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Film premiere on a cruise ship: Royal Caribbean & DreamWorks Animation give Puss in Boots red carpet treatment aboard Allure of the Seas

Judith Rubin
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Click to read more about Allure of the Seas in IPM

FT. LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA Oct. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Royal Caribbean International and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) hosted a one-of-a-kind red carpet premiere aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest and most innovative ship, Allure of the Seas. DreamWorks Animation’s newest upcoming film, Puss in Boots, made its screen debut aboard the ship on October 16. Puss in Boots distributed by Paramount Pictures opens nationwide October 28, 2011.

Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend…The Boots.

Allure of the Seas shares the title of the world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with sister-ship Oasis of the Seas. With a cache of distinct new onboard activities and amenities, Allure of the Seas offers one-of-a-kind entertainment performances, culinary concepts, retail venues and technology innovations. An architectural marvel at sea, Allure’s neighborhoods are divided into seven distinct themed areas, which include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. She spans 16 decks, encompasses 225,282 gross registered tons, carries 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,700 staterooms. Allure of the Seas alternates a Western Caribbean with an Eastern Caribbean seven-night itinerary from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

It is inside Allure’s 3D movie theater where Puss in Boots made its debut, joined by the stars of the film, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, who provide voices to Puss in Boots and Kitty Soft Paws, respectively. Allure of the Seas welcomed this unique premiere and red-carpet experience as the kickoff stop to the Puss in Boots appearance tour journeying across the United States.

About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 ships currently in service. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. For additional information or to make reservations, call your travel agent, visit www.royalcaribbean.com or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN. Follow Royal Caribbean on Facebook at www.facebook.com/royalcaribbean or on Twitter, @royalcaribbean. Travel professionals should go to www.cruisingpower.com or call (800) 327-2056.

About DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE® Magazine for three consecutive years. In 2011, DreamWorks Animation ranks #10 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 22 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon.

San Diego Air and Space Museum Taps BRC Imagination Arts To Design New Visitor Experience

Martin Palicki
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Latest BRC client aims to re-ignite guest engagement by combining emotional, immersive storytelling with its air and space collection
SAN DIEGO and BURBANK, CA – The San Diego Air and Space Museum, California’s official air and space education center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian and the first aero-themed institution to receive AAM Accreditation, has hired BRC Imagination Arts to create a new visitor experience for its permanent collection.

One of the world’s leading creators of distinctive and compelling visitor experiences, BRC is especially known for its work in space-related museum and exhibit design, including the creation of three attractions at Kennedy Space Center, including the Apollo/Saturn V Center; Exploration Space: Explorers Wanted; and Shuttle Launch Experience. Other space-related projects and sites include NASA’s Space Center Houston, the United States Space & Rocket Center, JPL, and Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum. This month, BRC celebrates 30 years designing immersive experiences for world-class museums, branded attractions, visitor centers and world expo pavilions.

“The San Diego Air and Space Museum is renowned for its collection of aircraft and space-related artifacts, each of which has an incredible human story that’s hiding in plain sight. Our goal is to bring the visitor experience of a museum filled with inspiring objects to a whole new level. We will engage the imagination and invite visitors to tap into the same spirit in themselves that the innovative and daring aviators, designers and inventors of the past have shown,” said Matthew Solari, BRC’s Director, Cultural Project Development.

The revitalized museum, located in San Diego’s historic Balboa Park, is planned to premiere in 2015, a milestone event for San Diego as it marks the centennial celebration of the 1915 Panama – California Exposition. It will be a benchmark year for the museum, which is housed in the iconic Ford Pavilion building constructed for the subsequent 1935 California Pacific Exposition. BRC also served as the vision planning consultant for Balboa Park’s upcoming 2015 centennial celebration.


“It’s no accident that BRC’s work in cultural attractions has kicked into high gear in recent years,” Solari said. “A growing number of museums recognize the need to differentiate themselves, especially during tight economic times. They are looking to make their experiences as engaging as they are educationally enriching. BRC’s ability to bring history to life is really about reaching the visitor on multiple levels — intellectual and emotional. BRC’s approach is not only effective in fulfilling an institution’s mission, but in achieving greater operational sustainability through increased attendance.”

