Kentucky Kingdom- 2015 Expansion/Reopening List.

Kentucky Kingdom Announces the 2015 Expansion/Re-Opening Rides list.

 It's well known that Kentucky Kingdom has struggled to re-build a park left in neglect and nearly ruin from when Six Flags abandoned it.  While they did re-open in 2014, it wasn't with a full amusement park at their disposal. The clean-up and re-building has taken some time but each season more is getting done!

 For 2015, Kentucky Kingdom has announced that they will re-open 'Raging Rapids Ride', the roller coaster 'T2' which will now be renamed 'T3' as well as the 5,000 seat Amphitheater. While to some this may not seem like much, it's a big step in the right direction for this park. 

Inside Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

 Inside the New "Seven Dwarfs Mine Train" Attraction.

 The Disney Parks Blog has favored fans with a treat over the weekend. A quick and teasing look inside the new attraction coming to Disney World's Magic Kingdom in 2014, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

 Showing off some of the mysterious interior of the attraction as well as the theme work going on, the park is building up the hype for this newest addition to Fantasyland.

 This new ride, themed off "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" replaced the old attraction of "Snow White's Scary Adventures". A family roller coaster, it's the newest mountain range to be added to Disney World.

 We've included another image from the post below! Overall, it's looking pretty awesome but still leaves a LOT of questions about the ride.

All images are from Disney. You can see the full post by visiting- The Disney Parks Blog: All in the Details for more images.

Camp Minnie-Mickey Closes Soon, Makes Room for Avatarland

Image from MousePlanet.com

 Disney Confirms a Closure Date for Camp Minnie-Mickey, Making Room for Avatarland.


 The last days of Camp Minnie-Mickey are upon us and by default so are the last days of the popular so "Festival of the Lion King" All to make room for the new addition of Avatarland to the Animal Kingdom park.

 You last day to visit will be January 5th- Disney World has announced that the closing date for this land will be January 6th, 2014.

 While 'Festival of the Lion King' will eventually move to it's new theater home, it will be closed for several months while construction finishes. Camp Minnie-Mickey will never be see again, Not for the much desired "Beastly Kingdom" which fans have been clamoring for since they learned about it. It's closing to make way for the seven-foot-tall-blue-cat-people from James Cameron's "Avatar" movie.  Avatarland is Disney's Newest "Big Budget" expansion, hoping to draw in millions even though no one is sure if Cameron plans to release the next two movies on their proposed dates.

 Like it or Not- Avatarland is coming.

Dollywood- Fire Chaser Express Animation Released

Dollywood's newest roller coaster may be labeled as a 'family ride' but when the new animation of the ride was released today, it looks like the coolest 'family ride' ever!  Not only does this newest ride have a launch, it also has a lift hill and a backwards return to the station! This ride looks surprising both fun and rather long.. check out the video.


Fire Chaser Express will open at Dollywood for the 2014 season.

BREAKING NEWS: Busch Gardens Williamsburg Expansion and New Attraction? UPDATE!

Busch Gardens Williamsburg will Expand and build a New Attraction in 2015.

Image from BGWFans

Today BGWFans found permit proof that Busch Gardens Williamsburg will be expanding the Festa Italia area and adding in a new attraction.

 The permit states the attraction will have a height of 156 feet with an approximate total elevation height of 242 feet.

Image from BGWFans

 They report this began almost two months ago when a "line of sight" test happened and lately lots of "ground marks" have been seen in the Festa Italia area. One member of BGWFans has even reported that soil tests have been taken from the area around Teatro di San Marco. However, this dosn't exactly explain what the park has in the work for the area.

 Most of the 'ground marks' are found surrounding where the teacups currently are plus ranging back to the entrance area of Apollo's Chariot and upwards towards Roman Rapids.  They believe this will put the highest area of the ride smack in the middle of the Clydesdale and Sheep paddocks which surround the area just outside of the Festa Italia train station.

While no one is currently sure what this may mean. Could Festa Italia be getting a complete re-theme to their area? Are we seeing the ground work for a new roller coaster coming to Busch Gardens Williamsburg?

We'll have to watch and see!
Please visit BGWFans for a more detailed explanation about this breaking news from Busch Gardens Williamsburg!  Because if something is going on, these are the people I look to for information!

UPDATE 10/10/13

BGWFans has located the full permit submitted to James County for the Busch Gardens Expansion! Please visit their website to read the full letters and view the images attached with it, it's way to much for me to try and break down or explain here! Once they've gone through it and broken it down completely, we'll post of the findings!
-Because really, I'm not good at translating these types of permits.  

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!

Breaking News: Dorney Park's Wildwater Kingdom to Receieve 2014 Expansion

!!BREAKING NEWS!!

 We've just received word that Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, will be making a big announcement about an major addition to Wildwater Kingdom for the 2014 season.  On Wednesday, August 28th, 2013 at 9:15am the park will be announcing what this new multimillion dollar project will be. 

