December 21, 2025 • 30 mins
Six Flags Magic Mountain has delayed its highly anticipated “first-of-its-kind” coaster to 2027, citing the attraction’s complexity and a commitment to quality. The project—reported to be a Vekoma Thrill Glider—was part of the company’s broader $1 billion investment plan and would have been the park’s first major coaster addition since 2022.
At the same time, Six Flags confirmed a significant pivot toward family-focused IP with the announcement of Looney Tunes Land, a fully reimagined children’s area opening in summer 2026 with upgraded storytelling, expanded green space, new theming, and refreshed dining.
Taken together, these moves raise questions about where Six Flags is placing its near-term bets. Coasters are increasingly expensive and time-intensive to build, and ongoing tariff uncertainty may be influencing capital timelines. The decision to prioritize Looney Tunes—rather than Peanuts—could also signal a push toward IP diversification tied to Warner Bros., especially as broader questions remain about how Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm will coexist and differentiate within the same Southern California market.
We explore whether this reflects a temporary pause on thrill-heavy investments, a reorientation toward families and reliability, or simply a pragmatic sequencing of projects while the company navigates post-merger integration and external pressures. We also touch briefly on winter and holiday programming that caught our attention, including China’s massive Ice-Snow World and Alton Towers’ Santa Sleepover in the U.K., as operators worldwide look for ways to stabilize attendance across unpredictable seasons. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
At the same time, Six Flags confirmed a significant pivot toward family-focused IP with the announcement of Looney Tunes Land, a fully reimagined children’s area opening in summer 2026 with upgraded storytelling, expanded green space, new theming, and refreshed dining.
Taken together, these moves raise questions about where Six Flags is placing its near-term bets. Coasters are increasingly expensive and time-intensive to build, and ongoing tariff uncertainty may be influencing capital timelines. The decision to prioritize Looney Tunes—rather than Peanuts—could also signal a push toward IP diversification tied to Warner Bros., especially as broader questions remain about how Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm will coexist and differentiate within the same Southern California market.
We explore whether this reflects a temporary pause on thrill-heavy investments, a reorientation toward families and reliability, or simply a pragmatic sequencing of projects while the company navigates post-merger integration and external pressures. We also touch briefly on winter and holiday programming that caught our attention, including China’s massive Ice-Snow World and Alton Towers’ Santa Sleepover in the U.K., as operators worldwide look for ways to stabilize attendance across unpredictable seasons. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, from our studios in Los Angeles and Tampa. This
is green Tag Theme Park and thirty. I'm Philip and
I'm joined as always with my co host Scott Swinson
of Scott Swinson Creative Development.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
On green Tag, we look.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
At the top news each week and in discuss why
it's important to industry professionals. We try and ask questions
and spark debate on our YouTube specifically where everyone is
continuing to comment, which we are very grateful for. And
this week we will discuss a little bit of the
six Flags. We always have to give you all the
six Flags updates. We got to do the six Flags updates.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
What's going on?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Everybody loves six Flags updates well, and if you think
about it, when it comes to the industry, they are
the biggest player now, the biggest well they're they're the
ones that are in the most unique position. I mean
they're not they've been shaken up and it's interesting to
see how they're handling it.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So we'll discuss that, and then we're going to talk
a little bit about some fun Christmas events that we
picked out for happening all over the world that we
thought was cool because it is our Christmas show, which
I forgot about.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yes, that's why I'm decked out in my in my
Christmas shirt and I'm out here in this frigid little
Christmas wonderland forest here in Tampa.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I completely forgot this.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I don't know it's about. Well, but that's because Philip,
you just took your Christmas tree down last week, so
you know it's true. It's not even up.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, I got o. We're gonna get there.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Okay, So let's recap some of the big theme part
of the sorry the big six Flags news from this
past week. I'm sure everyone's heard, but of course that
the Magic Mountain. There's some a lot of stuff happening
at Magic Mountain. They're not going to get the opening
of the big new first fits Kind roller coaster in
twenty twenty six. That's going to be pushed at twenty
twenty seven. Instead, they're getting a refreshed kids area.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So so, uh, this is interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So yeah, the first fits Kind roller coaster is being
pushed to twenty twenty seven. And what they told KTLA
is that as we continue to evaluate our construction project,
we've realized that the nature of this attraction means that
it will take a bit longer to complete than originally anticipated.
To ensure the coaster meets are high standards of innovation,
thrills and safety that you expect and deserve, we have
(02:12):
revised the timeline to twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So the coaster was part.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Of the one billion dollar chain wide investment by six
Flags and it's the the Coma Thrill Glide, a suspended
motorbike coaster that's not yet seen in North America, and.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
The kids area.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So basically this is a little This one was interesting
just because of the context of the recent things. But
what they're doing is they're basically revamping the Bugs Bunny
area to a Looney Tunes land, which is going to
debut in summer of next year, and it's going to
(02:51):
feature four areas anchored by Bugs Bunny, Roadrunner, Taz, and
Daffy Duck. And it's going to include upgraded storytelling on
existing rye it's new theming, expanded seating, selfie spots, where
fresh dying locations, and additional green space. It's gonna the
construction will begin right after their current winter festival there
and everything else like the park will be open. It's
(03:11):
just that one area it's going to be doing. In
a press release, the park said each area will have
its own color palette, fauna, landscaping, graphics, hardscaping and railings, signage,
and more distinct experiences in that area. And the context
is just interesting here because last episode we've just talked
about how the Warner Brothers is up for sale and
will Netflix buy it and what's going to happen or whatnot.
(03:33):
And of course Looney Tunes is part of the Warner
Brothers ip that they do do lease out, so it's.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Interesting they're choosing to continue.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Like so it's like business as usual basically, which is
kind of what we talked about anyway last week that
it was going to just be business as usual. So uh,
And in case anyone is wondering, which people have already
commented in our last episode about this, since last week,
the Warner Brothers shareholders have issued a statement saying that
(04:03):
they recommend Netflix instead of Paramount as the purchaser because
mostly I think because they're saying the funding might not
be as secure as the Netflix one. So so just
interesting that this is all kind of happening. But we
said it would take years anyway, because it will take
years if it happens well.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
And to me, it's it's it's interesting, but it's also
kind of doubling down because you know, they now have
a much if this is after this is completed, they
will have a much stronger anchor to be able to say,
you know, we've invested in in this, this and this upgrade.
So now that the representation of your brand, whether Netflix
(04:43):
bies it or not, which I think they will, but
we've you know, we've been reinvesting and supporting your brand.
