​PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Friday, September 10, 2021)—Dollywood continues to illustrate why it is one of the nation’s top theme park destinations, as it earned four top awards during Thursday afternoon’s Golden Ticket Awards virtual ceremony announced from the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives in Plainview, Texas. Dollywood earned finalist placement in nine total categories and won more awards than any other park. No awards were presented in 2020 due to the pandemic.
 
In 2019, Dollywood became the inaugural winner for Best Guest Experience of any theme park in the world. The Best Guest Experience award combines two discontinued categories, Friendliest Park and Cleanest Park, along with perceived value and operations into the judging criteria for the award. Dollywood earned its second-consecutive Best Guest Experience title this year, a nod to the park’s friendly and welcoming hosts, as well as its clean appearance and overall atmosphere.
 
Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove won Best Kids’ Area for the second time in a row. The park won the award in 2019 after that season’s opening of the expansive new area. One of the park’s stalwart events, Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, earned its 13th consecutive win for Best Christmas Event, and Dollywood remains undefeated in the Christmas award category.
 
Due in large part to its idyllic location in the foothills of the bucolic Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood earned the Most Beautiful Park award for the first time this year after many seasons of finishing in the runner-up position. The award is further validation of Dolly’s original vision for Dollywood and her Tennessee mountain home.
 
“As a little girl growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains, I always thought about how this was a place that folks from around the world would love to visit,” said Dolly Parton. “Ever since we opened Dollywood in 1986, people have told us how special this place is because of the friendly people and the beautiful mountains that God has blessed us with. We make sure to take all that beauty that surrounds us and bring it right down into the middle of the park. We’re truly surrounded—all the way around—by the Smokies!
 
“But I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish here, and these awards show that our guests think we’re doing the right thing. We love the awards, but of course we don’t do what we do just to win awards. We want families to come spend time with us, enjoy one another and hold on to those memories forever.” 
 
The Golden Ticket Awards are the most sought-after awards in the business of amusements and attractions. Calculated from an international poll conducted by Amusement Today, the industry’s leading trade publication, the Golden Ticket Awards are the results of a detailed survey sent to a database of hundreds of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world in balanced geographical regions, industry journalists and ride manufacturers. Voters are asked to rate the “best” in a number of categories such as best parks, roller coasters, water rides, kids’ area, food and more. 
 
According to Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company, the guest experience is crucial for any park’s success. He credits both his staff and the support of guests for Dollywood’s second win in the category.
 
“We are proud of our second consecutive Best Guest Experience award,” Naughton said. “We place a lot of focus on ensuring our guests have the best possible time when they are here. I’ve said it many times, but we have the friendliest employees in the entire industry—we won the Golden Ticket Award for Friendliest Park seven years in-a-row before the award ended. Additionally, both our landscaping and our house and grounds teams do a phenomenal job to ensure the park is clean and that our flowers and landscaping are always green and pristine! Both teams worked exponentially harder to deliver us through a very difficult 2020 season, so this award is a testament to their hard work.
 
“Not only are host friendliness and park cleanliness both considered as part of this particular award, but we’re also constantly evaluating our facilities to determine what we can do to provide the best visit for our guests. During this past off-season, our crews undertook a number of construction projects designed to enhance the guest experience. We widened pathways, created new sitting areas for some of our most popular restaurants and completed a number of other projects that kept our guests top-of-mind. We want to take care of all the small things, because those are the items that—many times—become the big things if not attended to and made right.”
 
Dollywood also had top-10 (finalist) positions in five additional categories:

• Best Park, second place;
• Best Food, second place;
• Best New Show (Sweet Summer Nights), third place;
• Best Steel Coaster (Lightning Rod), seventh place;
• Best Wood Coaster (Thunderhead), tenth place 

 
“Dollywood continues to demonstrate crowd-pleasing decisions,” said Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator. “From the rides it adds to the entertainment it offers, the park positively charms guests who visit. Being a finalist in nine categories is evidence that Dollywood has grown from a regional destination to a national one, if not global. It is a joy to visit—and for those who know the amusement industry, it’s a treasure.”
 
The Golden Ticket Awards have become the subject of much discussion by park aficionados the world over and have garnered mentions in such notable media outlets as USA Today and the Chicago Tribune, and by the late radio newsman Paul Harvey. The awards also were the topic of a one-hour Travel Channel documentary.
 
With two great festivals ahead this year, there’s plenty of fun still to come during Dollywood’s 2021 operating season. Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana featuring Great Pumpkin LumiNights presented by Covenant Health takes place Sept. 24- Oct. 30, while Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana—now the 13-time winner of Best Christmas Event—is slated for Nov. 6- Jan. 2. For more information, please visit Dollywood.com or download the Dollywood app.
 
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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. 

​TAMPA, Fla. (Friday, Sept. 10, 2021) – Tonight, Howl-O-Scream 2021 debuts earlier than ever when the fear returns to its most immersive form as guests once again experience iconic haunted houses, horrific scare zones, roaming hordes and thrilling rides on pulse-pounding attractions.
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Howl-O-Scream secured the top spot in public voting for Florida’s theme park haunts, and top three in the country. Tampa Bay’s biggest haunt event was nominated by theme park experts and Halloween connoisseurs for USA TODAY’s “10Best Readers’ Choice Best Theme Park Halloween Event.”

