News flash from Disney; Darkness at Universal
It's time for another Theme Park Insider weekly news update. Plus, more ticket deals!
We start this week's newsletter with some changes from Disney that will affect anyone planning a trip to Walt Disney World starting in July. Given that the changes are to the Lightning Lane program, I will induce a mass cringe event calling the next section...
News flash
Big changes are coming to Walt Disney World's Lightning Lanes: Disney is ditching the name of its Genie+ service as part of a major overhaul of its line-skipping upgrades, the company announced today. Here is everything you need to know about the changes, which go into effect next month.
Now it's getting dark around here
Universal Orlando reveals its Dark Universe: It took more than 60 years and seven theme parks to get there, but when Universal Epic Universe opens in Orlando next year, it will feature an entire land themed to Universal's class monsters - Dark Universe. Here is what Universal now has revealed.
Stranger Things moves to Six Flags for Halloween: Six Flags will be going big with movie franchises for its Fright Fest Halloween events this year. It's landed some big names that many fans have gotten used to seeing at rival Universal's Halloween Horror Nights.
Latin America's monsters set for Universal Studios Hollywood return: Meanwhile, Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that Monstruos 2: The Nightmares of Latin America will join the haunted house line-up for this year's Halloween Horror Nights, which starts September 5.
Haunted Mansion gets a virtual queue for Halloween Time: Tickets to the Disneyland Resort's Oogie Boogie Bash after-hours Halloween party are going on sale this week. That's just one of three new details about the upcoming Halloween Time season.
How about you save money while the site makes money?
Look here for discounts on Universal, Disneyland, and SeaWorld tickets: It's officially summer now, and many of America's top theme parks are offering ticket deals to entice you to visit. Our ticket partners have free-day and deep discount deals for most of the country's most-visited parks. Start shopping here.
Universal Free days vs Disney Discounts: And readers are talking about discounts on our Discussion Forum.
New and upcoming attractions
Six Flags steps up with Steam Town: While Six Flags America is one of the smaller parks in the chain and probably will be even further down the pecking order when Six Flags and Cedar Fair officially merge in a couple of weeks. However, the park has still been able to deliver a well-done IP-based refurbishment around the steampunk theme. [With on-ride video]
Penguin Trek roller coaster gets its opening date: The Bolliger & Mabillard coaster will open officially to SeaWorld Orlando park guests on July 7.
Disneyland's Din Tai Fung set for soft opening
Walt Disney World adds ice skating show for 2024 holidays
A new princess attraction is coming to Efteling in 2025: Are you looking for yet one more theme park attraction starring a Princess and something small and green?
More news and discussion
Roller coaster strikes trespassing guest at Kings Island: A park guest has died after he entered a restricted zone in an attempt to retrieve lost keys.
Here's what you need to protect yourself at Disney this summer: Obviously, staying out of restricted areas is rule number one. But beyond that, here are some tips for how to protect you and your family from the heat.
July 2nd - Cedar Fair/Six Flags Board Room: What will happen once these two park chains merge next month?
Are on-ride photos a must-see, or meh?
Video vs actual ride experience
Once again, I would like to thank you for your time and attention. It’s getting harder for original human voices to be heard through the clutter on the Internet these days, so I appreciate your support for our work on Theme Park Insider. Please share our links and newsletter with your family, friends, and fellow theme park fans!
Best wishes,
Robert