Disney rolls out new Magic Kingdom game

A new game is being rolled out Wednesday at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and kids as young as 3 years old can enjoy it. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is an interactive card game in which players will battle villains who are trying to take over the theme park. But perhaps the most magical thing about the role-playing game is that it leads Disney guests on a journey around the park without having to wait in line. Sometimes, waits for rides can be up to 90 minutes.

"Wait is as much about perception as it is about time," said Jim MacPhee, senior vice president of Walt Disney World Parks. "We want to bring the great perception and a great experience that our guests are immersed in the story every step of the way."

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is just one of many things Disney has done to offer entertainment without wait times. Imagineers have been working to take the stories from some of their most popular rides and bring them out into the queues.

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Hopkins Rides launches new website

Hopkins Rides is pleased to announce the launch of it’s newly designed website at www.hopkinsrides.com. “We welcome our valuable customers and dear friends of many years to have a look and see the new changes that are taking place within Hopkins Rides” said sales representative Jim Glover. “While our rich history and many years of quality designs and engineering experience started back in the amusement industry over forty years ago, we look towards the future full of the excitement this great industry has always offered.” Hopkins Rides invites everyone to visit the new website and revisit often as Hopkins Rides announces new attractions and events.

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Cedar Fair Entertainment – Momentum

In a world of economic uncertainly, political unrest and elevated stress levels, consumers need a break. In times of strain we have found that they might turn to alcohol or tobacco. But based on results from Cedar Fair Entertainment, Americans might be looking to amusement parks and good ole’ fun times to either relieve pressure or maybe just enjoy the better quality of life and confidence they are feeling.

With the exception of California, winter is not usually the best time for outdoor amusement parks. But even in the thick of cold season, Cedar Fair’s park Cedar Point saw record attendance in 2011 that raised per-customer spending and out-of-park revenues 5.2 percent to $1.028 billion for 2011, generating a profit of $72.2 million.

Cedar Fair seems to be doing something right in an industry that might be seeing a turnaround. Its competitor Six Flags also reported record earnings in 2011. Could 2012 be the year of the fun-park?

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Part of New Fantasyland’s Storybook Circus Will Open By Late March ...

Who’s ready for an update on New Fantasyland? I just heard that the first elements of Storybook Circus will open by late March, marking the first in a series of progressive openings for the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history.

Among the first experiences to open will be one carousel of Dumbo the Flying Elephant, a re-themed Barnstormer starring the Great Goofini and the Fantasyland Station of the Walt Disney World Railroad.

In designing Storybook Circus, Imagineers were inspired by Disney’s animated film, “Dumbo.” When complete later this year, the area will be filled with multicolored circus tents and other nods to the film. The section will also feature Casey Jr., the famous locomotive from the movie, who has rolled into town, bringing the circus with him.

Beyond Storybook Circus and as we mentioned in a previous post, the Disney Princesses will be getting a new home at the location where Snow White’s Scary Adventures is today. The last day of operation for this attraction will be Thursday, May 31.

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‘Be Our Guest’…Once Again at Disney Parks

In honor of Disney Institute’s 25th anniversary, Disney Publishing Worldwide has released an updated edition of Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service, the quintessential guide to Disney’s legendary customer service. Authored by Disney Institute and writer Theodore Kinni, the updated book outlines how customer service continues to provide a competitive edge for a company that, as Walt liked to say, “all started with a mouse.”

Exceeding expectations rather than simply satisfying them is the cornerstone of the Disney approach to customer service. Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service outlines how Disney Parks consistently delivers quality service to tens of millions of guests each year. How do we do this? By focusing not just on task, but also on “purpose.” The task of a custodian at Magic Kingdom Park is to keep the park clean, but his purpose is to make guests happy. That’s why you’ll see him providing directions, making small talk with families or even leading impromptu parades.

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Fair Board To Vote On Kentucky Kingdom Proposal

Kentucky Kingdom could be one step closer to reopening by the end of Thursday.

The State Fair board will consider a proposed lease agreement to operate the park at its meeting Thursday afternoon.

It’s been a little more than two years since customers walked through the gates of the amusement park, but the Koch family could be closer to changing that after a vote.

