Fireworks are not just for the Fourth at theme parks, of course. Many theme parks are well known for their elaborate displays.

Which brings us to this week's question: Are those displays better than the Fourth of July shows that one can find in just about any community in America. Where was the best fireworks display you've ever seen?

Tell us the details in the comments, please. And, have a happy Fourth!

These awards are selected by you, ThemeParkInsider.com's readers, in year-long rating of the thousands of rides, shows, restaurants and hotels listed on the site. The represent the best of the best in the theme park industry, and stand among many close runners-up in providing outstanding value for a family theme park vacation.

So let's get to it, starting with the one award that changes every year:

Best New Attraction

These twin rides debuted on consecutive days in May and wowed fans with their mix of irreverent humor and physical thrills. Theme Park Insider readers said that The Simpsons Ride is "hilarious, thrilling, and visually astounding" and that even "the waiting is enjoyable."

Mark Woodbury, President, Universal Creative, Universal Parks & Resorts said of the honor, "The Simpsons Ride represents what Universal does best - which is to take pop culture's blockbuster entertainment concepts and bring them to life in wildly entertaining theme park experiences. We appreciate the recognition and share it with our partners at Fox Licensing and Gracie Films, who helped us create a truly authentic Simpsons experience."

Attractions that opened to the public in theme and amusement parks worldwide between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008 were eligible for the Best New Attraction award. In addition to The Simpsons Ride, Theme Park Insider readers highly two other rides that stand among the Top Three Best New Attractions of the Year:

Nights in White Satin at Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Best Theme Park Restaurant

Mythos at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Fla.

For the sixth consecutive year, Mythos wins Theme Park Insider's honor as the world's best theme park restaurant. Readers lauded Mythos for "great prices, great food and great service" as well as "wonderful atmosphere."

Ric Florell, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Resort Revenue Operations at Universal Orlando said of the honor, "With Mythos, our team set out to create an entirely new level of theme park dining experience. It was to be an experience that blended extraordinary food with extraordinary atmosphere. The continued recognition Mythos receives shows we have been - and continue to be - successful. We're grateful for the recognition. More importantly, our team is grateful for the opportunity to continue to thrill our guests."

All table-service restaurants located within the gates of theme and amusement parks are eligible for the Best Theme Park Restaurant award. In addition to Mythos, Theme Park Insider readers highly rated two other restaurants that stand among the Top Three Best Theme Park Restaurants in the World:

The Hollywood Brown Derby at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Best Theme Park Hotel

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom Lodge reclaims this honor for the third time. "Every part of the hotel from the room, to the view, to the food, and the cast members made this resort one of a kind," one Theme Park Insider reader wrote.

All "on-property" hotels at theme park resorts worldwide are eligible for the Best Theme Park Hotel Award. In addition to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Theme Park Insider readers highly rated two other hotels that stand among the Top Three Best Theme Park Hotels in the World:

Disney's Grand Californian Hotel at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

Best Theme Park

Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif.

The park that started the worldwide theme park craze reclaims its crown, winning Theme Park Insider readers' top award for 2008. Disney's always had the most loyal fans in the theme park business, but even casual fans are falling back in love with this park, thanks to recent renovations and fresh attractions. With Pirates of the Caribbean and the Indiana Jones Adventure, Disneyland had two of the top four rides in the country in Theme Park Insider's recent "Best Ride in America" tournament, and qualified more attractions for that tournament than any other single theme park in the world.

In addition to Disneyland, Theme Park Insider readers honored two other parks as among Top Three Best Theme Parks in the World:

This means that you can read the full text of the Blog Flume using Google Reader or any other RSS news reader. (You'll still need to click through to the article here on TPI to read and submit comments, though.)

I hope that you find this change useful. Thanks for reading Theme Park Insider (however you read the site)!

The law doesn't allow employees to pack while working; they have to keep guns locked in their cars. The law exempts certain businesses though, including ones that keep explosives on the premises, such as... fireworks.

That's the loophole Disney's playing, according to the article linked above.

I'm not a gun fan, but I can't get too worked up about guns locked in employees' cars. Especially when employees park in lots removed from the workplace, and have to go through a security check-point to get from that lot into their workplace (as Disney theme park employees have to do). Still, I think it's a stupid law, one that will enable more people to pack guns in their cars and that likely will result in more road-rage killings in the state.

