Latino Fest at Six Flags Over Texas!

It’s been brought to my attention that a few of you have yet to sign up for the Six Flags newsletter. Yeah, I know, that sounds totally ridiculous but apparently it’s true. (Yes, I’m speaking directly to you, Joseph DelMarco of Valencia, CA.) Here’s the gist—you sign up for the newsletter and you get all the localized info on your home park you’d ever need – concert info, contest info, insider tips…the whole thing. PLUS! (Yup, there’s more.) Anyone who signs up for the newsletter can instantly win 2 free tickets to the park of their choice. So sign up here and enjoy the biweekly updates.

But on to the here and the now. You wanna know what’s happening at Six Flags this week? Let’s start it up at Six Flags Over Texas. This Saturday and Sunday, the park is bringing you Festival Latino. We’ll be celebrating Latino culture all weekend with specialty events, shows and foods. Work gotcha down? Learn how to make a Boss-shaped piñata in our piñata workshop. (Um, if my boss is reading this right now, please know I would never, EVER do that. Also I need to leave early on Friday.) We’ll also be sampling traditional Latino food and bringing you nightly live performances. (Insider tip: The Latino food at Six Flags is amazing but stock up on napkins and, if you eat like me, you might wanna bring a Tide pen.)

This past week, Six Flags Magic Mountain threw on the topper to Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom. But, since this is the world’s tallest vertical drop, we needed a little help. Head over to their Facebook Page to take a gander at the helicopter that was required to finish up ride construction. Cause, let’s be honest, they don’t make cranes that big. We’ll be announcing an opening date for this behemoth soon, so keep your eyes open. (And then be prepared to keep your eyes shut when you’re sitting 400’ in the air.)

Finally, in the world of Season Passholder Benefits (my, we say that a lot) we’ve got some pretty wild news for the Six Flags St. Louis camp. On April 28^th and 29^th, you’ll get to be the very first to hit up the newly completed Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast. The ride is finally ready and we’re giving you guys exclusive access before we unveil it to the public. It’ll be open noon – 4pm on both days so bring your 2012 pass. Everyone else will get their first rides in May but, cause we love you so much, you’re getting yours now. And, if you don’t have a Season Pass, you still have a week to pick one up.

Alrighty folks. It’s hump day now so we’re nearing the weekend. The weather forecast looks just shy of perfect so get ready for Saturday.

Mike

Opening Weekend for Six Flags New England!

Good Morning, Afternoon, Evening or Sleepless Night Spent Reading This Blog! It’s 4.11 so I’m pleased to bring you the 4-1-1. (Do the cool kids still ask for the 411? Is that something that’s still said? Please ask the most popular kid in your class and report back. Sometimes I feel dreadfully out of touch.) The one thing I do know the cool kids still ask is, “When is Six Flags New England opening for 2012?!” Well, for that one, I’m pleased to say it’s this very weekend.

Yup, Six Flags New England (my childhood park for those keeping score) opens back up on Saturday to kick off the summer. Even better news? It opens this weekend by celebrating Spring Break. That’s like being told you’re on vacation the very first day back to school. The park opens the 14^th and stays open till the 22^nd. And, if you’re coming this weekend, we’re offering up a special $20.12 ticket deal. We’ve teamed up with the Animal Rescue League of Boston so all you need to do is bring in a pet supply to get the discount. A full list of approved items can be found here. It’s been said, “A good deed is its own reward.” That’s certainly true but “A good deed that lets you ride Bizarro is its own reward” has a nice ring to it, as well.

Also celebrating Spring Break this week are Magic Mountain, Great Adventure and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Those parks are all in the thick of it right now but you’ve still got a few more days to head in for some special Spring Break hours. No only are those parks open weekdays this week but they’re staying open a little later just for you guys. And there’s absolutely nothing better than coasters in the dark. (I like to pretend this is the reason why I completely shut my eyes on Tatsu. “Oh no, I wasn’t scared…I just, um, love riding coasters in the dark…”)

And over at Six Flags St. Louis things are really heating up (cooling down?) with Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast. We’re giving you a chance to be among the very first to ride this new coaster on April 26^th with St. Louis Cardinal, David Freese! Yup. Mr. Freeze is about to take on Mr. Freese. Winners will get to ride in a train with the Words Series MVP, free lunch, plus a meet and greet. Need a little more? We’ll throw in two free tickets to come back to the park later this season. That way you can impress a friend and be like “Oh yeah, I’ve totally been on this before.” Get some cool points. And let’s be honest, I could use a few after saying “4-1-1.” You need to register by Sunday for a chance to win so don’t waste any time.

