Play 4 Days is Back at Walt Disney World Theme Parks
"LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer is sizzlin' fun, fall's just around the corner, election season is not far off and the votes are in: It's a savings landslide for Florida residents. Disney's Play 4 Days is back! Walt Disney World Resort treats Florida residents to unlimited park- hopping at all four Disney theme parks on any four days of their choosing between July 30 and Nov. 21, 2004 -- all for only $119* per person, plus tax." Disney press release on Yahoo!

Theme park proposal gives way to industrial park plan
"VIRGINIA BEACH [VA] - After languishing for two decades, 40 acres on Birdneck Road are going from fun park to light-industrial park. Plans for a $50 million theme park are being scrapped in favor of a collection of warehouses and offices. The land, partly owned by developer Edward S. Garcia , is adjacent to Ocean Breeze Waterpark and Motor World. " From HamptonRoads.com/Pilot Online.

Walt Disney World Resort Announces New BASS Fishing Excursions
"LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- World-class theme parks and attractions are not the only reasons for visiting Walt Disney World Resort. There's fishing, too, with trophy-sized largemouth bass in the 14- pound range lurking in lakes and canals almost within casting distance of Cinderella Castle. Popular 'catch and release' experiences around the Vacation Kingdom promise to 'lure' even more guests to the Disney lakes, as Walt Disney World announced a new line-up of BASS fishing excursions with the nation's preeminent authority on the sport of fishing." Disney press release via Yahoo!

Heat Causes Problems At Local Theme Park
"High temperatures, and more specifically a heat index of near 105 degrees, were the reasons nearly 70 people were affected by heat-related problems at Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. Medical crews were called in to assist many people. They began to feel better after getting some water and food, according to park owner Kent Buescher." From First Coast News.

Go-kart park runs into the taste police
"JAMES CITY [VA] -- At an amusement park convention, Bob Miller set his sights on a yellow, red and blue beauty called the Disk'O. It rocks and spins and twists and would be perfect for the thrill seekers who frequent his Go-Karts Plus in Lightfoot. At $500,000, the ride would be Miller's biggest single investment, a long way from zooming go-karts. He got his investors all lined up... A subset of the James City Planning Commission voted 3-1 against the application this month, and the commission acquiesced. The height of 32 feet and the bright colors and lights made the ride unfit for the 'community character corridor' of Richmond Road as per the latest update of the Comprehensive Plan." From The Virginia Gazette.

Owner: Joyland to reopen
"The owner of Joyland said Friday that the Wichita [KS] amusement park has been closed for more than a week due to 'an argument with the insurance company,' but that he hopes to reopen by next weekend. 'It's none of your business, quite honestly,' said David Rohr, owner of Joyland, when asked Friday about the nature of the dispute with his insurance company. 'It's nothing to do with any claims; it's just a disagreement.'" From The Wichita Eagle.

Amusement park honors man for 1,000th visit
"Don Helbig can't get enough of the Paramount Kings Island amusement park - or its roller coasters. 'That thrill just never wore out,' said Helbig, 41, of Fairfield. Park officials honored him Thursday for his 1,000th visit to Kings Island, located 20 miles north of Cincinnati [Ohio]. Helbig, his wife Laura and daughter Maria, 9, walked in on a red carpet and he was presented with an oversized commemorative ticket as a memento." From Ohio News Now.

New roller coaster roars in Dells
"Avalanche, a new ride at Timber Falls Adventure Park, Wisconsin Dells [WI]... Although it's no dream and definitely no kiddie ride, Avalanche is the tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coaster in the state, said Tory Wolfram, general manager at Timber Falls. The steepest banks are 70 degrees and the coaster has a total of 12 drops, with the tallest being 10 stories. The gravity and momentum from the tallest drop propels the ride, Wolfram said. The ride, which opened July 5, has been well-received by all ages, but real small kids are not able to ride, Wolfram said. There is a height requirement of 46 inches." From The Portage Daily Register.

