Tram crash at Universal
An injury accident at one of the nation's top theme parks leads a busy week of attraction openings and other news from around the industry.
This was supposed to be a big week for new attraction debuts and press events at theme parks all over the world. But an accident at one of the nation’s most popular theme parks got the week off to a tough start, leading to the cancelation of its 60th anniversary press event.
That anniversary celebration will go on as planned for guests, however. And we will still be at Universal Studios Hollywood later this week to cover all of that and let you know what to expect. In the meantime, however, the news….
Tram crash injures 15 at Universal Studios Hollywood: Fifteen people were hurt in a tram crash at Universal Studios Hollywood Saturday night. The injured were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries, authorities reported. A California Highway Patrol report said that the last car on the tram struck a guard rail on the right side of the road as the tram was turning left onto Avenue M, just past the Jurassic Park cars. That location is just behind Amity Village. The collision caused the car to "tilt and eject multiple passengers from the tram."
Coaster news
Europa-Park drops POV video for Voltron Nevera coaster: The first Stryker Coaster from Mack Rides throws just a ridiculous number of elements at riders, starting with a special effects show scene before the initial launch onto the 4,544-foot course. [With on-ride video]
Iron Menace ready to open at Dorney Park: Iron Menace is a 160-foot-tall Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Coaster, with four inversions and a top speed of 64 mph. [With on-ride video]
No loose items, or free lockers, on Cedar Point's Top Thrill 2: Cedar Point will enforce a strict 'no loose items' policy on its Top Thrill 2 roller coaster when it opens this season. But the park will not be providing free lockers or bins for riders to store the items they cannot take on the ride.
No Steel Curtain in 2024, Kennywood says: At least Cedar Point fans are getting that coaster this year, even if they effectively will have to pay extra to ride it. Kennywood's The Steel Curtain will remain closed for the 2024 season, the park announced this week.
Universal delays Donkey Kong roller coaster: Universal Studios Japan's Donkey Kong expansion will not be opening this spring, after all. The Osaka theme park announced today that it is delaying the opening of the Donkey Kong Country expansion of its Super Nintendo World until the second half of the year.
First look at Disney's plans for a Spider-Man roller coaster: A government filing in Shanghai has revealed Disney's plans for its first-ever Spider-Man-themed roller coaster.
On the discussion forum: What are your 'no go' rough rides?
This week's opinion posts
Hot take debate - Disney needs new rules for its Millennium Falcon: Proposed, for your consideration: Walt Disney World and Disneyland should implement a minimum age rule to sit in the pilots' seats on their Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run attractions. That's the resolution for this week's "hot take debate," a new feature I am trying out on Theme Park Insider.
Autopia needs more than electric cars to remain relevant: Disneyland will convert its Autopia cars to electric power within the next 30 months, the resort has confirmed. But that just begins to address the changes that Disneyland ought to be making to this expansive Tomorrowland attraction.
Coming soon
'The Fall Guy' is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood: A new Hollywood movie is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, and it is joining up with one of the park's classic attractions. Universal announced that it will feature the upcoming 87North film "The Fall Guy" in a new pre-show in front of the WaterWorld stunt show at the park, for a limited time starting this weekend.
Efteling gets creative with newly Earth-friendly steam trains: My all-time favorite quote about making creative works is this... 'The most important thing is authenticity. If you can fake that, you've got it made.'
More news from Disney
Walt Disney World restaurant awarded Michelin star: Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort won the honor, making it one of fewer than 200 restaurants in the United States with a Michelin star.
Disney World cuts a month from EPCOT's food & wine fest: Disney has announced the dates for the 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, which will start this year on August 29 and continue daily through November 23. That's a big change from 2023, when the festival started in the middle of summer, running from July 27 through November 18, 2023.
More Disneyland cast members opt in for a union: Actors' Equity Association announced that it has secured enough union authorization cards from Disneyland character and parade performers to trigger a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.
Happy birthday to Disney's Animal Kingdom
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Best wishes for a great week ahead, and thank you again for reading… and sharing our links.
Robert Niles