HOUSTON, Texas — With floodwaters rising in this city and the surrounding region following the Friday night landfall of Hurricane Harvey, theme parks, amusement parks, water parks and other attractions west and south announced closures on Sunday. Some additionally indicated uncertain schedules through the Labor Day holiday weekend as rainfall from the tropical storm was expected to continue until late in the week.
A rundown of notices and statements from the greater Gulf region:
• SCHLITTERBAHN WATERPARKS: “Schlitterbahn’s New Braunfels location will not open during the week as previously scheduled due to rains brought on by Hurricane Harvey. The park will, however, open for Labor Day weekend. Guests are encouraged to visit schlitterbahn.com for information on all park schedules prior to travel.”
• KIDDIE PARK, San Antonio: “Kiddie Park will be closed Sunday, Aug. 27, due to the weather. We hope everyone stays safe and dry out there!”
• MORGAN’S WONDERLAND, San Antonio: “Our administrative offices will remain closed through Sunday, Aug. 27. To reschedule, refund, or donate your tickets for this weekend, please provide us with the first and last name associated with the purchase. Refund requests will be processed when we are back in office Monday, Aug. 28. We appreciate your patience. Thinking of all of our friends along the Texas coast. Stay safe, everyone!”
• SAN ANTONIO ZOO: “The San Antonio Zoo is closed today [Sunday, 8/27]. We are in contact with Houston Zoo, Houston Downtown Aquarium and Moody Gardens. Our staff stand ready to assist as needed.”
• SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO: “SeaWorld and Aquatica San Antonio will remain closed Sunday, Aug. 27, to ensure the safety of our guests, ambassadors and animals. The zoological staff has reported all animals are doing well and the team will remain onsite to monitor the situation.”
• SIX FLAGS FIESTA TEXAS: “Due to the continued inclement weather from Harvey, the park will be closed on Sunday, Aug. 27.”
• SPLASHTOWN SAN ANTONIO: “For the safety of our guests and staff, we are closed for the weekend [of Aug. 25-27]. We will reopen next weekend!”
• ZDT’S AMUSEMENT PARK, El Seguin: “ZDT’s will be closed Sunday, Aug. 27, due to extreme weather conditions. The park will reopen for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-4, weather permitting.”
Follow Amusement Today on Facebook and Twitter, and be sure to check the social media and web pages of the individual parks, for related updates.
UPDATE: Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Will Not Open During the Week.
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels location will not open during the week as previously scheduled due to rains brought on by Hurricane Harvey. The park will, however, open for Labor Day Weekend.
Guests are encouraged to visit Schlitterbahn.com for information on all park schedules prior to travel.
Stay tuned to Schlitterbahn.com for updates to all park schedules on Labor Day Weekend.
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ORIGINAL POST: We are battening down the hatches as we prepare for Hurricane Harvey.
Please note that the operating schedules at all four Schlitterbahn locations in Texas have changed due to the approaching storm. These changes vary per park. Please visit schlitterbahn.com to view park-specific operating schedules.
Schlitterbahn Riverpark & Resort Corpus Christi, including the waterpark, Veranda restaurant, resort hotel, and golf course, are closed through Monday, August 28.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark South Padre Island is closed through Sunday, August 27. The resort hotel is open with limited operation.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston is closed through Sunday, August 27.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark New Braunfels is currently scheduled to be open this weekend with limited attraction availability.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City is not affected by Hurricane Harvey. The park is open as scheduled this weekend.
Please check for updates and changes to operating schedules at schlitterbahn.com.
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Legoland California Resort’s General Manager Peter Ronchetti announced at today’s press conference that 2018 will be a year of enormous growth! In January, a new 4-D movie launches, followed by the opening of Legoland Castle Hotel in the spring and, just announced, LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride is opening in the summer! LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure is Merlin Entertainment’s single largest investment in any Legoland Park and will take passengers aboard a real submarine where they will be submerged underwater and immersed in an ocean habitat.
“I’m extremely excited for our guests to experience LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride,” said Ronchetti. “For the first time in the United States, we are bringing our guests onboard a real submarine where they’ll go underwater to discover a truly amazing world filled with more than 2,000 different real sea animals, including several species of stingrays and a variety of exotic sharks.”
