April 2024

By | March 27, 2024

The APRIL 2024 issue includes:

  • Wilderness at the Smokies nearly doubles indoor water park size
  • SeaWorld San Antonio debuts the world’s first launched flume attraction
  • Vekoma introduces multiple new attractions to its product line
  • DreamWorks Land opening Summer 2024
  • Universal Hollywood’s legendary Studio Tour celebrates 60 years
  • More than four decades in the industry finds Guglielmi still smiling
  • Duckpin Bowling sees growth in popularity for entertainment
  • Florida State Fair numbers down due to final weekend washout
  • Midway provider Inners Shows finds gratification in still dates
  • Showmen’s Museum expands, readies for leadership change
  • Massanutten Resort announces major water park expansion, hotel
  • Major expansion coming to Denmark’s Aquapark
  • Altitude Attractions looks toward the future with new rides to offer
  • Six Flags Great Adventure opening Savannah Sunset Resort
  • NEAAPA draws 100 attendees at 111th annual conference, meeting
  • Chocolatetown USA site of annual PAPA spring meeting in 2024
  • 29th NJAA Variety Show held along with online NAARSO training
  • Focus on the Horizon: Image Engineering’s Megan Gannon
  • SGE Camp emphasizes safety, legal advice and crisis management
  • Safe Slide Restoration brings new life to Splashin’ Safari attraction
  • NWSC safety seminar attendance showing comeback from COVID
  • More than 260 attend semiannual Pennsylvania Ride Safety Seminar … and much more!

Universal Orlando Resort reveals new details about How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk

By | March 28, 2024

ORLANDO — Universal Orlando Resort invites guests of all ages to soar with dragons in a colorful, fully-alive world filled with Viking adventures in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk – one of the five worlds featured at the all-new Universal Epic Universe theme park opening in 2025. Here, guests will see what it’s like to live amongst dragons as they explore a larger-than-life world that includes exciting attractions, beloved character meet-and-greets, dining, shopping – and even flying dragons – based on DreamWorks Animation’s multi-award winning and Academy Award-nominated trilogy, “How to Train Your Dragon.”

Developed in partnership between Universal Creative and the powerhouse filmmakers from DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk captures the heart, humor and scale of the films within an authentic re-creation of the rugged, rocky world where raucous Vikings and rambunctious dragons live together in hilarious harmony. Guests visiting Berk will encounter one of the most breathtaking environments Universal has ever created – complete with immense architecture featuring hand-carved details, lush landscaping, and extraordinary heights of rolling hills surrounding vibrant dragon houses and local establishments. And everywhere guests look within the bustling village, they’ll find endless activity – from active dragons in their natural habitats and sheep attempting to disguise themselves as Terrible Terror dragons to sporadic bouts of fire – making Isle of Berk an attraction unto itself.

WELCOME TO THE ISLE OF BERK
Guests’ first sight of Berk will be reminiscent of the iconic sweeping vista straight from the films – featuring a vast sparkling lagoon that boasts two 40-foot-tall Viking statues set against an energetic village perched above churning seas. Guests will discover four attractions, one live show, and several character and dragon meet-and-greet experiences that offer something for every member of the family, including: 

