Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Three Maurer coasters for China
SkyLoop
Maurer Rides is building two SkyLoop coasters and an X-Car Launch Coaster for China. Using 150 metres of track and rising to a height of 52 metres, the SkyLoop includes such features as a “Humpty Bump” lift, 360-degree screw and a vertical drop with a speed of 105km/h. The two coasters are planned for World Joyland in Changzhou and Knight Valley at OCT East resort near Shenzhen. The ride
in Shenzhen is to customised to withstand regional weather conditions, where typhoon wind speeds can reach more than 200 km/h. Accordingly, the tower foundation has been extended from 5 x 4-metres to 6.5 x 6.5-metres. Also at Knight Valley, Maurer is building an LSM launch coaster, scheduled for
February 2011 opening. Like the SkyLoop it will feature an X-Car ride vehicle and pack big thrills into a compact space. Right after leaving the station, the LSM drive (Linear Synchronous Motor) catapults passengers upward, accelerating from 0-70 km/h within 2 seconds. This is followed by a special loop, Immelmann turn and a steep camelback. Then comes a half Cuban eight, followed by a heartroll and, just before returning to the station, a final steep curve. The ride features 316-metres of track.
Wild Adventures adds three
Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia, is introducing three new rides this season. Guests will twist and turn on Whirling Wildcats, an Eli Bridge Scrambler Twist, test their fear of heights on Viking Voyage, a five-story Miler family coaster or find themselves in the driver’s seat on Falcon Flyers, a Larson Flying Scooter ride. After an extensive renovation, Wild Adventure's popular wooden coaster, The Cheetah (pictured below), will also feel like a new ride to guests. A million dollar refurbishment was designed to provide a smoother ride without sacrificing the excitement wooden coaster lovers expect.
LEFT: The Cheetah BELOW: Falcon Flyers
Sonic Twister
Visitors to Galaxyland amusement park in the West Edmonton Mall, Alberta, Canada, can enjoy a new attraction courtesy of Moser Rides. The Sonic Twister, which replaces the Galaxy Twister, is a mini Side Winder combining both swinging and rotating movements. It is the first of two new rides that will be installed in Galaxyland this year.
16
APRIL 2010
British parks buck trend
Park World’s own anecdotal evidence has been confirmed by a new report from Mintel: British amusement parks experienced a strong 2009 thanks to, rather than in spite of, the economic picture.
Despite lowered consumer expenditure in general, the overall market value for the park sector last year was valued at £315 million ($478m/€356m) in 2009, up 27% from £248 million in 2004.
A trend towards holidaying at home and sustained investment from the sector saw an encouraging 3% of adults visit a theme park in the UK for the first time, equating to approximately 1.2 million extra guests. This year combined British theme park attendance is predicted to exceed 14 million for the first time.
According to a separate report by BDRC Continental, 31% of residents feel the UK is becoming more appealing destination, compared to 19% in 2008. Nearly half (49%) of those considering a trip to mainland Europe are revising their plans on the basis of the poor euro exchange rate. This is backed up by the Mintel report, which notes an increased focus on
multi-day visits to theme parks, prompted by the greater availability of hotel accommodation on or near park properties. Revenue generated by accommodation and additional revenue at theme parks has grown from £17 million in 2004 to a massive £31 million in 2009, and a fifth of consumers say they have stayed, or would like to stay, at an on site resort. “While historically admissions have always amounted to the largest share of theme park revenue, this has declined over the past decade as parks have become more adept at maximising in-park spend in other areas,” says Mintel’s senior leisure analyst, Michael Oliver. “Investments such as on site resorts and hotels have buoyed consumer expectations and expanded what a theme park visit can offer as a leisure experience.”
Despite such enthusiasm for parks, many visitors are still troubled by queues, and half of adults cited this a deterrent to their visit. A quarter of respondents say they would be interested in a mobile phone application to show ride times and over a third in receiving alerts on queues via text. Some parks do already provide such services.
Mintel predicts the UK park market to grow by 19% between 2009 and 2014, to £374 million, and admission to climb by 9% to 15 million over the same period.
News sales manager at Simworx
Simworx, the British 4D and simulation specialist, has
appointed Ross Albiston to the position of sales manag- er. Albiston joins the company from World Golf Systems Group, where he was responsible for marketing and sell- ing the TopGolf game concept and other leisure related golf products. He will work from both the Simworx head- quarters in the West Midlands and his own office in Manchester.
www.simworx.co.uk
Ross Albiston
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