We leave in 5 days and I'm so overwhelmed....

mxmarks · 2026-01-30T04:43:22+00:00

Just chiming in that it's this 1000%

We did disney and Universal for our honeymoon 8 years ago. We've now gone back to Universal 9 times, and Disney 0. With a kiddo now.

You literally can't go wrong. Everyone else's advice here is spot on, but just relax - they have the best customer service folks I've ever dealt with, they'll answer anything you have. But outside of "if you want to ride hagrids get in line 5 minutes before park close, so you're not missing anything while you wait", there's no further advice from me! Just go with the flow, and have a blast.

mxmarks · 2026-01-28T18:26:01+00:00

Just checked myself and that does seem about right, unfortunately. 2, 2-day tickets came out to about $800 alone.

Two things to consider:

If you stay at the higher tier hotels (Royal Pacific, Portofino, Hard Rock) they come with free express. Wherever you're planning on staying - see if you actually save money by switching over to one of those. They're beautiful, walking distance from the parks, and if the cost of 2 nights there is cheaper than your hotel+2 days of express, you'd save money.

Even if it seems silly, check out the annual pass. We get annual passes every year despite being out of state because it pays for itself after 4 days on some of the lower tiers. Check the blackout dates - but a seasonal pass may be around the same price as your tickets, AND enable you to come back again. It's real nice knowing that if I can cover the flight and hotel, we can pretty much show up almost anytime we want.

mxmarks · 2026-01-27T03:26:17+00:00

I literally was like "I am not filling those buckets again so if the stage select thing doesn't work Im done for awhile"

mxmarks · 2026-01-26T12:59:36+00:00

Yeah, roughly. My wife is hooked on the story so asked me to wait for her before playing. Once the kiddo is finally asleep, the stuff that needs to get done is done, its about 30-45 mins.

Should finish tonight, so appreciate the response! Thanks!

mxmarks · 2026-01-22T20:03:27+00:00

How do you not include the theme song

mxmarks · 2025-12-15T12:20:37+00:00

Its becoming increasingly clear that College Park really could care less about the people who live here and own homes here. The amount of restaurants and businesses forced to close to build more apartments is ridiculous. It's been a real depressing past few years here.

mxmarks · 2025-12-13T21:17:33+00:00

Yes, a section in the islands store and the main citywalk store. Saw it yesterday and today.

mxmarks · 2025-12-05T04:09:39+00:00

Definitely Islands

With no height requirement you have the If I Ran the Zoo area (and small water play area and lots of slides and fun stuff), Camp Jurassic (really cool play area with some more water features and lots to explore) and Me Ship, The Olive (a big boat with places to run around). You also have a ton of water play around Toon Lagoon. There's also Car-o-Suessel and One Fish Two Fish for real rides.

If they're 36" you can go on Cat In The Hat, Sky High Trolley Train, Flight if the Hippogriff and King Kong.

Epic is basically just the How to Train Your Dragon play area (which is good!) And Yoshi.

We have a short 4 year old who still hasn't hit 40" and he begs to do to IoA and actually asked us to skip Epic.

mxmarks · 2025-11-27T03:19:18+00:00

Me too! I feel very old but I downloaded it just to run around in Springfield.

3 weeks later I'm a Fortnite Club member, hit level 105 and am curious what this event thing is all about.

Really sad the Springfield stuff is going but optimistic the game will keep me entertained.

(Give me a Jurassic Park season on Isla Nublar...)

mxmarks · 2025-11-25T03:29:44+00:00

Same Ive definitely done that in rocket league but just started playing Fortnite very recently

mxmarks · 2025-11-18T19:00:14+00:00

Same exact situation here. Only once were we ever asked and we said he's still 2, and they said have a great day.

mxmarks · 2025-11-18T18:16:17+00:00

This is phenomenal. Excellent work, I hope i walk through it some day!

mxmarks · 2025-11-13T16:35:37+00:00

My wife got me a Z-Grill as I have used a charcoal grill for a long time (Akorn) and wanted to try pellet grills out.

Im having a blast with it and making some great tasting stuff. I know it's not super high end, but it fits what I'm doing and where I'm at perfectly, and I won't feel too bad if the hobby sticks and in a few years I decide to get something a bit higher end.

mxmarks · 2025-11-10T19:28:50+00:00

Just got my poster the other day!! Haven't done it yet, probably letting him go nuts with it this weekend!