  • Hiccup’s Wing Gliders – On this family thrill coaster, Hiccup invites brave new Vikings to take a ride in his latest glider contraption – a winged flying machine that launches aspiring Dragon Riders into the sky for a dragon’s eye view of Berk. Guests will fly alongside Hiccup and Toothless and reach speeds up to 45 mph as they soar around the perimeter of Berk – and even throughthe lagoon – while experiencing firsthand what it’s like to fly on a dragon.
  • The Untrainable Dragon – Inspired by Universal Beijing Resort’s wildly successful “Untrainable” show, this dragon-filled live spectacular takes guests on an unforgettable journey with beloved characters Hiccup, Toothless, Gobber, and Astrid as they work together to solve the mystery of The Untrainable Dragon. This heartwarming story comes to life with captivating musical numbers, breathtaking sets and life-sized dragons soaring overhead.
  • Fyre Drill – Mischievous Viking twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut invite teams of Vikings to compete to outscore and out-soak each other on this wet-and-wild boat battle. Guests will board a colorful dragon-headed boat and blast water cannons at flame-like targets to practice putting out fires – a crucial skill to master when living with dragons.
  • Dragon Racer’s Rally – Berk’s new Vikings racers can practice aerobatic maneuvers and high-speed barrel rolls on two Viking-made dragon-riding trainers that reach heights of up to 67 feet in the air. Guests can control how “wild” or “mild” their experience will be as they perform high-flying, gravity-defying, swooping and soaring skills that are necessary to earn the accolades worthy of a true champion dragon racer.
  • Viking Training Camp – Junior Vikings will learn everything they need to know about dragons as they climb, slide and explore their way through this sprawling interactive adventure play camp – featuring a Viking agility course, a Toothless-themed teeter-totter, baby Gronckle dragon climbers and so much more.
  • Meet Hiccup and Toothless – Guests can visit the Haddock Paddock for an incredible meet-and-greet experience with heroic Dragon Rider, Hiccup, and pose for a photo with his friendly Night Fury, Toothless. Plus, throughout the day, guests may also encounter other familiar Vikings and dragons while exploring Berk.

Guests can also dine and shop like Vikings in the world’s variety of themed eateries and retail locations, including:

  • Mead Hall – The beating heart of Berk and the village’s main gathering hall, Mead Hall is where guests can feast like a Viking and enjoy a savory menu featuring a variety of meats, fish, sandwiches and more along with a collection of meads and ciders.
  • Spit Fyre Grill – Overlooking the action of the Fyre Drill water attraction, Spit Fyre Grill is a quick-service dining location featuring delicious, hearty meals flame-seared by a helpful (unseen) dragon fry cook.
  • Hooligan’s Grog & Gruel – Guests can grab quick bites at this festive racing-themed food stand located in the Viking Camp.
  • And after a day of dragon training, guests can commemorate their lessons with an array of merchandise available at highly-themed shops like Viking TradersHow to Treat Your DragonHiccup’s Work Shop, and Toothless’ Treasures.

To celebrate the dragon-sized adventures that await in How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, guests can now purchase a variety of items themed to the vibrant world coming to Epic Universe – including apparel, mugs and pennants. The collection is available for a limited-time and can be purchased a shop.universalorlando.com.

Gateway Ticketing Systems appoints Chris Angelos as the new sales director to drive growth and innovation

By | March 28, 2024

GILBERTSVILLE, Pa. — Gateway Ticketing Systems, Inc., the world leader in ticketing, admission control, and revenue-generating solutions within the attractions industry, is thrilled to announce Chris Angelos as its new Director of Sales. Chris has ten years of extensive sales leadership experience and a dynamic, out-of-the-box approach to sales strategies, making him a valuable addition to the company’s executive leadership team.

Chris has a proven track record of driving revenue growth and building strong client relationships in the technology industry. He also has experience improving and streamlining operations. His innovative and strategic approach to sales aligns perfectly with Gateway’s vision for expansion and market leadership.

“We are delighted to welcome Chris to our team,” said Michael Andre, President and CEO of Gateway Ticketing Systems. “His wealth of experience, fresh perspective, and dynamic leadership style will be instrumental in leading our Business Solutions team to new heights. We are excited about his contributions to our company and look forward to a successful partnership.”

Chris will lead the sales team at the company headquarters in Gilbertsville and will play a crucial role in driving the sales strategy. Chris will lead and manage the Business Solutions team, including developing and executing sales strategies, managing customer success, tracking sales performance metrics, fostering client relationships, and driving revenue growth across key markets. Chris will work closely with the executive leadership team to identify new business opportunities and ensure that the sales team is aligned with the company’s goals and objectives. Additionally, Chris will oversee the implementation of sales policies and procedures to ensure that the sales process is efficient and effective.

“I am thrilled to join Gateway and be part of a team at the forefront of innovation in the tech industry,” said Chris Angelos. “I am excited to leverage my experience and work collaboratively with the talented sales team to drive success, exceed targets, and deliver exceptional value to our clients by providing them with world-class service.”

