The Grand Egyptian Museum Is a New Wonder of the World
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) finally opened in November after two decades and a $1.2 billion investment, earning the nickname “Fourth Pyramid.” Designed by Heneghan Peng, the glass‑and‑alabaster complex houses over 100,000 artifacts, with roughly 50,000 on display across a chronological journey from prehistory to the Greco‑Roman era. Highlights include the complete Tutankhamun funerary collection and the Khufu solar boat, both presented in high‑tech pavilions. The museum accommodates up to 15,000 visitors daily, blending traditional exhibits with AI‑driven and virtual‑reality experiences.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/universal-1-92a626733011477683ad48be8819867e.jpg)
Universal Orlando Closing Islands of Adventure Land for 'New Themed Area'
Universal Orlando Resort announced that the Lost Continent section of Islands of Adventure will close permanently to make way for a major new themed area. The closure will be phased, with the popular Mythos restaurant slated to shut in 2027...
Frontgrid Supplies ParadropVR Pods to The National Naval Aviation Museum
Frontgrid, a specialist in adventure‑leisure VR attractions, will supply two ParadropVR Pods to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida, slated to open in summer 2026. The motion‑based pods will host a new "Mountain Ops" mission that drops guests into...
Six Flags Announces Leadership Transitions
Six Flags announced a series of leadership changes effective June 3, 2026, including Amy Martin Ziegenfuss as chief marketing officer, Christopher Bennett as chief legal and compliance officer, and Chris Meyering promoted to senior vice president, commercial. CFO Brian Witherow will step down,...
Powerhouse Parramatta Museum Set to Open in Sydney in Late 2026
Powerhouse Parramatta, a $915 million Australian‑dollar (≈$603 million USD) cultural complex, is set to open in late 2026 on Dharug land in western Sydney. Designed by Moreau Kusunoki and Genton, the 30,000‑square‑foot museum will host seven large exhibition spaces, a cinema, a 600‑seat...
Disneyland Starts Testing Fully Electric Autopia Ride Vehicle Prototype
Disneyland has begun testing a fully electric prototype of its classic Autopia ride, marking the first step in a plan to replace the attraction's gasoline‑powered cars. The park aims to retire the existing gas engines by early 2027 as part...
Workers Strike at Brookfield Zoo over Health Insurance, Wages
Around 100 Teamsters Local 727 members at Brookfield Zoo walked off the job on Monday, demanding a fair contract that addresses wages, health‑insurance costs, and staffing guarantees. The union rejected the zoo’s final offer, accusing management of providing a false health‑care...
Saudi Arabia Driving Tourism Growth Across Middle East
Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector posted a $178 billion GDP in 2025, a 7.4% rise that accounts for 46% of the Middle East’s tourism economy. Growth outpaced the global average, expanding at 7.4% versus the world’s 4.1% rate. International visitor...
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Unveils First 'Star Wars' Exhibition
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles has launched its inaugural cinema exhibition, "Star Wars in Motion," ahead of the museum’s September 22 opening. The show features iconic props such as Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder and General Grievous’ Wheel...
Accesso Appoints Lee Cowie as CEO
accesso Technology Group PLC appointed Lee Cowie as chief executive officer, succeeding founder Steve Brown after an 18‑month stint as COO. Cowie brings more than 15 years of senior technology leadership, including a CTO role at Merlin Entertainments. His agenda...
Embed Announces Integration with Square POS
Embed, a global provider of point‑of‑sale and revenue‑management solutions, has launched an integration with Square POS. The new link lets family entertainment centres and attractions sell Embed cashless cards directly through the Square interface, eliminating the need for separate systems....
Disney World Adding First New Ferryboat to Magic Kingdom Since 1976
Walt Disney World is adding its first ferryboat since 1976, expanding the Magic Kingdom water‑transport fleet from three to four vessels. The new boat, built in sections at a Florida marina, will be shipped, assembled and painted over the next...
Universal Studios Singapore Gets a Full Sanrio Takeover
Universal Studios Singapore has unveiled the Superstar Boutique and Superstar Café, a fully Sanrio‑themed shop‑and‑dine experience. Visitors can purchase Hello Kitty, My Melody, Kuromi and Pompompurin merchandise and enjoy character‑inspired desserts and drinks. The venue also hosts regular meet‑and‑greet sessions with...
Tate Britain Celebrates Work Beginning on New Clore Garden
Tate Britain announced the commencement of construction on the Clore Garden, a new public green space slated to open in 2027. The project is funded by the Clore Duffield Foundation with support from The Julia Rausing Trust and designed by...
Layered Reality Immersive Shows Close as Company Ceases Trading
Layered Reality, the creator of the London‑based immersive shows Elvis Evolution and Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds, has ceased trading after its parent, Ellipsis Entertainment, entered liquidation. Jeff Wayne Music Group stepped in to cover payroll for roughly 60 staff, but legal and insurance...
Get to Know Your New Theme Park Guide, Todd Martens
Los Angeles Times features columnist Todd Martens has debuted a weekly newsletter called *Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride*, dedicated to Southern California theme parks. The publication will deliver timely updates, ride reviews, and insider tips to enthusiasts. Martens, who joined the...
