VTPM280: X2 Is Gone, Busch Gardens President Gone Too? & Golden Ticket Awards

This week on Vacationeers Theme Parks & More, Tom and Jon have a packed episode with major coaster news, another possible leadership shakeup at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and the results of the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards.

We start with breaking news from Six Flags Magic Mountain, where X2 has been permanently retired. The one-of-a-kind 4D coaster had already been closed for months, but Six Flags has now confirmed that one of the park’s most recognizable attractions will not reopen. We look back at what made X2 so unique and what its loss means for a park built around its massive coaster lineup.

Then we head to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, where Jon’s reporting at Main Street Magic indicates that park president Jon Vigue may already be leaving the position, despite only being officially introduced in June. United Parks & Resorts has not publicly confirmed a departure, and details surrounding the situation remain unclear, but if the report proves accurate it would continue an extraordinary stretch of turnover in the BGT president’s office. Main Street Magic

And to close the episode, we dive into the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards.

Central Florida had a huge showing this year, with VelociCoaster, Iron Gwazi and Stardust Racers all ranking among the Top 10 steel coasters, while Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment took Best Dark Ride. We go through the major winners, Florida’s rankings, and discuss what the results say about the current state of the theme park and coaster industry.

Along the way, we also cover:

🎢 Old Town Kissimmee being sold

🎢 Fun Spot Atlanta’s liquidation

🎃 LEGOLAND Florida’s Halloween overlay for The Dragon

🌊 Kyle Miller being named President of United Parks & Resorts

👻 SeaWorld Orlando Howl-O-Scream getting national attention

🍔 Five Guys opening at Universal CityWalk

🎭 Universal Mardi Gras 2027 running one week shorter

🏛️ Continued demolition of The Lost Continent

🦍 Skull Island: Reign of Kong reopening without its Kong finale

🤖 Disney developing an AI-powered vacation-planning tool

👹 New Monstropolis and Glob Theater details

🧸 Toy Story 5 music arriving at Alien Swirling Saucers

🚂 Walt Disney World Railroad refurbishment

🐅 Bakso leaving Disney’s Animal Kingdom

🍽️ Disney dining updates

🌐 Disney’s continuing S.E.A. mystery

🎂 Walt Disney World celebrating its 55th anniversary

🎙️ Join Tom and Jon for VTPM280!

Follow Vacationeers Theme Parks & More

🌐 https://vacationeerspodcast.com

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VacationeersPodcast

𝕏: https://x.com/VacationeerTom

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vacationeer_tom/

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VacationeerTom

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vacationeers_podcast

Follow Jon

📸 Instagram: @jon.self.37

𝕏: @pastorjonself

ThrillLedger

Track rides. Count memories.

Track your park visits, attractions, posted and actual wait times, ratings, notes, stats and more with ThrillLedger.

https://thrillledger.vacationeerspodcast.com/

Free version available.