See What’s New at Universal Studios Orlando This Summer

The sagging economy is bad news for popular U.S. theme parks, but there may be a silver lining for families who spend the summer months racking up frequent rider miles on scream-a-minute amusement park offerings. This year several major theme parks are unveiling amazing new attractions designed to keep thrill seekers on the edge of their seats. One of the rides making the biggest splashes on the summer scene is Universal Studios, Orlando’s new Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. The interactive coaster is being billed as the “most mind-blowing ride” in the park’s history. Daring guests board the coaster and immediately … Continue reading

Spyland—-A New Theme Park Worth Checking Out

Who cares about running with the bulls when you can pretend you are a secret agent in search of international fugitives? Spain is getting a bit more intriguing for would-be super sleuths. If you are more interested in spying on someone digging into a plate of pollo al ajo than you are in dining on it yourself then you don’t want to miss the opportunity to be one of the first to visit Spain’s newest amusement park—-Spyland. The new adventure destination is being constructed as part of a major entertainment complex in the Zaragoza province of Spain, according to park … Continue reading

Exciting News For Harry Potter Fans

Attention all Harry Potter fans: you can forget about having to settle for yet another vacation at Disneyland or Coney Island—soon you will be able to get your kicks at the place your young hero calls home (or at least a version of it). Universal Orlando Resort just announced it plans to open a Harry Potter theme park that will allow fans of the boy magician to visit some of the same iconic locations featured in the best selling books and blockbuster movies. “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” is scheduled to open at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park … Continue reading

Seasonal Travel Delights

Tis the season to head to a theme park. We’re barely three days into November and my email inbox is already flooded with alerts from various theme parks around the nation heralding the arrival of their Winter Wonderlands. Clearly, these parks operate like retailers when it comes to promoting all things Christmas less than 24 hours after the sunsets on Halloween. If you are looking for a family-friendly travel destination, that’ll help you bond with the kiddos during the holiday season, consider heading to one of the sweetest places on the planet. My 7-year-old’s top pick for Christmas ogling is … Continue reading

Theme Park Fun

Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri just announced that it is teaming up with area hotels and other attractions to offer discounts on package deals to families who want to spend spring break in the Show-Me-State without breaking the bank. The popular theme park is just one of dozens of companies lending a helping hand to cash-strapped parents, who want to make this spring break memorable for their kids. Sea World in Florida and the San Diego Zoo are also appealing to families on a budget. Both theme parks are freezing the price of their annual passes, in an effort … Continue reading

How to Have Fun Without Breaking the Bank

With spring break just a few weeks away some of the nation’s top kid-friendly attractions are slashing admission prices in an effort to woo cash-strapped parents. Deep discounts are yours for the taking if you visit the following locations: WALT DISNEY WORLD If you’ve never taken your kids to see Mickey and Minnie in person, now’s the time to go. You can save hundreds of dollars by staying at one of Disney’s resorts and visiting the park. The deal, dubbed “Buy Four Nights, Get Three Free,” is good through June, but you must book before the end of March. The … Continue reading

Family Travel: Sweeten Up Your Summer Vacation

Forget about the kids, for chocoholic parents, a trip to Hershey’s Chocolate World is a dream come true. The sweet treats that await you at the sumptuous property are seemingly endless. Imagine snapping your family’s Christmas card photo beneath a streetlamp fashioned like a Hershey Kiss or snacking on samples from the two-million-square-foot Hershey Factory, the largest chocolate plant in the world. If your stomach is rumbling just thinking about the fun you would have it’s time to stop smacking your lips and get into gear to take in the attractions. Timing is everything when visiting the park. Hershey may … Continue reading

Theme Parks that Won’t Break the Bank

How much money did you have to set aside to pay for your family’s summer vacation to Disney, Six Flags or Universal? Unless you found an outstanding package deal I doubt that your family of four could get admission, parking, meals, drinks, and souvenirs for less than $500. Now consider how much more you could get for the same amount of money if you opted to visit a smaller theme park like Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana or Alabama Adventure in Bessemer, Alabama. All-day admission at both parks cost about half of what Disney charges. Currently, a one-day ticket … Continue reading

All Aboard for a Thrilling Start to the Summer Season

Memorial Day is the unofficial kick off to the summer season and while most kids still have a week or so of classes to complete before they can ditch the books until September you can bet that amusement parks around the nation are bracing for an action packed weekend. Traditionally, I spend this time of the year blogging about what’s new in the world of amusement parks and this summer is no different. Here’s a look at where you can get your thrill on this season and what new attractions will help make your summer a hair raising experience: NEW … Continue reading

Amusement Parks Go High Tech and You Pay the Price

They are the No.1 destination for families. Whether they are located in North America, South Korea or Dubai millions of visitors flock to amusement parks each year. And what a difference a few years can make. Gone are the days when rickety wooden roller coasters took center stage. These days amusement parks are high-tech experiences and guests want to make sure they get their monies worth. (And with admission averaging about $45 per adult it’s not hard to see why.) Modern theme parks make the most of technological advances. For example, the Kingda Ka roller coaster at New Jersey’s Six … Continue reading