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

Last Call!

Alright, guys.  Last call.  Queue up that Semisonic “Closing Time” song that everyone pretends to like cause you’ve got one more weekend to experience Six Flags and Fright Fest in 2011. (Except for you Texas and California folk.  We’ve got a little thing called Holiday in the Park to prepare for.)  But everyone else, grab that season pass and get one more visit in during the most fun time of the year.  Then, after Halloween, we can say our temporary goodbyes and promise to keep in touch till the Spring.  But for now, lets focus on the present.  This last weekend of Fright Fest is a darn good one.

OK, so when I first heard that guests were eating LIVE COCKROACHES as part of Fright Fest, my initial thought was, “What kind of jackass would ever willingly out that in their mouth?!” Well my question was answered with, “The same kind of jackass who would star on a show called Jackass.”  Yup, this Sunday Jackass star, Raab Himself, heads to Six Flags Great Adventure to hold court with all brave, slightly crazy guests who step up to eat a giant, live Madagascar hissing cockroach.  For spectators, it’s basically going to be like watching Jackass 3-D except the screen is bigger and the 3-D is much, much clearer.  The first 20 guests to join in the fun will get free, VIP admission to Mortuary Manor.  And hopefully some toothpaste.

Also on Sunday at Great America, the annual Smashing Pumpkins event is back!  Bring a pumpkin in to smash and get into the park for just $24.99.  A large bullseye will be placed in Hometown Square for the tossing.  Just think of all the pent aggression you can get out by smashing a pumpkin to bits.  School got ya down?  Smash a pumpkin.  Lady troubles?  Smash a pumpkin.  Cardinals fan? Smash like a million pumpkins.  It’s really that easy, people.  Plus a $24.99 ticket ain’t a bad deal.

Six Flags St. Louis is attempting to set a World Record on Saturday.  (I mean if you can’t take a World Series you might as well take a World Record, right?!  I kid, I kid.  I love you guys.)  Registration starts at 4:00pm to take part in what will hopefully be the largest number of people dancing to Thriller at one time.  And, hey, if you need a couple Thriller dance tips, you can always check out Jersey Shore’s Vinny Guadagino demonstrating with some Fright Fest ghouls in this video over here.

So plenty left to see and do as we wrap up both Fright Fest and 2011.  It’s been a crazy, awesome season with a ton of brand-new, record setting attractions but just wait till 2012.  The countdown starts now.  Have a great weekend and great Halloween, guys.

Mike

Winding Down!

Well, there are two weekends left in October and two weekends left of Fright Fest.  If you’re reading this right now, I can only assume you haven’t been to the park yet since not that many guests make it out of Mortuary Manor unscathed.  This also means there’re only two weeks left of the entire 2011 Season. (Cept for you Cali and Texas parks – but we’ll discuss Holiday in the Park later.)  So not only are there precious few chances left to hit up a haunted maze, this is also last call on Green Lantern, Raging Bull, Dare Devil Dive and the rest of the coaster lot.  This coming weekend is a great opportunity to squeeze a little more life out of your 2011 Season Pass.

Speaking of Season Pass, that’ll particularly come in handy at Six Flags New England this weekend.  This Sunday, we’ve got Exclusive Ride Time for all Season Passholders before the park opens to the public.  Starting at 11am, you get early access to Bizarro, Gotham City Gauntlet and Catwoman’s Whip.  Basically, just cause we love you, we’ll be changing the Fright Fest motto to “Thrills by Morning, Chills by Night.”  (Sure it doesn’t have the same poetic ring to it but it means you get to ride rides earlier so who cares?)  It’s a nice consolation prize since, as a New Englander myself, I know you’re not spending much of October watching post-season baseball.

Six Flags Mexico welcomes Infected Mushroom to the park this Friday.  This is right in the middle of their world tour and they’re bringing along Korn (damn, I wish I computer could do backwards R’s!) front man, Jonathan Davis, for an exclusive DJ set. The show starts at 8:30pm and tickets are available here.  Fair warning, these guys are super loud but, if you think you can handle being close to the stage, VIP tickets are also for sale online.

And, while we’re still on the subject of post-season baseball, Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags Over Texas have engaged in a friendly World Series wager.  Should the Rangers win the series, St. Louis’ American Thunder will be renamed American Ranger for a day.  Should the Cardinals win coughbutheywontcough, the Texas Giant will dubbed The Giant Cardinal.  Also each park’s President has their pride and wardrobe on the line- the losing park wears the winning teams’s hat and jersey for a day.  (Look New England fans, I already said I was sorry about the post season.  Just enjoy the ERT on Sunday, OK?)

