Tag Archives: Theme Parks

Holiday Magic at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration and Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town

Posted on by
Reply

img_8142Central Florida is definitely not short on places to spend the holidays! From the theme parks to the zoos, aquarium, and large resorts, there is something for everyone. Last weekend, I experienced Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Christmas Celebration at SeaWorld Orlando. Both events feature Rudolph and his friends as well as Santa and his elves; however, the parks differ in the shows and other offerings. So, even though you can meet Rudolph and Santa at both parks, you will find that both are well worth a visit and will both contribute uniquely to your Christmastime celebrations! Since SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are only one hour from each other, they both essentially pull on the majority of the same local population. Therefore, as similar as many of the experiences are, the offerings have to be different enough in order to convince locals to visit both. Having experienced them within the same weekend, I’ve been able to analyze the similarities and differences while both are fresh in my mind. If I had to sum up the experience at both Christmas Celebration and Christmas Town respectively, the one word that best encapsulates the overarching theme is nostalgia. From the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer characters to the music, shows, and lights throughout the parks, the individual elements are combined to showcase a more traditional Christmas blend of carols, [Florida] snow, light-covered buildings, nativities, and live shows…For the full article CLICK HERE!

Such a variety! I think that is what I like best about how Busch Gardens and SeaWorld created this year’s Christmas limited engagement events. Whereas Disney’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a pricey hard ticketed event, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and even Universal’s holiday celebrations are included with with either your annual pass or day-ticket. That in and of itself, makes the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens events that much more fun! Why? Because it is quite difficult to fit everything in one night. Although the Christmas Celebration and Christmas Town events ARE included with your annual pass or day admission, the majority of the magic does not begin until the latter part of the afternoon. Unlike during Howl-O-Scream when Busch is opened until 12-1am, it closes at 9-10 during Christmas Town. SeaWorld keeps similar operating hours at Christmas to that of the Spooktacular. With the relatively abbreviated Christmas hours (as compared to Halloween), you may find yourself planning a return trip to the parks respectively or contemplating an annual pass. Since I go to the parks regularly, I have efficient time management down to a science and even I cannot get it all in. Even as I write this, there are some offerings I was unable to experience at both parks this past weekend. So, I am definitely going back! If you are only planning one trip to one or both, get there early and do your best to plan out the order in which you and your friends/family are going to experience everything.

Christmas Town at Busch Gardens is an annual event that has been going on since 2012. For the first two years it was a separately (hard) ticketed event but since 2014 has been included with day admission and annual passes. Since the event went from hard ticketed to complementary, there has been a mitigation in specialty offerings; however, the event is still full of holiday cheer and a great assortment of character meet and greets and limited engagement shows. There are so many wonderful photo opportunities throughout the park with beautiful and fun backdrops. The entire park is open with a few exceptions, meaning that you can ride all your favorite rides at night! For those who are familiar with the late Pinky [the dancing flamingo], there is a tribute to her near the front entrance with lots of pink Christmas lights. If you enjoy hearing traditional Christmas hymns, then be sure to stop by Christmas From the Heart in the old Madagascar stage. It’s a classy show with small band, and a moderately sized chorus. Perhaps you prefer traditional and contemporary pop hits! Then, stop by the Christmas Celebration show in the Pantopia Theatre. With a wide range of hits featuring some of your favorite singalong tunes and of course Santa himself, this show is incredibly fun and festive. The cast and crew at the Moroccan Theatre put a Christmas spin on the daily iceskating show that is certainly not to be missed. Don’t forget to stop by the Crown Colony restaurant across from Cheetah Hunt to watch thousands of dancing lights move to the beats of Trans-Siberian and Mannheim Steamroller. Think of it as Osborne Lights lite. An incredible assortment of shows that feature lots of different kinds of music and acts with the central theme of Christmas. I love the variety of shows because they do not feel like something that you can get everyday. Feels truly like a special seasonal event.

Headlining Christmas Town (and Christmas Celebration) this year is Rudolph and his friends from the Rankin-Bass holiday classic. Even before meeting the characters, the queue is filled with little vignettes from the movie–great for photo opportunities. You get to meet Yukon Cornelius, Bumble, Clarice, and Rudolph! There are also some wonderful plushies (I bought one) and ornaments to choose from in the gift shoppe. A staple at Christmas Town is Santa’a House sponsored by Coca-Cola. Appropriate because the whole idea of the red jolly Santa we all know and love comes from a Coca-Cola ad campaign. Even before meeting the big man himself, you get to spend time with elves and Mrs. Claus. One elf in particular–Curley–she was incredibly friendly and created a warm inviting atmosphere from the time she opened the door! It’s more than a meet and greet, there is an entire show element to the Santa experience. Lastly, no review of Christmas Town would be complete without mentioning the Singalong Train! Boarding at the North Pole station outside of Santa’s house, park guests can ride the train (normally used for the safari) and ride around signing Christmas carols and songs with one another. Takes the idea Christmas caroling to the next level! The singalong train is always my favorite activity at Christmas Town.

Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Busch Gardens is SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration. At Christmas Celebration you’ll find Rudolph and his friends as well as Santa Claus but there is so much more that is truly different from Christmas Town. SeaWorld transforms their seasonay operating Ports of Call into a Christmas Village! From a miniature train sets to live acts, the Christmas Village is incredibly festive and fun! Be sure to get some hot cocoa. So many wonderful places to take selfies and group photos. I love all the lights! Speaking of lights, you will definitely be able to watch the Sea of Trees light up and dance to some of your favorite Christmas songs. You can either catch the show shoreside or take a stroll along the boardwalk across the lagoon. Over one million lights! Much like Busch Gardens, SeaWorld also has some stunning seasonal show offerings to delight everyone young and old. Although not part of daily operations, SeaWorld also has an iceskating show at Christmastime. Winder Wonderland on Ice is a terrific show featuring talented figure skaters moving to many different carols and songs. Preceding the show is SeaWorld’s answer to Straight No Chaser. The male quarter entertains the audience for about 20mins with excellent harmony and jokes. If you’re lucky, you’ll time it just right to watch the Sea of Trees while you are waiting on the ice show to begin. Although I miss The Polar Express overlay on the Arctic Adventure, there are still many other rides available when you want a break from shows and character meet and greets.

Both the Clyde & Seamore and Shamu shows receive holiday overlays during Christmas Celebration. Since I did not experience the Christmas Miracle show at Shamu Stadium, I am unable to comment on that, but the Clyde and Seamore show’s Countdown to Christmas was fantastic! Even on a regular park ops day, it is one of my favorite shows at SeaWorld. Clyde and Seamore are back and funnier than ever in this holly jolly holiday show. Countdown to Christmas is about Clyde and Seamore’s goal to meet several requirements so Santa can visit! The most popular Christmas show a SeaWorld is not Clyde & Seamore nor Shamu, but O Wonderous Night located in the Nautilus Theatre. Not your typical nativity story, O Wonderous Night centers around the animals located in the stable where Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus more than two thousands years ago. We get to here the nativity story from the perspective of the animals who each played a special part in that wonderous night. If you plan to watch that show, you need to know that it is important to queue up at least an hour before showtime. It consistently fills up prior to curtain. Although Busch Gardens also has a Christmas Village in Gwazi Field, the village at SeaWorld seems to have more to offer.

Well, there ya have it! Two phenomenal ways to spend the holidays with your friends and family. Or, be like me and experience it Han style–solo. Although you might think that it isn’t as much fun on your own, you can still have a blast celebrating Christmas at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment this holiday season. Lots of opportunities to sing, dance, and even meet some favorite characters along the way. Especially for those who enjoy a more traditional Christmas, these parks are the place to be. I guarantee that it will feel Christmassy from the time that you enter the park. It is so important that the parks make seasonal events feel special and unlike what you can typically get as part of daily/regular operations, and Busch Gardens and SeaWorld know how to create that holiday magic to warm your heart.

 

“Where are You Christmas?” A Review of “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on by
Reply

img_7604One of my favorite times of the year at the Disney Parks is the holiday season. And not just November through December but September through October too. The autumn and winter holidays offer so much opportunity for seasonal offerings that make the Holidays a special time of year for friends, family, and lovers. Of all the holidays, Christmastime is the generally the highest attended and most looked forward to at the Disney Parks. Whereas Universal Studios Florida is the king with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as Queen during Halloween, the big D is arguably king at Christmas–perhaps the Jingle King? Putting a Christmas spin on Pumpkin King. For years, hundreds of thousands of park guests flood the Disney Parks to enjoy everything from Cinderella’s Castle draped in icicle lights to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to the late Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights and even Holidays Around the World at Epcot’s World Showcase and Jingle Cruise (the holiday overlay at Jungle Cruise). Not to even mention the elaborate gingerbread houses and other creations at the Disney Resorts. Over the last few years, we have witnessed a slow mitigation of Holiday offerings. Most notably the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Hollywood Studios (DHS) and Animal Kingdom’s Jingle Jungle Parade. Along with so many anxious park guests and Cast Members, I too was curious how DHS was going to adjust its Christmas offerings with the conspicuous absence of the Osborne Lights. Sunday night, I was finally able to watch the new Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM show at DHS, and if I had to sum up the experience in one word, it’d be a lukewarm “meh.” But as you know, I will provide you with many more words, haha…….

After the announcement of Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM as the special seasonal nighttime spectacular offering at DHS, I was still sad that there were no more dancing lights but I was looking forward to the new show and how it was going to play out. Taking place in the center of the park at the replica of the timeless Grauman’s Chinese Theatre serving as the show building for the opening day attraction The Great Movie Ride and icon of the park, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM (Jingle BAM from hereon) is a colorful display of map projections, lasers, and pyrotechnics. Many of your favorite Disney and Pixar animated films are included as well as a sequence from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. In addition to the familiar film clips, there is a loosely integrated narrative with Santa’s elves and then a message from the big man himself. Accompanying the outstanding map projections of gingerbread men, presents, snow, and other holiday iconic images are a vast array of lasers crisscrossing the sky adding an immersive effect to the courtyard and Hollywood Blvd. No nighttime spectacular at the Disney parks would be complete without pyrotechnics. Jingle BAM boasts a fantastic finale of fireworks that dazzle the sky.

For all the wonderful potential the show has, it unfortunately fails to leave even half the lasting impression that the Osborne Lights left in the hearts and minds of park guests for 20 years. There are a few key elements that contribute to the mediocre reception of Jingle BAM: (1) DHS is not designed/laid out for a nighttime hub show (2) narrative is weak (3) plays out very flat–lacks depth (4) the fireworks are nowhere close to being centered behind the Chinese Theatre (5) fails to elicit a positive emotional response from the park guests (6) Santa’s message is generic and forgettable and (7) there is very little “Christmas” to be found in the show, period. However, it’s not all bad. The show is an outstanding combination of programming, projection technology, and brilliant lasers. The lasers greatly enhance the experience when the snow falls along Hollywood Blvd. From a technical perspective, the show is an incredible spectacle of what happens when art and science are combined.

