Oh No! Six Flags in Bankruptcy But the Parks Go On

Six flags filed bankruptcy but

The filing will not affect the operation of the company’s 20 parks in the United States, Mexico and Canada, said spokeswoman Sandra Daniels.

“This restructuring will have no impact on families who come out to our parks. They will  not see an inch of difference,” Daniels said. – Cnn.com

 

Phew. What a shame if North America lost even one Six Flags Park. Six flags sees 25 millions visitors per year.  Shapiro the company CEO said that Parks actually performed well in 2008 so this is a temporary state of affairs.

Well, we are all going to just have to go more frequently to support the employees of the Parks and the Parks themselves. More coasters! Yeah!

Disney Always Pleases

We had a wonderful 4 days at Disneyworld and I will be writing about it soon.

Highlights:

Animal Kingdom- The foliage is lush and beautiful and the rides are fantastic. It was one of the best days for our family.

Epcot- Wild wild rides. Mission Mars- puke bags provided but not needed.

MGM Studios- Rockin Roller Coaster one of the best indoor coasters- themed perfectly.

More to come…

Many Wonderful Events at Disneyland Resort for Christmas

Disney always does it right especially for a holiday like Xmas.  When it comes to celebrating the magic and sparkle of the holidays, there’s no place like the Disneyland Resort, the Merriest Place on Earth. From November 21 through January 4, the annual Disneyland Resort holiday celebration will be more dazzling than ever.

Guests will enjoy the return of the holiday’s most popular offerings as well as be immersed in new entertainment at both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks.

Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle, first introduced in 2007, will be decorated even more elaborately this holiday season with additional snowdrifts and icicles. After dark, a sensational new holiday lighting and special effects show will carry the magic of the holidays from the Castle all the way to the Christmas Tree in Town Square. And, for the first time in 53 years, the Christmas Tree will be completely artificial, which enables Disneyland to present a holiday light show like no other with more than 62,000 energy-efficient LED lights.

The Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle presentation unfolds throughout the evening in three acts, each of them featuring a touch of winter snow on Main Street, U.S.A.  The finale of the show includes the legendary “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks show, which takes guests on a journey of sights and sounds of the season and ends with a touching rendition of “White Christmas” along with a climactic snowfall swirling down on Main Street, U.S.A., “small world mall” and New Orleans Square.

New this year, just in time for the holidays and for the first time in seven years, guests will walk through the iconic home of Sleeping Beauty. A “reawakened” Sleeping Beauty Castle show tells the story of “Sleeping Beauty” in a style reminiscent of the Disneyland Castle walkthrough of earlier years, but enhanced with 21st-century special effects. 

Themed entertainment, sparkling decorations and tasty treats add festive warmth to holiday fun at both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. Guests can also book guided holiday tours that provide expedited entry into the “it’s a small world” holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday, VIP seating for the Disneyland “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and entertaining information about the history behind Disneyland holiday traditions. For information and reservations guests can visit Disneyland City Hall or call (714) 781-4400.

Other returning holiday favorites at Disneyland park include:

•    Santa’s Reindeer Round-up, which transforms Big Thunder Ranch into a “West Pole” getaway where Santa can unwind with Mrs. Claus and his team of reindeer.  Kids and their families will chat with St. Nick, see real reindeer grazing in a corral, play some reindeer games, create take-home Yuletide souvenirs and join in holiday line dances with music from a Western trio.
•    “A Christmas Fantasy” parade will be presented November 21 through January 4 on Main Street, U.S.A.  This ever-popular procession depicts an enchanting collection of holiday scenes, music and a cast of Disney characters and performers in Yuletide vignettes.  
•    Haunted Mansion Holiday presents a madcap celebration as the traditions of Halloween and Christmas collide.  The ghoulish but well-meaning Jack Skellington from the film Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas has come to the Haunted Mansion to transform it with his skewed vision of the holidays.
•    “it’s a small world” holiday transforms “it’s a small world” into a worldwide celebration of the season, boasting more than 300,000 glittering lights on its facade.

