• List of parks

Southeastern theme parks are offering fans some high points this season, as Six Flags Over Georgia unveils its new Goliath roller coaster and Dollywood debuts its Timber Tower, the first ride of its kind in North America.

Six Flags (ENLARGE)
Skull Island opens at Six Flags on June 24.
Six Flags (ENLARGE)
Six Flags Over Georgia When it comes to big, the new steel Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia fills the bill. The ride covers 8.5 acres, including land outside the park's entrance. In each car, nine rows of riders sit four across, secured by lap belts. Six Flags opened Saturday, though the coaster wonÕt open until April 1.
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The steel Goliath promises to be a giant with an initial drop of 170 feet — and a second of 175 feet — with speeds of up to 70 mph. With a journey of more than 4,400 feet, the park's 11th coaster includes a series of zero-gravity drops and a giant spiral. The ride opens in April.

In Pigeon Forge, park-goers will get a different kind of thrill from the Timber Tower, which involves a car that rotates around the tower as it rises to the top. Once at the top, the entire tower swings from side to side, toppling the ride vehicle in multiple directions.

GEORGIA

• Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell

In addition to Goliath, the new steel coaster, visitors to Six Flags Over Georgia may notice a few other changes around the park. A parade every afternoon. Fireworks every night. About two dozen more characters, including superheroes such as Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern. Costumed "ambassadors" stationed around the park to help with directions and other questions. More guest interaction on the tram rides from the parking lots. Cleaner bathrooms.

"There will be lots of additional guest services initiatives," spokesman Jim Taylor said. "Just a clean restroom can make a big difference in the person's overall experience."

Also count on a regular supply of shows and festivals, including Little Richard on March 25; Festival Latino on Memorial Day weekend; and Atlanta Fest, a Christian music festival, June 15-17.

Opening day was Saturday.

Admission: $49.99 (online special $39.99); kids 48 inches tall and under, $29.99; children age 2 and under, free. Individual season pass, $64.99. White Water/Six Flags combo pass, $99.99. (Prices do not include tax.)

770-948-9290, www.sixflags.com/parks/overgeorgia.

• White Water, Marietta

This summer the water park will feature three "Dive-in Movie" nights — June 16, July 14 and Aug. 4 — where visitors can watch a big-screen movie from the comfort of their inner tube in the wading pool. The park, which features thrill rides like the free-falling Cliffhanger and the Tornado, a wave pool and a lazy river, opens May 13.

Admission: $34.99; children 48 inches and under, $24.99; age 2 and under, free. Season pass through April 30, $54.99; after April 30, $59.99. Discount tickets are available at Publix supermarkets in Georgia and Chick-fil-A. (Prices do not include taxes.)

770-948-9290, www.sixflags.com/parks/whitewater.

• American Adventures, Marietta

This small amusement park, adjacent to White Water, is aimed at younger kids, up to age 12. It has a smaller roller coaster, bumper cars, a Tilt-a-Whirl, a Scrambler, the Foam Factory and miniature golf. Upgraded birthday party programs (www.americanadventures.com) now include a magician. The park opened Saturday.

Admission: Children 36 inches and taller, $15.99. Adults and toddlers (children under 36 inches tall), $5.99. Children age 2 and under, free. Children's season passes purchased by April 30 are $34.99; after April 30, $39.99. Toddler and adult season passes are $19.99. (Prices do not include tax.)

770-948-9290, www.sixflags.com/parks/aadventures.

• Wild Adventures, Valdosta

Wild Adventures celebrates its 10th anniversary with the grand opening of the Shaka Zulu River Adventure on Memorial Day weekend. The canoe ride offers a tour through the park's African Pridelands with dips, dives and curves that end with a splash into a raging gorge.

On May 6, Alan Jackson headlines a concert lineup that will include Van Zant, the Winter Jam Tour, Willie Nelson, Trace Adkins & Craig Morgan, George Thorogood, Merle Haggard, Bill Engvall, Travis Tritt and George Jones. Concerts are free with admission to the park.

Admission: adults, $39.95; senior citizens (55 and older), $34.95; ages 3-9, $34.95; age 2 and younger, free; get a second day's admission free, to be used within six days, when you contact guest services inside the park. Passport 2006 allows unlimited admission for $64.95 per person, which includes unlimited visits to Splash Island water park and to Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven, Fla. (Prices do not include taxes.) Opened Friday; open daily.

229-219-7080, www.wild-adventure.com.

ALABAMA

• Visionland, Bessemer

Made up of Magic Adventure and Splash Beach, Visionland offers roller coasters, including the wooden Rampage, log flumes and other thrills. New this season is an expanded children's area in the water park. Visionland opens April 22 for weekends. The park opens daily May 24.

Admission: $29.95, includes access to both parks. Children 48 inches tall and under and adults age 62 and older, $19.95. Children age 2 and under, free. Until April 2, season passes for either park are $49.95. Combo pass for Magic Adventure and Splash Beach, including a Friday night concert series, is $69.95. (Prices do not include taxes.)

205-481-4750, www.visionland.com.

FLORIDA

• Busch Gardens, Tampa

Eric Idle and Leslie Nielsen star in "Pirates 4-D," a new multi-sensory film at the park. SheiKra, a 200-foot dive coaster with two 90-degree drops, is still the newest, hottest ride.

Admission: adults, $57.95; ages 3-9, $47.95. Open daily.

