NEW karnatak amuserment park

This splendid neo-Dravidian granite building that dominates the northern boundary of the Cubbon park, is the home of the State Legislature and the Secretariat. It took four years of work by 5,000 labourers and 1,500 craftsmen to finish this magnificent structure in 1956. It is a fusion of four architectural styles - Dravidian, Rajasthani, Chola and Kannadiga. It is a magnificent structure granite with 12 massive pillars, archways and a wide flight of steps leading up to its entrance. The Indian national symbol four lions stands atop the biggest dome.

The massive sandalwood door of the  room is a spectacular feature of this imposing building. The Vidhana Soudha is bedecked in illuminated glory during special periods and is a sight worth viewing. The building is open for visitors only after 3 PM.

The Bangalore Race Course

The Bangalore Race Course is one of the finest in India, with racing events almost all year round (May to June and Nov to Mar). Some of the biggest field stakes in the country can be witnessed here.

Andrew Sarris Harshes on 'Casino Royale' and 'Barefoot in the Park

"CASINO ROYALE" is said to be doing spectacular business despite moderately unfavorable reviews. Most of the proceedings were too esoteric for this reviewer. At times, it seemed that the only joke in the film was the impunity with which the name of James Bond was bandied about. Bond is more than a sociological artifact: he is a fiduciary property. And it's funny to see more than one set of producers with their claws in him. As funny as Johnny Carson regaling his studio audiences with jokes about his successful raid on NBC. Or Jackie Gleason being expansive about his stature in Miami. People seem to laugh at these things nowadays without the slightest trace of resentment. Power, success, money, even conceitedness seem to be their own justification. Dean Martin doesn't make five million a year because he's great. He's great because he makes five million a year. This public attitude can be attributed partly to the low-pressure realism of television, and partly to an ominous swing to the right.
Popular complicity with power and success tends to stifle feelings of injustice. If Bond and Carson and Gleason and Martin deserve to be where they are, then Negroes and migrant farm workers and poor people generally are somehow to blame for their own plight. Not that America has ever been an egalitarian society. It is just that I can't think of a folk hero in human history with fewer redeeming qualities than James Bond. He's not even a human being, but just a department store dummy going bang-bang. And he is beyond criticism or spoofing.
"Casino Royale" tries to capitalize both on the James Bond name and the "What's New, Pussycat?" art nouveau nuttiness. I liked "Pussycat," but I don't like "Casino Royale," particularly when John Huston is flaunting the hardened arteries of David Niven and Deborah Kerr in a Scottish castle. Things pick up a little bit when Orson Welles, Peter Sellers, and Woody Allen stumble into the scene, but the total experience remains boringly incoherent. Also, this is one of the most sexless movies ever made. Of course, this reviewer is too wise in the ways of brainwashing to believe that any of his readers will believe him. So see it for yourself, but don't blame me, like the song says.
"BAREFOOT IN THE PARK" (at the Radio City Music Hall) contains a good opening sequence that was not in the play. Jane Fonda and Robert Redford make an attractively sexy couple of newlyweds. Mildred Natwick delivers two funny lines. Charles Boyer is miscast as a grotesque continental type. Gene Saks directs his first film so clumsily that he even muffs Mike Nichol's exploitation of the climbing the stairs gag that kept Neil Simon's feeble farce running for 79 years on Broadway. The movie is full of physical details that I found impossible to believe. The skylight, for example, with the hole in it.Over a bed during the winter snowstorm. The hero lies there with the snow coming down. Anything for a laugh. As for the hero walking barefoot in the park to prove that he is not a stuffed shirt, let us just say that this kind of Broadway philosophizing is a quaint sample of pre-hippie humor...

Top 10 Amusement Park Rides for 2009 & Swine Flu Travel Deals

Amusement parks gear up for sizzling summer

By: Nicole Sipe
Journal Register News Network

This summer there’s no better way to beat the heat and have a great time than to hit a few amusement parks. Lucky for you, four of the nation’s best amusement parks are located within easy range of Montgomery County, and they are offering all new shows and attractions to help make the best of your summer.

For those with a sweet tooth, Hersheypark is featuring a variety of new and exciting attractions. With productions like “Tap: The Show” an exhilarating display of tap dancing; “Rock the Jukebox!,” a musical ride through entertainment history; and “Frontier Frenzy” for the country and bluegrass lovers in the crowd, it’s guaranteed that you can never be bored at Hersheypark.

“There are some exciting things in store at Hersheypark this summer. We now have shows every 15 minutes, now through Aug. 28. We also have all of our old favorites, like the Boardwalk,” says Kathy Burrows, public relations manager for the park.

