themed history

On this day in theme park history

[themed history @themed_history]

7th September 1996. SegaWorld opens at The Trocadero in #London. The indoor theme park, housed over 7 floors, included a haunted house, ghost train and multiple simulators. #Sega opted out in late 1999 with the park eventually closing in 2011.

📸 @SegaWorldLondon

[themed history @themed_history]

6th September 2022. Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back! closes at #AltonTowers . Having originally opened in 1992 as The Haunted House, this interactive dark ride will be rethemed and later open as The Curse at Alton Manor.

📸 TowersTimes

[themed history @themed_history]

6th September 2021. Wicked Twister at @cedarpoint closes. The #Intamin launched shuttle coaster was the world's tallest and fastest inverted coaster until Legendary Twin Dragon opened in February 2021.

[themed history @themed_history]

5th September 2021. Monsieur Cannibal finally takes its last spin. The controversial teacup/cauldron attraction at #Efteling closes for a retheme and will reopen as Sirocco in January 2022.

[themed history @themed_history]

@ChessingtonBuzz Has worked well for me but having seen guests literally screaming at team members, kids upset and plenty of confusion I think it needs to be removed. Maybe a standard queue would also help reduce waiting times elsewhere in the park!?

[themed history @themed_history]

@37DisneyStreet @PaultonsPark

[themed history @themed_history]

@37DisneyStreet It's not DLP but they're available here @PaultonsPark

[themed history @themed_history]

29th May 1976 & 1982. Arrow Dynamics continues their run of inversion records on roller coasters. 1976 saw Turn of the Century open with 2 inversions and another 2 added in 1980 (when it was rebranded to Demon), followed by Viper, the first 5 inversion coaster in 1982.

[themed history @themed_history]

27th May 1911. Actor Vincent Price is born. Price starred in over 100 films and was particularly well known for his horror movies. However most theme park fans would recognise him by his iconic voice, namely that of the English Phantom at #PhantomManor in #DisneylandParis

[themed history @themed_history]

27th May 1993. Pleasure Island Family Theme Park opens at Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. The park was popular but closed abruptly in April 2010, reopening a short time after before closing permanently at the end of the 2016 season

[themed history @themed_history]

27th May 2000. The first drop tower to operate with riders standing up opens at #DraytonManor. Apocalypse was a 54m high #Intamin drop tower, originally with 2 stand up and 2 sit down positions, a 5th stand up floorless gondola was added later.

📸Drayton Manor

[themed history @themed_history]

25th May 2001. Vortex opens at #THORPEPARK. The ride is a KMG Afterburner, a version of the 'frisbee' style of rides. Riders sit in a circle of seats which rotate before the arm starts to swing up to 20m high.

📸 ThorpePark

[themed history @themed_history]

25th May 1971. The miniature world Diorama opens at #Efteling. The 60m long circular model was designed by Anton Pieck and, through a number of renovations, houses a few nods to the designer and to Efteling itself.

📸 https://t.co/LxX0CdeiQJ

[themed history @themed_history]

24th May 1979. #ThorpePark opens its doors for the first time. Originally a parkland with a Celtic farm, Norman Castle and Viking camp, it wasn't until 1984 when the first roller coaster, Space Station Zero, opened.

[themed history @themed_history]

23rd May 1922. A 20 year old #WaltDisney has his Laugh-O-Gram Studio incorporated. Although the studio didn't survive long, it was at his desk that Walt claims he met a tame mouse. He taught the mouse tricks and drew pictures of him. 6 years later Lillian Disney named him Mickey.

[themed history @themed_history]

23rd May 2019. After a 2.5 month, €3m refurbishment, Carnaval Festival reopens at #Efteling. The closure was mainly to upgrade some of the older technology used in the ride, the opportunity was also taken to replace some of the more offensive stereotypes within the attraction.

[themed history @themed_history]

21st May 1985. Opened by Princess Juliana and Anton Pieck, the Wishing Well at #Efteling is unveiled. The well is on a small island in the Siervijver, behind Symbolica. Any money thrown into the well is collected and given to charity.

[themed history @themed_history]

19th May 1906. Voice artist, actor and musician, Jimmy MacDonald was born. Jimmy was recruited by Walt Disney to form the sound fx department at #Disney. Walt later personally selected Jimmy to be the voice of #MickeyMouse, which he did from 1947 to 1978.

[themed history @themed_history]

19th May 1944. Actor, Peter Mayhew, was born. Mayhew was one of the most watched actors in history, despite us never seeing his face. He played Chewbacca from 1977 in #StarWars through to 2015's 'The Force Awakens'.

[themed history @themed_history]

19th May 1935. The R.K. Sport- en Wandelpark opens near Kaatsheuvel in the Netherlands. Initially home to sports pitches and a playground, the park was developed and changed over the years to eventually become #Efteling as we know it today.

📸 Postcard via @Eftepedia