AMC and Sphere Announce Expanded Seasonal Partnership Opportunities
AMC Global Media and Sphere Entertainment are expanding their seasonal partnership to combine Sphere’s Exosphere holiday celebration “Sphere of Cheer” with AMC’s “Best Christmas Ever” programming in December, while reviving the October “Sphere of Fear” and “FearFest” collaboration. The deal...
Robot Dogs with Musk and Zuckerberg Heads Roam Around Berlin Museum
American digital artist Beeple has installed “Regular Animals” at Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie, where robot dogs sport hyper‑realistic silicone heads modeled after figures such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. The dogs capture their surroundings...
Museum Announces Return of Artefacts to Botswana
Brighton & Hove Museums announced it will return 45 cultural artefacts to Botswana, the first substantial repatriation from a UK museum of this scale. The objects, collected by Rev. William Charles Willoughby in the 1890s, include clothing, hunting implements and...
Hong Kong Disneyland Profit Drops as Costs Rise, Visitors Fall
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort reported a 36% plunge in net profit to HK$536 million (≈US$68 million) for the fiscal year, while revenue slipped 1.35% to HK$8.69 billion (≈US$1.11 billion). Visitor numbers fell 2.5% to 7.5 million, with local Hongkongers accounting for only 36% of guests....
Umluj: A Sustainable Tourism Destination in Saudi Arabia
Umluj, dubbed the “white city,” is being positioned as a sustainable tourism hub on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Leveraging more than 100 untouched islands, vibrant coral reefs, and a rich maritime heritage, the Saudi Red Sea Authority and national...
Resorts World Opens NYC's First Table Games Casino
Resorts World New York City launched the city’s first table‑games casino on April 28, adding more than 240 live tables and 2,500 slot machines to its Queens facility. The opening follows Genting Group’s acquisition of a coveted NYC casino licence and...
Slick City Action Park Cements Position as Fastest-Growing FEC Brand
Slick City Action Park announced it has surpassed 150 locations either open or in development, solidifying its status as the fastest‑growing family entertainment center (FEC) brand. The network now includes 35 operating parks and 38 sites under lease, with total...
Disneyland Guests Can Opt Out of Facial Recognition at Entry
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have launched a facial‑recognition entry system that matches guests’ faces to the image stored when they first used a ticket or pass. The resort also provides clearly marked lanes where guests can opt out, with...
The Viral Balloon Museum Is Opening in Wynwood Next Month
The Balloon Museum’s “Pop Air” exhibition will open at Mana Wynwood in Miami on May 16, offering an immersive inflatable art experience. The show, which has traveled to Rome, Paris, New York and Los Angeles, features large‑scale installations by artists such as Hyperstudio...
Disney Cruises Out of Port of San Diego to Double Under New Deal
Disney Cruise Line and the Port of San Diego have signed a new agreement that will roughly double the number of Disney cruises departing Southern California each year. The deal extends their home‑port partnership through at least 2031 and grants...
Universal Epic Universe Continues to Boost Attendance and Revenue at Comcast
Comcast reported Q1 revenue of $2.3 billion for its theme‑park segment, up 24.2% YoY, driven by the May 2025 opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando. The new park boosted attendance and per‑capita spending, contributing to a 33% rise in adjusted...
Huitt-Zollars Announces Global Premier Partner Sponsorship with Themed Entertainment Association
Huitt‑Zollars announced it is now a global premier partner of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), the leading network for creators of immersive experiences. The sponsorship reinforces the firm’s investment in location‑based entertainment, hospitality and storytelling‑driven environments. With nearly 600 professionals...
Chuck Fawcett Launches Owner’s Representation for Animatronics Across the Attractions Industry
Chuck Fawcett relaunched his firm FGR8 in late 2024 as an independent owner’s representation platform for animatronics, moving away from traditional vendor roles. Leveraging more than 35 years of experience with Disney, Universal and Warner Bros., he now advises developers,...
FGR8
FGR8 is an independent advisory and technology platform that helps owners, developers, and creative teams deliver animatronic and character‑driven experiences in the global attractions sector. Founded by Chuck Fawcett, who has over 35 years designing animatronics for Disney, Universal and...
Dorney Park Readies Inverted Roller Coaster for Opening Day
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom has reassembled its Bolliger & Mabdillard inverted coaster Talon ahead of its May 8 opening day, marking the ride’s 25th season. The 58‑mph, 135‑foot, four‑inversion coaster underwent off‑season inspections and maintenance. The park, which boasts more than...
Strong Results for Efteling in 2025
Efteling Theme Park reported 5.78 million visits in 2025, generating roughly $382 million in operating income and $30 million net profit. The park achieved a record 80 days with a 9+ visitor rating, moving toward its 2030 goal of half the days reaching...
Marineland Requesting Federal Loan to Export Belugas to US
Marineland, the closed Niagara Falls theme park, has asked the Canadian government for a $10‑20 million federal loan to relocate up to 30 beluga whales and four dolphins to U.S. aquariums. While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has tentatively approved...
