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Madame Tussauds Tokyo is here to stay
After road-testing a temporary version of its waxworks attraction in Tokyo, Merlin Entertainments has announced that it will open a permanent Madame Tussauds in the Japanese capital.
Also online this month:
Transformers The Ride
One of the industry’s most elaborate new dark rides made its world premiere last month in Singapore.
Story and Burke buy Clementon Lake
Clementon Park and Splash World, Clementon, New Jersey, is the latest park to be acquired by ex-Six Flags executives Kieran Burke and Gary Story via their Premier Attractions Management vehicle.
Legoland Japan?
Merlin Entertainments is to begin formal negotiations with the Japanese city of Nagoya about establishing a Legoland theme park.
Pier Hoppin' at Morey's
Morey's Piers in New Jersey plans to build a 1km-long wooden coaster that will link the Surfside Pier and old Hunt's Pier in the resort town of Wildwood.
iPlay America launches in New Jersey
Described as a one-of-a-kind, indoor theme park and entertainment venue, iPlay America and Encore Event Center opened in Freehold, New Jersey, on November 11.
The Crane Dance
Described by Edward Marks of The Producers Group as, “truly a one-of-a-kind attraction,” The Crane Dance at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore was one of several worldwide attractions that has just been selected for a Thea Award from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
Atlantis lost!
The luxury resort operator Kerzner International has been forced to surrender ownership of its Atlantis resort in the Bahamas (pictured) and may have to do the same in Dubai, writes the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Another park for Abu Dhabi?
Las Palm, the developer of Adventure World Warsaw (AWW) has announced plans for what is says will be the largest family theme park in the Middle East.
A load of balls!
Interactive water rides can be great fun, but not everyone likes to get wet. That’s why two European suppliers reckon they’ve hit onto something with new attraction concepts featuring soft foam ball shooters rather than water cannons.
Gosetto goes back to school!
Schools out for summer? Not at Etnaland. The Italian theme park on the isle of Sicily is to open a new dark ride themed around a haunted school.
Mack reveals Manta train
Here’s a glimpse of what the trains will look like on SeaWorld San Diego’s new Manta coaster, slated to open spring 2012.
Junior Twister
The Junior Twister Coaster is a new family ride from Zamperla, and it comes in two versions, the JTC 170 "Compact" and JTC 230 "Extended."
MegaWhirl
Combining the thrill of a Whip with cars from the classic Tilt-a-Whirl, this brand new attraction from Gordon Rides and Larson International was engineered by Ride Centerline.
Happypillar
It’s a train ride without a track! Operators of the Happypillar simply mark their own track on the floor with paint, gaffer tape (duct tape) or anything else that takes their fancy and the caterpillar-themed train faithfully follows it using sensors in each car.
How was business this season?
Henrik B Nielsen, Djurs Sommerland, Denmark (pictured): We welcomed more than 660,000 guests during 2011, a new attendance record for the fifth consecutive year.
What will be a more realistic goal in 2012 – raising gate prices or increasing in-park spending?
Carl Lum, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, USA (pictured): In reality, it will be a combination of both.
