Disney Hawaii hotel to start accepting reservations for August 2011

by Melanie Nayer on

Ready to trade in palm trees for orchid leis? If Orlando is getting stale, but you still want the magic of Walt Disney, it’s time to start thinking ahead to Hawaii. Word on the Disney blog is that Disney plans to begin accepting reservations for its new Hawaii resort hotel in a few weeks.

Reservations for The Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii, will begin on Aug. 2. The resort is scheduled to open about a year later, on Aug. 29, 2011.

The resort will feature 21 acres of oceanfront property near historical sites and will be the first Disney hotel that’s not next to a theme park. Book one of the 360 hotel rooms or 481 two-bedroom suites, and hang 10 with Mickey & his friends on the west side of Oahu.

This first Disney Hawaii hotel will be at Ko Olina Resort & Marina and near a Marriott hotel and other resorts and condominiums. For more information and to book reservations, visit the resort’s Web site: www.DisneyAulani.com

Holiday World owner Will Koch dies suddenly

by Leigh Caldwell on

Theme park fans and the attractions industry are mourning the death of Holiday World owner and president Will Koch.

Koch died suddenly at his home Sunday night. He was 48.

“Will was not only our leader, he was our dear friend,” park spokeswoman Paula Werne said in a statement. “Our park family is in mourning for this sweet man who worked tirelessly to bring fun and happiness to so many families in the 20 years he ran the park.”

Koch’s family attributed his death to complications from Type 1 diabetes. Koch had been diagnosed with the disease in college, and he worked to raise money for diabetes research.

I visited Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, last fall. I was touched by the people who worked there, and their appreciation for their colleagues and the history of Holiday World. One visit had me convinced that Holiday World truly deserved the multiple industry awards it has won for cleanest park and friendliest staff.

Koch, the grandson of park founder Louis J. Koch, was known internationally as a leader in the attractions industry. He oversaw the addition of the Splashin’ Safari water park in 1993 and numerous roller coasters.

“Will and the Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari team championed industry innovations such as offering free soft drinks, free sunscreen, and free parking for guests,” said Charles Bray, president and CEO of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

“We’ve lost a true industry pioneer and friend in Will Koch.”

Holiday World remains open for business. Park officials say the theme park will remain under the ownership and leadership of the Koch family.

Alabama Adventure theme park offers Father’s Day deal: $50 per carload

by Leigh Caldwell on

It’s one week until Father’s Day. Have you made plans with your dad?

The folks at Alabama Adventure near Birmingham suggest a day at the theme park. After all, what says, “I love you, Dad” more than screaming in his ear during a ride on the Rampage wooden roller coaster or digging your fingernails in his arm while being catapulted 185 feet in the air on the Space Shot?

Next Sunday, June 20, Alabama Adventure is offering a great deal for dad’s day: $50 admission for a carload. Now, they’re limiting that “carload” to six people, so don’t even think about sneaking the neighbor kids in in your trunk.

Still, that works out to $8.33 per person — less than a trip to the movies and way less than the general admission price of $29.99.

Alabama Adventure will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Father’s Day.

Dutch theme park in Japan plans to add a casino to boost visitor numbers

by Scott Carmichael on

When the Japanese city of Nagasaki wanted to honor their historic relationship with the Netherlands, they decided that a monument was just not going to be enough – so they built an entire Dutch city.

The Huis Ten Bosch theme park opened its gates in 1992 – and it has never turned a profit. Initially, the builders expected up to one million international visitors a year. Sadly, much to their surprise, international visitors preferred to visit the real country over a mock one.

In March, Japanese travel agency H.I.S. took over from the previous owners of Huis Ten Bosch, and hope to revive the park. Part of their plan is to add a casino and an outlet mall – because looking at old buildings was clearly not enough of a draw.

The first steps to raising visitor numbers were probably more effective than anything else – they slashed ticket prices and added more attractions.

Still, if you ask me, the best way to see The Netherlands is to actually visit The Netherlands.

(Photo from Flickr: Joone4u)

Inside the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. No, really. I got inside.

by Leigh Caldwell on

This is all I can show you of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida.

