travel

Will Six Flags Souvenir Refill Bottles Become a Thing of the Past?

/ printingddd / Leave a comment
Six flags refillable bottles

If you’re like me you have a small collection of souvenir refill bottles from theme parks. Probably my biggest collection is from my home park, Six Flags Over Georgia. However. when I renewed my season pass this year there was a new option for 2026, a paper cup option. It is quite similar to the sports bottles with refills available every 15 minutes, but you don’t need the bottle as you’ll get a new paper cup each time. Upon a little research, it appears this paper cup program has been an option at the legacy Cedar Fair parks since 2017 that is now coming to the legacy Six Flags parks. Signs are also pointing to this being the only option in 2026 as there is no 2026 bottle option online.

Continue reading →

Drinking Around the Universe at Universal Epic Universe

/ printingddd / Leave a comment
Epic Universe entrance
Epic Universe Chronos Tower

Universal Epic Universe has quickly established itself as a prime destination for thrill-seekers and, as it turns out, for those seeking unique and sophisticated adult beverages. The park, which opened on May 22, 2025, has made a name for itself not just with its incredible rides and themed worlds, but also with a diverse and creative lineup of cocktails, beers, and other alcoholic libations. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing spritz in Celestial Park or a potent potion in the Ministry of Magic, here’s a guide to some of the top spots to find alcoholic drinks at Epic Universe.

Continue reading →

The Fascinating World of Disney Balloons

/ printingddd / Leave a comment

Getting a balloon at a theme park can be an iconic experience for a child and some of the balloons at Disney are amazing. Balloons can be found for sale, on parade floats and even as part of attractions. Much of the Disney balloon magic can be traced back to one man, Treb Heining who elevated balloons to an an art form. Mr. Heining was part inventor, part artist and part salesman who helped make balloons an integral part of Disney.

Continue reading →

New “Beak and Barrel” Tavern is Magic Kingdom’s First Public Bar and One of the Few Ways for the General Public to Drink at the Park

/ printingddd / Leave a comment
The Beak and Barrel sign

Getting an adult beverage at Magic Kingdom is not easy, and that’s thought to be somewhat intentional. While the other Walt Disney World Parks more openly sell alcohol at bars and kiosks (think “Drinking Around the World” at EPCOT) alcohol has generally been hard to come by at the Magic Kingdom. You can generally get it at table service restaurants, but otherwise it was as part of an upcharge event like the “Fireworks and Dessert Parties“. This has now changed with the opening of The Beak and Barrel Tavern Magic Kingdom’s first bar.

Continue reading →

Will Winnie-the Pooh be Coming to Your Local Theme Park? How Copyright Law Works.

/ printingddd / Leave a comment
Grady's Family Fun Park entrance with Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger statues
Grady’s Family Fun Park entrance

I was driving through southern Illinois and made a stop at Grady’s Family Fun Park. It has a bit of a feel of a permanent carnival attached to a batting cages and a mini golf course, but it is full of charm. One thing that struck me were the statues of Winnin-the-Pooh and Tigger at the exit. My first thought was that Disney was probably going to sue them, but a little research taught me otherwise as the original Winnie-the-Pooh copyright has indeed expired!

Continue reading →

Stanley Falls Flume Ride at Busch Gardens to Close Forever September 7, 2025

/ printingddd / Leave a comment
img_4190

Stanley Falls at Busch Gardens will close on September 7, 2025 to make room for a future attraction according to announcements from the park on its website and social media.

After more than 50 years of splashes, smiles, and summer memories, Stanley Falls Flume® is taking its final plunge on September 7, 2025. As one of the original rides from the park’s opening in 1973, this classic has been a fan favorite for generations. This is your last chance to ride before we say goodbye and make way for an exciting new future attraction! Come relive the fun and help us celebrate a true Busch Gardens legend.

https://buschgardens.com/tampa/rides/stanley-falls/
Continue reading →

Spending National Roller Coaster Day 2025 at Lake Winnie Riding the Historic Cannon Ball Coaster

/ printingddd / Leave a comment

The Lake Winnepesaukah amusement park in Rossville, GA (affectionately known locally as “Lake Winnie“) is a beautiful park located on a 9 acre lake. The park is family owned celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and is filled with history, nostalgia and character. The park’s best known attraction is the Cannon Ball wooden roller coaster built in 1967. On National Roller Coaster Day 2025 on August 16th we felt like getting some rides on the park’s historic Cannon Ball coaster was a great way to celebrate.

Continue reading →

Norwegian Cruise Line Adding New Great Tides Water Park to its Private Island in 2026

/ printingddd / Leave a comment
Great Tides Waterpark rendering
Great Tides Waterpark (courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

If you’ve cruised the Caribbean with Norwegian Cruise Lines you’ve probably spent a day at Great Stirrup Cay, their private Island. These islands are a way for cruise lines to offer a port of call while keeping passengers nearly 100% in their ecosystem. It’s not all bad for guests though as things like meal plans and drink packages can often be used in facilities on land. These islands have some great amenities from beaches to zip lines, but in the summer of 2026 Norwegian will make a massive addition to their Island with the new Great Tides Waterpark.

Continue reading →

Disney’s Spaceship Earth Mickey Balloon Popcorn Bucket from EPCOT Can Teach Us a Lot About Math

/ printingddd / 1 Comment
Spaceship Earth Popcorn Bucket in front of Spaceship Earth (Picture from Karol Brinkley)

Popcorn buckets at Disney are a big deal and a good deal. The themed buckets look great and are highly collectible, but are also useful as a refillable popcorn container in the parks at a reduced price. Some of the standard refillable buckets are simple cylinders with printed graphics, but the premium refillable buckets border on works of art with some containing electronics and lights. There have been some amazing ones recently, with the popcorn bucket featuring the Imagination Pavilion and Figment from the 2024 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts getting a ton of buzz. However, the one that caught my eye was Spaceship Earth Mickey Balloon popcorn bucket. It of course looks great, but I got to thinking, what if the actual Spaceship Earth was a popcorn bucket?

Continue reading →

Oklahoma Theme Park American Heartland Appears Cancelled After Investor Files Fraud Lawsuit Over “Text Messages From God”

/ printingddd / Leave a comment

American Heartland theme park in Northeastern Oklahoma. A new lawsuit claims that the park’s founders defrauded a 91-year-old man, Gene Bicknell, out of over $60 million in investments toward the park using text messages pretending to be from God. According to reports, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants “executed a predatory conspiracy of psychological manipulation” and obtained the investment by “convincing Bicknell, through fraud and impersonation, that God himself was commanding him”. American Heartland was to be a $2 billion world-class theme park and resort off Route 66 in Vinita, Oklahoma scheduled to open in 2028. However, the park’s website has gone dark (along with that of parent company Mansion Entertainment Group) and combined with the lawsuit it almost certainly marks the end of the development.

Continue reading →