TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom Tests with Light Effects and Human Riders!

This evening, the brand-new TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster at Magic Kingdom reached another testing milestone. The ride’s massive canopy, light effects, and on-board audio were all synchronized for testing during park hours. Some trains even carried passengers. In addition, we’ve gotten a closer look at the accessible car at the end of select TRON Lightcycle Run trains, which allows those unable to ride the lightcycle while lying down to do so while sitting upright.

Continue reading “TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom Tests with Light Effects and Human Riders!”

Human Riders on TRON: Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom

TRON: Lightcycle Run, a highly anticipated new attraction at Magic Kingdom, has been testing practically nonstop for weeks. The new Vekoma coaster has undergone numerous test cycles, but so far we have only observed empty vehicles and those with test dummies. Nonetheless, we now have footage of actual riders. Hopefully this signifies that the ride will open sooner rather than later.

Continue reading “Human Riders on TRON: Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom”

The 5 Best Disney Launch Coasters

Beginning with resort-saving Space Mountain de la Terre a la Lune in 1995, Disney was the unlikely champion of the modern launch coaster. Before Premier Rides, Intamin, and other industry juggernauts had their hand at next-generation launchers, Disney partnered with Vekoma to create the first new catapult-propelled coaster in over a decade (one that, unlike its predecessors, would run multiple trains on a full circuit).

Continue reading “The 5 Best Disney Launch Coasters”

20 Best Disney Rides in the World – 2022 Edition

About this time in 2017, we dropped a Disney Rides Top 20 to celebrate the opening of Shanghai Disneyland. Five years and two revisions later, we’re back with the 3rd Edition of our Global Disney Top 20. We’re proud to bring an increasingly comprehensive countdown of Disney’s top rides from around the world – each one pushing the limits of storytelling entertainment and illustrating for the visionary artwork of Walt Disney Imagineering.

Continue reading “20 Best Disney Rides in the World – 2022 Edition”

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.”

Spanish Theme Park History – Part 5: PortAventura

After a little break, today we’ll continue our series about the Spanish Theme Park History with the fifth article. Every two weeks we’re publishing one of eight articles about the history of thirteen Spanish amusement and theme parks. Some of them no longer exist, but some others are still operating and receiving guests nowadays. In this series, we travel in time through 168 years in theme park history, starting in 1853, to our days in 2021. In this article we’ll focus on PortAventura, the very first theme park of Spain and the only Universal park that has ever existed in Europe.

Continue reading “Spanish Theme Park History – Part 5: PortAventura”

Spanish Theme Park History – Part 1: Camps Elisis

Today we’re starting a new series about Spanish Theme Park History. This eight part series will be released bi-weekly. Come back every other week for another article! We’ll be covering the history of thirteen Spanish amusement and theme parks. Some of them no longer exist and others are still operating and receiving guests. In this series, we’ll travel through 168 years of theme park history, starting in 1853, to our days in 2021. Today we’ll focus on Camps Elisis, the first Spanish amusement park.

Continue reading “Spanish Theme Park History – Part 1: Camps Elisis”

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”

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”

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”