So please keep working with us, and please continue to
allow us to lease the rights, at least in this
format at of experience. So I think that that does
not surprise me a whole lot. I I you know,
(05:06):
if if for some reason, whoever buys Warner Brothers decides
we're gonna pull all the the Looney Tunes, all the
bugs Bunny rights, that's gonna take years and years to
do because there's you know, there's some pretty significant investments
around the world using those ips, and uh, they're they're
not gonna they're not gonna go away overnight. But what
(05:29):
I think is most interesting is this is kind of
echoing what we've been sort of suggesting in the show
all along, and that is the standard standard operating procedure.
Procedure for large theme parks is changing. It used to
be that the only way you could do anything that
would make people want to come to your park is
to spend a huge investment on a new coaster, especially
(05:53):
a six Flags park that was that's been their bread
and butter. You know, they invest in a coaster, they
get a bump for three years, they pay off the
coaster for five years to seven years, and it just
it's not making sense anymore on paper. What is making sense, however,
is providing more and more opportunities for families to come
(06:13):
and and do stuff together. That is, That is the
new trend. That is the new trend. People who are
seeking thrills aren't going to aren't going to theme parks
as much. They're going to places that have real thrills.
You know, they're going whitewater rafting, they're going they're going
bungee jumping, they're doing you know, they're doing all that stuff.
(06:35):
So I'm not going to say that roller coasters are
going to go away. You know, everybody, whenever I say
things on the show, people always like to make it
very black and white. That No, Scott doesn't know what
he's talking about, because roller coasters aren't going anywhere. I'm
not saying roller coasters are going away. What I'm saying
is parks are recognizing that the return on investment is
there are other options other than big pieces of steel
(06:57):
that quite often will have a more or well a
more positive return on investment, and especially things that involve
family and an ip. So I think that this is. Yes,
I'm sure they didn't have the money. I mean, let's
let's address the elephant in the room, or at least didn't,
(07:19):
let me put it this way, even if they had it,
didn't want to spend it for fear that, you know,
other things may happen down the road, or they want
to make sure that the stockholders don't just start abandoning
them so that they can maintain some of their their residuals,
their stock residuals. So there's that. But I also think that,
like I said, the way theme parks are working, I
(07:42):
love the fact that they now include includes many selfie experiences. Yep,
that was never a space.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah green space and self experiences are like new trends.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, yeah, very new, well not very new, but there
they are trends that are returning, trends that are appealing
to appealing to their guests. So to me, it's just
kind of a I don't want to use the term
right sizing, but I guess that's what it is. It's
looking at at what is our what it's going to
be our return on investment? And you know, will will
(08:16):
the new updated family friendly area drive as much attendance
as a new roller coaster in the first year? Maybe not,
but it also won't cost as much.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah, well, I was wondering do you think I guess
I was wondering how much do you think the cost
is playing factor in it? And do you think I mean,
I was thinking about this from a manufacturing standpoint, is like,
is there maybe are they thinking that the terroriffs might
go away? I mean, I don't know how how far
it is in construction. I mean, I have no idea.
(08:47):
I don't know if it's already if everything's already in
this country and they're just like assembling it, and in
which case it wouldn't matter. But maybe you're people are thinking, well,
you know, it's a terrafs wind their way to the
Supreme Court and as all that is happening, maybe the
terrace will go away, and then it would I mean,
if this if twenty percent twenty percent cheaper roller coaster
(09:09):
is a.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Lot Yeah, yeah, Well, and they may also be thinking,
you know, let's let's let's not muddy the waters when
you know for twenty six everything six Flags at least
from a look how good we are is going to
be focused in Saudi. You know that's true, So let's
(09:33):
not muddy the waters. Let's let's not compete with ourselves.
I don't know, there's there could be a lot of
different reasons, quite honestly.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah, And I was also thinking that too, well. I
was I'd forgot about the Saudi and goinghea that it's interesting.
But I was also thinking, there's really nothing opening in
twenty like there's very few like big things opening in
twenty twenty six in America, and I'm wondering, if I
guess I was thinking a bit, is this them trying
(10:00):
to not just the cost and all that stuff, but
also they're trying to be more competitive in twenty seven
when you have larger, other, larger competition happening, where it's
like they want to be a little bit more competitive,
and like really nothing's happening in twenty six.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
So yeah, that's very possible because I mean, let's face it,
you know, theme parks, theme park insider, people who work
in theme parks know when other theme parks are planning
to open things, yes, long before it's announced. So yeah,
that's very possible. That's very possible. And you know, who knows.
It could be a combination of all these things. It
could be a combination of all And I would throw
(10:38):
even another possibility into the hat, and that is it's
an attempt to revitalize and slightly redirect what is the
perceived audience for a six Flags park yep, because you know,
we've both said Six Flags parks are and this is
a gross overstatement, but many of the six Flags parks
(11:02):
have the reputation of being blacktop and roller coasters and
that's about it. Yeah, blacktop and thrill rides. So if
they're going to do a deep dive in an investment
and a strong media push for a revised, updated family area,
that that may be another attempt to sort of reposition
(11:23):
their their demographic.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
The only other thing I thought was interesting is that
they they didn't choose to do this with Peanuts, right,
And I think that's another thing.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
A lot of people were wondering.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
It's like, well, where they gonna where the Six Flags
Park's going to build areas with the Peanuts Now that
it's they now they can now it's it's one chain.
And also just another side noted that Sony just purchased
a majority of the stock in Peanuts and so it's
(12:00):
like they're most most of the owners of Peanuts now.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
So it's Sony.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So it's that's that's been happening, you know, in this
side thing. But it yeah, so I don't know. To me,
I I I hear a lot of people talking about that,
and I'm like, well, like it's kind of more for diversity,
I think, is how I would say it. It's like
they want to you know, having multiple eyps makes you
more diverse, and that way they I don't know, I mean.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
To me, it's competing iyps. I don't know whether if
it were, if it were my choice, I would look
at what what eyps are are resonating strongest with the
audience that I want and and dive in wholeheartedly with
those And like I said, I I think it's just
(12:48):
to reinforce the anchor of the Warner Brothers characters, so
that when negotiations come up in the future with the
new sale. I mean, I still think that the the
the impending sale of Warner Brothers has something to do
with their decision. I can't. I have no insider information,
(13:09):
nor have I ever dealt with that particular ip. So
it's one of those I don't know, but I think
to me, it kind of sounds like we're just gonna
really dig our heels in tight. We're gonna put our
anchors deep into the bottom of the ocean and say,
look look at our great investment. Well, you can't take
this away from us. Now, let's negotiate. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Yeah, interesting, some very quick hits too, just we didn't
talk about this last time, But it's not that. But
I think the last round up of six Flags news
is that they've streamlined all of their apps and website together,
which they did a few weeks ago, but we didn't
mention it because we were.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Just our next six Flags updates.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
But yeah, it's interesting because I, you know, I have
the subscription to it, and so previously I had like
the Notts app, and so now is all like one app,
no matter what six Flags park you're a part of,
and it's like one website and everything is like combined.