But the whiz kids in the Florida legislature passed it and now it's law. Not that Disney's ever gotten creative to get around Florida laws before. *cough* ReedyCreekImprovementDistrict *cough*

I suppose that I've merely created the opportunity for a flame war over guns now, but, hey, the single-digit comment counts over the past couple posts have been getting me down anyway. Is Disney right? Or the NRA? Fire away (pun sort of intended) in the comments....

Admission is $69.99, plus tax. A "Frequent Fear Pass" is also available for $69.99 and is valid on September 26 and 27, October 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 22, 23, 26, 29 and 30.

Dates for the event are September 26-27, October 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 22-26 and October 29-November 1 and tickets are available at the USF ticket booths, by calling 888-HORROR-7, or online at halloweenhorrornights.com.

In addition to the content at the website, Universal's also released a promo video [Windows Media] for the event.

Update: Hotel packages are available via Universal's website, and Universal's also offering up to $33 dollars off admission with a UPC code from any Coke Classic, Diet Coke or Coke Zero product.

On the flip side, and in the meantime, the Orange County (Calif.) Register is running an online poll to select the worst attraction at the Disneyland Resort (including Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure.)

FWIW, Theme Park Insider's reader ratings have Tuck & Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies at DCA as the easy winner in that category. Unfortunately, the Register didn't have that as an option, so I had to add it.

So... how many TPI readers can we get to click over there and flood the ballot box?

(The paper is promising a vote next week for best attraction. Let's plan to flood the box for TPI reader fave Pirates on that one. Though I doubt it'll need the help.)

1. Last week, the Universal Orlando crowd was dominated by three types of tourists:

At the same time, Busch cut the price for a two-day, two-park ticket by a whopping $20, to $79.95. The second park can be either the Aquatica water park, or Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa.

But those front-gate prices aren't the deals you want, anyway. Busch's best ticket prices remain online. A basic SeaWorld ticket is available online for $59.95, and includes a free second day at the park.

Busch also offers online a 14-day unlimited visit pass to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica for $84.95, five bucks over the two-day pass at the gate. (It's called the "SeaWorld and Aquatica 'Be a Kid Again"' Length of Stay Ticket.")

From The Patriot-News:

A Ferris wheel rider in Hersheypark on Saturday evening didn't like the conversation he was having with his female companion, so he got off the ride -- while it was moving.

The man, who was not identified, climbed out of the ride's car and sat crossed-legged on the roof for about 25 minutes as Derry Twp. police and his family tried to talk him down, Hersheypark spokesman Garrett Gallia said.

Here's the full story.

A boy was killed Saturday when he was struck by the popular Batman ride at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Police spokesman Dana Pearce said the victim was not on the ride when he was "struck and killed." Six Flags said in a statement that details of the fatal accident would be released "shortly."

According to Fox 5 TV, a group of boys with a church group visiting the amusement park jumped a fence around an off-limits area. One of them jumped to grab someone's feet as the Batman ride passed over, and he was decapitated.

Update: Six Flags' statement:

A 17-year old park visitor scaled two six-foot fences that secured the Batman roller coaster and was struck and killed by the coaster at approximately 2 p.m. today. We do not know why this person was intent on gaining access to this restricted area, as multiple signs clearly state: Danger Zone/Do Not Enter/Authorized Personnel Only.

Some witnesses have stated that the individual was trying to retrieve something he had lost. Others reported that he was trying to touch the ride. This is merely speculation at this point, and we are working with park visitors and local police to learn more. No guests on the ride were injured. The visitor’s family was at the park with him, and Six Flags representatives are currently with the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Update 2: This is the second death at the ride involving a victim who was struck and killed while in a restricted area. In 2002, a Six Flags employee was struck and killed.

Update 3: The 17-year-old South Carolinan was sneaking back into the park after leaving for lunch. The first fence he and a friend scaled was the park perimeter fence. The second was the attraction fence.

Update 4: Victim ID'd as Asia LeeShawn Ferguson of Springfield, South Carolina. Ferguson was visiting with a group from Oakey Springs Baptist Church in Springfield.