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Central Florida News - (7/30/10) Amusement Insider has posted a photo review of Orlando’s 3rd big Go-Kart attraction, Fun Spot USA, home of the giant Skycoaster and soon to feature Galaxy Spin.
    (7/29/10) It’s time for Waterpark Wednesday on Amusement Insider, as they post an in-depth photo report from Orlando’s first big waterpark… Wet ‘n Wild.
    (7/26/10) Amusement Insider has posted a great look at two of the major Go-Kart attractions in Orlando: allowing you to compare Fun Spot Action Park and Magical Midway.
    (7/24/10) The new Orlando Improv is now set to open on July 29th with a performance by Harland Williams. The site also lists many performers who will follow throughout August. Also, new construction pictures of Fantasy Surf, the indoor stationary surf wave attraction, can be found at Orlando Parks News.
    (7/22/10) Guests coming to stay at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek resort have a special chance to get their room upgraded to one with a “Disney View” by wearing a white sequin glove during check-in as a nod to the return of Captain EO. “When it comes great hotel perks… you certainly can’t ‘beat it,’” said Peter Kacheris, managing director.  “We have one of the best Disney views in the destination, hands down!” (Must book and stay by 08/31/2010.)
    (7/21/10) A new large bowling alley and arcade complex is planned for Highway 192 near the Arabian Nights dinner show. If I’m not mistaken, this may be part of the old Water Mania waterpark site. Read all the details here.
    (7/11/10) Care to see some rare Aerial photos showing off what’s left of the former Splendid China theme park? Check out a nice collection of shots taken from a helicopter over at The Theme Park Guy.
    (7/6/10) And Orlando police officer and his wife have been arrested for accused involvement with the reselling of theme park tickets obtained from sources either for free or at discount rates. They were also selling certain hotel “key cards” which guests could then present at specific theme parks to obtain free parking. So far he has admitted to making at least $10k-15k a year selling park tickets. Read more over at the local FOX news station.
    (6/30/10) The new 18+ Treasure Tavern show connected to the Pirates Dinner Adventure show has now opened. The adventure begins as Gretta, the tavern’s outlandish bar maven, escorts guests through a two-hour show filled with excitement, entertainment, rum and a three-course dinner. Through the night, guests are treated to artistic acrobats, singers, dancers and comedians from across the globe that have gathered in this unique location for fun. “There is little in Orlando that offers adult travelers and locals an opportunity to escape the ordinary and go on a dining adventure that’s not focused on entertaining the children,” says Imre Baross, vice president & executive director of entertainment, for Treasure Tavern. “When guests enter our facility, they enter a time gone by, when sailors and travelers would spend hours in exotic ports-of-call.” Check out all the official details here, including details about the 50% off ticket special they are running now through July 9th.
    In other area news, Johnny Upsidedown has posted a new update from FunSpot USA showing off all the Galaxy Spin pieces on site. He also reports that the coaster will go on the north end of the property where the Sky Coaster building and Double Wheel are currently located.
    (6/29/10) According to Attractions magazine a new stationary surf wave attraction will be opening in Kissimmee called Fantasy Surf. From the look of things, it will feature indoor WaveLoch made Flow Rider systems, allowing for year-round fun. There is also an official site for the attraction at UltimateIndoorWave.com.
    (6/28/10) The Improv, a new comedy club, looks like it will open soon at Pointe Orlando. PollStar is already showing bookings at the club starting July 1st, though no firm date is listed on the official Improv site yet.
    In other Orlando entertainment news, get ready to get your game on because Dave & Busters is finally ready to drop into the Orlando market. According to this article D&B finalized a deal to take over the former Race Rock restaurant on International Drive right in between the mega-sized Olive Garden and the helicopter tour place.
    (6/24/10) One thing you learn about living in Florida is that the Gators could be anywhere… at anytime. I always figured that was likely the major reason you don’t see too many stray cats around as we would frequently see random Gators hanging out in the local water ponds near our home at the time… not to mention in the ponds around Walt Disney World and just about anywhere else.
    A local researcher at the Silver Springs nature park in Ocala found this out the hard way while diving on the job when he was attacked and bitten around the neck and head. I’m going to guess that the gator may have tried to go into one of those “death rolls” once he bit down, but the man did manage to escape. He was taken in for medical treatment, but his condition is not known.
    (6/23/10) TEA has announced that the SATE ’10 Conference (Storytelling, Architecture, Technology, Experience) will take place in Orlando on Sept 30-Oct 1. You can find out more about the event and how to attend here.
    (6/21/10) A few new pictures of that Alligator Alley country bar taking over the long-closed haunted castle attraction on 192 have been posted to Orlando Parks News.
