​AUSTELL, Ga. — March 9, 2018 — Six Flags Over Georgia—the Thrill Capital of the South— kicks off its 51st season on March 10 with heart-pounding, innovative roller coaster experiences and a special name change for a fan favorite ride.   

 “Six Flags Over Georgia has a long-standing reputation in the Southeast as the premier theme park for the most innovative rides and attractions,” said Park President Dale Kaetzel. “We take great pride in offering our guests something new and unique every season. We are ready to welcome thrill-seekers of all ages for another incredible season, filled with the kind of memories only Six Flags can create.”   

Beginning opening day, guests can experience the massive drops, twists and unsuspecting turns of The Great American Scream Machine — Backward.  When the historic wooden roller coaster debuted in 1973, it was the longest, fastest and tallest wooden roller coaster in the world. This season, the coaster celebrates its 45th anniversary and will feature:   
A suspenseful 105-foot climb while staring straight down at the ground—backward;
The exhilarating drop down nearly 10 stories—backward;   
Speeds of 57 miles per hour around tight curves—backward; and 
​More than 3,800 feet of track racing along the banks of the Chattahoochee River—all while facing backward.

In honor of the park’s friendly wager with Alabama Splash Adventure, the steel stand up roller coaster—Georgia Scorcher—will temporarily become the Alabama Scorcher for the weekend, to celebrate the University of Alabama’s national championship win over the University of Georgia Bulldogs.   

Then, later this spring, one of the country’s most anticipated new rides of 2018—Twisted Cyclone, makes its debut as the region’s first hybrid coaster, combining steel and wood for a smoother and more exciting ride than ever before. Park guests will get an up-close view of the construction progress and amazing transformation of this thrilling roller coaster set to open Memorial Day weekend.   

Six Flags Over Georgia opens for the 2018 season on March 10 and operates on weekends through mid-May and daily March 31 through April 8 for Spring Break. For information on Season Passes, Memberships, daily tickets and the All Season Dining Pass, visit www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia.  
 
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with $1.3 billion in revenue and 20 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 57 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.  

(Branson, MO  3/13/2018)       Never before in the history of Silver Dollar City theme park has there been such excitement, such enthusiasm over the opening of a new attraction.  With its March 14 debut, Time Traveler, the World’s Fastest, Steepest and Tallest Complete-Circuit Spinning Roller Coaster, marks a new era in coasters, delivering ride experiences unlike any before, with no two rides alike. A major difference is the spin, which is not a teacup-ride fast spin but a 360-degree controlled spin that delivers high dimension, sensations and perspectives that differ with every car, every ride, every time.
 
First riders climbed aboard in a preview event today, ahead of tomorrow’s full debut as Silver Dollar City opens for the season.
 
The draw for coaster lovers seeking the newest, best, most exciting ride elements is global -- the experience will be available nowhere else on the planet except Branson, Missouri, the entertainment town that is home to Silver Dollar City, the 1880s style, internationally-awarded theme park, established by the Herschend family in 1960.  
 
This custom-designed, custom-engineered ride that introduces a new generation of thrill coasters for families was more than two years in planning and construction, and is Silver Dollar City’s biggest attraction ever with an investment of $26 million. For concept, design and development, Silver Dollar City chose renowned coaster manufacturer Mack Rides of Waldkirch, Germany, founded in 1780 and family-owned for eight generations.

​Time Traveler is world record-breaking:

• Fastest – Top speed of 50.3 miles per hour
• Steepest - A 10-story, 90-degree vertical drop…straight down. Custom-engineered to have an immediate out-of-the-station, gravity-driven drop down an Ozarks mountainside  
• Tallest - Custom-designed for mountainous terrain with its tallest point at 100 feet  
• First & Only with Three Inversions - a Dive Loop, a Vertical Loop and a Zero-G Roll
• First & Only with a Vertical Loop - A 95-foot tall loop
• First and Only Double Launch – 0 to 47 mph in 3 seconds; 30 to 45 mph in 3.5 seconds 

 
“This coaster’s state-of-the-art controlled spin provides riders a unique thrill experience while still appealing to families,” said Brad Thomas, President of Silver Dollar City
​ 
Attractions, the initial advocate for delivering a ride like no other.  Thomas says Silver Dollar
City partnered with MACK because of their long-standing reputation of delivering many of the best and most innovative rides in the entire industry.  
 
