http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog Orlando area attractions and theme park information and news Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:12:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/31/out-of-the-loop-2012-will-be-a-thrilling-year-with-new-attractions-all-around/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/31/out-of-the-loop-2012-will-be-a-thrilling-year-with-new-attractions-all-around/#comments Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:48:04 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=11627 By Andy Guinigundo With a month of 2012 under our belts, I can’t help but be excited for the coming attractions season. There are several high profile, high-dollar attractions opening. Additionally, there are many new coasters being introduced this year including a new-to-North America coaster. Here are some of the attractions I am most anticipating [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/31/out-of-the-loop-2012-will-be-a-thrilling-year-with-new-attractions-all-around/feed/ 7 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/26/orlando-attractions-show-episode-60/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/26/orlando-attractions-show-episode-60/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:54:15 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=11581 Join hosts Heather Leonardi and Jeanette Cause for this week’s Orlando-area theme park and attraction news. On this week’s Show: • President Obama visits Disney World • News in the Queue: 2012 Disney Mom’s Panel; New Epcot books; Legoland’s 2012 events • SeaWorld’s TurtleTrek peek • Construction tour of Legoland’s upcoming water park • Universal [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/26/orlando-attractions-show-episode-60/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/19/legoland-florida-planning-many-special-events-throughout-2012/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/19/legoland-florida-planning-many-special-events-throughout-2012/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:58:55 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=11501 Legoland Florida is gearing up for for its first full year in operation in 2012 with special events geared towards families with children age 2 to 12: from Lego Friends Weekend to Brick-or-Treat. • Lego Friends Weekend is a daytime party for girls that includes a Lego Friends building event, entertainment, games, activities and more. [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2012/01/19/legoland-florida-planning-many-special-events-throughout-2012/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/11/29/details-announced-for-new-legoland-florida-water-park/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/11/29/details-announced-for-new-legoland-florida-water-park/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:33:52 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=10761 A day before their official opening, Legoland Florida announced they would be opening a water park in 2012. Their first ever expansion is slated to open by next summer. The new water park will feature a wave pool, Build-A-Raft lazy river, tube slides, body slides and an interactive water-play structure called Duplo Safari. “We’re very [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/11/29/details-announced-for-new-legoland-florida-water-park/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/19/new-photo-finds-show-will-bring-you-details-from-the-parks/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/19/new-photo-finds-show-will-bring-you-details-from-the-parks/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:43:42 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=10374 By Kevin Yee I’d like to introduce a new feature for Orlando Attractions Magazine called Photo Finds, which will use a narrated video slideshow to point out whatever is new in the parks (or new to me, anyway!) as I visit each week. I hope you enjoy them. It’s not every day that a new [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/19/new-photo-finds-show-will-bring-you-details-from-the-parks/feed/ 4 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/16/legoland-florida-holds-its-grand-opening-ceremony-floridas-newest-theme-park-now-open-to-all/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/16/legoland-florida-holds-its-grand-opening-ceremony-floridas-newest-theme-park-now-open-to-all/#comments Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:38:34 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=10340 The first major theme park to open in the United States in a decade, Legoland Florida got off to a busy start with thousands of visitors lining up near the park’s entrance before dawn for the 10 a.m. opening ceremony. Families began arriving at 5:30 a.m. and the crowd grew as the countdown continued. At [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/10/16/legoland-florida-holds-its-grand-opening-ceremony-floridas-newest-theme-park-now-open-to-all/feed/ 3 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/09/26/ford-explorer-made-of-legos-headed-to-florida-to-be-a-part-of-legoland-driving-school-attraction/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/09/26/ford-explorer-made-of-legos-headed-to-florida-to-be-a-part-of-legoland-driving-school-attraction/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:39:50 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=9982 A unique Ford Explorer rolled off the assembly line today in Chicago. It featured the model’s trademark eye-catching craftsmanship with one notable distinction – it was created from more than 380,000 Lego bricks and marks the beginning of a long-term alliance between Ford and Legoland Florida. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTt0pQ8DJck The bright red Legoland Florida edition Explorer, created [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/09/26/ford-explorer-made-of-legos-headed-to-florida-to-be-a-part-of-legoland-driving-school-attraction/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/31/lucky-kids-get-to-try-our-four-legoland-florida-rides-before-the-opening/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/31/lucky-kids-get-to-try-our-four-legoland-florida-rides-before-the-opening/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:41:04 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=9820 Twenty-two lucky kids got to go to school recently. No, not that sort of school, these kids and their parents got to go to the still under construction Legoland Florida and try out their version of flying and driving school, plus two other rides. They soared in flight, drove their own Lego cars, trekked an [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/31/lucky-kids-get-to-try-our-four-legoland-florida-rides-before-the-opening/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/03/construction-update-building-and-attractions-rising-at-legoland-florida-photosvideo/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/03/construction-update-building-and-attractions-rising-at-legoland-florida-photosvideo/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:58:40 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=9597 We were invited on another hard hat tour of Legoland Florida yesterday. This was our first that really showed signs of what’s to come. Legoland Florida opens to the public in about two and a half months on Oct. 15 in Winter Haven, Fla. The 150 acre family theme park will feature more than 50 [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/08/03/construction-update-building-and-attractions-rising-at-legoland-florida-photosvideo/feed/ 2 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/07/07/rides-being-installed-at-legoland-florida-with-just-100-days-until-opening/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/07/07/rides-being-installed-at-legoland-florida-with-just-100-days-until-opening/#comments Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:46:52 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=9460 In 100 days Legoland Florida will hold their grand opening (Oct. 15), and rides have started popping up around in the park. From The Royal Joust to Lego Technic Test Track Coaster, construction crews are hard at work transforming the property into the interactive theme park geared toward families with children ages 2-12.]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/07/07/rides-being-installed-at-legoland-florida-with-just-100-days-until-opening/feed/ 3 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/06/23/construction-update-miniland-usa-takes-shape-at-legoland-florida/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/06/23/construction-update-miniland-usa-takes-shape-at-legoland-florida/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:56:17 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=9370 The first Lego brick models featuring the sites and monuments of Washington D.C. have been installed in the Miniland USA area of Legoland Florida. The park is scheduled to open in a few months on Oct. 15. Here’s a video of the installation with some insight by the Lego Model Project Manager. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG2lp-5Uwa4 Miniland USA, [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/06/23/construction-update-miniland-usa-takes-shape-at-legoland-florida/feed/ 2 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/04/26/lego-master-builders-creating-characters/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/04/26/lego-master-builders-creating-characters/#comments Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:24:38 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=8958 Legoland’s master model builders have begun the painstaking task of creating and caring for nearly 15,000 models that will be on display when the park opens this October. From an exact-replica of the White House, complete with “mini figs” of the First Family, to pterodactyls, tigers and treasure-seeking pirates, the models are being built at [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/04/26/lego-master-builders-creating-characters/feed/ 1 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/03/02/madame-tussauds-wax-museum-and-a-425-foot-tall-observation-wheel-planned-for-international-drive/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/03/02/madame-tussauds-wax-museum-and-a-425-foot-tall-observation-wheel-planned-for-international-drive/#comments Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:11:36 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=8424 Merlin Entertainments is already building Legoland Florida outside of Orlando, now they’ve announced plans to open a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and build a 425-foot-tall Orlando Eye observation wheel in a new shopping center on International Drive. I-Walk Orlando will be a new development of retail, restaurants and entertainment facilities scheduled to open in 2013 [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/03/02/madame-tussauds-wax-museum-and-a-425-foot-tall-observation-wheel-planned-for-international-drive/feed/ 6 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/01/24/out-of-the-loop-star-wars-miniland-takes-shape-at-legoland-california/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/01/24/out-of-the-loop-star-wars-miniland-takes-shape-at-legoland-california/#comments Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:48:13 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=8096 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 [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/01/24/out-of-the-loop-star-wars-miniland-takes-shape-at-legoland-california/feed/ 3 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/01/15/first-lego-models-arrive-at-legoland-florida-in-anticipation-of-their-fall-opening/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/01/15/first-lego-models-arrive-at-legoland-florida-in-anticipation-of-their-fall-opening/#comments Sun, 16 Jan 2011 01:57:35 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=8084 Legoland Florida recently recieved their first of 50 shipments of Lego models for the new theme park. The life-size models were made by hand in Europe especially for Legoland and will be featured throughout the park when it opens this October. Included in this first shipment were a 40,000 brick blacksmith for Castle Hill, a [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2011/01/15/first-lego-models-arrive-at-legoland-florida-in-anticipation-of-their-fall-opening/feed/ 2 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/08/09/out-of-the-loop-a-look-at-legoland-california%e2%80%99s-star-wars-days/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/08/09/out-of-the-loop-a-look-at-legoland-california%e2%80%99s-star-wars-days/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:20:59 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=7013 For the past several years, Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have been very popular. This past weekend in seemingly a galaxy far, far away, California, Star Wars Days commenced, but not at Disneyland. Legoland California hosted its 5th annual Star Wars Days.]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/08/09/out-of-the-loop-a-look-at-legoland-california%e2%80%99s-star-wars-days/feed/ 1 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/06/08/out-of-the-loop-two-notable-memorial-weekend-park-openings/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/06/08/out-of-the-loop-two-notable-memorial-weekend-park-openings/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:41:03 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=6489 Out of the Loop columnist Andy Guinigundo takes a look at the new Legoland water park in California and new rides for Luna Park in New York.]