    (6/14/10) The Orlando Sentinel had a new update about the Galaxy Spin coaster coming to Fun Spot USA. The report says that the ride won’t be ready until this winter, just in time for Christmas. While I think it’s fantastic that Fun Spot is finally getting a coaster… I just wish they could have bought something that Disney’s didn’t already have two identical copies of over at Animal Kingdom. Or at the very least, try to make the Galaxy Spin more special… stick it indoors inside a dark structure. Kennywood’s Exterminator is the exact same kind of coaster as well and their indoor “dark ride” version was a ton of fun.
    (6/10/10) According to a local source the old long-closed Haunted Mansion building off 192 has now been repainted green and has a sign out front claiming that an Alligator Alley country bar was on the way. Strange… from a haunt to a redneck country bar, though to many I’m sure the difference is slight at best.
    (5/31/10) I received a report yesterday that the long abandoned (over 10 years) haunted castle attraction along I-192, between Disney and Medieval Times has suddenly received a new bright paint job. You can see a few pictures of the nearly finished new bright paint job (kind of an orange/beige with yellow trim) over at Orlando Parks News. So the question is, has someone bought it with the intention of opening a new attraction or has the owner simply decided to paint it a more friendly color in the hopes of luring a buyer after the dark castle look failed to find one for so long?
    You can see a picture of the former “Haunted Mansion” attraction at Lost Parks. I’m not sure when it closed, or exactly how long it was open, but I first noticed it myself shortly after I moved to Orlando in the fall of 2000 and it was already closed then.
    (5/20/10) The people at Gatorland are crazy, that much is certain. They are about to build a new thrill ride of sorts... a zip line plunge that will open this fall over the park’s jumping Cuban Crocodiles. Ummm... thanks, but no thanks...
    (5/19/10) If you see signs of construction over at Orlando’s Holy Land Theme Park, you can relax.  They are not building the long rumored Holy Diver roller coaster in remembrance of Dio’s passing this past week. (Ok… it’s not a rumor, I made it up…) It seems they are starting work on a new 2,000 seat auditorium that will be used for special events, church services and more. The new theater will go in on the southern end of the property and is expected to be finished in time for Easter 2011.
    (5/7/10) Orlando is getting a wild new dinner show concept… and this time it’s all for the adults. Built by the people behind the Pirate’s Dinner Adventure show, a new 240-seat theater is now under construction right next door that will become home to Treasure Tavern. The idea is that virtually every show and attraction in Orlando is focused on the kids entertainment, that there is wide open niche for a more adult experience.
    Opening in June the show will feature comedians, acrobats and dancers in a show themed around a Caribbean port of call where everyone drops in for some Rum and good times. While the show will still only feature PG-13 level entertainment, only those 18 and older will be allowed into the show which will feature indeed feature rum to drink as well as a three course meal. Sounds great to me… I can’t wait.
    (5/6/10) The Orlando Sentinel has confirmed that Fun Spot USA did purchase the former Galaxy Spin from Cypress Gardens and will install it up front near Highway 192.
    (4/30/10) Remember Kyle and Stacey who won the 67 Days of Smiles contest last year that put them in the middle of the action in Orlando for 67 straight days?  Well, they’re back… this time with a new promotion to give away 67 trips to Orlando as part of the new Orlando Smile Search contest. Check it out here.
    (4/26/10) According to one source, Fun Spot isn’t planning on opening the their new Galaxy Spin coaster until this Fall.
    (4/22/10) Pictures of the coaster track at Fun Spot can have been posted here, which also identifies the pieces as being the former Galaxy Spin from Cypress Gardens. Nice to know the ride is staying in Florida, though moving the coaster even closer to its near identical cousins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a questionable move.
    (4/21/10) Local sources tell us that Fun Spot currently has a few coaster pieces sitting in a field across the street next to the pirate themed mini-golf course. Our source claims that they look similar to spinning mouse coaster track, but I haven’t seen a picture myself to back that up yet.
    (4/15/10) Behind the Thrills has informed us that while CoCo Key will open today as scheduled, like I figured last month… the waterpark will be delayed a few weeks to finish it up, sure to disappoint any guests who booked a room based purely on the promise of a waterpark.
    (4/14/10) A new photo update showing off the new CoCo Key waterpark / resort opening in Orlando has been posted over at Behind the Thrills. Crews are working round the clock to ensure it is ready to open on April 15th… tomorrow.
    (4/13/10) According to USA Today, Kennedy Space Center will open a new Star Trek Live stage show in June. The show will mix live special effects, technology and audience participation into the 30-minute show.
    (4/2/10) I’ve been told that there is an Entertainment Designer Forum group meeting at the Mad Cow Theater in Orlando, FL on April 23rd. Featured designers include Stephanie Girard, TJ Mannarino from Universal’s Art & Design Department, members of the HHN Scream Team as well as Alan Gilmore (Art Director for Harry Potter Prisoner of Azcaban, Goblet of Fire and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter). Tickets cost $25 with the proceeds going to benefit the American Cancer Society. Click here to find out more.