   
Disney’s California Adventure celebrates the season with fanciful park-wide decorations and lively entertainment.

•    Guests approaching the park will immediately get in the holiday mood as they encounter the iconic “CALIFORNIA” letters transformed to appear as swirling red and white peppermint sticks.
•    “a bug’s land” transforms as Flik and his bug buddies spread giant Christmas lights and oversized ornaments throughout their realm.  
•    The holiday scene at Paradise Bay includes a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, hundreds of sparking lights on nearby trees, and lampposts decorated with seasonal wreaths. 
The Downtown Disney District and the Disneyland Resort hotels will join in the merriment with twinkling lights and ornaments, special entertainment and holiday dining.
 

Just in time for the holidays, new entertainment comes to life in both parks.  At Disney’s California Adventure, the daily “Pixar Play Parade” is joined three times each day by performances of the energetic, traveling rock and dance concert show, “High School Musical 3: Senior Year – Right Here! Right Now!” Also new to Disney’s California Adventure is the Blue Sky Cellar, a Walt Disney Imagineers’ workshop that offers guests a preview of new attractions coming to the park over the next few years. 

At Disneyland, in addition to the reopening of the doors to Sleeping Beauty Castle, guests have a new opportunity to explore the world of Tinker Bell inside Pixie Hollow, a magical place where visitors meet “Tink” and her pixie friends. 

Expanded hours at both Disneyland Resort theme parks will extend the holiday fun. For more information about holidays at the Disneyland Resort, and to send Disneyland Resort e-card holiday greetings to friends and relatives, visit www.disneyland.com/holidays.  

Disneyland Resort features two fantastic theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney’s California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three guest-welcoming hotels are the luxurious 745-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the magical 988-room Disneyland Hotel and the “day-at-the-beach” fun of the 489-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.  For information on new attractions, “What Will You Celebrate?” and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

Christmas Town to Debut at Busch Gardens in 2009

Its hard to beat Grinchmas and this year’s incredible New Year’s Eve party at Universal Orlando as well as Disney Christmas Fare but Busch Gardens Virginia will be in the running not this Christmas but the next. In the meantime check out our posts for Grinchmas at Universal Orlando  and for Disney Christmas Celebrations.

Officials today announced plans for an all-new holiday event coming to the Virginia theme park in 2009. “Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration” will create the anticipation of the season and fill visitors’ senses with all things Christmas. The park will transform into a winter wonderland filled with holiday traditions, new surprises and park favorites that make everyone say, “Now this is Christmas.”

For the first time in the park’s 34 year history, visitors will experience all-new attractions, shows and shopping that will fill them with holiday spirit. Guests can look forward to an immersive experience amid more than a million twinkling lights while they explore the best holiday traditions from around the world. Santa Claus will visit the park each evening to hear Christmas wishes from the young and young at heart. 

“We’ll kick off a season-long celebration for family and friends to gather for Christmas fun,” said John Reilly, Busch Gardens’ general manager and executive vice president. “Featuring live entertainment, great food and unique shopping experiences all under the glow of a million Christmas lights, Christmas Town will add a unique holiday tradition to Virginia.” 

Christmas Town opens at Busch Gardens on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 – 9 p.m. beginning Nov. 27, 2009. The park will open each evening Dec. 18-27, 2009, excluding Christmas Day. Some sections of the park will remain closed for the season. Some rides and attractions are weather dependent. 

Christmas Town admission tickets will be available for $19.95 beginning January 2009. Guests with active one-year and two-year Busch Gardens’ passes save 50 percent on Christmas Town tickets as well as free parking and in-park discounts. 

Busch Gardens is a Worlds of Discovery® park. Other Worlds of Discovery parks include Water Country USA in Williamsburg; Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fl.; the SeaWorld parks in San Diego, San Antonio and Orlando, Fl.; Sesame Place near Philadelphia; Discovery Cove in Orlando; Adventure Island in Tampa; and Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park, in Orlando.