 After consulting with my expert on Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, this could be a potentially massive expansion. Possibly taking over several areas already owned by the park. I've complied a quick map (via GoogleMaps) of the possible areas which may see new construction soon.

 While unable to attend the media conference in person, we hope to bring you this breaking news as quickly as possible. Please stay tuned for updates!

UPDATE 8/28/13:
Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom have made their big announcement, follow the link below for more information.

Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom: Major Additions for 2014

Universal Orlando DENIES Harry Potter Expansion in 2014

Not-so-Breaking News

Here we go again, on one of my favorite 'ranting' topics! The rumored 2014 'London' expansion of Wizarding World of Harry Potter supposedly coming to Universal Studios.

Well we all know Universal Orlando is in the middle of a giant boom due to the wild success of Wizarding World of Harry Potter which opened in 2010. We've seen this with the new Despicable Me attraction which replaced the ailing Jimmy Neutron. We've watched a brand new Transformers: The Ride 3D go up in a matter of mere months to the point it's nearly ready to open shortly for the mad summer rush. The rumored "Springfield Project" expansion which is going up outside of The Simpsons Ride which may or may not feature carnival style flat rides.  However, does that really mean that giant construction project in the previous Amity Island location is the much rumored Wizarding World London expansion? 

Image from the awesome folks at OrlandoParkNews.Com

Alright, we can't deny whatever this project is... it's MASSIVE. It's beyond massive, it's makes my mind twist around in giddy circles like a dog chasing it's tale with the unknown possibilities of "WHAT IS IT?!".  Which, as you should know, drives me completely crazy. 

Now, the LONG KNOWN problem I have with this being Wizarding World Part 2 (WWp2 for short) is the fact that in February of this year Universal Spokesmen have flat out said that a "A Harry Potter Expansion is NOT coming in 2014" nor have they leaked a word to the press of what this huge building project could be. Now this peice doesn't deny it's WWp2 but it doesn't confirm it either. Frankly I'm still fence sitting on this project no matter how much supposed 'intentional leaking' is done through certain other websites. Personally, I still see entirely to many logistical problems around moving WWp2 into a second park and that's it's about the dumbest idea I've heard since Kings Island tore out the loop on Son of Beast and magically expected it to work right... but again, that's just me. I'm sure you've heard my "Separate Parks Harry Potter Problem" rant before so I won't bore you with it again.

Universal Orlando Resort is a master of misdirection and lately have proven to be even more stealthy then Walt Disney World with their internal secrets. Let's be serious, those of us who flow within the Theme Park circuit tend to know what Disney World is doing before Disney signs the contact papers (the exception being Avatar because NONE of us guessed that one or if we did, we thought it was a nightmare). Now I will admit, This thing has (in my opinion) about a 75% chance of being WWp2 (GROAN) because my husband KitsuneHazard and I have done some fishing and came up with one disturbing image.

Left image from OrlandoUnited.Com. Right image CallyLabourCouncillors.org.uk

Yeah. I know. It looks a LOT like Kings Cross Station in London. That alone makes me bump up my normal odds of 50% on this construction being WWp2 up towards a more respective 75%.  I'm not thrilled as I'd much rather see a new, unique 'movie themed attraction' going into this spot but I know Harry Potter is a giant money machine right now for Universal.  Although with the announcement from the Orlando Business Journal it won't be in 2014 at all, so the soonest we could see this still mysterious area open would be 2015 or later.

However, I still stand fully by my complete and utterly motionless fence sitting ways. Until someone from Universal Orlando steps out onto a platform and tells the world "Okay, you got us. It's Wizarding World of Harry Potter London Edition" I'm not moving from this fence post! So take this rather late breaking news as you will just know whatever it is that is being built, it probably won't be opening for the 2014 season if Universal Spokespeople are telling us the truth.

Disney's "AvatarLand" Project: Why this is a bad time.

Disney's "AvatarLand" Project

...and why it pisses me off!

In case you couldn't tell by the title, this little rant is about Disney's idea of building an entire land in the Animal Kingdom park based off the idea of James Cameron's blockbuster movie "Avatar". Also why I think it's about the dumbest idea I've heard yet.

Image from IMPAwards.com

Well Folks, It's that time of the month again. 

No, Not that time, Geeze!

Time for Carrie to begin bitching as yet another "AvatarLand" rumor pops up. I know I've said it before but I don't think I've ever really explained exactly why this project aggravates the complete living HELL out of me! Allow me to pull out my little soapbox here and I shall enlighten you. 

Now, before anyone get's on their high horses, let me explain a few things. 

-I have nothing against the movie, I thought it was one of the most amazing and beautiful thing's I've ever really experienced. Especially in IMAX. Wow, Pretty! However, this isn't original folks. Most of us have seen this exact story before, in a different setting.  It happened in 1992, We called it Furn Gully: The Last Rainforest and it had Tim Curry, it wins.  It's also pretty much every iteration of Pocahontas we've ever seen.  So while beautiful and amazing, not original.

