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Theme park news roundup: The word of the day is giga-coaster
The new Intimidator 305 roller coaster has opened at Kings Dominion theme park in Richmond, VA. The coaster, named in honor of the late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, has ride cars that look like Earnhardt's famous black Chevy. Earnhardt's daughter Taylor visited the park last week to open the ride.
The Intimidator 305 screams along at 92 miles per hour, thanks to a 300-foot drop at the start.
Kings Dominion says that makes it part of a new class of giga-coasters - "complete-circuit coasters with a height of 300 feet or taller." You can now check "add a word to my vocabulary" off today's to-do list. You're welcome.
Universal requires 4-night stay for Harry Potter packages (Orlando, FL, USA)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens June 18, and if you want to book Universal Orlando Resort's vacation package to go see the wizard, you will be staying in Orlando until at least June 22.
Universal tells the Orlando Sentinel that the package was designed as a 4-night experience when it was introduced in February, but the minimum stay requirement was just set this week.
The Orlando vacation packages include a hotel stay, Universal Orlando tickets, breakfast at the new Three Broomsticks restaurant and early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Intimidator 305 screams along at 92 miles per hour, thanks to a 300-foot drop at the start.
Kings Dominion says that makes it part of a new class of giga-coasters - "complete-circuit coasters with a height of 300 feet or taller." You can now check "add a word to my vocabulary" off today's to-do list. You're welcome.
Universal requires 4-night stay for Harry Potter packages (Orlando, FL, USA)
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens June 18, and if you want to book Universal Orlando Resort's vacation package to go see the wizard, you will be staying in Orlando until at least June 22.
Universal tells the Orlando Sentinel that the package was designed as a 4-night experience when it was introduced in February, but the minimum stay requirement was just set this week.
The Orlando vacation packages include a hotel stay, Universal Orlando tickets, breakfast at the new Three Broomsticks restaurant and early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Coney Island Cyclone opens for 83rd season (New York City, NY, USA)
The landmark Cyclone roller coaster has re-opened for its 83rd season on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.
It costs $8 to ride the combination wooden and steel structure that cost $175,000 to build in 1927. Although the thrill ride is on the National Register of Historic Places, it is still listed among coaster enthusiasts as one of the best current roller coasters in the country - both for its great views of the Manahattan skyline and its 60 mph hairpin turns.
Nearby, the new Luna Park is set to open its 19 rides on the Coney Island shore on May 29.
Great Wolf Lodge tries for water-slide world record (USA)
3,651 miles. That's the distance that bathing-suit clad visitors slid at 11 Great Wolf Lodge indoor water parks last weekend, in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record.
The Great Wolf Lodges each kept one water slide open for 24 hours and asked sliders to donate to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. The charity event/publicity stunt resulted in 47,660 trips down the designated water slides.
Guinness is still verifying the information before making the world record - which will be in the category longest distance water sliding in 24 hours in multiple venues - official. Oddly enough, there's no previous record-holder for this very specific, new category in the company's record books.
SeaWorld's Aquatic water park opens new water slide (Orlando, FL, USA)
Orlando water park Aquatica has opened its new slide, the Omaka Rocka. The tube slide deposits riders in funnels designed to mimic the sensation that skateboarders feel in the half-pipe.
This is the third year for Aquatica, SeaWorld's venture into the water park scene. Omaka Rocka is the first addition to the park since it opened.
Future questioned at Freestyle Music Park (Myrtle Beach, SC, USA)
The troubled Freestyle Music Park is facing foreclosure. The Myrtle Beach, S.C., park - which opened as Hard Rock Park in 2008 then underwent a brand change for the 2009 season - missed a debt payment deadline last week.
The Sun News reports that the theme park's owners have not been able to find new investors and are facing bankruptcy or foreclosure. Owners are saying it is "unlikely" that the park will open for the 2010 season.
Six Flags releases iPhone app (USA)
The Six Flags Fun Finder, a free app, is now available in the App Store. Beyond the usual park maps and event listings, that app integrates with Facebook to help you find the exact location of your friends within any Six Flags theme park. The app is free.
The landmark Cyclone roller coaster has re-opened for its 83rd season on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.It costs $8 to ride the combination wooden and steel structure that cost $175,000 to build in 1927. Although the thrill ride is on the National Register of Historic Places, it is still listed among coaster enthusiasts as one of the best current roller coasters in the country - both for its great views of the Manahattan skyline and its 60 mph hairpin turns.
Nearby, the new Luna Park is set to open its 19 rides on the Coney Island shore on May 29.
Great Wolf Lodge tries for water-slide world record (USA)
3,651 miles. That's the distance that bathing-suit clad visitors slid at 11 Great Wolf Lodge indoor water parks last weekend, in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record.
The Great Wolf Lodges each kept one water slide open for 24 hours and asked sliders to donate to the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. The charity event/publicity stunt resulted in 47,660 trips down the designated water slides.
Guinness is still verifying the information before making the world record - which will be in the category longest distance water sliding in 24 hours in multiple venues - official. Oddly enough, there's no previous record-holder for this very specific, new category in the company's record books.
SeaWorld's Aquatic water park opens new water slide (Orlando, FL, USA)
Orlando water park Aquatica has opened its new slide, the Omaka Rocka. The tube slide deposits riders in funnels designed to mimic the sensation that skateboarders feel in the half-pipe.This is the third year for Aquatica, SeaWorld's venture into the water park scene. Omaka Rocka is the first addition to the park since it opened.
Future questioned at Freestyle Music Park (Myrtle Beach, SC, USA)
The troubled Freestyle Music Park is facing foreclosure. The Myrtle Beach, S.C., park - which opened as Hard Rock Park in 2008 then underwent a brand change for the 2009 season - missed a debt payment deadline last week.