Press Conference at Legoland California.(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Legoland)
The ride will open in summer of 2018 and takes guests on a submarine ride looking for lost treasure on a sunken LEGO shipwreck. Among the real sea animals are bright LEGO octopi, marine tropical fish and LEGO scuba divers. Touchscreens at each porthole inside the sub are used by guests to help the LEGO minifigure dive team identify gems, pearls, LEGO gold coins and more throughout the journey. Up to 12 guests will board one of eight submarines that are designed after the LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure line of toys.
The summer exploration ride is opening shortly after Legoland Castle Hotel opens in the spring of 2018. “We are excited to expand our Legoland kingdom with Legoland Castle Hotel, not only for the new adventures it will bring to our guests, but also the new jobs it will create for the community,” said Ronchetti. Ronchetti announced the hiring will start today for 200 new Model Citizens (employees) to work at new premium themed 250-room hotel. Thirty leadership roles are needed including Head Chef, Front Office Manager and Food and Beverage Manager. “We’ll be starting to recruit the other positions as early as December as we’d like to have everyone royally trained and ready to go by the Hotel’s opening in spring!”
CONCORD, N.C. — DNP Imagingcomm America Corporation (DNP IAM) today introduced the new WPS Pro Wireless Print Server. Designed exclusively for DNP’s award-winning DS40, DS80, DS620A, DS-RX1HS and DS820A dye-sublimation printers, the WPS Pro enables direct printing from Wi-Fi enabled capture devices without the need for cables, memory cards, or an internet connection.
The WPS Pro is ideal for roaming photographers at events, attractions or amusement parks that require on-demand wireless printing workflows. It features an easy-to-read 7” touchscreen display that allows users to easily monitor print jobs, printer status, and see remaining print counts. The touchscreen also makes it easy to configure changes including language, default print queues, and applying borders.
For additional control, DNP’s Mobile Status App provides simple control of the WPS Pro and a convenient printer and server control interface that allows operators to see near-real-time feedback on printer status, configuration control and job process status. In addition, DNP’s WPS Print 2 App allows users to wirelessly print directly from a mobile device to a connected DNP printer. The Mobile Status and WPS Print 2 Apps are available as free downloads for iOS and Android devices from their respective marketplaces
Using its built-in 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi access point, the WPS Pro allows users to print from Wi-Fi enabled DSLR cameras, mobile devices (including phones and tablets), as well as Windows or Mac computers, all without the need for an Internet connection. WPS Pro supports up to five simultaneous wireless device connections.
“Wireless tools are an important part of our customer’s increasingly flexible workflow,” said Katsuyuki Oshima, President of DNP Imagingcomm America Corporation. “The WPS Pro expands the functionality of our printers, optimizes photographer workflows, and provides new opportunities for our customers to upgrade their offerings.”
With its own network access point, no router is required to print via the WPS Pro allowing for increased flexibility in workflow, set design, and hardware arrangement. A single WPS Pro can connect with two DNP photo printer models for speed/redundancy or for an increased range of print size options. The device allows for multiple print sizes including 2×6” photo strips, 5×5” and 6×6” square prints as well as traditional 4×6”, 5×7”, 6×8”, 8×10” and panoramic, depending on the printer combination and media. It also supports printing with glossy and matte; and can be configured to combine images with custom borders.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Six Flags Entertainment (NYSE: SIX), the world’s largest regional theme park company, today announced plans to enter the destination travel market with its Southern Californiaflagship property—Six Flags Magic Mountain, launching a 365-day operation on January 1, 2018. Located in the heart of one of the biggest U.S. travel markets with more than 47 million visitors annually and a noted theme park mecca, the undisputed “Thrill Capital of the World” will now have an operating calendar on par with all other theme parks in Southern California.
“With the best collection of thrills in the world and the Six Flags brand expanding globally, this is the perfect time for one of our flagship properties to make the business transition to a 365-day operating schedule in order to maximize travel industry opportunities. Six Flags will now provide a thrilling vacation option to both international and domestic visitors coming to enjoy Southern California,” stated Jim Reid-Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. “We can also now further leverage our thrill brand to the population base of 24-million Southern Californians and take advantage of new shoulder season business growth.”
