Over 115 million people visited a Disney theme park in 2007, according to a definitive new report (download it here), placing the operator above all other international amusement park/attraction chains.

You’re strolling along a pier over the ocean; the surf beneath you barely overpowers the roar and shrieks from the rollercoaster overhead; but the cool, salt air is the perfect complement to the hot dog you’re enjoying. Just past the cotton candy stand a tough-looking barker challenges you to knock down three heavy, steel milk bottles and win a doll; Madame Sofia attempts to lure you into her tent with promises of your future. It is still possible, says Gary Kyriazi, and he travelled to California to prove it.

The annual general meeting (AGM) of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA) was held in March, ushering in Tim Batstone (right) as the association’s new chairman, taking over from David Cam of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Visitors to the Sydney Easter Show recently were the first to ride Australia’s largest travelling Ferris Wheel. The 45-metre construction has been built by Mondial of Holland and is the first to come equipped with a new style of enclosed, air-conditioned gondola.

Land Der Piraten is a new themed area at Legoland Deutschland, Günzburg, Germany. Adjoining the park’s existing Adventure Land, the new addition has been installed following the success last season of a similarly-themed area at Legoland California.

Europe’s first waterpark hotel, Cariba Creek was unveiled June 2003 at Alton Towers as part of a carefully considered move to reposition the UK park as a short break destination. From the outset, it was envisaged as an exclusive benefit for hotel guests only, but since 2005 the attraction has been successfully welcoming both residents and non-residents. Two years on, waterpark manager Deborah Hulme explains why Cariba Creek was made available to all Alton Towers guests, and how it has prospered as a result.

A 200-acre piece of land on the South Strip of Las Vegas has been earmarked for a new family resort which will include both a waterpark and snow dome.

Italian manufacturer SBF is still experiencing big demand for its Drop Zone tower rides, in both park and trailer-mounted versions.

Gardaland opened its gates to guests for 2007 at the end of March, and in doing so unveiled a new 4D Theatre called Time Voyagers.

American technology specialist CDRide Corp is about to go into its third season with its on-ride DVD system. Since starting out at a handful of parks in New Jersey, the company has expanded its network of systems to include installations across North America.

The line between what is real and what is a computer game has been blurred by Europa-Park in Germany, which has created an online version of its new Abenteuer (Adventure) Atlantis dark ride.

Wet ‘n Wild, Orlando, Florida, is adding Brain Wash, an enclosed Tornado slide from ProSlide Technologies.

They’ve already been immortalised in various theme park attractions around the world, but from 2011 comic book characters Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and X-Men will get an entire park in Dubai to themselves.

Ramping up the thrill level for the 2007 season, Celebration City, Branson, Missouri, is introducing The Stinger, a spinning flat ride from Wisdom Industries (right).

Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, Galveston, Texas, has opened a new area called Blastenhoff. Introduced late last month, it features seven new attractions and increases the park’s guest areas by almost 30%.

Anglo-French supplier Interlink has announced two big water ride installations for 2007.

A fantasy-themed Blacklight Mini Golf has opened in Branson, Missouri as part of a new FEC owned by Bill Hill. The 5,000 sq ft course contains detailed props and scenery, a digital sound system and several animations.

How would you like to operate your park or your ride on a pay-as-you-leave basis? That’s exactly how Seabreeze, Rochester, New York, operated the Jack Rabbit coaster back in the 1920s.

Jody Sweet, Disney Worldwide Services: We recruit quite a number of seasonal workers, 2,000 to 3,000 per year. We're fortunate because we have a strong Disney brand and our seasons correlate with times when there are employees available for work. It may be a challenge because of the volume of people we need, but we do have a good source of qualified talent for our needs. We actively recruit high school students, colleges, those who migrate south for the winter, senior citizens, and school system employees. We retain them with a good number of benefits and offerings that are unique to Disney. Plus, as we keep in contact with them to keep them connected, many return every year.

Here it is, the beginning of the season, and I’m having still flashbacks to the winter’s trade shows. One of my greatest pleasures when visiting an exhibition is discovering new, innovative attractions. I love innovation, at least when it works well. But it doesn’t always.

A hard reality for any park or attraction operator will always be the fact that the whole public perception of the venue is based on the one issue they have the least control over ...their staff!

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Disneyland Paris is adding Crush’s Coaster, a ride with special effects based on the Finding Nemo movies. The coaster opens in June, along with another Paris-only attraction called Cars Race Rally, which is designed for young children. Toon Town at Walt Disney Studios will offer meet-and-greet opportunities with movie characters ranging from Donald Duck to Remy Rat.

John Morris has joined Morey’s Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, as operations manager. He will be responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the Mariner’s Landing Pier, one of three seaside amusement piers operated by the Morey Organization. He comes to Morey’s Piers from DS Distribution where he was facility manager for the last seven years.

Robert F Ott, former president and board chairman of Dorney Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania, passed away March 3. Aged 88, he retired in 1985 from Dorney Park after 43 years of service.

Of all the departments that exist inside an amusement park, food and beverage (f&b) is the most maligned and misunderstood. The sales and profit it can contribute is rarely tapped to its full potential. The steps needed to control this are not complex, but it does deserve to be run as a business within the business.

Thrills and visitor numbers are at all time high for UK park Adventure Island, which has just added a new superhero-themed rollercoaster. Park World pays a visit to Southend-on-Sea.

Dutch family park Drievliet has just opened the world’s first X-Car launch coaster. Built by Maurer Söhne using an LSM (linear synchronous motor) launch, it’s thrilling a wide variety of guests. Owen Ralph visits The Hague to experience a new kind of launch coaster.

Water is an effective way to add excitement to a ride. Riders can float, slide or be splashed. Paul Ruben traces the history of water rides, and asks several park operators and suppliers why they are still so enduring, while elsewhere we note five current trends.

Rollercoasters from Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), Chance Morgan, Premier Rides and Vekoma, play areas by SCS Interactive, and a dark ride by Sally Corp are among the attractions guests will discover at the new Hard Rock Park, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when it opens in 2008.

Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro and his vice-president Mark Quenzel called into Europa-Park just before Easter, following an invitation from managing director Roland Mack.

Nickland, the first ever Nickelodeon-themed kids area in Europe, has opened in time for Easter at Movie Park, Bottrop, Germany. The 15,000 square metre zone, inspired by the ‘Nick’ children’s television channel, features characters such as SpongeBob Square Pants, Jimmy Neutron and Dora the Explorer.

Construction began March 12 on a new Suspended Top Spin ride from Huss Park Attractions at Phantasialand in Brühl, Germany.

CNL Income Properties Inc, a real estate investment trust based in Orlando, Florida, has purchased Magic Springs and Crystal Falls theme park, Hot Springs, Arkansas.

A second Euro Attractions Show (EAS) has been announced for 2008, during the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, from September 30 to October 2.

Shamu’s Happy Harbor at SeaWorld Orlando is doubling in size to four acres with the launch of three new family rides including Ocean Commotion, Flying Fiddler and Sea Carousel. These join the three new rides added last fall.

Six Flags Inc has disclosed that its fourth-quarter net loss widened because of lower attendance during the off-season and the writing down of the value of some parks it is selling.

Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park may be gone in South Carolina, but a new park will open this summer at Broadway at the Beach.