Socially-distanced animal experience opens March 20 JACKSON, N.J. — March 15, 2021 — Six Flags Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will kick off the 2021 season March 20, and begin daily operation March 27. This spring, the Animal Care Team looks forward to welcoming an array of adorable babies, and introducing a new species – the rare African bongo. Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure will take guests on a self-guided journey through 1,200 exotic animals from six continents. From the safety and privacy of their own vehicles, guests will slowly wind through 11 simulated natural habitats seeing animals such as giraffes, elephants, rhinos, lions, tigers, bears and baboons. While most animals roam freely in the safari, predators are safely kept behind fences. All animals are clearly visible from car windows. Six Flags Welcomes Rare African Bongo and Other Spring Babies When the park opens March 20, guests will see the babies of 2020, including four giraffe calves and two Siberian tiger cubs. Six Flags will introduce the rare bongo species including an adorable calf in mid-April. Key facts about the bongo include: · World’s third largest antelope, native to the continent of Africa; · Striking, reddish-brown herbivores have unique white and black face markings, body stripes, and long, spiraled horns to aid with camouflage in their natural habitat; · Mainly nocturnal animals, occasionally the bongo will exhibit crepuscular behaviors – making them most active at dusk and dawn; and · Since the bongo’s wild population is estimated at fewer than 150 due to hunting and habitat loss, the species is considered critically endangered. Later this spring, the Animal Care Team looks forward to welcoming an array of adorable babies including eland, dama gazelle, and ankoli cattle calves in the Wilde Plains; wildebeest calves in the Serengeti Grasslands; kangaroo joeys in Didgeridoo Pass; bison calves in The Americas; zebra foals and Asian water buffalo calf in Afrikka; nilgai calves in Tigris Asiana, and playful baboons in Baboon Village. Safety Efforts, Education, and Save an Icon The safety of guests, team members, and animals is Six Flags’ top priority. The safari journey will offer a contact-free experience. All safari tickets must be purchased online and in advance. Ticket sales will not be available at the gate. To prevent overcrowding and provide proper social distancing, the safari will require all guests to make advance reservations using Six Flags’ online reservation system. Active Members, Season Pass Holders, and single-day ticket holders can make reservations at www.sixflags.com/reserve. Guests without advance reservations will not be allowed to enter. A list of safety requirements is available on the park’s website at www.sixflags.com/greatadventure and include keeping all windows, doors, and convertible tops closed; not feeding or touching the animals; no smoking, littering, or stopping; cars, SUVs and consumer pickup trucks with empty beds only – no campers, RVs, commercial vehicles or trucks larger than a consumer pickup truck; maximum speed of 5 mph and maintaining safe distance between other cars and animals. Pets are not permitted inside vehicles. All vehicles will be inspected prior to entering the safari, rules will be enforced throughout the journey by park staff, and anyone who violates the rules will be ejected from the park without a refund and possibly prosecuted. Restrooms are located at the entrance/exit only, and light snacks are available for purchase. Six Flags encourages guests to plan accordingly for restroom breaks, gasoline, and food. As a safety precaution, all Six Flags employees will be temperature and health screened each day, and wear masks and gloves where appropriate. Guests are required to wear cloth face coverings when speaking with a Six Flags team member. Six Flags Great Adventure’s safari operated as a self-drive-through experience from 1974 through 2012 and entertained more than 10 million guests. Since 2013, Great Adventure has offered guided truck tours of the safari as part of the theme park experience. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure reopened in late May, 2020 and will continue to operate until the theme park is able to reopen its guided Safari truck tours. Recently, Six Flags Great Adventure launched a new, virtual animal education program, Cyber Safari. The program centers on a new series of free web videos that teach students about adaptations, conservation, evolution, and genetics. Schools, scouts, libraries, nursing homes, and other community programs more have the option to purchase a virtual Safari program with a variety of unique options including virtual animal outreach. The 12 free Cyber Safari videos and coordinating lesson plans are available on the park’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/SixFlagsGrAdventure/playlists Six Flags also offers an onsite educational program, Science on Safari. This contact-free, drive-through safari experience features 1,200 exotic animals from the farthest reaches of the globe, and expands upon lessons from the virtual videos through a new audio tour and guidebooks. Cyber Safari and Science on Safari are part of Six Flags’ extensive education series, Academic Adventures. Six Flags is proud to partner with the Wildlife Conservation Network to support global conservation efforts. Proceeds from the park’s Save an Icon pin program are donated to WCN where 100% of the donations directly benefit animals in their natural environments. This year’s pin, available for sale on the web and in gift shops, will feature the white rhinoceros and giraffe. Guests can learn all about the Wild Safari’s animals and their habitats on the park’s website at www.sixflags.com/safari For operating hours, tickets and reservations, visit www.sixflags.com/reserve About Six Flags Great Adventure, Wild Safari & Hurricane Harbor Six Flags Great Adventure is the World’s Largest Thrill Park with world-class, award-winning rides like Kingda Ka, El Toro, Nitro, and Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom. The park offers two areas for kids and great family rides for the whole family, plus entertainment, shopping, and a wide variety of dining options. Its Wild Safari Drive-Thru Adventure is the largest self-guided drive-through safari outside of Africa and gets guests up-close to more than 1,200 animals from around the globe in the privacy of their own vehicles. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is one of the Northeast’s largest waterparks with more than 25 refreshing attractions for the whole family. About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America, with 26 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 59 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling waterparks and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram @sfgradventure Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflagsgreatadventure Melodies of Spring concert series, new summer drone show among season highlights PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Friday, March 12, 2021) — Dollywood kicked off its 2021 calendar with today’s Season Passholder and Media Preview Day which hosted a number of excited guests ready to experience everything the Pigeon Forge family destination has to offer for its 36th season. After receiving stellar guest reviews throughout 2020 about the overall park experience, Dollywood has a bright outlook for 2021. The Dollywood Company earned several impressive awards and designations last year, including Dollywood theme park being recognized by Tripadvisor as the #8 best park in the world. In addition, Dollywood’s Splash Country was named a top-five water park by USA Today readers, while Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa was named a “Top 15 Best Resort Hotel in the South,” as well as one of the “Top 25 Resorts in the US that are Perfect for Families” by Travel + Leisure. “Our people are doing a great job to care for our guests, and I’m just glad that everyone is seeing what the good folks at Dollywood have been doing to make it one of the best family destinations in the entire country,” said Dolly. “What we have is special. It’s a place where folks can come to enjoy those precious moments they will cherish forever. This season looks bright, and I just know families are going to love making a lot of great memories this year. “I wish I could be there for the opening, but the doctors said I need to wait until after I’ve had the second dose of the vaccine. Let’s all be patient. All of this stuff is going to be over soon, and I know it won’t be long until we can be together.” A number of projects, including park infrastructure enhancements and ride retracking efforts, took place during the off-season, and all are designed to add to the guest experience. New restaurant seating areas have been added to the park, while projects at roller coasters Lightning Rod, Blazing Fury, Thunderhead and Mystery Mine took place with guest satisfaction in mind. It all adds up to a season Dollywood guests won’t want to miss. “There is no doubt; this is the year to have a season pass,” explained Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company. “We have so many exciting things planned for our festivals this year—like concerts, new shows and entertainment, a number of new culinary items and more—that our guests are going to want to come back time and time again to experience the fun of Dollywood and the beauty of the always-changing Smoky Mountains. “Our goal every single day is to provide the best possible experience for our guests. It is a lot of hard work, but the reward for all of us is to see the smiles, hear the laughter and read the great notes and emails about how they love the moments they have here at Dollywood. They tell us it is that time that helps them come closer together as a family and that those are the memories they will keep forever. That is the reason we all do what we do.” As always, Dollywood’s teams work hard to incorporate the surrounding Great Smoky Mountains into the park atmosphere, especially during the multiple festivals that take place each year. A different festival accentuates the outdoors each season of 2021, bringing the Smokies into the park for a truly unparalleled experience. A fresh festival highlights the spectacle of spring with Dollywood’s Flower & Food Festival presented by Covenant Health (April 23-June 7). Guests will be delighted by more than half-a-million brightly blooming flowers that make up numerous displays and lavish landscaping throughout Dollywood. Fun and discovery are around every corner, thanks to larger-than-life sculptures including a butterfly umbrella, various animal scenes and even a depiction of Dolly’s mother quilting the Coat of Many Colors. Returning in 2021, the dazzling Umbrella Sky greets guests with a stunning visual upon arrival as hundreds of colorful umbrellas are suspended above Showstreet. In addition to the beautiful flowers, a wide selection of culinary creations abounds to delight guests’ taste buds with a menu full of items inspired by spring in the Smokies. Among the new offerings in 2021 is the Flower & Food Festival Dining Pass, which allows guests to partake in multiple entrees at a number of culinary locations during the springtime event. Entertainment—a vital component of the Dollywood experience—plays a lead role this season thanks to a number of new shows, as well as a concert series which debuts during the Flower & Food Festival. The Melodies of Spring concert series features contemporary Christian artists, Southern gospel groups and other fresh and inspiring acts all appearing inside DP’s Celebrity Theater. Among the artists currently scheduled are Matthew West, Big Daddy Weave, I AM THEY, Rebecca St. James, Sidewalk Prophets, the Rhett Walker Band, Triumphant Quartet and many more. Several shows featuring Dollywood’s own performers debuted during today’s park opening, including Harmonies of the Heart--featuring Dolly’s family—and A Brighter Day, an inspiring show that delights guests with uplifting favorites at the Back Porch Theater. In The