DonHelbig

They can remove it but they’d have to build another structure elsewhere for a Haunt maze, like alongside The Racer on the park side.

Biggest and largest doesn’t move the needle. Experiences that are worth repeating do.

Plague Productions being involved with Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare was talked about on an episode of Tower Topics back in December.

After another year of record-breaking attendance, Dollywood is preparing for what could be its most exciting season yet. With a major new attraction, brand-new shows, special events and new ways to visit, the Smoky Mountains theme park is positioning 2026 as a landmark year for travelers. http://Dollywood’s 2026 Season: New Rides, Shows & Events

Maybe. 😎

At the moment. I expect Cedar Point to also convert.

Visitors riding the Dollywood Express in 2026 may notice something missing — the occasional cinder drifting through the air — but otherwise, the experience will feel just as timeless as ever. https://themeparksbydon.com/dollywood-express-2026-change/

In an industry that often chases records — fastest launch, steepest drop, highest peak — longevity tells a different story. At Dollywood, that story is Blazing Fury. https://themeparksbydon.com/blazing-fury-storytelling-strategy/

Universal Orlando Resort’s newest multi-day ticket product is more than a pricing promotion—it’s a strategic signal about what the destination is becoming. https://themeparksbydon.com/universal-orlando-multi-day-ticket-weeklong-vacation/

You get unlimited free tap water in the VIP Lounge with Prestige.

One of the most important moments from Six Flags’ earnings call didn’t come from a chart, a slide, or a headline number. It came from a sentence. https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-seasonal-events-strategy-holiday-headwind/

I was optimistic about him being named CEO, and remain so after listening to the earnings call and talking with people that know him.

I hope the winter events are brought back at KD, SFOG, SFGAd.

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation closed out 2025 with mixed results, posting $3.10 billion in full-year revenue while grappling with lower attendance, higher operating costs and a significant non-cash impairment charge tied to goodwill and other intangible assets. https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-2025-earnings-q4-results-attendance-spending/

Disney has confirmed that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will reopen in spring 2026 after being closed since January 2025 for a major refurbishment. https://themeparksbydon.com/big-thunder-mountain-railroad-reopening-2026/

Watching someone argue with roller coaster enthusiasts on a behind-the-scenes tour of The Racer was something else — insisting they were taking photos of a water tower, not a water tank. The enthusiasts tried to explain the difference: towers use gravity to create pressure, while tanks typically rely on pumps. But the response they got was the classic “because I said so” authority stance.

Too much time has passed for whatever might eventually go in that spot to be a Vortex replacement. There wasn’t a plan for that spot when Vortex was retired in 2019 like there was with other rides. If Kings Island could go back in time, they wouldn’t have retired Vortex. They would have done what Busch Gardens VA did with Loch Ness Monster and put the money into it to preserve the ride for future generations to enjoy.

The name may make you chuckle. But the Texas-sized story behind the Judge Roy Scream are anything but a joke. https://themeparksbydon.com/judge-roy-scream-six-flags-over-texas/

I recommended that she be the one hired for the seasonal digital content coordinator position prior to the start of the 2023 season. I wish her well in her new position at P&G.

The Raven is a fantastic wooden coaster! I am looking forward to riding it early and often during Holiday World’s 80th anniversary season.

Frozen Ever After at EPCOT reopens Feb. 12 with upgraded Anna, Elsa and Kristoff animatronics featuring more lifelike faces and expressions. https://themeparksbydon.com/frozen-ever-after-epcot-animatronic-upgrade/

Vortex replacement… does that phrase even make sense anymore? I published a piece on this on TPBD. https://themeparksbydon.com/Vortex-replacement-term-outdated/

Holiday World’s Firecracker is more than a spinner—it’s a revived Calypso with roots at Americana near Cincinnati. A true time capsule ride. https://themeparksbydon.com/holiday-world-firecracker-calypso-ride-history/

They should do this at KI but wouldn’t invite some who are among the bigger influencers and most trusted voices with fans. And as a result, the relationship between the park and these influencers would remain the same: not the best.

If Tower Topics talks about Invertigo, they will follow up with a post. 😀