New Jersey: Six Flags seems to differentiate its parks by marketing their roller coasters and thrill rides. Is that accurate? And when you think children's rides--what park is best? For teens? For adults? For roller coaster lovers? Thanks!

Robert Niles: Six Flags' management is trying very hard to move away from its old, thrill park image. At the same time, that's what their parks were built for, so the transition is going slow. Six Flags has added Thomas the Tank Engine and Wiggles attractions at many of its parks, and continues to promote its Bugs Bunny and Warner Bros. toons, too. But those appeal more to younger kids. There's still a gap there for families with older elementary kids, that Six Flags is not yet appealing to.

From what my readers tell me, Six Flags' best park, overall and for families, is Great Adventure in New Jersey, though Magic Mountain here in LA has improved dramatically under the leadership of park president Jay Thomas. I'd pick Magic Mountain if all I wanted was coasters, too.

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Stuart, Fla.: Expedition Everest was the "next big thing" in central Florida back in 2006. What's the next big thing in the area now?

Robert Niles: Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly Disney-MGM Studios) and The Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida are this year's two new big attractions. Later this year, look for an American Idol attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where park guests compete on stage.

Next year, Universal will debut its Hollywood, Rip, Ride and Rockit roller coaster and Sea World will debut its Manta coaster. And, of course, the Big One arrives in 2010 in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

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Chicago, Ill.: How will the ongoing construction of "Harry Potter's Wizarding World" at Universal's Islands of Adventure affect attendance at the surrounding parks in Orlando? Will it really draw a lot of people away from Disney?

Robert Niles: I think that a lot of people will put off visits to Orlando in late 2008 and 2009 to wait for Harry Potter in 2010. Especially with gas prices high and the economy weak now. Harry Potter's debut makes it easier for people to say, "hey, we can't afford it this year, but let' wait fir Harry Potter anyway." That's why I think you'll be seeing more deals coming from the parks as they try to keep attendance up in the meantime.

I also think that there remains a lot of confusion in the marketplace about Harry Potter. Many theme park fans think that it is going in somewhere at Walt Disney World, which is not the case. Every time I've visited WDW over the past two years, I have overheard guests talking about Harry Potter. A lot of fans are awaiting Disney's response.

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San Antonio, Tex.: I hope to be in Orlando in two months. Why do Universal Studios and Sea World close so early? (6 pm)

Robert Niles: After Labor Day, it's the slow season for the Orlando theme parks, until Thanksgiving. Universal and Disney will have Halloween events in the evenings in late September and October, but those require separate tickets, and the parks close early to accommodate those events. Information about Universal's is at halloweenhorrornights.com. Disney's is Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and you can find info at DisneyWorld.com.

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