The Valencia-based theme park first opened in 1971, and in 2005, became the state’s first multi-gated entertainment complex with the opening of Hurricane Harbor water park. Since then, both parks have operated limited schedules, with Magic Mountain running year round on weekends and holidays in the off season, and daily throughout the spring and summer months. The undisputed “Thrill Capital of the World” boasts a record-breaking 19 coasters, and over 100 rides, shows, and attractions for the entire family, including the newly launched JUSTICE LEAGUE™: Battle for Metropolis, which opened in July to rave reviews worldwide. In addition to its unprecedented thrill product, the entertainment complex also offers award-winning events such as Fright Fest®, voted #1 Halloween event by USA TODAY readers, and Holiday in the Park® during the winter holidays. New events are planned for the additional 100 days of the operating calendar, which is expected to generate new visitors from markets throughout California, the U.S., and around the world.
“I can wholeheartedly say there’s never been a better time to discover Los Angeles as our endlessly entertaining destinations like Six Flags Magic Mountain continue to mesmerize 47 million annual visitors,” said Ernest Wooden Jr., president and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. “As the undisputed Entertainment Capital of the World, we invite travelers from across the globe to immerse themselves in our thriving culinary scene, rich cultural life and world-class attractions.”
“This is great news for Los Angeles. By opening the park all year round, Six Flags is significantly enhancing the tourism and travel industry, creating jobs and spurring economic growth for the entire region,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
In addition to tourism-related opportunities, this new 365-day expanded calendar will also create new opportunities for many market segments that visit during the off-season, including school groups, especially the emerging “rite of passage” event for graduating high school seniors who come for Six Flags Grad Nites from across western states. New convention business, extended stays, and business travel is expected throughout the year, helping to bolster the economy of local Southern California communities. Further, the new calendar will add tremendous value and benefits to Six Flags Season Pass Holders, as they will now be able to visit Six Flags Magic Mountain any day of the year without any blackout dates, including Fright Fest and Holiday in the Park. Considered one of the best Season Pass programs in the theme park industry, there is no pricing premium to buy a “no blackout” season pass. A Six Flags Season Pass can be used at any of the 12 Six Flags Theme Parks in the U.S., Montreal, Canada and Mexico City.
TURKEY — Traveling from the city off Ferizaj, Kosovo, the view changes from tall spires and historic edifices into one of lush, green fields and forests. Before long, however, colorful swirls rise from the pastures. The Ujevara Resort comes into sight with shimmering pools of liquid relief, multihued, intertwined waterslide tubes and cobalt-blue umbrellas. You’ve arrived at the newest – and largest – waterpark in the country.
Encompassing 20,000 square meters (215,278 square feet), the aqua park at Ujevara Resort is part of a growing trend in the Balkans. The number of waterparks in the region remains small compared to other parts of the world – nearby Serbia boasts less than half a dozen, and Albania has few to speak of. But Polin Waterparks (Turkey) has dedicated wide resources to developing the area. In addition to being the designer and developer of the Ujevara Resort, for example, Polin Waterparks led some waterpark projects in Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Slovenia.
Kubilay Alpdogan, Director of Sales and Design of Polin Waterparks, says that the area is rich with opportunity. “We’ve been working in the Mediterranean for many years with successful projects in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, Egypt and smaller countries. So it’s good to see the number of waterparks beginning to open in the Balkans specifically. We’re focusing on helping developers in these areas create oases that blend relaxation and recreation.”
The Ujevara Resort, which opened in June, offers a mix of attractions for all ages. Adults will enjoy Polin’s Multislide, Black Hole, Body Slide, Space Hole, Aquatube, Kamikaze, Freefall, Rafting Slide and Wave Slide. Kids will delight in the company’s smaller versions of the Multi Slide, Aquatube and Compact Slide, along with a Mini Pirate Ship, Baby Octopus Slide, Rabbit Slide, Frog Slide, Mushroom and Octopus Slide.
Afrim Hoxha, partner of the Ujevara resort, says guests have provided a lot of positive feedback from their visits. “I’ve heard comments ranging from ‘Just amazing!’ and ‘Wonderful!’ to ‘Fantastic,’ along with general compliments about our facility. Working with the team at Polin Waterparks allowed us to create a resort that people love. We’re very pleased with the entire experience.”
