Knott's Montezooma's Revenge was revolutionary — with a launch that 'kicked you in the face'

After four years, Knott's Berry Farm is about to open the refurbished and reimagined Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress. A look at what made the 1978 coaster so special.

latimes.com

Universal's 'Fast & Furious' coaster vaunts to the top of SoCal thrill rides

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift has soft-opened at Universal Studios Hollywood. The ride makes an instant impression and prioritizes fun over terror.

latimes.com

Surprise! Universal's 'Fast & Furious' coaster is open, unofficially

The ride is operating in 'technical rehearsals.' Think of it as a soft opening. But theme park guests can finally get on this coaster that's predicted to be the North American ride of 2026.

latimes.com

'Fast & Furious' coaster screams rattle quiet neighborhood: 'Like someone is getting murdered'

When Universal Studios began testing the ride with people on it, Toluca Lake residents were shocked by the screams. They were loud — piercing even double-paned windows.

latimes.com

Of all SoCal's theme park attractions, this one feels most personal. Catch it before it ends

With dozens of actors who lead guests through scavenger hunts, puzzles and conversations, Knott's Berry Farm's 'Ghost Town Alive!' can't be replicated. A look at what makes it so special.

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Meow Wolf taps famed L.A. animation house for its new Los Angeles venue

The experiential art firm has entered into a creative partnership with Titmouse, the studio behind popular series such as “Big Mouth” and “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”

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Disneyland’s Soarin’ Across America just debuted the greatest scene of any Soarin' ride

The classic hang glider simulator got its patriotic makeover, complete with national parks and brand new smells.

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Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean goes high tech. And it's losing its mystique

A new audio-animatronic feels like a symptom of our tech-obsessed, digital-drenched age where shiny, needless tools are shoved in our faces daily.

latimes.com

He's been on Universal's 'Fast & Furious' coaster and describes just how extreme it is

I enjoy a good coaster, but I'm a tad squeamish. So I asked a Universal exec for the play-by-play of exactly what riders can expect.

latimes.com

Time For A Little Calico Chaos (Podcast S2, E2)

The L.A. Times' Todd Martens, ARGNet owner Michael Andersen, and NoPro's own Kathryn Yu join host Noah Nelson to talk Knott's Ghost Town Alive, a new Harvard Business Review article, and more.

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Inside the 10-year journey to create Fast & Furious, Universal's most intense coaster ever

Noise challenges, selecting a film franchise and building on a steep hill. Multiple hurdles had to be conquered to make the groundbreaking ride — which finally opens this summer.

latimes.com

One of L.A.’s most personal theater experiences is disguised as a tarot reading

Koryn Wicks' 'You Must Be Here for the Reading' relies heavily on audience participation and a willingness to be vulnerable.

latimes.com

How Disneyland became SoCal's unlikely gateway to tiki culture

The Enchanted Tiki Room remains a classic and Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar celebrates its 15th anniversary. Disney's connection to tiki remains strong but there's a little-known story about how it ...

latimes.com

Want to feel more loved? You're probably going about it the wrong way

In "How to Feel Loved," Sonja Lyubomirsky and Harry Reis reveal the differences between being in love and truly feeling love. The latter, they argue, is the key to happiness.

latimes.com

Disneyland goes all in on patriotism. Classic or cringe?

Soarin' Over California becomes Soarin' Across America this summer. I ask an Imagineer whether he's worried about the potential discomfort around the change.

latimes.com

Todd Martens on Galaxy’s Edge Reimagined - Plus Muppets Take Over Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster

Podcast Episode · The Disney Dish with Jim Hill · May 25 · 1h 19m

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A smoother, slicker Millennium Falcon ride at Disneyland

Disneyland has added the Mandalorian and Grogu to its Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride. It's a sleeker, more interactive experience.

latimes.com

For Bob Baker Marionette Theater, ‘Choo Choo Revue’ is more than a show. It's a statement

For the iconic L.A. troupe, this fantastical representation of a cross-country train trip is a bold look toward the future.

latimes.com

The 'Disney adult' obsession needs to stop already

Everyone loves to hate on grown-up fans of Disney theme parks. But what's the harm in letting people experience a bit of joy, especially now?

latimes.com

How Route 66 inspired Disney's ‘Cars’ and Cars Land — and the ride that never came to be

Former Imagineers talk about the roadside attractions in Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas and California that sparked ideas for Disney's famous fictional town of Radiator Springs.

latimes.com

Star Wars Land was revolutionary. If only Disney would have let it soar

Darth Vader and the so-called classic 'Star Wars' characters have arrived at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. While many fans are cheering, I mourn the the version of the land that Imagineers sought to creat...

latimes.com

Disney could learn a thing or two from Universal Studios' awesome Fan Fest Nights

In the first edition of Mr. Todd's Wild Ride, find out how Universal got Fan Fest Nights right, my current favorite theme park snack and more.

latimes.com

'Now is the time': Bob Baker Marionette Theater to make Highland Park its forever home

The beloved troupe with thousands of handcrafted puppets — a saucy black cat in heels, a fish out of water that can’t help but wiggle — has entered into an agreement to purchase its current location.

latimes.com

Newsletter

An insider guide to having the best day ever at SoCal's theme parks.

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His portrait of MLK in a hoodie went viral. Now he shares a message in his Downtown Disney art

Former Imagineer Nikkolas Smith, a self-described "artivist," imbued his Legacy Tower in Downtown Disney with hidden meaning. It's a piece that nods to five Black architects.

latimes.com

Legoland opens a new land and its most thrilling coaster yet, inspired by Space Mountain

Galacticoaster is a race to save a Lego-infused galaxy from an “asteroid of probable destruction.” And at 40 mph, it's the park’s fastest ride.

latimes.com

New details: Universal Studios' 'Fast & Furious' coaster is almost ready to ride

With the ride intended to reach a speed of 72 mph, the theme park has managed to pack a mighty experience into a tight piece of real estate

latimes.com

DTLA has a new theater — inside a fake electrical box

With her Electrical Box Theatre, about 6 feet tall and 3 feet deep, S.C. Mero set out to create an impromptu performance space for artists who no longer have an outlet in downtown L.A.

latimes.com