Theme park news round-up - February 22, 2013

The Grand Texas Theme Park, if it is ever built, will boast a mix of educational elements and major rides.

Walt Disney World has installed interactive queue lines alongside a number of its major attractions in recent years, and the Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the latest to receive boredom-busting elements. In a new video, Disney's Imagineers offer a glimpse at what guests can expect. Meanwhile, Alton Towers has released a teaser video for its soon-to-be-released mobile game based on The Smiler roller coaster, and plans for an "educational" theme park in Texas continue to progress.

Disney's Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World has released a new video that offers a first look at the updated interactive queue that is currently being installed alongside the Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Full story: Theme Park Tourist

Alton Towers

Alton Towers has released a video preview of The Smiler: The Game, the mobile app based on the park's new roller coaster that is due to be released in the next few days.

Full story: Theme Park Tourist

Six Flags Great America

Six Flags Great America has confirmed that it will run inverted coaster Batman: The Ride backwards for a "limited time" from May 4.

Full story: Six Flags Great America

Grand Texas Theme Park

Plans to build a historically-themed park in Texas' East Montgomery County have been rumbling on for some time, and the developers behind the project are now reported to be in discussions with local authorities. As well as educational elements, the proposed park would also include two major roller coasters and several other rides.

Full story: Your Houston News

Paultons Park

Paultons Park will host a "red carpet" event to celebrate the opening of its new 4D Cinema on March 23, 2013, with the attraction set to open to the public soon afterwards.

Full story: Theme Park Tourist

Flamingo Land

Back in November, Gordon Gibb, the chief executive of Flamingo Land, was charged with assaulting a man who was selling "two-for-one" vouchers outside the park. The former chairman of Bradford City Football Club has now been cleared of the offence, which he had strenuously denied.

Full story: Yorkshire Post