Unless you arrive one or more hours before showtime or purchase the special dinner/dessert package viewing area, you will quickly notice that your view is most likely obstructed by anything from palm trees, to tech booths, to light poles, shoppes, or even children on the shoulders of parents. Let’s face it, the latter is unavoidable. If you’ve ever been to DHS, you’ll remember that the courtyard in from of the stage in front of Great Movie Ride (GMR) is quite small. Possibly a 1/3 of the size of the one in front of the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK). So, there isn’t much physical space to work with when accommodating thousands of guests in the same location for a 15min show. Although Osborne Lights moved over the years, it was a staple to the local holiday celebrations, for sure, as well as those who would travel hundreds of miles. Very quickly, for those of you who do not know the history of Osborne Lights, the show was originally on Residential Street (a street of TV houses) until it was moved to its former location on Streets of America (production standing set). Families and friends could casually stroll through the millions of lights that danced every few minutes–synced to classic and contemporary holiday hits! No showtimes. Just continual twinkling and dancing from sunset to one hour after the park closed.

Much like the hub area, the backlot area was also unable to support the majority of the park guests at any one (1) time. So, the continual dancing was important because guests could attend at their leisure. Compounding the physical space dilemma, there are also new palm trees that were installed after the hat was removed, two giant towers that are tech/electrical/equipment booths for the “temporary” stage that sits where the hat was, and several light poles. Once you back up toward Hollywood Blvd, your view is also blocked by the other trees and shoppes. Unlike Magic Kingdom, which has a low grade incline from the train station to the castle, there is no incline from the entrance of DHS to GMR; therefore, the possibility of an obstructed view is greatly increased. Never mind that GMR is less than half the height of Cinderella’s Castle. Between the level surface from the entrance to GMR, the palm trees directly in front of GMR, and the tech booths blocking the view from Hollywood Blvd, it is clear that this park is not designed for a hub show. At least a hub show that runs only once. And you know what? There is little that can be done about the layout of the park. So. The Imagineers and entertainment leadership should recognize those shortcomings and develop a way that a decent view of the show is possible from the central area of the park.

I love the concept of storytelling–in all forms. So, naturally I was curious as to how a story was woven into Jingle BAM. Even now, I am attempting to piece together what the story was. Essentially, the elves are looking for Santa because he is missing. Turns out that he has been captured by Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas. After Boogie’s song number, Santa is rescued. Following Santa’s rescue, he has a message about friends and family. More specifically, he directs the message to the City of Orlando. But, it just doesn’t strike an emotional tone. It plays off as canned and generic. Tiny Tim’s closing remarks “God bless us, everyone” from Charles Dickens’ masterpiece A Christmas Carol packs much more meaning and impact. Interestingly, it is the other bookend and answer to the novel’s opening line “Marley was dead to begin with, there’s no doubt about that.” I think a holiday message about friends and family is very important, but this one just plays off as forced–like other elements of this show. There is definitely a story and message there, but it is weak. Perhaps it would have been more effective to include some holiday spirit or nostalgia in his closing remarks. I think the show would play out just as well–if not better–if the plot of rescuing Santa wasn’t present. Not that I think the show should be without a story, but the story should be more coherent. Stories, such as this one, should also attempt to elicit an emotional response from the audience but it does not extend its reach beyond the surface level.

The over all experience of the show lacked depth. It felt very flat–like a projected image, ironically enough. All surface level and spectacle but no substance. One of the major attractions to and benefits from Osborne Lights was the total immersion into a winter wonderland. Immersion is so incredibly important in themed entertainment. The Osborne Lights provided more than a show–an experience! Even more importantly than immersion is the concept of experiential attractions. And this was an experience like no other. Jingle BAM lacks these all too important elements of immersion and experience. Instead of experiencing the seasonal holiday offering, park guests watch as third party spectators. The only time it becomes mildly experiential is when the Florida snow begins to fall. One of the most important elements to the experience of the Osborne Lights was the park guests’ ability to go from spectator to participant. The transition from spectator to participant is a popular trend in themed entertainment attractions because it offers a much more visceral experience. But what about the other nighttime Disney shows??? Aren’t they more of a spectacle than experience? Short answer: yes. Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic, and the Tree of Life are all about the sheer spectacle of it all. And there’s nothing wrong with that…provided that is how it’s always been. However, Wishes is set apart because of the strong emotions the music and pyro evokes from the park guests. It truly is a magical experience. But the problem occurs when the park offers a participatory experience and replaces it with something more along the lines of a glorified short film.

Most Disney nighttime spectaculars offer a phenomenal dazzling array of pyrotechnics and fireworks. Keeping in line with the tradition of magical Disney fireworks, Jingle BAM also offers an impressive choreographed firework display and dynamic finale. Unfortunately, those fireworks are not behind the Chinese Theatre–not even close. The majority of the pyro and entire firework finale is way off stage left (house right). illuminating the sky above the Animation Courtyard, the fireworks cause the park guests to turn their heads 90-degrees (away from the center of the show). Although DHS would have to close the Pixar area during the Galactic Spectacular (Star Wars nighttime show) in order to keep guests safe from the falling debris, the fireworks shot off above the Chinese Theatre making for a phenomenal nighttime show that was truly spectacular whether you are a Star Wars fan or not. The show was incredibly impressive. With the fireworks way off to the side at Jingle BAM, it feels more like a distraction than the finale.

Lastly, the show simply does not have that holiday spirit. Other than Santa and a couple Christmas songs, the show has a very generic feel. So much so that, take away Santa and replace a few other elements and the show could silly be modified to run as part of daily operations. That certainly displays efficiency, but this is a seasonal offering during Christmastime and should feel special. Guests should have the impression that they cannot get this experience anywhere else. As it stands, this map projection show is not unlike the one at Magic Kingdom. Since Disney has two popular versions of A Christmas Carol as part of its IP, I was shocked that neither make appearances in the show. What is more Christmassy than the timeless classic??? The lack of Christmas music is compounded by the absence of Jack Skellington’s lyrics in the song What’s This? from The Nightmare Before Christmas. As part of the score for Jingle BAM, the accompaniment from What’s This? can be heard, but no lyrics. Although many people celebrate the holiday season differently and various elements are held more dearly than others, there should have been a mixture of classic and contemporary holiday hits to create a festive atmosphere. The magic of Christmas is very much lacking in this seasonal show. Where are you Christmas?

Over all, Jingle BAM is a cute show. Is it a replacement for the late Osborne Lights? No. Is it filled with holiday cheer? Not particularly. But perhaps this is the start of something that will grow to become nostalgic for guests that are just now experiencing the Disney parks for the first time. With map projection shows taking the place of more practical effect shows, we could simply we witnessing the next evolution of nighttime spectaculars at Walt Disney World. As I recognize the need to evolve and develop new ideas in order to keep the parks relevant to current generations, perhaps Disney Imagineers can find a way to combine both the Osborne Lights and the map projection concept in a new dynamic show–a new experience. In the short term, if Disney Imagineers could find a way to modify the current Jingle BAM to go from a one (1) showtime to something more continuous like the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom, then that would quickly solve the physical space and adequate viewing dilemma.

 

Cinecittà World & Movie Park Germany: Placing Guests in the Magic of Movie Making

Posted on by
Reply

cinecittaworld1The overall theme of movie-based theme parks has gone from exposure and education to simulation and immersion—much more experiential. Instead of seeing how Harry Pottermovies are made, guests at Universal Studios (FL and CA) and other studio-parks want to feel like they are Harry and his friends. And, this is not something that could be achieved by the former models of the original concepts for Universal Studios Parks or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. So, the parks have to change in order to remain relevant and viable tourist destinations. Concurrently, movie and television studios are going through their own evolutionary process. In many ways, a careful examination of modern cinema compared to its predecessors reveals that storytelling has been removed from its pedestal to play second fiddle to salesmanship.

Spectacle and visceral thrills are the principal drive for the modern (1990s-present) cinema-based theme park attractions; and, for some, they confirm the worst tendencies identified within the Hollywood blockbuster: the epitome of apparently vacuous rollercoaster experiences. According to researcher Geoff King, “the label ‘thrill ride’ is a term often used approvingly in Hollywood publicity and by some film reviewers in the press, presumably because a thrill ride is precisely what many viewers want from modern cinema.” The late 1980s and the 1990s saw the arrival of theme park attractions that claim to allow the park guest to ride the movies; movies became theme park attractions. But now, theme park attractions are inspiring films. Beyond being the inspiration for films, the idea of being able to market a horror, action, or epic film or film franchise or the ability to create themed attractions from the narrative is at the forefront of studio executives’ minds, as cross-promotion is an important financial strategy.

Creating attractions from cinema is not unique to the United States. The former Italian cinema powerhouse, from the early to mid twentieth century, Cinecittá Studios, known as the “Hollywood on the Tiber” is following suit with its American counterparts and converting the production lot(s) into a movie-based theme park. Located outside Rome, Cinecittá Studios, Italian for “Cinema City,” opened its gates in 2014 to the public to experience the magic of movies on this side of the screen. President of Cinecitta World Emmanuel Gout states, “Here, the idea is that people will also enter not only sets, but the confusion of a place where we are shooting movie. Everything will be illusion…the visitor will become a protagonist of the day, becoming a star, becoming involved in some fake movie.”

The model of this theme park appears to be more reminiscent of how the classic American movie-based theme parks were setup; however, there is one big difference. At the new Cinecitta Studios (theme park), park guests will actually don costumes and take hold of props to act in scenes from movies. So, in many ways, this park differs from its American counterparts because it is not defaulting to digital simulations and special visual effects; instead, it’s using practical technologies to create the illusion that the guest is actually on the set in the movie as a character in a given scene. Still, three-time Academy Award® winning production designer Dante Ferretti knows that audiences and guests want more than an immersive experience into movies, but want thrills as well. So, there are rollercoasters and water slides, amidst Roman and Egyptian ruins, to accommodate those guests seeking more conventional amusement park attractions.

Away from hustle and bustle and bright lights of Hollywood, past the palm treelined streets and white sand beaches of Florida, and beyond the Roman ruins on a century-old Italian studio lot is another example of the convergence of cinema and theme parks. Movie Park Germany is a cinema-based theme park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen. It “is a unique theme park, which is devoted entirely to movies. The former Warner Bros Movie World has six theme areas and more than 40 attractions and shows. It will not take long before you feel like a movie star or cartoon hero!.”

Much in the vein of Universal Studios Florida, Movie Park Germany blends both the benefits of an amusement park with movie-based themes throughout the whole park. Its motto is “Wow! I’m in the Movies.” According to the website, “Our visitors will not only have the opportunity to meet well-known series Heroes but also get to enjoy first class entertainment like an action-packed stunt show as well as two song and dance shows. For those guests who like it a bit more spooky, the park transforms itself at sunset into an extraordinaire chamber of horrors. In short: There’s a personal highlight for everyone!.” Unlike Universal Studios parks which have a Halloween theme for two months a year, Movie Park Germany holds on to the very cinema theory that birthed out of Germany and found its way to Hollywood—German Expressionism. Some of the first movies were horror movies, and it is refreshing to see that this park is holding on to its horror heritage throughout the year.

Although many theme park enthusiasts first think of Florida and California, it is clear that there are many beautifully conceived and designed parks all around the world that are just beckoning for adventure to be had.

You Don’t Stand a Chance: Universal Orlando’s “Halloween Horror Nights 26” review

Posted on by
1

hhn26logoA dynamic range of houses and horrifying encounters! Of all the Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) over the last few years, this year could likely be my favorite. From the houses based on familiar IPs to the original concepts, there is something for everyone as HHN turns 26. Even the wildly popular and iconic Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure was refreshingly funny this year. Although HHN has the reputation for being an event at which it’s nearly impossible to experience all the houses and the Bill and Ted Show in one evening, I’ve concluded that if you arrive at open and remain until 2am that you CAN make it to all the experiences on a typical crowd night. Unfortunately, my friends and I lacked three houses to complete them all since we arrived at 9pm; but two of those three were not ones that I was planning on experiencing anyway. Since I pay for annual passes to Disney, Universal, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld, I do not opt for the frequent fear pass that Universal Orlando img_6981offers for multiple visits to the celebration of the macabre, so I try to do as much as I can in one night. And this year, I am quite pleased with what I was able to accomplish during my time at one of the areas two best Halloween events (the other being Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay). If you haven’t been to HHN (or HOS) this year, there is still a couple of weeks to visit Universal Orlando or Busch Gardens and experience some outstanding scares, irreverently funny shows, and special times with friends.

Visit Thrillz for the latest in theme park information from around the world! You can find this and many other articles covering themed entertainment, dining, and more.

stage19One of my favorite parts of the seasonal Halloween events at the theme parks is experiencing the transformation from daytime operations to Halloween. From the music to the lighting, the very atmosphere of the park sets the mood to be scared. Another personal favorite experience at HHN specifically is witnessing the uncanny (that which should remain hidden but reveals itself) by venturing behind the scenes of the park and entering sound stages that used to house television productions and former attractions. The two most nostalgic and uncanny memories from last night is walking through American Horror Story in Stage 19 and Krampus. If you’re a long-time visitor to Universal Orlando or simply a theme park enthusiast, you might recognize why Stage 19 would be nostalgic. Stages 18 and 19 are where Nick was made! Soundstages 18 and 19, along with 17 as part of the Universal Studios Florida studios tour and 21 leased occasionally, were the home of Nickelodeon Studios in the 1980s-90s (minimally in the early 2000s). I love the juxtaposition between the classic Nick shows that were produced there against the present haunted houses. The Krampus haunted house is located in the former Alfred Hitchcock soundstage that was part of the Hitchcock: the Art of Making Movies attraction until 2002. I had not been in that stage since before the iconic opening day attraction closed its doors to make way for Shrek 4D. While walking through Krampus, I couldn’t help by wonder if we were standing where the Bates House, Motel, or infamous shower used to be.

img_7009-1The first house that my friends Derek, Adrianne, and I experienced was Krampus. With only a 30min wait, it was definitely a great way to begin the evening since the parking garage was a complete cluster (not one parking attendant was to be found in the garages). Located within the former Hitchcock Stage, Krampus is an impressive translation from screen to live experience. Since my research area and peer-reviewed publications are on the topic of experiential storytelling and film/theme park convergence, this is an element to which I pay particular attention. Doesn’t mean that I don’t concurrently enjoy the entertainment value of the house, but I am always looking around to see if I can get a glimpse of the magic behind the experience. Since we are four weeks into HHN, there’s a good bet that many of you have experienced the house, but I don’t want to spoil it for those of you who have not. Upon entering the soundstage, the skies grow dark, the wind howls, and the snow blows across your face as you enter the stately home from the movie Krampus. Each and every room depicts an event from the movie. From the sinister jack-in-the-box to the demented gingerbread men, you will encounter nearly all the creatures from the movie. And yes, Krampus himself makes appearances here and there. Probably the most surprising effect in the house was the smell of gingerbread when walking through the kitchen–truly felt like an immersive experience. Just like I loved the contrast between horror and holiday cheer in the movie, I equally loved the juxtaposition of a house all decorated for the “most wonderful time of the year” located within a brilliant Halloween event.

img_6994-1After experiencing Universal’s ‘nightmare’ before Christmas, we were left with deciding what to do next. Since we wanted to hit the 12:00 Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure, we needed to choose something in the mean time. It was at that time, that we began to experience some light rain. With the queue for American Horror Story down to a 60-minute wait time–all indoors, we could easily hit that house and then the show. On the way to the house, we stoped for a pretzel and churro (salty and sweet). I was excited that the AHS house was located in the old Nickelodeon soundstage. What makes the AHS house unique, is the fact that it’s really three houses in one. The seasons of the series that the house covers is “Murder House,” “Freak Show,” and “Hotel.” Instead of combining elements from each of them into one house, Universal Creative made the decision to separate them. I was impressed with the character performers selected to bring such characters to life. Those selected to play Kathy Bates and Lady Gaga’s respective characters were ‘dead’ ringers for the leading ladies. If you’re scared of clowns, this house is definitely not for you because you are going to encounter Twisty on more than one occasion. There are a few entire scenes from the show that are recreated for the house. John Hammond would be proud of this house because in bringing the three seasons to life, Universal “spared no expense.” I am definitely looking forward to the next AHS house as I image that Universal will bring it back next year. Perhaps we will get “Asylum” and “Coven” (arguably the favorite of most of the fans of the series) in the next house for HHN 27, and the most recent “Roanoke” combined with whatever season 7 is or HHN 28.

img_7007Following two exceptional haunted houses, it was time for some laughs! One of the highlights of my HHN experience every year is the Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure because it often does a great job of commenting on pop-culture, parodying crowd favorite movies and tv shows, and socio-political satire. Not for the kids that are at HHN, this show is about as offensive and irreverent as they come–it’s brilliant! Usually, anyway. Honestly, I did not care for last year’s show at all. Knowing that the last couple of years have seen the show go downhill in terms of the cleverness of the writing, I did not have high expectations; however, I knew I would laugh and sometimes that’s all that matters. To my pleasant surprise, the show this year was outstanding (most of it anyway). The first 2/3 of the show were filled with witty jokes, facetious behavior, and brilliant one-liners. The overall plot was to figure out Rylo-Ken’s (a parody of Kylo Ren from The Force Awakens) plan to take over the world. Over the course of the more than 30-minute show, the audience encounters pop-culture icons such as Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones), Chewbacca Mom, a Pokemon GO trainer, 11 (Stranger Things), and even Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Of course, no Bill and Ted show would be complete without throwing shade on and jabs at Disney World. There is even a joke at the end (a hand gesture) that only true fans of the Disney Parks would get. Unlike previous years, this year’s show had a coherent plot until the showdown consisting of an “Ultimate Versus” that was pretty much just a cluster of most of the cameos from the show in a Captain America: Civil War tarmac battle that resembles a reimagined Super Smash Bros. meets Mortal Kombat battle scene. I find shows that push the envelope–even if right off the counter–in the theme park settings to be some of my favorites. Shows like these are typically open to adding and striking jokes as pop-culture shifts its focus. You’ll find some political jabs that came out of news from just a couple weeks ago in the show. Strong writing is important even in an irreverent comedy. This year’s Bill and Ted contains mostly solid writing and slapstick antics sure to entertain! Other than reworking the showdown, the img_7008only element of the show I would change would be the pre-show funny videos taken directly from YouTube. Yes, some of them are funny; but they are also videos that many in the audience have already seen. I think a better idea would be to have a camera operator follow some of the preparations during construction and rehearsal and cut together a gag or outtake reel. That would be funny and something that you couldn’t get online.

tombNext, it was time to go on an expedition to uncover some dark secrets that ancient civilizations kept in Tomb of the Ancients. An original IP for Universal Orlando this year, Tomb was probably the most impressive house as far as production design. While many, if not most, guests are at HHN for the film/tv IP houses–and to a great extent, so am I–I really enjoy and look forward to the original concepts designed by Universal Creative’s HHN teams. There are themes and elements taken from ancient civilizations an cultures such as Egyptian, Mayan, Incan, Cambodian, and more. After analyzing all the houses I experienced, I am left with the conclusion that Tomb was the most immersive out of all the houses. While walking through Tomb, I made a very interesting observation. It’s an observation that only those who have been to both HHN and HOS could pick up on. Since Busch Gardens cannot compete with Universal on production design, over all, they learned how to perfect the ‘scare.’ One of the methods for scaring guests is false walls, windows, mirror, etc that drop with a loud bang and a scare-actor jumps out. In film terms, this is the classic jump scare. Not having experience every original IP house HHN has done in the past, I cannot say for sure that this concept is new, but I definitely noticed it this time. Just like Busch probably borrows ideas from Universal, this is a great example of how Universal has borrowed from the Busch’s HOS houses.

exorcistLeaving archeological excavations, it was time to head to Maryland. To the home of Regan MacNeil. That’s right. The Exorcist. It is the first time HHN had themed a house based on the iconic cult horror classic. Spinning head, pea soup, Holy Water and all. You’ll come face-to-face with one of the most terrifying horror films of all time. Universal has always done a remarkable job with the forced perspective of its facades. It really feels like walking off the street into the MacNeil house. One of the most interesting aspects to the production design of this house is the practical ceiling. In most haunted houses, the illusion can be ruined by simply looking up and staring at the trusses and air ducts above in the soundstage. Not true with The Exorcist. Through much of the house, if you look up, you’ll see a practical ceiling. This adds to the claustrophobic feel of the house. Other than spending time in at the excavation site, foyer, living room, and other common areas, the majority of the house takes place within Regan’s room (much like with the movie itself). The park guests walk through multiple rooms depicting, in sequence, the events of Regan’s possession and exorcism by the priest. There aren’t too many jump scares in this house. Regan pops out at you each time you walk from one room to the next. But, what’s great about this house is how real it felt. Universal did an excellent job recreating the most notable scenes from the movie and translating it into a live experience.

