MGM Adventures

Matt and Gina discuss their experience at 2026 FanFest Nights, an after-hours event at Universal Hollywood. They explore various properties and interactive experiences, including Scooby-Doo, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and more. The event offers a unique and immersive experience, with a focus on popular properties and interactive elements. The hosts reflect on their overall experience and compare it to Universal Florida, discussing event logistics, attractions, and entertainment offerings.TakeawaysFanFest Nights is an after-hours event at Universal Hollywood featuring various properties and interactive experiences.The 2026 event offers a unique and immersive experience, with a focus on popular properties like Scooby-Doo, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and more.Chapters00:00 Rope Drop00:38 Fan Fest Nights08:07 What We Did24:04 Did This Meet Expectations?26:49 Ohio Midway Report27:24 Around The Parks28:34 Trail Talk

Matt and Gina discuss their experience with the Phantom Theater ride at Kings Island. They cover various aspects of the ride, including the exterior, queue, ride experience, ride vehicles, changes from previous versions, props, queue details, scenes, storytelling, Easter eggs, ride highlights, comparison with other rides, the future of dark rides and theme parks, upcoming episodes and park events, and food and portion sizes. They also provide insights into the ride's nostalgic appeal and competitive point-scoring system.TakeawaysPhantom Theater at Kings Island is a nostalgic ride with high expectationsThe ride offers a mix of physical and screen-based scenes, with a competitive point-scoring systemChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:28 Phantom Theater Has Returned21:12 Around The Parks21:50 Quick Bites25:53 Wrap Up

Join Matt and Gina as they explore the Franklin Institute's immersive Universal Theme Park exhibit, delving into its history, technology, and geeky attractions. Plus, get the latest updates on Six Flags park management changes and dining plan issues.TakeawaysUniversal theme parksFranklin Institute exhibitChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:19 Universal Theme Parks Exhibit12:31 Around The Parks17:13 Quick Bites20:12 Wrap Up

Join Matt and Gina as they explore Philadelphia, sharing insider tips on transportation, historic sites, food, and city navigation. Hope this helps you if you visit.TakeawaysEasy to navigateHistorical sites first, early is way less crowdedParking tipsFood market experienceChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:25 Visiting Philadelphia03:54 Finding A Hotel06:02 Exploring Philadelphia07:15 Historical Sites14:04 Tourist Sites21:34 It Is Easy To Visit?23:36 Travel Tips

Matt and Gina share a few thoughts Kings Island's Opening Day for the 2026 season, including ride updates, entertainment, and new food and drink options that have been announced for this year. The hosts share insights on park preparations, ride statuses, and upcoming events, providing fans with essential info for the season.TakeawaysExcitement for the opening day and upcoming eventsUpdates on rides, entertainment, and new offeringsChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:33 Happy 2026 Opening Day14:25 Final Thoughts

Join Matt and Gina as they share their firsthand experiences visiting the new Buc-ee's in Huber Heights, Ohio. From opening day chaos to insider tips on parking, checkout, and the best times to visit, this episode offers valuable insights for anyone planning a trip to this popular travel stop.TakeawaysBuc-ee's Huber Heights opening weekend was a major eventObservations and comparisons of Buc-ee's merchandise and gas pricesChapters00:00 Rope Drop01:01 Buc-ees Huber Heights02:46 Experiencing Opening Day at Buc-ee's08:51 Traffic and Visiting Tips for Buc-ee's11:23 Observations20:30 Merchandise23:16 Researching Prices26:19 Final Thoughts

This weeks episode explores the latest updates on Six Flags Pass Perks program, Travis Kelce as a brand ambassador and investor, and answer a listener question on top things to do at each Universal Florida Parks.TakeawaysChanges to the Pass Perks program at Six Flags have introduced a new Perks and Play system.Travis Kelce's role as a Six Flags ambassador and changes in Six Flags leadership and operations are significant developments in the theme park industry.Chapters00:00 Rope Drop00:48 Changes To The Pass Perks06:44 Around The Parks09:52 Trail Talk

In this episode, Matt and Gina explore the recent sale of six Flags parks to Enchanted Parks, the implications for the parks' future, and what this means for visitors and the industry. They discuss the parks involved, potential rebranding, and the strategic moves by Six Flags and Enchanted Parks.TakeawaysSix Flags selling off parksImpact on existing parksChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:35 Why Is Six Flags Selling Parks?03:26 What Changes Will There Be In 2026?04:47 What Will Change In 2027?09:19 Who Is Enchanted Parks?10:55 Our Thoughts and Expectations13:27 What Does This Do For Six Flags?17:14 Final Thoughts