The Sun News reports that the theme park's owners have not been able to find new investors and are facing bankruptcy or foreclosure. Owners are saying it is "unlikely" that the park will open for the 2010 season.
Six Flags releases iPhone app (USA)
The Six Flags Fun Finder, a free app, is now available in the App Store. Beyond the usual park maps and event listings, that app integrates with Facebook to help you find the exact location of your friends within any Six Flags theme park. The app is free.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
b. mal Apr 8th 2010 6:49AM
Can we say oops! The Intimidator is at Carowinds in Charlotte, NC, the sister park of Kings Dominion in Richmond, VA. I used to live in Richmond and now live in Charlotte.
Leigh Caldwell Apr 8th 2010 6:51AM
Yes, the Intimidator IS at Carowinds.
But the Intimidator 305, which is the ride I was writing about, just opened at Kings Dominion.
Kyle Apr 8th 2010 9:00AM
Listen people, I NEED to know where this (Intimidator 305) coaster is. My 11 year old daughter and I have an almost troubling addiction to roller coasters, and we will have to ride this thing.......and soon! Especially if it "eats Millenium Force and craps it all over Cedar Point", and I am not sure how this could be. Millenium Force is one of the sickest coasters I have had the pleasure of riding.
Another question, I think Kings Dominion (VA) is one of the Cedar Entertainment parks, does any know if Carowinds is also?
Viva La Giga-coaster!
gangakris Apr 8th 2010 2:12PM
No oops! Lots of rides share a name with other rides. I just wish we had a real theme park here in Vegas. The circus circus one shouldn't count.
Bridget Apr 8th 2010 9:19AM
"Giga-coaster" is not a new word...Millennium Force, a giga-coaster, has been at Cedar Point for 10 years.
robert Apr 8th 2010 9:29AM
does any one know where the tea cups are?.
brspn@aol.com Apr 8th 2010 10:16AM
To be honest other than the first fall looks kinda boring! Been on alot of coasters and I see nothing special about this at all. Sorry!
Melissa Apr 8th 2010 10:17AM
The intimidator 360 is definitely at Kings Dominion in Virginia, NOT Carowinds in NC. My children were there on Sunday and rode it and said it was great!! One of my kids is back there again today and will be riding it again!
JAD Apr 8th 2010 10:44AM
There is an Intimidator in Carowinds in Charlotte, NC. It opened in March 2010. It's red and it's awesome. Gee, it looks like the one in the video.
Melissa Apr 8th 2010 10:19AM
Sorry...I meant to say Intimidator 305:)
kbhret Apr 8th 2010 10:56AM
From watching the video.... not sure how this coaster "eats Millenium and craps it out all over Cedar Point." Other than the first drop and the several "neck jerking" turns, it looks like all of the other steel coasters that have COPIED CEDAR POINT.
You can ride 'em anywhere, but you rode it first at Cedar Point!!!! RIDE ON!!!
mikemaj82 Apr 8th 2010 11:33AM
this looks pretty tame. come to six flags great adventure, you'll find some real coasters there.
SERGIO Apr 8th 2010 12:48PM
totally agree!!! i was looking for some loops or corkscrews....but looks tame indedd! Other than the high speed not much then left and right turns...i mean did they have to go for a Nascar track on this thing? looks like they went in 1 big circle! Six Flags definitely has real coasters....this is weak
Plato Apr 8th 2010 2:22PM
Kings Dominion is part of Cedar Fair Entertainment which has its corporate offices AT CEDAR POINT, its FLAGSHIP amusement park! If it wasn't for Cedar Point, there would be no Kings Dominion. Cedar Point has Top Thrill Dragster, a "strato coaster", which is 420 feet tall and reaches speeds of 120 miles per hour! Cedar Point IS the park that first sets the records (mega, giga, strato, etc.) that may be broken later, but "The Point" is always planning something higher, faster and more EXTREME. That is why it remains the coaster capital of the world.
Jim Apr 9th 2010 3:29PM
Screw'em all! Cedar Point is the place to be if you like coasters! Top Thrill Dragster does 120mph and they don't need a hill to get there. Millenium Force Drops you from so high up my wife won't ride it with me. My two sons (ages 12 and 14) ask to go there every summer, we've been there 5 times even though it's a 6 hour drive. My boys are big for their ages and both have done every coaster the last two times we went. They have the most coasters of any park in the world. I have been going since I was a kid. The first time I went was the year they opened the Corkscrew, I've been there over a dozen times myself.
pedro Apr 8th 2010 3:56PM
i wonder what kid in now sittng in a school room and may be the first one to die on the machine. i guess bigger is better but i thought that only applied to b..bs
Brian Apr 8th 2010 4:05PM
To answer your questions Kyle Kings Dominion is part of the Cedar Fair Entertainment group. As far as Carowinds not too sure. I have been to Cedar Point and it is a very good park. I have not rode the Intimidator 305 but plan on it and loved Milineum Force. And Cedar Point has nothing to do with King Dominion cause they used to be Paramount it was just bought out by Cedar Fair Entertainment. I dont know why they say that Kings Dominion is in Richmond VA cause it is not. It is in Doswell VA which is about 25 miles north of Richmond. This is Hanover County exit 98 off of interstate 95.
Jess Apr 8th 2010 7:18PM
Yes, Carowinds is also part of Cedar Fair. I beleive all of the former "Paramount Parks" are as well.
Bob Apr 8th 2010 4:50PM
Love roller coasters!!!!!!
only Apr 8th 2010 6:19PM
It's less than 60 seconds long.