Village, Dollywood’s talented The Tones offer a fresh acapella take on today’s current hits. Performances of all three will continue until the fall. Guests visiting during the park’s warmer months can enjoy Dollywood’s Summer Celebration (June 25-July 31), which is—just as the name implies—a celebration of family fun and laughter at a place everyone loves. With later nighttime hours, families can ride Dollywood’s world-class roller coasters all day and well into the night. New during Summer Celebration is a groundbreaking, multi-sensory experience that paints the night sky above Dollywood with stunning animations and superior storytelling to create a symphony of light that represents a true evolution in traditional theme park entertainment. Taking place every night during Summer Celebration, this sensational show features hundreds of drones flying high above the Smoky Mountain destination to create stunning 3d animations that tell a dynamic, Dollywood-exclusive story. As seen at some of the biggest events around the world, the drones—which are accented by a musically-choreographed fireworks show—create a visual and audial event of epic proportions. As part of the half-a-million-dollar production, a hyped DJ and energetic dancers bring the fun to the streets in Wildwood Grove and make guests part of the action during a 30-minute party that ensures every member in the family is on their feet. As the dancing nears its finale, the party takes to the sky when the drones launch into the air for an unforgettable end to the evening. Later in the season, Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 24-Oct. 30)—named by readers of USA Today as the best theme park harvest event in the world—provides bushels of fun thanks to everyone’s favorite Smoky Mountain tradition, Dollywood’s Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health. Dollywood stays open late each evening, giving families more time to enjoy the glow of thousands of carved pumpkins throughout the park. During the day, guests can expect a packed concert schedule, with hundreds of performances across several genres occurring during the festival. The season ends with the event that has set the standard for theme park holiday events, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 6- Jan. 2, 2022). It’s the perfect place to get in the Christmas spirit with more than five million holiday lights, festive and warm holiday performances, a traditional Christmas atmosphere, and the comforting tastes of classic holiday-themed food. It is easy to see why it has become a family favorite for so many. With so much excitement planned for 2021, Dollywood season passes are a must-have and currently are offered at special pre-season pricing. Prices go up after Sunday, March 14, so now is the time to purchase. For 2020 season passholders who have yet to extend their passes beyond the June 15 expiration date, a special extension price currently is available as well, but that price goes away after March 14. For more information about Dollywood’s 2021 season, operating calendars and more, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app. -Dollywood2021- About The Dollywood Company: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 160-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of more than 40 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 27 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and has been named a top-three US theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows, and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and TripAdvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa provides guests spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary. BUSCH GARDENS’ ALL-NEW GIRAFFE BAR OPENS THIS MONTH FOR SAFE VISITS TO SIP HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS, CRAFT BREWS, AND EXPERIENCE SERENGETI ANIMAL VIEWS! With enhanced health and safety measures and limited capacity, Giraffe Bar is a one-of-a-kind experience for guests to safely enjoy the park’s iconic Serengeti Overlook. WHAT: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is proud to welcome guests to the ALL-NEW Giraffe Bar at Serengeti Overlook, featuring panoramic indoor and outdoor views of the park’s expansive Serengeti Plain, under limited capacity. Guests can marvel at giraffes, zebra, antelope, ostrich and more, while enjoying an all-new menu of shareable appetizers and a collection of cocktails, wine, and beer as vibrant as the animal kingdom. WHEN: Guests have the opportunity to preview the ALL-NEW venue during a soft opening starting March 19. The venue will officially open on Friday, March 26. DETAILS: While taking in panoramic views of African animals on the Serengeti Plain, guests will enjoy a curated selection of frozen specialty drinks, hand-crafted cocktails, Florida craft beers and domestic favorites when the one-of-a-kind Giraffe Bar opens this month. The menu will also feature a selection of wines and spirits that support wildlife conservation efforts around the world. The spacious indoor/outdoor venue offers shaded and air-conditioned comfort, with plenty of space for physical distancing. The Giraffe Bar also features multiple TVs so sports fans can ROAR for their favorite teams when taking a break from the park’s world-class roller coasters and amazing animal experiences. The new location will soft open with a new menu of refreshing drinks and signature small bites on March 19. With physically distant interior tables and shaded outdoor patio seating, the Giraffe Bar will feature a chef- and mixologist-curated selection of cocktails and bites that guests can only get at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. These unique offerings will include:
In addition to the new Giraffe Bar, Serengeti Overlook is home to the newly redesigned and reimagined Oasis Pizza, serving favorites such as handmade pizza, chicken tenders, fresh salads, and freshly baked desserts. Guests can also look forward to more new culinary experiences coming in 2021. SAFETY: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is committed to the health and safety of our guests, employees, and the animals in our care. The park has worked diligently with state and local health experts, outside consultants and attraction industry leaders to enhance our already strict health, safety, and cleanliness standards. These protocols and guidelines will be modified based on evolving industry standards and methodologies, public health, and governmental directives, and advancing scientific knowledge on the transmissibility of COVID-19. For detailed information about the measures that guests can expect when visiting the park, including key operational changes, visit buschgardens.com/tampa/safety Guests can visit www.BuschGardensTampa.com for more information and reservations—and to purchase tickets, Fun Cards, or Annual Passes. Fans can stay up to date with park events, attractions and more by following Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay is the ultimate family adventure, offering 300 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic explorations around the world. Busch Gardens is a unique blend of thrilling rides, AZA accredited zoo with thousands of animals representing more than 200 species, and exciting seasonal events all year providing unrivaled experiences for guests of every age. For more information, visit www.BuschGardensTampa.com. Busch Gardens is owned by SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: SEAS), a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world. Disney's Blizzard Beach reopened March 7, 2021, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The water park offers thrilling attractions and relaxation for all ages with unique spaces for every member of the family to enjoy. (Kent Phillips, photographer) Inspiration from ‘Moana’ adds new storytelling to Disney Resorts Collection at Walt Disney World Resort LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (March 5, 2021) – Today Walt Disney World Resort revealed the first look inside reimagined guest rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, one of the most popular Disney Resort hotels at the Central Florida vacation destination. The resort is now accepting bookings for late July 2021, welcoming guests to rooms featuring a new color palette inspired by the Pacific Ocean and its many islands. Along with all-new furnishings and fixtures, the rooms will include details, patterns and textures from the hit Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Moana” – those who look carefully may discover several characters and references to the story, including the heart of Te Fiti. In addition, the sandy ocean floor inspires the bathroom tiles and vanity’s carved details, complementing the fresh, modern overall approach to these reimagined rooms. The resort is also developing a dramatic new porte cochere that will enhance the arrival experience as guests pull up to its Great Ceremonial House. The inviting design features a high-pitched, open-truss roof covered in a thatch style with pops of color. The area’s new open and airy vibe will be complemented by four chandeliers inspired by glass floats, fishing nets and oversized bamboo elements mirroring the chandelier inside the lobby. In addition, the resort’s Monorail station located above the porte cochere is receiving new wooden screens with geometric patterns in tropical colors, adding to the overall ambience of the entrance. Drawing inspiration from enduring fantasies of the South Pacific, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a tropical oasis along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon, across the water from Magic Kingdom Park. Open since 1971, the resort transports guests to a romanticized American version of the South Seas. Magic Around Every Corner in the Disney Resorts Collection The Disney Resort hotels of Walt Disney World offer a rich tapestry of unique and varied experiences that weave together to create the Disney Resorts Collection, where legendary storytelling, immersive detail and dedicated guest service extend beyond the Walt Disney World theme parks to every moment of a guest’s stay, with magic around every corner. From the windswept plains of an African savanna to the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest to the charm of a seaside boardwalk and so much more, Disney Resort hotels keep guests surrounded in Disney magic for every moment of their visit. These fantastic settings are inspired by worlds both real and imagined, giving guests a bevy of options for stories they want to explore and create for themselves. Disney Resort hotel guests can also enjoy the ease and convenience of traveling around Walt Disney World via fun, complimentary transportation. Options include a train in the sky on the world-famous Monorail, flying high on Disney Skyliner, cruising along serene waterways on various watercraft or traveling to all four theme parks and Disney Springs on colorfully decorated Disney buses. Some locations are even within walking distance of a Disney theme park. The Disney Resorts Collection continues to evolve, infusing more Disney touches and enhancing guest experiences across The Most Magical Place on Earth, from Disney’s Riviera Resort, to Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, to the reimagined lobby at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, to surprise character sightings and much more. The reimagining of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is the latest example of these enhancements as Walt Disney World prepares for “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” beginning Oct. 1, 2021, in honor of its 50thanniversary. Guests can customize their vacation planning for Walt Disney World more than ever before, whether they’re planning a quiet getaway for two, a family reunion or anything in between. For more on Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and the Disney Resorts Collection, visit DisneyWorld.com. For more on Walt Disney World Resort, visit WDWNews.com and DisneyParksBlog.com. |
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