Next Generation of Wood Coaster Trains

Its time for an upgrade to retrofit trains on wooden coasters- incorporating new safety features. Certainly, Disney at California Adventure has done it with their coaster but it doesn’t have the authentic wooden coaster feel- although its a great smooth coaster that introduces anyone to coaster MANIA! Engineers at The Gravity Group have been busy drawing up a new coaster train design from scratch. Their story below:

 

El Toro- A New Wood Coaster

 

 

The engineers at The Gravity Group started with a blank sheet of paper and ended up with the next generation of trains for wooden roller coasters.

“Timberliners incorporate new technology – such as magnetic braking and restraint monitoring – that wasn’t even imagined when wooden coaster cars were first developed,” says Michael Graham, lead engineer for the project. “When it comes to wooden coasters, The Gravity Group has more experience designing rides than anyone. We’ve applied that expertise in designing trains that addresses every facet of roller coaster performance and function – from maintenance and safety to rider enjoyment and capacity.”

Timberliners are designed to be compatible with existing wooden coasters, allowing a park to upgrade their roller coasters with Timberliner trains.

Key features of the trains include:

• Single-bench design
• Shock absorption and ergonomic styling
• Unparalleled ability to smoothly navigate the track for decreased train & track maintenance
• Innovative restraint system for unsurpassed safety and security
• Restraints designed for higher throughput
• ASTM F2291 Class 5 restraint with integrated monitoring
• On-board sound system capable
• Magnetic braking capable
• Launch system capable

Timberliners are available for purchase in time for the 2009 operating season through The Gravity Group’s sister company, Gravitykraft.

Additional information about The Gravity Group, LLC and the Timberliner coaster trains is available at their website: www.thegravitygroup.com.

ABOUT THE GRAVITY GROUP

The Gravity Group, LLC is the wooden coaster design firm that amusement parks look to for top ten coaster designs – including the #1 rated Voyage wooden coaster at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. The Gravity Group is currently designing China’s first wooden roller coaster.

LaRonde Introduces New Walk Through Mummy

Well its not like the Mummy Coaster Ride at Universal but The Mummy – Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is a walk through ride that looks cool. La Ronde says it will be only present for the 2009 season- but I have a feeling we may see a second life for the Mummy.

Inspired by the successful blockbuster film with the same name, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, live! is an approximately three hundred square meter walk-through in which visitors will encounter many characters in a novel and extraordinary atmosphere full of surprises, thrills and mystery. La Ronde will become the second theme park in the world to host this attraction.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, live! will be open to La Ronde visitors for a limited time—June 19 to September 7, 2009, only—before it heads for another theme park on its world tour. La Ronde recently reached an agreement to that effect with New York based Sudden Impact Entertainment Company (SIEC), a producer that works very closely with Universal Studios.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, live! was inaugurated a few weeks ago in Australia. It can accommodate between 500 and 700 people an hour. Sudden Impact!’s Chairman & CEO, Lynton V. Harris, who is described as the “Scare Master,” created the experience. He has transformed the haunted house concept to produce spectacular interactive experiences and attractions, including The Mummy live! and The Mummy Returns live! have toured all over the world.

In the film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the third instalment of the popular series, the action takes place in Asia. Brendan Fraser’s character, Rick O’Connell, wins the battle with Emperor Han, this time with the help of Rick’s son, Alex. An irony of fate is that the film was partially shot in Montréal.

“The fact that La Ronde recently reached an agreement with SIEC and indirectly with Universal confirms that the park has become one of international calibre over the last few years,” its president, Marc Tremblay, points out. “The groundbreaking interactive experience of The Mummy is a huge addition to the increasingly amazing and diverse range of entertainment we provide,” he adds.

Be sure you don’t miss The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, live! by getting your 2009 season pass, already on sale at La Ronde at the reduced price of $83 (individual). Family season passes, for four and six people, are also available. They are always an excellent gift idea as the holiday season approaches.

