Theme Park Insider

All aboard for 2026's NFL schedule drops

Fri, 15 May 2026 18:56:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Roller coaster drops met a schedule drop this week at Six Flags in New England.

The Massachusetts theme park hosted the video shoot for the New England Patriots' 2026 schedule reveal video. The two-minute video shows Patriots players Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Brenden Schooler, TreVeyon Henderson, Kyle Williams, Craig Woodson and Efton Chism telling (yelling?) the names of the team's opponents for the upcoming season, while riding Six Flags New England roller coasters including Wicked Cyclone, Pandemonium, and the new Quantum Accelerator.

Check it out:

I love the energy in this video, but as a fan of the Indianapolis Colts, I must draw your attention to the Colts' schedule release video, which was produced in cooperation with Disney - and uses an IP well known in the Universal theme parks.

Yep, it's The Simpsons, with the schedule announcement using clips from the show. Look for abundant Colts Easter eggs in the modified intro sequence, as well.

It's all *chef's kiss*, but the Jacksonville jokes land especially hard. For context, the Colts have not won at the Jaguars since 2014.

One 'Project Purple' helps another at Six Flags

Fri, 15 May 2026 17:09:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Roller coaster fans have been following the development of "Project Purple," the new record-setting coaster promised for Six Flags Great Adventure next year.

Tipped to be a Mack Rides Launch Coaster, Project Purple is now under construction at the New Jersey theme park. But what fans might not know is that someone else has been using the Project Purple name for some time.

Construction of the Project Purple roller coaster. Photos courtesy Six Flags

That other Project Purple is a national nonprofit that promoting awareness and funding for pancreatic cancer research and patient programs. But rather than fighting over the name, Six Flags and the nonprofit now are working together.

Six Flags will be promoting Project Purple - the cancer nonprofit - along with Project Purple - the roller coaster - in the park this season. On Project Purple signs in the park, fans will see QR codes that will direct them to online information about the nonprofit and its mission.

Six Flags and Project Purple officials kick off their partnership with a $5,000 donation to the non-profit.

"We're excited to partner with Project Purple and use the visibility of this incredible new attraction to help shine a light on an important cause," Parl President Mike Fehnel said. "This partnership is especially meaningful to me personally, having lost my father to pancreatic cancer. It�s a disease that impacts far too many families, including mine. As Project Purple rises on our skyline, we have an opportunity to raise awareness, inspire support and create a meaningful connection between unforgettable experiences and real impact."

"We are honored to partner with Six Flags Great Adventure and be part of such an exciting and visible project," Project Purple CEO Dino Verrelli said. "This collaboration helps us bring our mission to new audiences and reminds people that awareness can happen in powerful and unexpected places."

Get ready to see more America in Disney's new Soarin'

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:30:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Walt Disney World has revealed several of the locations that will be featured in the new version of Soarin'.

Soarin' Across America debuts May 26 at EPCOT. The third film for Disney's flying theater ride also will open July 2 at Disney California Adventure. Soarin' Across America calls back to classic Disney travelogues such as "America the Beautiful" and "A Tour of the West," with its focus on iconic landscapes in the United States - just in time for the country's 250th birthday.

In a press release, Disney said that Soarin' Across America would include "iconic urban and natural wonders, from the rugged New England coastline and the radiant welcome of New York Harbor to the vast expanse of Grand Canyon West.

"The experience features so many quintessentially American settings... the autumn colors of the heartland; the beauty of our bayous; the great plains of the west; the northern wilderness; and sunlit island shores."

Disney today also released three images from the film: Portland Head Light in Maine, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, and Diamond Head in Hawaii.

Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, commissioned in 1787 by George Washington.

Portland Head Light. All images courtesy Disney

On the other side of the country, Diamond Head is one of the most picturesque locations in America.

Diamond Head

I suppose that Mount Rushmore was a sure-thing choice, but that is my choice as the most disappointing attraction in America. While I am sure that Disney will make the monument look impressive on screen, in person it's a nothing-burger - a scar on an otherwise stunning natural landscape. Beyond that, its creator was, uh, not a good guy.

Mount Rushmore

If you want a kitschy fun attraction to visit in South Dakota, head instead to Belle Fourche and check out the Geographic Center of the Nation Monument. Yeah, it's just a concrete slab. And it's not actually the geographic center of the 50 states - that's located on private land about 20 miles north of town. But the Belle Fourche monument is free and no one had a blow up a mountain to make it.