That sound you hear is the 2011 clock ticking, my friends. (Or perhaps you’re just watching an episode of 24, I don’t know.) The point is, the season’s winding down.  Let’s do this while we can.

Mike

Free Tickets to Fright Fest?!

This past Saturday I got my first real taste of the dialed up Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure.  Now, obviously, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect since we’ve been living and breathing Fright Fest in the office for quite some time (Rome wasn’t built in a day, kids.)  But to see it all put together was quite the experience.  I’d love to give you all an accurate depiction of how scared I was in Mortuary Manor but seeing as this is a family blog, I’m gong to have to abstain.  Just know it was a lot.

Before you even ask, I know what your first question is gonna be.  “Mike, you’re really good looking.  Also, I live in Georgia and have too much blood.  Is there any way I can convert that into a comp ticket to Fright Fest?”  Well, you’re all very kind and also YES, YOU CAN. Six Flags Over Georgia is offering up FREE admission to anyone who donates blood tomorrow through the LifeSouth Community Blood Center.  You need to make a reservation first and space is limited so head here for more info.  Plus if you see a little blood on Thursday, you’re going to be that much more prepared for what you see at Dr. Fright’s Frightorium once you hit the park.

Now let me predict the follow up question from many of you.  “Mike, you’re still incredibly good looking but I don’t live in Georgia and can’t spare the blood.  What about me?!”  Well, OK, fine.  This might not result in a guaranteed ticket, but you can still test your luck once per day on our Fright Fest site.  Head over here to sign up for our park newsletter and enter for a chance to instantly win two tickets to Fright Fest.  But fair warning: winning is lucky– taking those free tickets and making it though Lakefront Graveyard alive is very lucky.

And for all the frat brothers in the room, we’ve got something for you, as well, at Six Flags America.  In an effort to ease the pain of your losing Entourage after 8 bro-tastic seasons, we’re setting up a promo just for the Greeks.  Grab your frat or sorority and head over to Fright Fest this Saturday with promo code GREEKDAY.  You’ll get a discount into the park good for the whole day whether you come for the thrills by day or the fright by night.

So there you go.  Lots of opportunities to get over to Fright Fest for free or on the cheap.  (Or, of course, you could always just grab a 2012 Season Pass that’ll get you the rest of the 2011 included at no cost.  Just sayin’.)  Enjoy the weekend, folks.  There aren’t all that many left.

Mike

Free Tickets and Cockroach Eating at Fright Fest

Alrighty!  This coming weekend marks Fright Fest being unleashed at every Six Flags in the country.  More than just the country, actually, cause it also opens up in Canada at La Ronde. (Speaking of La Ronde, if you’re a fan of the park or even just a fan of horror movies, you gotta check this out.)  And, if you do plan on heading to Fright Fest this weekend, bring a camera! It might mean a couple free 2012 tickets for you.

Starting this weekend, we’ll be collecting your best photos from the park over on our Fright Fest site.  Upload your scariest shot and, if it’s considered one of the best, we’ll give you a couple free tickets to come on back.  Use it to get your first rides on one of our new 2012 attractions or, if you’re an Over Texas, Fiesta Texas or Discovery Kingdom fan, come use it in December at Holiday in the Park.  The winning photos will be hand selected by our expect team of professional art critics.  (Full disclosure – we’re not really art critics.  We’ll just be choosing the Fright Fest shots that give us the worst nightmares.  Keep em scary, guys.)

And, while you’ve got your camera out this weekend you might want to get a few shots of the Cockroach Eating Contests happening in the parks.  Yes – Cockroach. Eating. Contests.  As in eating disgusting insects competitively.  I imagine there’ll be some killer prizes for the winners but, in a cockroach-eating contest, does anyone really win anyways?  If you’re braver than me you can register in the park; first come first served.  Here’s hoping first prize is some mouthwash.

Fright Fest is also teaming up with Sega® to bring you demos of both Rise of Nightmares on XBOX 360™ with Kinect™ and House of the Dead: Overkill™ for PS3.  (House of the Dead isn’t even in stores yet so you’ll literally be one of the first to try it out.)  These games are both hard “M”s though so game play doesn’t start till after 5pm when the kids go home. You’ll also need to be at least 17 to play.  (And don’t try any funny business, 15-year-olds-that-are-creepily-able-to-grow-mustaches-prematurely.  We can still tell.)

So there you have it.  Come for the coasters and haunted houses and maybe leave with a few ticket-winning photos and cockroach breath.  Not a bad way to spend the weekend.  Come to think of it, it’s not a bad way to spend the following weekend, too.  Ya know what, let’s just say we’ll see you all of October.

