Park Paradise

Sea World Orlando - Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin

SeaWorld Orlando has released its latest preview video for Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, showing off the high-tech vehicles that will be used on the new ride.

The video, embedded above features the park’s Creative Director Brian Morrow and Corporate Ride Engineer Mike Denninger. It includes footage of the vehicles undergoing testing, showing how a “trackless” system will be employed to enable the ride to offer a different experience every time.

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, which will debut in 2013, is being billed by SeaWorld Orlando as “the world’s coldest theme park ride”.

Tags: Sea World Orlando sea world orlando florida theme park usa attraction Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin penguin antarctica

Disney World’s Epcot - Behind the Scenes at Test Track 2.0

The new test track at WDW’s Epcot has opened with major guest popularity, and Chevrolet has just released this brand new video showing off behind the scenes magic for the re-construction. Check it out!

Tags: Disney World's Epcot disney disney world wdw walt disney walt disney world epcot theme park orlando florida usa test track chevrolet cars

Universal Studios Orlando - Butterbeer Record

Universal Orlando is celebrating the sale of the 5 millionth Butterbeer at Islands of Adventure’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opened in 2010.

The beverage, which features heavily in the Harry Potter books and movies, has proven to be one of the most popular elements of the Wizarding World, enabling guests to get a real life “taste” of life in the Potterverse. Universal has now expanded the number of locations selling Butterbeer to four, enabling it to achieve the stunning sales figures.

Butterbeer, which previously existed only in fiction. Their recipe has since been cloned at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London, and will also be replicated at Wizarding Worlds at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan.

Rival Disney has made some attempts to recreate Universal’s success with Butterbeer, including the introduction of “Le Fou’s Brew” at Gaston’s Tavern in the expanded New Fantasyland at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Tags: Universal Studios Orlando universal universal studios orlando florida theme park usa harry potter wizarding world of harry potter butterbeer record

Universal Studio Parks - Harry Potter Footage

Stars of the Harry Potter movies have reportedly descended on the Warner Bros. Studio in the UK to begin filming footage for under-construction new rides at Universal Studios Florida.

The scenes are likely to be used as part of two new additions to the park, which will form part of a new area themed around London as seen in the Potter movies. The first of these will be a roller coaster themed around Gringotts Bank, while the second will be a recreation of the Hogwarts Express train, linking the area to the existing Wizarding World of Harry Potter at neighboring Islands of Adventure.

Among those who have been spied entering the studio, which now houses the behind-the-scenes Warner Bros. Studio Tour, are Helena Bonham Carter (who plays evil Bellatrix Lestrange) and Mark Williams (who portrays Arthur Weasley, a close ally of Harry Potter). Lestrange is likely to feature as a character in the Gringotts Bank coaster, while Weasley seems more likely to play a role in pre-show videos for one or both of the new attractions.

The new land at Universal Studios Florida will recreate Diagon Alley, the shadowy area of London seen in several of the Harry Potter movies. It will sit on the site of the former Jaws ride, which closed in January 2012.

Tags: Universal Studio Parks universal universal studios universal studios orlando orlando florida usa theme park harry potter wizarding world of harry potter warner bros studio UK rollercoaster gringotts bank helena bonham carter bellatrix lestrange mark williams arthur weasley diagon alley

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom - Grand Opening of Fantasyland

Check out the grand opening ceremony show of the new Fantasyland from the Magic Kingdom yesterday. Jordin Sparks took the stage to sing a medley of all the classic Disney songs which make up the new Fantasyland!

Tags: Disney World's Magic Kingdom disney disney world wdw walt disney walt disney world theme park orlando florida usa jordin sparks Mickey Mouse beauty and the beast fantasyland Fantasyland Expansion tom staggs grand opening tangled snow white and the seven dwarfs little mermaid

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Simulator NEW

During the grand opening event for New Fantasyland yesterday at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom press and special guests were presented with a computer simulation of part of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride, which is set to open in the park in 2014. Check out the video above, it looks like a great addition to the new Fantasyland!

