Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
ParkHoppin’ with Paul Ruben
Shoot, the Rapids!
It was off last summer to Cedar Point to check out the Ohio park’s new flume ride, Shoot the Rapids. "You will get wet," I was told. We'll see.
I brought along a plastic poncho to toss over me. It's waterproof. You see, I'm a water ride weenie. I like water rides, but I don't like to get wet when in street clothes. Who wants their wallet, money, clothes or shoes and socks wet? Not me. I love to ride when in a bathing suit and surf shoes (getting a nice picture are you?) but I get a little apprehensive when fully clothed. A few parks have done it right. They group their water rides such as flumes, shoot-the-chutes and raft rides next to their waterpark, so guests in either the ride park or waterpark can climb aboard. Dorney Park, Hersheypark and Holiday World come to mind as good examples. Most parks, however, place their water rides wherever they fit, wherever there is room. Cedar Point does this. But unlike many parks, Cedar Point also allows guests to roam the entire park in their swimwear. That's a great idea. I think every park guest should be able to wear a string bikini. OK, maybe not every guest.
Many of the visitors at Cedar
Point who had lined up to ride Shoot the Rapids were in their swimsuits. Robin Innes, the park’s long-serving public relations director, had an even better idea than my poncho. Knowing I didn't want to get wet but did want to have the full experience, he gave me a beautiful heavy-duty rubberised rain jacket. Shown here in the photo, it's even better than a flimsy poncho!
Now I was ready for whatever rained down upon me. I climbed aboard, front seat, for the full
experience. Up the first 85ft hill and ready for splashdown. We ploughed into the water, nose-first. The bow of the ship was useless as water gushed over it, onto my feet, and into the seat. It's like I'm on the freakin' Titanic! This ship is not sea-worthy, it's just an excuse to keep people locked in while the water engulfs them. Meanwhile, the rubberised rain jacket remained dry. Thanks a lot, Robin.
Then we approached the second 49ft hill and drop. I thought I knew what to expect. Sure enough, upon splashdown, my wet shoes, wet socks and wet pants were re-acquainted with the water. Then suddenly I'm getting drowned from above as a water cannon arches a stream of water towards me. Now at least the rain jacket caught some. My shoulders remained dry. Big deal. And there's Robin, on the shore, gleefully feeding quarters into the water cannon to send another salvo in my direction. "I know you wanted the full experience," he explained later. Yes,
Robin, and thanks for the rubberised rain jacket. It provided the perfect false sense of security.
6 MARCH 2011 Ben 10 at Drayton Manor
After the success of Thomas Land, its branded children’s area, Drayton Manor is to introduce another licensed property into the park for 2011. This time it has signed up with Turner CN Enterprises to open a Ben 10-themed rollercoaster as part of the new Cartoon Network Street. Based around the adventures of a 10-year-old boy who can transform himself into various alien forms, Ben 10 is the cartoon de jour on Cartoon Network and various other TV channels around the world. Ben 10 – Ultimate Mission will be a launched version of Vekoma's Junior
Coaster, featuring an out-and-back layout similar to the classic Boomerang. The track will be 180-metres in length and will have a highest point of 20m. Maximum speed will be 55 km/h. Theming will be by Mark Golding and Meticulous. The 2011 season is a big one for Drayton Manor, which is due to open its own 150-room hotel this summer, plus a new 4D film from Cartoon Network and revamped cafeteria, now the California Grill. Elsewhere in the park, a new Junior Regatta ride from Zamperla featuring four locomotives and four coal wagons will replace the Terence the Tractor attraction in Thomas Land, which will be moved to a new home in the park’s Farmer McColl's Farm area. Paul Hammond Productions, meanwhile, will produce three new live shows, featuring Ben 10 and Thomas and Friends. “The Ben 10 show will run for approximately seven minutes before guests enter the ride on a custom-built stage above the entrance,” explains Hammond. The 2011 season begins on March 20 and Ben 10 – Ultimate Mission should be open for Easter (late April).
Fortune Rabbit City of Dreams welcomes Chinese New Year
The Chinese year of the rabbit, which began on February 3, was ushered in at City of Dreams in Macau with a new edition of the casino resort’s Dragon's Treasure show. Fortune Rabbit follows the
Lucky Tiger version of the show launched in 2010, and will continue to welcome visitors throughout the coming year. This Thea Award-winning multimedia spectacular takes audiences on an “underwater” journey through the magical kingdoms of the four dragons. In this new edition, with content by Falcon's Treehouse, guests
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40