There’s considerable carnage over at Animal Kingdom’s Dino-Land U.S.A.! Let’s see how Primeval Whirl is looking:
Continue reading “Primeval Whirl Demolition”Primeval Whirl Demolition
Twenty-Year Top 20: The Best Coasters of 2001
It’s that time a year again! Welcome to Coaster Kings’ 3rd annual Twenty Year Top 20, where we count down our picks for the twenty best coasters turning 20 in 2021!
Continue reading “Twenty-Year Top 20: The Best Coasters of 2001”Disneyland Paris: Our Last International Park Before – and Our First International Park Since – the Pandemic Started.
Shortly before most borders (and theme parks) closed, Alex and I traveled to Disneyland Paris for a few days at one of our favorite parks. At the time we did not realize we’d cancel our next several international trips. This summer we finally were able to leave the US again, and the first park we visited was Disneyland Paris of course. Let’s take a look at the French Disney destination, without the usual crowd!
Continue reading “Disneyland Paris: Our Last International Park Before – and Our First International Park Since – the Pandemic Started.”Magic Kingdom – Crown Rating
Disney’s second park was the very ambitious “Florida project”. Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 with much fanfare and started what has become the World’s largest resort. Magic Kingdom as a park continues to be the most attended theme park in the World at 20M+ annual visitors (pre-pandemic). Today, let’s see if Magic Kingdom is worth the hype.
Continue reading “Magic Kingdom – Crown Rating”20 Best Disney Rides in the World
About this time in 2017, we dropped a Disney Rides Top 20 to celebrate the opening of Shanghai Disneyland. It’s been an extremely long four years, and the landscape of Disney’s ride offerings have grown exponentially. We’re excited to bring a dramatically altered countdown of Disney’s top rides from around the world – each one pushing the limits of storytelling entertainment and testifying for the visionary craftwork of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Continue reading “20 Best Disney Rides in the World”Weakest Theme Park Areas
Since their creation amusement and theme parks have utilized landscaping and theming as an important part of the experience. The massive popularity of Disneyland standardized the idea of themed lands within a park. Most parks which opened in the resulting regional park boom incorporated this idea. Theme parks have the ability to transport guests to different times and worlds. A well-themed area can be an attraction in and of itself. But these areas often fall flat. The following are five of the weakest theme park areas. Also included are some ideas on how they might be refreshed. This is by no means an exhaustive list so please make your own suggestions, they may find their way to a part two!
Continue reading “Weakest Theme Park Areas”Asia Coaster News – Early January 2021
The first Asia Coaster News update of the year is filled with exciting news from several countries! We’re excited to continue offering timely coverage of an array of notable projects throughout the continent!
Continue reading “Asia Coaster News – Early January 2021”Coaster Kings’ California TOP 20 – 2020
It’s been 2 years since our last comprehensive countdown of California coasters, so for 2020 we bring you now a Top 20 for the Golden State. Things in California have changed a LOT in 2 years, and the landscape and hierarchy of its coasters is no exception. Continue reading “Coaster Kings’ California TOP 20 – 2020”
Central Florida Coaster Construction + Testing – Mid-December 2020
This will be a rather unusual report because we’re combining Iron Gwazi, TRON Lightcycle / Run and Jurassic World: VelociCoaster into one update! We visited the three parks/projects over the past three days and though we didn’t quite collect enough for three separate reports, we definitely have enough to share for an exciting Central Florida Coaster Construction report! Continue reading “Central Florida Coaster Construction + Testing – Mid-December 2020”
Coaster Kings’ Florida TOP 10 Coasters – 2020
It’s been two years since our last Florida Coasters Top 10 – needless to say a lot has happened in these two years. We planned on holding off on our next Florida Top 10 until Iron Gwazi and VelociCoaster had opened; with the way 2020 unfolded, we ultimately decided to sound off on the region’s current collection of coasters without them. The next two years promise a dramatic shuffle in Central Florida coaster hierarchy, so let’s consider this 2020 countdown the foundation upon which we’ll judge the region’s variety of new coasters.