So I don't know, people are freaking out about it.
(14:11):
I think that that step was necessary.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
I'm let's go back. It's not the first time six
Flags has done that either. When six Flags you know
in there, when six Flags started purchasing up every mom
and pop park they could find, and we'll call it
the Geaga Lake syndrome, when they when they basically purchased
everything they could find, they put everything under one umbrella,
one website, and then broke it back up again. But
(14:38):
in this particular case, like I said, we have to
stop thinking about it as this is a half and
half company. It's not it's a new company. It's not
six Flags, it's it's not Cedar Fair. It is six
Flags now yep. And I think that that helps with
that narrative more absolutely.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
The new app, the unified app, it has all of
your rewards in it and all that especially for me,
just for me, because I write next to six Slacks
like I'm fifteen minutes away from Magic Mountain and then
I can drive down to Knots right, and so especially
for people in this region.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Very different, but better because then it kind of reinforces
that it's one thing.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
So I know this isn't in our show notes. I
know we hadn't discussed this, But because the two prox
parks are in such close proximity, do you see there's
any possibility of one of them closing their doors?
Speaker 2 (15:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I mean everybody here is asking that, like everybody in
Sokyl is wondering that. And that's kind of what I thought.
Why it was interesting that they were putting the Loan
Tunes thing there because Knats has the Peanuts and they
just redid the camp Snoopy, so they I mean, they
just renovated that, and so now this move would kind
of make you believe that they're gonna plan to keep
(15:52):
both parks operational with different vibes, even different kids eyps,
with new renovated areas, right, So I think that's boating
well for all of that, it's just interesting because you're like, well,
maybe they're thinking of pushing both more.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Into the more family demographic, just because.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I think, I don't know, God, I'm going to get
in so much trouble for this with the theme park
people here locally, but like the way I feel, like
the way I think about the SoCal environment is you're like,
Disney is still the best. I'm sorry, especially here because
the Universal Hollywood is very small, and Universal Hollywood is
where you go for the studio tour and for those
(16:34):
things that you can't get other places, but they have
all to do with Hollywood, right, It's so it's such
a Hollywood park, okay. And then Disney is just the best,
it's the largest, but also it's just it's the original.
It's the thing, right, It's the thing. And then six
Flags kind of has that vibe of being like the
park in the suburbs that is like where tweens hang
(16:56):
out until they are old enough where they have enough
money to go to or Universal, or they move out
of the city because like it's in the suburbs, right,
nobody comes up here. Okay, I don't even know why
I'm here, but like it's one of those where you
know where like when you get old enough, you leave
and you move into the city. So you're either going
(17:17):
to move closer to Universal and then you go to Universal,
or you move down to the w A Park area
and you're gonna go to Knots or Disney. So this
is like the park that you're at when you're in
school and when you're living with your parents, Like, this
is the park that you're at, I think not, I
mean people do travel to it, but like not not,
(17:37):
I I mean again, because then the calculus is like,
why don't we just go to k Notts?
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Right?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
It depends on where you are in the uh, you
know where you live, but it's only an hour apart,
and so it's really like, you know, I think most
people will choose nos because it has a more robust
entertainment offering, and they're still so it is. This is
hard because I think the only time I've ever heard
(18:03):
people that live south that means live past the city,
the only time I've ever heard those people be like,
I'm going to go to six Flags. It's for two things.
One is fright fast, and one is they want to
go to a coaster mm hmm. But then the people
that everyone that lives around it are families because it's
the suburbs, and so you're so it's it's a weird
(18:24):
dynamic because you're like, oh, this is interesting, and then
Knots is like people love Nots because it's the cheap Disney,
because it it's the only park I would argue, maybe
not in their chain, but it's the they do such
a good job with their entertainment, with what they have.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Well, it was the outlier in the Cedar Fair parks too.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
It's always been the outlier.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
So it's it's going to be the outlier in the
in the current six flags as well.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Like their Mary Farm, it might be the only time
I go. I only I only go to Knots like
four times. And it's like Boys and Berry Festival, you know,
Scary Farm, Married Mary and there's. You go to the
main things just because they do such great things, but you.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Go to the seasons festivals. You go to the seasonal festivals.
You don't go to the core product of the park. Well,
and the reason I'm asking is, I'm just wondering if
this decision not to do a giant coaster is kicking
the ball down the street a little bit, waiting to
see do we need to have both parks or do
they need to have both parks. That's what made me,
(19:26):
That's what prompted the question, because I really, you know,
you live there. I don't so I don't know what
the local mentality is, but yeah, it's interesting. It's going
to be interesting to see how this continues to play out.
And of course we'll be reporting on it from now
until the cows come home because it is the biggest
mover and shaker really when it comes to the big
(19:47):
theme park industries. They're out there. So we'll see, we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Well, yes, okay, it's Christmas.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So oh okay.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
We want to talk about two stories.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Nothing Christmas around me other than my backdrop and my shirt.
I was looking for something that would be like fun
and I could like jingle bells or anything. But everything's
scary and Halloween.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Oh I have this?
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Doesn't help me off this plant? Oh there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Okay, I'll put this here. So we have a little
bit of Christmas five okay, So two stories from just
interesting things.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
So the.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
So, okay, there's a place I've always wanted to go
in this time of year, which is the Harbin Ice
Snow World in China. And I think I got became
aware of these artists because the Gaylord Resorts do the
ice experience and you know, I'm sure our listeners have
seen it or heard of it because they're in all
(20:45):
the major Gaylord properties, and Nico there has really done
an excellent job of expanding all of the entertainment offerings
at those resorts. But the thing with those ice experience this,
as you know, is that they're giant ice sculptures that
you walk through in their ips, right, So you're going
through like the Polar Express and you see the full
(21:06):
size replica of the Express out of ice.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
All those artists are from China, are from Harbin because
that's where like the world's largest snow world is is.
