Cruise lines have long competed over bigger ships and flashier amenities, but one company is now taking that rivalry to new heights — literally. MSC Cruises has unveiled plans for a sprawling open-air “theme park” at sea aboard its upcoming flagship, MSC World Asia, including an over-water swing ride that will send passengers soaring above the ocean, according … Read more
Disneyland is dialing back a controversial tech feature that has been subtly shaping the way guests enter the park. Now, guests who would rather not hand over a “faceprint” to stroll down Main Street U.S.A. have a choice. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure have rolled out special entry lanes that skip facial recognition and biometric … Read more
Sonny Curtis, the frontman of Buddy Holly’s band The Crickets who wrote classic songs including the theme for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died. He was 88. Curtis died Friday “after a sudden illness,” his daughter, Sarah, announced in a Facebook post. “I’m heartbroken to tell you that my dad Sonny passed away yesterday … Read more
Choreographer Stephon Vann never thought his dance moves set to the iconic “Law & Order: SVU” theme would go viral. But they unexpectedly caught the attention of just the right people — series stars Mariska Hargitay and Kelli Giddish, who enthusiastically mimicked his dance team’s moves in their own recent viral clip. “I was jumping … Read more
Move over, Mickey Mouse. Tripadvisor has named the top amusement park in the U.S. — and it’s not in Disney or Universal. In its 2025 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards this week, Dollywood was named No. 1 in the Amusement & Water Parks category. The Appalachian-themed park co-founded by the legend Dolly Parton … Read more
They were the two notes of terror heard around the world. They were the two notes of terror heard around the world. But director Steven Spielberg initially laughed off composer John Williams’ “Jaws” theme that would become the signature sound — and sign — of the great white shark’s attack in the summer blockbuster that … Read more
Dollywood earned the title of “favorite theme park” in the country for the third straight year in 2024. That’s according to the National Amusement Park Historical Association’s (NAPHA) recently released yearly NAPHA Amusement Park Attractions Survey of its members. Dollywood’s first-place ranking for “favorite theme park” – one of a handful of categories that the … Read more
They are four notes that changed the action game: “Dum dum da da.” That is the musical motif that instantly set the suspenseful stage for many a thrilling spy adventure as the theme song of “Mission: Impossible” — both for the TV series and Tom Cruise’s film franchise that is supposedly coming to a close … Read more
You can imagine the boardroom meeting back in 2019, when Universal Orlando announced the opening of a new theme park. “What are we going to call it? I mean, it’s going to be epic….” And so, it is. Delayed by the pandemic, the 110 acres of Epic Universe (or 20,423 steps, I counted), offers a … Read more
One Long Island kid’s hoop dream became a timeless hoop theme. In 1993, recent college grad and die-hard Knicks fan Jesse Itzler had a dream of writing his favorite team’s theme song. “I was born a Knicks fan and always loved their grit,” the New Yorker, 56, reminisced of the team’s golden age, with legends … Read more
She’s being called on the carpet for her tone-deaf look on the red carpet. Hollywood sweetheart Sydney Sweeney is on the business end of social media’s punishing yardstick amid claims she missed the mark on the 2025 Met Gala’s culturally meaningful theme. Sweeny, 26, is being berated by outraged fashion fans who feel her Met … Read more
It’s the first Monday in May — cue the couture chaos. Fashion’s biggest night is back, and the 2025 Met Gala promises to deliver another dazzling, drama-filled parade of style. The annual benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute isn’t just a fancy fundraiser — it’s a full-blown cultural spectacle, where celebrities compete … Read more
Season 4 of “The White Lotus” will have a new location — and a new composer. Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, who has been the composer on the HBO drama for the past three seasons, revealed he won’t be back next time around. During an interview with the New York Times, the Emmy winner shared he and series … Read more
Step aside, Mickey Mouse. A new study revealed America’s favorite amusement parks — and shockingly, Disney parks didn’t top the list. Research by Nieuwe Casinos examined Google and Tripadvisor reviews made by theme park visitors to determine which ones received five stars across the board. Florida remains the state where visitors have the most thrills — … Read more
Draconian-seeming dress codes are apparently more “universal” than we think. A TikTokker named Alexa discovered that the fashion police aren’t restricted to Disney after getting flagged for wearing a T-shirt at the Universal Studios Theme Park in Orlando, Florida. In the controversial clip, which boasts over a million views, the park-goer is seen sporting a … Read more
This tourist attraction is sick. A UK tourist stumbled upon a COVID-19 theme park with “googly-eyed” pathogen sculptures and more while exploring Vietnam, as seen in photos going viral — in every sense of the word — online. “It was such a weird experience,” Ella Ribak, 29, told South West News Service while detailing the … Read more
Word on the theme park beat is that those looking for a Disney fix are foregoing the crowded and pricey parks and splurging on a Disney cruise instead. After all, it’s got it all — the theming, Broadway-level entertainment, inventive food, astounding kids’ facilities and sunny foreign shores, including two private destinations. They even have … Read more
It’s a magical revelation. Viewers of a viral social media post have been wowed by an easy way to remember the locations of Disneyland and Walt Disney World without mixing them up. The two theme parks are among the most popular attractions in the US, but many are unable to recall which park is in … Read more
It will be built brick by brick. Minecraft will soon be a theme park attraction at a to-be-announced location in the United States. Microsoft-owned Mojang, creators of the best-selling video game, will partner with British amusement giant Merlin Entertainments, operator of New York’s Legoland and Madame Tussauds — along with countless attractions across the pond. Minecraft … Read more
John Tesh is complicating negotiations with NBC to bring back his famous theme song “Roundball Rock” when the NBA’s new media rights deals begin in the 2025-26 season, according to CNBC Sport. Tesh — whose song became beloved by fans when it was played for more than a decade on “The NBA on NBC” — reportedly … Read more