In the Loop: Past, present and future

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 take a look at a few of my most popular recent posts.

Gazing into the crystal ball

As Disneyland marks its 60th anniversary, I take a wildly speculative look at what the original Disney theme park might look like over the coming decades with an eye toward the 100th anniversary in 2055.

What’s untouchable, what’s vulnerable and what’s possible over the next 40 years at Disneyland?

(Disney)

(Disney )

Looking backward and forward

And on the 50th anniversary of Universal Studios Hollywood, I take a look back at some of the movie theme park’s past mistakes, a few recent successes, and what lies ahead -- particularly after the arrival of a certain boy wizard.

The Fast & Furious: Supercharged drive-through movie is expected to open June 25 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

(Universal )

(Universal)

Abandoned parks

I take a visual journey through the surreal graveyards of once brightly colored playgrounds of whirling rides, turreted castles and bizarre attractions with a photo-centric look at the 21 creepiest abandoned amusement parks from around the world.

An abandoned Ferris wheel and carousel sit in the amusement park of the Ukrainian ghost town of Pripyat, near the Chernobyl nuclear plant.

(Sergei Supinsky / AFP/Getty Images)

(Sergei Supinsky / AFP/Getty Images)

Best of summer

Finally, I take a look at summer’s 32 most anticipated additions at theme parks close to home, across the United States and around the world.

The Twisted Colossus wood-steel hybrid coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain is among the top new attractions debuting in 2015.

(Six Flags)

(Six Flags)

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