Along with its ever-expanding entertainment, Hersheypark boasts some of the country’s best roller coasters and rides. Thrill seekers will not want to miss “Fahrenheit,” with its 121-foot ascent and 97-degree drop at speeds of up to 58 miles per hour. Other notable coasters include the “Sooperdooperlooper,” the first looping rollercoaster on the East Coast, and the “Wildcat,” a thrilling wooden rollercoaster.

If adrenaline isn’t your style, enjoy a lazy ride on the Ferris Wheel or a relaxing twirl on the carousel. Hersheypark also knows how to beat the heat with its water rides, so don’t forget your bathing suit.

If you prefer more aggressive coasters, Six Flags Great Adventure is the place for you this summer. Home to more than a dozen roller coasters, Six Flags is a thrill-seeker’s delight. Coasters like “Batman the Ride,” “Nitro” and “Kingda Ka,” the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world, will be sure to take your breath away.

But don’t worry about finding a babysitter, Six Flags is family-friendly. Offering four areas just for kids, like “Wiggles World” and “Bugs Bunny National Park,” it’s a guarantee that no one in the family will get bored.

And Six Flags is so much more than just an amusement park. It also offers a drive-through safari that will transport you to the deserts of Africa, the forests of North America and all the way down under to Australia. The wildlife preserve is home to more than 1,100 animals and has a nearly five-mile autotrail, allowing you to view the animals as if they were in their natural habitat.

If you want to keep it a little closer to home, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom has everything you are looking for. Break a sweat on “Hydra: The Revenge,” the only floorless rollercoaster in Pennsylvania, or “Steel Force,” the first rollercoaster in the East to reach more than 200 feet. After you’re nice and hot, cool off at Wildwater Kingdom, which boasts more than 15 water rides — enough to keep the whole family cool.

Dorney Park also offers live shows for everyone in the family, like “Snoopy Rocks on Ice,” hosted by everyone’s favorite cartoon character; “Across America,” a musical journey from coast to coast; and “Spin,” a break-dancing extravaganza, among others.

If you’re looking to focus more on the kids this summer, Sesame Place has what you need. This summer, Sesame Place is celebrating its 30th birthday and wants everyone to get in on the celebration. For its birthday, the park is offering new shows like “Elmo Rocks!,” starring all of your favorite characters, from Elmo to Zoey to Cookie Monster and more.

As the only theme park in the country based solely on the hit children’s show “Sesame Street,” this park offers a one-of-a-kind experience.

“It’s something for parents and children to experience together. Parents who grew up watching ‘Sesame Street’ can now share that magic with their children. There’s a lot of nostalgia. Guests can use their imagination and see our colorful shows and all of their favorite furry friends,” says Paula Pritchard, public relations representative for the park.

Guests can keep cool with the park’s countless water rides, like the “Teeny Tiny Tidal Pool,” “Bert and Ernie’s Slip and Slide,” “Rubber Duckie Pond” or “Sky Splash.” If you forget your bathing suit, don’t worry; there are plenty of things to do while keeping dry, like “Ernie’s Bed Bounce,” “Monster Maze” or the “Sunny Day Carousel.”

But whatever you do, don’t miss the “Rock Around the Block Parade.” Travelling right through the heart of the park, this is your little ones’ chance to see all of their favorite “Sesame Street” characters up close and personal.

Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or a long, lazy river, these four theme parks deliver everything you’re looking for, and more. Summer means warm weather, fun and family and there’s no better way to incorporate them all than hitting a few amusement parks.

Harry Potter’s Wizarding World brought to life

ORLANDO, Fla. _ Orlando is possibly the best destination for theme park lovers. There is the Walt Disney World Resort, one of the largest theme parks in the world with four amusement parks, three water parks and a number of hotels; Universal Orlando Resort, consisting of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure _ now filled with Harry Potter magic; and SeaWorld Orlando, a marine life theme park.

However, the biggest news this summer is Harry Potter’s magical world brought to life on the Islands of Adventure.

Universal Orlando officially opened "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," its new theme park based on mega-hit books and movie series on June 18. 

It has obviously raised the bar for people's expectations of theme parks by bringing the imaginary, magical world of Harry Potter, featured in the seven-volume fantasy novel written by British author J. K. Rowling, to life.

The books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide, while the films have grossed more than $5.3 billion, excluding two more movies of volume seven yet to come.

"We have brought to life a cultural phenomenon that has captured the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world," said Bill Davis, president of Universal Orlando Resort.


Wizarding World 

The place is going to be a heaven for Harry Potter fans as they can experience what they have read in the book and seen in the movies themselves.

In the 20-acre Wizarding World area, three main attractions await Muggles, the term used to describe "non-magical" people in the Harry Potter series _ Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge and Flight of the Hippogriff.