Electrosonic partners to build Singapore’s Typhoon Theater

Martin Palicki
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Visitors to the Maritime Xperiential Museum at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore can get an up-close look at a shipwreck in the Typhoon Theater where Electrosonic provided audio-visual design, engineering, integration and installation of the audio, video and control equipment to help simulate an amazing historical journey. The company was hired by Sunray Woodcraft Construction and worked under the general guidance of museum designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

The museum was built to house the Jewel of Muscat, a reproduction Arab dhow which sailed on the Belitung route from Oman to Indonesia 1100 years ago, and some 60,000 artifacts salvaged from the Belitung shipwreck found near Java. The centerpiece of the museum is the multimedia Typhoon Theater where visitors ‘board’ the Arabia-bound sailing ship, experience the storm it encountered, and sink in the sea as the theater floor descends. When the lights come back on, visitors find themselves in the depths with the shipwreck surrounded by marine life.

The experience begins with a pre-show set on the pier in China’s Guangzhou harbor. The scene is set in the harbormaster’s hut. Shutters part to reveal a screen displaying the ship’s crew at work: an emissary carrying a priceless chalice wedding present which will be part of the cargo, and an astrologer making dire forecasts about the ship’s fate. Electrosonic provided a Christie DHD800 1-chip DLP rear-screen projector with mirror bounce to achieve the short throw required for the compact space, plus a pair of Renkus-Heinz ICONYX line arrays and subwoofers. A Doremi Labs Nugget HD video player acts as the video server.

Visitors proceed to the Typhoon Theater for the main show. The 15.5-meter diameter circular space seats about 150 visitors in bench seating bolted to a floor whose hydraulic lift platform will be activated when the ship sinks.

A curved-wall surface, treated with an extremely smooth Level 5 finish, is the display area for a Sony SRX-T420 4K SXRD projector customized by Electrosonic with a fish-eye lens to fill a 180º space about six meters high. The projector is mounted on an isolated platform on the catwalk to eliminate vibration. A DVS Cine4K server supports the Sony projector; a 3D Perception’s system handles image processing and warping. A sub-system of the Medialon show controller controls the attraction.

The video display depicts a mural of the harbor as cargo is loaded aboard the ship, including the precious chalice, and the voyage gets underway. A typhoon hits the vessel, it struggles to stay afloat but begins to sink. Four High End Systems DL.3 moving-head projectors cover the back of the theater wall screen surface with effects projections, effectively creating a 360 degree experience.

Electrosonic’s Design Consulting team, working with senior project engineer Niel Overton, originally specified seven projectors for the Typhoon Theater then opted to engineer a more elegant solution using a single Sony projector with a custom fish-eye lens. A mock up of the theater was built to test the concept, which proved to be extremely successful.

“Using the single Sony projector saved the client money in terms of cost of ownership and the price of the installation: there was no need for a projection booth or power and air conditioning for seven projectors,” explains Electrosonic project manager Thursby Pierce. “And equipment upkeep is less costly.”

A 13-channel audio system plays a key role in setting the scene and giving visitors the sensation of the storm. Five Renkus-Heinz speakers are mounted atop the wall screen pointing down, five are mounted on the front platform angled up and bouncing off the screen and four are placed on the catwalks for left and right surround. A Peavey MediaMatrix digital signal processor controls the audio components.

Configuring the audio was a challenge due to the shape of the theater, reports Pierce. “There was no depth to do a screen with speakers behind it,” he says, “and sound bounces all over a round room.” To solve the problem, Electrosonic teamed with acoustic consultants Sowden and Associates to skin the concrete space with acoustic insulation and strategically locate speakers to deliver the best possible expanded 7.1 surround sound.

The theater’s dramatic video presentation lasts about 4.5 minutes. Then the floor drops as the ship sinks and visitors follow a continuing image display that reveals an underwater landscape. The illuminated chalice floats slowly down into the sea as glowing creatures of the deep encircle it. Visitors exit through doors leading to a wide hallway, which houses the Shipwreck Approach exhibit with a full-scale aquarium, reproduction ship and chalice. JBL speakers provide the background music for the transition to the exhibit space.

“Everything was designed for flexibility, expandability and growth,” notes Pierce. “All of the Electrosonic AV racks are in one main control room, but the system was engineered to incorporate extra video and audio storage space on the servers. The AV show controller is expandable, and there is plenty of room in the racks for additional equipment.”

