The Other Orlando Blog

Cypress Gardens To Grow Legos

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Looks like the defunct Cypress Gardens will became a new Legoland.

The Hunt For Hidden Mickeys Goes High-Tech

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:58:00 +0000

iPhone App for Walt Disney World's Hidden Mickeys Unveiled

Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets, the best-selling book by Steven M. Barrett, now has its very own “official” app for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.

The new app builds on the successful formula of the book. It contains all of the Hidden Mickeys from the new fourth edition of the book -- with over a hundred added, the total is now up to more than 800 – but it takes things to a whole new level of interactivity.

Using the scavenger hunt structure that made the book so popular, the new app offers cryptic “clues” for searchers to puzzle over and “hints” for if they get stuck. But asking for hints before you find a Hidden Mickey lowers your score. Separate user profiles allow family members to compete on the hunts.

But the app is not just the book in digital form. It also includes completely new features only possible with Apple’s iPhone technology. For example, users can upload their scavenger hunt scores directly to their Facebook pages without having to exit the application. This means that for the first time Hidden Mickeys hunters from around the globe can compare their scores instantaneously.

The application also uses a GPS location tracking feature that identifies the user’s location in the resort and automatically displays the nearest Hidden Mickeys up to 500 meters away. Hunters in a hurry can thus save time without skipping Mickeys.

Users of the new app are enthusiastic. “This is awesome,” raved LightningMcQueen1983 in the iTunes Store. “I have already gone through and selected all the Hidden Mickeys I knew, but there are soooooo many more to find.”

The application is available for $5.99 under the “Travel” category in Apple’s App Store via this link http://bit.ly/4E3phY.

The Hidden Mickeys app was created by Campbell/Gambill Designs of Orlando, FL, with the assistance of author Steve Barrett. Barrett’s book, Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets ($12.95), is published by The Intrepid Traveler. It is available in the Disney parks, in bookstores, and online.

Seth Kubersky Reviews HHN

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Here's Seth's take on this year's eight haunted mazes. Match yours?

Dracula: Instead of Lugosi’s campy count, this Dracula is inspired by Vlad the Impaler’s legend, with a big nod to Coppola. The castle has impressive architectural integrity and bursts with a bevy of Eiko Ishioka–esque brides, but I barely glimpsed Drac himself.

Frankenstein: Scent, texture and light fuse to fine atmospheric effect in a steampunk sequel to Mary Shelley’s shocker. I dug the Metropolis-meets-Re-Animator bride, though the Monster is a tad Van Helsing-y. Look up at the “Fly pods” to see the Doctor’s final fate.

The Wolfman: My favorite of the “classic trio,” this maze makes me anticipate the as-yet-unreleased Benicio Del Toro remake. Makeup re-creating Rick Baker’s designs, evocative “outdoor” environments (indoor trees and starscapes) and enthusiastic “scare-actors” build to a howling good finale.

Leave It to Cleaver: One of two “Fangoria Presents” houses, Cleaver is a faux-tribute to a fake ’50s cult classic featuring the cheerfully cannibalistic Meetz meatpacking plant. A clever combo of kitsch and carnage, the grinning old-timey masks wigged me out more than any modern monster. Sick and silly, this is my pick for a sleeper hit.

Saw: Gorehounds rejoice: The profitable torture-porn franchise comes to life through a “greatest hits” selection of Jigsaw’s sadistic traps, featuring film-faithful re-creations of fan faves like “key in eye socket” and “fat guy in razor wire.” The assault of an ending is definitely not kosher. Beware of the longest line to be found.

The Spawning: Wander the Wyandot County sewer in search of snakelike “Sculders” in a Fangoria mock-movie modeled on the classic X-Files episode “The Host” (featuring “Flukeman”). Low ceilings + hanging strings = disorienting slog (I got lost), so expect slow-moving lines.

Chucky: A puke-inducing spinning tunnel shrinks you down to doll-size for a carnival-colored tour of the “Good Guy” factory where evil toys reign. Etch A Sketches, toy soldiers and clown bop-bags become objects of menace in this creatively creepy (though not especially frightening) Child’s Play tribute.

Silver Screams: Here’s the home of event icon Julian Browning, the spectral usher who haunts the circa-1922 Universal Palace Theater. A simple yet spectacular lighting effect transforms the facade from splendor to decay; within are well-crafted compact vignettes from a half-dozen horror classics, from the Phantom of the Opera lair to Shaun of the Dead’s Winchester Pub.

Get the new 2010 edition of Universal Orlando: The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure, which Seth co-wrote.