Monday night, I was a guest at private party thrown by Universal Orlando Resort to show off their newest theme park addition, which, for the most part, has been kept tightly under wraps. The Wizarding World opens one month from today, and after my walk-through last night, I can say much of it is already complete.

But no photos were allowed, and while I was completely tempted to break the rules, I heeded the words Professor Dumbledore speaks in his office at the new ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey:

“There will come a time when you have to choose between what is easy and what is right.”

So, the gallery displaying all of the obsessive detail inside the land will have to wait.

I was blown away — I’m still blown away — by the amount of immersion into Harry Potter’s world I experienced. I arrived at the Wizarding World at twilight, and the view through that archway in the picture above was perfect. Just perfect.

The Hogwarts Express train sits just inside on the right, the shops and restaurants of Hogsmeade line up along the path and straight ahead is the towering Hogwarts School. Just a few steps inside, you totally forget about Hulk and Spidey and the Sneetches just outside in the other Islands of Adventure.

I tried the three much-anticipated drinks to be served in the Wizarding World: nonalcoholic butterbeer, pumpkin juice and Hog’s Head Brew, which does have alcohol.

I walked through Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Owl Post and Zonko’s shops.And I visited Professor Dumbledore’s office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, where I saw Harry Potter, Hermione and Ron appear from underneath the invisibility cloak.

But, alas, I can’t show you any of it. So my observations will have to do. Some random thoughts:

  • There is a regular butterbeer and a frozen version. I liked the frozen version better. It was like the smoothest cream soda ever, but with a creamier finish. The regular drink will sell for $2.99 and the frozen version will cost an extra $1.
  • Pumpkin juice tastes like autumn. It’s not like drinking pumpkin pie, exactly — more like something you would be served at an apple grove farm stand or the perfect punch for a Halloween party. A peek at the ingredients revealed that it’s made with apple juice, pumpkin puree, apricot juice and pumpkin pie spices.
  • The Hog’s Head Brew is an ale made with Scottish hops and jaw-tingling malt. It is exclusive to the Wizarding World.
  • Among my favorite Harry Potter merchandise: clever lanyards made to look like the ties worn by students in the different houses at Hogwarts, a Gryffindor backpack, Hedwig plush and the “I served time in Azkaban” T-shirt.
  • The queue line for Flight of the Hippogriff – a re-themed roller coaster inside the Wizarding World – takes you down the path to Hagrid’s Hut, complete with Hagrid’s voice warning you about venturing into the forest.
  • The Triwizard Cup is on display in a room all by itself in the queue line at the Dragon Challenge dueling roller coasters. A pathway is lit with floating candles a la Hogwarts.
  • The new dark ride inside Hogwarts Castle, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, is not child’s play. A serious list of restrictions warns away the pregnant and those with the typical heart and back problems. But it goes on to suggest that those with claustrophobic tendencies also not ride. A warning to remove and stow prosthetic limbs before riding seems particularly ominous.
  • The new ride was not running, but we were allowed to walk through the entire queue. Universal is anticipating extremely long waits; it was the longest queue I have ever walked through. My best guess is that it’s designed to accommodate at least two hours worth of waiting.
  • Even if you’re not big on thrill rides, it’s probably worth walking that queue. I am still picking my jaw up off the ground after visiting Professor Dumbledore’s office and the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. You are truly right there with the characters, and they are talking directly to you. It must be seen.
  • If you’re a plus-sized person, it’s fairly likely that you’re not going to fit in the ride cars for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Just sayin’.
  • When you rest on a bench inside the shaded Owlery, be sure to look up. The owls perched above you are so realistic that there’s even owl poop on the rafters.

And now, a few pleas from me (an overgrown geeky teenager) to you:

The first time you visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, enter from the Seuss Landing/Lost Continent side. That will mean turning right when you enter Islands of Adventure and going counterclockwise around the park. While you can also enter from Jurassic Park, you won’t get the same view of the castle in front of you and Hogsmeade all around.

This is a theme park, and it’s quite possibly the most detailed theme park “land” ever created. Don’t treat it like the county fair and run from ride to ride. Plan to spend several hours here taking in all the awesome details.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens June 18. It is included with regular admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure.