Big Tickets - The Attraction Ticket Blog

Florida’s Cypress Gardens Adventure Park will reopen the classic Starliner roller coaster this summer.

The Starliner first graced the sands of Panama City Beach in 1963, when Jimmy Lark, a local construction businessman, purchased and erected the coaster. At the time it towered over a fairly bare landscape of sand dunes and a few tourist courts-clusters of cottages rented out to visitors. Lark charged 25 cents a ride and the Starliner was an instant hit. The following year, Lark added a few more rides and Miracle Strip Amusement Park was born. The Starliner was the main attraction of the Miracle Strip Amusement Park until it closed in September of 2004.

There’s some pictures and an interesting write up of the Starliner ride over at history.amusement-parks.com/ms2.htm

“It’s Springfield for Homer and Little Bart”
(Sorry, just recently been to see “The Producers” )

A Simpsons ride is to be developed at Universal’s theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood.

The ride, due to open in Spring 2008, will feature Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson and will rocket guests on a “hysterical, almost unimaginable adventure” through Springfield.

Universal’s creative team is collaborating with The Simpsons creator and executive producer Matt Groening and executive producer James L. Brooks to create the attraction.

It will feature the show’s classic humour and many of its instantly recognizable characters - all voiced by the original actors.

“The ride is designed to duplicate the Simpsons home-viewing experience, only at high speed and with lots of screaming,” said Groening.

“I am particularly thrilled since, like most people, I’m forever looking for a way to cut the line at Universal Theme Parks,” added Brooks.

No news yet as to whether the 7 Duffs (Edgy, Remorseful, Dizzy, Tipsy, Surly, Queasy, and Sleazy) will make an appearance.

BTW, I found this really old thread discussing a Simpsons theme park

SeaWorld is marking the 43rd anniversary of its first park opening in San Diego by opening a new Web site and they are looking for your help.

The website will have a section containing photos from park guests.

For a limited time, the pictures chosen to go on the Web site will get four free tickets to any SeaWorld park in the country!

According to Joseph A. Couceiro, Corporate Marketing Vice-President for SeaWorld’s parent company, Busch Entertainment Corp., the strategy is intended to create a true interactive online experience for fans of SeaWorld and to engage them before and after their visit.

“By our reckoning something approaching a billion photographs have been taken by SeaWorld guests,” he said, noting that the estimate excludes the thousands of cameras and SeaWorld photographs ruined in the infamous ‘Splash Zone’ at Shamu Stadium. “The history of these parks is in shoeboxes across America and around the world. There are remarkable photos of families enjoying SeaWorld in those boxes and we want them.”*

(Read more…)

SeaWorld will open its new water park Aquatica in Orlando March 2008. INspired by the natural surroundings of countries such as New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea, Aquatica will feature 36 water slides, six rivers, and lagoons, and more than 80,000 sq ft of beach area.

Attractions will include thrill rides and immersive swimming experiences with black and white Commerson’s dolphins. Among the other activities is what ’s claimed to be the world’s only side by side wave pools.

Official Aquatica website

Video showing construction of Aquatica

Due to open in May 2007, the Siam Park is the largest Oriental themed water park in Europe (although I’m not too sure what the second largest Oriental themed water park would be!). Siam Park will also be home to Europe’s biggest artificial wave (3 metres high, artificial wave fact fans).

Attractions include:

• The Volcano
• Wave Palace
• The Dragon

A Thai floating market is also planned along with a selection of oriental and non-oriental restaurants.

Update Posted Jun 2008: Siam Park Tenerife