Thunderbird Watch: Holiday World Announces Second Charity Event for Thunderbird!

Can't wait to ride Thunderbird? Well, the folks at Holiday World have opened the taps for another round of donations with Give Kids the World. The first round of donations raised enough money for a family to spend a week at the Give Kids the World Village in Kissimee, Florida. Now, the park has decided to try and do it for a second family as well.

This time, there is no auction, just first come first serve for the first 100 people that donate at least $50 per person. Those that manage to get in will get the chance to experience Thunderbird during the media day event on April 23rd.

Not only will you get the chance to ride the park's newest coaster, and the first ever launched wing coaster in the US, but you'll also get time on The Voyage and Crows Nest as well. That not enough for ya? There will also be a special behind the scenes tour of Thunderbird in the afternoon as well as food and other surprises!

Time is limited on this one as your chance donate will end at 11:59pm on Sunday, April 19th, so if you want to get on the media day event and help out a good cause, head on over to the official donation page!

As always, you can follow along with us right here for all the latest on Thunderbird and more out of Holiday World and beyond or join the madness with us on Twitter, Google+, Tumblr and Facebook for all the latest too!

Thunderbird Watch: Holiday World Shows Off Thunderbird's Station House and Barn Fly Through

Well, construction of the track may have been completed well ahead of schedule and the trains have started to arrive but there's a lot more finish up with Holiday World's first all steel coaster.

Most notably, the station house and the barn fly through that riders will be sent careening through not once, but twice! They're definitely getting there with things though and with the barn complete, that only leaves the station to be finished off.

So, let's get down what you came for, the pictures. First up, a look at the mostly complete station for this ground breaking new coaster.

Still a good bit to go here, but definitely getting there and can't wait to see when it's done. Next up? A little bit of coaster nirvana as Holiday World has given us some really unique looks at the barn fly through section of the ride!

Thunderbird Construction Continues at Holiday World

It's been a while since we've checked in with Holiday World and the progress of Thunderbird, the world's first launched wing coaster. Now, however, there's been a few new pictures released from the park and they're definitely well under way to get things opened on time for the 2015.

Thunderbird, unveiled earlier this year, is the park's first all steel coaster and features a unique launch system that's definitely going to be interesting to experience.

Anyway, before we get to the pictures, here's the latest Hard Hat Chronicles video from the folks at Holiday World.


And now...here's the pictures of construction so far from Holiday World's Facebook Page!

First Pieces of Thunderbird Track Arrive at Holiday World

The first pieces of track have arrived at Holiday World for their newest addition to the park, Thunderbird. Announced last Thursday night, their newest coaster is not only their first steel coaster in the park's history, but also the first launched wing coaster from B&M in the world. It will take riders through three inversions after shooting from 0-60 in just 3.5 seconds.

The new track segments that have made their way to Holiday World also solve another mystery, where some of the track spotted at the Clermont Steel Fabricator lot in Ohio is headed. Now just for the other colors...

Image from @HolidayWorld on Twitter

Either way, going to be fun to watch this one get built over the course of the next 8 months or so and can't wait to get a chance to ride the madness in the Spring of 2015! For more details about Thunderbird, check out our coverage of the announcement here.

Special Saturday Update- Rumor RoundUp!

Happy Saturday!

So rumors have been flying all over the damn place lately to the point I left it was time for yet another "Rumor Round-Up". So get comfortable! We've got a lot of juicy materiel to cover here today!
Please remember, these are RUMORS and have not yet been confirmed!


So let's get started!

Cedar Point
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
 RUMOR: 2013 B&M Wing Coaster
Cedar Point may well be building in 2013. A new Wing Coaster from B&M is the rumor floating around right now. The Sandusky Register posted up a 'leaked' document stating that Disaster Transport and Space Spiril will be removed  to make way for project "CP Alt.Winged" in 2013.

