Theme Parks - Articles - Zimbio

Beyond Birthdays to "Celebration Vacations"

Tue, 22 Oct 2008 02:40:31 GMT

posted by being13th

OCTOBER 21, = 2008

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Birthdays and Beyond: The Trend Toward "Celebration = Vacations"

Anniversaries, personal triumphs, family milestones = — there's so much in life worth celebrating, and birthdays are only the = start! As you know, Disney Parks are asking the question, "What Will You Celebrate?", and tapping into the up-and-coming travel trend of "celebration vacations" can help drive your Disney vacation = bookings in 2009.
<= b>More info = >>

Meeting Friends New And Old

At Disney Parks, your Clients can live the experience = of two new Disney movies this month! First, "High School Musical 3: Right = Here! Right Now!" is hitting the streets this Friday! This new show celebrates the infectious energy of the upcoming motion picture, = High School Musical 3: Senior Year, coming to theaters on Friday, = Oct. 24! Then, join the world's most famous fairy and some of her friends as = you meet the characters of Disney's new animated film, Tinker = Bell. More info = >>

Parks and Hearts Aglow this New Year's Eve

Disney is sure to please this New Year's Eve! A = kaleidoscope of colors and elaborate light displays will illuminate the final = night of 2008 at the Walt Disney World® Resort. On Dec. 31, = dazzling fireworks shows, live entertainment and extended Theme Park hours throughout the Walt Disney World Resort will make it an ideal = and popular spot for your Clients to ring in the New Year. More info = >>

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Stay In The Middle Of The Magic For Less

For a limited time, your Clients can receive special = hotel savings on three-night or longer Disneyland® Resort = vacation packages with tickets. These packages include a stay at one of the = three Hotels of the Disneyland Resort, just steps away from the = Theme Parks and Downtown Disney® District. Rates start at just = $317 per person. More info = >>

Last Chance to Book This Travel Agent = Offer

Plan your own last-minute fall getaway to the = Disneyland® Resort with this special Travel Agent appreciation offer that = includes discounted accommodations, Magic Morning entry and complimentary = Park Hopper® tickets. Hurry, this offer is only valid through = Oct. 30, 2008! More info = >>

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Fly and Sail at a Great Rate This Winter

Lock in savings now for your Client's winter getaway! = For a limited time, Disney Cruise Line® is offering special = rates on airfare from select gateway cities when your Clients book a 7-Night Caribbean Cruise or 7-Night Land and Sea Vacation for January = 2009.
More info = >>

Calling All Pirates! A Special Cruise = Event

So, ye Clients are interested in pirates, aye? Then = they'll love the swashbuckling adventure awaiting 'em as Disney Cruise = Line® hosts a special pirate event March 8-12, 2009, onboard the Disney = Wonder® featuring actors from the popular film series. More info >>

Bookings Now Open for European Cruises

From Russia to Rome, your Clients can explore exotic destinations in Europe while enjoying the safety and comfort of = traveling with Disney Cruise Line®. View the 2010 itinerary video = and discover the magic awaiting your Clients. Bookings are now open! = More info = >>

Return Guest Offer Departing Soon

Time is running out for your Clients to receive a $100 = credit per person on Adventures by Disney vacations in 2009. When = past Adventures by Disney Clients book by Nov. 30, 2008, they are eligible for = this = Return Guest = Offer. With all the magical new destinations on tap next year, now is the time = to book — before this offer departs!

Check out these magical offers for your Client's next = magical vacation:

Special winter savings on Disney Cruise = Line®

Can't-miss holiday rates for a Walt = Disney World® Resort hotel

<= i>Adventures by Disney past Guest offer

Stay for three get one free at the = Disneyland® Resort

Walt Disney World® Resort Travel Agent offer

Last chance for this Disneyland® = Resort Travel Agent offer

October

Select nights in October
= Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the = Magic Kingdom® Park

Select nights in October
Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party at Disney's California Adventure® Park

Now — Nov. 2
Halloween Time at the Disneyland® = Resort

Now — Nov. 9
<= i>Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival

= November

Nov. 7-9
Festival of the Masters at Downtown = Disney® Area

Nov. 15-16
ABC SOAPNet Super Soap Weekend at = Disney's Hollywood Studios™

Select nights in November and December
= Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at = Magic Kingdom® Park