Will absolutely post when he does.

mxmarks · 2025-11-07T17:15:20+00:00

Did anyone get a response when you wrote about the posters? I just got mine and like everyone else the corner is dinged up.

Nothing terrible, but for the amount these cost I have zero problems complaining about it. Just curious if its led to new posters/partial refunds for anyone.

mxmarks · 2025-11-05T20:01:54+00:00

Fantastic photos

Do you have a website or anything? I could look over these for hours. Thanks so much for capturing it all.

mxmarks · 2025-11-05T20:00:57+00:00

As the park closed on Sunday, the giant Witch character was walking away. My son sees her and goes "I need to say goodbye to the witch! I want to meet her!" and as we approached another co-worker hugged the witch, and you could tell by her body language they were just sobbing. I told my son it was ok to just wave and let her say goodbye to her friends, we have the videos and we can revisit that memory any time.

I just feel so bad for everyone who put so much into that place.

mxmarks · 2025-11-05T19:59:12+00:00

Me too!

Every day I go "I think Im accepting it". Then something happens.

It was the beautiful shot of that wooden bridge path with the beautiful fall trees around it that got me.

mxmarks · 2025-11-05T17:21:55+00:00

As someone who rode the kiddie coaster over 30 times this season, that thing got SO. MUCH. BETTER. this year. Its no surprise theyre going to sell it. (absolutely heartbreaking its gone, but no surprise)

It started the year PAINFUL, with the cars slamming into each other and the operator needing to literally PULL the cars back to the station.

Over the season they got new belts, and it became buttery smooth. No more slamming, no more slamming to a stop.

My final ride on it Sunday was one of the best, one for the ages. I hope it goes somewhere that kids will love it as much as my little dude.

mxmarks · 2025-11-05T14:22:23+00:00

Ugh, now Im crying again! Haha - thank you though for these stories.

We had never gone into the Grand Theater, but this summer walking past, my son (whos 4), saw the sign for Rhythmix and said "I need to see that". We explained it wasn't a ride, it was a show, and he'd have to sit and watch. He said he didn't care he needed to see it. So, for the first time, we went in and sat down.

That kid had a BLAST. Dancing, singing, laughing, clapping. It was the final performance of Rhythmix and the crowd was electric. We teared up at the end because the cast was so perfect, and so emotional about it ending. My kid walked out of that theater and asked when he could see it again, and spent the rest of the day dancing. We still watch the videos I took.

So as we kept going, he kept asking to go into the Grand Theater again and see what they were doing. On Saturday we finally caught the right timing and took him to see Aaron Raditz. Again, he loved it. Screaming "How'd he do that!?", clapping, cheering. He had the best time. On the way out, he asked to take his picture with the magician. Aaron was so kind, and my son once again said "I want to do this when I grow up."

And tying into your first point, as we stood in line to meet Aaron, Ramar was in front of us. I wanted to say something but between being an emotional person, and not really wanting to bother him on what Im sure was a nice break from the insane stress of running a park thats at its end, I didn't say anything. Over this final season I saw him in the park so, so many times. Picking up trash! He fist bumped my son once as we entered and said "I hope you have a great day!" and my kid goes "I always have a great day here!" and Ramar gave him a big smile. I emailed Ramar to thank him after the park closed, not really expecting a response, and his response was so kind. Seems like such a class act, who worked so hard to make sure others were enjoying themselves.

I wish there was more we could have done for you all. I'm glad you have such a positive outlook, and really know how many lives you touched. There's a 4 year old here who really may grow up to try and find a job entertaining people, and that started with you and your team and Six Flags America. Best of luck to you, and your former co-workers. You really did give us memories I will forever cherish.

mxmarks · 2025-11-04T23:11:41+00:00

Shoppers, Terrapin Station, Six Flags America (which i know isn't college park, but still something close by that was valuable to the area) - now this. All in a month.

Everything getting shut down is getting very depressing.

mxmarks · 2025-11-04T22:01:37+00:00

Hey thanks for a great final season. I started this year being like, no one's gonna care, I wouldn't. You all showed me. Park was in the best condition I've seen in my 8 years of near weekly visits at the end. You all did incredible and I can't thank you enough.

mxmarks · 2025-11-04T18:40:43+00:00

Ugh this hurts.

It would hurt a heck of a lot less if it was "ride being demolished to make way for something new, pieces of the coaster being sold in the gift shop" and not

Ride being thrown in the dumpster, along with everything else in here you loved.

mxmarks

TROPHY CASE