Orlando, Florida is known as the theme park capitol of the world and the local science center embraces this with its own roller coaster exhibit. The Orlando Science Center has the Coaster Challenge, where you’ll use pipes to build a model of whatever radical roller coaster you can dream up! The Coaster Challenge is located in the museum’s Kinetic Zone exhibit where guests explore the fundamentals of forces and learn the principles of physics.
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Our son is in the Universal “Goldilocks” zone of 55” where he can ride everything including Pteranodon Flyers. Universal is strict in that only kids 36” to 56” can ride and each one can take only one adult with them. This was my first ride on this rare credit and it did not disappoint (other than being too short at 80 seconds). The views as you soar right next to Velocicoaster are great and at night it’s even better with torches burning below. You get a sense of swinging and flying that you don’t find with a traditional invert. The relative quiet as you move about is great too and you get this sense of launching like a hang glider as you leave the lift hill. Find yourself a niece or nephew and get yourself a ride on Pteranodon Flyers if you can!
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Earlier this year Six Flags sold several parks which are now under the management of Enchanted Parks. 2026 is a year of transition with many of them still using Six Flags names and branding while also honoring Six Flags season passes. However, this is expected to change as soon as the 2027 season as the parks will likely lose the ability to continue to use the 3rd party IP which Six Flags has licensed. This means Enchanted Parks will need to retheme their DC, Looney Toons and Peanuts rides and areas. For this article we’ll concentrate specifically on the children’s area where the legacy Six Flags parks have Looney Toons and the legacy Cedar Fair parks have Peanuts (Snoopy). This type of transition is actually somewhat common, for example SeaWorld San Antonio recently converted their Sesame Street area over to a SeaWorld Rescue Jr. theme. So it’s really not a question of if/how they’ll make the change, but more a question of what will they change to and when?
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Ever wonder how they test a roller coaster? Before a coaster is even built today, computer modeling will verify things like the g-forces being within safe thresholds and that the track layout doesn’t have any “envelope” issues (places where a rider’s hands or other body parts could make contact with the structure). However, theoretical testing is not enough, practical testing is needed too. After the track is first inspected inch by inch, a car will then do a “pull-through” test, usually by a winch, to check everything. Often a large piece of plywood will be mounted on a seat to represent the maximum reach of a rider’s hands to check the “envelope” again. Then the train will cycle all or part of the course empty before the water-filled dummies below will get the first ride! Before a human sets foot on a new coaster, dummies like this will take dozens or hundreds of laps with sensors and cameras aboard to be sure everything is OK. The restraints are also tested long before construction and if you’re in the Orlando area you can potentially even help Skyline Attractions with this next Saturday, August 15, 2026!
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The Pink Whale at Six Flags Great Escape (now Enchanted Parks) is an iconic picture spot at the theme park. No doubt thousands of kids and families have their picture taken with it each season. The pink whale originated in 1954 when the park was known as Storytown USA. Charley Wood built the amusement park in Queensbury, New York, near Lake George and the Adirondacks. It would eventually be sold to Premier Parks, the Six Flags and now Enchanted Parks. Mr. Wood originally built it as a biblical “Jonah and the whale” display (you could argue Jonah had a “great escape”), but today a Moby Dick poem is on a sign beside it (see below). The whale was temporarily removed in 2005, but fan outcry brought it back. The whale is quickly approaching its 75th birthday, meaning it’s probably on its 3rd or 4th generation of families by now and hopefully will remain there for years to come.
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Our family of 3 had a chance to experience Galacticoaster at LEGOLAND Florida and we were wowed, awestruck and captivated by this amazing attraction. Calling Galacticoaster and “ride” or a “roller coaster” really sells it short as this is a multi-part story driven experience. The actual “coaster” portion of Galacticoaster is pretty short, but you’ll be entertained thoroughly over 10 minutes or so as you’re completely immersed in the ride’s story. This ride and its twin at LEGOLAND California represent a $90 million investment by Merlin Entertainment and you’ll immediately see it was money well spent.
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The humble capybara is having a moment where they seem to be everywhere. The internet is filled with adorable pictures of baby capybaras creating tremendous demand to meet these creatures in person. Capyfriends Cafe in Helen, Georgia is an opportunity to do just that! This unique experience is a partnership between Nacoochee Adventures and North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park. At Capyfriends Cafe, guests have the rare opportunity to meet, interact with and learn about these gentle, curious creatures.
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Wild Adventures is several types of family entertainment combined into one that is equal parts theme park, water park, concert venue, zoo and nature center. The Alapaha Trail is a large section of elevated boardwalk through authentic Georgia swampland. For the 2026 season the trail has more than doubled in size with a large section closed for over a decade reopened. The entire trail has been refreshed with more than 6,000 board feet of new wood. The Alapaha Trail is a peaceful, shaded boardwalk that provides a nice break from the neighboring rides with the opportunity to see several of the park’s animals along the way.
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We had a chance to go to a soft opening of Bartow County’s new Splashville water park prior to the grand opening on May 23, 2026. This new $15 million facility is at Hamilton Crossing just north of Cartersville, Georgia. Quite simply, Splashville is spectacular and will be a showpiece facility for Bartow County for years to come. The slides, lazy river and pools are all fun with perfect depths for both kids and adults. There are places for playing, swimming and just relaxing. For the thrill seekers the enclosed slide is fast and the size and speed of the lazy river is as good as many theme parks. Splashville is a great facility at a great price that the whole family can enjoy. Splashville is currently open weekends through the end of September.
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We had a chance to experience the Scouting America Adventure Weekend at Wild Adventures Theme Park, April 17-19, 2026 and it was an incredible scouting event. This has to be the best bargain in scouting events with food, 2-day theme park tickets and 2nights of camping for only $50. The execution of the event by Wild Adventures was spectacular as everything was obviously extremely well planned. For a scout spending 2 days camping at Wild Adventures couldn’t be more fun with its combination of rides, waterpark and animals. If you’re looking for a fun spring camping event it’s hard to imagine anything better than a Scouting America Adventure Weekend at Wild Adventures.
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