The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the village of Hogsmeade have also been painstakingly recreated to give a sneak peak at what the “Wizarding World” is like.

Upon entering the gates, the iconic red Hogwarts Express train arriving to Hogsmeade Station greets visitors to the magical realm.
Past a row of snow-covered shops in the village of Hogsmeade, Hogwarts Castle stands in the middle of the Wizarding World. Guests riding the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey will pass through a green house, moving paintings in the hallway, the headmaster Dumbledore’s room and the Defense against Dark Arts classroom and encounter the Whomping Willow, a horde of dementors and a Quidditch match during the main ride.

For thrill lovers, the Dragon Challenge twin coasters await. The waiting area of the roller coaster is designed after the Triwizard Tournament that appeared in the fourth book _ “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” _ and visitors can see Hagrid's hut here. At the end of the queue, people can choose which dragon to ride _ the Chinese Fireball or the Hungarian Horntail. The red Chinese Fireball coaster has a faster speed, while the blue Hungarian Horntail has more loops. The dueling coasters overlap and intertwine with each other during the ride.

Children will enjoy the Flight of the Hippogriff, a smaller, milder roller coaster giving a glimpse of what it feels like to ride the mythical part-eagle part-horse.



Hidden details

Small extras of the magical world of Harry Potter can also be found at the Universal’s Wizarding World.

Visitors can find out which magic wand is right for them at Ollivander's, the legendary wand shop originally located in Diagon Alley in London. They are allowed in the shop by small groups and one lucky guest will get a chance to try out a few wands to find the perfect fit.

Butterbeer, the favorite drink of Harry Potter, is also available for Muggles at The Three Broomsticks pub. The butterbeer drink is a non-alcoholic butterscotch flavored drink.

Pygmy Puff, the adorable pink familiar of Ginny Weasley, is also available at Zonko's. Originally in the book, Pygmy Puffs are sold at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop owned by Ginny's twin brothers Fred and George.

Moaning Myrtle, a ghost who haunts the second floor bathroom at Hogwarts, can also be spotted in the restrooms at Wizarding World.

The 2010 Amusement parks guide

This summer there’s no better way to beat the heat and have a great time than to hit a few amusement parks. Lucky for you, four of the nation’s best amusement parks are located within easy range of Montgomery County, and they are offering all new shows and attractions to help make the best of your summer.

For those with a sweet tooth, Hersheypark is featuring a variety of new and exciting attractions. With productions like “Tap: The Show” an exhilarating display of tap dancing; “Rock the Jukebox!,” a musical ride through entertainment history; and “Frontier Frenzy” for the country and bluegrass lovers in the crowd, it’s guaranteed that you can never be bored at Hersheypark.

“There are some exciting things in store at Hersheypark this summer. We now have shows every 15 minutes, now through Aug. 28. We also have all of our old favorites, like the Boardwalk,” says Kathy Burrows, public relations manager for the park.

Along with its ever-expanding entertainment, Hersheypark boasts some of the country’s best roller coasters and rides. Thrill seekers will not want to miss “Fahrenheit,” with its 121-foot ascent and 97-degree drop at speeds of up to 58 miles per hour. Other notable coasters include the “Sooperdooperlooper,” the first looping rollercoaster on the East Coast, and the “Wildcat,” a thrilling wooden rollercoaster.

If adrenaline isn’t your style, enjoy a lazy ride on the Ferris Wheel or a relaxing twirl on the carousel. Hersheypark also knows how to beat the heat with its water rides, so don’t forget your bathing suit.

If you prefer more aggressive coasters, Six Flags Great Adventure is the place for you this summer. Home to more than a dozen roller coasters, Six Flags is a thrill-seeker’s delight. Coasters like “Batman the Ride,” “Nitro” and “Kingda Ka,” the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world, will be sure to take your breath away.

But don’t worry about finding a babysitter, Six Flags is family-friendly. Offering four areas just for kids, like “Wiggles World” and “Bugs Bunny National Park,” it’s a guarantee that no one in the family will get bored.

And Six Flags is so much more than just an amusement park. It also offers a drive-through safari that will transport you to the deserts of Africa, the forests of North America and all the way down under to Australia. The wildlife preserve is home to more than 1,100 animals and has a nearly five-mile autotrail, allowing you to view the animals as if they were in their natural habitat.

If you want to keep it a little closer to home, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom has everything you are looking for. Break a sweat on “Hydra: The Revenge,” the only floorless rollercoaster in Pennsylvania, or “Steel Force,” the first rollercoaster in the East to reach more than 200 feet. After you’re nice and hot, cool off at Wildwater Kingdom, which boasts more than 15 water rides — enough to keep the whole family cool.

