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Kings Dominion has officially announced Rapterra, a launched B&M wing coaster for 2025! https://www.kingsdominion.com/blog/media-center/conquer-the-skies-when-rapterra-launches-into-kings-dominion Kings Dominion, central Virginia’s beloved amusement park, is thrilled to announce the arrival of Rapterra as part of the park’s 50th anniversary season in 2025. Standing at 145 feet tall and stretching 3,086 ft long, this incredible new attraction is the world's tallest and longest launched wing coaster, and promises an unforgettable experience filled with heights, speed and exhilarating maneuvers for all park-goers. Rapterra, inspired by the powerful Jungle Hawk, offers riders the sensation of flight. The adventure begins with a powerful launch, accelerating passengers to 65 miles per hour in just four seconds before ascending to its zenith over the Jungle X-Pedition midway. The ride then plummets into a dive loop, and navigates a series of thrilling aerial maneuvers, including an S-turn, a wing slide, a flat spin, an airtime hill, and a 360-degree raptor roll. The 89-second ride totals three inversions before a smooth return to the station. “We are excited to unveil Rapterra, the must-do ride of 2025, at Kings Dominion,” said Bridgette Bywater, vice president and general manager of Kings Dominion. “This extraordinary addition promises new thrills for our guests, making it the perfect centerpiece for our 50th anniversary celebration and reaffirming why Kings Dominion is the ultimate destination for unforgettable memories and exhilarating excitement.” Manufactured by industry leader Bolliger and Mabillard, Rapterra's winged coaster design positions riders on either side of the track, offering an immersive, floorless experience that simulates flying. The basalt grey support columns and patina green track create loops, twists and rolls, ensuring a thrilling adventure from start to finish. Construction of Rapterra is already in progress, with completion expected this fall. The coaster will officially open in 2025, coinciding with Kings Dominion's milestone 50th anniversary celebration. More information on the 50th anniversary celebration will be shared at a later date. In addition, today marks the launch of the 2025 Gold Season Pass at Kings Dominion. Guests who purchase a 2025 Gold Pass will receive unlimited visits and free parking the remainder of the 2024 season, plus the entire 2025 season. That includes visits to the all-new Food and Wine Festival this summer, Halloween Haunt, WinterFest and more.

I hope that people in the 3 day line for Batman can get off the ride in time to go to the town meeting. As to the rumor above, the last time that Six Flags worked with Intamin (outside of that disasterous free spin at Magic Mountain) was El Toro. So not sure if I buy it, but I guess we'll know more Thursday night or whenever that meeting is.

Plans have leaked, you can find them elsewhere on the internet. Not gonna post them here out of respect for the rules and the Alveys' relationship with the parks.