This year’s Howl-O-Scream event features three all-new haunted houses, new scare zones, and killer entertainment. The separately ticked event is available during 28 select nights at Busch Gardens from Sept. 10 through Oct. 31, starting at $41.99. For true horror fans, unlimited admission for all 28 nights of Howl-O-Scream is available starting at $119.99. Park guests can upgrade their night of fright by selecting a Front Line Fear Pass with options including front-of-the-line access to haunted houses and attractions.

Park guests have nowhere to hide as vampires, the Witch of the Woods, deranged clowns, werewolves and more take over the park throughout eight scare zones and five haunted houses:

Three NEW Haunted Houses:
NEW: The Forgotten: Dark discoveries await in the underground vampire realm.
NEW: Cell Block Zombies: Vicious crimes resurface from beyond the grave, as death row zombies seek their own twisted form of justice…and your flesh.
NEW: Witch of the Woods: Something wicked this way haunts…an ominous legend summons you with her inescapable curse.
Plus Returning favorites:
Death Water Bayou - Blood Moon: New terrors will stalk the swamp this season – can you outrun the pack?
 
The Residence: returning from it’s debut in 2019, this suburban home paints a pretty picture on its eerily quiet street but domestic demons lie beneath.
Eight Scare Zones – three ALL NEW:
NEW: Voodoo: Driven out of the bayou by ravenous werewolves, the witch doctors now practice their dark magic on you as they pursue their twisted revenge through ancient curses.
NEW: Skeleton Crew: Rising from their watery grave, shipwrecked pirates seek to plunder the world of the living, taking all lost souls as their bounty.
NEW: In the Shadows: Eerie legends and horrifying myths passed down through centuries of ghost stories have gathered in the woods, turning wary skeptics into doomed believers.
Scare Zones around every corner:
Unspeakable horror lives in every dark corner of the park, with returning favorites including the Shortcut, Junkyard, Little Nightmares and Deadly Toys. Beware the hidden zone and roaming hordes lurking to pounce where least expected. 
 
Beyond the haunts, live shows with captivating creatures of the night can be found on the outdoor stage as “Fiends!” returns to the Festival Field, and “The Rolling Bones” performs electrifying rock covers at Dragon Fire Grill. For fueling up between scares, the NEW Blood Bar offers liquid courage at a ghoulishly-themed outdoor bar with signature Howl-O-Scream cocktails like Witch’s Brew, Swamp Water and The Bite Jell-O syringe shots.
 
Tickets to Howl-O-Scream are available now, including exclusive discounts for Fun Card and Annual Pass Members at the lowest prices of the year. Fans of fear can sign up for emails at HowlOScream.com to be the first to receive news of more dark details on new houses, experiences and more coming to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Fans can feed their appetite for fear by following Howl-O-Scream on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore, and blood. Howl-O-Scream 2021 is a separately ticketed night event. No costumes are allowed.
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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.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (September 10, 2021) – Magic is here with Holidays at the Disneyland Resort, and this year Mickey Mouse and his friends are hosting Disney Merriest Nites, the first after-hours holiday party at Disneyland Park.
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For family fun with limited capacity, the all-new Disney Merriest Nites holiday party will be offered as a separate-ticket event at Disneyland on five select nights in November and December. Disney Merriest Nites tickets will be sold for events on Nov. 11, Nov. 16, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and Dec. 9. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Sept. 14, 2021, no earlier than 9 a.m., on Disneyland.com and the Disneyland app.

At Disney Merriest Nites, Mickey Mouse has invited his friends to help host six themed parties within one giant celebration throughout Disneyland park. Families and guests of all ages who are attending this event can enjoy enhanced holiday décor, seasonal entertainment, and specialty food and beverage offerings themed to each party during the event.

As the host of the party, Mickey Mouse will welcome guests on Main Street, U.S.A. in Victorian flair, and Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and their friends join in the fun, traveling in a special coach with Christmas carol sing-alongs, Muppet antics, and a few chickens! Over in New Orleans Square, Princess Tiana will welcome guests to celebrate Noel with a bayou-inspired celebration. Guests visiting Frontierland will see Miguel from the Disney•Pixar film “Coco” wishing everyone Feliz Navidad for a jolly fiesta. Three more character-hosted holiday parties await guests with a tropical party hosted by Lilo & Stitch in Adventureland, a wintertime celebration with Elsa in Fantasyland, and Buzz Lightyear taking the holidays to new heights over in Tomorrowland.

Special event merchandise will be available in Disneyland Park. Additional seasonal merchandise will be available throughout the Resort.

Guests may add to their holiday wardrobes with seasonal attire and accessories, and find novelty items such as pins, plush and decorative items to continue the festivities at home.

For guests looking to taste the treats of the holiday season, multiple food and beverage locations will offer specialty items for purchase as well as party-themed offerings.