Dorney Park also offers live shows for everyone in the family, like “Snoopy Rocks on Ice,” hosted by everyone’s favorite cartoon character; “Across America,” a musical journey from coast to coast; and “Spin,” a break-dancing extravaganza, among others.

If you’re looking to focus more on the kids this summer, Sesame Place has what you need. The park is celebrating its 30th birthday and they want everyone to get in on the celebration with new shows like “Elmo Rocks!,” starring all of your favorite characters from Elmo to Zoey to Cookie Monster and more.

As the only theme park in the country based solely on the hit children’s show “Sesame Street,” this park offers a one-of-a-kind experience.

“It’s something for parents and children to experience together. Parents who grew up watching ‘Sesame Street’ can now share that magic with their children. There’s a lot of nostalgia. Guests can use their imagination and see our colorful shows and all of their favorite furry friends,” says Paula Pritchard, public relations representative for the park.

Guests can keep cool with the park’s countless water rides, like the “Teeny Tiny Tidal Pool,” “Bert and Ernie’s Slip and Slide,” “Rubber Duckie Pond” or “Sky Splash.” If you forget your bathing suit, don’t worry; there are plenty of things to do while keeping dry, like “Ernie’s Bed Bounce,” “Monster Maze” or the “Sunny Day Carousel.”

But whatever you do, don’t miss the “Rock Around the Block Parade.” Travelling right through the heart of the park, this is your little ones’ chance to see all of their favorite “Sesame Street” characters up close and personal.

Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or a long, lazy river, these four theme parks deliver everything you’re looking for, and more. Summer means warm weather, fun and family and there’s no better way to incorporate them all than hitting a few amusement parks.

Historic wooden roller-coasters near Pittsburgh attract enthusiasts

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - For a city built on steel, some of the most sought- after attractions in Pittsburgh are actually made of wood.

Just ask the more than 400 members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, who have come to Kennywood amusement park for the 7,000-member group's annual convention. The highlight will be riding three of the oldest wooden roller-coasters in the world — over, and over, and over again.

"There are very few, maybe no places, in the world quite like it," said Bill Linkenheimer, of Pittsburgh, the group's secretary and lifelong lover of the thrill of zooming over the rails, who joined the club in 1980 at age 13.

The gathering this week marks the fourth time that the group, founded in 1978, has held its annual convention at Kennywood. It also marks the first time the American Coaster Enthusiasts will honour two coasters at one park with plaques designating them ACE Roller Coaster Landmarks.

The rides — the Jack Rabbit and the Racer — were both built of wood in the 1920s by coaster designer John Miller. The Jack Rabbit is known for its 21-metre double-dip drop, while the Racer is the only single-track racing coaster in the U.S. Through its unique "reverse curve" design, riders start on the right side of the track and finish on the left.


They are just examples of the way coasters were made back then and how a coaster can survive so long and be really fun and really enjoyable," said John Gerard, of San Diego, the group's public relations director.

Although coaster enthusiasts like the newer steel coasters, too, many are partial to the click-click of old wooden coasters. Modern coasters can be extreme and fast, but the ride tends to be the same every time, while everything from the time of day to the humidity can change the ride on a wooden one, Linkenheimer said.

"Every wood coaster truly is unique," said Linkenheimer, who has ridden more than 600 roller coasters...[next page]

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Opens Today - Harry Potter Theme Park Opens

A new mini-amusement park at Universal Orlando, opened up today. The 250 million dollar recreates the world of Harry Potter with such detail, that Tom Leonard of theTelegraph says that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is more “an exhibit than a conventional theme park.”

Crowds began lining up last night for the grand opening of the new Harry Potter theme park, and park employees are predicting 5 hour lines for five minute rides.

The new them park features roller coaster rides Flight of the Hippogriff, and the high-speed ride Dragon Challenge. But the biggest draw to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, which brings Potter fans through a series of J.K. Rawlings imaginary worlds.

Daniel Radcliffe and other Potter stars were at the opening to welcome guests and enjoy the rides.

Theme Parks Looking To Summer Rebound

Today I'm reporting from Disney's [DIS  34.874    0.944  (+2.78%)   ] California Adventure, where the park is unveiling "World of Color," a water and light show, part of a billion dollar renovation of the park. Some 1,600 people are expected to turn out tonight for the unveiling of the Disney-themed show, which is said to put the Bellagio's fountains in Las Vegas to shame.

This summer Disney is phasing out discounts and counting on new attractions like this one to drive attenance. So far it's working: last week Bob Iger said Disneyland and Disneyworld hotel bookings continue to improve.

Disney isn't the only one investing in new attractions- theme parks around the country are investing millions in new attractions. Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando is introducing a new Harry Potter attraction.

