With school back in session and the summer season laid to rest, theme parks in California are now gearing up for fall Halloween events. Yesterday, we took a peek at Knott's Berry Farm Haunt and Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights. Today, let's see what Disneyland, California's Great America, Legoland, and other California parks have planned for the spooky season.

Halloween Time in California originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at 06:14:57.

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The original theme park Halloween event, Knott's Berry Farm Haunt, will kick off its 38th season starting September 24. With scare zones such as Necropolis and haunted mazes such as Corn Stalkers (Hah! You gotta love the names.), it's clear that the PG-13 gore-fest is not for the squeamish. Also known as Knott's Scary Farm, the Halloween event has been wildly successful, has inspired a host of imitators, and has become one of the California park's signatures. For all of its success, I wonder what the Farm's founder, Walter Knott (who died in 1981), would make of the modern-day Haunt. I suspect that he might find the blood and freak-out scenes at least a bit over the top. 21st-century gore is on full display at Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween event as well. Read more about Knott's Berry Farm Haunt and Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights.

• Knott's Scary Farm Haunt photo gallery

Family-Friendly Halloween Fun? Knott! originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 18:05:26.

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Seasoned park vets recently gathered together at Kings Dominion to talk Intimidator 305 on an episode of the Season Pass Podcast. I was delighted to be part of a panel that included Season Pass host Doug Barnes, Robb Alvey of Theme Park Review, Robert Coker from ThrillRide, the Coaster Critic, Joel Bullock, and John Pagel, spokesperson for Kings Dominion. Despite some mixed reviews for the Virginia park's new NASCAR-themed Giga-Coaster among ride fans, the members of the show's roundtable, myself included, heaped praise on Intimidator 305. Check out the Kings Dominion Season Pass Podcast.

• My review of Intimidator 305
• Intimidator 305 Photo Gallery

Gentlemen! Start Your Microphones! originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 12:07:20.

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Onboard audio has been incorporated into roller coasters with varying degrees of success. The makeover of Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags Over New England into Bizarro included the addition of an onboard soundtrack that is largely unintelligible and does next to nothing to add to the (already wonderful) ride. When Space Mountain at Disneyland was overhauled a few years ago, however, its accompanying soundtrack helped transform and reestablish the relatively mild coaster into an E-ticket experience.

The original Space Mountain at Walt Disney World has been in desperate need of its own makeover. Instead of a complete redo a la Disneyland, the Florida Space Mountain has been getting incremental, largely cosmetic, changes. The same aging track and pokey coaster trains remain. Forget onboard audio inside the coaster cars. Disney has, however, just installed external speakers alongside the track to give the approximation of onboard audio. Early reports indicate that while the music and audio effects do make for a more exciting ride, it doesn't come close to the soundtrack of Disneyland's Space Mountain.

• Guide to Walt Disney World Hotels
• Top 10 Best WDW Rides and Shows

The Mountain is Alive with the Sound of Music originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 06:29:46.

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Coney Island has changed significantly in the years since its iconic Wonder Wheel began turning in 1920. With the opening of Luna Park this year, the once-preeminent amusement area's fortunes may be turning for the better. Through bad times and good, the Cyclone, Nathan's Famous, and the Wonder Wheel have remained constants on Brooklyn's famed boardwalk. Deno's Wonder Wheel Park is throwing a party this Saturday, Sept. 4, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of its 150-foot swinging Ferris wheel. The fun is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is set to include live music, clowns, and face painting. Read more about the Wonder Wheel.

• Wonder Wheel Photo Gallery

The Wonder Wheel Goes 'Round and 'Round originally appeared on About.com Theme Parks on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 06:00:59.

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