If you're in the market for a new investment, you could soon be able to be a part owner of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, though technically it will be known as SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. if the offering goes though.
Paperwork has been filed that would start the process of a initial public offering of stock in the company, which would be spun off of the Blackstone Group, who purchased the chain of theme, water, and animal parks in 2009 from Anheuser-Busch InBev. Blackstone would still own a majority of the shares, keeping it as the largest owner of the new public company.
A story from the Wall Street Journal points out that this is very tough time for public offerings in general, and depending on many economic factors the offering could be delayed, or cancelled all together. If the plan moves forward the company will be traded under the symbol SEAS. All parks that are currently a part of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, including the Busch Gardens properties, would be included in the new company.
31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi
Want to Own a Part of SeaWorld?
Knott's Busy Creating a New Boardwalk
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| via Knott's Network |
The biggest part of the expansion - the extended wild mouse coaster named Coast Rider - has seen the most work done so far. Footers for the ride are well underway, showing off how the ride will sit in its given area. It will utilize most of the space that Perilous Plunge used for the lift, turn around, and drop - it's actually amazing how nicely the coaster will fit in that exact area.
The former water ride's large lagoon will be used for the expansion's other two new attractions, the Surfside Glider Flying Scooters and the Pacific Scrambler. Those two rides aren't quite as far along, but with the new year around the corner I have a feeling work will pick up.
More photos of the construction of Coast Rider can be seen in this recent update from Westcoaster.
Building Harry's New Home in Universal Studios Japan
Universal Studios Hollywood may not have started much work on their new Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but Universal Studios Japan sure hasn't been waiting around!
Over on the Theme Park Construction Board (which you should check out if you haven't, lots of great stuff gets posted there) some new photos of the gigantic show building for - I assume - Hogwart's castle has been built already.
Sure, it helps that Japan's Wizarding World will take up residence in a former parking lot meaning almost no ground work other than concrete removal was needed before foundations could go in. Hollywood, however, has some massive land projects needed before Harry can move in.
Check out the photos of the new show building going up at this link.
From The Vault: New for 1996 at Worlds of Fun
In last week's Vault I shared the 1996 park map from Worlds of Fun. This week we will continue to look at some of the park's press materials from that year, when several new attractions were featured.
Part of the information that the park shared was a general release about what was new and happening at the theme park. The additions included the Detonator tower ride, RipCord, and the addition of the Berenstain Bear family (not the land, though, just meet and greet opportunities). The park also featured a heavily discounted gate ticket for the evening, and kids got in for only $4.95!
RipCord was an extra admission thrill attraction that simulates "sky-diving, hand-gliding, and bungee jumping," according to this press release. A Skycoaster, this style of attraction was already popular at many amusement parks across the globe. RipCord was positioned so that fliers swing out over the Beat Street Lake, adding to the thrill.
Here is a diagram of the attraction that was sent out, to provide a visual of 180 foot tall ride. The Worlds of Fun version of the ride featured room for one set of fliers at a time, where some others could accommodate two at a time.
The biggest news of the year was Detonator, a brand new S&S Sports Power double-tower space shot ride.
Here's the fact sheet for the ride. Each tower seats 12 riders and blasts them up the 200 foot tower at 45 miles per hour. The sheet also points out that Detonator was the "first two-tower design" and also the "first at a theme park in the United States." As we are well aware many, many more tower installations quickly were built around the world - including almost every Cedar Fair park.
And how about some concept art for the ride? Unfortunately the image that I received was not in color, but it's still pretty neat to check out.
Scott And Carol Present - A Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Update
On Thursday, Dec. 27, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex unveiled the first phase of improvements designed to dramatically enhance the guest experience. The brand new $16 million entry is part of the 10-year Master Plan developed by Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex concessioner, Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, in partnership with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The new entry includes a grand plaza and fountain; ticket stations and self-service kiosks; will call, guest services and information stations; a retail shop; and a restaurant. And those visiting during the holiday season will be among the very first to experience the brand new entry. 
Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center
Entering from the parking lot visitors encounter the grand plaza, featuring the first-ever 3D representation of NASA's insignia that spans 13 feet in diameter. To the right of the globe stands a majestic 75-foot long fountain that pays homage to the dreams of late President John F. Kennedy, for whom NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is named. Kennedy’s face, along with a quote from his famous 1962 “moon speech” at Rice University, are laser etched onto a skyward-reaching arch of blue granite that stands 30-feet at its highest point.