Out With September

And so it begins.  We’ve reached October and Fright Fest starts up this weekend.  Where the rest of the season I just close my eyes on coasters, I now close my eyes the entire time I’m in the park.  Even the guests start to scare me during Fright Fest.  (To those twins I ran from the other day, I sincerely apologize if I offended you but you gotta admit, you dress like those girls from The Shining.)

Great Adventure is going to start the fright off a day early exclusively for Season Passholders. The ever popular Fall Family Fun Night is back on on Friday.  Get a sneak preview of Halloween with Exclusive Ride Time 6pm – 10pm and complementary access into a Fright Fest attraction.  (Season Passholders only but, if you don’t have one yet, you can pick it up right here.  2012 Season Passes include the rest of 2011 gratis.)

Six Flags America, Fiesta Texas and New England are all taking interesting approach to Fright Fest this weekend.  The idea basically is that if blood has to be shed, it might as well be for a good cause.  So on Saturday they’ll be running their annual Fright Fest Blood Drive.  Make a donation with the Red Cross between 10am – 4pm and receive a free admission ticket into the park.  Advanced registration is encouraged so get more information over here.  For the rest of you, some other parks will follow suit next weekend.  Stay tuned.

And, for your reference, here’s a handy calendar that shows you just when the horror is going to start up in your neck of the woods.

Six Flags Over Texas – Friday, September 30

Discovery Kingdom – Saturday, October 1

Six Flags America – Saturday, October 1

Six Flags Fiesta Texas – Saturday, October 1

Six Flags Great Adventure – Saturday, October 1

Six Flags Great America – Saturday, October 1

Six Flags New England – Saturday, October 1

Six Flags Over Georgia – Saturday, October 1

Magic Mountain – Friday, October 7

Six Flags St. Louis – Friday, October 7

The Great Escape – Saturday, October 8

La Ronde – Saturday, October 8

Yup.  The best event of the season kicks off this Friday at Over Texas.  For the weak of heart, I’d recommend using the buddy system at all times.  (And, seriously, if anyone sees those Shining looking girls around the park, please reiterate how sorry I am.  I just spook easily.)

Mike

Final Weekend of September

So how’s everyone enjoying their final days on Earth?  Me, personally, I’m just spending time with the family, finishing my memoirs (tentatively titled Open Mike Night) and typing up this here blog.  Then I’ll say my goodbyes and welcome the inevitable zombie attack that’ll take me down next week at Fright Fest.  If the rest of you don’t have as clear an idea on how to use the end of days, there is still a weekend or two left where Six Flags is still a family-friendly, thrill ride stocked theme park.  So go now while you can.

If you’re looking to spend your last few moments getting a little crazy, I’d definitely recommend The Great Escape this weekend.  That place is going to be a pretty raucous party Saturday and Sunday.  The annual Ocktoberfest Celebration has returned.  Bavarian cuisine, authentic music, seasonal ales and German games will be happening all day throughout the park.  Don’t tell my bosses but I’m currently sampling one of these seasonal ales at my desk right now and I gotta say – not bad, not bad!  (Hey, like I said, I’m trying to enjoy these last few days till Fright Fest.)

Great Adventure is celebrating our beloved ACErs with Riding of the Bull Tres. Exclusive ride time on El Toro at this members-only event.  For more info on how to become an ACEr, head over here.  Just know that ACE stands for American Coaster Enthusiast before you apply.  I really love funnel cakes and was under the impression it stood for American Competitive Eaters.  My application was promptly denied.

For the Vallejo guests, make sure to hit up the OnFire NorCal Jam 2011 at Discovery Kingdom.  This Catholic High School Youth and Young Adult event comes with an all-you-can-can buffet and exclusive access park access in the evening.  A ticket also includes admission to the night’s concert featuring Matt Maher, One Sonic Society and Sons and Daughters.  It’s pretty fun to think about how this nice, Catholic event is the last thing we do in the park before we unleashed beasts and demons on every one of our guests.  (Tough, if any anything, this just proves the variety of people we cater to at Six Flags.)

This Saturday and Sunday, Over Texas will be hosting Season Passholder Appreciation Weekend with Exclusive Ride Time on Texas Giant from 8p – 9:30p.  Plus you can use your Season Passholder Value Book to Bring a Friend Free either one of those days.  So if you happen to owe a friend a favor, here is a nice to pay them back.  And if you don’t owe a friend a favor, now you get the luxury of having them owe you.  (Which is way more fun.)

And, finally, we’ll be celebrating Military Appreciation Days at Over Georgia, Six Flags New England and Six Flags America.  Active military members will receive free admission to the park this Saturday and Sunday as our way of saying thanks for all you do.  Families of the military also qualify for discounted admission the whole weekend.

