DonHelbig

National Carousel Day is July 25, and there’s no better place to celebrate than aboard one of America’s most beautiful historic rides. Discover why Kennywood’s iconic Merry-Go-Round has been creating memories for nearly a century. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/celebrate-national-carousel-day-kennywood-merry-go-round/

Legendary Entertainment’s first-ever theme park attraction, KONG X GODZILLA: THE RIDE, opens July 24 at Lotte World Adventure with an immersive 11-minute Monsterverse dark ride. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/kong-x-godzilla-the-ride-lotte-world-adventure-july-2026/

Why? There’s no reason to.

The amusement industry has lost a legend. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/dick-knoebel-knoebels-president-dies-87/

Live entertainment, daring performances, unique food, family activities and a lakeside nighttime spectacular make Boardwalk Nights one of the highlights of summer at Cedar Point. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/cedar-point-boardwalk-nights-2026/

Kumba is preparing for its final roar at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, with its last day of operation set for August 2 after an unforgettable 33-year run. When it debuted in 1993, the legendary coaster was Florida’s tallest, fastest and longest, while its towering vertical loop and signature roar helped make it one of the most celebrated roller coasters of its era. While fans will say goodbye to a true icon, the story isn’t ending. Busch Gardens has announced Kumba’s Revenge as part of a $100 million investment in the park, ensuring the spirit of Kumba lives on while ushering in a new generation of thrills.

Three summer Saturdays just got even better. Holiday World is extending park hours, giving visitors extra time for award-winning roller coasters, live entertainment, great food and spectacular nighttime experiences. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-extends-summer-hours-night-rides-2026/

It’s not abusing it as you’re allowed up to two meals within four hours. However, counting how many guests are just coming in, grabbing a meal and carrying it out says the park thinks these guests are. If I were the park, using the person keeping tabs to stock ice would be a better use of the labor.

Whatever happens, happens.

With the Son of Beast station, condemnation does not mean it will be torn down.

Has Six Flags trained guests to ask, “Where can I use my meal plan?” instead of, “Where should we eat?” The company already has the building blocks—from smokehouses to food festivals—but there’s an opportunity to rebalance its food and beverage strategy by combining value, signature dining and premium experiences into something guests will remember. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-food-and-beverage-strategy/

TIME has named Dollywood one of America’s Best Private Companies for 2026, ranking it No. 49 overall—and it’s the only theme park to make the prestigious list. Find out what helped Dollywood earn the distinction and why it continues to set the standard in the theme park industry. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/dollywood-time-best-private-companies-2026/

What if you could take home an original piece of Dollywood? The one-of-a-kind paintings created live during this year’s Flower & Food Festival are now available through a limited-time online auction. Each captures an iconic scene from the park—and every winning bid supports Dollywood’s Share It Forward employee assistance program. Take a look at the collection and see which masterpiece belongs on your wall. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/dollywood-flower-food-festival-artwork-auction-2026/

Unless some things get addressed, I will be among the followed through and offset by a new passholder.

Nobody is abusing the dining plan. You’re allowed two meals per visit as long as they’re four hours apart. That’s what you paid for. The park does what it can to make it hard to get that second meal for guests that arrive with five hours to go in the operating day by closing restaurants earlier than they did in the pre-dining plan era. So who’s cheating who?