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SC House passes ‘Benji’s Law’ to regulate miniature train rides

A bill passed unanimously by the state House on Wednesday places new regulations on miniature train rides in hopes of preventing another tragedy like the Cleveland Park train crash last year, the bill’s sponsor said.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, R-Gaffney, was the primary sponsor of the legislation known as Benji’s Law — named in honor of 6-year-old Benji Easler, who died during the park’s miniature train derailment on March 19, 2011.

The bill requires miniature trains to have working speedometers and devices that would limit speed to the manufacturer’s recommendation or less. It also requires training for drivers and documentation of that training, as well as mechanical inspections of the trains to include a speed test.

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New Cedar Fair CEO Excited For Future

We’re just months away from opening day at Cedar Point, one of a dozen amusement parks run by Cedar Fair, which is based in Sandusky. There’s a new man in charge and he’s bringing a lot of experience to the operation.

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Great Adventure making plans to attract additional families

Six Flags Great Advenutre in Jackson, known for its steep and fast roller coasters, will shift gears this summer and add four new rides, including a towering swing ride known as the SkyScreamer and a bumper car ride known as the Fender Bender, the park’s president said this week.

John Fitzgerald said the company wants to reach adults who both have children not quite old enough for the roller coasters and who have fond memories of similar rides during their youth.

“Great Adventure has always been a park split evenly between teens and families,” Fitzgerald said. After last year’s big attraction, The Green Hornet roller coaster, it was time for the park to turn its attention to families.

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Disneyland Resort Celebrates Creativity in Deaf Community

I am excited to announce a very special event coming to Disneyland Resort. On the weekend of March 17 and 18, Downtown Disney District will host a celebration of creativity in the deaf community – SIGNin’ in the Street.

The event will spotlight top performers, interactive workshops, film screenings and appearances by the stars of ABC Family’s hit series, “Switched at Birth”: Katie Leclerc, Vanessa Marano, Constance Marie, Lea Thompson, D.W. Moffett, Lucas Grabeel, Sean Berdy and Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin.

In addition, two episodes of the show, including an exclusive sneak preview of the spring finale, will be screened at AMC Theatres on Saturday, March 17. Tickets to the screenings will be limited, so make sure to check back here to find out how you might grab one!

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Time names Dollywood to ‘weirdest theme park’ list

Amusement park fans looking for something weird to do this spring can find it right here at Dollywood, one of the 10 weirdest theme parks in the world, according to Time.com.

That’s right, Dollywood, the pride of East Tennessee, ranked among the weirdest parks on the planet.

Country music star Dolly Parton’s park is “a full-fledged amusement extravaganza with rides like Dolly’s Demolition Derby bumper cars and the Dollywood Express steam engine,” Time says.

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Quassy Roller Coaster Up For Readers’ Choice Award

The “Wooden Warrior,” Quassy Amusement Park’s roller coaster that made its debut last year, has been nominated for the 2012 About.com Readers’ Choice Awards, the popular Web site announced today.

Based on the nominations the editors received, the “Wooden Warrior” has been placed on the ballot for Best New Roller Coaster of 2011.

The Readers’ Choice Awards will honor the best new achievements for theme parks, amusement parks and waterparks.

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New Star Wars Character Action Figures Arrive in March at Disney Parks

New action figures featuring Disney characters playing characters from the Star Wars universe are due to arrive at Disney Parks in March. We first showed artwork of these figures in August 2010 (good things come to those who wait!). I spoke with Cody Hampton, developer for Toys and Games, to learn about their development.

“We’ve been working on the wave five figures for more than two years,” explained Cody. “We originally wanted to release them last year at Star Wars Weekends. With so much great new development for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at that time, we pushed out [the action figures] release date to spring 2012. I’m thrilled to see these figures arriving soon as they are some of my favorites.”

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Analysts say Strip has outgrown its family-friendly phase

Wet and wild still works as a concept in Las Vegas, just not as a theme park on the Strip.

As a water park on the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard, Wet ’n’ Wild shut down in 2004, and since then, other family oriented types of businesses have opened and closed. What has survived is the drinking, gambling and clubbing that have driven this city for decades.

This week, GameWorks announced it would close, and those who watch trends on the Strip say that trying to make Vegas a family travel destination was a business model that didn’t play here.