    (3/30/10) After trying to ignore the story for several days, it seems too many of you have heard the rumors. Yep... a local radio station, and only one station, has been running crazy ads promoting some kind of Underground Adventure theme park coming to Orlando. The website claims it will open April 5th... but I wouldn’t count on it. If anything, this may be some kind of poorly conceived April Fool’s Joke. The thought that someone could build anything underground in Florida, let alone a theme park, is crazy enough.
    (3/29/10) I’ve been told that Old Town has opened their own tethered balloon ride to the backside of the mall near where the coaster is. I’m not sure how high this one goes compared to the one at Downtown Disney.
    (3/17/10) While some info was pushed out to some other sites claiming that the CoCo Key waterpark resort in Orlando would be ready to open, I was skeptical myself. Behind the Thrills was too and went by the check it out and as you can see from the numerous photos they’ve posted, the have yet to even begin vertical construction on the waterpark, and look like they’ve barely broken ground at all. Meanwhile the old hotel that they are renovating into CoCo Key seems to have been given a quick slap-coat of paint to get it up to speed again, but I’m not even sure if it will be ready to open by mid April. Of course if you visit the official website, you’ll notice that they are indeed taking reservations for April… which may be quite a shock to those first guests who discover that their waterpark resort has no waterpark. For a fun comparison, look at these three pictures of CoCo Key sent in and posted here on Screamscape back on January 11th... not a lot has changed as far as the waterpark goes.
    And in case you may be fooled by the name… this will not be an indoor waterpark resort built in Orlando, despite the fact that all the other CoCo Key Resorts do feature an indoor waterpark. No.. the Orlando site will feature an outdoor waterpark, with a portion of it covered by a “canopy”. The waterpark itself will feature the obligatory water fortress and only three waterslides of note… Boomerango, Surfer Splash and Over the Falls. You can see the concept art of the waterpark here, and then check out an old “before” shot of the hotel here.
    (3/13/10) I’m told that a couple of new attractions have been added to Fun Spot Action Spot on I-Drive: a kiddie “swing” attraction and a carnival style Fun Slide.  Yeah… I know… nothing to thrilling or exciting there. They removed the “Panda Ride” to make room it seems.
    (2/20/10) Gatorland has launched the start of a new attraction at the park that they’re calling the Mile of Monsters. It will be a self-guided tour with stops to see 10 of the park’s most notorious Gators and Crocs.  The plan is to expand it over the next few months to include 24 animal stops, each one starting with a different letter of the Alphabet. Get all the letters and arrange them into a password and you’ll be rewarded with a prize from the gift shop on your way out. Read more about it at the Sun-Sentinel.
    (2/16/10) A new photo update for Old Towne and Fun Spot USA has been posted to Orlando Parks News.
    (2/8/10) The Tournament of Champions finals will be voted on this week, starting with the Red Bracket today which will feature a six-way final vote where only the top four will advance. Up today: SheiKra vs X2 vs Fahrenheit vs Lightning Racer vs Thunderhead vs Prowler. Yep... the top vertical drops up against the top woodies.
    (2/2/10) Calling all Central Florida locals from theme parks from years gone by… it seems the former Circus World theme park, which later became Boardwalk & Baseball, is holding an employee reunion. Find out more here.
    (2/1/10) The Tournament of Champions is back this week with some new polls. First off is a Sudden-Death one day only tiebreaker poll between Mr. Freeze and Powder Keg. After that head into this week’s big showdown between Big Thunder Mt, Roadrunner Express and Space Mountain from Disneyland and Florida’s Magic Kingdom. 
    (1/27/10) According to the Orlando Sentinel’s interview with Merlin Entertainment’s CEO the Orlando area could become home to a new Madame Tussauds wax museum in the future. Nothing firm mind you, only that it may be something they are looking into.
    (1/20/10) For anyone wondering the questionable Flea Market that opened briefly inside the old Dixie Stampede building has indeed closed down for good it seems. You can see a few pictures of the sad quiet building posted to Orlando United. No word on what may happen with the building next, other than that when Dixie Stampede moved out, they said they would not return to that building for some reason. It’s kind of a shame, as I actually felt that they had the best dinner theater show in Orlando while they were up and running. Both the regular and Christmas shows were spectacular and the food was actually good.
    (1/11/10) This week we get to see a rare look inside Orlando’s infamous Holy Land Experience park. You can see the photo update posted this week to Amusement Insider as well as a bit of a trip report with even more photos here. I’ve got to admit, some of it is kind of creepy… like the 2D cutout people… and some of it just is plain weird.
    (10/20/09) Good news for Orlando… The Improv comedy club will be opening a new location in Pointe Orlando in Spring 2010. This is great news, as a good comedy club is what I always thought Orlando needed when I was living there. Disney had the Comedy Warehouse of course, but we’ve seen them stupidly ignore that facility and shut it down along with the rest of the old Pleasure Island clubs for no good reason. Honestly, Disney could have made a killing with a good comedy club on site, Pleasure Island or not…  but Disney’s loss is Pointe Orlando’s gain. More power to them!