Disney World adding 2000 hotel rooms with Art of Animation value resort: Lots of suites & theming
May 12, 12:22 PMOrlando Theme Parks ExaminerBarbara Nefer

While Walt Disney World has already begun construction on the new Fantasyland project announced last September, they apparently have a little more magic up their sleeve.

Last night, the Orlando Sentinel broke news about a new Disney value resort set to open in 2012. The resort will join Pop Century and the All-Star resorts in Disney's family of 'value' resorts and will be built adjacent to the Pop Century Resort.

The new hotel, Disney's Art of Animation Resort, will create nearly 2,000 new units, including 1,120 family suites and 864 themed rooms. According to the Orlando Sentinel report, the popularity of the All-Star suites helped lead to the creation of the new hotel's plans for so many family suites.

The suites will be built in three different wings themed after The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo. The rooms will be in a fourth wing, this one themed after the Disney classic, The Little Mermaid.

The new resort will be nestled on a 65-acre area near the Pop Century Resort and will allow Disney to utilize a group of buildings that the company abandoned in 2001. Originally, the buildings were supposed to serve as a 'phase two' for the Pop Century Resort.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort will join the Walt Disney World family as the 26th resort hotel on property, providing a fifth option for those families looking to vacation on a budget.

As for the design, each section of the hotel is expected to include large icons from their respective movies in the courtyard and sport bright and vibrant colors, much like Pop Century. These icons will go along with the themed rooms, lobby, shopping, and eating areas in the resort.

While the 2,000 extra rooms are a big benefit to Disney, the project will also create nearly 800 jobs immediately, greatly helping the area's struggling economy.

Shoot the Rapids launch delayed two weeks

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 1:37 AM EDT

SANDUSKY REGISTER

Cedar Point is still opening Saturday, but its new Shoot the Rapids attraction won't be along for the ride.


Artist's rendering showing the fiew from near the top of what will be Shoot the Rapids' big drop. On the skyline are three of Cedar Point's signature rides, from left: Magnum XL200, Top Thrill Dragster and Power Tower.

Engineering problems with the ride -- the boats the passengers ride in were too long and didn't fit the flume -- forced the park to delay the ride's debut by two weeks.

Cedar Point had planned to launch the ride on the park's opening day. The new target date is two weeks later, on May 29, said Dick Kinzel, president, chairman and CEO of Cedar Fair, Cedar Point's parent company.

He said he believes May 29 is a firm date.

Kinzel and other Cedar Point executives made the decision to delay the ride's launch on Sunday, after a series of weekend meetings. A planned media day to show off the ride to reporters on Friday morning was axed and won't be rescheduled.

Delays in launching a new ride at Cedar Point are unusual but are not unprecedented, said Robin Innes, Cedar Point's main spokesman. The last delay was with Maverick in 2007, he said.

Cedar Point had planned to launch Maverick on May 12, 2007, but the opening was delayed until May 26. Three sections of track were removed after tests revealed an excessive amount of stress.

Shoot the Rapids also has been delayed because of an engineering problem.

"Basically, we had trouble with the boats," Kinzel said Monday. "It's more of an engineering problem than a safety problem."

"The manufacturer made the flume, and he contracted out the boats," Kinzel said. "When the boats came together, the boats didn't fit the flumes."

Kinzel said workers have been busy all week trying to modify the boats, which were too long and didn't go over the top of the hill properly. That can destroy the flume, he said.

By Sunday, only two of the boats had been retrofitted. The ride uses four boats.

"We can run two or three boats, but that's not what you want to do," he said.

The struggle to get the ride to work right cut training time, so executives decided on the delay to give the ride crew time to prepare, Kinzel said.

Kinzel said the park has had a long relationship with the manufacturer, Intamin Worldwide of Switzerland, which made Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster, Millennium Force and Maverick rides. Cedar Fair will work the problem out with the company, Kinzel said.

"We're not going to bring our lawyers into it," Kinzel said.

The delay also has postponed the auction that the Firelands Chapter of the American Red Cross is conducting for who gets to be first to try out the water ride. The cutoff for bidding is now 8:30 a.m. May 26, said Ron Rude, executive director of the local Red Cross chapter.

"I think it may work to our advantage," Rude said. "We always like to complete things on schedule, but it will give us more time to hopefully gain more bidders."

Wizarding World of Harry Potter set to open this spring at Islands of Adventure


Universal Orlando Resort, together with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, today revealed first-ever details about the incredible scope of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Universal also announced that the highly anticipated land will open in spring 2010.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters – and faithful to the visual landscapes of the films – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure will provide visitors with a one-of-a-kind experience complete with multiple attractions, shops and a signature eating establishment. This completely immersive environment will transcend generations and bring the wonder and magic of the amazingly detailed Harry Potter books and films to life.

The expectations of Harry Potter fans are high and Universal Orlando Resort is collaborating closely with J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and the Warner Bros. Harry Potter brand team to ensure that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be an experience of a lifetime. The Harry Potter films’ production designer, Stuart Craig and art director, Alan Gilmore, in cooperation with a corps of artisans from Universal Creative are working daily to construct the most authentic Harry Potter experience possible. Guests will be able to sip Butterbeer in Three Broomsticks, buy Extendable Ears at Zonko’s and experience a state-of-the-art attraction that brings the stories of Harry Potter to life in a way never before imagined.

“All of the action and adventures of Harry Potter’s world will come to life here at Universal Orlando Resort,” said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO, Universal Parks and Resorts. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be unlike any other experience on earth and we can’t wait to see the looks on our guests’ faces as they enter this rich environment.”

