Orlando Balloons Rides added another balloon to its fleet today. But it’s not just another hot air balloon. This balloon is 11 stories high when fully inflated and carries up to 24 passengers. It’s the largest hot air balloon in the U.S. Contest winners and military combat veterans took the inaugural flight from the Reunion [...]

Not many details have been announced yet, but Warner Bros. Entertainment and Universal Parks and Resorts have announced a ‘Significant expansion’ for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. The Universal Studios Hollywood park in California will also be getting its own Wizarding World of Harry Potter. “We are thrilled to be able [...]

This December the Lowry Park Zoo will transform into a Wild Wonderland. Guests will be able to enjoy festive holiday music, lights, unlimited Zoo rides and real reindeer. Special holiday hours will be from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 3, 9-11, 16-23, and 26-31. Holiday décor will light up the Zoo’s pathways. The castle [...]

Join hosts Banks Lee and Lulu Picart at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for this week’s theme park and attraction news. On this week’s episode: • A look at Busch Gardens Christmas decorations • News in the Queue: History Center’s Universal exhibit; Sum of All Thrills; Legoland and SeaWorld Christmas; Drip • Busch Gardens’ Christmas Celebration [...]

D23, the official Disney fan club, has announced events for 2012. Over the year, there will be many opportunities to celebrate Disney magic at various locations around the U.S. Orlando events are scheduled for October and December of 2012. “Sip & Scream” will replace D23’s “Sip & Stroll” event at Epcot’s International Food and Wine [...]

Join host Bob Buchanan and kid reporter Quinn at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party as they bring you highlights from the night and all of the attractions news of the week. On this week’s The Show: • Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party: decorations, foods, dancing, lights • SeaWorld announcement of three new attractions • News [...]

This might be a fun game. Is the above shot from the actual Grand Canyon or is it a scene in the Grand Canyon diorama that the steam train passes through at Disneyland park in Anaheim, Calif.? Answer: This is the actual Grand Canyon, as seen from a visitor shuttle stop along the South …

Join hosts Bob Buchanan and Regina Fernandez for all this week’s theme park and attractions news. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftb8545xIfQ On this week’s show: • Epcot Food & Wine Festival • News in the Queue – Legoland app, Kennedy Space Center VAB tour, Disney dining cancellation fee, Roar & Soar, new resort opens, Children’s Miracle Network, Photo Finds, [...]

It’s fun to spot differences and similarities between the original Hollywood Chinese Theater in California and the version seen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Above left is the original theater, and at right is the replica in Florida. Can you spot at least 12 differences between the two theaters?

Guest editorial by Marc Tyler Nobleman Today, Six Flags holds the license for DC Comics superheroes, but SeaWorld had it first. And what they did with it is still considered (at least by many of the participants) to be the best water skiing show of all time.   From 1976 to 1979, at both the [...]

By Jackie Roseboom The new Disney Fantasy cruise ship will have upper decks to please everyone in the family when it debuts in March 2012. Whether you want to relax without the kids or are looking for some splashing family fun, you’ll find it. The Satellite Sun Deck, located on Deck 13 forward, will feature [...]

Join hosts Mike Carr and Heather Leonardi for another week of theme park and attractions news. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aGesp1mqeU This week: • Zombie Walk at Spooky Empire • News in the Queue: Eat to the Beat Concert Series, Bob Iger’s announcement • Room for One More Haunted Mansion Celebration • Hidden Mickey of the Week • Kennedy [...]

Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week got a rare chance to meet a new character that they’ll have to go a long way to see again. Imagineers were testing out an unusual character called Cubot before he/she heads to Hong Kong. As you can see above and in the video below, Cubot is a [...]

Join hosts Amanda Powell and Banks Lee at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for another week of theme park and attractions news. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGZ6DOVESGo This week: • Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex • Disney World’s 40th anniversary celebration • Interview with an Imagineer about the new Fantasyland • News in the Queue: Town of Celebration, [...]

Disney officially welcomed Rapunzel as the 10th Disney Princess character at a star-studded celebration on Oct. 2, 2011. The ceremony took place at Kensington Palace in London with a royal court including by Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Snow White and Tiana. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvHc1XZY6mU The procession through Kensington Gardens was watched by an estimated [...]

Join Mike and Heather for all of this week’s theme park and attractions news. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X8GrGphIWA This week: – Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – Howl-O-Scream Preview Interview – Legoland Florida New Miniland and Dark Ride – News in the Queue – Travel Tip – Hidden Mickey of the Week with Author Steven Barrett And [...]

Join Heather and Ali for another week of theme park and attractions news. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EMWuvgrMro This week: – Downtown Disney Update – More from Disney’s D23 Expo – Halloween Horror Nights Preview – Miss America Goes to Disney World – News You Can Use And Much More! You can also subscribe to The Show on iTunes, [...]

Royal Caribbean and Universal Orlando are now offering packages from both the East Coast and the West Coast of Florida. The land and sea vacation packages combine a three- or four-night stay at Universal Orlando Resort with a three- or four-night Bahamas cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas, a four- or five-night Western Caribbean [...]

Column by Andy Guinigundo To bolster my claim that the wing rider coaster will be the next big thing in coaster construction (check out my previous story Here), Dollywood announced Sunday that it would open the first wing rider roller coaster in the United States. The third announced Bolliger & Mabillard wing rider coaster this [...]

Column by Andy Guinigundo This week, Six Flags Great America near Chicago announced that the X Flight roller coaster would be built with an expected debut date of 2012. This announcement marked the third major announcement of a wing rider coaster being constructed for next year. With the opening of Furius Baco (Intamin) at PortAventura [...]