La Ronde Web Site

Taking the Party to The Streets- New Year’s Eve at Universal Orlando

A very cool New Year’s eve celebration at Universal Studios- one of my favorite bands is playing there!!!- The Dooby Brothers.

Experience a night to remember this New Year’s Eve at Universal CityWalk®! Bid a fond farewell to 2008 and rock in 2009 with the area’s best lineup of music and entertainment. 

With your New Year’s Eve ticket you’ll enjoy:

• Live performances by The Doobie Brothers

• Live entertainment in every club

• All-you-can-eat gourmet food like filet mignon, jumbo shrimp, desserts and more. 

• Midnight champagne toast

As the final minute nears, get your party hats and noisemakers ready to welcome the New Year with a countdown and midnight champagne toast. Make your last night in 2008 the most unforgettable at Universal CityWalk!

Live entertainment also featured at:

Jimmy Buffett’s® Margaritaville® • Bob Marley–A Tribute To FreedomSM • the grooveSM • Latin Quarter™ • Pat O’Brien’s® • Red Coconut ClubSM • CityWalk’s Rising Star

If you buy in advance you save: The New Year’s Eve ADVANCE ticket is $119.99 +tax ($124.99 + tax* if purchased after December 21, 2008). You can save an additional $5 on each ticket when purchased with any American Express® Card†—plus receive express line access into the event!

A Great Reason to Celebrate Your Birthday at Disney

Everyone who visits a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 can get in free, as Disney Parks embraces a newly identified family travel trend called “celebration vacations.”

In this new national trend, American families are hitting the road to mark life’s special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, reunions and more – with a “celebration vacation.”  In 2009, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts will lead this growing trend with new entertainment and services that allow guests to turn their personal milestones into magical Disney experiences. 

And to kick it all off – a first-ever opportunity for guests to receive a free ticket to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009.

“Birthdays are the one occasion that we all share every year,” said Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We thought a free birthday ticket would be the icing on the cake as we extend this new ‘celebration vacation’ trend to Disney Parks.”

Disney parks provide the perfect setting for this new style of vacation that celebrates the special occasions in life, Rasulo added.

Whether a guest is celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, Quinceañera or any special occasion, Disney parks already are filled with favorite characters, world-class attractions and entertainment, and legendary guest service – exactly the “something for everyone” that trend-watchers say families look for in a “celebration vacation.”   

“The special moments in your life become truly magical when you celebrate at a Disney park,” Rasulo said.  “Sharing a milestone at Disney connects families, friends and generations.”

Nationwide Survey Reveals ‘Celebration Vacation’ Trend

A nationwide survey of nearly 4,600 adults conducted by Ypartnership – co-author of the influential National Travel Monitor – showed that 70 percent of U.S. leisure travelers have taken a vacation with the primary purpose of marking a special occasion in their lives – a “celebration vacation,” as Ypartnership President and CEO Peter Yesawich termed it.

Respondents mentioned a broad range of events worth celebrating with a special vacation – not just birthdays and anniversaries but a first vacation with children, a job promotion or recovery from an illness.

Whenever something positive happens in their lives, people seek out ways to make them more special, Yesawich said, and vacations are clearly perceived as both an appropriate and desirable way to do so.

“Time does pass quickly and there is a growing trend to slow down our frenetic lifestyles and stop to rejoice around the things that matter,” he said.  “Families on ‘celebration vacations’ are looking to truly commemorate moments in their lives – in special places everyone can enjoy.” 

Research showed that when they take that “celebration vacation,” families are looking for destinations that provide activities for children and – better yet – activities adults and children can enjoy together.

“Given these findings, it’s not surprising that Disney Parks topped the list of destinations where families would most like to celebrate these special occasions,” Yesawich said.

Turning Life’s Special Moments Into a Personal Disney Celebration

“We see our parks as the ideal setting for a personal celebration,” Rasulo said.  “Guests can immerse themselves in their favorite stories and their favorite characters, creating a visit they’ll never forget. 

