I know that many Theme Park Insider readers around America are enjoying a "snow day" today, with winter storms making their way across the country. And more than a few of you might be daydreaming about escaping to a nice, warm Florida or California theme park.
But theme parks don't always operate in the warm sunshine. Tokyo Disneyland recently got buried in a snow storm:
And Disneyland Paris gets its share of snowfall, too.
Heck, it's not unheard of for the Orlando theme parks to see a stray flake every decade or so.
And in Southern California? Well, forget about snow in Anaheim. (But if you crave winter, just drive up into our mountains. Only an hour away!)
Regional theme parks have tried snow-covered holiday events from time to time. I remember the WinterFest event at Kings Island in Ohio, though my wife starts shivering uncontrollably each time I mention it.
Let's make this a Vote of the Week. What do you think about visit a snow-covered, winter-wonderland, temperatures-below-freezing theme park?
If you've got some theme park snow stories, please share 'em in the comments. Have a great weekend, stay warm, and thank you again for being part of Theme Park Insider!
SeaWorld in Cleveland tried a winter event for a year or two in the 80's. I loved that as well. The best part was a giant ice slide the park made from the top level of the Ski Stadium walkway-- it was great!
Let's check what snow brought:
1. Icy pathways
2. Closed roller coasters
3. Outdoor flat rides were cool until you were blinded by the snow
4. Hour long waits for the Festhaus with other people who wanted to find somewhere dry and warm.
Remember snow is still precipitation even though it's looks pretty!
I can handle some snow...but not the brutal cold. Not again. Not ever. Ugh.
Disneyland only has that fake soapy snow.
OK I understand in a perfect, 50 degree world Cedar Fair could make a Winter/Christmas Event. But just look at the growing pains Busch Gardens Williamsburg has had.
The Christmas Town event brings huge crowds needing every attraction operating. But if it's less than 40 degrees the rides have to shut down meaning tons of employees are being paid without their attraction running.
And paying guests shuffling off in the cold to flat rides or over crowded shows/gift shops.
My point, Cedar Fair will bring winter events to it's more southern parks but only with the forethought that it needs.
Yes. Thank God.
I cannot remember ever going to a theme/amusement park in the snow. However, my first - and, thus far, only - visit to Cedar Point was on the first weekend of the season. And it was pretty danged cold for this SoCal boy. It was, in addition, raining pretty heavily and drizzling when it wasn't. I bought pictures on every roller coaster that sold them. My daughter, who did not attend, said that I looked the same in each one of them. I'm thinking that perhaps I froze in that position.
The Cincinnati area has a wide variety of holiday events, so perhaps the competition was a little too much for Winterfest. I recall one issue with the event being that it wasn't cold enough most days in December in order to keep the signature ice rink on the Royal Fountain properly frozen. Still, it seems there is enough enthusiasm for the holidays and Kings Island around the Cincinnati area that Winterfest could be a success.
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Another anecdote..back in the ancient days when I was in high school, Great Adventure did a promo..show up with a snowball, get in free. It had snowed in the area about two weeks prior, but very little was left unmelted. There was a little pile in the corner of my backyard. When I read about the offer, I made about 20 and put them in the freezer. A group of about 15 of us went in 4 cars. What I remember most was the roadside stands set up outside the park, selling snowballs for $5 each.