TripSense - Your Vacation Planning and Travel Experience Destination http://www.tripsense.com TripSense - The Final Destination for Travel Destination Common Sense en Sun, 20 May 2012 22:28:39 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.tripsense.com/tangerine/misc/rss.jpg TripSense - Your Vacation Planning and Travel Experience Destination http://www.tripsense.com Disneyland cranks up ticket prices http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7648&goto=newpost Sun, 20 May 2012 06:49:41 GMT By Robert Niles: Disneyland Resort announced ticket price increases (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disneyland-resort-ticket-prices-2012/)... By Robert Niles: Disneyland Resort announced ticket price increases today, topping out at a 35 percent increase on the price of the parks' SoCal Select Annual Pass.

The SoCal Select is Disneyland's lowest-priced annual pass, and is blocked out 195 days a year (weekends, holidays and summer break). Its price will jump from $199 to $269, starting Sunday, May 20. If you want to add parking an annual pass, that price will increase 30 percent, form $99 a year to $129.
Disneyland's top-of-the-line Premium AP, which is good 365 days a year and includes parking, jumps from $499 to $649 - another 30% increase.
Daily park-hopper tickets will increase up to 19 percent. The single-day park-hopper will jump $20, from $105 to $125. Non-park hopper daily tickets will see smaller increases, from five to nearly nine percent. The one-day, one-park ticket will increase $7, form $80 to $87.
Here are the old prices, the new prices, and the percentage increases:
TicketOldNewIncrease1-day$80$878.75%1-day Park Hopper10512519.052-day1581707.592-day Park Hopper17320015.613-day2092205.263-day Park Hopper22425011.61SoCal Select AP19926935.18SoCal AP26932922.3Deluxe AP37946923.75Premium AP49964930.06Add AP Parking9912930.3

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More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7648 Disneyland cranks up ticket prices http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7647&goto=newpost Sat, 19 May 2012 03:29:58 GMT By Robert Niles: Disneyland Resort announced ticket price increases (http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/disneyland-resort-ticket-prices-2012/)... By Robert Niles: Disneyland Resort announced ticket price increases today, topping out at a 35 percent increase on the price of the parks' SoCal Select Annual Pass.

The SoCal Select is Disneyland's lowest-priced annual pass, and is blocked out 195 days a year (weekends, holidays and summer break). Its price will jump from $199 to $269, starting Sunday, May 20. If you want to add parking an annual pass, that price will increase 30 percent, form $99 a year to $129.
Disneyland's top-of-the-line Premium AP, which is good 365 days a year and includes parking, jumps from $499 to $649 - another 30% increase.
Daily park-hopper tickets will increase up to 19 percent. The single-day park-hopper will jump $20, from $105 to $125. Non-park hopper daily tickets will see smaller increases, from five to nearly nine percent. The one-day, one-park ticket will increase $7, form $80 to $87.
Here are the old prices, the new prices, and the percentage increases:
TicketOldNewIncrease1-day80878.751-day Park Hopper10512519.052-day1581707.592-day Park Hopper17320015.613-day2092205.263-day Park Hopper22425011.61SoCal Select AP19926935.18SoCal AP26932922.3Deluxe AP37946923.75Premium AP49964930.06Add AP Parking9912930.3

This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3058/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3058/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7647 <![CDATA[Epcot's Italy Pavilion Reopens Restaurant with New Wine Bar Attached]]> http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7646&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 22:45:26 GMT By Scott Joseph: Tutto Italia, the signature restaurant at Epcot's Italy pavilion. reopened recently after a four-month remodel. Part of the redo included the addition of Tutto Gusto, a wine bar that also serves small plates of Italian goodies.
I visited both Tutti recently and had lunch with the founder and CEO of Patina Group, which owns the restaurants along with the pavilion's other venue, Via Napoli. Here are some details
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3054/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3054/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7646 Universal Studios Singapore teases its new attraction http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7645&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 22:45:26 GMT By Robert Niles: Universal Studios Singapore is launching a "teaser" campaign for a new attraction in the theme park. Here's the video:


Insider scoop says it's Sesame Street. The clues? Oscar the Grouch trash can, "sunny days" is from the theme song, and the video shows the New York land in the park. Plus, Universal already has a Sesame Street-themed kids' area in Japan, so they have the international rights.
Rumor is an Elmo-themed dark ride, plus street-side meet-and-greets, and there is some show building space behind the New York section of the park and the nearby Hotel Michael.
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3055/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3055/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7645 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Caps Oktoberfest Renovation with Debut of Verbolten http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7644&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 22:45:26 GMT By Russell Meyer: In the summer of 2009, fans of Busch Gardens Williamsburg (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/busch_gardens_williamsburg/) and... By Russell Meyer: In the summer of 2009, fans of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and coaster fans around the country were shocked to hear that the Big Bad Wolf would be removed. Busch Gardens immediately began dropping hints about what would replace a coaster that not only had a custom layout and unusual design, but was many a young theme park fan’s first “real” roller coaster. All that the park was willing to say when the Oktoberfest renovation was announced was that 2012 would bring a new multi-launch roller coaster. The rumors began flying, and many, including myself, were expecting a coaster similar to Cheetah Hunt, which was already under construction at Busch Gardens Tampa. Throughout the past 2 years, Busch Gardens has been slowly revealing details about the new roller coaster that have been keeping theme park and roller coaster fans in suspense, culminating with the official opening of Verbolten this week.

Verbolten is being billed as a thrilling family roller coaster but is not quite as accessible with a rider height requirement of 48” compared to Big Bad Wolf’s 42”. In my opinion, Busch should have tried to maintain the 42” limit, but I understand the demand for a more thrilling and innovative family coaster likely overruled that possibility. Still, the lack of inversions makes it more accessible to children who may be afraid of going upside-down.
Verbolten is an intricately themed attraction that fits well in the revamped Oktoberfest area. The level of detail is comparable to a ride in a Florida or California park, with trains designed to look like European roadsters, right down to unique license plates. The backstory of the attraction involves siblings Gerta and Gunter Schwartzwald, who own and operate a quaint Bavarian visitor’s center. Gerta is the manager of the establishment, and ensures everything runs as planned. Gunter lacks Gerta’s business acumen, but makes up for it with his curiosity and mechanical aptitude. Both are concerned with the rental cars that continue to disappear, along with their passengers, despite being equipped with GPS and persistent warnings to avoid the Black Forest. Gunter has gathered their personal effects and crumpled vehicle remains along with mysterious vines in his shop, and has even set up video cameras in attempt to solve the ongoing mystery.

The pre-show video is a bit on the corny side, but does a good job of establishing the backstory for the ride, along with the two well-themed rooms along the queue. The queue is actually a bit reminiscent of the Expedition Everest queue, just on a much smaller scale. However, if guests are expecting a full-blown queue experience like the attractions opened within the past 5-10 years at Disney or Universal parks, they’ll probably be a bit disappointed.



Once guests reach the station, they’ll see a double-loading platform that allows the crew to board 32 passengers on two trains simultaneously. The station is a complete renovation of the old Big Bad Wolf station, and appropriately looks like a garage with mufflers marking the rows of the trains, and oil hoses and other vehicle maintenance equipment hanging from the ceiling. The coaster trains are also highly themed to look like European sports cars complete with racing stripes, rear view mirrors, and sporty wheels. The cars have a flat entry, unlike other vehicular-based coaster trains like Stunt Coaster at nearby Kings Dominion or Rock ‘n Rollercoaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There’s nothing for guests to trip on as they make their way to their seats, and this feature makes loading and unloading a much faster and more efficient process. The trains have 8 rows with 2 seats per row, and passengers are secured in their comfortable seats with a simple lapbar restraint. It appears that the seats will accommodate most guests, but those with larger hip measurements might want to check the tester seat at the entrance before waiting in line to ride.