Electrosonic worked closely with Super 78’s Brent Young who was the creative director behind the entire project. Super 78 created the content for the attraction. Smart Monkeys provided Medialon show control consulting and preprogramming. Audio consultant Chris Hartwell worked with Sowden and Associates and performed the DSP programming onsite for the Typhoon Theater’s mix to picture. Singapore-based subcontractor Electronics & Engineering furnished the install labor and technicians for onsite mixing and commissioning; Electrosonic has also partnered with them for extended product warranty support.

At Electrosonic John Notarnicola was the projection engineer, Gary Belshaw the controls engineer, Tim Smith handled design and CAD work. Tony Petruzziello and Les Hill were the sales team.

Legoland Florida: Brick by Brick

Martin Palicki
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Legoland Florida has a lot going for it. The former Cypress Gardens property provided a good base for the folks at Merlin to build their second major US Legoland park. And while converting the former grounds into a Lego property was done in quick fashion, the conversion seems mostly complete. Here are some observations from their media preview and grand opening.

  • Aside from the Lego branding, the park’s biggest asset seems to be the employees. Outgoing and sincerely friendly, they are great ambassadors for the Lego brand. They are still getting used to their roles and focusing on things like throughput and not screaming into microphones, but overall, a very impressive bunch. 
  • The centerpiece of the park is Miniland, the collection of Lego cities writ small. There are plenty of “hidden” items to look for, including a “thinker” in the bathroom, Pee Wee Herman, and the Obama family. 
  • There are a good variety of food options in the park. Healthy options, locally sourced food, and the standard burger-fare is all available and at reasonable prices. $12 for a pizza buffet? Not bad! $9 for a 1/2 roasted chicken with fresh vegetables and roasted potatoes, sign me up! 
  • Legoland made the right decision in deciding to keep the historic gardens of Cypress Gardens intact and even maintaining the name. If the wind is blowing the right way, you can’t even tell there’s a theme park 500 feet away. And the Lego Southern belles are the perfect homage. 
  • Lego men on skis are a sight to see. A little slow-moving at time, the Lego version of the classic Cypress Gardens waterski show is still delightful and engaging for kids in the stands. 
  • There’s water everywhere in Legoland Florida. In the shows, on the rides and even randomly in some Lego sculptures. Plus, a Legoland waterpark is on the way. Be prepared. 
  • The park is decidedly geared for children. While there’s plenty to do as a family, there isn’t much to stimulate older kids (or adults for that matter) that aren’t “into” Legos. 
  • There’s room for growth. I think most families would be able to see the whole park in about a half a day with average crowds. But there is plenty of space for more attractions in the future, and in the highly competitive Orlando market, continued development is required. 

While Legoland Florida has the components to be a very successful addition to the central Florida landscape, there still is the lingering concern of “location.” At 45-60 minutes from Orlando, and well off the beaten path, will families make the trek down to spend a day at the park? Shuttles will help, but it will be a challenge. How much fun would it be to have a Lego-themed train run from Orlando down to Winter Haven? Perhaps some of the money the Florida governor foolishly turned away for high speed rail in the state could be re-allocated to the Legoland Express!

Train or no train, Legoland will still have to work hard to attract visitors to leave Orlando. Merlin has developed a great park to create the draw, now they have to market themselves like crazy to bring in the people. It might take longer to build that base of customers than it did to build Miniland, but once established Legoland Florida will be well positioned for success.


InPark interviews Lego-maniac Bill St. Yves

InPark reviews Midnight Syndicate’s "Carnival Arcane"

Martin Palicki
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The latest offering from fright-music composers Midnight Syndicate takes a spooky look at the world of the circus. “Carnival Arcane” houses 26 tracks that range from the creepy to the whimsically creepy.

The music reflects a historical perspective, highlighting parts of the circus that many find unsettling even without a Halloween treatment: laughing clowns, an imposing barker, freak show acts, and carnival fun houses, to name a few.

Mixed in is a fair amount of Midnight Syndicate’s trademark “chase music”, what I consider the audio equivalent to a scene where someone is being chased by a monster, in this case out of the big top and into the dark and foreboding night.

As with most of Midnight Syndicate’s work, the music doesn’t provide specific scares, per se, but excels at creating a mood – a specific aura of eeriness that is strong enough to stand on its own but also functions equally as well as background music for a halloween event, haunted house, or scare zone.

Legoland Florida is open!

