Kids

Pokémon is Coming to Universal Theme Parks!

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Pokémon Universal Studios Japan No Limits! logo
Combined Universal and Pokémon No Limits! Logo (Courtesy of Universal)

After years of rumors,  Pokémon is finally coming to Universal theme parks. It was announced on January 22, 2026 that the Pokémon IP will debut in Japan, but is then “Universal Destinations & Experiences will deliver unique Pokémon experiences across the company’s global footprint”. There were no dates, rides or attractions announced and this is probably a couple years out in Japan and probably 2029 or later in the United States. The release was very simple and vague, but it got the point across that Pokémon is coming!

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A Bluey Roller Coaster is Coming to Alton Towers

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Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies
Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies! (https://www.altontowers.com/2026/)

A Bluey roller coaster has nearly completed construction at Alton Towers in the United Kingdom for a 2026 opening. The ride is located in the park’s CBeebies Land and signage around the construction leaves no doubt as to what is coming. For Americans who may not know, “CBeebies” is a free British public broadcast children’s television channel owned and operated by the BBC. Alton Towers is leaning into the attraction heavily for its 2026 marketing as you’d expect and no doubt this will be a huge hit with families who love the iconic show.

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Did you Know you Can Sleep at Busch Gardens in Mzinga Lodge in the Northeast Corner of the Park?

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A bed in front of Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens

There have been rumors of a Busch Gardens Tampa hotel for some time, but did you know there are already several options to stay overnight at the park? In fact there are actually two options, the Mzinga Lodge which is an on-site dormitory and the Tiger Lodge, a building overlooking our tiger habitat. These venues house up to 50 people and can be used for kids groups or adult groups. In the case of the Tiger Lodge, this is just reuse of the indoor tiger viewing facility where you could put out sleeping bags, but the Mzinga Lodge is an actual separate building onsite at Busch Gardens. Its location in the backstage area as well as some pictures from the park’s camp guide can be seen below.

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Peanuts Characters to Remain at Legacy Cedar Fair Parks as Six Flags Entertainment and Peanuts Worldwide Extend Licensing Agreement to 2030

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Camp Snoopy with dog in canoe
Camp Snoopy (Image courtesy of Six Flags)

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced it has extended its licensing agreement with Peanuts Worldwide for another five years. The new agreement extends Six Flags’ position as the exclusive amusement park partner for Peanuts™ in North America meaning guest at Knott’s Berry Farm, Carowinds, Cedar Point, Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Dorney Park, Canada’s Wonderland, California’s Great America, Michigan’s Adventure, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun will continue to experience the iconic Peanuts characters until at least the next decade.

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Get Your Engineering Cub Scout Adventure Loop at Fun Spot America Orlando with White Lightning!

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Fun Spot America Logo
Scout in front of White Lightning sign at Fun Spot Orlando

Earning the Arrow of Light “Engineering” adventure loop can be one of the most fun and exciting activities in scouting and highly educational, especially increased focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Did you know that one of the recommended adventure activities in the cub scout handbook is to have scouts build their own roller coaster? A theme park is a great place for the scouts to explore and learn about engineering and Fun Spot America Orlando is a perfect real world laboratory for this adventure. Earning the “Engineering” Adventure Loop at Fun Spot Orlando is as simple as watching a few YouTube videos, discussing some questions, riding a roller coaster and participating in the park’s “build your own roller coaster” activity (or doing your own at your next den or pack meeting). This is essentially a prepackaged adventure that is sure to be memorable for scouts.

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Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens is Now Open!

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Entrance to Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens
Entrance to Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens (Courtesty of @SaxOnTracks)

Wild Oasis opened to the public on July 15, 2025 after a couple of delays, but appears to be worth the wait. This isn’t just a ride, but a whole new area or realm of the park located in Jungala. This area contains a family drop tower ride, climbing area, splash pad, interactive elements and a new animal habitat including Capybaras! I want to give a HUGE shout-out to @SaxOnTracks for the images in this article from the grand opening festivities, he’s a great follow for the latest happenings at Busch Gardens.

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Get Your Engineering Cub Scout Adventure Loop at Fun Spot America Kissimmee with Mine Blower!

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Fun Spot America Logo
Scout leader and scout in front of the Mine Blower roller coaster at Fun Spot Kissimmee

Earning the Arrow of Light “Engineering” adventure loop has the potential to be one of the most fun and exciting activities in scouting, especially with the increased interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). What’s even more exciting is that one of the recommended adventure activities in the cub scout handbook is to have scouts build their own roller coaster! A theme park is a great place for the scouts to explore and learn about engineering and Fun Spot America Kissimmee is perfectly suited for this adventure. Earning the “Engineering” Adventure Loop at Fun Spot Kissimmee can be as simple as watching a few YouTube videos, having a discussion, riding a roller coaster and participating in the park’s “build your own roller coaster” activity or doing your own at your next den or pack meeting.

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Adult Review of Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida

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I visited Peppa Pig Theme Park at LegoLand Florida with no kids while visiting Winter Haven on a business trip and had a very enjoyable couple of hours. I mainly went to get the roller coaster credit for Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster, but found myself really enjoying and appreciating the rest of the park as well. The roller coaster is really phenomenal for what it is (a kiddie coaster), but the overall atmosphere is very lighthearted and pleasant. You’ll basically be able to do everything in a couple of hours and if you plan your visit accordingly you can do it at a reasonable price too.

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Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens Now Opening July 15th with Capybaras!

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Wild Oasis Sign at Busch Gardens
Wild Oasis Sign (courtesy of Busch Gardens)

Update July 2025: It appears Wild Oasis will finally open to the public on July 15, 2025 and to pass members starting July 13, 2025. This has had a couple of delays, but this large redesigned and new land should be worth the wait. The full schedule is below.

• Platinum Pass Members Only: Saturday, July 12 l 10:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

• Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Pass Members: Sunday, July 13 | 10:30 А.М. – 5:00 Р.M.

• All Pass Members & Fun Card Holders: Monday, July 14 | 10:30 А.М. – 5:00 P.M.

• Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting – Open to All Guests: Tuesday, July 15 | 10:30 – 11:30 A.M.

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The Kōmbo Family Coaster at the Indianapolis Zoo is Unique and Themed Perfectly

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The Kōmbo Family Coaster at the Indianapolis Zoo is a highly unique family coaster by Zierer opened in 2001. At 24 feet in height and 21 mph on 656 feet of track Kombo’s stats from the zoo’s website won’t wow anyone, but it’s spectacular attention to theme and a few neat quirks make it a unique and fun offering in a surprising place. The day I went was a “school” day and so the park was pretty empty meaning I got one of the first “zen” rides (only rider on the train) I can remember in a long time.

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