Reporter

Brady Macdonald

Brady MacDonald is a theme park reporter for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He’s covered the theme park industry for more than 25 years. He writes about Disney, Universal, Six Flags, SeaWorld, Cedar Fair and Legoland parks in Southern California, across the United States and around the world. As a member of the SCNG Features team, he also writes about entertainment, travel, pop culture, music, restaurants and craft beer.

A craftsman works on the main entrance at Disneyland before the park opened in 1955. (Courtesy of Disney)

‘Disneyland Handcrafted’ changes everything you think you know about Disneyland

January 14, 2026 at 11:20 a.m.

Review: The new documentary coming to Disney+ tracks the wild, improbable and chaotic birth of Walt Disney’s first theme park.

The new Dodge Charger ride vehicle for Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood on June 12, 2025 (Carolyn Burt, SCNG)

Top 10 new theme park attractions in the U.S. for 2026

January 1, 2026 at 7:40 a.m.

The new year is already shaping up as a good one for roller coaster enthusiasts, thrill ride junkies and theme park fanatics.

Guests ride the Wonder Woman Flight of Courage roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Six Flags Magic Mountain is no longer the Coaster Capital of the World

December 30, 2025 at 11:38 a.m.

The reigning Coaster King will relinquish its crown in January.

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – JULY 17: In this handout image provided by Disneyland Resort, General view of the 70th anniversary celebrations of Disneyland Resort on July 17, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Handout/Getty Images)

Disneyland to update Soarin’ ride for America’s 250th anniversary

October 22, 2025 at 7:40 a.m.

‘Soarin’ Across America’ opens at Disney California Adventure in summer 2026.

Jinx the clown, left, and Orange County Register theme park reporter Brady MacDonald work as “scareactors” in the City Under Siege scare zone in 2024 during Fright Fest Extreme at Six Flags Magic Mountain. (Photo by Brady MacDonald/Orange County Register/SCNG)

I joined a killer clown cult at Six Flags Fright Fest

October 15, 2025 at 11:57 a.m.

I dressed up like a maniacal clown for the night.

Visitors to Disneyland enter Sleeping Beauty
castle during the 70th
anniversary Disneyland on July 17, 2025, in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

It’s the cheapest time of the year to visit Disneyland right now

August 21, 2025 at 7:31 a.m.

Tickets cost $104 during 16 select dates in late August and early September.

The RailBlazer single-rail roller coaster at California’s Great America. (California’s Great America)

California’s Great America could close after 2027 season

June 20, 2025 at 11:45 a.m.

The Santa Clara park could close in late October 2027 after the Halloween season.

Universal Epic Universe is home to two of the best dark rides in the world: “Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry” and “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.” (Universal/TNS)

Does Epic Universe have the 2 best dark rides in the world?

May 29, 2025 at 11:55 a.m.

The new Florida theme park gives Universal two chances to reclaim the crown from Disney.

The Lego Festival at Legoland California focuses on imagination, exploration and play. (Courtesy of Legoland)

World’s first Lego Festival coming to parks across US

March 18, 2025 at 11:50 a.m.

The Lego Fest takes place at Legoland parks around the globe from May 3 through June 8.

Top 10 new theme park attractions in the world for 2025

January 15, 2025 at 6:25 a.m.