In this weeks episode we take a deep dive into the Cedar Point Hotels, including Hotel Breakers, Sawmill Creek, Castaway Bay, Express Hotel, and Lighthouse Point. It also delves into the comparison of on-site and off-site accommodations at Disney and Universal parks, providing insights into the pros and cons of each option. Also dive into the upcoming changes at Disney's Hollywood Studios.TakeawaysCedar Point hotels offer a range of amenities and experiencesConsiderations for staying on-site at Disney and Universal parksComparison of off-site and on-site accommodations for theme park visitsChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:35 What Hotels Are Available?13:56 Pros Of Staying Onsite and Prices19:19 Are Cedar Point Hotels Worth It?23:41 Around the Parks27:30 Trail Talk

The MGM Adventures podcast hosts, Matt and Gina, discuss the anticipation and excitement surrounding the opening of a Buc-ee's location in Ohio. They provide a comprehensive overview of the Buc-ee's experience, including its strategic layout, food offerings, merchandise, and traffic challenges. The hosts also share their favorite Buc-ee's food items and snacks, and preview upcoming podcast episodes on theme parks and travel destinations.TakeawaysBuc-ee's is a travel-based gas station with a Walmart-sized convenience storeBuc-ee's is known for its clean bathrooms and a wide variety of food items and snacksChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:52 What Is A Buc-ee's?05:53 Food Offerings10:21 Merchandise Available15:48 Where Is Buc-ee's Going?19:19 Concerns24:20 What To Do In The Area?30:41 Trail Talk

Join Matt and Gina as they share their off-season adventures, upcoming travel plans, and 2027 Theme Park Additions. Discover how they balance relaxation with exciting activities like supporting their favorite basketball team, planning trips, and exploring new park technologies.TakeawaysOff-season activities include attending basketball games and planning for the upcoming season.Creating homemade blizzards using a KitchenAid mixer and ice cream.Chapters00:00 Rope Drop00:35 What Do We Do In The Offseason?10:44 Ohio Midway Report16:26 Around The Parks25:43 Travel Tips30:35 Quick Bites34:19 Trail Talk

This episode explores the recent changes to Six Flags' Fast Lane system, including the transition from Flash Pass to both a mobile reservation-based option for Fast Lane and also the existing Wristband system. It explores the differences between these options, their implementation across parks, regional variations, passholder information, pricing, and the impact on park visits and travel.TakeawaysChanges to the Fastlane systemIntroduction of Fastlane Reserve and Fastlane UnlimitedChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:32 Fast Lane Changes15:40 Wrap Up

*Spoliers* This episode covers the upcoming retheming of Verbolten at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and does contain SPOILERS from a recent report from BGWFans, Busch Gardens Williamsburg future ride rumors, travel tips to save your information before hand, Six Flags Members food plan changes, and favorite Busch Gardens mealsTakeawaysChanges to VerboltenChanges to Six Flags Members food plansFavorite meals at Busch Gardens WilliamsburgChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:28 Verbolten Forbidden Turn SPOILERS11:29 Ohio Midway Report14:19 Around The Parks SPOILERS19:59 Travel Tips21:37 Quick Bites23:18 Trail Talk

The MGM Adventures podcast hosts share their experience at Cedar Point's 2026 Winter Chill Out event, providing exclusive access to behind-the-scenes areas and new additions. The event also supports a charity (A Kid Again), offering a unique and informative tour of various park facilities and attractions.TakeawaysWinter Chill Out EventBehind-the-Scenes TourExclusive AccessNew AttractionsCharity SupportChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:48 What Is Winter Chill Out?02:18 Where Did We Go?22:03 What Did We Learn In The Presentation?31:30 Our Thoughts On This Years Event38:09 Wrap Up

In this episode of the MGM Adventures podcast, hosts Matt and Gina discuss their predictions for Kings Island in 2026, covering potential ride changes, events, shows, merchandise trends, and community engagement. They also touch on updates from Hershey Park and share travel tips for park visits, along with their favorite foods at Kings Island.TakeawaysPotential Ride ChangesEvent And Show ExpectationsChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:45 Kings Island Ride Predictions08:02 KI Events and Shows Predictions19:32 KI Merchandise Predictions21:00 Ohio Midway Report22:41 Around The Parks28:01 Travel Tips30:29 Quick Bites32:49 Trail Talk

