By Robert Niles: Great theme parks offer much more than just rides. Shows can extend a park's theme while providing some of the most memorable entertainment of your vacation. Whether they're "kisses goodnight" at the end of the evening or a welcomed respite in an air-conditioned theater in the middle of the day, these are the top 10 highest-rated theme park shows, as voted on by Theme Park Insider...
By Robert Niles: Magic Mountain's Colossus roller coaster caught fire today, in what appears to be a construction accident. Caught on video: Part of the Colossus roller coaster has collapsed after catching fire http://t.co/N11bGQpoFT pic.twitter.com/QTxrUmzFPP � KTLA (@KTLA) September 8, 2014 The Six Flags park closed the iconic wooden coaster last month, recently announcing that the ride would be...
By Robert Niles: Planning a theme park visit this week? Here are the operating hours for the week ahead at the most popular theme parks in the United States: Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom: Monday 9am-10pm Tuesday 9am-7pm (Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, 7pm-12am, separate ticket required) Wedensday-Thursday 9am-10pm (EM* Thursday, 8am-9am) Friday 9am-7pm (Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party,...
By Robert Niles: RunDisney this week announced its latest Disney theme park weekend: a Star Wars-themed half marathon at the Disneyland Resort . And, thus, one more lightly attended weekend disappears from the calendar at Disney theme parks. Nice bib number , Chewie! Photo courtesy Disney Running events have provided one of the more popular ways for Disney to raise attendance at its theme parks during...
By Jeff Elliott : Update from Robert: Busch Gardens Tampa just released this statement, officially delaying the opening of Falcon's Fury until later this summer: Busch Gardens� new thrill ride Falcon�s Fury includes first-of-its kind design elements, systems and parts. Due to a delay in the fabrication of key component parts, neither the manufacturer nor Busch Gardens are able to complete the lengthy...
By Robert Niles: We've got too much stuff in the office: T-shirts, books, theme park publicity swag. Time for it to go! That means it is time for a Theme Park Insider giveaway. Rather than make this some complicated contest, we're going to do this the easy way: First come, first served. But to give all Theme Park Insider readers a chance, we're giving you a few days' notice of the giveaway. You'll...
“Actually, if you could see close in my eyes, the American flag is waving in both of them and up my spine is growing this red, white, and blue stripe,” – Walt Disney During his career, Walt Disney often expressed a deep pride he had in his country. Take a look at some of the more patriotic attractions you can experience when visiting the Disney parks....
Visitors to the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Speedway near Orlando will soon be able to meet two characters from the 2006 animated feature film “Cars,” according to a Walt Disney World press release....
By Amanda Jenkins: For the last couple of years, I have tried in vain to book a dessert party at Walt Disney World. This year though, I was able to not only book a dessert party at the Magic Kingdom for our trip in November, I was able to book the new IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party at Epcot for our trip last week. I had very high expectations for this event. I have heard so many positive reviews...
By Robert Niles: Welcome to Memorial Day Weekend, the widely-cited beginning of the summer vacation season here in the United States. The Disney theme parks in Orlando and Anaheim just wrapped up their annual 24-hour party this morning, and we've got new attractions opening all over the world. So let's get started! The dragon now sits atop Gringotts Bank in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Diagon...
By Russell Meyer: With a year of experience under their belt, Busch Gardens has brought back the highly successful and popular Food and Wine Festival for a second year. As a Theme Park Insider contributor and Busch Gardens Williamsburg Ambassador Blogger, I was invited to the media event launching the 2014 version of the event. As a member of the Busch Gardens Ambassador Blogger team, I receive special...
Around 5:30 a.m.. on Friday morning, Disney guests lined up waiting to enter the park for the 24-hour "Rock Your Disney Side" celebration....
By Amanda Jenkins: Along with the breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine In Theater , we also booked the Hollywood and Vine Star Wars Dinner which had some must-see characters. Mickey and the gang are dressed as Star Wars characters. The characters here are Jedi Mickey Mouse, Princess Leia Minnie Mouse, Darth Goofy, and Storm Trooper Donald. Chip and Dale as Ewoks are in the lobby for a special photo taken by a...
By Robert Niles: Disney has kicked off its now-annual 24-hour events at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland, with the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland parks opening at 6 a.m. local time this morning for a "Rock Your Disney Side" party, where guests are encouraged to come in costume and spend the day and night at what we like to call "Grad Night for Grown-ups." The kick-off at the Magic Kingdom this morning....
By Robert Niles: Being part of major media corporations, the Disney and Universal theme parks enjoy abundant resources to promote their attractions. Both Disney and Universal frequently use their sister television networks � ABC for Disney and NBC for Universal � to draw public attention to their resorts. But in recent years, Disney and Universal have taken slightly different approaches in promoting...
Take a look at some of the images from Friday's Rock Your Disney Side celebration at the Magic Kingdom. Follow live updates here....
LEGOLAND Florida has unveiled its newest addition to the park, DUPLO Valley....
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has launched a "watch and win" contest leading up to his broadcasts from Universal Orlando Resort....
By Jeff Elliott : Holiday World � The wait is over. We now have exactly what we wanted from the park! A campaign! To be specific, an advertising campaign. Here�s what we know. On the walkthrough of The Voyage, they found a box that pointed everyone to the website 66DaysAtSea.com . It was noted (by the staff and visitors) several things: 1. There were two types of gravy. 2. The new attraction will...
By Robert Niles: Walt Disney World is running a new commercial promoting the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster in the New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom: Ray-Bans? Popped Polo collars? Kidz Bop-style rap? My reaction: But what do you think? This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201405/4030/ . All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal...