There's no downtime for theme park news
We have news from Universal and Six Flags in this special update
My apologies to all Theme Park Insider readers today. My website hosting provider has failed - again - and the site is not currently accessible.
So I have decided to post the full text of today’s and recent blog posts here for all of you, instead. (And yes, I have appointments set up with prospective new hosts for the site, as well.) Thank you for your patience and continued support.
First look at the monsters of Universal Epic Universe
Universal listed to its fans. When Universal Orlando opens its new theme park next May, it will include the most advanced practical figures that Universal has ever developed.
Forget screens. The signature attraction in the new Dark Universal land at Universal Epic Universe will feature 14 animated figures depicting Universal's classic monsters. And today, Universal is sharing a first look at some of them.
Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment will be a dark ride with Kuka-arm ride vehicles, like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This ride, however, takes us through Frankenstein Manor, where Dr. Victoria Frankenstein – the great-great-granddaughter of the infamous Henry Frankenstein – is working on a plan to control the land's monsters. But – as they always must on any great theme park ride – things go terribly wrong and Universal's classic monsters are unleashed from Dr. Frankenstein's lab. Needless to say, they are not happy with her, or us.
At nine feet tall, Frankenstein's Monster will appear first in the ride's preshow, where he will walk within Dr. Victoria Frankenstein's lab.
Dracula is leading the monster's charge, appearing several times during the ride.
Joining the vampire will be The Wolf Man,
The Creature from the Black Lagoon,
as well as other classic monsters from Universal Studios, including The Mummy, The Phantom of the Opera, and the Brides of Dracula.
Want to see these figures in action? Check out Universal's latest behind-the-scenes video:
Universal Epic Universe opens officially May 22, 2025. Tickets and vacation packages are on sale now. For Epic Universe tickets, please visit our ticket partner's Universal Orlando tickets page.
For assistance in planning a complete Universal Orlando vacation, including discounts on bundled Epic Universe tickets and on-site hotel stays, please contact our travel agent sponsor for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.
Kings Dominion's Project 305 gets its new name
One of the world's top 10 roller coasters has a new name.
Kings Dominion revealed Monday morning that its 2010 Intamin Giga Coaster will now be known as Pantherian. The coaster opened as Intimidator 305 before being renamed Project 305 last year after the license for its Dale Earnhardt-inspired name expired.
The new name reflects a new backstory as "a mystical steel contraption built by the ancients," according to the park's website.
"Anyone who dares to ride Pantherian will temporarily take on the panther’s most defining characteristics: speed, agility and raw power," the story says.
The former Project 305 ranked number eight last year in our Theme Park Insider reader survey determing the world's best roller coasters. Standing 305 feet tall (well, yeah...), the coaster reaches a top speed of 90 mph following an 85-degree drop on its 5,100 feet of track. Here is Russell Meyer's on-ride video from the park's media preview day back in 2010:
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Robert Niles
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh,
provider troubles !!!
Recognisable.
I lost my professional website a couple of years ago , "thanks to" (lol) a bankrupty of said provider....