Weekly Rewind 12.26.10

Orlando Attractions Magazine has launched a new weekly show that takes a look at the latest news from all the Orlando area parks.  Each episode ranges from 10 to 30 minutes in length.  You can find all the recent episodes on the Attractions Magazine website.

I'm starting to wonder about The Great Escape's future as a Six Flags park.  It is the only U.S. Six Flags park that isn't branded, it's shortening its season and hours next year, and not only did they retheme the Wiggles like the other parks, but they've also removed Looney Tunes from their stable of characters as well.  Prepping the park for a sale perhaps?  I bet CNL would snap it up in a minute.

Cedar Point's annual collection of loose change found inside the park and its water fountains totaled $1,500 this year and the park donated it to the Victory Temple Soup Kitchen.  The park also donated another $4,500 worth of goods to the kitchen and the Salvation Army.  Nice!

A visit to Disney California Adventure theme park in 2011 will be one filled with construction walls.  The park will have a modified entrance area for a big part of the year, due to construction on Buena Vista Street, a highly themed entrance street.  Check out the details from the Funland Blog.

The dueling Battlestar Galactica roller coasters at Universal Studios Singapore have started testing once again, after one of the seats fell off a train during testing earlier this year.  The ride is scheduled to reopen during the first half of 2011.

Idlewild and SoakZone had a Christmas present for us all - they announced the name of their new wave pool!  Wowabunga is a pretty cute name.  Perfectly fits the park's family theme and atmosphere.

Cedar Fair is once again experimenting with a skip-the-line pass.  They tried this briefly at Cedar Point some years ago, but killed it pretty quick.  Knott's will be selling Hate To Wait passes that will get you on five coasters and a few other of the park attractions with no wait.  The passes aren't cheap, though.  Read the details of the new program here.

 

The barns are up!  Dollywood has been working on building the thematic elements for their new Barnstormer ride.  Riders will swing in between two big chunks of barn when the ride opens next year.  Check out the park's latest gallery of construction shots here.

It is just a start, but Canobie Lake has shared some early shots of their work on Untamed, the park's new coaster for 2011.  It looks about as snowy there as it is here today!  I'd hate to be one of the workers out pouring concrete in that weather... but their work will be well worth it come next summer!