News: X becomes X2 in 2008

Posted at 12:02 PM EDT (1602 GMT)

Nov. 2nd, 2007 -- Via Press Release:

Yesterday, Six Flags Magic Mountain announced its new capital plans for the 2008  operating season.  The world's leading thrill park unveiled a lineup that includes  an impressive new twist on the park's most popular, state-of-the-art coaster, X2 — adding an innovative and totally immersive sight and sound experience —  elevating the world's first four-dimensional roller coaster into the 5th dimension to become X2.  Also, for the littlest thrill seekers, the world-famous Thomas the Tank EngineTM pulls into the newly-created children's play area, Thomas TownSM.

"X2 and Thomas Town are part of a very exciting season we have planned for 2008, as we continue our mission of making Six Flags synonymous with an  entertainment experience that delivers thrills for the entire family," said Jay Thomas, Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President.  "For our more adventurous  guests, we will take our one-of-a-kind coaster, X, and deliver a whole new  extreme experience with X2, while young children and their parents can spend quality time together in our new Thomas Town.   Six Flags Magic Mountain has been thrilling guests and making family memories for over 36 years and our new  additions will help us continue to do so for years to come!" 

X LAUNCHES INTO A NEW GALAXY, BECOMING X2

X, the world's first 4th dimensional thrill ride, is once again pushing all limits and taking extreme to the next level in 2008.  This $10 million investment  features completely redesigned, sleeker trains and introduces all-new, innovative  state-of-the-art visual, audio and sensory effects, X will move from the 4th dimension to the 5th and become X2!  

"Since it opened in 2002, X, with its 360° rotating seats and head-first, face  down drops, has been one of the most popular thrill rides on the planet," stated Jay Thomas, Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President.  "With the redesign, X2 will take even the most daring riders on a journey to a unique and unchartered  dimension of extreme only Six Flags Magic Mountain can deliver."

Unlike traditional coasters where trains only parallel the track, X sends riders  screaming around its 3,600-foot maze of steel track aboard massive wing-shaped  trains where the seats extend off the track to the sides of the vehicle allowing  them to independently rotate guests head over heels, forward and backward  creating a one-of-a-kind "don't know what to expect next" sensation.  X2 launches the extreme thrills of X into a new dimension with the addition of a  unique new tunnel and light experience that changes with every ride.   X2 is one of 14 coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain — Southern California's leader
in thrills!

In order for the transformation to take place, X will close in late 2007, and X2 will launch in spring 2008.

ALL ABOARD!   THE NEXT STOP ON THIS TRAIN IS SIX FLAGS
MAGIC MOUNTAIN, AS THE PARK WELCOMES THOMAS & FRIENDS™ in 2008

A newly-created Thomas & Friends themed area called Thomas TownSM, will open in spring 2008.   Designed to entertain children of all ages, Thomas Town centers  around a train ride on a Thomas the Tank EngineTM replica that transports guests on a journey through Thomas' home on the Island of Sodor.  Visitors will be  greeted by Sir Topham HattSM, the Controller of the Railway, will is also available to pose for photos with Thomas fans. In addition to other attractions, the area  features a Thomas & Friends store.

With Thomas & Friends, children enter a world of imagination through the tracks  of a train and the words of a story.  As children engage in fun with their engine  friends, adventures unfold that lead to timeless life lessons.  Parents and children  enjoy a unique connection on every journey.

With the addition of Thomas Town, Six Flags Magic Mountain now includes over 30 rides and attractions for children and their families to enjoy together.

"We are very excited to welcome Thomas Town to Six Flags Magic Mountain," stated Jay Thomas, Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President.  "This beloved character has engaged and inspired preschoolers' imaginations for more than six decades and will certainly offer a rich, exciting world for children and their parents to enjoy, as families look for more ways to spend quality time together."

Six Flags Magic Mountain is located at 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, north of Los Angeles off Interstate 5 at the Magic Mountain Parkway exit.  The Park is currently open weekends and school holidays.  For information call (661) 255-4111 or visit us online at sixflags.com.

About Six Flags, Inc.:

Six Flags, Inc. is the world's largest regional theme park company.  Founded in 1961, Six Flags celebrated its 45th Anniversary in 2006.  It is a publicly-traded corporation (NYSE: SIX) headquartered in New York City.  Visit www.sixflags.com for more information. In 2008, Six Flags will debut eight new roller coasters.

About Thomas & Friends:

Thomas & Friends invites children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.  Thomas the Tank Engine was created by a father for his son more than 60 years ago.  Today, families in more than
145 countries enjoy fun and adventure with their engine friends while experiencing timeless life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation.  Thomas & Friends is making tracks to great destinations on PBS KIDS® and PBS KIDS SproutSM.  For more information about the world of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends, please visit www.thomasandfriends.com.

About HIT Entertainment:

HIT Entertainment, owned by private equity investment group Apax Partners  since June 2005, is one of the world's leading independent children's  entertainment producers and rights-owners.  HIT's TM portfolio includes internationally renowned children's properties, such as Bob the BuilderTM, BarneyTM, Thomas & Friends, PinguTM, RubbadubbersTM and Angelina BallerinaTM.  HIT acts as a representative for The Wiggles® in the UK, US and Canada and as a  worldwide representative for The Jim Henson Company's library of classic family  brands, including Fraggle RockTM.  HIT also owns the Guinness World RecordsTM publishing and television property and Fireman SamTM, a joint venture with S4C.  Launched in 1989, HIT's lines of business span television and video production  (including studios in the US and the UK), publishing, consumer products licensing  and live events.  With a catalog of more than 1,000 hours of young children's  programming, HIT sells its shows to more  than 240 countries worldwide, in more than 40 different languages and has operations in the UK, US, Canada, Hong  Kong and Japan.  In 2005, the Company joined Comcast Corporation, PBS and  Sesame Workshop to  launch PBS KIDS SproutSM, a 24-hour digital cable channel and VOD service for preschoolers.  For more information, visit  www.hitentertainment.com. 

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