In the Loop: How one couple pulled off a secret Disneyland wedding
Welcome to another edition of In the Loop, the L.A. Times' theme park newsletter. I'm Funland theme park blogger Brady MacDonald, and this week we check in on SeaWorld’s continuing troubles, drop in on a secret Disneyland wedding and join first-timers on a visit to Kennywood.
On the road
The Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline, Mo., is hoping to revive the vintage Disneyland attraction known as Midget Autopia, the first park ride ever moved to a non-Disney property. The museum plans a $500,000 Kickstarter campaign to bring back the 10-car ride that ran in Anaheim from 1957 until It’s a Small World displaced it in 1966.
After a nine-year tenure in Anaheim, Disneyland’s Midget Autopia ride moved to Marceline, Mo. (shown here), from 1966-77. That city’s Walt Disney Hometown Museum is launching a campaign to rebuild and reopen the attraction.
(Walt Disney Hometown Museum)
Blue World
The California Coastal Commission delays a vote on SeaWorld San Diego’s proposed killer whale habitat expansion after receiving 75,000 letters and emails on the treatment of orcas in captivity. The larger tank, known as Blue World, would nearly double the size of the killer whale environment.
During a night performance at Shamu Stadium, trainers direct orcas at Sea World, San Diego. In the aftermath of the documentary “Blackfish,” critics have called for an end to keeping the animals captive for entertainment.
(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Growing empire
Disneyland buys two large parcels of land near the park for $48 million. Screamscape has a nice aerial map that shows how the acquisition could play into Disneyland’s larger long-term expansion plans.
Visitors pass by the entrance gate to Disneyland. The Walt Disney Co. has purchased property near the amusement park, sparking speculation about an expansion.
(Christina House / For The Times)
Coney Island
I would have to say Coney Island is at the top of my amusement park bucket list. I find it completely absurd that I’ve covered amusement parks for nearly a decade and never made it to the granddaddy of them all. USA Today’s 10 can’t-miss Coney Island attractions pretty much makes me want to pack my suitcase right now, hop on a flight to JFK and take the D train directly to Brooklyn.
Secret Disneyland wedding
San Francisco magazine recounts how an Oakland couple quietly sneaked 25 guests into the Enchanted Tiki Room for a stealth four-minute wedding ceremony without Disneyland officials finding out. The short-but-sweet vows saved the couple the five-figure price tag of a typical Disneyland wedding, and everybody in the wedding party got a Dole Whip.
Dancing cars
Disney finally reveals the name for the ride replacing the short-lived levitating tires attraction in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure: Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters. The backstory for the ride sounds both confusing and intriguing: Riders in anthropomorphic cars will “dance” at a large family gathering in a small Italian village.
Good work if you can get it
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sends five summer interns to Kennywood to find out what first-timers think about one of the best amusement parks in the United States (in my humble opinion). Check out the comprehensive report and the great video for their reactions to Phantom’s Revenge, Jack Rabbit, Musik Express and Ghostwood Estate.
And finally
Six hotels that will give you a free ticket to Disneyland.
Swimming pools at the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa.
(Wyndham Hotel)
Still need more theme park news? Check out the Los Angeles Times Funland theme park blog on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram. Also feel free to email me with any feedback on the newsletter.
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