NEW YORK, N.Y. — RWS Entertainment Group concluded its summer production, Guinness World Records LIVE! at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park by breaking the Guinness World Records title for the Most people contributing to a stamp image.
The park garnered 4,799 participants for the stamp image over 8 weeks and 100 shows to succeed in breaking the record for Most people contributing to a stamp image. A Guinness World Records adjudicator verified the attempt and presented the park with an official certificate on Sunday, August 13, 2017. The giant rubber stamp image features the park’s signature Basket Tree. The previous record for the Most people contributing to a stamp image contained 3,154 participants and was achieved by LIVAT Center (China), Beijing, China on April 30, 2017
RWS Entertainment Group, based in New York, is a full-service production company that creates award-winning custom entertainment, live events, and brand experiences worldwide. RWS worked with Gilroy Gardens and Guinness World Records to create an action-packed show, provide interactive experiences throughout the park, and help oversee official attempts for existing Guinness World Records titles.
The Guinness World Records LIVE! show ran from June 10 – August 13, featuring interactive experiences throughout the park and an exciting show that taught audiences about the science of record breaking. In addition to the show, kids of all ages were invited to join the “GWR Club,” pick up a GWR Passport, and search throughout the park for Guinness World Records memorabilia and exhibits. At each station, passport holders collected stamps featuring famous Guinness World Records titles from around the world.
As North America’s largest provider of branded stage shows and experiences, RWS’ vision and capabilities have made them sought-after creative consultants for brands that want to redefine their entertainment offerings. RWS has worked with clients such as Palace Entertainment, Cedar Fair, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts, Six Flags, Holland America Line, Hard Rock Resorts, Westfield Malls and more.
MIDDLEBURY, Conn. – Quassy Amusement & Waterpark today announced that its new water raft ride complex for the 2018 season will be named “Category 5.”
Three new gigantic water raft rides with a combined length of more than 1,000 feet will be constructed during the offseason, bringing to 15 the number of slides in the lakeside Splash Away Bay Waterpark.
“We put together a list of potential names during our process,” said park President Eric Anderson. “Category 5 surfaced to the top and we like the fact that is has a dual meaning – being extreme rapids or a storm.”
Construction is projected to begin in mid-September.
In addition to the new slides, Quassy will also construct Splash Away Bay Café & Deck overlooking Lake Quassapaug. Guests at Quassy Beach and the waterpark will be able to purchase food and beverages at the café and enjoy rooftop seating.
Big Thrills On The New Slides
The new slides will be provided by ProSlide Technology, Inc., of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ProSlide was the vendor for the existing 12 slides at the attraction, which was first introduced in 2003 as Saturation Station. The project will be located in an area now occupied by picnic tables on the north side of the property.
The largest of the three giant slides will be a TantrumTWIST, also known as TORNADO, which will accommodate two-person rafts.
The patented funnel shape flushes riders up the TANTRUM walls, oscillates each tube multiple times and generates the suspended-weightlessness sensation that is unique to ProSlide funnel rides.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Dolly Parton today shared plans with media about her award-winning park’s upcoming harvest and Christmas events, as well as a new album project which features music from Dollywood’s Little Engine Playhouse.
“I love fall in the Great Smoky Mountains,” Parton said during the media event. “It truly is one of my favorite times of the year to come home. God’s coloring book is in full display with the Great Smoky Mountains painted in reds and golds.
“I’m also really excited to be here to let you know about our brand new nighttime event we are adding for families in October called Great Pumpkin LumiNights. You know, people from all around the world know us for the millions of twinklin’ lights we put up at Christmas time. Well, when guests see thousands of these glowing pumpkins all lit up in Timber Canyon, they’re going to have that same special feeling. We think Great Pumpkin LumiNights will become just as popular with families as our Smoky Mountain Christmas festival. I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of new family traditions made this October!”
Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 29- Oct. 28) provides families with great Southern gospel entertainment during the day and fabulous fall fun during the evening thanks to the new Great Pumpkin LumiNights. This season marks the first time the Smoky Mountain theme park has opened every day—and stayed open after dark—during its family-favorite harvest event. The expanded operating schedule allows Dollywood to provide guests with additional autumn experiences designed to help them create cherished family memories.
