American Express cardholder who purchase a multi-park ticket or an Annual Pass at UniversalOrlando.com or at the Universal front gate now have access to a brand new American Express Lounge inside Universal Studios theme park. The Lounge will offer guests an air-conditioned space where they will receive complimentary beverages and light refreshments, as well as [...]

May 19, 2011 – Join hosts Greg Hutson and Jessica Steele Allen as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pLsxk1i3lU In this week’s episode: • Pixar Weekend at Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival • D23′s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt • Give Kids The [...]

After weeks of dropping hints, Universal Orlando finally revealed which attraction will replace Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast ride. Gru and his Minions from Despicable Me will be invading Universal Studios in 3D next year. Plus The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride is getting an reanimated HD upgrade and more. On March 15, Universal announced that [...]

April 28, 2011 – Join hosts Greg Hutson and Smantha Sanders as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojPi46VVV4Q In this week’s episode: • Countdown to Star Tours 3D opening • SeaWorld’s new Shamu show “One Ocean” • Universal’s hints at their new attraction [...]

April 21, 2011 – Join hosts Mark Daniel and Jessica Steele Allen as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8EMFN84Z3A In this week’s episode: • Baby cheetah and puppy companion at Busch Gardens • Cheetah Hunt roller coaster launch testing • Disney’s economic impact [...]

When hundreds of teams compete in D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt on May 12 and 13, they will be vying for the chance to win a special preview trip on the Disney Fantasy, the fourth vessel in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The 4,000 passenger ship is set to launch in spring 2012, with the [...]

Column by Andy Guinigundo Urayasu, Chiba Japan – Tokyo Disneyland Park reopened today (April 15, 2011). This marks the first opening of the park since the March 12, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. The Tokyo Disney Resort consists of two parks – Tokyo Disneyland Park and Tokyo DisneySea Park. At this time, Tokyo DisneySea Park [...]

April 14, 2011 – Join hosts Greg Hutson and Mark Daniel as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARF4A0JSEB8 This week’s show covers these topics and more: In this week’s episode: • Discovery Cove hard hat tour of Grand Reef • Beast’s Castle rises [...]

April 8, 2011 – Join hosts Greg Hutson and Jessica Steele Allen as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDQGpECXV28 This week’s show covers these topics and more: • New interactive hitchhiking ghosts at the Haunted Mansion • New Pirate coming to Magic Kingdom [...]

Column by Andy Guinigundo Pudong New District, Shanghai, China – Well it finally happened. After literally years of on-again, off-again agreements between Disney and various Shanghai China entities, an official groundbreaking for a new Disney park took place on April 8, 2011. This symbolic turning of a few shovels full of dirt marked the end [...]

Some major theme park fan sites and media are coming together this month to help raise money for a good cause, and they have some star power behind them. Theme Park Change encourages amusement park fans to give up one thing they would normally enjoy during a trip to the park and donate the cost [...]

The ASA Action Sports World Tour is coming to Busch Gardens this weekend and next (April 9-10, 16-17) for a Ramp Jam event, which will feature local bands, food, surf and skate gear and appearances by the world’s best pro skateboarders, BMX riders, and inline skaters. From noon to 6:30 p.m. on both weekends, the [...]

April 1, 2011 – Join hosts Samantha Sanders and her special co-host as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FLxnNFT4mI This week’s show covers these topics and more: • MegaCon 2011 • Celebrity interviews, Lou Ferrigno, Jonathan Frakes, Kevin Sorbo, Michael Dorn • Legoland [...]

Feb. 17, 2011 – Join hosts JD Trussell and Samantha Sanders as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYPX_qvT8UM This week’s show covers these topics and more: • Epcot Flower and Garden Festival • Hard hat tour of the new Cheetah Hunt Roller Coaster [...]

Feb. 17, 2011 – Join hosts JD Trussell and Jessica Steele Allen as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUZpK9pFI9o This week’s show covers these topics and more: • Main Street In Motion Event at Epcot featuring the Chevy Volt • Mardi Gras at [...]

In celebration of Walt Disney World Resort’s 40th Anniversary, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will be hosting a members only event, “Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th.” The event will be held on May 14 and 15 and will take attendees on “a journey from the moment when the first parcels of land in [...]

Column by Audrey Brown Movies are king when it comes to theme park merchandising, ticket sales and advertising. As early as Aladdin, the Genie was off to Disney World after being freed. Stop for a second and just try to imagine Disney World or Universal Studios without movie tie-ins – it’s impossible. But not so [...]

Feb. 3, 2011 – Join hosts Greg Hutson and Jessica Steele Allen as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8txdDZ-1nCI This weeks show covers these topics and more: • Monster Jam monster truck show • Disney Channel stars Friends for Change at Castaway Cay [...]

Column by Derek Burgan SeaWorld’s six official hotels now provide a unique vacation package that includes several exclusive benefits, and booking the package through SeaWorldVacations.com allows the opportunity to enjoy free all-day dining and the ability to add a ticket to Aquatica or Busch Gardens Tampa for $39. By staying at one of SeaWorld’s official [...]

Column by Andy Guinigundo Well, after a bit of a hiatus, the Out of the Loop online edition has returned to bring you some attractions news from outside the Orlando area. As always, you can get a full dose of Out of the Loop in the Orlando Attractions Magazine print and iPad editions. 2011 is [...]