Thursday, April 25, 2019

Immersive Irony Experience Theme Park Podcast -Lightning Loops Memorial Episode



Great Adventure, Long island Adventureland, and Coney Island trip reports! Regional Park news! Pinball! White Castle! White Castle?







Saturday, April 20, 2019

Hagrid's Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure April 20 Updates

We are seven weeks away from the opening of Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure on June 13, 2019! The project is quickly entering the final phases of show installation and construction and there are lots of updates. Lets dive into the magical creatures we'll see on the ride, the latest arial photo updates, and ride testing!

Creatures



This past week Universal revealed some of the creatures featured on the attraction. Fan favorites from the movies, such as Fluffy and Centaurs, return while a new create only from the books, the Blast-Ended Skrewt, are finally represented in real life! Universal also teased several other creatures we will see throughout the ride: thestrals, gnomes, a unicorn, and more! We expect most of these creatures to be programmed animated figures or simple animated figures.



Arial Updates



Our eyes in the sky Bioreconstruct provided us several updates to the exterior construction. Since our last update more trees and landscaping was added to the north west portion of the land by the final overbooked turn. More themed elements such as wagons, barrels, and directional signage was added to the first portion of the outside of the ride.

Access walkways are receiving their final pavement and theming after the construction equipment was removed. Final touch ups, painting, and landscaping is occurring throughout the ride. The back sound barrier is also being painted a neutral green pattern with more trees coming soon.

In Hogsmeade the new entrance archway is under construction. The previous design was scrapped with a new, distinct triangular archway being built. Some new pavement work is also being worked on, possibly to add a queue between the entrance and lockers for busy days.

Coaster Testing



We have testing! Full circuits with one ride vehicle were running for weeks at night but recently Universal has started daytime testing. See the above video for a sample of what type of speed and forces we will expect to see on this ride.



That's not all, the coaster has crossed a major milestone: human testing has begun! In the above video you can see what is likely Universal and Intamin employees testing the attraction. This is a huge milestone as the attraction is now safe for human riding. Additionally we can hear music, sound effects, and Hagrid's narration are running, meaning the attraction is running with show elements in place.

What remains in this project? The queue is likely the last thing to be completed with set design, effects, and show elements to be installed. Final elements are still being added to the attraction such as landscaping, trees, painting, and completed animated figures. The last components of the attraction, running multiple trains and operations training, will occur in the next month. Universal probably doesn't know when Team Member or guest technical rehearsals will occur but I would bet a Hogs Head Ale on Team Member testing immediately after Memorial Day weekend and guest testing shortly after.



As this project wraps up and approaches the grand opening we plan on posting one more final update followed by photos, videos, and our review of the attraction shortly after opening. 

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Parkscope Unprofessional Podcast Hour 168 - $8 Champagne



News Team Assemble!

Joe, Lane, Mike, and Nick talk about Duffy's friends, Rock'n'Rollercoaster overlays, trains, Magical Creatures, LargeFlames, Halloween Horror Nights, Endless Summers, Cars, Disney+, and YOUR QUESTIONS!

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Parkscope Unprofessional Podcast Hour #167 - Fashionable Fanny Packs



Joe and Mike are joined by special guest Banks Lee of Attractions the Show! On this episode we talk about Busch Gardens Tampa's newest coaster, Tigris, and next year's RMC'ing of Gwazi. Star Wars Galaxy's Edge is opening earlier than we though but Mickey's Runaway Railway might be opening in 2020? Universal announced Stranger Things at HHN29 while also showing off more of their new Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure coaster.

Lastly we discuss our trips into the parks with Banks visiting Lego Movie World at Legoland, Sesame Street at SeaWorld Orlando, Knotts Berry Farm, and 90's Nite at Disneyland followed by Joe giving the highlights of his recent Disneyland Resort trip.

Thursday, April 4, 2019