The biggest names in Southern gospel take to stages every day throughout the park with more than 500 individual performances during the run of the festival. Additionally, Great Pumpkin LumiNights offers whimsical, family-friendly activities that are sure to make this event a new harvest tradition.
Families will bask in the glow of thousands of intricately-carved pumpkins as they wander through immersive harvest-themed displays throughout Dollywood’s Timber Canyon. Beyond the impressive displays, guests can find a number of exciting activities to create thrilling memories together. With so many carved pumpkins needed to create Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood has a number of “pumpkin artists” who will host demonstrations to help guests learn how to produce the perfect pumpkin masterpiece.
Unique harvest games and attractions—including a glow maze—for kids, a nightly Pumpkin Boogie dance party, and friendly costume characters help add to the festive atmosphere. New themed food options and exclusive harvest-themed Coca-Cola products make Great Pumpkin LumiNights the place to be when the sun goes down in the Smokies.
Alongside Great Pumpkin LumiNights, Dollywood once again hosts the largest Southern gospel music event in America with the biggest names in the genre visiting the Southern Gospel Jubilee. Karen Peck & New River (Oct. 21-22), Guy Penrod (Oct. 23-24), The Isaacs (Oct. 12-13), The McKameys (Oct. 6-7), Gold City (Oct. 2-3) and many more provide inspirational music to fill the autumn air.
The park’s Year of the Family continues with America’s most-loved holiday theme park event, Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana (Nov. 4- Jan. 1, 2018). Honored for nine-consecutive years with Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket for Best Christmas Event, Dollywood is home to a festive holiday atmosphere that truly puts guests in the holiday spirit.
“I just love Christmas at Dollywood, and I know you all do too,” Parton said. “The Parade of Many Colors is back this Christmas, along with seven holiday shows and four million beautiful lights. We even have Rudolph and his friends back for another year of creating family memories. It will be a November and December to remember!”
BUENA PARK, Calif. – Knott’s Berry Farm will welcome HangTime, a brand new steel rollercoaster – and the only dive coaster on the West Coast – to the theme park in the 2018 summer season. HangTime will tower 150 feet over the Boardwalk area, showcasing gravity-defying inversions, mid-air suspensions and twisting dive tracks.
HangTime will send riders up a vertical lift hill into a raised 96-degree drop – the steepest drop in California. The coaster’s train will come to a halt once the highest peak is reached, and will leave riders suspended at the crest for several seconds at a 60-degree angle, giving the illusion of a disappearing track. Then the train will suddenly descend in a beyond-vertical drop, through 2,198 feet of steel track and five gravity-defying inversions. HangTime will be only the second rollercoaster in the Western Hemisphere to feature a negative-g stall loop, which gives riders the sensation of floating.
“HangTime’s disappearing track creates a memorable illusion of the unknown as riders feel like they are hanging over a cliff, staring at the ground in nervous anticipation,” said Jon Storbeck, vice president and general manager, Knott’s Berry Farm. “People who crave that adrenaline rush will want to ride this coaster again and again. Introducing a coaster like HangTime firmly positions Knott’s Berry Farm as a must see attraction among Southern California theme parks, and we look forward to welcoming our guests to this new experience.”
HangTime’s ride structure itself will come to life and illuminate the Boardwalk area with colorful nighttime track chase lighting that will accompany the coaster train’s travels across the smooth steel track. The coaster continues Knott’s legacy in rollercoaster innovation and industry firsts; the park introduced the very first corkscrew inversion rollercoaster with Corkscrew, and the first flywheel launch coaster with Montezuma’s Revenge.
HangTime is manufactured by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, GmbH, and is the company’s next-generation “infinity coaster” model.
Guests can experience an entire season of fun including the thrill of HangTime with a 2018 Knott’s Season Pass, on sale now at the best price of the year. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. The special pricing ends October 29, 2017.
For more information about HangTime, Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Season Passes, please visit knotts.com. Join the conversation about the newly announced dive coaster coming to Knott’s using #KnottsHangTime #KnottBerryFarm.