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Martha’s Dandee Creme owners buy back land from Great Escape

The family that runs the iconic Martha’s Dandee Creme business now owns the property as well.

Dennis and Beth Lafontaine acquired the land on Friday from Great Escape for $650,000. The deal was the culmination of a purchase agreement first inked three years ago.

In 2009, the Lafontaines took over the business from the amusement park company, with a seven-year option to buy the land, too.

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Penguin Plunge Taking Place at Quassy

The Penguin Plunge, a benefit for the Special Olympics, will take place at noon Sunday, March 11, in Lake Quassapaug at Quassy Amusement Park.

Each participant must raise a minimum of $75. Check-in will take place at 10 a.m. the morning of the Penguin Plunge.

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How family friendly is Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras?

What do you think of when you think “Mardi Gras”? Is it the television footage we see every year of revelers stumbling around on Bourbon Street in New Orleans? That’s not a very family-friendly scene.

But what about Mardi Gras at a theme park? Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras offers a Mardi Gras-style parade, food, and music on weekends through April 14. I went to check out the festivities this weekend with an eye toward whether this event is good for all ages.

My answer to that question is a solid “maybe.” I know, I know. That’s not helpful. So let me explain. I think it depends on your family’s preferences and the age of your children.

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Hornblower lands Niagara Falls contract

San Francisco-based Hornblower Cruises & Events has brought ashore a 30-year contract to operate a boat tour in the Niagara Falls gorge.

Hornblower will begin Niagara operations in Spring 2014, and it has started looking for a senior management staff for the concession.Once at full-steam, Hornblower’s Niagara concession will employ 200 people.

Hornblower submitted its winning bid over one year ago, on Jan. 31, 2011. It guarantees the Niagara Park Commission rent of at least $60 million for the first five years of the the 30-year contract. Hornblower will gradually increase tour prices, but it also plans significant improvements and upgrades, including new boats with more viewing space and more language options for tours, a modern ticketing system, new boarding areas and a new visitor center and events space at the water’s edge.

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Thunder Ridge Entertainment Signs with GPJ Agency for its Laser Maz...

The George P. Johnson Agency has announced plans to sign a 2-year deal with Thunder Ridge Entertainment to provide its new Laser Maze challenge attraction at over 500 special events throughout the US in 2012/2013. George P. Johnson Co., one of the largest special event planners in the world with over 4000 special events generating over $200 million annually in sales, plans to stage the new Laser Maze Mobile Challenge attraction at a large majority of its B2C events. "We first saw their Laser Maze mobile challenge at a Fair in South Florida," said chief executive Jo Fyfe. "After realizing why there was such a huge crowd waiting in line to get inside a trailer, we knew that we had to have this at our events."

Laser Maze challenge games have quickly become the hottest trend at both amusement parks & family entertainment centers (FEC) with over 80 parks and FEC’s having installed them in 2011 and over 800 more predicted for 2012/2013. Laser Mazes are adventure games where participants must navigate their way through a room filled with laser beams in order to get to the other end without breaking the beams. "It’s very much like being in the movies, Mission: Impossible or Oceans 13," said John DeSantis, an installer of the Laser Maze Challenge.

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Disney, Peterson reach deal on National Harbor site

We don’t have the details yet, but we’re told the Peterson Cos. and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts have reached a deal to bring the 15-acre Disney parcel back into the National Harbor fold.

Disney bought the land overlooking the Potomac River in May 2009 for $11 million. The amusement park giant planned a standalone 500-room resort hotel, perhaps something akin to its Aulani, Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii.

It’s unclear how far Disney got into its National Harbor planning. In November, Disney backed out, citing poor timing and its planned resort expansions elsewhere.

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Katz gives water-park scheme a deadline

Mayor Sam Katz says he’s almost ready to pull the plug on his four-year-old dream of using public funds to help build a private water park.

Since January 2008, the City of Winnipeg has been trying to offer a private developer $7 million to build an indoor water park. The grant was initially awarded to the Canad Inns hotel chain but then withdrawn when a project planned for Polo Park failed to proceed.

The city issued a new expression of interest, but has yet to choose a proposal that meets the city’s specifications, which include a provision the private water park will allow access to people with limited incomes.

