The already crowded theme park market in Central Florida could be gaining a new competitor. The Orlando Sentinel's Growth Spotter is reporting that a large U.S. theme park developer -- one that doesn't have a presence in the area -- is negotiating on parcels of land in Orlando that could top 200 acres. Sources claim that the theme park operator would team up with international partners to develop the site with a theme park, a water park, and hotels.
We know that we're not talking about Disney, Universal Orlando parent Comcast, and SeaWorld Entertainment, since they already have a heavy presence in the area. Disney World, Comcast's Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld's Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando combine for eight theme parks and another six water parks in Central Florida.
That opens the door for Six Flags and Cedar Fair as major regional amusement park operators that may finally make a big push into the booming Florida market. They're not the only possible players in this scenario. Palace Entertainment -- the U.S.-based arm of Spain's Parques Reunidos -- operates several leisure parks in this country, including Kennywood and Lake Compounce. Sources telling Growth Spotter that it's a U.S. operator with international partners makes California-based Palace a strong contender. There's also Dollywood and Silver Dollar City parent Herschend Family Entertainment, where Joel Manby ran the show before being tapped as SeaWorld Entertainment's CEO last year.
Read the rest at the MotleyFool
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Saturday, October 22, 2016
How they keep the fog rolling at Knott's Scary Farm
The fog can be so dense in Ghost Town that monsters creep right up to unsuspecting guests and scare them into loud screams -- and when that happens, Mike Jacobsen is just doing his job at Knott’s Scary Farm.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
Jacobsen is known as “Fog-1” during the Halloween season at the farm, something he’s been doing for 10 years.
He, along with his assistant Michael Boyce, “Fog-2,” have to walk around the park around 6 p.m. to turn on approximately 75 fog machines in Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy and many of the mazes.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
“It’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
Jacobsen is known as “Fog-1” during the Halloween season at the farm, something he’s been doing for 10 years.
He, along with his assistant Michael Boyce, “Fog-2,” have to walk around the park around 6 p.m. to turn on approximately 75 fog machines in Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy and many of the mazes.
Read the rest at the OCRegister
6 Kid Friendly Things to Do at Knott's Spooky Farm
If you haven't had a chance to get over to knott's Berry Farm you are running out of time for their fun kids event. Knott's Spooky Farm is going on now and is all about the littles during the daytime. Check out the top 6 kid friendly things to do during your visit to the park! The best part, all the not so spooky fun is included with your annual pass or general admission and is happening weekends in October from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 P.M (small fee for some activities)
Read the rest at CleverlyCatheryn
Read the rest at CleverlyCatheryn
When Social Justice Warriors Get Through With Halloween, It Won’t Exist
Just in time for Halloween, a social scare-tale is playing out across the country. Well, actually, an isolated incident has taken place with a lone crank targeting a holiday event, but still, the horror!
The impetus for change is Ron Thomas, a mental health activist whose schizophrenic son died at the hands of police years ago. What does Thomas’ tragic experience have to do with a Halloween theme park? I am not sure I could tell you. While there is a zeal to his complaints, there was little curiosity or analysis in his accusations.
Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Timesdetails how Thomas caused Knotts Berry Farm to close its Halloween-themed amusement park, called FearVR: 5150. Curiously, Thomas expected to be offended by the theme park, yet went anyway. Now, if I find myself offended by an activity, I take action by not engaging in that activity. That is not possible for today’s social justice warriors. Avoiding offense is never an option. Banishing that activity, and preventing others from any possible enjoyment they derive from it, is the only acceptable result.
While Thomas did head over to the attraction, he never got in—the lines were too long. “Instead, he talked to people as they exited and asked them to describe FearVR. They told him they were strapped into seats as if being admitted to a hospital, and then were transported into a frightening scene of mayhem,” Lopez writes. Therefore any outrage and action taken as a result is the result of hearsay.
Read the rest at TheFederalist
The impetus for change is Ron Thomas, a mental health activist whose schizophrenic son died at the hands of police years ago. What does Thomas’ tragic experience have to do with a Halloween theme park? I am not sure I could tell you. While there is a zeal to his complaints, there was little curiosity or analysis in his accusations.
Steve Lopez of the Los Angeles Timesdetails how Thomas caused Knotts Berry Farm to close its Halloween-themed amusement park, called FearVR: 5150. Curiously, Thomas expected to be offended by the theme park, yet went anyway. Now, if I find myself offended by an activity, I take action by not engaging in that activity. That is not possible for today’s social justice warriors. Avoiding offense is never an option. Banishing that activity, and preventing others from any possible enjoyment they derive from it, is the only acceptable result.
While Thomas did head over to the attraction, he never got in—the lines were too long. “Instead, he talked to people as they exited and asked them to describe FearVR. They told him they were strapped into seats as if being admitted to a hospital, and then were transported into a frightening scene of mayhem,” Lopez writes. Therefore any outrage and action taken as a result is the result of hearsay.
