Explore haunted attractions, theme parks, and vacation spots across Arizona, Southern California, and Las Vegas. From ghost tours and escape rooms to family trips to Disneyland and Universal Studios, dive into reviews and articles on entertainment, nostalgia, and the paranormal. Whether you're chasing thrills or uncovering eerie legends, this blog is your gateway to unforgettable adventures.
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Wet n’ Wild (now Six Flags Hurricane Harbor) is the largest waterpark in Arizona and my kids and I have been a season pass holders since 2012. I have become increasingly more and more disappointed as the years go by.
📍 Location: 4243 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Glendale, AZ 85310 🎟️ Admission: Pricey—opt for a season pass for the best value
The Biggest Disappointments & Tips to Improve Your Visit
🚫 Crazy Cactus Roaring River = Not So Roaring
After the big remodel hype, this lazy river remains just that—lazy. No rapids, no real excitement, making it a letdown for anyone expecting a real tubing adventure.
💰 Expensive Food & Parking – Bring Your Own
Food is overpriced, so I recommend bringing your own food in an ice chest and eating in your car. We usually get a hand stamp and drive to McDonald's (just a mile away) for a much cheaper meal.
Parking is $8 unless you have a Gold Season Pass (then it’s free).
👟 Scorching Hot & Slippery Ground – Wear Water Shoes
The cement is dangerously hot and not slip-resistant. Flip-flops are dangerous, so bring slip-on water shoes with traction for safety.
⏳ Long Ride Lines & Frequent Shutdowns
Wait times average 45 minutes, but rides frequently shut down due to conveyor belt failures or guest injuries.
Twice in one day, I was near the top of a slide after a long wait, only to have the ride suddenly close.
🔒 Locker Fees Are Outrageous
A small locker costs $8—which is steep just to store a wallet, purse, or phone.
💸 Total Cost Adds Up Quickly
Expect to spend $75-$100 per person after factoring in single-day admission, food, drinks, parking, tube rentals, and locker fees.
What’s Good About Hurricane Harbor Phoenix?
✅ Large Variety of Rides – Whether you're a thrill-seeker or a "scaredy cat", there are plenty of water attractions for all ages. ✅ Dive-In Movies – Floating in the wave pool while watching a family-friendly movie ($6 for a tube) is a great way to end the day. ✅ Plenty of Shade & Misting Systems – The park does have shaded areas and misters, though they aren’t always turned on when needed. ✅ Gold Season Pass Perks – If you're going more than twice, a season pass with free parking helps offset the cost.
Phoenix, AZ– Arizona nonprofit group COMICARE stays extremely busy throughout the year visiting nearly every children’s medical facility in the valley. This May, the Comicare superheroes will find themselves extra busy. On top of celebrating the launch of their revamped website (www.comicare.org) they are joining the Arizona Diamondbacks for “Superhero Night” on Friday, May 22nd at Chase Field. Families will be able to meet and take pictures with their favorite comic book superheroes. The Diamondbacks organization is planning a variety of specials and activities.
Phoenix Comicon 2015 is right around the corner (May 28- 31) and COMICARE brings an exciting presence at their booth (#6017): games, prizes, giveaways and photo ops with top level superheroes like Iron Man, Captain America, Wonder Woman and Spider-man. COMICARE will also be accepting comic book donations that they pass on to children in valley hospitals.
“It is a big month for us,” explains Joe “ZEFF” Hyde, director of Comicare. “We have been working extremely hard visiting hospitals around the valley- and that is what we enjoy doing. It is sort of ‘icing on the cake’, to have three events like this where we get to mingle with the public and thank our community for their support.”
About Comicare
Comicare is an Arizona based 501(c)(3) nonprofit group that brings costumed ‘superheroes’ to children in hospitals. They deliver comic books to provide a happy distraction while encouraging a love of reading. They schedule as many as fifty visits a year in Arizona and neighboring states. Comicare is proud of their role as a conduit for the generosity of the comic book collecting community as the books they give away are all donated by enthusiasts. They not only visit medical facilities, but also support the philanthropic endeavors of those associated with the medical community.
📍 Location: Touring Event – Various Cities in 2015 🎟️ Ticket Prices: Starting at $27.50 (too expensive for what’s offered) ⏳ Total Experience Time: Estimated 90 minutes but actually took 6 hours due to long wait times
Is The Marvel Experience Worth It?
If you’re a die-hard Marvel fan, The Marvel Experience: The Hyper-Reality Tour sounds like a dream come true—a high-tech, immersive superhero adventure packed with interactive training missions, VR experiences, and 4-D attractions. However, after attending with my kids, I can confidently say that while it had exciting moments, the cost, long wait times, and lack of activities left us disappointed.
With ticket prices starting at $27.50 (plus $10 for parking), the value simply wasn’t there. The entire experience should have taken around 90 minutes, but we spent over 6 hours waiting in lines for short, underwhelming activities. While some of the interactive elements were enjoyable, this event needed better organization, shorter wait times, and more engaging content.
What’s Included in The Marvel Experience?
✅ Marvel Superhero Origins Briefing – A multi-screen intro covering the origins of Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America, and Black Widow. ✅ Interactive "Training Missions" – Includes Iron Man Flight Simulation, Hulk Smash, Photon Blaster Training, Spider-Man Climbing Wall, and Black Widow Laser Maze. ✅ 3-D Dome Experience – A short, standing-room-only Marvel movie where guests spin in circles to follow the action. ✅ 4-D Ride Finale – The most immersive part of the experience, but lacked 3-D visuals, making it less impressive. ✅ Gift Shop – Limited merchandise with only posters, shirts, and hats—no Marvel action figures or comic books available. ✅ On-Site Café – Overpriced food ($7 for a basic hot dog, $3.50 for frozen bottled water).
Major Issues & Areas That Need Improvement
🚫 Excessive Wait Times for Minimal Experience
Most activities were less than 2 minutes long but required 30-60 minute waits.
The Black Widow Agility Laser Maze had a 1-hour wait—while fun, it wasn't worth the time investment.
💰 Ticket Prices vs. Value
$27.50 per person (plus $10 parking) felt overpriced. This event should have been $15-$20 max with free parking.
The RFID tracking bracelets didn’t enhance the experience, making them feel pointless.
🎮 Low-Tech "Training" Games
The Hulk Smash and Iron Man Flight Simulator were essentially Xbox Kinect games, which was disappointing given the "Hyper-Reality" promise.
The Photon Blaster Training (laser shooting gallery) had too many players at once, making it impossible to track your score.
🎬 3-D Movie & 4-D Ride Could Have Been Better
The 3-D dome experience was too short and required standing.
The 4-D ride was entertaining, but should have used 3-D visuals to be more immersive.
🛍️ Weak Merchandise Selection
The gift shop lacked variety, offering mostly shirts and posters—no Marvel action figures or collectibles.
The 3-D printed statue souvenir was a cool concept, but there weren't enough customization options.
How The Marvel Experience Could Improve
🎟️ Lower Ticket Prices – $15-$20 would be a more reasonable price for what’s offered. ⏳ Reduce Wait Times – Fewer tickets per time slot or more activity stations would prevent 6-hour experiences. 🚀 More Interactive Features – Additional VR elements, motion-sensor games, and better simulators would increase engagement. 💦 Fix Overpriced Food & Drinks – $3.50 for frozen bottled water is a gouge—offer affordable drinks or free water stations. 🛍️ Expand the Gift Shop – Include action figures, comics, and exclusive collectibles to appeal to Marvel fans. 🎬 Improve 3-D & 4-D Experiences – The 4-D ride should include 3-D visuals for a true hyper-reality experience.
Final Verdict – Would I Go Again?
I’m glad I attended, and my kids enjoyed parts of it, but I wouldn’t return unless they significantly improve the cost, entertainment value, and wait times.
If you’re considering going to The Marvel Experience, be prepared for long lines and limited activities. While it has potential, it needs major upgrades to be worth the price.
⭐ Overall Rating: 5/10 – Fun for Marvel fans, but overpriced and poorly executed.
🚀 Are you a Marvel fan looking for a better superhero experience? Consider visiting:
Avengers Campus at Disneyland California Adventure
Marvel Super Hero Island at Universal’s Islands of Adventure
