ORLANDO, FL

Get ready for the most immersive and groundbreaking Ghostbusters experience ever made. Halloween is just around the corner, and amusement parks are gearing up for the extravagant events it brings. Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights is setting a new record this year with 10 mazes all running for 32 nights. The event first started modestly in 1997 with two mazes open for seven nights. And the Ghostbusters are coming for the first time ever.
This year, there will be, among others, one inspired by Stranger Things and one modeled after Jordan Peele's Us, but none are expected to be as epic as the one inspired by Ghostbusters. During a visit with The Hollywood Reporter, the creative director for Halloween Horror Nights had this to say about the new attraction.

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ORLANDO, FL

​SeaWorld Orlando has announced the return of its Fun Card for 2020.

• SeaWorld announces 2020 Fun Card
• For limited time, card costs $104.99 (price of 1-day ticket)
• Fun Card is valid through December 31, 2020 but has blockout dates

For a limited time, the park is offering the card for $104.99—the price of a single-day ticket. For $159.98, the card includes admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica Orlando.
Also, for a limited time, anyone who purchases a 2020 Fun Card can use it for admission for the remainder of this year.

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ORLANDO, FL

​The newest nighttime show to transform The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle,” is making its debut at Universal’s Islands of Adventure this month.

Starting Sept. 14 and running on select nights until Nov. 15, a new display of music, lights and special effects will illuminate Hogwarts Castle with the darker side of the wizarding world. Guests will face all sorts of dark creatures, Death Eaters, dementors, and even encounter Lord Voldemort. These dark images will cloak the castle until you cast the Patronus charm – one of the most powerful defense charms that can be used against the Dark Arts.
Along with the new show, guests will find that an ominous green light and fog will permeate Hogsmeade Village, and Death Eaters will roam the area amongst guests – practicing the Dark Arts with no regard for wizarding laws.

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SAN ANTONIO, TX

Carl Lum, who was tasked with turning SeaWorld San Antonio around when he became president of the theme park in 2016, is leaving.
Lum declined to say why and whether a successor has been chosen. He plans to take some time off but would not elaborate on his future plans.
“The team in Texas has done a great job over the last three years and I’m really proud of them,” Lum said. “In a week or so here, I’m moving on and doing some new and different things. I wish the team in Texas well.”

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MASON, OH

Watch Orion's progress on Kings Islands webcams. 

I'm in awe. I like to think I have pretty good reflexes, but I don't think I could top the sheer power, grace and accuracy YouTube user sirsammy 15 displayed by catching a flying cell phone during a roller-coaster ride. 
Sirsammy 15 is Samuel Kempf of New Zealand, as identified in an article by Stuff. Kempf posted a video on Wednesday showing himself riding the Shambhala roller coaster at PortAventura World park in Spain. 

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DOSWELL, VA

Virginia’s largest Halloween Themed Amusement event, Halloween Haunt returns for its 19th frightful season on Saturday, September 21, 2019 with the debut of four new gruesome experiences. Guests who dare can brave seven mazes, six scare zones plus a variety of frightful shows. The Great Pumpkin Fest also returns on September 21 with family-friendly daytime Halloween fun in Planet Snoopy.
 
Adding to an already macabre lineup of mazes, monsters and live entertainment, Halloween Haunt highlights two new terrifying scare zones, an all-new nightly opening SCAREremony, and a shocking new show.
 

• NEW SCARE ZONE: Masquerade
  Her Royal Highness, the evil Queen Majesty, has decided to throw a ball like none other as she lays claim to the lands of the living and the dead. In what is bound to be the most prestigious ball ever thrown, Majesty is out to prove once and for all that every person and demon will eagerly follow her plan for domination. Part party, part scare zone, guests are invited to mix and mingle with the height of the undead high society and those 21 and older can dare to try the specialty cocktails. Be sure to grab a selfie with the Duke and Duchess, but beware; sometimes the mask is there for a reason.
• NEW SCARE ZONE: Pumpkin Eater
  In the last years of the Revolution, Peter Armstrong was a pumpkin farmer living off a winding road in the quaint woods of Virginia. Some say the spirit of a dead soldier possessed him and in an act of rage he murdered his wife with a bayonet. He hid her body inside one of his largest pumpkins, leaving her there to rot. Soon after he started seeing apparitions of his wife with the face of a jack-o-lantern. His rage not subsided, Peter went on to murder other victims, burying them all in the patch. The evil spirit in his body began to morph him into a pumpkin like creature. His victims too, began to rise and now haunt these once tranquil woods with their jack-o-lantern faces.
• NEW SHOW: Blood Reign

A new reign of terror is here, and the overthrow of the dark beings has begun – Queen Majesty has grown tired of the antics of her minion, Overlord, and has vowed to bring hellfire down upon his followers. This opening SCAREremony will take place every night of Halloween Haunt at 7p.m.

