. Russell Meyer responded with a discussion about Six Flags' pricing, noting the low price of the passes themselves and changes to the season dining pass add-on. But the kicker is the big price increase on Fast Lane access: More Expensive than Disney?

I also wanted to note that the Six Flags annual pass campaign includes California's Great America, so it appears - for now - that the Bay Area park will answer the bell for at least one more season. Six Flags' west-coast press release also promised that "Magic Mountain will soon release details about the new coaster also arriving next year."

With MonteZOOMa opening at Knott's, I feared that another California coaster project was doomed to take its place in roller coaster purgatory. But perhaps Magic Mountain's proposed Vekoma Thrill Glider might actually open next year.

Elsewhere at Six Flags, the company announced plans for a Yukon Territory retheme and expansion at Six Flags Great America, including a new Yukon Territory retheme, expansion. And in Halloween haunt news, Diablo is coming to Cedar Point, Kings Dominion.

Six Flags also reported its quarterly earnings this week: Six Flags find success in shedding parks.

We also got quarterly financial reports from Disney and United Parks.

Disney reports strong growth, commitment to Abu Dhabi: I had some fun with online reaction to Disney's report: Disney surprises some fans by doing what it said it would do.

Attendance slumps at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, but United Parks did announce a new-for-2027 attraction for Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Busch Gardens plans Return to Corkscrew Hill for 2027.

United Parks also announced that Brad Gilmour is the new President at SeaWorld Orlando, succeeding Jon Peterson. Gilmour, a 23-year veteran at SeaWorld's Orlando resort, has been president of Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove and will retain those responsibilities as he takes on the lead role at SeaWorld's top park.

BRC Imagination Arts' redesign of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa, opened this week. The $20.3 million redesign adds 2,300 square feet to the facility and elevates First Lady Lou Henry Hoover to equal billing. It also emphasizes the one-term president's humanitarian legacy fighting hunger around the world.

"Herbert Hoover is one of the most misunderstood presidents in American history, and most people walk in certain they already know his story," Matthew Solari, Vice President of Story and Creative at BRC Imagination Arts, said. "A hundred years of scholarship says otherwise, and our job was to put that research in front of people in a way they could feel rather than just read. There isn't a single touchscreen in this museum. A lot of institutions don't trust their story, or their audience, enough, so they reach for technology to compensate, and more often than not it clouds the very thing they were trying to say. Sometimes the most radical choice you can make is to put the technology away and let people spend time with the Hoovers instead."

Like Theme Park Insider? Sign up for more travel and theme park news by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, or upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive monthly content.

Disney proposes new plans for using AI in its parks

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 19:48:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: In new patent applications published this week, Disney detailed plans for automating stage production tasks in live performances.

The application, "Methods for Alignment of Plan to Execution Using Multimodal Cues for Script-Based Performance Modeling," offers a title that would dissuade all but the most dedicated fan from continuing to read it. But I plowed through the verbiage, and this is what I found.

Disney describes a system that monitors actors' performances and automatically responds to them, using machine learning. The system could be used simply to ensure that performers stay on script. That was a supervisor's job back when I worked in the Magic Kingdom, and every once in a while you'd be subject to an "SOP" check to make sure that you were not spieling stuff that, well, you shouldn't.

But that's a lot of tech effort for a system this complex. In more interesting applications, Disney could use this monitoring system for "automatically responding to cues included in the script or other plan, such as initiating sound effects, visual effects, lighting effects, or execution of animatronic or other robotic actions," the application said.

Think of this as automating the functions now carried out by a tech team on the production board. The system could, in effect, listen for the cues in the script and then trigger whatever effect should come next. In a show with live actors and Audio Animatronics, it could provide a new way to allow the two to interact. Right now, the actor has to time their performance to match the preset timing of the animatronic. Disney's proposed system flips that, and programs the animatronic control to listen to and respond to the actor.

The proposed machine learning model for managing all this opens other opportunities, as well, as Disney looks to expand its use of AI to enable more and quicker deployment of attraction and entertainment concepts.

Another patent application filed this week details Disney's plans to use machine learning to with attraction maintenance. In "Visualization-Based Anomaly Detection for Predictive Maintenance," Disney proposes a system for looking at parts in an apparatus, then comparing them to what they should look like and flagging them for repair or replacement, if needed.

"Conventional solutions for anticipating apparatus malfunctions and failures have relied upon the deep knowledge base of highly experienced system engineers, which, due to the heavy reliance of those solutions on the expertise of particular individuals. are brittle and ultimately untenable. Consequently, there is a need in the art for a solution enabling system engineers of varying degrees of experience to readily diagnose the operational states of complex apparatuses, and to accurately anticipate situations in which those system are likely to malfunction or fail," the application said.

In other words, we need an AI-powered machine that can use its automated pattern-matching abilities to help less experienced maintenance people know when it's time to swap out parts, since so many of our experience maintenance techs have left or retired. Okay, I filled in that last part, but let's be real, that's the issue here.

Follow the links above to read the applications on the U.S. Patent Office's website.

Like Theme Park Insider? Sign up for more Disney and theme park news by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, or upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive monthly content.

Podcast: Who's making it rain?

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:05:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: On this week�s Theme Park Insider Podcast, Jake and I dive into this week�s financial reports from Disney (great!), Six Flags (promising!) and United Parks (uh, ew!)

You can subscribe to the weekly Theme Park Insider Podcast via Apple Podcast and other major podcast platforms. Starting next week, the podcast drop time will be moving to 7am Eastern on Thursdays. Next week will be our D23 preview episode, so please do join us for that.

Beyond that, I am lining up some guests for the podcast, so, again, please subscribe to catch those future episodes.

Thanks for listening!

Six Flags' Chicago park sets Yukon Territory retheme, expansion

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:07:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Six Flags Great America will transform its Yukon Territory and Camp Cartoon children's area into Camp Timber Trail next year, the park announced today.

Six Flags' Chicagoland park will add three new attractions to the area, which also will see four current attractions rethemed. In total, Camp Timber Trail will include nine attractions.

Coming to the park next year will be:

Sky Hawk, a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster, which the park is billing as "the Midwest's longest, tallest and fastest" of the model.
Trail Trotters, a pony trek ride
Forest Grove Play Park, an outdoor play area

Sky Hawk. Concept art courtesy Six Flags.

The rethemed attractions will be:

Chirp Chaser, a Vekoma Junior Coaster now known as Sprocket Rockets
Bee Boppin�, the current Buzzy Beez
Creek Cruiser, the current Yahoo River
Wilderness Wagon, the current Crazy Bus

Little Dipper, a Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters junior wooden coaster, and Logger's Run, and Arrow flume ride, also will be part of the area. The new coaster and the play area will be taking over the space occupied by the Go-Karts.

Overview of the new Camp Timber Trail. Concept art courtesy Six Flags.

"Since opening in 1976, Yukon Territory has been home to some of the park's most cherished memories," Park President John Krajnak said. "With Camp Timber Trail, we're making a significant investment in family experiences, preserving the playful spirit that has defined this area for decades while introducing exciting new ways to explore and create traditions together. As the first step in a multi-year transformation of the park, Camp Timber Trail reflects our commitment to enhancing the guest experience while building on the legacy that makes Six Flags Great America so special."

Like Theme Park Insider? Sign up for more Six Flags and theme park news by subscribing to our free weekly newsletter, or upgrade to a paid subscription for exclusive monthly content.