This comes as a great addition with a quite troublesome season last year.  The park was plagued with break downs and other disruptions that simply did not make this park reach anywhere near it’s fullest potential.  Luckily, it seems that the park is back on track with this new addition and it is sure to be a popular one.

Unfortunately, I have never had a chance to experience one of these Wave Simulators.  Have you?  Leave a comment with your Park Thoughts below.

The Planet Snoopy transformation is quite a large job to accomplish.  Nearly all the children’s attractions in the parks need to be renamed, rethemed, reimagined for the transformation to be successful.  Some of these transformations include Spongebob’s Boat Mobiles to Peanut’s Pirates,  Wild Thornberry’s Tree Top Lookout to The Great Pumpkin Patch, Rugrat’s Reptar Runaway to Woodstock Express and Nickelodeon Theater to Peanut’s Playhouse.

Be sure to come back in just a few weeks for opening day coverage of the park full of pictures of Planet Snoopy.  Leave a  comment with your Park Thoughts below.

Shortly after part of the Universal Studios Hollywood Backlot burned down in 2008, the park announced they would be rebuilding the King Kong portion of the Studio Tram Tour.  Universal Studios says that it will utilize 3D technology to make guests feel like they are in the movie with King Kong.  It is said to be the biggest 3D experience in the world.

Universal’s tech wizards are hard at work to animate a giant life like ape that the studio tram will encounter.  During the huge sequence, guests will not only be able to see King Kong, but also smell his breath and feel the gusts of air.  In this newly re-imagined segment of the Studio Tram tour, King Kong will be in an epic battle against a huge Dinosaur and guests will be right in the middle of it.

King Kong 360 will debut in just a few months as construction is coming to an end.  To get people excited for the soon to be opened attraction, Universal Studios Hollywood has released a trailer showing that King Kong has arrived to Universal Studios.  After seeing this, all I can say is watch where you park your car at Universal Studios!

Leave a comment with your Park Thought below!

This week, we asked our readers to contribute your thoughts on the topic of Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.  Six Flags may be sued for shutting down Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in the near future.  It is a questionable topic since Six Flags is in rough times right now, so to improve the other parks, they must give the axe to one of the parks that do not do so well.  Now, should Six Flags be sued because they are trying to improve their business?

Well it looks lik 68% of you readers say no.   Out of the 22 voters, 15 of them believe that Six Flags should NOT be sued for shutting down their Kentucky Park.  I for one agree with this.  No pain, no gain, if you want to improve your company, you must make some sacrifices and unfortunately, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom was one of those sacrifices.  However, 32% disagree believing that Six Flags should be legally punished.

This is not the only legal issue the company is having with the fellow Kentucky residents.  The Kentucky Fairgrounds are filing a law suit against the coasters are on the Kentucky Fairgrounds, which Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is located on, and therefore the coasters are theirs.  However, Six Flags concurs, and files a lawsuit back at them.

____________________________________________

New Poll!

Now we have a question for you: Quality or Quantity?  Is it better to have a smaller amusement park but have that park work to the best of it’s abilities.  Quality means that the park has a few coasters but it has the best, it has the best food, and it has the best atmosphere.  It is a clean park, it is well staffed friendly and has a some of the best offerings around.

Quantity, however, is a park with more coasters, more rides, and a bigger park, however the park is not the best.  While this park may have double the coasters of a quality park, these coasters are not as good as the ones in the quality park but there are several more of them.  There are more staff, but not quite as motivated, there is more food, but not quite as good, and there is just more to do.

So what is better?  Quality or Quantity?  Make sure you vote!  Poll closes next Friday.

Normally, I’m not a fan of bright-colored non-themed rides. Talon, whose full name is “Talon – The Grip of Fear”, obviously has a bird-theme. I wish there was some way they could enhance this theme, but in the grand Cedar Fair tradition they left Talon without any theme, just generic bright colors and a generic station. It reminds me of Raptor at Cedar Point… at least Great Adventure gave Batman some pretty good theming. However, Talon’s good ride makes up for any theming left out of the ride.

