There is no place like IAAPA Expo, it’s the place to take in the most exciting sights, smells, tastes, and sensations that will take your career and attraction to new heights! The excitement, energy and opportunity are palpable. Whether on the show floor, in a session, or at a networking event, these invaluable experiences will inspire innovation now and in the future. We sat down with Michael Shelton to give you a behind-the-scenes look of IAAPA Expo, November 14–18, 2022 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Every year IAAPA Expo outperforms the last! What is new and e ..read more

LEADING THE NEXT GENERATION Copyright: IAAPA Expo Attendees from all over the world come to the Global Attractions Industry’s Premier Event, IAAPA Expo, Nov. 14-18, 2022, in Orlando, FL, for different reasons—It’s that diversity that makes the experience so educational, memorable, and meaningful. At IAAPA Expo, there is something for EVERYONE! ACHIEVER “IAAPA Expo is an annual destination that brings future vision planning back to the forefront as we wrap up the year. As a development and management company in the lifestyle and hospitality sectors with a focus on Las Vegas we are always lookin ..read more

At the 2021 IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Expo a brand new dark ride concept was announced today! Sally Dark Rides is currently designing and building VOLKANU – Quest for The Golden Idol which will open at Lost Island Theme Park. The new ride will be housed inside the park’s large volcanic structure. It fits in with the park’s mythical island theme and will feature interactivity, animatronics and immersive sets. The new ride will be 4-minutes in length and be the anchor attraction for the new park in Waterloo, Iowa. “At Sally, we strive to create immers ..read more

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard the news. Universal Orlando has announced that Shrek 4D is officially closing on January 10, 2022. Plus Fear Factor Live is never coming back (not a huge shock) at all. While we have covered what we believe to be happening as a replacement for those spaces in previous articles, today we are just going to affect Halloween Horror Nights in 2022 and possibly beyond. Keep in mind, while we believe this information presented today is correct, anything can happen. Nothing is official until Universal says otherwise. Call today’s post a premonition, divine intervention or ..read more

IAAPA Expo is the must-attend, premier event for anyone in the leisure and attractions industry. From new products, cutting-edge services, powerful education sessions, and a plethora of networking opportunities, the options at IAPPA are endless. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of five key things you don’t want to miss.  1. Attend Engaging Educational Sessions There are more than 90 educational sessions available for IAAPA attendees to partake in this year. Designed specifically for professionals from amusement and theme parks, family entertainment centers, museums, water parks ..read more

It was recently announced that Revenge of the Mummy will be closing down. Universal Studios Florida expects the closure to last from January 7, 2022 until late summer of that same year. Which begs the question: why? There are a few rumors going around that the entire track will be removed and replaced. After all, The Incredible Hulk got that exact same treatment. Plus Dueling Dragons was doomed for the scrapheap even if Hagrid’s coaster didn’t replace it. Which logic would dictate that the Revenge of the Mummy would also be replaced since the lifespan of the coaster is reaching about the same ..read more

What’s my favorite haunted attraction of all time in the Central Florida area? So glad you asked. It’s not in a theme park or even an open field. Actually, this is located in the real tunnels of an old bank smack dab in the middle of downtown Tampa. “The Vault of Souls” may be the closest thing you can find to the awe-inspiring Sleep No More in New York City south of the Mason-Dixon line. The reason I like it is that it steps away from the mold of what you’re used to in a “Halloween” event. In reality, I think “The Vault of Souls” could be open year-round. This is not about jump scares or gore ..read more

At long last, Shrek 4D is finally closing on January 10, 2022, at Universal Studios Florida. After 18 years, one of the longest-running shows in theme park history will close its doors. At one point, the attraction was so popular Universal added a second theater for increased capacity. Of course, now that second theater has been gutted and serves as a flexible space for a house at Halloween Horror Nights. You may also be surprised that Shrek 4D, even after all these years, has some of the higher guest ratings over any attraction in the park. That said, Universal knew the franchise was declinin ..read more

You know Bill Hader’s character Stefon that appeared on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update from time to time? I feel like I’m channeling him when I’m talking about the newest magic show in Tennessee. In Stefan’s voice: Copyright NBC “The hottest new show in Pigeon Forge is ‘Freckled Zelda’s Mythical Magical World’. It has everything: a girl in elf ears playing an ocarina, kid magicians, a unicorn, a man channeling Gargamel from the Smurfs and a little person sidekick.” As bizarre as it sounds, all of that is true. You might think that this was just thrown together and the end result must be ..read more

Universal Studios Beijing finally opened to the public on August 20, 2021. As such, videos and images of the park are starting to trickle out. Without question, the Jurassic World Adventure is considered their crown jewel within the park. Copyright Universal Studios Beijing Why does it stand out? Well, for starters it doesn’t rely heavily on screens. Which is a departure from the new attractions Universal has been shelling out as of late. Also, the dinosaurs look fantastic. Photo: ThemeParkX You can view the entire ride-through by clicking this link. We expect to be the first video of many tha ..read more