Martin Palicki
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photo
Images: Top, Martin Palicki. Below, Legoland Florida.
map

The golden brick is in place- LEGOLAND florida is officially open!

Press release from Merlin Entertainments:
Less than two years after announcing the purchase of the Cypress Gardens site in Winter haven, Florida, this weekend Merlin Entertainments (“Merlin”), is relaunching it as LEGOLAND® Florida – the fifth LEGOLAND in the world, second in the USA, and first to open since Merlin acquired the Parks in 2005.
LEGOLAND Florida is the 8th new attraction Merlin has opened in 2011 alone, and according to the company is its biggest development project to date. The 150 acre Park has more than 
50 rides and attractions in 10 exciting themed zones; as well as botanical gardens; a lake – the setting for LEGOLAND’s shows; and a 70 year old spreading banyan tree at its heart.
Based on the globally popular LEGO brick the unique LEGOLAND concept is designed specifically to meet the needs of families with younger children – 2-12 – offering opportunities for children and adults to play together in every area of the Park. Merlin reports that advance sales of tickets and annual passes have been very strong underlining its unique positioning.  Merlin is also confident that word of mouth will continue to build numbers very fast – both from the USA, and amongst the vast number of international visitors Florida welcomes every year.
A unique concept already proven very successful in the USA as well as Europe, and a multi-million dollar investment in the biggest family tourist centre in the world, LEGOLAND Florida opens with many advantages. The botanical gardens have long been a popular location for millions of visitors, and its central Florida location is approx 45 minutes from both Orlando and Tampa. Merlin has also taken advantage of significant investment in infrastructure on the site by the previous owners as well as its own proven track record and development expertise to open this major theme park in what the operator says was half the time and a significantly lower cost, than any other.
The Park is said to be a significant catalyst for other investment into the Central Florida area creating more than 1,000 new jobs directly while boosting the Florida economy through the use of local contractors and suppliers.

In line with its resort growth strategy for all its theme parks (with LEGOLAND Florida as the 11th to date), Merlin also has a continuous investment programme planned for the Park – with a waterpark scheduled to open in 2012, and the addition of accommodations and other second gate attractions from the Merlin portfolio over time.
This can be seen in action at the other LEGOLAND Parks – in California Merlin has opened a SEA LIFE aquarium and a waterpark alongside the main theme park in the last two years, and a hotel is due to open in 2013.  In the UK a hotel will open at LEGOLAND Windsor in time for the Olympics next year; Atlantis (a £5m ride development opened this year), allows visitors to explore the wonders of SEA LIFE from a ‘deep sea’ LEGO yellow submarine; LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark boasts a wonderful themed hotel, its own take on SEA LIFE and has just announced its biggest development ever…involving penguins and a ground breaking ‘pink knuckle’ ride…..; while in LEGOLAND Germany, Merlin has built not a hotel but a themed holiday village offering the kind of accommodation German visitors love but with a LEGOLAND twist.

Also in 2012, Merlin will be opening its 6th LEGOLAND Park – LEGOLAND® Malaysia – well under development and scheduled to opening just under 12 months.  Projects are also under discussion in Dubai, Korea and at least two other major new markets for the Group.
Nick Varney, Chief Executive of Merlin Entertainments, said:
“LEGOLAND Florida is one of the most exciting and important projects Merlin has ever developed. It provides a unique opportunity for us; Florida is the biggest family tourist centre in the world; and as a result of this project we have already agreed to be part of a major new retail/leisure plan for Orlando bringing 3 more of our ‘midway’ brands to the area. Having spent some time here over the last few months I have witnessed the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone working on the Park, and I know the team here is as proud of what has been achieved as I am. It is quite a stunning Park – beautiful, exotic, colourful and above all fun!  I have no doubt that visitors are going to be knocked out by what they see – I know I am!  “

LEGOLAND Florida is Merlin’s twelfth attraction to open in the USA – with three more already in development for 2012.

More information:
1. LEGOLAND Florida

The Beginning – boasting Island in the Sky, a 30.5m rotating platform ride with a 360 view of the entire park, plus one of the biggest LEGO shops in the world where, uniquely, visitors can create their own ‘mini figures’ (now the best selling toy in the UK).

Fun Town – offering a first hand look at how LEGO bricks are made, plus a two-storey carousel with LEGO-themed horses and 4D movie theatre.
               
