By Andy Guinigundo

Kings Island near Cincinnati, Ohio is my hometown amusement park. I grew up and still reside in the area. I believe all folks deserve a gas tank amusement park to tide them over until they can get to Orlando or other amusement destinations. A gas tank amusement park is a park that one can get to and get home from with a single tank of gas. Kings Island has gone through changes over the years and 2010 is no exception.

In 1972, Kings Island opened with a children’s area that was eventually named Hanna-Barbera Land. You may recall some of the more popular Hanna Barbera characters: Scooby-Doo, Jetsons, Flintstones, Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound and others. You may even recall the Brady Bunch episode that featured the Brady kids roaming around the park. Mike Brady, their TV father, was an architect. He was in a meeting with Kings Island executives to unveil new plans. When it came time for the big reveal, it was a poster of Yogi Bear rather than the plans. Hi-jinks ensued. Oh, good times.

The kid coaster in Hanna Barbera Land was initially the Scooby Doo Roller Coaster. I don’t remember specifically riding the coaster at that time. It’s a simple figure-eight woodie with Philadelphia Toboggan Company coaster cars. I do remember climbing on board when it was re-themed as The Beastie. This opened in 1979 to coincide with the opening of the wooden classic coaster The Beast. While the graphics on the cars of The Beast feature body-less clawed paws bound by chains, the red cars of The Beastie showed clawless smaller paws bound by rope. Along with a fresh coast of Beast-red paint for the wood coaster, a tunnel was included at the bottom of the initial hill to complete the theme.

In 2006, the whole area was themed as The Nickelodeon Universe. SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, and The Backyardigans are among Nick’s more popular characters. The same coaster evolved into The Fairly Odd Coaster themed after the The Fairly OddParents cartoon. Pink and purple paint abounded and the tunnel was removed. The kid-coaster count eventually swelled to four including a suspended coaster, a ramp coaster, a little kid coaster and the Fairly Odd Coaster – the most of any children’s themed area in an amusement park. Nickelodeon Universe has won several awards including the last several “Golden Ticket” Awards for the best kid-themed area.

Now, in 2010, the area is getting a complete make-over as Planet Snoopy. The 38-year-old little woodie continues on with yet another fresh coat of paint: baby blue and white this time. The as yet unnamed coaster will continue to thrill the park’s smaller guests, and make memories.

Stay tuned this spring for a complete before and after photo shoot of Planet Snoopy. I photographed the “before” the final weeks of Nicklodeon Universe during Kings Island’s Halloween event.

• Andy Guinigundo is the author of the Out of The Loop column in “Orlando Attractions Magazine”. Out of the Loop keeps you up-to-date with attraction news outside of Central Florida. Andy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and three daughters. He grew up frequenting theme parks around Ohio and making trips to Orlando with his family. While for most of the year, he’s out of the Orlando loop, he tries to visit Florida at least once a year.

By Andy Guinigundo

Anaheim, Calif. – It has been a long tradition that individuals who have made significant contributions to Disney are honored with a window on Main Street USA at Disneyland and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. The Sherman brothers were so honored this past Thursday, March 11, 2010.

The casual amusement park or Disney fan may not recognize their names, but there is no doubt you’ve heard their music. Let’s examine a sampling of their contributions:

In the parks:
• It’s a Small World
• In the Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room
• From the Carousel of Progress – The Best Time of Your Life and It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow
• One Little Spark from Journey Into Imagination
And more …

At the movies:
• Mary Poppins
• The Jungle Book
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• The Aristocats
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• The Tigger Movie
• The Sword in the Stone
and more…

It’s not as if Robert and Richard Sherman have never been honored. Here’s a short list of their hardware: Academy Awards, Grammy, Christopher Awards, Laurel Awards, Golden Globe nominations and a National Medal of Honor. However, of all the awards, the only one we can go see anytime we want is the window on Main Street USA in Disneyland.

Thank you for the music.

