Newsletter: In the Loop: Meth lab, atomic bomb and other things not to say at Disney World
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 peek at a new Legoland dark ride, test-drive a coaster with VR headsets and tour a Knott’s haunted maze.
Ninjago
A first-of-its-kind dark ride coming to Legoland California in 2016 will let riders use karate-chop hand gestures to shoot fireballs at ninja warriors on giant video screens.
The high-tech Ninjago: The Ride will feature sensors on the front of each ride vehicle that register the hand movements of riders who zap color-coded fireballs at digital screens populated with animated Lego figures.
Concept art of the Ninjago dark ride coming to Legoland California in 2016.
(Legoland)
Horror Nights
I review Halloween Horror Nights and find that Universal Studios Hollywood has fine-tuned the annual event into a well-oiled killing machine with a stellar lineup of haunted mazes.
The Crimson Peak maze at Horror Nights also serves as a living movie trailer for the upcoming dark fantasy directed by Guillermo del Toro, opening in theaters Oct. 16.
Director Guillermo del Toro tours the Crimson Peak maze at Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.
(Universal)
Virtual reality
In hopes of turning the virtual into reality, Cedar Fair is testing a VR headset on the Thunder Run coaster before and after park hours at Canada’s Wonderland outside Toronto.
VR Coasters is partnering with Mack Rides on a virtual reality coaster concept.
(VR Coaster)
Paranormal Inc.
I take a walk through Paranormal Inc. with Halloween Haunt scenic designer and maze maker Jon Cooke and find the new maze to be the best I’ve experienced at Knott’s Berry Farm in nearly a decade.
The Paranormal Inc. maze debuts at Knott’s Halloween Haunt 2015.
(Knott's)
Dapper Days
Dapper Days returns to Disneyland, and we collect our favorite photos of those who like to step out in style at the Dappiest Place on Earth.
Participants enjoy a Dapper Day at Disneyland in Anaheim on Feb. 24, 2013. The semiannual event brings together those wanting to celebrate the tradition of stepping out in style.
(Christina House / For The Times)
Bad joke
A Florida man is banned for life from the Walt Disney World resort after making a joke about building a “meth lab” in his Pop Century hotel room. David Swindler tells First Coast News: “I should have said, 'I was going to build an atomic bomb,' or something else.”
Alton Towers
Merlin Entertainments announces an 11.4% drop in theme park attendance as visitors stayed away from the United Kingdom’s Alton Towers after a serious coaster crash in June that resulted in leg amputations for two riders.
Great Wolf Lodge
The currently under-construction Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove will start taking reservations in October for the grand opening next spring of the indoor water park resort.
Wolf Lodge characters Wiley and Violet will be around when the resort opens near Disneyland.
(Great Wolf Lodge)
And finally
Ever wondered what Ohio’s abandoned Geauga Lake amusement park looks like after being closed for nearly a decade? Check out this drone flyover video.
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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