Universal Orlando 2010 Now Available

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:17:00 +0000

The 2010 edition of Universal Orlando: The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure is now available. It's slowly making it's way to bookstores, but you can order it online.

The new edition introduces Seth Kubersky as my new co-author and I couldn't be happier to have him on board. You may know Seth from his work at Orlando Weekly or in the regular Rocky Horror Picture Show extravaganzas at Universal Cineplex. He's a theme park pro, having worked at Universal in a variety of capacities on a number of attractions and special events.

The new edition contains the first guidebook review of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and (thanks to Seth) an insider's preview of the new Harry Potter area in Islands of Adventure.

To celebrate the publication, The Intrepid Traveler is offering special pricing on the Universal book as well as on SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica: Orlando's Salute to the Seas, also by yours truly.

And if you get them both, there's a very, very special deal that I think will be hard to resist. Get the skinny by clicking here.

Cypress Gardens Closes. (Again)

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Well, Cypress Garden has sunk yet again.

This time I'm making no predictions about whetehr it will rise from the swamp another time.

For Sale! Not For Sale! For Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:23:00 +0000

There was an amusing flurry of speculation about whether SeaWorld would announce its sale to ... whoever at an employee briefing this morning.

SeaWorld execs' disavowals couldn't stop excited headlines like "Report: SeaWorld to tell employees it has been sold" even when the story said the official word was "No comment."

Well the employee briefing that fueled the rumors has come and gone. And the real story?

SeaWorld Orlando would not say if it has a new owner at an employee meeting Wednesday.

Employees at a company communications briefing asked SeaWorld officials about a possible sale to the BlackStone Group which owns a 50 percent stake of Universal Orlando Resort.

Park officials, however, said they did not have informationon a final sale and refused to discuss the situation any further.

Calm down, everyone, and just enjoy Shamu.

Orlando's Biggest Yard Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:20:00 +0000

What else would you want to do while on vacation in Orlando?

It's on Saturday, October 10, in the Avalon Park area, and over 100 families will be participating.

More info here.

Harry Potter Teaser Video

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Courtesy of the Sentinel.

More info here.

Harry Potter For Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:52:00 +0000

Universal held a hush-hush Harry Potter preview today.

So far what's leaked out is that the new Potter area will open "in Spring." Usually, that means, "sometime before Memorial Day."

A SeaWorld-Busch Rumor With (some) Credibility

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:29:00 +0000

I've never taken all the chatter about who'll buy Busch very seriously. For my money, it's all been guesswork based on nothing more than hunches.

But the recent news that Merlin plans an IPO does tend to make you sit up and take notice.

Merlin, whose holdings include Legoland theme parks, Madame Tussauds wax museums and the London Eye, is close to finalizing a plan for an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange, according to a report last weekend in The Independent of London.

The offering is expected to raise more than $3 billion, the newspaper reported. Merlin is owned by a private-equity giant, the Blackstone Group, which also holds a 50 percent stake in Universal Orlando.

The oft cited estimate for how much the Busch theme parks are work is between $3 and $4.5 billion.

Disney Buys Marvel - Whither Spidey?

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Bam! Pow! Like Doc Oc and the Sinister Syndicate, Disney has swooped in and bought Marvel Comics for a paltry $4 billion, perhaps leaving Universal in the uncomfortable position of needing rescue by some unnamed superhero.

The big question for all Islands of Adventure-Universal fans: What will happen to Spider-Man? Indeed, what is the fate of Marvel Super Hero Island?

For it's part, Universal is saying Spidey stays put. But, tellingly, there was no time frame included in the statement by Universal spokesman, Tom Schroeder.

In the Tampa Tribune, Disney execs are quoted as saying that "many third-party licensing deals would remain in effect."

But licensing deals are never open-ended. The time will come when Universal's right to use Marvel properties will expire. That's when things will get interesting.

Disney has a history of doing whatever it can to wrest market share from its nearby competitors (Pleasure Island vs. Church Street Station; Disney-MGM vs. USF; Animal Kingdom vs. BGT; two Disney water parks vs. Wet n Wild). It defies logic to expect the future not to mirror the past.

Busch Tampa Announces Howl-O-Scream 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:21:00 +0000

From the official Busch press release:

Howl-O-Scream 2009 Proves That Evil Never Goes Out of Style
Florida’s top-rated Halloween event debuts a new kind of nightmare with launch of HouseofVayne.com

TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2009) – Busch Gardens Tampa Bay kicks off it’s tenth season of gut-wrenching scares by launching the Howl-O-Scream 2009 website, HouseofVayne.com, expanding the event to seven horrifying haunted houses, and introducing the beautiful new face of evil itself – the fashionable Ms. Vayne and her deranged models.