• Andy Guinigundo is the author of the Out of The Loop column in “Orlando Attractions Magazine”. Out of the Loop keeps you up-to-date with attraction news outside of Central Florida. Andy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and three daughters. He grew up frequenting theme parks around Ohio and making trips to Orlando with his family. While for most of the year, he’s out of the Orlando loop, he tries to visit Florida at least once a year.

By Andy Guinigundo

Louisville, Ky. – Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom located in Louisville, Ky., will not reopen for the 2010 season.

In a statement, Six Flags states they were unable to come to an agreement with the Kentucky Fair Board for the lease of the land where the park was located. Six Flags felt that changes to the lease would have made the park more viable in the market. Six Flags also stressed that all other Six Flags parks are located on company-owned property and are thus unaffected.

Industry insiders have speculated that stiff competition from Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind. and Kings Island just north of Cincinnati, Ohio forced the park out – expensive lease or not.

Kentucky Kingdom passholders are being encouraged to enjoy the nearby Six Flags parks in St. Louis and Chicago (or any Six Flags parks), but full refunds are available as well.

• Andy Guinigundo is the author of the Out of The Loop column in “Orlando Attractions Magazine”. Out of the Loop keeps you up-to-date with attraction news outside of Central Florida. Andy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and three daughters. He grew up frequenting theme parks around Ohio and making trips to Orlando with his family. While for most of the year, he’s out of the Orlando loop, he tries to visit Florida at least once a year.

For this February 2010 update, we take a peek above the construction walls -- way above. Come fly with us to check out the progress of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. No, we didn’t use a magical broomstick. Thanks go to Air Florida Helicopter Charters on International Drive. You can read more about their tours in the upcoming Spring 2010 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine.

From up in the air, you can see just how big the building behind Hogwarts is. This is the building that houses the brand new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.

Before we go any further, here’s the video from above:

Many more photos from the helicopter are below in the gallery. But for now, let’s get back to the ground.

You can definitely see Hogwarts from all around the area. Here it’s peaking above Seuss Landing.

This new sign can be found just behind the Hogwarts Express train as you enter the area.

As with most things in Hogwarts, they’re not quite straight on purpose.

I believe this is the entrance area to the Owlery. Notice the brown speckled paint or mud.

More brown speckles here behind The Three Broomsticks. I’m not sure if this is supposed to look this way, something more will be done with it or it’ll just be cleaned off.

The entranceway to the Dueling Dragons coaster (Soon to be Dragon Challenge) is about as narrow as it can get. Team members are directing traffic, making people coming and going to wait their turn.

Some more crooked buildings and chimneys.

Here’s the old entrance to Dueling Dragons, and what I believe will be part of the new entrance to Dragon Challenge.

I’m not sure what this is supposed to be. A spotlight? I’m sure the hard core Potter fans can tell me.

They’re painting the outside of the show building that houses the new ride. It’s going from a light yellow to gray. (Edit: Or maybe the gray is just primer for something else.)

Click on the photos below to see them larger.

Photos by Marcus D’Amelio
Video by Jimmy Strater

The Magic Kingdom Philharmonic Band came marching down Main Street, U.S.A., this morning behind New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. He was riding in a pewter convertible with Mickey Mouse, waving to cheering fans. But he’d earned the ride – and the adulation – Sunday night by marching the Saints to a 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.

Celebrating Super Bowl heroes in “I’m Going to Disney…” commercials and rides down Main Street, U.S.A., at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort has been a grand tradition since 1987 and Super Bowl XXI. But this one was unique, involving a team and a city overcoming so much adversity that its fan base goes by the nickname “Who Dat Nation.”

As confetti cannons sprinkled Brees with multi-colored paper, it symbolically showered away 42 seasons of “wait till next year.” The waiting had ended at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, thanks in a big way to a torrent of pinpoint passes by Brees, who earned the Super Bowl MVP honor with a 32-completion, 288-yard, two-touchdown, no-interception performance.

Joining Brees for his celebratory ride, along with Mickey Mouse in his football outfit, were Minnie Mouse (decked out as a cheerleader), Chip ‘n’ Dale in referee garb, and “football Goofy” plus players from a central Florida NFL Youth Football team.

