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Theme Parks

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  1. Justice Department investigating Busch Gardens’ ban on rollator walkers
    • Theme Parks
    A map is seen at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on June 6. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the parent company that owns the theme park after complaints that its parks' ban on rollator walkers discriminates against guests with disabilities.
  2. As ZooTampa expands, what will it take to save manatees? | Column
    • Viewpoints
    A manatee swims during a media tour at ZooTampa at Lowry Park on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Tampa.
  3. Magic Kingdom had world’s top theme park attendance in 2024, report says
    • Theme Parks
    Daytime fireworks launch during the finale of "Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire" at Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World on April 2. Magic Kingdom was again the most visited theme park in the world last year, according to an attendance report.
  5. Stop trying to sell me plastic souvenir cups! | Column
    • Viewpoints
    Life is a never-ending cycle of plastic souvenir cups.
  6. Are Florida’s theme park Halloween events overrated?
    • Theme Parks
    A scare actor performs inside one of the haunted houses at Scream-A-Geddon horror park on Friday, Sept. 12 in Dade City. The park has been around for 11 years as a competitor to bigger-name attractions at Universal Studios and Busch Gardens.
  7. Coaster death reignites debate over Florida’s regulation of theme parks
    • Florida
    Universal Orlando employees ride Stardust Racers roller coaster Saturday morning as Epic Universe prepares to reopen the attraction to the public.
  8. Epic Universe coaster ‘functioned as intended’ before man died, Universal says
    • Florida
    Guests ride Stardust Racers during a preview day for Universal Epic Universe on April 5. The coaster worked properly the day a man was found unresponsive on it and later died, the theme park's president wrote in a memo.
  9. Morgan & Morgan law firm sues Disney over ‘Steamboat Willie’ ad
    • Florida
    Mickey Mouse in
  10. Man who died after riding Epic Universe coaster had ‘blunt impact injuries’
    • Florida
    Guests ride the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Universal Orlando's Epic Universe theme park on April 10. A man in his 30s died from blunt impact injuries after riding the coaster Wednesday, a medical examiner said.
  11. A Tampa Brightline could make me a Disney adult | Column
    • Viewpoints
    A Brightline train is shown at a station in Fort Lauderdale. The private train operator has plans to connect Tampa to Orlando in the coming years.
  12. I became a Weeki Wachee mermaid at Sirens of the Deep camp, and you can too
    • History
    Gabrielle Calise, culture and nostalgia reporter with the Tampa Bay Times, swims through the headspring on Sunday, Aug 10, 2025, while attending the Sirens of the Deep mermaid camp at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.
  13. First peek: The Beak and Barrel, Magic Kingdom’s pirate tavern
    • Florida
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  14. NBC will air a special about Epic Universe theme park
    • Life & Culture
    An hourlong TV special about the making of Epic Universe theme park will air on NBC at 9 p.m. on Aug. 20.  The park opened to the public May 22, the first new theme park in Orlando in 25 years.
  15. Tampa’s Florida Aquarium to open a Tide Pool touch tank from Pacific Northwest
    • Life & Culture
    A Pacific sea star now lives in the Florida Aquarium’s new Tide Pool. The Tide Pool, opening on August 1, is the Florida Aquarium’s newest interactive experience. It features marine animals in a cold-water touch tank inspired by the Pacific Northwest.
  16. See retired Weeki Wachee mermaids perform again this weekend
    • History
    Barbara Wynns began her mermaid career at Weeki Wachee in the 1960s. Now in her 70s, she will continue to perform with a special Silver Sirens show at Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter.
  17. Top things to do in Tampa Bay this week: Elvis Costello, July 4, Ninja Kidz Live
    • Life & Culture
    Elvis Costello and the Imposters with Charlie Sexton shown here in 2024 at Ruth Eckerd Hall, will perform July 9 at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.
  18. What’s happening on July 4 in the Tampa Bay area: parades, fireworks and more
    • Life & Culture
    The Friends of the Riverwalk will be celebrating July 4 with a patriotic boat parade along the Hillsborough River and two water ski shows followed by a waterfront fireworks finale at Sparkman Wharf.
  19. Top things to do in Tampa Bay this week: Dive-in movies, laser Elton John
    • Life & Culture
    After 10 months of renovations, the city of Largo is reopening Southwest Pool with a free daylong celebration for all ages on June 28.
  20. Epcot’s Test Track to reopen: What revamped Disney attraction will bring
    • Life & Culture
    Disney's redesigned Test Track attraction at Epcot will introduce redesigned ride vehicles with a sleek look, darker colors, and updated interiors featuring new seats, graphics and lighting.
  21. See emperor penguins at this Florida theme park, only place in Western Hemisphere
    • Life & Culture
    SeaWorld Orlando is making history this summer as the only place in the Western Hemisphere where guests can see Emperor penguins up close beginning June 14.
  22. As Epic Universe draws hype, what’s next for Tampa’s hometown park?
    • Business
    Passengers descend down a hill on SheiKra, a floorless steel dive roller coaster that carries 24 riders per train, at Busch Gardens on Friday in Tampa. The theme park has attracted thrill seekers for decades but must adapt as competition heats up in Central Florida, experts said.
  23. Halloween season already? Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights announces new scares for 2025
    • Life & Culture
    In a first for Universal Orlando and its popular Halloween Horror Nights, they are partnering with the hit Prime Video series “Fallout” for a haunted house based on the post-apocalyptic show based on the videogame of the same name.
  24. Top things to do this week in Tampa Bay: Evan Longoria retires as a Ray, Metallica, Pride month
    • Life & Culture
    Evan Longoria celebrates his game winning hit during the Rays game against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011.
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