-I've got nothing against James Cameron, Except Titanic. However, I can forgive him that since he made Aliens which is one of my favorite movies.  

-I fully believe that Disney, of all the theme parks, really has the power to bring this rich and beautiful world to life. If anyone any can, it would be Disney. 

Okay, Carrie. What started this rant anyway?

Good Question! Let me explain!

Since this project was announced,  details have been sketchy. The opening date of 2015 has been bumped back twice now yet Disney keeps insisting the project is still in the design process. Also rumors of having trouble working with Cameron already exist. 

Well on Friday, those great folks over at OTPN posted an update about "AvatarLand" which reads something like this:

AVATAR - Walt Disney Imagineers are currently in the design stage for AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life creating themed lands that will give Guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected begin in 2013 and project of this size typically takes approximately five years to design and build.  

I suggest you head over to their and read the whole article which can be found at: Orlando Theme Park News: AVATAR Land construction expected to start soon.

Why it's a shoddy idea..

1. The Current State of Disney World..

 Okay if you haven't been keeping up with the gossip, rumors and other general rants of the Disney Fan community, let me explain. Disney World, isn't in the best of shape right now. Many attractions have issues, large and gaping issues. Everything from Mechanical (broken animatronics, collapsing mountains) to "Bad Show" problems (Dirty, Worn and Visible Paint, Gaping holes). Don't believe me? Do some google searches, you'll quickly find half a dozen message boards with photos pointing out these huge problems. 

 Frankly, Disney World needs to pay more attention to these current problems and fix them now.   

 Letting things go and go some more until their major problems has never worked for this company. Point in fact, this is exactly what they tend to do when the idiots in upper management want an attraction gone from the parks. Still don't believe me? When was the last time you rode 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? The Skyway to Tomorrowland? BodyWars? 

 Hopefully your thinking along my lines here, that being, they're letting so much fall apart as it is...  can we really trust these people to build something that requires the attention to detail that Avatar requires? I honestly have no answer for this question but not much hope either. Corners keep being cut that I can't really put the faith into the current Disney World upper management (you know, the people who okay the spending budget?) to do this right.

2. Still Under Construction...

 Aside from the problem Disney World already has which is not fixing and maintaining what they've got, there is the added problem of still having one major expansion still under construction. Remember, the new FantasyLand Expansion (which isn't really and expansion!) still isn't finished. Nor will it be finished until summer of 2014 when the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is anticipated to open.  

Image from Disneyparks.disney.go.com

 So this project is still unfinished and already their wanting to bite off another two possible projects!

One being this shoddy "AvatarLand" idea and the second being the much rumored "Disney Hollywood Studios Expansion" which may or may not include a Florida version of a Pixar movie attraction. This seems a little too much going on at one single time to really work well in resorts favor.

 My parents always taught me to finish one project before I begin another. Because things get muddled and often important and vital parts end up missing. Mostly because your attention is now in two places when it should be focused on one.  I'm sure you've all heard some version of this at least a thousand times in your own lives. Perhaps Disney should pay more attention to the old words of wisdom passed down from parents to kids, they tend to really mean something. 

3. Wish in one hand, shit in the other. See which get's full first. 

 Another one of those catchy slogans and a direct quote from my own Mother. 

 We all know Disney doesn't really listen to their fans and critics unless we complain loudly enough, in person and only while at the parks. If they listen then, we're lucky but they still need to hear it. While I doubt they'll ever listen to reviews or concerns about projects like "AvatarLand" they do listen when we complain about the state of the parks. 

 So with that folks, I ask you this. If you see a bad show at any Disney Park, from a broken animatronic to peeling paint.. Please tell guest services. File a complaint or let them know your disappointed in the show you got. This is about the only control that we, the paying guests, have left within our power. 

Alright, We get it. You don't like the project, done yet?

 Yes! I'm done and I thank all you wonderful readers to taking the time to listen. I'll get off my soapbox now and allow you to either do the research or draw your own conclusions from the basic info I've provided. 

Disney Dragons: Egg Discoverd? Wrong Location and Bad PhotoShop!

Disney Dragons

Well this has been going viral lately between the storyline for the New Fantasyland Expansion and one cleaver blogger named Gary Buchanan. Who also happens to be the "Senior Social Media Manger" at Disney Parks Blog, this has it's own Tumblr and hasthtag on Twitter #BelieveinFantasy.

 Apparently as the story goes, Dragons have been spotted flying over the new "Enchanted Forest" area of the expansion. It's a cute story and inspires the imagination to take flight, which has been the point of Magic Kingdom and Disney Parks since they began. The story is pretty basic and easy to follow including a horrible curse and the result? Yup, Dragons!

