In preparation for the expected summer crowds over the next couple months, California theme parks have been working hard to present new attractions for guests touring Los Angeles this season.  Both Universal Studios and Disneyland California have raised the bar in utilizing modern technology to create unique experiences for their visitors.

Universal Studios is slated to introduce their King Kong 360 3-D experience this summer, directed by Oscar-winning icon Peter Jackson, of The Lord of the Rings fame.  The new project has been revered as the world’s largest, most intense 3-D experience, showcasing innovative special effects along with new media technology to deliver a most colossal ride for those visiting Universal Studios.  Visitors will journey to Skull Island where they’ll suddenly be caught in the midst of an intense battle between a terrifying T-Rex and the gargantuan King Kong.   The show will debut alongside four acres of new movie sets and filming locations, which were destroyed in a June 2008 fire, resulting in nearly $50 million in damages.

Not to be outdone, Disneyland California is also set to debut new attractions this summer, including the “World of Color” show, the Toy Story Midway Mania attraction, and Michael Jackson’s 1986 musical film “Captain EO” is scheduled to return in June.  Located in the Paradise Bay region of the park, “World of Color” will take the audience on a whimsical journey into the dreamy world of such Disney classics including The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo.  Nighttime shows have long been a favorite of those touring Disneyland, and park officials have decided that an inspiring program alongside the backdrop of a cool summer night would be an excellent way to entertain guests.  Disneyland also plans to open a new video-based attraction in their Toy Story Midway Mania town, featuring the characters of the upcoming Toy Story 3 film, called Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts.

Some of these attractions will only be available until the summer ends, which means you should plan your next tour of Los Angeles soon.  We’ve added a handful of new tours to Disneyland and trips to Universal Studios so you won’t have to miss out on any of these new attractions!