And it's just it's their thing. It's this enormous thing,
and I've always wanted to go to it because it
looks so great. So it's just opened for this year
and it's five hundred and twenty one meter eye slides,
(21:30):
intricate ice sculptures, and other attractions. The park spans one
point two million square meters and has introduced new performances
and amenities, generating substantial winter revenue. So last year this
park like this, like it's basically a theme park made
device right, and last year it like set records for
(21:51):
being like one of the most visited destinations, and so
it just reopened for this year. It looks like it's
even bigger and crazier, and I'm like, I'm really interest
to see what the numbers are going to be, because
I am betting this is gonna end up rivaling year
round theme parks in terms of attendance.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Well, I mean, first of all, it's huge. Secondly easy, Yeah,
it's it's gigetic, and you see these photos and you
see maps, and you go, that couldn't possibly be. That
couldn't possibly be what I think it is.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
But like Native, it's like a city made of ices.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Easy. No, I know, but I think that part of
it is. I think you're right. I think it's part
of the reason that it does so incredibly well. Is
number one, it is unique there, you know, it's it's
unlike anything else of this magnitude. And secondly, it has
a fuse. It has a beginning, it has an end,
(22:44):
and not because it cannot be extended, you know, extended
due to popular demand. Except the weather's changing and our
eye slides are now four hundred and eighty meters, you know,
it's it's not five twenty one anymore. They're now down
to four eighty and half the stairs are gone, so
good luck. So yeah, I think that it is. I'm
with you. I think this looks like something that would
(23:05):
be so much fun and so unique and uh, you
know it's if any of you who are listeners have
actually been to this, uh, please let us know send photos,
because I would love to see what this looks like.
I mean from from a guest perspective. You know, I'm
to the point now where I love seeing promotional material,
(23:27):
but I really want to see it from a guest
perspective to see if it's as cool as it appears
to be.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
And it's the only reason going to the ice experiences
at the gayal Or Resorts made me want to see
this more because you know, then when you go and
you walk through those, you're like, oh my gosh, like
this is crazy that these are these sculptures are made
of eyes and you know, and then you just imagine
it being a whole theme park of it, and it's
crazy because you know, I don't know, you don't think
(23:53):
it's going to work, and then you see it in person,
You're like, oh my god, this is this works and
then you uh slide down the giant ice slides, which
I believe.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
The poems always has one and it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yeah. The Gaylord. The Gaylord experiences are are sort of
the the to me, it reminds me of sort of
the of the the touring promotional show for the actual
park in China.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yep, you know it's uh, it's if you're right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Yeah, and if you and and I don't mean that
to be a dig on on any of the on
Gaylord's ice at all. I think it's amazing. I go
every year they've and they've continued to add and expand
to it. It really is. It's it's truly breathtaking. So
if you have the if you don't have the opportunity
to go to China, at least go to Gaylord and
(24:41):
see what some of these great artisans can create and
some of the fun in many in most cases I
will say westernized ips that they can can bring to life.
And of course everyone everyone that they do because it's
of course Christmas. Uh, they do and I'm not particularly religious,
but they do an ice major scene. They do an
(25:01):
ice crash that has no color to it. It's just
ice and light and it is it's all inspiring. It's
really beautiful. So so just imagining that times a gazillion
makes the park sound like the one in China sound
like it would be just way too much fun, way
too much fun and something.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
The story, which also seems pretty fun, is from Alton
Towers in the UK and they're offering a scent to
sleepover package. And this is so this is a festive
experience for families, featuring activities such as meeting Santa, exploring
the Seabe's land, and enjoying a themed hotel stay in
case of rainy whether the event provides indoor attractions and entertainment.
(25:46):
The Arctic Explorer room and a Christmas dinner bathet are
highlights of the experience. So this isn't like this is
all new things. But what I like about this is
that they are packaging everything into like a whole experience
and so encourage you to do a stay, and it
then allows them to put in, you know, all these
elements together, Like you get the themed room, you get
(26:08):
the buffet, you get the Santa experience, you get to
enjoy the park. I mean, you get this whole thing
that's kind of like wrapped into Christmas package, which I
think is just that it's interesting because you know, we
see this happen with this again, none of this is new,
but I feel like I don't really see it happen
that much for Christmas, and I think that that's what
(26:29):
makes this interesting to me.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
I love the fact that it's a a family sleepover experience.
You know, it's so cool. It looks like it would
be just so much fun. Just some of the images
and the descriptions. You're you know, we we bandy about
the idea of immersiveness and the UK has done this
(26:54):
in several other areas as well. You know, there's the
overnight Halloween experiences, there's the so there's a lot of
these sort of more camp grounding things. This is not
camp grounding, but just the idea of it's all all
Santa all the time. You know, you are, you're making
the commitment as a family to go and experience Christmas
(27:15):
at Alton Towers. You're gonna go see Santa, You're gonna
have your Christmas dinner. But fet this is like everything
everything a child would want for Christmas all rolled into
one big experience.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
And the fact that it's not we have to get
up in the morning and hurry over there and get
ready and wait and line and park the car and
blah blah blah, blah blah. The fact that it's an
overnight's stay kind of goes back to the way the
only way I will enjoy Disney anymore, and that is
to actually stay on property, because again, I don't like
the hassle of getting in, but if you make it
an overnight experience, that hassle all just goes away and
(27:50):
you do your stand asleepover. So yeah, I think this
is really fun. I'm not sure it would I'm not
sure how well it would play in the US. I
was thinking that I don't I don't know that. I
do know that a lot of people, you know, especially
here in Florida, you have to there was a time
and my numbers are old, but there was a time
where if you wanted to book one of the hotels
(28:13):
during the during the holiday season between Christmas and New
Year's you usually had to book it about two years
in advance, and they at one point in time they
actually had a minimum amount stay you had to stay
at least I think it was four days. That's crazy,
So uh, yeah, it was because again, so many families
are are willing to say, let's you know, let's not
(28:37):
have a traditional Christmas. Let's have our Christmas at Disney.
Let's have our Christmas with our families, because again it
is Disney does Christmas well, and quite honestly, in my opinion,
some of the best applications of Christmas on Disney property
happened in the hotels anyway, So I mean here here
(28:57):
in Florida, they even, you know, all of the the
confectionery chefs have a competition to do displays that aren't,
you know, super high end. It's not the gigantic rides
and the attractions, but they're magical and they capture the
essence of Christmas in a in a really amazing way.
So it sounds like Alton Towers is doing their version
(29:20):
of that in a sleepover experience. And we hope that
you know, all of you who are are listening or
watching the show, we hope that you capture your own
holiday experiences this year. And if you are, if you
are celebrating, hanik, I think we're almost that's just about over,
and Christmas is around the corner, and of course New
Year's is coming up closely behind that. So thank you
(29:41):
all so much for spending yet another year with us.