 While I applaud them for trying to find a way to work these admittedly awesome mythical creatures into their story, let's face it Dragons have been villains in the past for Disney. They've done there job well with the most famous being Maleficent but other favorites such as Pete's Dragon, Merlin and various others of the years. There is only one small problem, they really didn't do their homework too well with this one. 

 After looking at the pictures posted by Mr. Buchanan it was bugging the hell out of me. The angle of the castle was wrong, the car was wrong.. the pictures where just not right! So I thought it over for a day. Naturally it was still bugging me so I set myself down to work and within ten minutes and a little help from Google I had their number.  

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Okay let's take this apart by levels beginning with the main picture.

Picture from Disney Parks Blog

 If you look at the angle of the castle in this image, it doesn't fit the direction of where the Fantasyland Expansion is. This picture was supposedly taken between when Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 and the early 1980's judging on a few factors and some hints posted in the Tumblr. The problem with this is that where they are proposing this image was simply don't work as 20,000 Leagues and later Pooh's Forest sat. 

 

Now normally I'd over look something like this since Disney refuses to acknowledge that 20,000 Leagues even existed 99% of the time.  However the angle problem was still driving me mildly crazy so off to Google Maps I went!

Have I mentioned I LOVE toys like Google Maps and Google Earth? Because I do!

...and here are my results. 

If you compare this image from Google Maps to the location where it was taken, you'll see that it and the above "vintage" image are nearly perfectly lined up. So now I had my angle and it was targeted right where I expected it to be, to the left side of Space Mountain! 

 

See, Got 'em!

 Well, that's one mystery solved as far as I'm concerned but then I kept looking at the images and something else began to niggle at the back on my mind, something not good at all. Other then the fact I can't remember Disney World ever owning LandRovers for WED!  So I kept staring at the pictures for another good 15 minutes after I made my excellent "Paintshop" images for everyone to enjoy. 

Wait. Wait a DAMN minute!

THEY PHOTOSHOPPED IT!

...and not even WELL! 

Okay, Now I'm angry. Pretty damn Angry!

All my excellent detective skills? Worthless because they cheated!

I called in my resident photoshop guru (also know as my long suffering husband) and set him loose. The results and the commentary coming from his laptop during these moment where truly priceless.  Let me give you an idea.. "These aren't even the same trees!" and "How in the hell did the castle GROW?!".

Much laughter ensued, we howled about this! You would think with Disney World could at least employ someone with decent photoshopping skills to make their "Dragon Egg" story more believable if someone who can't even open photoshop can spot something funky going on!  

So for your laughing pleasure, I present to you: DISNEY CAN'T PHOTOSHOP!

 Wow. I really expected more. A LOT more. 
To give you an idea, my husband was able to re-create the brush size and general fit within two minutes.

Either way, the Dragon's part is still a good idea! But please, Mr. Buchanan if your reading this.. leave the "making it believable" part to someone who is better with photoshop okay?

 

Beer and Wine in Magic Kingdom: End of the World or Stupid Over-reaction?

Booze in Magic Kingdom

Mass overreaction or End of the World?

 In the words of the Late and Great Douglas Adams: 

 DON'T PANIC!

Alright, in case your living under a rock or just not up on what happens in the secular kingdom of Disney World let me enlighten you. Several days ago Magic Kingdom made an announcement that inside the 'New Fantasyland' restaurant of "Be Our Guest" they will be service beer and wine only during the dinner hours. 

This apparently sparked the reaction from people of "OMG End of da WORLD! Drunks will abscond with children! Everyone will be drunk all the time! It's not safe!" or some other such bullshit drama. Apparently they didn't bother to actually READ anything that either Orlando Sentinel or Disney Parks Blog said about the matter before they panicked like a bunch of sheep. 

(Seriously, I hate it when people panic like sheep because they don't bother to read!)

If you look at the article even the Sentinel posted (Which you can find Right Here) and read down just a piece, you can easily see this is during 'Dinner Hours Only'. The 'Be Our Guest' restaurant is sit-down, table service during dinner. This means it's a real restaurant, you sit at a table and they bring your order to you.. it's not "Quick Service" or "Counter Service" where you grab your food and find your own table like many of the Magic Kingdom Restaurants. 

So this means while your having your dinner, your allowed to indulge in a drink or three. With Dinner. 

Do you see where I'm going with this yet?

It's not worse then if you went to Olive Garden and had a glass with your Lasagna. It's not the end of the world as we know it, to quote R.E.M. It's normal and damn near every other good restaurant (and some not-so-good ones) offer it. It's not like a roaming band of DRUNKS will be stumbling around Magic Kingdom, Open beer in hand and showing your children adults can have fun too! 

(But I'll tell you what, it'd probably make 'It's a Small World" a hell of a lot more tolerable!)

