Great America Opens Season with New Rides, Discounts for Hacienda Employees, Residents

By Jay Hipps, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

A day at an amusement park can be great fun for families and people of all ages, and it is especially true when you get your tickets at a discount! That is exactly what is available to Hacienda employees and residents as California's Great America kicks off its 2016 season on Friday, March 25.

New at the park this year is a 4D holographic experience featuring settings and characters from EA's popular Mass Effect videogame series, developed by BioWare. This exciting guest experience involves cutting edge technology customized for Great America and delivers 4D effects combined with a live performance and incredible special effects. Great America guests will be taken on a thrilling adventure across the galaxy where they will travel through awe-inspiring landscapes, face off against bigger than life adversaries and ultimately help save the day.

"Teaming with a world-wide gaming leader like EA will enable us to build an incredible user experience for Great America guests," said Raul Rehnborg, vice president and general manager of California's Great America. "This combination of technology and creative video game content is sure to usher in a new wave of entertainment innovation at amusement parks."

The park is also unveiling a new holiday event, Winterfest, on weekends beginning November 25 and daily on December 19-23 and 26-30. The park will be magically transformed into a winter wonderland during WinterFest where guests can skate in front of the iconic Carousel Columbia, admire magnificent displays of lights and decorations, view spectacular live holiday shows, experience 18 rides and attractions, see Santa's workshop and Mrs. Claus' kitchen, and enjoy scrumptious holiday foods at numerous locations.

The winter scene will be dominated by one of the Bay Area's tallest Christmas trees adorned with hundreds of twinkling lights accompanied by giant toy soldiers greeting guests. Live entertainment will include a nightly tree lighting ceremony, carolers performing on a holiday trolley, a Merry Christmas Snoopy ice show, Santa's Elves stage show and face painting. In addition to everyone's favorite Peanuts characters, Great America guests will delight in seeing Frosty, Jack Frost, Jingle Bell, the Gingerbread Man, Sugar Plum Fairy and Santa's Elves, Holly, Lolly and Jolly.

In addition to these new features, Great America offers an amazing selection of roller coasters and other thrill rides. Gold Striker is the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California, reaching speeds of over 50 miles per hour. Flight Deck offers similar speeds as well as a 360-degree vertical loop. The Grizzly offers a classic wooden roller coaster experience. Add in fan favorites like FireFall, Tiki Twirl, Delirium, Demon, Drop Tower, and Psycho Mouse and there is plenty for any adrenaline junkie to love.

There are plenty of family rides as well. Barney Oldfield Speedway, Loggers Run, Rip Roaring Rapids, and the Rue le Dodge bumper cars are just some of the options. Add in the many all-ages, Peanuts themed attractions at Planet Snoopy and there is something for everyone.

Best of all, employees and residents can receive discount tickets as part of Hacienda's extensive amenities program. For example, the regular gate price is $67 and the Hacienda price is just $36, which includes all-day admission to California's Great America and Boomerang Bay water park on any regular opening day. Special and exclusive offers for concerts, Halloween Haunt, and Winterfest will also be available to Hacienda affiliates as well only through the Special Offers section of Hacienda's web site.

To take advantage of Hacienda's special pricing, go to www.hacienda.org and log into your Hacienda employee or resident account. New accounts are easily created by following the prompts. Select "Tools," then "Special Offers" and proceed to the "Entertainment" section for access to the Great America offer. For additional information, contact Hacienda at (925) 734-6500.

Photo: Great America's favorite Peanuts characters

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