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/06/08/out-of-the-loop-two-notable-memorial-weekend-park-openings/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/20/public-record-e-mail-says-legoland-is-coming-to-cypress-gardens/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/20/public-record-e-mail-says-legoland-is-coming-to-cypress-gardens/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:06:59 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=5018 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/20/public-record-e-mail-says-legoland-is-coming-to-cypress-gardens/feed/ 1 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/15/cypress-gardens-sold-to-merlin-entertainments-group/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/15/cypress-gardens-sold-to-merlin-entertainments-group/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:38:18 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=4992 The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Merlin Entertainments Group has purchased Cypress Gardens. From blogs.orlandosentinel.com: A spokeswoman for Merlin said the purchase includes the current Cypress Gardens theme park, the Splash Island water park and the adjacent botanical gardens. The company did not disclose the sales price. Merlin is the second busiest amusement operator in [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/15/cypress-gardens-sold-to-merlin-entertainments-group/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/15/out-of-the-loop-legoland-announces-water-park/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/15/out-of-the-loop-legoland-announces-water-park/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:13:26 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=4981 By Andy Guinigundo Carlsbad, Calif. – Several months ago, Legoland confirmed rumors that a water park was being added to the Legoland Resort in Carlsbad, north of San Diego. At that time other than the confirmation, no further details were released. Recently, at their yearly conference for media and invited guests, they finally presented the [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/01/15/out-of-the-loop-legoland-announces-water-park/feed/ 1 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/11/11/out-of-the-loop-lego-memorial-disney-shanghai-and-no-nick-park/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/11/11/out-of-the-loop-lego-memorial-disney-shanghai-and-no-nick-park/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:20:52 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=4391 By Andy Guinigundo Mini Vietnam Memorial for Veterans Day Carlsbad, Calif. – While many attractions around the U.S. have ongoing specials for military and sometimes family, I haven’t personally heard of too many Veterans Day events that are taking place in the parks. Well, Legoland is honoring veterans by dedicating a Vietnam War Memorial Lego [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/11/11/out-of-the-loop-lego-memorial-disney-shanghai-and-no-nick-park/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/11/02/out-of-the-loop-attractions-attempt-to-pay-tribute-to-michael-jackson/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/11/02/out-of-the-loop-attractions-attempt-to-pay-tribute-to-michael-jackson/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:17:46 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=4261 By Andy Guinigundo I suppose it’s fitting that someone who loved amusement parks so much, mostly Disney, has been appearing in various ways at various attractions since his death in June. No, I am not implying that Michael Jackson has been “haunting” various attractions. However, tributes have been prominently attempted and sometimes executed at various [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/11/02/out-of-the-loop-attractions-attempt-to-pay-tribute-to-michael-jackson/feed/ 0 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/10/22/out-of-the-loop-what-legoland-could-bring-to-central-florida/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/10/22/out-of-the-loop-what-legoland-could-bring-to-central-florida/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:15:04 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=4134 By Andy Guinigundo Let’s go over the scorecard: The Blackstone Group describes itself as an “alternative asset manager and financial advisory firm”. In this layman’s definition it is a company that owns companies. Most recently, it acquired Busch Entertainment Corporation – the company that owns Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. Blackstone also jointly owns Universal Orlando [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/10/22/out-of-the-loop-what-legoland-could-bring-to-central-florida/feed/ 2 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/08/23/out-of-the-loop-nick-theme-park-mapping-legoland-disneyland-upgrades/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/08/23/out-of-the-loop-nick-theme-park-mapping-legoland-disneyland-upgrades/#comments Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:35:08 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=3014 Nickelodeon theme park to open in New Orleans Last year I reported a story in Orlando Attractions Magazine about how Southern Star Amusement had “given up” on its attempts to reopen a park at the site of the former Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans citing lack of interest and funding. Month after month, however, I’d read [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/08/23/out-of-the-loop-nick-theme-park-mapping-legoland-disneyland-upgrades/feed/ 6 http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/06/18/possibility-of-legoland-theme-park-to-be-built-in-central-florida/ http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/06/18/possibility-of-legoland-theme-park-to-be-built-in-central-florida/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:35:35 +0000 Matt Roseboom http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/blog/?p=2478 While the LEGO Store at Downtown Disney (pictured above) offers guests a glimpse at the world of LEGO, an entirely new theme park devoted to the colorful building blocks may be in store for Central Florida. Here’s the report from screamscape.com: One of our readers was invited to take quite an interesting online survey the [...]]]> http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2009/06/18/possibility-of-legoland-theme-park-to-be-built-in-central-florida/feed/ 4