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PODCAST

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30

Philip Hernandez

An insider’s take on the theme park and themed entertainment industry trends, Green Tagged Covers the Top Theme Park News from each week. From theme parks to zoos and aquariums to haunted houses, we scour the world for what you need to know. We may not have all the answers, but we ask the right questions. Subscribe to PRO content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GreenTagged

news news commentary

All Episodes

31:48

Halloween Special: Trends, Tropes, and Takeaways

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/10/31

From Hollywood to Florida and New York to Oregon, this year’s Halloween season proved that the industry is evolving—just not abandoning its roots. Sliders continue to grow as choreographed street theater, chainsaws remain the undeniable American haunt anthem, and creative teams nationwide are finding new ways to give guests something active to do between scares. From selfie moments and staged photo ops to queue-line performers and mini-interactions, the focus is shifting from watching horror to

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31:52

Travis Kelce Buys into Six Flags & TEA Global...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/10/26

Kansas City Chiefs star—and Taylor Swift’s fiancé—Travis Kelce now owns a 9% stake in Six Flags alongside hedge fund Jana Partners, instantly making the struggling park chain a national headline. Former Cedar Fair CEO Matt Ouimet, however, wasn’t impressed—publicly calling out the board for “cycling through CEOs, destroying value, and failing to show ownership” while urging the next chief executive to rebuild with leaders who actually understand entertainment. Philip and Scott unpack what Kelce’s

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30:35

Six Flags’ Leadership Shake-Up and the Qiddiya Confusion

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/10/19

Six Flags is losing more of its board—Executive Chairman Selim Bassoul and Lead Independent Director Daniel Hanrahan will leave the board at year’s end, following CEO Richard Zimmerman’s exit announcement. Bassoul, who also lined up a new role outside the industry, will remain as a consultant through the launch of Six Flags Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia. The company stumbled when its first press release listed Qiddiya City opening in 2026, only to issue an immediate correction claiming 2025—adding to

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30:49

Disney Raises Prices—Is the “Happiest Place on Earth”...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/10/13

Disney has hiked prices again—day tickets, annual passes, parking, and even Lightning Lane. At Disneyland, parking now costs $40 a day and the top-tier Inspire Key annual pass jumps to $1,899, still with blockout dates and reservation limits. In Florida, annual passes are up as well, though one-day tickets remain steadier. Philip and Scott debate whether these moves are a strategy to manage crowd levels or a sign of the parks leaning further into exclusivity—especially as Disney faces stock pressure

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31:08

Stardust Racers Reopens: Safety, Accessibility, and...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/10/06

Universal has reopened Stardust Racers at Epic Universe, following a fatal incident earlier this year, and introduced new signage and stricter accessibility requirements. The latest safety guide now warns guests with weakened bones, limited mobility, or difficulty maintaining an upright position not to ride—and the “must walk independently” clause now extends across multiple attractions. Philip and Scott unpack what this means for operators who must balance guest safety, accessibility, and legal

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31:10

Six Flags Questions, IAAPA Europe, & Lego's Acquisition

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/09/29

This week, we respond to your comments from last week's show regarding Six Flags. Scott recaps his visit to IAAPA Expo Europe; Lego invests £200 million in the acquisition of Lego Discovery Centers from Merlin; and a New immersive art venue, Atlas9, opens in Kansas City. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.

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31:53

More Guests, Less Money: Six Flags’ Big Problem

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/09/22

Six Flags reported 298,000 more visits this summer, a 3% attendance bump compared to 2024. But guests spent 7% less on admission, pulling overall revenue down 2% even as food and merch ticked up. Management insists that trading short-term ticket prices for long-term passholder growth will pay off, pointing to early 2026 pass sales pacing ahead with prices up 3%.Philip and Scott unpack why this strategy only works if guests return—and how seasonal event cuts complicate the picture. Knott’s Scary Farm

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30:40

Halloween Trends 2025: What Guests Really Want (and...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/09/17

Only 19% of U.S. adults say they want “scary vibes” this Halloween—while 30% plan to wear multiple costumes and 70% say organized events are steady or increasing. Philip and Scott unpack the annual HalloweenCostumes.com survey and why it matters: the demand for cute, funny, and cosplay-style experiences is growing faster than gore, audiences are starting to plan earlier, and AI is already a factor in how people search for inspiration. They also discuss how rising competition and budget-conscious

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33:04

Art the Clown Harassment? Navigating Safety...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/09/08

Universal’s roaming Art the Clown character has become a lightning rod at Halloween Horror Nights Orlando, with videos showing guests harassing, chasing, and even blocking his path. Meanwhile, Hollywood’s version of the same character ran smoothly—suggesting this is less about the IP and more about training, staffing, and audience management.Philip and Scott break down why safety lapses around street performers are a business problem as much as a guest problem, and how differences in talent pools,

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32:33

HHN’s Festival Future: Crowds, Comfort, and Casual Fans

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/09/01

Halloween Horror Nights Orlando is quietly reshaping its playbook. This year, Universal pushed queues outside the park, massively expanded the backstage infrastructure and food offerings, and layered in new entertainment to complement returning classics. From two full shows to new roaming characters, scare zone “boo boxes”, and stage moments like The Cat Lady on Crooked Lane, there's entertainment blanketing most of the park. The result: more space for guests, more reasons to linger, and an event

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31:46

Vegas Tourism Slumps, Disney and Epic Surge—What...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/08/26

