As the calendar moves on and the temperatures drop, tinsel and lights sprout up throughout the landscape. Theme parks are no exception, so I donned my thickest hoodie, counted my pennies for a refillable mug of hot chocolate and spent a Saturday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for this year’s version of Holiday in the Park. Also experienced was the new show, The Wildlife Experience, which combines the bird and small animal shows into a single performance. Plus, of course, there were peeks over and through the fence surrounding the construction zone for the upcoming hybrid conversion of the classic woodie Roar into The Joker.
This time of year is much more satisfying at Discovery Kingdom than Fright Fest. Although I loathe the very idea of hard ticket events, my experiences this fall showed that doing a really good haunt requires going all in to the point of needing that extra revenue; not to mention generally getting rid of the guests that aren’t there specifically for the event. On the other hand, Christmas can be a homier affair and still be successful. Without reaching deeper into your pocket, the park adds activities with snow, fire pits to ward off the cold, a couple of shows and holiday music and décor throughout the park.
The signature fountain hibernates in early winter, replaced by a 65 foot tree cloaked in lights and surrounded by oversized presents. After dark, the lights on the tree and surrounding buildings synchronize with a holiday soundtrack in Six Flags Dazzle making its debut this year.
Christmas Tree Plaza is also the home of two musical offerings. Jingle Bell Rock features a troupe of red and white fur clad dancers flitting about the stage to songs like, well, Jingle Bell Rock several times a day and into the evening. Holiday Pop has actual singers that seem vaguely familiar; actually, nothing vague at all since the show features singers previously seen here during Fright Fest. There are some really good voices in the group, and the song selection seemed to have a better connection to the holiday being celebrated, although one with a more seductive, sensual quality than might be expected.
Both the snow play area and sled run down the slope of Blitzen’s Wonderland Mountain have returned. For an extra fee one can ride in an open carriage pulled by a majestic Cal Crush Clydesdale.
The corridor leading to Medusa is Toyland and is lined with giant playthings, although a paucity of lights leads to a spookier feel more in line with Halloween. Christmas Tree Forest and Candy Cane Lane are both back, with the latter seeming to have been plussed a bit. It would be nice to see a minimal investment each year in the décor; it will truly add up over time. But the walkways are generally clear, music fills the entire park (with the periodic unwanted promo for Gold Passes and the like), and lights are present beyond the named areas. Plus you can do a meet and greet with some of the jolly old elf’s livestock.
The Wildlife Experience is a chance for guests to see a variety of smaller, and perhaps lesser known animal in an intimate amphitheater. These critters now share the stage with the birds that were chased from their former home to make way for last summer’s diving show. Critters from a cockatoo to a bald eagle, from serval cat to grey wolf, are introduced, discussed, and given a chance to show off a bit.
Finally, there’s not a construction fence in the world that can stop a motivated Micechat photographer. While we are still a ways off from the first hard hat tour, construction continues on the Joker. All of the original track, and some substantial sections of supports have been removed. Also spotted were the first few feet of the new blue and green steel rails leading in and out of the station.
There’s a long, dark winter before the work will be completed, but it’s always exciting when a new ride is on the horizon. And Discovery Kingdom is open weekends all year now; so while it may mean dressing a bit warmer and avoiding the water rides (Tsunami Soakers was actually open, but I saw no takers), one can always get that coaster adrenaline rush that I’ll take over caffeine any day.
Have you visited Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Holiday in the Park?
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