There’s nothing Joshua Tabor hates more than not getting to put his Six Flags Magic Mountain season pass to use because the theme park isn’t open on the day his 14-year-old son happens to be on a break from school. But that’s about to change.
On Jan. 1, the Valencia-based amusement park that dubs itself the “Thrill Capital of the World” will switch to a year-round daily schedule, joining the ranks of other Southern California attractions such as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, Knott’s Berry Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood.
“Knowing that an amusement park is available as an option of something to do greatly enhances my chances of visiting more often,” said Tabor, a 40-year-old single dad from Desert Hot Springs.
The new operating calendar gives visitors like Tabor unlimited opportunities to experience the theme park’s 19 roller coasters, 100-plus rides, shows, and attractions such as the new “Justice League: Battle for Metropolis.”
Fans took to social media Wednesday morning to share their excitement about the news that next year will bring 365 days of thrills.
“Yes! Now I can go during the school year and maybe not waste my day in line,” Jamie Foster-Dean of Arizona posted on the theme park’s Facebook page. “When I travel in from out of state it isn’t really worth it, but now!”
Six Flags Magic Mountain attracted more than 3.3 million visitors in 2016, a 7.3 percent increase in attendance from the previous year, according to an annual attendance study published by the Themed Entertainment Association and the global construction firm AECOM in June. The report attributed the increase to “the growth of tourism to the Los Angeles area and improvements to the park, including the addition of VR to The New Revolution ride.”
That report also said that Universal Studios had 8.1 million visitors, Disneyland netted 17.9 million, Disney California Adventure had 9.3 million and Knott’s Berry Farm had 4 million.
Six Flags Magic Mountain wants in on the booming theme park tourism market. New events are planned for the additional 100 days of the operating calendar, making it “a thrilling vacation option to both international and domestic visitors coming to enjoy Southern California,” Jim Reid-Anderson, chairman, president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation said in a press release.
The park’s fans expressed concern on social media about whether the new schedule will bring an increase in the price of tickets or season passes.
But Six Flags Magic Mountain spokeswoman Connie Lujan said “as of now, prices are not changing.
“We are a great value,” she said.
