Theme park operator Six Flags Entertainment has featured on VRFocus a number of times, as it combines virtual reality (VR) technology with roller coasters. Today Hallmark Channel has announced a partnership with the company for the holiday season, with the pair promoting each other as well as creating a new VR roller coaster experience.
Called Santa’s Wild Sleigh Ride, the festive VR roller coaster will use The New Revolution, a ride that’s been fully integrated with Samsung Gear VR. As with other VR rides it features a storyline which follows a mischievous Elf trying to foil Santa’s mission to deliver toys on Christmas Eve. When guests don the Gear VR they’ll be immersed in an interactive videogame in which they need to hit targets by launching snowballs at them.
The experience will debut at Six Flags Magic Mountain during Holiday in the Park, the company’s annual holiday event which begins this week on 19th November, operating daily until 27th November, on weekends only through 11th December and daily from 17th December through to 1st January, 2017.
The partnership will also see Hallmark Channel’s annual ‘Countdown to Christmas’ programming franchise promoted throughout Six Flags eight US theme parks and on Six Flags’ online channels, with original promotional content, custom signage and behind-the-scenes video to play in each park. While the network will promote Six Flags’ annual event online and on-air, with a special segment and Six Flags integration to be included on Hallmark Channel’s daily, two-hour lifestyle show Home & Family.
Six Flags previously a VR roller coaster for Halloween called Rage of the Gargoyles at its Discovery Kingdom San Francisco/Sacramento, California site. And back in May the theme park operator announced plans for a Dubai location with VR experiences included.
VRFocus will continue covering VR’s progression into theme parks, reporting back with any further announcements.