Enjoy the week.

Mike

Opening Weekend at Great Adventure and Six Flags St. Louis!

Well, it’s Easter Weekend so, obviously, I’m typing this with one hand while I funnel a 10lb bag of those Cadbury Mini Eggs directly down my throat. If the rest of this blog feels a little manic, you can partially blame the impending sugar high. You’d also be right to blame my barely contained excitement that the park closest to where I sleep and the park where I left my heart both open back up for business this very weekend.

Yup, it’s finally time for Six Flags Great Adventure. The 2012 Season begins this Saturday at the home of Kingda Ka, El Toro, Green Lantern and the rest. Even better news? Six Flags Great Adventure is combining Lowe’s Opening Weekend with Spring Break. That means when the park opens its gates on Saturday, they’re gonna stay open till April 15^th. All week, we’re letting you New Jersey folk add an “S.F.” to your “G.T.L.” (Although now that Snooki’s pregnant, she’s gonna have to take a brief hiatus from Bizarro.) And to celebrate the commencement of the 2012 season, you can pick up your Opening Day Ticket online for just $20.12. (Or pick up a Season Pass cause you’re definitely gonna wanna come back once SkyScreamer launches.)

Six Flags St. Louis also welcomes Lowe’s Opening Weekend this Friday with the same $20.12 ticket deal as Great Adventure. And to celebrate the launch of Slurpees in the park, we’re hosting an Opening Day Slurpee Drinking Contest. Ten lucky contestants will be chosen to compete for park tickets by being the first to drink all six flavors in 10 minutes or less. I mean until you can enjoy Mr. Freeze you might as well enjoy Brain Freeze, right? Registration begins at 10am. And then on Easter Sunday, kids under 12 are invited to participate in St. Louis’ Easter Eggstravaganza outside the Palace Theatre.  4,000 eggs will be filled with prizes ranging from candy to park tickets and a Nintendo Wii. 4,000 eggs…all I can say is that poor, poor chicken… More info on that here.

And if you’re an ATL guest, don’t forget that Six Flags Over Georgia is still enjoying Spring Break right this very moment. Like the park is open right now. Why are you still reading this? Seriously. Go away. It’s Wednesday and you could be on Dare Devil Dive right now. What’s the problem, here?

Have a good weekend in the parks if you’re heading out and have a great Easter on Sunday if you celebrate. See you back here next week.

Mike

April Stooge Day!

We’re developing a new technology at Six Flags and figured the blog would be the perfect venue for its trial run. So if you happen to like the smell of funnel cake, do me a favor and scratch and sniff your monitor right now. (I’ll wait…)

OK, fine that was maybe the lamest April Fool’s joke anyone has ever attempted but there’s only so much I can do when I’m writing and you’re reading. (It’s so much easier to prank in person, like this morning when I put plastic wrap on all the office toilets.) But I gotta! It’s almost April Fool’s Day Weekend! OR! As we like to say at Six Flags, it’s April Stooge Day Weekend…

At all of our open parks this weekend, come dressed like a Stooge on Sunday and you could find yourself the winner of our Three Stooges: The Movie look-a-like contest for some awesome prizes. And, at Magic Mountain, we’re blowing the party out even more! Be one of the first 500 Stooges to the LA park on Sunday and enjoy exclusive early ride time an hour before we open to the public! You need to come dressed as a Stooge to qualify so allow me offer up absolutely any article of clothing in my closet. My Mom still dresses me so I’m positive they’ll all suffice. Be one of the first ten Stooges, and we’ll even throw in a free Exit Pass! Then, at noon, enter your costume in the Stooge Look-Alike contest where you’ll be joined by our expert panel of judges. Head here for more info.

And Spring Break continues its seasonal tour and hits Six Flags Over Georgia this Saturday. Starting this weekend, the park stays open daily till April 8^th, so you can all make the most of your week away from classes. There’s a Spring Special for tickets so get ‘em early and save a few bucks on your Dare Devil Dive rides. Then prepare yourself for the harsh reality of April 9^th when we all go back to setting an alarm clock.

And finally, for you patriots in DC, Six Flags America finally opens for the season on Saturday. I think it’s safe to say this summer’s launch of Apocalypse: The Last Stand is going to be the most important thing to hit our Nation’s capital in 2012. (Yes, I’m fully aware this is an important election year. But maybe I just have different priorities from the rest of you. The White House doesn’t hurtle along a 2,900’ steel track. Apocalypse does.)