Once secured, the train slowly makes its way out of the garage and on the way to the Black Forest. The first set of linear induction motors (LIMs) launches the train into the show building and the mysteries of the Black Forest. Once inside, guests are subjected to some pretty tight twists and turns along with some surprisingly intense g-forces, particularly for those sitting towards the back of the train. The forest scenery, illuminated primarily with black lighting, zooms by as the train makes its way through a block brake and then a dead end. At that dead end, riders encounter one of three randomly selected experiences: a pack of deadly wolves, a fierce lightning storm, or an encounter with the mysterious spirit of the Black Forest. After that, technology takes over, as the train, along with the track it is sitting on, drops vertically before eventually exiting the building. The drop is not more than 20 or 30 feet, but the unexpectedness and dark environment make it really effective and thrilling. As the train exits the building, another set of LIMs accelerate the train through a couple of upward twists to another set of block brakes overlooking the Rhine River. The remaining track follows the Big Bad Wolf finish with a set of cameras before the final turn back towards the garage.



Verbolten is probably not going to intimidate hard core coaster fans or even the weekend ride warrior. However, that is not what Busch Gardens was shooting for when conceiving this attraction. In fact, extreme coaster aficionados may stick their nose up at this ride as a “Maverick-light” (Cedar Point’s very intense multi-launch coaster) with a clever, but ultimately unsatisfying twist. Compared to other coasters I’ve ridden, Verbolten is most like Universal’s Revenge of the Mummy minus the impressive animatronics. It has enough intense moments to keep adults interested and their kids exhilarated. The real question will be if can the ride operate efficiently and consistently throughout the busy summer months, and keep the flood of guests wanting to experience the park’s newest roller coaster coming back for more.
More than 2 years ago, Busch Gardens Williamsburg looked to transform the most iconic section of their park, Oktoberfest, from an outdated and clichéd theme park land into a lively, whimsical village. Verbolten represents the completion of that face-lift, and while the coaster, along with Mach Tower, are not the biggest, fastest, most intense rides on the planet, they work together to solidify and strengthen the overall theming of the area.

This season the park has also replaced the famous Festhaus show with “Entwined”, bringing Grimm’s Fairy Tales into the beer hall. To those who preferred the direction the park was taking with attractions like Griffon, Alpengeist, and Apollo’s Chariot, this renovation is probably not what they would have preferred. However, many theme park visitors and families will see the commitment of the park to try to be far more than just a regional theme park.
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3056/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3056/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7644 Vote of the week: Character dining at a theme park http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7643&goto=newpost Fri, 18 May 2012 22:45:26 GMT By Robert Niles: When was the last time you had a character meal in a theme park?
And by "character meal," I don't mean one where you actually eat a character:

But one where you dine with the characters:

The upside of character dining is the chance to multi-task: You take care of a character meet-and-greet and a meal, at the same time! The downside is the expense: Character meals often cost more than non-character meals with the same food. You're paying for that character experience.
But many theme park visitors welcome the chance to pay a little extra to ensure some one-on-one time with the favorite characters without having to wait, often outside in the sun. That's why character meals often require advance reservations, and sometimes weeks in advance.
Not every character meal's a tough ticket, though. Several years ago, the kids and I walked over to the hotel at Knott's Berry Farm for dinner, and ended up being the only party with kids at a Snoopy character dinner. The kids were thrilled to have Snoopy all to themselves, but after about 10 minutes, we discovered that too much character time can get, well, awkward. Once Snoopy had mimed his way through all his gags, the encounter started to feel like a bad blind date. The kids had nothing left to say, and Snoopy, well, he's a giant theme park dog. There wasn't anything he could say. So after several moments of awkward silence, Snoopy mercifully called it a night and shuffled away.
I'd love to hear your stories and opinions about character dining in the theme parks. Please share your tips and advice, or just a funny, silly or crazy story, in the comments.