Nov. 21 — Jan. 4
<= span>Holidays at the Disneyland® = Resort

Nov. 28 — Dec. 30
<= span>Holidays Around the World at = Epcot®

Nov. 28 — Jan. 4
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing = Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios™

= Keep your Clients in-the-know about the expansion of Disney's = California Adventure® Park! The Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky = Cellar will tempt your Clients with a sneak peek at coming attractions as = the park prepares to undergo a massive makeover.
More info = >>

= <= span>Disney Learning = Connection

Disney Online Post = Office

Disney Print = Connection

Th= is is a promotional e-mail from:

Di= sneyland&r;= eg; Resort
Attn: E-mail Marketing
700 W. Ball Road
Anaheim, CA

Walt Disney World® Resort
Disney Cruise Line®
Attn: E-mail Compliance
1375 Buena Vista Drive
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

If= you do not want to receive future commercial e-mails at this e-mail = address from Disney Destinations, LLC or other Disney entities advertising = or promoting Walt Disney World product or services, click here.

If you do not want to = receive future commercial e-mails at this e-mail address from Disney = Destinations, LLC or other Disney entities advertising or promoting Disney = Cruise Line product or services, click here.

If you do not want to = receive future commercial e-mails at this e-mail address from Disney = Destinations, LLC or other Disney entities advertising or promoting = Disneyland products or services, click here.

©Disney
CST: 1022220-50

Nevada Seller of = Travel
Registration No. 2006-0198

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens - Williamsburg VA

Sat, 19 Oct 2008 22:12:10 GMT

posted by DCMarketing

This Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens celebrates 10 years of fears. Elevating the park’s fright factor for this anniversary is Masquerage, a haunted Italian palace where “Cloakwalkers” chase guests deep into bone-chilling crypts.

The Wicked Woods: Ripper Row haunted maze returns this year in an all-new location where gruesome scenes of history like the Great Fire of London, the rampage of Jack the Ripper and the bubonic plague come to life.

Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream features more than 15 frightening scare zones, haunted attractions and Halloween-themed shows. This year, many of the park’s haunted attractions and shows will start earlier in the day. Howl-O-Scream debuts Sept.19 and continues every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 26.

Fr more information, visit www.howl-o-scream.com or call (800) 343-7946. Admission: Howl-O-Scream is included with park admission or a Busch Gardens pass. Event Dates: Sep 19, 2008 - Oct 26, 2008 - Sunday, Friday, Saturday. Event location: Busch Gardens - One Busch Gardens Blvd., Williamsburg VA 23187, (800) 343-7946. More contact info: Phone: 800-343-7946 - URL: Event web site

Kingda Ka - Fastest Roller Coaster In The World

Thu, 24 Oct 2008 12:13:00 GMT

posted by mastershops

Are you a thrill seeker? Do you feel the need for speed? Today I am listing the fastest roller coaster in the world, along with my review. Amusement parks are popular vacation destinations, and the Kinda Ka is one of the elite, fastest, and most terrifying roller coasters in the world for the true adrenaline junkie!

KINGDA KA - The Kingda Da, is unarguably the fastest and tallest roller going to talk about the fastest roller coaster on the planet. Just imagine being vertically launched 45 stories high in only 3.5 seconds (1.67 g's at 128 miles per hour!!!!!), and then you experience being weightless as you descend 270 feet in a downward spiraling, stomach wrenching, fashion. The Kingda Ka is truly a rocket coaster in every sense of the word.

The only complaints about Kingda Ka is that the thrill ride is too short. I have read that the ride lasts 57 seconds, but I believe 35 seconds would probably be more accurate. Also, the lines can be very long at Six Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park needs to be said?

Word of caution : This thrill ride will not be in operation with even the slightest rain, since the speed of the roller coaster will cause discomfort as the rain drops hit you while you are going 128 miles per hour!

Buy The World's Wildest Roller Coasters Book - Theme and Amusement Parks

Kingda Ka is located at Great Flags Great Adventure Amusement Park in Jackson Township, New Jersey. If your happen to be in the North Eastern area of the country I would strongly suggest taking the time to head out to the Great Flags Great Adventure Theme Park in New Jersey to ride the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth.

