P23


APRIL 2018


6 Park Hoppin’ Florida Summer


7-21 Park News Your monthly round-up


23 Medieval makeover Park Update


24-27 Rocky Mountain Construction Cover story


28 Cutting the queues Ticketing & Access Control


31-32 Great Wolf Lodge Resort Profile


35-36 Schloss Dankern Park Profile


39-41 Wicker Man Ride Profile


43 Longleat Attraction Profile


45-48 Virtual Reality Special Feature


53-54 Pinstack FEC Profile


56-57 Safety in numbers Asia-Pacific


58-61 Creativity is key Latin America


63 Coin-Op News Your monthly round-up


74 Who’s Who Your guide to the industry’s big names


77 Show Guide Calendar


78 Web Guide Online Resources


THIS MONTH’S COVER SHOT: P45 Editor: P39 P31


Park Word


in association with


The sun has finally decided to poke its head out in the UK – and not a moment too soon, as the summer theme park season is rapidly approaching. In the north-west of England, theme park fans have already been treated to the launch of Wicker Man at Alton Towers. The original Wicker Man film, starring Edward


Woodward and Christopher Lee, was a dark and suspenseful horror, in which the pastoral setting was juxtaposed to great effect with the growing sense of menace and danger. The 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage, however – well the less said the better. Let’s hope Great Coasters’ new woodie continues to channel the original film, and creates a looming and ominous presence to thrill guests in the background of the great British summer at Alton Towers. As Park World goes to press, queues of six and a half hours have been reported – testament to the well-deserved hype that this coaster, the UK’s first woodie in 21 years, has inspired. Turn to page 40 to read our ride profile. In the rest of this month’s mag, we take you back in time to medieval Germany, where Schloss Dankern’s new castle, with coaster by ABC Rides, creates endless opportunities for creative play (page 35). Movie Park’s updated River Rapids ride, meanwhile, takes guests on an immersive adventure back to the time of King Arthur – see page 23. Turn to page 45 for our virtual reality special, which


takes a look at how VR and AR are being explored in new ways to create unique, immersive guest experiences... Happy reading!


Bryony Andrews, editor


Bryony Andrews (+44 1622 699137) bandrews@datateam.co.uk


North American Editor: Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012) parkw@rochester.rr.com


Assistant Editor: Hannah Hart (+44 1622 699135) hhart@datateam.co.uk


Contributors this issue: Kathy Archer, Daan Dujim, Ronnie Dungan, Heather M. Eichenbaum and Astrid Gonzles Narino


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 pkayani@datateam.co.uk


Publication Secretary: APRIL 2018 • ISSN 1462-4796


Rocky Mountain Construction is experiencing the greatest year in its history, setting records and reaching sky-high. Read more on page 24.


© Copyright 2018. All materials in this publication remain the copyright of Datateam Business Media Ltd and no part of it may be reproduced without the written permission of the proprietors. A request to insert an advertisement is deemed to be an acceptance of Datateam Business Media Ltd’s conditions of trading, copies of which are available on request.


Annual subscription (11 issues): UK £67, overseas £161 +44 1825 765 250 datateam@c-cms.com


Tracey Ballard (+44 1622 699109) parkworld@datateam.co.uk


Head Office: Datateam Business Media Ltd London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY, UK Tel: +44 1622 687031


Member of:


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  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80