The 5,000-gallon fountain is spectacularly lit in the evenings with LED lights and features 26 jets of water that can be programmed to create inspiring light shows for guests as they exit the complex or during evening special events or exhibitions.
Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center
The changes to the entrance and ticket plaza, are just the initial elements in a start of the Center's comprehensive plan. Space shuttle Atlantis, still covered in 16,000 square feet of shrink wrap, is in the middle of a construction zone. The new shuttle $100 million, 90,000-square foot exhibit showcasing the shuttle and celebrating the 30-year space shuttle program is slated to open in July of 2013.
The Vehicle Assembly Building, or VAB in NASA terminology, is now open to the public for tours for the first time since it became operational. For those of you who remember the original trips to the moon, during that time it was called the Vertical Assembly Building, since they various parts of the rockets were stacked bottom to top as they were assembled for launch. There was no public access while rockets with dangerous chemicals were on site.
This look up the transfer aisle shows the tallest vertical enclosed space in the world. This building is so large, the 4th largest building in the world by volume, that under proper conditions it can even create its own rainstorm inside. Massive cranes with the ability to move heavy loads in the tiniest fractions of an inch picked up the parts here and moved them into the proper assembly bay.
Everything that come in this building has to be lifted over 160 feet up to the open bays and then lowered down to the transporter on top of the crawler, which is 50 feet high by itself. You to can take a peek inside one of the iconic structures of the Kennedy Space Center by signing up for the Up Close Tour. Our thanks to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the update, July cannot get here quick enough!
27 Aralık 2012 Perşembe
DRACO... Winter Storm Moves East.. ... White Christmas..The Movie..
It's snowing somewhere... even if not here...
DRACO is moving East and bringing wintry weather with it to areas who have not yet seen winter this year. Iowa is going to be covered in snow.
Travel will be affected. There will be travel delays.
Already Southwest Air has posted Travel Advisories for multiple airports.
- Chicago (Midway) (MDW)
- Denver (DEN)
- Des Moines (DSM)
- Kansas City (MCI)
- Milwaukee (MKE)
- Omaha (OMA)
If you are a kid you are thrilled. If you are a parent you are uttering long sighs and muffling curse words under your breath as Winter is making a statement and there will be more named storms down the road after DRACO takes off for Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
If you are down in the white territory... you are NOT having a White Christmas. Sorry Charlie Brown.
This is as close as I get to a white Christmas...
Yup, if this post is disjointed it's because I am watching this movie on an old TV even though I own a copy and it's probably downloaded somewhere here. I feel younger, like a little girl watching the Wizard of OZ once a year or watching it with my best friend at 16 and trying to learn the dance steps and write down the words to Sisters... the way we did back when you couldn't stop and start the video. Can you believe a boy taped the words on an old tape recorder at 2am on Channel 6 in Miami and then sat stopping and starting it to get the exact words for us... Thank you Joe.
So.............my Christmas is going to be as warm as Vermont was before it snowed magically in the movie. Unless there is a Christmas miracle for a Jewish girl who is still waiting for her Chanukah present.
God I love this movie..................................
Back to the weather............... (but this movie is about the weather... because... without snow you can't get people to go to Vermont to go skiing... you know???)
So as this system slices across the country it is creating severe weather tonight and there is possible rotation in Missouri. No..I do not mean Vera Ellen spinning while doing a tap dance..
It's a slim line but it's a strong one... as the warm, warm air below meets the cold, cold air rushing in as nature hates a vacuum.
So.... there goes DRACO.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/19/167617464/a-winter-storm-is-pummeling-the-rockies-and-the-plains-are-next
The press is all over it.
http://fox8.com/2012/12/19/seasons-first-blizzard-warning-for-midwest/
Then again the Russia press is covering the coldest winter they have had in decades.
http://rt.com/news/russia-freeze-cold-temperature-379/
If there is a tornado... Reed is on it!
Watch the weather warning he has posted below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enYvkL-lbEw&feature=youtu.be
This is what you will see... he has people on the ground in Omaha dealing with Thundersnow!Watch... it's good... if you like weather and if you don't like weather...why are you here on my blog?
