Enjoy this last week of summer kiddies, for it is the last. Lots of parks are going back to seasonal schedules already this week as many schools are back in session. Here in Florida parks are closing as early as 6p.m. during the week and only staying open til 11p.m. at the latest. For those in the northern states, you will soon be without your parks, though most parks are staying open weekends now through Halloween. We’re sorry. But on the bright side, think of all the great snow you get to shovel soon! Meanwhile we’re hot and sticky, and muggy. The only thing we can do for relief is to go to the beach and theme parks. The sacrifices we make.
My theme park news needs some sunscreen!
Disney
Disney’s Aulani Resort opened today in Hawaii. Even though the park is now opened and a part of the Disney Vacation Club time share program, it’s not currently selling time share plans to the resort due to the fact that under old management the resort wasn’t charging enough for maintenance fees needed to keep the resort profitable. That mistake cost three execs their jobs. The first phase of the resort opened with 73 time share villas and 217 regular hotel rooms. When the resort is complete it will boast 481 villas, 359 hotel rooms, a lazy river, waterslides and a salt water lagoon for snorkeling. Full story
Disney is currently shopping interest in a sequel to the unconventional game Epic Mickey. Plans are in place for a sequel to the game, though no dates have been set for a release, even though possible names are being floated around. Full story
We heard all kinds of things about the Pixar and Disney films coming to theaters in the next year, but what we didn’t hear too much about was the fact that last year’s hit film, Tangled is getting a sequel…which will air exclusively on the Disney channel before heading to home video. Full story
Nerds all over the world are still crying into their white glossy tissue boxes after hearing the news that Apple chief Steve Jobs will be stepping down as CEO due to health reasons. The good news is that he will still remain on Disney’s board of directors. Full story
Other
While we all wait with baited breath about Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Hollywood has released all of the mazes with the last one being La Llorna:Villa De Almas Perdidas, which brings the scarezone from last year to the house line up. Full story
Knott’s Berry Farm has made an undisclosed settlement with the parents of the 12 year old boy who was injured with debris when a cable snapped while riding Xcelerator. The cable cut the boy’s left calf and sprayed his father in the face from the accident. Full story
You can swim with dolphins, and sharks but tigers? For the next few months you can swim with Siberian Tiger Cubs at the Dade City Wild Thing’s Zoo. Wild Things is a non-profit sanctuary and started the program for the zoo’s tiger cubs, who absolutely love the water. However, this won’t last forever as the tigers will grow to about 40 lbs within the next few months and be just a tad too big to handle. Full story
Roller Coaster Tycoon fans rejoice, the game is coming back! But you’ll need a Nintendo 3DS to play it. The new game is being developed by n-Space and will feature all the thrills you’ve come to expect from the game series. The game should hit stores next year. Full story
Ride of the Day
From Phantasialand comes an amped up version of Toy Story Mania that actually seems to have a great story, queue and game play. It seems to tell the story of a group of mice let go in a chocolate factory, and a fat baker’s need to get rid of them. Instead of using different ammo you use chocolate to get rid of the pests. This is why Maus Au Chocolat at Phatasialand is your ride of the day