In addition to Chris joining the Gateway sales team, Todd Walton and Grant Smith have recently joined. Todd joins the team as a Partner Development Manager based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he oversees the company’s worldwide value-added reseller accounts. Grant joins the company as the UK Regional Sales Executive, based in London, where he manages accounts in the United Kingdom region.

Gateway is confident that Mr. Angelos’s sales team leadership will be pivotal in driving the company’s growth trajectory and achieving its strategic objectives. His appointment reflects the company’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and unparalleled customer value. He joined the Gateway team in February.

The Heartland’s largest indoor family coaster, Fire In The Hole opens this Saturday

By | March 28, 2024

BRANSON, Mo. — The largest family roller coaster in the Heartland, Fire In The Hole, is set to open this Saturday, March 30 at the internationally-awarded Silver Dollar City theme park. Today, media from across the country “answered the call” to experience their first rides on the new family coaster as part of a media preview at the 1880s theme park in the heart of the Ozarks.

At over 32,000 square feet, Fire In The Hole represents the 1880s theme park’s single-largest attraction investment to date — a nearly 3-minute long ride, retelling an account of the night the real town Silver Dollar City now sits on was burnt to the ground. Integral to the ride’s story, “volunteers” are asked to board their very own “pumper” — an 1880s steam-powered, firefighting wagon — and save the burning town from the notorious vigilantes, The Baldknobbers. 14 iconic show scenes are paired with 3 gravity-driven drops, while the journey ends with a surprise, quick water-splash finale. The final product is a result of years of collaboration with Idaho’s Rocky Mountain Construction and Herschend Creative Studios.

“Fire In The Hole is truly one-of-a-kind,” said Duane Marden, founder of the Roller Coaster Database, a worldwide database with statistics on over 10,000 roller coasters and counting from around the world. “The ride combines a family coaster experience all can enjoy with indoor elements illustrating the history of this area, all in a massive building that ends with a water splash. There’s nothing like it anywhere and will be an absolute must-ride every visit.”

True to the theme park’s 1880s roots, the new coaster recounts the story of a real night in Ozark Mountain history when the mining town of Marmaros — the once-real town Silver Dollar City now resides on and inspiration for the park’s theme — was burned to the ground by the Baldknobbers. This new coaster follows in the legendary footsteps of the original Fire In The Hole, a 51-year-old coaster that held final rides on Dec. 30, 2023, after hosting over 25 million riders since 1972. Now, housed in a 5-story, temperature-controlled building, the new family coaster will always be open regardless of the day’s weather and temperature.

“Fire In The Hole is a testament to the hard work and ingenuity of the men and women who work here at Silver Dollar City,” said Brad Thomas, President of the Silver Dollar City Company. “Work on this massive addition started back in 2021, with planning much before that. They have poured tens of thousands of hours into this project, and their craftsmanship can be seen in every nook of this ride, from the queue line and coaster building, all the way to the hand-painted backdrops and lush foliage.”

Effectively doubling the size of one The City’s most popular areas, Fire In The Hole is the new centerpiece in the newly incorporated Fire District. Additionally located in The Fire District is Sadie’s Pretzel Cafe, an all-new restaurant serving handmade pretzels, pretzel dogs and pretzel sandwiches. Plus, just across the street, the new Flanders Dry Goods offers a line of “Flanders-branded” merchandise, connecting the store location back to Fire In The Hole’s rich lore.

“This new Fire In The Hole continues our mission of creating memories worth repeating, as we look to always improve the experience for our guests and towards the future of our park,” said Thomas. “This coaster, just like the original, ensures the whole family makes lasting memories for the foreseeable future, and the only place you can ride something like this is Silver Dollar City.”

Today, heralded as the “first” ceremonial coaster train, firefighters from Stone County and neighboring Taney County made up the ride’s first batch of “volunteers” in honor of their heroic actions in 2021 that saved The City from a fire of its own. Thanks to those actions, no serious injuries were sustained and the fire was contained to just three buildings.