Las Vegas has logged six straight months of year-over-year visitor declines, with June alone down 400,000 guests amid economic jitters, inflation, and weaker Canadian travel. Yet in Orlando, Epic Universe’s Monsters Unchained just passed a million visits, SeaWorld hit record attendance, and Disney reported another record quarter. Plus, fan conventions nationwide are posting record attendance. As consumers become more savvy, one answer could be that generic “something for everyone” models struggle to

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31:46

Six Flags Adds Haunted House Fees—Will Guests Pay for...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/08/18

Legacy Cedar Fair parks are moving to the Six Flags model this Halloween, requiring a new $10–$20 Haunted Attractions Pass for mazes—and an extra $15 for The Conjuring house. Even Gold Pass holders must pay, sparking backlash from fans who see it as a bait-and-switch. Philip and Scott debate whether this is a necessary step toward higher-quality haunts or a misstep that erodes trust. It appears that Six Flags is moving to the 'separately ticketed' model of Knott's Scary Farm instead of the 'mix-in'

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30:59

Six Flags’ $100M Loss, CEO Exit & the Season Pass Gamble

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/08/10

Six Flags posted a nearly $100 million loss in Q2—down from a $55 million profit a year ago—on 1.4 million fewer visitors, a smaller base of season passholders, and what it calls “adverse weather.” The company is looking to sell nonessential assets, while also running an aggressive August pass sale to bring in quick cash and rebuild its passholder base. Philip and Scott unpack why front-loading revenue can backfire if you can’t keep guests returning to spend in-park, and how Six Flags’ own investor

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34:11

Six Flags Cuts —What Happens When Cost Savings Kill...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/08/04

Six Flags just canceled its Christmas and Halloween events at multiple parks—including Holiday in the Park at Great Adventure and Over Georgia, and Fright Fest at Six Flags America, which will now close permanently on Nov. 2. Michigan’s Adventure also dropped its Tricks and Treats event and will end its season on Sept. 1. The company says it’s “focusing on the core season,” but Philip and Scott aren’t buying it.This week, the hosts break down what these cancellations mean for perceived value, season

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31:12

What Makes an IP Popular? Lessons from Comic-Con for...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/07/28

What makes an IP popular today? It’s not just the box office or streaming stats—it’s the fans who show up, dress up, and wait five hours for a free experience. At San Diego Comic-Con, Percy Jackson, Alien, and K-pop Demon Hunters proved that passion, not just numbers, powers IP. Philip and Scott break down why pop-ups are becoming the new focus groups, how activations create the data stories that boards and licensors want, and what theme park professionals can learn from the way studios test,

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31:15

Hotter Parks, Cooler Guests: How Asia’s Attractions...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/07/20

As record heat continues to disrupt attendance, attractions in Asia are innovating to keep guests cool. Tokyo Disneyland is extending evening hours and spraying down guests in its summer parade, while Universal Studios Japan is giving out salt candy and shifting its operating schedule later. Water parks in Korea are going further—launching crossovers with popular brands like One Piece, Air Conditioned Ferris Wheels, K-pop concerts, bubble zones, and discounted villas to become full-blown vacation

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30:30

Asia’s Comeback? IAAPA Asia & Legoland Shanghai’s...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/07/15

Asia was expected to become the new theme park capital of the world—then the pandemic hit. IAAPA Asia drew 7,000+ attendees to Shanghai, but is that enough to signal Asia’s tourism comeback? Philip reports from the show floor, including takeaways from Disney executive Jill Estorino’s keynote, where she credited young adult women with shaping the guest culture at Shanghai Disneyland—impacting everything from merchandise and mobile content creation to how F&B is presented across the park

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31:03

Holiday Nostalgia, Living Art & After-Dark Upsell—3...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/07/07

Hallmark is back with its Kansas City “Christmas Experience,” aiming to top last year’s 100,000-guest debut by doubling down on comfort-food tradition—workshops, red-carpet movie premieres, and even themed Marriott suites. Philip and Scott unpack how leaning into safe, repeatable rituals can turn a pop-up into a pilgrimage. Next, Meow Wolf launches Phenomenomaly, a summer-long loop of live dance, puppetry, and guest interaction inside its Las Vegas and Denver exhibitions—proof that adding performers

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31:32

The Modern Halloween Event: Gaming IPs, Immersion,...

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/06/29

Universal is doubling down on pop-culture firepower with the enormously popular gaming IPs of Fallout and Five Nights at Freddy’s confirmed for this year's Halloween Horror Nights. They're also charging superfans $350 for “Premium Scream Night,” a ticketed dress rehearsal. With massive IPs and superfans willing to pay premium prices just to attend a dress rehearsal, how can smaller attractions compete? Thirteenth Floor and Winchester Mystery House might have an answer with "Festival Fright Nights."

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31:44

Louvre Walkout Shocks Paris | Netflix House Revealed

Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30 ·

2025/06/22

The Louvre’s staff closed the world’s most-visited museum with a snap strike, blaming “untenable” crowding and a 20 % cut in state funding even as attendance soars. Philip and Scott pull three operating fixes every attraction can steal now—hard capacity caps, timed-entry tech, and reinvesting in on-site teams before adding the next wing—because a six-year master plan won’t save a gallery that melts down tomorrow. Across the Atlantic, Netflix unveiled its first Netflix House venues—permanent ticketed

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276 results

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