Alton Towers comes out tops

USING search volume data from Google, travel website, The Tourist Trail has published a list of the top 20 most searched for UK attractions in 2018, and the results may surprise you.

Whilst over half of the top 20 attractions were based in London, the top spot went to an attraction much further outside the capital. In fact, only two out of the top five went to London attractions, with the number one spot going to Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire.

Since opening in 1980, Alton Towers has evolved into a large resort with a range of attractions, including a theme park, a waterpark, several hotels, and even a spa.

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Picture Credit: david.nikonvscanon Alton Towers: Rita Queen of Speed via photopin

Create and Save on admissions in Orlando

THE new Orlando CityPASS program, which debuted recently, lets visitors to Florida build an individualized, easy-to-use ticket to Orlando's most famous and family-friendly theme park collections: the Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

Designed by CityPASS, the company that has specialized in bundling discounted admission to the most iconic #attractions in 14 North American destinations for more than 20 years, the #Orlando CityPASS program allows travelers to create a custom vacation experience that comes with the added benefit of compelling #savings. 

Upon visiting the Orlando page of the CityPASS website (citypass.com/orlando), travelers can select the parks they want to include in their customized ticket and then choose the specific type of ticket and number of days. Once the selection process and payment is complete, the ticket is delivered in the language the buyer selected when first entering the CityPASS website (language options include Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish).


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Extra fun for your money

HOME to seven of the world's top theme parks, #Orlando is the No. 1 family vacation destination, Theme Park Capital of the World, and most visited destination in the United States. So to Celebrate the biggest shopping week of the year -- including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday -- Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for the destination, will offer an extra 10 percent off all purchases at OrlandoTickets.com. 

On top of exclusive deals and discounts to more than 40 world-famous theme parks, attractions, activities and dinner shows, the deals will be available for purchase starting November 20 and range from free additional days at theme parks to exclusive offers. Most are valid one year from purchase, perfect for gifting a 2019 vacation.

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Telling a story at SeaWorld

INFINITY Falls is the first attraction at SeaWorld to tell a story beyond the ocean and share a message of water conservation through the adventure of a white-water river expedition, bringing to life the company's Park to Planet mission to help guests understand some of the challenges facing the planet and inspiring them to help.

Set against a rainforest backdrop, the new attraction is the centerpiece of a newly themed area designed to resemble the base camp of explorers and scientists. After riding Infinity Falls, the entire family can explore the base camp and take part in interactive experiences that combine fun with education to learn about the importance of freshwater ecosystems and efforts being taken to make an impact in the real world.

Infinity Falls brings the thrill of white-water rafting into a new experience the family can enjoy together. Aboard 8-passenger circular rafts, riders embark on an adventure through a lush rainforest environment inspired by some of the world's most incredible freshwater ecosystems. The new attraction features dynamic drops and turns, interactive water elements, and allow guests to experience the feel of exhilarating rapids. The ride also features an innovative elevator lift designed to transport the rafts to the top of the ride's 40-foot drop.



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Picture Credit: By Adog104 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72960564

Splash into Summer Down Under

VICTORIA'S biggest water theme park is ready to bring EPIC to your summer. Adventure Park Geelong, #Australia will open its doors to the public for the season on Saturday 27 October 2018. If you were one of the few who didn’t get out to Geelong to experience the epic new Tornado last year, this is the year to see what everyone has been talking about and brave the Tornado, Victoria’s biggest and only Proslide Tornado waterslide. 

Hugely popular as it launched in November 2017, the Tornado waterslide is a heart stopping, adrenaline pumping thrill ride that got everyone talking in 2017-18. It’s put Adventure Park Geelong on the map, and at just over an hour’s drive from Melbourne on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula at the start of the Great Ocean Road, makes it the ultimate destination for families in summer.

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A new world sets to open in Abu Dhabi

WARNER BROS. World Abu Dhabi, the world's largest Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park, is putting the final touches on the Park ahead of its July 25, 2018 grand opening. The 1.65 million sq. ft. park promises captivating experiences, bringing together some of the world's most iconic characters and stories under one roof for the first time in the region. The park's incredibly immersive environments, unique thrill rides and fan-favorite characters will undoubtedly create a truly unparalleled experience and memories that will last a lifetime for all who visit.

When the highly-anticipated theme park opens its doors later this month, guests will be transported to six expertly designed lands including DC's Metropolis and Gotham City, as well as Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza.

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Explore like never before

EXPLORE the Disney theme parks like never before with the Play Disney Parks mobile app, a transformative new digital entertainment offering that will make its official debut on June 30 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California.