• NEW SHOW: Heads Will Roll

Join Queen Majesty and her Royal Court as they behead, one by one, the most loyal of Overlord’s subjects. Sometimes the executions do not go quite as planned, but they always end in a raucous musical celebration as her court of singers and dancers Put a Spell on You in this grand Ballroom Blitz. When the clock strikes midnight, the Overlord will finally meet his fate as Majesty makes one final cut in what is sure to be The Greatest Show.
 
In total, those who dare can brave seven mazes, six scare zones and a variety of live shows during Halloween Haunt, which features the largest scare force in the region with more than 400 monsters roaming the midways. During the nighttime event, guests can also get their adrenaline fix on more than 20 rides, including Twisted Timbers, Intimidator™ 305 and Dominator, as fog and darkness blanket the park. Monsters descend upon the park at 7 p.m. during Blood Reign at the International Street Bandstand.
 
Fright Lane, which gives guests front-of-the-line access to mazes can be purchased online. Haunt is held select nights September 21 through November 2.
 
For daytime Halloween fun with no fear, the park holds The Great Pumpkin Fest in Planet Snoopy. There are delightful surprises hiding around every corner, from hay mazes to a pumpkin painting patch. Kids can take part in educational and interactive puppet shows in addition to the festive activities and their favorite rides in Planet Snoopy. The Great Pumpkin Fest is held Saturdays and Sundays from September 21 through November 2 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Planet Snoopy will close at 6 p.m. as the park transforms for Halloween Haunt.
 
The Great Pumpkin Fest has fun for the whole family to enjoy together and as an added benefit, children three to five years of age are eligible for unlimited FREE admission to this event and the rest of 2019 when their parent or guardian registers online and activates their 2020 Pre-K Pass at the park.
For the most up-to-date hours of operation, visit kingsdominion.com.  The Great Pumpkin Fest and Halloween Haunt are both included with park admission. To get unlimited admission and free parking to Kings Dominion the rest of 2019 and all of 2020, including Halloween Haunt, guests can purchase a 2020 Gold Season Pass.

About Kings Dominion & Soak City
Kings Dominion & Soak City offers Virginia’s best value - Two Great Parks All in One. With more than 60 rides, shows and attractions, guests can enjoy 12 roller coasters, the world’s largest PEANUTS-themed kids area, Planet Snoopy™, and an all-inclusive 20-acre water park with dozens of water slides and a massive wave pool. Special themed festivals as well as the best Halloween event in the region make Kings Dominion the best place to create lasting memories.  The park is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership and one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world. The Company owns and operates 11 amusement parks, four outdoor water parks, an indoor water park and resort accommodations totaling more than 2,300 rooms and more than 600 luxury RV sites. For more information, see cedarfair.com.
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ANAHEIM, CA

​The new Villains Grove coming to the Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure will be unlike any other haunted experience you’ve ever seen at any theme park.
“There’s usually a precedent to follow and someone that’s come before you and blazed that trail,” said Disney Parks Live Entertainment show director Jordan Peterson. “This has been a brand new trail that has never been blazed before."


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MARYSVILLE, OH

Deputies in Union County are asking for help locating a roller coaster stolen from the fairgrounds. 
According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, on August 28, the Go-Gator carnival roller coaster was reported stolen from the fairgrounds, located at 845 N. Main Street, in Marysville.  
The roller coaster, which is about 20 feet in length, was on a purple and green trailer, and has alligator designed train cars. 
The trailer had a rear license plate of 22-1246A with a Maine registration. 
Deputies are searching for a white Dodge Ram 2500 (or larger) model with a flat-bed, that was pictured pulling the stolen trailer at the intersection of S.R. 31 and Mill Road at about 7:10pm, August 27. The truck had no visible front license plate. 

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MASON, OH

​Summer isn't technically over, but Kings Island is already preparing for its annual scare-fest, Halloween Haunt.
The park is taking spooky suggestions on social media for ghoulish melodies to pipe through its speakers during the fall festival.
While it may not seem like a big deal, Communications Director Chad Showalter says a lot of thought goes into choosing the tunes.
"The expectation is that we're going to play Halloween-themed songs, and sometimes that's your traditional Halloween song or it might just be a song from a current artist that definitely applies to the Halloween season," Showalter says. "I think if you ask any of our guests they'll tell you that the music that's playing in the background as they experience the attractions is an important part of it and something they remember long after their visit is over."

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