We hope your holiday season continues to be wonderful, and
hopefully you'll find a little bit of your own Christmas
magic in the in the holiday season.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
So I'm going to add also at the end that
we are going to get we're getting pretty close to
doing our New Year's episode as well. So or any
topics or questions that you want to ask us, this
is the time. If anything you want to ask that
you want us talk about on the show, this is
the time.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Put it in there.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
I should have said this at the beginning of the show,
but we're saying it now. So put in your questions
and also please subscribe.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
We couldn't we couldn't have just a heartfelt holiday ending.
We just had to get in the commercial.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Okay, they probably won't listen to this part anyway. They
probably stopped listening.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
That's true. I started. It's like, oh, look, Scott's wrapping
it up, he's getting mushy.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
I'll yes, and then they just turn off. Yeah, that's
where no one listens.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
Well, if you're still listening, If you're still listening, you
deserve this. Merry Christmas, Happy Honkkah, Happy Kwanza, happy Solstice,
happy Winter. Holidays and we will see you next week.
Okay, from our studios in Los Angeles and Tampa. This
is green Tag Theme Park and thirty. I'm Philip and
I'm joined as always with my co host Scott Swinson
of Scott Swinson Creative Development.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
On green Tag, we look.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
At the top news each week and in discuss why
it's important to industry professionals. We try and ask questions
and spark debate on our YouTube specifically where everyone is
continuing to comment, which we are very grateful for. And
this week we will discuss a little bit of the
six Flags. We always have to give you all the
six Flags updates. We got to do the six Flags updates.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
What's going on?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Everybody loves six Flags updates well, and if you think
about it, when it comes to the industry, they are
the biggest player now, the biggest well they're they're the
ones that are in the most unique position. I mean
they're not they've been shaken up and it's interesting to
see how they're handling it.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
So we'll discuss that, and then we're going to talk
a little bit about some fun Christmas events that we
picked out for happening all over the world that we
thought was cool because it is our Christmas show, which
I forgot about.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yes, that's why I'm decked out in my in my
Christmas shirt and I'm out here in this frigid little
Christmas wonderland forest here in Tampa.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I completely forgot this.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
I don't know it's about. Well, but that's because Philip,
you just took your Christmas tree down last week, so
you know it's true. It's not even up.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, I got o. We're gonna get there.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Okay, So let's recap some of the big theme part
of the sorry the big six Flags news from this
past week. I'm sure everyone's heard, but of course that
the Magic Mountain. There's some a lot of stuff happening
at Magic Mountain. They're not going to get the opening
of the big new first fits Kind roller coaster in
twenty twenty six. That's going to be pushed at twenty
twenty seven. Instead, they're getting a refreshed kids area.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
So so, uh, this is interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
So yeah, the first fits Kind roller coaster is being
pushed to twenty twenty seven. And what they told KTLA
is that as we continue to evaluate our construction project,
we've realized that the nature of this attraction means that
it will take a bit longer to complete than originally anticipated.
To ensure the coaster meets are high standards of innovation,
thrills and safety that you expect and deserve, we have
(02:12):
revised the timeline to twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
So the coaster was part.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Of the one billion dollar chain wide investment by six
Flags and it's the the Coma Thrill Glide, a suspended
motorbike coaster that's not yet seen in North America, and.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
The kids area.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
So basically this is a little This one was interesting
just because of the context of the recent things. But
what they're doing is they're basically revamping the Bugs Bunny
area to a Looney Tunes land, which is going to
debut in summer of next year, and it's going to
(02:51):
feature four areas anchored by Bugs Bunny, Roadrunner, Taz, and
Daffy Duck. And it's going to include upgraded storytelling on
existing rye it's new theming, expanded seating, selfie spots, where
fresh dying locations, and additional green space. It's gonna the
construction will begin right after their current winter festival there
and everything else like the park will be open. It's
(03:11):
just that one area it's going to be doing. In
a press release, the park said each area will have
its own color palette, fauna, landscaping, graphics, hardscaping and railings, signage,
and more distinct experiences in that area. And the context
is just interesting here because last episode we've just talked
about how the Warner Brothers is up for sale and
will Netflix buy it and what's going to happen or whatnot.
(03:33):
And of course Looney Tunes is part of the Warner
Brothers ip that they do do lease out, so it's.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Interesting they're choosing to continue.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Like so it's like business as usual basically, which is
kind of what we talked about anyway last week that
it was going to just be business as usual. So uh,
And in case anyone is wondering, which people have already
commented in our last episode about this, since last week,
the Warner Brothers shareholders have issued a statement saying that
(04:03):
they recommend Netflix instead of Paramount as the purchaser because
mostly I think because they're saying the funding might not
be as secure as the Netflix one. So so just
interesting that this is all kind of happening. But we
said it would take years anyway, because it will take
years if it happens well.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
And to me, it's it's it's interesting, but it's also
kind of doubling down because you know, they now have
a much if this is after this is completed, they
will have a much stronger anchor to be able to say,
you know, we've invested in in this, this and this upgrade.
So now that the representation of your brand, whether Netflix
(04:43):
bies it or not, which I think they will, but
we've you know, we've been reinvesting and supporting your brand.
So please keep working with us, and please continue to
allow us to lease the rights, at least in this
format at of experience. So I think that that does
not surprise me a whole lot. I I you know,
(05:06):
if if for some reason, whoever buys Warner Brothers decides
we're gonna pull all the the Looney Tunes, all the
bugs Bunny rights, that's gonna take years and years to
do because there's you know, there's some pretty significant investments
around the world using those ips, and uh, they're they're
not gonna they're not gonna go away overnight. But what
(05:29):
I think is most interesting is this is kind of
echoing what we've been sort of suggesting in the show
all along, and that is the standard standard operating procedure.
Procedure for large theme parks is changing. It used to
be that the only way you could do anything that
would make people want to come to your park is
to spend a huge investment on a new coaster, especially
(05:53):
a six Flags park that was that's been their bread
and butter. You know, they invest in a coaster, they
get a bump for three years, they pay off the
coaster for five years to seven years, and it just
it's not making sense anymore on paper. What is making sense, however,
is providing more and more opportunities for families to come
(06:13):
and and do stuff together. That is, That is the
new trend. That is the new trend. People who are
seeking thrills aren't going to aren't going to theme parks
as much. They're going to places that have real thrills.
You know, they're going whitewater rafting, they're going they're going
bungee jumping, they're doing you know, they're doing all that stuff.