Frankly letting Mommy and Daddy have a drink or two with dinner will probably make their entire "Disney Experience" at Magic Kingdom a hell of a lot nicer. Who doesn't want a nice cold beer or that relaxing glass of wine after a day (or week) having had your kids have been spazzing out or even crying off and on all day?  Most do and let's face it, many parents probably won't over-indulge in front of their hell-spawn anyway.

Plus there is one more important thing your all forgetting. The Prices.
Have you seen the prices at your local watering hole? $2 drafts and $3 domestic bottles is about the normal for most of the places I've been. However this isn't a local watering hole, it's Disney World. Nothing is cheap at Disney World and neither are the selections 'Be Our Guest' is offering, so if your really out to get drink I doubt your going to do it at the lovely prices of $6.75 (for the cheapest beer) and $9/$39 (for the cheapest glass/bottle of wine). 

For those of you still reading and curious, please follow "THIS LINK" for a .PDF file of the 'Be Our Guest' Restaurant Menu of their Beer and Wine offerings.

(Besides, that's what the bar at the Resort is for!)

So let's all sit down, relax and raise a glass. This is nothing to get your collective panties in a knot over. It's Dinner. 

Universal Orlando Harry Potter Expansion- Speculation ABOUND!

SPECULATIONS ABOUND

Universal Orlando and Harry Potter Edition

Alright, in case you haven't noticed I'm a severe fence sitter on this matter.

I don't think (and I hope) that Universal Orlando is NOT this stupid, however since NOTHING has been officially announced I'm allowed to cling the that silly hope.

No clue what I'm talking about? 

Let me explain. Please get comfortable, this is probably going to take some time!

On December 31, 2011 Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider shook the internet pretty hard by announcing he had an inside source that gave him full images and information on what is replacing the JAWS attraction and all of Amity Island at Universal Studios Orlando. It also involved the next expansion of 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter' or as Jeff Elliott (also of Theme Park Insider) likes to put it "The Race to Spend Potters Gold". 

Okay this didn't just shake the internet theme park community, it blew the damn doors off the server and people went wild. All this based on speculation and no official announcement on behalf of Universal Orlando Resort. 

YES, You DID read that correctly. THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL PEOPLE! 

The fat lady hasn't sung, the cigars haven't been passed out. Universal has neither confirmed nor denied what is going into the Amity Island space at this moment in time.  Everything at this moment is still just rumors until the day Universal Orlando Resort comes public and says it. 

The rumor is that JAWS and all of Amity Island will be completely replaced with the Harry Potter Expansion. Now I've got into this before and how I think it's just about the most LUDICROUS IDEA EVER, it's a logistics nightmare and Harry Potter doesn't belong in Studios.  

Included in this speculation is the much rumored "Gringotts Bank Coaster" as well as "Diagon Alley", "Hogwarts Train Ride" and some form of a small 'walk-threw attraction' yet to be named or known. 

 Picture from Theme Park Insider

Now before you jump down my throat let's try to get an understanding here.  Please don't get me wrong, I love Harry Potter (Both books and movies) and I thought Wizarding World was amazingly well done. In fact, so well done my Visa card was smoking by the time my long suffering husband managed to haul me out of there with one last butterbeer in hand.

However, I don't believe Harry Potter has a place outside of Islands of Adventure.

Let me rephrase what I'd said before on this matter and how exactly it's a logistical nightmare.

1. Location
JAWS is completely on the opposite side of the Universal Orlando Resort from WWoHP.
2. Shit is in the way!
There is also a lot of important things back there which would need replaced and moved. Central Casting, Human Resources, Wardrobe, Cafeteria 1, Maintenance, Employee Parking and the Props Department all sit in between these two.

3. See Picture!

 So for this to even begin to be true and for them to really be building this, I'd have to hope that Universal Orlando has already begun the process of moving all those key backstage areas to other buildings.  However, there is a catch here. 

THEY HAVEN'T!

Calm down, I'll explain.

The most open rumor I've seen yet is a few pavement markings from backstage, which don't follow the area supposedly for the "Hogwarts Train Ride". Plus none of these buildings have been torn down, relocated to either new or re-used buildings either. 

In fact, other then the area around and behind jaws (As well as Sound Stage 44) nothing on the Universal Studios land has been removed. Now I've seen some proof the permits have been filed to demolish a few buildings just outside of Wizarding World where in bumps into what's left of "Lost Continent" but that's really all. Nothing for any of those backstage buildings and for demolition Central Florida requires more permits and hoops-to-jump-threw then other places.. it's enough to halfway boggle your mind.

Now, let me tell you why I think this is an EPICALLY BAD idea from the business side of the park.

1. You'll be required to have a two-park ticket (think Park Hopper) to access one of the big ticket attractions, the "Hogwarts Train Ride" which is rumored to move between the current WWoHP and the Amity Island Space. That just seems silly to split your major attraction between two parks and completely separate 'lands'.

