Monthly Archive for October, 2007

Another NiagaraFrontier.net update

NiagaraFrontier.net has sent out a couple more notices:

The newly redeveloped site is now open with easier navigation and a more uniformed site it is sure to better your experience with the site and draw in new visitors! Please visit http://niagarafrontier.net!

and

We have made a Photo Gallery and it is now open on our site if you would like to submit a picture from anywhere in the Buffalo-Niagara region then please send it to info@niagarafrontier.net and please make the subject line Photo Gallery Submission. Please visit us at http://niagarafrontier.net and click on Photo Gallery-New in the buttons list to get to the new gallery.

Festival of Lights should position itself for another 25 years of success

From the Niagara Falls Review:

It’s hard to believe that 25 years have past since the switch was flipped on the first-ever Niagara Falls Festival of Lights. The fact the festival has been able to survive this long is a tribute to those who have been charged with organizing this annual event.

The evolution is remarkable.

Loudwater pictures of Niagara Falls

A Windows Live Spaces user going by Loudwater has a lot of pictures posted of Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls Comedy Fest

As the recent article on the Winter Festival of Lights mentioned, this year is the first year for the Niagara Falls Comedy Fest. There are currently 7 comedians lined up, including Brent Butt (of Corner Gas fame) and John Pinette.

Whose Fallsview?

From the Niagara Falls Review:

A Crystal Beach businessman who took on Google in 2004 may win a battle with local hotel operators for use of the Fallsview name.

A deal between members of the Fallsview BIA and Steven D. Alek is on the table.

The Review has learned that Alek - who runs a number of websites, such as naigarafallsniagarafalls.com, canadianniagarahotels.com - will receive close to $200,000 in compensation over the next two years if the deal is signed.

Titanic Experience on Clifton Hill

As they announced via their Clifton Hill Resorts Update survey, HOCO Limited is planning a Titanic-related attraction on Clifton Hill. As another commenter noted, there is a Titanic attraction in Branson, Missouri and based on some of the pictures in the survey, it appears that this is the same sort of attraction. A quick search of the Internet shows that people are generally quite impressed with the Branson attraction. The only complain seemed to be about the price (more on that later).

The survey asked some general question about your history coming to Niagara Falls, and then presented a variety of images that showed some pictures and described the potential attraction. I took screenshots of the pictures:

HOCO always does a great job with their attractions, so I’m sure that this one will be equally good. Someone left a comment wondering what the Titanic had to do with Niagara Falls and someone responded that it had nothing to do with Niagara Falls, but nothing else on Clifton Hill does either. I agree. If everything in Niagara Falls had to do with Niagara Falls, people would get bored. Ultimately they are looking for good-quality family attractions. I’d also guess that the Titanic doesn’t have much of a connection to Branson either, but the attraction does well there.

As I mentioned earlier, the biggest complaint out there seems to be about the price. The individual cost for an adult is in the range of $20. That does seem rather pricey. However, HOCO already has plans to integrate this with their Fun Pass.

I’ve always thought the Fun Pass is the best value on Clifton Hill. If you plan on going on the SkyWheel and just do one other thing, then it’s a no-brainer. The plan right now is to increase the price of the Fun Pass by $10 to include the Titanic attraction. That seems quite reasonable.

As has been noted in other comments, HOCO isn’t taking down the Quality Inn yet, so it’ll be at least a year before this attraction is even started. There is no indication yet if this will be the next development, or what other plans there are. The question is, does this fit in with HOCO’s future amusement park plans? They haven’t said for sure, but it seems doubtful.

Clifton Hill Resorts Survey Contest - October 2007

On Friday HOCO Limited sent out a survey link to their Clifton Hill Resorts newsletter subscribers. The newsletter is rather understated when it says, “Your opinions will help us deliver better products and services.” The survey is about the appeal of a Titanic-related attraction on Clifton Hill.

There has already been quite a few comments left on another postings. I’ll post some screenshots from the survey shortly.

You can subscribe to the Clifton Hill Resorts Update newsletter by visiting the Clifton Hill Newsletter page.

A tour guide in Toronto

A Blogspot (Blogger) blog describes a visit to Niagara Falls:

Niagara falls two-day trip. I used the “Casino bus” to get to Niagara Falls. The casino bus costs $5 for two ways. (If you’re interested in, I can tell you their phone number.) We really enjoyed Niagara Falls sightseeing. We went to the I-MAX theatre, Behind the Falls tour, Rainbow Bridge and Clifton Hill, etc.

Countdown ’til Holiday Time at Great Wolf Lodge!

On Wednesday I received the latest newsletter from the Great Wolf Lodge. They are promoting October through December packages.

20071017_gwl_newsletter.jpg

You can sign up for the mailings by visiting the Email Signup page on the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls web site.

Mickey, Minnie back on board lights fest

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Mickey and Minnie will be there, but Winter Festival of Lights general manager Dino Fazio promises the 25th anniversary of the event won’t be a Mickey Mouse celebration.

“I have absolutely no qualms saying if (the Winter Festival of Lights) is not the best illumination festival in North America, it’s in the top two,” Fazio said following Thursday’s roll-out of the scheduled events for the two-month festival.

The silver anniversary celebrations kick off Nov. 3 with Disney’s signature characters flipping the switch to illuminate close to three million lights on more than 120 displays along a five-kilometre stretch of the Niagara Parkway.