Category: Articles
-
Is Alton Towers Heading In The Right Direction?
Alton Towers is one of the most popular theme parks in the U.K. Home, in my opinion, to our best line up of roller coasters, this park has so much going for it. But, sadly, in recent years the park has suffered a bit of neglect, all worsened by the uncertainty brought on by lockdowns.…
-
What’s going wrong with Blackpool Pleasure Beach?
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is undoubtedly one of the most iconic amusement parks in the world, full of history and brimming with nostalgia. However, there seems to be a growing consensus within the British theme park community that the park is in decline. This opinion was supported on the day the park opened for the 2024…
-
Why Are Theme Park Logos Becoming So Boring?
You might have noticed that many theme parks seem to be changing up their logos lately. I know here in the U.K., we’ve seen the majority of our parks switch it up in the branding department as of late. Similarly, Disney and Universal have also done some logo changes over the past couple of years.…
-
Disneyland Paris’ Disastrous Opening 100 Days
From its opening day in 1992, Disneyland Paris, then Euro Disneyland, was plagued by cultural clashes, financial woes, marketing snafus, and even a terrorist attack. Less famous than Disneyland’s disastrous opening day in 1955, Euro Disneyland certainly had its own opening day catastrophe. But, even more than this, the following one hundred days provide a…
-
Is Universal’s Epic Universe a Waste of Money?
Set to open in 2025, Epic Universe will see Universal Parks & Resorts open their third theme park, fourth if you count Volcano Bay, in the Orlando area. With an opening date just a year away, progress is well underway for the park. A brand new theme park is always exciting, but it does come…
-
Why Do We Wait? (Psychology Of Theme Park Queues)
How can theme parks be such fun places, when we have to spend the majority of our time there waiting in long lines? Often, you’re looking at a twenty minute to an hour long queue for an experience that lasts no longer than a few minutes. How can this ever be worth it and why…
-
Universal Studios Holiday Parade Featuring Macy’s: A Historical Deep Dive
Universal Studios Orlando is widely recognised for their contribution to the Halloween season. Halloween Horror Nights is the most widely recognised and celebrated theme park events and rightfully so. But, as Earl the Squirrel will let you know, Universal also does their fair share of contributing to the holiday festivities. From the Christmas tribute store…
-
The Impact of Walt Disney on Epcot Center
Before Epcot became a theme park, it was arguably Walt Disney’s most outlandish idea of his career. Largely inspired by architect Victor Gruen, the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow” was Walt Disney’s innovative urban idea, which he hoped would provide an antidote to the decay of American cities. Walt’s idea for Epcot was deemed impractical,…
-
Disney’s Upcharge Event’s Are NOT Worth The Cost
Hollywood Studios, once home to Disney’s most celebrated holiday offering, The Osborne Lights, has this year decided to place their large-scale festive offerings behind a paywall. Such a thing isn’t out of the ordinary for Disney. Magic Kingdom has been home to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party for…
-
Disney Animatronics, Animation and the Uncanny Valley
Theme parks, outside of their haunted houses and halloween events, don’t typically strive to be horrifying. Disney theme parks particularly aim to stray away from frightening their guests. But sometimes, despite their best efforts, some people just have an aversion to certain types of attractions. Now when it’s motion sickness that’s the complaint, that’s an…