By Robert Niles: Universal Orlando is now offering a new discount for Florida residents, as it looks to boost attendance for the rest of 2024. The resort announced today that it is offering a two-park Florida Unlimited Days Ticket for $199 plus tax. That ticket will get a Florida resident unlimited admission to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure through December 18. No blockout dates apply to the ticket. The price puts its $100 less than Universal Orlando's Seasonal Pass, which provides 12 months of admission, with blockout dates, for $299 plus tax to Florida residents. A Power ..read more

By Robert Niles: We have lost another Disney Legend. This time, it is one for whom I used to work. William Sullivan passed away yesterday at his home in Windermere, Florida. He was 88. "Sully," as he was known to everyone who worked there, served as Walt Disney World's vice president of Magic Kingdom Park starting in 1987 - the same year that I joined Disney as a Tomorrowland merchandise cast member. Bill "Sully" Sullivan. Phot courtesy Disney Sully's career with Disney started as many young men's did, at the Jungle Cruise, where he was hired as a ticket-taker soon after Disneyland opened in ..read more

By Robert Niles: Happy birthday today to Disneyland. Walt Disney's original theme park opened July 17, 1955. That means that the Disneyland Resort's 70th anniversary is just one year away. To celebrate this year's birthday, however, Disneyland today announced that it will offer a $69 one-day, one-park ticket to Anaheim residents. Those tickets will be valid for a visit between August 5 and September 26 this year, which covers the remainder of Pixar Fest through the start of Halloween Time at the resort. For everyone else, the park continues to offer its discounted three-day ticket, which start ..read more

By MyHandsDontScan: The Central Florida family-coaster market is heating up with its newest entrant: Phoenix Rising at Busch Gardens Tampa, which officially opens July 21. Featuring a minimum height requirement of 42 inches, more than 1,800 feet of track, and a maximum height of 80 feet, Phoenix Rising joins the ranks of Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and SeaWorld's Penguin Trek in providing an option for "rising" rollercoaster fans. But it would be a mistake to discount Phoenix Rising as a toned-down version of its sibling rides at Busch Gardens. This is a Bolliger & Mabil ..read more

By Bobbie Butterfield: Advertising itself as America�s largest free-admission park, Knoebels Amusement Resort is exactly that. This alone sets it apart from other parks in the same general area. The price of admission to a popular park about an hour away is $64.99 with a charge of $25.00 for parking if purchased online ($35.00 at the gate). So for anyone wanting to spend time at a first rate park without spending a lot of money, Knoebels is the place to go, which is why it is our next recommendation for Theme Park Insider's Great American Theme Park Month. Knoebels is family-owned and located ..read more

By Robert Niles: Disneyland Paris celebrated Bastille Day with a record-breaking nighttime spectacular last night. The park concluded its special Bastille Day fireworks show with a Guinness World Records-setting display of the "largest aerial display of a fictional character formed by multirotors/drones," with 1,571 drones forming a tri-color Mickey Mouse head for the show's finale. Here are some video highlights from last night's show, with the giant Mickey drone display at the end. For our readers' ranking of the park's attractions, as well as a link to available ticket deals, please visit ..read more

By Robert Niles: It's scare zone announcement week this week for Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights. Universal kicked off its week of reveals with the announcement of Torture Faire. "Come one, come all, to the renaissance faire with the devious theme of medieval torture. Brave the gloriously gory homemade torture devices �til you�re put out of your misery," Universal said of the scare zone in its social media posts. A ren faire scare zone seems so obvious to me now that I wonder why this hasn't been a regular feature at every haunt I've ever attended. Torture Faire is one of five plan ..read more

By Robert Niles: Happy birthday to Universal Studios Hollywood. The park opened 60 years ago tomorrow, on July 15, 1964, as the Universal Studios Tour. Over the past six decades, no major theme park has changed as much as Universal's original property. From its beginnings as studio tram tour, Universal has evolved into a major theme park with multiple themed lands, even as it retains that tram tour as its heart. Photos courtesy Universal Studios Hollywood Lew Wasserman's MCA had bought the Universal Studios lot in 1958, leasing it back to Universal Pictures for movie production. (MCA then bou ..read more

By Robert Niles: Another theme park character is looking for a second career as a movie star. Theme parks have been bringing movie franchises to life ever since Disneyland opened in 1955. Disney finally made the crossover hit big in the other direction with Pirates of the Caribbean in 2003. Since then, several movies and TV projects have adapted theme park characters and attractions, with varying success. This time, it's not a Disney theme park character making the switch. Europa-Park announced that its Ed Euromaus and Edda Euromausi characters will star in a new animated feature, to be distri ..read more

By Robert Niles: From football to basketball to music to movies, fans love to argue over who is "number one." Even when placements get settled on the field or at the box office, fans will debate whether one team or athlete or artist or creative work really should be recognized as the best. In theme parks, we run a survey to determine award winners in several categories. (And you should go vote in it - right here!) But we've never awarded an honor for best theme park company. And we are not starting today. But there is a fascinating debate to be had over which company is better than others. It ..read more