Talon starts out with the chainlift being attached to the station. I’ve noticed that all the B&M inverts I’ve ridden have gone right to the chainlift from the station, which shows some lack of originality but at the same time cuts right to the chase. After cresting the top of the chainlift, the coaster has the same curving drop as most B&Ms, which is more of a lack of originality but it’s quite alright with me. The first loop is nice, it’s nice as forceful as Arrow loops but it’s forceful enough to keep the ride enjoyable. The ride’s second inversion is a Zero-G roll, which is taken gracefully and smoothly, offering no discomfort for riders in any seat. After diving underground (a roofless-tunnel, always good for inverted coasters), comes an Immelman loop, which was also very graceful. The train then goes through some very graceful turns, the climax of which zooms right past the entry plaza of the park. Looking at it from on the plaza, it seems like that might be painful, but it’s so beautifully smooth that it leaves you wanting a re-ride. After this comes a corkscrew, which I’d say is even smoother than Alpengeist’s first corkscrew. This might not be saying much, since a lot of people criticize Alpengeist’s corkscrew, but I found it alright as a corkscrew but Talon’s just outdid it. Then, the car hits the final brake run.

What makes this coaster great is that the energy just never lets down. There is no mid-course brake so it never slows down too much. The ride is relentless, unlike Hydra which is taken more slowly. My first time visiting Dorney, for whatever reason I missed Talon and Hydra was my favorite coaster in the park. However, on my second visit I hit Talon and realized that it outdoes any other coaster in the park. I cannot wait to return to Dorney this coming summer, especially to get a ride on Demon Drop.

Many times, people are forced to make the decision whether to visit Hersheypark or Dorney Park on their visit to this area. My first time visiting, I chose Dorney over Hershey because to me, Dorney looked better from the websites. (Forgive me; it was before I was much of a coaster enthusiast). Honestly, I’d have to pick Hershey over Dorney if I had to make the decision once more, but don’t forget to drop by. This park was cursed with its proximity to Hershey, but it really deserves a visit, and Talon really deserves a ride.

Look what King’s Island just posted to their YouTube Channel.  Looks like some lucky Ohio residents will start to hear this catchy tune in commericals, radio ads, and more with this new Kings Island anthem.  “The Fun and Only” may be a marketing success with the new Planet Snoopy area opening up and him being the new park mascot.  Go ahead and listen, you know it’s catchy.   Leave a comment with your park thoughts below.  =]

Universal Resort Orlando is gearing up for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter land to finally open in just a few months at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.  Construction is wrapping up on everything from the elaborate town of Hogsmeade, to the mighty castle of Hogwarts.  The park has closed Dueling Dragons so it can now be transformed into Dragon Challenge.

As construction comes to a close, Universal has gone into marketing mode to the extreme.  They have launched a massive amount of commercials and TV Spots.  I live on the West Coast and see an advertisement for the new area at least once a day.  And now, the new resort guide has been posted online.  It clearly shows that Harry Potter is being infused into the park’s collection of characters such as Spiderman, the Hulk, and Shrek.  Along with Harry Potter, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is also prominent in the guide with the notorious ride

Also included in the new park guide is the 2010 version of the Park Map for both parks.  The real interesting map is Islands of Adventure’s.  This new map illustrates only a logo for Harry Potter’s new area but it also gives an idea of the down sized Lost Continent area.  It can now be confirmed that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, the area’s signature attraction, will have a height limit of 48′ inches, perfect for enough thrills but still so younger riders can enjoy it.

Image from Brian Orndorf

It seems like just yesterday, it was big news that Islands of Adventures will be turning on of their most lavish areas into a new land based on the hit books and movies of Harry Potter.  Now we are just months away from the first lucky visitors to enter the area.  I am truly excited to see what kind of ride system Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey will bring us and can’t wait to see the interiors of the unique shops and restaurants.  Unfortunately, I will not have the privilidge of attending the new land until Spring 2011 but I am still excited!  Are you?  Leave a comment with your Park Thoughts below.