Saudi Arabia's AlUla Giga-Project Advances with New Hotel Development
AlUla Development Company has broken ground on the Numaj hotel, a 250‑room property slated to open in 2027. The hotel will be managed by Marriott International under its Autograph Collection brand and designed by Giò Forma to echo the region’s...
Dynamic Pricing and Variable Pricing: What’s the Real Difference for Attractions?
Attractions are increasingly distinguishing between variable and dynamic pricing to better match ticket costs with fluctuating demand. Variable pricing sets fixed rates for specific days or seasons, while dynamic pricing continuously adjusts prices as the booking window closes, incorporating real‑time...
North Wales Eco-Friendly Theme Park up for Sale for £1.25m
GreenWood Family Park, a 34‑acre eco‑friendly adventure destination on the edge of Wales' Eryri National Park, is listed for sale at £1.25 million (about $1.6 million). The York‑based Continuum Attractions, which bought the park in 2017, has poured roughly £1.5 million ($1.9 million) into...
Cox Science Center and Aquarium Announces New Hall of Science
The Cox Science Center and Aquarium received a second $10 million naming gift from Judy and the late Leonard Lauder, bringing their total contribution to $15 million. The donation funds the 75,000‑square‑foot Judy and Leonard Lauder Hall of Science, slated for completion...
SeaWorld San Diego Is Poised to Pivot From Its Annual Fireworks Shows
SeaWorld San Diego has asked the California Coastal Commission to allow a year‑long pilot of up to 110 drone light shows, with an initial plan for 78 performances. The proposal aims to replace traditional fireworks, which have raised concerns about...
Great Wolf Lodge Offers Season Passes for First Time Ever
Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove, California, has introduced a season‑pass program for its indoor water park, marking the first time the brand offers unlimited‑visit passes. Two tiers are available: a $130 weekday pass (Monday‑Friday) and a $500 anytime pass...
Museum Staff Strike over 'Devastating' Contract Changes
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery staff have begun a strike after the Brighton Pavilion and Museums Trust demanded they sign new contracts that would replace the terms set when they were outsourced from the city council in 2020. Workers argue...
Disney Might Be Rethinking Its Newest 'Avatar' Land
Disney’s planned Avatar-themed land at California Adventure is reportedly on hold after the latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, earned roughly $1.5 billion but failed to generate the cultural momentum Disney hoped for. The delay pushes the closure of the existing Monsters Inc....
Disneyland Files Confidential Demolition Permits for Avatar Land
Disneyland has quietly filed confidential demolition permits with Anaheim for the Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue dark ride and the adjacent Hollywood Lounge. The permits signal long‑term plans to clear the Hollywood Land area for a new Avatar‑themed...
RWS Global Announces Executive Leadership Transition
RWS Global announced a leadership transition in which founder, chairman and CEO Ryan Stana will move to the role of executive chairman, while chief operating officer Jake McCoy steps in as interim CEO. The change, backed by minority investor Bluestone Equity...
People 'Holding Back' On Booking Holidays Amid Rising Costs
Blackpool’s holiday market is feeling the pinch of the UK cost‑of‑living squeeze, prompting many travellers to delay bookings or hunt for last‑minute deals. Hotel operators such as the Fossil Tree and seasoned hoteliers report mixed demand, with some offering payday‑weekend...
Incheon’s $7b Theme Park Project Gains Traction with US Investor Talks
KIT World is pushing ahead with a $7 billion, three‑phase theme‑park project on Yeongjongdo near Incheon Airport. The developer will send a delegation to the United States to lock in final investment terms with U.S. financial institutions, including a pending deal...
Chuck E. Cheese to Open First Birmingham Outlet at Star City
Chuck E. Cheese is set to open its first UK venue at Birmingham’s Star City, partnering with SuperPark to convert the former Genting Casino space into a 4,157 m² family entertainment hub. The development will create 45 jobs for Chuck E. Cheese and 26 for...
ETF Celebrates 75 Years in Business
ETF celebrates its 75th anniversary, tracing roots from a 1951 textile‑machine maker to a global leader in ride‑system engineering. The Dutch‑based firm now runs over 100 installations and 800 vehicles across theme parks, museums and family entertainment centres. Recent highlights...
Pico Play Launches New Showroom & Staging Facility
Pico Play, a global designer of themed attractions, is opening a first‑class showroom and staging facility in Al‑Kharj, Saudi Arabia, scheduled for February 2026. The space combines a curated exhibition of props and models with a soundstage‑style lighting and AV...
Snøhetta Adds "Positive Energy Building" To Dunkirk Port
Snøhetta and Santer Vanhoof have completed Écosystème D, a positive‑energy hub in Dunkirk’s port. The 1,200 m² photovoltaic roof produces more power than the building consumes, feeding surplus electricity to the surrounding innovation district. Constructed from a wooden frame clad in metal...
Six Flags Magic Mountain Takes a $533 Million Hit
Six Flags disclosed a $1.5 billion non‑cash write‑down after an accounting test revealed that Magic Mountain’s goodwill was overstated by $533.7 million. The impairment also hit other parks, trimming the trade‑name value by $169.3 million, roughly a 20% decline. The adjustments stem from...