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Season Snapshot 2009
How was business this season at your park or attraction? Let us know, then read on for reports from venues on three continents, starting with Tivoli in Copenhagen.
Also online this month:
Chip Cleary
James (Chip) Cleary, 58, is the incoming chairman of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). Born in New York City, he serves as senior vice-president of Palace Entertainment, a division of Parques Reunidos. Chip took time recently to talk to Park World about his vision for IAAPA.
Magic makeover for Beijing Watercube
Construction work is about to begin on transforming Beijing’s Olympic swimming venue into a world-class indoor waterpark. The Watercube will reopen as the Happy Magic Watercube in summer 2010.
HIT attraction planned for Malaysia
HIT Entertainment’s first Little Big Club attraction will open in 2012 at the prestigious Puteri Harbour development in Nusajaya, Malaysia.
Scenic Railway secure following government grant
The Dreamland Trust has been awarded a UK government grant of £3.7million ($6.2m/€4.2m). Cited as the most important milestone in the six-year campaign to save Dreamland park in Margate, Kent, the grant secures the future of the Scenic Railway (pictured), Britain’s oldest surviving rollercoaster.
Disney gets the go-ahead in Shanghai
After years of speculation, The Walt Disney Company has confirmed it is has received approval from the central government of China to develop a theme park in the Pudong district of Shanghai.
Coney Island site acquired by New York City
The City of New York has signed a contract to acquire 6.9-acres of Coney Island from Thor Equities for $95.6 million. This will allow the City to expand, enhance and make permanent the historic amusement district.
Legoland Discovery Centre Texas
Merlin Entertainments is to continue its aggressive growth plan with the opening in March 2011 of a Legoland Discovery Centre (LDC) at the Grapevine Mills shopping mall in Grapevine, Texas.
Lulu talks back at Sea Life
Guests at Sea Life in Brighton, England, can now talk to resident turtle Lulu – and watch her talk back – in an interactive new attraction courtesy of Animalive.
Water coaster on a cruise ship!
The Disney Cruise Line is to introduce an industry first when it installs a waterslide coaster on a passenger ship.
Europa-Park plans Iceland expansion
After celebrating the best season in its 34-year history, Europa-Park near Freiburg in Germany is to expand its Iceland area for 2010.
Knoebels Flying Turns - ready when it's done
The million-dollar question at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania, is "When is the Flying Turns going to open?" The answer, according to Dick Knoebel, is "When it's done.” Park World gets a progress report.
Mumbo Jumbo
Supplied by S&S Worldwide, Mumbo Jumbo is Flamingo Land’s new record-breaking rollercoaster, and the first of its kind in Europe. The original opened last year at Indiana Beach in America, but by tweaking the angle – from 120 to 121 degrees – the British park has been able to bag the bragging rights for world’s steepest drop. Here Flamingo Land CEO Gordon Gib explains why Mumbo Jumbo makes sense.
New trains for Holiday World coaster
The Voyage, the highly-ranked wooden coaster at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, is expected to feel faster and a lot smoother in 2010 thanks to a new set of trains.