Six Flags, which emerged from bankruptcy in May is adding more roller coasters. And Sea World, which is owned by Blackstone Group, is featuring new high tech shows.

What's the potential return? The 400 amusement parks in the U.S. generate some $12 billion in annual revenue from more than 300 million annual visitors. Last year North American parks saw a one percent decline in attendance, but discounting prevented attendance from falling off further.

This summer the mood is more upbeat: parks are bringing back normal prices and the industry is expecting an uptick in attendance this season. The head of the International Association of Amusement Parks, David Mandt tells me that an increase in corporate business and advance bookings is a positive sign.

Cedar Fair ,[FUN  13.035    0.365  (+2.88%)   ] which operates a dozen amusement and water parks around the country, including Knott's Berry Farm and King's Dominion, is on track for an uptick in sales this summer, after suffering an 8 percent decline in sales and an 11 percent decline in 

Holiday World's sudden loss

As a young man, Will Koch set his sights on a serious business. Computer-science and engineering degrees in hand from the universities of Notre Dame and Southern California, he moved to Los Angeles to take a job designing weapons systems for a defense contractor.

But it wasn't long before Koch, known for his "goofy" laugh as well as his brains, returned to his rural Southern Indiana home to take over the family business, an obscure amusement park in a town called Santa Claus.

There, at Holiday World, he found fulfillment and success, over the next two decades helping to design rides, tripling the number of visitors and winning worldwide acclaim among roller-coaster enthusiasts.

Koch died unexpectedly this week at the age of 48. He had suffered from Type I diabetes since the 1980s, said Paula Werne, Holiday World's longtime spokeswoman. Koch's wife and children found him late Sunday upon returning from Louisville, Ky., where they'd watched a movie.

On Monday, the amusement park bustled as usual and Pat Koch greeted guests, as she often does, despite her son's death only hours earlier.

William Albert Koch Jr., was a descendant of a prominent Southern Indiana family whose 19th-century metal shop grew into a major installer of painting systems in factories worldwide.

Koch was the third generation to lead Holiday World, which was founded in 1946 by his grandfather as Santa Claus Land, one of the nation's first theme parks. (Disneyland came nine years later.) The name was changed to Holiday World in 1984.

After taking over the enterprise in 1990, Koch quickly set about expanding it, adding new rides and attractions. He built a water park, Splashin' Safari, which soon was outdrawing the older rides.

In 1995, Koch attracted international attention with the Raven, a wooden roller coaster he helped design in harmony with the area's rolling, wooded terrain.

"Will hated to cut down a tree," Werne said.

The Raven "wasn't the largest roller coaster, but it was fresh," said Tim Baldwin, of the trade journal Amusement Today.

Coasters race like Dale Earnhardt

The Harry Potter theme park may be grabbing a lot of attention lately, but the amusement park industry has other tricks up its sleeve this year. Across North America new and “re-themed” amusement parks have opened, and standout rides at established venues are drawing crowds. Whether you’re drawn to the two thrilling roller coasters named for the NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, who was known as the Intimidator, or are more inclined toward a junior coaster piloted by Sesame Street’s Grover, you’ll most likely find something in this sampler of new attractions that’s just your speed.

ADVENTURE MOUNTAIN AT DOLLYWOOD Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

More and more amusement parks are unveiling attractions that physically test parkgoers rather than simply offer a passive experience, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, and this 2-acre hillside challenge course, which opened in March, is a prime example. Parkgoers strap on harnesses and make their way along rope trails, clamber up net ladders, sway on swinging bridges and are blasted by geysers. A steel framework — designed to look like the stone-and-timber buildings constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the adjacent Great Smoky Mountains National Park — supports the course, which offers varying levels of difficulty. If skirting a narrow rock ledge on a cliff 25 feet off the ground is too daunting, you can proceed on a stable wooden boardwalk, or stick to the scaled-down course, for children ages 2 to 6, at the base of the hill.

Fee is included in the general admission of $55.90, $44.70 for ages 4 to 11; dollywood.com.

INTIMIDATOR AT CAROWINDS Charlotte. Named after Dale Earnhardt and designed to evoke the racecar driver’s No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the Intimidator, which opened in March at Carowinds, offers eight hills and plenty of “airtime” (when riders lift out of their seats). “It’s based on the idea of the old wooden coaster,” said Lance Hart, editor of Screamscape.com, an online guide to theme parks, “with no loops but up and down the whole way through.” Manufactured by the Swiss company Bollinger & Mabillard, the ride has open-sided red, black and white train cars with T-bar restraints, a peak of 232 feet and a mile-long track. Cars zoom down the 211-foot first drop at a 74-degree angle and reach speeds of up to 80 mph.

