By Andy Guinigundo Sandusky, Ohio – “Orlando Attractions Magazine” debuted in 2007. That same year, Cedar Point’s 17th roller coaster debuted, the wild-as-the-wild-west Maverick. The Intamin linear synchronous motor launched coaster features a steeper than vertical initial decent and is the first coaster to integrate a “twisted horseshoe roll”. It was the first coaster debut [...]

One of the unique features of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California is the gallery with a retired Air Force One jet. President Reagan flew aboard this jet more than any other, 211 times. The Reagan Presidential Library is north of Los Angeles in a ranch-style building in the Simi Valley. Life-size statues …

Last year we watched as shuttle orbiter Endeavour left the Kennedy Space Center for its final flight, to Los Angeles. Endeavour is now on display at the California ScienCenter. Here’s video of Endeavour, including details of how the orbiter is protected from earthquakes. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di4Lwqz8B7c Endeavour is currently in a temporary building. A permanent gallery will [...]

By Andy Guinigundo, Video by Benson Ma, Photos by Jason Ma Carlsbad, Calif. – April 5, 2013 marked the Legoland Hotel grand opening at Legoland California Resort. This three-story, 250 room hotel represents the largest expansion in the resort’s history. Each and every room is Lego themed after one of three popular Lego lines: pirate, [...]

By Andy Guinigundo Marne-la-Vallée, France – At the annual Euro Disney shareholders meeting, Chairman Philippe Gas announced a new Ratatouille attraction would be completed by 2014. The recipe is simple: by making an investment in high quality guest experiences, the resort will continue to strengthen its multi-day appeal to resort guests. Pardon the corporate-speak, but [...]

Hong Kong – On Wednesday, Hong Kong Financial Secretary, John Tsang, announced that Hong Kong Disneyland would expand to include Marvel heroes. The expansion will reportedly cover 17 acres in the currently 68-acre park. This expansion will reportedly be completed around 2017. While details are quite sketchy at this point, the expansion will include Marvel [...]

Disney’s D23 official fan club is planning the first-ever D23 Expo to be held overseas this fall. D23 Expo Japan will be held at Tokyo Disney Resort from Oct. 12 through 14, 2013 featuring presentations by senior Disney creative executives showcasing what’s on the horizon from across The Walt Disney Company, including theme parks, movies, [...]

Earlier today, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment announced an addition to the parks, “Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation,” will be an original live musical show featuring the characters from DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar franchise. The show will debut this Summer at both Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld San Diego. The 20-minute musical show follows Alex the Lion, Gloria [...]

By Andy Guinigundo Carlsbad, Calif. – Ahead of the April 5, 2013 opening of the first American Legoland Hotel at the Legoland Resort in California, a national search is on for Junior Concierges. Prospective concierges ages 8 to 12 are asked to submit an essay of 50 words or less to Legoland.com/JuniorConcierge by Feb. 14, [...]

Disneyland Resort President George Kalogridis is going to Disney World. Effective Feb. 1, 2013, George will leave his role as Disneyland’s president and assume that same role at the Walt Disney World Resort. Current Disney World President Meg Crofton will drop that title and keep the one she’s had since July 2011 as Walt Disney [...]

  Each holiday season, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo transforms into a Wild Wonderland. Guests can stroll through the Zoo in a different way, illuminated with holiday lights, sights and sounds on select nights in December.  Find holiday decorations and shimmering lights throughout the Zoo’s pathways, including a musical light show set against the backdrop of [...]

From terrified runners to flesh-eating zombies, this was no ordinary foot race. The “Run For Your Lives 5K” was held in Orlando this past weekend. Run For Your Lives is part obstacle course, part race and part zombie survival, making it the world’s first interactive zombie-infested obstacle race experience. Before the race, runners were given [...]

Looking for an immersive haunt experience outside the theme parks? Look no further, The Radley Haunted House in St. Petersburg brings a neighborhood haunted house to a new level. From an elaborate story (via a video in the queue) to beautiful sets immersing you in the story, The Radley Haunted House is the most popular [...]

By Andy Guinigundo Jacksonville, Florida’s Sally Corporation may not pop into your mind when you think about theme park rides. Chances are, however, you have been on a Sally Corp dark ride. E.T. Adventure at Universal Studios here in Orlando? – Sally. Maybe Legoland is more your style. Perhaps you have been on Legoland’s Lost [...]

Theme Park Connection specializes in buying and selling Disney and theme park items online and through their huge warehouse in Winter Garden, Fla. While they’ve sold a lot of huge collectibles, this is their largest yet – It’s a four-story, seven bedroom, six bath, more than 10,000-square-foot home modeled after Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. The livable [...]

By Andy Guinigundo Carlsbad, Calif. – Less than an hour north of San Diego, Calif. is the beach town of Carlsbad. Here resides the original North American Legoland. Open in 1999, its development has somewhat foreshadowed the development of Legoland Florida. For example, California opened a water park in 2010 with Florida’s following two years [...]

San Diego hosts the original SeaWorld park. It shares some attractions with our park in Orlando, but many of these attractions have some interesting differences. Just like in Orlando, there is a One Ocean show featuring Shamu. And San Diego also has a Blue Horizons show featuring dolphins. However, notice how the stadium seating …

Join us for a 3.1 mile road race through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. This family fun run 5K is part of the Disneyland half marathon weekend. Thousands of guests did the event, and our camera guy is up with the faster runners, in clear streets. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVgaAnOYfCM

The Shanghai Daily News reports that two hotels are in now in design review by the Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone. The hotels are currently named Hotel One and Hotel Two. No theming has been announced yet. The plan for Hotel One is seen here. Color has been added to highlight the lodging buildings [...]

By Kevin Yee Photo Finds takes a quick visit to California to see all that’s new in Disney California Adventure, so come along for this ultimate road trip. We also hit the town in Arizona which inspired Radiator Springs for the movie, as well as see Transformers and other new items at Universal Studios Hollywood. [...]