The Play Disney Parks app will bring to life unique interactive experiences that enable guests of all ages to access a wide range of activities including themed games, Disney trivia, digital achievements, music and so much more – whether they are playing on Main Street, U.S.A. or waiting in line at beloved attractions.

Play Disney Parks was designed for families and guests to enjoy together, with group play options that enable everyone to join in on the fun while staying fully engaged in the immersive environments of Disney parks. The app will be available for iOS and Android platforms and will be free to download.


The new Play Disney Parks app is the latest addition to the Disney Parks digital app portfolio. Play Disney Parks complements the popular My Disney Experience app at Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland App at Disneyland Resort, the convenient places for guests to plan their visit, access important information such as attraction wait times and park hours and utilize services like mobile food ordering.

And this is just the beginning. Play Disney Parks is planned to grow and evolve over time with new experiences and offerings at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, including at the eagerly anticipated Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, coming to Disneyland Resort in summer 2019 and Walt Disney World Resort in late fall 2019.

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Rollercoaster Restaurant

THE Rollercoaster Restaurant, which opened in May 2016, is the only one of its kind in the UK and plays homage to the thrills of the theme park both old and new including the Corkscrew, Black Hole, Nemesis, Galactica and now Wicker Man. It offers guests panoramic views of their meals speeding down one of the most exciting roller coaster tracks yet. 

Thousands of people from across the globe have experienced the unique dining experience since the restaurant opened. Rollercoaster Restaurant serves up gravity defying dishes, each tackling 400m of track, which includes two gravity defying loop-the-loops, a labyrinth of turns, tornado spirals and giant 26ft drops before reaching diners! 

The Rollercoaster Restaurant is available during theme park hours to those visiting the theme park, as well as in the evenings for those just wishing to experience the restaurant. 

altontowers.com/rollercoaster-restaurant


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The wait is over

THE wait is over for guests who are ready to ride the groundbreaking new single rail steel coaster, RailBlazer, at California's Great America. Opening to the public on Thursday, June 14, the much-anticipated coaster is the first of its kind on the West Coast, featuring a single rail track.

Features of the ride include, A maximum height of 106 feet, a 90-degree, face-down first drop, over 1,800 feet of track, a top speed of 52 miles per hour and three inversions, including a zero-gravity roll.

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A new record for U.S. travel

TOURISM officials have announced a historic milestone in the travel industry as #Orlando became the first U.S. destination to surpass 70 million annual visitors. In 2017, 72 million visitors traveled to Orlando, an increase of more than 5 percent over the prior year, once again making it America's most-visited destination.

Home to seven of the world's top theme parks, Orlando, Theme Park Capital of the World, is the No. 1 family vacation destination and the most visited destination in the United States. An unparalleled mix of unique experiences create cherished memories for visitors, including legendary theme parks, an array of world-class water parks, entertainment venues, an award-winning food scene, shopping and nightlife. Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly any other destination in the world, from expansive resorts to uniquely themed hotels.

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Jump the queue

TRAVELLING to Disneyland & Disney California Adventure this Summer Season? Book Southern California Private Tours' Early Family First Disneyland VIP Tours, effective May 1, 2018, guests will be able to book the Early Family First Disneyland VIP Tour.

Early Family First #Disneyland VIP Tours allow guests to experience the park at a special and serene time of the day. Excitement, in a more relaxed environment is perfect for families with children, or those wishing to have a fully immersive visit without the large crowds.

Guests won't miss out on anything when booking these specially planned Disneyland VIP Tours. These tours are designed to allow guests the time to enjoy all the "must-do's" in just the first 6 hours of the day. Families and groups always have hours left during the rest of the day to do anything they like, such as shopping, indulging in holiday treats, or spending a little more time in the park.

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Headrush in Orlando

FUN Spot America, a family-owned business with a history dating back to 1969 in the industry, has announced a new ride at their Orlando, Florida location. Fun Spot America will open HeadRush 360 on May 1, 2018. 

HeadRush 360, which sits 12 riders and is 40 feet tall, is manufactured by SBF Visa Group. The ride is part of an overall expansion Fun Spot America has been planning for the Orlando location. The company also has parks in Kissimmee, Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia.

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Warner Bros Abu Dhabi to open its doors late July

MIRAL, Abu Dhabi's creator of destinations, announced today that Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, an indoor theme park, will open its doors to the public on 25th of July 2018.