ghosttownWho would’ve known that the MacNeils lived next door to a ghost town. Another HHN original IP is Ghost Town. Taking a classic haunted house approach, Ghost Town puts park guest in the middle of an old gold mining ghost town that looks as though it stepped right off the screen of an old-timy western. Kind of reminded me of the western sequence from Hollywood Studios‘ The Great Movie Ride. Instead of a bank robbery, you encounter sinister apparitions of gold miners, bar maids, and there’s even a hangin’. Although this house takes a more traditional approach to scaring park guests, it’s not for the timid as there are a great many disturbing images and experiences in this house. Unlike the other houses this year (at least the ones that I experienced personally), this house comes complete with scare-actors in the rafters above. After you are startled by a ranch hand grabbing at you from above, your senses will be greatly heightened because you have to not only worry about what’s around the next corner but what is also lurking above.

img_7021-1The final house I was able to experience this weekend was Halloween II. HHN offered the Halloween I house two years ago, and much like how the sequel (film) picks up right where Halloween I left off, this house picks up right where the previous one left guests. No real surprises in this house. It is pretty well straight forward and includes all that is expected of a house paying tribute to the iconic Michael Myers. From the closet to the hospital, Michael is everywhere. Sometimes everywhere a little too much. There are definitely times that he appears in two separate places in the same room which impacts the believability of the scares. Pretty sure I saw two Michaels standing close to one another at some point. The quality of the house is on par with most of HHN’s houses, and put you right in the middle of the hospital. Much like with the Exorcist house, this one also walks you through and depicts the various kills in the movie. My favorite part of the house comes at the very end, but I won’t spoil it for those who have not been through it.

img_7019Beyond the houses and Bill and Ted show, HHN also offers guests the opportunity to walk through various scare zones. These are areas that typically contain themed scare-actors, music, and minimal production design. Most of the ambiance is created through lights and sound. And of course fog! Conspicuously missing from the scare zones this year is The Purge. Earlier in the summer following the Pulse massacre, it was announced that The Purge was going to be removed from the HHN offerings as either a house or scare zone. The massacre at Pulse had a profound affect upon HHN. One of the observations I made about this year is the lack of death and violence. For the most part, there was very little murder, dismemberment, and seldom a showing of the glorification of violence. Compared past years, this year was quite tame. Although there could be multiple reasons for the mitigation of violent acts, it is most likely related to the tragedy that affects not only the community but team members at Universal Orlando. Just goes to show that there is not need for explicit violence in order to create an outstanding celebration of the macabre during the Halloween season.

img_6989Not having experienced The Walking Dead, Lunatics Playground 3D, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I am unable to provide any feedback on or analysis of those houses; but, friends of mine that have experienced them tell me that they are excellent as well. Although Texas Chainsaw has been part of HHN in the past, this year is difference because it is based on the original 1974 Tobe Hooper film instead of the 2003 remake produced by Michael Bay. With the wild success of Netflix’ Stranger Things, it would not surprise me if we see that as a scare zone or haunted house next year. Twenty-six years in, HHN is still going strong. Still debating on whether to attend HHN or HOS this year? Debate no more because both events are fantastic. Want to experience your favorite horror movies and TV shows? Then HHN 26 is your destination. You’ll definitely enjoy all that is offered to the guests this Halloween Season.

Access Thrillz.co by clicking here!

img_6985

License to Create: Theme Parks and Intellectual Property

Posted on by
2

ThemeParkHighAngleLicense and registration please. With 20th Century Fox, Sony Entertainment, and Paramount Pictures entering the themed entertainment game as potential heavy hitters, and to some extent Warner Bros. as well, questions about cinema, television, and video game intellectual property (IP) begin to rise. Only having really had two main players in the industry for the last couple of decades, unless you count CBS/Paramount before selling off the amusement park investments to Cedar Fair, Disney and Comcast (parent company to NBC Universal) utilize their own respective IP libraries as well as licensed properties from other media companies. Not having as vast an IP library as Disney, many of Universal’s theme park properties have come from companies like TimeWarner, Viacom, and Fox. Whereas Disney primarily uses their own extensive library, they too have licensed other companies’ IP such as MGM Holdings, 20th Century Fox, and CBS. Although some of the once-licensed properties by either Disney or Universal have now been officially procured (i.e. Disney’s LucasFilm and Universal’s DreamWorks Animation), a common practice in the themed entertainment industry is to license, borrow, barter, trade, etc. But, with these new players demanding a slice of the hospitality and tourism pie, could we see more original television programming or movies?

SpyroThink about it for a moment. Let’s look at some of the most well-known IPs from Sony, Fox, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Although there is a mild to moderate degree of subjectivity in what constitutes “well known,” I am going to go with commonly thought of properties. Starting with Sony. In no particular order, some of the most popular Sony properties include: James Bond (formerly MGM), Spider-Man, Men in Black, Smurfs, Terminator, Silence of the Lambs, Hotel Transylvania, Spyro, The Nanny, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Price is Right, Final Fantasy, and Crash Bandicoot. Switching gears to Fox. Some of the most well-known Fox properties include: Avatar, The Simpsons, Rocky Horror Picture Show, The X-Men, Bones, New Girl, American Horror Story, Alien, X-Files, Die Hard, Futurama, and Family Guy. Although not well known in the US, Warner Bros. operates a theme park in Australia and what is now called Movie Park Germany. Some of the most popular Warner Bros., IP are: Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Looney Tunes, DC Entertainment, Lord of the Rings, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, and Lego Entertainment. Viacom, parent company to Paramount Pictures, is one of the original Hollywood studios and owns IP such as: Mission Impossible, Titanic (partnership with Fox), Star Trek (films and TV shows), Forrest Gump, and the valuable Nickelodeon. Obviously the aforementioned lists are not exhaustive, but I wanted to try to paint as brief but effective a picture as possible to understand why IP is a hot topic.