“And when our cast members get involved, it feels as if the entire park is celebrating along with you.”

At Walt Disney World Resort, guests can add on to the fun, choosing from more than 200 experiences ranging from breathtaking (magical fireworks cruises, sunrise safaris, diving the depths with undersea creatures) to mirth-making (Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, character dining, kids’ pirate adventures).  At Disneyland Resort, celebrants can book more than 50 magical experiences, including “My Disneyland Birthday Party” and unique Disneyland guided tours.

With all there is to do in Disney parks, guests can tailor their celebration with favorite attractions, favorite characters and special experiences.  Maybe they have a “princess” day with themed meals, shows, attractions and perfectly princess merchandise at Disneyland.  Or they turn Walt Disney World “wild” with trail riding, bass fishing and water skiing.
Even before the Ypartnership findings, Disney noticed the celebration trend happening in its parks, Rasulo noted.  For instance, guests have visited the parks to propose marriage, celebrate a child’s passage into high school, or pull the whole family together for the golden anniversary of their parents.  “But Walt Disney World and Disneyland are now poised to champion milestone vacations for families and friends in a breakthrough way,” he said.  

“We’re asking our guests, ‘What will YOU celebrate?’ 

“Part of the celebration is all the firsts that magically happen at Disney Parks,” Rasulo said.  

“Guests become the star of their own celebration.  It could be a first trip to Disney or a first family vacation without the stroller.  We want to make a first visit – and every visit – even more memorable.”

Even if they’re not celebrating, Rasulo said, guests will be immersed in a “Celebrate Today!” spirit, making every day a party.

Making it Easier than Ever to Plan
    
Planning any event can be a challenge.  With Disney’s new celebration planning tools, it’s easier than ever for guests to plan celebrations large and small, customizing and personalizing each experience and tending to all the details, from a special cake to an elaborate one-of-a-kind celebration that only Disney could create.

Thanks to new Web tools, guests can discover magical experiences, unique events, dining enhancements and more.  
    
Disney’s planning services allow guests to stay focused on what really matters – the people closest to them.  And vacation packages make celebrating at Disney right for any budget. 

Customizing Your Celebration

Depending on the Disney park they are headed to, guests can order everything from special dining to princess tea parties, from yacht cruises to treasure hunting on a pirate sailing adventure, from a quiet trail ride to parasailing thrills.  Or they can opt for magical experiences for their group – from dessert parties to a Magic Kingdom fireworks cruise to special entertainment. 

Among add-on experiences guests can choose to customize their “celebration vacation”:

• Custom Bakery Cakes and Signature Desserts: Disney chefs create an unforgettable finale to a special dinner with a beautifully decorated cake themed to any occasion or a new line of celebration desserts.
• For Lovebirds: Sweetheart dinners for two in which couples can clink “Celebrate Today!” champagne flutes.
• Family Portraits: Capture the memory with a portrait session with Walt Disney World photographers.  Build a custom photo album with Disney’s PhotoPass.
• Personalized Souvenirs: Mark your occasion with personalized Mouse ears, character T-shirts and collectible pins.
• Decorate Your Disney Guest Room: Step into a resort room decorated to fit your celebration theme with confetti, banners, surprises and more.
• Stay Inside a Dream Theme: Book a themed guest room at either destination – princess-themed or Mickey-inspired at Disneyland or – coming in 2009 – pirate-themed at Walt Disney World Resort.
• Set Sail: Book a private romantic cruise on a yacht or set your party afloat on a shared magical fireworks voyage.
• Go Inside the Magic: Behind-the-scenes tours take you inside the storytelling, adventure and history of Disney Parks.
• Disney Story Book Experiences: Choose from pirate adventures, tea parties, princess makeovers and more – all with the magic of Disney.
• Disneyland Parties: “Celebration Roundup and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch,” all-new, is a full-blown party complete with frontier entertainment, goodie bags and a surprise treat for everyone – no matter what they’re celebrating.  “My Disneyland Birthday Party” features cake decorating, party hats and even Mickey and Minnie pay a visit.