As always, thanks for reading Theme Park Insider, and have a great weekend!
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3057/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3057/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7643 Havining All The Fun At A Dude Ranch http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7642&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 14:47:55 GMT A dude ranch is the place where you could have a great vacation with your family or friends. A vacation is not fun until you have done something... A dude ranch is the place where you could have a great vacation with your family or friends. A vacation is not fun until you have done something you’ve never tried before. Here are a few things to help you grasp the idea of a dude ranch vacation: Wild Wild West, beautiful landscapes, horseback riding [...]Related posts:
  1. Consider A Dude Ranch In Colorado – A Vacation From Everything! Visiting a dude ranch in Colorado isn’t exactly the most...
  2. Fun At A Colorado Dude Ranch Today Whatever season it may be, there will always be a...
  3. What To Look For In A Dude Ranch In Colorado? A dude ranch in Colorado is the best place to...

More... ]]> Shoestring http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7642 <![CDATA[What's coming to a theme park near you? Round-up of 2012 new attraction openings]]> http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7641&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 14:47:55 GMT By Robert Niles: Let's recap where we're at with new attraction openings this spring, shall we?

Our early leader for Best New Ride of the year: Transformers The Ride 3D at Universal Studios Hollywood

Here's what is open already:I've also heard that these two have opened, though we didn't have anyone assigned to cover them. Trip reports welcomed!So now here's what's still to come (at least, officially):
May 18May 25June pretty much belongs to Disneyland Resort, with the reopening of Disney California Adventure on June 15 headlining a slew of openings mid-month. (DCA will be closed to the public on June 14.)
June 5June 13June 15We have a couple of other openings elsewhere that we're expecting sometime next month:
TBAAnd looking ahead, later this year:
July 9"Holidays 2012"So, what are you planning to see this year?
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3051/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3051/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7641 One week left to enter the Theme Park Insider spring 2012 video contest http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7640&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 14:47:55 GMT By Robert Niles: Next week is the deadline to enter our Spring 2012 video contest, so hurry up and get those videos shot, edited and uploaded! Image:... By Robert Niles: Next week is the deadline to enter our Spring 2012 video contest, so hurry up and get those videos shot, edited and uploaded!

We had two new entries on the Theme Park Insider Discussion Board this week:
Daniel Cernuschi submitted Spring 2012 Video Contest: The Florida Experience
Pyra-Danny V offered Spring 2012 Video Contest: POV from Blue Shoes
Here are the previous entries:
Nathan Alexander's Dreamworld Australia and Warner Brothers Movie World, Australia
Thomas tskogg, with A Decade of Disney (and Universal) 2001-2011
Jake Mappes' The Attractions of Islands of Adventure
And Jason Kwan's The Florida Project [Video about Walt Disney World]
If you'd like to enter, just embed your original video, shot in a theme park, in a new thread on the Discussion Board. (Upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo or any service of your choice that allows Web embedding. Videos should be embedded with a width no more than 450 pixels.) Please use "Spring 2012 Video Contest:" in your discussion title, so we can all find it easily. Your video can be a travelogue, a fictional story, or anything else you'd like, so long as it is set inside a theme park and wasn't shot in violation of the park's safety rules. (So no POV on rides where cameras are not permitted, please.) Campaign for your favorites in the comments!
Next Friday, I'll select the top five videos, which will be embedded on the Theme Park Insider home page, and put up to a reader vote. The video that gets the most votes over the weekend will be our winner. In addition to the attention, extra traffic and bragging rights, the winner will receive a Theme Park Insider T-shirt and a signed copy of Stories from a Theme Park Insider.
--
By the way, here are a few more top new, non-video discussions from the past week:
Dan Babbitt asks about Rain Delayed or Rain Shortened/Cancelled Shows
B Higgins wants to know about Disney World in (early) December
And, finally, Jeff Elliott steps up to the mic for his weekly Trenches of Amusement humor column.
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3052/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3052/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7640 Ecotourism destinations - Galapagos Islands! http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7639&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 11:51:13 GMT Ecotourism is one of the hottest sectors of the travel industry, defined as travel that lets you visit pristine or interesting ecosystems and enjoy... Ecotourism is one of the hottest sectors of the travel industry, defined as travel that lets you visit pristine or interesting ecosystems and enjoy nature at its best. What better ecosystem to visit for anyone interested in nature than the Galapagos Islands, with its fascinating wildlife and unique place in the natural history of our world. Galapagos cruises are the ideal way to visit the islands, offering views of the ocean during approach and a leisurely pace of touring the Islands.