Brees’ celebratory visit happened mere hours after he was featured in the 42nd “I’m Going To Disney…” commercial, a series that has featured a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have exclaimed the iconic line following milestone accomplishments.

The official Web site for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure was updated today with some new features and details on the rides and experiences.

One new feature on the Web site is a low fly-through tour of the Hogsmeade Village and around the castle. New details found on various part of the Web site reveal …

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
This brand new ride in Hogwarts Castle will allow guests to “soar above the castle grounds, joining Harry Potter and his friends on a thrilling adventure. Riders will come face to face with creatures from memorable moments in the films such as the Hungarian Horntail, a giant Acromantula, Dementors, and the gigantic Whomping Willow as they speed and swerve through iconic locations from Harry Potter’s world.”
The ride is rumored to be using robot arm technology with guests riding on broomsticks.

As you make your way to the ride you’ll pass by Dumbledore’s office, the Defense against the Dark Arts class, the Gryffindor common room, the Room of Requirement and more.

Dragon Challenge
This roller coaster ride is currently running as Dueling Dragons. But once made-over, “guests will pass the Goblet of Fire and Triwizard Cup on their way to choose their dragon.” You’ll choose between the Chinese Fireball and the Hungarian Horntail.

Flight of the Hippogriff
This family coaster used to be known as The Flying Unicorn. But when Wizarding World opens, “visitors will follow a path past Hagrid’s hut and will be instructed in the proper way to approach a Hippogriff. (A Hippogriff has the head of an eagle and the body of a horse.) Once on board, guests will then have a chance to bow to Buckbeak before the family-friendly coaster spirals and dives around the pumpkin patch, swooping past Hagrid’s hut. The coaster is described as “woven from wicker and decorated with fluttering leaves representing feathers.

Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods
This shop will be located at the exit of the Forbidden Journey ride and it’s where you’ll be able to buy your on-ride photo. In addition to Harry Potter souvenir clothing and stationary, you’ll also be able to buy authentic movie prop replicas here, including walking sticks and Death Eater masks.

Zonko’s Joke Shop
Some of the items for sale will include Sneakoscopes, Extendable Ears, Fanged Flyers, screaming yo-yos, boxing telescopes, Pygmy Puff and shrunken heads. You’ll also be able to try “magical” sweets such as Fainting Fancies, Fever Fudge, U-No-Poo and Nosebleed Nougat.

Dervish and Banges
This shop will offer The Monster Book of Monsters, Hogwarts clothing and Quidditch gear such as Quaffles and Golden Snitches. Brooms will also be for sale, including the Nimbus Two Thousand and the Firebolt. This shop is also listed as carrying Sneakoscopes, Spectrespecs and Omnioculars.

Honeydukes
This sweet shop will offer Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans, Cauldron Cakes, treacle fudge, chocolate frogs, acid pops, exploding bonbons and Fizzing Whizzbees.

Ollivanders – Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.
We previously wrote about Ollivanders here, but the updated Web site says that in addition to having a wand choose you, you’ll find character replica wands from the films and collectible wand sets.

Owl Post
This is where you’ll be able send mail with a Hogsmeade postmark using Wizarding World stamps. In the rafters of the building you’ll see nearly two dozen resting owls, turning their heads, hooting and ruffling their feathers. The site warns you to cover your ears as you pass the Howler displayed in the window. Listen for the Grand Owlery clock tower to hoot on the hour.

Three Broomsticks
This restaurant will offer Butterbeer and pumpkin juice, and meals such as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, Cornish pasty and turkey legs. Kids meals and dessert are also available.

Contest may offer clues to an opening date
The only date that’s been released for the opening of Wizarding World is Spring 2010, but a new contest may offer some clues to a more exact date.

Information was released this morning on a new contest through the Today show. A school classroom will win a trip to the opening ceremonies by making a video telling “Why is my class extraordinary?”