For 17 select nights, Howl-O-Scream 2009 will prove that evil never goes out of style. The devious creatures that infest all-new haunted houses, scare zones, thrilling shows and even the streets themselves will have guests watching their backs, and bone-chilling roller coasters keep the screams coming all night long.

Howl-O-Scream 2009 is a separate ticketed event, and the general admission price is $69.95. Savings are available on advance ticket purchases for Passport Members and Florida Residents. Discounts are also available through promotional codes provided on Bud Light, Domino’s Pizza and Applebee’s products statewide.

The event runs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night during October: Oct. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-24 and 29-31. Freaky Preview lets guests sink their teeth into the scares a week early on Sept. 25-26 for discounted rates as low as $29.95 for general admission and $24.95 for Passport members. Operating hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. during Freaky Preview and on Thursday nights. Friday and Saturday hours are 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Howl-O-Scream 2009 has more haunted houses than ever before, designed to tease your deepest, darkest fears…

· NEW! Delta-Epsilon-Delta: Pledge Week – For decades, the most mysterious sorority on campus has invited only select girls from the top families to join. But this year, it’s open rush, and the sisters are welcoming new members with open arms. Can you escape before you fall victim to the sinister secrets of this twisted sisterhood? No one does it like a E girl…

· NEW! Nightshade Toy Factory – By day, the old Nightshade Toy Factory appears abandoned. But as night falls, the mysterious manufacturing plant glows and hums as it creates the diabolical dolls, terrible teddy bears and possessed playthings of your childhood nightmares. These twisted toys are alive…and they are coming after the adults who have forgotten them.

Some of the most demented houses ever are back by popular demand with some horrible new twists. These returning favorites are sure to terrorize first-time visitors and die-hard fans alike:

· Reconstruction: The Doctor Is In – Dr. Edger VonAngst has the skill and technology to make you over…but what will you become? This mad reconstructive surgeon has set up shop, putting human parts back together with mechanical pieces and combining flesh, bone and steel in the most hideous ways. Nip/Tuck has never been like this!

· Death Row Vengeance – The inmates at Grey Echo Penitentiary are slated for execution, and they blame you. With their last breath, they curse those who do nothing to save them from the electric chair or lethal injection and vow to haunt those who watched them suffer. Will you make it out alive when they come back to make good on their dying promise?

· 13 – Each October, the underground members of The Messengers come out of hiding to seek out 13 unlucky victims, who are tracked down and tortured before the gang feasts on their flesh. This year, they have already claimed 12 lives so far… will 13 be your unlucky number?

· Taste of Blood – Once revered as royalty, hordes of undead vampires have now been forced underground into the subways and sewers to avoid the sunlight. By day, they feed on rats to survive. But as night falls, these fanged fiends take to the streets to seduce fresh blood.

· Trapped in the Walls – The gruesome fate of an innocent family made headlines when it happened. Years later, evil still lingers in the rooms where the tragedies happened. It has seeped into the walls, trapping dark demons and infesting a house that can’t let go of its horrible history.
At Howl-O-Scream, even the sidewalks aren’t safe from the things that go bump in the night. Four scare zones and nine bands of roaming hordes will keep guests watching their backs as they explore 335 acres of fright:

· NEW! Unearthed – Ancient evil rages when archeologists unearth the tomb of a feared Egyptian ruler, releasing his spirit into the world of the living. Ahmenhotep and his underworld minions will carry out a dreaded curse, seeking revenge on those who dared to defile his final resting place.

NEW! Banshees – According to legend, a banshee will wail around a house if someone there is about to die. When several banshees appear at once, it is said to foretell the death of someone great or notable. Here, Banshees glide through the darkness, preying on the living and looking to make their screeching songs come true.
NEW! El Carnaval del Muerto – In the small town of Decada de Sustos, the locals come together once a year to celebrate death. But in the midst of the wild revelry, visitors to this tiny village unwittingly play an important part in this macabre party by becoming the victims of the raucous and bloodthirsty townspeople.
NEW! Werewolves – As night falls, a hoard of restless half-man, half-beast monsters patiently wait for innocent guests to stumble into their lair. Those who are not worthy to join the clan will be preyed upon as dinner. These scavengers’ insatiable hunger is matched only by their cunning and determination to satisfy their need to feed.
· You never know where your next scare is preparing to pounce. Just when you thought you were safe, Roaming Hordes of clowns, zombies, monsters and more take their terror to the streets and sneak up on unsuspecting victims. Who’s watching your back?

