PW Aug 09 P30-32.qxd 7/29/09 12:30 pm Page 31
Park Profile
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Bici di Vinci (Magic Bikes) Minitalia: the model village that started it all
Minitalia name altogether as it was lodged in many ride, and easily one of the best-looking. A vertical lift
local people’s memories after years of hosting and spiral descent are its signature features and
Sedie Ballerine
weddings, communions and other family functions. hourly capacity is 700 using 6 circular rafts. As with
Evidently, though, a new direction was needed. all other new additions at MinitaliaLeolandia, the
But was the park’s reputation really that bad? “Oh theming was designed and executed in-house by
yes,” frowns Alberto Zamperla, “oh yes…” Zamperla as the venue makes the steady transition
Alberto admits that, “in Italy it’s very difficult to fire from amusement park to theme park.
people,” but nevertheless a significant number of “We came up with the story that we have found a
staff changes were made at the start of last season, secret book by Leonardo Di Vinci in which he
including an all-new management team headed by designed an amusement park for the prince,”
general manager Andrea Caldonazzi. With this came explains Alberto. “That is how we themed some of
a change in attitudes. the rides.”
“Before the staff were not smiling, but now the Di Vinci’s famous drawings and inventions form the
customer gets a nice welcome; and because there backdrop to smaller attractions such as Sgulavia (a
are a lot of young people working at the park, they themed Samba Balloon ride new this season), Leo
do not have all the old bad habits,” observes Coaster (Family Coaster) and Bici di Vinci (Magic
Alberto. “Now I hear families walking around saying, Bikes). An exhibition dedicated to his life’s work also
New mascot
‘oh it’s so nice, so many rides, so many things to appears underneath the Leo Arena, which hosts the
Leo Monster
do.’ I don’t think they expect all the changes we have park’s daily Peter Pan musical and parrot shows.
made.” Close by is the new Mine Train, which Zamperla
With so many new additions in such a short space has intertwined perfectly with the log flume it installed
of time, the marketing hasn’t been focused too here in 1998. The powered coaster is 325-metres-
heavily on any one attraction. Last year, for example, long and sits inside the park’s Wild West town, which
the message was simply, “Bigger, Better, More Fun.” includes such Zamperla favourites as a chuck wagon-
themed Ferris Wheel (bought from another park in
New for 2009 2000), Carovana Western (Crazy Bus), Wild Avvoltoi
Two of this season’s star attractions are Surf’s Up, the (Kite Flyer) and Town Tower (Jumping Star).
first ride of its kind in Europe, and Le Rapide di Some of Leolandia’s more high energy attractions
Leonardo, fast becoming the park’s most popular can be found inside Strabilia Expo, a new area of the
ride since it opened at the beginning of June. park opened last season which will eventually form
The latter is Zamperla’s fourth Hydro Lift rapids the gateway to the hotel and other new developments.
Le Rapide di Leonardo (Hydro Lift) Sgulavia (themed Samba Balloon)
AUGUST 2009
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