Simpsons Expansion Announced for Universal Studios Florida

© Universal Studios Florida

This Summer visitors to Universal Studios Florida will be able to be immersed in the world of the Simpsons more than ever before.  The Simpsons Ride opened at the park in 2008 along with a Kwik-E-Mart, and has had a large games area around it added featuring the Simpsons characters as well.  Now with a newly announced expansion there will be plenty more shopping, dining, and even riding available.

Visitors will be able to walk down the streets of Springfield, including Fast Food Boulevard, seeing popular locations from the show along the way.  Meat Sandwiches will be available at Krusty Burger, fried treats at the Fying Dutchman, a slice from Luigi's Pizza, donuts from Lard Lad, and even Moe's Tavern will take up residence.

The concept art also shows a mini-Duff Brewery where you'll be able to drink Duff Beer - brewed specifically for the park and only available there - along with The Android's Dungeon & Baseball Card Shop, which I would expect to be a new retail location.  Two new characters will join the area as well, Krusty the Clown and Sideshow Bob.

A new spinner flat ride named Kang & Kodos' Twirl 'n' Hurl will debut along the water's edge, taking "foolish humans on an intergalactic spin designed to send them into orbit."

The new area has been under construction for some time now, and only has a listed opening date of Summer.  Now that the cat is officially out of the bag I bet more details of the area will pop up.

Feel the Freeze at SeaWorld Orlando - Antarctica Opens Tomorrow

© SeaWorld Orlando

Tomorrow is the official grand opening, but with the media and other invited guests having already experienced SeaWorld's Antarctica buzz about the new area, ride attraction, and Penguin exhibit is quickly growing.

Antarctica includes dining at the Expedition Cafe, shopping at Glacial Collections, and the main ride experience named Empire of the Penguin.  The attraction uses motion based, trackless vehicles that spin and twirl through several show scenes as they follow the story of Puck, a baby penguin that they watch grow and take on an exciting adventure.

The attraction leads visitors directly into the penguin exhibit where it is a seriously cold 30 degrees - I think it will be pretty amusing to see Florida tourists in those temperatures!  No huge glass barriers separate guests from the animals, instead small disguised spaces keep guests and the penguins from coming too close.  Still, from photos it appears as though you're pretty close!

The press for the ride is growing by the minute, but the Orlando Sentinel has a great story up with a huge collection of photos.  There's also links to related videos and other galleries.  If you want to actually see video of the ride, check out this review from Theme Park Insider - but only watch the point of view video if you don't mind spoilers!

Special Delivery: Hades 360 Train Arrives

Perfect timing after Scott & Carol's story today featuring a look at Mt. Olumpus' Hades 360 - the park sent out some photos of the ride's train which recently arrived at the park.  Scott and Carol are traveling in Texas (yes, I'm jealous) so they asked me to post them.

The new Timberliner train is manufactured by Gravitykraft.  I love the screaming red color they used!

Here's an awesome shot of the decorative front panel of the train.  Hades looks a little angry if you ask me!

The park wasted no time installing the train onto the tracks.  The addition of the Timberliner was needed in order to navigate the 360 degree inversion that has been added to the ride.

One last shot of the new train being added to the track.  When a new ride, or in this case heavily renovated ride, receives its train that means testing can't be far off!  I think we're all quite excited to see Hades 360 run for the first time.

Scott And Carol Present - Hades 360 at Mt Olympus Pt 2

After much delay we bring you part 2 of our report on Hades 360 at Mt Olympus, if you need a refresher course here is the link to part 1

There will be a new twist for Hades in 2013 . A 360 degree barrel roll is being added to Hades, which will be renamed Hades 360. We previously reported the announcement at IAAPA 2012,

 

Some of the landscaping rock work had to be removed since the turnaround area was expanded for the new features. It will soon surround the new layout after construction is completed and there will be no need for equipment access.

Jeff Mason explained to Scott how the layout was changed and you can see in the background the beginning of 115 degree over banked turn. 

The turnaround in the parking lot was expanded nearly 40 feet in some spots to incorporate the barrel roll for Hades 360. The old footers were left in place and yo can see the old track location. You must be vigilant walking through these because if you stub your toe, the metal doesn't give at all.

 

Here at the exit of the 360 degree barrel roll, Nick explains his thoughts behind the improvements to Hades. The work platform will be removed once the track steel in in place. He makes sure he won't get in trouble at home by including his wife Eva, and two daughters Maria and Fotini in the interview. With attention to detail like that, no wonder Mt. Olympus is so successful in the highly competitive Wisconsin Dells market.

Here is the barrel roll from inside the track layout. The 115 degree turn is outside the picture to the right.

On the left is a new footer, while on the right is the old one. This is the transition from Hades to Hades 360 at Mt Olympus.

Here Nick is explaining to Scott about how Mt Olympus is beginning a program to use ten inch wide running steel on all their coasters. Nick feels this will make for smooth coasters in the future by keeping them easier to maintain.

This is the exit of the barrel roll, out in the parking lot. 

This is what the 115 degree turn looks like from outside the track. 

Every piece of steel has to be clamped into place, marked, and then taken down to the shop where it is plasma cut and drilled for the bolts. These pieces are heavy and it takes lots of muscle power to put them in the correct location.

 The last piece of each section is left in place to ensure proper alignment.

Riders will see this view as the exit the barrel roll, but the work platform will be removed and inspections done with a man lift on a daily basis.

The entry and exit of the tunnel from up on the track.

At the 115 degree over banked turn, Nick talks about his motivation for the continual improvement to Mt. Olympus, and he discusses the disquieting noises that have come out of the tunnel since it was retracked. The only noises we heard were the construction crew.

Many thanks to Nick, Adam, Jeff for helping us bring you these unique views. If the weather holds, soon we will be able to bring you a ride report of Hades 360, in all its glory. 



Lake Winnie Putting Final Touches on SoakYa Water Park

Lake Winnepesaukah is putting the final touches on their brand new expansion, the SoakYa Water Park.  The classic amusement park went very big in 2013 with the addition of the area, creating an entire day's worth of water park fun in a former parking location.

Containing a variety of water slides, a lazy river, activity area and more, SoakYa Water Park has a planned grand opening of Monday May 27th at 1 p.m.  The park has been releasing construction videos throughout the building process, and it is amazing to see all they have created since the announcement was first made.

Here's the latest - and also final - video from the park.  Looks great!

Will The American Dream Come True?

© The American Dream

The plan to open a mega-mall, complete with indoor water park and amusement park, located in northern New Jersey, may have finally received the green light.  The American Dream project would seen the completion and expansion of the partially finished Xanadu mall and entertainment center, which was a victim of the financial recession of several years ago.

The project is adjacent to the Meadowlands, home of the Giants and the Jets, and faced opposition from the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority due to concerns over making a crowded area even more so.

The American Dream would consist of a huge retail mall, with a 22 acre enclosed amusement and water park along with other attractions.  The mall's current developer is the same behind the Mall of America and the West Edmonton Mall in Canada, both of which have amusement or water parks as draws.

No timetable for work to start or a possible opening date has been mentioned, but this step is a big one - the project was announced back in May 2011.