Celebrating in the Parks

Disney is unwrapping all-new entertainment with memory-makers in mind, allowing guests to focus their celebration on favorite characters, favorite attractions and favorite stories to create a custom celebration in the park.  New park experiences coming in 2009 for all park guests to enjoy:

• Street Parties: Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Park come to life with interactive street parties.  The call to “Celebrate Today!” goes out to guests, music floods the streets, dancing kicks into high gear and the parks become “the happiest party on Earth.”
• Tomorrowland Party: A high-energy, retro-futuristic music video dance party features Stitch, an interactive dance troupe, and a DJ celebration host who’s inviting all Walt Disney World guests to come party, dance and celebrate.
• Park Décor: The parks will be decorated with colorful banners, balloons and festive party hats – as if awaiting your celebration.
• Buttons: Complimentary celebration buttons will help Disney cast members and fellow guests recognize you and your celebration.

Memories to Last a Lifetime

Disney parks are the ultimate setting for any celebration, turning a special occasion into a magical Disney experience.  And with the opportunity of free admission to a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort theme park on your birthday in 2009, it’s even more special.  All it takes is a valid ID including proof of birth date.  Guests can get more details and start the process by registering their birthdays at www.disneyparks.com.
    
“We believe Disney parks are uniquely positioned for any celebration and offer the ultimate setting for marking a cherished milestone,” Rasulo said.  “People trust Disney to make an occasion truly magical.  And now more than ever, Disney will help guests seize those special moments and turn them into memories that will live forever in their hearts.”
    
For more information or to book a Disney “celebration vacation,” guests can visit www.disneyparks.com, call 407/W-DISNEY or contact their local travel agent.

Free theme park admission details:

To receive free admission to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on your birthday in 2009, guests must bring valid ID including proof of birth date.  Guests who already hold a valid multi-day ticket they will use on their birthday may choose from other birthday treats instead, however, no cash refunds or credits will be given.  To register your birthday and find out more details, visit www.disneyparks.com.

Floorless Coaster Medusa to Have Visual and Audio Sensory Effects

 Six Flags Great Adventure  in Jackson New Jersey has announced plans to enhance the world’s first floorless, looping coaster, Medusa. The redesign and upgrades will deliver a multi-sensory ride experience with all-new thematics and innovative, state-of-the-art visual, audio and sensory effects.

“Since it opened in 1999 as the world’s first floorless coaster, Medusa has been a fan favorite,” said Mark Kane, Six Flags Great Adventure Park President. “This redesign will take one of the park’s most popular attractions to the next level.”

Six Flags Great Adventure plans to enhance the ride experience with unique storytelling and high tech elements. The park plans to add fire, fog, water and a synchronized audio track to Medusa. The roller coasters three eight-car trains will be outfitted with an on-board audio system to play the new sountrack.

“A similar transformation of the X2 coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles has received widespread acclaim and we expect the relaunch of this ride to shatter that response. It will be a must-ride experience,” added Kane.

Unlike traditional roller coasters, Medusa’s three trains are floorless, giving riders the sensation of flying as their feet dangle with nothing between them and the track below.

Medusa is one of 13 roller coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure and has delivered more than 9 million rides since its debut in 1999.

Guests can take advantage of the last change to experience Medusa’s original Greek mythology theme during the remaining days of Fright Fest.

Six Flags Great Adventure plans to release more specific details about the Medusa transformation prior to the reopening of the ride in Spring 2009.

SeaWorld’s Polar Express Experience Joins Shamu for Xmas and New Years

This holiday season, you can jump aboard The Polar Express Experience at SeaWorld for a magical trip to the North Pole. Debuting Nov. 14 and continuing through Jan. 4, 2009, SeaWorld’s Wild Arctic transforms into a thrilling expedition to the fabled Santa Town.