(06:35):
So I'm not going to say that roller coasters are
going to go away. You know, everybody, whenever I say
things on the show, people always like to make it
very black and white. That No, Scott doesn't know what
he's talking about, because roller coasters aren't going anywhere. I'm
not saying roller coasters are going away. What I'm saying
is parks are recognizing that the return on investment is
there are other options other than big pieces of steel
(06:57):
that quite often will have a more or well a
more positive return on investment, and especially things that involve
family and an ip. So I think that this is. Yes,
I'm sure they didn't have the money. I mean, let's
let's address the elephant in the room, or at least didn't,
(07:19):
let me put it this way, even if they had it,
didn't want to spend it for fear that, you know,
other things may happen down the road, or they want
to make sure that the stockholders don't just start abandoning
them so that they can maintain some of their their residuals,
their stock residuals. So there's that. But I also think that,
like I said, the way theme parks are working, I
(07:42):
love the fact that they now include includes many selfie experiences. Yep,
that was never a space.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah green space and self experiences are like new trends.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yeah, yeah, very new, well not very new, but there
they are trends that are returning, trends that are appealing
to appealing to their guests. So to me, it's just
kind of a I don't want to use the term
right sizing, but I guess that's what it is. It's
looking at at what is our what it's going to
be our return on investment? And you know, will will
(08:16):
the new updated family friendly area drive as much attendance
as a new roller coaster in the first year? Maybe not,
but it also won't cost as much.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yeah, well, I was wondering do you think I guess
I was wondering how much do you think the cost
is playing factor in it? And do you think I mean,
I was thinking about this from a manufacturing standpoint, is like,
is there maybe are they thinking that the terroriffs might
go away? I mean, I don't know how how far
it is in construction. I mean, I have no idea.
(08:47):
I don't know if it's already if everything's already in
this country and they're just like assembling it, and in
which case it wouldn't matter. But maybe you're people are thinking, well,
you know, it's a terrafs wind their way to the
Supreme Court and as all that is happening, maybe the
terrace will go away, and then it would I mean,
if this if twenty percent twenty percent cheaper roller coaster
(09:09):
is a.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Lot Yeah, yeah, Well, and they may also be thinking,
you know, let's let's let's not muddy the waters when
you know for twenty six everything six Flags at least
from a look how good we are is going to
be focused in Saudi. You know that's true, So let's
(09:33):
not muddy the waters. Let's let's not compete with ourselves.
I don't know, there's there could be a lot of
different reasons, quite honestly.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah, And I was also thinking that too, well. I
was I'd forgot about the Saudi and goinghea that it's interesting.
But I was also thinking, there's really nothing opening in
twenty like there's very few like big things opening in
twenty twenty six in America, and I'm wondering, if I
guess I was thinking a bit, is this them trying
(10:00):
to not just the cost and all that stuff, but
also they're trying to be more competitive in twenty seven
when you have larger, other, larger competition happening, where it's
like they want to be a little bit more competitive,
and like really nothing's happening in twenty six.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
So yeah, that's very possible because I mean, let's face it,
you know, theme parks, theme park insider, people who work
in theme parks know when other theme parks are planning
to open things, yes, long before it's announced. So yeah,
that's very possible. That's very possible. And you know, who knows.
It could be a combination of all these things. It
could be a combination of all And I would throw
(10:38):
even another possibility into the hat, and that is it's
an attempt to revitalize and slightly redirect what is the
perceived audience for a six Flags park yep, because you know,
we've both said Six Flags parks are and this is
a gross overstatement, but many of the six Flags parks
(11:02):
have the reputation of being blacktop and roller coasters and
that's about it. Yeah, blacktop and thrill rides. So if
they're going to do a deep dive in an investment
and a strong media push for a revised, updated family area,
that that may be another attempt to sort of reposition
(11:23):
their their demographic.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
The only other thing I thought was interesting is that
they they didn't choose to do this with Peanuts, right,
And I think that's another thing.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
A lot of people were wondering.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
It's like, well, where they gonna where the Six Flags
Park's going to build areas with the Peanuts Now that
it's they now they can now it's it's one chain.
And also just another side noted that Sony just purchased
a majority of the stock in Peanuts and so it's
(12:00):
like they're most most of the owners of Peanuts now.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
So it's Sony.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
So it's that's that's been happening, you know, in this
side thing. But it yeah, so I don't know. To me,
I I I hear a lot of people talking about that,
and I'm like, well, like it's kind of more for diversity,
I think, is how I would say it. It's like
they want to you know, having multiple eyps makes you
more diverse, and that way they I don't know, I mean.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
To me, it's competing iyps. I don't know whether if
it were, if it were my choice, I would look
at what what eyps are are resonating strongest with the
audience that I want and and dive in wholeheartedly with
those And like I said, I I think it's just
(12:48):
to reinforce the anchor of the Warner Brothers characters, so
that when negotiations come up in the future with the
new sale. I mean, I still think that the the
the impending sale of Warner Brothers has something to do
with their decision. I can't. I have no insider information,
(13:09):
nor have I ever dealt with that particular ip. So
it's one of those I don't know, but I think
to me, it kind of sounds like we're just gonna
really dig our heels in tight. We're gonna put our
anchors deep into the bottom of the ocean and say,
look look at our great investment. Well, you can't take
this away from us. Now, let's negotiate. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Yeah, interesting, some very quick hits too, just we didn't
talk about this last time, But it's not that. But
I think the last round up of six Flags news
is that they've streamlined all of their apps and website together,
which they did a few weeks ago, but we didn't
mention it because we were.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Just our next six Flags updates.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
But yeah, it's interesting because I, you know, I have
the subscription to it, and so previously I had like
the Notts app, and so now is all like one app,
no matter what six Flags park you're a part of,
and it's like one website and everything is like combined.
So I don't know, people are freaking out about it.
(14:11):
I think that that step was necessary.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
I'm let's go back. It's not the first time six
Flags has done that either. When six Flags you know
in there, when six Flags started purchasing up every mom
and pop park they could find, and we'll call it
the Geaga Lake syndrome, when they when they basically purchased
everything they could find, they put everything under one umbrella,
one website, and then broke it back up again. But
(14:38):
in this particular case, like I said, we have to
stop thinking about it as this is a half and
half company. It's not it's a new company. It's not
six Flags, it's it's not Cedar Fair. It is six
Flags now yep. And I think that that helps with
that narrative more absolutely.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
The new app, the unified app, it has all of
your rewards in it and all that especially for me,
just for me, because I write next to six Slacks
like I'm fifteen minutes away from Magic Mountain and then
I can drive down to Knots right, and so especially
for people in this region.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
I think it's.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
Very different, but better because then it kind of reinforces
that it's one thing.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
So I know this isn't in our show notes. I
know we hadn't discussed this, But because the two prox
parks are in such close proximity, do you see there's
any possibility of one of them closing their doors?
