1scream, a leader in online content dealing with the Amusement Industry with websites such as RCTLounge and Park Thoughts, will be introducing a first-of-its-kind online Theme Park question service, ParkPlanr.com.

“ParkPlanr is an exciting new service that we know both enthusiasts and general park goers will love,” said Doug Sisk, a 1scream partner. “You can ask questions and get answers before you go so you can plan your day at the park.”

ParkPlanr visitors will be able to navigate to specific areas for different Theme Parks. Once in these areas, visitors can then browse others’ questions or ask their own. Visitors can vote on whether or not answers to questions are helpful.

To post a question, visitors will be required to register. To make registration easy, visitors can either register using their email, or their Facebook or Twitter account. “If you decide to connect your account to Facebook and/or Twitter, you can post your question to those networks to reach your friends and followers,” added Sisk. “We know how big social networking sites are to people these days, so we couldn’t ignore them.”

Alongside general visitors will be designated “experts” chosen by the ParkPlanr staff. These experts will be designated by a badge under their avatar picture. Their answers will be weighted and displayed before general visitor answers. Experts will also receive a link to their website or blog, if they have one.

Theme Parks themselves can contact ParkPlanr to add an employee as an “official” to provide visitors with official responses. “Having an official is a great idea for parks. Instead of having to visit the Public Relations office during the day, visitors can ask their questions before they get there on ParkPlanr.”

ParkPlanr will be a free service for all visitors. Advertisements will be provided by the Maingate Ad Network. Invitations for experts will be sent out in April 2011, followed by a full public launch in May 2011. An exact date has not been set yet for the launch.

Sisk added, “ParkPlanr is going to be a truly exciting thing for Theme Park fans and guests. We can’t wait to see how it improves people’s Theme Park visits.”

More information about ParkPlanr will be updated on ParkPlanr’s website, ParkPlanr.com. People interested in ParkPlanr are invited to “like” ParkPlanr on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Both links to ParkPlanr’s Facebook and Twitter can be found at ParkPlanr.com. For more information regarding the 1scream Company, messages should be sent to contact@1scream.com.

Workers install the final sections of track on Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

With a May 27, 2011 opening fast approaching Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is rapidly working on their giant new Cheetah Hunt LSM launch coaster.  After a short hiatus of visible track installation, work resumed last week with the final sections of the drop installed. And finally, after months of work, steel workers attached the final piece of Cheetah Hunt.  The jump over the park’s Skyride is just one of the many elements that show how Cheetah Hunt interacts with existing aspects of the park.

BGTNation has a great video from the park of the installation of the final piece of track. Also check out their site for frequent updates about the park.

Constructions crews installing the hop over the Skyride on Cheetah Hunt at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

In addition to the track completion, the park released photos of their new 4-week old baby Cheetah.  Born at the Jacksonville Zoo, the youngster had difficulties eating leading him to be hand raised. The 2 pound baby requires 24 hour attention keeping Busch Gardens Tampa handlers up late at night.  When old enough, the Cheetah will join the pack of 8 other Cheetahs as part of the Cheetah Run animal exhibit adjacent to Cheetah Run.

Busch Garden Tampa's new 4-week old baby cheetah.

Cheetah Hunt and Cheetah Run open May 27, 2011.

Kings Island announced yet another new addition in 2011 in addition to their upcoming Windseeker swinging attraction. Dinosaurs Alive! at Kings Island will debut as the “world’s largest animatronic Dinosaur park”. Featuring over 60 life like dinosaurs, the new 12.5 acre addition will bring guests back millions of years and into the age of the dinos.

Among the 60 creatures will be the world’s large animatronic dinosaur, the Ryang Yellow River Dinosaur. At 30 feet high, 72 feet long, and 12 feet high, this monster towers over the rest of the reptile creatures. The new addition will bring together science, technology, and entertainment.

While this isn’t a massive addition, it’s certainly nice to see parks doing smaller walk through area type attractions such as this and the various Snoopy nighttime shows.  If done right, this could be the best family spot in the park.

Check out the Dinosaurs Alive! website for more details

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