Music Park Needs Money. That's What They Want.
It may be called Freestyle Music Park, but there's nothing free about operating it. The park's owners announced that they are running short on funds and have closed their business office (the Myrtle Beach park is closed for the season) until they can line up new investors. The long-troubled property opened to great fanfare as Hard Rock Park in 2008, posted dismal attendance, and declared bankruptcy before the end of its inaugural season. A new management team picked up the property for a song last year, reopened it as Freestyle Music Park, dropped prices to rock-bottom levels, and boosted attendance. But they apparently didn't generate enough revenue to satisfy the Russian investors that bankrolled the 2009 season. The 2010 season remains up in the air pending a new infusion of cash.
Everything Old is New Again at California Theme Parks
King Kong returns to wreak havoc at Universal Studios Hollywood, Michael Jackson doppelganger, Captain EO, moonwalks back to Disneyland, and an old coaster gets a new lease on life at Six Flags Magic Mountain. These are just some of the old/new attractions opening this season. There are some new/new goodies coming as well. Let's take a park-by-park look at all of the fun in the California Ride Guide 2010.
- Disney's California Adventure Expansion Photo Gallery
- Transformers Attraction- Coming in 2011 to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Photo: A rendering of the WALL-E scene from the Disney's World of Color nighttime spectacular coming to Disney's California Adventure. Disney 2009. Used with permission.
Kids Fly Free to Soar on Soarin' and Dumbo
Looking for an excuse to book a trip to Disneyland? The California resort is running a promotion that offers free airfare to kids, ages 2 to 11, with each paying adult who books a minimum 2-night flight, on-property resort, and park tickets package. The hitch? The participating carrier is Alaska Airlines, which services a limited number of cities flying into Los Angeles. To learn more about this and other offers, check out my California theme park deals page.
- Soarin' Over California- Disney's California Adventure ride review.
- it's a small world- Disneyland ride review.
Kentucky Kingdom's Six Flags at Half-Mast
Six Flags announced yesterday that it was closing Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville. The park chain, which is nearing the end of its bankruptcy restructuring, said that it was unable to renegotiate favorable lease terms with the Kentucky State Fair Board, the owner of the property on which the park sits. According to a statement issued by Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro, the decision to shutter the park does not reflect on the other parks in the chain, and the 2010 season will proceed as planned.
The breakdown in discussions with the State Fair Board must have been swift and unexpected. In a recent interview with Shapiro, he said that he was lowering season pass prices and cited Kentucky Kingdom's bargain rate as an example. The chain is offering refunds to 2010 season pass holders. The fairly small Louisville park had generated relatively low attendance numbers and had never been highly regarded among park fans. Its closing may benefit nearby parks, including Kings Island and Holiday World.
China Goes for the Gold with Indoor Water Park
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Michael Phelps set world records and won eight gold medals at the facility known as the Water Cube. Beginning in July, anyone with the price of admission will be able to break Phelps speed record by barreling down one of the water slides at the indoor water park now being built on the site of the Water Cube. According to China Radio International, the converted Olympic facility, now called the National Aquatic Center, will feature multiple wave pools, a bowl ride, and lots of slides. The tallest slide will soar 75 feet in the cavernous building. At over 100,000 square feet, the indoor water park will be one of the largest in the world.
Muggles Will Find More New Stuff in Florida Besides Potter
The big news at Florida parks this season--really the big news in all of parkdom--is The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Coming to Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, the new land is generating huge buzz and will surely generate huge crowds of muggles and other fans of the wildly popular Potter books and films. But there are developments at other Florida theme parks for 2010 as well. See what's coming to the theme park capital of the world in the Florida Ride Guide 2010.
- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Preview Photo Gallery
- What You Need to Know about Give a Day, Get a Disney Day
Photo: Fly with Master P. at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal Orlando. Used with permission.
Coney's Astroland Makes a Luna Landing
Coney Island's Astroland blasted off for parts unknown in 2008 after the amusement park lost its lease. As part of New York City's recent deal to redevelop the Brooklyn seaside mecca, Italian amusement ride manufacturer Zamperla will develop and operate a new park on Astroland's former site. Its name should bring a smile to fans of Coney Island, amusement parks, and Americana: Luna Park. According to Amusing the Zillion, Zamperla plans to open the park this Memorial Day. Making a tight schedule even tighter, the new operator won't have access to the site until April 15. While no details have been released, the park will likely consist of off-the-shelf, portable, carnival-type rides (at least for the first season), which is one of Zamperla's specialties.
Luna Park, which amused the millions at Coney Island starting in 1903, was one of the most celebrated attractions of its day and inspired a number of imitators around the world. While the original park closed in 1944, many namesake parks are still in operation including locations in Australia and Italy. It's doubtful that the modern-day Luna will duplicate the grandeur of the classic park. Still, it's great that the new park will invoke the name, if not the spirit, of a vital chapter from Coney Island's colorful past.
Apres Ski, Strip Down to Your Bathing Suit
Soarin' Over Virginia
Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced today that Europe in the Air, a new ride, debuts this season. The attraction will take guests on a simulated journey that will swoop them above landmarks of the continent such as the Coliseum and Stonehenge. If that sounds vaguely like Disney's popular Soarin' Over California, I don't think it's a coincidence. (Minor gripe: Couldn't the creative gurus at the Blackstone Group, the new owners of the Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks, come up with a cooler name than "Europe in the Air?") The Virginia attraction will use a more conventional motion simulator theater to approximate flying rather than Soarin's unique elevated hang gliding contraptions and Omnimax screen. While Europe in the Air sounds intriguing, it replaces the delightful Corkscrew Hill. The ride film about leprechauns will be missed.
The Williamsburg park will also introduce its first-ever nighttime spectacular, llumiNights. According to Busch Gardens, each of the park's European hamlets will feature its own themed lights and effects. For a finale, llumiNights will present fireworks high above the entire park. The Abbey Stone Theater gets a new Irish-themed musical production (the park's theatrical presentations are generally top-notch), and a new extreme sports show, Ramp Jam, will showcase BMX riders, skateboarders, and in-line skaters. Busch Gardens Williamsburg reopens March 26.
Legoland Florida Snaps Together Some Snapshots
It may not be scheduled to open until late 2011, but Legoland Florida is sure to generate lots of anticipation and excitement until then. To get a sense about the new park, which will be located on the grounds of the shuttered Cypress Gardens, check out the preview photo gallery. It includes pictures taken at the recent announcement of the park as well as photos from California's Legoland. Like the other parks in the chain, Legoland Florida will be geared to the 12-and-under set, and will feature Lego-themed lands and attractions, many of which will be interactive and include hands-on activities. See the Legoland Florida Preview Photo Gallery.
Photo: Legoland Florida will incorporate lots of Lego blocks into its theme park. Merlin Entertaimants, 2010. Used with permission.