March 5, 2012

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Opening Weekend Kicks Off a Super 2012

SUPERMAN Ultimate Flight coaster to open in late Spring

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will kick-off the 2012 season with Opening Weekend Presented by Lowe’s on Saturday, March 17, 2012. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, guests wearing a green shirt receive a coupon good for a $20.12 admission all weekend long. Throughout the weekend, kids 12 and under can take part in a special birdhouse-making activity through Lowe’s, while supplies last.

This season, the park will debut its first major thrill coaster in 10 years, SUPERMAN Ultimate Flight. This one-of-a-kind roller coaster features the tallest inversion west of Mississippi, ranking alongside the tallest coaster inversions in the world. As the park’s first DC-themed attraction, the new super launch coaster will travel at speeds of 62 mph along an 863 foot track. Hailed by industry experts as “one of the top 10 most anticipated theme park attractions in 2012,” the new ride is scheduled to open in late spring,

“We are extremely excited to kick off the 2012 season here at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom,” said Dale Kaetzel, park president. “Each year, we strive to add new, improved elements throughout the park and our new coaster, SUPERMAN Ultimate Flight, is already creating a lot of buzz. As the premier destination for affordable, close to home family fun, we look forward to providing our guests with thrilling entertainment experiences all season long.

Additional highlights and offerings this season include:
 The Wildlife Trail – Get up-close and personal with a mix of small mammals, reptiles and birds in this intimate setting. Animal care staff will be on hand to engage and inform guests about each exotic species they meet.
 New Wildlife Theater Show – A variety of animal species take center stage in this homage to popular fairytale stories, where fairytale animals come to life with different takes on Humpty Dumpty, Rapunzel and Three Little Pigs, Bird that Lays the Golden Egg, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan. Starts in May.

New Food Areas

 Kickin’ Chicken – serving delicious boneless fried chicken wings, shakes and fries. Choose from a variety of sauces.  Outpost Café– the site located in the main plaza has been revamped; serving hot and cold coffee beverages and tasty pastries.
 Montego Bay Market (also known as MoBay Market) – grab a stool and relax with a cold beer or margarita at this newly renovated outdoor dining spot. Now serving hot dogs and a variety of snack products.

New Retail and Game Areas

 Superman Ultimate Gifts – purchase Superman and DC-themed apparel, souvenirs and gifts at this retail location that will be located by the new SUPERMAN Ultimate Flight. Opens in late Spring.
 Kingdom Traders – located outside the Explorer Outpost, this new retail outlet allows guests to create their own personalized leather items. Add a name or saying and decorate with studs and color on bracelets, keychains and more.
 Soccer Challenge – a new game of skill has been added to Lakeside Games; score a goal and win prizes.
 Giant Slingshot Game – pull back the giant slingshot and aim for the target to win prizes of all sizes.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is home to seven thrilling roller coasters, three children’s themed areas along with a host of spinning, flying and family favorite rides and attractions. Guests can meet their favorite LOONEY TUNES character friends, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety. Shows and animal attractions include the energetic Merlin’s Island Party dolphin show presented by Hawaiian Airlines, the raucous Pinnipeds of the Caribbean sea lion show, and the Odin’s Temple of the Tiger, Birds of the World and Elephant Encounter, Walrus Experience educational demonstration shows.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom also offers unique animal interaction programs designed to educate, captivate and thrill guests of all ages. The park’s popular Dolphin Discovery is the only program in Northern California that offers guests the experience of swimming with a dolphin; guests can sign up to participate in the Trainer for a Day series, where they can actually shadow marine mammal trainers in this day-long program.  During the overnight Sharks in the Dark program, guests can sleep among the sharks.  With a Backstage Safari, guests can sign up to take a mini behind-the-scenes tour in three animal areas. 
All season long, the park will host themed events that range from the explosive Fourth of July fireworks, cultural weekends to educational days such as Ocean Discovery Day and holiday extravaganzas like Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. 
Scheduled events include:

 
May 17 – Opening Day Presented by Lowe’s
March 31-April 15 - Spring Break
April 20 – Math & Science Day
April 27 – Career & Leadership Day
May 4 – Physics Day
May 11 – Safari Discovery Day
May 12 – Epilepsy Awareness Stroll
May 18 – Health & Safety Day
May 25 – Ocean Discovery Day
July 4 – Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration
Sept. 1-2 - Festival Latino
Sept. 15 – Filipino Fest
Sept. 29-Oct. 28 (weekends including Oct. 19 & 26) (weekends) – Fright Fest
Nov. 23 - Jan. 6, 2012 (weekends and select weekdays) – Holiday in the Park
Dec. 16 – Second Annual Los Posadas event
Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve Bash
 

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is located at 1001 Fairground Drive in Vallejo, just 30 miles east of San Francisco and 60 miles west of Sacramento.  Opening weekend (March 17-18) special admission is $20.12 when purchased online or if the guest wears a green shirt when tickets are purchased in-person. After March 18, discounted general admission is $34.99 when purchased online three days in advance of visit, or $39.99 when purchased less than three days prior to visiting. Daily main gate general admission is $54.99; children 48” and under - $36.99; children two and under are free. 

For a limited time through April 29, 2012 Season Passes are just $54.99 (when four or more are purchased in a single transaction). When purchased and processed by this date, purchasers receive a free Season Parking Pass. Season Passes offer unlimited visits to any Six Flags theme park in the United States, free tickets for friends (on select dates only) and more than $300 in savings on in-park food and fun.

More information about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Season Passes or online tickets, shows, rides, attractions and events can be found by visiting www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is open weekends and select Fridays March 17 through May 20, including daily for Spring Break March 31 through April 15.  Daily summer operations will run from May 25 through August 19; the park will be open on weekends and special dates for Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park through January 6, 2013.