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Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Aérophile bound for Walt Disney World
Balloons installed at top parks around the world
Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, is one mooring system and a landing platform designed
of the latest tourist spots to get a giant, tethered especially for Downtown Disney.
balloon from the French company Aérophile. The Aérophile, the world leader in captive balloons,
attraction will take guests 300ft into the air to view pioneered the concept in 1993 at a castle in Chantilly,
the vistas of Walt Disney World Resort starting spring France, and now boasts around 50 systems in 25
2009. countries. A number of these it operates itself,
With the opening of this latest installation, Aérophile including the Air de Paris balloon, which changes
will boast balloons at the most popular parks and colour according to the air quality in the French
resorts in the USA, Europe (Disneyland Resort Paris) capital.
and China (Ocean Park, Hong Kong). Four others will The balloons are also great revenue generators,
also open next year in the United States. directly and indirectly. At the Ibn Battuta Mall in
Up to 30 passengers at a time will be able to ride Dubai, for instance, the balloon contributed to an
the new attraction at Walt Disney World, taking a six- overall increase in mall takings of 5%. As well as the
minute trip that offers unparalleled 360-degree views money made from riding the attraction, the balloons
for up to 10 miles. The balloon will be the newest can also generate significant sponsorship and
and largest available in the Aérophile range, an advertising revenue.
Aero30 model with a volume of 210,000 cubic feet, RIGHT: The existing balloon in operation at
a 72ft diameter and a height of 105ft. It has a quick Disneyland Resort Paris
Giant wheels 5D Flyboard sales
go Dutch
Simulating a low altitude flight over the capital of
Austria, Vienna Airlines has been a hit since it
The Giant Wheels marketed by Ronald Bussink as opened at the city’s famous Prater amusement park,
“Wheels of Excellence” have been acquired by and now the company that created it is poised to
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing, which will handle
deliver more experiences using the same ride system.
them under a new division called Dutch Wheels BV.
5D International has signed an agreement with a
Bussink, meanwhile, will now concentrate on the
“major attraction” in the United States to deliver a
supply of Ferris Wheels 100-metres and taller via the
double Flyboard installation opening May 2010.
new company Bussink Landmarks.
Combined with a pre-show, the attraction will
This Vekoma acquisition includes the models
entertain around 1,100 guests an hour.
R40, R50, R60 (pictured) and the new R80, which
Originally unveiled in 2006 at the Blue Dome in
are considered a great addition to the portfolio of
Salzburg, Austria, the Flyboard has experienced
rollercoasters and attractions already offered by the
renewed interest since the opening of Vienna
Dutch supplier. The wheels will be manufactured
Airlines. As well as the confirmed order from the
States, 5D International also reports that it is in
using the same proven suppliers in order to
negotiations with a Russian party.
maintain the high quality that customers have
The Vienna-based firm sees great potential for the
become accustomed to. Each client will have its
Flyboard by marrying it to similar city-based ride
own personal project manager and customer
films to provide visitors with an authentic flying
support contact.
experience. “Our aim is to produce bespoke, high
quality ride films for around Euro.1861 million,” says David
Vatcher, 5D International’s chief technology officer. “I
don’t know of anyone else that can do that.”
New dark ride concepts
number of turnkey dark ride solutions.Exploiting its
Romanian routes, TAA is offering a large-scale dark
At the Prater, Vienna Airlines is operated side by
Theming and Animatronic Industries of Spain (TAA) ride based around the tales of Dracula (pictured).
side with the Miraculum, a special effects theatre
has partnered with ABC Engineering to produce a ABC’s transport system will be capable of moving
by 5D International.
forward and backward at a variety of speeds, with
added acceleration, spinning and audio effects.
The Flyboard in action
Effects in the ride include a splitting bed and table
through which the cars travel.
TAA is also working with ABC on a new attraction
with a 20 x 20 metre footprint, featuring a tower
that turns four times around its own axis as a variety
of dark ride scenes are presented in front of the
guest. The idea was originally developed for a park
in Scandinavia, taking various Noridc legends as its
theme.
18 JANUARY 2009
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