DonHelbig

Three record-breaking water coasters. More than 5,100 feet of track. Free soft drinks, sunscreen, parking, and one of the best water park experiences in America. Here’s why Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari belongs on your summer road trip list. Read more: https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-water-coasters/

Open to the world, not select coaster clubs.

I liked the concept for the Morning Rush event. The fail for Cedar Point was labeling it as a replacement for CoasterMania, which then draws the comparison. Offering significantly less, charging more invited the backlash they received. If they had just rolled it out as an all-new event with no reference to CoasterMania, it would have been much better received. The concept was good. How it was introduced was not.

If you're planning a visit to Cedar Point, be advised the park has shortened the seatbelts on Millennium Force and many guests who have been able to ride it for years no longer can. With many guests not able to fasten their seatbelt combined with now only two associates on the floor instead of four, the hourly capacity for the ride has also taken a significant hit.

Dollywood’s Splash Country opens its 26th season with Neon Nights, new food offerings, upgraded amenities and one of the cleanest water park experiences in the Smoky Mountains. Full Story: https://themeparksbydon.com/dollywood-splash-country-neon-nights-2026/

If I were to do a piece on the 10 dirtiest parks in the amusement and theme park industry, Kings Island makes the list. It’s sad because for decades it was among the top 10 cleanest parks.

Six Flags’ first quarter 2026 results reveal a company focused on guest spending, regional season pass growth, operational discipline and long-term stability beyond roller coasters. Read more: https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-2026-strategy-theme-parks/

Twenty years after its debut, The Voyage still delivers one of the most intense rides in the world—and remains the best wooden coaster I’ve ridden. Read more: https://themeparksbydon.com/the-voyage-celebrating-20-years-of-wooden-roller-coaster-greatness/

I saw the first one when it opened in 1982, Air Supply. Ten rows back, center stage.

People have been asking how many more years Timberwolf will be around for the past 25 years.

Some don’t give the park a free pass, nor should they.

Branded as “America’s Roller Coast,” the historic Lake Erie destination enters its 157th season with a refreshed mix of signature events, milestone celebrations and guest-focused experiences that continue to elevate it beyond a traditional amusement park visit. Full story: https://themeparksbydon.com/cedar-point-2026-season-opening-events-rides/

Holiday World lands the No. 1 water coaster in USA Today’s rankings, with two more water coasters in the top 10 as the park heads into its 80th season. Full story: https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-usa-today-awards-80th-season/

Dollywood earns seven Top Workplaces awards in 2026, highlighting its employee-first culture and why it continues to deliver one of America’s best theme park experiences. Details: https://themeparksbydon.com/dollywood-workplace-awards-2026/

A day of rides, animals, water park fun, and a Chris Janson concert? Wild Adventures is turning its 30th anniversary into a full-scale family getaway. Details: https://themeparksbydon.com/chris-janson-wild-adventures-concert/

Enchanted Parks has eliminated the former Six Flags dining plan and lowered the price of most food entrées by 20 to 30 percent, bringing many items back into the mid-teens after some had climbed as high as $20 to $23 under the previous pricing structure. Enchanted Parks CEO James Harhi said the decision came after reviewing more than a year’s worth of guest feedback before the acquisition closed. Food cost and food quality, he said, were among the most common complaints. Harhi concluded that menu prices had been pushed too high in part to offset heavy dining plan usage, leaving single-day guests and less-frequent season passholders to absorb much of the cost. “The math just doesn’t work long term,” Harhi said of the dining plan model at a park of this size. “While there were people who really loved it, holistically it was not the right thing for the company.”

Disney Lakeshore Lodge will open next summer near Magic Kingdom with waterfront views, new Lake House villas, and nearly 1,000 rooms at Walt Disney World. Read more: https://themeparksbydon.com/disney-lakeshore-lodge-walt-disney-world-opening/

Six Flags is shifting power back to the parks. The company has named new park presidents at 10 major properties in a move that could reshape guest experience and operations. Read more: https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-park-presidents-leadership-change/

My review: https://themeparksbydon.com/kings-island-phantom-theater-opening-nightmare-review/

The good news is no matter where you are in the park, you don’t have to walk far to get chicken tenders.

Discover five reasons to visit Camden Park this summer, from historic rides like the Big Dipper to nostalgic charm at one of America’s last trolley parks. Details: https://themeparksbydon.com/camden-park-summer-visit-reasons/

Headed to Kings Island this weekend? Have a good day—if you choose to. Most days, whether it's a good one or not is up to us. Some things during your visit will be beyond the park's control, but how you respond to them will ultimately decide the kind of day you have.

Gone are the days when Kings Island had shows in the Showplace Theatre and Festhaus from the start of the season through Labor Day and the Kings Island Theater from Memorial Day through Labor Days. They provided added value for guests. When the theaters are dark, there’s not much for non-riders to do.

Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival returns with 1 million blooms, seasonal dishes, live shows and stunning displays in the Smoky Mountains this spring. Details: https://themeparksbydon.com/dollywood-flower-food-festival-2026/