Geographic Center of the Nation Monument. Photo by me

For more on Disney World's new attractions, please sign up for Theme Park Insider's weekend newsletter, which will include links to all my coverage from Central Florida next week.

For assistance in planning a Walt Disney World vacation, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.

Liseberg swings into summer with all-new ride model

Thu, 14 May 2026 16:35:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Swedish theme park Liseberg today christened its new, first-of-its-kind thrill ride for 2026.

Liseberg's Stormv�g, or Storm Wave in English, is the first installation of an Art Engineering Wild Swing XL. Think of it as a family top spin ride that does not go fully upside down.

With theming inspired by the Swedish coast, Stormv�g entered service today after Port of Gothenburg Port Officer Kristina Karlsson broke a sugar "glass" bottle on the ride's entryway to christen the attraction.

Photos courtesy Liseberg

Stormv�g stands over 47 feet tall and carries 24 passengers on multiple swings during the ride. Passengers must be at least four years old and 95 cm (just over 37 inches) tall.

Stormv�g

"We are so happy that Stormv�g has finally arrived at Liseberg," Project Lead Emelie Spelmans said. "We started back in September, and hearing the joyful screams from guests today is incredibly rewarding. In many ways, it feels like Stormv�g has always belonged here and is a perfect complement to the rest of the park."

Other attraction openings

In other attraction opening news for this month, Blackpool's Pleasure Beach will open its new swing ride, Aviktas, one week from today, on May 21. That one will be Britain's largest Intamin Gyro Swing.

In the United States, Kentucky Kingdom is debuting Flying Fox, its new Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster, in two weeks, on May 28.

Finally, Walt Disney World will open several new and reimagined attractions on May 26, including Soarin' Across America at EPCOT, Bluey's Wild World at Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Rock �n� Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

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Disney to use virtual queue for new Bluey attractions

Wed, 13 May 2026 20:23:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: Visitors to Walt Disney World will need to use the resort's virtual queue system if they want to visit the new Bluey attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Bluey's Wild World at Conservation Station opens May 26 at the Florida theme park. Starting that day, Disney World visitors will need to use the resort's official My Disney Experience app to get a return time. The virtual queue will open for requests at 7am and 10am daily.

You will need to be in the park to join the VQ at 10am. The 7am drop comes before the park opens, so obviously you won't need to be in the park then. But you will need to have a valid DAK park reservation for that day if you are visiting on an annual pass.

With a virtual queue entry time, you can ride the Wildlife Express Train from Harambe Market to Conversation Station. That is where you will find the new Bluey�s Wild World experience, which includes music, games and activities. Jumping Junction is a new Australian-themed habitat with kangaroos and wallabies. (The animated TV show Bluey takes place in Australia, for those without pre-schoolers in their homes.) Other Conversation Stations exhibits will return with Bluey's debut, as well.

Elsewhere in Disney's Animal Kingdom, you can find Bluey-themed merch, includes shirts, jackets and headbands. Pizzafari and Isle of Java will offer a few Bluey-themed snacks and drinks, as well.

For my review of the new Bluey show and food at Disneyland in California, please see Bluey comes to Disneyland for her 'Best Day Ever'. And for the new Bluey-themed roller coaster at Alton Towers in the UK, please watch our video.

For assistance in planning a Walt Disney World vacation, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.

No matter the medium, we all want experiences to cherish

Wed, 13 May 2026 03:43:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: I want to talk about television for a moment, to make a point about theme parks.

This past weekend, the HBO series "Hacks" dropped two of the best episodes of TV that I have watched in years. "QuikScribbl" offers a hilarious and thoughtful take-down of AI hype. And "Montecito" pays off four and a half seasons of development in the lead characters' relationship with one great line or sight gag after another.

If you have not been watching Hacks on HBO Max, I recommend it. But do not jump in with these episodes. Part of the appeal of great TV series is seeing how its characters and situations develop over time. Start with the first episode and work your way through to the current ones.

The series ends May 28, so binge fast if you want to catch up by then. But Hacks has been one of HBO's best recent hits, winning multiple Emmy Awards, so I expect it to be around on the streamer for some time.

I started watching Hacks for the most annoying, arrogant, Los Angeles-insidery reason imaginable. I was in an episode. You can see me checking into a hotel in the Season 3 opening episode, "Just for Laughs." It's a background/extra role, but the vibe on set was fun enough to make me want to start watching the series.

Since then, Hacks has explored a wide range of emotions as its characters have developed. And these two most recent episodes left me thinking, wow, I feel so grateful that I was able to watch this.

And that brings me to theme parks. Because isn't eliciting that reaction what every creative professional wants to do with their work?

