Busch Entertainment Corporation
Busch Entertainment Corporation is responding to the influx of new theme parks in Orlando with a second Sea World complex under the name of Discovery Cove.
It is being built on a 30-acre site adjacent to Sea World Orlando and opens in 2000, although no exact date has been set for its completion.
Busch has planned it as a one-price entry attraction for visitors to actually swim with a range of marine life, including dolphins, stingrays and 10,000 tropical fish, in various lagoons and coral reefs. Also included are beaches with thatched huts and a resort-style pool with waterfall to relax in.
It will limit the number of daily visitors to 1,000 and tickets will only be available on a pre-bookable basis. A spokeswoman said prices would be determined later this year, along with a system for reservations and ticketing.
Cost of entry will include access to all the facilities and attractions, a meal and amenities such as snorkelling gear, wetsuits and towels.
Areas within Discovery Cove will include the Dolphin Lagoon; Coral Reef with more than 75 species of tropical fish; Ray Lagoon, featuring hundreds of southern and cownose stingrays; and Tropical River, for swimming through various environments.
The original Sea World park introduces its first roller-coaster ride next spring. Called the Kraken, it completes seven high-speed loops and plunges underground three times, including a dive into a lagoon.
Another high-speed rollercoaster, the Gwazi, starts operation this month at Florida’s Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The 3min trip sees two rollers closing in on each other with a combined speed of 100 miles per hour through 7,000ft of track and with a top drop of 90ft.
Universal Studios
Universal Studios new Islands of Adventure theme park has opened for its first summer season in Orlando, joining the company’s Universal Studios CityWalk dining and entertainment complex, which began operation last December.
They form part of Universal Studios Escape, which combines the original studios complex in an 840-acre area.
Islands of Adventure features thrill rides in sections including Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon and Seuss Landing. They join more than 40 rides and live shows in Universal Studios Florida.
The 30-acre Citywalk complex, featuring restaurants, nightclubs, shops and a 20-screen movie megaplex, has been opened in phases during the last six months.
Universal Studios Florida has opened the Woody Woodpecker’s Kidzone play area featuring well-known characters in four sections.
Disneyland
California’s Disneyland has introduced more entertainment features and rides to its newly renovated Tomorrowland section.
These include the 64ft-high Astro Orbiter ride through a moving universe, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3-D misadventure theatre presentation, and Rocket Rods – which is at 2mins long claimed to be the fastest and longest thrill attraction at the West Coast theme park.
Another newcomer is the Observatron, towering above the Rocket Rods boarding area and broadcasting signals throughout the universe. Every 15mins it stages a performance of music and motion.
Guests can try and navigate their way through an interactive water maze called Cosmic Wave, featuring three concentric rings of 5ft water jets.
Innoventions, a two-storey, hands-on, interactive exhibit, “showcases concepts and technologies for modern living”.
It is housed in a circular moving building that makes one complete 360-degree rotation every 17mins and features five themed areas – Transportation, Health and Fitness, the Home, Information and Entertainment.
Examples include giant video screens called Magic Books which present authors and personalities of the late 20th century; Telepresence Vehicles that operate simulated journeys to the the universe; and a Cyberseat virtual reality game based on an experimental vehicle.