LEGO Kingdoms – a medieval area taking kids back to a time of knights, princesses and dragons – includes The Dragon steel rollercoaster and The Royal Joust where children can storm the castle riding LEGO-themed horses.

Miniland USA – a US version of the ever popular Minilands in Billund, Denmark and Windsor.  Features famous landmarks from cities including Las Vegas, Washington DC., New York City and San Francisco.

Land of Adventure – a fun-filled zone to explore, with Coastersaurus, a wooden coaster running in and around a giant LEGO dinosaur, Lost Kingdom Adventure, an Egyptian-themed dark ride and Safari Trek with amazingly life-like LEGO animals.

LEGO Technic – the most ‘intense’ zone in the park, where courageous youngsters can brave the LEGO TECHNIC Test Track Coaster and zip in and out of waves on LEGO jet skis.

LEGO City – is a scaled down town complete with Driving School, Boating School, Flight School and the LEGO City Rescue Academy.

Imagination Zone – the most hands-on section of the park emphasising the product’s roots of exploration and play.

DUPLO Village – ideal for tots who get to fly a plane, drive a car or explore a whole town.

Pirates’ Cove rests on the picturesque shores of a lake, and stars swashbuckling LEGO ‘mini-fig’ pirates in a live-action stunt show.

2. Prices and Opening

Tickets will be priced at £144 for a family (2 adults / 2 children), children under 3 go free.

The park will be open 12 months a year with selected closure dates throughout peak period.  Standard opening times will be from 10am to 5pm with longer opening hours operating during peak periods with closing time extended to 7pm

Shuttle services to the park will run from Orlando Premium Outlets

‘Bed and Brick’ packages are available offering family-friendly hotels in Central Florida and can be booked via www.legoland.com

3. MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years.  Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, by the end of 2011 Merlin will operate 78 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 17 countries and across four continents.  The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 44 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 16,000 employees.  Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions – SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Earth Explorer, Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly and Hamilton Island Wildlife Park.  All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information

4. Merlin attractions in USA:   LEGOLAND Florida; LEGOLAND California; SEA LIFE – Carlsbad, Minneapolis, Dallas Fort Worth, Phoenix;     Madame Tussauds – New York, Hollywood, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.;  LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago; Dallas Fort Worth.  Opening 2012: SEA LIFE Kansas City; LEGOLAND Discovery Center – Atlanta; Kansas City.   

We are "The Thing" – You will be assimilated (Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywoods) – video

Judith Rubin
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World Expos: US participation officially confirmed for Yeosu 2012

Judith Rubin
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World Expos: US participation officially confirmed for Yeosu 2012
Rendering: www.pavilion2012.org

IPM is very happy to bring you this story of US participation confirmed and moving forward for Yeosu Expo 2012. The creative team includes Andrew Snowhite, Robert Ward and The Hettema Group. 

Related: Interview with Robert Ward about the USA Pavilion for Yeosu 2012

From the US Dept of State, 13 October 2011:

“Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the United States will participate in the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea during a State Luncheon at the U.S. Department of State in honor of Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak. Participation in this Expo demonstrates U.S. commitment to strengthening U.S. – ROK relations and engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and deepens our friendly ties with the people of the Republic of Korea.

“The Secretary noted that the United States is pleased to be participating in the 2012 Expo Yeosu Korea, which will officially open May 12 and run through August 12, 2012. Several million visitors are expected to attend and 108 countries and international organizations are expected to participate.

“Following the State Luncheon, Secretary Clinton was joined by Vice President Joseph Biden, Jr., Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak, Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Republic of Korea Ambassador to the United States Han Duk-soo, Assistant Secretary Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell, and USA Pavilion 2012 Chief Spokesperson Philippe Cousteau, Jr. to celebrate the announcement of U.S. participation in the Expo 2012 Yeosu, at the Department of State.

“Secretary Clinton thanked the corporate sponsors of USA Pavilion 2012, which is a public-private partnership, for their generous donations. Corporate sponsors include: Chevron; Citi; Boeing; Corning Incorporated; Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors America; Lockheed Martin; Samsung Electronics America, Inc.; GE; and Becton Dickinson.

“The U.S. Department of State is partnering with Cousteau, noted explorer, environmentalist, and social entrepreneur, to manage USA Pavilion 2012 which will showcase the United States’ deep connection to and dependence on the oceans, and the diversity, spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation and commitment to sustainable development of the American people.”