Read the rest at TheFederalist
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Elvira clones camp it up for look-alike contest at Knott's
The over the top hair, make-up and barely covered fronts were on stage as 16 people took part in the “Elvira Look-Alike” contest at Knott’s Scary Farm Saturday night.
The contest, held in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre during Halloween Haunt, was an added attraction to one of Elvira’s shows. It was billed as a chance to camp it up for the people taking part as the “Mistress of the Dark.”
Read the rest at the OCRegister
The contest, held in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre during Halloween Haunt, was an added attraction to one of Elvira’s shows. It was billed as a chance to camp it up for the people taking part as the “Mistress of the Dark.”
Read the rest at the OCRegister
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Cedar Fair tears down the nation's 7th oldest coaster
After 91 years, The Big Dipper at Geauga Lake is being demolished. While Cedar Fair wastes money polishing the turd that is Mean Streak at Cedar Point, they're simultaneously removing a true classic. Just another reason to be happy Dick(head) Kinzel is gone, for he's directly responsible for all of this and probably would've led to other classics amongst Cedar Fair's parks sharing a similar fate.
See the aftermath at Fox8
See the aftermath at Fox8
Friday, October 14, 2016
5 Tips for Your Visit to Knott’s Scary Farm
If you are going to Knott’s for the first time, there’s almost too much to wrap your brain around. With so many mazes, shows, scare zones, experiences, foods, opportunities, etc. you can easily miss out on something amazing. There are ton’s of great mazes (do as many of those as you can), but here are few tips on how to make the most of the rest of your experience….
Read the rest at MiceChat
Read the rest at MiceChat
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Petition: Bring FearVR Back to Knott's Berry Farm
This attraction should be re-opened, and if nothing else a blanket disclaimer should be made that states this is not meant to make light or or make fun of mental illness.
Sign the petition at Change.org
Sign the petition at Change.org
Virtual Reality Halloween by The Bay
I find myself filled with anticipation at this particular point of the space time continuum. This upcoming weekend both California’s Great America and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will be debuting new virtual reality experiences, and your humble narrator is ready to jump right to it. On a Friday I was at the California’s Great America media preview of Fear VR (also coming to Knotts Berry Farm), and the next day sees me at the Passholder preview for the Revenge of the Gargoyles version of Kong at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
Admittedly, my own VR experience is limited. I’ve yet to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain since VR was added to Revolution, and am a spoiler avoider. I remember a Berkeley arcade where I strapped on a helmet during the Reagan administration, but it was technologically limited, maybe slightly above Pong, a gimmick. About 10-12 years ago I got roped into some upcharge thing at Magic Mountain which was awful. And, well, that’s all. But that was a long time ago tech wise, and in that time we’ve gone from online videos [sic] that were really little more than a series of blurry stills to actual high definition clips of the last Disneyland set by Bill Hill & the Hillbillys.
Not sure exactly what to expect, but am excited about it. In the end, I hope to say there is no winner or loser. Neither of them has to be better than the other, different will suffice. In just the last week there have been ads for a VR system for Samsung appearing on our television, and care to guess who is manufacturing the park’s systems? Also, virtual reality has been reported as quite the rage from the just held Tokyo Game Show, so this may well be the year when this technology has hit the level needed for mass penetration.Read on to see what happened.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Admittedly, my own VR experience is limited. I’ve yet to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain since VR was added to Revolution, and am a spoiler avoider. I remember a Berkeley arcade where I strapped on a helmet during the Reagan administration, but it was technologically limited, maybe slightly above Pong, a gimmick. About 10-12 years ago I got roped into some upcharge thing at Magic Mountain which was awful. And, well, that’s all. But that was a long time ago tech wise, and in that time we’ve gone from online videos [sic] that were really little more than a series of blurry stills to actual high definition clips of the last Disneyland set by Bill Hill & the Hillbillys.
Not sure exactly what to expect, but am excited about it. In the end, I hope to say there is no winner or loser. Neither of them has to be better than the other, different will suffice. In just the last week there have been ads for a VR system for Samsung appearing on our television, and care to guess who is manufacturing the park’s systems? Also, virtual reality has been reported as quite the rage from the just held Tokyo Game Show, so this may well be the year when this technology has hit the level needed for mass penetration.Read on to see what happened.
Read the rest at MiceChat
Spellbinding! Vanessa Hudgens is hauntingly stylish in crop top at Knott's Scary Farm with boyfriend Austin Butler
Vanessa Hudgens was ready to give fans the goosebumps as she arrived to Knott's Scary Farm in Buena Park on Friday in a truly spellbinding ensemble.
The 27-year-old channeled her inner vampire as she arrived to the festivities in a black crop top with slouchy pair of trousers to match.
Vanessa's hair was styled up into two quirky buns as she wore a long red velvet kimono, topping off the spooky look.
Read the rest at the DailyMail
The 27-year-old channeled her inner vampire as she arrived to the festivities in a black crop top with slouchy pair of trousers to match.
Vanessa's hair was styled up into two quirky buns as she wore a long red velvet kimono, topping off the spooky look.
Read the rest at the DailyMail
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