Six Flags Buys Universal!

Sadly, the Orlando Sentinel reported this:

Premier Parks buys Universal Orlando Resort!

After months of conflicts with the Kentucky State Fair, Premier Parks, the bankrupt owner of the twelve Six Flags parks in the United States, with one park in Canada and another in Mexico, as well as an under construction park in Dubai, has given up on relocating the rides in their former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom property, other than Greezed Lighting.

Instead, Six Flags bought Universal Orlando Resort, seeking a new audience in Florida.

Bill Davis, the current CEO of Universal Orlando, has announced that, with the new ownership of Premier, Universal Studios Florida will be renamed Six Flags Over Florida in 2011.

Islands of Adventure will keep it's name, but Toon Lagoon will be rethemed to Looney Tunes World, and Marvel Superhero Island will be rethemed to DC Superhero Island.

Looney Tunes World will include:

Road Runner Chase - A log flume ride with Road Runner running away from Wile E. Coyote, but Road Runner ends up luring Wile to a dynamite shack, and you drop into it! This ride will be Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls rethemed.

Yosemite Sam's Rapids Adventure - A river rapids ride where Yosemite Sam tries to hunt Bugs Bunny, but ends up in a river chase... with YOU on it! This ride will be Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges rethemed.

Yosemite's Ship - Explore a ship, recently made by Yosemite Sam, and shoot water into the rapids of Yosemite Sam's Rapids Adventure. This attraction will be Me Ship, the Olive rethemed.

DC Superhero Island will include:

Superman Krypton Coaster - Want to discover how Superman flies? Find out on this new rethemed coaster experience, with you in the experience! This ride is the Incredible Hulk Coaster rethemed, and repainted red, yellow, and blue.

Lex Luthor's Fright Towers - Help Lex Luthor get his revenge on Superman by experiencing his new invention: The Fright Towers. This ride is Dr. Doom's Fearfall rethemed.

Wonder Woman's Tea Cups - Ally with Wonder Woman, as you help her test a new invention she made to defeat Cheetah, by pursuing her in faster speed. This ride is Storm Force Accelatron rethemed.

The Dark Knight's Adventure - Help Batman defeat the Joker and his other foes, including Riddler and Two-Face, on this 3D action-packed thrill ride! This ride is the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man rethemed.

In Six Flags Over Florida, a new roller coaster will be added in 2011, replacing Horror Make-Up Show. It will be Greezed Lightning from Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. You will be launched inside Hollywood facades, over the Terminator 2: 3D queue, then escape the building into a loop, and then a spike over the Universal entrance plaza. The station will be housed in what is currently the room before the show itself, just by the Hollywood street. The other spike will be over the lagoon. The rest of the show building will be used as the queue.

Horror Make-Up Show will close this June for construction to begin.

Greezed Lightning is already in the process of getting removed from Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom.

What is currently the Woody Woodpecker's KidZone area will also be rethemed to Wiggle's World. The names are not released yet, but some reports are stating that A Day in the Park With Barney will be rethemed to Dorothy's Talent Show.

All the changes from Premier Parks are expected to be complete by spring 2011.