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Universal Parks Join in Company’s 100th Anniversary Celebration

As a kid, my trips to Southern California always included quality time with family and almost always a trip to Disneyland. But I also looked forward to our visits to Universal Studios Hollywood. Something about the earnest way in which they presented their cheesy product attracted me. But there was also a tremendous collection of film and entertainment history there.

This year Universal is celebrating their 100th Anniversary. That’s a lot of history. Here’s how they plan to observe the centennial at their parks.

Universal’s Parks and Resorts will help highlight Universal’s 100th Anniversary campaign with centennial specific content and merchandise throughout both the Orlando and Hollywood locations. The Orlando resort will soon announce a specially themed entertainment experience that will celebrate Universal’s heritage. In Hollywood, the world-famous Studio Tour features expert guides that will take guests on a tour through 100 years of moviemaking history on the Universal Studios production backlot. Tours are conducted daily, visiting TV and movie sets ranging from the early Universal Studios monster film classics to current productions.

The full press release detailing all the celebrations across Universal, is below the jump:

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Test Track to get makeover, sponsor change

EPCOT’s popular Test Track attraction will be getting an updated theme to go with a new sponsor. Rather than General Motors sponsoring the ride, it will change to Chevrolet. Chevy is, of course, a GM brand, but the company wanted to focus the new experience on just one brand.

Plans call for closing the current GM Test Track in April 2012, with an anticipated opening of Test Track Presented by Chevrolet scheduled for fall 2012. A few months ago updated cars were spotted testing on the track, they’ve obviously been working on this for a while already.

With the credit crisis of 2007-08 sending GM into bankruptcy, there was a question if the 10 year #10 million sponsorship would continue. But Disney and GM worked out a series of arrangements that allowed them to keep their name on the ride until finances could be lined up to renew the arrangement.

The new theme reminds me a little of how the ‘Sum of all Thrills’ attraction works. But the execution will have to be different to keep the capacity of the attraction moving at a quick enough clip.

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Orlando Theme Parks Reach Capacity

The week between Christmas and New Years is always a busy one in Orlando. This year with both major holidays falling on weekends and twin bowl crowds in town, everyone was expecting it to be crazy. The first part of this week has actually been… Read More »Orlando Theme Parks Reach Capacity

Wonderland – The Ghost Theme Park of China revisited

Nestled outside of Beijing, China sits what was supposed to be one of the regions best theme parks – Wonderland Amusement Park. I first wrote about the Magic Kingdom Ghost Park back in August but it’s getting some attention again with a new story from Reuters.

Situated on an area of around 100 acres, and 45 minutes drive from the center of Beijing, are the ruins of ‘Wonderland’. Construction stopped more than a decade ago, with developers promoting it as ‘the largest amusement park in Asia’. Funds were withdrawn due to disagreements over property prices with the local government and farmers. So what is left are the skeletal remains of a palace, a castle, and the steel beams of what could have been an indoor playground in the middle of a corn field.

According to Reuters, it’s a sign of a decaying property bubble in China. Apparently it popped 10 years ago and no one noticed. With Disney building its own new Magic Kingdom outside Shanghai, you have to wonder about Shanghai Disneyland’s prospects for success if the Chinese bubble does finally collapse.

Check out the post from August to see an artsy video of Wonderland and even more links. Then click below the jump for a video from Trey Ratliff’s Stuck In Customs travel site:

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Disney Memes

Every year or so an anonymous cast member takes it upon themselves to share the funny, frustrating, and otherwise random bizarre moments that contribute to their experience while working for the Mouse. These instances, when viewed separate from the whole of the regular cast member… Read More »Disney Memes

How should Universal Maximize Harry Potter Potential

A few years ago you could fire a cannon down any pathway in Islands of Adventure and have little risk of hitting a soul. But a big change swept into the park and with it a ton more visitors, all opening their wallets to take… Read More »How should Universal Maximize Harry Potter Potential

Disneyland Paris at Christmas (Photos)

I had the luck of having a work trip in Paris, and I was able to sneak off to Disneyland Paris for a day. Below are a few photos, but if you want to see more (including a full trip report) you can find that on my personal blog. ( apologize that some of the photos are lower quality; my camera died and I had to use my iPad.)

I think this little boy thought I was taking his picture. He saw me with my camera (trying to take a picture) and stopped for a few moments. I snapped one, and then walked ahead of him to take more. But I just live this picture so much! (More below the jump)Read More »Disneyland Paris at Christmas (Photos)

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Taking his Magic to Muggles of Universal Studios Hollywood

When I lived in Southern California, the theme park I visited the second most often was Universal Studios Hollywood. I lived within walking distance and would often find myself on the Backlot Tram or watching Waterworld when the thought of driving across town through traffic… Read More »Wizarding World of Harry Potter Taking his Magic to Muggles of Universal Studios Hollywood