The podcast episode covers diverse topics including coaster counting methods, dining plan options at theme parks, and an amusing encounter at a zoo. The hosts discuss the various methods of counting coaster credits, the use of Coaster Count for official coaster count and LogRide to track rides, shows and other park activites, one-day and all-year dining plans at theme parks, and the sighting of an exotic animal at the zoo in Cologne and Minnesota.TakeawaysCoaster counting methods varyDining plan options at theme parksExotic animal sighting at the zooChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:35 Counting Coaster Credits11:38 Ohio Midway Report15:04 Around The Parks20:02 Travel Tips23:39 Quick Bites28:07 Trail Talk

Six Flags announced changes to their passes, introducing regional-based gold passes and impacting pass holders based on their purchase date. The new regions and their associated parks were also discussed, along with the impact on different types of passes. All updates to passes will take place on February 27. Also please note that the MVP sale did get extended a few times so the September 14 date might not be correct. The episode concluded with a preview of upcoming podcast episodes. TakeawaysRegional-based gold passes introducedImpact of purchase date on pass accessChapters00:00 Introduction to Six Flags Pass Changes01:19 Regional Gold Pass Structure Explained10:13 How Does This Impact You?12:51 Conclusion and Future Episodes

The podcast episode features a detailed exploration of Smoky Mountain moonshine tasting, including the ranking of 11 different moonshine locations and flavors. It also delves into theme park events, travel tips, dining options, and a Q&A session. The hosts share their experiences and insights, providing valuable information for listeners interested in moonshine tasting and theme park adventures.NOTE: Both Junction 35 and Drop Zone are located in or near the Mountain Mile in Pigeon Forge and not the Mountain MallTakeawaysSmoky Mountain Moonshine TastingMoonshine Tasting LocationsChapters00:00 Rope Drop00:56 How Do We Rank Smoky Mountain Shine?16:58 Ohio Midway Report19:36 Around The Parks21:38 Travel Tips23:51 Quick Bites26:16 Trail Talk

The podcast episode delves into the detailed strategy for planning road trips, including the use of tools like Google Maps, Log Ride, and RCDB for theme park planning. It covers aspects such as mapping out the trip, making stops, packing bags, researching activities, time boxing, park openings, travel tips, car maintenance, EZ Pass, travel snacks, and bucket list parks.TakeawaysRoad trip planning involves careful consideration of destinations, routes, and attractions.Useful tools for road trip planning include Google Maps, Log Ride, and RCDB (Roller Coaster Database).Chapters00:00 Rope Drop00:50 Planning Roadtrips01:39 Choosing Your Destination02:51 Mapping Out the Journey05:15 Planning Stops and Attractions08:03 Packing Bags09:44 Researching Local Attractions11:54 Example Trip14:23 Ohio Midway Report18:25 Around The Parks20:03 Travel Tips22:07 Quick Bites24:06 Trail Talk

The conversation covers the Enchanted Parks trademark and its potential impact on Six Flags parks, construction updates at Disneyland and Universal California, Winterfest food offerings at Kings Island, and setting limits for travel and road trips.TakeawaysEnchanted Parks trademark and its potential impact on Six Flags parksConstruction updates at Disneyland and Universal CaliforniaWinterfest food offerings at Kings IslandSetting limits for travel and road tripsChapters00:00 What Are Enchanted Parks1:14 Future Of Six Flags Parks9:34 Ohio Midway Report11:08 Around The Parks17:36 Travel Tips20:53 Quick Bites29:48 Trail Talk

The first episode of the MGM Adventures Podcast introduces the hosts, Matt and Gina, and provides an overview of the podcast's focus on theme parks, travel, and adventures. The episode covers the origin of the podcast name, the release schedule, social media presence, travel tips, and experiences. Additionally, it discusses social media engagement and viral content, and concludes with a call for listener questions.TakeawaysPodcast origin and nameTravel tips and experiencesSocial media engagement and viral contentChapters00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview9:00 Podcast Release Schedule and Social Media Presence15:18 Ohio Midway Report23:34 Around The Parks27:37 Travel Tips32:18 Quick Bites38:06 Trail Talk

Welcome to our new podcast. We will talk about theme parks, travel, food, sports, and likely cats. Stay tuned as episodes will start dropping soon.