Ford makes BlueCruise standard, available via subscription
The move is part of a larger push toward subscription revenue for automakers.
Biden urges 'all sides' to make a deal as UAW, Detroit 3 seek contract
President Joe Biden on Monday called for “all sides to work together to forge a fair agreement” as the UAW continued talks with the Detroit 3 automakers.
Island H2O water park plans lights for Holiday Nights
Island H2O Water Park will again have a holiday lights spectacular, this year dubbed Holiday Nights.
After sunset, the Kissimmee attraction will feature brightly lit, themed displays for the season. Those will be enhanced by season shopping, themed drinks and eats, live entertainment and photo opportunities during the new event. Also in the works, a train ride, inflatable slides, letters to Santa, snow and foamy effects.
Holiday Nights will begin Nov. 8 with a Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule through Dec. 10. Then it will be open nightly Dec. 13-31. Tickets will go on sale Nov. 1. Admission is $34.99 ($29.99 for children).
A portion of the proceeds will be given to Give Kids the World Village, a Kissimmee resort that provides free weeklong vacations for critically ill children and their families.
Last year, Island H2O stepped in to host the third year of Night of a Million Lights, a Give Kids the World fundraiser. That event had been held at the resort for two holiday seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic. But when families started returning to the village in full force, it wasn’t feasible to have thousands of Million Lights visitors there.
SeaWorld offers 7 rides in Wednesday’s Coaster Capital Challenge
SeaWorld Orlando will mark National Roller Coaster Day with its Coaster Capital Challenge, which is set for Wednesday.
The first 400 park visitors who accept the coaster challenge will receive lanyards with free Quick Queue powers for its seven coasters, including Kraken, Manta, Mako, Journey to Atlantis, Ice Breaker, Super Grover’s Box Car Derby in Sesame Street Land and Pipeline: The Surf Coaster, which opened this spring. The rides have various height restrictions.
In addition, SeaWorld’s annual passholders may participate in behind-the-scenes tours of Mako on Wednesday. There is limited availability for the tours, SeaWorld said, and they will start at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations can be made at the SkyTower Tour Desk.
SeaWorld blames 2% attendance drop on bad weather, wildfires
Elsewhere, Wednesday will signal the final day to ride the Flying School coaster at Legoland Florida. The Winter Haven park has not announced what will replace the ride, which dates back to the Cypress Gardens days.
Ford hires former Apple exec Peter Stern to lead new software services group
Peter Stern was named president of Ford Integrated Services, effective Monday, and will report to CEO Jim Farley.