Fee is included in admission of $49.99; $22.99 for those under 48 inches, or age 62 and up; carowinds.com.

INTIMIDATOR 305 AT KINGS DOMINION Doswell, Va. The second nod to Dale Earnhardt this summer is the Intimidator 305, by the Swiss company Intamin, which is 305 feet tall at its peak and has a first drop of 300 feet. Those measurements put the ride in the family of ultra-high coasters known as giga coasters. The first drop comes at an 85-degree angle, after which riders in open-sided black train cars with red overhead lap bars and shoulder straps race at speeds of up to 92 mph through a course of mostly low-to-the-ground extreme twists and turns. If you’re the sort of enthusiast who likes high speeds and sudden changes in direction, this one’s for you.

Fee is included in admission of $46.99; $33.99 for ages 62 and up or those under 48 inches; Intimidator305.com.

KING KONG 360 3-D AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD Universal City, Calif.

A fire in 2008 destroyed the original King Kong attraction on Universal Studio’s Hollywood Studio Tour. But on July 1, the big ape will be back, this time in a 3-D version created by Peter Jackson, director of the 2005 King Kong movie. Guests on tour trams will don 3-D glasses and travel through a tunnel to a darkened soundstage. Two seamless compound curve screens, each 187 feet wide and 40 feet high, completely encircle the tram cars, putting guests at the center of the action projected on what is the equivalent of 16 movie-theater screens. “It’s like an IMAX screen all the way around,” said Robert Niles, editor ofThemeParkInsider.com. The featured scene is from Skull Island. Velociraptors appear to snap at the tram, dinosaurs attack, then battle with Kong. Tram cars rock and shudder, simulating impact, and the air stirs as if the creatures are really rushing by. Watch out for that dinosaur “slobber”!

Fee is included in admission of $69; $59 for those shorter than 48 inches; universalstudioshollywood.com.

SESAME STREET SAFARI OF FUN AT BUSCH GARDENS Tampa, Fla. Ernie wears a pith helmet and safari jacket. Elmo sports beaded, embroidered neckwear. Along with other Muppets characters in African-inspired costumes, they belt out “Hot, Hot, Hot” at this new 2.5-acre Sesame Street-themed play area. The rides are amusement-park staples — roller coaster, carousel, spinning swings and a flume ride — all named for Sesame Street characters and scaled down for the pre-K set.

Fee is included in general admission of $74.95; children, ages 3 to 9, $64.95; plus tax; buschgardenstampabay.com.

LUNA PARK Coney Island, Brooklyn The first Luna Park at Coney Island — the legendary pleasure grounds that opened in 1903 and were so brightly illuminated at night that they gave rise to the expression “lit up like Luna Park” — is widely regarded as a forerunner of the modern-day amusement park. Though the original park burned down in 1944, a new Luna Park has just been built on three New York City-owned acres where Astroland, another defunct amusement park, once stood. The new park has 19 rides created by the Italian manufacturer Zamperla (though only 15 were running over the Memorial Day weekend opening). In Air Race, an aerial simulator, parkgoers in fighter jets can corkscrew around a central control tower with up to 4 G’s of force. The Tickler, a roller coaster, is named after one of the original Luna Park rides.

Visitors use debit cards to pay as they go, with rides costing $3 to $5 each; a four-hour wristband for unlimited rides is $26 during the week, $30 on weekends

LEGOLAND WATER PARK Carlsbad, Calif. Many water parks are sprawling affairs geared to teenagers. But this 5.5-acre play area tucked at the north end of the amusement park Legoland California, a shrine to primary-colored plastic building bricks, a half-hour from San Diego, is designed expressly for the 2-to-12-year-old set. The water park centers on a 45-foot tower that has four slides snaking from it. Another tower gushes 350 gallons of water into a wading pool where children can aim water cannons at one another. In keeping with Legoland’s hands-on ethos, children can attach soft, oversize Lego bricks to inner tubes before floating down a lazy river, or turn wheels on a large-scale Duplo polar bear, elephant and alligator to spray water from the animals’ mouths.

Fee is $10, besides the Legoland California admission of $67; $57 for ages 3 to 12 and seniors; legolandwaterpark.com.

WILDEBEEST AT HOLIDAY WORLD Santa Claus, Ind. This cross between a roller coaster and a water slide is the latest addition to Holiday World, a small, family-owned park in the Ohio River Valley known for its three outstanding wooden roller coasters. The new ride, manufactured by ProSlide Technology of Canada, employs linear induction motor technology ordinarily used only in roller coasters. Rather than mount slide-tower stairs to launch, which is how you get started on most water slides, Wildebeest riders climb into four-person toboggan-style rafts at the bottom of the course. Each raft has a 200-pound sheet of steel inside that responds to the magnetic pull exerted by linear induction motors beneath the surface. After riding up the lift hill to a 38-foot first drop, the ride continues on its one-third-of-a-mile course, twisting and turning through two tunnels and over seven more hills with magnetic force taking the rafts up the hills and gravity pulling them down.

