Ep 44: December 2024 Theme Park News

Nuts about Theme Parks

- The biggest news this month was the opening of the Donkey Kong Country expansion of Super Nintendo World and Universal Studios Japan. This long awaited expansion opened on December 10th, and has had rave reviews from visitors. While POVs of the Mine Cart Madness coaster, look fun, but not super thrilling, the feedback on the ride has been very positive. Similar to the Mario Kart ride that anchors Super Nintendo World. This is not a thrill attraction, it is a family attraction. The best thing from what I can see from this expansion, is just adding space to Super Nintendo World.

- Here in Australia we have had two massive openings in the last month, with both Movie World and Dreamworld adding their new lands, the Wizard of Oz Precicnt and Rivertown.

- Starting with Movie World's new precinct dedicated to the Wizard of Oz, it opened on the 20th of December, without a soft opening period, with it's two new coasters:

- Kansas Twister: A Vekoma Family Boomerang Racer, twin tracks with a top speed of 58km/h and a 95 cm (37-inch) height requirement

- Flight of the Wicked Witch: A Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster, with a top speed of nearly 67km/h and 105 cm (41-inch) height requirement

I've seen really mixed reviews of the lands so far. People have been damning for the lack of shade in the outside portion of the land, which is a danger for any Summer opening of a Theme Park land in Australia. They have routinely praised the indoor queue elements of the two rides. The rides themselves haven't been big hits, but I'm going to hold my judgement on them for now.

- Over at Dreamworld, we have seen on the 23rd the opening of Rivertown. This new land takes the place of ABC Kids World, that kind of half merged into Kenny and Belinda's Dreamland when Dreamworks IP licencing deal was finished. Amusing that are of the park was originally known as Rivertown, so it's kind of return. Not really though. I'll get to that in a second. The new land brings one new, and one completely refurbished attraction. The new attraction Jungle Rush Vekoma switchback coaster with a low 95 cm (37-inch) height requirement, and high top speed of 80 Kmph. This is the first of it's kind of coaster in the world. The second attraction Murrissippi Motors, is a significant revamping of the Vintage Cars, that were previously on the other side of the park.

- Elsewhere in theme Parks, Disney has announced that beloved Australian cartoon dog Bluey is coming to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as being added as a meet and greet to the Australian sailings of the Disney Cruise Line from next month. This comes on the back of Bluey's World, opening here in Brisbane at the start of November. Exactly what is going to happen at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, remains to be seen. I would expect to see meet and greets happening fairly quickly.

- Universal Orlando has filed permits for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit to be removed, and replaced with a proposed new attraction. They have stated the existing ride will close in September 2025. The submitted plans, showed that the entire ride footprint plus some backstage area's near the New York area of the park, have been marked for the removal and replacement permit. The plans are obviously silent on what will replace the ride, but it is possible that this new area, might mean that the ride replacing it could be entered to from the New York area, rather than the current entrance near Minions Land at the front of the park. The wild speculation at this point, is that it could be a long awaited Ghostbusters attraction, running out of the New York section.

- Disneyland have opened a new Haunted Mansion themed gift show, Madame Leota's Somewhere Beyond, which went in the space of the former Splash Mountain Fastpass distribution area.

- Six Flags has submitted plans this week to "ALTER" rather than "Demolish" their "KINGDA KA/ ZUMANJARO" rides, which have been announced as being removed.