www.parkworld-online.com


Park Hoppin In association with Park Hoppin’with Susan Storey R


ecently, after parking my car, I looked in the rearview mirror and applied lipstick. My son, eager to start our day, asked


why I was ‘bothering’ with makeup because we were at Universal Orlando. His preteen thoughts aside, he had a point. The day was about fun; we were going to flip upside down, zip through the air, get wet, and not see a mirror all day. Why bother indeed. One of his favourite coasters is Hollywood Rip


Ride Rockit. After that day’s first ride, I questioned if he ‘survived’ as we pulled back into the station. He burst out laughing saying he had but, “Mom – your hair didn’t.” A quick glimpse at my phone confirmed it. My coaster hair was everywhere. Of course, none of that mattered. We had fun that day – as we do any day


we are at a park. We focus on having a great time together, and riding as many attractions as possible. Coaster hair, don’t care! Thousands of guests are like my son and I. While at a park or attraction,


they come together with a common goal: to make memories. For a few short hours, they don’t care. They are able to forget about pressures at work, challenges at school, worries from home. Instead, they take part in shared experiences that for a few moments take them to new heights, new places, new emotions. Haven’t you laughed out loud at how wet your clothes and shoes end up


after splashing down a flume? Sure, you know you will get wet. You warn your friends and family. And yet, there are always snorts of surprise and laughter as you wring out clothing and pour shoes out over the pavement. This is the time of year when the attractions industry is getting everyone’s


attention again. After a sleepy ‘No Coaster’ season as the American Coaster Enthusiasts refer to winter, announcements and ride openings fill the calendar as much as warmer days and spring blooms. We await the grand opening of new roller coasters, family attractions,


classic flat rides and those days filled with colourful popcorn, sweet treats and more. Funny, no one ever plans a new wardrobe for park visits! We also comment on the fresh paint and new colour schemes at parks. In


what other industry would you find people excited about re-painted coaster tracks? Fresh asphalt in the parking lot and new pavers on pathways provide the basics and shiny new banners and signage are the flashy accessories. A park’s style – its theme – is the appearance we all care about. We’re invested and we love to show it off as we share photos of our visits and adventures. There’s something about posting a family photo and having others comment, “I’ve been there!” or “That new ride looks amazing.” There’s no real need to say anything about how we look. We’re happy; that always bursts off the screen. As we make plans for our 2023


park visits, I like to think of the suppliers as the fashion designers of the attractions industry. They sculpt, paint, and design the appearances we all care about. They make a steel coaster track transform into a colourful ribbon. Wire, mesh and


FEBRUARY 2023 5


concrete are sewn together to create blankets of snow and coats of stone. Soaring tents are the fascinators that provide shade. As I write this, new examples for each of these come to mind. ArieForce One, the new coaster at Fun Spot Atlanta, has a red and blue coaster track unlike any other I’ve seen. I truly believe RMC has started a new trend. In my home state this year, Baynum Painting created a vibrant coat for the Electric Slide at the Florida State Fair. Extreme Engineering’s new Flex Shade says ‘hats on’ to sleek design and colour to top off any outdoor attraction. Which brings us back to my coaster hair. This summer, I encourage you,


also, not to care! Have fun and ride it all, coaster hair; don’t care. But feel free to apply lipstick.


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