Christian von Elverfeldt, CEO of Mack Rides, traveled to the United States for the Time Traveler debut. “The car is the most advanced roller coaster car in the industry, featuring a free-spinning rotation on a launched roller coaster,” said von Elverfeldt.  “For the utmost comfort, an on-board magnetic brake limits the rotation speed to allow the most enjoyable ride experience.”
 
What makes Time Traveler truly unique is the combination of spinning vehicles combined with such thrill factors as a vertical drop, double launches and multiple inversions. And unlike most coasters that begin with a slow, chain-clacking ride to the top of a lift, Time Traveler’s thrills start in the first seconds of the ride with a hushed rush, as the cars leave the load station with a spin and a 10-story drop straight down, racing down a mountainside and through the trees in the mountainous terrain.

“If you like rides, if you like unique experiences, and if you like thrills, you will love Time Traveler,” said Nick Breithaupt, Silver Dollar City Attractions. “No matter which car you choose, your ride experience will be different every time.”
 
The track twists and loops, reaching heights of 100 feet, crossing over itself 14 times in total. Fans of the super acceleration of launch rides get two launches on Time Traveler: 0 to 47 mph in 3 seconds, and 30 to 45 mph in 3.5 seconds. Plus, the highly-themed cars create the experience of an actual “Time Machine.”   
 
“Since Silver Dollar City’s opening day in 1960, guests have taken a journey back in time with unique and world-class experiences.  We strive daily to continue that tradition through our rides, our festivals, our crafts and our food. That pursuit continues in 2018 with Time Traveler - a Revolutionary Coaster Ahead of Our Time,” said Thomas.  
 
Time Traveler is open with the park’s Spring Ride Days, March 14. More information is available at 800-831-4FUN(386) and www.silverdollarcity.com. ​

Hello Kitty!!! 

The store looks fantastic 

Lots of great merchandise at every turn 

These are sure to be popular 

Lots of fun Universal spoofs 

And of course snacks!! 

Laemmle Court is now open and looks fantastic!! 

As well as the Illumination store 

No Universal Studios update would be complete without some Wizarding World 

The new store additions blend in great with Universal Plaza 

And soon with Dreamworks Theater 

We're excited to check out Kung Fu Panda in the very near future!! 

A few more pictures and video the park sent over to us. 

Written by Renée Girard
(click any picture below to see a larger version)

​It’s a beautiful day for a walk around the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival! 

It’s pretty much a requirement to get a festival passport when attending these seasonal events.

​Get a close look at all different types of butterflies and flowers in the Butterfly Haven

​The festival merchandise is nice and colorful, and features fan favorites like Figment and Orange Bird. And a rose gold spirit jersey, of course. 

The Spaceship Earth orange themed hat and shirt are pretty cool looking. 

​The character topiaries look fantastic as always

​New this year is the Honey Bee-stro. The roasted cauliflower dish is quite tasty. 

​Plenty of drink options, and luckily for me, most have beer flights. At Northern Bloom near Canada, I got the beers from Unibroue. 

​Another yummy beer flight at the Florida Fresh booth. 

​Highly recommend the warm chocolate cake at the Smokehouse! 

​More beer in Germany! And cheese strudel. All good!

​Snow White and the seven dwarves topiary in Germany.

​Disney topiaries around the world!

​The plants and flowers in Mexico at Epcot are like a rain forest and look amazing. 

Had a wonderful day checking out some of what this year’s Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot has to offer.

​One of the most anticipated events of the year at Knott’s Berry Farm is their annual Boysenberry Festival. If you like good food or boysenberries (or good food AND boysenberries) then this year’s festival will NOT disappoint. Let us look at what you will be able to get during this upcoming 23-day food fest:

​One of the things they like to highlight is all of the new Boysenberry-themed merchandise you can get. Some new stuff this year – Boysenberry Bacon jerky, sugar-free Boysenberry Punch concentrate, Boysenberry Jelly Mini-pies and more! 

​Regular and Sugar-Free Boysenberry Punch concentrate!

​Boysenberry Rock Candy Sticks, with Boysenberry Cream Soda on the left and Boysenberry Chocolate Bars on the right.

​Boysenberry Bark Bars!

​Boysenberry Chocolate Popcorn.

