It was hard to avoid the hype train when Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opened recently. From social media to local news, you kept hearing the same thing over and over: 10 hour wait times! Were you one of the guests who waited 10 hours (or more) in the Florida heat on June 13? I’ve
As the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo kicked off in Asia for 2019, so did a monumental deal. Dynamic Attractions inked a letter of intent to become the marquee ride supplier for a series of new theme parks set to open across China over the next few years. The agreement was
Are you a completist when it comes to extinct attractions? There are plenty of us out there and I’m fascinated with rides and shows that no longer exist. Even more so, those that seem to have vanished in video form over the years. After a while, you give up hope that any kind of recording
We here at Theme Park University were the first to break the news that Cirque du Soleil was creating a theme park set to open in 2018 back in 2014. As we got closer to 2018 (and it passed) we kept looking for updates. Unfortunately, no word came from either Cirque du Soleil or Vidanta
No matter how many times I visit Dollywood, I am always impressed with just how charming the place is. Real or manufactured, it never gets old. Recently I got a chance to visit Wildwood Grove, Dollywood’s largest expansion to date. As the story goes, a young girl wandered into the woods near Timber Canyon (the
Theme Park University reader John writes in today’s question. “What information do you have about the Hagrid Coaster being delayed and perhaps needing (eventual) significant redesign? Orlando Weekly had a short article that test rides showed intolerable roughness. And, test rides causing premature track wear. They guessed that’s why soft openings have not occurred. I
In 2017, a ride known as Fireball had a tragic accident at the Ohio State Fair. An arm that connected a ride vehicle to the main assembly broke off and sent guests flying into the midway. The accident killed one fair patron and injured several others. Now a lawsuit is being filed against KMG, the
Recently I got to spend some time at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Even though it’s one of my top 5 favorite parks on earth, I had never visited Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort. If you’ve never been, the resort is breathtakingly gorgeous. DreamMore is just a few steps away from Dollywood Park. Naturally, there are tributes
Take a unique look behind-the-scenes of the Adventurers Club in Pleasure Island!
We have been following the story of Patrick Spikes (otherwise known as Backdoor Disney) for quite some time. For those unfamiliar, I’ll give you a brief rundown. Spikes ran and started a Twitter account known as Backdoor Disney where he started posting backstage photos of Walt Disney World. This put him on the radar of
BREAKING: Ghostbusters Confirmed for 2019 Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood and Orlando themeparkuniversity.… pic.twitter.com/A1Xx…