Speaker 2 (15:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I mean everybody here is asking that, like everybody in
Sokyl is wondering that. And that's kind of what I thought.
Why it was interesting that they were putting the Loan
Tunes thing there because Knats has the Peanuts and they
just redid the camp Snoopy, so they I mean, they
just renovated that, and so now this move would kind
of make you believe that they're gonna plan to keep
(15:52):
both parks operational with different vibes, even different kids eyps,
with new renovated areas, right, So I think that's boating
well for all of that, it's just interesting because you're like, well,
maybe they're thinking of pushing both more.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Into the more family demographic, just because.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I think, I don't know, God, I'm going to get
in so much trouble for this with the theme park
people here locally, but like the way I feel, like
the way I think about the SoCal environment is you're like,
Disney is still the best. I'm sorry, especially here because
the Universal Hollywood is very small, and Universal Hollywood is
where you go for the studio tour and for those
(16:34):
things that you can't get other places, but they have
all to do with Hollywood, right, It's so it's such
a Hollywood park, okay. And then Disney is just the best,
it's the largest, but also it's just it's the original.
It's the thing, right, It's the thing. And then six
Flags kind of has that vibe of being like the
park in the suburbs that is like where tweens hang
(16:56):
out until they are old enough where they have enough
money to go to or Universal, or they move out
of the city because like it's in the suburbs, right,
nobody comes up here. Okay, I don't even know why
I'm here, but like it's one of those where you
know where like when you get old enough, you leave
and you move into the city. So you're either going
(17:17):
to move closer to Universal and then you go to Universal,
or you move down to the w A Park area
and you're gonna go to Knots or Disney. So this
is like the park that you're at when you're in
school and when you're living with your parents, Like, this
is the park that you're at, I think not, I
mean people do travel to it, but like not not,
(17:37):
I I mean again, because then the calculus is like,
why don't we just go to k Notts?
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Right?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
It depends on where you are in the uh, you
know where you live, but it's only an hour apart,
and so it's really like, you know, I think most
people will choose nos because it has a more robust
entertainment offering, and they're still so it is. This is
hard because I think the only time I've ever heard
(18:03):
people that live south that means live past the city,
the only time I've ever heard those people be like,
I'm going to go to six Flags. It's for two things.
One is fright fast, and one is they want to
go to a coaster mm hmm. But then the people
that everyone that lives around it are families because it's
the suburbs, and so you're so it's it's a weird
(18:24):
dynamic because you're like, oh, this is interesting, and then
Knots is like people love Nots because it's the cheap Disney,
because it it's the only park I would argue, maybe
not in their chain, but it's the they do such
a good job with their entertainment, with what they have.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Well, it was the outlier in the Cedar Fair parks too.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
It's always been the outlier.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
So it's it's going to be the outlier in the
in the current six flags as well.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Like their Mary Farm, it might be the only time
I go. I only I only go to Knots like
four times. And it's like Boys and Berry Festival, you know,
Scary Farm, Married Mary and there's. You go to the
main things just because they do such great things, but you.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Go to the seasons festivals. You go to the seasonal festivals.
You don't go to the core product of the park. Well,
and the reason I'm asking is, I'm just wondering if
this decision not to do a giant coaster is kicking
the ball down the street a little bit, waiting to
see do we need to have both parks or do
they need to have both parks. That's what made me,
(19:26):
That's what prompted the question, because I really, you know,
you live there. I don't so I don't know what
the local mentality is, but yeah, it's interesting. It's going
to be interesting to see how this continues to play out.
And of course we'll be reporting on it from now
until the cows come home because it is the biggest
mover and shaker really when it comes to the big
(19:47):
theme park industries. They're out there. So we'll see, we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Well, yes, okay, it's Christmas.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
So oh okay.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
We want to talk about two stories.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Nothing Christmas around me other than my backdrop and my shirt.
I was looking for something that would be like fun
and I could like jingle bells or anything. But everything's
scary and Halloween.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Oh I have this?
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Doesn't help me off this plant? Oh there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Okay, I'll put this here. So we have a little
bit of Christmas five okay, So two stories from just
interesting things.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
So the.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
So, okay, there's a place I've always wanted to go
in this time of year, which is the Harbin Ice
Snow World in China. And I think I got became
aware of these artists because the Gaylord Resorts do the
ice experience and you know, I'm sure our listeners have
seen it or heard of it because they're in all
(20:45):
the major Gaylord properties, and Nico there has really done
an excellent job of expanding all of the entertainment offerings
at those resorts. But the thing with those ice experience this,
as you know, is that they're giant ice sculptures that
you walk through in their ips, right, So you're going
through like the Polar Express and you see the full
(21:06):
size replica of the Express out of ice.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
It's crazy.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
All those artists are from China, are from Harbin because
that's where like the world's largest snow world is is.
And it's just it's their thing. It's this enormous thing,
and I've always wanted to go to it because it
looks so great. So it's just opened for this year
and it's five hundred and twenty one meter eye slides,
(21:30):
intricate ice sculptures, and other attractions. The park spans one
point two million square meters and has introduced new performances
and amenities, generating substantial winter revenue. So last year this
park like this, like it's basically a theme park made
device right, and last year it like set records for
(21:51):
being like one of the most visited destinations, and so
it just reopened for this year. It looks like it's
even bigger and crazier, and I'm like, I'm really interest
to see what the numbers are going to be, because
I am betting this is gonna end up rivaling year
round theme parks in terms of attendance.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
Well, I mean, first of all, it's huge. Secondly easy, Yeah,
it's it's gigetic, and you see these photos and you
see maps, and you go, that couldn't possibly be. That
couldn't possibly be what I think it is.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
But like Native, it's like a city made of ices.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Easy. No, I know, but I think that part of
it is. I think you're right. I think it's part
of the reason that it does so incredibly well. Is
number one, it is unique there, you know, it's it's
unlike anything else of this magnitude. And secondly, it has
a fuse. It has a beginning, it has an end,
(22:44):
and not because it cannot be extended, you know, extended
due to popular demand. Except the weather's changing and our
eye slides are now four hundred and eighty meters, you know,
it's it's not five twenty one anymore. They're now down
to four eighty and half the stairs are gone, so
good luck. So yeah, I think that it is. I'm
with you. I think this looks like something that would
(23:05):
be so much fun and so unique and uh, you
know it's if any of you who are listeners have
actually been to this, uh, please let us know send photos,
because I would love to see what this looks like.
