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MyVidayo
A number of parks are offering on-ride DVDs this season, but now two Dutch companies have partnered to develop what could be the first such system exclusively for waterpark attractions.
Up-Sell
Park owners are being offered a new way up-sell to guests courtesy of OmniTicket Network.
Tube Sensations
Dutch waterpark specialist Van Egdom is marketing an exciting new range of waterslides called Tube Sensations.
Make the right first impression!
Every day as people drive to work, school, home or other destinations, they see hundreds of signs from the businesses they pass. Unfortunately, many of these signs turn customers away before they even make it to the location in question. Drue Townsend explains how parks and attractions operators can make their signs stand out above the crowd.
Turn it down ...just a little!
When local residents Steven and Susan Roper won a legal case against Alton Towers in 2005 following complaints about noise, the park’s owners were fined and asked to turn it down. However, a recent UK High Court decision to reject their appeal for a harsher penalty strikes a welcome balance between the rights of the public and the commercial needs of attractions operators. Peter Forshaw of law firm Weightmans analyses how and why the court reached its decision.
Hersheypark
For 100 years, Hersheypark has provided countless happy memories to generations of guests. Founded as a picnic and pleasure grounds for the employees of chocolate magnate Milton S Hershey, the 110-acre theme park in the town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, is celebrating its centenary with a $21 million enhancement.
Mountain Coaster
When Massachusetts’ Jiminy Peak Mountain Adventure Park, introduced the Mountain Coaster last summer, it got more than it bargained for. Paul Ruben travelled to Hancock to find out more.
Harbour Park
Run by IAAPA committee member Gary Smart, Harbour Park has invested £750,000 (€1.1 million) on new additions this season.
Widalpenbahn
Named after the Widalpen hills around Vienna, the Widalpenbahn is a new River Splash ride at the city’s famous Prater park.
AALARA Conference
Over 700 delegates and trade exhibitors enjoyed three hard but fun days of education and networking at the AALARA Conference and Trade Exhibition in May. This, the 13th annual event from the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association took place as always at the Conrad Jupiters Hotel & Casino in Queensland.
A fair deal for service providers
With amusement venues throughout the world, it is inevitable that service providers, including inspectors, consultants, attorneys and computer programmers, will travel. It is wise that service providers protect themselves, to ensure they are paid fully and promptly.
Effective Hiring
Picking up where Kevin Williams left off in the May issue (see link at bottom of page), I would like to discuss how park and attractions can avoid a costly lesson by instituting screening technologies into the staff hiring process.
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Year-round coasting has been an aspiration of mankind for centuries. No? OK, then year-round coasting has been a goal of mine for several years now and finally I had the opportunity to enjoy a rollercoaster with snow on the ground. In the process I discovered a ride that, while widely known within the ski industry, has yet to be fully discovered by many amusement park operators. You can read about it elsewhere in this issue.
Kernels
Creative Kingdoms LLC is now the sole owner of MagiQuest Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, having bought out Burroughs & Chapin Company’s 50& stake. MagiQuest is a three-dimensional, interactive fantasy game that uses advanced computer-powered technology to allow multiple players to compete simultaneously. Representatives from Creative Kingdoms recently closed a $3.2 million deal with Great Wolf Resorts Inc, which could lead to the opening MagiQuest outlets in more of the group’s indoor waterparks.
Loudoun Castle Theme Park in Scotland got off to a great start this season, spurred on by the addition of its new ‘Barnstorner’ S&S tower ride and some magnificent weather. “April is particular was fantastic, we were up by double,” says park owner Henk Bembon, “I think the message has really got across that Loudoun Castle is a decent place to go.” Since taking the park over from Raymond Codona, Bembom has added a wealth a new rides and split the park up into a number of themed areas.
According to its president George Laibe, International Amusement Alliance (IAA) has moved its Arizona company headquarters, at the same time becoming western United States and international sales and marketing representatives for waterpark supplier Professional Parks (PPI). IAA has also formed a new division and reinstated The Coaster Works under a new name The Coaster Works International. The company specialises in the design and construction of wooden coasters, elevated wooden go-kart tracks and big timber projects. IAA shall also offer install services.
Ripley's returns to New York
New York City has welcomed back the spirit of Robert Ripley with the opening June 21 of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium. The opening marks the return of Ripley to New York, his home for more than 30 years.
Thomas steams into Drayton
HIT Entertainment, one of the world’s leading independent children’s entertainment producers and rights owners, has announced that Drayton Manor Theme Park in England will welcome Europe's first ThomasLand in spring 2008.
Huss and Heimo conker Kong
German ride manufacturer Huss Park Attractions is to pool resources with Heimo Animated Attractions to develop a ready-themed amusement ride.
Starliner rides again!
Florida's original rollercoaster was due to reopen on June 30.
The Starliner, originally built in 1963 at Panama City Beach (pictured here), is now part of Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Winter Haven, after being rescued when the Miracle Strip Amusement Park closed in 2004.
'The UAE's largest theme park'
What its developers are billing as the largest theme park in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will open within two years in Ras Al Khaimah.
Linnanmäki orders Maurer spinner
Maurer Söhne it to install its 20th spinning coaster at Linnanmäki in Finland this winter, ready for a 2008 debut. The new ride will be built on a hilly site directly above and interact with one of the park’s water rides.
Pleasure Beach adds Infusion
Blackpool’s first major new rollercoaster for 13 years was officially unveiled at Pleasure Beach on June 6. Television presenter Vernon Kay, accompanied by a cast of violinists, showgirls and a mermaid, performed the ceremony as the chain lift of Infusion whirred into action.