“Harry Potter continues to spark the imaginations of fans of all ages and we really have seen the anticipation continue to build for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” added Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. “We are excited to share with fans a first glimpse into the truly enchanted world we are bringing to life with all of our partners at Universal Orlando Resort.”

From the front archway of Hogsmeade to the immensity of Hogwarts castle, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will feature the locations listed below:

* At the entrance of Hogsmeade, billowing steam and an iconic whistle signal the arrival of the Hogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station
* Across the way is Zonko’s, a joke shop with a collection of tricks and jokes, including Extendable Ears, Boxing Telescopes and Sneakoscopes
* Honeydukes is next door and full of treats like Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavour Beans
* The Three Broomsticks and adjacent Hog’s Head pub will feature traditional British fare and drinks including Butterbeer and pumpkin juice
* Across from the Three Broomsticks is The Owlery, where owls roost and await their next delivery
* The Owl Post sends letters with a certified Hogsmeade postmark and sells official stamps from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
* Ollivanders wand shop is an incredible interactive experience where the wand chooses the wizard
* Completing Hogsmeade is Dervish and Banges, the magical instruments and equipment shop featuring Quidditch equipment, Triwizard apparel, Spectrespecs and Remembralls
* The first attraction, Dragon Challenge, features a twin high-speed roller coaster with many iconic elements from the Triwizard Tournament
* Next is Flight of the Hippogriff, a family coaster simulating a Hippogriff training flight over the grounds of Hogwarts castle
* Located in Hogwarts castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a thrilling new state-of-the-art attraction that uses entirely new technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life in ways never before experienced
* Before exiting back into Hogsmeade, Filch’s Emporium of Confiscated Goods is full of Ministry of Magic and magical creatures merchandise, Omnioculars, and even remote control Golden Snitches

“This Universal Creative and Warner Bros. team shares an incredible passion and commitment to making this destination an exceptionally immersive environment that will touch the lives of our guests,” said Mark Woodbury, President, Universal Creative.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is yet another way that fans will be able to experience and enjoy Harry Potter for many years to come,” said Diane Nelson, President of Warner Premiere, who is also responsible for overseeing the Harry Potter brand team worldwide. “The power of this brand speaks for itself, as the enthusiasm of our dedicated fans around the world continues to grow even stronger as we move into the future.”

Physical Dimensions:
Track Length: 5,316'
Highest Peak: 232'
Height of First Drop: 211'
Angle of First Drop: 74°
Height of Other Hills: 178’, 151’, 105’, 90’, 62’, 52’, 48’
Total Drops: 8 (including initial drop)

Time, Speed, Capacity:
Fastest Speed: 75-80 mph
Ride Time: 3 minutes, 33 seconds
Hourly Capacity:: 1,600 riders
Number of Trains: Three
Train Description: Each train has 8 cars with four seats per car (32-passenger)

Structure & Design:
Ride Structure: 3,391,200 lbs.
Track: 1,567,000 lbs.
Supports: 1,500,100 lbs.
Braking System: Combination of magnetic and friction brakes
Acres Covered: 10 acres
Manufacturer: Bolliger and Mabillard

Investment:
Investment: $23 million

Scheduled Debut:
Date: Spring 2010
Ride Guidelines: Guests must be at least 54" tall

Intimidator 305 will be the Biggest, Baddest and Meanest on the East CoastDoswell, VA. (Aug. 20, 2009) – The most exciting ride in Kings Dominion's 35-year history will debut in the spring of 2010, as the amusement park introduces a mammoth 5,100-foot long steel Giga-coaster. Intimidator 305 takes its name from one of stock car racing's most beloved and tenacious drivers, Dale Earnhardt, "the Intimidator™" along with the height of the coaster's lift hill, 305 feet.

Intimidator 305, only the second Giga-coaster ever built in North America, will be the tallest and fastest roller coaster of its type on the East Coast. The lift hill will stand a towering 305 feet at its highest peak; descend 300 feet at an 85 degree-angle and thunder along the track at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour during its three minute race to the finish. The trains, fashioned after Dale Earnhardt's signature black car, will roar through six airtime humps plus three high-speed turns and the experience will have guests screaming for another lap around the track.

"Intimidator 305 will break records as the single largest capital investment in the history of Kings Dominion," said Pat Jones, Kings Dominion's vice president and general manager. "The numbers speak for themselves, at a cost of $25 million, a lift hill and first drop close to the height of the park's landmark Eiffel Tower; you'll have to see it to believe it." Intimidator 305 will be located in the park's Congo section and becomes Kings Dominion's 15th world-class roller coaster.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will partner with Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, owner of Kings Dominion, to bring the massive coaster to life. "We're excited to see this new roller coaster celebrate the speed and intensity of the legendary career of Dale Earnhardt," said Jeff Steiner, executive vice president and general manager of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "There are millions of fans that still honor their racing hero and this is a very real way for them to connect with the spirit and passion of the Intimidator™."

Guests will have the opportunity to see the ride being built from the ground up during the remainder of the park's 2009 season, as well as follow its progress by watching the online webcam, set up to overlook the entire work site. Those who cannot wait until 2010 may take a virtual ride on Intimidator 305, access exclusive updates, features, virtual renderings, ride statistics, and more at www.intimidator305.com.

Intamin AG of Wollerau, Switzerland, a recognized industry leader in roller coaster development, designed Intimidator 305. The ride is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010.

Kings Dominion is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FUN." In addition to Kings Dominion, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, six waterparks, one indoor waterpark resort, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, Calif. under a management contract.