After braving bone-chilling coasters in the dark such as SheiKra, Montu, Gwazi and Kumba, you can catch your breath at these twisted live shows:

· NEW! Full Moon Cabaret: The Magic of Jason Byrne – As darkness descends on the Desert Grill each night, The Academy of Magical Arts’ “Stage Magician of the Year” Jason Byrne takes to the stage with tantalizing tricks and ominous illusions as he presents his unique brand of award-winning killer magic.

· Fiends – Is there a doctor in the house? These captivating creatures of the night will infect you with dance fever and keep your pulse pounding with their deranged dance party. But when Dr. Freakenstein’s naughty nurses start operating, the diagnosis is always “code pink.”

Looking for a killer party or the perfect souvenir to round out your evening of evil?

NEW! Club enVy – Take a break from the terror to stop by Howl-O-Scream’s new, exclusive 21+ dance club, featuring unlimited access to exclusive cocktails, drink specials, character meet-and-greets and great music all night long. A special “Happy Hour” option also includes hors d’oeuvres and exclusive early access to haunted houses.

NEW! Howl-O-Scream Shop of Horrors – Remember your evening of evil with the perfect Howl-O-Scream souvenir, including signature House of Vayne jewelry, “10 Years of Terror” commemorative t-shirts and other Halloween-themed gifts. Then, smile through the pain and snap the perfect party pic with the DED girls at an exclusive photo op that’s not for the faint of heart.
Take advantage of the best way to see Howl-O-Scream with All-Inclusive Fear Tours that include your admission ticket. Fear Tours offer three levels of terrifying special treatment: “The Viewing” is a three-hour group tour of haunted houses and major thrill rides. The five-hour “Funeral” group tour adds reserved show seating, and “The Embalming” includes the Fright Feast dinner buffet, preferred parking and a private “Ghoul Guide” for your party of three or more. All tours include commemorative photos and complimentary beverages, and packages start at $89.95.

For those who want to skip the lines and get right to the screaming, the Front Line Fear pass offers no-wait access to your choice of seven haunted houses as well as photo and merchandise discounts – all for $35.00. The Front Line Fear Plus pass also includes front-of-line access for your choice of four major coasters for $45.00.

The Thrills & Chills Weekend Pass lets true Halloween fans face their fears over and over again with a long weekend (Thursday through Sunday) of unlimited access to Busch Gardens’ thrills by day and Howl-O-Scream’s chills by night – all for just $79.95!

For out-of-town guests, Gory Getaway vacation packages are also available, featuring Howl-O-Scream admission and accommodations at one of Busch Gardens’ preferred partner hotels. Prices start at $238.04 per person plus tax, based on double occupancy.

And if there’s one thing worse than being terrified, it’s being terrified on an empty stomach. Fright Feast is the most deranged dinner show in town, featuring a buffet of monstrous main courses and devilish desserts, plus an exclusive performance of Full Moon Cabaret: The Magic of Jason Byrne. Fright Feast guests are also the first to brave the dark with a half-hour of early access to the haunted houses. Fright Feast is $24.95 per person, with group rates and discounts for Passport members available.

Howl-O-Scream is a separate ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed. For guest information, visit HouseofVayne.com or call 1-888-800-5447.

Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This year's event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore and blood.

Rip, Ride, Rockit Testing Video

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Are They Playing Your Song?

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Universal has announced the song list for the Rip, Ride, Rockit coaster. Here's the "classic rock" line up:

"Born to Be Wild," Hinder

"Bring Me to Life," Evanescence

"Gimme All Your Lovin'," ZZ Top

"Kickstart My Heart," Motley Crue

"Paralyzer," Finger Eleven

"Rollin'," Limp Bizkit

Still no official opening date, apparently.

Deadly Monorail Crash at WDW

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:55:00 +0000

A 21-year-old Disney castmember was killed in a ahead-on collision between two monorails.

ClickOrlando.com has video.

The Sentinel also has coverage.

Harry Potter materializes, slowly but magically

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:47:00 +0000

The Sentinel's ace reporter Jason Garcia is on the trail of the Boy Wizard's magic dust.

Plans for the 20-acre Wizarding World show more than a dozen buildings, including at least three shops, a restaurant and multiple forced-perspective decorative buildings. The centerpiece will be the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the iconic castle and keep from the Potter books and movies.

Universal's Hogwarts, records show, will be 150 feet, or 15 stories, high.

One Minute, 39 Seconds

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Technical details on Rip, Ride, Rockit have been revealed.

More Media Hysteria Strikes Universal (cont'd)

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:36:00 +0000

One of my pet peeves is the way "the media" sensationalizes every accident at a theme park.

