SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
THEME PARK ROUNDUP
by
Steve Zall and Sid Fish
Summer began with a "splash" and "color" within the incredible entertainment offerings at our regional resorts and theme parks, including:
Disney’s California Adventure Park adds "World of Color" Water Spectacular, and Disneyland Resort presents "Summer Nightastic!" for Summer season. "World of Color" combines nearly 1,200 powerful fountains, popular Disney music and an all-new kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects, including both classic and new animation projected on massive screens of water. “World of Color” floods the senses and takes the audience on an imaginative, emotional journey into the colorful worlds of Disney classics, such as “The Lion King” and “The Little Mermaid,” along with Disney•Pixar films including “Toy Story” and “WALL-E.” Disney’s newest production features an unprecedented infrastructure of water effects, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, fog, surround sound and moving fountains that can shoot spouts from 30 feet to 200 feet high. Technical wizardry integrates all the media with one of the biggest show control systems ever built; more than 18,000 active points of control are precisely managed by a single system. “World of Color” debuts this year as part of “Summer Nightastic!” – a lineup of exciting, after-dark entertainment that will illuminate the night at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks. “Summer Nightastic!” will run through August 29, while “World of Color” will continue entertaining guests year-round at Paradise Bay.
At Disneyland park, “Fantasmic!” ignites the night with thrills, life-like creatures including a fire-breathing dragon, and spine-tingling adventures for Sorcerer Mickey. In the skies above Sleeping Beauty Castle, “Magical” sparks to life with a dazzling firework spectacular in which colorful, choreographed pyrotechnics burst and soar to a soundtrack of Disney songs. “Magical” features both Tinker Bell and Dumbo in flight over the castle.
Both parks are open daily year round, but "Summer Nightastic!" ends August 29. The Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim. For more information call 866-603-4763 or visit www.disneyland.com.
Knott’s Berry Farm presents "Snoopy’s Starlight Spectacular” this Summer. To celebrate the Peanuts 60th Anniversary, Knott’s Berry Farm features a new nighttime light show that showcases the Peanuts Gang and reminds us why our heart still belongs to good ol’ Charlie Brown. When darkness falls over Knott’s Berry Farm, Camp Snoopy comes alive with a continuous light show filled with Peanuts’ three dimensional figures, themed music, sound effects, voice-overs and colorful projections of the Peanuts’ characters. “Snoopy’s Starlight Spectacular” runs every evening the park is open after 8:00 p.m.
At the Charles M. Schulz Theatre, the “Everyone Loves Snoopy” ice show is where Snoopy takes center stage along with ice skaters in a show that will delight the entire family. Rock Band® Live in the Knott’s Boardwalk area is a one-of-a-kind multimedia experience that combines the thrill of a stage show with live music. For the younger set, “Hooray for Hollywood” tells the story of the Peanuts Gang as they try to make it big in Tinseltown in the Camp Snoopy Theatre. Kids will also enjoy “Snoopy’s 60th Birthday Party” in Camp Snoopy with chocolate chip cookies, party games, and a giant birthday card for the Peanuts Gang. Knott’s Soak City lets you cool off in Tidal Wave Bay or take a ride on Pacific Spin, Soak City’s newest ride, where you blast down into a 132-foot long tunnel, then drop 63 feet into the mouth of a six story funnel, which dumps you in a waterfall splash catch pool.
Knott's Berry Farm is open daily year round and Knott's Soak City is open daily through September 6. Both parks are located in Buena Park. For more information call 714-220-5200 or visit www.knotts.com.
Legoland California Resort opens newest attraction "Legoland Water Park". The 5.5 acre $12 million investment is the largest expansion in the history of LEGOLAND California. The Water Park builds on the foundation of LEGOLAND California with interactivity, imagination and fun and is geared specifically for families with children ages 2 to 12. Key attractions at LEGOLAND Water Park include Orange Rush, a family tube slide where up to four people can ride together down a 312-foot-long curving track on an 11-foot in diameter half pipe; Twin Chasers, two side-by-side enclosed red tube slides that stretch nearly 130 feet, Splash Out, an open body slide that invites guests to slide 240 feet and “splash out” into the water below; Joker Soaker, a fun interactive platform in the wade pool where kids can aim water cannons at each other as a LEGO jester model tells jokes and pours 350 gallons of water down upon them; the Build-A-Raft River, an 850-foot-long lazy river where guests are splashed and sprayed by jumbo LEGO models; DUPLO® Splash Safari, a water play area designed especially for toddlers with three small slides and interactive DUPLO creatures including an alligator, polar bear and an elephant; and Kid Creek, a mini lazy river built with younger kids in mind. LEGOLAND Water Park is located at the north end of LEGOLAND California adjacent to Fun Town with the entrance located between the Factory Tour and the Adventurer’s Club.
