Theme Park Insider

Robert and Jake talk about Six Flags' announcement that it will close California's Great America after the 2027 season and what that means for the company and Bay Area theme park fans. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Jake and Robert offer their suggestions for the perfect Six Flags Magic Mountain, in advance of the park’s plans to announce a big transformation starting next year. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

The theme park industry's annual attendance report has bad news for a lot of parks. So what can Disney, Universal and Six Flags do to get their numbers back up again? Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Jake and Robert consider Six Flags’ plunging stock price (down over 85% from the merger close) and what the company's next moves might be. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Jake and Robert talk about what Six Flags needs to do to respect the memory of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, by finding out what led to his death on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia and sharing the results of that investigation with the public. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Jake and Robert talk their favorite - and least favorite - theme park attraction holiday overlays, including those at Disney, Universal and Knott's. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Robert and Jake talk about Six Flags Magic Mountain's decision to retire X2 and what the company can do next to help improve the former Thrill Capital of the World. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Robert and Jake talk about how being a hard-ticket event (or not) affects the quality of a Halloween haunt. We also get into the latest existential threats to Six Flags - the ongoing debt burden and now the prospect of having to pay big legal settlements over the X2 roller coaster. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

We are honored to welcome Disney Legend Joe Rohde as our guest on the Theme Park Insider Podcast this week. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Robert and Jake take on this week’s announcements (and lack of announcements) from Six Flags. Plus, Harry Potter plans in Abu Dhabi, and why Southern California is the haunt capital of America. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Industry legend Bob Rogers joins us to talk about the "Deep Story" secrets to great attraction design. Jake and Robert also talk about what works, and doesn't in a haunted house attraction. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Jake and Robert offer their thanks and tribute to Dolly Parton, who passed away on Tuesday. We also talk about her legacy with Dollywood and the lessons that the Tennessee park can offer the rest of the industry. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Robert and Jake talk about the D23 Expo, Knott's Walt Disney-coded Scary Farm maze, and new attractions at Dollywood, Silver Dollar City and Lost Island. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Jake and Robert look forward to what to expect from Saturday’s Disney Experiences Showcase at D23. But not until they share their worst bird encounters from working at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, first. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s Theme Park Insider Podcast, Robert and Jake dive into this week’s financial reports from Disney (great!), Six Flags (promising!) and United Parks (uh, ew!) Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Jake and Robert talk about what’s coming to major parks in 2027, as well as this year’s Halloween plans, the Holiday Hunger Games, and what is Disney’s version of the Costco hot dog. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Robert and Jake break down Universal’s latest earnings call… and that “softness” that Universal reported in its theme park attendance. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Robert and Jake discuss the latest Universal, Knott's, Disney, and United Parks news. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back after a one-week break for the U.S. Independence Day holiday. So Jake and Robert are recapping two weeks of news in this week’s podcast episode. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

The crew at ThemeParkInsider.com talks about the week's news from top theme parks around the world, including Disney and Universal. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe

Robert Niles is joined by Greg Glasgow and Kathryn Mayer, authors of "Disneyland on the Mountain," a new book looking at the history of Disney's never-built Mineral King ski resort in California. Get full access to Theme Park Insider at themeparkinsider.substack.com/subscribe