Dreamworld welcomes back the Wiggles for one day of wiggly fun

Dorothy the Dinosaur is preparing her best rosy tea for when the boys in the bold skivvies visit Dreamworld on Saturday, September 11 for a special Wiggles Day of Celebration. Back in town to pick up the mail from their official home in Wiggles World, the ‘fab four’ will parade through the streets of Dreamworld at 11.00am before taking centre stage to perform five of their favourite songs.

Filled with colour and music, Dreamworld is home to Australia’s only Wiggles World and is the ultimate place for Wiggly fans to play, dance and sing with their favourite Wiggly friends every day of the year. Following the parade, mini wigglers can dance with Dorothy the Dinosaur, shake their hips with Wags the Dog and wave and Wiggle with Henry the Octopus.

The best way to continue the toot toot, chugga chugging fun is with the best value theme park ticket on the Gold Coast, the $69 Unlimited World Pass. Available for purchase now for those aged 3 years and up, enjoy unlimited access to both Dreamworld and WhiteWater World until 24 December, 2010. Buy online at www.dreamworld.com.au.

About Wiggles World: Launched in September 2005, Wiggles World is the ultimate place for Wiggly fans and filled with fun with thrills for the three year old. Children can dance with Dorothy the Dinosaur and climb aboard the SS Feathersword while the whole family can toot toot, chugga chugga through Wigglehouse in the Big Red Car or take a twirl on Rosy’s Tea Cup ride. From healthy food options to shaded rest spots and parenting rooms, kids can wiggle without the worry.

About the Wiggles: The Wiggles’ have been capturing audiences’ imaginations for 18 years and have sold in excess of 22.5 million videos/DVD’s and 7 million CDs worldwide. The Wiggles have won three ARIA awards and three APRA songwriter awards.

Dreamworld show captures the heart and soul of regional aboriginal culture

In celebration of Australia’s traditional culture Dreamworld is launching a captivating Aboriginal show, Dreamworld Dreamtime, this September school holiday period featuring stories, songs and dance spoken and performed by members of the regions Koombamerri tribe. Long long ago when the Dreamtime first began, the Koombamerri people roamed the area of the Gold Coast and gathered around the Coomera River, creating stories, songs and dances that echoed every occasion: stories about hunting, songs about animals, and dances that celebrate the spirituality of the land and its legends.

Today the descendants of the Koombamerri people will bring their magic to Dreamworld to highlight a tradition thousands of years old.

Guests will watch as the Koombamerri Dreamtime Dancers showcase the movements of their totem the eagle that soars above the earth signalling the start of the fishing season, listen to the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo against the quick beat of the clapsticks, and be mesmerised by a culture that demonstrates a traditional Aboriginal method of firelighting by rubbing two carefully chosen sticks together.

But this not just a performance, it’s also a confrontation. As members of a different tribe, the crowd must first earn the right to carry the Koombamerri message stick, an ancient passport to their ancestral land. Only then can the celebration of two uniting tribes take place and the ceremonial dance performance begin.

This September holidays join us, as Dreamworld unearths the mystery of the world's oldest culture right here on the doorstep of Australia's most high tech thrill park. Dreamworld Dreamtime will be located within the park’s Australian Wildlife Experience with two shows daily from September 18 until October 7, 2010. The show is included in the cost of theme park entry.

Antarctic Penguins Coming to Sea World

This December visit Sea World and enter the amazing frozen world of the all new Antarctic Penguin exhibit.

The stunning exhibit will be home to the world’s second largest penguin species, the King penguin, as well as the agile Gentoo penguin, with its distinctive bright red bill and long tail. The spectacular new exhibit will feature icy rock formations and a crystal clear pool, with both elevated and underwater viewing areas.