Continue reading “Coaster Kings’ Florida TOP 10 Coasters – 2020”
5 of America’s National Coaster Icons
In 1981 Dutch fantasy park Efteling decided to add their first roller coaster. Already a well established theme-park they chose to make an investment that would make a big impact on the European market. Working with Dutch manufacturer Vekoma they unveiled the largest roller coaster in all of Europe, Python. Although a copy of the existing Arrow Huss Carolina Cyclone, this 4 inversion monster was unlike anything in the region. It was only 2 years after Blackpool Pleasure Beach had unveiled Europe’s first modern looping coaster and the first time modern inversions appeared in continental Europe. Efteling had built something loopier, larger, and unlike anything else that Europe had seen and it became a phenomenon. Python has been featured in numerous Dutch TV programs, was used by Porsche to film a television commercial, and continues to be one of the most popular attractions in the park. So beloved is this ride that in 2018 the park spent an estimated 4.5 Million Euro ($5.3 Million USD) to re-track the majority of the ride and ensure it continues to run for future generations. Continue reading “5 of America’s National Coaster Icons”
TRON Lightcycle / Run Construction Update – Magic Kingdom, December 1, 2020
It’s been a few weeks since we launched a new TRON Lightcycle / Run update on the site. With this week’s cool temperatures, we figured we’d spend a day at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and share a TRON update with you. Continue reading “TRON Lightcycle / Run Construction Update – Magic Kingdom, December 1, 2020”
Halloween Throwback: Terrorific Night at Disneyland Paris
With most of the parks closed in Europe and all Halloween events cancelled, we might have one of the saddest Theme Park Halloween season ever. But that didn’t stop us from digging into our archives and see what we experienced in the past. This year, we’re looking back at a rare Halloween event that took place at the Walt Disney Studios in Disneyland Paris: Terrorific Nights. Continue reading “Halloween Throwback: Terrorific Night at Disneyland Paris”
SHOP – 5 New Global Coasters + Bonus Design
It’s the third week of our Coasters and Landmarks Line and we’re expanding with five international coaster-inspired designs. This week’s Global Coasters set is accompanied by a bonus design for our Crown Line. All designs are now available at 20% off until November 1st, we’re taking a closer look below: Continue reading “SHOP – 5 New Global Coasters + Bonus Design”
TRON Lightcycle / Run Update – Magic Kingdom – October 26, 2020
We’re back with another exciting TRON Lightcycle / Run Update from Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. In today’s update we’ll touch on some of the rumors and delays expected for this project, as well as the work that is continuing at this time! Continue reading “TRON Lightcycle / Run Update – Magic Kingdom – October 26, 2020”
SHOP – 5 New Landmark Designs
After launching our Coaster Line last week, we’re now adding five new pieces to form the Coasters and Landmarks Line. These new pieces take us across the globe to some of the most iconic landmarks in the themed entertainment industry. Carefully chosen and designed based on our love for these remarkable icons, this week’s wonderous landmark designs can’t be missed: Continue reading “SHOP – 5 New Landmark Designs”
California Theme Parks – Where Do We Go From Here?
After months on top of months of waiting, California theme parks finally received reopening guidelines yesterday during the state’s weekly COVID-19 briefing. Governor Gavin Newsom along with other high-level representatives from the Golden State have decided to split up theme parks into “larger theme parks” and “smaller theme parks”. The placement of a theme park is based on its capacity. The state says it will allow smaller theme parks to reopen at 25% capacity (or 500 people, whichever is fewer) once the county the park resides in is placed into the orange tier. Reservations will be required, all park guests must live in the same county the park is in, and only outdoor attractions will be allowed to operate. For larger theme parks, the restrictions are even more suffocating, with the guidelines stating that the county the park resides in must be in the yellow tier in order to reopen. Like the smaller parks, reservations will also be required and the park capacity will have to be 25%. Continue reading “California Theme Parks – Where Do We Go From Here?”
All Disney Parks in the World – Ranked
UPDATED: October 2020
We’ve had the amazing opportunity to travel to all Disney parks in the world, twice! Along with that, we’ve also been passholders for 8 out of the 12 parks! We’re critics – and thus can’t help but compare every experience at each Disney park. We’ve reasoned back and forth and have taken the changes over the past couple of years in account to create this list ranking all Disney parks in the World. (Please note that this article has been completely rewritten from our January 2019 edition). Continue reading “All Disney Parks in the World – Ranked”
Magic Kingdom and TRON Lightcycle / Run Update – October 13th 2020
It’s been a few weeks since we provided you with a TRON Lightcycle / Run Update from Magic Kingdom. As the project is trucking right along, we get more excited each day. Let’s take a quick look: Continue reading “Magic Kingdom and TRON Lightcycle / Run Update – October 13th 2020”
10 Best Themed Disney Areas in the World
Disney is truly in a league of their own when it comes to themed areas. Our recent podcast covered this in great detail, but we wanted to produce a follow-up article to make a couple changes and reiterate some of our key points.