Fire In The Hole marks the beginning of an action-packed summer this year at Silver Dollar City, with the park’s Summer Celebration kicking off June 8, with extended nighttime hours starting July 13 with Summer Nights, all the way through August 4. And, there’s plenty of fun between now and then, too, as this spring The City celebrates the final year of Street Fest from April 11-29. Then, Bluegrass & BBQ from May 2-27, awarded “Top Bluegrass Event” by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).

AAMA announces its winners at the 2024 AEI Beers & Cheers

By | March 27, 2024

LAS VEGAS — The American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) Executive Vice President, Pete Gustafson took the stage in Town Square on the Amusement Expo International trade show floor Wednesday, March 20th and announced the names of 14 new inductees to the AAMA Amusement Industry Hall of Fame, the AAMA category awards and the 2024 AAMA Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

Anticipation grew as the gathered crowd to hear the 2024 AAMA Category Award winners. Chosen by their AAMA peers, the category awards are a true calling card for the recipients. 2024 is no different as we saw some return winners and new winners come to the stage.

2024 Allied Member of the Year – TrainerTainment
2024 Supplier of the Year – Amusement Connect
2024 Distributer of the Year – Betson Enterprises
2024 Manufacturer of the Year – Raw Thrills, Inc.
2024 FEC Location of the Year – Elev8 Adventure Park

Next was the presentation of the 2024 AAMA Lifetime Achievement Award to the newly inducted Hall of Fame member, Ed Pellegrini. Ed has a long and storied history in the amusement industry having spent time at Atlas Distributing, Dandy Amusements, Regatta Jukebox, Data East Pinball, Sega & Stern Pinball, TouchTunes and since 2001 as the co-founder of Team Play with his brother Frank.

It was Ed and Frank that revolutionized the amusement industry as we know it with the invention of the card reader system utilized by so many today.

Ed’s continued contributions to the amusement industry is immeasurable and the American Amusement Machine Association is honored to call him our 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient.

In its second year, the AAMA Amusement Industry Hall of Fame inducted 14 new members to the Class of 2024 in three categories; Legacy, Living and Entity. These 14 join the 37 members in the inaugural class of 2023.

2024 Entity:
Golden Tee
PONG

2024 Legacy:
Bill Cravens
Dick Hawkins
Don Hesch
Millie McCarthy
Lou Nicastro

2024 Living:
Al Alcorn
Rick Kirby
Clarence Mabe J
orge Mochkovsky
Ed Pellegrini
Frank Seninsky
Mike Stroll

The AAMA looks forward to celebrating Ed Pellegrini and his impact on the amusement industry again at the AAMA Annual Meeting & Gala – Global Perspectives, Industry Connections: A Member Retreat at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, September 17th – 20th.

Dutch Wonderland opens for longest season ever on March 29

By | March 26, 2024

LANCASTER, Pa — Opening Day at Dutch Wonderland is justfour days away as the World’s Best Family Park welcomes visitors back to the park with the triumphant second season of its Eggcellent Easter Celebration.The kingdom gates will officially open at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 29 to begin a season of spring activities featuring four all-new entertainment options found throughout the park.  

This year’s guest-favorite event will begin with an Easter theme, from Opening Day through April 21. Then, the festivities continue with an all-new spring theme through May 19. Bigger and better than before, the event will feature more than 7,000 live blooming flowers, massive Easter eggs scattered around the kingdom, seasonal food and beverage offerings and more, including:  

  • NEW! Dine with Tuft: Families are invited to meet Dutch Wonderland’s Easter Bunny and the newest member of the royal court, Tuft during the all-new Dine with Tuft experience at Merlin’s Pizza and Pasta Buffet every Saturday and Sunday through April 21 at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. or 5 p.m.;  
  • NEW! Bunny Hop Plaza: From juggling lessons to meet-and-greets with beloved characters, there’s an activity for the whole family at the brand-new Bunny Hop Plaza. Grab a family photo in front of the beautiful Easter egg display, create giant springtime flowers and more; 
  • NEW! Storytime Corner: Princess Brooke, Sir Brandon and Merlin are taking over Storytime Corner at select times throughout the Eggcellent Celebration as they read beloved fairytale stories;  
  • NEW! Whirligig Lane: The kiddos are invited to hop down the new Whirlygig Lane as they take on a variety of unique challenges;  
  • Meet & Greets with Tuft: Stop by for unique family photos and meet with Tuft the Bunny at Tufts Terrace every weekend through April 21;  
  • Royal Egg Hunt: Grab the whole family and help Tuft the Bunny find all of his lost Easter Eggs scattered throughout the park;  
  • Puppet Shows: The critters of Melody Meadow are putting on a spectacular show each day. During Talent Show Turmoil, guests will join Brady Bunny as he learns that he’s capable of accomplishing great things.  

“In 2024, we are continuing to grow and expand our robust family-friendly lineup of events here at the kingdom,” said Megan Hartman, Dutch Wonderland General Manager. “In our second year of the Eggcellent Easter Celebration, we are adding even more family-friendly activities, budding flowers and even more chances for families to meet our beloved Easter Bunny, Tuft.” 

To celebrate the start of the 2024 season, Dutch Wonderland is throwing an Opening Weekend party. The first 500 guests will receive a delicious cupcake from Oregan Dairy and will get to countdown to the opening of the kingdom gates with a confetti party. Plus, everyone who visits the park during Grand Opening weekend will receive a commemorative pin, a long-running Grand Opening tradition at Dutch Wonderland. Plus, guests who complete the Easter egg scavenger hunt will win a collectible pin each weekend and the first families that locate all five golden eggs will win additional prizes! 

Falcon’s Creative Group reveals key role in first-ever Dragon Ball theme park

By | March 26, 2024

ORLANDO — Falcon’s Creative Group, a division of Falcon’s Beyond Global, Inc. (FBYD) (“Falcon’s” or the “Company”), a global themed entertainment powerhouse and visionary innovator in immersive storytelling, is proud to announce they are the master planner, attraction designer and creative guardian of the first-ever Dragon Ball theme park.

Unveiled at AnimeJapan on March 22, the Dragon Ball theme park experience will span over 500,000 square meters and will be a key part of the highly anticipated Qiddiya City, the world’s first city built for play near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Featuring seven different themed lands that recreate various iconic locales from the original series; such as Kame House, Capsule Corporation, and Beerus’s Planet; the Dragon Ball theme park will be developed and built with creative oversight from Falcon’s Creative Group, who will play a critical role in bringing the project to life in new and immersive ways. Park guests will be able to experience the world of Dragon Ball from the first Dragon Ball series to Dragon Ball Super.  

Falcon’s Creative Group is one of the world’s leading themed entertainment design and master planning firms where creative vision, compelling design, immersive media, and cutting-edge technology intersect to bring imagination to life.  Falcon’s Creative Group has planned over $100 billion in themed experiences around the globe.

“It has been a true source of pride for our company to serve as a lead creative consultant for the Dragon Ball Theme Park,” said Cecil D. Magpuri, CEO of Falcon’s Beyond. “Qiddiya Investment Company, Toei Animation and our team hold a shared vision to reimagine the world of entertainment and delight consumers in new, innovative ways. This theme park will do just that.”  

Dragon Ball theme park will feature five state-of-the-art rides as part of a lineup of 30+ attractions set against the backdrop of the Tuwaiq mountains. At the heart of the park is its most iconic Eternal Dragon, an extraordinary 70-meter-high Shenron that will house the park’s signature roller coaster ride. The park’s themed restaurants and adjacent hotels will allow guests to further immerse themselves in the world of Dragon Ball.

In addition to the Dragon Ball theme park, Falcon’s Creative Group is supporting the creative development of multiple entertainment experiences within Qiddiya City, including master planning the Qiddiya Water Theme Park, and supporting development for the world’s first Gaming and Esports district, also set to be part of the destination.

RES Rides announces the all-new Wave Twist L coming to Adventureland Long Island for the 2025 season!

