Banshee Watch- September 6th

September 6th, 2013

 We've got some more news coming from Kings Island today regarding their new record-breaking coaster, Banshee, which is coming in 2014. This and many other new images have been posted to their facebook account. 
*Remember on Social Media Networks you can follow #BansheeWatch for my updates as well as many others!*

Image from Kings Island's Facebook Page

 More track is up, this is the first of the 'real' ride track that has gone up outside of the maintenance station area. Construction is progressing swiftly for the park with the mild fall we've been having so far. Footers for additional supports have been poured and are curing as we speak, those same supports are on site and ready to rise into the air as soon as the ground is ready.

 Each time I look at the layout for this ride, I admit, it a few years it's going to be even more amazing. Once the trees and foliage grows back in, this ride is really going to be a sight to behold while riding. Much like Beast, I think when things finally grow back it you won't see as much of the ride leaving you with that secluded feeling of thrill.

Seaworld Orlando's 'Aquatica' Announcing Today? UPDATED

Rumor has it that Aquatica, Seaworld Orlando's waterpark will be making a massive expansion announcement at some point today.

Image from Screamscape

According to the spy network over on Screamscape, this new expansion will be called "Taruka Rush".  This may or may not begin a ten year expansion plan, adding many new attractions to the park. Beginning with "Taruka Rush" which is a new duel slide, which may be a fusion of two attractions already found at the San Antonio Aquatica.

Screamscape guesses this may be a mixture of a Stingray Falls and Wahalla Wave. This means a mixture of a 'Tornado' style ride and a family raft ride. This may also incorporate some form of animal viewing which Aquatica is famous for with it's attractions.

UPDATE:

Well, whatever this new slide or attraction coming to Aquatic may be it seems it's going to be 105 feet tall. Seaworld's Twitter account released this image, now I'm not sure but I can't seem to find a slide in what we suspect is this style that quite this tall. However, I will keep looking so we have the most accurate information!


InSanity lurks Inside will update as news becomes available about this expansion and when the announcement is made!

Minor Delay in Posting..

There will be a minor delay in posting, it seems I've come down with a rather unpleasant head-cold and it's slowing me down pretty hard.

Never fear! We have every intention of being back to normal here within the next two days!

Universal Hollywood Confirms Removals to make way for Harry Potter

 Some of us in the theme park world have known for a while that when Universal Studios Hollywood announced they too were getting a "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" area that something would have to give. It seems today that Universal has confirmed what areas have made the chopping block in order to give the boy wizard his new Hollywood home.

 Not giving fans much time, these areas closed TODAY with news only really breaking on August 27th, many of us didn't spot it quickly enough.

 In the list of "GONE" we've got the rather famous but now waning "Gibson Amphitheater" which has held a place of glory inside the park. It opened in 1972 and is still the 3rd largest Amphitheater in Hollywood today.  According to Wiki (I know, not the best) the venue has events listed through October but Universal has decided it closed today.  We knew the Gibson closure was coming, it will make room for the Hogwarts Express and the key attraction, Forbidden Journey.

 Up next is the Flintstones Carnival Games area, which rumor has it will be relocated to the new 'Despicable Me- Super Silly Fun Land" area.  Inside Universal reports these are being removed to make way for the parks new "gathering area" which will include a box office, water feature and shopping/dining.

 Also disappearing, possibly being moved into the new "Super Silly Fun Land" area is the water/play area "Adventures of Curious George".  This isn't surprising as many of us suspected it would either be removed soon or re-themed. It sits directly next to Gibson Amphitheater, so it seems to be falling under the axe also. 

 Last on the list is a part of the "Studio Tour" called "The Mummys Tomb".  I honestly don't know much information about this part of the tour, so I can't really comment on it but a rumor found over on Screamscape states that the tunnel effect of the attraction hasn't been working well over the summer.

Line many not be exact, working in a rather cramped area.

 I've outlined the areas being removed in red, so you have an understanding of how drastic a change this will be for the small but historic park.  When WWoHP was added into Islands of Adventure at the Orlando resort, it wasn't removing anything as large as this nor was it taking out a classic theater (The London/Diagon Alley area is still a sore spot which we won't talk about here).  I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this yet.