So there you go.  Get in on this final weekend cause, in October, things are gonna get real different.  Enjoy the softer side of Six Flags while you can.

Mike

Fright Fest Website Has Launched!

If you’re reading this right now, it is because you are a wuss.  (Look, I know that sounds harsh but I’m telling you as a friend.)  From now till the end of October, this is the website for people too scared to venture into the real one.  This past weekend, we officially launched our Fright Fest site.

I know what you’re thinking – the regular Six Flags site has plenty of Fright Fest info already.  And you’re not wrong; it does.  But that’s the family-friendly, censored version of what’s really going on in the park.  On the actual Fright Fest site is where you’ll get all the blood and guts details that we deliberately keep off the main site for fear of scaring the pants off the younger guests.

But if you want the back stories to all our Fright Fest attractions, this’s where you gotta head.  It’s not enough to know that we have Dr. Fright back in the park this year.  On the Fright Fest site, you’ll be able to read about his origin and learn why he’s so hellbent on killing folks in the first place. FAIR WARNING: These stories include words like “blood,” “guts,” “decapitated,” and “entrails.”  They do NOT include words like “survived,” “didn’t die,” and  “all lived happily every after.”

The main reason behind the brand new Fright Fest site is because this really is a brand new Fright Fest.  We’re hosting attractions, mazes and houses that have never before been seen at Six Flags.  We really did dial up the scares this year and are super excited to show you guys the park’s transformation in October.  While the rest of the year resembles a family theme park with an insane number of thrills rides will, for a month, look like a haunted hell dimension (but still with an insane number of thrill rides.)

We’re also giving away free tickets to the park over on the Fright Fest site so, even if you’re scared, there’s still incentive to find a trusted adult and have them visit the page on your behalf.  Tickets won will even be good for the 2012 season! (Did you hear we’re putting in a few new rides?)  So in between learning about the woman who’s been buried alive in her coffin and the man who turned his whole town into a pack of werewolves, go try your luck on the Win Tickets Page.

You’ll definitely be hearing more about Fright Fest as the weeks go on.  September is (somehow?) halfway over so October’s creeping up.  Time to man up from sixflags.com and head over to frightfest.sixflags.com. (But then as soon as Fright Fest is over, promise me you’ll come right back here cause I hate typing to no one.)

Mike

A few teasers for 2012

Tomorrow’s a big day.  Now before you go running out to shower me in gifts, no, it is not my birthday.  (But still shower me with gifts.)  No, tomorrow is about you guys.  Tomorrow we make some major announcements.  What kind of announcements…I can’t really tell you.  Announcements from whom…well I can’t really tell you that either.  Let’s just say that there might be a webcast popping up online tomorrow ::cough6amcough:: and it might be from someone pretty high up in the company ::coughrecentguestbloggercough::.  But any info I give after that, I risk losing my thumbs.

I can, however, throw you some more hints from other folks… (I honestly couldn’t care less about their thumbs.)

We’ll start at Great Adventure cause that’s the teaser campaign that implicates me the most.  It seems some of my private WHAT I THOUGHT WERE INTERNAL emails have been posted over on their Facebook Page.  A current employee and now former friend at the park has shared some correspondence that hints at what the announcement for Great Adventure might be.  It’s not enough to give away the secret entirely but it’s just enough to make me regret ever trusting him.  All will be revealed in the morning but head over there now if you want a sneak peek.

The pyromaniacs over at Six Flags America have a few teasers on their Facebook Page, as well.  It would appear some confidential envelopes have been “accidentally” burnt to a crisp leaving the contents partially legible.  As someone who has burned a lot of mail in his day (DON’T ASK – JUST KNOW I’M IN TROUBLE), I’m dubious this was an accident.  But, I’m just as eager as anyone to see what’s inside those envelopes so I’ll let it slide.  Head over to the Page to see if you can figure it out.

Great America is hinting at what they have coming in 2012 though a Facebook Puzzle App.  Each day another piece is removed revealing just a touch more of the photo underneath.  As someone of just average intelligence, this is right up my alley.  Putting puzzles together are a pain in the butt but taking puzzles apart?!  Oh, that’s where I’m a Viking.  Check it out.

Finally, those clumsy folks at Fiesta Texas have spilled water all over their 2012 announcement.  The JPEG’s a little blurry now and worse for the wear but still sorta visible.  If you squint your eyes and stare at it long enough you might just be able to make out the image of a p—no.  No, I’ve said too much.  You’ll just have to head over there yourself to see.

And, of course, if you’re too lazy to worry about spilled water and puzzles and burned files and secret emails- there’s always tomorrow.  Set an alarm cause at 6am, it’s all going down.

Mike