A series of theme park expansions, remodels and renovations will be completed in 2024 and 2025, increasing competition between Walt Disney Co. (DIS) – Get a free reportComcast (CMCSA) – Get a free report Universal Studios and its rivals.
This year, Disney closed its popular Splash Mountain attraction at both Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and is finishing a reinvention of the attraction into a Tiana's Bayou adventure themed “The Princess and Toad”. which will reopen in 2024.
Related: Disney World rival Universal unveils another new theme park
Universal's biggest project underway is its Epic Universe theme park, a third gate at Universal Orlando Resort set to open in the first half of 2025.
Six Flags' (SIX) – Get a free report and Cedar Fair's biggest move revealed Nov. 2 was a merger deal that would create a single combined $8 billion amusement park company comprised of 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks and nine resort properties in 17 states, Canada and Mexico. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2024.
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Knott's Berry Farm reinvents Camp Snoopy
Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, owned by Cedar's Fair (FUN) – Get a free report is renovating its popular Camp Snoopy land. It will reopen on Memorial Weekend in 2024 with three exciting new attractions for visitors of all ages, the company revealed in a Dec. 7 statement.
The renovated six-acre Camp Snoopy at Knotts Berry Farm features Snoopy's new Tenderpaw Twister roller coaster that flies through the forest land. The attraction goes up a hill for a launch that both kids and their parents can handle, making it a great first roller coaster experience ideal for many kids and perhaps adults. And the tour goes around the route twice for twice as much enjoyment.
The former Rocky Mountain Trucking Company attraction will be transformed into the Camp Snoopy Off-Road Rally for guests, each of whom will ride in their own colorful four-wheeled SUV, each themed after Snoopy or another Peanuts character. Guest drivers travel through an expanded terrain and shelf and find fun road signs and obstacles to go over, around and under. The objective in the race is not necessarily measured by speed, but by the number of checkpoints on the course that can be found.
Camp Snoopy introduces a new swing to the park with Sally's Swing Along, where kids and parents can sit side by side on a giant swing and slide about 10 feet in the air, back and forth.
Other new attractions on the reimagined land include the Barrell Bridge and waterfall area with a new viewing deck to view the barrel bridges, cave and waterfall. The park has added a new Camp Snoopy Theater for a new Camp Snoopy show, while a campfire will be lit in the evenings for special campfire entertainment.
The Beagle Express locomotive has been upgraded and the Woodstock Airmail trip reopens in a new area called Camp Post Office. The Grizzly Lodge dining room was also updated with new decor and menu items, new family restrooms, and a new Snoopy Camp tent.
Knotts Berry Farm will now offer meet and greets at Camp Snoopy at various times, allowing visitors to meet and photograph all of the Peanuts characters, including Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Pigpen, Sally and Marcie.
Knott's hosts seasonal festivals and events
Knott's joins Disney, Universal Studios and Six Flags as hosts of seasonal festivals and events. Peanuts Celebration, when the iconic characters take over the entire park, will take place from January 27 to February 25, 2024.
The famous Knott's Boysenberry Festival returns from March 8 to April 28, 2024, featuring a variety of unique blackberry-inspired food and drink offerings, crafts, live entertainment, music and artists in the park.
Summer brings Ghost Town Alive, featuring the western town of Calico, and Knott's Summer Nights with late-night flavors of summer and artists from the local Southern California music scene performing from June 14 to September 2, 2024. Knott's Soak City Water Park, with 23 different water slides in operation, from May 18 to September 8, 2024.
Fall brings Knott's Spooky Farm, a trick-or-treat Halloween event, taking place from September 26 to October 31, 2024 and the Knott's Scary Farm Halloween-themed event will take place from September 19 to November 2 of 2024.
The year always ends with the annual Christmas event, Knott's Merry Farm, from November 22 to January 5, 2024, featuring festive treats, holiday shows and the Snoopy and the Peanuts characters in their annual ice show.
Finally, visitors in early 2024 will be able to check into the newly renovated 322-room Knott's Hotel. The theme park is renovating all guest rooms, lobby, conference rooms, ballrooms and outdoor event space in a multimillion-dollar renovation.
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