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future projects as best we can, while prioritising the health and safety of guests and staff by keeping gates shut until our respective governments advise it is safe to do otherwise. In this month’s extended ‘Industry Influencer’ (pp30 -
MARCH 2020 DARK RIDE EDITION 2026P18
33), Frank Stanek, looks back on his life in the industry and addresses the current economic climate for the planning and development of attractions and new entertainment real estate developments. In ‘Stay in the Game’ (p49) Scott Sherod CEO of
6 Park Hoppin’ The latest from Paul Ruben 6-20 Park News Your monthly round-up 22-23 Cover Story PolinWaterparks 25-26 ParkWorld Excellence Awards Make some noise! 28-29 Ride Profile Mickey andMinnie’s Runaway Railway 30-33 Industry Influencer Frank Stanek and The Producers Group 35-42 Special Feature Theming 44-45 Attraction Profile Kalahari Resorts 46-47 Company Profile Aquatic Development Group 48 Guest Article Debbie Evans:Manging your brand through socialmedia
Intercard, picks up on the theme of keeping calm and carrying on by exploring the ways which operators, manufacturers and suppliers can support each other through the crisis. In this month’s Big Question (p5) we find out how
Dreamworld,WhiteWaterWorld, SkyPoint, Efteling, Linnanmäki Amusement Park, Toverland and Ripley Entertainment are managing to keep guests entertained while gates are shut. We also hear from Stefano Cigarini, CEO of Cinecittà
World in Rome (52-54) and Daan Duijim, director of operations and set-up for SunWorld, a series of leading amusement parks and entertainment complexes in in Vietnam, (pp56-77), while regular contributor Astrid González Nariño gives us an update on the situation in Latin America (pp60-62). Throughout the issue we also highlight projects that
went live before the crisis or were due to go live in the coming weeks and months – let’s continue to talk about them, as when gates re-open, they will undoubtedly be (or continue to be) a success. This includes SuntagoWater World in Poland, where PolinWaterparks has installed 15 of its signature slides (pp22-23), and all of the other fantastic theme parks, water parks, FEC’s and location- based entertainment mentioned throughout the issue.
North American Editor: Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012)
parkw@rochester.rr.com
Contributors this issue: Bryony Andrews, Scott Sherrod, Debbie Evans
s
ut the ns of
49 Guest Article Scott Sherrod: Stay in the Game 50-51 FEC Profile Langer’s 52-54 Park Profile CinecittàWorld 56-57 Asia Pacific Daan Dujim, SunWorld 58-61 Latin America The region’s response to the pandemic 62 NewProducts Your monthly round-up 70Web Guide Online Resourses
Sales & Events Manager:
© Copyright 2026. 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.
Publishing Director: Paul Ryder
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Publication Secretary:
Managing Director: Parvez Kayani
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Member of:
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parkworld@datateam.co.uk
P
DARK RIDE EDITION 2026 ISSN 1462-4796
THIS MONTH’S COVER SHOT: Through an unprecedented collaboration between Legendary Entertainment, Lotte World Adventure and Sally Dark Rides, Kong x Godzilla: The Ride has opened in South Korea.
Becci Knowles, editor
Editor: Becci Knowles (+44 1622 699140)
bknowless@datateam.co.uk
Sales Manager: Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)
mburgess@datateam.co.uk
Julian Davies (+44 1622 699106)
jdavies@datateam.co.uk
5 Park Hoppin’ 6-16 Park News
18-20 Star Factory Lantern 22-23 Cover Story 26-33 Dark Rides 38-39 Industry Insider 40-41 Tom Anstey Column 42-43 Busch Gardens 46-47 Sinarchie Media 48 Hyperleap AI
P35
49-54 Park Updates 55-60 Product Showcase
P52 Editor: Matt Broughton
mbroughton@datateam.co.uk North American Editor: Susan Storey
Sales Manager: Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)
mburgess@datateam.co.uk
Publishing Director: Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk Managing Director: Parvez Kayani
pkayani@datateam.co.uk
Publication Secretary: Tracey Reader (+44 1622 699109)
parkworld@datateam.co.uk
Head Office: Datateam Business Media Ltd London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY, UK Tel: +44 1622 687031
P56
Park Word
Welcome to theMarch issue. I hope you are all safe and
keeping well. With parks beginning to re-open in
China and Japan a number of industry voices have said they can see a light at the end of the tunnel and that’s very much what this issue is all about – continuing to work on future projects as best we can, while prioritising the health and safety of guests and staff by keeping gates shut until our respective governments advise it is safe to do otherwise. In this month’s extended ‘Industry Influencer’ (pp30 -
Hello and welcome to another issue of Park World magazine! Last month’s lack
of me talking about the weather seemed to go down so well that I thought this month I would again barely mention how hot it’s been (although it has started to slightly rain here and there in the UK – a chilling hint of what’s to come in 2026). Anyway, I’ve already broken my initial
33), Frank Stanek, looks back on his life in the industry and addresses the current economic climate for the planning and development of attractions and new entertainment real estate developments. In ‘Stay in the Game’ (p49) Scott Sherod CEO of
Intercard, picks up on the theme of keeping calm and carrying on by exploring the ways which operators, manufacturers and suppliers can support each other through the crisis. In this month’s Big Question (p5) we find out how
this issue.
