Newsletter: In the Loop: Will Wizarding World cut into Disneyland attendance?
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Welcome to another edition of In the Loop, the Los Angeles Times' theme park newsletter. I'm Funland theme park blogger Brady MacDonald, and this week we look at the effect "Star Wars" will have on Disney parks, take a ride on a virtual reality coaster, brace for El Niño at SeaWorld San Diego and help set a record with a kiss under the mistletoe.
'Star Wars'
Daniel Miller, who writes about the film industry for The Times, looks at how “Star Wars” could become Disney's next cash cow as the coming debut of twin 14-acre themed lands dedicated to a galaxy far, far away in Anaheim and Orlando could drive a new generation of visitors to the theme parks.
And Screamscape takes a look at a possible ride experience for the Millennium Falcon simulator attraction planned for the Star Wars Lands at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
(Andrew Burton / Getty Images)
Wizarding World
The Orange County Register examines the potential adverse effect on Disneyland attendance once the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7.
Virtual reality
Nine virtual-reality roller coasters are in the works around the world for 2016, and VR dark rides, thrill rides and haunted mazes are already on the drawing board.
Mack Rides has been testing VR technology on the Alpenexpress mine train coaster at Germany’s Europa Park.
(Europa Park)
Cars Land
Take an up-close look in this brief video at the coming Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters during a test run at Disney California Adventure.
Fairy Tale Forest
Check out these beautiful photos of the new Fairy Tale Forest walk-through attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland filled with miniature animated scenes from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Cinderella,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Tangled.”
Jungle Skipper Canteen
Orlando Theme Park News shows off photos of the new items on the menu at the Jungle Skipper Canteen in Adventureland during a soft opening at Florida’s Magic Kingdom.
SeaWorld
SeaWorld San Diego braces for another year of record-breaking sea lion strandings as the fish on which the marine animals feed are driven offshore by unseasonably warm coastal waters caused by El Niño.
Disney World
A sheriff’s deputy draws his weapon on a visitor attempting to bring a concealed weapon with an expired permit into the Magic Kingdom in Florida.
California’s Great America
California regulators issue a $70,000 fine for an accident that critically injured a mechanic who was hit by the Flight Deck roller coaster at California’s Great America in Santa Clara.
Under the mistletoe
Six Flags Over Georgia sets a Guinness World Record title for most couples kissing under the mistletoe when 201 couples smooched for at least 10 seconds.
Holiday break
The In the Loop theme park newsletter is taking two weeks off for the holidays and will return on Jan. 7.
Still need more theme park news? Check out the Los Angeles Times Funland theme park blog on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram. Also feel free to email me with any feedback on the newsletter.
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