2. How are they going to even PULL it off?! Trains are big folks, they need BIG spaces to turn around in unless they plan to run it similar to Disney Worlds Monorail system. Which also brings in the problem of HIDING the second conductors area! You'd have to hide in inside of a tunnel or other building, which also brings in the problem of getting people loaded on and off while not spotting the second drivers space. 

3. Your gonna SEE stuff outside the windows, backstage stuff which is going to completely ruin the illusion that Universal and Rowling worked so hard to create. Okay so you put in video screens or TVs to show false images, this would also be ruined by exiting the train and hitting a MASSIVE turn style gate to get into the next park which brings up another problem..

4. People aren't going to want to BUY a second ticket to see what should be an expansion within the same park. Which now creates anger and traffic going back, which will probably take up a good 1/3 of your open seating space on the "Train" which then in turn creates a flow problem.  Because yes, you can say it a million times that you need a 'Two Day Ticket" and people won't listen thus a nice loop of anger from guests. 

5. Space is LIMITED. Where are they even going to stuff the train stations? Okay so a few building in Lost Continent are being demolished, that's not going to be NEARLY enough room. You've probably need to take out everything up to the Sinbad theater to facilitate the lines and the space needed. Have you see the train and monorail stations at Disney World? Their HUGE.

And those are just a few of the dozens of problems Universal is going to face if this rumor is, in fact true. I'm completely FOR Harry Potter being expanded but I believe it should stay within Islands of Adventure and take over the now sadly lacking, Lost Continent area.  While Harry Potter would fit into "Ride the Movies" you would think they would put "Forbidden Journey" into Studios, this is simply because Gringotts is such a small part of both the Harry Potter books and movies it wouldn't be a good fit for Studios. Plus there is something else to consider, all the "Lands" of Univeral Studios are in the United States.

Again, Let me Explain.

Amity Island was supposed to be off Long Island, New York.

Disaster! Is located in San Fransisco.

Some of the back streets such as where the 'Blues Brothers' are Chicago. 

Mummy is a Museum supposedly in 1940's New York City.

Terminator 3D and the Monster Make-up show are Old Hollywood, California.

Men in Black, ET and Simpsons where all originally an area called "The Expo Center".

.....even the Rumored "Transformers" attraction would also be State-side.

So adding in a London, England part simply doesn't fit with the long standing theme Universal has had for ages in their Orlando Park. I personally can't speak for the Hollywood Park but if I remember correctly they've got some of the same theme layout as Orlando does. 

It just doesn't fit!

Granted, this is just my opinion.  I hope I'm right and frankly if I am, I'll enjoy feeding out a nice piece of "Eat Crow" pie.. if it is true I'll just shake my head and watch the chaos it creates from a safe distance.  However, until something comes directly from Universal Orlando Resort in an official capacity of a press announcement  on this matter... I shall keep sitting on my fence. All while hoping that this isn't what the future of Studios is going to look like.

Bad News- Disney Spending to Decline

Well Friends, It was bound to happen.

Our hopes and dreams for a massive Epcot Center and World Showcase refurbishment looks to be held off for another 5-10 years. Talking Head #2 (Bob Iger) announced today that after the massive billions of dollars spending spree Disney Parks have been on for the 2011-2012 years they will then turn their eye to a move "conservative" approach in coming years.

"I think you're likely to see relatively prudent behavior over the next number of years," Iger told analysts. "We do have some commitments that will continue to be reflected in increased capital spending — the one that is most notable is Shanghai Disneyland, and [there's] the completion of the Fantasyland redo or build-out in Florida. But I think you're likely to see a fairly prudent period for the company."- From the Orlando Sentinel

It looks like aside from Test Track and the GM refurbishment deal that Epcot Center, the once crown jewel of Disney Technology has fallen by the wayside once again. Rumors have been circulating for years that Epcot is do for a massive refurb and updating of systems, it looks like that rumor may well be false according to what Iger has told in this press conference. Epcot has been in the red on admission and costs the last several years due to no real updates being put into place, Mission: Space being that last true building project they produced in the last few years. When the FantasyLand expansion hit the rumor circuit we all had hope that once Magic Kingdom was squared away again with an even number of rides that hopefully the Epcot rumors would prove true!

Sadly, it looks like we are all bound for disappointment once again.

You can read the full piece from Orlando Sentinel: Disney's Billion Dollar Spending Spree Winding Down.

(ENGAGE RANT MODE: ON!)
Damn it, Disney! Do you purposely NOT listen to the fans? To your employees? To your Imagineers?! Epcot needs love if you ever want to see that park in the black and back up to snuff!
Yet somehow you don't pay attention to the places that NEED the love. Epcot Center, World Showcase and Hollywood Studios need attention. They need big ticket attractions and next gen technology to keep on par with your giant projects. We don't want "AvatarLand" we want open pavilions at Epcot, We want NEW countries in World Showcase, We want NEW movie attractions!