By | March 25, 2024

ALTENDORF, Switzerland — RES Rides AG, is making waves once again with crowd pleasing one-of-a-kind rides! The world’s first Wave Twist L will be opening at Adventureland Long Island in 2025, which will be called the Wave Twister. The custom-made ride is slated to open for Spring 2025 and will be sure to thrill guests with its unique movements along an L shaped track that will simulate the motion and feel of riding on top of huge ocean waves.

The Wave Twist L is a family ride that has a boomerang effect with two gondolas carrying 10 passengers each, installed on a rotating platform which all rotates while travelling over an almost 280ft long track reaching a height of over 60ft.

‘’RES RIDES is thrilled to bring the first Wave Twist L to the market,’’ says Roman Rothe, RES RIDES Technical Director. ‘’Every year we introduce new rides that bring new movements and create new experiences, and the Wave Twist is truly unique in every way.’’ continues Rothe.

The Wave Twister will be RES’ second ride lately installed at Adventureland Long Island, after the vertical family roller coaster Roller Ball, called the FIREBALL opening to great guest excitement in 2022.

Gardaland’s new attraction will be an impressive Drop & Twist Tower: a tower with a 25-metre drop

By | March 25, 2024

At Gardaland, excitement is growing for the new epic attraction for families and young thrill-seekers and adventure seekers. Indeed, the 2024 new entry is beginning to take shape as its inauguration, scheduled for next June, approaches.

Today, among the streets of Castelnuovo del Garda in the direction of Gardaland Park, an extraordinary American tractor-trailer, followed by two articulated lorries,did not go unnoticed by motorists: on board the three vehicles wasa special load – an imposing 25-metre high purple octagonal tower.

The new eyecatching attraction will in fact be a “Drop & Twist Tower”, designed to provide a thrilling experience for Guests both young and old.

On climbing aboard, the Adventurers will commence their ride to the notes of a ritual chant, surrounded by glittering symbols to be deciphered, extraordinary lighting effects and, only when they touch the highest point of the attraction, will they plummet through dense clouds of smoke.Guests are invited to climb up and down several times and repeatedly rotate around the axis of the tower, for a memorable and unique experience before the final descent.

In the run-up to the reopening of the resort on Saturday 23 March, workers on the construction site of the new attraction have been assisting with the arrival of the tower at the park and its subsequent installation with assembly of the “gondola”, i.e. the 16 seats on which the adventurous passengers will climb, arranged in a circle around the tower.

The three pieces that make up the new Drop & Twist Tower, weighing a total of around 22,000 kg, were assembled together in a horizontal position and, subsequently − with the help of two cranes − hoisted by means of straightening operations specifically designed for the area in question.

The new tower is equipped with a hydraulic system that allows the different movements and effects of the gondola to be controlled via a state-of-the-art touch screen control panel.

Gardaland’s CEO Sabrina de Carvalho commented: “We can’t wait to inaugurate this attraction that is destined to become a new icon of Gardaland. Thanks to its impressive set design and light and sound effects, our guests will be involved in a memorable experience. It promises to be not just a fun experience but also a real adventure, which will spark the imagination and guarantee excitement for our Visitors.”

The logistical operation that allowed the work to be completed on site before the opening of the Park was also rendered possible thanks to collaboration between Gardaland and Mesaroli Group, a team of expert transporters. They worked together, studying every single detail, to move this imposing tower from its place of construction − in the province of Padua − to the heart of the Park (a distance of around 80 km).

Alabama Adventure to hire over 400 seasonal positions

By | March 25, 2024

Alabama Adventure and Splash Adventure are hiring to fill over 400 positions for the 2024 Season. Available positions include Ride Attendants, Life Guards, Slide Attendants, Retail, Food and Beverage, Quality Control, Admissions, Security, and even more! Available positions are ideal for students, teachers looking for summer work, or anyone interested in a fun summer job.

Employees of Alabama Adventure will enjoy benefits like: free tickets to visit not only Alabama Adventure but other amusement parks as well, flexible hours, advancement opportunities, bonuses, free employee events, and much more.

No previous experience is needed and all training is done in-house.