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FACTS
Penguin species: King & Gentoo
Number of birds: up to 36 birds
Exhibit land size: 90 Sqm
Exhibit pool volume: 220,000 L
Exhibit temperature: -1C to +5C (air temperature); 5C to 9C (water temperature)
Exhibit features: Underwater and topside viewing + up to 5 tonnes of snow

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Four New Full-Loop Slides

Not one, Not two… but FOUR new transparent slides will open at Wet’n’Wild this September.

The new ride ‘AquaLoop’ begins when the trap door is released and the rider plummets, accelerating into a massive vertical free fall drop and then up into a transparent looping slide! The slide is gut wrenching, heart-pounding and gravity-defying and takes riders to speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour!

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FACTS
Ride Height: 17m
Speed: Up to 60kph
G-Forc: 0 to 2.5Gs in less than 2 seconds

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Castaway Bay Comes Alive at Sea World

Visit Sea World this September and experience a world of family fun in the all new Castaway Bay interactive adventure zone.

The exciting new $6 Million family attraction will cater for kids of all ages and feature an amazing themed ride and fun filled child friendly play areas.

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FACTS
Castaway Bay features 3 major elements;
Battle sails (boat ride): 8 boats, shipwreck theme
Sky fortress (tree house): includes 5 different levels, rope bridges and tunnels
Sky climb (ropes course): 12m high, featuring unstable rope bridges and obstacles

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Carowinds Introduces Intimidator

The skyline of Carowinds will drastically change for what will be a historic and record-breaking 2010 season, as the amusement park announces plans to debut the Intimidator™, the Southeast’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster, in the Spring of 2010. Topping the list as the largest single capital investment in Carowinds 37-year history, the Intimidator™ is named in honor of NASCAR®’s most beloved driver, Dale Earnhardt, “The Intimidator.”

This massive attraction will stand 232-feet (23-stories) tall at its highest peak and send guests plunging down a 211-foot first drop at a 74-degree angle, reaching speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. The second (178-feet) and third (151-feet) hills are also taller than any roller coaster at Carowinds. With 5,316 feet of track the Intimidator™ will feature high speed twists and turns including seven steep drops – one for each of his NASCAR® championships — and an intense finish through a diving spiral. The ride experience will last more than three minutes, and replicate the speed and intensity of a fast-paced NASCAR® race.

“The Intimidator™ will dominate the skyline and strongly position Carowinds as the thrill capital of the Southeast — the statistics speak for themselves,” said Bart Kinzel, Carowinds’ vice president and general manager. “This unprecedented addition represents the sizable commitment of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company toward building and expanding the product offering at Carowinds and solidifying us as the premier regional amusement park.”

The trains on the Intimidator™ will feature unique, open-air stadium-style seating with a simple T-bar style restraint that extends from the floor between the rider’s feet with the bar resting across the rider’s lap. These ‘side-less’ trains take away a feeling of protection for the riders and allows them to experience an unobstructed view of all the thrills and excitement of this record-breaking roller coaster. The trains will also be fashioned to mirror Dale Earnhardt’s 1998 RCR No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

“We’re excited to see this new roller coaster celebrate the speed, excitement and legendary career of Dale Earnhardt,” said Jeff Steiner, executive vice president and general manager of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. “There are millions of fans that still honor their racing hero and this is a very engaging and interactive way for them to connect with the spirit and passion of the Intimidator™.”

The 10-acre attraction will be located on the midway across from the entrance of Nighthawk and will race over the skyline of the Park from the north main entrance to the south entrance paralleling the guest parking lot. Featuring a bold red track and grey support structure, the Intimidator’s™ 232-foot lift will overshadow the Park’s skyline, dwarfing its neighboring roller coaster, Afterburn at 144-feet.

“The name Intimidator™ is significant of the most exciting, aggressive, and skilled driver to ever race on a NASCAR® track, Dale Earnhardt,” Kinzel said. “There is no better way to communicate the enormity of this ride than to give it a face that its riders can truly connect with. The Intimidator™ will include a heavily-themed midway, complete with a Victory Lane and a video tribute to Dale Earnhardt’s racing accomplishments.”