I mean from from a guest perspective. You know, I'm
to the point now where I love seeing promotional material,
(23:27):
but I really want to see it from a guest
perspective to see if it's as cool as it appears
to be.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
And it's the only reason going to the ice experiences
at the gayal Or Resorts made me want to see
this more because you know, then when you go and
you walk through those, you're like, oh my gosh, like
this is crazy that these are these sculptures are made
of eyes and you know, and then you just imagine
it being a whole theme park of it, and it's
crazy because you know, I don't know, you don't think
(23:53):
it's going to work, and then you see it in person,
You're like, oh my god, this is this works and
then you uh slide down the giant ice slides, which
I believe.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
The poems always has one and it's crazy.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Yeah. The Gaylord. The Gaylord experiences are are sort of
the the to me, it reminds me of sort of
the of the the touring promotional show for the actual
park in China.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yep, you know it's uh, it's if you're right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Yeah, and if you and and I don't mean that
to be a dig on on any of the on
Gaylord's ice at all. I think it's amazing. I go
every year they've and they've continued to add and expand
to it. It really is. It's it's truly breathtaking. So
if you have the if you don't have the opportunity
to go to China, at least go to Gaylord and
(24:41):
see what some of these great artisans can create and
some of the fun in many in most cases I
will say westernized ips that they can can bring to life.
And of course everyone everyone that they do because it's
of course Christmas. Uh, they do and I'm not particularly religious,
but they do an ice major scene. They do an
(25:01):
ice crash that has no color to it. It's just
ice and light and it is it's all inspiring. It's
really beautiful. So so just imagining that times a gazillion
makes the park sound like the one in China sound
like it would be just way too much fun, way
too much fun and something.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
The story, which also seems pretty fun, is from Alton
Towers in the UK and they're offering a scent to
sleepover package. And this is so this is a festive
experience for families, featuring activities such as meeting Santa, exploring
the Seabe's land, and enjoying a themed hotel stay in
case of rainy whether the event provides indoor attractions and entertainment.
(25:46):
The Arctic Explorer room and a Christmas dinner bathet are
highlights of the experience. So this isn't like this is
all new things. But what I like about this is
that they are packaging everything into like a whole experience
and so encourage you to do a stay, and it
then allows them to put in, you know, all these
elements together, Like you get the themed room, you get
(26:08):
the buffet, you get the Santa experience, you get to
enjoy the park. I mean, you get this whole thing
that's kind of like wrapped into Christmas package, which I
think is just that it's interesting because you know, we
see this happen with this again, none of this is new,
but I feel like I don't really see it happen
that much for Christmas, and I think that that's what
(26:29):
makes this interesting to me.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
I love the fact that it's a a family sleepover experience.
You know, it's so cool. It looks like it would
be just so much fun. Just some of the images
and the descriptions. You're you know, we we bandy about
the idea of immersiveness and the UK has done this
(26:54):
in several other areas as well. You know, there's the
overnight Halloween experiences, there's the so there's a lot of
these sort of more camp grounding things. This is not
camp grounding, but just the idea of it's all all
Santa all the time. You know, you are, you're making
the commitment as a family to go and experience Christmas
(27:15):
at Alton Towers. You're gonna go see Santa, You're gonna
have your Christmas dinner. But fet this is like everything
everything a child would want for Christmas all rolled into
one big experience.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
And the fact that it's not we have to get
up in the morning and hurry over there and get
ready and wait and line and park the car and
blah blah blah, blah blah. The fact that it's an
overnight's stay kind of goes back to the way the
only way I will enjoy Disney anymore, and that is
to actually stay on property, because again, I don't like
the hassle of getting in, but if you make it
an overnight experience, that hassle all just goes away and
(27:50):
you do your stand asleepover. So yeah, I think this
is really fun. I'm not sure it would I'm not
sure how well it would play in the US. I
was thinking that I don't I don't know that. I
do know that a lot of people, you know, especially
here in Florida, you have to there was a time
and my numbers are old, but there was a time
where if you wanted to book one of the hotels
(28:13):
during the during the holiday season between Christmas and New
Year's you usually had to book it about two years
in advance, and they at one point in time they
actually had a minimum amount stay you had to stay
at least I think it was four days. That's crazy,
So uh, yeah, it was because again, so many families
are are willing to say, let's you know, let's not
(28:37):
have a traditional Christmas. Let's have our Christmas at Disney.
Let's have our Christmas with our families, because again it
is Disney does Christmas well, and quite honestly, in my opinion,
some of the best applications of Christmas on Disney property
happened in the hotels anyway, So I mean here here
(28:57):
in Florida, they even, you know, all of the the
confectionery chefs have a competition to do displays that aren't,
you know, super high end. It's not the gigantic rides
and the attractions, but they're magical and they capture the
essence of Christmas in a in a really amazing way.
So it sounds like Alton Towers is doing their version
(29:20):
of that in a sleepover experience. And we hope that
you know, all of you who are are listening or
watching the show, we hope that you capture your own
holiday experiences this year. And if you are, if you
are celebrating, hanik, I think we're almost that's just about over,
and Christmas is around the corner, and of course New
Year's is coming up closely behind that. So thank you
(29:41):
all so much for spending yet another year with us.
We hope your holiday season continues to be wonderful, and
hopefully you'll find a little bit of your own Christmas
magic in the in the holiday season.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
So I'm going to add also at the end that
we are going to get we're getting pretty close to
doing our New Year's episode as well. So or any
topics or questions that you want to ask us, this
is the time. If anything you want to ask that
you want us talk about on the show, this is
the time.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Put it in there.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
I should have said this at the beginning of the show,
but we're saying it now. So put in your questions
and also please subscribe.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
We couldn't we couldn't have just a heartfelt holiday ending.
We just had to get in the commercial.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Okay, they probably won't listen to this part anyway. They
probably stopped listening.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
That's true. I started. It's like, oh, look, Scott's wrapping
it up, he's getting mushy.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
I'll yes, and then they just turn off. Yeah, that's
where no one listens.
Speaker 3 (30:32):
Well, if you're still listening, If you're still listening, you
deserve this. Merry Christmas, Happy Honkkah, Happy Kwanza, happy Solstice,
happy Winter. Holidays and we will see you next week.
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