News in a Minute - 30th June 2018

This week's theme park news:

- Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studio at WDW has opened. After a media preview and various soft-opening's and tests the area themed to Andy's backyard is opened. Check out YouTube for POVs of the new Alien Swirling Spinners and Slinky Dog Dash. Although the rides are somewhat off the shelf, reviews have been positive, and I've been impressed by the theming of the land.
- It was also announced this week that Hollywood Studios is going to a new Cars show called 'Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy, in the flex theatre between Tower of Terror and the Rock'n'Rollercoaster.
- Universal Studios Hollywood is adding Butterbeer Icecream to it's collection of sweet treats in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But unlike Orlando this is not going to be soft-serve.
- Universal Orlando have announced two new scare zones for Halloween Horror Nights this year. It's back to the 80s again, with the Revenge of Chucky, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space scare zones.
- After the opening of Pixar Pier last week, we got the announcement of an upcoming ride call the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind for 2019, which will be a re-use of the Flik's Flyers ride that is currently in A Bug's Land.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain is opening it's 5 day All-American Food Festival today, leading in to the 4th of July.
- In Qatar a new theme park has partially opened called Angry Birds World. It's located in Doha Festival City, and they have opened the indoor portion of the park, while the outside portion is still under construction.
- We found out this week that Tokyo Disneyland Resort will be getting it's own official App. It's going to be in the Apple and Google App Stores on July 5th. The American parks also got a new app this week, with the Play Disney Parks app launching.

Theme Park Nut Rants about... Pixar Pier

So, I couldn't do my normal Friday video today, due to work commitments. Instead, earlier in the week, I recorded a little rant about the new area at Disney California Adventure - Pixar Pier! So here is my first real YouTube rant. Enjoy!




P.S. I'll still be posting my News in a Minute update. Tomorrow morning!

News in Minute - 22nd June 2018

Here is this week's theme park news:

-  This week the coroner's inquest into 2016's fatal tragedy at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast started. While the cause of the incident appears to be a pump failure, it appears that there were ways of stopping the conveyor belt sooner, that were not exercised. This inquest will be on going for a number of weeks, but at this stage it is looking like Dreamworld is at least partially responsible for these 4 deaths.
- In happier news, Disney California Adventure has opens Pixar Pier today. From the media day yesterday, we've seen our first previews, including a POV of the re-themed coaster the Incredicoaster. Reviews have been mixed.
- Slinky Dog Dash the new Toy Story coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios, has started testing this week, and reviews have been largely positive.
- Europa park in Germany have laid the last piece of track for their new Eurosat CanCan Coaster. Although we still don't have an opening date for it.
- Universal Orlando announced one of their original IP houses for HHN, Slaughter Sinema. This new house will be based on a mixture of grindhouse horror movies, and themed to a drive-in theatre.
- A report out this week says that the  Frozen themed dark rides for Hong Kong Disneyland and for Walt Disney Studios Paris, are going to complete clones of Epcot's Frozen Ever After, rather than being original.
- Germany's Bayern-Park has opened a new dark ride called Stadlgaudi 4D, which is an interactive shooter, with a twist. From descriptions it's kind of like a reverse Carousel of Progress, where shooter sit in the middle and rotate to see 4 different scenes before returning to the load/unload section.

News in a Minute - 15th June 2018

This week's Theme Park News in a Minute:
-  The Oriental Land Company, have officially announced a 250 billion yen expansion to the Tokyo DisneySea park. The new Port will be fantasy themed, devoted to IPs Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan. There will also be a new hotel as part of this expansion.
- Europa Park has re-opened one of their attractions touched in the dramatic fire two weeks ago, the Fjord-rafting, which is an amazing effort!
- Disneyland Resort's Annual Passholders were given a rare treat this week with the lifting of a number of blockout Days in the next month, and a bring a friend promotion, which can save up to 41% on a DL ticket for a day.
- Universal Orlando has introduced a Blue the raptor as a new meet and greet ahead of the new Jurassic World movie. They've also officially announced their new night-time show 'Cinematic Celebration'.
- Disneyland's Pirates has re-opened with changes for Redd but also a new effect of a skeleton turning into a "man" to replace Davy Jones.
- Universal Studios Hollywood have re-opened their Dreamworks theatre with a new Kung Fu Panda 4D experience.
- Walt Disney World have opened a contest "glamping" inside the Pandora land at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The contest is open to US residents and has value of about $8000.
- Universal has opened up bookings for the new Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites. Prices starting from an incredibly low $73 a night, for a 7 night stay.

News in a Minute - 8th June 2018

Here is this week's theme park news:




- Universal Orlando have annonced they are expanding Halloween Horror Nights this year to 10 houses, up from last years 9.
- Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian resort has lost one of it's veteran Cast members with greeter Richard Gerth passing away at age 92.
- Legoland California has set the opening date for their new submarine ride, Lego City Deep Sea Adventure as July 2nd.
- Dynamic Attractions has signed a deal to provide two new state-of-the-art ride systems for theme parks in Asia to an unknown theme park company.
- WDW has opened it's Minnie Van program to all guests. Anyone can now use the Lyft app to get to any point on Disney property for a guaranteed $25.
- Movieland Park in Italy Opens Unique Self-Driven Jurassic Jeep Adventure Ride, which is much like the scene from the original Jurassic Park movie.
- Finally at WDW, there is a rumour that the next DVC resort planned is going to be taking over the former River Country water park site, near Magic Kingdom.