For the most enjoyment on your visit to the Galapagos, look for a Galapagos cruise that offers activities and education that will enhance your visit to the islands. Guides with experience in the natural history of the Islands and a knowledge of the animals you plan to see can give you great insights about the wildlife and environment that will help you appreciate the amazing creatures and history of the area and make your vacation even more unforgettable. Even better, bring equipment to record any lectures, or have video (not just camera) capture available during the tours of the islands to further enrich your memories.

Also be sure to inquire whether the Galapagos cruise ship you are considering makes visits to areas with good whale-watching potential, such as the northwest coast of Isabela. You may spot whales anywhere around the Islands, but your chances are much better in certain places. You will also know to be prepared to watch for them when you are in the waters they are most often found.

A wide variety of other entertainment options are often available on cruises. Musical entertainment and night life are popular. Some cruises offer educational programs of all kinds. Many people enjoy trying out various kinds of games, along with the interaction that encourages with your fellow travelers. Pampering and relaxation in a spa or alongside a sparkling pool are often featured. Whether you prefer to be entertained or educated, interact with others, or simply to relax, be sure to select a cruise that offers activities that appeal to your personal tastes.

Bon voyage!



https://blogger.googleusercontent.co...avelguide.info ]]> General Discussions Administrator http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7639 <![CDATA[A soft-opening look at Busch Gardens' Verbolten]]> http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7638&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 11:51:13 GMT By Frank Forrester: Busch Gardens Williamsburg' s Verbolten had a soft opening this weekend starting on Friday May 11th. It was open all three days of the weekend for the soft opening. I heard about the soft opening from a friend on Friday and even saw posts on Twitter & Facebook from Busch Gardens about it.

Verbolten's coaster train. Photo by TPI member Tom Rigg

I got to the park around 3pm on Friday and the wait time was shown to be around 45 minutes. It seem as the day went along the wait time got shorter. I rode it three times before 5pm. I was able to ride it in the middle row, front row and back row. The queue and the station for the ride have a lot of little details in it. They were running four trains on Friday and like Cheetah Hunt in Tampa they loaded two trains at a time. This helps make the line move a lot quicker. You will need to go through the queue multiple times to be able to see all the little details that are in it. After I saw the final showing of the day of Celtic Fyre I came back over to the ride and rode it twice more. On my final ride the car before me had about half the cast from Celtic Fyre in it as they had come over to the ride after the final performance of the show that day.
The ride itself is different depending on which scenario you get in the Black Forest. There are three different scenarios you could encounter in the Black Forest and they are a Storm, a Spirit or the Wolf. I only encounter two of them in my five rides, but know of people who encountered all three of them. The experience for the ride is basically the same for every train except if you are at the loading station and get in the back train instead of the front train. The back train will pull out of the station and stop for a few seconds and you will hear sounds like a car engine trying to rev up. The train will then head down the track toward the Black Forest building. Right before you enter the Black Forest is the first launch of two. Inside the Black Forest it will be dark and you will see different lighting effects. Before you exit the building you will get one of the three scenarios while you are stopped and than the train will drop. You will then go down a little incline before being launched out of the building toward the worn down bridge. When you reach the bridge the train slows down and you hear the sound of creaking like the bridge is going to give out before you go down the drop over the Rhine River.
They didn't have the video available during the soft opening, but you were able to buy a photo of yourself on the ride. They have also added sound effects to the wrecked car outside the queue. The ride itself seems short, but is a worthy replacement for the Big Bad Wolf. I expect this ride to top many peoples top coaster lists after they ride it.
The seats on the train are comfortable and when you pull the restraint toward you it isn't tight like Apollo's Chariot. They do have a seat outside the building that you can try out before you get in line.
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3050/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3050/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7638 <![CDATA[The next step for Disney's NextGen? 'Pirates Adventure: Jewels of the Seven Seas']]> http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7637&goto=newpost Sat, 12 May 2012 11:23:06 GMT By Robert Niles: We've been talking about Walt Disney World's NextGen project. Most the attention has been to the resort new, unnamed advance ride reservation system for hotel guests. But NextGen includes in-park attraction elements, as well. And now I've seen plans for what might be the next implementation of NextGen in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.
It's called "Pirates Adventure: Jewels of the Seven Seas" and it will transform the Magic Kingdom's Adventureland into an interactive treasure hunt. Using RFID-enabled tap points, participating Disney World guests will be able to shoot the cannons on top of the Pirates of the Caribbean fortress queue, interact with animatronic idols, parrots and snakes, and search for and open a treasure chest which has been left somewhere in Adventureland.