The contest ends on March 19. The public will be allowed to vote online for the winning class through April 29. That tells us The Wizarding World of Harry Potter won’t have its opening ceremony until after that date. There’s also a section of the contest rules that says all travel arrangements must be made a minimum of 25 days prior to travel. That would put the opening sometime in late May. Of course the new land could soft-open before the official ceremonies, and the contest says all dates are subject to change.

• You can read more about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the Winter 2010 issue of “Orlando Attractions Magazine.”

As I was scouring the Internet for stories for the recently released Winter issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine, I came across a press release announcing the closing of a fan favorite at Bush Gardens in Williamsburg, Va., the Big Bad Wolf. The press release was a few months old, July 24, 2009, but for some reason, it caught my attention. The Big Bad Wolf celebrated its 25th anniversary, and perhaps a bit sadly, the end of its service life. It closed on Sept. 7, 2009.

The Big Bad Wolf was the first suspended roller coaster. At the close of the first decade of the 21st century, the ride was no longer the biggest, fastest, nor longest of its type. But it was a fan favorite, having carried more than 29 millions riders in its 25 years.

The Arrow Dynamics ride was an innovative design that fully utilized the beautiful Virginia landscape situated in the Oktoberfest section of the park. Arrow Dynamics incidentally, was the company that designed The Matterhorn at Disneyland and The Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point, but unfortunately went bankrupt in 2002. They also designed the transport systems in a few rides you may have hear of in Disneyland: Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World, and The Haunted Mansion.

Unfortunately, I was never blessed with the opportunity to take on the Big Bad Wolf. That actually was also true of media producer Rob Warren of Rockford, Ill. I say, “was” true because when the same press release flashed across his computer screen, Rob decided to do something about it – two words: road trip! The resulting 13 minute, 28 second video embodies the passion that many of us feel toward roller coasters and amusement parks. Enjoy.

Video posted with permission from Rob Warren. You can find out more about him by visiting his Web site.

• Andy Guinigundo is the author of the Out of The Loop column in “Orlando Attractions Magazine”. Out of the Loop keeps you up-to-date with attraction news outside of Central Florida. Andy lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and three daughters. He grew up frequenting theme parks around Ohio and making trips to Orlando with his family. While for most of the year, he’s out of the Orlando loop, he tries to visit Florida at least once a year.

What better way to get pumped up for the day than a roller coaster ride through the city to work. And after a hard day at work, wouldn’t it be great to water slide all the way home? That the premise behind these two ads for Barclaycard in the U.K.

You may have seen the water slide ad, as it was released in 2008. But the roller coaster one was just released. I’ve included a special two-minute version of the water slide ad. You can see some behind the scenes videos on Barclaycard’s Facebook page.

The ads were created by the Bartle Bogle Hegarty ad agency using the same technology that was used to show Spider-Man swinging through the streets in the three Spider-Man movies. They even have a free iPhone app that lets you water slide through a virtual city. A free roller coaster app will be released in May.

Harry Potter fans will want to buy the “USA Today” newspaper next Thursday, Jan. 28. An ad in the newspaper will seemingly come to life on your computer screen when you hold it up to a webcam.

The first-ever augmented reality map of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will allow you to rotate the map and take a closer look at the 20-acre themed area from all sides and angles. You can hold the map closer to your webcam and explore Hogsmeade and see the Hogwarts Express. Blow on your computer’s microphone and the banners on the map will wave.

Augmented Reality blends real-life environments with computer animation allowing you to explore things in a completely new way. Here’s a video of the technology in action at the Lego store in Downtown Disney:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is scheduled to open in Universal’s Islands of Adventure this spring. The new land will provide visitors with multiple themed attractions, shops and a restaurant.

• For more on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, pick up the Winter 2010 issue of “Orlando Attractions Magazine”.

Today Merlin Entertainments announced a multi-million dollar investment for its biggest family tourist center in the world with the planned opening of Legoland Florida.