Guests will have the opportunity to see this historic ride being built from the ground up as they attend on operating days throughout the Fall. Those who cannot wait until 2010 may take a virtual ride on the Intimidator™, access exclusive updates, features, virtual renderings, ride statistics, and more at intimidator.carowinds.com.

Construction has already begun on this world-class roller coaster and will continue throughout the winter months. The Intimidator™ is expected to open to the public in the Spring of 2010.

The Intimidator™ is designed and manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard of Monthey, Switzerland, a recognized industry leader in roller coaster development and the same firm that brought Afterburn to Carowinds in 1999 and Vortex in 1992.

Carowinds is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.” In addition to Carowinds, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, six water parks, one indoor water park resort, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in Gilroy, CA under a management contract.

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‘World of Color’ Dazzles the Crowd at Star-Studded World Premiere in Disney California Adventure Park

With a splash of fireworks, dazzling water-based special effects and a celebrity red carpet (actually a water-inspired blue carpet), the nighttime spectacular “World of Color” made its exciting world premiere Thursday before an audience filled with celebrities and VIPs at Paradise Bay in Disney California Adventure park.

This new dimension of Disney storytelling, brimming with water, color, music and animation, opens to guests at Disney California Adventure Friday, June 11.

Robert A. Iger, president and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company, joined Thomas O. Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, and Mickey Mouse to welcome the special VIP premiere guests.

“‘World of Color’ is a testament to the creativity, passion, innovation and talent of people throughout our organization,” Iger said. “The combination of water, light, fire, and music makes ‘World of Color’ a truly magical event that showcases beloved Disney characters in an entirely new way.”

Added Staggs: “‘World of Color’ transforms the landscape of the Disneyland Resort and marks a major milestone in the expansion of Disney California Adventure. It’s a spectacular show that is distinctly Disney, and unlike any attraction we’ve created before. It will captivate our guests with an end-of-day experience that is exhilarating, emotional and highly memorable. We are excited to debut this great, new experience for our guests and extremely proud of the talented team that drove its creation.”

There has never been a show like “World of Color,” the mega-scale, after-dark celebration of Disney storytelling. “World of Color” brings animation to life with powerful fountains that become stars of the show as they create one of the world’s largest projected water screens. In just under 25 minutes, “World of Color” immerses audiences in technological wonder and the enchanting magic of beloved Disney and Disney•Pixar characters, combining nearly 1,200 versatile fountains, dazzling colors, Disney music and an all-new kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects, taking water-based entertainment to a new level of artistry.

The inspiration for the show came from Walt Disney himself and “World of Color” features characters and images that span the history of Disney and Disney•Pixar moviemaking.

“Our entire team – from every corner of the Walt Disney Company – is thrilled to finally share ‘World of Color’ with our guests,” said Steve Davison, show director and vice president, parades and spectaculars, for Walt Disney Imagineering. “It’s very exciting to take audiences on an emotional journey as they experience laughter, drama and beauty in this breathtaking extravaganza.”

Disney cast members and crews built nearly an acre of superstructure to support the complex production. Walt Disney Imagineering and Creative Entertainment installed the massive infrastructure and revolutionary technology that created the stage for “World of Color.” On this stage, the team directs a unique variety of water effects, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fog, flames, surround sound and stunning images.

The sweeping story and stunning effects are created with:

• Nearly 1,200 powerful and programmable fountains with heights ranging from 30 feet to 200 feet (50 feet higher than Mickey’s Fun Wheel). Each fountain has multiple points of control to direct the lighting, color intensity, water angle and height.
• One of the world’s largest projected water screens – a wall of water 380 feet wide by 50 feet high, for a projection surface of 19,000 square feet.
• Nearly 30 high-definition projectors – 14 of them submersible.
• Synchronized flame projections, lasers and special effects that will flood the senses.
• A soundtrack performed by more than 100 musicians.