There might soon be much more to do in Caribbean Plaza than shop and wait for Pirates of the Caribbean.

The adventure will take place in newly decorated scenes throughout the land, including sites inside merchandise shops, along walkways and near attraction queues. A fountain in Caribbean Plaza that was long ago converted to a planter would be restored - and stocked with animatronic piranhas, poised to attack upon your request.
The scale is intimate, much like the new Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game, so that guests who aren't playing - and who haven't memorized every decoration detail in the park - probably won't notice any of the interactive elements. Unless someone's there activating them, of course.
Disney's not announced or confirmed any of this publicly, of course. And I don't have any inside information on whether this will be opened to everyone to play, like Sorcerer's, or restricted to invited hotel guests, like with the current Fastpass+ test. Nor did my sources provide me with any guess on an opening date.
But "Pirates Adventure: Jewels of the Seven Seas" would take Disney a step closer to that NextGen ideal we've discussed, where themed lands become platforms for customized attraction adventures, rather than simply serving as well-decorated location for rides and shows.
Thoughts?
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3044/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3044/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7637 <![CDATA[What would you do? Building a better Fastpass (and introducing @themepark's Tweet cha]]> http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7636&goto=newpost Sat, 12 May 2012 11:23:06 GMT By Robert Niles: I've been getting into the habit of starting "Tweet Chats" via the @themepark account on Twitter most weekday afternoons. Yesterday, I chatted with Theme Park Insider followers about ways to build a better ride reservation system at theme parks.
I started with this:
"Throwing this out there: I'd prefer Disney allowing guests to book two FPs in advance, and removing in-park FP machines, over status quo."
My thoughts behind that? I hate having to double-back throughout the Disney parks to get Fastpasses from various attraction sites throughout the day. I much rather use something like the new Fastpass+ system being tested with Disney hotel guests, where I have a couple of reservations "in the bag," if you will, before I arrive at the park, so I don't need to worry about making ride reservations once I'm there.
Let's compare it to when Disney switched from in-park restaurant reservations at Epcot to its current call-in-advance system. I'd prefer a system where Disney limited the number of ride reservations to just two per day, and no more than one per week at the same attraction, to help increase of ride capacity for the standby lines, speeding up those waits.
Readers responded:
@DLthings: " I agree it's a hassle running around collecting FP's. Any new reservation system should be free and available to everyone."
@DisneyDuchess: "I absolutely think a pay-only would be completely unfair. Park admission is expensive as it is."
@ItsAllAboutTour: "If others want to pay for extras; They should be able to. Universal/Sea World/Legoland all pay for FotL Passes. Why not Disney?"
@woodfieldalty: "As an overseas visitor to WDW I am against this, keep the FP system, it works. We enjoy the impromptu nature of the day"
@kellyloumugg: "I could get on board with advanced reservations if they were available to all guests - not just onsite, in the same way ADR's are"
@DisneyDuchess: "How tough is it to collect a fastpass, really? Standing in a 3 hour line is a bigger pain."
@DLthings: "@DisneyDuchess True, but collecting FP means you have to visit every attraction twice, and may still require waiting to get it."
@THEWILDWILL: "I agree it's imperfect, but as long as millions keep flocking into the parks annually, though the system is flawed, it is working"
@theADTraylor: "ride reservations seems to defeat the purpose of enjoying the themes of a theme park. Why skip the queue?"
@CraiGomez: "Imagine a Peter Pan's Flight queue that actually moved faster than a snails pace. Fastpass can just go away."
@m3nt4lwr3ck: "A bit late to the discussion (just got up in UK) - never need to use a FP if you get to the parks at opening time."
And that's just a sampling of the responses.
You're invited to join us for these afternoon chats (usually after 4pm ET/1pm PT), by following Theme Park Insider on Twitter. And to make following all the conversations easier, I'm going to start using the hashtag #themeparkchat. Please join us!
This is one of the ways that I'm trying to use Twitter beyond just pushing links to our latest Blog Flume stories. If you're on Facebook, I'm also offering some unique stuff over there for people who "Like" our Theme Park Insider page, usually daily photos and caption fun. I hope you'll join us at both places, as well as here on the website, for the complete Theme Park Insider theme park geek experience!
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3046/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3046/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7636 Universal Orlando premieres new Cinematic Spectacular and Superstar Parade http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7635&goto=newpost Sat, 12 May 2012 11:23:06 GMT By Domenik Jost: Tuesday night, Universal Studios Florida had the red carpet rolled out to officially reveal it's two newest experiences: Universal's Superstar Parade and ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7635 Now taking off from Six Flags Great America: X Flight http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7634&goto=newpost Sat, 12 May 2012 11:23:06 GMT By Anthony Murphy: Thursday, Six Flags Great America, right outside of Chicago, unveiled its newest roller coaster: X Flight... By Anthony Murphy: Thursday, Six Flags Great America, right outside of Chicago, unveiled its newest roller coaster: X Flight.