Fee is included in general admission of $41.95; $31.95 for those under 54 inches or age 60 and older; holidayworld.com.

International Assoc. of Amusement Parks sends condolences to Koch family

Statement from Charles Bray, President and CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Regarding the Death of Will Koch, President of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari 

June 14, 2010

“Today is a sad day for the worldwide attractions industry. We’ve lost a true industry pioneer and friend in Will Koch. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, the Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari staff, and the park’s loyal guests who all loved Will.”
 

“Will is known throughout the industry for his commitment to listening to and taking care of his guests and employees. To Will, the park guests are more than patrons, they are members of the Holiday World family.”
 

“We have watched Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari thrive and grow under Will’s leadership. He is known throughout the industry for being innovative and for upholding high-quality operating standards. Will and the Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari team championed industry innovations such as offering free soft drinks, free sunscreen, and free parking for guests and earned multiple industry awards including the prestigious Applause award for industry excellence and numerous Golden Ticket Awards for friendliest staff, cleanest park, and top-quality roller coasters. They also believe in maintaining direct contact with their guests and using their feedback to refine park operations. As a part of that commitment, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari became an early adopter of social media including the use of blogs, Facebook, and Twitter.”  

“Will was always willing to share his knowledge, experience, time, and talents with others throughout the worldwide attractions industry. He has been involved in and supported IAAPA for many years and his contributions will be missed. Will was a member of the IAAPA board of directors from 2003 to 2006 and he served on a number of IAAPA committees, including the executive committee, strategic planning committee, small amusement parks committee, exhibitor awards committee, service awards committee, and the government relations committee.” 

“We will all miss him.”

The Amusement Park of Rowling

Harry Potter theme park in Orlando in the saga of RowlingPerché, then, do not create a new business that history has replenished the bank account of a “common English woman” in a heritage of more than one owned by Queen Elizabeth? Shops and twisted-rich gadgets, cards starting from Gufero and have the stamp of the village of Hogsmeade, everything has been thought of as an immense machine of fun, thanks to digital animation, really seem to be in history.
But to “extricate” in the village of magicians need a basic knowledge of the most famous and certainly the book lovers know by heart.
Refreshed with the “burrobirra” or the “pumpkin juice”, both soft drinks suitable for minors. The place is certainly the most popular restaurant “three broomsticks” in which Harry, accompanied by the cloak of invisibility, he witnessed a conversation in which it was said that the legendary bandit escaped from Azkaban was his godfather. Then again, some ’shopping’ making you choose from the wand in Ollivander’s shop (why in the world of magic wand that chooses the wizard and not the other) and do not worry if, in the toilet of women heard a whimper a girl is Moaning Myrtle! Why not go to the store of jokes Zonk, shrewdly observed by Wesley twins?
The organizers have assured the fun and, for confirmation, rumors have released three attractions: Harry Potter and the Journey prohibited; dell’ippogrifo the flight and the challenge of the dragon. In the latter the visitor relive the emotions of the tournament three wizards and dragon will choose to challenge.
A journey that will not leave fans disappointed as they were consulted on every detail, the writer and set designer Stuart Craig and Alan Gilmore. And for those who want to visit it all in complete relaxation? Just take the train to the Hogwarts Express … to climb the Nimbus 2000, in fact, must be entered in a magician magic school and not all have the appropriate prerequisites!

Worlds OF Discovery Planned For Nakheels The .

Busch Entertainment Corporation and Nakheel sign Memorandum of Understanding to develop four theme parks in the United Arab Emirates Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC), the family entertainment division of Anheuser-Busch Cos., today announced an agreement with Nakheel PJSC, one of the world's largest property developers, to create the Worlds of Discovery – SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove – on The Palm Jebel Ali in Dubai. BEC and Nakheel, a key company in Dubai's transformation into one of the fastest growing cities in the world, reached agreement earlier this month on the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding that calls for the phased construction of four theme parks on the second of the company's three Palm man-made island developments.

Liseberg has Atmos FEAR Hart rescues Kentucky Kingdom

he Swedish amusement park Liseberg is to transform its observation tower into Europe’s tallest freefall attraction. The conversion will be carried out by Intamin.
The Liseberg Tower opened at the Gothenburg city park in 1990 and has provided a comfortable lookout for millions of guests. Now it will provide a totally different ride experience in the shape of AtmosFEAR.

