DonHelbig

Holiday World is giving visitors another reason to squeeze in a late-summer trip to Santa Claus, Indiana, with more than 40 new festival bites — including a Thanksgiving dinner served inside a bread cone and a “burger and fries” that’s actually dessert. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-summer-wined-down-culinary-festival-2026/

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Why isn’t the park posting an advisory on its social media channels?

Millions of people visit Disneyland for its newest attractions, but one of the park’s oldest rides helped change the amusement industry forever. Matterhorn Bobsleds debuted in 1959 with groundbreaking tubular steel track technology—and more than 65 years later, you can still ride this piece of roller coaster history. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/disneyland-matterhorn-bobsleds-roller-coaster-history/

The full-time staff could leave the air-conditioned offices and work drink stands and restaurants this week to help so places aren’t closed. It wasn’t that long ago when that was how it was handled the last week of daily operation.

Trying to close loopholes.

Six Flags says it may use passholder visit history, benefit usage and other account activity when determining Home Park requirements, renewal offers, pricing and benefits. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-season-pass-price-home-park-policy/

It opened during America’s Bicentennial and changed what riders could expect from a roller coaster. Now, 50 years later, Cedar Point’s Corkscrew is being honored for its place in coaster history. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/cedar-point-corkscrew-50th-anniversary-ace-landmark/

I don’t have to be there to know exactly what’s going on. People send me photos, what’s open, what’s closed every day. I have no ill will towards the park, either. False narrative on your end. I want the park to do well. I want the guest experience to be top tier.

How’s this narrative for Sunday, Aug. 9?

When it comes to season-pass value, the lowest price doesn’t always mean the best deal. Dollywood, Holiday World and Kennywood continue to stand out to me because of what guests get beyond rides: friendly guest service, clean and well-maintained parks, strong seasonal events and an overall sense that the guest experience matters. There’s also something to be said for integrity—delivering an experience that matches what was promised and making visitors feel valued after they’ve spent their money.

Who remembers when the Kings Island sleuths were convinced they had cracked the code on the park’s website and uncovered what the big announcement on this day in 2013 would be? It was so much fun watching it all unfold from my end.

Cedar Point’s $1,999 season-long Fast Lane price could help reduce premium wait times in 2027. But the higher cost also raises questions about guest spending, repeat visits and attendance. READ MORE: https://themeparksbydon.com/cedar-point-fast-lane-prices-attendance-2027/

Never before has there been as much confusion when passes and dining plans go on sale.

The gates to the underworld are opening at Cedar Point and Kings Dominion this Halloween season. DIABLO: The Infernal Path, an all-new haunted maze inspired by the blockbuster video game franchise, will bring the world of Sanctuary to life with fiery environments, demonic corruption and some of Diablo’s most infamous villains. Guests will come face-to-face with The Butcher, Duriel, Baal, Mephisto, Lilith and Diablo himself as they attempt to survive a realm overrun by evil. The experience was designed exclusively for Cedar Point and Kings Dominion. Are you brave enough to walk The Infernal Path?

Dollywood’s newest attraction takes guests into a glowing nighttime world inspired by real natural phenomena found just beyond the park in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/dollywood_nightflight_expedition_smoky_mountains_bioluminescence/

Baseless? They haven’t addressed the drink stands closed and no ice issues in three years, so it’s not baseless.

Circle back with me this time next year and let me know if I was right or I was wrong. I’d love to be wrong.

You won’t see all the drink stands open and ice because prices increased. But people will renew anyway. And that’s why these issues have and will continue to happen.

Six Flags has raised the price of its all-park Fast Lane pass that includes Cedar Point to $1,999 for 2027. The premium skip-the-line option now costs more than Disney’s top-tier Incredi-Pass. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/cedar-point-fast-lane-pass-1999-disney-incredi-pass-comparison-2027/

A Camden Park season pass is $160 plus another $40 for parking for those that want to say it’s too expensive.

The passes are priced higher than last year but still a very good deal. I think they are still too low. But with higher pricing comes greater expectations.

Shares of Six Flags Entertainment tumbled nearly 19% so far today, making the company one of the biggest percentage losers on the New York Stock Exchange. The sharp sell-off came after Six Flags reported second-quarter earnings that fell short of Wall Street expectations, raising fresh concerns among investors about the pace of the company’s post-merger turnaround.

Just north of Chicago, a new family adventure is taking shape. Six Flags Great America has unveiled Camp Timber Trail, an immersive new land opening in 2027 featuring the Midwest’s longest, tallest and fastest suspended family coaster, reimagined classic attractions, interactive play areas and a fresh woodland atmosphere designed for all ages. FULL STORY: https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-great-america-camp-timber-trail-family-expansion-2027/

They can replace Passholders who don’t renew with new Passholders so the numbers hold, but when you lose people that have been Passholders for years, that’s not a good thing.