Open your eyes and get your head out of your collective asses, it might just do you a WORLD of good!

Sorry, things like this REALLY drive me completely batshit insane. 

/End Rant Mode.

The FantasyLand Expansion, That isn't an exansion at all!

Alright, this is another thing that has been bugging me lately.

With all this buzz surrounding Magic Kingdom and the new "FantasyLand Expansion" with opening dates looming in quickly for the new "Dueling Dumbos" as well as the opening of Phase 1. Which is the first portion to open here in April.  It included the area previously known as "Mickey's Toontown Fair" which is currently slated to be renamed "Storybook Circus" (also known to those of us who've been around a while as Mickey's Birthday Land and Mickeys StarLand) I'd like to take a few minutes to explain why this isn't an expansion at all.

It is actually putting FantasyLand back to it's proper capacity of rides and attractions before the lovely 1990's and Eisners reign of "Close ALL the Things!" as I've come to call it.

Let's take a look!

Mickey's Toontown Fair
(AKA: Mickey's Birthday Land and Mickey's StarLand)
Opening in 1988, originally meant to only a temporary 'land' designed to celebrate Mickey Mouse's 60th Birthday. It opened to much hype, the Magic Kingdom Railroad was expanded to have a station there as well as having the trains decorated. Guests at the time received a "Surprise Birthday Invitation" (in the form of their guide map and an announcement) to Mickey's Surprise Birthday Party being thrown by Minnie Mouse. The area its-self was suppose be Duckburg (from Duck Tales Fame) where all the characters had homes and lived.
Basically it was quickly thrown together and only meant to last around two or three years having only temporary attractions: A petting zoo, Mickey's House and the Surprise Birthday Show, Mickey Mouse Meet and Greet as well as the Magic Kingdom Railroad Station.  The area also had a small snack bar type area as well as two small shopping areas.

Look, it's all shiny and new!

In 1990 at the end of the big Birthday Party they decided to keep the area and thus a re-name of "Mickey's StarLand". Nothing much changed but the show which was altered to feature the most popular characters of the Afternoon cartoons at the time. The character list was changed randomly as characters and shows gained and waned in popularity. I believe a small garden and hedge maze where added to the landscaping at this point also.

By 1996 the temporary buildings where in bad shape, things where once again re-modeled to make them more long lasting and 'permanent' as well as cartoon-y, appearing other then just large tents. This is when the most current 're-name' came into play and the area became "Mickey's Toontown Fair". During this peroid the show was again changed to be "Hall of Fame" for your Mickey and Friends characters, Goofy's Barnstormer was added in the place of the Petting Zoo. Otherwise it was the same small and rather tired area as it's original opening.

Okay Carrie, what the hell are you on about with this "Not an Expansion crap?!"

Looks pretty, doesn't it?

 Good question! Let's get into that but first let me say, I am NOT a fan of Mr. Eisner (who shall now be called throughout this post as "Talking Head") so you can expect nothing complimentary out of me in his regard.
This deep slippery slope beings with the death of Frank Well's in 1994, this is when the Talking Head got his grubby claws into the Disney Company with complete control and zero ego-checks.
However since the Talking Head isn't today's topic I shall try to keep my bashing to a low drone in the back of your brains (Remember: He killed Figment!).

In 1994 the face of FantasyLand began to change rather drastically. Original attractions began to close up slowly but surely, piece by piece due to the dislike of Mr. Talking Head and other smaller talking heads whom he listened too.

This is the current list of completely "GONE" attractions:
20,000 Leagues under the Sea.
SkyWay to Tomorrowland.

Now, let's look at what's opening:
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Dueling Dumbo *Side 2*

We took two away and we're only adding, wait for it, TWO attractions!

20,000 Leagues closed.
This is when many of us started to become angry. 

It closed in 1994 under the guise of "Re-refurbishment" which was many of us found out the hard way, really meant "FOREVER" in Disney-ese. It was suppose to re-open at one point during the 1996 season but was completely sabotaged by management, who disliked the ride so very much that they purposely had a Senior VP sign it's death sentence threw their own evil inclinations.
I'm not going to get into the whole story but please, go read it yourselves at 20K History.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Arial Shot

One Down.

The SkyWay to Tomorrow/FantasyLand.

Well this is a much harder one to pin down, it closed off and on at random until around 2008.
I've checked out dozens of rumors about the closure but can't honestly find a single hard fact on the matter. The truth is we'll probably never really know the real reason but speculation has run the gambit for the same problems the DisneyLand attraction had (stress fractures within the wires and towers) to something as simple as lack of popularity. I'm disinclined to believe "lack of popularity" because anyone who's ever seen the SkyWay has surely seen the lines it produced to ride over half the park from the air. It was hugely popular which has lead me to a theory which sounds far more plausible "Low Rider Capacity".

SkyWay to Tomorrowland/FantasyLand

Let us pause to mourn a moment.

