Tag Archives: amusement park

Spyland—-A New Theme Park Worth Checking Out

Who cares about running with the bulls when you can pretend you are a secret agent in search of international fugitives? Spain is getting a bit more intriguing for would-be super sleuths. If you are more interested in spying on someone digging into a plate of pollo al ajo than you are in dining on it yourself then you don’t want to miss the opportunity to be one of the first to visit Spain’s newest amusement park—-Spyland. The new adventure destination is being constructed as part of a major entertainment complex in the Zaragoza province of Spain, according to park … Continue reading →

Get Ready to Splash Into a New Water Park

If your family loves water parks then start planning a vacation to Virginia. That’s where Kalahari Resorts plans to open a new $200 million African-themed resort and indoor water park. Resort officials made the announcement earlier this week and selected Fredericksburg as the site for the massive undertaking. City officials say the resort will be built next to the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center at Celebrate Virginia, a 2,400-acre residential and commercial development along Interstate 95, about 55 miles south of the nation’s capital. And don’t worry about missing the new attraction as you drive down the highway—-in all likelihood … Continue reading →

Happy Birthday, EPCOT!

Posted on by

I know, I know. The acronym EPCOT was dropped back in 1994 for the simple non-word Epcot. EPCOT originally stood for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It was Walt Disney’s dream that EPCOT would be a real city. Walt’s dream was to create the perfect city with a central commercial area surrounded by a residential community. The plan was to have 20,000 residents who would try out new ideas and materials that would eliminate the social ills found in other American cities. There would be schools, preschools, community centers, and churches but no unemployment, retirees, land ownership or voting rights. … Continue reading →

The Nation’s Best Amusement Park

The votes are in and the winner of the best amusement park in the country is… Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio. The popular thrill ride park was named the best of the best by readers of Amusement Today. Each year the trade publication surveys hundreds of amusement park guests and uses their feedback to determine the winners of its Golden Ticket Awards competition. This year there were few surprises. Cedar Point won the best park award again—-as it has every year since the awards began. (To read my review of the park, click here.) It probably didn’t hurt … Continue reading →

Amusement Park Safety Tips

I love going to amusement parks, though I freely admit that I steer clear of the thrill rides. (Can you blame me after reading this story?) That being said many of us (year-round school students not included) are smack in the middle of summer vacation—the time of the year that theme parks see a record number of guests. If your family is planning to spend one of the last weeks of summer break on a theme park vacation you may want to keep these tips in mind: Be Vigilant. This is especially important if you are visiting an amusement park … Continue reading →

Amusement Park Tragedy

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. You take your child to an amusement park for a day of fun in the sun and are forced to leave because of a horrific accident. Horrific may be an understatement for the parents of a 13-year-old girl whose feet were severed Thursday when a thrill ride malfunctioned at the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Amusement Park in Louisville. According to news reports, a broken cable wrapped around the teen’s feet and cut them off while she was free falling on the park’s “Superman Tower of Power” ride. Police say the teen is recovering at a … Continue reading →

Exciting News For Harry Potter Fans

Attention all Harry Potter fans: you can forget about having to settle for yet another vacation at Disneyland or Coney Island—soon you will be able to get your kicks at the place your young hero calls home (or at least a version of it). Universal Orlando Resort just announced it plans to open a Harry Potter theme park that will allow fans of the boy magician to visit some of the same iconic locations featured in the best selling books and blockbuster movies. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is scheduled to open at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park … Continue reading →

Discounts and Special Offers for Amusement Parks

My whole family loves amusement parks. We rarely miss one when we’re in the area, and have often planned vacations with them as the center point. They can be expensive, though. With four kids, I’m always up for a way to cut costs. One way is by mystery shopping them. But there are many other ways that you can do that without the report. Here are a few: Universal Studios Hollywood Buy a Day, Get 2007 Free! Yeah, I had to read that to look for the fine print. There isn’t any! Well, except for the blackout dates which are … Continue reading →

Mystery Shopping: What to Expect on an Amusement Park Shop

Amusement parks are one of the lowest paying shops when you consider them on an hourly basis. Often, you’ll be paying to shop them. That said, they’re also probably the most fun! Yes, you’re working. Yes, you’re making observations. But you’re not doing that every minute of the time you’re there. We have visited over a dozen different amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, sporting events, and other amusement venues as mystery shops. It’s a chance to do things we would normally have difficulty fitting into our budget. Every company and every client is different, but here are some basics that are … Continue reading →

Visiting Knott’s Berry Farm

Everyone has a favorite childhood memory. Mine is visiting Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm in California. Although this “farm” originally started out as a rented 20 acres, today Knott’s Berry Farm covers 120 acres in Buena Vista. Known as the first theme park in the United States and the 12-most visited in the country, you and the kids will have a ball. One of the things I remember most about Knott’s Berry Farm was the chicken. In fact, the restaurant on-site serves up to 4,000 dinners every Sunday, which is a way of paying homage to the pioneering spirits of … Continue reading →