20 stuck on roller coaster
About 20 people were stranded almost six storeys in the air on a roller coaster ride at Paramount Canada's Wonderland for about 45 minutes last night. The riders were stranded after The Bat roller coaster abruptly malfunctioned during one of its loops." From TheStar.com.

Theme park pushes for professionalism
"CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Carowinds is cracking down on employees who hang out at the park after they are off the clock, officials at the theme park said Tuesday. From now on, when an employee's shift ends, that person will have to leave the grounds. Carowinds officials say the change was necessary because off-duty workers were distracting on-duty employees." From News 14.

Universal Studios theme park in Shanghai on hold
"Shanghai has suspended work on a Universal Studios theme park as China slows major building projects in an effort to cool surging economic growth. A city official said yesterday work was postponed after inspectors sent by China's central government reviewed local development plans. Work on an underwater tunnel that would have connected the city with Chong- ming Island, in the Yangtze River, and plans to build new subway lines were also put on hold, said the executive in the city's Metropolitan Transportation Policy Office." From The Straits Times.

Shards Of Metal Injure Cedar Point Coaster Riders
"Four people are recovering after shards of metal started flying Monday while they were riding Top Thrill Dragster, NewsChannel5 reported. A metal cable was reportedly frayed on the 420 foot tall coaster, and when the cart rolled over the cable metal shards were sent flying, said Janice Witherow, Cedar Point's spokeswoman. The four riders were hit by debris as the train was being launched." From NewsNet5.

Children stuck on carnival ride in Portage [Indiana]
"Twelve children were trapped on a carnival ride 40 feet off the ground for more than 90 minutes before being rescued by firefighters. The children got stuck Sunday on a ride called the Wind Shear at a carnival called Nativity Fest. 'The kids were all surprisingly very calm,' said Portage Fire Capt. Tom Fieffer. 'None of them were injured, but they were eager to get down.'" From Indystar.com.

3 Injured as Disneyland Rail Ride Crashes
"A 10-year-old boy and his parents suffered minor back and neck injuries late Thursday afternoon after two trains collided on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — the second crash on the ride in three months. The roller coaster, which simulates a runaway mine train, had only recently reopened after a state investigation into a Sept. 5 crash that killed a 22-year-old Gardena man and injured 10 others." From The Los Angeles Times.

Council hears plans for expansion at amusement park
"With promises that a new venture in the Town of Wescott [WI] 'will put Shawano on the map,' a representative of Dr. R.C. Samanta Roy appeared before the city's Common Council Wednesday to update officials on the status of some of Samanta Roy's properties. Kal Gronvall told the city that the Midwest Amusement Park -- the former Water and Wheels purchased by Samanta Roy last year -- would be open for business on July 17." From The Shawano Online Community.

Electrician gets jail in death of boy, 8: Sentence irks family of electrocution victim
"Nick Rock walked into court with his parish priest and a plea for leniency. Some would say he got what he was praying for. The 81-year-old electrician was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in jail and two years' probation for recklessly causing the electrocution of Greyson Yoe last year. Greyson, 8, was shocked while standing in line to ride the cars at his first county fair. A jury convicted Rock of failing to properly ground an electrical wire to a bumper car ride. He is free on bond while he appeals his conviction for involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide." From The Plain Dealer.

Dancing Six Flags character making debut in Gurnee [IL]
"Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is gearing up for a Friday visit from a quirky - some say creepy - old guy. Mr. Six, the dancing character with Harry Caray-like glasses and a red bow tie in Six Flags Inc.'s multimedia national advertising campaign, will step into the public for the first time when he visits the Gurnee amusement park. Great America was picked for Mr. Six's public debut because of its proximity to Chicago and Milwaukee, according to his handlers. He's expected to arrive at 9:30 a.m." From The Daily Herald.

Embattled tourist park closes down
"Less than 18 months after opening Dubbo's [Australia] latest tourist venture Miniland has closed its gates, for good. Plagued with problems from the start, the tourist park was placed on the market earlier this year by owner Brian Shea - it remains unsold." From The Daily Liberal.