ST. LOUIS — Intercard will be at Bowl Expo in Washington D.C. July 1-2 with an opportunity for one lucky showgoer to win big. Visitors to the Intercard show booth #929 who test drive the iTeller PlusXL kiosk will be entered in a drawing to win a $500 Visa gift card and a customized Intercard Yeti tumbler. See an Intercard rep at the booth for details.

The Intercard team headed by CEO Scott Sherrod and North America sales manager Rob Geiger will present the latest iQ readers that read QR codes, setting the new standard for unattended amusement center payment technology.

Intercard received a Best New Product Award at IAAPA Expo 2024 for the innovative iQ system, which was recognized in the category of Technology Applied to Amusements – Product or Service used by Facilities. The judges praised the iQ system as a “QR code reader for games allowing easy way to play. Can sell online or at kiosk on-site. Easy way to get to the fun.”

“With the iQ series, customers can purchase or recharge game play and use a mobile device or paper receipt with QR code to play games, collect points and even redeem prizes,” says Scott Sherrod, CEO of Intercard, “all without the help of a center employee. It’s a big step into the future.”

Visit booth #929 and find out why leading bowling operators including Lucky Strike and Round1 rely on Intercard for innovative and dependable cashless technology that boosts revenues and improves customer service.

Intercard is part of Smart Buy, BPAA’s endorsement program, and has been chosen by the Smart Buy committee as the best cashless technology system for BPAA members. Smart Buy provides BPAA Members with national account pricing and tremendous discounts they cannot get on their own. 

Showgoers can contact Rob Geiger at rgeiger@intercardinc.com to schedule a meeting at the show.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is excited to welcome A Kid Again families back to the park on Saturday, June 14, for a special Rides & Slides Adventure. This annual event brings together nearly 1,000 children with life-threatening conditions, along with their siblings, parents, and caregivers, for a free day of fun and memory-making.

During the event, families will enjoy unlimited access to rides, Wildwater Kingdom, games, and a catered lunch—all provided at no cost. It’s part of a continued partnership with A Kid Again to create joyful, stress-free experiences for families who need them most.

Event Logistics:
What: A Kid Again Rides & Slides Adventure at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom
When: Saturday, June 14, 2025, 11 a.m. Media interviews are available upon request
Where: Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, 3830 Dorney Park Rd, Allentown, PA 18104
Who: A Kid Again Families – nearly 1,000 people expected to be in attendance

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Royal Caribbean has pulled back the curtain on the game-changing Perfect Day Mexico, revealing the first details about what vacationers can expect upon its debut in Fall 2027. Spanning over 200 acres on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast, the destination will feature seven distinct neighborhoods, complete with 12 dining options, 24 bars, and the longest lazy river in the world.

At the heart of Perfect Day Mexico will be Loco Waterpark- packed with more than 30 waterslides, a wave pool, and Jaguar’s Peak, the tallest waterslide tower in North and South America. To help bring this ambitious vision to life, Royal Caribbean has enlisted Legacy Entertainment, a U.S.-based design firm responsible for many of the world’s top theme parks and attractions. Legacy will be creating a thematic style completely unique to Perfect Day Mexico.

“’Perfect’ is the right word to describe this collaboration,” says Taylor Jeffs, Legacy Entertainment’s President and Chief Creative Officer. “The creative opportunity of blending Royal Caribbean’s design, signature service and experiences while amplifying Mexico’s vibrant culture has been a career highlight for us here at Legacy.

“More than ever before, families are seeking experiences they can enjoy together that deliver something for everyone, and go beyond what a typical theme park getaway can offer,” Jeffs adds. “My team and I are excited to enter this arena at the moment where the gap between these two worlds increasingly shrinks. Perfect Day Mexico won’t only meet what visitors could do in Orlando, for example, but it will exceed it in many regards. And we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible.”

ORLANDO — SeaWorld Orlando is making history this summer as the only place in the Western Hemisphere where guests can see Emperor penguins—the world’s largest and most iconic penguin species – up close. Beginning June 14, guests will be able to witness these iconic Antarctic animals up close in the park’s Antarctica Realm. SeaWorld Orlando will be the only place in the Western Hemisphere where the public can see Emperor penguins.

SeaWorld Annual Pass Members will receive exclusive early access to the habitat on June 12 and 13, offering a first look at these powerful and regal birds before they debut to the public.

Native to the harsh, frozen landscape of Antarctica, Emperor penguins are built for life on the ice, with dense feathers and impressive swimming abilities that allow them to dive deeper than any other bird species. To prepare for their arrival, SeaWorld Orlando upgraded its Antarctica Realm to meet the species precise environmental needs, including reducing temperatures to around 28°F and mimicking Antarctic light cycles to support their natural rhythms.  The Emperor penguins arriving in Orlando were relocated from SeaWorld San Diego, which has led global efforts in Emperor penguin care and breeding since the early 1980s.

“This is an incredibly rare and exciting opportunity for guests to encounter one of nature’s most extraordinary species,” said Jon Peterson, Park President of SeaWorld Orlando. “We’re proud to continue SeaWorld’s legacy of penguin care and conservation, while giving  our guests a rare chance to connect with these animals in remarkable ways.”

Art Takes Flight in Orlando: “Big City Penguins” Installation
To celebrate the arrival of these polar icons, SeaWorld Orlando has partnered with Creative City Project to debut Big City Penguins—a playful, larger-than-life art installation featuring three towering Emperor penguins across Downtown Orlando. The temporary installation is on display through June 19, offering a buzzworthy photo  op for residents and visitors alike.

Guests are encouraged to snap a selfie, share their sightings on social media, and get excited to meet the real Emperor penguins up close this summer at SeaWorld Orlando.

Fast Facts About Emperor Penguins

• Size: Up to 44 inches tall
• Weight: 60 to 90 pounds
• Lifespan: 20 to 25 years in the wild; up to 50 years under professional care
• Range: Circumpolar on the Antarctic continent
• Status: Listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Fun Facts

• Emperor penguins don’t build nests—males incubate a single egg atop their feet under a brood patch.
• Males fast during incubation, losing up to 45% of their body weight.
• They’re the only penguin species to breed during the Antarctic winter.
• Emperor penguins can swim up to 8.9 mph and walk (or toboggan) at about 1.7 mph.

SeaWorld San Diego was the world’s first zoological facility to successfully breed Emperor penguins outside of Antarctica. More than 20 individuals have been hatched and raised there since 1980, including one in 2023.

Conservation Commitment

SeaWorld—an accredited organization recognized as Humane Certified by American Humane and accredited by both the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums—is committed to the care, conservation, and protection of penguins and their habitats.

ORLANDO — As part of its signature Summer Spectacular event, SeaWorld Orlando is excited to unveil a groundbreaking new dimension to its nighttime entertainment: the debut of an all-new, first-of-its-kind at SeaWorld drone show. Seamlessly integrated with the park’s iconic Ignite Fireworks Spectacular, this new drone show transforms the nighttime celebration into more than just a finale—it is a sky-dancing celebration of the sea like never before. Guests will have their first opportunity to witness this mesmerizing display starting June 7, 2025.

This aerial display transforms the night sky above SeaWorld’s central lake into a breathtaking, ocean-inspired canvas, featuring hundreds of synchronized drones that create vibrant waves, glowing sea creatures and dynamic light formations. As the anthem “Feeling Electric” pulses, the drones transition into glowing “fireflies,” becoming a seamless part of the park’s signature fireworks show and creating an unparalleled visual experience.

As part of the broader Summer Spectacular, this all-new drone show stands as one of several exciting new additions. Guests can also discover the recently opened Expedition Odyssey, an immersive multi-sensory Arctic flying theater experience, and enjoy the all-new HydroSurge, a pulse-pounding cirque spectacular at the Nautilus Theater—both located in air-conditioned venues, offering a perfect escape from the summer heat.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Dollywood’s recent run of awards continued this week with Newsweek adding the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, theme park to its America’s Greatest Workplaces 2025 list following the results of a recent survey.

Dollywood is part of the “Entertainment Providers” grouping of companies and is one of only three theme park companies to be featured on the list. With a caring culture, generous benefits, unparalleled company growth and numerous employment opportunities on the horizon, Dollywood employees—also known as hosts—understand firsthand why the company has received so much positive attention as an employer.

“Dollywood’s hosts are what make this park special,” said Dollywood Vice President of Human Resources, Susan Loveday. “We always strive to ensure they receive the care and support they deserve so they can take care of our guests in a world-class way. We’ve been blessed with a number of awards for our guest experience, but each one of those awards starts with hosts who love where they work and are ready to provide the best atmosphere for those visiting the park.” 

The “America’s Greatest Workplaces” award is based on a large-scale independent research study conducted by Newsweek. Respondents provided insights and experiences on corporate culture, working conditions and other aspects of their current employer and other companies they know. The study incorporates more than 400,000 employee interviews in the U.S. and collected more than 4.9 million comprehensive company reviews. The Newsweek list is one of America’s largest independent employee studies.

Echoing Loveday’s comments, Newsweek Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Cunningham said, “The companies on this list likely reap the rewards of stronger client loyalty and improved employee retention—clear signs that a thriving workplace benefits everyone involved.”

Pointing to Dollywood host job satisfaction, the park has long been voted as the friendliest theme park in the world. The park also is the only park to ever win the Golden Ticket Award for Best Guest Experience, which factors friendliness of employees—along with cleanliness and value—into its selection consideration. The prestigious Golden Ticket Awards are given annually by industry publication Amusement Today. In late October, Dollywood was named the #1 theme park in the country on Newsweek’s 2025 ranking of America’s Best Customer Service organizations. In May, the National Amusement Park Historical Association named Dollywood as the best theme park in America for the third year-in-a-row. Dollywood also is the reigning Tripadvisor #1 U.S. theme park, an honor based on guest reviews of those who have actually visited the park.

Dollywood Parks & Resorts employees receive a variety of unique benefits including 100% free tuition through Herschend’s GROW U. program, access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided a free lunch every working shift and take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to many regional attractions, theaters and experiences. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees. Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at an Upwards-affiliated provider. Numerous opportunities also are available to help employees develop leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. and ORLANDO — For the first time ever, horror fans will step into the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Prime Video’s “Fallout,” in an all-new terrifying haunted house at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. The unimaginable terror becomes a reality starting Friday, August 29 at Universal Orlando Resort and Thursday, September 4 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Based on the award-winning global video game franchise from Bethesda Game Studios, “Fallout” was a critically acclaimed hit with audiences worldwide when it debuted on Prime Video in 2024. The cinematic series is set in the year 2296, two hundred years after a nuclear war destroyed civilization. All that is left is an eradicated and highly violent hellscape known as The Wasteland crawling with mutated animals and creatures, while gentle citizens take refuge underground in luxury fallout shelters known as Vaults.

In this terrifying haunted house, fans will encounter iconic scenes and characters that will put them into the frightening action of the popular series. The journey begins beneath the surface in Vault 33, where guests follow vault-dweller Lucy MacLean as she escapes a bloody massacre, only to discover an evil hidden secret. From there, visitors venture to the surface, where they must dodge attacks from Scavengers and Raiders, desperate survivors who will do anything to remain alive, as well as mutated cockroaches known as RAD Roaches. As guests travel through the hellish Wasteland, they will go through iconic locations like the Super Duper Mart and encounter The Ghoul, an ageless bounty hunter who has endured radiation exposure for centuries. Additionally, they will come face-to-face with a young squire named Maximus and gaze in awe at his T-60 armor. With frightful terrors at every turn of the eerily authentic haunted house, fans will question if they can ever escape the horrors of The Wasteland.

Guests can now purchase tickets and event-inclusive vacation packages for Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, which will run 48 select nights from August 29 through November 2 and feature 10 terrifying haunted houses, scare zones, live shows and more. Products on-sale now include single-night tickets and event upgrades such as Halloween Horror Nights Express Passes – which allow guests to skip the regular lines one time at haunted houses and participating attractions; the R.I.P Tour – which provides priority V.I.P. entry to the haunted houses; and the Behind the Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour that offers a glimpse into how the scares are brought to life via a daytime, lights-on journey through select haunted houses. Fans can also get an early start by adding the Scream Early ticket to their Halloween Horror Nights admission, which gives them access to Universal Studios Florida starting at 3 p.m.; or stay, scream and save up to $200 on a special vacation package that includes hotel accommodations just minutes away from the haunts, one-night admission to Halloween Horror Nights plus access to a dedicated gate for entry into the event, daytime admission to enjoy Universal’s theme parks – including the all-new Universal Epic Universe theme park, exclusive benefits and more (package savings vary based on length of stay).

Plus, Premium Scream Night returns to Universal Orlando for one night only on Thursday, August 28, giving fans the opportunity to be one of the first to experience this year’s scares during a limited-capacity event that includes access to everything they love about Halloween Horror Nights, plus shorter wait times, a selection of all-you-care-to-enjoy food items and more.

SAN DEBASTIAN, Spain — HTX Surf will become a key destination for surfing and the lifestyle it embodies, featuring a 52-module Wavegarden Cove. The system delivers over 20 different wave types, varying in size, power, and shape to suit surfers of all skill levels.  

Following a detailed review with investors and an in-depth analysis of critical metrics – including capital costs, operational expenses, revenue generation potential, energy efficiency and wave quality and diversity – Beach Street Development has chosen Wavegarden as the surf technology partner for the project.  

“From a business perspective, as well as overall customer experience, we are delighted to continue working with Wavegarden” said John Luff, Senior Partner at Beach Street Developments. “Wavegarden has a proven track record in delivering a world-class surfing experience while maximizing the potential return on investment.”

The Wavegarden lagoon at HTX Surf will serve as a signature feature and amenity for the larger Generation Park development and also the Houston community as a whole.  It will also include a membership club, leisure amenities, and a Surfside Restaurant & Bar, where guests can enjoy delicious food and refreshing cocktails with views of the lagoon.    

Located within the Generation Park development, HTX Surf is just a short drive from downtown Houston and the airport. HTX Surf is expected to welcome well over 200,000 visitors per year and enhance the surrounding 4000 acres of Generation Park and its many attractions.  

“Beach Street is a very experienced surf park developer and operator, and they know what it takes to create a world-class surf lagoon because they’ve done it before,” said Fernando Odriozola, Wavegarden’s Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “Their team understands how to navigate and execute every aspect of surf destination development and operations, and we couldn’t ask for a better partner for this project.”   Beach Street is also preparing to open and operate two more Wavegarden surf facilities: Atlantic Park in Virginia Beach this summer while also currently constructing and preparing to operate DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley which opens early in 2026.  HTX Surf will be the third Beach Street surf destination powered by Wavegarden Cove technology.   

LEGOLAND Water Park Gardaland, the first LEGO-themed water park in Europe, officially reopened its gates on the 31st of May, launching the Gardaland Resort’s summer season and is ready to welcome families and young visitors for a new summer season packed with play, creativity and fun.

Just a few kilometres from the shores of the lake, LEGOLAND Water Park offers the perfect combination of relaxation, adventure and creativity, an ideal setting to spend a day with family or friends. With an area of 15,000 square metres entirely dedicated to the world of LEGO, LEGOLAND Water Park Gardaland offers an immersive experience designed to ignite the imagination and create unforgettable family memories.

From the picturesque Miniland, which reproduces some of Italy’s most iconic monuments in Lego brick versions, to the relaxing LEGO River Adventure, a slow-moving river to be crossed on customisable inflatable rafts with floating bricks, every area of the park is designed to offer something special. Daredevils can brave the forceful power of Beach Party – with its 7 slides and the ever-present giant bucket of water – or the pure adrenaline of Jungle Adventures, while little kiddies can have fun in complete safety in areas such as DUPLO Splash and Pirate Bay.

For those who like to be creative, LEGO Creation Island allows you to build boats, characters and structures using the famous bricks in an exciting waterpark environment.

LEGOLAND Water Park Gardaland represents an ideal destination to enrich your holiday on Lake Garda with an original and involving activity, which combines play, freshness and imagination.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. —  In a heartwarming show of community spirit, the Dorney Park Cares Team recently volunteered their time and talents at Camelot for Children, a nonprofit in Allentown, Pennsylvania, that provides social and educational opportunities for children with disabilities and those facing chronic or terminal illnesses.

The team tackled a range of facility improvement projects, including landscaping, painting, minor repairs, and tidying shared spaces. Their efforts helped ensure Camelot’s campus remains safe, welcoming, and ready to host enriching summer programs for children and families.

This collaboration reflects the power of local organizations coming together for a shared mission. Through their hands-on support, the Dorney Park Cares Team made a lasting impact—demonstrating how meaningful change often begins with simple acts of kindness.