Spreading the Pleasure
Infusion, the Suspended Looping Coaster now given a new lease of life in Blackpool, is not the only ex-Pleasureland ride to find a new home. Following its closure last autumn, several other parks across Great Britain have introduced some of Pleasureland’s old attractions as part of their line-up for 2007.
Southport sails on
There is life after Pleasureland. A new waterpark was due to open in the UK seaside resort of Southport on June 30, and rides will appear once again on the Pleasureland site this summer.
Dreamland Heritage Park
The Save Dreamland campaign in England has launched an ambitious plan to turn part of the former Dreamland park in Margate into a “heritage theme park” and has already begun rounding up endangered rides from around the UK.
Bobbejaanlands adds SFX Theater
Bobbejaanland, Lichtaart, Belgium, has transformed its old live music theatre into a 4D cinema.
Executives disclosed for Hard Rock Park
A number of senior executives have been chosen for Hard Rock Park, which will be the largest theme park to open in the US for nearly a decade when it debuts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, next season.
Desperados for UAE
Following the DEAL (Dubai) trade show in April, Alterface from Belgium has secured its first Middle Eastern orders for its Desperados interactive shooting game. Two Action Zone-branded FECs in the United Arab Emirates, in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, will each receive a unit.
Frontier City shoots 'em up
Frontier City & White Water Bay, Oklahoma City, recently placed under new ownership by PARC Management, will see major improvements over the 2007 season.
Wild Waves rebrands
One of seven parks purchased by PARC Management from Six Flags earlier this year, Wild Waves & Enchanted Village, Federal Way, Washington, has been renamed simply Wild Waves Theme Park for its 30 year of operation.
Zamperla rides for Kennywood
Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, has introduced its newest thrill ride, Cosmic Chaos (pictured). A Mega Disk 'O' from Zamperla, it seats 24 people upon motorcycle-like pedestals on a giant spinning disc.
Uppswinget swings into action
Here is a photo of Uppswinget, the new S&S Power Screamin’ Swing at Liseberg in Sweden.
Disneyland adds '8th day'
The Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, is sprinkling some magic on the calendar and virtually creating an “8th Day” in its operating week in anticipation of high demand for the relaunched Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage attraction (pictured).
What addition would make a logical expansion/second gate to your operation?
Bill Muirhead, Movie Park, Germany: Well we actually have been talking about, believe it or not, a waterpark. I’m a big believer in marrying waterparks with theme parks. Every time I’ve added a waterpark to my attractions, and I’ve done it in Massachusetts, I did it in New Jersey, in Hong Kong and Pennsylvania, every time I did it; it was an absolute positive, to operations, to revenue, to EBITDA. But also I’ve got to tell you, this region, the North Rhine area, is up and coming with regards to tourism and we have a deficiency of bed nights, so I don’t know if it’s a second gate, but we could really use accommodation here and make that work. I could also see an indoor totally themed environment that we could open year round working too. And we have the room.
Keansburg adds Cliff Hanger
Keansburg Amusement Park, Keansburg, New Jersey, has added a new Cliff Hanger from Dartron Industries for the 2007 season.
Animal playground for Greenwood
Greenwood Forest Park, North Wales, recently opened a new outdoor play attraction. Tunnel Warren was installed by the Western Log Group (WLG) following the success of another attraction from the same supplier, Tree Top Tower, which helped visitor numbers increase by 20%.
Jungle playground opens in Texas
ZDT’s Amusement Center in Seguin, Texas, recently opened the a huge indoor jungle-themed playground featuring a custom designed Ballocity play system. Jungle Playland accommodates five levels of interactive adventure including tunnels, spiral slides and a huge lion head lookout.
Man swallows sword underwater
Sword swallower Dan Meyer recently became the first person in North America to swallow a sword underwater. We hear he’s popular at dinner parties.
Marriot teams up with Nickelodeon
Marriott International and Nickelodeon, the children's television network, are teaming up to create a chain of waterpark resorts. As many as 20 such facilities are expected to open by 2020.
Harry Potter for Islands of Adventure
Universal Orlando Resort is partnering with Warner Bros Entertainment to create a Harry Potter “theme park within a theme park” in Florida.
China Tourism & Attractions Summit
Following the success of the third China Themed Attractions Summit last summer, the Avail Corporation is to stage a fourth conference in Shanghai this July. The renamed China Tourism & Attractions Summit (CTAS) will take place at a new venue, the Sofitel Hyland Hotel on Nanjing Road, and there’s also a new chairman: Gary Goddard, replacing Tony Christopher of Landmark Entertainment.
New GM for Crealy Devon
The former head of operations at Europe-wide ski and adventure company has been appointed general manager of the original Crealy Great Adventure Park in Devon, England.
Knightmare awaits Camelot guests
June 23 will herald the opening of Knightmare, the latest rollercoaster at medieval theme park Camelot in England. At £3 million (€4.2m), the ride is being touted as the biggest investment yet by the park’s current owner, Prime Resorts.
Southport gets waterpark
The UK seaside resort of Southport is to get a new waterpark this summer. Splash World opens at the Dune’s Leisure Centre, across the road from the defunct Pleasureland theme park, on June 30.
M&D's rediscover Mine Train
M&D’s theme park, near Glasgow, Scotland, has added a sixth rollercoaster to its line-up for 2007. Eagle-eyed visitors, however, will notice that the ride was once the park’s Jamming spinning coaster.
