Bob Chapek's relatively short and contentious tenure as Disney's CEO came to an abrupt end on Sunday night after the media giant announced it had replaced him with former CEO Bob Iger. 
Chapek's time at Disney was marked by criticism of his handling of Disney's theme parks and park employees, and many Disney fans took to social media to celebrate Iger's return.


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SANDUSKY, OH

​Are you excited to ride The Wild Mouse at Cedar Point? What do you think about the design of the cars? Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
August 23 - Cedar Point announced a couple of weeks ago that they will be opening a new Wild Mouse roller coaster in 2023. The Sandusky Register has recently published a number of photographs of track and supports arriving at Cedar Point. The track is bright orange and the supports are yellow. 

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ORLANDO, FL

​On Nov. 13, 2022, the Instagram account for @wealth shared a picture that read, "Disney Files Patent for Roller Coaster that Jumps Track." However, this headline originated on a website that publishes satirical content about Disney's theme parks. We received an inquiry about this post from a reader's email.

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WEST MIFFLIN, PA

A western Pennsylvania amusement park announced new security measures Wednesday following a shooting that wounded three people, including two teenagers.

Kennywood Park officials said the measures would include more police, more security along perimeter fences, limits on bag sizes and masks covering faces, and require adult chaperones for all juveniles at all times during the park's Phantom Fall Fest, scheduled to run until mid-October.


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​WILLIAMSBURG, VA. (September 6, 2022) – DarKoaster™, the world’s first all-indoor straddle coaster, will open in 2023 at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The new attraction is the park’s tenth coaster and an unprecedented, family-friendly addition to Busch Gardens’ thrill ride portfolio. The new coaster will be housed in the iconic Curse of DarKastle building, paying homage to the previous ride with subtle theming nods for loyal park fans.
King Ludwig’s abandoned fortress resurfaces as strange weather patterns have been recorded near the cursed castle grounds. Only the bravest souls will embark on snowmobiles in this dark expedition to discover the mysterious phenomenon.  A supernatural force is imminent as explorers discover that they are evading more than just a raging storm.
Escape the storm on the ALL-NEW DarKoaster™, the world’s first all-indoor straddle coaster, launching in 2023 at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Traveling on snowmobiles across 2,454 feet of track, daring explorers race through total darkness while changing course to avoid the elements. As the weather strikes, riders encounter four accelerating launches and speed through the storm on this family-friendly dark ride experience.
“DarKoaster will be an exciting and unique addition to our world class lineup of coasters,” said Kevin Lembke, Busch Gardens Williamsburg Park President. “As an indoor attraction, DarKoaster complements our collection of thrill rides and offers a new experience to enjoy throughout the year. Plus, with only a 48-inch height requirement, DarKoaster is a ride for the whole family to conquer together.” 
Manufactured by Intamin Worldwide, Busch Gardens’ newest family thrill is a steel coaster design with four launches and over 1,400 feet of track. Riders will experience a total of 2,454 feet of track.
NEW 2023 Membership Plans Feature Unlimited Visits & Unbeatable Benefits
Busch Gardens is launching another incredible year for Membership as the BEST VALUE annual theme park pass in Virginia with monthly rewards and amazing benefits, ranging from unlimited admission, FREE parking, FREE guest tickets, in-park discounts and exclusive Member events. Plus, Busch Gardens Members will be among the first to ride DarKoaster in 2023!
Membership is organized in easy-to-use tiers and includes one-park and two-park Busch Gardens and Water Country USA® Memberships. Busch Garden's sister park, Water Country USA, is a seasonal water park with over 40 state-of-the-art water slides, kids' play areas, lazy rivers and a mega wave pool. With a two-park Membership, visitors can enjoy thrills at the world’s most beautiful theme park and fun in the sun at Virginia’s largest water park, Water Country USA. The flexibility allows guests to choose the Membership, benefits, and parks that are the best fit. Membership plans are as low as an affordable $12.25 per month, plus tax, with no down payment required. For a full overview of the Membership lineup, visit: buschgardens.com/williamsburg/annual-pass/
NEW Amazing Monthly Rewards
Busch Gardens shows appreciation and love to our Members year-round with extra rewards every month like bonus tickets, early access and FREE exclusive merchandise. In addition to all the amazing benefits and rewards, Members also have access to special monthly discounts and offers throughout the year. For a preview of upcoming 2023 offers, visit: buschgardens.com/williamsburg/annual-pass/monthly-offers/  
Events All Year Long
With an event-filled lineup throughout the year, Members have countless reasons to visit Busch Gardens and Water Country USA at the end of 2022 and throughout 2023. The park’s 2023 event calendar features family-friendly offerings from January to December, from Summer Celebration and Christmas Town to fan-favorites like Howl-O-Scream, Food & Wine Festival and Bier Fest. Plus, enjoy expanded experiences during Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, the park’s newest events. For a calendar of upcoming 2022 and 2023 events, visit: https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/events/
Busch Gardens Williamsburg was voted one of the best theme parks of 2022 by USA Today.  To be the first to know about event details and specials, follow Busch Gardens Williamsburg on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SANDUSKY, OH

More than a year after a woman was struck by a piece of metal that dislodged from the Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, the amusement park announced the popular ride will retire.

The coaster, which was the tallest and fastest at the park, opened 19 years ago.
More than 18 million people rode the dragster over time.


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SAN ANTONIO, TX

​Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld is back, bigger and scarier than ever, with new haunts, scares, and party zones. For 22 nefarious nights the sun will set on the marine park and turn family daytime thrills into frightening nighttime chills! Howl-O-Scream is a horrifying Halloween celebration, the biggest in Texas, with six hair-raising haunts, eight terrifying terror-tories, heart-pounding coasters in the dark, party zones, themed bars, and a horde of eerie creatures bound to have even the bravest of the brave shivering with fright. The fun comes to life Fridays through Sundays, September 16 through October 31, from 7pm until 10pm, and is included in regular SeaWorld admission.
New Horrifying Haunts 
Guests cannot escape the frights as they make their way through six haunts, two new for 2022. In the all-new Atlantis – The Cursed Chasm, the haunted ravine not only allows outsiders in to experience the horror, but also frees timeless evil that has otherwise been long since contained in the deep abyss. Also new is DIS-Assembly Line, where the unsuspecting are unable to escape as they stumble through an agonizing assembly line where a mad scientist has made man into machine. These two new haunts join returning frightening favorites Zombie Horde, Karver’s Kradle, Milton Creek Manor, and The Swamp at Blackwater Bayou. Nowhere is safe from the terror!

More Menacing Moments
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Even those strolling around the park aren’t safe as once peaceful pathways metamorphize into eight terrifying terror-tories. A cast of creatures will crawl amongst the living, creating skin-crawling suspenseful moments that can’t be escaped. New for 2022 is GlaciAlly, where a chilled nightlife comes alive in Penguin Plaza, complete with an icy eerie vibe, amazing acrobatics feats, a DJ, and a new bar, appropriately named Frost Bite. Guests will feel the fear at the new The Water’s Edge, where the Sirens have awakened from the depths of the cursed chasm and the screams of the unsuspecting passersby have lured them along the pathways to devour terrified trespassers. The two new terror-tories join returning zones where zombies, vampires, living shadows, bayou mutants, and a cast of freaks come out at night!
Howl-O-Scream also returns with hair-raising, skin-crawling celebrations including Monster Stomp, a sinister song and devilish dance show that will wrap guests up in eerie murderous mischief, and features a live band, singers, and dancers! The terror will also intensify as guests can experience a Coaster Creep, taking a thrilling ride on one of SeaWorld’s adrenaline producing coasters alongside fiendish ghouls, all while in the dark!

Not-So-Scary Halloween Fun:

Aside from nighttime frights, guests can enjoy family fun during the day, all for the same great admission price!  Those seeking milder Halloween hijinks can celebrate Spooktacular, SeaWorld’s kid-friendly event designed for the whole family! The not-too-spooky daytime fun includes a corn maze and in-park trick-or-treating. New for 2023, kids of all ages can meet and get their photo taken with Spookley the Square Pumpkin. And it’s not a party without a parade! Guests of all ages can snag a spot along the route to sing and dance along with their favorite furry friends and enjoy the Sesame Street Halloween Parade! And available during both daytime and night hours, Día de los Muertos celebrates a tradition close to the hearts of all in the South Texas region with sugar skull characters, traditional music, and an altar to honor those who have crossed over!

While parents enjoy the haunted thrills of Howl-O-Scream, youngsters are safe from the scares while playing games, crafting, and learning about animals at Spook Camp-ular! Parents can drop off their little ones with SeaWorld educational counselors and they will steer clear of the scarier zones of the park. The evening will be filled with crafts and visiting sharks, stingrays, colorful fish, and dolphins on a private tour. Campers will be provided dinner and a snack. Camp hours are from 7pm until park closing and is for children ages six to twelve.

Guests wanting to experience the Howl-O-Scream sights but not the scary startles can purchase a No Boo Necklace. These colorful light-up necklaces are Halloween themed and notify scare performers along pathways and terror-tories to steer clear and avoid startle scares.
Best Way to Play

The best way to experience Howl-O-Scream, Spooktacular, seasonal events, and all of the amazing animals and rides that SeaWorld has to offer is with the new 2023 Season Pass. For a limited time, guests who purchase a Season Pass will get unlimited admission for all of 2023, the rest of 2022 for free, and a free Aquatica 2023 Season Pass all for only $85.99! This incredible deal also includes free parking and discounts on in-park offerings. For even more unbeatable benefits, guests can upgrade to a SeaWorld Annual Pass for as low as $6.99/month. With an Annual Pass, guests will enjoy 12 months of visits with special benefits like free parking, free guest tickets, access to special VIP events, savings on merchandise and more! Annual and Season Passes can be purchased at SeaWorldSanAntonio.com.

AGAWAM, MA

​Six Flags is bringing a taste of Germany to the thrill capitol of New England.
From Sept. 17 to Oct. 30, the park will host the “family-friendly” German heritage festival, Six Flags New England said in a release.
The park also announced that the event will be a “new fall tradition filled with authentic fare, and a large selection of seasonal craft lagers and beers from around the world.”


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WILLIAMSBURG, VA

Busch Gardens Williamsburg had started teasing their fans on National Roller Coaster Day and we think they will be sharing their new secret project with us soon. Their first hint was, “In honor of #NationalRollerCoasterDay, we’re celebrating our 1̶0̶ 9 iconic coasters! Here's to many more years of world-class thrills…” This message seems to confirm that they will in fact be adding a tenth roller coaster to their incredible line up. The next possible clue the dropped was about ten days later with beautiful pictures of the Loch Ness Monster with this message, “Showing some love for one of our most iconic coasters, Loch Ness Monster! We’re just getting started – looping you in for what’s to come on our stories this week…” Again we see the message ends with… to let us know they aren’t finished. This one also has a reference to The Curse Of DarKastle ride with the line, “We’re just getting started”. 
 
The Curse of DarKastle was a dark ride in an abandoned Bavarian Castle constructed in the Octoberfest section of the park. The ride opened in 2006 and ran through 2017, however the castle itself still remains. Since the ride system was removed the building was used as a haunt during the fall, but this clue leads me to believe the castle may get a new occupant in the form of an indoor roller coaster. While nothing is confirmed these hints have me glued to see what their official announcement will be. In the meantime we do know their fall plans this year.
The park will be adding a family trick or treating event called, The Count’s Spooktacular. This new family friendly event will run on weekends starting on September 24th, and run through October 30th. Children are encouraged to dress up in costume and trick or treat at ten stations for delicious premium candy. They will also host dance parties, costume parades, a hay maze, and more. They of course will also host their Howl-O-Scream at nights for those of us who like to stay up late and scream in the dark. There is a lot to look forward to even though summer is winding down at Busch Gardens. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.​

 
Author
Jeff Goodman