Tags: Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom walt disney world walt disney walt wdw theme park magic kingdom mk orlando florida usa fantasyland Fantasyland Expansion new fantasyland snow white seven dwarfs mine train rollercoaster

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom - Flying Dragon! NEW

Disney has finally unveiled its long-rumored flying, fire-breathing dragon, sending it soaring over the expanded New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.

The dragon, which is actually a micro-light aircraft, took to the skies above the park during the media preview event for the updated land. Disney described the stunt as a “special, one-night appearance” for the dragon, but it is expected that it will eventually become a regular fixture at the Magic Kingdom.

Disney has been teasing the new dragon effect via a special Tumblr blog at disneydragons.tumblr.com. The aircraft had previously been spotted undergoing testing, and was originally suspected to be in development for the planned Avatar Land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Tags: Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom walt disney world wdw walt walt disney theme park orlando florida usa magic kingdom fantasyland Fantasyland Expansion new fantasyland dragon flying dragon mk disney Mickey Mouse

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom - New Fantasyland OPENS

I have been very busy over the last week or two with all my exams coming up, I apologise for the lack of updates! Alas, today Disney World’s Magic Kingdom OFFICIALLY opened their brand new Fantasyland.

Gennifer Goodwin (Snow White on “Once Upon a Time”) and Jordin Sparks joined a regal (talking) Mickey Mouse and Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs in Belle’s Village to cut the ribbon for the grand opening ceremony! Check out the video above from Orlando Attractions Magazine.

Tags: Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom wdw walt disney walt disney world walt disney disney world orlando florida theme park fantasyland Fantasyland Expansion new fantasyland magic kingdom MK grand opening once upon a time gennifer goodwin snow white belles village tom staggs jordin sparks Mickey Mouse

Disney World’s Epcot - Test Track 2.0

It has been a week now since Test Track 2.0 was re-opened to staff members and soft openings to the public, and it was only a matter of time before we saw clips popping up on YouTube. The video above shows off a brief segment of the ride in action. The clip shows off what has been done to recreate the old Barrier Test room, that leads right into the start of the high speed outdoor track test. The video gives fans a good idea of the effects and the theme we can expect to see throughout the new ride when it opens in December.

Tags: Disney World's Epcot disney disney world walt disney world walt disney wdw theme park epcot usa orlando florida test track test track 2.0 car speed chevrolet

Legoland Florida - Christmas Bricktacular

Legoland Florida will be celebrating the holiday season with family friendly fun during its second annual Christmas Bricktacular. Holiday music and decorations will fill The Beginning and Fun Town with festivities every Saturday and Sunday in December.

Christmas Bricktacular will feature:

Lego Christmas Tree: The more than 30-foot-tall Lego Christmas tree made with a combination of 270,000 forest green Lego and Duplo bricks provides the piece for Christmas Bricktacular. Through Dec. 25, a special family will be chosen to help light the Bricktacular tree each night. The official tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Nov. 29, 2012 with a special master of ceremonies.
Lego Model Build Activity: Help Legoland Florida build a Lego Christmas Tree in the Wells Fargo Fun Town 4D Theatre Plaza that will stand over 20 foot tall when completed.
Lego Santa Scavenger Hunt: Help find Santa in this fun-filled holiday scavenger hunt. The whole family can enjoy searching for Santa in the over 30 million Lego bricks that make up Miniland USA. One lucky hunter each day will receive a prize from the daily drawing.
Lego Santa and Lego Toy Soldier: Guests will have meet and greet opportunities with Legoland Florida’s special holiday friends, Lego Santa and Lego Toy Soldier.
Holiday Festivities and Entertainment: Festive decorations and sounds of the season will fill the entrance of the park and a variety of holiday entertainment will take place throughout the weekend to delight guests of all ages.
Holiday Shopping: With six specialty stores, the park is proud to offer a unique and often hard to find selection of Lego products and more.