Piece of Disney History III - Rock and Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith Disney Pin Released

Wed, 9 Oct 2008 10:31:00 GMT

posted by lvlover

Piece of Disney History III - Rock and Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
The excitement of the Piece of Disney History collection returns to Walt Disney World® Resort in 2008. This pin-of-the-month collection will feature pieces of actual Walt Disney World® Attractions.

This Limited Edition pin contains pieces from Rock 'n Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith at Disney's Hollywood Studios™. This attraction made its debut on July 30, 1999. This pin also contains a dangle element. Steve Zollman of the Disney Design Group created the original artwork for this pin. This special Disney Pin will look great in your pin collection.

Here are the details of this newly released pin:
Pin Name: Piece of Disney History III - Rock and Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Price: $12.95
Edition Size: 3500
SKU #: 10955462
Release Date: 10/09/08

Release Location: Walt Disney World® Resort

Special Busch Gardens Africa Report - Kumba Review

Mon, 29 Jul 2008 11:01:00 GMT

posted by bozzboy

Random facts:

Opened in 1993.

Kumba has four trains, but only three can be used simultaneously. The fourth exists so that the ride may operate at full capacity while a train is being serviced.

Kumba takes almost 3 minutes to complete one lap of its circuit, reaching a maximum speed of 60mph.

When Kumba first burst onto the scene in 1993 it did many things most other roller coasters wouldn't dare dream of doing. The 114 foot loop going around the lift hill, the 3 new ground-breaking inversions it implemented, and the way it integrated the terrain so seamlessly into its course all made this coaster stand out from the rest. This was coaster creators Bolliger & Mabillard big break, and boy did they take it. Renowned for their super smooth roller coasters, no one had seen anything like Kumba before, and it truly was a landmark in roller coaster history. 15 years on it's not quite as smooth as it was when it first opened, but it still delivers a hell of a ride that keeps it up there with the best coasters of today.

After arriving at the station from what is usually a fairly small queue, you board the comfortable seats and head right out of the station onto the large lift hill. You can't help but notice the huge vertical loop as you pass through it while ascending this green monster. Once you reach the top of the lift hill the train makes a small dip before hurtling down a 13-story swooping left hand drop. As soon as you're at the bottom hitting your maximum 60mph speed, you're heading straight back up into the loop which you just passed through. If you've got your senses in tact, take a look up and you may be able to catch a glimpse of the lift hill.

Before you have time for a breath you're forced into the 2nd inversion of your journey, which comes in the form of the rare element the dive loop. The floorless roller coaster, Kraken, at SeaWorld Orlando also includes a dive loop, but Kumba pulls it off with more force and guile. After the brief, yet forceful positive g's felt at the bottom of the inversion, you're sucked into the zero-g roll (or camelback), which B&M have perfected over the years. After the roll, the train travels along a straight section of track in a ravine, which is quite unusual for this type of roller coaster.

Soon enough you're heading into the element known as the cobra roll, which has become common place among multi-looping roller coasters nowadays. However, Kumba's still holds a trick up its sleeve which others cant compete with: the path bridge. Probably just as scary for passers-by as those riding, it adds a different dimension to the ride as the train wraps around the bridge offering spectacular views for the innocent guest walking past, while creating numerous head-chopping effects for the rider.

Following the cobra roll the train climbs a small hill into the mid-course brake run, and almost immediately dives back down into a sweeping corkscrew, followed by a small banked curve which throws you into ANOTHER corkscrew. As on many B&Ms the corkscrews are interlocked, but once again the way Kumba interacts with the terrain is superb and makes it feel a lot faster than it really is. The ride comes to a close with a rather surprising helix in a tunnel, before pulling back into the station for riders to depart.

Kumba really is an engineering marvel, especially considering when it was built. The ride is paced perfectly from start to finish and the use of terrain is superb. It's difficult to find a fault with Kumba: undoubtedly the ride has roughened up a little since its 1993 opening, but that's to be expected from a 15 year old coaster, and doesn't really take away from the ride experience. The lack of apparent theming may also be seen as a negative, but it can be claimed Kumba is themed perfectly to fit in with the rest of the Congo area.

Overall score: 9.5/10

Pro's

Inversions are taken perfectly
Superb pace throughout
Usually has a small line
Still smooth compared to most coasters
Brilliant use of terrain

Con's

Rougher than when it first opened
Possibly could use more theming

All photos courtesy of CoasterForce.com