Merlin purchased the historical Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fla. from property investment company Land South Group and will open Legoland Florida on the site at the end of 2011. The deal to buy the 145-acre site includes the current theme park and waterpark as well as an operating lease in perpetuity on the historic botanical gardens. Merlin plans a significant multi-million dollar investment over a number of years, up to and beyond opening, in what will be the biggest Legoland to date. In line with the group’s “resort” strategy for its theme parks, this is likely to include both accommodation and the addition of further branded attractions from the Merlin portfolio. This will build on the $100 million invested over the last few years in improved infrastructure on the site.

The Florida development will be Merlin’s second Legoland Park in North America. It will provide a full-day, year round, theme park experience geared towards families with children between the ages of two and 12. Its design will mirror the successful concept of the four existing Legoland Parks in Denmark, Germany, U.K. and California. However, as with the other four, it will also have its own unique “twist” reflecting its stunning location and adding a Florida flavour.

The decision to open a Legoland Park in Florida follows considerable research in the area by Merlin over a number of years. This indicated a high recognition of the Legoland Park brand and a 90 percent plus intention to visit by families in this target market. The issue has been to find the ideal site. Cypress Gardens has long been a popular location for millions of visitors. Merlin believes its Central Florida location, approximately 50 minutes from Orlando and also close to Tampa, is the perfect site for Legoland.

The development follows the success of Legoland California which opened in 1999. Legoland California was recently voted the country’s best children’s theme park by “Amusement Today” for the sixth year running. It is also recognized as the fastest growing theme park in the U.S., enjoying an increase in visitor numbers year-on-year, including six percent in 2009.

Legoland Florida will be the biggest Legoland Park ever opened and will offer a unique mix of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including spectacular Lego models and other interactive elements for the whole family to enjoy together.

The park is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs by opening; as well as boosting the Florida economy through the use of local contractors for development.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When will the park open?
The Legoland makeover will take approximately two years. They’re expecting to open at the end of 2011.

Why open it in Polk County?
Officials said they visited Cypress Gardens in past years and fell in love with the place. They explained that their other theme parks are located on beautiful grounds. They looked at many locations in Orlando but ultimately chose Cypress Gardens. They also added that if they had built from scratch on another location, it would have taken them five or six years.

Will the gardens remain?
Yes. They stressed that they will keep the beautiful gardens.

What about the Southern Belles and the Florida shaped pool?
They haven’t decided if they’ll remain yet or not.

Will they keep the water ski shows?
They haven’t decided for sure, but they hope to. They think the water ski show could easily be themed with the Lego brand.

Will the Cypress Gardens name remain?
Maybe in some form. The location will be called Legoland Florida, and eventually Legoland Florida Resort. They are thinking about calling the gardens part of Legoland “Cypress Gardens”. If so, you’d go to Legoland Florida to visit the Cypress Gardens.

How many attractions will there be?
Somewhere around 50 all together. This includes rides and shows.

Will any of the Cypress Gardens rides remain? What about the wooden roller coasters?
Some of Cypress Gardens’ rides have already been removed. Some of them have been sold but not moved off property yet. Officials said they will probably keep some of the rides and retheme them. They are thinking about keeping one of the wooden roller coasters but didn’t say which one.

Will a Legoland hotel be built?
They plan to eventually build an onsite hotel, but not until a while after the opening.

Where is it located and how do I get there?
The property is about a 45 to 55 minute drive from Downtown Disney. From Orlando, you would take I-4 West to exit 55, (U.S. 27 South), then turn right on Cypress Gardens Boulevard. It’s an easy drive if I-4 traffic isn’t bad.

Will they offer promotions with other Central Florida theme parks?
They hope to. They said they’re willing to work with any of the other theme park companies including Disney.

Will the water park remain? Will it become a Legoland waterpark?
Yes, the water park will remain. It won’t become a Legoland Water Park right away, but if their upcoming first Legoland Water Park, which opens in California in June, does well, they may bring it here.

Will the waterpark be included with admission to Legoland?
No. It will require a separate ticket.

How much will ticket prices be to Legoland?
They haven’t announced prices yet, but a current one-day adult ticket to Legoland California is $67.

Here’s video from the press conference:

Here’s a look at the Legoland California Resort. This will give you an idea of the types of attractions that are coming to Legoland Florida: