Siemens, Disney to part in October
After a 12-year run, Siemens and Walt Disney Co. will end their sponsorship deal in October.
Siemens has sponsored several Disney attractions, including the “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” laser and fireworks night show at Epcot and the iconic Spaceship Earth ride.
Disney would not say whether it plans to seek a new sponsor or comment on the futures of IllumiNations or Spaceship Earth after the sponsorship ends.
“We appreciate their collaboration in helping create unforgettable memories for our guests at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort over the last 12 years,” Disney said in a statement.
Last year, Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said there are plans in the works to update Epcot.
He spoke of “a major transformation” of the theme park during a D23 event for the official Disney fan club.
Chapek is scheduled to talk at the upcoming D23 Expo that runs Friday through Sunday in Anaheim, Calif. cause.)
Each participant is given three tasks.
They can range from crossing a melting wax river to finding a color’s recipe to dealing with a speedy conveyor belt., Crayola says.
There are 15 tasks that potentially can be selected, so repeat visits to Adventure Lab could present different challenges to visitors.
“Adventure Lab is the first of its kind for us,” said Victoria Lozano, senior vice president and general manager of Crayola attractions and retail. “It’s an attraction that truly puts kids in a world that’s part fantasy and part reality.”
Adventure Lab is a permanent addition to Crayola Experience, which features 26 hands-on activities with an emphasis on technology and creativity.
It will be located beside its Activity Studio.
The new attraction will be included in the regular Crayola Experience admission: $22.99 at the door or $19.99 online.
Central Florida attractions took first place in six of nine categories — including for best new attraction, best new roller coaster and best new theme park — in this year’s Theme Park Insider Awards, which recognize excellence in theme parks around the world.
Flight of Passage, one of two rides in Pandora — The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, was selected as best new attraction by the readers of the Theme Park Insider website.
Universal’s Volcano Bay water park was tabbed as the best new theme park, the first time the category has appeared in the 16-year history of the awards. It was added in recognition of the large number of parks that debuted in the past year, said Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider.
Krakatau Aqua Coaster, one of the signature rides at Volcano Bay, was named as best new roller coaster, despite its lack of rails or track.
Other Central Florida winners included: Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort as best hotel restaurant; Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as best full-service restaurant inside a theme park; and Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando as best on-site hotel. It’s Portofino’s seventh win in this category, and its 10th in a row. Three Broomsticks at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter was named best in-park counter-service restaurant, according to the site’s readers.
To be eligible in a “best new” category, an attraction had to officially open to the public between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017.
Fun has crossed the state line. Fun Spot, which owns two attractions in Orlando and Kissimmee, has bought a Georgia family-entertainment center.
Fun Spot picked up Fun Junction USA, an attraction in Fayetteville, Ga., a town of 16,000 people south of Atlanta. It was once known as Dixieland Fun Park.
“We are excited to be expanding our brand outside the state of Florida,” said CEO John Arie Jr. “Atlanta and Fayetteville has a lot of exciting opportunities that we plan to capitalize on.”
A sale price was not disclosed. Fun Junction USA includes rides, Go-Kart tracks and miniature golf courses. It opened in 1990.
“It is a great opportunity. The park has 95 acres of land and build-able property and gives us a blank canvas to really master plan and build as we want,” said David Hummer, Fun Spot spokesman. Fun Spot has been looking to expand into other markets, he said.
Fun Junction USA will keep its name at least through the end of 2017, Hummer said.