Open daily through September 6, Legoland California Resort is located in Carlsbad. For more information call 760-918-5346 or visit www.legoland.com.
SeaWorld San Diego Resort adds all-new “Blue Horizons” show and presents "Summer Nights". “Blue Horizons” is an awe-inspiring show that unites sea and sky as it showcases majestic animals and spirited performers that carry out their performances on, over and in the water. At the center of “Blue Horizons” is Marina, a young girl whose vivid imagination sets the stage for an extravaganza of graceful dolphins, magnificent pilot whales and a rainbow of exotic birds. “Blue Horizons” features action both above and under the water, as a cast of divers and aerialists plunge off the elaborate set into, and also propel out of, the deep blue water. While these characters sway through the sky and dive off the set, the true stars of the show grace the waters below. SeaWorld’s dolphins and pilot whales leap their way into this dreamy adventure. African crowned cranes, coral bills, black vultures and other bird species soar over the audience as they ascend toward the horizon. The stirring, original musical score for “Blue Horizons” is performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Dolphin Stadium was completely transformed for “Blue Horizons,” including an entirely new set; trusses, diving boards and bungee swings for the aerialists and divers; a new sound system; high-tech water features; and an additional 700 seats for guests. "Blue Horizons" is just one part of "Summer Nights" at Seaworld San Diego. "Summer Nights" also features “Shamu Rocks,” an energetic musical journey around the world; “Sea Lions Tonite,” a comedy show starring Clyde and Seamore; and an “Into the Blue” fireworks show.
Open daily year round, "Summer Nights" ends September 6, while "Blue Horizons" continues indefinitely. Seaworld San Diego is located in San Diego. For more information call 800-257-4268 or visit www.seaworldsandiego.com.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is bursting at the seams with a whole lineup of excitement and fun for everyone! Known worldwide for the best thrills, Six Flags Magic Mountain features 16 world-class roller coasters and over 100 rides, games and attractions for the entire family. Six Flags Magic Mountain is also home to your favorite Looney Tunes andJustice League characters…keep your camera and autograph books handy, these characters love to play with our guests! Also, beloved children’s icon Thomas The Tank EngineTM and his friends have pulled into Thomas TownSM.. It’s a whole area for families to enjoy together! Plus, awesome shows like the all new SLAMBANG! and Mat Hoffman’s Danger Defying Daredevils round out the day’s fun!
Open daily through September 23, Six Flags Magic Mountain is located in Valencia. For more information call 661-255-4111 or visit www.sixflags.com.
Universal Studios Hollywood adds "King Kong 360 3-D" to the famed Studio Tour attraction. "King Kong 360 3-D" created by Peter Jackson is the world's largest most intense 3D experience on the planet. The new King Kong at Universal Studios Hollywood is an incredible amount of fun where, aboard the Universal tram, you get a wrap-around view of the action through 3-D glasses, as a synchronized motion simulator allows you to physically experience this spectacle, which includes a fight between Kong and a group dinosaurs. In the new attraction, guests enter a darkened soundstage aboard the Studio Tour trams and are transported deep into a tangled jungle location. They survive a close encounter with a swarm of hungry raptors, only to be confronted by terrifying 35 foot tall dinosaurs intent on attacking the tram, until Kong appears and guests find themselves caught in the middle of the fight, which nearly sends the tram off a ledge into a bottomless chasm. The most extensive backlot construction ever in the history of Universal Studios includes re-creations of legendary Hollywood sets and the introduction of brand-new shooting locations. Studio trams were recently equipped as "mobile movie theaters" with state-of-the-art flat-screen high-definition monitors and digital playback systems. The new high-definition monitors feature commentary from filmmakers, actors and personalities. Clips from numerous movie and television productions, corresponding to sites visited along the Tour route, add a new dimension to the tour of backlot attractions, sets and facades.
Open daily year round, Universal Studios Hollywood is located in Universal City. For more information call 800-864-8377 or visit www.universalstudioshollywood.com.
All this fun in the sun is for everyone, so get out there and enjoy it!
