Attraction Profile
Mondial wheels turn in Brussels
To make way for the world’s largest trailer-mounted observation wheel (see previous page), Marcel Campion sold his smaller Roue de Paris last year to the Belgian showman René Bufkens. The 55m- tall (180ft) construction was one of two giant wheels from Mondial that appeared in Brussels this winter. Bufkens’ ride operated on the Boulevard du Midi near the city’s Midi station and Eurostar terminal from September 24 to November 22. Just days later, on November 25, a wheel of the same height owned by the Dutch showman Arend Harms began turning at Brussels’ ‘Winter Wonders’ Christmas Market, which came to a close on January 3. Named The View and clad especially for the event in Lotto
branding, this particular ride is the second of two 55m Mondial wheels owned by Harms and made its debut at Leiden in the Netherlands back in October. It features 42 enclosed gondolas and can be assembled/disassembled in just 12 hours, giving its owner great flexibility in the types of events he can attend.
Kernels
Bite-sized news for parks and attractions
Following our interview last issue with Greg Lombardo from Twentieth Century Fox, Park World can confirm that the 20th Century Fox World Malaysia theme park will now open in mid 2017. Located at Resorts World Genting, about an hour from Kuala Lumpur, the park was originally earmarked for a 2016 debut.
Dubai Parks and Resorts has leased over 50% of the commercial space at the Riverland Dubai dining/entertainment district that will complement its three on- site theme parks, Motiongate, Legoland and Bolllywood Parks Dubai. A total of 34 lease proposals have been signed to date, to F&B brands including Tom's Deli, Parle, Starbucks, Shake Shack and 800 Degrees Pizza. Riverland, the three parks and Lapita themed hotel will open this coming October, with a soft opening planned for September.
Parc Astérix near Paris will open a Zamperla Disk ‘O’ Coaster called Discobélix this coming season. The ride will be located in the Greek themed area of the park between its La Rivière d'Elis boat ride and Tonnere de Zeus wooden coaster.
Oakwood, the Welsh amusement park, has a new managing director in the shape of Phil Verbinnen. Welshman Phil, from Carmarthenshire, previously spent 12 years working for the children’s activity holiday provider PGL at sites in the
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UK and France. Now part of the Aspro portfolio, Oakwood’s Megafiobia wooden coaster celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2016.
Gary Smart, the chairman of Harbour Park in Littlehampton the south coast of England, has been recognised in The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. The park owner, who is also vice-president of BALPPA and past chairman and a member of the management committee of IAAPA, has been awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to the leisure parks and tourism industry, an industry that he was born into.
Frontier City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, will introduce The Gunslinger, a Power Surge from Zamperla, for the 2016 season.
England’s Drayton Manor theme park has welcomed two new senior members of staff. Steve Lomas, ex-Alton Towers, Tussauds Group, Wonderland Dubai, UK Food Standards Agency and Whitbread, is now head of park operations – and he’s thrilled to be back in the parks and attractions industry: “It’s an industry that I’m extremely passionate about,” he says. “It’s also where I met my wife all those years ago at Alton Towers! I’m looking forward to getting back into interacting with guests.” Meanwhile a new head of facilities has arrived at Drayton Manor in the shape
of Scotsman Doug Stuart, formerly with Virgin Trains and London Overground.
Manchester’s Sea Life and Legoland Discovery Centre are now more accessible than ever for visitors with disabilities. All 137 employees at the two UK attractions have completed a training course to familiarise themselves with the facilities and aids available for disabled guests, and the right language and appropriate kinds of assistance to offer. “It might not be obvious unless you’ve been told, but the right way to help someone with a visual impairment is to offer them your elbow,” reveals graduate trainee Steph Williams, currently on assignment to the Merlin-operated attractions at the Trafford Centre shopping mall.
WhiteWater has hired Chris Perry as executive vice- president of strategic partnerships. Starting in operations as a teen doing everything from cleaning locker rooms and lifeguarding, Chris has spent his entire working life in the waterpark industry. For the past 15 years he was with Wild Wadi in Dubai, eight of those as general manager. A former director of Ellis & Associates’ International Aquatic Safety School, he was one of the founding members of Middle East & North Africa Leisure and Amusement Council and currently serves on the IAAPA board of directors. Chris is also the host of the TV shows Mission Amusement and Epic Attractions.
FEBRUARY 2016
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