Enjoy, Matt
promise of not talking about the weather by talking about the weather, so… sorry. Meanwhile, this month we have plenty of
Dreamworld,WhiteWaterWorld, SkyPoint, Efteling, Linnanmäki Amusement Park, Toverland and Ripley Entertainment are managing to keep guests entertained while gates are shut. We also hear from Stefano Cigarini, CEO of Cinecittà
World in Rome (52-54) and Daan Duijim, director of operations and set-up for SunWorld, a series of leading amusement parks and entertainment complexes in in Vietnam, (pp56-77), while regular contributor Astrid González Nariño gives us an update on the situation in Latin America (pp60-62). Throughout the issue we also highlight projects that
smart folks from the industry contributing to the issue. Beyond the latest news and updates I bring you, we also have people with something genuinely interesting to say (and yes, I appreciate I’ve just kicked myself in the teeth with that statement. Don’t worry – I can take it). Below are some of the contributors to
in association with
in association wit
went live before the crisis or were due to go live in the coming weeks and months – let’s continue to talk about them, as when gates re-open, they will undoubtedly be (or continue to be) a success. This includes SuntagoWater World in Poland, where PolinWaterparks has installed 15 of its signature slides (pp22-23), and all of the other fantastic theme parks, water parks, FEC’s and location- based entertainment mentioned throughout the issue.
Yang Lan Star Factory Lantern’s International Trade Director explains “How a Day-to-Night Dinosaur Strategy Supports Theme Park ROI”.
Tom Anstey This month Tom asks: “Does Disney actually need a fifth gate in Florida?”.
MAXIMUM SMILES PER HOUR
North American Editor: Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012)
parkw@rochester.rr.com
Contributors this issue: Bryony Andrews, Scott Sherrod, Debbie Evans
MARCH 2020
Sales Manager: Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)
mburgess@datateam.co.uk
Sales & Events Manager: Sliding
into action!
modernwoodencoasters Frank Stanek and
The Producers Group Park World
Excellence Awards
Polin Waterparks supplies Europe’s largest covered water park with 15 of its signature slides
Stefano Cigarini, Cinecittà World Theming + more
THIS MONTH’S COVER SHOT:
SuntagoWaterWorld, which claims to be the largest covered waterpark in Europe, opened its doors to the public in February. Featuring 15 of PolinWaterpark’s signature water slides, it’s a tropical paradise for guests of all ages. Takes a look on pages 22&23.
DARK RIDE EDITION 2026
MARCH EDITION • ISSN 1462-4796 © Copyright 2020. All materials in this publication remain the copyright of Datateam BusinessMedia 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 BusinessMedia 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
3
Julian Davies (+44 1622 699106)
jdavies@datateam.co.uk
Publishing Director: Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk
Managing Director: Parvez Kayani
pkayani@datateam.co.uk
Publication Secretary:
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: Becci Knowles, editor
Editor: Becci Knowles (+44 1622 699140)
bknowless@datateam.co.uk
Susan Storey Our USA Editor has been busy this month. Not only does she bring you her usual Park Hoppin’ column but also heads up our Industry Insider interview with Level99’s Matthew DuPlessie and brings us a report from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Oh, and then there’s the matter of our cover story with Sally Dark Rides. She HAS been busy!
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