Islands Of Adventure

The movie is called "Meet the Fockers," but finding true-blue American Fockers -- as Universal Studios found out -- is no simple task. Before the movie's highly successful Christmas weekend opening, Universal's publicity people came up with the idea of holding a "Focker Family Reunion" -- inviting anyone in the country who shared the "unfortunate" last name of the movie's central character to enter a sweepstakes.

With 14 rides, including eight roller coasters, the proposed Orlando Thrill Park hopes to cater to enthusiasts underserved by Florida's theme parks. Photo gallery : View the 14 proposed Orlando Thrill Park rides Scheduled to open in summer 2013, the proposed amusement park would include rides from several manufacturers, including Intamin , Vekoma , Chance Morgan , Mack , S&S Power , U.S. ThrillRides and Mondial , according to Chuck Bell, spokesman for the Orlando Thrill Park.

MCA Plans Florida Park Expansion: Britain's Rank Organisation and Seagram Co.'s MCA Inc. said they will spend $2.6 billion to turn their Florida theme park into a major resort. The Universal City Florida resort will rival Walt Disney World, analysts said. The current Rank-MCA theme park, equally owned by the companies, is called Universal Studios Florida.

Is Mickey Mouse about to be surpassed by Dr. Seuss? That possibility is the big topic of conversation in the theme park world in Orlando, Fla. The scheduled opening on July 1 of Universal Studios' new Islands of Adventure--of which a major part is "Seuss Landing"--may create the first real threat to Disney's dominance of the Orlando entertainment scene. And recently, Universal raised the ante by announcing highly competitive prices for visits to what will become a multiple theme park complex.

Seagram Co.'s Universal Studios and Coca-Cola Co. said Monday that they formed a marketing alliance that will involve promotional tie-ins with Universal's music, movie and theme-park divisions. Financial terms were not disclosed. The agreement with Coca-Cola, the world's largest soft-drink company, includes special promotions and discounts with Universal's music group, the world's largest, and its Islands of Adventure theme park that will open in Florida in May.

Like opening the door to Oz, walking into Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is like stepping into a real-life version of the fictional town of Radiator Springs from the 2006 animated movie. PHOTOS: Preview day | Buena Vista Street  |  Cars Land  |  Radiator Springs Racers  |  Mater's Junkyard Jamboree  |  Luigi's Flying Tires  |  Cars Land origins The enveloping and breathtaking new 12-acre land takes you to another world and makes you forget that the Anaheim Convention Center is just behind the towering, man-made mountain range.

In an unusual promotion for its popular Halloween Haunt, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park is offering "desensitivity" training for people terrified of macabre movies and similar fare. At a monthlong series of workshops led by Robert P. Gelhart, a Pepperdine University psychology professor, participants will be exposed to gradually more grisly material, culminating in a visit to Knott's during its seasonal make-over into the scary farm. The park has brewed up similar stunts in the past, Knott's spokeswoman Dana Hammontree said, such as when a TV magazine show hypnotized a woman to overcome her fear of heights and tested her on a parachute jump ride.

Wearing his trademark baseball cap and slightly rumpled gray pants, Steven Spielberg appeared on the steamy sidewalk of a new amusement theme park in Orlando, popping up like a jolting image from a shock ride. He was trailed by reporters earlier this month at what Universal Studios, the Los Angeles-based entertainment company, is calling its Islands of Adventure park. There should have been little surprise that the director of mega-hits such as "Jurassic Park" was taking a look-see.