JamesBondLogoRecognize some of those titles? You probably recognize most, if not all of them. Unfortunately, these companies have already licensed out some of those properties to Universal, Disney, and Six Flags. Avatar and Alien are licensed by Disney. Marvel Entertainment, Harry Potter, and Nintendo are licensed to Universal, DC Entertainment and Looney Tunes are licensed to Six Flags Parks, and the Nickelodeon IPs are split amongst different entities. Of course, when the licensing agreements were drawn up, it is unlikely that either Sony, Fox, Paramount, and to a lesser extent Warner Bros., thought that they would enter or re-enter into the themed entertainment industry. Now that this part of the tourism and hospitality (and live entertainment) is exploding, Sony, Fox, Paramount, and Warner Bros. need to rethink how to play catchup–and FAST. But, when you have licensed out some of your most valuable properties, how do you make up for it? The short answer is (1) refuse renewal when the license expires or (2) develop original content. Since some licenses run for decades, the former isn’t really an option unless the license is coming up for renewal in the next few years; so, we are left with one logical conclusion: pump out original content that is adaptable to a live experience. This is where research like mine comes into play since I have studied the relationship between cinema and theme parks, and moreover how to successfully translate a movie or TV show into an attraction. It’d be nice if one of these companies would snatch me up. But, I digress.

Film Strip BoardIt is entirely possible that Sony, Fox, Paramount, and Warner Bros. will be forced to generate new ideas for movies, tv shows, and video games. More specifically, original creative media content that can and needs to be able to be translated from the screen into a theme park near you. When developing original content that has the ability to be translated to a live experience, companies need to keep in mind that a high-concept plot with unique settings, characters, and action sequences are necessary for a movie turned attraction. There is a lot more to it than that, but at least this gives you an idea what is required and backed by empirical evidence. Although blockbusters are typically the sourced content for theme park attractions, not every blockbuster is appropriate. Take Titanic for example. It is a movie about the 20th century’s worst and most infamous maritime disaster. So, I don’t think Paramount or Fox will add “Titanic: Ride it Out” to its parks. The ability to cross-promote intellectual property is of great importance for the strategic exhibition and integration of movies, tv shows, or video games. One of the reasons why the Disney parks are so successful is because the Disney movies can be (1) seen in the cinema (2) character meet and greets in the parks (3) the platform for a video game (3) used in theming on the cruise line (4) A-list artists can record covers of the songs from musicals (and broadway musicals can be produced) and (5) the platform for attractions in the parks. Sony, Fox, Paramount, and Warner Bros. need to concentrate on producing movies and TV shows (and by extension video games) that can be used in strategic and creative cross-promotion.

X-Men TASReturning to the present state of IP in the parks. Fortunately, some of those companies still–at least to the best of my knowledge–retain the theme park licensing for a few of the properties that were mentioned earlier; but for the most part, the most well-known movies, video games, and TV shows are already licensed by other companies. Viacom/Paramount operates the Nick Hotel near Disney in Orlando, so it still retains some licensing to its Nick IPs. However, since other parks use some of the Nick characters, there is probably some red tape to go through in order to fully use them in the Paramount park in the United Kingdom near London that is under development. Just like Disney wants to get their hands on Universal’s Marvel properties, Fox really needs to work on getting the X-Men back. On that note: since The Avengers is Disney’s heaviest of hitters and the same for Fox and the X-Men, perhaps eventually we will see that Disney has access to The Avengers and Fox the X-Men. Disney doesn’t really need The Avengers as much as Fox needs the X-Men. The X-Men is arguably Fox’s most successful film franchise in the last couple of decades and it is still going strong. Another Fox property that is licensed by Disney is James Cameron’s Avatar. As for Sony, they have not licensed out as many of their properties to themed entertainment companies, with the obvious exceptions of Terminator and Men in Black. Another area to explore is the reason why non Disney and Universal parks are mostly being built overseas. But that is the topic for another article; however, it is directly linked to IP and copyright.

maps_game_of_thrones_a_song_of_1024x1024_wallpaperfo.comCurrent IPs that would make for great attractions in a U.S. Sony, Warner Bros., Paramount, or Fox theme park would be Game of Thrones, American Horror Story, X-Files, James Bond, Lord of the Rings (but that is a whole other discussion in and of itself), Hotel Transylvania, Spyro the Dragon, Maze Runner, Hunger Games (need to be licensed from Lionsgate), Ice Age, or Mission Impossible. Content is king. More innovative and original content from the big studios who also have theme park investments means that there will be more movies to see each year!! It will also open the door for new ideas from comics, literature, history, and legend. Instead of reboots and remakes, you will enjoy new ideas and narratives. So, the long and short of it is that media conglomerates with movie studio and theme park investments are at a crossroads. They can either not go full-force into themed entertainment and play around with the current IP in their respective libraries or can rise up to the challenge to develop original movies and tv shows that can also find their ways into theme parks in the U.S. and around the world.