Theme Parks First. Everything Else Next.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will debut its new Frozen-themed land, “World of Frozen”, on November 20th. Notable attractions include two distinct areas: Arendelle Forest and Village, a detailed map out of the Frozen movies, a more fleshed-out Frozen Ever After boat ride, and a unique stage show. Despite criticisms in areas like Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs ride, lack of character interactions, and lackluster shops, the resort benefits from enticing food options and the overall Frozen theme.
Busch Gardens Tampa is introducing a family suspended roller coaster, Phoenix Rising, in 2024. This roller coaster will be the fourth made by B&M and the 10th in the park. It enhances the existing Serengeti Plain theme and will feature on-board audio for an immersive experience. Despite its short length of 1,831 feet and top speed of 41 mph, the park expects it to appeal to young audiences and families.
Huss Park Attractions, a German company that manufactures amusement attractions for theme parks, showcased five new ride concepts via their YouTube channel. The attractions, unveiled at the European IAAPA trade show, include the drop-tower ride, “Space Traveller”, family thrill rides “Spinning Cruiser” and “Magic 2G”, the improved “Troika 2G” and intense ride, “Booster Revolution”. All rides emphasize customization options in theming, movement patterns, lighting, and special effects, and feature enhanced gondolas for accessibility, comfort, and safety.
Disney plans to invest $60 billion over the next decade in their Parks, Experiences and Products division, nearly double the amount spent in the last 10 years. CEO Bob Iger announced the move, stating the company is mindful of financial growth and shareholder value. The proposed investment includes fresh ideas, such as the creation of new lands themed on Frozen, Coco, and Black Panther. Chairman Josh D’Amaro emphasized the company’s ambitious growth strategy backed by a proven record and land resources for further expansion.
Dollywood amusement park has announced plans to replace the launch system of its wooden roller coaster, Lightning Rod, with a high-speed lift hill by 2024, in order to improve the ride’s reliability. The park is also adding new trains to the ride. These modifications come in response to the ride’s frequent shutdowns since its opening in 2016. Despite the changes, the top speed of 73 mph will remain the same. Lightning Rod will close after Dollywood’s Harvest Festival on October 30 for the renovations.
Shanghai Disney Resort revealed details around its upcoming Zootopia-themed land, ready by 2023. This immersive expansion will feature a trackless dark ride, “Zootopia: Hot Pursuit”, set during a movie-based celebration, Zootopia Day. The park will also motivate guests to solve the mystery of a character’s disappearance. Alongside the entertainment, visitors can indulge in unique food experiences, collect Zootopia themed merchandise, and interact with popular characters from the film.
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