Enjoy the weekend, enjoy the Stooges, and I’ll see you all back here next week.

Mike

Magic Mountain Open Daily and iLuminate Comes to Over Texas and Over Georgia!

It’s said that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Sounds poetic but it’s totally a lie. At Six Flags we go even bigger in April, so I propose from now on we use the adage, “March comes in like a lion and out like a…bigger lion.” OK, I admit it lacks the lyrical prose of the original but it at least makes more sense. We’ve got plenty of parks opening for the season in April and several more even moving into daily openings. Sorry, lambs, but April is not about to get any tamer. First to head into the daily openings is Magic Mountain.

Yup, always the first out the gate, Magic Mountain opens this Saturday and stays that way through the summer. (I mean save for a couple holidays of course but, jeeze, spend some time with your folks once in a while. It won’t kill you.) Other than that, starting this weekend the LA park keeps its doors open every day of the week. Tatsu on a Sunday is amazing. Tatsu on a Monday when you technically should be sitting in 5^th period…yeah that’s even better. And if you wanna check out exactly what’s going on at Magic Mountain, I’d recommend The Go Big Cam. They’re putting up a new video every week showing everything that’s new and exciting in their world. This week they’re talking Green Lantern so head over here if you want a look.

Also open this weekend are Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Over Georgia. Speaking of Over Texas and Over Georgia, those parks are just now putting the finishing touches on a brand new live show, iLuminate. Get ready for an incredible sensory experience featuring state-of-the-art light up costumes mixed with stunning visual effects. Guests will enjoy non-stop surprises of illusions mixed with incredible dancing during every performance. You may remember this show “As Seen on TV.” (But can you remember from which show?) Look for iLuminate to drop in May and for more info, head over here. Or you can just close your eyes and picture what it’d be like if Step Up 3-D and Tron had a baby. Basically, it’s gonna be awesome.

Finally, in our Nation’s capital, Six Flags America is preparing to open its doors to 2012 (AND TO APOCALYPSE!). They kick off on the 31st so check back next week for all the info you need on Opening Weekend. Till then.

Mike

Lowes Opening Weekend at Over Georgia and Discovery Kingdom!

Well, the luck of the Irish is certainly with our Georgian and Californians guests cause Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom both open up this weekend on St. Patrick’s Day. That’s six parks officially open for the 2012 season and even more to come in the following weeks. Plus it’s currently 70 degrees as I write this in NYC. Basically what I’m saying is it’s practically summer and I’m giving you permission to take the rest of the year off from school.

Down in Atlanta, Six Flags Over Georgia will be celebrating Lowe’s Opening Weekend with a $19.67 ticket deal good this Saturday or Sunday. The “$19.67” comes from the year the park opened. A lot’s changed in the past 45 years. (Dare Devil Dive, Mind Bender and the birth of Scarlett Johansson all come to mind.) Discovery Kingdom’s also getting in on the Opening Weekend discount game with a special $20.12 ticket good either day this weekend. Hit up Medusa and say hey to our killer whale, Shouka, and then come back later in the season for the grand opening of Superman: Ultimate Flight. For a glimpse at what to expect from this game changing coaster, head over here.

Magic Mountain will be celebrating St. Patty’s with Coaster Enthusiast Day. Kinda cruel considering leprechauns aren’t tall enough to ride Goliath but great for the rest of you. (Was that an awful joke? Do you all hate me now? I kinda hate me, too.) This special event ticket includes early rider time (starting at 8:30am – set an alarm!), free parking before 8:30a, two meal vouchers and a few other exclusive surprises. PLUS, you’ll get to stay in the park 2 hours after it closes to the public for more exclusive ride time on Tatsu, X2, Viper and more. To purchase your tickets, head over here and get ready to sleep in on Sunday. Here’s the schedule:

The Morning ERT: 8:30am – 10:30am

• Goliath
• BATMAN: The Ride
• Colossus
• GREEN LANTERN: First Flight
• Scream
• RIDDLER’S Revenge

The Evening ERT: 9:00pm – 11:00pm

• Goliath
• Viper
• Revolution
• Tatsu
• X2
• Apocalypse

And over at Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Spring Break continues through Sunday. After that they go back to weekend operations till May and Spring Break heads to other Six Flags parks across the country. Get in while the gettin’s good.

Mike

Spring Break Begins at Over Texas and Fiesta Texas!