When the highly-anticipated Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi opens this summer, it will feature six immersive lands including DC's Metropolis and Gotham City, as well as Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, Dynamite Gulch and Warner Bros. Plaza. When guests step through the iconic Warner Bros. shield, they will enter a world where Super Heroes like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman fight for justice and animated stars like Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote and Scooby-Doo come to life in the most brilliant and awe-inspiring ways.

www.wbworld.com


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Party for the Planet

DISNEY'S Animal Kingdom will mark its 20th anniversary on Earth Day, April 22, with more wild adventures than ever before.  Commemorating the milestone year, the 500-acre adventure park will offer animal encounters, family-friendly activities, specialty desserts and more during an expanded Party for the Planet celebration April 22-May 5.

Over the two-week “Party for the Planet” celebration, guests can attend conservation talks by animal-care experts and participate in enhanced interactions with some of the more than 2,000 animals that make their home at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited park.

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Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars to join Disneyland Paris

ANNOUNCED recently were plans for a 2 billion euro, multi-year expansion for Disneyland Paris. The new development will include a transformation of the Walt Disney Studios Park, adding three new areas that are based on Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars, along with multiple new attractions and live entertainment experiences.

The expansion plan is one of the most ambitious development projects at Disneyland Paris since its opening in 1992 and underscores the Company’s commitment to the long-term success of the resort as Disney’s brand beacon in Europe.

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Wood you?

ALTON Towers Resort has released first-look images of their latest thrill attraction Wicker Man, the first wooden rollercoaster to be built in the UK for 21 years, with the unique thrill of fire. 

The dramatic images reveal a spectacular six-story (57.7ft) structure, featuring an impressive human face on one side and ram’s head on the other, which bursts into flames as the train races through its chest.
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Picture credit: Alton Towers

Double up down under

TWO of Western Sydney’s acclaimed entertainment venues have come together to offer visitors a Best of the West Pass. 

Featherdale Wildlife Park in Doonside, home to the world’s largest collection of native Australian animals and water theme park, Wet’n’Wild Sydney in Prospect will deliver the best of Western #Sydney in one high value pass priced at only $129.00 for adults. 

The passes are on sale now at both venues and their websites and are valid for 12 months for Featherdale and through until the end of April at Wet’n’Wild Sydney.

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New budget hotels for Universal Orlando

UNIVERSAL Orlando has revealed plans for two new budget resort hotels as well as a new Fast & Furious attraction opening in Spring 2018.  The hotels will be located close to the three theme parks and Universal CityWalk's dining and entertainment district. Amenities include a combined three pools, two food courts, coffee bars, poolside bars, fitness rooms and car rental facilities.

The developments will be the destination's seventh and eighth hotels and will bring the total number of rooms up to 9,000 when combined with Universal's 600-room Aventura Hotel, opening in August 2018.

This spring will also see the opening of the Fast & Furious - Supercharged attraction at Universal Orlando.

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Immerse yourself at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI'S leading creator of destinations Miral, announced today that Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi will feature six immersive worlds: Metropolis and Gotham City, inspired by the universe of DC Super Heroes and Super-Villains; Cartoon Junction, Bedrock, and Dynamite Gulch, themed after iconic animated brands such as Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera; and Warner Bros. Plaza, reminiscent of old Hollywood, where these seminal characters and stories were originally brought to life. 

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, which is located on Yas Island and set to open in 2018, will be a one-of-a-kind, world-class destination home to state-of-the-art thrill rides, interactive family friendly attractions, and unique live entertainment. From the action and adventure of DC to the wacky and wonderful world of Looney Tunes, this immersive and interactive new indoor experience brings some of the world’s most popular stories and characters under one roof.

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Scarefest - Do you dare?

ALTON Towers Resort’s award-winning Scarefest event is returning for 2017, promising to deliver more spine-tingling terror than ever before. This year, a brand new Scare Maze, The Welcoming: Be Chosen, joins the terrifying line-up, set to not only be a petrifying experience in itself, but also providing a first glimpse into the Resort’s new attraction for 2018, currently codenamed ‘Secret Weapon 8’

Scarefest is the UK’s biggest and best #Halloween event for all ages and this year sees the return of award winning Scare Mazes from previous years: Sub Species: The End Games, Altonville Mine Tours and Terror of the Towers – as well as the spooky walkthrough experience for families with children aged 8+, House Of Monsters, introduced last year. 

The park’s rides and attractions also stay open until 9pm every single night, meaning visitors can enjoy the added thrill of taking on these breathtaking rides in the dark.

Scarefest 2017 will take place every day from 20th to 31st October at #AltonTowers Resort. Visit altontowers.com/scarefest for more information and to book tickets.

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