Vacationeers Theme Parks & More

About Vacationeers Theme Parks & More

Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast discusses topics from vacation trip planning to trip reporting on vacations at theme parks, beaches, cruises, international travel & anywhere else a vacation may take you. We may sprinkle in a little theme park news or a game just for fun.

Publisher

Vacationeers Theme Parks & More

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Sept 2017

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

282 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   VacationScares 281: Halloween Horror Nights 2026 Review & House Rankings

   🎃 VacationScares continues with a full Halloween Horror Nights 2026 roundtable! Tom welcomes Jon Self, along with Kris and Dave from the Adventures by D YouTube channel, to talk all things Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights. We break down our experiences at this year’s event, including what worked, what didn’t, the overall atmosphere, scares, sets, and some of the moments that stood out during our visits. Then it’s time for the big one — our Halloween Horror Nights house rankings! With four different people around the table, you can probably guess that we don’t agree on everything. We compare our rankings, defend some choices, question others, and see which houses rise to the top of the group. 👻 In this episode: • Our overall thoughts on Halloween Horror Nights 2026 • What stood out from this year’s event • Favorite scares, sets, themes, and moments • Houses that exceeded our expectations • Houses that didn’t quite work for us • Tom’s house rankings • Jon’s house rankings • Kris and Dave’s house rankings • Where we agree — and where we definitely don’t A huge thanks to Kris and Dave from Adventures by D for joining us for this year’s HHN discussion! 🎃 VacationScares is Vacationeers Theme Parks & More’s celebration of Halloween events, haunted attractions, spooky experiences, and everything that goes bump in the theme parks. 👍 If you enjoy the episode, give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more theme park news, reviews, vlogs, livestreams, and VacationScares adventures. 🌐 Vacationeers Theme Parks & More https://vacationeerspodcast.com (https://vacationeerspodcast.com/) 🎃 VacationScares https://vacationeerspodcast.com/vacationscares/ (https://vacationeerspodcast.com/vacationscares/) 🎢 ThrillLedger – Track rides. Count memories. https://thrillledger.vacationeerspodcast.com/ (https://thrillledger.vacationeerspodcast.com/) 👕 Vacationeers Merch https://vacationeerspodcast.com/merch/ (https://vacationeerspodcast.com/merch/) 📱 Follow Vacationeer Tom X: (https://x.com/VacationeerTom)https://x.com/VacationeerTom (https://x.com/VacationeerTom) Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/)https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/ (https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/) Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom)https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom (https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom) TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationeers_podcast)https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationeers_podcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationeers_podcast) 📱 Follow Jon Self Instagram: @jon.self.37 X: @pastorjonself Until we stream again… keep making memories.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   VTPM280: X2 Is Gone, Busch Gardens President Gone Too? & Golden Ticket Awards

   This week on Vacationeers Theme Parks & More, Tom and Jon have a packed episode with major coaster news, another possible leadership shakeup at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and the results of the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards. We start with breaking news from Six Flags Magic Mountain, where X2 has been permanently retired. The one-of-a-kind 4D coaster had already been closed for months, but Six Flags has now confirmed that one of the park’s most recognizable attractions will not reopen. We look back at what made X2 so unique and what its loss means for a park built around its massive coaster lineup. Then we head to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, where Jon’s reporting at Main Street Magic indicates that park president Jon Vigue may already be leaving the position, despite only being officially introduced in June. United Parks & Resorts has not publicly confirmed a departure, and details surrounding the situation remain unclear, but if the report proves accurate it would continue an extraordinary stretch of turnover in the BGT president’s office. (https://www.mainstmagic.com/busch-gardens-president-jon-vigue-leaves/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)Main Street Magic (https://www.mainstmagic.com/busch-gardens-president-jon-vigue-leaves/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) And to close the episode, we dive into the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards. Central Florida had a huge showing this year, with VelociCoaster, Iron Gwazi and Stardust Racers all ranking among the Top 10 steel coasters, while Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment took Best Dark Ride. We go through the major winners, Florida’s rankings, and discuss what the results say about the current state of the theme park and coaster industry. Along the way, we also cover: 🎢 Old Town Kissimmee being sold 🎢 Fun Spot Atlanta’s liquidation 🎃 LEGOLAND Florida’s Halloween overlay for The Dragon 🌊 Kyle Miller being named President of United Parks & Resorts 👻 SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream getting national attention 🍔 Five Guys opening at Universal CityWalk 🎭 Universal Mardi Gras 2027 running one week shorter 🏛️ Continued demolition of The Lost Continent 🦍 Skull Island: Reign of Kong reopening without its Kong finale 🤖 Disney developing an AI-powered vacation-planning tool 👹 New Monstropolis and Glob Theater details 🧸 Toy Story 5 music arriving at Alien Swirling Saucers 🚂 Walt Disney World Railroad refurbishment 🐅 Bakso leaving Disney’s Animal Kingdom 🍽️ Disney dining updates 🌐 Disney’s continuing S.E.A. mystery 🎂 Walt Disney World celebrating its 55th anniversary 🎙️ Join Tom and Jon for VTPM280! Follow Vacationeers Theme Parks & More 🌐 (https://vacationeerspodcast.com)https://vacationeerspodcast.com (https://vacationeerspodcast.com) ▶️ YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@VacationeersPodcast)https://www.youtube.com/@VacationeersPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@VacationeersPodcast) 𝕏: (https://x.com/VacationeerTom)https://x.com/VacationeerTom (https://x.com/VacationeerTom) 📸 Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/)https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/ (https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/) 📘 Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom)https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom (https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom) 🎵 TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationeers_podcast)https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationeers_podcast (https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationeers_podcast) Follow Jon 📸 Instagram: @jon.self.37 𝕏: @pastorjonself ThrillLedger Track rides. Count memories. Track your park visits, attractions, posted and actual wait times, ratings, notes, stats and more with ThrillLedger. https://thrillledger.vacationeerspodcast.com/ (https://thrillledger.vacationeerspodcast.com/) Free version available.