Towering 146-metres above sea level, riders will board the new look attraction via an underground loading station, from where it takes just 100 seconds to reach the top. The return journey is somewhat faster – a three second freefall!  Passengers plummet back down at up to 110km, subjected to forces of 4G during braking.

Liseberg visitors were offered free rides on the attraction during its last days as an observation tower. Transformation work was scheduled to begin on May 31 ahead of a Spring 2011 opening.

The only other freefall tower on this scale is The Giant Drop at Dreamworld in Australia, also by Intamin/Ride Trade.

Preliminary plans at Kentucky Kingdom call for a reconfiguration of the property’s use including consolidation of existing rides, adding new rides and an expansion of the adjoining Splashwater Kingdom waterpark. KKRC will continue to develop an exciting, safe, well managed and well funded family attraction to complement the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Ed Hart, who formerly owned Kentucky Kingdom, is expected to negotiate a lease agreement for the Kentucky amusement park, which Six Flags announced plans to withdraw from earlier this year.
Via his Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Co (KKRC) vehicle, Hart hopes to have the park open by late May 2011. Six Flags still owns about 15 acres of the park, and the Kentucky State Fair board officials are continuing to negotiate a purchase of that land from the theme park chain.

KKRC has recruited a proven redevelopment and operations team which has succeeded in turning around two previously failed theme parks, Magic Springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the original Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky.

The original Kentucky Kingdom closed in 1987 after only one season of operation and Hart’s team reopened the facility in 1990, growing it from 10 to the current 60 acres and increasing attendance more than ten-fold from 100,000 to 1.3 million annual guests. In 1997, the park was sold for $79 million to Premier Parks, which later became part of Six Flags Inc. Six Flags filed for reorganisation under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in June of last year and gave up its lease on the park with the Kentucky State Fair Board in February.

The State Fair Board was approached by six companies interested in running Kentucky Kingdom. Of those that visited the park, two made offers, including Hart’s group. The other group was a new company formed by former Six Flags CEO Kieran Burke. Hart’s group was chosen because of his local ties and prior success. As well as his track record in Kentucky, Hart also enjoys ongoing success with Magic Springs, which his team reopened in 2000 after five years of closure.

Museum Provides Glimpse Of Coney Island's Past

Memorial Day weekend kicked off the summer season at Coney Island, and while there is a lot of excitement over the area's new rides and attractions, the Coney Island Museum allows visitors to explore the amusement area's past. NY1's Arts reporter Stephanie Simon filed the following report.

It's always been quite a ride at Coney Island. Once known as "The Playground to the World," Coney Island was home to world's first amusement park and a turn-of-the-20th-century retreat of sun, sand and spectacle.

In the 1940s, millions flocked to the beach on Coney Island in a single day.
In the 1940s, millions flocked to the beach on Coney Island in a single day.
A walk through the Coney Island Museum on Surf Avenue offers a glimpse into Coney Island's thrilling past.

"It's the first amusement park, hands down. It was the first time anybody had put a gate around a place and said, 'Here's a whole bunch of attractions inside, pay your ticket, come in and do it,'" says Aaron Beebe, Coney Island Museum's curator. "So at the turn of the [20th] century, there were three big parts in Coney Island and each one of them had their own ticket price and their own set of attractions."

Beebe says at a time when people could not leave New York City by car or by plane, Coney Island was the original "staycation."

"From New Jersey to the end of Long Island, everybody came here," he says. "In the '40s, mid-'40s, there were days in the summer where there were [millions of] people on the beach in Coney Island."

Coney Island was once called the "City of Fire."
Coney Island was once called the "City of Fire."
In its heyday, Coney Island had no rivals when it came to recreation. It was called the "City of Fire," because it was a blaze of light, and its skyline was higher than the skyline in Manhattan. It was also the first part of New York City that immigrants saw when they came to Manhattan by boat.

Of course, like all great rides, Coney Island had its ups and downs.

"Right at the turn of the century there were three big amusement parks and that lasted about 10 years. Then the trains came in and that became known as the 'Nickel Empire.' You got to Coney Island for a nickel and everything you did in Coney Island cost you a nickel," says Beebe. "And then, really in the '60s it started to fall apart, because you lost a lot of the big parks."

The roller chair in its heyday and on display at the Coney Island Museum.
The roller chair in its heyday and on display at the Coney Island Museum.
One artifact on display, a roughly 100-year-old rolling chair, is an idea Beebe thinks could come back in fashion.

"So when the boardwalk was long enough to merit, people would pay, you could pay people to take you from one end to the other in one of these," says Beebe. "So I'm longing for the day when there's enough going here on the boardwalk that it stretches from the parachute jump, all the way past the [New York] Aquarium, and these things are going to come back like that!"