Okay so since 1994, FantasyLand has been down one key attraction.
In the effort of time and saving your eyes, I won't go into the wide and various changes threw the years to the other attractions of the area. Meaning, I'm NOT going to rant about Mr. Toads Wild Ride at this moment. I'll get to that later, I promise!

See, I told you I was angry.

The Reality of the 'Expansion'

While I've personally got high hopes for Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid from what I seen in it's clone attraction in DisneyLand I'm not sure it will prove to be the type of classic attraction which has sticking power. On the other hand, every little girl (myself included) wanted to be a Disney Princess, so let's put this at a 50/50 shot.  It's not going to be the Haunted Mansion but it looks pretty good and the themeing is beautiful however it's a single omnimover attraction which is taking up a huge piece of space but at least it's a ride.
However this creates an interesting problem for DisneyWorld. Hollywood Studios currently has a live-action stage show called 'Voyage of the Little Mermaid' which is wildly popular, it's fate is currently unknown as no one can say if they will keep two very similar attractions in the same cluster of parks.

Another huge section of this 'Expansion' is a themed area for Beauty and the Beast, with shops and a restaurant. Not a single attraction to be found, personally on the level of keeping DisneyLand and DisneyWorld separate and non-stagnant I'd have loved to see an omnimover dark ride like "Under the Sea" but themed to Beauty and the Beast. It would have been original as well as giving Florida and California a good variation on their princess attractions. While the area is shaping up to be beautifully on par with themeing and setting, there is little to keep or bring people into that area after the 'newness' wears off.

Dueling Dumbos
Oh yes, I'm going there. 
Okay, it's Dumbo. I get it, I really do.
Every parent ever to step foot within DisneyWorld has the picture of their kid riding dumbo but what is it really? A spinning lifter ride, identical to Astro Orbiter but themed with cute elephants sporting big ears.  It's adorable. It's sugary. It's a carnival ride.
Putting in two of them will help the crowds and give more people the change to experience the attraction, being as it's classic Disney I can't bash it to much because I'd honestly give birth to an elephant if they dared to remove it permanently. However I can't see this single attraction honestly needing it's own complete 'land within a land' but it works since they are re-using the BarnStormer coaster (now to be called 'The Great Goofini') so I'll just let this be and hope that with the themeing complete and both of the new 'Dueling Dumbos' running and a new, hugely open path threw FantasyLand all shall be well.

But what about Snow White and the Mine Train Coaster?!

Oh yes, what about that?
They are removing the classic Snow White's Scary Adventure to replace it with a 'mine train coaster' which really isn't even going to be a proper 'coaster' of any sort. It's more along the lines of a slow moving gravity railroad with some breaks and a possible small push of speed to escape from all things I've seen so far.  Let's face it, it's aimed at the ankle-biter age group so there isn't going to be any real 'thrill' to the attraction. Although I am pleased they plan to add in many animatronics to tell the story of Snow White or at least the portion which involves her time with the Seven Dwarfs.  The current location of Snow White's Scary Adventures will be taken over by a large Princess Meet and Greet currently called "Princess Fairytale Hall", there are currently no real details of that this will involve.
So when you stop and look at this what do we have? One added and one removed. Our numbers are still completely even!

As I said, I am loathe to be pleased with anything that removes a classic DisneyWorld attraction but again, I do have hopes that this at least will be a good and proper replacement for the classic story and attraction Walt Disney himself gave to us.

Just Remember, Walt Disney LOVED new technology and always wanted to be on top of using them in his works. It's how I get threw the day when thinking about these things, Mr. Disney would have done it himself had he still been with us today and it would have come a LOT sooner too!

So there you have it my friends, there isn't really an expansion as they keep saying. It's really just putting in two high ticket attractions to replace what they've already removed from the area years ahead of time. When you think about it this way, we're not really getting anything except having FantasyLand put back into proper balance.

Before: 1989

Concept model for the New FantasyLand.

Now you also need to keep in mind, we don't know entirely where this is all really going. I've heard rumors flying that classics such as Peter Pan and Small World will eventually be integrated into this "New FantasyLand". No one knows exactly what that means except for those getting paid far more money then I and who work for Disney still. Somehow I doubt we'll know their plans before they are ready to spill the proverbial beans on just what these rumors/statements will mean for the future.

If you'd like to take a look at the current work, themeing and building spree going on in regards to FantasyLand I'd suggest heading over to those nice people at Orlando Park News. They always have current and updated photos weekly of the process and also a great back-log of photos to see how everything happened. 


I got a little photo happy going threw my childhood years and I'm far to lazy to scan things. So here is where I accredit my picture borrowing for those who did the work:
 http://www.themeparkbrochures.net/
FantasyLand Opening Timeline 
20kRide.com/Photos 
Solarius.com
The Disney Blog 
 http://danalexanderdizmentia.blogspot.com