"Cedar Fair stands ready to spend big money on a new roller coaster for 2013 at Cedar Point that will change the park landscape.
Code-named “CP Alt.Winged,” the coaster will have the “longest drop, run the fastest and be the longest ride” of its kind, Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet wrote in Feb. 15 memo to Cedar Fair’s board of directors."

Read the Full Piece: Cedar Point to build Coaster in 2013


In additional News about Cedar Point and this 2013 Project, It's possible track is already being built and possibly transported to the park!
Screamscape: Industry News, Green Track?! 


Disney Imaingeering/ Project Avatar/Testing
Location: Orlando, Florida 
RUMOR: Testing for AvatarLand?
This came as a bit of a surprise to me, Could it be Disney is starting testing on some of their "AvatarLand" projects? This article seems to show they may just be doing that!

 

Dragon spotted over Minter Field

Universal Orlando Resort
Location: Orlando, Florida 
CONFIRMED: Universal to add Themed Resort
Universal Orlando Confirmed that they will be adding a new resort to their growing collection of on-property hotels. Also to be run by Loews Hotels, Cabana Bay Beach Resort will be a family friendly property as well as "High Value" which really means "Budget Hotel" for those not familiar with the lingo. 

"Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort will offer two distinct experiences within the development’s multiple buildings: 900 family suites, capable of sleeping six, that include kitchen areas and 900 standard guest rooms – offering both moderate- and value-priced accommodations. It will be operated by Loews Hotels & Resorts and is scheduled to open in 2014."

Amusement Today: Cabana Bay Beach Resort 

Six Flags Magic Mountian

Location: LosAngelos, California

CONFIRMED: Lex Luthor "Drop Tower".

For this, let my quote one of my favorite writers over on Theme Park Insider, Jeff Elliott.  Simply because he sums this up perfectly, at least in my opinion!

"Let’s super glue a drop tower onto the Superman tower so that we can use it some of the time while Superman is down for one of its many maintenance issues…..and thus was born Lex Luther’s Drop of Doom…..which just opened. Some of the other drunken rants that didn’t quite make it onto the fabled napkin include all of them going down to Disney to punch the Mouse right in the nose, taking sidewalk chalk over to Universal to write signs that say “Magic Mountain is cheaper and has more than 6 rides”, and some sort of launched roller coaster that uses the old tunnels through the middle of the mountain."

Lex Luthor.. Stapled to Superman!

Discovery Cove

Location: Orlando, Florida

CONFIRMED: Freshwater Oasis is Now Open!

"Now Open is Freshwater Oasis, an all-new attraction featuring wading adventures and face-to-face encounters with playful otters and curious marmosets. Designed with a rainforest canopy above and sparkling-clear springs below, Freshwater Oasis is a natural fit within Discovery Cove’s tropical vibe. You can relax and explore. You’ll wade, wonder, and float in the water-filled trails. No matter where you turn, you’ll find endless discoveries. "        

Disney World

Location: Orlando, Florida

RUMOR: Master Plans for 50th Anniversary

Screamscape has a GREAT bunch of pieces devoted to the "Disney Master Plan" which continues some information on what we could be looking at for the big 2021 "50th's Anniversary".  Also notice how Epcot has once again been completely left out in the cold?

Magic Kingdom: 50th Anniversary Rumors 

Hollywood Studios: 50th Anniversary Rumors

Epcot Center

Location: Orlando, Florida

RUMOR: New Illuminations/Nighttime Show

Rumor has it that Illuminations may be going threw a change soon. The Video Globe could well be retired with water-screens and fountains taking it's place in various areas of the World Showcase Lagoon.  

Screamscape: Possible New Illuminations? 

Freestyle Music Park

Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

CONFIRMED: Land purchased for "Hard Rock Hotel" sold in auction.

Freestyle Music Park is still closed with no buyers in site. Due to the fact this little park folded within it's very first year of operations, it's not a big surprised the extra land purchased by "Hard Rock" for their hotel plans got thrown to the chopping block. 

Hard Rock Hotel Land SOLD.