Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Update - December 22nd, 2024
Medusa Repaint and Holiday in the Park!
What a crazy year! I haven't disappeared, I promise! I took a trip out to Asia for a couple different Halloween Horror Nights. The weekend before I visited Great America and Discovery Kingdom for both of their Halloween events but in pursuit of getting the Youtube version up (if you don't already, check me out on Youtube!) I forgot to write up the written version! But I'm back and I should have time eventually to write up those missing reports too. But with all that said, it was time for me to get to Discovery Kingdom to check out Holiday in the Park! Although largely unchanged, it remains a lovely event and one that's a highlight of the year. Today was not a great day for weather, it was rainy and gross all day. But thankfully, that meant that the park was dead. Even though it was dead, I think I saw more rides operating than I have all year. Let's take a look!
Table of Contents
Holiday in the Park
Areas and Decorations
Tava's Jingle-Land
New this year is Tava's Jungleland becoming Tava's Jingle-land!
Of course it brings some decorations
This cute little sign might be my favorite in the park
But it also brings some "new" rides that could go in the next section of the update... Zoe's Treehouse -> Tinsel Top Treehouse
Nairobi's Look Out Balloons -> Holly Jolly Balloons
Safari Jeep Tours -> Jingle Jeep Tours
And Congo Queen -> Frosty Ferry
Looney Tunes Sweet Port
Like normal, Looney Tunes Seaport becomes Sweet Port!
Like last year it has the Twinkly Twee Fowest
Which is a cute little walkthrough with lights and trees!
Jingle Junction
Seaside Junction becomes Jingle Junction like normal
Unfortunately the foam party is still an upcharge...
Christmas Tree Forest
Christmas Tree Forest, in between the front of the park and DC Universe, is probably my favorite area!
Toy Area
Also like in years past, the path from DC Universe to the Seaside Junction area was dominated by massive toys
This year it featured a great photo opportunity with Santa and other characters
Winter Wonderlane
The walk from Seaside Junction to the aquarium is Winter Wonderlane
This year it had tons and tons of foam "snow". It was surprisingly not that slippery even though it was all of the ground!
Celebration Station
The food court area is again Celebration Station celebrating all the holidays celebrated around the world this time of year!
It again features a huge tree and this year has a little decal on the ground in front
The former Macho Nachos location is again a seasonal food location, this time it's Sweet Cinnamon Chowder (which sounds interesting but gross)
Here's a look at the menu if you're curious
Like previous events, you can get a tasting pass, which is especially useful in the Festival Area...
Festival Area
Speaking of!
Like you'd expect, there are a couple food stands like Gingerbread Dream Puffs
Or Cookie Cutter Charm
Or Sugar Shack
Santa's Sipping Shack is the bar
Of course there's a stage
And a gift shop
Entrance Plaza
Finally, wrapping back around to the entrance plaza, there isn't a photo op sign at the front of the park
There's a Santa photo op in the guest services building
And again, you can write letters to Santa
Shows
Taking a look at shows, again there's a tree lighting ceremony
There are plenty of mascots as part of the show
In a very funny moment, once the family that was called up flipped the switch to the lights, the tree didn't light up for another few minutes
Eventually they did but it was a very funny moment as we all stood there awkwardly waiting
The other show I did catch was the Spencer Grey magic show
Normally this show is held in the auditorium near the White Water Safari station but because of the weather, Spencer instead held a little show under a tent. It was a very cool close up magic show and seemed to be a big hit with guests, me included!
Ride "Changes"
One of my favorite/silliest small things the park does is give some new signs to rides. It doesn't change much if anything about the actual ride profile but it's a fun little change. Let's talk about some of those!
Starting from the back of the park, Monkey Business becomes Peppermint Twirl as usual
And Thrilla Gorilla becomes Sugar Plum Spin
Monsoon Falls becomes Penguin Plunge again (but without the little penguins this time)
The bumper cars have been unhaunted and turned into Reindeer Race
I love the lights!
And the Theater in the area has different shows too
I didn't get to see it but the stage was set for Mrs. Claus' Story Time
Ride Updates
Medusa was down for a repaint! This cool little themed sign was at the fenced off entrance
You can see the difference between the old and new paint here. It looks so good!
Can't believe I'm as excited as I am but Boomerang was open too! First time I've seen it in a few months
Flash remains closed and the train in the ride plaza
Penguin Plunge was unsurprisingly closed in the cold and wet weather
Misc
Let's start with some animal updates! What a day for animals! The giraffes were munching on some leaves
Not particularly exciting but I got some cool shots of the butterflies!
The cheetahs were more actiev than I've ever seen. Didn't get pictures but the lions and wolves were out too. I credit a very cool day for all the activity!
And finally, keepers were just getting the bat fed so I got to see it moving around. So cool but weird seeing it use those hooks to get around!
And that completes another update! I'll have a Great America update soon (for the last ever? Winterfest) as well as the missing Halloween updates. Thanks for bearing with me as I get back on track with this site!