Vote of the week: Which classic Disney film needs to move to Disney World? Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:47:00 -0000 By Robert Niles: Thanks, again, to Theme Park Insider reader Tim W for the idea behind this week's vote.Despite the large number of Disney films represented by attractions at Walt Disney World, there are a few classic films which haven't gotten a proper ride yet at WDW. I browsed through BoxOfficeMojo to find the top-grossing Disney films of all time (adjusted for inflation) and offer the top six without a corresponding Disney World attraction for your consideration. poll by twiigs.com Yes, "Lady and the Tramp" is represented by a restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. And Sleeping Beauty has the castle at Disneyland. But those are not Disney World attractions, so they're in the poll.Which would be your pick as the best candidate for a WDW ride? Keep in mind that I'm not asking for your favorite film - we're looking for a conversation about which film's characters, plot and setting would make for the best theme park attraction. Tell us your thoughts in the comments. Who is behind the anti-Universal billboard campaign? Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:59:00 -0000 By Robert Niles: There's been lots of big media attention in Central Florida over the past few days about Universal Orlando's ad campaign for Halloween Horror Nights. Specifically, a mothers' group is complaining the billboards put up around the tourist corridor are too graphic and disturbing for young kids. "This year, I find the billboards truly unacceptable to our community," one mom was quoted in the Orlando Sentinel (see story linked above.) My initial thought when reading these stories was... "you've got to be kidding." This 'protest' is simply going to give Universal Orlando a ton of free publicity for HHN. I wonder if it is real?So I Googled "Erin Heston," the mom quoted in the Sentinel piece. Turns out she's... a PR agent. Her personal website now redirects to a parked domain page, but search-engine caches of PDFs from the site show that she is a "communications consultant" and was a PR rep for Enterprise Florida, "a public-private partnership serving as Florida’s primary organization devoted to statewide economic development."(Erinheston.com was first registered on Aug. 30, 2006, according to NetworkSolutions.com and expired on the same day this year, which is why the domain is no longer active.)So, if this is the same Erin Heston, and I couldn't find any records for another one in Orlando (using a variety of online people searches), we've got a PR campaign from a professional PR agent, who once represented an economic development organization, that's resulting in a ton of free pub for an event that's a huge economic boon to Central Florida in what used to be a pretty slow time of the year.Astroturf? Or blowback? Either way, I'm sure that UO is loving the attention. DCA's Vineyard Room closing Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:49:00 -0000 By Brandon Mendoza: I am disappointed to say that the only DCA fine dining restaurant, the Vineyard Room, will be serving its final meal on September 29th, 2008. There hasn't been a replacement named yet, but personally, I'm a little saddened that this place didn't make it to the new & updated DCA. I enjoyed the service at this place much more than the Blue Bayou. The food was delicious, and compared to Wineries outside of the Disneyland Resort, the pricing was great. Did I mention that the service is unbelievable? They took care of you, but weren't annoying in anyway. I'm not hating on the Blue Bayou, but I wasn't impressed with the actual food and service at the Bayou. Love the atmosphere, but when I eat, I'd rather have great food when I spend that much money as well as have great service. New construction photos of SeaWorld's Manta coaster Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:19:00 -0000 By Robert Niles: SeaWorld Orlando today released photos of factory construction of the Manta track, being prepared for the B & M flying coaster's debut at the Orlando theme park next year.Okay, these could be pictures of new municipal sewer pipes being built, for all I can tell, but as the season winds down for many theme park fans around the country, I know that pictures of fresh rail keep many readers happy and warm during their downtime. Enjoy. Bravo, Six Flags Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:27:00 -0000 By Robert Niles: I know that many Theme Park Insider readers share a frustration with people who jump lines in the theme parks, as well as with the killjoys who insult anyone who doesn't immediately get-the-heck-outta-the-way when Mr. Attitude wants to go someplace.Haven't you wished, just once, that these jerks would get what's coming to them?Well, Six Flags Great America has granted your wish. For today, at least. From the Chicago Tribune:A Winnetka man was charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly grabbed and pushed a 14-year-old who clapped when the man was ejected from a ride at Six Flags Great America last week, police said.Making this incident all the more special... this wasn't some clueless teenage kid the park tossed and prosecuted. It was a 53-year-old man from the lily-white, rich-folk Chicago suburb of Winnetka. (Well, at least it was when I lived in Evanston. And the racial slur he allegedly used against a ride operator sure didn't help win him any benefit of the doubt from the park, I suspect.)The Trib story quote the suspect as saying that he was "having a bad day." Well, thanks to the news of Six Flags' prosecution of this fella, my day just got a whole lot better. Vote of the week: When disasters strike theme parks, for real Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:02:00 -0000 By Robert Niles: Weather can affect any vacation, whether it be a rainstorm on a day you'd planned to go to the beach, or a warm spell during your ski getaway, turning the slopes to mush.But natural disasters can make those inconveniences trivial. As I write this, Hurricane Gustav is bearing down on New Orleans, where the Six Flags amusement park closed during Katrina and never reopened. Last month Tropical Storm Fay dropped what seemed like 10 feet of rain on Florida, soaking the Central Florida theme parks along with much of the rest of the state.Earlier this summer, a moderate earthquake struck Southern California, rattling visitors to the area's theme parks, though, thankfully, none were injured seriously. Summer also not only brings theme park season to the U.S. Midwest, it brings thunderstorms, and the occasional tornado, too.Which brings me to our vote of the week: poll by twiigs.com Have any of these ever affected you, personally? Have they ever affected a theme park visit? Tell us your stories, in the comments, please.
Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks - Operator of parks such as Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Adventure Island. Provides links to owned facilities and online ticket ordering.
Boomers - Operates a number of amusement and water parks throughout the United States. Offers news, employment opportunities section, and information on the Fun Club.
Cool Works - Seasonal career positions in amusement and theme parks.
Meta Description: [ Summer jobs at Amusement Parks, Theme Parks, and Water Parks in Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, and Minnesota ]
Ripley's Believe It or Not! - Offers museums and attractions in multiple countries focusing on odd and amazing things. Provides videos, details about exhibits, and their history.
Theme Parks Online - Enthusiast e-zine. News and events, discussion boards, glossary, history, park records, hotel and attraction reviews.
Universal Studios Themeparks - Guide to Universal's Orlando, Hollywood, Japan and Spain themeparks, including information about tickets and vacation packages.
Meta Description: [ Guide to Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Japan and Spain. Find information on park rides, attractions, entertainment, location and directions, hotels, childcare facilities, group sales, tickets, deals, promotions and vacation packages. ]
