PW July 09 P12.qxd 6/23/09 10:44 am Page 12
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
King Kong returns to Universal Studios
Next generation theme park
himself. Suddenly, an enormous, ravenous 35ft-
attraction planned
tall dinosaur will challenge Kong, and guests
will feel their trams jolt, roll and shudder as
King Kong is set to appear in 4D form on the newly upgraded Universal Studios
they are caught in the middle of a ferocious
Hollywood Studio Tour, starting summer 2010. Based on King Kong in the Oscar-
showdown between the great ape and the
winning 2005 film, the new attraction is expected to become a signature feature
giant lizard.
of the park and will combine thrilling visceral effects with the world’s largest
A previous King Kong attraction was
surround digital projection system to create a “next-generation theme park
introduced at Universal Studios Hollywood in
experience.”
1986 and remained a much-admired part of
“King Kong has been an integral part of Universal Studios Hollywood for
the Studio Tour until it was destroyed by the fire last year.
decades and, after last year’s fire, we knew he had to be resurrected for our
Recently Huss Park Attractions and Heimo Animated Attractions teamed up to
Studio Tour guests,” says Larry Kurzweil, the park’s president and chief operating
introduce a King Kong ride at two parks in Europe, but Universal Studios’
officer.
multimedia attraction is likely to offer a particular highlight.
In the new attraction, guests will don special glasses as they enter a darkened
Since first appearing on the silver screen in 1933, King Kong has been re-
soundstage aboard Studio Tour trams to be transported via projection technology
made twice, each time on a tremendous scale, earning a total of seven Oscar
deep into the heart of of Skull Island. They’ll survive a close encounter with a
and three Golden Globe nominations. The 2005 production was the fourth-
swarm of monstrous bats, only to be confronted by the terrifying presence of Kong
highest grossing movie in Universal Pictures’ history.
Mousetown USA
Funtown/Splashtown USA, Saco, Maine, has introduced a Wild Mouse
coaster from Maurer Söhne for the new season. The ride features
hairpin turns, including a crazy 270-degree turn. steep hills, and dips.
The attraction replaces the
Galaxi roller coaster, which
was at Funtown USA for 30
years, and was purchased
via Rides 4U from the
carnival circuit. It appears in
New England after
refurbishment.
“The whole family will be
able to enjoy this new
addition," says park
Impossible LaseRace
president Ken Cormier. "This
will be the only Wild Mouse
Imagine playing inside a video game. At Ripley’s new Impossible LaseRace in
roller coaster in New
Grand Prairie, Texas, visitors do just that as they jump, crawl and straddle a
England."
gauntlet of laser lights. The player’s mission is to beat the clock and reach the
end without breaking a single laser beam. If they do, time is added to their
score.
Now open in the same building as Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Louis
SATE ‘09
Tussauds Palace of Wax and the Enchanted Mirror Maze, Ripley’s Impossible
LaseRace is never the same experience twice. Cameras inside and monitors
The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) is to hold its third annual SATE outside allow everyone to watch. On average, the play time is between 30
Conference this September in Orlando. SATE is an acronym for the four and 45 seconds. The price of a ticket is around the same as a high-end video
building blocks of the guest experience: Storytelling, Architecture, Technolog game in the arcade.
and Experience. “After your first adventure, re-plays cost even less because we know you’re
Members of the international attractions industry are encouraged to going to want to continue to play in search of that one great score,” reveals
attend the event, which will be geared towards benefiting all those who Clay Stewart, general manager of all four of Grand Prairie’s Ripley’s
have a hand in the project development process. Presenters will include attractions in Grand Prairie. “We have had an overwhelming response so far.”
David and Linda Smith of Smithink and Phil Hettema of The Hettema
Group.
The TEA's goal is to furnish delegates with the opportunity to significantly
Kangeroo Island
expand what they know about creating guest experiences for museums,
theme parks, visitor centres and other visitor attractions. In addition to
Australia’s Jamberoo Action Park is preparing to submit plans for Kangaroo
learning sessions, SATE will include significant networking opportunities,
Island, a AUS$20 million ($15m/£11m) waterpark extension that would bring
enabling delegates to build both their knowledge and contacts base.
some of the world's newest and most exciting slides to New South Wales.
The SATE 2009 Conference takes place on September 24 and 25.
Included in the proposals is a package of attractions from ProSlide including a
Registration is now open at:
www.teaconnect.org
Behemoth Bowl, Tornado, dual Mammoth River slides and a Rocker water
coaster.
12 JULY 2009
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