The Polar Express Experience is based on the film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Shangri-La Entertainment, inspired by the beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.  

This heartwarming adventure begins with a three-minute preshow telling the story of a young boy lying awake on Christmas Eve, just before midnight. Straining to listen for the elusive sound of ringing bells aboard Santa’s sleigh, the boy is jolted out of bed from the thunderous roar of The Polar Express arriving to take him on a fascinating adventure to the North Pole. Guests then embark upon that same adventure as they board The Polar Express Experience. Recreating classic scenes from the movie in a multi-sensory experience, The Polar Express Experience immerses guests with lighting, scent, sound and motion to transport them to the North Pole … and into the spirit of the season.

When guests arrive at their destination, they step off the train and into the movie itself. Temperatures drop and holiday spirits soar as the travelers arrive at the frozen North Pole, complete with towering Christmas tree, gift-laden sleigh, village decor and Santa himself. The journey continues as guests also encounter other inhabitants of the North Pole — the animals themselves — including graceful beluga whales, powerful polar bears and giant walruses.

Stunning Shows

In addition to this stellar holiday attraction, SeaWorld also offers an array of festive shows and seasonal additions. Guests can join Shamu for the holidays during “Shamu Christmas … Miracles.” This captivating show helps guests celebrate the holiday season as a time filled with hope and peace and just possibly, miracles. The 22-minute production comes to life daily through Dec. 25 at Shamu Stadium.

Guests may also witness a winter wonder as snow flurries descend from up above, and jewels of water and light adorn the night during the “Christmastide” holiday fountain show — a seasonal spectacular where water seemingly dances to the beat of Christmas music through Dec. 25.

“Mistify,” a nighttime finale Dec. 26 – 30, takes place on SeaWorld’s center lake and features larger-than-life marine creatures on 60-foot mist screens, 100-foot fountains, flames on water and dazzling fireworks.

Families will enjoy strolling through the Waterfront’s array of gift shops and restaurants all while listening to the joyful tunes of singers, musical quartets and the “Sizzlin’ Pianos” show that ignite the spirit of the season. Through Christmas, stores and restaurants will remain open until 7 p.m. during weekdays and 8 p.m. on weekends. The park will remain open until 10 p.m. Dec. 26 – 30.

Holiday Festivities

As the sun sets over the harbor, the Seafire Inn celebrates the Christmas season Hawaiian style with the Makahiki Christmas Luau. Enjoy the festive celebration of authentic Christmas music, costumes and dances including a special rendition of “O Holy Night”. The excitement is non-stop in this festive, fiery show that celebrates man’s co-existence with the earth and sea. Nightly Nov. 12 – Jan. 4. Advance reservations can be made by calling 1-800-327-2420. 

Holiday splendor abounds during Festivities at the Waterfront as nightly snow flurries descend upon guests. Carolers make a joyful noise while the little ones share their holiday wishes with Santa Claus. Guests in search of that perfect gift can peruse through one of the area’s assortment of gift shops. The festivities begin Nov. 24 and run through Dec. 25.

Frosty Friends Sleepover invites families to get cozy with animals from some of the chilliest environments on the planet, the Arctic and Antarctic. Guests can camp with the coolest little dudes in town at the Penguin Encounter! The overnight adventure includes educational games and activities, a pizza snack and continental breakfast. The cost is $78 per person and the date is Dec. 5, 2008. For more information, visit http://www.seaworld.org/.

New Year’s Eve at SeaWorld

SeaWorld rings in the holiday Dec. 31 with a musical celebration that includes the best in pop, Latin and swing music and dancing. The party begins with Michael Andrew and his 18-piece Atomic Big Band who will keep the crowd dancing. At the stroke of midnight, the night will shine even brighter with vibrant fireworks. (For those who would rather end the year with a splash, the park’s attractions and thrill rides will remain open until midnight.)

For more information, guests may visit online http://www.seaworld.com/ or call (800) 327-2424.