P12
Park Word
FEBRUARY 2016
4 Park Hoppin’ Paul Ruben has gone to the dogs
5-16 Park News Your monthly round-up
16 Kernels Bite-sized news
18-19 Roue de Paris Attraction profile
22-23 Klugheim at Phantasialand Attraction preview
24-28 Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon Waterpark profile
28-30 Splashworld Waterpark profile
32 Yas Waterworld Waterpark update
32-33 Secondary Spend Special feature
37-38 Event Planning Top tips
40-42 Accessible Parks Special feature
43 Morgan’s Inspiration Island Park preview
P43
44 Show Guide Calendar
50 Web Guide Online resources
THIS MONTH’S COVER SHOT: Officially opened on February 2, Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon at Sunway Lagoon in Malaysia is the world’s first Nickelodeon-branded waterpark, and the first wet or dry park anywhere in Asia to feature IP from the popular kids’ TV brand. One of the highlights is SpongeBob Splash Adventure, a custom-themed AquaPlay RainFortress from WhiteWater, which supplied many of the other slides and attractions. Turn to page 24 for more.
WhiteWaterWest.com
Editor: Owen Ralph (+44 161 438 2934)
parkworld@btopenworld.com
North American Editor: Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012)
parkw@rochester.rr.com
Contributors this issue: Sebastian Jonas, Ron Miziker, Astrid Gonzalez,
Sales Manager: Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)
mburgess@datateam.co.uk
Publication Manager: Jacqui Hunter (+44 1622 699106)
jhunter@datateam.co.uk
Publishing Director: Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk
Managing Director: Parvez Kayani
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Publication Secretary: FEBRUARY 2016 • ISSN 1462-4796
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I was interested to learn that Disney will not roll out its MyMagic+ system to Disney Shanghai Resort, which opens on June 16. It has been suggested that there’s no need for a wristband-based system to make ride reservations and facilitate other guest benefits/sale opportunities when it can all be done on a smartphone. Sure, it can, but I would argue one of the great things about the slick MyMagic+ system is that it offers an escape from everyday technology and immerses guests further into the Disney experience. Plus the theme park giant can sell a load of customised extras for the wristbands too. Sadly, it’s probably impossible to divorce park visitors from their mobile devices and, in tech-savvy Asia, I am sure Disney knows what it is doing (as usual).
As China braces itself for the onslaught of officially licensed Disney product that will come with the new park in Shanghai, so families in Malaysia are also being offered more branded theme park experiences. In 2012, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels went overboard on IP in Johor, launching Legoland Malaysia and the Little Big Club, the latter home to Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Barney the Dinosaur and local hero Kampung Boy. Across the Johor Straits in Singapore, the Genting gaming group operates the Universal Studios park at Resorts World Sentosa, which of course is rich in IP, and back in Malaysia it is preparing to launch the world’s first 20th Century Fox World theme park next year at Resorts World Genting. No wonder then that the operators of the established
multi-park destination Sunway Lagoon outside Kuala Lumpur decided to introduce Asia’s first Nickelodeon branded theme park land. Read about the wet and wonderful new attractions in Nickelodeon Lost Lagoon starting on page 28. Interestingly Nickelodeon’s owner, Viacom, is actually
stepping back from a smaller brand extension in Orlando as the former Nickelodeon Suites Resort is rebranded simply the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites. But perhaps it’s best to view this as the end of licensing agreement at a relatively modest hotel and waterpark facility rather than a retreat from the theme park market for Viacom.
Owen Ralph – editor
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