Wet n’ Wild Water Park Review - Glendale Arizona

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).
• Golfland Sunsplash Water Park offers FREE parking, making it a better value in this regard.

👟 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.

Wet 'n' Wild is now Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, the water park was bought by Six Flags Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: SIX) in May 2018.

Press Release – DBacks Super Hero Night & Phoenix Comicon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Superhero charity explodes in May with site launch, D-Backs game and Comicon

May, 2015

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.

www.comicare.org                                                    www.facebook.com/comicare

Contact

For more information about this event or general details about the charity, please contact

Joe “Zeff” Hyde, Director, Comicare

zeff@comicare.org    602.501.9817

ERICJDEWEY


You can buy Value Pack Grab Bags with 25-40 comics, to donate and ship them to: COMICAREP.O. Box 7317Goodyear, AZ 85338 

A review of The Marvel Experience in Scottsdale AZ

The Marvel Experience Review – Was It Worth the Hype?

📍 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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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

27th annual Arizona Renaissance Festival and Artisan Faire

Step Back in Time at the 2015 Arizona Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace

📍 Location: Gold Canyon, AZ
📅 Event Dates: Saturdays & Sundays from February 7 – March 29, 2015
🕰️ Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, rain or shine
🎟️ Special Opening: Presidents' Day – Monday, February 16, 2015

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Experience the Magic of the Arizona Renaissance Festival

HUZZAH! The Arizona Renaissance Festival is back for another season of medieval merriment, thrilling jousting tournaments, live performances, and artisan shopping! This 16th-century village comes to life with over 2,000 costumed characters, interactive street performances, and 13 entertainment stages featuring sword swallowers, whip masters, comedic storytellers, and musicians.

With nearly 30% of attendees dressing in Renaissance costumes, why not join the Cosplay fun and don your best knight, pirate, or noble attire for an even more immersive experience?

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World-Class Entertainment & Performers

✨ Whipmaster Adam Crack – Guinness World Record holder for whip artistry.
💀 The Ded Bob Sho – Hilarious comedy with Ded Bob and Sluj.
⚔️ Don Juan & Miguel – A mix of swordplay, whips, and outrageous comedy.
🏇 Jousting Tournaments – Watch knights battle in full armor for the Queen’s honor.
🤡 Thom Selectomy – Sword swallowing and side-splitting humor.
🧚 Twig the Fairy – Magical fairy performances full of whimsy and glitter.
📖 Zilch the Torysteller – Hilarious twisted fairy tales with a comedic twist.

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Feast Like Royalty – Food & Drinks at the Festival

🍗 Indulge in hearty medieval fare, including:

• Giant roasted turkey legs
• Steak-on-a-stake
• Bread bowl soups & stews
• Handmade chocolates & cinnamon-roasted almonds

🍻 Quench your thirst at the festival pubs, offering:

• Beer, wine, and honey mead
• Signature medieval cocktails

🍽️ Looking for a royal dining experience? Enjoy an authentic medieval banquet with the royal court (reservations recommended).

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The Artisan Marketplace – Unique Shopping Experience

🏹 Discover hand-crafted treasures, including:

• Swords, armor, and chainmail
• Renaissance dresses and custom leatherwork
• Scented candles, handmade pottery, and masks
• Henna tattoos, palm readings, and intricate hair braiding

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Interactive Games & Rides – Test Your Medieval Skills!

🎯 Challenge your skills with festival games like:

• Archery & axe throwing
• Paintball siege battles
• Climbing the Tower challenge

🎡 Kid-Friendly Rides & Attractions:

• Da Vinci’s Flying Machine
• The Enchanted Maze
• Puppet shows & interactive storytelling

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Save on Tickets – Arizona Renaissance Festival Discounts

🎟️ Discounted Tickets Available at Fry’s Food Stores:

• Adults: $20.00
• Children (5-12): $10.00

🎟️ On-Site Ticket Booth Prices:

• $2 more per ticket at the gate

📢 Get your tickets online to secure your spot and skip the wait!

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Make It a Weekend Getaway!

📍 Plan Your Trip: If you’re attending the Arizona Renaissance Festival, why not turn it into a weekend adventure? Look for hotels, resorts, or vacation rentals near Gold Canyon, AZ to stay close to the action! Contact us for accommodations.

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Final Thoughts – A Must-See Event in Arizona!

Whether you're a history buff, fantasy fan, or just looking for a fun-filled family adventure, the Arizona Renaissance Festival is an event you don’t want to miss. With live jousting, hilarious performances, artisan shopping, and delicious medieval feasts, it’s one of Arizona’s top attractions each year.

🔥 Don’t wait—grab your Renaissance garb, plan your trip, and get ready for an unforgettable experience ate the 2015 Arizona Renaissance Faire!