Ah, Spring Break. While the cast of Jersey Shore has been celebrating this holiday for about four years now, for the rest of the world, this magical week comes but once a year. And that week is starting now. Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas are our first parks kicking off 9 straight days of daily openings.

So you’re trying to figure out how to spend your week off from classes and the traditional “party at Senor Frogs and winding up in a Girls Gone Wild video” isn’t exactly your idea of a fun Spring Break. Granted, I’m a little bias, but allow me to offer up Over Texas as an excellent alternative. The park opens back up on Saturday and it’s staying open daily till the 18^th. Plenty of chances to hit up The New Texas Giant and O.D. on funnel cake. There’s also plenty of live music planned for the coming week since the park has booked almost 100 bands. Right now Everyone Pays Kids Price if you order online so you can save a few bucks. And, if you’re reading this right now, I assume you’re already online and visiting our website anyways.

Fiesta Texas is getting on the action, as well, because Texas is a large state and we need to spread out the fun. They, too, will be open daily March 10 – 18 ensuring you’ll have a Spring Break in San Antonio where you won’t have to lie to your parents about what you did. And while you’re there, keep an eye out for the SkyScreamer. Construction is already hugely underway (Don’t believe me? Click here.) and you’ll be among the first to see how it’s shaping up in person. And then you can make sure to come back later this season to get your first rides in.

And while Spring Break doesn’t hit the LA-area till March 24^th, Magic Mountain is still open for business this Saturday and Sunday. Nothing but sunny, 70-degree weather in the forecast so enjoy Green Lantern and X2 with the knowledge that I’m silently hating you while freezing in NYC.

Ditto to Six Flags Mexico this weekend for all you folks south of the border. Saturday and Sunday down there are looking mighty fine, as well.

And Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Over Georgia fans, you all can start shining up your 2012 Season Pass. Those parks both open up next week. But more about that later.

Mike

Lowes’ Opening Weekend at Fiesta Texas and Six Flags Over Texas!

The blog has returned for the 2012 Season! I feel like that Folgers Christmas commercial where the son secretly returns home to surprise his parents in the morning with a pot of coffee. (Minus any direct religious connotations and the fact that my parents made me get my own place years ago, of course.) But, it’s time! Tomorrow is March and March means Opening Weekend Month for a lot of parks. Kick off is this very Saturday.

Getting us started on Lowes’ Opening Weekend are our pals at Fiesta Texas. The park turns 20 this season so to celebrate a second decade of thrills, we’ve got a great deal going on. Everyone who orders online will get a special $19.92 ticket good for either day this weekend. With Fiesta being born in 1992, it just made the most sense. OR if you happen to be 20 yourself, you can enjoy the park FOR FREE this Saturday. Just make sure to bring proof in the form of proper ID. It’s not that we don’t trust you, it’s just there are some folks (let’s take me for instance) that no matter how hard they try, will never look a day over 20 even though they’re really much older. It’s as much a curse as it is a blessing, you guys.

And further along in the state, we’ve got Six Flags Over Texas opening its 2012 gates, as well. Yup, the Golden Ticket winning Texas Giant launches once again starting this Saturday. And just like Fiesta, to help celebrate the park’s 51^st Birthday, tickets are only $51!  (Ok, fine, they’re actually much cheaper than that.) But if you WANTED TO, you could go online and purchase the special $19.99 Opening Weekend ticket and then PayPal me the other $31.01! Everyone wins! Especially me!

Of course the Texas parks are joining the ranks of Magic Mountain and Six Flags Mexico who keep their thrills going year-round. Work has already started on Magic Mountain’s Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom aka the tallest drop ride IN THE WORLD!. Look for LLDOD ride and a mass shortage of Depends later this spring. We’ll keep you updated as construction develops.

That’s it for this week. Over Georgia and Discovery Kingdom are both getting ready to open as well and La Ronde will be welcoming guests next week for Spring Break. More on that later. Happy Leap Year, guys. You only get this day once every four years. Do something special with it.

Mike

Guest Blogger: Holiday in the Park

Ok I ate too much.  I’m currently trying to break free from a weeklong food coma and just can’t concentrate on this blog.  If I took the reigns on writing this one it would come out like “Pie! Pie pie, pie Six Flags pie.” And no one wants that.  Especially when there’s legitimate news to be brought to the masses.  Holiday in the Park is back at Six Flags Over Texas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.  So I’m doing us all a favor and hiring a Guest Blogger.  Bruce Mather, Entertainment and Special Events Manager at Six Flags Over Texas, is much more equipped to discuss all things HiP.  Take a look while I continue to sweat gravy from my pores.

