I am very pleased to announce the return of the Wakefield Report! Each week I will run down the top 9 news stories in theme park news from across the country. Known as the 9 News Nuggets You Need to Know (clearly stolen from KFI640 AM), these are news stories from MiceChat and around the internet. Feel free to comment your thoughts in the comment section below or on the Wakefield Report Facebook page.

Story 1: Water(bottle)gate I guess Universal made a big crackdown last week when it came to guests bringing bottles of water into the park. The thought process is, Universal is trying to curb people smuggling alcohol into the park (presumably during the Mardi Gras celebration). But instead discouraging bootlegging, UOR just ended up ticking off guests and quickly made a 180 on the new policy. 

Universal Orlando Podcast for the latest updates on everything Universal Orlando!

Story 3: A Tour of a Lifetime Garner Holt is offering a once in a lifetime tour of his facility. In his most recent MiceChat post, Holt announced that he is offering a limited number of people a tour and rare chance to see how his crew makes audio animatronic magic. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Walt Disney Birthplace restoration project.  The event is this February the 28th, there are a few tickets left for this amazing opportunity: Garner Holt Event Tickets HERE

Story 4: Dipping a Toe Can this really be true!? Reports have from in from the LA Times that Six Flags may be looking to build a theme park in China. Land has been purchased near Beijing and it looks like Six Flags has formed a strategic partnership with Riverside Investment Group Co, and we could see multiple Six Flags parks in the net decade. Six Flags is remaining tight lipped on this and has not confirmed a new park….yet.

Story 5: Desert Fever Here is a new theme park that I can confirm (sort of)! The Granger Group, a company that builds senior living facilities, has presented plans to build a theme park in Williams, Arizona. The town is about two and a half hours north of Phoenix and is settled between state parks. This would be Granger Groups first venture in theme parks and many are questioning their new business venture. With a budget set between $300-$500 million, Granger Group is expecting between 2 to 4 million visitors a year (good luck with that). Reports show that the group wants to build themed lands based on Route 66, the Wild West, and the Navajo Nation.

Story 6: Kill it With Fire Sharknado 3 is being filmed on location at Universal Orlando this week. Next story…..

Story 7: Eye Opening The much anticipated Orlando Eye and I-Drive 360 projects are set to officially open to the nothing else to do, we’ve used all of our Universal and Disney days crowd in Orlando. The gigantic wheel will be flanked by a Madame Tussauds, a Sea Life exhibit, and more. Tickets for the Orlando Eye are on sale now for $18 (ouch!), and packages for all three attractions are on sale for $35

Story 8: Flat Tire Mice Age did a great update last week on the closing of Luigi’s Flying Tires. I am surprised the attraction lasted this long but I honestly don’t think anyone should be shocked by this announcement. The good new is that Disney will be building a new attraction on top of Luigi’s and not just using the land the now defunct ride sat on for another merchandise shop or food stand.

Story 9: Surprise! Well, not really. Disney has once again raised price for a one day ticket to Walt Disney World is expected to rocket past the often feared $100 a day mark to $105. That’s right, $105 for a single day one park pass to WDW. So, I ask you faithful Nuggeteers this; how much is too much? How high do ticket prices have to go until you have had enough? $150? $200? Or $105?

 

 

On Episode 13 of the E Ticket Report, Tim gives us a trip report and we discuss some of the many upcoming changes to WDW including Hollywood Studios (the hate still isn’t gone!) and Disney Springs.

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Chris Wakefield
Chris Wakefield lives in South Florida and spends most of his free time traveling across the country looking for the best thrills that theme parks have to offer. Growing up in the Midwest,Chris is used to the high and fast coasters offered up at parks like Cedar Point and Kings Island, and moving to Florida four years ago was a bit of theme park culture shock. With twice a month visits to Orlando, Chris works hard to keep his finger on the pulse of the ever expanding theme park community in Central Florida. Outside of the Orlando parks, Chris also visits California twice a year and isnt above going to a good haunt or two! Chris created the Wakefield Report website in the fall of 2011 to bring theme park and themed entertainment fans closer to the latest news, and opinions in the community. Each week, the Wakefield Report Podcast goes on the air to provide an unbiased, open, and honest look at the latest in Disney and theme park news. You can reach Chris at: [email protected]