For general park information: 1-888-800-5447, www.buschgardens.com.

• Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven

Celebrating its 70th year, the park, operated by Wild Adventures, boasts 40 rides and 35 acres of gardens, plus stage and water skiing shows. Galaxy Spin, the park's newest coaster, features cars that spin as they twist and turn along the track. Splash Island opened to the public for its first full season Friday. The historic Starliner wooden coaster, which ran in Panama City Beach in the 1960s and '70s, is being reassembled and will open at the park in 2007.

Season passes, $64.95, allow unlimited admissions to Cypress Gardens and Wild Adventures in Valdosta. Open daily.

863-324-2111, www.cypressgardens.com.

• Discovery Cove, Orlando

The watery world of relaxation has improved its customer service with breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages included with admission. Swim with dolphins, snorkel in a coral reef and wade through a warm, lazy river.

Visitors get a complimentary pass to Sea World or Busch Gardens with the all-inclusive admission, which ranges from $249 to $279. Reservations required. Open daily.

1-877-434-7268, www.discoverycove.com.

• Holy Land Experience, Orlando

A "living Bible museum" attempts to show what life was like during the time of Jesus. Visitors can see short dramatic presentations throughout the day, exhibits such as an indoor model of Jerusalem circa A.D. 66 and a high-tech, multimedia exploration of the ancient priesthood of Israel at the Wilderness Tabernacle.

Admission: adults, $29.99; ages 6-12, $19.99. Open daily.

1-866-872-4659, www.theholylandexperience.com.

• Sea World, Orlando

A "killer whale ballet" and a baby are what's new at Sea World this year. "Believe" showcases the whales through choreography, an elaborate three-story set, an original musical score and panoramic LED screens. It builds upon "Blue Horizons," a Broadway-inspired dolphin show the park launched last year. The killer whale calf can be seen swimming with its mother, Takara.

Single-day admission is $61.95 for adults, $49.95 for children. Sea World and Busch Garden combo tickets are $99.95 for adults and $89.95 for children. Open daily.

1-800-327-2424, www.seaworldorlando.com.

• Universal Orlando, Orlando

Universal Orlando is actually two parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. At Universal Studios, see where Shrek left off in "Shrek 4-D," presented through the "miracle of OgreVision," and ride through the fast-paced horror of Revenge of the Mummy. At Islands of Adventure, enjoy roller coasters, rides and attractions for thrill seekers of all ages.

Two-day, two-park passes are $107.95; one-day, one-park passes are $63 for adults and $52 for children. Discounts available online. Open daily.

407-363-8000, www.universalorlando.com.

• Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista

There's a big mouse, plus some other stuff: the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom. New at Disney-MGM Studios is "Journey Into Narnia: Creating the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." At Animal Kingdom, the new Expedition Everest is a family coaster that creeps toward the "thrill" category, with a climb of 120 feet, an 80-foot drop and speeds approaching 50 mph.

Single-day, single-park admission is $63 for adults and $52 for children. Several packages are available. Open daily.

407-824-4321, www.disneyworld.com.

NORTH CAROLINA

• Paramount's Carowinds, Charlotte

The 34-year-old park has expanded its WaterWorks water park and added an Australian theme, changing the name to Boomerang Bay. The 16-acre play area features two new attractions: a heated lagoon called Kookaburra Bay and a two-person tube called Platypus Plunge.

Also new will be a children's show, "Dora Live!," in the Nickelodeon Central area of the park.

General admission is $49.99 for ages 7-54; $31.99 for ages 3-6 and 55 and older. Preseason sale for individual season pass (ages 3 and over) is $79.99; friends and family pass (minimum purchase of four, ages 3 and over), $59.99. (Prices do not include taxes.) Opens March 25.

1-800-888-4386, www.carowinds.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Family Kingdom, Myrtle Beach

Thirty rides include the largest Ferris wheel in South Carolina, a wooden roller coaster and a 110-foot free-fall ride, the Slingshot Drop Zone. A neighboring oceanfront water park includes water flumes, speed slides and a 400-square-foot lazy river with waterfalls.

Admission: Combo ticket to amusement and water parks, $26.50 (excludes go-carts and pony rides). Amusement park all-rides wrist band (excludes pony rides, go-carts and water park), $19.50. Water park (excludes pony rides, go-carts and amusement park rides), $15.95, adults; $14.75, children 48 inches and under. (Prices do not include taxes.) Discounts with military ID; the park's Web site has coupons good for $2-$3 off admission. The park opens in April.

843-626-3447; www.family-kingdom.com.

TENNESSEE

• Dollywood, Pigeon Forge

New for 2006 is the Timber Tower, the first ride of its kind in North America. The 65-foot structure spins as riders spiral up the tower. At the top, riders are swung side to side, as the entire tower threatens to splash riders into plumes of water below. The ride is set to start operation April 1, when the park opens for the season.

The lumber camp theme continues with a rustic kid-friendly play area created especially for the 48-inch-and-under set.

A new show, "Dreamland Drive-in," celebrates tunes of the 1950s and '60s at the park's Pines Theatre.

Admission: Dollywood: adults, $45.70; senior citizens, $42.35; ages 4-11, $34.55. Dollywood Splash Country: adults, $36.80; senior citizens, $34.55; ages 4-11, $31.20. Packages available. (Prices include taxes.)

865-428-9488, www.dollywood.com.