New Attractions
Last year, Disney World has rolled out a new name for one of its old theme parks — Disney-MGM Studios became Disney's Hollywood Studios. The new name links the park more closely to its Pixar movies, with a new attraction — Toy Story Mania! — and a replacement for the daily parade called Block Party Bash! On February 12th, The American Idol Experience previewed for the media with all the glitz and glamour of a real Hollywood production with all the winners from the past seven seasons of the popular "American Idol" television show on hand to walk a blue carpet. The new attraction officially opened February 14 to record crowds at the theme park. >More of What's New at Disney World 2009 including FREE admission on your birthday information!It has been almost a year since SeaWorld Orlando opened Aquatica. The one-of-a-kind 60-acre water park that opened in March, 2008, features 36 water slides, six rivers and lagoons and more than 80,000 square-feet of beach area with up-close animal experiences. This summer, SeaWorld is expected to open "Manta" a flying roller coaster that will have guests flying in a prone position under the coaster with their feet skimming the water.
The blockbuster hit series, The Simpsons, was the inspiration for Universal Orlando's new theme park ride that opened the spring of 2008. This spring they will open Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. About.com's Theme Parks Guide, Arthur Levine, describes the new coaster as "167-foot tall, 65 mph thrill machine will give passengers the ability to control the attraction's soundtrack, and will allow them to "rip" a take-home memento of their wild coaster experience." Despite the ride's inversions and high speeds, the new coaster's unique X-Car seats have no over-the-shoulder restraints.
Cypress Gardens suddenly closed the park in November of last year. Plans were announced that the park will reopen in March, 2009 without its rides or animals. The botanical gardens and ski shows will remain along with an expanded water park.
Event Dates Announced
Plan now to attend these very popular events:- Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival - March 18 to May 31, 2009
- SeaWorld After Dark - May 23 through September 7, 2009
- Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios - May 22-24, May 29-31, June 5-7 and June 12-14, 2009
- SeaWorld's Polar Experience - November 13, 2009 to January 3, 2010
- New Year's Eve at SeaWorld - December 31, 2009