It seems that every time someone gets injured, it's a newsworthy event and the injured person becomes a "victim."

This time round, it's an employee at Universal Orlando's Dueling Dragons attraction in Islands of Adventure.

No word on the extent of the injuries. Did he/she slip and fall, break a leg, or get impaled? Who knows. But WESH solemnly reports that, "The victim was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment."

Obviously, I hope the injured worker is okay, but give me a break.

How many people get injured on the job in Orlando every day? Lots, I'd guess. But only at a theme park does it become "news."

Manta at SeaWorld

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:49:00 +0000

What can I add to that?

Is Shamu Safe From Being Gobbled Up By Bigger Fish?

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:43:00 +0000

I think this is good news.

Chatter surrounding the potential auction of Orlando-based Busch Entertainment has cooled off in recent weeks. For example, when Jeff Immelt, the chairman and chief executive officer of General Electric Co., the ultimate parent of Universal Orlando, was asked whether his company has considered purchasing Busch Entertainment, part of his response was, "My understanding is that's been slowed down a little bit."

"SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica" On Kindle

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:47:00 +0000

My book, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove & Aquatica: Orlando's Salute to the Seas is now available in a Kindle version for the bargain price of $7.99.

It's sales rank is around 46,000 (out of 270,000+) so I guess it's getting some takers. Next time you're at SeaWorld, look for people reading their Kindle while they waiting for Shamu.

You can find it at the Kindle Store.

Oh, and the paperback version got some nice 5-star reviews. Thanks!

Rip, Ride, Rockit Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:01:00 +0000

Universal has set up a special site, mostly for the media, to preview their upcoming Rip, Ride, Rockit rollercoaster.

There are some nifty graphics and animations showing off some of the ride's "first-ever moves."

Cypress Gardens Returns To Its Roots

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:24:00 +0000

Well, I didn't think it was in the cards, but I glad to have been proved wrong.

Not only is Cypress Gardens open again, but the pyramid is back!

The new management has wisely return to Cypress Garden's roots, focusing on the water ski show and the gardens. They also plan to expand the water park. I wish them well.

2008 Theme Park Attendance

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Some interesting stuff in the 2008 TEAERA (pdf) report.

The new kid on the block, Aquatica, had 950,000 visitors or an average of 95K a month. But it opened in March, so if it had been open in January and February and had "average" attendance those months, that suggests an annual total of 1,140,000, putting it ahead of Wet 'n Wild but behind the two Disney waterparks. It'll be interesting to see what happens next year, as the word get out about what a spectacular park it is.

SeaWorld's attendance was down 2.9% at 5.9 million, but SeaWorld execs are squawking that the actual figure is higher, without providing specifics. Apparently, they're not angry enough to open their books to prove the assertion.

Universal Studios was up only slightly and Islands of Adventure was down 2.4%, leading some to speculate that people are putting off visiting until Harry Potter arrives.

But the 2008 numbers are only part of the story. Universal's 1st quarter 2009 attendance was down a whopping 20% over last year.

Makes you wonder why Universal thinks this is a good time to alienate some of their biggest fans.

Halloween Horror Comes Early To Universal

noreply@blogger.com (Kelly Monaghan) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:48:00 +0000

Move over, Crypt Keeper! The Recession Debt Monster is here.

The Orlando Sentinel has the grim news.

Orlando's No. 2 theme-park resort is warning that it could face a cash crunch by next spring, as turmoil in the credit markets -- and an obscure clause in its long-standing contract with famed filmmaker Steven Spielberg -- complicate its efforts to restructure nearly $1 billion of debt.

If Universal Orlando is unable to rework the loans in coming months, it could be forced to slash spending on new attractions, seek more money from its owners or even put a piece of the resort up for sale.

Actually, it's not as bad as the article, in the finest journalistic tradition, makes it sound.

Later, the reporter, Jason Garcia, notes:

Moody's and other analysts say a bankruptcy filing is unlikely. They say the Orlando resort's business, which produced $180 million in operating profit last year, is fundamentally strong and stands to benefit from the opening of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster later this year and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2010. They also say the resort's co-owners have incentive to preserve their investments in the resort -- particularly NBC Universal, because of the theme parks' strategic ties to that company's movie and television studios.

And the "Spielberg clause"?

Apparently, director Steven Spielberg has a long-running consulting deal. He got $20 million last year alone. In 2010, he has the right to demand a buyout of "several hundred millions."

Would Spielberg do something that horrible? It'd be like letting Jeff Goldblum get eaten at the end of the movie.

Oh.