As one of our founding guidelines, WDWCelebrations is committed to ensuring that all of our events are approved by Disney management. We are pleased to release the final, fully approved schedule for “A Wild Decade”.

“A Wild Decade”

A WDWCelebrations Commemorative Event celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Park

April 22, 2008

Please note that registration begins at 7:00 am and closes promptly at 8:15 am. We strongly encourage you to be there as early as possible to ensure a smooth process for everyone.

The Group Meal takes place at Flame Tree Barbeque. We have two pavilions, Owl and Spider, reserved for our group. Due to the size of our group, we have designated three dining periods to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to join us. The three periods are 4:00-4:40pm, 4:40-5:20pm, and 5:20-6:00pm. You will be able to choose your preferred dining time at registration, pending availability. Please arrive at registration as early as possible to ensure you receive your desired dining time.

We have also posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for “A Wild Decade” on our website at http://www.wdwcelebrations.com/a-wild-decade/a-wild-decade-faq.html. Please check this page and email us with any further questions. We will update this page as we receive questions, so check back periodically over the next two weeks for updates.

Link

written by Jose Castillo

Kryptonlogic would like to wish Disney’s Animal Kingdom “A Wild Decade” Birthday! With 10 years of being open and bringing us all the nature, beauty, and thrill rides out there, thanks Disney for creating an amazing experience. Today is also Earth Day, save some trees, recycle, and stop global warming, do your part in saving the environment a bit and throw away your trash. Thanks and have a great day!

-Jose Castillo

written by Jose Castillo

From Orlando Attractions Magazine:

Check out the newly launched Simpsons Ride Web site. You can get some more details on the ride, play games and create your own Simpsons avitar.

The Magic Eight Ball on the site says the ride is opening on May 17 at Universal Hollywood, but just lists “Coming Soon” for the one in Orlando. I wonder if coming soon is sooner or later than May 17.

This really looks like an awesome attraction and I look forward to riding it via video or by person this year. Great work Universal!

written by Jose Castillo

[Via Orlando Attractions Magazine]

Universal CityWalk’s newest venue opens today and showcases karaoke with a twist – performing guests are introduced to the audience by an emcee and sing with a full live band and back-up singers. Whether you sing like a star or just think you do, this is your chance to shimmer, shine or just show off.

In celebration of the club’s opening (in the former CityJazz nightclub spot) Universal Orlando Resort also introduces the CityWalk’s Rising Star Top 10 Karaoke Challenge, a contest that searches for the best karaoke artists in the area. If you think you have what it takes, there will be four opportunities to impress the judges – March 26 and 28, and April 2 and 4.

State-of-the-art flat panel monitors and amplifiers throughout the club highlight each performer and their song lyrics. While working up the nerve or getting in the mood to sing, audience members can enjoy one of their signature drinks, such as the “Open Mic-Tini” or the “Liquid Courage,” and enjoy one of the tasty food menu items.

Guests who would like to participate in the CityWalk’s Rising Star 10 Ten Karaoke Challenge will be asked to fill out and submit an entry form, and a raffle will decide each night’s contestants. Finalists will be chosen based on scoring by a three-judge panel, as well as audience applause, with performers evaluated on their star quality, vocal talent and stage presence. The top 10 performers will receive a prize package, including a Universal Two-Park Annual Power Pass, annual CityWalk Party Pass and a spot to perform in front of hundreds of VIP and media guests during CityWalk’s Rising Star’s grand opening event in April. For complete contest rules visit www.citywalkorlando.com.

This is a great opportunity for Universal to become interactive with there parks and guests. Great work, let’s see what Disney shows us next 

written by Jose Castillo

Via Orlando Attractions Magazine Blog:

Adrenaline pumping and music thumping, you find yourself heading straight toward the sky.  Suddenly, you are doing 65 mph, 17 stories over Universal Studios.  Gasping with excitement, you rock out to a song you picked before strapping in.  And, it’s all on video.  Once the adventure is over, you edit the video to send to your friends.   This is true high-tech, customizable, multi-sensory entertainment.

Scheduled to open in spring 2009, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will stake its claim as the most technologically advanced roller coaster in the world.  The Universal Creative team is combining audio and special effects engineering, sophisticated on- and off-board video and one-of-a-kind guest personalization to create a roller coaster experience unlike any other.

“This is the perfect intersection of the digital age and theme park entertainment,” said Mark Woodbury, President of Creative for Universal Parks & Resorts.  “Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit blends roller coaster intensity and guest interaction in a way where no two experiences will be the same.”

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit touts six near-miss moments and first-ever thrills including a record-breaking loop.  Ride vehicles feature the brightest and most innovative color changing LEDs in the world.  High-energy visual displays fill the queue line.  With up to four ride vehicles on the tracks at any given time, and with concert lighting and special effects mixed in, Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be a true high-intensity, multi-sensory experience that is unmatched.

Guests can customize their ride experience by choosing what song will play while they’re on the roller coaster.  LED boards in the queue lines will display song options from five genres classic rock, rap, country, pop and disco.  Once on-board, guests can choose their song or let the coaster’s digital sound system choose for them.  When the ride is over, guests will be able to customize footage from their experience and compile it into a take-home music video. Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit will be located near the Jimmy Neutron attraction traveling the southern perimeter of the Universal Studios theme park, over to the CityWalk lagoon and back.

I am actually looking forward to seeing this new attraction open. This could be the first time Universal adds a new ride without removing an older one. Only problem I find is that this is a horrible theme to add to Universal Studios. I could actually picture this in Islands of Adventure, but Universal seems like an unlikely place. I mean, the point of Universal was to be a “studios” and unless studios have a huge roller-coaster in there parking lot, this is breaking the complete theme. We can only see what Disney will do to fire this one back.

written by Jose Castillo