Whenever I was a park designer to name their favorite moment in the design process, their answers are always the same - opening day. It's not because they are grateful for a project's conclusion. Designers work to see the reaction that fans have to their creation. They want to see people react the same way that I did to these most recent episodes of Hacks - by saying, wow, I am grateful that I was able to experience this.

Heck, as a writer, that is the reaction that I hope to elicit just once in a long while from people who read my stuff. Whether you are an actor, a writer, a musician or an experience designer, the ultimate reward for your work is for someone to cherish it.

And for consumers, for fans, the thing we want most is to have experiences to cherish.

Not every experience becomes that, of course. But it's the journey to discover those experiences that makes them so special, when we finally find them.

Here's wishing you a summer filled with experiences to cherish, at home and on the road.

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Walt Disney World President announces retirement

Mon, 11 May 2026 22:55:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: The President of the Walt Disney World Resort announced his retirement today.

In a message shared with cast members, Jeff Vahle announced that he will step down this summer as the head of Disney's largest theme park resort. Vahle has held the top job in Orlando since 2020, following a run in charge of the Disney Cruise Line.

"I started my career as an engineer at Magic Kingdom and I'm wrapping it up with the best job ever, leading Walt Disney World into a period of remarkable growth in partnership with our incredible Cast Members and community," Vahle posted on social media.

Vahle said that he will remain on the job until late July.

Expect within the next few weeks an announcement about Vahle's replacement. Disney recently shuffled its management across the Disney Experiences segment following former Chairman Josh D'Amaro's promotion to CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Former Disneyland Resort President Thomas Mazloum moved up to replace D'Amaro in running Disney's theme park segment.

Several other executives in the segment switched jobs in the shuffle, with Vahle being the most prominent executive to remain put. That prompted some speculation that his retirement was imminent.

The Walt Disney World Resort has several major expansion projects underway, including the opening of Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom next year, as well as a Monsters, Inc. Monstropolis land at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Cars and Villains-themed attractions at the Magic Kingdom all now under construction.

For assistance in planning a Walt Disney World vacation, please contact our travel agent for a free, no-obligation vacation quote.

Attendance drops and losses mount at United Parks

Mon, 11 May 2026 16:17:00 GMT

By Robert Niles: SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parent company United Parks this morning reported another dismal quarter of earnings.

Attendance and revenue were down and losses continued for the first three months of 2026, compared with the same period one year ago. The company's parks welcomed 3.2 million visitors in the quarter, down 5 percent from 2025. Revenue was down 3 percent, to $278.3 million. Earnings dropped 14.1%, with an Adjusted EBITDA of $58 million. And the company's net loss for the quarter more than doubled, to $34.1 million.

Longtime Theme Park Insider readers probably can guess what the company blamed for the poor performance. But let's let United Parks & Resorts Inc. CEO Marc Swanson say it anyway.

"First quarter results fell short of our expectations primarily due to unfavorable weather (including unfavorable weather in San Diego and Florida in January and February, and again in Florida and Texas during their peak Spring Break periods) and a decline in international attendance," Swanson said. "Attendance in the first quarter was negatively impacted by approximately 140,000 guests due to weather and approximately 80,000 guests due to declines in international visitation. Adjusting for these impacts, attendance would have increased more than 1% for the quarter."

Ah, yes. If it weren't for fewer people visiting, attendance would have gone up. Of course.

United Parks did point to an increase in in-park per capita spending, which was up 5.3% to a record $40.62. So higher prices in the parks helped offset the lower attendance and a 0.5 percent drop in admission per capita.

Yay?

So how did United Parks management respond to the company's ongoing challenges? Did it order up even more new rides and park improvements to help attraction new visitors? Nope. Here's Swanson, again:

"We continue to strongly believe our stock is materially undervalued and, as such, continued to repurchase shares in the first quarter buying approximately 2.6 million shares for nearly $93 million," the CEO said. "This action emphasizes the strong cash flow generation of this company, our long-standing commitment to returning excess cash to our shareholders and our belief that our shares are materially undervalued."

To be fair, United Parks this year is opening a new dark ride at SeaWorld and a refreshed Shark Encounter and new summer drone show in San Diego. San Antonio opened a new family coaster earlier this year, and Williamsburg is opening a revamped version of its Verbolten roller coaster. But it's hard not to think that spending $93 million on a well-designed new coaster or thrill ride somewhere wouldn't have helped United Parks' underlying financials better than yet another quarter of stock buy-backs.

But what do I know?

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