3. 

   15 Sept 2026

   VTPM279: ArieForce One SOLD! Epic Universe Deals, Disney Animation & More Theme Park News

   Six Flags bought ArieForce One, Universal is offering Florida residents a cheaper way into Epic Universe, Disney has opened The Magic of Disney Animation, and that's only the beginning of a packed theme park news episode! On Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast Episode 279, Tom and Jon catch up on the biggest theme park stories from the first half of September. 🎢 Regional Park News • Six Flags purchases ArieForce One and plans to relocate the RMC coaster • Six Flags Magic Mountain announces the new Thrill Glider coaster • California's Great America confirms operations into 2027 • Dollywood announces plans to honor Dolly Parton • Hersheypark's Tidal Force takes its final splash • Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi reveals a massive three-land Harry Potter expansion 👻 SeaWorld & Busch Gardens • Howl-O-Scream 2026 is officially underway at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay • SeaWorld Orlando launches its 2026 Howl-O-Scream event • We share some thoughts now that we've actually experienced this year's Orlando-area events 🌎 Universal Orlando • Animal Actors on Location! is closing at Universal Studios Florida • Universal Nights adds more Epic Universe dates • Florida residents can now get a special three-day ticket including Epic Universe starting at $85 per day • The Traitors: New Blood takes over the bars at Universal's Great Movie Escape • Rock the Universe announces its 2027 lineup • Joey Fatone's Fat One's Hot Dogs & Italian Ice gets its Universal CityWalk grand opening date — September 19, with Joey himself appearing for the celebration 🏰 Walt Disney World • The Magic of Disney Animation opens at Disney's Hollywood Studios • Disney announces Festival of the Arts and Flower & Garden dates for 2027 • Disney After Hours returns to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios • New 2027 Walt Disney World discounts arrive • Disney announces the 2026 Candlelight Processional narrator lineup • Hurly-Burly prepares to open at Disney's BoardWalk • Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill permanently closes at Disney Springs, ending nearly three decades of Wolfgang Puck restaurants at the resort There's a LOT happening, including some stories that could give us clues about where Universal goes next with Epic Universe Annual Pass access. 🎢 ThrillLedger – Track rides. Count memories. Keep track of your theme park visits, rides, wait times, ratings, coaster credits, stats and more: https://thrillledger.vacationeerspodcast.com/ (https://thrillledger.vacationeerspodcast.com/) 🎙️ Vacationeers Theme Parks & More Podcast https://vacationeerspodcast.com/vacationeers-theme-parks-more-podcast/ (https://vacationeerspodcast.com/vacationeers-theme-parks-more-podcast/) 🌐 Vacationeers Podcast https://vacationeerspodcast.com/ (https://vacationeerspodcast.com/) ▶️ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@VacationeersPodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@VacationeersPodcast) 👕 Vacationeers Merch https://vacationeerspodcast.com/merch/ (https://vacationeerspodcast.com/merch/) Follow Tom X: https://x.com/VacationeerTom (https://x.com/VacationeerTom) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/ (https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom (https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom) Follow Jon X: @pastorjonself Instagram: @jon.self.37 👍 Like the episode, subscribe and let us know in the comments: Where do YOU think Six Flags should relocate ArieForce One?

Who has been a guest on Vacationeers Theme Parks & More

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jon Self
• Dave
• Kris
• Madison

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

437,402

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 63 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

58

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

82

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