By Robert Niles: A Walt Disney World restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star, a coveted award for excellence in the restaurant industry. Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort won the honor, making it one of fewer than 200 restaurants in the United States with a Michelin star. "Chef Matthew Sowers cooks with contemporary verve and draws on influences spanning from Asia to the Nordics," the Michelin review said. Think delicate tarts set with New Zealand langoustine, striking 'sandwiches' made with venison carpaccio and red cabbage, and bold sauces like cherry-cola bordel ..read more

By Robert Niles: A new Hollywood movie is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, and it is joining up with one of the park's classic attractions. Universal announced this morning that it will feature the upcoming 87North film "The Fall Guy" in a new pre-show in front of the WaterWorld stunt show at the park. "The Fall Guy Stuntacular Pre-Show" will open April 27 and run through May 19. "The Fall Guy," starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt and directed by David Leitch, opens in theaters May 3. "We make movies to give audiences an experience, and what better way to amplify 87North's brand of act ..read more

By Robert Niles: Dorney Park's new Dive Coaster is ready for the public. The Allentown, Pennsylvania amusement park hosted a media preview for Iron Menace today, in advance of its first public rides later this week. Iron Menace is a 160-foot-tall Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster, with four inversions and a top speed of 64 mph. I wasn't at the event today, but the park did provide a front row POV so that we can sample the on-ride experience. Dorney Park opens for its 2024 season on May 10, but park season passholders will get their first chances to ride Iron Menace during Preview Days on ..read more

By Robert Niles: Kennywood's The Steel Curtain will remain closed for the 2024 season, the park announced today. The S & S coaster has been plagued with downtimes since its 2019 debut, so the park has opted for "an extensive modification project" this year, in hopes that the coaster can operate more reliably in the future. "We understand the frustration many of you have felt not being able to experience Steel Curtain. On behalf of our entire team, we absolutely share that frustration with you," Kennywood Assistant General Manager Ricky Spicuzza said. "Over the past several months, we have ..read more

By Robert Niles: Here's an update on a story I shared with you in February. The Actors' Equity Association had launched a labor organizing campaign with Disneyland character and parade performers. Today, Equity announced that it has secured enough union authorization cards from Disneyland cast members to trigger a union election with the National Labor Relations Board. "The Cast Members who bring the Characters and Parades to life have been non-union since Disneyland Resort opened in the 1950s and have watched other workers in the park unionize all around them," Equity President Kate Shindle s ..read more

By Robert Niles: The Anaheim City Council early Wednesday morning gave preliminary approval to the DisneylandForward proposal. The 7-0 vote brings Disneyland one step closer to being able to expand attractions and hotels on current parking lots at the resort. The council still must give final approval for the proposal, which is expected at its meeting next month. "We've been on a nearly 70-year journey to get here tonight and the future is indeed a bright one for both the Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim," Disneyland President Ken Potrock said to the council. "Through this collaborati ..read more

By Robert Niles: Classic film fans now have a new way to celebrate some of their favorite films - right where they were made. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood has redesigned its classic films tour in partnership with Turner Classic Movies (TCM). The new TCM Classic Films Tour focuses on the studio's early days, with new stops that allow fans to explore iconic locations on Warner Bros.' Burbank lot. "The TCM Classic Films Tour is a natural fit for the Studio Tour," Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Vice President & General Manager Danny Kahn said. "TCM showcases and preserves beloved cla ..read more

By Robert Niles: Intamin is showing off the newly installed trains for Europe's first installation of its single-rail coaster model. Mahuka will open later this month at Walibi Rh�ne-Alpes in France. The Intamin Hot Racer is the second installation of the model, following Big Dipper at Sydney's Luna Park, in Australia. Mahuka will use a tire-propelled launch to reach a top speed of nearly 42 miles per hour, along 1,969 feet of track. Along the way, riders will experience three inversions: an inside top hat, corkscrew, and heartline roll. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Walibi R ..read more

By Robert Niles: Happy 41st birthday today to Tokyo Disneyland. The first Disney theme park outside the United States opened officially April 15, 1983. With Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, the Tokyo Disney Resort remains a bucket list dream destination for countless Disney fans around the world. These are beautiful theme parks, exquisitely maintained and offering perhaps the best operations in the industry. And, by the way, if you think you're an expert at navigating Disney theme parks, prepare to feel like an amateur when visiting Tokyo Disney. These fans don't play. You'd better arrive ..read more

By Robert Niles: One of the world's leading teams for designing sports-themed attractions is now at work at one of the world's most popular and enduring sports venues. The team at JRA, part of RWS Global, today shared a behind-the-scenes look at the construction for the renovated Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. The Speedway is the home to the Indianapolis 500, which first ran in 1911 and today remains the most attended single-day annual sporting event in the world. Designers at JRA, part of RWS Global, in the past have worked on sports-themed projects include Steelers Country at Kennywood ..read more