Storybook Amusement

28/05/2024

Happy birthday, Islands of Adventure!

Here's the story of how the park came to be and its changes over the past 25 special years!

Watch: https://youtu.be/kNjTCs7J3sY
Read: https://storybookamusement.com/blogs/universal/history-creating-universal-islands-of-adventure

22/05/2024

Ahhh! I recently got an incredible package from Lost Island Themepark!

Hey, check out the Yikyik. 👀 That park's lore is growing every single day!

This makes me miss the park even more as I'm several states away, but at least I have little reminders of Auk Modu at home now!

Thank you so much to Lost Island Themepark! I can't wait to go back.

29/04/2024

Our journey ends at Tamariki, the spirit realm. 😊

The spirit realm is the only realm at Lost Island not based on a natural element; instead, this is where the island’s peaceful guardians live: the Tamariki.

Tamariki are mischievous, generous little creatures with the best intentions. They believe in doing good together and living well forever.

In the park’s backstory, the Tamariki are responsible for unifying the different realms to save Lost Island.

You can also spot little Tamariki figures around the park!

This realm is the kiddie area with gentle rides.

Thanks for following along!

If you want to dig deeper and learn more about Auk Modu, erm, I mean Lost Island, check out my recent video! There's also an article version for all you readers out there. 🌴

Learn more: https://youtu.be/pEWpjhQLZzw

Marikawa ke ukau! Adventure awaits!

28/04/2024

Let's breeze on into the next realm of Lost Island: Udara, the air realm. 💨

Udara is a society of curious inventors who once lived among the clouds. It is my personal favorite land with its imaginative, head-in-the-clouds environment.

Udara was once a floating society among the clouds. But, the mysterious events of Lost Island caused it to fall. It is now bound to the ground.

Then on, the inventors of Udara were determined to restore their airborne society. They built flying machines and towers, hoping to return home.

In Udara, guests get to ride all the flying contraptions made by the land's imaginative inventors!

Stay tuned! One more realm to go!
Learn more: https://youtu.be/pEWpjhQLZzw

27/04/2024

Our trip through Lost Island keeps on flowing into the next realm, Awa. 🌊

Awa, the water realm, sits on the waterfront, making it feel coastal.

The navigators of the Awa realm once sailed around the world. Now settled on a lush island, the Awa people embrace a free-flowing way of life, inspired by the open sea.

Stay tuned! I'll share about the other realms in the next few days.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/pEWpjhQLZzw

26/04/2024

Next stop on our tour of Lost Island is Yuta, the beautiful earth realm. 🌿

The Yuta merchants value preserving the earth and ourselves.

Yuta was once a thriving mining community with beautiful gems and minerals—until they took too much from the land. Today, nature is reclaiming Yuta’s stunning stone ruins.

This land has the park's major coaster, Matugani.

Ironically, Matugani is a refurbished coaster. It opened in 2007 in Sweden but was recently relocated to its new home at Lost Island. I find that so fitting for a land focused on being resourceful.

Stay tuned! I'll share about the other realms in the next few days.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/pEWpjhQLZzw

25/04/2024

Continuing our tour of Lost Island, let's explore Mura, the fire realm. 🔥

This is where guests can find the park's E-ticket dark ride, Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol, which tells much of the park's story.

Long ago, Mura was feared by the other realms. But now in peaceful times, Mura protects all of Lost Island.

The Mura warriors safeguard the island’s important artifact: the Ora Tika golden idol. In doing so, they protect the island from the fire demon, Volkanu.

But! The Ora Tika has gone missing—Volkanu has escaped, and Lost Island is in danger again! In the ride, guests use blasters with the sacred elements of the different realms to save Lost Island!

Stay tuned! I'll share about the other realms in the next few days.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/pEWpjhQLZzw

24/04/2024

Wahaari te Auk Modu! Welcome to Lost Island! 🌴

The backstory of Lost Island Themepark can be a little bit of a mystery, so I made a beginner's guide to Auk Modu! Follow along...

“Auk Modu” means “Lost Island” in the park’s fictional language, Aukipi.

Auk Modu (AKA Lost Island Themepark) is a mysterious place that emerged in Waterloo, Iowa.

Auk Modu has five unique realms. These societies once lived in conflict until a volcanic demon (Volkanu) put the island in danger.

Then, the island’s spirit guardians (Tamariki) united all the realms to defeat Volkanu. Together, they trapped Volkanu in a golden idol.

All the realms live peacefully now. But, there's still some trouble...

Stay tuned! I'll share about the other realms in the next few days.
Learn more: https://youtu.be/pEWpjhQLZzw

21/04/2024

New video!

Northeast Iowa (of all places) has a highly detailed theme park. But how? Why?

How did America's Heartland get its own little slice of Orlando? Let's discover the story behind Lost Island Themepark.

Watch: https://youtu.be/pEWpjhQLZzw
Read: https://storybookamusement.com/blogs/regional-parks/lost-island-themepark-history

08/11/2023

Missing this show each and every day. 🌊

Islands of Adventure needs an attraction like Poseidon's Fury to break up the day. Right next door, Universal Studios has several wonderful stage and street shows.

Bring some of that entertainment over to Islands of Adventure. 😭

I hope Islands of Adventure gets a nice show by the time Epic Universe opens.

10/08/2023

Happy birthday, Snoopy! The beloved beagle celebrated his birthday in a comic strip on this day in 1968.

Cedar Fair parks across the country have wonderful Planet Snoopy and Camp Snoopy areas. I love how this little fella is loved by so many generations and continues to be a part of so many memories!

27/04/2023

I'm amazed how a theme park could be so beautiful. My average iPhone pics can't even begin to capture how stunning this place is. 🥰

In 2019, I visited Disney's Animal Kingdom for the first time since my childhood—truly one of the best days of my life. I was really taken aback by all the sights, especially the waterways!

This river used to be a ride path for the defunct Discovery River Boats. Even without the boats, the Discovery River is really something else. The park wouldn't be the same without these vistas!

These are some pictures from that day in 2019 and my most recent visit in 2022.

12/04/2023

Poseidon’s Fury at Universal Islands of Adventure will close permanently in May.

This is one of the few opening-day attractions at the park to close, but it’s sad to see an original part of IOA go away.

This does mean new adventures are ahead! But you still have about a month left to experience this legendary walkthrough attraction one final time.

Need a reason to go do it? Well, I wrote an article all about why Poseidon’s Fury is under-appreciated!

🔗: https://storybookamusement.com/goodbye-poseidons-fury-universal-islands-of-adventure/

This is a celebration of Poseidon's Fury at Universal Islands of Adventure.

07/04/2023

I've published an article version of my old Island Skipper Tours video. Enjoy the story and sights of this lost attraction!

🔗: https://storybookamusement.com/history-island-skipper-tours-islands-of-adventure/

01/04/2023

This isn't a prank. Grab your cereal and enjoy some Saturday morning toons!

Pandemonium Cartoon Circus: REILLUSTRATED is now live on YouTube in 4K! Come enjoy some fantastic original art and the show's full soundtrack!

https://youtu.be/sb18BqIGiFM