"X Flight is unlike any other coaster in the world" said Great America President Hank Salemi. "Soaring through 3,000 feet of twisted steel with no track above or below you is an amazing experience."
X Flight joins the other 13 coasters of Great America, greatly increasing the span and thrills of the park. Here's video of the opening ceremony:


X Flight is one of the first coasters of its kind in the United States - a Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster, which means that there is no track above or below the rider. The guests are seated in pairs on the left and right side of the car, hanging over the sides of the track, which allows guests to feel as if they are flying though the air. The attraction begins with a 12-story drop and various inversions, and a breathtaking vertical flip though the keyhole in the control tower. Check out the closeup video.


I got to ride this roller coaster in all four possible seats (inside and outside). No matter where you sit, you are in the front seat of thrills since there is literally nothing around you while riding this roller coaster. I found the right hand side to be a bit more thrilling because it gets closer to the small lake on the attraction, which is rigged with spray fountains as if the coaster is hitting the water.
There are many parts of this attraction that have guests either at a 90-degree angle or completely traveling upside down. I can’t recall another roller coaster that does this so often and so well. One of the bigger complaints by Theme Park Insider readers about Six Flags Great America has been the lack of scenery surrounding its roller coasters. This changes on X Flight with themed buildings, lakes, and soon-to-be impressive landscaping.
This coaster actually reminded me of another Six Flags Great America coaster: X Flight's Bolliger & Mabillard cousin, Raging Bull. X Flight is a very smooth ride that is like Raging Bull, except it inverts. I also was reminded of Disney's Soarin' - except the smells and wind are real. I was greatly impressed by this attraction and I predict it will be a very popular roller coaster for this season. If you happen to be in the Chicagoland area, stop by and ride this soon-to-be classic.
This article originally appeared at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3047/. All rights reserved. If you are not reading this on a personal RSS reader (such as Feedburner) or on http://www.themeparkinsider.com, you are reading a scraper website that has illegally copied and stolen http://www.themeparkinsider.com's content. Please visit http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201205/3047/ for the original version, along with all its comments.


More... ]]> Theme Parks Theme_Park_Insider http://www.tripsense.com/showthread.php?t=7634