At Disneyland Park
In addition to the parties being hosted by Mickey Mouse and friends, guests also will enjoy the classic sights, sounds and flavors of Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. Upon entering Disneyland guests will be greeted by a magnificent 60-foot-tall Christmas tree on Main Street, U.S.A., decorated with nearly 1,800 ornaments. The classic tree is an iconic symbol of Holidays at Disneyland Resort, as well as an ideal location for holiday photos. At the entrance to Fantasyland, the holiday magic will shine brightly each evening when Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle begins to sparkle with light and music fills the air illuminating the night in an enchanted wintertime spectacle. Returning for the season, guests will again see “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade * and some favorite Disney characters and princesses throughout the park, dressed in their seasonal finest – with a few surprises this year.

Additionally, seasonal transformations will once again resonate holiday cheer at “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Highlights of Disney Merriest Nites

• Entry to Disneyland Park before the party. The parties start at 8 p.m. PT and guests will have the opportunity to play in Disneyland three hours before each party begins
• Experience six parties in one. Six parties in lands throughout the park are uniquely themed and hosted by Mickey Mouse and his friends
• Unprecedented access to Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. Guests at these themed parties can experience many attractions with lower wait times due to a limited number of guests. This includes the seasonal transformations of “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday
• Seasonal entertainment. Guests will be immersed in the spirit of the season with seasonal entertainment, such as “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade and seasonal musical performances *
• Spectacular holiday décor and lighting. From a glistening castle and enchanted lands that sparkle to festive wreaths and garlands galore, the holiday season is visible throughout the park.
• Access to attractions within these lands: Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, New Orleans Square and Frontierland during the party ***
• Themed photo backdrops and unlimited Disney PhotoPass ** digital photo downloads from the night are included with admission to Disney Merriest Nites. With the help of Disney PhotoPass photographers located throughout the party, it’s easier than ever to capture holiday photos – with the whole family in the photo.
• Holiday treats and eats specially curated for the event.

Health and Safety at the Disneyland Resort
Guests are encouraged to visit Disneyland.com/updates for important information to know before visiting the Disneyland Resort, including the latest updates on required face coverings.
* Please check Disneyland.com for entertainment performance times, which may vary. Entertainment, experiences, attractions, and offerings may be modified, limited in availability, or unavailable, and are subject to change or cancellation without notice.  
** Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the Disney PhotoPass terms and expiration policy found at Disneyland.com/photopass-terms-conditions/.  Online registration required. 
*** Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey’s Toontown and Critter Country will not be accessible during the party. 
The number of tickets available are limited and valid only for the specific event date and hours. Parking is not included with ticket purchase. Tickets can be purchased online and are not available on the day of the event. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date. Tickets not required for Guests ages 2 and under. Tickets are non-refundable and may not be resold or transferred for a commercial purpose. Offer and event elements are subject to restrictions, change or cancellation without notice.  
Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” ​

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — September 9, 2021 — Six Flags Fiesta Texas, The Thrill Capital of South Texas, today received two highly coveted awards during Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards:

• Best Halloween Event of 2020
• Best New Show for Rock The Night

“Six Flags Fiesta Texas really took the opportunity to bring some scary fun in just the right way for 2020,” said Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator, Amusement Today. “It was a great balance of entertainment and startling jumps. In a year when people needed some return to fun, the park really offered an ingenious, spooky event that was just what guests needed to enjoy the season.”

“We’re thrilled to accept not one, but two Golden Ticket Awards,” said Park President Jeffrey Siebert. “This validates our commitment to giving our guests the absolute best experience regardless of the challenging circumstances. We’re carrying this momentum forward and preparing to unleash the most terrifying Fright Fest ever complete with another dynamic nighttime show, Frightful Finale,” added Siebert.

Fright Fest®, presented by SNICKERS®, is open on weekends and select days September 10 – October 31, 2021. The award-winning Rock the Night transforms during Fright Fest into a similar style immersive show experience, Frightful Finale, presented on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.

About Amusement Today
Amusement Today began publication in 1997, and the award-winning magazine is now a leader among the amusement industry. The Golden Ticket Awards were established in 1998 and are the direct result of votes cast from around the globe. More than 500 experienced travelers, divided equally among the nation as well as internationally, received ballots. Industry journalists and ride suppliers also have categories devoted to professional topics. A free downloadable issue containing the charts and full lists of finalists, as well as an online presentation of the awards, can be found at www.GoldenTicketAwards.com.
 
About Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Six Flags Fiesta Texas, The Thrill Capital of South Texas, is home to more than 60 rides, shows and attractions. Opened in 1992, the park was built on the site of an old limestone quarry, which provides a spectacular backdrop for such exciting roller coasters as The Iron Rattler, Batman: The Ride and Superman Krypton Coaster. In addition, Fiesta Texas boasts an impressive line-up of seasonal events and live entertainment, including Mardi Gras Festival, Fright Fest, and Holiday in the Park.
 
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 27 parks across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. For 60 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling waterparks and unique attractions. Six Flags is committed to creating an inclusive environment that fully embraces the diversity of our team members and guests. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.