“World of Color” has been some five years in the making, beginning with brainstorming by show director Davison and his creative crew. As the concept grew, the Disney team sought out new technologies and multi-media to support a visionin which water and light could dance, change character and move the audience, becoming, in effect, the “stars” of the show.

Helping to tie it all together is a musical score that combines both familiar and new melodies and introduces a newly arranged version of the 1960s television theme for “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color,” originally composed by Richard B. and Robert M. Sherman, the Oscar-winning composers of “Mary Poppins” and “It’s a Small World.” The “World of Color” score was composed by Mark Hammond, and orchestrated and conducted by David Hamilton, both celebrated music industry professionals.

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Wet'n'Wild Hots up in 2010

Not one, Not two… but FOUR new slides - Coming Soon to Wet'n'Wild - still the Biggest'n'Best!

With four awesome brand new transparent slides - the AquaLoop ride will be the first of its kind in Australia! The ride begins when the trap door is released and the rider plummets, accelerating into a massive vertical free fall drop and then up into a looping slide! The slide is gut wrenching, heart-pounding and gravity-defying and takes riders to speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour!

The new attraction with four looping slides, a terrifying trap door release with 2.5G acceleration is in its first stages of construction and is scheduled to be completed by September 2010.

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NOW OPEN! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort

THE MOST HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE OF 2010 CAPTURES IMAGINATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort celebrates its grand opening today with help from Harry Potter film actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, James and Oliver Phelps, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Michael Gambon, Warwick Davis and thousands of excited fans - officially becoming the only place in the world where the adventures of Harry Potter come to life.

More than five years in the making, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has become the most highly anticipated entertainment experience of 2010. The Harry Potter books and films have captured the hearts and minds of millions - and now, guests can experience the adventure first-hand at Universal Orlando Resort. The spectacularly themed area, inspired by J.K. Rowling's compelling stories and characters, features multiple themed attractions, shops and a restaurant - all faithful to the books and films.

Visitors to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be swept into the adventures of Harry Potter. They will tour Hogwarts castle, shop in Hogsmeade and dine in the Three Broomsticks. Other adventures will allow them to fly with Harry, ride on a dragon, sample Butterbeer, eat exploding sweets - and experience all the magic and adventure of the Harry Potter books and films.

"We have created a special place unlike anywhere else in the world," said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO for Universal Parks and Resorts. "The adventures of Harry Potter are among the most popular of our time - and we are bringing them to life. We will put our guests in the middle of a Harry Potter adventure. They will feel as if they are in the movies with Harry and his friends."

"I said right at the beginning, either we do it right or we don't do it at all," said J.K. Rowling, author of the widely successful Harry Potter series. "The teams at Universal and Warner Bros. have done it right, so I am so happy."

The heart of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is Hogwarts castle - visible from everywhere within Islands of Adventure. And within the castle is what may be the most exhilarating theme park attraction ever created: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This all-new adventure combines a powerful storyline with spectacular new technology so effectively guests will be completely immersed in the experience. The ride will take guests on a journey where they will travel by Floo Network, soar over Hogwarts, narrowly escape a dragon attack, have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow, get pulled into a Quidditch match and more.

AND, guests can experience the mischief of Zonko's, the magic of Ollivanders, the scrumptious delights of the Three Broomsticks and Hog's Head pub or buy their very own Marauder's Map at Filch's Emporium of Confiscated Goods. They can mail letters from Hogsmeade at the Owl Post, buy Hogwarts school robes at Dervish and Banges or rest under the rafters of the Owlery. Visitors can brave a Hungarian Horntail or a Chinese Fireball on the dueling roller coasters of Dragon Challenge or learn a few tips from Hagrid before taking a training flight on Flight of the Hippogriff.

"I remember when I was shooting the films when I was younger and I absolutely wished this world could be real and that I could be a part of it," said Daniel Radcliffe, who portrays Harry Potter in the film series. "It's amazing that people will finally get to do that and realize everything they've seen on screen."