Universal has released new details on the third Harry Potter land at the Universal Orlando resort - the Ministry of Magic, at Epic Universe! https://media.universalparksusa.com/press-releases/universal-orlando-resort-unveils-new-details-about-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-ministry-of-magic/ In 2025, Universal Orlando Resort will debut its third captivating installment of its wildly popular Harry Potter-themed lands with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic – one of five worlds coming to Universal Epic Universe in 2025. Set in wizarding Paris from Warner Bros. Pictures Fantastic Beasts films and the British Ministry of Magic from the Harry Potter film series, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic features an awe-inspiring collection of experiences that includes fantastical dining, whimsical retail, spellbinding entertainment and the most ambitious, groundbreaking ride Universal has ever created. Developed by the award-winning Universal Creative team and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic builds upon the global phenomenon that began in 2010 with the debut of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Islands of Adventure and continued with the 2014 launch of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Next year, the bar for theme park entertainment will be raised once again with the addition of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic – creating an exciting trilogy of wizarding adventures across Universal Orlando. MAGICAL CREATURES AND THE MINISTRY AWAIT… Beyond the world’s ornate portal, guests will first journey from a Muggle park in Paris into the breathtaking spectacle of 1920’s Place Cachée – a hidden, bustling shopping district in wizarding Paris lined with Haussmannian buildings, shops, sidewalk cafés, and historic Parisian domes rising in the distance. Here, wizards and non-magiques alike will be enamored with the majestic grandeur and enchanting ambiance of the city as they cast dazzling spells throughout the magical streets using interactive wands, encounter fantastic beasts at a traveling circus, and – for the first time ever within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – travel across countries and time to 1990s London using the Métro-Floo for a thrilling adventure set inside the iconic British Ministry of Magic. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic will feature the unmatched levels of immersion and attention to detail fans have come to expect from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Below is a look at the exciting new wonders waiting to be discovered in this spectacular new world: • Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry – With its unique combination of massive environments, powerful storytelling and first-of-its-kind ride technology, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry builds upon the historic theme park innovation Universal is known for – and will be one of its most impressive attractions to date. The adventure begins when guests travel by Métro-Floo – a unique mode of wizarding transit inspired by the iconic Floo Network seen in the films – to journey from wizarding Paris to the British Ministry of Magic for the long-awaited trial of the infamous Dolores Umbridge. Upon arrival, guests will enter the Ministry’s jaw-dropping grand atrium and venture through other departments before boarding magical, omnidirectional lifts to watch the trial take place…until Umbridge attempts to escape. Guests then join Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and a house-elf named Higgledy in a thrilling chase that will propel them up, down, forward, backward, sideways and more throughout the Ministry as they try to capture Umbridge – all while dodging attacks from Death Eaters, rampaging creatures and more along the way. • Le Cirque Arcanus – For the first time ever in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, guests will enjoy a live, full-scale theatre experience in the heart of the land with Le Cirque Arcanus. This spectacular show features live performers and aerialists, amazing puppetry, brilliant special effects and more to take guests on a whirlwind journey where they’ll encounter fantastic beasts like never before. The show follows Ringmaster Skender, who has stolen Newt Scamander’s suitcase – where Demiguise, Diricawl, Mooncalves and more reside – to try and bring the failing Le Cirque Arcanus back to its former glory. It’s then up to circus employee Gwenlyn to rescue these creatures before they end up in Skender’s greedy hands forever. • Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique – Guests can shop some of the world’s finest wands designed by esteemed artisan wandmaker, Cosme Acajor, in the premier Parisian wand shop, Cosme Acajor Baguettes Magique. In addition to popular imports from Ollivanders, visitors will find a selection of exquisite wands packaged in unique three-sided boxes – each containing a list of locations throughout the wizarding world where guests can practice casting spells. • Inspiring Wand Magic – As guests explore the streets of wizarding Paris, they can use their interactive wands to create magical experiences as they cast spells at various locations, interact with fantastic beasts such as Nifflers, Bowtruckles and a Demiguise, and engage with enchanted objects in many of the storefront windows plus other areas throughout the marvelous Place Cachée. • Captivating Entertainment – While exploring the streets of Place Cachée, guests will also encounter other visitors, officials and residents from the wizarding world, including exchange students from the Hogwarts and Ilvermorny Schools of Witchcraft and Wizardry, an Auror from the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France who roams inquiring of suspicious characters, talking portraits of delightful wizards who engage with locals about the happenings in Place Cachée, and more. Guests can also enjoy delicious international fare and shop for souvenirs and merchandise during their visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic at highly-themed dining and retail locations, including: • Café L’Air De La Sirène – A wonder of French architecture adorned with fabulous carved marble and details of fantastic beasts hidden in the tile and mosaic designs, Café L’air De La Sirène is a charming café where guests can delight in French sandwiches, plats du jour and desserts. • Le Gobelet Noir – In the shadowy corners of Place Cachée is a mysterious timeworn auberge, where international Dark witches and wizards gather to escape the prying eyes of the Paris Ministry and have a hearty meal over hushed conversation. Menu offerings include starters such as soups and salads as well as a variety of entrées and desserts. • Bar Moonshine – American witches and wizards can enjoy a taste of home at Bar Moonshine, where they’ll find exclusive beers, wines and cocktails served amid U.S. Quidditch team pennants and other items of wizarding Americana. • Bièraubeurre Cart – No visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is complete without Butterbeer! Guests can stop by the Bièraubeurre cart during their visit to Place Cachée for a frosty, delicious mug of the fan-favorite beverage. • Guests can also shop for wizarding gear and memorabilia in Les Galeries Mirifiques, satisfy their sweet tooth at the French confectionary shop, K. Rammelle, or make a stop for Ministry of Magic-inspired items at the Métro-Floo gift shop, Tour En Floo.

Sarcasm button broken again. It was thrown off by a thread titled first trip to cedar point no longer being about cedar point.

I'm confused by what's going on here... so you already have plane tickets to Florida? What on earth?

Any time is a good time for BGW. Montu is great, and I'm sure IG is too. Overall, I feel like BGW is a lot more beautiful and has more to offer as far as the atmosphere goes. It's an incredible place.

Don't rule out Michigans adventure!

You know... while the demolition crew is in the area, maybe let's do something about all of this???

We were at Holiday Park yesterday. It should have been mostly a kids only trip, so don't expect a trip report. But there were some things, I want to share with you. Mostly, because I'm usually a bit critical with the operations there. The park was open until 8 pm, so after 6 pm and the kids were done, we planned on going for Sky Scream, GeForce and end our day there. Sky Scream had, on a hot summer holiday day, no line at all, so we were done with it in no more then ten minutes. On GeForce, the line emptied out the entrance because of a breakdown. As the kids were happily locked at the playgrund, the four of us went to the station anyway. As most people went home, we got a ride, two of us in the front row, two in the very back, with a four train wait. The ride itself was awesome as the sun downed behind the mountains. But the best thing for us occured after the ride: Our compaignons agreed to sit the kids for another while, as Sarah wanted to do a front row ride with me. So we waited another three trains when 8 pm passed and the line was closed. We were the second to last couple to board the front row and were already restrained when again a system error occured. We already thought, that this would be the end of our day, but the OPs pleased us to wait it out. After five minutes three technicians arrived and fixed the sensor that made the train stop a couple auf centimeters late in the station. So at 8:15 pm, we boarded our train again and had another sundown lap. And when we arrived at the staion, there were five more people to board the train and so the OPs allowed everyone to reride, as long as the waiting people got their reserved seats. So Sarah and me got out the front row and found two seats in the middle row and had the luck to be an the two last trains of the day! SO SHOUTOUT TO HOLIDAY PARK AND THE GEFORCE CREW FOR AWESOME CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A VERY FUNNY END OF OUR DAY YESTERDAY!