As for me... I'm in White Christmas heaven as they are playing it over and over :)
DRACO moving East. Stay on top of it if it's moving your way?
And.... I have a question here? NASA has released a set of answers to questions people have been calling them concerning the possible end of the world in less than 2 days. My question is... WHY WOULD ANYONE CALL NASA??
I mean if you thought the world was going to end...who would you really call??
NASA?? I mean... I love them ..but they lied to us about two space shuttle crashes saying that the crew was vaporized and didn't suffer ..twice... until we found out they weren't vaporized...
I do love NASA but... call them? And, where do you find the NASA Hotline I wonder?
If it was weather involved I'm sure I'd call Bryan Norcross...
The Pope? He's online now you know...
The White House?
Drudge... imagine if we flood his request box with questions he'd answer them somehow.. find a phone booth to jump into and fly off to save the world maybe..
Come on...who is calling NASA? I want to know...
If you want to go to their website.... there are a list of answers to questions you never thought to ask:
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html#polar
Below, NASA Scientists answer questions on the following 2012 topics:
- End of the World
- 'Prediction' Origins
- Mayan Calendar
- Total Blackout
- Planetary Alignment
- Nibiru/Planet X/Eris
- Polar Shift
- Meteor Strike
- NASA Science
- Solar Storms
And....there you have it.
That's my take on Draco... White Christmas (the movie.... teaches you history, weather and romance) and ............................ my birthday's coming so maybe I can wish for snow on my birthday if it's not happening sooner... later rather than sooner??
Some great links on www.spaghettiweather.com so go play on the weather playground and I'm going to go watch Danny Kaye dance with Vera Ellen and pretend I am fifteen again if just for another hour or two.
Sweet White Christmas Dreams,
BobbiStorm
Ps if you'd rather listen to Jimmy Buffett.. enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCDWt7aVMVI
I have that somewhere ... a gift from "stalker friend" back when he was sending me cassettes before we moved forward to CDs... scary if you think on it too much... but I don't think on it too much. Linda told me not to think too much when not in her presence...so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!!
(why does Jimmy look like Bing and why is he sitting in a big sushi boat? hmmmmnnnn)
Snow, Rain, Tornadoes.. DRACO is leaving a legacy
This is a classic Tornado signature that screams severe weather in the south as snow and cold rain plaque Chicago and Milwaukee.
Compare the current, but changing loop above with the image below of the storm as it was headed towards Alabama bringing Twisters their way.
Here's a local news channel doing coverage that you can watch online:
http://www.fox10tv.com/generic/video/LiveStream_FOX10
Up in Iowa there's snow... seems the place to go if you want to see snow today.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/20/us/midwest-blizzard/
Down below the Mason Dixie Line are severe, violent storms.
Breaking News
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Early, predawn tornadoes are the worst kind as there is little early warning without an alarm sounding in town or on a weather radio. They go under the radar while we sleep..
Pictures will come in all day long as the sun comes up...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/20/storm-tornado-mobile-alabama/1781677/
As this moves east into Alabama and the panhandle of Florida there are multiple weather threats.
Tornado Watch
TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 689
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
425 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
TORNADO WATCH 689 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 PM CST FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
FLC033-091-113-201800-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0689.121220T1025Z-121220T1800Z/
FL
. FLORIDA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ESCAMBIA OKALOOSA SANTA ROSA
$$
Fire Weather Watch
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL
632 AM CST THU DEC 20 2012
...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH
FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE DUE TO A
PERIOD OF CRITICALLY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND HIGH 20 FOOT WIND
SPEEDS...
.MUCH DRIER AND COOLER AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION THROUGH
FRIDAY IN THE WAKE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
DROP INTO THE MID 20 PERCENT RANGE ACROSS THE WESTERN FLORIDA
PANHANDLE FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH 20 FOOT WINDS SPEEDS NEARING
15 MPH.
These storms are moving fast... forward speed wise .... if you know anyone in their path give them a text and make sure they are aware as people are busy getting ready for vacations and watching other news stories. Not everyone is watching "Draco"
Up in the north.. there are already travel delays at O'Hare....
Stay tuned and hope all your relatives are flying west to east with non-stop flights...
Besos Bobbi