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Established Cape May Artist Paints Waterpark Renderings for 2012

It’s hard to imagine what Raging Waters and Ocean Oasis will look like for the 2012 season with dust, dirt and bulldozers presently everywhere.

“With two new waterpark attractions in the works, we needed a solid vision to focus the construction efforts,” said Jack Morey, Executive Vice President.“The artwork challenges the engineers and architects to bring it all to life.”

Jack Morey commissioned Neal McPheeters, an accomplished local painter who has created book and magazine covers as well as illustrations for comics and graphic novels, to create high quality painted renderings of Morey’s Piers two new waterpark attractions for 2012.

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Bill would give Senate say in fair board membership

Senators who support the job Harold Workman has done as president of the State Fair Board filed a bill Wednesday that would require confirmation by the state Senate of a governor’s appointments to the board.

Sens. Paul Hornback and Joey Pendleton, both farmers, said while the bill will not block an ongoing effort to remove Workman from the job he has held since 1993, it will give the Senate some say in board membership in the future.

“If I’m going to be the whipping boy that’s going to have to listen to all this controversy, then I want to have a little say in who gets put on the Fair Board,” said Pendleton, D-Hopkinsville.

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Cleveland aquarium opens in Flats

Even if you’re not able to go to the ocean for a winter break, you can get close to creatures under the sea now that the Greater Cleveland Aquarium has opened.

The new complex, which opened in January in Cleveland’s Flats, provides Northeast Ohioans with a family-friendly attraction with something for all ages.

Located in the FirstEnergy Powerhouse complex, a century-old brick structure that was built to generate power for trolley cars, the aquarium is unique in that it was created in an existing building.

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‘Troublemaker’ seal spared, at Waikiki Aquarium for research

The Hawaiian monk seal, the most endangered marine mammal in the United States, has a long list of threats – fishing nets, sharks and, particularly, humans. But for one group of seals, the biggest threat came from one of its own: a 400-pound brute named KE18 who killed two other seals and wounded at least 11, most of them helpless pups.

The Hawaiian monk seal is on course to disappear in 50 to 100 years, scientists say. But KE18 was en route to having his ticket punched much sooner due to his propensity for nudging his own species toward extinction.

"It’s really disheartening when the species you’re trying to protect is becoming the troublemaker," said Charles Littnan, the lead scientist for the Hawaiian monk seal research program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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Aquarium modifies exhibits

Mystic Aquarium made two changes to its exhibits last week, reopening one and moving another to a new location.

First, on Feb. 7, the aquarium reopened its 35,000-gallon Stingray Bay exhibit, which had closed on Jan. 2 for a life-support system upgrade and décor enhancement. The habitat improvement project was done by staff and included nine tons of material and took more than 500 staff hours.

Stingray Bay’s new lighting will reduce its wattage output by 70 percent. Stingray Bay is home to 18 cownose stingrays, three southern stingrays, nine pork fish, two nurse sharks and one sea turtle, Charlotte, who floats with her rear end up after being struck by a boat in 2008 and is well known from Kiki Latimer’s children’s book, "Bubble Butt."

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Smithsonian Breaks Ground for the National Museum of African Americ...

The Smithsonian broke ground for its 19th museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m. in an invitation-only ceremony on the National Mall. President Barack Obama spoke at the ceremony. Other honored guests included First Lady Michelle Obama, former First Lady Laura Bush, Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Gov. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.). The ceremony took place on the museum’s five-acre site adjacent to the Washington Monument at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W.

“I think about my daughters and I think about your children, the millions of visitors who will stand where we stand long after we’re gone,” said President Obama. “And I want them to appreciate this museum not just as a record of tragedy, but as a celebration of life. When future generations hear these songs of pain and progress and struggle and sacrifice, I hope they will not think of them as somehow separate from the larger American story. I want them to see it as central—an important part of our shared story.”

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Children’s museum gets boost

The transformation of the Mendel Art Gallery into the Children’s Discovery Museum come 2015 received a symbolic boost with officials announcing a memorandum of understanding.

The non-binding agreement announced Wednesday gives a "vote of confidence" to the team putting together the business plan for the Children’s Discovery Museum, said Cary Humphrey, the city’s leisure services manager.

"It’s a very good fit here in this area," Humphrey said at a press conference in the lobby of the Mendel building Wednesday afternoon.

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