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ParkWord
April 2009
Most of you will now be open for the 2009 season,
and let’s hope it’s a good one. In recent years a number of
European parks have extended their seasons by adding winter openings and
special events.
Growing up about half an hour from Blackpool Pleasure Beach, I am used to
long seasons. The park, which now simply calls itself Pleasure Beach, Blackpool,
operates from February through to November.
Compare that to a number of parks on the other side of the Atlantic. While
Florida’s many attractions operate year-round, and those along the shore in
New Jersey generally get going around Easter, in several other states they still
haven’t started, and probably won’t for another month or so. Take Michigan’s
Adventure, which you can read about this issue on page 38. The park reopens
this year on May 16, and operates for just five months.
I find this quite odd. Easter is a key holiday time for most European
amusement parks because the kids are off from school, and for a handful of
British parks like Blackpool, mid-February is also important for the same reason.
It’s a “no-brainer” as the Americans would say.
Another option is to extend to the season at the other end and celebrate
Christmas. Now, I grant you, the weather can be a concern. However, winter
opening has been very successful for a number of parks in Scandinavia, where I
believe it can also get quite chilly.
Of course In Dubai, where the DEAL trade show takes place later this month,
they have a problem all of their own: It’s around this time of year it starts getting
too hot! Fortunately, most attractions are indoors or surrounded by water.
Wherever you are in the world, now is the time to ask yourself if you are
making full use of your assets. Have a great season!
Owen Ralph - Editor
Editor Owen Ralph (+44 161 438 2934)
parkworld@btopenworld.com
North American Editor Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012)
parkw@rochester.rr.com
Managing Editor Stephanie Norbury
s.norbury@btconnect.com
Contributors this issue Kevin Scrivens, CR Brumfield,
Mike Holtzman, Gary Kyriazi
Advertisement sales Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)
parkworld@datateam.co.uk
Publication Manager Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk
Managing Director Parvez Kayani
p.kayani@datateam.co.uk
Subscriptions Karen Wright (+44 1622 699109)
parkworld@datateam.co.uk
Publisher Datateam Publishing Ltd
London Road, Maidstone,
Kent, ME16 8LY, UK
Tel: +44 1622 687031
Fax: +44 1622 757646
www.datateam.co.uk
ISSN: 1462-4796 APRIL 2009
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APRIL 2009
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