​Boysenberry Chocolate Almonds and Caramel Bites.

​Some Boysenberry (You sense a theme here?) Jelly Mini-Pies.

​Boysenberry Peanut Butter Jelly Cups.

​And that’s not including some T-shirts and Boysenberry Cotton Candy you can get during the Festival as well. Now, for some fantastic food! They really run the gamut here from a Boysenberry Hummus to a Boysenberry Quesadilla. I will be quiet now and just let you enjoy the food pics!
 
Boysenberry Hummus and Grilled Pita

​Boysenberry Quesadilla with Mozzarella, Cotija Cheese, Boysenberry Salsa and Sour Cream

Boysenberry Cheddar Cheese Pierogi topped with Bacon, Onions and Boysenberry Sour Cream

​Wine Tasting Plate

​Boysenberry Elote with Boysenberry Mayo, Butter and Parmesan Cheese

​Boysenberry Chicken Wings with Boysenberry BBQ Sauce

​Boysenberry Short Ribs

​Boysenberry Mini Sausage on a Bun

Yes. That is a real 2-foot long hot dog on a boysenberry bun. 

​Boysenberry Cake

​Their famous Boysenberry Funnel Cake

Boysenberry Chocolate-dipped Strawberries

Editors Note: OMG, can't wait to try these on the 18th 

​Boysenberry Cookiewich

​Their signature Boysenberry Pies

​Boysenberry Macaroons

​Boysenberry Stuffed Churro

​In addition to those there were also their Boysenberry Cheesecake Popsicles, dipped in a Boysenberry Chocolate fountain (Those were fantastic!), a Boysenberry Pie Milkshake and a Boysenberry Boba Tea.

​Let’s not forget they have a pretty good Boysenberry Beer, too!

We were able to try most of the dishes shown above. Everything was very good. That is not even an exaggeration. The chefs at Knott’s are getting very good using Boysenberries in both sweet and savory applications. A lot of the savory dishes you try you might expect a sweet component to the dish with the incorporation of the boysenberries…but you don’t.
​
So what were some of our favorites? According to the chefs here they really do try to make it so everything is really good and it’s hard to pick favorites. It really is! That said the standouts for me were the Boysenberry Short Rib – falling apart and just melt-in-your-mouth delicious …

​…and the Boysenberry Mini Sausage on a Bun with a choice of Boysenberry Ketchup, Boysenberry Relish or Boysenberry Mustard. I had the mustard.

​My wife, however, loved the Boysenberry BBQ Wings. These are a returning champion as they keep coming back every year. They are THAT good!

​This year Knott’s is also including a small art festival titled “Tied Up In Knott’s” where select local artists are having their works showcased. It’s some really neat art and you should check it out when you visit!

Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival 2018 runs from March 16th to April 8th. 

Click here for more details on the Knott's Boysenberry Festival 2018

Thanks to Scott and Buffy for the amazing report. We hope you all enjoyed!! 

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Well, the first thing we noticed is that work has begun on the parking lot. This isn't the "slurry" that the park has done a few times over the years, but is all new asphalt. Guessing this is in preparation for the Solar Panels that are coming to both Six Flags Magic Mountain and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. 

Most of our morning was spent just riding stuff like Full Throttle, Goliath and Twisted Colossus (with zero waits on any of them)

And Batman of course 

Work is continuing in the new Boardwalk area 

A lot of brightness, a welcome change!! 

Ground clearing is almost done for CraZanity 

Would imagine the ride pad will be poured any day now 

A look back at the fresh new paint 

Soon ... very soon 

Tidal Wave is still closed, and is reportedly going to get some new (much needed) paint 

More CraZanity ... we've also heard that the rest of the trees here will remain which is great 

The Bumper Cars are also getting a full re-build as well as a new fleet of cars 

From the Magic Mountain Twitter (picture from SFMM) 

​@SFMagicMountain
@SFMagicMountain
SPECIAL DELIVERY! Sneak peek of our new bumper cars #thrillcapitaloftheworld

It's going to be like an all new ride!! 

Jet Stream is also closed and is receiving a pretty nice refurb 

You can see all of the work done on the first drop building 

Lastly, all rides are now available for all levels of the Flash Pass!! 

That'll wrap it up. We hope you enjoyed our look at the goings on at Six Flags Magic Mountain