Robert Ward

The management team of USA Pavilion 2012 combines a range of experiences from the nonprofit and commercial arenas with a world famous legacy of exploration and environmental stewardship. Members of the creative team headed by Andrew Snowhite include Robert Ward and The Hettema Group.

For more information about the USA Pavilion 2012, visit www.pavilion2012.org.

 

New Polar Land opening 2012 at LEGOLAND® Billund will integrate drop roller coaster with live penguin display

Judith Rubin
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Photo: LEGOLAND Billund

Polar Land is the name of the completely new area in LEGOLAND® Billund, opening in 2012. 

The poles meet in the new 12,500 square metre Polar Land area. Here guests can take a ride in the Polar X-plorer, which is the first roller coaster to combine a 5-metre-drop with a visit into the world of penguins.
 
Moreover, the area holds a penguin display, a restaurant and the existing Power Builder, which will be transformed into a flight simulator. The 75 mil. DKK expansion is said to be the largest expansion in the history of LEGOLAND Billund.
 
A ‘crazy ride’
The new area has been developed by the LEGOLAND Park’s own designer Tom Christiansen, who says, “New young polar researchers can expect quite a ride in the Polar X-plorer. The coaster has a top speed of 65 km/h and leads guests through an ice-waterfall, past impressive polar animals built of LEGO® bricks, into a giant mountain, just to crash through the ice in a 5-metre-drop. Then speed decreases, allowing guests to enjoy the view of live penguins.” Christiansen is looking very much forward to testing the finished ride himself.

LEGOLAND asserts that this is the first drop roller coaster to combine the experience with a zoological element and that Polar X-plorer will be the fastest roller coaster in LEGOLAND Billund and will take guests 20 metres up in the air.

New residents in LEGOLAND
The penguin display will be a central part of the new area. It will house 15 Gentoo penguins, which are easily recognized by their distinct donkey-like sound. From a special amphi theatre guests can experience talks and feeding of the penguins by professional communicators.
 
LEGOLAND Biologist Lars Nørholm Jensen says, “The Gentoo penguins are very active animals, who love to swim. We have arranged the display so it’s similar to their natural habitat. The display is soundproofed and the windows are darkened from the inside to prevent the penguins from getting stressed during our high season, when the park is filled with happy guests.”
 
Dine with the penguins
A new polar-themed restaurant will be built next to the penguin area. The restaurant can seat 350 dining guests, who can view the penguin display and almost actually dine with the penguins.
 
The area will be located in the far corner of the park replacing the existing Event Area. The expected opening date of the new area will be May 2012, about one month after the seasonal opening of the park.

SeaWorld Orlando shares rumors and "eyewitness" video about Kraken coaster

Judith Rubin
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Cryptic message received from SeaWorld Orlando:
‘EYEWITNESS VIDEO FOOTAGE CONFIRMS KRAKEN IS ALIVE AND WELL AT SEAWORLD ORLANDO

‘There is a lot of “scientific buzz” going around that the lair of the ancient Kraken has possibly been discovered. However, many in the scientific community still refuse to believe that the Kraken existed and suggest there needs to be more direct evidence found to support the theory of a massive, toothy, tentacled sea creature.
‘SeaWorld Orlando has recently uncovered video evidence supporting that Kraken does exist and is alive in Central Florida. The park can call on millions of witnesses who, since 2000, have not only seen the eons-old monster but have amazingly ridden the beast and captured its image through vacation home video. 
‘“Scientists” allege the Kraken was a mere 100-feet long. SeaWorld Orlando and its witnesses – including countless roller coaster fans and thrill ride experts – suggest that the real Kraken is nearly 4,000-feet long and made of yellow and turquoise steel, not soft-bodied and reddish as once believed.  The giant sea monster is known for its fearsome attacks on merchant ships through the ages, but only at SeaWorld Orlando can members of the general public tame the legendary monster.
‘And each encounter with the steel-spined creature leads to spinning and twisting and inverting more than eight times and a 119-foot-tall vertical loop, a 101-foot diving loop and a zero-gravity roll all at the speed of 65 mph.
‘All non-believers are invited to view the real Kraken – still Orlando’s only floorless roller coaster –  and its lair anytime of the week between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the only place you can ride the Kraken –  SeaWorld Orlando“‘

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