Ack! It’s the next weekend and I still haven’t uploaded my last photo update from Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. But better late than never, right? I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make it back to the park to close down Dumbo… Read More »Magic Kingdom Update – Jan 07, 2012
One of the reasons to go see Beauty & The Beast 3D in theaters this week is because of what comes before it. The new Disney animated short “Tangled Ever After” tells a wild and wacky story about the wedding of Eugene (aka Flynn Rider)… Read More »Tangled Ever After – Why Disney Made It
With the holiday rush officially over, it’s time for the Magic Kingdom to expand the walls for its New Fantasyland expansion and start the placemaking that will transform the area behind the castle into a forested wonderland. Part A of that plan is to dismantle… Read More »Dumbo Moving to New Home in Storybook Circus
The Orlando Sentinel reports that SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has given its employees (both hourly and salaried) an across the board 3% raise. This is good news after three difficult years, from 2008 through 2010, where wages were frozen and many employees were let go.… Read More »SeaWorld offers Employees raises after Good Year, Is this a Sign?
Believe it or not spring training for Major League Baseball is less than a month away. Living in Central Florida is great, because you get to see many of the stars of the league as they come play during spring training. This week, however, there… Read More »Wounded Military Heroes Play Ball at ESPN Wide World of Sports
The Lion King 3D was a big success, Beauty & The Beast 3D is expected to draw in similar sized crowds, and now it’s time to see the first Pixar film to get the 3D conversion treatment. One of the remarkable things about Finding Nemo… Read More »Finding Nemo 3D Trailer
SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens sit at opposite ends of the I-4 corridor and count on the tourist traffic that Central Florida delivers. When a newcomer targets what SeaWorld perceives as their target market, it makes sense that they’d counter with something. That newcomer is Legoland Florida and they’re going directly after families with young kids, the core of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
Both SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are now offering a Preschool Pass good for free admission for all of 2012 for kids 5 and under. You have to sign up online, but it’s a great deal. Especially when combined with an AP or Fun Card for locals. SeaWorld Orlando is also adding an all-new festival that’s “Just for Kids” with concerts by some kids shows that will be very familiar to the pre-school set.
Update: Great minds think alike, the Orlando Sentinel has a story with more details on the theme park’s fight for kids.
The full press release is below the jump:
Disneyland Paris Resort and its operating company Euro-Disney SCA have spent years on a carefully crafted plan to eliminate some of the mountains of debt the resort was left with after opening with too many hotels. For a while they ran into a circle of an austere budget impacting maintenance and show, which resulted in a decrease in attendance, which turned into the banks demanding more austerity. That resulted in some unhealthy attitudes about the park in the eyes of the public. Thankfully, DLPR is at a place now where they can convince the banks that a certain amount of growth and maintenance is required just as a baseline to draw in new guests.
Plans for a new Ratatouille ride at Disneyland Paris’ Walt Disney Studios park leaked back in April of 2011, but it took until now for the banks to approve the 150 million euro price for the attraction and the mini-land that will come with it.
As you can see above, the concept art is gorgeous. This is the sort of detailed place making that will help WDS grow and continue to draw guests for an extended stay at DLPR. The new Ratatouille ride is rumored to be a trackless ride system based on the Winnie the Pooh Honey Pot ride in Tokyo Disney. Together with the Cars, Nemo, & Toy Story area, there will be a whole emphasis on Pixar in the park. Should be exciting.
The full press release is below the cut:
Read More »Ratatouille Ride at Disneyland Paris Resort Gets Funding