"Today's grand opening is the culmination of our firm commitment to create the most authentic Harry Potter experience possible," said Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "We've enlisted the best possible partner in Universal Orlando Resort and we are proud to say that the result has fully captured the magical worlds detailed in both the books and the films." For tickets and packages for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.

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King Kong 360 3-D at Universal Studios Hollywood

KING KONG 360 3-D" CREATED BY PETER JACKSON, THE WORLDS LARGEST MOST INTENSE 3-D EXPERIENCE, EMERGES AS A NEXT GENERATION THEME PARK EXPERIENCE AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD, THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF LA

King Kong, among the screen’s most powerful and enduring icons, will re-emerge on July 1, 2010 as a new signature attraction created under the direction of Peter Jackson on the famed Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour.

“King Kong 360 3-D” Created by Peter Jackson will be the world's largest most intense 3D experience on the planet, combining thrilling visceral effects to create a next-generation theme park experience.

Peter Jackson, director of the Oscar®-winning 2005 Universal Picturesfilm upon which the attraction is based, said: “The new King Kong at Universal Studios Hollywood will be an incredible amount of fun and a chance to really push film and theme park technology. Aboard the Universal tram, you'll get a wrap-around view of the action through a process involving eight 3-D images shot and projected at 60 frames per second. The film and tram will be tied into a motion simulator that will allow you to physically experience this pulse-pounding spectacle, which includes a fight between Kong and a group of V-Rex, the larger cousins of the T-Rex. You’ll find yourself right in the middle of the action."

“King Kong 360 3-D” Created by Peter Jackson will be the first theme park attraction to be directed by the Oscar-winning filmmaker.

Larry Kurzweil, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios Hollywood, said: “King Kong has been an integral part of Universal Studios Hollywood for decades and, after the 2008 fire, we knew he had to be reintroduced as a new, groundbreaking, thoroughly over-the-top experience that will thrill new generations of Studio Tour guests. ‘King Kong 360 3-D’ will be the most exhilarating feature of our world-famous Studio Tour, setting the bar at a new level for immersive theme park experiences.”

In the new attraction, guests will be given special 3-D glasses as they enter a darkened soundstage aboard the Studio Tour trams and will be transported— via the magic of Surround Digital 3D projection —deep into a tangled jungle location. They’ll survive a close encounter with a swarm of hungry raptors, only to be confronted by the terrifying presence of 35' tall dinosaur behemoths, intent on attacking the tram and Studio Tour guests.

Suddenly, a 30' tall gorilla appears - Kong himself! The trams jolt and shudder as the guests find themselves caught in the middle of a titanic struggle between these colossal prehistoric foes - the great ape and carnivorous reptiles - action which sends the packed trams sliding ever closer to the edge of a bottomless chasm.

King Kong, known as “the eighth wonder of the world,” has been called“the experience for which movies were invented.” Since first appearing on the screen in the1933 original classic, “King Kong” has been re-made twice, each time on a tremendous scale, earning a total of seven Oscar® and three Golden Globe® nominations.Most recently, Peter Jackson’s 2005 version took classic elements of the original “King Kong” story and adrenalized them with up-to-the-minute effects magic and the alchemic talents of a superlative group of filmmakers, cast and crew. Released to critical acclaim in late 2005, “King Kong” was a worldwide hit.

The arrival of the new “King Kong 360 3-D” Created by Peter Jackson experience coincides with major enhancements to the iconic Studio Tour. The most extensive backlot construction ever in the history of Universal Studios, which includes re-creations of legendary Hollywood sets and the introduction of brand-new shooting locations, will make the renowned Studio buzz with star-studded film and television production as never before. Studio trams were recently equipped as "mobile movie theaters" with state-of-the-art flat-screen high-definition monitors and digital playback systems. The new high-definition monitors feature commentary from filmmakers, actors and personalities. Clips from numerous movie and television productions,corresponding to sites visited along the Tour route, add a new dimension to the tour of backlot attractions, sets and facades.

Universal Studios Hollywood is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

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