When the last guest has been frightened in our haunted houses and following the closing performances of our Fright Fest shows, our entertainment technicians invade the park to start the physical transformation from the hideous to the sublime. Gothic vampire castles become magical toyshops. Cobwebs and skeletons become evergreen garlands and lighted fir trees. All of it is crucial for setting the perfect holiday mood for our guests.  Our entry mall becomes home to “The Holiday Tree of Trees,” but this is by no small feat.  It takes a team of plumbers, electricians and mechanics to place the super-structure of our more than 85-foot park centerpiece.  It houses over 75 individual trees with six different colors of lights. The trees are stacked in wedding cake fashion to become a single entity.  After being programmed, the Tree of Trees comes to life in a beautifully choreographed dance of lights and special effects.

In late October, our ride operations team begins hauling over 400 tons of snow on our man-made snow hill.  Meanwhile, the Operations grounds crew preps our holiday campfires of fragrant oak firewood.  In-Park-Services begins early in the year selecting food vendors to enhance the park menus with everything from German bratwurst to roasted, spiced nuts.  The many offerings include carved bread bowls of soups, hot chocolates and tempting park favorites like funnel cakes with spiced apple and hot cherry toppings.

One of our biggest projects of the season is SantaLand, headquarters for all things Santa.  Guests reserve a time to visit Santa inside his workshop where they can listen to a story told by Mrs. Claus, browse the Reindeer Hall of Hooves, meet Santa’s head elf “Jingles”, and enjoy a personal visit with Santa, himself.  SantaLand also hosts The Reindeer Landing, where guests can visit with reindeer as well as the SantaLand Stage where many dance, vocal, and orchestral groups perform as part of our “Stars of the Season” program.  The stage is also home to Rudolf’s Holi-daze Dance Party, an all reindeer interactive street party for all of Santa’s guests!

 The spirit of the holidays is everywhere at Six Flags Over Texas, from the many shows and attractions to the joyful noise of children’s voices raised in Christmas carols, and the festive and tasty holiday foods. Holiday in the Park is said to be a “Family Tradition” in north Texas. Many, many guests return year after year for that special holiday visit. The many men and women of the Six Flags Over Texas family have taken great pride in being a part of creating that magical family moment during this most wonderful time of the year… from our Six Flags Over Texas family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday season.

Toldja Bruce would do a better job explaining HiP than I would.  The event runs through December so get some final use out of your Season Pass or pick up some tickets and check your local calendar here.

Fright Fest Recap

Well, it’s officially November.  You know what that means.  Yup, there is Christmas music currently playing in the Six Flags offices.  Hey, if we’re gonna start Holiday in the Park planning (which officially begins now), we gotta get in the proper spirit.  I look forward to hearing nothing but this for the next two months.  (Plus, if it were up to me that one Mariah Carey song would just play year round.  It’s super catchy.)

The last week of Fright Fest was a blast (save for those of us on the east coast who spent the weekend building snowmen.)  Thanks so much for coming out and braving what was, easily, the scariest Fright Fest in Six Flags history.  Definitely set the bar for 2012, as well.  And, speaking of Mariah Carey, please to enjoy this awesome photo of her husband and music superstar, Nick Cannon at Six Flags Great Adventure this weekend.

We got him to brave the electric chair and a chainsaw wielding maniac for this photo op. Not bad, huh?

And while we’re on the subject of Great Adventure, this Saturday and Sunday is the 2^nd Annual Six Flags Grape Adventure.  Wineries offering nearly 150 locally produced wines will be on hand for sampling and music.  Sign up for the Safari Tasting, which includes a private tour and stop in the Wild Safari. The under 21 crowd is welcome on the Safari Tour, as well, but the actual wine tasting is (of course) 21+.  No whining.  (Whining? You see what I did there? Yeah, I kinda hate me, too.)  Head over here for ticketing info.

So thanks again for an excellent Fright Fest and an excellent 2011 Season, guys.  I’ll leave you with the temporarily renamed Mr. FreeSe at Six Flags St. Louis for those of you who need a little World Series closure.  Hats off to all you Cardinals fans.

Over Texas, Fiesta Texas and Discovery Kingdom, get ready.  Holiday music is playing pretty loud right now.  That’s a sign of good things to come starting on November 25^th.

Mike